Winter Jam Crowned Top First Quarter Music Tour

Landing at #2 on Pollstar's newly published "2018 1Q YTD Worldwide Ticket Sales Top 100 Tours" chart, the Winter Jam 2018 Tour Spectacular takes the top spot of all music tours on the chart. Following the #1 tour "Disney On Ice," Winter Jam ranks ahead of first quarter tours by such superstars as Bruno Mars and Blake Shelton. 

Christian music's largest annual tour, Winter Jam hit 46 cities across the country from January through March, boasting a total of 17 sold-out shows, including capacity crowds at Philips Arena in Atlanta; St. Louis' Scottrade Center; and Kansas City's Sprint Center, among other leading venues. 
 
This year's Winter Jam Tour Spectacular was headlined by Platinum-selling and Billboard Music Award-winning rockers Skillet and showcased Kari Jobe (featuring Cody Carnes); Building 429; popular comedian John Crist; KB; tour creators and hosts, NewSong; Dove Award-winning chart-topper Jordan Feliz.

Hollyn joined Winter Jam for a 12-date stint in March, along with a variety of one-night-only special guests--this year including Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols;  Matthew West; Grammy-winning Francesca Battistelli; and ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck and his wife, former FOX News anchor Elisabeth Hasselbeck, among others. 

MercyMe, Blake Shelton and Craig Morgan Join Trace Adkins For "Jammin' To Beat The Blues"

Country star Trace Adkins has not only cemented his status as a country music icon, he has also made it his mission to help important causes throughout his career. Adkins serves as a spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project and the American Red Cross and has participated in 12 USO tours. Adkins will team up with Craig Morgan, Blake Shelton and MercyMe – as well as previously announced performers Jason Crabb and High Valley – on March 21 at the Ryman in Nashville to benefit Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee.

Adkins is currently on tour with Shelton and collaborated on the No.1 hit “Hillbilly Bone,” which won the 2010 ACM Award for “Vocal Event of the Year” and was RIAA Platinum-certified. One of the most visible and constant ambassadors of country music, Shelton  continues to serve as a coach on NBC’s The Voice, with Adkins currently serving as his team advisor.

A multi-faceted entertainer, Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music star, TV personality, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. Twenty-five of his hit songs have climbed the Billboard chart, including the four-week No. 1, “That’s What I Love About Sunday.” Prior to his successful career in country music, Morgan spent seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserves and has since made 14 overseas trips to perform for our servicemen and women.

Rounding out the latest lineup is multi-Platinum selling band MercyMe. The contemporary Christian band made history in 2014 as “I Can Only Imagine” became the first song in Christian music to go platinum and double-platinum in the digital domain. Almost There, the album containing the hit, recently received triple-platinum certification from the RIAA. MercyMe is currently on a nationwide tour and just unveiled I Can Only Imagine – The Very Best of MercyMe, coinciding with the soon-to-be-released film I Can Only Imagine, in which Adkins plays MercyMe’s real-life manager, Scott Brickell.

“Never have I been surrounded by more talent," says Adkins. "I am thrilled and honored to welcome these three talented artists to the line-up!”

Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee's mission is to connect the community with specialized mental health and wellness resources, provide services that improve the quality of life, and promote effective services where mental health needs exist. 

Jason Wilkes Joins Team Blake On The Voice

Jason Wilkes turned two chairs during his blind audition on NBC's hit TV show The Voice.

Although both Adam Levine (Maroon 5) and country singer Blake Shelton turned, Wilkes chose Blake as his coach- -a seemingly natural choice since Wilkes has spent the last few years as a staff writer for country songwriting firm Dan Hodges Music.

Wilkes shared with NewReleaseToday some insight on his choice of coach. "I chose Blake mainly because of our personal connection. We are cut from a very similar cloth, and I knew we would instantly 'get' each other. If I'm going to work closely with someone for weeks or months, it is very important to me that we get along well."

