Keith Urban Organizes Another "All For The Hall" Success

A tidy sum of $600,000 was raised last night for the Country Music Hall of Fame, thanks to the efforts of Urban and a star-studded who's-who of volunteers.

As always, Keith and Vince Gill hosted a memorable evening filled with country stars. “We never know what we’re going to do,” Urban said at the outset, emphasizing the improvisational nature of the evening. “We never have on any of the past years, and we’ve always had the best time.”
Urban has put together all five We’re All for the Hall concerts in Nashville, hand-picking and personally inviting each artist who appears. The guests who answered his call this year, all volunteering their time, ranged from Country Music Hall of Fame members Gill, Reba McEntire and soon-to-be-inducted Ronnie Milsap to veterans Mary Chapin Carpenter, Deana Carter and Lee Ann Womack to several of today’s hottest stars, including Brantley Gilbert, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood.

“Five years ago, I was sitting up there,” said newcomer Brett Eldredge, as he pointed toward a section of raised seats to the right of the stage, where he saw the first We’re All for the Hall concert in 2009. “I was thinking how cool it would be to play this show someday. And here I am.”
The evening’s theme encouraged performers and songwriters to talk about the inspiration behind the songs. The motivation for the hits included heartbreak, headaches, lost love, first dates, cars, breaking the law, spiritual conflict, TV shows, forgetting a potential paramour’s last name, pigs who swim and, more than once, Dolly Parton.

Vince Gill To Be Honored with CRS Award In February

Gill will be honored with the 2014 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 6 p.m.

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will perform a tribute to Gill as well as presenting him with the prestigious award during the event.

The CRB Career Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio. Previous winners of this award include Dolly Parton, Brooks & Dunn, Merle Haggard and George Strait.

"Vince Gill is unquestionably one of the greatest artists in the country genre,” said Bill Mayne, Executive Director of CRS. “His body of amazing work continues to evolve, and his performances inspire us all. He is a remarkable ambassador for Country music with his talents, grace, class, leadership, humility, humanity, style and wicked sense of humor. We are very proud to present Vince with this richly deserved honor."

With more than 17 studio albums recorded and more than 26 million copies sold, Gill has had an incredible career as a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He has won 20 Grammys and 18 CMA Awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year and CMA Male Vocalist of the Year. He has already been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Country Radio Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony unofficially kicks off Country Radio Seminar each year. CRS 2014 will be held at the downtown Nashville Convention Center February 19-21, 2014.

For information about the Country Radio Hall of Fame Dinner and Ceremony tickets, contact the Country Radio Seminar offices at 615-327-4487.

Superstar Collaborations At The 47th CMA Awards

Throughout its history, the CMA Awards has been known for showcasing unique collaborations between some of the biggest superstars in music. In 2013, the tradition continues as Taylor Swift teams up with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss, Zac Brown Band with Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl, and Hunter Hayes with Jason Mraz.



See the full lineup of performers at CMAawards.com, and watch the show live on ABC Wednesday, Nov. 6!

An Affectionate Salute to the Music of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard

With the release today of Vince Gill and Paul Franklin’s album Bakersfield, fans are transported to one of the most glorious periods in country music history.  And to heighten their listening experience, an interactive website (click to see it) has been specially designed to immerse fans personally in the sights and styles of those turbulent times.   Bakersfield is Gill and steel-guitarist Franklin’s tribute to the early music of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, both of whom fashioned their distinctive sounds while playing the clubs and honky tonks of Bakersfield, California.  Unlike the more sedate sounds then spinning out of Nashville, West Coast country music tended to be raw, urgent, amplified and unfiltered.

