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Joe Bonsall, who has spent the past five decades as the tenor singer for Country Music Hall of Fame group The Oak Ridge Boys, has officially revealed his plans to retire from touring.
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In 1973, Bonsall left his position with gospel group The Keystones to join The Oak Ridge Boys. With his signature tenor and charismatic persona, Bonsall entertained audiences on stages around the world for 50 years, alongside his Oak Ridge Boys bandmates Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban. Along the way, the group notched more than a dozen No. 1 Hot Country Songs hits, including their signature 1981 hit “Elvira,” which earned the group one of their five Grammy wins.
Bonsall noted that his decision to retire from the road is due to an ongoing health issue. For more than four years, Bonsall has battled the slow onset of a neuromuscular disorder.
“I am now at a point where walking is impossible, so I have basically retired from the road. It has just gotten too difficult,” Bonsall said in a statement. “It has been a great 50 years, and I am thankful to all the Oak Ridge Boys band crew and staff for the constant love and support shown to me through it all. I will never forget, and for those of you who have been constantly holding me up in prayer, I thank you and ask for you to keep on praying.”
Bonsall’s departure from the road marks a significant lineup change for the group, as Bonsall, Allen, Golden and Sterban have helmed the group for the past 50 years, save for an eight-year timespan when the now-deceased Steve Sanders had replaced Golden.
Ben James
Courtesy of The Oak Ridge Boys
Bonsall’s touring replacement will be Ben James, 27, known for his previous work with Doyle Lawson’s band Quicksilver, as well as Dailey & Vincent’s band. James is also a songwriter, penning “I Hear You Calling” and “Teardrops in Tennessee” as part of his recent solo album Wonderland.
Bonsall officially introduced James to Oaks fans in his statement, saying, “There is a young man named Ben James singing for me out there, and he needs your love and encouragement … his sound is different than mine, but he brings a ton of talent to the table! The Oak Ridge Boys will finish the Farewell Tour without me, but rest assured, I am good with all of it! God’s Got It!!!”
James was introduced to The Oak Ridge Boys during a 2022 concert in Wheeling, West Virginia, where Dailey & Vincent shared the bill with The Oak Ridge Boys. Bonsall’s final show was on Dec. 17, while James’s first show with the group took place Dec. 30.
“Joe handed me the mic and said, ‘You’ve got the next verse,’ James recalled in a statement. “And I’m not sure I will ever get over that moment. ‘Elvira’ was always on repeat when I was growing up. It’s still one of those timeless songs that never grow old.”
In September, The Oak Ridge Boys announced their farewell tour, The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour, with a full slate of shows for 2024. The group is also slated to return to the studio with producer Dave Cobb later this month. To date, the Oak Ridge Boys have worked on four projects with Cobb,
See below for a full slate of The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour shows for 2024:
The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour:
Jan 20: The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TexasJan. 21: The Grand 1894 Opera House – Galveston, TexasFeb. 2: Boot Barn Hall (Gainesville) – Gainesville, Ga.Feb. 11: San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo – San Antonio, TexasFeb. 29: Florida Strawberry Festival 2024 – Plant City, Fla.March 2: Montgomery Performing Arts Centre – Montgomery, Ala.March 15: Foxwoods Resort Casino – Ledyard, Conn.March 16: American Music Theatre – Lancaster, Pa.March 17: American Music Theatre – Lancaster, Pa.March 23: Sugar Creek Casino – Hinton, Okla.April 4: Oxford Performing Arts Center – Oxford, Ala.April 5: City of Morganton Municipal Auditorium – Morganton, N.C.April 6: Alabama Theatre North – Myrtle Beach, S.C.April 10: Clay County Agricultural Fair – Green Cove Springs, Fla.May 17: Peoples Bank Theatre – Marietta, OhioMay 18: The Oak Ridge Boys American Made Farewell Tour – Defiance, OhioJune 7: Hartville Kitchen – Hartville, OhioJune 8: Hartville Kitchen – Hartville, OhioSept. 15: Kansas State Fair – Hutchinson, Kansas
John Michael Montgomery is saying goodbye to life on the road.
The “Life’s a Dance” hitmaker revealed via his official Facebook page on Monday (Jan. 1), that his 2024-2025 tour dates will serve as his farewell tour as he winds down his touring career.
“It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song ‘Life’s a Dance’ was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape, CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy,” Montgomery recalled in his Facebook post.
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“It amazes me where it is today,” he added. “I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last 3 decades, it’s meant so much me.”
