Night Riders:Jason Aldean's album Night Train rolls into stores Oct. 16, and he's taking Luke Bryan and Eric Church along for the ride. The pair guest on the track "The Only Way I Know," written by David Lee Murphy ("Big Green Tractor" and his own "Dust On The Bottle") and Ben Hayslip (Luke Bryan's "I Don't Want This Night To End" and Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee"). "I got to do a cool uptempo song with Luke and Eric, who have been out with me over the last two years," Aldean says. "I love collaborations like that, and I think the fans dig it when artists get together. It keeps it interesting." Aldean's road band is also featured on the 15-track collection, which was helmed his longtime producer Michael Knox. Check out the full track listing here.
� EYB's Big Break:"We felt empowered by this song," the Eli Young Band's Mike Eli said Monday as the band celebrated their second chart-topper "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" with songwriters Will Hoge and Eric Paslay. And why not, considering the power it took to write. Hoge and Paslay collaborated on the song following Hoge's near-fatal scooter accident. "Did we necessarily have any foresight to see that it would be our second No. 1?" Eli said. "No. We just felt as if it told our story." Jon Jones added, "It's a subject we wanted to cover, but there was no way we could write it as well as the song was written." Hoge wrapped the party and said, "[This song] was so personal for me and Eric that we sort of thought it would never connect. Then the Eli Young guys took it and truly made it an anthem."
Boys Of Fall:CMT On Tour Jake Owen: The Summer Never Ends 2012 launches Oct. 10 in New York City. The trek is the 11th CMT On Tour and marks Owen's debut as a top-biller. "Being the headliner of a tour is something I've been dreaming about since I was in college," Owen says. "I was the opening act in 2007 when Sugarland was the headliner and Little Big Town had the middle slot. So now, to be headlining the 11th CMT Tour ... it feels surreal." Love And Theft and Florida Georgia Line will support. Complete schedule here.
Homegrown:Luke Bryan will launch his fourth annual Farm Tour Oct. 3 in Claxton, GA. Proceeds will fund scholarships for local students from farming families. "I think what's cool about the Farm Tour is that when we continue to go to places like Claxton and Valdosta, [GA], these things are big events for these towns," Bryan says. "I love that people can come out, have a big time and listen to some music. It's just a fun experience all the way around. I want to continue to do what I can to keep it rockin'." Complete schedule here.
Life Note: The country music community is extending best wishes for a speedy recovery to Wynonna's husband and drummer Michael Scott "Cactus" Moser, who was involved in a serious motorcycle accident over the weekend. The pair were out riding together on separate bikes before Wynonna's concert in Deadwood, SD Saturday when Moser collided with an oncoming vehicle. Moser was transported to a local hospital, where doctors amputated the left leg above the knee. He also underwent surgery to his hand. Although Wynonna was not involved in the accident, she has postponed this week's Canadian concerts. Her next show is Aug. 30 in Peshawbestown, MI.
In Case You Missed It:On Thursday's The Chew (8/16), Kellie Pickler made grilled pizza with zucchini with chef Mario Batali and Mexican corn dip with Clinton Kelly. Watch the full episode here.
On Thursday night's premiere of The Next (8/16), John Rich's contestant Michael Ray advanced to the semi-finals. The show followed Rich, Joe Jonas, Gloria Estefan and Nelly as they lived with a local artist for 72 hours and developed their talent for a showcase at the House of Blues in Orlando. Rich helped Ray work up Eric Church's "Springsteen." Watch the full episode here.
Hit List
Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Pistol Annies, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood are just a few of the celebrities caught motorboatin' to Little Big Town's "Pontoon" in a new all-star cover of the summer song. Watch the clip here.
Brad Paisley is headlining the second night of the multi-genre Bud Light Port Paradise Music Festival Nov. 17-18. The event will be held at the Atlantis resort in Nassau as part of Bud Light's Port Paradise cruise (11/16-19). Details here.
Dustin Lynch and Viddy have partnered to host an interactive karaoke contest for a chance to win an autographed guitar. Details here.
Birthdays
Kenny Rogers (8/21) Ira Dean (8/21) Becky Scott (Carter's Chord) (8/23) Kristyn Osborn (SheDaisy) (8/24) Billy Ray Cyrus (8/25) Jo Dee Messina (8/25) Jimmy Olander (Diamond Rio) (8/26) Jeff Cook (Alabama) (8/27)
On TV
Tuesday (8/21): Lady Antebellum, Ellen DeGeneres Show (re-air) (syndicated).
