Category: country music

This is where you fan yourself using your hand, quickly making your top picks, or squealing in excitement to see if one of your handsome country music men made it to this list.

Nowadays, hotness sometimes is determined by something other than the figure and facial aspects. It can be attributed to talent, abilities, and passion. Long gone (kind of) are the days when men are hot because of what they wear. Country music men wearing a white tank top, jeans, and a hat? Hot. Country music men exude charm and emotion through their songs. Hot. Country music men with their songs topping multiple charts? Hot. We’re already in this era where we look past a person’s physical attributes. 

These artists are proof that hot isn’t sometimes meant to be taken literally. In this generation, hot is defined by hard work, love and passion, and sincerity in your chosen craft.

From Gary Allan to Sam Hunt, the boys of Florida Georgia Line, and Blake Shelton, these men aren’t only looking to slay the charts with their songs; they’re out here to snatch our hearts with their powerful and soothing vocals and their lovely visuals in their music videos. Even the men from the 90s deserve a spot on this list! Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw made sure to steal the spotlight with their charismatic staredowns in pictures during their younger years.

Just the sheer talent, charisma, and passion of these men already make them the hottest country music male singers.

1. Blake Shelton

Do you mean nine Grammy Award nominations? Gold and platinum (triple, by the way) album certifications by the RIAA? Hell yeah, Blake Shelton made it here! Most of his songs topped the country charts upon release, as proved by the album certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on most of his albums.

2. Kane Brown

At first glance, Kane Brown has the charm that no one else has. You can immediately recognize him because of his facial features. You probably don’t know, but Kane Brown became the first artist to simultaneously have a single top-five chart. Please talk about the immense talent we’ve got there.

3. Clint Black

Clint Black stole the spotlight with two triple-platinum albums, his prominent jawline, and his distinct way of smiling. Black radiates warmth and bright energy that makes you want to smile when you see him, too, even if it’s just in the pictures. Have I mentioned his jawline that just stood out while he was during his younger years?

4. Keith Urban

Long hair? Not a problem for Keith Urban. The four-time Grammy Award winner made his way into our hearts with his subtle smirk and a small smile. Urban’s third album was certified four-time platinum by the RIAA because of the number of copies sold globally. It’s no surprise that Urban is one of today’s hot male country singers because of his talent and smile.

5. Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelly

Our boys of the Florida Georgia Line made it to the list, this time because of how they’re physically built. Have you seen their photos of them wearing tank tops? They’ve been working out hard. Aside from that, their debut song, “Cruise,” broke a significant sales record by becoming a single that was downloaded over seven million times. A fact that added to their handsomeness, ey?

6. Sam Hunt

Warming, charming, beautiful, and all other adjectives are not enough to describe how bright Sam Hunt’s smile is. Playing football during high school and college helped form his current athletic build. He released several record-breaking songs and chart-topping albums, which shows how incredibly talented he is. 

7. Jason Aldean

Those piercing brown eyes, charming smile, and overall aura are why Jason Aldean is one of the most handsome country singers today. His charisma in his music videos and the emotion he pours out from his songs earned him a spot on this list. Also, talk about nailing that hat!

8. Kenny Chesney

Muscles build muscles and create. Kenny Chesney has won the Entertainer Award of the Year from the Country Music Association Awards. Chesney goes all out for his performances, giving out his best, sometimes in just a tank top and denim jeans. And yes, you can witness the perfection of his arm muscles.

9. Thomas Rhett

Award-winning country music singer and songwriter Thomas Rhett graces this list of the hottest country singers because of his cute and shy-like smile. Debuting in 2013, he has co-written and performed hits that made it to the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Also, almost all of his songs were certified platinum by the RIAA multiple times.

10. Tim McGraw

Tim McGraw’s combination of talent, vocal prowess, and sharp good looks land him a spot on our list. With over 80 million records sold worldwide and three Grammy Awards (not to mention other awards) under his name, he proves that passion and hard work make the dream work. 

And that concludes our list for the hottest country music men! Watch out for the new releases of your favorite on our list and be sure to follow them.

Stay tuned for more!