Montgomery’s post did not state a specific reason for his decision to wind down his touring. A representative for Montgomery did not respond to a request for comment. Currently, Montgomery has concerts slated for 2024 in January, March, April, May and October.
The Kentucky native made his breakthrough with the 1993 top 5 Hot Country Songs hit “Life’s a Dance,” and won the Country Music Association’s Horizon Award in 1994.
He would go on to add seven No. 1 Hot Country Songs hits to his resume, starting with the three-week No. 1 “I Love the Way You Love Me.” His romantic ballad, “I Swear,” became a four-week Hot Country Songs hit No. 1 in 1994 and crossed over onto the all-genre Hot 100, reaching No. 42. The song won a CMA Award for single of the year, and nabbed Montgomery a Grammy nomination for best male country vocal performance. R&B group All-4-One recorded a version of the song, taking it to No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Montgomery’s hits have also included “Be My Baby Tonight,” “The Little Girl,” “I Can Love You Like That,” and “Sold (The Grundy County Auction).” His highest-charting Hot 100 crossover song was the 2004 military-inspired hit “Letters From Home.”
Additionally, musical talent runs in the Montgomery family. As a child, Montgomery and his brother, Eddie Montgomery, played music together. Eddie would go on to also find massive country music success as half of the duo Montgomery Gentry. John Michael recently celebrated the next generation of familial country music success, watching as his son, Walker Montgomery, recently made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry.
The Country Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards, spotlighting those behind-the-scenes members who keep country music’s touring industry going.
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Final-round voting for the 2023 CMA Touring Awards opens Wednesday, Dec. 13 and closes Thursday, Dec. 28. This year’s CMA Touring Awards will again be hosted by Keith Urban and will take place Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in Nashville.
Ron Baird, industry veteran and former head of Creative Arts Agency’s (CAA) Nashville office, will be posthumously honored with the CMA Touring Lifetime Achievement Award. The award honors an individual who has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of touring throughout the years.
“Honoring our touring community is something I look forward to every year,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA chief executive officer, in a statement. “Each time I attend a show, hear a new tour being announced, or see footage from an unforgettable night, I am reminded again of the importance, dedication and resilience of our touring community. I am also especially excited to add five additional categories this year, including a Crew of the Year honor. They are the road warriors that keep Country Music alive all over the world, and I can’t wait to celebrate them on February 12!”
“As someone who spent years not only setting up all my own equipment at shows, but was also for a time a lighting guy and crew member for a band, I know the hard work that goes in to keeping shows on the road,” Urban added. “I’m honored to once again be asked to host the CMA Touring Awards and acknowledge and shower some love on all the hard workers behind the scenes that make it all happen.”
This year, the CMA Touring Awards have expanded, adding five categories. CMA members will have the opportunity to vote for Backline Technician, Stage Manager, Support Services Company, Unsung Hero and Crew of the Year. All balloting is tabulated by the professional services organization, Deloitte.
The CMA Touring Awards, originally called the SRO (Standing Room Only) Awards, were created by the CMA Board of Directors in 1990 to honor outstanding professional achievement within the touring industry. The first awards were presented at a black-tie gala hosted by K.T. Oslin and Roger Miller during CMA’s Entertainment Expo, also known as the Talent Buyers Entertainment Marketplace. Ten awards were presented at the first gala and the number swelled to 19 over the years before settling at the current 20. The SRO Awards were renamed the CMA Touring Awards in 2016.
