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 9/8/2010

 Artist Of The Day:


Little Big Town

· Little Big Town consists of Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet. Fairchild and Westbrook are married.
· Little Big Town’s self-titled 2002 debut for Sony’s Monument Records failed to draw any attention. The album had two minor singles on it, but the group was eventually dropped from the label.
· They resurfaced on Clint Black’s Equity Music Group label in 2005 and released their second album, “The Road to Here,” which sold over a million copies and produced 4 Top 20 hits, including “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home” and “Good as Gone.” The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album in 2006 and they were the 2007 CMA Vocal Group of the Year and 2007 ACM Top Vocal Group.
· Little Big Town third album, “A Place to Land,” was released in 2007 and later reissued with bonus tracks. The lead single, “I’m With the Band,” peaked at No. 32, while “A Little More You” hit the Top 20. The single “Life in a Northern Town” is a collaboration with Sugarland and Jake Owen.
· Fairchild recorded a duet with John Mellencamp on his 2008 album, “Life, Death, Love and Freedom.” The song, “A Ride Back Home,” was released as the album’s third single. Fairchild also duets with Mellencamp on “My Sweet Love” and appears in its music video.
· Little Big Town’s new album, “The Reason Why” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s country songs chart. The new disc’s first single, “Little White Church,” peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Other songs featured on the 12-track offering include “Runaway Train,” “Kiss Goodbye,” “Why, Oh Why,” “Shut Up Train” and “The Reason Why,” among others.
· LBT is touring with Sugarland on “The Incredible Machine Tour.”
· Official website: www.littlebigtown.com



 Country News:

 


‘Old-Time’ Music Coming To CD
Soon we’ll be able to hear the music people from the Smoky Mountains were playing about 70 years ago. The music was recorded by a graduate student from California in 1939. Proceeds from the sale of “Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music” will help park projects related to history, education and scientific research.

Miranda Lambert Breaks Up Fight During Concert
Miranda Lambert took it upon herself to break up a fight that erupted at her concert in Waynesville, Missouri, over the weekend. The incident took place Saturday night, and Lambert stopped her show long enough to put an end to the dispute. Lambert tweeted: “Tonight some idiots got in a fight on the front row at my show. I had to stop and call them out.” She added, “Funny part ... it was during ‘Only Prettier.’”

Alan Jackson Readies ‘34 Number Ones’
A new Alan Jackson compilation, “34 Number Ones,” will be released on November 23rd. The hits on the double album span from 1990’s “Here in the Real World” to 2009’s “Country Boy.” The project also includes “Look at Me,” from the soundtrack of “Billy: The Early Years,” and a previously unreleased cover of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.” Jackson released his first single on Arista Nashville in 1989.

Dierks Bentley Plans Big Apple Residency
Dierks Bentley has planned a four-night residency in four separate New York City venues in October, playing material from his CMA-nominated album, “Up on the Ridge.” Bentley will focus on his country hits at the Bowery Ballroom on October 18th, then perform a bluegrass-inspired set with the Del McCoury Band at City Winery on October 19th. Bentley will join songwriters Jessi Alexander, Jim Beavers and “Up on the Ridge” producer Jon Randall Stewart for the CMA Songwriters Series at Joe’s Pub on October 20th. He’ll conclude at South Paw with the acoustic group Punch Brothers on October 21st. A limited number of four-day passes will be available on Bentley’s website this Friday.

Urban’s ‘All For The Hall’ Gig Returns
Keith Urban has scheduled his second all-star concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The event will be held October 5th at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. “We’re All for the Hall” will also feature Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, John Mayer and Martina McBride. Tickets go on sale September 17th.

Lynne, Moorer Tour Together For First Time
Sisters Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer will launch their first ever tour together this fall. They’ll kick off the “Side by Side Tour” with an appearance at the 10th Annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, and wrap with a homecoming show in Mobile, Alabama, on December 4th.

Jamey Johnson On ‘Letterman’
Jamey Johnson will perform “Lonely at the Top” on David Letterman’s show tomorrow. The song was written by Don Cook, Chick Raines and the late Keith Whitley but was never previously recorded. When Letterman and his staff heard the track from Johnson’s upcoming 25-song double album, they thought Johnson should perform it on their show. Johnson will also headline a show at the Highline Ballroom tomorrow. Jamey’s “The Guitar Song” will be in stores on September 14th.

George, Reba, Lee Ann Tour Continues Into October
George Strait, Reba and Lee Ann Womack are enjoying touring together so much that they’re extending the trek into late October. Their next concert is tonight in Columbus, Ohio, followed by a Friday night concert in Lexington, Kentucky, and a Saturday night show in Nashville. This year’s tour concludes October 22nd in Fargo, North Dakota.

Justin Moore’s GAC Special
Justin Moore will be in the spotlight for a new GACtv special called “How I Got To Be This Way,” premiering Sunday. Moore will share stories about growing up in Poyen, Arkansas, his road to stardom, and more. During the show, fans will also get to see the video for his latest single, also titled “How I Got To Be This Way.”

 

 

 

9/7/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Steel Magnolia

· Steel Magnolia formed in 2006 and won Season Two of “Can You Duet?” The duo consists of Meghan Linsey and Joshua Scott Jones. After winning “Duet,” they signed with Big Machine Records and released their debut single, “Keep On Lovin’ You,” in August 2009. By November the song became the highest charting single by a “Can You Duet” act. A second single, “Just By Being You (Halo and Wings),” followed in July 2010.
· “Keep On Lovin’ You” is the lead single to the duo’s self-titled extended play, which came out in February 2010. It was also included in the soundtrack to the film “Valentine’s Day.”
· Steel Magnolia earned their first Academy of Country Music Awards nod earlier this year, for Top New Vocal Duo. They secured their first CMA nomination for Group of the Year last week.
· Steel Magnolia is opening for Brad Paisley’s “H2O World Tour.”
· Steel Magnolia has rescheduled the release of their Big Machine Records debut album for January 11th. The album had previously been scheduled for release on September 21st.
· Official Web site: www.bigmachinerecords.com/steelmagnolia

 

Country News:


Steel Magnolia Delays Debut Album
Steel Magnolia has rescheduled the release of their Big Machine Records debut album for January 11th. The album had previously been scheduled to drop on September 21st. The duo’s singles include “Keep On Lovin’ You” and “Just by Being You (Halos & Wings).” Winners of the second season of CMT’s “Can You Duet,” the duo secured their first CMA nomination for Group of the Year last week.

‘Cracker Barrel Presents Rodney Atkins’ Out Now
The newest CD release in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program is available now. “Cracker Barrel Presents Rodney Atkins” features four No. 1 hits, including “These Are My People,” “Watching You,” and the rising single “Farmer’s Daughter,” which has surpassed 300,000 digital downloads. The CD also features the previously unreleased song “More Like Your Memory (Always Takes Me Back).”

Miranda’s Bubbly Congrats
Miranda Lambert might have suffered one of the most expensive hangovers ever over the weekend. The celebration for her record-breaking nine nominations continued last Thursday night when she received nine bottles of high-end Dom Perignon champagne in her bus after a show in Mississippi. Miranda was so impressed she took a picture and posted it on her Twitter page with the caption: “Dom for nom’s!!!! “Celebration in the airstream!!!”

Rimes Celebrates Birthday With Cibrian In Las Vegas
LeAnn Rimes celebrated her 28th birthday on Saturday with boyfriend Eddie Cibrian at Las Vegas’ sexy hotspot, Tabú Ultra Lounge. With an entourage of dozens of their closest friends, Rimes and Cibrian hit the red carpet holding hands and smiling, acting very much in love after slamming recent cheating allegations. Rimes received rose gold bangles for her birthday from Cibrian. Rimes, who turned 28 on August 28th, is currently working on a new album.