Gill, a 20-time Grammy winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Franklin, a 13-times recipient of the Academy of Country Music’s steel guitar player of the year award, grew up riveted to Owens’ and Haggard’s music.  Now playing together in the superband The Time Jumpers, the two old friends decided this was the ideal time to remind the world of what it’s been missing—not by recording a sound-alike salute but by re-animating the very heart of the music with their own affectionate and reverent interpretations.   Bakersfield is a perfectly matched set of five Owens and five Haggard classics.  Owens is represented by “Foolin’ Around,” “He Don’t Deserve You Anymore,” “Nobody’s Fool But Yours,” “But I Do” and “Together Again,” while Haggard stands forth via “Holding Things Together,” “I Can’t Be Myself,” “Branded Man,” “The Bottle Let Me Down” and “The Fightin’ Side Of Me.” These 10 songs were originally released between 1961 and 1974, the years during which America fought a divisive war in Vietnam, witnessed the triumph of the Civil Rights movement, suffered the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, soared to the moon, experienced the British invasion, the Summer of Love and Woodstock and was battered by the humiliation and resignation of a president.  But in Bakersfield—if we are to believe its music—the biggest problem was heartache, and the greatest joy was falling in love.  Owens and Haggard had both these bases covered. The RoadToBakersfield.com website is filled with features to draw fans into the Bakersfield milieu.  One application allows them to upload their own photos and then outfit themselves either as members of Owens’ band, the Buckaroos, or Haggard’s band, the Strangers.  These sartorial adornments include bow ties, hats and belts emblazoned “Buck” and “Hag,” as well as period instruments, amplifiers and microphones. The user can then share these “amended” photos across all the social networks.  Here also are videos of Gill and Franklin discussing the making of Bakersfield, background material for the media and sales links (iTunes, Amazon, etc.) for purchasing the music.  The site will be updated weekly with new features.

Legendary Performers Work For Cash

Vince Gill, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers and Joanne Cash Yates will join show host Tommy Cash for the third annual Johnny Cash Music Festival, according to an announcement made today by concert producer and festival founder Bill Carter.

The 2013 event is set for August 17 and will once again take place at Arkansas State University’s Convocation Center in Jonesboro, AR.  Showtime is 7:00 pm and tickets will go on sale April 1 (see box office info below).

As in year’s past, proceeds from this year’s event will fund the restoration of the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in Dyess, Arkansas, as well as support a scholarship fund established in the international  superstar’s name. Already, four young people are attending ASU thanks to the money raised at the previous events.

“We have been extremely happy not only with the progress on Johnny’s boyhood home, but also with the funding of this scholarship,” Carter said,  “Johnny’s family made it clear from the start that giving children from his hometown area an opportunity to get a college education is something Johnny would have been very proud of. Likewise, the Dyess area will benefit from the economic boost we feel certain this museum will bring to the community. We’re grateful to the artists who are coming in this year to put on a great show for a great cause.”

The restoration of the home is well underway and according to Dr. Ruth Hawkins, director of Arkansas Heritage Sites, the museum is projected to open in the Spring of 2014. The goal is to establish the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home as a museum to honor the legacy of the Man in Black. Keeping the attraction in Cash’s hometown of Dyess will help boost the local economy. It is of interest to note another piece of historical data attached to the house.  Cash’s family moved to Dyess and the 40 acres of land as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.

“We have made great progress on the actual restoration of the house and are now working with members of the Cash family on acquiring the appropriate furnishings, which are being carefully researched,” Hawkins said. “Thanks to Joanne’s and Tommy’s great memories, it’s going to seem as if the Cash family has just stepped outside the door to head to church.”

Tickets for the Johnny Cash Music Festival will go on sale April 1st.

Vince Gill On "Nashville"

Gill, right, with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.  Vince will be portraying himself on an upcoming episode of ABC’s new blockbuster series, “Nashville.”  The episode will air Wednesday, February 27 and will feature other Nashville performers including Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, Pam Tillis, Kate York and Kip Moore.

The episode, titled “Dear Brother,” features a surprise birthday party for Deacon, played by actor Charles Esten, and will take place at The Bluebird Café.  It was filmed in mid-February.