Keystone Mission is hosting a concert with featured country music artist, Mo Pitney live at the F.M. Kirby Center for Performing Arts on February 11, 2023.

Mo Pitney is known for his song Behind This Guitar which cracked Billboard’s Top Ten Country Albums Chart in 2016 the first week of its release. Pitney’s latest song Ain’t Lookin’ Back is available to stream or download.

CEO and Executive Director of Keystone Mission, Justin Behrens says, “[we] are excited to bring Mo Pitney, an amazing country singer, here to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Keystone Mission is an organization dedicated to helping the homeless and working with our community to bring hope to the homeless, hungry, and hurting people. This is done by bringing community members together and bring the issues surrounding homelessness to the forefront.”

The Mo Pitney concert is Keystone’s way to thank the community of NEPA for their ongoing support to Keystone Mission’s work with men and women whom are experiencing homelessness.

Mo Pitney tickets are $10 and available to purchase at the Kirby Center Box Office, online at kirbycenter.org, and by phone at 570-826-1100.

This is a great concert to bring friends for a good night of country music.

Are you looking the perfect gift to give to your family or friends this Christmas?

Or maybe you just want something to look forward to after the festive season.

Well, why not secure your place at the biggest country music event of the year – The Northern Ireland Country Music Awards 2023 as voted by the public!

A host of favourite stars including ]current leading artists Derek Ryan, Robert Mizzell, Lee Matthews, David James, Liam Kelly, Owen Mac, Patricia Maguire, Paul Kelly, John Rafferty & Shauna McStravock will be taking part.

There will also be new and upcoming stars like youngest performer, 14 year old Cailin Joe, direct from performing on RTE’s Late Late toy show, Country singer & Garth Brooks tribute Neil Hobson (BBC There’s no place like Tyrone) and the beautiful, talented Sinead Heaney (granddaughter of Susan McCann).

Of course the event would not be complete without the Queen of Country for 60 years, Philomena Begley. And there will be other legends including gentleman Billy McFarland who will be officially recognised for his unbelievable and huge contribution of 75 years in the industry.

The evening will be hosted by Industry Professional Professional Malcolm McDowell & Sky Tv’s Natasha Magee.

Also taking part are Special Co Hosts 1st Lady Susan McCann and the legendary Downtown presenter Big T who celebrates 50 years as our ambassador and leading radio presenter.

Tickets are only available online and are emailed directly to you after purchase.

Unreserved Cabaret Style Round Tables & Spacious Seating.

Doors open 7:30 Show Starts 8pm.

Tickets £25+ Booking Fee

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/445161519087

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Country music singer and songwriter Sara Evans is set to perform in the capital city later this month at the Stormont Vail Events Center.

Evans will be visiting Topeka as part of her “Go Tell It On The Mountain” Christmas Tour. She will be at the events center on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20.

Evans is recognized as the fifth most-played female artist at country radio in nearly the last two decades. She is known for songs such as, “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place To State,” “Born To Fly” and “A Little Bit Stronger.”

To get your ticket and get more information, click here.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – Songwriters are an important part of country music, and music Tin general. the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre is hosting an event that features hit Nashville songwriters who have some #1 songs you may know and love! Kyle Jennings is one of those songwriters performing live on Friday night with a bunch of his storytelling friends – he joins us today.

>>>Take a look!

Kyle Jennings & Friends

Friday, December 9th @ 8pm
Kalamazoo State Theatre
Get tickets at Ticketmaster
Or call 269-345-6500

• Actor Alexander Ludwig released his debut country music album, “Highway 99,” in August.

• The “Vikings” and “Heels” star tells Insider that he’s been writing music since he was a child.

• On Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” video, he said:  “What’s panties in your mouth at this point?”

You may recognize Alexander Ludwig from his role as babyfaced killer Cato opposite Jennifer Lawrence in the first “Hunger Games” movie, or as the boy-heir turned king, Björn Ironside, in the hit show “Vikings.” But, now, the actor is ready to share a new side of himself: Alexander Ludwig, the country singer.