Keith Urban Announces New Album And Single
Keith Urban will release a new single titled “Put You in a Song” on September 13th, followed by a new album, “Get Closer,” on November 16th. Urban co-wrote the single with Sarah Buxton and Jedd Hughes. Urban is currently finishing the album in Nashville. His prior project, “Defying Gravity,” was released in March 2009.

 

9/2/2010 

 

 Artist Of The Day:


Blake Shelton

· Blake Shelton signed a deal with Sony in 1997 and reached the top of the charts in 2001 with “Austin,” the first single from his self-titled debut album. His sophomore effort, “The Dreamer,” appeared in 2003.
· Shelton’s album “Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill” debuted at No. 3. Released in October 2004, the 11-song collection features the chart-topping “Some Beach” and the Conway Twitty song “Goodbye Time.” “Nobody But Me” peaked at No. 4.
· “Pure BS” includes his hit single “Don’t Make Me.” John Anderson and George Jones sing on “The Last Country Song,” which Shelton co-wrote. The album also includes a cover of Chris Knight’s “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” and Michael Bublé’s “Home.”
· Blake Shelton released his fifth album, “Startin’ Fires,” last year. The first single, “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” became his fifth No. 1. The album also houses the hits “I’ll Just Hold On” and “Bare Skin Rug,” a duet with Miranda Lambert.
· Shelton released a six-song album, “Hillbilly Bone,” earlier this year. It debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and No. 2 on the Top Country Albums Chart. It also featured the No. 1 one title track with Trace Adkins.
· Shelton’s latest single, “All About Tonight,” is spending its third consecutive week at the top of the charts. The song is the title track from the second installment of his EP Six Pack series, released earlier this month.
· Blake is doing his first TV concert special. It will air on GAC September 8th. “Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight” was shot at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana. The 90-minute concert special includes a duet with Miranda Lambert.
· Official Web site: www.blakeshelton.com

COUNTRY NEWS:



 Sara Evans Is ‘A Little Bit Stronger’
Sara Evans’ new single, “A Little Bit Stronger,” was dropped this week. Evans has also filmed a video for the project. Her next tour dates are September 17th in Kissimmee, Florida, and September 18th in Ocala, Florida, with concerts scheduled throughout mid-December. No release date has been scheduled for her new album.

Jaron Nabs Kristin Cavallari For Video
Jaron and the Long Road to Love teased his Facebook followers with the identity of his co-star in the upcoming music video for his single, “That’s Beautiful to Me.” Now the actress herself confirms her identity via her Twitter page. Kristin Cavallari will play the object of the singer’s affection in the upcoming video that filmed in Los Angeles yesterday. Kristin got her start in reality TV while still a junior in high school, when she was cast in the MTV series, “Laguna Beach.” She has had other roles, but is perhaps best known for her role as the resident troublemaker on “The Hills.”

The Band Perry Receive First CMA Award Nomination
The Band Perry is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year for the 44th Annual CMA Awards. This is the trio’s first nomination for a national music award, and the first nomination for an artist on the Republic Nashville label. “We are so humbled and just downright excited to be nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year,” said Kimberly Perry, speaking on behalf of the trio. “The three of us are huge country music fans and are honored to be in this category with some of our favorite artists. Big love and our deepest thanks to everyone for your rich support.” The trio’s current single, “If I Die Young,” is inside the Top 10 on Billboard and climbing. TBP will be on tour with Alan Jackson this fall.

Bon Jovi, Brad Paisley, ‘Reclaiming Our Beaches’
Two of the biggest names in music will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15-17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on October 15th and Brad Paisley performing on October 17th. These two shows signify the next installments of Alabama’s “Concerts For The Coast” event series. The shows, which are free to the public, will be ticketed events. Tickets will be available through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach lodging partners starting September 8th. Find out more at http://gulfshores.com/packages-deals and www.concertsforthecoast.com.

Little Big Town Debuts at No. 1
Little Big Town’s fourth album, “The Reason Why,” has become the quartet’s first chart-topping disc. The group’s latest project sold 42,000 copies in its first week, helped out by the Top 10 success of their current single, “Little White Church,” which is the seventh best-selling digital single this week. The album also scores a Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, putting them just behind the new release by Usher. Little Big Town have even more reason to celebrate this week as they scored a CMA award nomination for Vocal Group of the Year.
 

 9/1/2010

Miranda Lambert Leads List of Finalists with Record Nine Nominations for 'The 44th Annual CMA Awards'!!

The Final Nominees for "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" are:

Entertainer of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Miranda Lambert

Brad Paisley

Keith Urban

Zac Brown Band

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert

Martina McBride

Reba McEntire

Taylor Swift

Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley

Brad Paisley

Blake Shelton

George Strait

Keith Urban

Album of the Year

(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

Need You Now

Lady Antebellum

Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum

Capitol Records Nashville

Play On

Carrie Underwood

Produced by Mark Bright and Max Martin

19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville

Revolution

Miranda Lambert

Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Columbia Nashville

Twang

George Strait

Produced by Tony Brown and George Strait

MCA Nashville

Up On The Ridge

Dierks Bentley

Produced by Jon Randall Stewart

Capitol Records Nashville

Musical Event of the Year

(Award goes to each Artist)

"Bad Angel"

Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson

Capitol Records Nashville

"Can't You See"

Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock

Southern Ground/Atlantic Records

"Hillbilly Bone"

Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

Reprise Records

"I'm Alive"

Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews

BNA Records

"Till The End"

Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack

Arista Nashville

Previously Announced in Nashville:

New Artist of the Year

Luke Bryan

Easton Corbin

Jerrod Niemann

Chris Young

Zac Brown Band

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town

Rascal Flatts

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brooks & Dunn

Joey + Rory

Montgomery Gentry

Steel Magnolia

Sugarland

Single of the Year

(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))

"A Little More Country Than That"

Easton Corbin

Produced by Carson Chamberlain

Mercury Nashville

"Hillbilly Bone"

Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

Produced by Scott Hendricks

Reprise Records

"Need You Now"

Lady Antebellum

Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum

Capitol Records Nashville

"The House That Built Me"

Miranda Lambert

Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Columbia Nashville

"White Liar"

Miranda Lambert

Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Columbia Nashville

Song of the Year

(Award goes to Songwriter(s))

"A Little More Country Than That"

Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, and Wynn Varble

"Need You Now"

Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Josh Kear

"The House That Built Me"

Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin

"Toes"

Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins, and Shawn Mullins

"White Liar"

Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby

Music Video of the Year

(Award goes to Artist and Director)

"Hillbilly Bone"

Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins

Directed by Roman White

"Need You Now"

Lady Antebellum

Directed by David McClister

"The House That Built Me"

Miranda Lambert

Directed by Trey Fanjoy

"Water"

Brad Paisley

Directed by Jim Shea

"White Liar"

Miranda Lambert

Directed by Chris Hicky

Musician of the Year

Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar

Dann Huff – Guitar

Brent Mason – Guitar

Mac McAnally – Guitar

Randy Scruggs – Guitar

 

 


*
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8/31/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Sugarland

