Author: countryheartbeat

Help my BFF win TAYLOR SWIFT Tickets!!!

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My best friend Tracy has been along with my for this crazy ride since Day 1. Please take a minute to vote for her and her Mom in this Mother/Daughter Look-Alike Contest!!! 🙂 The winner gets tickets and transportation to one of Taylor Swift’s Gillette Stadium shows this summer!

vote for tracy

Or click here and then click on the image that pops up in a new window! Just log in with your facebook account to vote if you don’t want to register! 🙂

Thanks guys! I love helping others win even more than I love winning myself! ❤

Talking Your Way Backstage

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People often wonder how I get to do all of the crazy things that I do, like attend shows for free, win contests, or hang out with/meet the artists. Most attribute it to luck. “You have the best luck out of anyone I know!” they often tell me. In reality… it isn’t luck at all. Here I am, sharing my secrets with y’all. It takes determination, a strong will, courage, confidence, and some good ol’ fashioned work! You’ve got to be willing to put in the effort if you really want something!

backstage pass

Step 1: RESEARCH

It’s all about research… you’ve gotta do a whole lot of research about the particular artist or group of the show you are going to. 99.9% of the time, I’m already following the “artist page” on twitter and instagram… but you’ve gotta break it down more than that. You need to find out all the band members names… then figure out other connections; like their tour manager, sound guy, photographer/videographer, close friends, stylists, or anyone related to the production of the tour or insiders at the venue. Also be clear of which radio station is hosting the event and make sure you are following the individual radio hosts as well as the station. (This also benefits you in case they are giving away extra tickets to the concert or Meet & Greet Passes… keep your eyes open!) Even if you already have tickets… the ones they [the radio station] give away could be seat upgrades and you could always give the extra pair to some friends. I personally do not condone reselling the extra tickets [aka scalping], but if that is something you choose to do… for the love of God, don’t jack up the price to make a hefty profit. That’s just not cool. Or fair to the person buying them. And it certainly does not benefit the artist! Don’t be greedy… it’s bad karma!

You’ve gotta start this process weeks in advance… once you can identify certain people (by “creeping” social media sites more or less) then you follow them on twitter/instagram or whatever your preferred choice of social media is. I’ve even got artists on snapchat and as facebook friends*.

*Requesting to be friends with someone in the industry on facebook is not recommended unless you personally/actually know this person. That’s really just plain creepy and stalker-ish. It might even get you blocked or reported.

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This Week in Country Music News

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Have you heard?

luke crash my playa 2016

Luke Bryan announced a save-the-date for his second “Crash My Playa” in the Rivera Maya, Mexico. Tickets go on sale April 9th at 11am CDT. Go to www.crashmyplaya.com for more event details!

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Earlier this week, Canaan Smith released his debut EP on iTunes. It includes his radio hit single, Love You Like That as well as 4 other great songs. Grab your copy here! (No, really, go buy it, it’s less than $7 bucks!)

TR Promo

Thomas Rhett‘s sophomore album is largely inspired by Bruno Mars! TheBoot.com wrote up a great article that you can read here! T. Rhett has been known to cover a few Bruno Mars songs during his set. Check out this swoon-worthy cover of When I Was Your Man. Last show of his that I saw, he ended it with an AMAZING rendition of Uptown Funk! He’s also got some killer dance moves, for those of you who haven’t seen him in concert yet! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1iAxyLzBT8

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Revealing My Identity

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So back about a year ago when I decided to start a blog, I was extremely hesitant about putting photos of myself on it. Even with my instagram account, Country Heartbeat, I specifically made sure to not show my face in any pictures. Partially because I wanted to stay anonymous, partially because I was afraid of creepy stalkers/ people recognizing me at events, and partially because I’m naturally mysterious. I have learned through the blogging classes I have been taking and through comments and connections with other bloggers, people want to see a face with the name and know who they are reading about. Images naturally draw people’s interest and they are more likely to open a post to read it if there is a photo involved. Tonight I’ve gone back and edited some posts from the archives, adding personal photos to them.

Please take a look at some of the best posts in my archives, complete with new pictures… especially if you’re new here and haven’t been following since the beginning! 🙂

Dream Trip of A Lifetime <— All about my very first ACM Awards experience!

That’s My Kind of Night <— Includes a secret video that is not public on YouTube!

About Page <— Revamped with photos & archived links!

Where it All Began <— First published post, added photos!

Let me know your thoughts… and I will definitely incorporate more photos into posts in the future! 🙂

 

Fangirl Moments

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Oh you know, just a typical 24 hour period for @country_hrtbeat on twitter…

Sam Palladio (Gunnar on ABC’s Nashville) favorites your tweet, Austin Webb follows you and THOMAS RHETT favorites your tweet about the video in your prior blog post… no big deal. #fangirling

PS. Sorry in advance for the vulgar language, intense moment on tonight’s episode of Nashville.