See the full list of nominees below:
Crew of the year
“All American Road Show Tour” Crew – Chris Stapleton“The Outsiders Revival Tour” Crew – Eric Church“I Go Back Tour” Crew – Kenny Chesney“Country On Tour” Crew – Luke Bryan“2023 World Tour” Crew – Luke Combs“One Night At A Time World Tour” Crew – Morgan Wallen“No Bad Vibes Tour” Crew – Old Dominion“Home Team Tour 23” Crew – Thomas Rhett
Backline technician of the year
Jason Baskin – Zac Brown BandMelvin “Melvis” Fults – Kenny ChesneyCarlos Gutierrez – Dierks BentleyJason Herndon – Blake SheltonJoel “Tico” Jimenez – Thomas RhettJeremiah Langdon – Jelly RollChris Miller – Keith UrbanZach Rickard – Brothers Osborne
Business manager of the year
Renee Allen – Arnie Barn, Inc.David Boyer – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.Duane Clark – Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.Catherine Morris – Farris, Self & Moore, LLCCaleb See – Curo Financial, LLCMichael Vaden – Vaden Group/Elliott DavisKris Wiatr – Wiatr & Associates, LLC
Coach/truck driver of the year
Ronnie Brown – Zac Brown BandJosh Easter – Morgan WallenRhett Evens – Thomas RhettCaleb Garrett – Luke BryanJustin Pullin – Old DominionErin Siegfried – Lainey WilsonChris Simms – Jelly RollWayne “Wayno” Sullivan – Blake Shelton/Keith Urban
FOH (front of house) engineer of the year
Brendan Hines – Jelly RollAaron Lain – Morgan WallenTodd Lewis – Luke CombsBen Rigby – Eric ChurchArpad Sayko – Chris StapletonTrey Smith – Thomas RhettIan Zorbaugh – Old Dominion
Lighting director of the year
Zac Coren – Morgan WallenPhilip Ealy – Kenny ChesneyKevin Lichty – Old DominionMac Mosier – Chris StapletonKevin Northrup – Luke CombsTaylor Price – Miranda LambertAustin Strain – Jelly RollAlec Takahashi – Thomas Rhett
Manager of the year
Narvel Blackstock – Starstruck EntertainmentVirginia Bunetta – G-Major ManagementMartha Earls – Neon CoastKerri Edwards – KP EntertainmentClint Higham – Morris Higham ManagementMarion Kraft – ShopKeeper ManagementMandelyn Monchick – Red Light ManagementJohn Peets – Q Prime South
Monitor engineer of the year
Bryan “Opie” Baxley – Kenny ChesneyMark Davis – Jelly RollLogan Hanna – Brothers OsborneAndy Hill – Zac Brown BandNathan Lowe – Eric ChurchJimmy Nicholson – Thomas RhettDean Studebaker – Old DominionScott Tatter – Dierks Bentley
Production manager of the year
Chris Alderman – Blake SheltonJohn Garriott – Chris StapletonMeesha Kosciolek – Eric ChurchErik Leighty – Miranda LambertChris Nathan – Jake OwenEarl Neal – Jason AldeanKevin Twist – Thomas RhettEd Wannebo – Kenny Chesney
Publicist of the year
Janet Buck – Essential Broadcast MediaPaul Freundlich – PFA MediaQuinn Kaemmer – Big Machine Label GroupTyne Parrish – The GreenRoom PRCarla Sacks – Sacks & Co.Jessie Schmidt – Schmidt Public RelationsWes Vause – Press On PublicityJennifer Vessio – 1220 Entertainment Publicity
Stage manager of the year
Sam “Sambo” Coats – Eric ChurchDonnie Floyd – Morgan WallenTodd Green – Chris StapletonMatt Hornbeck – Luke CombsJosh “Dude” Marcus – Jason AldeanTom Nisun – Kenny ChesneyRichard Rossey – Old DominionJustin Sumrall – Thomas Rhett
Support services company of the year
4 Wall EntertainmentClair GlobalDega CateringMaster Tour by EventricMoo TVRichards & Southern
Talent agent of the year
Meredith Jones – CAAJoey Lee – WMEJonathan Levine – Wasserman MusicDarin Murphy – CAAAdi Sharma – The Neal AgencyAaron Tannenbaum – WMEElisa Vazzana – UTAJay Williams – WME
Talent buyer/promoter of the year
Bradley Jordan – Peachtree EntertainmentPatrick McDill – Live Nation NashvilleLouis Messina – The Messina GroupRich Schaefer – AEG PresentsAaron Spalding – Live Nation NashvilleEd Warm – Joe’s ConcertsAdam Weiser – AEG Presents
Tour manager of the year
Matt Anderson – Old DominionJason Hecht – Chris StapletonLuke Holton – Brothers OsborneChuck Hull – Keith UrbanMeg Miller – Lainey WilsonEthan Strunk – Luke CombsChris Thacker – Dierks BentleyJon Townley – Thomas Rhett
Touring musician of the year
Rob Byus (Bass Guitar) – Blake SheltonPaul Franklin (Steel Guitar) – Chris Stapleton/Vince GillBen Helson (Guitar) – Dierks BentleyLee Hendricks (Bass Guitar) – Eric ChurchHarmoni Kelley (Bass Guitar) – Kenny ChesneyChris Kimmerer (Drums) – Thomas RhettDanny Mitchell (Piano) – Miranda LambertKurt Ozan (Guitar) – Luke Combs
Tour videographer/photographer of the year
Mason Allen – Old DominionAndy Barron – Chris StapletonZach Belcher – Dierks BentleyDavid Bergman – Luke CombsCeCe Dawson – Lainey WilsonTanner Gallagher – HARDYGrayson Gregory – Thomas RhettAndy Pollitt – Jelly Roll
Tour video director of the year
