Image Courtesy Mercury NashvilleSome of Billy Currington's favorite childhood memories were made listening to the big record player at his grandparents' house back home in Georgia.

He says, "They had this old, in perfect shape record player with an eight-track cassette tape player in it, and also a radio and speakers. It was a whole cabinet thing."

Unfortunately, Billy's grandfather decided to get rid of the record player after Billy moved to Nashville.

"They didn't know I loved that thing that much," Billy explains, "and my granddad put it in the paper or something for free -- somebody to just come get it. That thing was worth everything to me -- not money-wise."

Even though the record player is long-gone, Billy always thought his grandmother kept their classic country record collection in the attic. He finally got around to asking her about the collection last week.

Billy says, "She said, 'Honey, I think your granddaddy gave all them records away with the record player that he gave away.' So, I was bummed to hear that, 'cause it was everything."

Billy has a personal record collection handed down from his parents, but it's lighter on classic country and pretty heavy on dance music.

"[It's] '70s gold," Billy says with a laugh. "Disco! All that stuff. My mom had it all."

Billy is helping his fans make musical memories of their own on the road this summer. Go to BillyCurrington.com to see where he's playing next.

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Image Courtesy Jon-Paul Bruno/EB MediaWhile most country artists claim to be NASCAR fans, newcomer Chase Rice actually worked for Hendrick Motor Sports before launching his music career.

He tells ABC News Radio, "I was in the pit crew going over the wall, changing tires doing all that.  I was one of the dumba**es running out in front of a car when it's coming at you at 60 miles an hour. That was me."

Chase insists he wasn't seeking danger working on the NASCAR track. He's just always been something of a thrill-seeker, which is why he also played football while he attended the University of North Carolina.

Says Chase, "It's just something to get your adrenaline going. Football's the same way, when you've got a crowd screaming, getting your adrenaline up. I've always had that in my life, and I love it.

Chase is currently getting that adrenaline rush from the roar of the concert crowds as he opens Dierks Bentley's Riser tour this summer.  Now that he's scored a hit single with "Ready Set Roll," Chase is ready to take his music back to the NASCAR track.

"I don't see why you can't have a concert at a race track," Chase explains." You know, I plan on hopefully, this year even, doing a couple of shows later in the fall at some racetracks. Pre-race, post-race-type stuff. Anything with NASCAR."

Look for Chase's debut album, Ignite the Night, to come out August 19. He'll perform on NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers on August 6.

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Image Courtesy David McClister/UMGCountry newcomer Sam Hunt is dropping a four-song album preview, titled X2C, to all digital outlets August 12. The set includes Sam's brand-new single, "Leave the Night On," and gives fans a taste of his full-length debut album, due out October 27.

Says Sam, "I can’t wait to share a few early tracks from the album. We’ve been having so much fun with the music out on the road and I’m excited to get this music out to our fans.”

So far, Sam has sold more than 197,000 copies of "Leave the Night On." He's also a co-writer on Kenny Chesney's "Come Over," Keith Urban's "Cop Car," and Billy Currington's latest hit, "We Are Tonight."

Heres' the X2C track listing:

"Leave the Night On"
"Ex to See"
"House Party"
"Breakup in a Small Town"

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Image Courtesy Republic NashvilleFlorida Georgia Line's sophomore album is expected to come out by the end of 2014, but they're still not finished recording the project. While they've got a lot of strong material --  including the lead single, "Dirt" -- the guys just keep finding more great songs.

FGL tweeted Thursday, "Uh oh, another song came in last minute we have to cut. Ahhhhh Yeaya, we bringing some extra special heat on this one."

You can download "Dirt" now at all digital outlets.

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Image Courtesy Nino Munoz/Big MachineTim McGraw is getting domestic backstage on his on his Sundown Heaven Town tour. He just posted a Twitter photo of fresh veggies and fruit with the caption, "Makin my wife's famous watermelon salsa outside the bus in Washington!"

Makin my wife's famous watermelon salsa outside the bus in Washington! #SundownHeavenTown pic.twitter.com/tYLIB6ZAYw

— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) July 31, 2014

While he didn't share a link to Faith Hill's recipe, it looks like Tim's lined up a watermelon, cucumber, tomatoes, an onion and some cilantro to go in the salsa.

Tim has cooked up a new batch of songs for his new album, Sundown Heaven Town, due out September 16.

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Comstock/ThinkstockWhat is the name of Dierks Bentley's baby boy born last year? ANSWER: Knox.

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Image Courtesy Warner Music NashvilleBrett Eldredge had a hand in writing both his #1 hits, "Don't Ya" and "Beat of the Music," so he obviously has a way with words. That's why Brett's advice on misusing words carries some weight.

Brett tweets, "If you think about it, all words are made up, so if you say a word wrong, who cares, make up your own!"

This casual approach to the English language could make for a very interesting sophomore album for Brett. You can catch him performing songs form his debut project, Bring You Back, on the road with Keith Urban through the fall.

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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockDan + Shay will perform on Live with Kelly and Michael Thursday.

Jon Pardi will perform on the BMI Stage at the Austin City Limits Festival in Texas on Friday, October 3.

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Image Courtesy Jim Wright/Broken BowJason Aldean's daughters, 11-year-old Keeley and six-year-old Kendyl, have grown up on the road with him, so they're used to sleeping on tour buses and hanging out backstage in arenas.

"They like coming out," Jason says. "They like hanging out in the bus. It's like, sleeping on the bus to them is like having a sleepover party or something, you know? So, they dig that part of it. They've got their bunks that are all decorated for them."

Jason and his crew also set up a blow-up swimming pool for the girls out by the buses on show days.

Says Jason, "[It's] just finding little things to keep 'em occupied more than anything."

Once show time rolls around, Jason's youngest daughter, Kendyl, isn't very impressed by all the big lights and pyrotechnics.

Jason says with a laugh, "She makes it through about four or five songs, and then she's ready for bed. She's over it."

Kendyl's bed time may have something to do with Jason performing his steamy, new single, "Burnin' It Down" a little later in his set list. Fans have downloaded more than 183,000 copies of the song since it came out last week.

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Image Courtesy Nino Munoz/CapitolDierks Bentley's Riser tour is one of country music's hottest tickets this summer playing sold-out shows across the country. Dierks has Chris Young, Jon Pardi and Chase Rice opening the show for him. That lineup reminds Dierks of being on the road with Kenny Chesney about a decade ago.

"I think back to when I was opening for Kenny and Keith Urban was the middle act, and I was the beginning act, and what that felt like just to have that camaraderie of guys to be able to talk about things," Dierks explains. "Now, I've got one step further. I got three other guys out there with me -- just great guys at all different levels in their career."

Dierks is quick to praise his supporting acts starting with Jon Pardi, who Dierks says reminds him of himself when he was first starting out. Dierks admires Chase for building his own following via social media before scoring his debut hit, "Ready Set Roll." As for Chris, Dierks adds, "[He's] , just one of the best singers in this town and a great guy."

He continues, "They're all great hangs, and I'm having the best time of my life out there. It's been a total blast."

Go to Dierks.com to see where the Riser Tour is stopping next.

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