CMT Blog: Archive

Aug. 20, 2010

Hey Y'all -

We've been in Dallas and Tulsa, Okla., recently and the shows have been awesome. We rolled into Dallas on Wednesday morning and hit the ground running. Ran over and did some radio visits and met with some folks. The show that night at The Granada was awesome -- thanks everybody for coming out! Here are some pictures of the night. Had a good time hanging out with Meghan & Josh (from Steel Magnolia) in Tulsa. Josh even got up and joined us for "Long Haired Country Boy." -- Rodney

Aug. 13, 2010

Hey Y'all -

Had an incredible show in Belvidere, Ill. It got postponed two hours because of storms, but THANK YOU to everyone who stuck it out in the mud. It was an unforgettable night. Everybody got a little muddy, including the fair queen. Thanks to all of you for coming out and braving the storm! -- Rodney

Aug. 6, 2010

Hey Y'all -

We're headed to Lovington, N.M., this week so I did a little research to see what's going on there and here's what I found out -- Lovington is the hometown of Chicago Bears' linebacker, Brian Urlacher! I'm ready for football season to begin. Just checked the schedule and Tennessee kicks off their season Sept. 4 against UT Martin. Lookin' forward to it. GO VOLS! -- Rodney

Aug. 5, 2010

Hey Y'all -

Everyone seems to be hitting up vacations this summer. My family and I got to head to Mexico together for the first time -- we had a blast! Elijah and I ziplined into an underground river and then snorkeled through it. When I was a kid, I remember going with my family to Gatlinburg, Tenn., and all kinds of things we just enjoyed as a family. What have y'all been doing for vacation this summer? Any recommendations of places to go/things to do? -- Rodney

Aug. 4, 2010

Hey y'all -

Whenever we get to a town/city we haven't been to before, someone will usually give us a recommendation on a favorite local restaurant or two and a few "must see" things while we're in the area. Here are few of mine --

Cumberland Gap, Tenn. (My Hometown)
• The Iron Furnace, the Pinnacle, Hensley's settlement and ya gotta go to the Oasis. That's the place we went after little league games, after high school games, on dates and it was first gig I ever played. Hug Patty for me and ask if she's hung that platinum plaque I sent her.

Knoxville, Tenn.
• Where I was born AND the home of the University of Tennessee. GO VOLS!

Cookeville, Tenn. (Where I went to college)
• Favorite Restaurant: Ralph's Donut Shop!

Nashville, Tenn.
• Love the Loveless Café -- you've gotta go.

Shoot us an e-mail about some of your favorite things/restaurants/must see things in your hometown. -- Rodney

July 29, 2010

Hey Y'all -

Headed up to Indianapolis this week for a show, and it got me thinking about some of our other trips to Indy. When the Going Through Hell album came out we came up to Indy and did a show at the Meijer store there. They'd set up a stage in the lawn-and-garden department, and there were people there as far as we could see ... good times! Was also thinking about when we shot the video for "These Are My People." We came up in April of '07 and were going to shoot some things outside and some things inside. A few days before, the director called to say that he wasn't sure the weather was going to cooperate, so we should prepare to shoot everything inside. We figured that maybe it would rain, so that would make sense. When we woke up that Saturday morning, it hadn't rained ... it had SNOWED!!! Pretty decent snowstorm , especially for that time of year. We were sweatin' a little bit whether or not folks would come out to the show with the weather, but we should've known -- those Midwest folks won't let a little snow stop 'em. The place was packed and everybody was full of energy, just what we needed to shoot a great video. It only took a couple of hours to do, which I think is the shortest shoot time we've ever had on a video. All because of the fans! Thanks for some good memories, Indy ... looking forward to seeing y'all this week. -- Rodney

July 28, 2010

Hey Y'all -

On the bus winding down and headed back to Nashville after a show in Delaware. Been a busy day -- flew up to Baltimore this afternoon and jumped on the bus to head over to the show in Delaware. Great show with Craig Morgan and Chris Young. It's has been fun getting to do some shows with those guys this summer. On the way there, I was reminded just how much of Delaware is beautiful farming country. Good to know that there are "Farmer's Sons & Daughters" everywhere we go. Thanks for the hospitality, Harrington! Catching a few hours at home in Nashville before heading back out to an event for Kraft in Cincinnati. -- RA

July 23, 2010

Hey Guys -

It's been a hot week and we've been tearing it up across different parts of the south. We were in Atlanta doing a show with our buddies at the Carl Black [dealership], Chattanooga, Tenn., Birmingham and Mobile, Ala., before heading to Houston for a show over the weekend. I'm not sure what temperatures were this week, but it sure felt like summer! Just when I thought it couldn't get no hotter! Been a good week visiting with some folks at radio and we've had just a couple of the guys in the band out for that, so it's been fun to do some shows stripped down/acoustic. That's how I grew up learning to play, so I love picking 'n' grinning front porch style every chance I get. Hope y'all are staying cool and having a great summer! -- Rodney

July 12, 2010

Hey Y'all -

We're in Marion, Ill., today doing a show with Craig Morgan. We've got a few shows together coming up, so I'm excited about that -- he's a great dude. Heading into the studio as soon as I get home to finish up a few songs on the new record, and then over to the house to keep singing. -- RA

July 9, 2010

Hey Guys -

To kick off this run I flew in to Fargo, N.D., and it reminded me of the last show I flew in for. We had a show a few weeks ago in Buffalo, N.Y., and when I got there ... my bags didn't make it with me. We were flying out as soon as we could after the show to get to Enterprise, Ala., the next day for a show with Kenny Chesney at BamaJam, so our buses had gone on to Alabama. We were headed to the venue -- Coca-Cola Field -- and I was just gonna get up and play the show in the clothes I was wearing -- flip flops, old shorts and a T-shirt. Brian, my road manager, said "Hey man, you've been up since before the crack of dawn, you want me see if I can find a store?" He found a Walmart and returned with a toothbrush and paste, some deodorant, a few Hanes T-shirts, Dickies work britches and a pair of steel toe boots. Now that's a stylist. Show was great. Good times in Buffalo. And man, what a blast we had at BamaJam in the rain. Loved it! -- RA

July 8, 2010

Got to participate in the 1st Annual NRA Country Charity Shoot during CMA Music Fest -- had a good time hanging out with some great guys ... Mike Helton, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins ...

July 7, 2010

Hey Y'all -

It's been a busy but good 'n' hot summer already. Hope y'all are having a good one too. Just got back from a few days of vacation with the family. Thanks for the requests at your radio stations and on CMT.com for "Farmer's Daughter." It's making a huge difference in the momentum of this single. There ain't nothing like hearing you guys singing the songs at the shows. See you on the road. -- Rodney

July 5, 2010

Hey Guys -

We've had the folks with Velveeta Shells and Cheese and their Side Shack out with us for most of the summer and have been having a ball. They've always got something cooking over there, which has been good for me and the guys. One of the guys is a Cordon Bleu chef, which is awesome. Just want to thank them for doing such a great job. Those guys have really been getting it done. It rocks! We've enjoyed havin' 'em out! -- Rodney

July 1, 2010

Hey Y'all --

Hope everyone is having a great summer and getting ready to enjoy the 4th of July weekend. We've been having a great summer out on the road, and I'm looking forward to spending this weekend with my family. To all of the men and women in the military serving at home and overseas and to their families ... from my family to yours,  thank you.

Safe travels -- see you on the road,

Rodney

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