Josh Clark – Miranda LambertJay Cooper – Kenny ChesneyHouston Creswell – Dierks BentleyRon Etters – Chris StapletonNate Fountain – Zach Bryan/Blake SheltonChris Jones – Jelly RollRicky Krohne – Thomas RhettMichael Todd “M.T.” Stembridge – Eric Church
Venue of the year
Ascend Amphitheater – Nashville, TNBankNH Pavilion – Gilford, NHBridgestone Arena – Nashville, TNChoctaw Casino Resort – Durant, OKGrand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TNJoe’s on Weed Street – Chicago, ILPaycom Center – Oklahoma City, OKRed Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Unsung hero of the year
Dallas Bowsier – Eric ChurchJosh Castle – Dierks BentleyRJ Estrella – Luke CombsKayla Carter Greear – Luke BryanKelsey Maynard – Old DominionTodd Molle – Jake OwenMel Murphy – Live Nation NashvilleTyler Rhodes – Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton isn’t necessarily “starting over,” but the country superstar is postponing several dates of his ongoing All-American Road Show Tour. In a message posted to his official Instagram page Wednesday (Oct. 11), the “Tennessee Whiskey” singer revealed that “doctor’s orders” have forced him to reschedule the next three dates of his nationwide trek.
“To all my friends in Corpus Christi, Houston and Lafayette, I am very sorry to let you all know that I am unable to perform this weekend’s shows,” he wrote. “I have bronchitis and laryngitis, and on doctor’s orders am on vocal rest through the weekend in order to heal. I’m grateful for your patience and understanding, and hope to see you all in November.”
In the photo set’s caption, Stapleton clarified that “all tickets will be honored for the rescheduled dates.” The rescheduled dates are as follows: on Nov. 16, Stapleton will hit Lafayette, LA (originally Oct. 14), then make his way to Houston, TX, on Nov. 17 (originally Oct. 13), before finally gracing Corpus Christi, TX, on Nov. 17 (originally Oct. 12).
Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show Tour is the “You Should Probably Leave” singer’s first solo headlining concert tour. The trek has served as promotional support for his second, third, and fourth studio albums: 2017’s From A Room: Volume 1 and From A Room: Volume 2, and 2020’s Starting Over. Myriad opening acts have made their mark on the tour, including recent support acts such as Marcus King, Margo Price and The War and Treaty.
The eight-time Grammy winner is currently prepping the release of his forthcoming fifth studio album, Higher. He released the set’s lead single, “White Horse,” over the summer (Jul. 21), and the song has since reached No. 7 on Hot Country Songs and No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chris Stapleton has earned 15 career entries on the Hot 100, including his sole top 10 hit, “Say Something” (with Justin Timberlake). Over on the Billboard 200, the “Scarecrow in the Garden” singer has collected four consecutive top 10 albums, including his sole No. 1 title, 2015’s Traveller (two weeks).
Check out Chris Stapleton’s statement below:
In October, The Oak Ridge Boys’ longtime members — Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban — will celebrate their semicentennial celebration, five decades of making music together. In gearing up for the milestone, the group has announced their American Made: Farewell Tour.
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“When you’re saying farewell, there’s a lot of people you want to say farewell to,” Golden tells Billboard. “It’s all the people that supported you along the way, the ones that called the radio stations, the one that come and bought tickets to see us sing and sat in the rain with the rest of us while we were able to play and sing music. It’s a lot of emotions, because we as the Oak Ridge Boys are a family. I mean, we spent more time through the years together as a family and we did our own families, basically.”
Though the Oak Ridge Boys quartet has origins running back to the 1940s, it was the Golden-Sterban-Bonsall-Allen collective that propelled the group to commercial heights in both the country and pop fields.
At 84, Golden is the eldest member of the group, having joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1965; Allen joined a year later, having previously performed as part of the Southernaires Quartet and the Prophets quartet. In 1972, the group added Sterban, known for his work performing as part of the J.D. Sumner and the Stamps quartet. Bonsall joined in 1973, rounding out the current lineup. Both Bonsall and Sterban had previously performed as part of gospel group The Keystone Quartet.
