WIN A SIGNED COPY OF THE NEW KEITH URBAN CD, "RIPCORD"

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. A WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN AND HAS BEEN CONTACTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTRIES! STAY TUNED FOR MORE GIVEAWAYS!

It's giveaway time again! As a way of giving back, we do giveaways from time to time just to say thank you for supporting not only us, but for supporting those who create the music we share.

We've teamed with Keith Urban to give away a signed copy of one of this year's best releases, his brand new cd "Ripcord". This is Keith's best work to date and really getting great reviews both from the industry insiders and fans!

To enter, tweet us at @lovinlyrics or leave us a Facebook comment with your favorite Keith Urban song or personal memory of meeting Keith using hashtag #RipcordCD and we'll enter you in the drawing. We'll be drawing the random winner on Wednesday, May 18! Good luck!

Keith Urban’s Ripcord Track Listing

1. “Gone Tomorrow (Here Today)” (Jeff Bhasker, Samuel Tyler Johnson, Keith Urban)

2. “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16″ (Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Josh Osborne)

3. “Wasted Time” (Greg Wells, J Hart, Keith Urban)

4. “Habit of You” (K-Kov, Jackson Morgan)

5. “Sun Don’t Let Me Down” (Nile Rodgers, busbee, Armando Christian Perez, Keith Urban)

6. “Getting’ in the Way” (Emily Weisband, Jordan Reynolds, David Hodges)

7. “Blue Ain’t Your Color” (Steven Lee Olsen, Hillary Lindsey, Clint Lagerberg)

8. “The Fighter” (busbee, Keith Urban)

9. “Break on Me” (Jon Nite, Ross Copperman)

10. “Your Body” (busbee, Keith Urban)

11. “That Could Still Be Us” (Jason Duke, Jesse Lee, Jonathan Price)

12. “Worry ‘Bout Nothin'” (Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson, Josh Kear)

BLAKE SHELTON ANNOUNCES 'TEN TIMES CRAZIER' TOUR 2014

PRESS RELEASE

(January 17, 2014 - Nashville) ... Just off the heels of his sold-out Ten Times Crazier 2013 Tour, Blake Shelton announced that he will be heading out on a 20+ date Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014 with sponsors including Pepsi and joined by The Band Perry, Neal McCoy, and Dan + Shay. The tour kicks off in June and will visit cities including Chicago, Ill., Los Angeles, Calif., and New York, Ny. (full list of cities below). Blake will also be headlining various fairs and festivals throughout the US and Canada. The first opportunity for fans to buy tickets to the Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014, will be through Live Nation’s Country Megaticket 2014 sales campaign, where fans can purchase multi-show country music packages at Megaticket.com beginning next week. The tour will feature his current single, “Doin’ What She Likes,” which is the 4th single off the CMA Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated Country Album of the Year, Based On a True Story…, and is rapidly approaching Top 20 on the charts. His previous hit single, “Mine Would Be You” shot to the top of the charts giving Blake his 10th consecutive No. 1 (15 overall).

“I cannot wait to get back out on the road,” said Blake. “I had so much fun playing songs from Based On A True Story... and getting to see the crowd’s reaction to those songs was unforgettable. It is one of the most validating things for an artist like me, to have people sing along to your songs...it means what I'm doing is right and no matter what I'm doing, whether it is The Voice or a TV special, absolutely nothing compares to playing live for me.”

See what critics had to say about 2013’s Ten Times Crazier Tour:

“Shelton … is on pace to sell some 600,000 tickets this year and finish among the top touring artists for any genre.” – Ray Waddell, Billboard

“Blake has such a stage presence and entertains and interacts with the crowd so well... He could follow behind the greats like George Strait, Johnny Cash, & Merle Haggard.” - Melissa Gibson, All Access Magazine

“…after 13 plus years in the game, Shelton's winning streak continues.” – Claudia Perry, Chicago Tribune

“Shelton can keep a sold-out crowd of more than 20,000 on their collective feet for two solid hours,” - Chuck Yarbrough, Cleveland Plain Dealer

