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Country Songs For Your First Dance At Your Wedding

Country music accommodates a soundtrack for all occasions. Heartbreak, falling in love for the first time, and, of course, the stereotypical feel good drinking song. Planning your wedding? We’ve got you covered with our top 11 picks for country music first dance songs.

 

“Only You Can Love Me This Way” – Keith Urban

Keith Urban has a number of love songs under his belt and this older, little less known down-home country classic is a perfect choice to slow things down and show the person you love that they will forever be the only one. “That you’re always in my heart // You’re always on my mind // But when it all becomes too much, you’re never far behind // And there’s no one that comes close to you, could ever take your place // ‘Cause only you can love me this way”

 

“Speechless” – Dan + Shay

Dan + Shay have even made a few pop-up appearances performing their famed love song live at couple’s weddings. The duo have even released an acoustic version to specifically be played at weddings: “I’m speechless // Staring at you, standing there in that dress // What it’s doing to me, ain’t a secret // ‘Cause watching you is all that I can do // And I’m speechless // You already know that you’re my weakness // After all this time I’m just as nervous // Every time you walk into the room // I’m speechless”

 

“Good As You”- Kane Brown

Considering Brown’s music video for his single depicts his very own wedding, this short and sweet ditty is absolute when picking a feel-good upbeat song to get the audience up and swaying during your first dance. “I just wanna wake up everyday here in this bed // Never leave ‘I love you’ left unsaid // It might take a hundred lifetimes to do // But baby, I just wanna be good as you”

 

“Come A Little Closer” – Dierks Bentley

One of Bentley’s most recognizable songs. It’s stripped-down, literally, romantic and slow-tempo. Everything that sums up a perfect first dance selection: “Come a little closer baby // I feel like lettin’ go // Of everything that stands between us // And the love we used to know // I want to touch you like a cleansin’ rain // And let it wash all the hurt away // So come a little closer baby // I feel like lettin’ go”

 

“Where You Are” – Tenille Townes

Although this may not be a popular choice yet, this acoustic, heartfelt-ballad tells truth of everywhere you would go to be with your loved one: “I’d stand in any ticket line // Any mountain I would climb // Just to find my way to where you are // I would swim across the sea // I would cut down any tree // Leave a trail through a forest in the dark // Pave a path to get back to where you are”

 

“Mean To Me” – Brett Eldredge

“I wanted to write a song telling someone, ‘If I could mean half as much as you mean to me, that would be amazing,'” Eldredge said about the song. If that doesn’t classify as true love, what does? “Standing here // Watching you // Turning every head in this crowded room // The lights down low // Dancin slow // Oh, if falling’s how you feel // And perfect is what you see // Then I’d be what you mean to me.”

 

“I Don’t Dance” – Lee Brice

Lee Brice confessing about his inability to dance just makes it that much more romantic. It’s not just about your ability to dance, but your willingness to do it anyway for the one that you love. “I don’t dance // But here I am // Spinning you ’round // And ’round in circles // It ain’t my style // But I don’t care // I’d do anything // With you anywhere // Guess you got me // In the palm of your hand // ‘Cause I don’t dance”

 

“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton

This is one of Shelton’s top love songs originally written by Dave Barnes and is great for couples who are looking for a slower-tempo. Did you know that our Managing Editor, Christina picked this one as her first dance song at her own wedding?! “God gave me you for the ups and downs // God gave me you for the days of doubt // For when I think I’ve lost my way // There are no words here left to say, it’s true // God gave me you”

 

“Then” – Brad Paisley

This song declaring the growth of love is enough to bring tears to anyone’s eyes: “And now you’re my whole life // Now you’re my whole world // I just can’t believe the way I feel about you, girl // Like a river meets the sea // Stronger than it’s ever been // We’ve come so far since that day // And I thought I loved you then”

 

“From The Ground Up” – Dan + Shay

To be honest, Dan + Shay should be the soundtrack for all weddings. This generational filled love song is the perfect foundation for a new, beginning love story: “And we’ll build this love from the ground up // For worse or for better // And I will be all you need // Beside you I’ll stand through the good and the bad // We’ll give all that we have // And we’ll build this love from the ground up”

 

“Butterflies” – Kacey Musgraves

Different from the last couple of piano ballads, “Butterflies” provides a uniqueness to your first dance choice. It’s like feeling that spark for the first time all over again: “Now you’re lifting me up, instead of holding me down // Stealing my heart instead of stealing my crown // Untangled all the strings round my wings that were tied // I didn’t know him and I didn’t know me // Cloud nine was always out of reach // Now I remember what it feels like to fly // You give me butterflies”

 

We hope that this list provides perfect insight and inspiration in choosing the right first dance song for your special day.

