Scott Stem @scott_Stem 4h4 hours ago @scottymccreery @stevewariner met btwn performances at @dariusrucker @stjude benefit concert @wildhorsetn last night
Steve Wariner @stevewariner 3h3 hours ago @scott_Stem @scottymccreery @dariusrucker @stjude @wildhorsetn Great meeting you Scotty! Enjoyed hearing you play.
Apologies if these Rolling Stone Pics are repeats: RS Country @rscountry 2h2 hours ago See photos of @dariusrucker, @littlebigtown, @scottymccreery and more at last night's big @stjude fundraiser: rol.st/1B3DtYM
Another article about the benefit concert. This one from Nash Country Weekly
“Darius and Friends” Benefit Show Raises Money for St. Jude. DARIUS RUCKER ENLISTS LITTLE BIG TOWN, BRETT ELDREDGE AND OTHER FRIENDS TO HELP ST. JUDE. Bob Paxman | Published: Jun 09, 2015
photo by Amiee Stubbs
Darius Rucker hosted his sixth annual Darius and Friends benefit concert at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Monday night (June 8), and welcomed an evening of current hits and crowd-pleasing renditions of classic tunes. The show featured performances by Darius along with friends Brett Eldredge, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Steve Wariner, Brothers Osborne and A Thousand Horses. Darius and Friends, which includes a silent auction, raises funds and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.
Before the concert, which played to a sold-out crowd, Darius remarked that the show has grown exponentially over the years, not just financially but in terms of artist support. "Everybody seems to know about it," he told Nash Country Weekly. "When you call [artists] about helping out, they all seem to know what it is. The support has been really good from the fans. We sell out even before we tell them who's going to be on, " Darius added. "That's pretty cool."
Darius opened the show with his 2009 No. 1 hit "Alright," followed by a greeting to the fans who packed the Wildhorse. "My favorite part of the night is introducing my friends," Darius declared. And practically on cue, Scotty McCreery bounced to the stage and had the fans hollering loudly with his hit "See You Tonight." Scotty also helped set the tone for the evening with his cover of George Strait's "Check Yes or No," which he did flawlessly.
Cover tunes were in vogue during the course of the evening, with Brothers Osborne rendering a sizzling take on ZZ Top's "La Grange," complete with the iconic opening guitar riff. Brett Eldredge, who's touring with Darius this summer, teamed up with the host for Frank Sinatra's "That's Life," drawing a huge response. Steve Wariner joined Darius to cover The Beatles' country-tinged "Get Back."
Naturally, fans responded to current hits as well. A hush came over the audience as Little Big Town hit the opening notes of "Girl Crush," but soon everyone was wildly applauding. Darius had fans singing along to "Homegrown Honey" and his latest single, "Southern Style." But in keeping with the unofficial theme, Darius got into the covers act with a spirited take on Prince's "Purple Rain."
The fundraising for St. Jude continues Tuesday (June 9) as Darius hosts the Darius and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament. In 2014, the concert, auction and golf tournament combined to raise more than $120,000 for St. Jude. Darius noted that this year's total should surpass that mark.
Billboard article about the event. I highlighted the Scotty stuff.
Darius Rucker Raises Money for St. Jude, With Help From Scotty McCreery, Stevie Wariner & More By Chuck Dauphin, Nashville | June 09, 2015 7:14 PM EDT
Though the 2015 CMA Festival is a couple of days away from its official kickoff, Monday night's sixth annual Darius & Friends benefit concert for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon kicked off the week for country music fans -- with a diverse lineup that included Brett Eldredge, Scotty McCreery, A Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne, Little Big Town and Steve Wariner.
Darius Rucker told Billboard that he enjoys putting the show together and featuring his contemporaries, but admits there's a little something special about having artists like Wariner or Kenny Rogers, who has played the event before.
"It's crazy, some of the wonderful names I've gotten to have over the last six years, and to have it help St. Jude's is awesome," he said. "I'm proud of this event and hope we get to keep having it for years to come. I've had so many of my heroes doing the show, like Steve, Kenny Rogers. I remember one year that New Grass Revival came by and did a few songs. Moments like that -- where you get to sing with someone like Kenny, who I grew up with -- are so amazing. It's been a wonderful trip, and we've gotten to do some great things." Last night, Rucker watched as Wariner performed two of his biggest hits -- "The Weekend" and "If I Didn't Love You" -- before joining his fellow Grand Ole Opry member onstage for a riveting version of The Beatles' "Get Back."
