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cmafest

The CMA has just announced that the 8th ANNUAL CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL KICK-OFF PARADE will begin at 11a (CT) on WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th, followed by the CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL BLOCK PARTY in NASHVILLE. Country icon GLEN CAMPBELL is set to serve as Grand Marshal for the parade.

“Last year more than 16,000 fans lined BROADWAY for the Parade and with our beloved GLEN CAMPBELL as Grand Marshal this year we are expecting even more people to come out and show their support and love for this iconic Country music figure,” said CMA SVP/Communications and Marketing SHERI WARNKE.

The parade will launch from TENTH AVENUE on BROADWAY and end at RIVERFRONT PARK. One of the most popular features of the parade is the 40 Country artists riding in a wide variety of CHEVROLET vehicles including vintage Corvettes. However, CAPITOL NASHVILLE group LITTLE BIG TOWN have another plan.

“What could we do for the fans that would be unique? Well, we can ride them around on a pontoon at the CMA FESTIVAL KICK-OFF PARADE! After the parade we’ll have the honor of kicking off the BLOCK PARTY at the RIVERFRONT STAGE singing ‘Pontoon.’ It’s a good way to start CMA FEST, don’t you think?” said group member, KAREN FAIRCHILD.

Other artists scheduled to appear in the parade are BILL ANDERSON, LYNN ANDERSON, KATIE ARMIGER, CRAIG WAYNE BOYD, WESTON BURT, CRAIG CAMPBELL, BUCKY COVINGTON, COWBOY TROY, IRA DEAN, JAIDA DREYER, DUE WEST, TYLER FARR, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, FLYNNVILLE TRAIN, COLT FORD, THE GRASCALS, GREG HANNA, AMBER HAYES, ANGIE JOHNSON, LITTLE BIG TOWN, LOCASH COWBOYS, RACHELE LYNAE, MANUEL, THE MCCLYMONTS, RANDY MONTANA, LORRIE MORGAN, CRAIG MORRISON, THE OAK RIDGE BOYS, CHASE RICE, MARLEE SCOTT, MATT STILLWELL, PAYTON RAE, DAVID ST. ROMAIN, THE ROYS, JASON STURGEON, TRENT TOMLINSON, TRAILER CHOIR, RHONDA VINCENT and COREY WAGAR.

For more on the CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL visit www.cmafest.com.

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amberhayes

Nashville, Tenn. – May 15, 2012) Fans can see Country artist Amber Hayes make her big screen acting debut and hear her music in the upcoming film, “Cowgirls N’ Angels,” opening in theaters May 25.

The movie features three of Hayes’ songs, including her 2010 Top 40 Music Row single, “C’mon,” which can be heard in the “Cowgirls N’ Angels” preview trailer here.  Hayes plays a honky tonk singer in the film and performs the song as part of a prominent line dancing scene.  Also included is “Always There For Me,” a previously unreleased duet with Lonestar front man Richie McDonald, who has a cameo as Amber’s father in the same scene.  “Right As Rain” is the third Hayes track featured in the film.  All three songs are included on the official “Cowgirls N’ Angels” soundtrack, available on iTunes or Amazon.com.

“I am so excited for this movie to finally come out!” says Hayes.  “I got to film my part last year in Oklahoma, which is where I’m originally from, so it was a big thrill for me to be near my family and friends for a few days.  Having never shot a movie before, everything was such a cool experience for me, and getting to work around people like James Cromwell and Bailee Madison was just awesome.  It’s a great, heart-warming family film, and I’m so proud to have been a part of it.  I can’t wait to see it in the theater!”

Hayes recently finished recording her sophomore album in Nashville, with plans to release the project later this year.  Tracks “Somewhere Out West,” “I Built This Wall” and the uplifting “Any Day Is A Good Day” are available to stream at www.AmberHayesMusic.com.  An accomplished theater performer, Hayes’ break in Nashville came during her role as Kathy Twitty in the 2008-2009 Conway Twitty production, “Conway Twitty: The Man, The Music, The Legend, The Musical.”  Hayes released her debut C’mon EP in 2010, which included her second Music Row Top 40 single, 2011’s “Wait.”

The Timothy Armstrong-directed “Cowgirls N’ Angels” stars Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell (“Babe,” “L.A. Confidential,” “The Green Mile,” “The Artist”) Bailee Madison(“Bridge To Terabithia,” “Brothers,” “Just Go With It”), Alicia Witt (“Friday Night Lights,”  “The Mentalist”) Frankie Faison (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “The Wire”) and Jackson Rathbone(“Twilight” films) among others.

“Cowgirls N’ Angels” follows the adventures of young Ida Clayton (Bailee Madison), who joins a group of female rodeo trick riders in a quest to find her real father.  “Cowgirls N’ Angels” world premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival in April 2012 and is distributed by Samuel Goldwyn Films.

“Cowgirls N’ Angels” opens Friday, May 25, in Nashville area theaters at the following locations: 

Wynnsong 10 (Madison)

Hollywood 27 (Nashville)
Opry Mills 20 (Nashville)
Thoroughbred 20 (Franklin)
Great Escape 16 (Clarksville)

Wynnsong 16 (Murfeesboro)

To read the original article, click here.

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 (Nashville, Tenn. – May 2, 2012)  A mix of Country stars and former football players gathered in Nashville, Tenn., recently to show support for ex-NFL player Kevin Turner at the Kevin Turner Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The two-day, inaugural fundraising event was held April 22-23 to help further ALS research efforts.  Turner, a fullback with the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots in the 1990s, was diagnosed with the disease in May 2010.  Mounting scientific evidence has linked repetitive head trauma to the onset of ALS.  Turner formed the Kevin Turner Foundation in 2010 to raise awareness about the connection and to help fund ongoing ALS research.

Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, Chuck Wicks, Amber Hayes and Shenandoah’s Mike McGuire were among the Country artists in attendance at the event, which included a celebrity mixer and silent auction on Sunday night.  A golf tournament was held on Monday at the Governor’s Club in Brentwood, Tenn.  

Former Tennessee Titans Kerry Collins and Blaine Bishop were on hand to show their support for Turner, along with Kyle Turley, who performed with his Country/Rock group, Kyle Turley Band.  Turner’s alma mater was well represented with appearances from former University of Alabama players Siran Stacy, Lemanski Hall, Mark McMillian, Jeremy Nunley, Hoss Johnson and Kevin Turner Foundation board member Craig Sanderson.  Turner played fullback for Alabama from 1988-1991 before being drafted by the New England Patriots in 1992.

“I was blown away by the support and turnout for this event,” said Turner.  “To see so many friends, former players and musical artists come out and donate auction items or sign up to play in the golf tournament was very humbling and inspiring.  We are making progress in the fight against ALS, but there’s still a long road ahead and a lot more that we are learning and discovering every day about concussions and this disease.  I am optimistic that one day in the future we will have a cure for ALS.”

Former professional wrestler and co-founder of The Sports Legacy Institute, Chris Nowinski was in attendance to speak to the crowd about the connection between repetitive head trauma and the organization’s efforts to make contact sports safer for athletes at all levels.  Turner works closely with SLI and Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy in their ALS and concussion research.

For more information or to donate in the fight against ALS, visit www.KevinTurnerFoundation.org.