First Announced Cities of the Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014:
Austin, TX

Dallas, TX

Little Rock, AR

Chicago, IL

New York, NY

Darien Center, NY

Albuquerque, NM

Phoenix, AZ

San Diego, CA

Fresno, CA

Sacramento, CA

Mountain View, CA

Spokane, WA

Tacoma, WA

Vancouver, BC

Boise, ID

Salt Lake City, UT

Denver, CO

Las Vegas, NV

Los Angeles, CA

*On-sale information and a complete list of dates, cities, and venues will be announced shortly. Stay tuned for more information at BlakeShelton.com.

CD REVIEW: RANDY TRAVIS: "INFLUENCE VOL I - THE MAN I AM"

CD: "Influence Vol 1: The Man I Am"
Artist: Randy Travis
Release Date: 9/30/13
Label: Warner Bros.

When it comes to the kind of music that reminds you just how great it feels to be a true country music fan, you don't need to look any further than Randy Travis. Randy Travis is the epitome of what it means to be country, from his twang all the way to his traditional country heart. He takes from that tradition and pulls a selection of songs that mean the most to him, that represent who he is and he is the picture of country. "Influence Vol I: The Man I Am" reaches deep inside and, through his deep baritone voice, wailing steel and sometimes swinging, sometimes humble guitar, shines the light on the stuff country music is made of. You'll find no over-production, no straining vocals or overbearing electric guitar here but what you will find are the basics at their best, melodies and vocals that are understated yet impactful, and instrumentation that is simple yet complex.

The cd is barely 3 days released and already garnering positive reviews across the board. In a few years of set backs for Randy, I think he's finally gained positive traction with the release "Influence". It's time that the music took center stage again for Randy because like he said himself, "you've been too gone, for too long".

There truly isn't a track on this cd that isn't purely and wonderfully Randy. The songs themselves may not be Randy's originals, but they definitely Randy. One of the largest influences on the cd is the Okie from Muskogee, Merle Haggard, with the first four cuts being covers of his music. The slow, drawn melody and crying instrumentation of Merle's 1974 hit, "Someday We'll Look Back", immediately brings back memories of first hearing Randy on the radio in the late 80's with his first hit, "On the Other Hand". Man, what good music we had back then! The swingin' piano and fiddle in "Big Butter and Egg Man" get your toes tapping and your head doing the infamous country head bob. One of our favorites on the cd also happens to be one of Merle's best "non-hits", the reflective ballad "What Have You Got Planned Tonight, Diana?". Other artists that heavily influenced Travis that are represented on this project are Ernest Tubb, Lefty Frizell and Waylon Jennings.

If we reviewed all of the songs on this cd, we'd go on and on and basically say the same thing, they're all pretty darned awesome and they're all the kind of music that put Randy Travis on the country music map. So we'll leave it at that, go buy yourself a copy of the cd and review them personally. You won't be disappointed. Randy's back, both in health and in song, and for that, we're thankful! We're also grateful for the artists that inspired this cd.

You can pick up "Influence Vol 1: The Man I Am" at most music retailers and online at iTunes and Amazon.

JOIN HUNTER HAYES AT CMA FEST FOR AN "ENCORE" LISTENING PARTY AND PRE-ORDER THE CD NOW

Join Hunter Hayes during CMA Fest as he hosts a listening party for his forthcoming release, Hunter Hayes ENCORE. Hunter will be playing all new music from the album, speaking about his inspiration behind the new songs, and performing several songs with a surprise special guest!

With the VIP pass you'll meet Hunter before the party, and have an opportunity for photos and autographs! Additionally, you'll get up close & personal during the party with VIP reserved priority seating. You will also receive an autographed album, and everything in the Listening Party Pack when your pre-order bundle arrives on 6.18.13. You won't want to miss this exclusive, intimate event.