· Sugarland began in Atlanta with Kristen Hall, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. Hall has since left to pursue a solo career.
· Sugarland’s major label debut, “Twice the Speed of Life,” was released in 2004 and included the hits “Baby Girl” and “Something More.” Their sophomore CD, 2006’s “Enjoy the Ride,” sold more than 1 million copies in its first two months of release. The set has since gone triple-platinum. The first two singles, “Want To” and “Settlin’,” reached No. 1, while “Everyday America” and “Stay” were Top 10 hits.
· Sugarland’s third studio album, the 2008 platinum-selling “Love on the Inside,” produced three No.1 singles: “All I Want to Do,” “Already Gone” and “It Happens.” In October 2009, Sugarland released their first holiday album, “Gold and Green,” which debuted at No. 12 and peaked at No. 3.
· Sugarland’s current single, “Stuck Like Glue,” landed the best-ever Billboard Hot 100 entry for a country duo or group when it claimed the Hot Shot Debut at No. 20 earlier this month. The entry falls just shy of the act’s best overall peak on the list; “All I Want to Do” reached No. 18 on the chart on July 19, 2008. “Stuck Like Glue” previews Sugarland’s fourth album, “The Incredible Machine,” due October 19th.
· Hall filed a lawsuit against Nettles and Bush in 2008, claiming she was owed $1.5 million for being denied her one-third share of the band. Hall left the band at the end of 2005. A trial is scheduled to begin on November 15th in Atlanta.
· Official website: www.sugarlandmusic.com 

 

Country News:
 

Trace Adkins’ Former Label Releasing Greatest Hits Package
Trace Adkins’ former record label will release a two-CD compilation, “The Definitive Greatest Hits: Til the Last Shot’s Fired,” on October 12th. The 28-track collection from Capitol Nashville/EMI follows his career with the label from his 1996 debut single, “There’s a Girl in Texas,” through 2009’s “All I Ask for Anymore.” It features his three No. 1 singles – “You’re Gonna Miss This,” “(This Ain’t No) Thinkin’ Thing” and “Ladies Love Country Boys.” Other hits include “Songs About Me” and “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” Adkins has moved to Show Dog-Universal Music, headed by Toby Keith. His first project for the label, “Cowboy’s Back in Town,” was released earlier this month and debuted at the top of Billboard’s country albums chart.

Hag Hangin’ With Dave
Merle Haggard pays a visit to “Late Night with David Lettermen” tonight, promoting his latest disc, “I Am What I Am.” Haggard released the disc earlier this year.

Frankenstein Busted At Toby Keith Concert
A Toby Keith concertgoer calling himself Forrest V. Frankenstein Jr. gave Ohio police a monstrous time Saturday night. Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputies said Frankenstein, attending Toby’s concert at Riverbend, approached them drunk and threatened repeatedly to kill them, declaring, “If I had a knife I would stab you.” Deputies took him into custody and put him in a cruiser. Frankenstein then kicked out a rear side window of the vehicle. Deputies moved Frankenstein to another vehicle where he reportedly banged his face into the partition several times, hurting himself. Frankenstein was treated at a local hospital, where he allegedly continued to threaten law enforcement officials and medical staff. He was charged with disorderly conduct while intoxicated, vandalism and menacing.

Joe Nichols Wants To Know What Shape You’re In
Joe Nichols wants to help you share your own “little secret” and remain anonymous – online. Joe has created the “The Shape I’m In” website. “We came up with this idea as a great way to connect people to a larger community,” Joe explains. “Sometimes you just want to get something off your chest, or you want to get creative and have some fun. ‘The Shape I’m In’ website lets you do that – you’ll see your postcard alongside other people’s, and it’s all anonymous. I think this is something people will really like – whether you’re just reading other people’s reports on what shape they’re in, or you get involved and post your own.” To participate, just create own postcard and e-mail it to TheShapeImIn.JoeNichols@gmail.com. Then go to http://theshapeiminjoenichols.tumblr.com and check yourself out!

Paisley, Rimes, Underwood Featured In ABC Special
Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood will be featured in the ABC special “In the Spotlight With Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville,” airing November 9th, one night prior to the CMA Awards on ABC. In addition to conducting interviews, Roberts will also visit the homes of several country artists for the special.

Jaron Punk’d On Toby Keith Tour
Former pop singer Jaron Lowenstein, who scored the hit “Pray For You” as Jaron and the Long Road To Love, is attracting some interesting fans. According to Country Weekly, Jaron had a long road during a show on the Toby Keith tour over the weekend. In the middle of a song, a rather large man (actually Toby’s tour manager) walked out onto the stage, bare-chested, with the message “I Heart Jaron” written on his chest. It was all captured on video and posted on YouTube.

Nashville Celebrates Wynonna
Dignitaries, community and music industry leaders came together last Tuesday night to celebrate Wynonna Judd with the Cecil Scaife Visionary Award for her humanitarian contributions to the local, national and international community. A power packed room at the Tennessee Governor’s Residence gave tribute to the big-hearted star. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and wife Ann Davis, music icon Mike Curb along with wife Linda, joined 2009 “American Idol” finalist Danny Gokey and other big names to pay tribute to Wynonna for the countless charitable endeavors championed through her personal mentorship and support. Proceeds will fund a scholarship awarded in Wynonna’s name to a Belmont student studying for a career in the music industry.



 Snooki's Boyfriend Proposed To Her . . . On A Magazine Cover

 

 There's a guy who's willing to marry SNOOKI from "Jersey Shore"!! LOL! Snooki's boyfriend, JEFF MIRANDA, has PROPOSED. But he didn't do it in person.  He got down on one knee on the cover of "Steppin' Out" magazine. And he was shirtless, not surprisingly. There is no word yet if she said yes.... CHECK HIM OUT!

 

 

 

 

8/30/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Lady Antebellum



· Lady Antebellum formed in 2006 with Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood. The trio made their debut in 2007 as guest vocalists on Jim Brickman’s single “Never Alone,” a No. 14 hit on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. The trio also wrote a song for the MTV reality series “The Hills.” Their first country single, released at the end of 2007, was “Love Don’t Live Here.”
· Lady Antebellum won the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Duo or Group award in 2008, as well as New Artist of the Year from the Country Music Association. They also received a Best New Artist Grammy nod last year, while “Love Don’t Live Here” received a Grammy nod for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
· Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut hit No. 4 in its opening week in May 2008. Last week, in the disc’s 94th week on the chart, it climbed 1 spot to No. 15. “Love Don’t Live Here” peaked inside the Top 5. A second single, “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” peaked at No. 11. The single “I Run to You” marked their first No. 1.
· Lady A won the Group of the Year and Single of the Year for “I Run To You” at the CMA Awards in November 2009, ending Rascal Flatts’ six-year hold on the Vocal Group prize.
· Lady A debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and Country Charts in February 2010 with their second album, “Need You Now.” Singles include the title track and “American Honey,” which both hit No. 1. Their current single, “Our Kind Of Love,” is on track to hit No. 1.
· “Never Alone,” a special CD/DVD package containing Lady Antebellum’s 2008 collaboration with Brickman, came out earlier this year.
· Lady Antebellum has scored three spots in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart as their two studio albums “Need You Now” and “Lady Antebellum” were joined by the group’s newly released “iTunes Session” at the top.
· Lady A will appear on ABC’s “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special airing September 1st. The trio will also perform on the star-studded “Stand Up To Cancer Telethon” September 10th, airing simultaneously on NBC, ABC and CBS. They will also appear at Justin Timberlake’s annual benefit concert on October 23rd in Las Vegas. Proceeds benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.
· Official Web site: http://ladyantebellum.com



Country News: 

Paisley, Underwood Named CMA Show Hosts
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have agreed to reunite for a third time as hosts of the 44th annual CMA Awards show in Nashville. The CMAs takes place at the Bridgestone Arena November 10th. The show will air on ABC.
 
 
 
Doug Stone Arrested For DUI
Doug Stone was arrested for DUI in Gallatin, Tennessee, early Tuesday morning. Stone was pulled over at 5 a.m. after local officers were called about a possible intoxicated driver. The singer was jailed and released later that day on $3,000 bond. Stone will appear in court on October 5th.
 
