Latest news with #CountryMusicAssociationEntertaineroftheYear
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Knoxville's Kenny Chesney to be inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Country Music Hall of Fame announced that Kenny Chesney from Knoxville will be part of their Class of 2025. In addition to Chesney, Tony Brown and June Carter Cash are also being inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Country Music Association announced on Tuesday. All three will be formally inducted during a medallion ceremony later this year at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's CMA Theater in Nashville. Lady Vol pitcher Karlyn Pickens throws fastest pitch in college softball history A Knoxville native, Chesney released his first record in 1994 and first had a song hit number one in 1997. Since then, he's released a triple Platinum album and won multiple Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year awards. He has performed, and sold out, NFL stadiums in multiple cities. He also sold out the Neyland Stadium at the University of Tennessee. He is famous for his 'voracious' fan base known as 'No Shoes Nation,' according to the Country Music Association. Chesney spoke during the announcement in which he highlighted other Hall of Fame members from East Tennessee including Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins and Dean Dillon. 'It is a big thrill and a big honor for me to stand up here knowing that I am going into the Hall of Fame with three people from East Tennessee,' he said. 'That means the world to me.' He explained that he wants to spread love and positive energy with his music. Cades Cove vehicle-free Wednesdays delayed 'It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was a kid in East Tennessee,' Chesney said. 'If you would have told that kid… that this was going to happen, I would have told you that you were crazy.' Fellow inductee June Carter Cash also has a Knoxville connection, her family having been regulars on Knoxville's radio show 'Tennessee Barn Dance,' according to the Country Music Association. The full announcement is available on YouTube. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eric Church to release his latest album, 'Evangeline vs The Machine, in May
A perpetual desire to perfect the art of country music is at the core of Eric Church's latest album "Evangeline vs The Machine," out May 2, 2025, via EMI Nashville. His desire to, as a press statement notes, "champion the power of cohesive storytelling" has driven him to take his latest album as "a snapshot in time that lasts for all time." 'I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art — I think it's important. I've always let creativity be the muse. It's been a compass for me. The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, 'Oh, that's like (his 2011 breakout album) 'Chief' or that's like this.'" "Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, 'Wow, that's not what I thought.' I think that's my job as an artist," adds the former Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year award winner. The album's trio of announced songs highlights Church's desire to directly engage with how deeply impacted he is by the changing nature of our collective emotional state during evolving times. The lead single 'Hands Of Time reflects how Church notes that "as I get older, I'm looking for things that make me feel not as old. I can honestly say that when I hear music or see something from my past, I feel like I did then; I relate to what it was then. I really believe that a good way to handle that is with music." 'Darkest Hour,' released in Sept. 2024 to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, with all of Church's publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of his home state of North Carolina. 'That song had the chance to change things — it already has. The greatest concert I've ever played was the Concert for Carolina — that's the greatest thing I've been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people's lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish," Church adds. He also pushes his artistry via the recently only live-previewed "Johnny," which is not just a reinterpretation of The Charlie Daniels Band's 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia.' It's also inspired by his thoughts about the Covenant School tragedy. 'About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,' he explained when introducing the song during CRS. 'Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I've ever done in my life — parent or otherwise — is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside." "I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia.' I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil's not in Georgia, he's everywhere. I went home and wrote 'Johnny'.' Hands Of Time (written by Eric Church, Scooter Carusoe) Bleed On Paper (written by Tucker Beathard, Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell) Johnny (written by Eric Church, Luke Laird, Brett Warren) Storm In Their Blood (written by Eric Church) Darkest Hour (written by Eric Church) Evangeline (written by Eric Church, Luke Laird, Barry Dean) Rocket's White Lincoln (written by Eric Church) Clap Hands (written by Tom Waits) Fans can also pre-order an Amazon Music exclusive 'Evangeline vs. The Machine' vinyl in translucent light blue, available on or directly in the Amazon Music app, with fast and free shipping for Prime members via This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's Eric Church to release 'Evangeline vs The Machine' album
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Morgan Wallen Field? Gibbs High School may rename baseball facility for country star alum
CORRYTON, Tenn. (WATE) — The baseball field at Gibbs High School might soon be renamed after one of the school's most famous graduates—country singer Morgan Wallen. The 2011 Gibbs graduate played baseball for the Eagles and has since become one of the most famous country music artists in the world, having won the 2024 Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year award among many other honors. If approved, the facility would be renamed 'Morgan Wallen Field.' Gibbs Principal Jason Webster submitted the nomination to district officials in October, citing Wallen's career accomplishments and numerous charitable contributions to area schools. Additionally, Webster wrote in the nomination form that Wallen would like to make a $1,200,000 donation to enhance the athletics facilities at Gibbs High School. Campbell County corrections officer fired, charged after allegedly chasing man Webster's nomination includes letters of support from Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, Knox County Board of Education Chair Betsy Henderson, Gibbs Athletic Director Dustin Mynatt and other local officials. The Knox County Schools Naming Facilities Committee will consider the name change at an upcoming meeting on March 7. 'Dolly', the oldest rhinoceros in the U.S., dies at Zoo Knoxville Wallen previously donated $140,000 for Gibbs Ruritan Park and $100,000 for Jefferson County baseball park. Other contributions to local schools include: $35,000 donated to Gibbs High School $20,000 donated to Adrian Burnette Elementary $7,500 donated to Powell High School $5,000 donated to Dogwood Elementary $5,000 donated to Pleasant Ridge Elementary Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