"I had a really fun time hanging out with the cast and crew," commented Gill.  "I really do enjoy watching the show and I think it's great for Nashville.  Plus, I was playing myself which wasn't a big stretch." 

“Nashville” stars Connie Britton as Rayna Jaymes, Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes, Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor, Eric Close as Teddy Conrad, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley, Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott, Robert Ray Wisdom as Coleman Carlisle and Powers Boothe as Lamar Wyatt.

This episode of “Nashville” will be available on ABC.com the day after air for users to watch online.

PR Contacts:

Erin Morris / 615.419.9988

Alison Auerbach / 615.269.6440 /

(Photo credit: ABC/KATHERINE BOMBOY-THORNTON)

Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Vince Gill, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr. "ALL For The Hall"

2005 CMA Entertainer of the Year and four-time Grammy Award winner Keith Urban and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on April 16 for a concert benefiting the Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum.

The show, themed “Rebels and Renegades, The Outlaws are IN” will feature an all-star line-up.

Reserved seating tickets are priced at $35 and $50 and will go on sale to Museum members on next Tuesday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m. CST.

Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Milsap, Restless Heart and Many More To Set Sail

The very first Country Music Cruise will launch in early 2014 and sail through the Caribbean with an incredible group of superstars and much-loved fan favorites onboard including Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Milsap, and Restless Heart with television personality Lorraine Crook hosting the entire journey.  The vacation of a lifetime for country music fans, the cruise will hold intimate concerts every day, exclusive events not available anywhere else, activities, comedians, world class dining, deluxe accommodations, and much more for seven luxurious days aboard Holland America’s MS Eurodam.  All concert tickets, activities and meals are included, with further information available at www.CountryMusicCruise.com.

The stars scheduled to perform on the 2014 Country Music Cruise have an astounding 350 hit singles between them, with nearly 90 #1 hits.  In addition to the headlining concerts, clubs on the ship will host performances by even more artists such as Andy Griggs, Wade Hayes, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal, The Warren Brothers, Bryan White and others.  Chuck Mead from BR549 will be playing daily poolside.  Amidst the music, guests will be invited to a beach party on their very own private island, line dancing events, cooking exhibitions, wine tasting, songwriter workshops, spirited trivia contests, exclusive screenings of country music films and documentaries, games and more.  The ship will also dock in several ports, where guests can explore the majestic beauty and vibrant culture of Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg (Saint Maarten), and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas).  Not only will the voyage give fans the rare opportunity to see so many of their favorite singers all in one location, it all takes place among breathtaking ocean and island vistas on one of the most magnificent ships at sea.

“Country music fans are in for something really special,” says Vince Gill.  “Not only will they get to experience a luxurious ocean cruise, but they can enjoy exclusive concerts by country music’s iconic superstars.  The cruise is destined to become a vacation destination in the years to come.”  “I couldn’t be more excited about performing on the Country Music Cruise and being a part of a vacation that my fans will never forget,” adds Kenny Rogers.

“This will be the Country Music party of a lifetime. Real stars, real music and real friends, both old and new” said Mike Jason, Senior Vice President Retail, StarVista Entertainment/Time Life. ”We have produced over 35 full ship charter music cruises and ‘Country Music’ is a perfect genre for an exciting and overall cruise experience,” said Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of Entertainment Cruise Productions. The programming and entertainment opportunities for the Country Music Cruise are unparalleled.  It will be so much fun.”



Cabins are available now at www.CountryMusicCruise.com or by calling (toll free) 1-855-332-6868.  Early reservation Country Music Cruise fan rates start at just $1,925 per person and include all meals, concerts, entertainment and on-board activities.

