Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line, Jamey Johnson, Trisha Yearwood Sing for Their Heroes in "ALABAMA & Friends" on GAC-TV

"For me, they were the Beatles," said Jason Aldean about country music super group ALABAMA in ALABAMA & Friends, a one-hour concert event premiering Wednesday, November 27, 9:00 p.m./ET on Great American Country. "Through Randy's voice, the songs, his charisma on stage, he had people in the palm of his hand. Watching the reaction those guys got from the crowd was part of the reason I wanted to be an entertainer."

Each artist performs their favorite ALABAMA hit with Aldean delivering "Tennessee River"; Luke Bryan on "Love in the First Degree"; Florida Georgia Line on "I'm In a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)"; Trisha Yearwood on "Forever's As Far As I'll Go"; Jamey Johnson on "My Home's in Alabama"; and Eli Young Band on "The Closer You Get". ALABAMA also performs "All American," one of two new tracks on their recently-released Alabama & Friends tribute album.

"They were just perfectly poetic for a southern person," said Luke Bryan of the group that's sold 73 million albums and charted 43 No. 1 hits. "They may be big stars but they felt like the guys down the street. They knew who their audience was and spoke right to them."

"I think it's given us renewed energy," said ALABAMA lead singer Randy Owen of the outpouring they continue to receive from today's top country music stars. The concert was filmed during one of two sold-out ALABAMA concerts at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

Alabama Breaks Atlanta Venue Ticket Sales Record

ALABAMA's Back to the Bowery Tour two-night stop in Atlanta, GA marks the highest grossing run for a country artist in Fox Theatre history, with over $498,000 in ticket sales. The legendary group performed for sold out houses on both nights with over 8,500 in attendance - a new house record. The two-night engagement was the first time Alabama had ever played the Fox Theatre.

"We had two amazing nights. More amazing than I ever dreamed they would be," says ALABAMA frontman Randy Owen. "It was great to finally play the Fox, and thanks to the fans and all involved for turning it into a very special memory for us."
 
"We could not be more pleased with the outcome of the ALABAMA performances," said Allan Vella, President and CEO of the Fox Theatre. "They are an exceptional band and we hope that they will visit Atlanta and the Fox again soon."  Promoter Steve Litman of Steve Litman Presents added, "ALABAMA proved once again that they undeniably deserve their legendary status with two amazing SRO shows that thrilled Atlanta."

ALABAMA is no stranger to breaking records, however. Their career to date has resulted in21 Gold ®, Platinum ® and multi-Platinum ® albums, 43 number one singles and more than 73 million records in sales. They have received over 150 industry awards, including eight honors for Entertainer of the Year, two Grammy wins and two People's Choice Awards, as well as their very own "star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The band received the Academy of Country Music's Pioneer Award in 2003, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005, and most recently won the American Country Awards' "Greatest Hits" Award in 2011.

The fabulous Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta's premiere venues for live entertainment and was declared a Top Stop of the Decade by Venues Today Magazine and the #1 non-residency venue worldwide for the decade by Billboard Magazine.

PRESS CONTACTS:
  Schatzi Hageman, PH: 615-782-0078
  Beth Carter, Fox Theatre, PH: 678-866-3572

Alabama Fan Appreciation Show

The countdown is on until the official launch of the highly anticipated new tour by country music's most iconic group ALABAMA. But before Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook launch their 2013 Back to the Bowery Tour, they will hold a very special fan appreciation concert to relive the memories made from the very stage where it all started back in 1973.
 
On Thursday, April 4, ALABAMA will perform at the historic Bowery in Myrtle Beach, SC in a free concert for those who have supported their career over the past 40 years. Current fan club members will have the opportunity to win their way into the intimate concert through a special lottery drawing, with the remaining standing room only capacity being available to follow on a first come, first serve basis.

ALABAMA first got their musical start at the Bowery back in 1973 when the three cousins from Ft. Payne, Alabama were selected as the venue's summertime house band. From there, they went on to break records and make history as one of the most recognized and respected bands in country music. As seasoned performers, concert goers are guaranteed to enjoy a stellar show with back-to-back hits, including "Song of the South," "Love in the First Degree," "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)," and many more.

Country Music On New Years Eve

CMT's Edward Morris checked the venues and tour schedules:

Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve telecast on ABC hosted by Ryan Seacrest (Dec. 31) with Swift performing in New York's Times Square, while Aldean will be performing in Los Angeles. 

Willie Nelson is set to do an Austin City Limits show that evening at Austin's Moody Theater that will be broadcast live on Sirius XM satellite radio.

The Zac Brown Band is at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Little Big Town heats things up at Wild Bill's in Duluth, Ga.

Florida Georgia Line headlines an already-sold-out show at Boondocks in Springfield, Ill.

Gary Allan carries country music's flag into the House of Blues in Las Vegas.

The Eli Young Band plays Choctaw Casino in Grant, Okla.

Meanwhile, the supergroup Alabama just announced a "Festival at Sea" celebration cruise for next October to commemorate their 40 years together.

Tornados Worse Than A War Zone

Randy Owen says it's hard to describe the devastation across his home state from last month's storms. The life-long Alabama resident tells "People" places are "unrecognizable" and "entire towns are wiped out."


Randy says he and his family were hunkered down in the basement of their Fort Payne home for more than 12 hours as the storms raged outside.


Owen says they were "so lucky" the tornadoes didn't rip through their area, but the surrounding areas look "worse than a war zone."


Randy took to the stage with Alabama for the "Music Builds: CMT Disaster Relief Concert." All the money raised will go to the American Red Cross. Jeff Cook, of the band, says get ready to see the group ALABAMA on the road later this year.