Ludwig, 30, released his debut album, “Highway 99,” in August after signing a record deal with BBR Music Group/BMG last year. The Canadian actor-turned-singer is in great company at BBR, which is also home to Jason Aldean and Lainey Wilson.

“Highway 99,” described as a record about “small towns, wild nights, broken hearts, and big dreams, brought together by a mixture of amplified guitars, climactic choruses, and heartfelt hooks,” shows a softer side to the actor, best known for playing Viking king Björn Ironside in History’s often bloody and brutal “Vikings” between 2014 and 2020.

Ludwig tells Insider that he began to plan for a career in music while shooting the final season of “Vikings,” but despite his acting fame, it wasn’t a guarantee that he’d land a record deal.

“By the time I was done with the show, I started taking trips to Nashville — with little to no contacts whatsoever,” he says. “I tried to meet as many people as I could, write with as many people as I could.”

When I speak to Ludwig over Zoom in October, he is in London to perform his first-ever UK showcase in front of select media and fans.

Here, Ludwig tells Insider about his foray into country, his “Vikings” legacy, the pro-wrestling drama “Heels,” and just how he ended up having Nicki Minaj’s panties stuffed in his mouth in her “Super Freaky Girl” music video.

How did you get into country music?

A lot of people don’t realize there’s a massive country fanbase in Canada. That’s what I grew up on. It’s always been a part of my life. I was always trying to figure out how to break into the business. When I was shooting “Vikings,” on the weekends, I had time on my hands, so I was recording a 10-song demo.

Story continues

“Vikings” had finished when I actually started working on music in Nashville independently.  About eight months into my trips to Nashville, I was boarding a plane, and these guys said they were big fans of “Lone Survivor.” I sat right behind them on the plane. Turns out they produce and play with Jason Aldean, one of my favorite artists. I sent them my demo and within three days they called me and said, “We gotta work together.” We started recording, writing, and releasing stuff independently. And BMG took notice.

Did you write music at all when you were younger?

Oh, yeah. I have a binder of bad songs that I’ve been writing ever since I was a kid. My mom went to this music store and convinced this guy that worked there to teach me how to play guitar. For 10 years we ended up playing together. He ended up moving to Nashville and playing for Brett Eldredge, and a bunch of big country music acts. I always told him, “One day when I got my record deal, we’re going to play together.” And now he’s sitting right beside me right now.

How did you end up in Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” music video?

I love doing things people wouldn’t expect. I love not taking yourself too seriously. My friend was the producer on that, and he was my college roommate. They wanted someone with some notoriety, that was more of an actor. Their team liked me, and that’s how this all happened.

Nicki’s great. She is a super-talented artist. We had a blast. We got along fabulously, and I was shocked at just how big that was — that song, that video.

The video is quite risqué. Nicki shoves panties into your mouth at one point. Did you ever worry about what your wife might think?

No, my wife is the coolest chick ever, and she’s very secure in our relationship. I consider myself a professional. When I do this stuff, I take it seriously. It’s not like when you’re doing a sex scene it’s fun and games. It’s like, no, how is this serving the story? Is everybody comfortable in this situation?

Nicki had this vision, and I’m never one to shy away from those kinds of things. I don’t think there’s any need to. At this point, after “Vikings,” and after “Heels,” half the country’s seen my ass. What’s panties shoved in your mouth at this point, you know?

It’s been two years since “Vikings” ended. Björn died midway through the final season. What did you think of the ending now that some time has passed? Should Björn have lived till the end?

That was actually my decision with Michael [Hirst, creator]. We were talking about the ending of the show and the demise of that character, and how he should go out. I had spent six years in Ireland, 11 months out of the year, away from my home. I felt we had gotten to a place where Björn had done everything I had hoped he was going to do. We always had this dream for him when we started, and we were able to see that come to fruition.

So, I thought that a more interesting approach would be to let the other characters have their moments as well. Björn had his moment. He went out in such a fantastic way. It was nice, because then you see Ubbe (Jordan Patrick Smith), Ivar (Alex Høgh Andersen)… everybody gets their own moment to shine. That’s how it should be. You want to see the resolve of the whole show.