‘Rock Band’ Delivering New Nine-Pack of Country
A nine-pack of country songs for the game “Rock Band” will be available tomorrow. The Rock Band Music Store will be offering the downloadable content for the Xbox 360, PlayStation and Wii. Tracks on the “Going Country Pack 04” include Urban’s “Days Go By,” McEntire’s “Fancy,” Lady Antebellum’s “Lookin’ for a Good Time,” Bentley’s “What Was I Thinkin’,” Eric Church’s “Hell on the Heart,” Jamey Johnson’s “Women,” Josh Turner’s “Would You Go With Me,” Laura Bell Bundy’s “Rebound” and Sugarland’s “It Happens.”
 
Taylor Swift’s ‘Mine’ Video Out
The new Taylor Swift video for her latest single, “Mine,” is out now. Swift unveiled the video Friday night on CMT. The song is from her upcoming disc, “Speak Now,” dropping October 25th. WATCH IT HERE!
 
Soldiers Get Big Send-Off With Darryl Worley Concert
Darryl Worley will entertain 4000 National Guard soldiers and their families during a send-off picnic and concert at Boise’s Gowen Field on September 9th. The 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team is deploying to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. The Boise-area soldiers’ deployment is for one-year, which hopefully, will be the conclusion of the U.S. Military’s involvement in that Country.
 
Zac Brown Band Take ‘Letters For Lyrics’ Online
The Zac Brown Band launched their “Letters for Lyrics” campaign earlier this year, to encourage fans to support U.S. military troops by writing letters of encouragement. Partnering with Dodge Ram to help achieve the goal, more than 327,000 letters have already been written and sent all over the world. With an ultimate goal of one million letters, the band has now expanded the initiative by allowing fans to send notes to the troops online. To participate, CLICK HERE
 
The McClymonts Announce Tour Dates With Jason Aldean
The McClymonts have announced a string of new U.S. concert dates beginning September 10th with Jason Aldean. The award-winning trio of sisters from Australia recently released their debut album “Chaos and Bright Lights” in the U.S. and performed at the Midland Country Fair in Michigan supporting Lady Antebellum. The sister trio recently played to a standing-room-only crowd of industry insiders and media in Nashville as they launched their North American debut on August 17th. The McClymonts – Brooke, Sam and Mollie – are three sisters from Grafton, on the New South Wales north coast of Australia.
Jewel To Go On Media Blitz
Jewel, in the middle of an extensive multi-state motorcycle excursion with her husband Ty Murray, performed last night on NBC’s EMMY Awards. Jewel performed a song “The Shape Of You” – available for digital download on iTunes – during the show’s in-memoriam montage. While in Los Angeles, Jewel will also appear on CNN’s “Larry King Live” and E!’s “Chelsea Lately” today, where she will promote the release of her second Funny Or Die video clip as well as her new single “Ten” from her current album “Sweet And Wild.”
 
Reba Delivers A ‘Different’ Sound With ‘Turn On The Radio’
Reba’s current single, “Turn On The Radio” is one of her fastest-rising singles, and it’s quite a change from her most recent single, the ballad “I Keep On Loving You.” But as Reba says, whatever the style of song is she releases, when she opens her mouth to sing, it will sound country. “I’ve gone to both ends of the gamut,” Reba says.  “I’ve done the most traditional country music possible, and then I’ve gone way over the line on doing a lot of songs that were not traditional country music. I’m going on my 35th year in the music business. And I think always experimenting and trying to do something different has something to do with why I’ve been in this business as long as I have. What always appeals to me is the song. And whether it’s a little more traditional, or a little more contemporary, that’s what I’m going to sing. Because in my opinion, there’s only two kinds of songs, two categories: good and bad. Of course, when I sing it, it’s going to be country.”
 
Josh Turner, Wife Expecting A Boy
Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer announced that they are expectants of their third boy. The couple made the announcement on NBC’s “The Today Show” on Friday. Josh Turner seated next to co-host, Hoda Kotb and Jennifer sat at the news desk while they announced the news of their expected boy. Jennifer is in the fifth month of her pregnancy. They already have two sons.
 

 

 

8/27/2010

Artist Of The Day:


James Otto

· James Otto started singing at age 4. He started playing full time in bands following his military duty. He moved to Nashville in 1998, where he went from living next door to a crack house to opening for Shania Twain. Three years later he became a member of the MuzikMafia.
· In 2002, Otto signed to Mercury Nashville Records. A failed single, “The Ball,” was released in 2002, followed two years later by “Days Of Our Lives.” Shortly before an album of the same name was released, he joined Shania Twain on her 2003-2004 “Up! Tour.”
· Otto left Mercury soon after the release of “Days of Our Lives” and signed to Raybaw Records. He was featured on the track “Beast on the Mic” on Cowboy Troy’s 2005 album “Loco Motive,” as well as the track “Cruise Control” on Troy’s 2007 album, “Black in the Saddle.”
· Otto notched his first No. 1 single in 2008 with “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” the lead single to his breakthrough second album, “Sunset Man,” co-produced by John Rich. Otto’s second single from the set, “For You,” reached the Top 40. It was followed by “These Are the Good Ole Days.”
· “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” was the most played country single of 2008. The track was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. James was also an ACM Award winner in the Song of the Year category as a co-writer for Jamey Johnson’s “In Color” – a track that also earned him a Grammy nod for Best Country Song. He was also nominated in the Top New Male Vocalist category at the ACM Awards and in the New Artist of the Year category at the CMAs.
· James Otto and his wife, Amy, welcomed their first child, Ava Katherine Otto, into the world Tuesday night (8/24/10). Amy’s sister is “CMT Insider’s” Allison DeMarcus, wife of Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus.
· Otto will release his next album, “Shake What God Gave Ya,” in September. “Soldiers & Jesus” is the second single off the album. It follows “Groovy Little Summer Song,” released earlier this year.
· Official Web site: www.jamesotto.net
 

 

Country News:
 
Dierks Bentley, Willie Nelson Performing Gulf Coast Concerts
Willie Nelson and Dierks Bentley will perform on Pensacola Beach in Florida in mid-October as part of a three-day benefit concert for victims of the Gulf oil spill. Other headliners at the DeLuna Fest include the Stone Temple Pilots and Daughtry. Bentley will perform on October 15th and Nelson will sing on October 17th. The day Nelson performs, admission will be free because it’s covered by funds from BP. Details are at www.DeLunaFest.com.
 
CMT Artists Of The Year
CMT is planning their first “CMT Artists of the Year” TV special for December 3rd. CMT says the special will recognize five of the year’s top acts. They’ll be based on album and download sales, radio airplay, online activity and touring. The 90-minute special will include performances from country acts “and beyond.”
 
Paisley, Underwood Named CMA Show Hosts
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood have agreed to reunite for a third time as hosts of the 44th annual CMA Awards show in Nashville. The show takes place November 10th.
 
Zac Brown, Wife Expecting Fourth Child
Zac Brown and his wife, Shelly, are expecting their fourth child early next year. The couple is expecting a girl, joining three older sisters – Justice, 3, Lucy, 2 and Georgia Sloan, 11 months. The Zac Brown Band will release a new album, “You Get What You Give,” on September 21st.
 
Shania Making A Comeback?
It is looking like Shania Twain’s musical career is heating up again. Jason Owen, Universal Music Nashville Senior Vice President for Media, Artist Relations & Creative Services, has announced he is leaving to form management company Sandbox Entertainment. His first client is Shania Twain. She hasn’t released an album since “Up!” in 2002. Since then, Twain, who turns 45 tomorrow, has gotten divorced from her husband/producer Robert “Mutt” Lange. Rumor has it that she has been working on a new album. Twain also recently announced plans for her own TV show, “Why Not? With Shania Twain.” The show is scheduled to debut in early 2011 on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Based in Nashville, Sandbox will open its doors September 7th.
 