 

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Brad Paisley Lyrics to Use For Instagram Captions

To prepare for the summer, upcoming concerts, and more, we’ve put together some of Brad Paisley’s best lyrics to go along with your photos and Instagram captions for a concert you will not forget!

1. “So when it finally comes my time, and I get to the other side. I’ll find myself a bench if they’ve got any. I hope she takes her time, ’cause I don’t mind waitin’ on a woman,” – Waitin On A Woman

2. “But you’ll make it through this and you’ll see. You’re still around to write this letter to me” – Letter To Me

3. “When I get where I’m going, on the far side of the sky. The first thing that I’m gonna do is spread my wings and fly” – When I Get Where I’m Going

4. “It’s just another day in Heaven South” – Heaven South

5. “I am feeling like the luckiest man alive today” – Today

6. “That girl right there’s the perfect storm” – Perfect Storm

7. “We got an inner-tube, we got a trailer hitch. We’re near the river and far from rich. But we have got each other and gas in the tank, we’re laughing all the way to the riverbank” – River Bank

8. “So turn it on, turn it up, and sing along. This is real, this is your life in a song. Just like a road that takes you home, yeah this is right where you belong. This is country music” – This Is Country Music

9. “I’ll pour out my heart, hold your hand in the car. Write a love song that makes you cry, then turn right around knock some jerk to the ground ’cause he copped a feel as you walked by…Honey, I’m still a guy” – I’m Still A Guy

10. “And we danced, out there on that empty hardwood floor. The chairs up and the lights turned way down low. The music played, we held each other close, and we danced” – We Danced

11. “It’s a french kiss, Italian ice, Spanish moss in the moonlight,  Just another American Saturday night” – American Saturday night

12. “When you’re living in a world that you don’t understand, find a few good buddies, start a band” – Start A Band

13. “Come on now what do you say, girl, I can hardly wait to get a little mud on the tires” – Mud On The Tires1.

14. “It’s great to be alive, by the grace of God somehow.” – Alive Right Now

15. “Like a George Strait cassette in a Pontiac, I tell ’em supercuts’ let’s leave it long in the back.” – Last Time For Everything

16.”A sky full of diamonds and your night would not be black.” – Gold All Over the Ground

17. “Someday I’m gonna be famous, do I have talent? Well, no” – Celebrity

18.”I remember, trying not to stare, the night that I first met you.” – Then

Cover Photo Courtesy of @BradPaisley on Instagram

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Brad Paisley Announces 2019 World Tour with Chris Lane & Riley Green

Brad Paisley World Tour

Earlier this morning country mega-star Brad Paisley announced his 2019 World Tour and he is bringing  Chris Lane and Riley Green along for the ride.  The singer-songwriter will kick off the tour May 30th in Albuquerque, New Mexico and fans may even get to hear a taste of what is to come from Paisley on this tour run.  His latest single “Bucked Off”, which was released late last year, is the first time we’ve heard new music since his album Love and War, back in April of 2017.

New Yorkers have two chances to catch the tour, August 30th at Northwell Health at Jones Beach and August 31st at PNC Bank Arts Center.

Select cities are part of Live Nation’s Country Megaticket available at megaticket.com and fans can purchase tickets for select dates now at bradpaisley.com. More ticket info to come soon.

+ Make sure you’re following @NYCOUNTRYSWAG on Instagram, so you don’t miss any upcoming announcements, ticket giveaways and more.