This particular iteration has spearheaded the group for all of those years, save for an eight-year stretch starting in 1987 when Golden was replaced by Steve Sanders.
In the 1970s, the Oak Ridge Boys followed The Statler Brothers in gaining country success as a four-part vocal group with gospel roots. In 1977, they issued a live album which mixed country and gospel numbers such as “Good Hearted Woman” and “Just a Little Talk With Jesus.” But it was under the guidance of manager Jim Halsey, and with production from Ron Chancey, that the Oak Ridge Boys found success in the junction of gospel, country and pop, putting their inimitable harmonies behind what would become some of the biggest country and pop hits of the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1977, the group earned their first major country hit with “Y’all Come Back Saloon.” The group went on to earn 17 No. 1 Hot Country Songs hits, starting with 1978’s “I’ll Be True to You” and 1980’s “Leaving Louisiana in Broad Daylight. 1981 would bring their seminal, career-expanding crossover hit, the top five Billboard Hot 100 hit “Elvira,” anchored by Golden’s signature “Oom pa pa mow mow” vocals. They followed that with the top 15 Hot 100 hit “Bobbie Sue.”
Thanks to their distinct harmonies — with each of the four vocalists commanding an instrument capable of allowing the group to alternate lead vocal duties — the group earned four CMA Awards trophies and five Grammy wins. They’ve been recognized with the highest honors from the Country Music Hall of Fame (2015), the Grand Ole Opry (2011), the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Bonsall, the youngest of the four members at age 75, notes that the group has been slowly scaling back the number of concerts they have played each year, from 140 dates last year to 120 dates in 2023; he estimates they will play only around 50-60 shows in 2024.
“We’ve worked nearly 150 dates a year almost every year,” Bonsall tells Billboard. “We’ve never booked tours like a lot of groups do — making an album and doing maybe 50 or 60 days to support it. We may tour under a different tour name every year, but it’s really the never-ending tour. We’ve never known how to stop or slow down, for sure. So what we have put a concentrated effort in our thought pattern here in the last year or so into how can we slow it down some, but still keep moving forward.”
Bonsall says they intend to include key venues that staunch supporters over the years, such as the Alabama Theater in Myrtle Beach, N.C., and the American Music Theatre in Lancaster, PA. — or the Kentucky State Fair, which the group has played for the past 49 years.
“Are we going to play the Kentucky State Fair for the 50th year next August, if at all possible? You bet we are,” Bonsall says. “That’s a record that might not be broken.”
Bonsall noted that age was one factor playing into the decision to launch a slate of farewell dates.
“For the past year, I’ve done our shows [sitting] on a stool,” Bonsall says. “My legs aren’t what they used to be — but I’m still singing good and feeling good, and I’m not in any pain,” Bonsall says. “Richard has had a few small health issues, but he got by them fine. Dwayne is doing great and [William Lee] Golden, he’s going to be 85 in January and he’s got more energy than all of us put together.”
“I want to thank God for 50 years of singing with three of my best friends and for the fans who have been there for us,” Sterban said in a statement. “This is a celebration and we hope to see you there.”
“For all of my career I have always been a planner, sometimes planning two or three years in advance, what we will do, where we will go, and when we record,” Allen said in a statement. “As we celebrate 50 years of being together, just as you see us, we will, also, begin our American Made: Farewell Tour. I don’t know how long the tour will last, but we hope to return to as many parts of the country as we can. Thank you so much for these 50 years. For me, it’s 57 1/2 years. I have given you the best part of my life and you have rewarded me with a wonderful career. Thank you, our dear fans. Thanks to God for His divine guidance. Thank you to our wonderful organization. Thank you to all the supporting companies who represent us. And thank you to our families.”
The farewell tour announcement is a momentous one, considering the Oaks’ considerable contributions to the progress and ascension of country music touring, both domestically and internationally. In 1976, thanks to the work of Halsey, the Oak Ridge Boys toured the Soviet Union with Roy Clark.
“The Iron Curtain was still firmly in place. Jim Halsey worked it out as a cultural exchange,” Bonsall recalls. “It was an incredible experience to go and see what life was like there, and to be able to cross a lot of barriers, language-wise, with music and harmony.”
The Oaks’ tour alongside Kenny Rogers and Dottie West in 1979 is considered country music’s first major arena tour. “All arenas, all sold-out, big production and lights in the middle of an arena — it was never done before,” Bonsall says. “Kenny and Dottie had those big hits like ‘Every Time Two Fools Collide,’ and Kenny was riding on ‘The Gambler’ and ‘Lucille.’ We were the hot new young kids on the block; we learned so much from Kenny.”