You’re now starring in Starz’s pro-wrestling drama “Heels” with “Arrow” star Stephen Amell. What enticed you about that project?

I signed on to the show because the characters were truly already on the page, we didn’t have to do anything. Where we really had to collaborate was for the actual wrestling. That was on our shoulders and you can’t fake that with a camera. You can’t have a stunt guy come in and do that. They can do the big things, like when you fall off a 20-foot cage, but they can’t do the backflips and all that. You need to see the actors do this. That’s where Stephen and I came in — he’s a huge wrestling fan, and he was really helpful actually.

I was also calling [WWE wrestler] Adam Copeland, Edge… we did “Vikings” together. I’d call Adam and be like, “Hey, is this legit?” “Does this work?” I’d literally call him about everything. I even called him and asked him if I have to shave my chest.

Stephen has actually wrestled some matches, including for WWE. Would you ever do a real match?

100%. If anything, it’d be a great promo thing. It’d have to be with the right company that supports the show.

I do these moves for five minutes and I’m exhausted. 40 minutes… I can’t even imagine how devastated these guys’ bodies must be after that.

“Highway 99” is to stream, download, and purchase on CD.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Read the original article on Insider

BBC Pop Music TV has unveiled its Christmas highlights, including new BBC Two documentaries on Tina Turner and Motown

On Christmas Day, BBC Two presents When Tina Turner Came To Britain. Featuring previously unheard interviews with Tina Turner, the programme tells the story of the superstar’s relationship with the UK.

Tina Turner said: “The love, energy and support I’ve had from Britain over the years has been amazing. I couldn’t have enjoyed the career I’ve had without my time spent in the UK and collaborations with amazing British songwriters, musicians and producers. From my very first visit to London in 1966 I always enjoyed visiting Britain and performing for fans across the country – it felt like my second home.”

The film features contributions from those who have met and worked with Tina Turner, including Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware of Heaven 17; singer P.P. Arnold; Skunk Anansie’s Skin; Arlene Phillips, who choreographed the music video to Private Dancer, filmed in the Rivoli Ballroom, London; and promoters Jenny and Barrie Marshall.

The film begins with Tina Turner’s first visit, when, alongside her then husband Ike, she supported The Rolling Stones on tour in 1966. It spans more than five decades with footage of her attending the world premiere of Tina: The Musical in London, in 2018.

On New Year’s Day, BBC Two tells the story of the very first UK tour undertaken by musicians on the label, including Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and Smokey Robinson and The Miracles in When Motown Came To Britain (pictured).

In 1965, some of Motown’s brightest new stars arrived in the UK for a pioneering tour which saw them perform in Liverpool, Leicester, Wigan, Bristol, Newcastle, London, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Manchester and Glasgow.

The programme, produced by Wise Owl, features a range of artists and Motown fans, including The Miracles’ Claudette Robinson; The Temptations’ Otis Williams; Ready Steady Go! Producer Vicki Wickham; singer-songwriter Mica Paris; authors Stephen Stevlor and Keith Rylatt; former Billboard editor-in-chief Adam White; The Supremes and The Temptations manager Shelly Berger; and former Motown Records UK general manager Keith Harris, among others. 

Jonathan Rothery, BBC head of Pop Music TV, said: “Both films take a fascinating look at much loved stars through the filter of the times they’ve visited our shores.”

Accompanying When Motown Came To Britain on New Years’ Day is Lamont Dozier at the BBC (BBC Two) – a selection of BBC archive performances of the legendary Motown songwriter’s best loved and most recognisable hits. In addition, BBC Two will show Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux, a film which captured Gaye’s performance at Montreux Jazz Festival in July 1980.

The love, energy and support I’ve had from Britain over the years has been amazing

Tina Turner

As well as exploring these historical musical moments, BBC Pop Music TV celebrates contemporary music. Top Of The Pops Review Of The Year 2022 (Saturday, December 24, BBC Two), hosted by Radio 1’s Clara Amfo and Jack Saunders, takes a look back over the last 12 months, including the biggest stories and artist performances from some of the hottest artists of 2022.