• When: 6.6.13 during CMA Fest week
• VIP Meet & Greet: 12:30pm
• Listening Party: 2:00pm
• Where: Avenue in downtown Nashville. 120 3rd Ave. S, Nashville, TN

VIDEO PREMIERE: "DON'T YA" - BRETT ELDREDGE

Been waiting on this one forever and yep, the payoff was worth it. And yes, Brett Eldredge, we do.
"Don't Ya" - Brett Eldredge

VIDEO REWIND: BLAKE SHELTON ON NBC'S TODAY SHOW AND OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR "SURE BE COOL IF YOU DID"

Just in case you didn't know or you just missed it altogether, Blake Shelton was on NBC's "Today" on Monday and announced the debut of the video for his latest single, "Sure Be Good If You Did" and a new cd release for "Based on A True Story" on March 26. You can check out the announcement and the video below:

EVENT (STAGEIT LIVESTREAM): TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 - BRETT ELDREDGE IS "LIVE FROM MUSIC SQUARE"

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON FEBRUARY 12 AT 7:00PM CT

Brett Eldredge will be featured on Live From Music Square on Tuesday, Feb. 12. Eldredge is the first performer to participate in the live streaming concert, a new monthly series from Warner Music Nashville made available via StageIt.

BLAKE SHELTON PLANS NEW CD ON MARCH 26, "BASED ON A TRUE STORY"

Looks like Blake Shelton's gonna be one busy fella this year. In addition to his gig on "The Voice", his plans for 2013 include the release of yet another new album titled "Based on a True Story" which is scheduled for release on March 26. Blake announced the release on NBC's Today Show this morning. The lead single is already a hit, "Sure Be Cool If You Did." Just as a side not, country's busiest artist will make his debut on "Malibu Country", Reba's comedy series. He'll play the role of Reba's brother. This should make for interesting television.

VIDEO: SHERYL CROW PERFORMS HER NEW COUNTRY SINGLE, "EASY" ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

Didn't know Sheryl Crow had officially gone country? Well now ya do! Here she is singing her new single, "Easy" on Jimmy Kimmel last night. I hear her other new stuff is supposed to be great! Stay tuned, there WILL be more to come. What do you think of this one?

BLAKE SHELTON GETS "TEN TIMES CRAZIER" WITH JANA KRAMER AND EASTON CORBIN

As if he wasn't crazy enough, everyone's favorite voice, Blake Shelton get Ten Times Crazier on the launch of his "Ten Times Crazier Tour" in Virginia Beach, VA on July 19. “My fans, Country radio, friends, family, you name it - they know I love to perform," he says. "With The Voice schedule, I was not able to go out and perform as much as I wanted last year but I plan to make up for it this year." Jana Kramer and Easton Corbin will provide opener support. Listed below are the tour dates so you can see if the craziness is coming to your area!

Jul 19 2013 Virginia Beach, VA - Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
Jul 20 2013 Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
Jul 21 2013 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Jul 26 2013 St. Louis, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Jul 27 2013 Noblesville, IN - Klipsch Music Center
Jul 28 2013 Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
Aug 1 2013 Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center
Aug 2 2013 Burgettstown, PA - First Niagara Pavilion
Aug 3 2013 Tinley Park, IL - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug 9 2013 Raleigh, NC - Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Aug 10 2013 Camden, NJ - Susquehanna Bank Center
Aug 11 2013 Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Aug 29 2013 Atlanta, GA - Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Aug 30 2013 Tampa, FL - 1-800-ASK GARY Amphitheatre
Aug 31 2013 West Palm Beach, FL - Cruzan Amphitheatre
Sep 5 2013 Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Sep 6 2013 Hartford, CT - Comcast Theatre
Sep 7 2013 Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center
Sep 12 2013 St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
Sep 13 2013 Milwaukee, WI - BMO Harris Bradley Center
Sep 14 2013 Auburn Hills, MI - The Palace of Auburn Hills
Sep 19 2013 Charleston, WV - Charleston Civic Center
Sep 20 2013 Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
Sep 21 2013 Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena
Sep 26 2013 Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
Sep 27 2013 Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boling Arena
Sep 28 2013 Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
Oct 3 2013 Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center

KEEP AN EYE AND EAR OUT: "MOMENTS" - DEAN ALEXANDER

Keep an eye and ear on this guy, Dean Alexander. He's coming at country music like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew and Red Bull. He's got a subtle, down to earth sexiness about him and his voice melts a heart like butter. His debut single, "Moments", is gonna hit the jackpot! You WILL be hearing a lot from Dean, trust me.