For additional information, please contact:
Webster & Associates Public Relations & Marketing
Caitlin DeForest / 615-777-6995 x240 / caitlin@websterpr.com
Kirt Webster / 615-777-6995 x230 / kirt@websterpr.com

The Brookes Company
Jolyn Matsumuro / 310-558-3000 x202 / jolyn@brookescompany.com

The Opry Requests The Pleasure Of Your Company

Opry member Vince Gill along with fellow members Rascal Flatts, Diamond Rio and Oak Ridge Boys during Urban’s “All For The Hall” benefit at Bridgestone Arena. New Zealand-born and Australian-raised Urban will be the first artist from outside North America to become an Opry member. He will formally be inducted into the Opry on Sat., April 21st live on the premiere of “NOTEWORTHY at the Opry” on GAC at 8 p.m. Central. The 16-episode series will feature musical performances and personal stories from the top acts in country music plus interviews with other celebrities about the artists and music featured in each episode.

Near the end of last night’s show, Gill called Rascal Flatts back out on stage to bring a gift for Urban. As Urban opened a large black duffel bag revealing the Opry’s signature microphone stand, Gill said, “We would like to invite Keith Urban to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry!”

Urban covered his face in surprise as he began, “I don’t know what to say – but first, YES! Thank you very much to everybody at the Grand Ole Opry who made this possible. I’m shocked. How beautiful for this to happen tonight of all nights.”

“I will always remember the first time I played the Opry,” Urban continued, “seeing this stand and standing in the circle was an extraordinarily surreal moment. So this right here is just a whole other stratosphere! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

“We are extremely excited that another of today’s most popular country music superstars will be joining our Opry family,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “Keith has become a master at forging a unique musical path and building an incredibly successful career. He generates amazing enthusiasm from fans every time he plays the Opry, and he continuously demonstrates the deep regard he has both for the Opry and the entire country music community.”

Vince Gill Sings for the Rainforest

Vince raised country music’s banner high at the Revlon Concert for the Rainforest Tuesday evening at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium in New York.

In a program titled “Songs of the Silver Screen,” Gill performed his own distinctive renditions of Don Gibson’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You” and Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” and joined actress/singer Rita Wilson for a duet journey through the Everly Brothers’ “All I Have to Do Is Dream.” (Gill also sings on “Faithless Love” a track on Wilson’s album, AM/FM, due out May 8.)

Vince Gill Takes on Series of High-Profile Projects Will Launch Tour of Europe in July

What do you get when you cross a hummingbird with a roadrunner? We don’t know, but we’re pretty sure it can’t keep up with Gill. As laid back as he appears, Vince is especially busy these days, speeding from picking to performing to producing records for other people.

Here are a few projects that carry his musical imprint:

• He will perform on the Revlon Concert for The Rainforest Fund April 3 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium in New York City on a bill that also features Sting, Elton John, James Taylor, Meryl Streep, Rosanne Cash, Katharine McPhee and Bryn Terfel.
• Will perform on Keith Urban’s We’re All For The Hall concert April 10 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena with Urban, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Little Big Town, Thompson Square, Pistol Annies, Diamond Rio, Exile and The Blue Sky Riders.
• Will tour Europe in July. Tour dates to be announced.
• Will headline the 14th annual Jammin’ to Beat the Blues concert to benefit Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee, April 17, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
• Will perform at MerleFest at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, April 26.
• Is currently producing albums on The Time Jumpers, Ashley Monroe and Jenny Gill.
• Will be featured on the PBS music and travel series Music Voyager: Tennessee which will air on local PBS stations at various times throughout April.
• Has recently recorded on albums for Chris Botti, Don Williams, Bonnie Tyler and Rodney Crowell. The Crowell project, Kin, Songs By Mary Karr and Rodney Crowell, also features guest vocals by Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Lee Ann Womack, Rosanne Cash, Chely Wright, Kris Kristofferson and Emmylou Harris. Produced by Joe Henry for Vanguard Records, the album will be released June 5.
• Has taped a concert for PBS’ Bluegrass Underground both with The Time Jumpers and with his own band. It will air this fall.
  