Brad Paisley, 2019 World Tour Dates:

Feb. 15 – San Antonio, Texas @ San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo at AT&T Center 
March 16 –Houston, Texas @ Houston Rodeo – NRG Stadium 
March 29 – Thackerville, Okla. @ WinStar World Casino 
April 13 – Laughlin, Nev. @ Laughlin Events Center 
April 26 – Rama, Ontario, Canada @ Casino Rama Resort 
April 27 – Windsor, Ontario, Canada @ The Colosseum at Caesars 
May 30 – Albuquerque, N.M. @ Isleta Amphitheater
May 31 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ Ak-Chin Pavilion
June 1 –  San Diego, Calif. @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
June 6 – Sacramento, Calif. @ Toyota Amphitheatre
June 7 – Mountain View, Calif. @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
June 8 – Irvine, Calif. @ FivePoint Amphitheatre
June 13 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ USANA Amphitheatre
June 14 – Missoula, Mont. @ Big Sky Brewery
June 15 – Ridgefield, Wash. @ Sunlight Supply Amphitheater
June 27 – Rogers, Ark. @ Walmart AMP
June 28 – St. Louis, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
June 29 – Oshkosh, Wisc. @ Country USA
July 13 – Prior Lake, Minn. @ Lakefront Park Music Fest
July 19 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 20 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center
July 21 – Cincinnati, Ohio @ Riverbend Music Center
July 25 – Saratoga Springs, N.Y. @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
July 26 – Syracuse, N.Y. @ St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
July 27 – Boston, Mass. @A Xfinity Center
Aug. 2 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center
Aug. 3 – Chicago, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 4 – Davenport, Iowa @ Mississippi Valley Fair 
Aug. 9 – Atlantic City, N.J. @ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena 
Aug. 10 – Bristow, Va. @ Jiffy Lube Live
Aug. 11 – Bethlehem, Pa. @ Musikfest 
Aug. 15 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park
Aug. 16 – Jacksonville, Fla. @ Daily’s Place
Aug. 17 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ Coral Sky Amphitheatre
Aug. 22 – Orange Beach, Ala. @ The Wharf Amphitheater
Aug. 23 – Alpharetta, Ga. @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 24 — Charlotte, N.C. @ PNC Music Pavilion
Aug. 29 – Hartford, Conn. @ XFINITY Theatre
Aug. 30 – Wantagh, N.Y. @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Aug. 31 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center
Sept. 22 – Puyallup, Wash. @ Washington State Fair 
Oct. 4 – Oslo, Norway @ Oslo Spektrum 
Oct. 5 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena 
Oct. 6 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Hovet 
Oct. 9 – Berlin, Germany @ Tempodrom 
Oct. 11 – Tilburg, Netherlands @ 013 Poppodium 
Oct. 12 – London, England @ The O2 Arena 
Oct. 13 – Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena

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Brad Paisley Utilizes Creative Visuals for New “Bucked Off” Video

It has been just about two months since country superstar Brad Paisley performed his brand new song, “Bucked Off” for the first time at 52nd Annual CMA Awards. The infectious track, co-written by Paisley with Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace now has a creative visual to go along with it.

Sticking with the theme of comparing relationships and breakups to the rodeo, the video showcases a medley of clips filmed by fans going through breakups, as well as, various rodeo events always showing the cowboy getting bucked off the bull. According to the message before the start of the video, the singer asked fans to send in clips of their relationships ending. Some of the breakup scenes might be real and others are definitely staged, but it all adds to the charm and comedic value while going along with the cheeky lyrics.

Paisley also included some content from his epic surprise concert at none other than Nashville’s Tootsies Orchard Lounge that occurred last year. Fans of the recording artist will get a taste of his signature look, complete with a flannel shirt, guitar, and cowboy hat in the video too. All the unique elements make the music video feel innovative, fun, refreshing, and relatable. The almost five-minute video will keep you entertained the entire time. Check out the video for “Bucked Off” below.

We anticipate Paisley to drop more new music as 2019 gets underway. Next up, fittingly, the artist will perform at the San Antonio Rodeo on February 15th. In addition, Paisley will lend his vocals to the country music festival scene in Wisconsin on June 29th at ‘Country USA.’ Head over to bradpaisley.com for tickets and more information, and continue checking New York Country Swag for any new songs that the singer should release in the near future.