START REQUESTING NOW: "SURE BE COOL IF YOU DID", THE NEW SINGLE FROM BLAKE SHELTON NOW ON COUNTRY RADIO

He's at it again and it looks like more BS ... Blake Shelton that is! Blake's got another hit on his hands with his new single, "Sure Be Cool If You Did" which just hit country radio this week. Let's make it another kick ass year for "THE VOICE" of country, Blake Shelton and show him we have his back by requesting this on our local stations! To quote Blake, it would "sure be cool if you did" ... 

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TWITTER NEW YEARS GIVEAWAY: WIN A SIGNED CD FROM HUNTER HAYES

Twitter Users! Lovin' Lyrics and Hunter Hayes want to say Happy New Years by giving away 2 signed copies of Hunter's top selling debut cd which includes his first #1 hit, "Wanted" as well as "Storm Warning" and his current hit, "Somebody's Heartbreak".

To Enter:

tweet this exact phrase - "I Wanna Rock 2013 with @HunterHayes and @LovinLyrics".

Contest Rules:
- You must be a Twitter user to enter
- You must follow both @HunterHayes and @lovinlyrics
- Only one entry per person. If I notice similar Twitter accounts or know that the same person is entering under multiple accounts, only one entry will be counted. This keeps it fair to all who enter. Thanks!

- You are not eligible if you've won a giveaway in the past 30 days from us.
- Winner will be announced on Friday, January 4, 2013.

VIDEO PREMIERE: "SOMEBODY'S HEARTBREAK" - HUNTER HAYES

He's had a banner year in 2012 and now Hunter Hayes is poised to take on 2013 with guns blazing. Check out the video premiere of his Top 20 hit, "Somebody's Heartbreak". Keep requesting this on country radio and let's give him his second #1 single.

CONTEST: CORRECTLY GUESS THE WINNER OF "THE VOICE" FINALE AND WIN A COPY OF BLAKE SHELTON'S "CHEERS, IT'S CHRISTMAS" CD

PICK  WINNER OF NEXT TUESDAY'S FINALE OF THE VOICE AND YOU COULD BE A WINNER TOO!

If you're a fan of NBC's "The Voice", the finale is next Tuesday and a new winner will be announced. Who will it be?

Team Blake - Cassadee Pope or Terry McDermott?

Team CeeLo - Nicholas David or Trevin Hunte?

If you correctly guess the winner, you could also be a winner and win a copy of Blake Shelton's brand new Christmas cd, "Cheers, It's Christmas" courtesy of Blake, Warner Music and Lovin' Lyrics.

CONTEST RULES:

ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON

EITHER TWEET US AT @LOVINLYRICS, COMMENT ON OUR FACEBOOK OR EMAIL US AT LOVINLYRICS@GMAIL.COM WITH YOUR GUESS

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED FOLLOWING NEXT WEEK'S FINALE SHOW.

VIDEO: DID YOU MISS BLAKE SHELTON'S "NOT SO FAMILY CHRISTMAS" SPECIAL? WATCH THE FULL SHOW HERE!

If you missed Blake Shelton's first television special, "Blake Shelton's Not So Family Christmas", you can now watch the entire show right here. You'll laugh, cry from laughing, cringe, roll your eyes and see why the world loves Blake Shelton.

Good Lord, They Gave Blake Shelton His Own Christmas Special

Good Lord they gave him his own Christmas special! It's gonna be special alright! Ha! Don't forget to set your dvrs or tune in for this one on December 3rd. Check your local listings for time and channel in your area.