Wednesday (8/22): Eric Church, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Kip Moore, Noteworthy At The Opry (GAC).
Thursday (8/23): Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneres Show (re-air) (syndicated); Josh Turner, The Chew and Late Show With David Letterman (CBS).
Friday (8/24): LeAnn Rimes, The Talk (re-air) (CBS).
In Stores Tuesday (8/21)
Dierks BentleyCountry & Cold Cans EP Debut week finds Bentley performing at three SEC universities with rockers The Cadillac Black in support of this iTunes release, which features the title track, "Grab A Beer," "Back Porch" and "Summer On Fire." "It was really inspired by how young and crazy the fans were on the Country & Cold Cans Tour earlier this year," Bentley says.
JT HodgesJT Hodges Hodges hosted several interactive initiatives to promote his 10-song debut album. Facebook users chose "Sleepy Little Town" as the current single, and Hodges kicked off release week with an online video chat Sunday (8/19). He also headlined a hometown concert in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area on the eve of the street date. Hodges co-wrote eight tracks including the lead single "Hunt You Down."
Dustin LynchDustin Lynch Lynch co-wrote nine songs on his 12-track debut, including the lead single "Cowboys And Angels," which was penned with Josh Leo (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Love And Theft producer) and Tim Nichols (Chris Young's "The Man I Want To Be"). "[This] song is truly changing my life," Lynch says. "I wrote it from a special place with my parents and grandparents in mind. It's a universal love story that everyone can relate to." Lynch solely wrote the bonus track and closer "Your Plan."
Mac Powell Mac Powell The 12-song album, including the debut single "June Bug," is the first Country collection from the Third Day frontman. "I started writing with Brett James, and he was really the first step," Powell says. "We hit it off and came up with a lot of ideas in a short amount of time." Powell produced with Jason Hoard.
On The Rocks:Dierks Bentley (third from r) and his band close a sold-out concert at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO. "Red Rocks is right there at the top of every artist's bucket list to play," Bentley said of the venue, which has hosted performances by the Beatles, Sting and U2. "I can't wait to go back." Watch performance highlights here.
Jason Aldean's album Night Train rolls into stores Oct. 16, and he's taking Luke Bryan and Eric Church along for the ride. The pair guest on the track "The Only Way I Know," written by David Lee Murphy ("Big Green Tractor" and his own "Dust On The Bottle") and Ben Hayslip (Luke Bryan's "I Don't Want This Night To End" and Blake Shelton's "Honey Bee"). "I got to do a cool uptempo song with Luke and Eric, who have been out with me over the last two years," Aldean says. "I love collaborations like that, and I think the fans dig it when artists get together. It keeps it interesting." Aldean's road band is also featured on the 15-track collection, which was helmed his longtime producer Michael Knox. Check out the full track listing 
"We felt empowered by this song," the Eli Young Band's Mike Eli said Monday as the band celebrated their second chart-topper "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" with songwriters Will Hoge and Eric Paslay. And why not, considering the power it took to write. Hoge and Paslay collaborated on the song following Hoge's near-fatal scooter 
CMT On Tour Jake Owen: The Summer Never Ends 2012 launches Oct. 10 in New York City. The trek is the 11th CMT On Tour and marks Owen's debut as a top-biller. "Being the headliner of a tour is something I've been dreaming about since I was in college," Owen says. "I was the opening act in 2007 when Sugarland was the headliner and Little Big Town had the middle slot. So now, to be headlining the 11th CMT Tour ... it feels surreal." Love And Theft and Florida Georgia Line will support. Complete schedule 
Luke Bryan will launch his fourth annual Farm Tour Oct. 3 in Claxton, GA. Proceeds will fund scholarships for local students from farming families. "I think what's cool about the Farm Tour is that when we continue to go to places like Claxton and Valdosta, [GA], these things are big events for these towns," Bryan says. "I love that people can come out, have a big time and listen to some music. It's just a fun experience all the way around. I want to continue to do what I can to keep it rockin'." Complete schedule 
On Thursday's The Chew (8/16), Kellie Pickler made grilled pizza with zucchini with chef Mario Batali and Mexican corn dip with Clinton Kelly. Watch the full episode 
Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, Pistol Annies, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood are just a few of the celebrities caught motorboatin' to Little Big Town's "Pontoon" in a new all-star cover of the summer song. Watch the clip 
Dierks Bentley Country & Cold Cans EP
JT Hodges JT Hodges
Dustin Lynch Dustin Lynch
Mac Powell Mac Powell