 

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[Listen] Brad Paisley’s New Honky-Tonk Single “Bucked Off”

Grammy award-winning country superstar, Brad Paisley has released his first new single in over a year, entitled “Bucked Off.” The honky-tonk tune was co-penned with Chris DuBois and Kelley Lovelace. The single’s cover art is decorated with a colorful sunset, displaying Paisley literally getting “bucked off” a bull, with his guitar flying in the air.

Though the track is upbeat and will definitely be featured on all of our tailgating playlists next summer, Paisley tells the heartbreaking story of the repetitive cycle of knowing a breakup is approaching, enduring the inevitable emotional pain and picking himself up and starting over again. The singer-songwriter uses aspects of the rodeo as metaphors to illustrate each circumstance. He sings in the chorus, “This ain’t my first rodeo / Someone’s gonna get hurt / Whenever someone says we need to talk / It feels like there’s a number pinned onto the back of my shirt / ‘Cause this is where the cowboy gets bucked off”

Photo courtesy of John Shearer/Getty Images

Paisley made the single’s television debut performance last night on the 52nd Annual CMA Awards. Taking a break from his hosting duties, the Arista Records artist was styled in his signature cowboy hat along with a plaid detailed button up shirt. The country star shredded on his electric guitar while singing about his beautiful cowgirl. Neon rodeo visuals lit up the screens onstage as a backdrop for the performance.

“Bucked Off” is now available everywhere you stream or buy music. Check out the song and other new tracks on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist on Spotify. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.

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NYCountry Swag Recaps the 52nd Annual CMA Awards

 

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Country music’s biggest night has rolled around yet again, bringing country music fans an incredible night filled with live music, laughs and career altering award wins. The 52nd Annual Country Music Association Awards aired live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee last night on ABC.

Six-time CMA Entertainer of the Year award-winning icon, Garth Brooks opened the show with a special tribute to the twelve victims of the horrific Thousand Oaks mass shooting that took place last week in California. Brooks began the evening by lovingly dedicating the award ceremony to each of the victims followed by leading a moment of silence while each of their names appeared on the screen.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Kicking off the many musical performances of the night, superstar Luke Bryan filled the room with positive energy as he was joined by New Artist of the Year winner Luke Combs, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi, Lindsay Ell, Ashley McBryde and Chris Janson for an infectious performance of his latest single and every country music lover’s anthem, “What Makes You Country.”

Welcoming the audience, eleventh-time hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley took the stage to deliver a hilarious musical monologue loosely based off of the film A Star Is Born, calling out a few fellow country stars. Paisley even jokingly surprised Underwood with yodeling sensation Mason Ramsey, portraying her firstborn son. Speaking of sons, the queen of country music amusingly revealed the gender of the baby she is carrying. When Underwood was pregnant with her first son, Paisley accidentally revealed his gender live on the air during the 2014 CMAs. This time, Paisley pressed Underwood until she finally admitted she will be having another baby boy.  Later in the evening, the co-hosts took a moment to share their support and thanks to the firefighters battling the Woolsey wildfires in California.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Larry McCormack/Tennessean.com

There was a total of twenty-one outstanding performances throughout the night, but we’ve narrowed those down to some of our favorites. Music Video of the Year winner, Thomas Rhett, gave an extremely entertaining performance of his number one single “Life Changes,” which started out in a reimagined version of his college dorm room and progressed into the singer-songwriter performing all throughout the crowd with a full marching band. Rhett’s gorgeous wife, Lauren, planted a kiss on Rhett as he passed her on his way to the main stage.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Dan + Shay absolutely stunned with their vocals during their performance of “Tequila.” Fake snow was falling, to go along with the theme of the single’s official music video, as the duo gave fans goosebumps with their exceptional vocal range. Paying tribute to the late, great Dottie West, Lauren Alaina honored the recent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee by performing a rendition of the classic hit, “A Lesson In Leavin.’” Alaina’s vocals undoubtedly did the hit justice.  Fellow recent Country Music Hall of Fame member, Ricky Skaggs, gave a once in a lifetime performance of a mashup of a few of his hits, featuring an all-star guest list to celebrate his induction. Skaggs was joined by his band Kentucky Thunder to perform “Black Eyed Suzie,” along with John Osborne of Vocal Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne and Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban to perform “Highway 40 Blues” and closed out the performance with “Country Boy,” joined by Marty Stuart and co-host Paisley. Entertainer of the Year, Urban gave an epic performance of his current single “Never Comin Down” on top of the jumbo screens, featuring alluring visuals. The multi-platinum seller received a standing ovation, unquestionably proving why he was deserving of the biggest award of the night.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Brooks returned to the stage to debut a brand new song entitled “Stronger Than Me,” that he wrote for his wife, two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year winner, Trisha Yearwood. The singer-songwriter performed solo with nothing but an acoustic guitar and his chilling vocals. The emotional lyrics brought Yearwood to tears as she watched her husband, front and center.
Maren Morris, Morgane Stapleton, Marty Stuart, Mavis Staples, and Chris Stapleton teamed up for an unbelievable mashup performance of Stapleton’s “Friendship” and Staples’ “I’ll Take You There.” The collaboration had everyone up on their feet, singing along.  Album of the Year winner, Kacey Musgraves showcased her angelic, silky smooth vocals while strumming along to her own acoustic guitar for a stunning performance of “Slow Burn” off of Golden Hour.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photos courtesy of Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