McCurdy Releases Digital EP
Actress Jennette McCurdy has released her first country music release, “Not That Far Away,” a digital EP available through iTunes. Playing the sassy Sam Puckett on the Nickelodeon TV series” iCarly,” McCurdy co-wrote three of the four tracks on the EP including the title track. McCury is currently working on her debut album.  
 
Taylor Swift’s $100,000 Playground Donation
Taylor Swift’s $100,000 donation will help rebuild a playground in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where she attended high school and lived with her family prior to moving into her own condo in Nashville. Swift’s charitable fund had originally given the money for area flood relief, but her business manager later suggested the funds go toward updating the Kids Kingdom play area, as well as the city’s volleyball courts. The old playground is expected to be torn down in late fall and rebuilt in early 2011. The estimated cost of the playground is $175,000.


 

 

8/26/2010 

Artist Of The Day:


Jimmy Wayne

· Jimmy Wayne Barber was living on the streets at 16 and was a high school dropout. He eventually went back to high school and worked his way through community college, earning an associate’s degree in criminal justice. After working in the North Carolina prison system, Wayne moved to Nashville to pursue music. Tracy Byrd cut one of his songs, 1998’s “Put Your Hand in Mine.”
· Wayne released his self-titled debut album in 2003, with the single “Stay Gone” hitting the Top 10 before the album’s release. It peaked at No. 3. “I Love You This Much” hit No. 6 and was followed by “Paper Angels” and “Blue and Brown.”
· After DreamWorks closed in 2005, Wayne was transferred to Big Machine Records. Between 2006 and 2007 he released three singles for the label, but no album.
· Wayne is now with the Valory label. He notched his first No. 1 hit with “Do You Believe Me Now,” the title track of his sophomore CD.
· Jimmy Wayne released his latest album, “Sara Smile,” in 2009. The title track features Hall & Oates, who originally wrote and recorded the song. The song became Wayne’s seventh Top 40 country single. The album’s second single is “Just Knowing You Love Me,” a duet with Whitney Duncan.
· On January 1, 2010, Wayne set out on a 1,660 mile solo hike from Nashville to Phoenix to raise awareness about homeless youth. He finished his “Meet Me Halfway” campaign on August 1st. Find out more at www.projectmmh.org.
· Jimmy Wayne has signed a deal to write a novella called “Paper Angels.” The book is inspired by Wayne’s childhood growing up in the foster care system in North Carolina. “Paper Angels” will be released in the fall of 2011.
· Official Web site: www.jimmywayne.com

 

Country News:
 
Omni Closes In On Deal With Nashville
Omni Hotels said it has reached a tentative deal with Nashville to build a $250 million, 800-room hotel next door to the Country Music Hall of Fame. In the deal, the city would give $103 million in sales tax revenues to Omni over 20 years, as well as $25 million in financing to offset land purchases. In addition, the city plans to give the firm a more than 60% discount on property taxes. Omni has agreed to fill 200 out of 300 permanent jobs with Davidson County residents and steer 20% of its construction contracts to small businesses or firms owned by disadvantaged groups. In addition, 20% of the construction would be handled by local companies. The hotel is expected to spur expansion of the Country Music Hall of Fame, which plans to grow from 140,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet.
 
TiVo Alert: Chesney’s Football Doc Premiering On ESPN
“Boys of Fall,” Kenny Chesney’s documentary about high school football, will premiere Sunday on ESPN. He began working on the project in late 2009 as he compiled interviews and footage for the video for his current single, “The Boys of Fall.” After shooting footage of New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, a longtime friend, Chesney decided to expand the video into a full documentary film. The 60-minute documentary includes footage from high school football games and interviews with several prominent figures from college football and the NFL. Kenny’s new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” will be released on September 28th.
 
Paisley, Dickens Help Install Circle In Opry Stage
Brad Paisley and Little Jimmy Dickens helped a handful of construction workers install the circle in the center of the Grand Ole Opry House stage yesterday after flood waters nearly destroyed the precious piece of country music history. The two then performed the Opry standard, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?” Officials announced the Opry House will reopen to the public with a star-studded performance September 28th and the Opry’s 85th anniversary celebration will go on as scheduled in October. The circle, made in 1974 from a part of the old stage from the Opry’s former home at Ryman Auditorium, was submerged in 46 inches of water during the May flood that damaged the Opry house and the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Resort in Nashville.
 
Vince Gill Offers Free Concert For Florida’s Gulf Coast
Vince Gill is donating his time to helping tourists come back to the Gulf Coast. Gill will headline a free outdoor “Back to the Beach” concert September 25th. He’ll be on the beach in Walton County, Florida, along Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast. Tickets are required even though the show is free. Details are at www.backtothebeach2010.com.
 
Lady A Claims Three Spots On Billboard Chart
Lady Antebellum scored three spots in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart this week as their two studio albums “Need You Now” and “Lady Antebellum” were joined by the group’s newly released “iTunes Session” at the top. Lady A’s “iTunes Session” landed the biggest week’s sales of any iTunes “Session,” “Live From…” or “Originals” ever released. This week, Lady A’s current single “Our Kind Of Love” also works its way into the Top five on the country radio charts. Lady A has appearances scheduled on ABC’s “Good Morning America” from Central Park on Friday, and ABC’s “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special airing September 1st. The trio will also perform on the star-studded “Stand Up To Cancer Telethon” September 10th, airing simultaneously on NBC, ABC and CBS.
 
Grand Opening Of Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse In Kentucky
Eddie Montgomery is gearing up for the official Grand Opening celebration for the 20,000 square foot entertainment and dining complex known as Eddie Montgomery’s Steakhouse. The Grand Opening celebration on September 14th will include an All Star Jam with special guests of Eddie’s as well as food and fun. Special Grand Opening reservations and tickets are available by calling 859.734.3400.

 

8/25/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Clay Walker

· Ernest Clayton Baker Jr. began performing professionally at 16. He signed to Giant Records in 1993.
· Clay’s first single, 1993’s “What’s It To You,” went straight to No. 1. The single is from his Walker’s self-titled debut album, which produced five hit singles, including the first song he wrote, “Live Until I Die.” Since then, Walker has released 13 albums, the first four achieving platinum status.
· Clay was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in 1996, at the age of 26. Clay has kept touring and recording steadily since he was diagnosed. He formed the Band Against MS Foundation in 2003.
· Walker released a Christmas album on Warner Bros. in 2002, simply titled “Christmas,” and “A Few Questions” on RCA in 2003.
· Walker released “Fall” in 2007. The title track was a Top 5 hit. The album includes a remake of Freddy Fender’s “Before the Last Teardrop Falls,” on which Fender makes a guest appearance. It’s one of Fender’s last recordings, made shortly before his death in 2006.
· Clay’s 14th album, “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” was released in June. The title cut is the project’s first single. As a bonus track, Walker sings with Randy Owen on Alabama’s hit, “Feels So Right.” His new single is “Where Do I Go From You.”
· Yesterday saw the re-release of Clay’s “Christmas” album, as well as “Top 10,” a collection of his Top 10 hits.
· Official Web site: www.claywalker.com

 Country News:

 

James Otto, Wife Welcomes Daughter
James Otto and his wife Amy are proud new parents of a baby girl. The couple welcomed their first child, Ava Katherine Otto, into the world last night at a Nashville-area hospital. Otto has been opening for Toby Keith and Trace Adkins this summer, and he returned from a gig over the weekend just in time for the birth.

