Latest news with #Nashville
RNZ News
26 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Auckland City's Cool Runnings moment justifies FIFA Club World Cup sojourn
Players from Auckland City FC celebrate after their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 game against CA Boca Juniors. Photo: ALEX GRIMM / AFP Analysis - Auckland City FC just had their very own Cool Runnings moment. Much like the ragtag Jamaican bobsled team in the 1993 Disney classic, this group of amateurs eventually held their own among the elite of their sport - despite a chastening start. In the movie, very loosely based on a true story, a group of unlikely Olympians led by the belligerent John Candy crash out while proving they deserve their place at the 1988 Calgary Winter Games. Auckland City did just that this week, holding Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors to a stunning 1-1 draw in Nashville at the FIFA Club World Cup. In another case of life imitating art, they did so after falling flat on their face in the opener, humbled 10-0 by German giants Bayern Munich. Bayern winger Michael Olise summed up the mismatch when he offered little sympathy for his non-professional opponents post-match. Bayern Munich's Kingsley Coman gets the better of Auckland City FC's Michael Den Heijer and Adam Mitchell. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Of all the European clubs to face first, Bayern are arguably the most ruthlessly unsentimental. Benfica followed up with a 6-0 drubbing of their own. It was the first time Auckland City had faced European opponents thanks to this year's revamp, which has removed the preamble of a play-off round before the big hitters arrive, and a 16-0 aggregate scoreline demonstrated the gulf in quality. Again, like in the greatest sports comedy of all time (sorry, Caddyshack ), the world initially laughed. Auckland City - from New Zealand's semi-pro National League, not to be confused with professional A-League side Auckland FC - became an easy punchline and a stick with which to beat FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his vision for a truly global club competition. So it was fitting that Infantino was there in person to witness one-man pun machine Christian Gray shackle $64 million striker Edinson Cavani and score the equaliser. An aspiring teacher, Gray became the perfect symbol of the amateur spirit, tickled 50 shades of pink, his joy a stark contrast to the polished professionals around him. Auckland City FC's Christian Gray scores and celebrates his goal against Boca Juniors at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Photo: It's easy to forget that Auckland are, in fact, the most regular participant in Club World Cup history. Their dominance in the OFC Champions League has seen them represent the region time and again. They even finished third in 2014. The difference this time was the calibre of opposition put in front of them from the offset. So, was it worth it? The draw with Boca certainly wiped the slate clean. Another hammering might have made it hard to claim any positives, but it's difficult to argue against the visibility this tournament gave them. Financially, the reported US$4.5 million (NZ$7.4m) prize pool is huge. But questions remain. A New Zealand Football distribution model may see some of that money diverted away from the club. Meanwhile, the trip to America came at a domestic cost - Auckland were eliminated from the Chatham Cup by lower-league Waiheke United and now face a battle just to finish top four in the Northern League. That's a must if they want future invites to FIFA's flagship events. Still, those are small sacrifices for what's been a once-in-a-lifetime ride. It's back to reality soon enough. In two weeks, they'll make a three-hour road trip to face Tauranga City, playing beside a construction site in front of one hardy stand shielding fans from the elements. A far cry from where they have just been. But they'll always have Nashville.
ABC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Encore: Ann Patchett's three fathers, her writing and her secret power
Ann Patchett is an acclaimed American novelist and the owner of an independent bookstore in Nashville. Ann has had three fathers — Frank, Mike and Darrell, who have each provided her with material or motivation for her writing. In 1974 Frank signed up for a subscription to the '100 Greatest Books of All Time' from the Franklin Library, every page complete with gilded edges, and a sewn-in satin-ribbon bookmark. Once all three fathers had died, Ann could finally see what they had given her throughout her life — strength, adoration and acceptance. In her new book, Ann weaves the stories of her fathers into a book of essays about going a year without shopping and becoming dear friends with Tom Hanks' assistant. Further information Originally broadcast in December 2021. These Precious Days is published by Bloomsbury. Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce settles age-old debate as he finally names his favorite Taylor Swift song of all-time
