Kenny Chesney, the East Tennessee songwriter/stadium-sized superstar, is rested up and ready to get his 2025 started. Having spent the last several weeks working on some very personal projects that break ground for the high impact, positive energy performer, the eight-time Entertainer of the Year will kick things off with a stop at NBC’s “TODAY” on Thursday, Jan. 16 during the 8 a.m. hour.
Beyond whatever big news the generational icon has to share, he will return to 30 Rockefeller Center later that same day to be the lead guest on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” Though no performances are part of the appearances, Chesney has plenty to talk about.
“I have always been one to let the music do the talking,” says the affable musician. “I think when we’re onstage, connecting with No Shoes Nation, nothing else really needs to be said. When they sing these songs back to me, that says everything.
“That said, this year is going to be unlike any other. This is one time when I probably do need to get out and explain exactly what we’re up to. But for now, I can say this: I am incredibly ramped up about what we’re in the middle of making happen for 2025. It’s one of those things where you can’t just throw it out there – so I am really glad we’re getting to spend some time at ‘TODAY,’ then ‘The Tonight Show.’”
Having extended his record on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart with “Take Her Home,” his 33rd No. 1, the man behind “American Kids,” “Get Along,” “Summertime,” “Young,” “When The Sun Goes Down” and so many more classic country songs for the last two decades is looking forward to breaking more ground and creating deeper ways to appreciate the way his music has defined people’s lives in the 21st Century.
“The thing about so many of my songs is they’re pieces of people’s lives,” Chesney says. “Almost everyone can see themselves in there somehow. To me, singing people’s reality and hopefully showing them how sweet life can be sets a pretty cool bar.”
The man the Wall Street Journal deemed “The King of the Road” and the L.A. Times hailed as “The People’s Superstar” has always focused on connecting the dots between live and his recorded music. That appears to once again be the driver for Chesney as he leans into the year ahead; with a strong passion for his band and road family, he’s already been posting pictures from rehearsals somewhere in Nashville on social media.
“There’s nothing like No Shoes Nation when they come together. It’s the greatest high there is,” Chesney offers. “We’ve been pulling songs out that we’ve not played in years, so who knows?”
Tune in to “TODAY” Thursday morning, and find out. Check out “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” for more.
Sister Duo Tigirlily Gold Makes National TV Debut on 'TODAY with Hoda & Jenna'
Monument Records' sister duo Tigirlily Gold made their national television debut on Monday, Oct. 16, performing recent top 40 hit “Shoot Tequila” on NBC’s “TODAY with Hoda & Jenna.”
For the girls from a small town of 5,000, their national television appearance was a dream realized. "Growing up as small town girls in Hazen, ND, we always had big city dreams of playing shows such as the Today Show, and this week that dream actually came!” Krista and Kendra Slaubaugh shared. “We are so grateful for this opportunity to play some country music in NYC with Hoda and Jenna!"
Tigirlily Gold spent more than five years honing their craft on Nashville’s Lower Broadway, perfecting their charisma and songwriting while delivering four-hour sets, three to four nights a week. Born from those years spent entertaining the rowdy Broadway crowds, their debut EP Blonde, released earlier this year, captures that energy while highlighting the girls’ versatile songwriting.
Opening with the bold, confident title track “Blonde,” the sisters set the tone with the empowering girl anthem. Inspired by Dolly Parton, “Blonde” goes beyond describing a hair color, but rather depicts a state of mind while encouraging girls to live unapologetically.
The EP ends with “Shoot Tequila,” showcasing the girls’ ability to entertain with American Songwriter opining it, “packs an energy-filled punch that’s tailor-made for country radio.” The upbeat party anthem is reminiscent of the push and pull of a toxic relationship, nodding to the irresistible temptation of caving to the “bad influence” of a tequila-induced night.
The girls' performance comes as they prepare to release more new music, with their debut full-length album due in early 2024. For the latest information visit, tigirlily.com and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @tigirlily and on TikTok @TigirlilyGold.
About Tigirlily Gold:
Sister duo Tigirlily Gold has been playing music together since they could walk, and officially formed their band in high school. Growing up, they crisscrossed the mid-west, growing a fierce fan base and selling out amphitheaters across their home-state of North Dakota. After moving to Nashville, they landed a weekly residence at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway. Playing four-hour sets, three to four nights a week, the sisters developed a performance style that’s not only captivating and fun but shows just how much entertaining is in their blood.
After releasing their original song “Somebody Does,” in 2021, the track topped the iTunes chart and Tigirlily Gold was signed to Monument Records. They released their self-titled, debut EP in July 2021, working with multi-Grammy Award Winner Shane McAnally, and hit the road with artists like Walker Hayes and Ashley McBryde.
Now, the powerhouse duo has embarked on a new musical chapter with their EP, Blonde – a deeply personal project that includes tales of love and loss alongside powerful anthems and songs of female empowerment. Their current single, “Shoot Tequila,” has already found viral success with millions of views across social media, and millions of streams across platforms. The song is climbing the country radio charts now. Ready to bring girl group energy back to country music, Tigirlily Gold is poised for a breakout year.
L to R: Jenna Bush Hager, Kendra Slaubaugh, Hoda Kotb and Krista Slaubaugh pose on the set of "TODAY with Hoda & Jenna" on Monday, Oct. 16 | Photo Credit: Jared Olson
Darius Rucker to Preview New Album 'Carolyn's Boy' with Performances of "Fires Don't Start Themselves" & More This Friday on TODAY
As anticipation mounts ahead of his first solo album in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker is set to deliver an unforgettable show on NBC’s “TODAY” Citi Concert Series stage this Friday, Sept. 1 during the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. hours. In addition to songs from his multi-time Diamond certified catalog of hits, fans will hear a preview of music off the forthcoming album, set for Oct. 6 release and available for preorder here.
“I wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success,” Rucker previously shared with “TODAY” host Craig Melvin of the project. “She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”
Featuring current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” recent release “Have A Good Time” and more, the 14-song tribute to a woman who embodied joy boasts Rucker as a songwriter on 11 tracks and includes a collaboration with rising trio Chapel Hart as well as Rucker’s powerful take on the Rihanna ballad “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
In addition to his musical offerings, the famed sports fan continues to expand his creative endeavors off the stage and onto the field. Rucker’s Fanatics apparel line recently launched its third season of NFL gear while expanding to include all 30 MLB teams and select NCAA markets. Rucker's passion for sports and music will also converge as he performs the national anthem at the USC vs UNC game this weekend to kick off the college football season, which he will play an important part of as the new voice of ESPN’s “College GameDay” theme song.
For more information on all things Darius Rucker, including his personally-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival returning to Charleston on Oct. 7 & 8, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.
About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards in 2020 and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021. Rucker’s new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” is available everywhere now as a preview of his forthcoming album set for Oct. 6 release, Carolyn's Boy, as he performs new music for fans this summer on his Starting Fires Tour.
As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line available at Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.