Wariner was quick to return the praise, saying, "I've known about this event for a while, and it's got a good reputation. It's for St. Jude's and everybody loves it. I do. I love anything with St. Jude's or juvenile diabetes. Those are my two favorite charities. If anyone asks me about something to do with either, I'm there. I also like Darius a lot."
As the unofficial launch event for the 2015 CMA Festival, Wariner reflected on how the event has changed over the years from the days at the Municipal Auditorium in the 1970s -- which he played as a sideman with Dottie West and Bob Luman -- to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in the 1980s. "It's come a long way over the years, from here to here. It's so different from the old days. There was something charming about the old days at the old rickety fairgrounds. It's a great week for the fans. You can look around and see all the license plates around the town, and that's what it's about: People coming here and enjoying the city and everything it has to offer." The entertainer is putting the final touches on his first-ever live album, slated for release later in 2015.
One artist who definitely has strong memories of CMA Fest week is Scotty McCreery, also on the bill Monday night. It was the first major country event he played after winning American Idol in 2011. "Thinking back about it, I was in what's called the 'Idol bubble,' he said. They keep you out in LA, and you really don't get to venture anywhere. You're just doing the TV thing, so the 2011 CMA Festival was my first big step into the country music world outside of Idol. I thought, 'Is it like this all the time?' It was crazy, but it was so much fun and pandemonium. That was a fun step into it all, and it opened the floodgates to everything else."
In keeping with CMA Fest tradition, Billboard asked McCreery about the most unique place he has ever signed an autograph -- and he didn't miss a beat. "This really big man had a few too many, and he comes up, lifts up his shirt and says, 'Sign my chest, buddy.' As an artist, you envision other chests, but I gave it to him…and let him keep the Sharpie," he said with a laugh.
McCreery has just finished the first round of songs for an upcoming album, and he can't wait for people to hear it. "We've done five songs already that we've got mastered, so I'm excited about listening to them. I think I've got it narrowed down to about two choices for a single. We'll talk with the label next week. I hope the new music will take me to the next level and hopefully show a little depth to who I am."
The night -- which ended with a group sing-a-long of Rucker's "Wagon Wheel" -- was another successful fund-raiser for the Memphis-based facility. Between the concert and Tuesday's (June 9) golf tournament, $220,000 was raised for St. Jude. Rucker said he is glad to give them a helping hand for the work the hospital does for others. "St. Jude's is wonderful. Ever since we visited them the first time, I wanted to come up with a way to help them out. I remember being there and talking to doctors about the kids and their parents. Being a dad myself, and seeing all the great stuff they're doing and how open they are with all their resources to help people, it was just something I wanted to be a part of and something I wanted to help. Fortunately, we've been able to do that."
^ Scotty got a lot of ink in this article. Great to see him getting the attention!
I like hearing that the single is narrowed down to two songs. So maybe they will decide next week and we'll finally know what the single is! Seems like we've been waiting forever.
Jonathan: Hi everyone that still checks this page!
Aug 9, 2019 15:48:20 GMT
mary_beaton: "Seasons Change" debuted as Billboard #1 Country Album. Congratulations Scotty!!
Mar 26, 2018 20:37:23 GMT
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mary_beaton: Five More Minutes is #1 Country Song this week! Both at Mediabase and Billboard!! Congratulations Scotty! So deserving.
Feb 26, 2018 15:59:01 GMT
mary_beaton: Scotty's new album "Seasons Change" will be released March 16, 2018! You can pre-order Seasons Change at iTunes and Amazon beginning Jan. 12, 2018. You can also pre-order Seasons Change bundled with exclusive merchandise options at ScottyMcCreery.com
Dec 18, 2017 17:05:32 GMT
mary_beaton: Scotty's new single, "Five More Minutes," will be released May 5th to iTunes, Amazon and streaming services like Spotify. Be sure to download and stream this great new song!
May 4, 2017 15:27:59 GMT
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