Riding high on hits like “Elvira” and “Bobbie Sue,” the group propelled country music touring forward, with their energetic stage shows bolstered by lighting and production previously unheard of in country music concerts. “We had a computerized light system; everybody uses it now, but we did then,” Bonsall says. “We had lasers and smoke spotlights up in the truss; it was an amazing tour. People are doing big tours now all the time of course.”
The group joined another tour with Rogers, West and at times, Dolly Parton, thanks to the Rogers-Parton 1983 Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Islands in the Stream.”
“Kenny also had [the 1980, six-week No. 1 Hot 100 hit] ‘Lady,’ and we had all these hits by that time — so that was another monster tour; for like seven straight years, we never saw an empty seat in an arena,” Bonsall says.
Golden notes that as members of the Grand Ole Opry since 2011, they still plan to continue to perform at the Opry even after the conclusion of the farewell tour. “It was like people like Roy Acuff, people that inspired us as kids growing up, hearing them on the Grand Ole Opry,” he says. “It would come alive in our little farmhouses out the middle of a cotton field, and the battery radios bring it all alive to you.”
In addition to the upcoming farewell tour, the group has holiday shows in the works, and they plan to enter the studio in January to start work on a new album, again enlisting producer Dave Cobb, with whom they’ve worked on four previous albums, including 2021’s Front Porch Singin’.
“We’ve talked about doing an album of songs that talk about mamas,” Golden says. “We’d mention an old Dottie Rambo song called ‘Mama’s Teaching Angels How to Sing,’ and other songs that have a theme about mothers.”
“It’s a time of reflecting and there’s a sadness about being able that it’s a farewell tour,” Golden adds, “but there’s the other side that you feel so blessed because of your singing partners, the people that you’ve been able to travel with and sing with. The accomplishments that we’ve had together is four guys, regardless of our different backgrounds, coming together and we each bring a uniqueness to the group with our contributions.
“It’s exciting to have been able to have survived this many years with the same lineup of singers, and to be able to go out there and thank people,” he continues. “It’s going to be an emotional tour.”
See a full list of upcoming tour dates below:
Sept. 20 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Sept. 21 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Sept. 22 – Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater / Jefferson City, Mo.Sept. 23 – Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center / Huntington, Tenn.Sept. 28 – Norsk Hostfest Great Hall of the Vikings / Minot, N.D.Sept. 29 – Chester Fritz Auditorium / Grand Forks, N.D.Sept. 30 – Swiftel Center / Brookings, S.D.Oct. 1 – Deadwood Mountain Grand / Deadwood, S.D.Oct. 4 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 5 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 6 – Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City / Kansas City, Mo.Oct. 7 – Richard Drake’s Party Barn / Powderly, TexasOct. 11 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 12 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 13 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, TexasOct. 14 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, TexasOct. 18 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 19 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 21 – Rome City Auditorium / Rome, Ga.Oct. 26 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 27 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Oct. 28 – Neewollah Celebration – Jim Halsey Auditorium / Independence, Kan.Nov. 1 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 2 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 3 – Brown County Music Center / Nashville, Ind.Nov. 4 – Crossroads Arena / Corinth, Miss.Nov. 8 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 9 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 11 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.Nov. 15 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 16 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.Nov. 21 – Vern Riffe Center for the Arts / Portsmouth, OhioNov. 24 – Honeywell Center / Wabash, Ind.Nov. 25 – Paramount Theatre / Anderson, Ind.Dec. 1 – Renfro Valley Barn Dance / Mount Vernon, Ky.Dec. 2 – Anderson Music Hall / Hiawassee, Ga.Dec. 7 – Firekeepers Casino / Battle Creek, Mich.Dec. 8 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.Dec. 9 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.Dec. 14 – Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center / Paducah, Ky.Dec. 15 – Effingham Performance Center / Effingham, Ill.Dec. 16 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.Dec. 17 – Egyptian Theatre / Dekalb, Ill.
For more than four decades, Country Music Hall of Famer George Strait has proven himself as one of country music’s most dependable, elite entertainers. In 2023, Strait’s stadium shows — featuring Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town — have set new attendance records in several stadiums, including ones in Seattle, Milwaukee and Columbus, OH.
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Now, Strait, eight-time Grammy winner Stapleton and special guests Little Big Town are extending their record-setting slate of stadium shows into 2024, adding nine new dates.