"I understand Blake, and I think he understands me," Wilkes continued. "We have a southern guy bond that only other southerners would understand. I have a ton in common with Adam as well, especially musically, but Blake speaks my language. Literally... people in LA have trouble understanding the words I say. Blake is fluent in 'twang!' Seriously though, I'm super stoked about what's to come. It is a real honor to be a part of Team Blake, and I can't wait for people to experience the WILKES SHELTON magic!"

You can watch Wilkes' performance, a cover of "One Headlight" by The Wallflowers, below. You can also purchase the cover on iTunes here, or stream the full episode featuring his audition via NBC.com by clicking here.  

The Voice Semi-Finalists Perform Songs from Mercyme, Tamela Mann

During NBC's The Voice semi-finale, eight artists took the stage and Christian music was well represented.

Team Blake's Aliyah Moulden closed out the night by bringing the audience to their feet with her performance of Mercyme's "I Can Only Imagine." Coach Blake commented that the performance displayed her growth since the beginning of the show and made her a great example of a "model Voice contestant."

Team Alicia's Chris Blue aimed for a spot in the finale with a soulful performance of Tamela Mann's "Take Me to the King."

Pharrell Says ‘To God Be The Glory’ after Craig Wayne Boyd’s ‘Old Rugged Cross’ Performance on 'The Voice'

Craig Wayne Boyd won over fans and judges on last week's semi-final episode of The Voice with a hymn that not only showed off his amazing vocal ability, but pointed his audience to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Boyd gave a stirring rendition of the beloved song "The Old Rugged Cross" last Monday before a live audience.  The hymn was originally written in 1913 and is based off the biblical passage Galatians 6:14. The speaker in the hymn sings of of Christ's sacrifice through crucifixion, and his own dedication to the cross.

Judge Blake Shelton called Boyd's emotional rendition "one of the most passionate, epic vocal performances."

Producer and judge Pharrell Williams added,"Going through everything that you've gone through to get yourself here, what does it feel like to be at the top of your game and to surrender it to God in front of the whole entire world?"

"I feel so blessed right now, it's mind blowing," Boyd answered, adding that singing the hymn accompanied by a full orchestra was "a dream come true."

"I get it, man. To God be the glory," said Pharrell.



According to Mesquite News, Boyd grew up in the church and was actively involved in the church's music ministry and even helped direct the youth's praise band and choir for a time.

"He was never one of those teenagers that hid his faith," Mark Ellis, a minister at Peace Church for 21 years, told the Associated Press. "He was very involved with the youth group at church, very faithful and a good young man."

"He wasn't so wrapped up in life outside of church that he didn't have time to get involved," the pastor added.

Holly Tucker Hopes 'The Voice' Will Be Launchpad

Holly Tucker made it to the top-six on NBC's hit vocal competition "The Voice" before being eliminated on the June 4 episode, and says she has plans to capitalize on her recent fame and vocal training from coach Blake Shelton.

A former Baylor University student from Waco, Texas, Tucker, 19, received praise from the Christian community for her decision to sing the hymn "How Great Thou Art" during the live top-10 performance on "The Voice."

In a recent interview with The Christian Post, Tucker said she's learned a lot about self-reliance and her faith in God during her time spent in California, away from friends and family for the first time in her life, as she embarked on her dream to become a country music singer.

"I'd feel lonely and sad every now and again," she said. "I had to rely on God to get me through those tough times. It's kind of unexplainable, but I felt a peace that God had me there for a reason. It was tough knowing the amount of competition I had. But in the end, I just had to focus on the fact that God had brought me here to serve a purpose. I didn't know what that was in the beginning, but I have always wanted to touch people with my music through Him. That goal was what motivated me to keep going in the competition."

Among her experiences on "The Voice," Tucker said the most rewarding aspect was having the opportunity to work with Blake Shelton.

"Working with Blake has been the best part of it all. I've always wanted to get that professional opinion and advice on what I should do with my career and help mold me into the artist I've always wanted to be. His coaching and friendship have been invaluable to me throughout the process and I wouldn't trade it for anything. He's such a great man too. He's exactly the same person off camera as he is on camera. I really admire that in him," Tucker said.