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Thomas Rhett’s heart melting video he shared of his wife

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So, I’ve been a huge fan of Laur and T.Rhett’s relationship since I’ve been following them both on instagram for the past couple years. Lauren is so naturally beautiful and their relationship seems so pure and honest and full of endless love. This video, though. This just did me in. Chills. Eyes watering up. I never knew they were friends for so long before they actually dated! I knew that they were college sweethearts, but had no idea about the whole high school phase where they were just friends. Wow, I love them SO MUCH MORE now. In fear of totally sounding like a typical white girl… I can’t even… ❤

Happy Early Valentine’s Day Y’all 🙂

PS. I cannot WAIT to see him live in 8 days!!!! Thomas is on my “Must Meet in 2015” list (along with Cole Swindell and Dierks Bentley). Sending some good vibes out into the Universe, hoping a Meet & Greet falls on my lap for my show next week!

patknightradio's avatarPatrick Knight's News from Nashville

TR Promo

Thomas Rhett won the internet today by sharing a video of how his love with his now wife grew from friends to where it is today! Check it out…

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New Music Monday!

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Songs you should be listening to (and downloading!) right now:

Kip Moore, “I’m to Blame”

We’ve been waiting for his new album for over a year now… his new single hit radio on February 2nd. Request it! It’s raw and honest and sexy… bet you won’t be able to get the hook out of your head! Kip is one of my all time favorite artists and this song is so true to him and his personality.

Love & Theft, “Whiskey on my Breath”

Love & Theft is back with some amazing heart-felt and soul-filled harmonies. This song is GOLD. I have so much love for these two, and this is one of my favorite songs they’ve written so far! This song better get the praise and recognition that it deserves!

Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”

I could not be more obsessed with Sam Hunt. His acoustic mix tape (Behind the Pines) and debut album (Montavello) are consistently on repeat in my car. This is his newest radio single and is currently at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.

Old Dominion, “Break up With Him”

It’s been a number 1 hit on Sirus XM’s station, The Highway, but hasn’t dropped to radio yet. It’s a fan favorite at their live shows and when I saw them live, it’s the song that convinced me to buy their EP! Give it a listen!

Chase Bryant, “Take it on Back”

Country newcomer Chase Bryant is quickly making a name for himself. He is now on my “Artists I Want to See in Concert” list! Lyrically, this song is like 90% of all the other bro-country songs out there, but it’s catchy and is destined to be a radio hit.

Up All Night With Jon Pardi

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My favorite local country station, WPOR, hosted an invite only event with Jon Pardi on their private stage. Only way in was to win! I entered via text nearly every day, of course! During this past week, the Universe has provided me with so many awesome opportunities and blessings, and I am so grateful this was one of them!

My first time seeing Jon Pardi was in December of 2013, and I will just nicely state that I wasn’t too impressed. Apparently during this show he was suffering from a knee injury and awaiting surgery in a few days, so I blamed his performance on this. Poor guy was probably in some pain! So I knew that I needed to give him the opportunity to redeem himself in my book next time he came around! Whether it is merely more stage experience over the past year or the fact that he was no longer in need of surgery, Jon definitely impressed me and won me over this time around!

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Chase Rice Debuts New Music Video

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Chase Rice’s new music video premiered on CMT yesterday, and it’s a great one! Most of us know Rice as a rowdy party kind of guy, but this video definitely shows off his softer side! Gonna Wanna Tonight was released to radio in November, but is currently not on the Top 40 Charts… I think that this video will change that. While I don’t foresee another number 1 like Ready Set Roll, I do appreciate Rice’s contribution to the country music world. There isn’t a single song on his CD that I don’t love and sing along to! (I’ve also seen him in concert at least twice, if not 3 times!)

Whoever directed this video deserves an A+!

Gonna Wanna Tonight

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A Note From the Universe

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The Universe blessed me with this much needed message today:

As surely as mountains are to be climbed and oceans sailed, your dreams are meant to come true. This is why you’re here, Jessica, to live the life of your dreams. Not to be tested, challenged, and tried, but to conquer, champion, and rule. Keep going, forge ahead, press on, and the day must dawn when your thirsts shall be quenched, and you, exalted.

Never settle for less, don’t ever think it’s too late, and never, ever, ever compromise a dream.

Exalting you early,
The Universe

I have had a few hiccups the past few days (it must be the new moon!), so this message came at just the perfect time. Each day I realize more and more that I am on the right path to my dreams. I cannot wait to see where 2015 leads me! The Universe could not be shouting more clearly at me to embrace my passions and follow my heart! I am so beyond blessed with this opportunity of being unemployed to allow me the time needed to focus on my goals. I could not be more grateful!