The most powerful performance of the night was delivered by co-host Underwood. She absolutely dazzled in a beautiful royal blue gown, blowing everyone away with her striking vocal range on her anthem, “Love Wins.” The Female Vocalist of the Year was joined by a full choir which helped to close the performance of the powerful song in the shape of a heart, surrounding Underwood. You could feel the palpable energy through your television screen.

Stapleton lead last night’s wins with Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. The singer-songwriter gave an emotional speech thanking his wife and children for allowing him to invest so much time into his career.

Musgraves was the only female artist in the Album of the Year category and deservingly won for her fourth studio album, Golden Hour, explaining during her acceptance speech that earlier in the day she had realized it had been 10 years to the day that she made her move to Nashville.

52nd Annual CMA Awards

Photo courtesy of John Shearer/Getty Images

Luke Combs received the award for New Artist of the Year. He will kick off his first ever arena headlining tour this Winter.

Brothers Osborne took home Vocal Duo of the Year for the third consecutive year in a row, giving a hilarious yet thankful speech. Underwood reigns as the Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year for the fifth time. She “cried pretty” as she delivered a tearful speech, thanking God, country music and all of the many “families” in her life.

Closing out the memorable evening, Urban was not expecting his win for Entertainer of the Year. His fellow competitor Bryan, shot up right out of his seat in excitement as his friend’s name was announced. Urban tearfully accepted the award, thanking his wife, actress Nicole Kidman and their children, as well as his “phenomenal” fans. He also gave mention to his late father, “wishing he was alive to see this.” Watch his moving acceptance speech below.

The 2018 CMA Awards was another one for the books. Below is a full list of winners from the epic night.

Entertainer of the Year: Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist of the Year: Chris Stapleton
New Artist of the Year: Luke Combs
Vocal Group of the Year: Old Dominion
Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
Album of the Year: Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
Song of the Year: “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Single of the Year: “Broken Halos” – Chris Stapleton
Music Video of the Year: “Marry Me” – Thomas Rhett
Musical Event of the Year: “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” – David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally – Guitar

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Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood Visit ‘Good Morning America’

Carrie Underwood Brad Paisley

Photo via www.abcnews.go.com

Country music superstars and co-hosts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood sat down with ‘Good Morning America’ anchors, Michael Strahan and Robin Roberts earlier this morning to discuss the upcoming 52nd annual CMA Awards. The country musicians obvious chemistry and charm was center stage during the segment. Country music’s biggest night will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 14th at 8 pm EST on ABC.

Roberts gave the co-hosts a warm welcome at the start of the segment, while also reminding fans to tune into her Pre-CMA special on Sunday evening. “We are less than a week away from country music’s big night. We’re talking about the 52nd annual CMA Awards. Must see TV! This Sunday, I will have the pleasure of sharing some conversations with some of country’s biggest stars- It’s the tenth year that I’ve done this, and we have got two of the biggies right here, right now, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. I cannot believe this is the 11th year that you all will be co-hosting together.”

Underwood, who looked beautiful in a black dress and Paisley, who dressed in his signature cowboy hat and a leather bomber jacket, discussed some of their favorite parts of hosting together. Underwood shared that she loved getting to spend time, writing the script together; while Paisley mentioned how fun it is to get to make the fans and fellow artists laugh and have fun, usually at their expense.

