Industry Ink: Kelsea Ballerini, Joe Don Rooney, Craig Morgan, Reba

Kelsea Ballerini Headlines Live Concert Special

Black River Entertainment recording artist Kelsea Ballerini will be featured in an exclusive one-hour television concert special, Kelsea Ballerini, presented by AT&T AUDIENCE Network tonight (Dec. 15).

Filmed in the fall from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Lady Antebellum’s You Look Good World Tour, Ballerini will offer at-home viewers a front row seat to her performance of “Peter Pan,” “Dibs,” “Love Me Like You Mean It” and the Unapologetically breakout track, “I Hate Love Songs.”

The special will air at 8 p.m. CT on DIRECTV channel 239, AT&T U-verse channel 1114, and on-demand through DIRECTV NOW. Watch trailer and preview of the event.

In 2018, Ballerini will kick off her upcoming Unapologetically Tour on Feb. 8 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney Stars in Christmas In The Heartland Movie

Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney will star in Christmas In The Heartland, currently available to buy on iTunes, Amazon, Target and more.

Rooney plays the role of Jim, an aspiring country music artist and until recently unbeknownst to him, the father of Jesse who meets fellow teenage girl Kara on a plane home for the holidays. 

Rooney will appear with his musical trio for America Salutes You And Wall Street Rocks Presents: Guitar Legends For Heroes, airing nationally on Tribune Broadcasting, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Hearst Television, Graham Media Group, Gray and Ion television stations on Dec. 23 (check local listings).

Craig Morgan To Appear In Two LINE-X TV Spots During ESPN Broadcast

Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan will appear as part of LINE-X’s Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, featuring the Army West Point Black Knights versus the San Diego State University Aztecs. The second annual college football showdown will be hosted in Fort Worth, Texas and broadcast live on Dec. 23 at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Reba McEntire Returns To Rodeo Roots

Reba McEntire. Photo: Robert Melone for Justin Boots

Reba McEntire performed the National Anthem at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas on Thursday, Dec. 14, which was aired on CBS Sports Network. McEntire’s steer roping-champion father suggested McEntire sing the “Star Spangled Banner” at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, which set her superstar status in motion.

McEntire expressed her excitement to fans on her Facebook page Thursday (Dec. 13) with a photo captioned, “Can’t wait to be back at the National Finals Rodeo tomorrow night to sing the National Anthem! I was discovered there back in 1974 and I’m honored to return as part of Justin Boots night.”

Reba McEntire performs at the 1974 National Finals Rodeo. Photo: Courtesy Reba McEntire/Facebook

McEntire was also the 2018 host for the eighth annual CMA Country Christmas, which debuted to record ratings on ABC Nov. 27. The two-hour holiday music event will re-air on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8/7 p.m. and will feature performances by McEntire, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson and more.