Kix Brooks Sets CMA Songwriter Series In Chicago
Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks will perform at the CMA Songwriter Series on October 8th and 9th during the Chicago Country Music Festival. Brooks will be joined by The Band Perry, David Lee Murphy and host Bob DiPiero during both shows at Joe’s Bar.

Arrests At Toby Keith Concert
Several arrests and charges were issued to New York state residents at a Toby Keith concert that took place at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center on Friday. The arrests included one 20-year-old who was charged with trespassing after being kicked out of the venue. Another man was arrested for disorderly conduct, harassment, second-degree harassment and third-degree robbery after he pushed two females down during the concert and stole one of their cell phones before throwing it. A handful of others also received citations for underage drinking, which included people from both New York and Canada.

Court Yard Hounds Join ‘Lilith Fair’s’ Australian Trek
The Court Yard Hounds joined Sarah McLachlan for several “Lilith Fair” dates this summer, and are the only stateside act that will reunite with Sarah for “A Taste of Lilith” in Australia. Other acts confirmed for the shows include Australian artists Kate Miller-Heidke and the Verses.

Inspirational Country Stars
The nominees for the Inspirational Country Music Awards have been announced and several of country’s biggest names have made the list. Carrie Underwood and Craig Morgan lead the pack with nominations in three major categories each: Inspirational Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Mainstream Country Artist. Carrie’s No.1 single, “Temporary Home,” earned her nods for Inspirational Song of the Year and Video of the Year, while Craig’s hit, “This Ain’t Nothing,” is also nominated in both categories. Craig and Carrie are also each nominated in the Mainstream Country Artist category. Chris Young and Miranda Lambert are both nominated for Inspirational Country Song and Video of the Year – Chris for his recent hit, “The Man I Want to Be,” and Miranda for her No.1 hit, “The House That Built Me.” Other nominees in the Inspirational Country Song category include Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” and Jo Dee Messina’s single, “That’s God.”

Randy Travis Celebrates 25 Years With Duets Album
Randy Travis is digging up some of his classic hits for a 25th anniversary album, featuring Randy teaming up with Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Josh Turner and many more of his famous friends. Randy dusted off hits such as “Diggin’ Up Bones,” which he re-recorded with John Anderson, and he uncovers some new songs for the disc as well. Randy has been in the studio quite a few times already this year working on the project, and says there have been a few unexpected surprises while working with the old material. “I didn’t know this,” Randy says of “Diggin’ up Bones,” “but when it was written, there was actually a third verse to the song. We added that on the record, and it’s hilarious!”

Shelby Lynne In The Holiday Spirit
Shelby Lynne will release her first ever holiday collection, “Merry Christmas,” on October 12th. The album will mark her second release on her own independent label, Everso Records, which is distributed through Fontana. The cover of the holiday disc is a photograph of Shelby at age four, playing in the snow in her Mobile, Alabama, front yard Lynne produced the album and penned two original songs for it.

 

 8/24/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Randy Travis

· Randy Bruce Traywick began performing at the age of eight with his brother, Ricky. He and his brother entered a talent contest at a nightclub in Charlotte, North Carolina, when Randy was 16. When Ricky was sent to jail, Randy competed solo and won, Club manager Lib Hatcher gave him a job. They moved to Nashville in 1981 and married in 1991.
· In 1982, Travis recorded an independent album, “Randy Ray Live,” and Hatcher used it to secure a deal with Warner Bros. The label changed his name and released the single “On the Other Hand” in 1985. His next single, “1982,” was a Top 10 hit. That was followed by the re-release of “On the Other Hand” in 1986, which became his first No. 1.
· 1986’s album “Storms of Life” sold more than 4 million copies. Randy had a string of hits including “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “No Place Like Home” and “Diggin’ Up Bones.” He won a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance two years in a row – for the album “Always And Forever” in 1988 and for “Old 8x10” in 1989.
· In 1997, Randy was the first artist to sign with DreamWorks Records. “Out Of My Bones,” the first single from “You And You Alone,” was released in 1998, giving the DreamWorks label its first No. 1 country hit.
· Randy released the album “Around The Bend” in 2008 and a greatest hits album, “I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis,” “Turn it Around” and “Three Wooden Crosses: The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis,” in 2009.
· Randy has a part in the upcoming movie “Jerusalem Countdown.” The film is based on a book by the same name, written by John Hagee. The movie is currently in post-production.
· Randy Travis has been added to the list of performers at the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award gala in Nashville, to be held August 29th. The event will honor Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Fred Foster.
· Randy Travis mines his gospel background with his new album, “I’ll Fly Away,” in stores today.
· Official Web site: www.randytravis.com

 

Country News:
 
 
Handler Trying To Bring Swift, West Face-To-Face
Chelsea Handler is trying to arrange it so Taylor Swift meets face to face with Kanye West at the MTV VMAs. Handler, who is hosting the show next month, says she is trying “to think of something clever to do with them, because that would be really fun.” The last time they were on the show together, West interrupted Swift’s acceptance speech.
 
Jimmy Wayne Co-Writes Novella
Jimmy Wayne has co-written a novella based on his experiences growing up in the foster care system in North Carolina. Named after one of his songs, “Paper Angels” is expected to be published in the fall of 2011. Wayne co-authored the book with novelist Travis Thrasher.
 
Gary Allan Extends Tour
Gary Allan has extended his “Get Off on the Pain” tour with Randy Houser and Jerrod Niemann. The second leg of the tour begins September 16th in Salt Lake City and concludes November 20th in Myrtle Beach. The itinerary includes larger venues than his first leg of the tour, including several theaters, arenas and amphitheaters.
 
Jason Aldean Ready For His ‘Kinda Party’
Jason Aldean has scheduled his new album, “My Kinda Party,” for a November 2nd release. The first single from the album is the title track. The 15-song album also includes a duet with Kelly Clarkson called “Don’t You Wanna Stay” and a Southern rap song, “Dirt Road Anthem.” Aldean recorded the project with his touring band. Aldean will reveal the “My Kinda Party” album cover today on his Facebook page.
 
Jimmy Wayne Distributes Food
Jimmy Wayne recently partnered with Bryan Foods to deliver 2,500 pounds of food to the Gulf Coast region affected by the BP oil spill. The donation was presented to the Community Center of St. Bernard in Arabi, Louisiana, for its Mustard Seed Distribution Program. Wayne and Bryan Foods had previously teamed up for a donation of 2,500 pounds of food to the Second Harvest Food Bank in Nashville following the May flood.
 
Bryan Nabs Digital Gold
Luke Bryan scored his second consecutive RIAA certified gold digital single for his multi-week No. 1 hit “Rain Is A Good Thing.” In the last nine months, Bryan has celebrated his first No. 1 with “Do I,” a gold single. Bryan was also recently named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Artist and Top New Solo Vocalist, and won a CMT trophy for the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of The Year for his “Do I” music clip. He also received two Teen Choice Award nominations as Male Country Artist and Country Album.
 
Cash’s ‘Composed’ Makes NY Times Book List
Rosanne Cash’s memoir “Composed” will debut on The New York Times Book Review hardcover, nonfiction bestseller list at No. 20 on August 29th. In the book Cash shares her recollections growing up as Johnny Cash’s eldest daughter and coming into her own as a performer, daughter and mother.
 
Brad Paisley Plays To Sold-Out Crowd At Gillette Stadium
This past Saturday, Brad Paisley played his first stadium show as a headliner to a sold-out crowd of over 51,000 fans at Gillette Stadium in Boston, home to the NFL’s New England Patriots. The 7th Annual New England Country Festival also included performances by Easton Corbin, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker and Jason Aldean. After the show Paisley said, “Early on, my career dream was to get to what I call the level of a tour musician – to have a tour bus, the band and I all pile on and go play a show, get back on the bus and go to another city and play. And to think, now here we are playing Gillette Stadium – the same group of guys that use to pile on that one tour bus. It’s beyond my dreams.”
 