The Year In Music At The BBC: 2022 (Friday, December 30, BBC Two) takes a look back at musical performances on the BBC. The programme revisits moments such as Paul McCartney at Glastonbury, Diana Ross at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace and Harry Styles at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

On New Year’s Eve, Jools Holland returns with the 30th Jools’ Annual Hootenanny with special guests including Andy Fairweather Low, Cat Burns, Gabrielle, George Ezra, Roland Gift, Ruby Turner, Self Esteem, The Real Thing and Tom Odell.

On BBC One on New Year’s Eve, Sam Ryder rounds off a hugely successful 2022 in Sam Ryder Rocks New Year’s Eve. 

On BBC Four, Country Music Christmas 2022 (Friday, December 23) will see country artists including Dan & Shay, Maren Morris, The War and Treaty, Steven Curtis Chapman, Scotty McCreery, Molly Tuttle and Old Dominion come together for a night of holiday classics. 

Also available on BBC iPlayer from Thursday, December 15 is BBC Radio 2 in Concert: Lewis Capaldi. In the programme, Capaldi performs in front of a small audience of Radio 2 listeners at the BBC’s Radio Theatre in London. The show will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Thursday, December 15 (7pm-9pm).

Other Pop Music TV highlights to be broadcast throughout December include performances from Self Esteem (December 10), Idles (December 18) and Mykki Blanco (December 18 ) at the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2022 in Cardiff on BBC Two, with festival sets from Father John Misty, Johnny Marr and Wet Leg also available on BBC iPlayer now.

Feeling Good: The Radio 2 Piano Room (BBC Two, Saturday, December 10) features performances from artists who have recently appeared on the Radio 2 Piano Room for Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 programme, including Craig David, Sigrid, Paolo Nutini, Sam Smith, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott and Michael Bublé. 

First up this week is MOBO Awards 2022 (BBC One, Wednesday December 7), in which BBC Radio 1Xtra’s DJ Target gets behind-the-scenes access at the ceremony in London’s Wembley Arena and brings viewers exclusive interviews as well as performances from the night.

Looking ahead to early 2023, Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World is a new four-part documentary box set, featuring and executive produced by Chuck D. It features contributions from Eminem, Ice-T, Killer Mike, LL Cool J, Monie Love and Will.i.am. 

The series will drop on BBC iPlayer on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Granger Smith has been leaning into his faith over the last several years.

The country music artist, 43, spoke with Fox News Digital about his acting debut in the upcoming film “Moonrise” in which he portrays a widowed, country singer navigating life after the loss of his wife.

“I just thought, ‘Wow, that’s a really good story. I really like the story,’” Smith explained. “I didn’t think about how difficult it would be to memorize the entire script and to go through that month-long, rigorous journey of filming this feature-length movie, but I really enjoyed it.” 

Granger also has an album that shares its name with the film, which was released last month. Every track on the album will be featured in the film. He has released 11 albums, and his first No. 1 hit was “Backroad Song” in 2016.

GRANGER SMITH’S WIFE SPEAKS OUT ABOUT COMMENTS ON SON’S DEATH: ‘I FORGIVE THEM’

“I guess there were more similarities between being a musician and being an actor then there were, you know, discrepancies,” he explained. “So, the thing that kind of really glued it together was just the passion to tell a story because that’s what, as a musician, as a songwriter, as a performer, we really just want to tell a story three minutes at a time and tell it with passion and with drama and with energy. That’s what we do as musicians and really as an actor. It wasn’t that different. That’s the same thing. We’re just using different tools, different creative tools to accomplish that.”

Smith said the entire production team was very helpful to him as he learned how to be an actor, but the film’s director was especially helpful throughout the filming process.

“The director was literally talking to me about scenes a month before we even started filming. She came over to my house, and she said, ‘I want to talk to you about your head space, where your character is going to be in this moment.’ And so we would have dialog back and forth about that,” he shared.

“Moonrise” also features Piper Clurman, Sonya Balmores, Kace Winfield, Jaxon Noble Pickens, Houston Rhines, Rose Bianco and Wally Welch. The movie is available on Pure Flix Dec. 15.

