Having grown up with big music dreams, Carly Pearce knows the importance of helping young students with similar aspirations.
That's why she teamed with the CMA Foundation recently to pay a surprise visit to students at Knoxville, Tennessee's Bearden Middle School.
"I asked [these kids] if they knew what they wanted to do when they grew up and so many of them raised their hands," Carly tells the press. "I hope that that childlike ambition and wonder stays with them, and that nobody makes them believe that they can't do what they want to do because they can."
Being a child with huge, sometimes unconventional music dreams is something Carly relates to.
"I think for me, I felt a little bit like the odd kid out because I wanted to do music and I wanted to write songs, and I wanted to be on stage," she says, adding that it's important to encourage and nurture young talents. "I know that that changed my life as a kid, just having teachers [who] believed in me and opportunities and instruments and all that kind of stuff."
"If it weren't for Les Woodard, my fifth-grade music teacher, I don't know that I would have had such a young belief in myself that I could do this," Carly continues, emphasizing why being "a voice for music education with the CMA Foundation" is imperative for her.
"For me, my biggest dream was to sing country music, and now I'm playing on the biggest stage that our format has," Carly says of CMA Fest, which all artists volunteer their time to play at. "I think that's a beautiful thing and it really does matter what we're taught as kids."
This year's CMA Fest takes place June 6-9, with ticket proceeds supporting the CMA Foundation's music education programs. For tickets and the full lineup, visit cmafest.com.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreCarly Pearce on teaming with CMA Foundation to be "a voice for music education"
Five of Garth Brooks' iconic albums, including 1990's No Fences and 1992's The Chase, are now available on vinyl. You can grab your copy while supplies last at TalkShopLive's website.
Walker Hayes has teamed up with Athletic Brewing Co. to launch a new Fancy Like nonalcoholic beer. The six-pack's available for purchase now at athleticbrewing.com.
Vince Gill has announced his An Evening With Vince Gill residency at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The four-day event is slated for August 1-4, and tickets go on sale May 3 at 10 a.m. CT at ryman.com.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNashville notes: Garth's new LPs + Vince's Ryman residency
Luke Combs' Growin' Up and Gettin' Old Tour is off to a record-breaking start.
According to a press release, the country superstar scored the "highest single-night and two-night attendance" at Milwaukee’s American Family Field with 44,752 and 86,720 atten
"Biggest show I’ve played in my life," Luke captioned his Instagram carousel of photos from his Pennsylvania stop. "Unbelievable. Thank you, State College, for a show we’ll never forget."
Luke's upcoming tour dates include two-night stops in Jacksonville, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and Santa Clara, California, on May 3 and May 4; May 10 and May 11; and May 17 and May 18, respectively.
For tickets and the full Growin' Up and Gettin' Old Tour schedule, visit Luke's website.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreLuke Combs kicks off stadium tour with record-breaking attendance
Gabby Barrett's "Dance Like No One's Watching" music video drops on Wednesday, but she's giving you an early peek ahead of its release.
The singer took to social media Tuesday to share a 16-second snippet of the visualizer, featuring several heartwarming father-daughter clips spanning years.
"Get your tissues ready… The Dance Like No One’s Watching music video premieres tomorrow at 10am CT," Gabby shared on Instagram.
You can head to Gabby's YouTube to set a reminder to be notified as soon as the music video drops.
"Dance Like No One's Watching" is the second single off Gabby's sophomore album, Chapter & Verse. The 14-track project arrived in February and features its lead single, "Glory Days."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreGabby Barrett teases new music video: "Get your tissues ready"
ERNEST celebrated his son Ryman's third birthday in style at Stagecoach Festival.
The "Flower Shops" singer took to Instagram to share snapshots of the celebration, which included family photos with his wife, Delaney, and a shot of Ryman smiling at rapper Wiz Khalifa.
"I wanna be Ryman for a day," ERNEST captioned his Instagram carousel.
"dude is gonna have some sick stories one day," up-and-comer Noah Hicks commented on ERNEST's post.
Delaney also posted an Instagram carousel on her account, captioning it, "3 years of Ryman!! A birthday we will never forget."
ERNEST's latest album, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, is out now on digital music platforms.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreERNEST celebrates son Ryman's third birthday
Get ready to see some of country music's biggest stars live in conversation at CMA Fest.