The new shows are set for May, June, July and December of next year and will visit cities including Indianapolis, Detroit and Chicago, in addition to setting the 37th installment of the Strait to Vegas show, with a Dec. 7 gig booked at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.
“I’ve always said we have the best fans in the world, and to see so many of them show up for these shows just makes us want to keep bringing them more,” Strait said in a statement. “I’ve also missed performing in Las Vegas during NFR, so I’m happy to see that show come together in 2024. See you soon!”
Tickets to most shows go on sale on Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. local time via GeorgeStrait.com, with tickets to the Jacksonville show on sale on Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public beginning Friday (Sept. 15) at 10 a.m. local time through Sept. 21 at 10 p.m. local time.
See the full list of stadium shows below:
May 4 — Indianapolis, IN @ Lucas Oil Stadium
May 11 — Jacksonville, FL @ EverBank Stadium
May 25 — Ames, IA @ Jack Trice Stadium
June 1 — Charlotte, N.C. @ Bank of America Stadium
June 8 — East Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium
June 29 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Rice Eccles Stadium
July 13 — Detroit, MI @ Ford Field
July 20 — Chicago, IL @ Soldier Field
Dec. 7 — Las Vegas, NV @ Allegiant Stadium
A group of protesters gathered outside Jason Aldean‘s concert on Saturday in Tinley Park, Illinois, near Chicago. According to the Chicago Tribune, the group of nearly 2 dozen people were part of a protest led by Revolution Club Chicago, which aligns with Communist beliefs.
During the protest, members of the group chanted, marched and burned American flags. The outlet also reported that there were no major altercations between concertgoers and the members of the protesting group.
A representative for Aldean could not be reached for comment on the protest.
The protest comes as Aldean’s latest single, “Try That in a Small Town,” garnered both support and criticism due to lyrics that advise people to refrain from burning the American flag, disrespecting police and committing robberies in small towns. (Sample lyric: “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face/ Stomp on the flag and light it up/ Yeah, ya think you’re tough?/ Well, try that in a small town/ See how far ya make it down the road.”) “Try That in a Small Town” was written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy and Kurt Michael Allison.
“Guess what, Jason? We will try that in a small town,” one of the protesters, Rafael Kadaris, said, according to the Tribune. “We will try that in a big city. And we will try it right in front of your concert.”
The music video for “Try That in a Small Town,” which included imagery of protests and flag burnings and was filmed in front of a Tennessee county courthouse with a history of lynchings, was pulled by CMT, sparking both support and outrage from country music fans. The video has earned 35 million views on YouTube. In July, the controversy helped drive consumption of “Try That in a Small Town” and send it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data.
On the radio-driven Country Airplay chart, “Try That in a Small Town” currently resides at No. 11. Aldean’s headlining Highway Desperado Tour will make its next stop on Sept. 14 in Rogers, Arkansas.
For nearly four decades, Billboard Boxscore has tracked the top tours, and touring artists, in the music industry, across various musical genres. The 2023 Billboard Boxscore Mid-Year report, which was led by pop star Harry Styles, whose Love on Tour trek grossed $138.6 million and sold 1.2 million tickets across 38 shows between Nov. 1, […]
Reigning CMA Awards entertainer of the year Luke Combs is gearing up for a double-header of a tour next year, when his Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour launches in April.
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The 25-show outing will visit 13 cities, with nearly every city getting two nights — Fridays and Saturdays — of shows.
The tour kicks off April 12-13 in Milwaukee, WI. Combs will also play two nights at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, Jacksonville’s Everbank Stadium and Phoenix’s State Farm Stadium, before wrapping with two shows in Houston at NRG Stadium on Aug. 9-10.
Since his breakthrough hit “Hurricane” spent two weeks at the pinnacle of Billboard’s Country Airplay chart back in 2017, Combs has become known for his wellspring of hits, becoming one of the biggest country music sensations of his generation. But with this tour, he continues doubling down on introducing fans to other musicians he loves, from contemporary country acts, to those that lean more into the Americana and Red Dirt genres.
The Friday night lineup of shows will feature Combs’ headlining set, in addition to guests Charles Wesley Godwin, Hailey Whitters, The Wilder Blue, Cody Jinks and The Avett Brothers. The Saturday night opening acts will include Jordan Davis, Colby Acuff, Drew Parker and Mitchell Tenpenny.
Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour. 13 cities. 25 shows. ⁰⁰Join/login to my fan club at https://t.co/RzSYEvromx to receive pre-sale info (info also emailed to members).Tickets will go on sale to the public next Friday, August 25 at 10 AM local venue time. pic.twitter.com/GEXiuJ2A2b— Luke Combs 🎤 (@lukecombs) August 15, 2023
“We got an opportunity to do two shows in some U.S. markets on the World Tour, but when I found out we were going to be able to do two shows for most all of the cities on the 2024 tour, I decided I wanted each show to have their own unique set up of openers, as well as my own unique setlist,” Combs said in a statement. “I thought this would give people an opportunity to come to both nights if they want, but see two completely different shows.”
He added, “With country music being such a wide genre and being a huge fan of it all myself, I wanted to open up my stage to acts that lean into Outlaw, Americana and Red Dirt on Friday nights, as well as having a night with people I have toured with in the past, who are more contemporary country,” he explained. “I’m super excited to have both groups be out on the road with me for the Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour!”
The tour takes its name from Combs’ recent pair of albums, 2022’s Growin’ Up, and its 2023 companion Gettin’ Old, and will follow his current 44-show World Tour, which visits three continents and 16 countries, and continues through the fall with concerts in Europe and Australia.
Combs recently helped country music make history on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, as his rendition of Tracy Chapman’s classic “Fast Car,” alongside Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” recently commanded the top three slots on the Hot 100, the first time in the chart’s history that three country songs had reached that milestone. “Fast Car” also spent five weeks atop the Country Airplay chart, and two weeks atop the Adult Pop Airplay chart.
Tickets for the Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old Tour go on sale to the general public on Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. local time here, while Combs’ fanclub members will have access to a presale beginning Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. local time.
See the full list of dates below:
April 12 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Field
April 13 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Field
April 19 – Buffalo, NY @ Highmark Stadium
April 20 – Buffalo, NY @ Highmark Stadium
April 27 – University Park, PA @ Beaver Stadium
May 3 – Jacksonville, FL @ EverBank Stadium
May 4 – Jacksonville, FL @ EverBank Stadium
May 10 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
May 11 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamodome
May 17 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s® Stadium
May 18 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s® Stadium
May 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ State Farm Stadium
June 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ State Farm Stadium
June 7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Rice-Eccles Stadium
June 8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Rice-Eccles Stadium
June 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
June 15 – Los Angeles, CA @ SoFi Stadium
July 19 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
July 20 – East Rutherford, NJ @ MetLife Stadium
July 26 – Washington, D.C. @ FedExField
July 27 – Washington, D.C. @ FedExField
August 2 – Cincinnati, OH @ Paycor Stadium
August 3 – Cincinnati, OH @ Paycor Stadium
August 9 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
August 10 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium
Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait set a new attendance record at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, venue American Family Field on Saturday (June 3), when Strait’s headlining concert brought in 46,641 attendees — the highest-ever attendance in the venue. The concert also featured Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town. American Family Field is home to major league baseball team the Milwaukee Brewers.
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“We have been fortunate to have a number of fantastic shows at American Family Field since we opened our doors. Our expectations for George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town were very high and those expectations were blown away,” Jason Hartlund, executive vp/chief commercial officer for the Milwaukee Brewers, said via a statement. “We set venue records for concert attendance and gross ticket revenue, among others. The Brewers have worked with Messina Touring Group for over a decade and have always enjoyed the relationship. We look forward to working together on many future shows [at] American Family Field.”
The Milwaukee show on June 3 is just the latest record-setting Strait has been doing recently: The accolade follows the recent record-setting attendance on May 27 at the Buckeye Country Superfest at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, which welcomed 63,891 attendees. Other artists on the Buckeye Country Superfest lineup were Stapleton, Little Big Town and Warren Zeiders.
Strait currently has eight additional concerts on the books for the rest of 2023, including a two-night stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 28-29, an Aug. 5 show at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, as well as a double-header at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 17-18.
Strait’s most recent album, 2019’s Honky Tonk Time Machine, marked his 27th album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart. Strait previously noted to Billboard that he’s not ruling out a similar touring run in 2024, saying, “Whether or not we do it again the following year depends on how we all feel it went when we’re finished with these shows.”
Messina Group CEO Louis Messina, who has promoted Strait’s concerts for approximately three decades, also previously added that a short touring stint could possibly happen next year. “It depends upon how he likes it or doesn’t like it,” Messina said. “The good thing about George Strait is we can do anything that he wants to do.”