Among the important attributes that Tucker aims to reflect is humility, even in the midst of a high-pressure national competition.

"I've been around people who have the kind of attitude that they are better than everyone else and are really cocky, and it's just not a good way to live," Tucker explained. "It makes other people feel uncomfortable and unappreciated, and it's only borne out of personal insecurity. I never ever want to make other people feel less than the treasure they are in God's eyes. That's how I enjoy spreading the message is just by being with people and making them feel special. If I can do that with my music, too, it's just an added bonus."

She continued, "Sometimes, it does backfire on me, because I can appear too humble and unconfident almost. By being on the show, I've learned that you must step up and let your confidence shine, because that's just as important as being humble. I don't think you have to sacrifice one to keep the other."

"I've learned so much, I could probably write a book," she joked. "The advice that I've been given in order to better myself and my music will take me so far in this business. I hope that 'The Voice' leads me to a record deal so that I can get my career started. Singing is my absolute passion, and I know that's God-given. I want to use it always for His glory. Even if I'm not singing strictly Christian music, country music is where my heart is, and my approach will be inspirational and fun. I think my positive style will impact a lot of people because it's different from a lot that you hear on the radio today."

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Did Brandon Heath Pen the Next Country Hit?

Two years ago, Dave Barnes had a smash hit on the country charts courtesy of Blake Shelton.  More recently Dave covered his friend Brandon Heath's song "Love Will Be Enough For Us" which also appears on Heath's new release Blue Mountain.

I don't know much about country music, but it seems an obvious choice for Blake Shelton or some other artist who wants a hit.

Barnes Tops the Country Charts

Dave Barnes celebrates a career first with his song “God Gave Me You” performed by country superstar Blake Shelton as it jumps to the #1 spot on the Billboard Country Singles chart. Barnes wrote the song for his last studio album, "What We Want, What We Get" released in 2010. “God Gave Me You” is on Blake Shelton’s eighth studio album, "Red River Blue," and is his fastest rising single to date.

Barnes’ version of “God Gave Me You” had a great run at Adult Contemporary radio in 2010, peaking at #21. The song also peaked at #3 at Christian CHR. Barnes’ and Shelton’s versions of “God Gave Me You” have sold close to 600,000 individual tracks combined. Dave Barnes' “God Gave Me You” video here: http://bit.ly/cFA8Hb

Blake Shelton selected the song after hearing it one day on the radio, he tells AOL’s The Boot: "It's no secret, Miranda and I have had our ups and downs over the years and this was definitely at a low point at our relationship. I was flipping through stations and landed on a contemporary Christian station, and that song came on and I almost had to pull the truck over. I felt like I was hearing that song at that moment for a reason."

Dave told AOL’s The Boot: “When I heard that it was making [Blake's] record, I was so excited! Especially in how it got there: it wasn't pitched, it was found. That's the best because the artist has such a different attachment that way. The fact that he heard it on the radio and wanted to record it because it meant something to him and Miranda blows my mind. It's still hard to believe it's on the radio. Writing so much on Music Row and knowing the process of how songs get cut and picked for radio, it's amazing to me that “God Gave Me You” made it through the whole process.”

Barnes is no stranger to having his music plucked by country singers as Billy Currington re-recorded Barnes’ radio hit “Until You” for Currington’s 2010 release. Barnes has been recognized by the industry as a rising songwriter. Billboard Magazine touted “Many of the best pop songwriters come out of Nashville, and Dave Barnes is one such singer/scribe now building momentum."

Barnes adds, “I have been writing a lot on Music Row in the last couple of years. I'm trying to get more songs recorded by country artists, both songs from my previous albums and songs that I'm writing with other Nashville writers. It's a really fun challenge and new discipline.”

Dave Barnes last album "What We Want, What We Get" debuted at #59 on the Billboard top 200 album chart in 2010 and #15 on the digital albums chart. Barnes has sold over 150,000 albums to date and over 510,000 individual song downloads. He is currently on tour and will tour in 2012 as well. Barnes has previously toured with notable acts including John Mayer, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Bonnie Raitt, and One Republic.