CMT Debuts Joey+Rory ‘This Song’s For You’ Video
CMT has debuted the video for Joey+Rory’s new single “This Song’s For You” featuring Zac Brown Band. The video was filmed near Joey+Rory’s farm near Nashville and features many of their friends and neighbors. The video, as well as exclusive behind the scenes footage, can also be viewed at CMT.com. “This Song’s For You” was written by Rory and Zac Brown and appears on Joey+Rory’s sophomore album, “Album Number Two,” that will be released September 14th.
 
The Charlie Daniels Band & Friends Christmas 4 Kids Concert Details
Charlie Daniels has announced that Montgomery Gentry, Jake Owen, and Sawyer Brown will join him at The 2010 Charlie Daniels Band & Friends Concert to benefit Christmas 4 Kids. The concert is set to take place November 22nd at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Funds generated by the concert, and the Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event are used to give children from 29 different schools, a total of more than 400 children, a day-long shopping excursion. 

8/23/2010

 Artist Of The Day:


Rodney Atkins

· Rodney’s debut album, “Honesty,” was released in October 2004. His single “Honesty (Write Me A List),” marked his first Top 5 hit.
· Atkins hit it big with his second album, 2006’s “If You’re Going Through Hell.” The album has produced four No. 1 singles: “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead),” “Watching You,” “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)” and “These Are My People.”
· Atkins’ 12th single, “It’s America,” was released in November 2008. It’s the title track to his third album. The song became his fifth No. 1 hit. The second single, “15 Minutes,” peaked at No. 20, marking his seventh Top 20 hit. “Chasin’ Girls” was released in October 2009.
· Rodney earned the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist award in 2006, as well as five other ACM nominations and two Country Music Association nominations during the last four years. Having had the Most Played Songs of 2007 and 2008, Rodney maintains an active touring schedule and has performed for over a million fans a year for the past three years.
· The video of Rodney’s current hit features his real-life wife, Tammy Jo, as the “Farmer’s Daughter.”
· Rodney Atkins will release an expanded version of his 2006 album, “If You’re Going Through Hell,” through Cracker Barrel stores on September 6th. The project also includes two additional tracks – “Farmer’s Daughter” and the previously-unreleased “More Like Your Memory (Always Takes Me Back).”
· Official website: www.rodneyatkins.com

 

 

IS THE 10-YEAR-OLD OPERA SINGER FROM "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT" A FRAUD?

 

 


There's some talk making the rounds online alleging that JACKIE EVANCHO . . . the 10-year-old opera singer from "America's Got Talent" . . . is a lip-synching FRAUD.

But the "National Enquirer" consulted a vocal coach named Renee Grant-Williams, who studied the video . . .along with video of other, past performances . . . and determined that she IS singing live on the show.

 

Country News:
 
Underwood Overcomes Panic Attacks
Carrie Underwood says she has overcome panic attacks. Carrie told WebMD she suffered panic attacks in high school and that Christmas shopping “seemed to be my worst nightmare.” That was because “I’m a big personal space person,” she said. “You know, if you go to the restroom, you use the stall that’s not near anybody. Or if you’re in the gym, you go to the treadmill where there’s space in between you. And it seemed like in crowded situations like that, people would just completely violate your personal space.” She overcame that problem, but had to deal with its effects again with her success on “American Idol” in 2005.
 
Urban Taking Time Out From Big Venues
Keith Urban is taking a break from constantly touring big venue concerts. Instead, Urban will appear at outdoor festivals across the country as part of his “Summer Lovin’ Tour.” He told Parade magazine that gives him more time at home with his wife, Nicole Kidman, and their 2-year-old daughter, Sunday. Urban also confirmed he is working on a new album.
 
Miranda Lambert Preps New DVD
“Revolution: Live by Candlelight” is the name of the new DVD from Miranda Lambert, scheduled to hit shelves on October 12th. The release will be Lambert’s first official live performance DVD and will include acoustic renditions of tunes from her third studio album, “Revolution” Six songs made the cut for the DVD, including “White Liar” and “The House That Built Me.”
 
 
Country Stars To Help Host ‘Today’
Blake Shelton, Martina McBride and John Rich are to be guest co-hosts on the “Today” show in New York, NBC said. Trisha Yearwood and Josh Turner are also to take turns at the anchor desk alongside “Today” regular Hoda Kotb during the show’s fourth hour this week. Shelton kicks off the week today and McBride will serve as co-host tomorrow, Rich on Wednesday, Yearwood on Thursday and Turner on Friday.
 
Blake Shelton To Release Greatest Hits Album
Blake Shelton is planning to release a greatest hits album in November. Shelton is currently sitting at the top of the charts with his album “All About Tonight,” which was released on August 10th, but he is already gearing up for his next release. “It is a big deal to me,” Blake said, “because I always thought that I would have made it if I had a greatest hits album; I would have had some impact if that ever came out. We have accomplished something that the company wants to put out an album with 15 songs on it. I can’t believe that 11 years have gone by since I’ve been doing this.” Some of the tracks on the greatest hits album include “Austin,” “The Baby,” and the recent “Hillbilly Bone.” Shelton is also planning his wedding with Miranda Lambert.
 

 

 8/20/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Hank Williams Jr.

· Randall Hank Williams Jr. was born May 26, 1949, a month before Hank Sr.’s landmark first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He was 3 when his father died. His dad nicknamed him Bocephus after a puppet on the Grand Ole Opry.
· Bocephus was onstage at age 8 as Hank Williams Jr. He debuted on the Opry at age 11 and at 14 made his first hit record, a rendition of his father’s “Long Gone Lonesome Blues.” He also had a high school band, Rockin’ Randall and the Rockets. He signed to the same label as his father, MGM Records, as soon as his voice broke. He 15 when he and Connie Francis, 26 at the time, released a duet about adultery called “Walk On By.”
· After recording the soundtrack to “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a biography of his father, Hank Jr. hit the charts with one of his own compositions, “Standing in the Shadows,” in 1966. In 1970 he topped the charts with “All for The Love of Sunshine,” from the movie “Kelly’s Heroes.”
· After several hit songs and moving to a new record label in 1979, Bocephus issued his signature classic, “Family Tradition,” which referenced his famous father and their shared love for the wild side.
· Hank Jr. has performed the theme song for Monday Night Football, based on “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” since 1989. The opening theme has become a classic and won Williams four Emmys.
· Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson and Lee Brice are scheduled to perform a special concert in Orange Beach, Alabama, to stimulate the tourist industry that has been adversely affected by the BP oil spill. The concert, set for September 25th at the Wharf Amphitheater, is part of Hank’s “Rowdy Friends” tour. The second leg of the “Rowdy Friends” tour, which will kick off September 17th, runs through October 23rd. Other artists on the tour include Jamey Johnson, the Grascals, Eric Church, Colt Ford and Josh Thompson.
· Williams continues supporting 2009’s “127 Rose Avenue,” his first collection of new material since 2003’s “I’m One of You.” The 11-track set debuted at No. 19 on The Billboard 200 and at No. 7 on the Top Country Albums chart. He is also gearing up for another season singing the opening tune to Monday Night Football.
· Official Web Site: www.hankjr.com

 

Country News:
 
Stars Appear On ‘The Gulf Is Back’
Lonestar, Taylor Hicks, Bo Bice and Brian McKnight will be part of the lineup for a one-hour special focusing on the Gulf region. The CW Network will air “The Gulf Is Back,” a program that will showcase on how Gulf residents are bouncing back from the BP oil spill. David Hasselhoff will host. B.B. King and Ricky Skaggs will also make appearances. “The Gulf Is Back” will air August 27th.
 