Contacts:
Erin Morris / Morris Public Relations / 615.419.9988 / erin@morrispr.biz
Alison Auerbach / AAPR / 615.269.6440 / alisonapr@aol.com

Vince Gill's Best CD Ever

Getting old is just a fact of life.  But when your life revolves around playing music and getting that music heard on the radio, getting old can stop you from getting heard.

Vince Gill talked with the Associated Press about his concerns that the average country listener won't get to hear his new music because of his age.  Gill told the AP the reason you don't hear music from George Jones or Merle Haggard on the radio now is because of their age.

There are only two performers getting heard on mainstream country radio today who's age is near Gill's (he's 54).  George Strait and Reba McEntire are the only two of a litany of artists who made music in the 80's and 90's that are heard on mainstream country radio today. 

Gill's new CD is named, "Guitar Singer."  You can grab a copy of the CD Vince says is his best work ever, here.

Urban Headlines "All For The Hall" Concert

Keith Urban's We're All for the Hall benefit concert returns to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on January 18.

Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Little Big Town and The Oak Ridge Boys have already signed on to perform, and more artists will be announced later.

Tickets go on sale November 4 through Ticketmaster and proceeds go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.

The first two We're All for the Hall concerts have raised about $1 million for the Hall of Fame.

Vince Gill Saluting Hank Sr.

Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and Patty Loveless are among the stars contributing songs to the multi-artist compilation, Hank Williams: The Lost Notebooks, now in stores.  Bob Dylan spearheaded the project to find artists to finish incomplete Hank Williams, Sr. lyrics, and Alan Jackson contributed the album's first track "You've Been Lonesome, Too."  

Vince and his pal Rodney Crowell collaborated on the song "I Hope You Shed a Million Tears."  At first, Vince was a little intimidated by the prospect of working on the project, but having Rodney work with him made it fun. 

Vince and Rodney's song also features the Hank Williams' late steel guitar player Don Helms on his last recording before he died in 2008.  Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow, Merle Haggard, Jack White and Holly Williams are among the other artists on the Hank Williams: The Lost Notebooks project.

Twain (Mark) Gets A Country Tribute CD

Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Ricky Skaggs, Joe Diffie and others are paying tribute to Mark Twain.

They are part of a two-CD set, with a 40-page booklet, called “Mark Twain: Words and Music.” It’s spoken word and music to tell the life story of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, AKA Mark Twain, whose 175th birthday was celebrated last year.

The double-album is narrated by Garrison Keiller with Clint Eastwood as the voice of Twain and Jimmy Buffett voicing Huck Finn.

It’s on Buffett’s label, Mailboat Records, and is available for purchase now.

The CD is a benefit for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

Gill On Hollywood Walk Of Fame Honor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7294653@N07/

Vince Gill just has one request regarding his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,  that if they could give him a spot next to his wife Amy Grant's star, "that would be awesome." 

Gill has fond memories of living in Los Angeles in the late '70s and early '80s and admits he was "such a young person" who "hadn't really accomplished much of anything." 

Vince adds that at the time even the possibility of achieving some level of success or fame hadn't crossed his mind, and when he'd walk down Hollywood Boulevard and see the Walk of Fame honorees it never occurred to him to imagine one day having a star of his own. 

Vince will be added to the Walk as a 2012 recipient, but that doesn't mean his star will be unveiled next year. He and the other honorees have five years to schedule their ceremony.

My High School Reunion Was All That

Now THAT was a high school reunion worth talking about.  Twitter was buzzing with people excited to see Carrie Underwood at her 10 Year Checotah High School Reunion over the weekend.


“At Checotah High Class of 2001 HS Reunion and Carrie Underwood IS here,” tweeted a classmate of Carrie’s Saturday night, “More beautiful in person and friendly.”


@nightnursemo also tweeted a photo of the entire class.


Three years ago, Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks and joined on stage by Vince Gill.