Global icon Dolly Parton will kick off Fan Fair X on Thursday, June 6, for a special CMA Close Up Stage conversation hosted by entertainment correspondent Rachel Smith.
Following that, Cody Johnson, Thomas Rhett and Lainey Wilson will take the Artist of the Day spotlight on Friday, June 7; Saturday, June 8; and Sunday, June 9, respectively.
Dolly will also launch an ALL ACCESS! Pop Up Experience at Fan Fair X. Opening every day, the experience will feature Dolly's merch items and brand products as well as samples and demonstrations from her forthcoming cookbook, Good Lookin’ Cookin’, which she co-authored with her sister, Rachel Parton George.
Other artists hitting the CMA Close Up Stage include Sam Hunt, Nate Smith, Chayce Beckham, Carly Pearce, Mickey Guyton and Craig Morgan.
You can find the full Fan Fair X and CMA Close Up Stage schedule now at cmafest.com.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreCMA Fest adds Dolly, Lainey, Thomas, Cody + more to CMA Close Up Stage lineup
Jelly Roll has enjoyed hit records and major awards since he first broke through last year, but one of the most memorable things he's experienced, he says, has been appearing on so many TV programs. However, there is one show that he hasn't yet been on and really, really wants to be on — as an actor.
"Man, I've been on TV more times than I ever would have dreamed of being on TV," Jelly told ABC News at the Stagecoach Festival. "I mean, Good Morning America, [Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve] ... American Idol. I've been a part of television programs I've watched for decades."
But the one program he's willing to beg to be on is — drumroll, please— American Horror Story. Describing himself as a stan of the FX series, he raved to ABC News about getting to meet one of the show's stars, Emma Roberts, at Stagecoach. "Me and my wife fanned out both times we seen her," he said.
The "Save Me" singer offered a plea directly to Ryan Murphy, the co-creator and co-producer of American Horror Story.
"Ryan, please call me, man," Jelly begged. "I know you don't know me. If we could do a 30-minute Zoom and just let me hard sell you on why I should be in the next American Horror Story, I'd appreciate it."
His plea continued, "Ryan Murphy. Yell at me. I'm shooting at you every time I get a chance on a national platform. Ryan Murphy, I'll get my people with your people. I just need 15 to 30 minutes."
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreJelly Roll begs for a role on his favorite TV show: "Please call me
If you've heard "Sounds Like the Radio," you've unknowingly got a glimpse of Zach Top's country music love story.
Chatting with ABC Audio at Stagecoach Festival, Zach talks about the genesis of his partly autobiographical tune and why he's a big fan of it.
"We didn't set out to write it as a biopic, but it kind of turned out that way. It's a little bit of my story of how I fell in love with country music, and that's just a fun one," says Zach, who co-wrote the track with Carson Chamberlain and Wyatt McCubbin.
"You don't hear many dancing songs anymore. I think that's a perfect song to get out there with your girl and two-step," he adds.
With "radio" in its title, Zach says "Sounds Like the Radio" was long destined to be a single on country radio.
"I love that song. We always thought that would be, ever since we wrote it, it was like, 'Man, that should be the first radio single.' It's got radio in the title. A little soft pandering never hurts," shares the country newcomer.
"So yeah, really excited to have that thing out and excited for the reception it's got so far in radio land and with the fans," adds Zach.
"Sounds Like the Radio" is currently approaching the top 30 of the country charts. It's the lead single off Zach's debut album, Cold Beer & Country Music, out now.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreZach Top on writing "Sounds Like the Radio" + why it's his debut single
Scotty McCreery will be performing on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Wednesday, May 1. You can check your local listings for tune-in information.
Country up-and-comer Jonathan Hutcherson has shared that he'll be "announcing something" on Instagram Live Tuesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. CT.
George Strait and Chris Stapleton will kick off their next leg of stadium shows on May 4 in Indianapolis. It'll continue in Jacksonville, Charlotte, Chicago and more, before wrapping in Las Vegas on December 7. For tickets and a full list of dates, head to George's website.
Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Read moreNashville notes: Scotty headed to 'Kelly Clarkson' + Jonathan Hutcherson's announcement