Stand down Swifties, Travis Kelce has finally named his all-time favorite Taylor Swift song... and the answer may come as something of a surprise. For many months, fans of the pop superstar have wondered which song her NFL star boyfriend holds in highest regard. At Eras Tour shows around the world, Kelce has belted out all the classics, and has also presumably heard many secret songs behind the scenes living with Swift herself. After her surprise performance in Nashville earlier this week, Swift's music is back in the headlines once again, and Kelce has been quizzed on his favorite song of hers. In an interview with Bussin with the Boys host Will Compton, Kelce took a second and then revealed a surprise selection: So High School. It has been widely claimed in the past that some of the lyrics in the song reference Kelce and their relationship, particularly the line: 'You know how to ball, I know Aristotle'. Travis Kelce reveals that 'So High School' is his favorite Taylor Swift song: 'I guess So High School☺️… I'm nervous. You're making me nervous.' — Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) June 26, 2025 Another part of the song sees Swift sing 'are you gonna marry, kiss, or kill me', which fans claim is a reference to a viral interview in which Kelce was asked to choose between Swift, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry. Some Swift fans would perhaps have expected Kelce to choose 'Karma' as his favorite song, given the pop superstar regularly changed the lyrics to reference Kelce and her 'guy on the Chiefs' during her sold-out Eras Tour show. On Thursday, meanwhile, NFL star George Kittle lifted the lid on Swift's shock performance at a concert hosted by Kelce in Nashville on Tuesday night. The singer sent the crowd wild with a rendition of Shake It Off as she joined Kane Brown at 'Tight Ends and Friends', much to the surprise of those in attendance. Now, Kittle has opened up on Swift's cameo and revealed that she was unsure over which song to perform before being reassured by Kelce's pals. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Kittle explained: 'She was fantastic. For the venue that, I think, it was maybe 1,000 people, that was the loudest 1,000 people I've ever heard in my entire life. It was an incredible experience. 'Taylor could not have been kinder, more nice, and she was like, "I think it might be fun to go sing 'Shake It Off.'" And we were like, "It'd be amazing. Twist my arm, Taylor, please".'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CMA Fest raises $2.5 million for music education
Before eager country music fans packed the Riverfront Stage and the big stage at Nissan Stadium lit up for the opening night of the CMA Fest, a local high school marching band turned heads in downtown Nashville. The Ravenwood High School marching band, known as The Rhythmic Ravens, lined up outside Music City Center before marching into the Fan Fair X space on June 5. Police vehicles moved out of the way to clear the view. Friends, family and perfect strangers gathered to watch as the band played. And Tiffany Kerns, the executive director of the CMA Foundation, said she got teary-eyed as she watched it all unfold. "I just can't help but have a sense of pride for them," Kerns said. "Everyone's proud. Everyone has their phones out. Everyone's taking video. It's like, 'Oh, we're all parents right now.'" This year, the festival brought in $2.5 million that will help power music education for kids like the Rhythmic Ravens in Tennessee and nationwide, Kerns said. A lesser-known fact about the annual CMA Fest is that artists donate their time to the festival and ticket proceeds go to the CMA Foundation. The nonprofit arm of the County Music Association was established in 2011 to partner with schools and music educators, provide grants and build equity in music education programs. Ticket sales aren't the only thing that benefit the foundation during CMA Fest, Kerns said. Some artists sell merchandise that also goes toward the cause. Country music star Carly Pearce took a step further by cleaning out her closet and selling her clothes during a special "Carly's Closet" pop-up on Saturday. Eager fans lined up to get some swag and catch a performance by the "Hummingbird" singer. Organizers said the event brought in $25,000 this year, making it the largest one to date. The Rhythmic Ravens were the first of several performances that featured students during this year's festival, which drew tens of thousands to Nashville. Other students on the lineup included New Orleans musicians from nonprofit Roots of Music, the Riverdale High School marching band, the Stratford High School marching band, Nashville School of the Arts student and songwriter Kingston Kharif, a rock band from Percy Priest Elementary and others. Opinion: My music students will play at CMA Fest. More kids need this opportunity Kerns hopes the experience the kids have at CMA Fest sticks with them for years to come. "Seeing the way that it brings joy to young people is a real gift," Kerns said. Learn more about the CMA Foundation and its work at This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Fest 2025: $2.5 million raised for music education
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Zach Top among Sunday's unforgettable moments at CMA Fest
Bailey Zimmerman's heart-on-his-sleeve passion. Luke Bryan's earnest, aw-shucks appeal. Dierks Bentley and Ashley McBryde showcasing stellar song catalogues and band leadership. With all of this and a lot more along the way Sunday evening, the 52nd CMA Fest closed its 2025 edition with a slate of established and rising country artists shining brightly as ever. Some say country music is about faith, family and fun. For others, the genre boils down to three chords and the truth. But it's the power in how superstars deliver those values that has kept the genre's fans coming back to Music City's Nissan Stadium year after year. And yes, even multi-platinum-selling rapper BigXThaPlug joined the festivities for his Zimmerman duet "All The Way," showing that when it hits just right, country music's appeal is stunningly broad and undeniable. Here are the night's most memorable moments: Co-signs from Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley are among the reasons why Zach Top's 2024-released debut album "Cold Beer and Country Music" emerged as one of last year's must-listen smashes. His Sunday evening set at the 52nd CMA Fest ushered in the next chapter of showcasing his uncanny ability to blend top-tier musicianship with deceptively simple songwriting into a hit-making blend. Top's performance of "Sounds Like The Radio" swept the crowd into an almost immediate two-stepping frenzy. More than ever, his sound feels comfortably flexible in filling floors on