HUNTER HAYES OFFERS FREE SHIPPING AND 25% OFF FOR CYBER MONDAY

Randy Travis & The Avett Brothers Team for All-New Episode of CMT Crossroads

Critically Acclaimed Network Show Premieres on November 23

Nashville, TN (November 19, 2012) – Be sure to tune in as country superstar Randy Travis shares the spotlight with folk artists The Avett Brothers when CMT presents an all-new episode of CMT Crossroads. Meeting and collaborating for the first time on the CMT Crossroads stage in Nashville, Randy Travis and The Avett Brothers will perform some of Travis’ most famous hits along with some of The Avett Brothers’ most memorable tunes, including some from their current album, The Carpenter.  CMT Crossroads: The Avett Brothers and Randy Travis is set to premiere on Friday, November 23 at 11:00 p.m. (Eastern).

Warner Bros. Records has been home to Randy Travis for the majority of his recording career, and together they have accumulated lifetime sales of his music in excess of 20 million units to date.  Travis is one of the biggest record sellers in music industry history, with 18 No. 1 singles, 29 Top 10 chartings, certification of the rare quintuple platinum album (Always and Forever, released in 1987), one triple platinum album (Storms of Life, released in 1986), two double platinum’s (Old 8x10, released in 1988, and No Holding Back, released in 1989), eight platinum albums, and 10 gold albums. Randy Travis' Anniversary Celebration CD is his latest release.  It marks his phenomenal silver milestone in the music industry, and includes a star-studded cast of collaborators.   Major industry career awards include seven GRAMMY Awards, five Country Music Association Awards (CMA), 10 Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM), 10 American Music Awards (AMA), two People’s Choice Awards, and eight Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association.  He is a three-time recipient of CMA Award’s “Song of the Year’’ honors (“On The Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever Amen,” and “Three Wooden Crosses”).  Randy Travis has appearances in more than 40 feature film productions and major television projects to his credit.  In 2004, he was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  In the midst of every major career award and accolade, he considers his honored induction as a member of the famed Grand Ole Opry, in Nashville, in 1986, as a shining highlight of his first 25 years of legendary accomplishments.        

In 2001, banjoist Scott Avett and guitarist Seth Avett formed The Avett Brothers with standup bass player Bob Crawford. Growing up in Concord, NC, the boys immersed themselves in their musician dad's record collection, falling in love with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. Since then, they've become genre stalwarts over the course of six albums, including 2007's acclaimed Emotionalism and their 2009 major label debut on American Recordings, I and Love and You. Most recently, their seventh full-length album and first for the joint venture between American and Republic Records, The Carpenter, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 with first-week sales of 98,000. It also hit No. 1 on both the Billboard Rock chart and iTunes Rock chart. Critical acclaim has poured in for the record from the likes of Rolling Stone, People, USA Today, and more. Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin and recorded in North Carolina and Malibu, The Carpenter is an artful distillation of classic homegrown folk, rock energy, bluegrass soul and pop charm.

CMT Crossroads is produced by Tom Forrest and Kathryn Russ.  John Hamlin, Margaret Comeaux and Bill Flanagan serve as executive producers.

Broadcast Schedule

CMT Crossroads: The Avett Brothers and Randy Travis

Friday, November 23, 2012 @ 11:00 p.m. (ET)

Encore Broadcasts:

Saturday, November 24, 2012 @ 2:00 a.m. (ET)

Saturday, November 24, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. (ET)

Sunday, November 25, 2012 @ 10:00 a.m. (ET)

30 DAYS ... SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME TO DO SO MUCH ... NO SHAVE NOVEMBER KICKS OFF TOMORROW

If you want to give back and help those who truly need you, please join Team Lou, WMG and Lou Ramirez and go grizzly for the kids of St. Judes with No Shave November. You can participate via donation only if you would rather do that. No amount is too small and every one is appreciated.

The event as a whole raised over $35,000 last year. We can do better this year. It's one month, 30 days out of your life to help better their lives.

Thank you for giving so little time to do so much.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION