CMA Fest 2016 - Relive it Wednesday, August 3!

Sam Hunt @ CMA Fest (photo by Chandler Turner)

One of my fave summertime weeks in Nashville: CMA Fest, a four day celebration in June featuring some of the greatest music to come out of our town. It was SUCH a blast to partake in the festivities this year, and I certainly can't wait to relive it all this Wednesday August 3, during “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” at 7:00 on ABC. 

Hosted by Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett, the biggest names in Country Music (Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley <swoon>, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Eldredge, Florida Georgia Line, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Cole Swindle, Cam, and Keith Urban - whew) join talents with Elle King, Pharrell Williams, Steven Tyler, and more for collabs that you cannot miss. 

The special will feature Bentley performing with Elle King; Bryan with Urban; Eldredge and Thomas Rhett; Lady Antebellum with Cam; Little Big Town with Pharrell Williams; Rascal Flatts with Maren Morris; Tyler with Martina McBride; Hank Williams, Jr. with Chris Janson and Justin Moore; and Chris Young duetting with Cassadee Pope. You can't make this level of epic up.

SO, you should check out a little preview of the show with one Carrie's hottest new singles, and a few shots from the night courtesy of experiencenash.com collaborator Chandler Turner. 

Luke Bryan @ CMA Fest

Chris Stapleton @ CMA Fest

Carrie Underwood @ CMA Fest

Check out a Live Performance from Little Big Town (and allow me to profess my love for just a moment)

Little Big Town's sixth studio album, Pain Killer, has officially graced us with its presence this week and ya'll - it is fantastic. I recently had the pleasure of sitting in on their Walmart Soundcheck live performance which further reiterated to me why they are one of most talented bands currently in country music. Their soaring harmonies, the quality of songs, the raw emotion: in other words, another level of talent, and the antithesis of 'bro country' - a welcome breath of fresh air and qualities which are increasingly (ridiculously) rare in country radio today.

Chatting with Little Big Town

Pain Killer's first single, Day Drinking, is the featured number on the first of a three-episode series the group recorded for Soundcheck, along with an exclusive interview featuring a little background on the new record. The fabulous Karen Fairchild says it best when she describes Pain Killer as aggressive, bold, and brave and notes they "wrestled it to the ground." Damn girl. I love it (and you. Ps. Remember when you told me I was cute?)

So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and check out recording - I promise, you won't regret it. Oh, and while you're there, you can also enter to win a signed guitar by Little Big Town. Nbd.

Be sure to stay tuned, as the remainder of LBT's episodes will be released in the upcoming weeks.

Attend a Songwriters Show + Support a Great Cause

I love supporting a cause and giving back to our fabulous Nashville community in any way I can. Just a few of the many perks of living in our city are the talented folks and music involved to help raise funds for charity. Creative Nation, a music publishing and management company owned by Luke and Beth Laird, is hosting a benefit for local organization Preston Taylor Ministries on Tuesday, October 21. 

The evening will include performances by Creative Nation’s talented roster songwriters: Luke Laird (hits include Carrie Underwood's "So Small", "Last Name", Little Big Towns "Pontoon", and Sara Evans "A Little Bit Stronger"), Barry Dean ("Pontoon", Jason Aldean's "1994" and Ingrid Michaelson's "Girls Chase Boys"), Natalie Hemby (Miranda Lambert's "White Liar", "Automatic", and Lady A's "Downtown") and Maggie Chapman, as well as some special guests. 

Don't miss your chance to be up close and personal with some of the biggest song writers in the world, all while helping provide hope to children living in the Preston Taylor public housing area, who every day face problems like drug use, gang involvement, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy, poor school performance, and crime.

The event begins at 6:00 PM at 3rd & Lindsley with all proceeds going directly to PTM. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased here. 

Reese Witherspoon's Nashville Home

Reese Witherspoon's Nashville home

The folks over at Variety mag report that our beloved Reese Witherspoon has purchased a new $1.95 million dollar 'fixer upper' in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Nashville. Hmmm. Something about $1.95 and 'fixer upper' don't really resonate with me. Anyway, the listing notes the 3,855 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath manse dates back to the 1930. Does this mean more fabulous Reese sightings in Nashville? Hope so.

Update: Rumor on the street is Reese will be opening up a biz in 12South. Stay tuned for more details.

Check out more pics of Reese's Nashville home courtesy of the listing on Zillow, below.

Nashville Restaurants Named Best in the South

We are so fortunate to live in a city consistently raising the bar when it comes to our dining scene. Southern Living Mag has just released their 100 Best Restaurants in the South, with so many Nashville spots making the cut. Congrats to 404 Kitchen leading the way with the number 3 spot.

404 Kitchen's Crudo, Image courtesy SouthernLiving.com

And here are the rest, in no particular order:

My chat with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr., and Keith Urban in Nashville

Whew, ya'll. Today was quite the whirlwind, and a day filled with firsts: My very first press line, first time meeting a pop superstar, first time meeting a cast member of one of the best movies EVER - Hope Floats (right?), and first time to hang with one of my favorite country musicians.

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and Harry Connick, Jr. in Nashville

American Idol 2014 auditions are now in full force, and Nashville is the latest pit stop for the judges looking to find the best of the best talent in the country. I have to admit, last night, I literally couldn't sleep. I felt like I was about to start a brand new job, or enter my freshman year of high school all over again (both terrifying in their own right). But thanks to some preparation by rehearsing Love Don't Cost a thing lyrics/choreography, and some advice from my friend Sarah at Sarah Lai PR, I managed to confidently conquer my latest Nashville experience.

When the judges made it down to our end of the line, I wanted to know anything and everything they thought about Nashville (and a little about that show American Idol). Alas, this is what I discovered:

American Idol Auditions are coming to Nashville this Wednesday!

Ok, so, I've been an American Idol fan since the beginning. Some of my favorite artists happen to include the fabulous Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. I mean.. It's no big deal but, I clearly remember crying with them as they took home their respective crowns, and, I may or may or may still tear up a bit whilst listening to A Moment Like This and Inside Your Heaven. No judgement.

Anyway, the excitement continues as AI Season '14 kicks off and Music City is going to be play big part in it. Auditions will be held here in Nashville on Wednesday, July 30-- and here are all the pertinent deets, should you have what it takes to be the next American Idol.