Strahan and Robins switched gears to congratulate the songstress on being pregnant with her second baby; however, conversation found its way back to the CMA Awards, when they reminisced on when Paisley accidentally revealed the gender of Underwood’s first baby, live on air in 2014, during the hosting gig. The Cry Pretty singer chose to keep the gender under wraps this time, even after Strahan tried to convince her otherwise.

Check out those sweet moments and others from GMA here.

The award show with hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley are just around the corner! Make sure to stay tuned for our recap of CMA Awards broadcast next week, and follow us NYCountry Swag on Twitter, as we live-tweet the show.

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On the “Water” with Brad Paisley & Kane Brown

Kane Brown Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley gave Jones Beach another unforgettable night out on the water and for some fans, in the water. The venue started to fill in quickly once Kane Brown took the stage singing “Found You” and by the end of his 45-minute set there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. Brown thanked the crowd for coming out and said, “This is my third time playing here and I’ll tell you there’s no better place to be on a Friday than Jones Beach baby, Come on!”.

Brown continued to get the crowd fired up by going old school. “Guys I’m gonna try to get y’all singing a little more alright, we gotta get Brad Paisley ready to come out here so I’m going to take you back to my middle school days!”. He started off singing the hit song “Billionaire” by Bruno Mars, getting everyone up off their feet to sing along. Then Brown transitioned to “Ms. Jackson” by OutKast and brought it home with The Fray’s “Over My Head”. To no surprise, the crowd loved the old school renditions and sang back every word. Along with the covers, Brown sang his hits like “Heaven”, “Used to Love You Sober”, “Learning”, and his new single “Lose It”. Last but not least he closed his set singing a solo version of his duet with Lauren Alaina called “What If’s”, leaving the crowd not only wanting more but pumped for who was coming up next.

Brad Paisley

Next up was the headliner himself, Brad Paisley. As the music started, the band began to take their spots leaving Paisley to make a solo entrance at the top of the stage singing “Mud On the Tires”. There was no stopping him, he played straight through his songs “Ticks”, “The World”, “Perfect Storm”, “Water”, “Last Time for Everything”, and “Old Alabama”. Paisley’s guitar solos were unbelievable, creating the perfect transition into each song he played. At one point during the show, someone from his team gave him a bottle of beer in which he showed off his skills and shredded the guitar with it. The country legend was not one to disappoint when it came down to putting the best show on for his fans. He had a ton of energy on stage and tried to get as close to the crowd as possible.

When it came time for Paisley to talk to the crowd he put on his best New York accent and said, “It’s great to be here tonight, here in Long Island it’s a great place, it’s a really nice place you got here.” He then went on to praise the concert goers in the pit saying, “By the way thank you for the people in the front row standing in 5 inches of water right now I appreciate you!”. As the night went on he continued to play his hits like “This is Country Music”, “Love and War”, and “American Saturday Night”. He also brought Kane Brown back to the stage to help him perform his song “I’m Still a Guy”. The two singers together brought a little comedy to the show by going through a fan’s phone in the middle of the song. Even with Brown off stage Paisley continued to interact with the crowd telling jokes.

Brad Paisley Kane Brown

For some lucky fans, Friday was a night to never forget. Paisley had not one but two proposals happen on his watch. One which was on stage with him before the song “She’s Everything”. He also made the night of a lucky little girl by giving her one of his guitars. After he gave her the guitar he said, “Learn how to play it little girl”, telling the crowd, “That is how you make a Taylor Swift right there!”. Along with making the little girl’s night, he brought out some men and women from the military on stage to thank them and offer them some drinks from his on-stage bar. With the night coming to the end he thanked the crowd again saying, “We’ve had the best time, we love playing up here and we hope you had fun!”, closing out the night with his song “Alcohol”.

 

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They’re Back! Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood Host 52nd CMA Awards

52nd CMA Awards

Photo Credit: ABC/Bob D’Amico

The dynamic duo is back! Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood are set to host the 52nd CMA Awards for the 11th year in a row. These mega superstars will take their spots on stage Wednesday, Nov. 14 in Nashville for country music’s biggest night, airing at 8 p.m. on ABC. Paisley and Underwood are known for the humor, wit, and pranks they bring to the show, and we can expect nothing less this year.

