Artist Updates (5-16-13)

Pictured (L-R): Eli Young Band’s James Young, Mike Eli, Producer Michael Knox, Alabama’s Randy Owen, Eli Young Band’s Jon Jones and Chris Thompson.

Eli Young Band joined Alabama‘s Randy Owen in the studio recently to record “The Closer You Get” as part of the upcoming release Alabama & Friends. The project will also include Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts.

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Jo Dee Messina has rescheduled her upcoming Canadian tour dates to tend to her mother, who has been hospitalized following heart complications. “I wanted to write to you myself and let you know, sadly we had to move those shows to October,” Messina said via her website. “My mother hasn’t been well. I had to be the one to make the call on whether or not we were going to keep these shows in place or move them. I didn’t feel comfortable being so far away, not having the ability to get home fast.” For a list of rescheduled Canadian tour dates, visit jodeemessina.com.

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Porter Wagoner

The sixth annual Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Fishing Tournament has been set for Friday, May 31 at Old Hickory Lake. This year’s tournament will take place from 6 a.m. until noon. Country music artists and celebrities will again be paried with top female and male professional bass anglers. Boats will launch from the Rockland Recreation Area in Hendersonville near the Old Hickory Dam. The weigh-in will be held on the grounds of Fontanel in White’s Creek, with live entertainment beginning at 11 a.m. and weigh-in scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

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Nashville-based Gospel singer Jason Crabb has released his first children’s book. One God, One You is currently available at all Jason Crabb concerts, events and online at www.JaseCrabb.com.