Eli Young Band joined Alabama in the studio May 15 to record “The Closer You Get” for the band’s tribute compilation, <em>Alabama & Friends</em>, which is set for release later this year. The album will also include Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts.
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 04: Luke Bryan attends 139th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/FilmMagic
LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 03: Luke Bryan attends the Unbridled Eve Gala for the 139th Kentucky Derby at The Galt House Hotel & Suites' Grand Ballroom on May 3, 2013 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for York Sisters, LLC
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Recording Artists Gary Allan, Lyke Bryan and Sheryl Crow attend the 14th annual T.J. Martell Foundation Nashville Best Cellars dinner at the Bridge Building on April 29, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 29: Caroline Bryan, Recording Artist Luke Bryan, Angel Cropper and Recording Artist Steve Cropper attend the 14th annual T.J. Martell Foundation Nashville Best Cellars dinner at the Bridge Building on April 29, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images
NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 02: Singers/Songwriters Luke Laird, Natalie Hemby and Brett Eldredge during BMI Presents at Tin Pan South at The Rutledge on April 2, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BMI
Luke Bryan graces the cover of this week’s issue of <em>Billboard</em> magazine. In the story, Luke reflects on his rise to fame, selling out all 21 cities on the first leg of his Dirt Road Diaries tour, debuting atop the <em>Billboard</em> 200 chart with his <em>Spring Break… Here To Party</em> album and co-hosting Sunday’s ACM Awards with Blake Shelton.
“It’s all a dream,” Luke told <em>Billboard</em>. “All I ever wanted to be is a big ol’ country star and I cannot believe it’s happened. It’s the time of my life and I’m loving every day.”
Luke Bryan headlined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Saturday night with a crowd of 75,242 fans in attendance. It was Luke’s second performance at the Rodeo, his first as a headliner, and the largest crowd of his career. After Saturday’s show, the rodeo announced it was the second-largest crowd in their history.
Photo courtesy of Schmidt Relations, taken by Michael Monaco.