Underwood explained that although the funny laughs and onstage chemistry she and Paisley have perfected over the years may seem effortless, both co-hosts work hard each year to make the awards show a special event. “The trick is to try and keep everything fresh,” Underwood explains. “To try and figure out just what we’re gonna talk about, and how to keep everything rolling. We want to be funny, and we want to be timely, and we want to be respectful, and we want to just make it a great show. There’s a lot of love that’s put into hosting the CMAs, and I hope people feel that above all else.”

While no 2018 CMA Awards nominees have been announced yet, the full list will be revealed on Aug. 28th. during Good Morning America with Luke Bryan. The two-time CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year winner will share a few select nomination decisions from his brand-new downtown Nashville bar and restaurant, Luke’s 32 Bridge Food + Drink. Dan + Shay and Sugarland will also be on hand to help with the announcements. Right after the live-on-TV select nominees are revealed, a full list of the nominees will be released online. Red carpet broadcast details have yet to be announced, but we will make sure to share those details when they’re made available.

Readers can tune in to the 52nd annual CMA Awards live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena at 8PM ET on Nov. 14. The awards are just around the corner so gather your friends, family, and get ready for Country’s Biggest Night to Rock!

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Mike Ryan

NYCS Swag Spotlight Featuring Mike Ryan

Mike Ryan

Mike Ryan, San Antonio, Texas native is our Swag Spotlight this week.  You may have heard his incredible song “New Hometown” on Spotify where it has over 7 million spins but what you didn’t know about the Texas singer is he is a co-writer on one of Brad Paisley’s newest smash hits “Last Time For Everything”. We learned about where Ryan grew up during our recent chat with the singer-songwriter.

Ryan learned to play the piano from a young age as well as singing in the church choir but during his high school years he learned to play guitar and started to really get interested in singing as well.  “When I went to college I started writing, playing open mic nights and I put a band together. Sometime during college I started realizing this is what I wanted to do for a career,” Ryan explains.  His grandfather was a band director for the Texas National Guard and his father was also a performer in different theater productions. He recalls loving watching his father on stage.

His musical influences growing up range anywhere from Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John to Garth Brooks, Clint Black, and George Strait.  Although his parents mostly listened to classic rock when he was young, he discovered country music during the 90’s and he feels that all of the music he listened to comes out in his songwriting today. He currently resides both in Nashville and Texas, splitting his time between those two homes and being on the road promoting his new music.  His latest EP, Blink You’ll Miss It, was released late last year and debuted at #6 on the iTunes charts, Ryan being a co-writer on five of the seven songs.

As a writer for Seagayle Music, just like last week’s Swag Spotlight CJ Solar, Ryan sat down with Smith Ahnquist, Brent Anderson, Chris DuBois and started writing “Last Time For Everything”.  They did not complete the song in that one session, but the other writers brought the concept up the next day in a write with Brad Paisley. Ryan had left to join his band for a gig but got a call just a few short days later that Paisley had loved the song and the finished writing it together and right away he recorded it for his next album, Love and War.  It was Ryan’s first outside cut and Paisley ended picking the nostalgic song as one of the singles from the record.

Paisley also brings his remarkable talent to Ryan’s current single “The Rewrite”, “He went ahead and burned down an incredible solo that I will never be able to duplicate live but it’s so cool that we have it on the record and so I am forever in debt to him,” he says.  “It was one of the coolest things, just to have him play on a record of mine, it’s like a thumbs up from him, it’s a solid vote of confidence from a guy I’ve always looked up to and always been a fan of.”  Take a listen to the song and the guitar solo in the above video.
This summer and into the fall season, Ryan is heading out to play gigs throughout Texas and eventually make his way across the country. “We’ve got some new music coming out, I’ve been writing a bunch and we are starting to play those songs out live, that’s the first place I try new music, I love to see the response from fans out on the road,” he explains.  For full tour dates head to www.mikeryanband.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Thank You for supporting Country Music in NYC!

Subscribe to our Weekly Round-Up here 
for ticket giveaways, meet & greet contests, upcoming events,
and all things country music in the New York metro area and beyond!

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