LUKE BRYAN CELEBRATES THE RELEASE OF HIS DEBUT ALBUM �I�LL STAY ME� ON AUGUST 14
Nashville, TN � August 10, 2007 � Luke Bryan heads back to his home state of Georgia next week to celebrate the release of his Capitol Records Nashville debut album I�LL STAY ME. The album hits stores Tuesday, August 14. The Georgia native wanted to go back to where it all started and celebrate with the fans who have been there to support him from the very beginning.
In support of his album launch, Bryan stopped by to see his friends at CMT Top 20 Countdown last weekend (August 2-5) as well as CMT.com and CMT Radio Network. He will be all over GAC this weekend leading up to the album launch. Luke is featured on the GAC�s Riverfront Concert Series (August 9 � 11), GAC Top 20 Countdown (Aug 10-13), GAC On The Streets (Aug 14). The singer/songwriter will also be performing live on Charlotte�s �Fox News Rising� (Aug 24) and early next month heading north to perform on Philadelphia�s popular WCAU�s (NBC) the �10! Show� (Sept 5).
Also, in anticipation of the launch of I�LL STAY ME, the Georgia native will have features and/or reviews running in the pages of USA Today, People Magazine, Billboard, Country Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Houston Chronicle and Albany Herald, just to name a few.
Bryan�s online fan base has already spurred over 1,000 pre-sale purchases online. He was the Clearchannel �Artist to Watch� during the months of June and July and was recently selected for a highly coveted spot as their featured artist in their �NEW!� program which launches on September 4.
The lead single �All My Friends Say,� written by Bryan, Jeff Stevens and Lonnie Wilson is currently sitting at No. 17 on the R&R chart and at No. 16 on the Mediabase chart (expecting to be Top 15 on both charts by Monday, Aug 13). The single is steadily moving upwards toward the top of the charts. The video for "All My Friends Say" is currently sitting at #14 on GAC and #14 on CMT.
Even before his first Capitol Records Nashville single, �All My Friends Say,� had been sent to country radio, Bryan was already earning significant media attention, including being named one of Billboard magazine�s new faces to watch in 2007. He was the only country music performer selected for the honor. Bryan was also included in Country Weekly�s �Who�s Hot in 2007� feature and the single was chosen as an iTunes �Discovery Download� of the week.
At the same time, Bryan�s second major cut as a songwriter�Billy Currington�s �Good Directions��was quickly climbing the country airplay charts and eventually hit the top spot on the country singles charts in May 2007 giving the Georgia native his first #1 song � as a songwriter. Bryan�s first major cut was the title track to Travis Tritt�s �Honky Tonk History.