Aside from his recent venture into acting, Granger has stayed committed to his country music career. He revealed to Fox News Digital that he first got inspiration from George Strait.

GRANGER SMITH’S WIFE AMBER GIVES FAMILY UPDATE AFTER LOSING SON, RIVER: ‘EVERY SINGLE THING REMINDS ME OF HIM’

“I’m a Texan, and he’s a Texan. And when I was a teenager, I latched on early to his music and started going to his concerts,” Smith said. “I thought, ‘I just want to be part of this circus. Either if I’m a bus driver or a truck driver or a lighting guy or security guard, I just want to be in this traveling thing.'”

Smith said at the beginning of his career he was just eager to get on stage and perform for a venue full of fans. Now, getting up on stage to sing and play his guitar has a deeper meaning for him.

Granger Smith plays a widowed country singer in “Moonrise,” which releases Dec. 15.
(Pure Flix)

“When we started realizing as a band that we could play to the individuals instead of playing to the full crowd, think about finding the individuals, finding the eye contact with the one person that needs to hear something, that needs to feel something tonight,” he said. “You know it when you see them. You could see it in their eyes that they came here for this reason, and you could just lock eyes with them like no one else is in the room but just us. Then I leave the show and I go, ‘Hey, it mattered today. Today actually mattered, and I’m ready for tomorrow.’”

Granger and his wife, Amber Bartlett, wed in 2010. The couple share three children: London, 11, Lincoln, 8, and Maverick, 1.

The couple lost their son River, 3, in a drowning in 2019. Smith shared that faith “saved” his life during that dark time.

“Well, it saved my life, essentially,” he said of his faith. “From the darkest of grief.

“My wife and I lost our little boy. River was 3 years old, and we went down a journey that I thought I could fix on my own with self-help and self-improvement and exercise and positivity and visualization, meditation and devotionals. I thought I could just mend it, fix it and move on, and I couldn’t.”

Smith shared that his pain continued to get worse until he “surrendered to God,” and that is when he found peace, hope and joy simultaneously with the grief.

He detailed the final day of his son’s life and what led up to the tragic drowning accident. 

“He drowned at our home, in our home pool, and I was there,” he recalled. 

Granger Smith leaned into his faith after the death of his son, River, in 2019.
(Gabe Ginsberg)

“I was 15 feet away from this. I was doing gymnastics with my daughter, and River was playing water gun fight with our son, Lincoln. And somehow he got into our gated locked pool. Within seconds, right behind me while I was doing gymnastics with our daughter, he was in the pool and had inhaled water. Became unconscious. When I pulled him out, I didn’t know CPR, besides what I had seen in the movies, and we lived out in the country.

“So, it took paramedics 10 minutes to get there. That’s too long to go without oxygen to his little brain, and it ended up being irreversible,” Smith recalled. “The damage to his brain ended up killing him the next day. The months and years following were that were rock bottom for me.”

Amber Bartlett and singer-songwriter Granger Smith tragically lost their three-year-old son, River, in an accidental drowning at their home in 2019.
(Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

He shared that he and his family were in therapy. 

“We [were] trying to find the answer to why these dark days were upon us and what it all meant. Why would God allow this?” he asked himself.

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Granger and Amber welcomed their son Maverick in 2021. The country musician shared that his son Maverick would have “never existed” if it wasn’t for their tragic loss of their son, River.

“Not that he could ever replace River, that’s not the point. He never would have, but it is very interesting that he’s a life that existed because another doesn’t. That stuff that just tangles up my brain if I even try to think about it,” he shared.

Smith encouraged parents going through a similar situation to lean into God during the dark times and know that “nothing is an accident.”

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“Once we know that, then we could stop saying ‘Why, God, why did you do this to me?’ ‘Why would a good God allow this to happen?’ Instead, we could then say, ‘What God? What are you trying to show me in this? What do I need to learn from this? To be closer to you. To understand you better. To help serve others around me. What do I need to know?’”

Smith’s acting debut in “Moonrise” will be available for streaming on Dec. 15 through Pure Flix’s website.