dancehall nights, appealing to a crowd at the Ryman Auditorium, or in any of the larger arenas, amphitheaters, or stadiums that have dotted his tour schedule for the past few years. Songs like "Bad Luck," recent radio chart-topper "I Never Lie" and cheating anthem "Use Me" showcase the emotional range of his work. The latter's use of the pedal steel guitar adds an appreciable whiskey-woozy vibe to the waltz-time tempo. Top also debuted his self-described "hopefully next great summer country anthem," 'Good Times & Tan Lines' during the set. Time will tell if his assertion is correct, but the fawning approval of 50,000 country fans to its honky-tonk twang on a perfect Nashville Sunday night feels like it's off to a great start. Back-to-back years' CMA Fest co-host Ashley McBryde brought her swagger to the Nissan Stadium stage. As expected, the tattooed and leather pant-clad rocker performed a rousing blend of rootsy and authentically heartfelt sounds. The CMA award winner's scintillating "Rattlesnake Preacher" kicked off her set, followed by "Made For This," the 2023 ode to her hard-touring lifestyle and "Devil I Know" album track. McBryde performing a cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" was unexpected. But the performer and her band are skilled in whipping up excitable crowd, even when it means defying genre expectations. Her rendition was a sing-along moment. There's something about songs like "Ain't Enough Water In The River" and "One Night Standards" that makes them feel like well-worn A-sides and B-sides of long-treasured records. "The thing I love about country music is that sad songs keep us happy and cheating songs keep us faithful," McBryde said before playing the "cheating song" "Tired Of Being Happy." McBryde closed her set by welcoming the New Orleans Roots of Music band to the stage. The group that promotes the Crescent City's musical heritage through music education and mentorship received a round of applause. Twenty-one year-old Avery Anna achieved her biggest dreams of country stardom via her performance on CMA Fest's platform stage in the center of the crowd at Nissan Stadium. Briefly overwhelmed by the opportunity, she played a vulnerable rendition of "Indigo," her grief-stricken duet with Sam Barber, which currently rising through the ranks of the country radio charts. She stopped at the end of her chorus, eyes welling with tears. 'I can't sing the last line,' she said, smiling. Another underground-to-mainstream success story, Big Loud-signed Alabama native Kashus Culpepper performed "After Me?" and "Pour Me Out," two of his growing collection of earnestly sung and well-regarded material, on Nissan Stadium's platform stage. "Blows my mind," the blues, folk, gospel and soul-rooted rising star offered to an impressed crowd. Dierks Bentley, the "Burning Man" himself, brought the crowd to their feet the second the first guitar strum lit the stage afire. "This is the greatest weekend of our lives, we call it the 'Country Music singers' Thanksgiving,'" Bentley told the crowd. Audience cutaways showed fans swaying their hands and lip syncing, "I've been gone, I've been gone, I've been sittin' on the couch watching TV all day long." Bentley's gravel-edge rasp flowed like a smooth river. He injected energy into Nissan Stadium his toe-tapping singles, "Burnin' Man," "Gone" and "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)." Bentley is set to release his album, "Broken Branches," on June 13. He offered a taste with his final song, "She Hates Me." "This is the all-star fans, the greatest of the greats," Bentley bragged to the audience of country music's No. 1 fans. "Such an honor to be here." The father of three brought Zach Top back to the stage for a hip-swaying, knee-slapping rendition of Alabama's classic "Mountain Music." Before letting Top go, Bentley put his arm around the 27-year-old in a fatherly way, "Let me tell you something about this guy… This is the future of country music right here, Zach Top. Now get your ass out of here." Bentley jumped into "What Was I Thinking?" and then took a literal meaning to the song title, telling the crowd that it was his last song and walking off. Before he escaped the spotlight, he paused and counted his fingers. He then had an "aha moment," turned around and said he had one more song, his mega hit, "Drunk on a Plane." Luke Bryan, 30 No. 1 hits (and counting), closed CMA Fest with a set primarily comprised of instantly recognizable country radio anthems, including his most recent "Mind of A Country Boy" album hit, "Love You, Miss You, Mean It." Appropriately, the "American Idol" co-host opened with "I Don't Want This Night to End" and "Kick The Dust Up," a pair of still-beloved, decade-old hits. Strapping on an electric guitar and leading his band headlong into "What Makes You Country," Bryan flashed a youthful smile. The opportunity to close CMA Fest motivated Bryan to push his vocal and instrumental abilities to the limit. Did that include sitting at a piano to perform the crowd favorite power ballad "Strip It Down?" It sure did. Before a still eager Sunday evening crowd, his hip-shimmying cheekiness showcased during "Knockin' Boots" and "That's My Kind of Night" and the most commonplace of rural ideals, say, like, "hunting, fishing and loving every day," translated to ear-warming choruses. As the night wore into Monday morning, Bryan unleashed "Country Girl Shake It For Me," arguably his career-defining hit. The type of frenzy the banjo-driven down-home rocker whips fans into hit a new level as CMA Fest closed. During the celebration, a Nissan Stadium security guard and "Rodney," a Resistol hat and American flag overall-clad fan, were invited onstage to dance alongside the country superstar. "We love you Nashville," offered Bryan as his band played into the night. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Fest: Luke Bryan, Ashley McBryde, Zach Top among the best moments