Jake Owen Takes Elbow Bump To ER
Jake Owen made an unexpected trip to the emergency room on Tuesday to check out a gigantic bump on his elbow that had popped up suddenly. No specific accident led to the injury; Jake apparently aggravated an old one because he has been quite active lately, playing golf and wake boarding – all of which resulted in fluid buildup. Jake said the bump was not as painful or “gross” as it appears in the photo he posted on his Twitter page.
 
Brad Paisley Opens More Seats In Boston 
Brad Paisley’s crew has opened some limited-view seating for his sold-out concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston tomorrow. Tickets are available for purchase on Paisley’s website as well as the venue’s website. Paisley sold out the show in six hours when 50,000 tickets went on sale on January 30th. It’s his first stadium concert. Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker and Easton Corbin will also perform at the event, billed as the seventh annual New England Country Music Festival.
 
Craig Morgan’s ‘Evel Knievel’ Song
Craig Morgan says he’s been jumping out of planes and driving as fast as he can for a long time. It’s that attitude that he puts in his new song “Evel Knievel.” It’s one of the bonus tracks on his special edition re-issue of “That’s Why,” now available at Cracker Barrel. Morgan, who spent 10 years in the Army before his music career began, says “to do 60 mph through the woods on a motorcycle and hit a tree every now and then” isn’t a big deal. Morgan also says he really connects to one of the lines in the “Evil Knievel” song, the one that says “all the people down at the ER, they know me by my first name.”
 
Lee Brice Streaming
Lee Brice is headlining The Music Farm tomorrow, the Charleston, South Carolina, venue he has performed at for several years. The concert marks the first time Brice has been back since his single “Love Like Crazy” took off. The concert will be streamed live on CMT.com and Brice’s website, www.leebrice.com, beginning at 9 p.m. [ET].
 
Leann Rimes Plots Tour Dates
LeAnn Rimes, who performed the song “Swingin’“ Wednesday night on “America’s Got Talent,” is lining up some fall roadwork as the release date for her upcoming album nears. Rimes’ new release, “Lady & Gentlemen,” is due out October 5th. The covers album includes “Swingin’,” which was a hit for John Anderson in the ‘80s. Rimes will kick off her tour September 10 in Redding, California, with dates lined up through November.
 
Joey + Rory To Perform On ICM Awards
The 16th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Show has announced that Love And Theft, Joey + Rory, The Roys, Nathan Stanley along with Dr. Ralph Stanley and 2009 ICM Entertainer of the Year CrossCountry The Band, are all confirmed to perform on the award show. Megan Alexander, correspondent for “Inside Edition,” will co-host the show, which will be held October 15th in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity, will benefit from a portion of the ticket sales. Find out more at www.icm-awards.com.
 
Zac Brown To Keynote Music & Advertising Conference
Zac Brown has been confirmed as a keynote speaker for the Billboard/Adweek Music & Advertising Conference set for September 15-16 in Chicago. A week ahead of the September 21st release of the Zac Brown Band’s new album, “You Get What You Give,” Brown will appear at the conference with his manager, Bernard Cahill, to talk about the band’s creative process and its partnership with the Dodge RAM truck brand.
 

 

8/19/2010

Taylor's New Album Cover

Revealed!!

"Speak Now"

 "Mine" Video will have a HUGE Premiere!!

Miss Taylor's video for her new single "Mine" is slated for a multi-media premiere! The video will have its broadcast debut August 27th with the CMT special "CMT Premieres Taylor Swift 'Mine,'" airing at 7:00 p.m. The half-hour show will include a behind-the-scenes look, and Swift will lead you on tours of the Maine towns where the video was filmed. She'll also provide a live introduction! MTV will then air "Mine" for the first time during the 8:00 p.m. hour on August 27th, while VH1 will introduce Swift's video during the "Top 20 Video Countdown" show, airing August 28th at 8:00 a.m. Both MTV and VH1 are also slated to rebroadcast the CMT special on August 28th!! Meanwhile, Swift's "Mine" will receive an online premiere with simultaneous showings on CMT.com, MTV.com, VH1.com, and the international MTV websites at 7:30 p.m. August 27th. "Mine" is the lead-off single from Swift's upcoming album, "Speak Now." The CD will be in stores October 25th. AWESOME!!

 

 


Nicole Kidman And Keith Urban's New $10 Million Apartment Includes A Car Elevator!
 

NICOLE KIDMAN and KEITH URBAN just bought a $10 million apartment in Manhattan. Obviously, it's got all the amenities you can think of even a car elevator! CRAZY! You just drive into the thing on the ground floor, and it takes you straight up to the floor your apartment is on.

 

 

 

Check out these pics :


 

 

 

 

 

 

Must be nice!

 

Artist Of The Day:


Wynonna Judd

· Wynonna Judd, born Christina Ciminella, first hit it big as one half of The Judds with her mother Naomi in the ‘80s. Naomi was forced to retire in 1991 due to a bout of hepatitis C. Wy then embarked on a solo career.
· Wy released her first solo album, “Wynonna,” in 1992. It sold over five million copies and became the highest-selling debut album by a female artist at the time. The album housed three No. 1 hits: “She Is His Only Need,” “I Saw the Light” and “No One Else on Earth.” A year later, her album “Tell Me Why” reached platinum status. After a slew of Top 10 hits, she topped the charts again in 1996 with “To Be Loved By You.”
· Wy has sold more than 30 million albums throughout her 25-year career. In addition to her countless musical achievements, including five Grammys, she became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her autobiography, “Coming Home to Myself,” released in conjunction with the live CD/DVD, “Her Story: Scenes From A Lifetime.”
· Wynonna released “Sing: Chapter 1” last year (2009). The album, her seventh solo set, peaked at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
· Wy’s new album, “Love Heals,” was released exclusively at Cracker Barrel in May. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. Wynonna is working on the follow-up to “Sing: Chapter 1.”
· Wynonna is the recent recipient of the 2010 Cecil Scaife Visionary Award, in honor of the late Cecil Scaife and his historic contributions to the development of what is now Music Row, including the beginning of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
· Wynonna has launched her new online community at http://wynonna.moontoast.com.
· Wynonna will be spending the fall on the road with her mother, Naomi Judd, for their “Last Encore” tour.
· Official website: www.wynonna.com

 

 

 

8/18/2010

  Miss Carrie on the cover of this month's

WebMD the Magazine!

 Artist Of The Day:

Chris Young

· Chris Young, a native of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, grew up performing in children’s theater. Young took music business classes, first at Belmont University in Nashville and then at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. After two years, he was performing more than 150 shows a year. He soon gained the attention of talent scouts from Nashville record labels and music publishing companies.
· In 2005, he was fronting the house band at the famous Cowboy’s honky-tonk in Arlington, Texas. He was encouraged by his friends to audition for “Nashville Star.” Young won the competition in 2006 and released his single “Drinkin’ Me Lonely” a few months later.
· Young earned the highest-selling debut by a male country artist in 2006. His self-titled album landed at No. 3 on the Billboard Top Country Albums.
· Chris’ second album, “The Man I Want to Be,” debuted as Billboard’s highest-charting new country CD of the first week of September 2009. That same week, “Gettin’ You Home” (aka “The Black Dress Song”), soon became his first No. 1.
· Earlier this year, Chris was given a plaque celebrating back-to-back No. 1 singles for his latest single, “The Man I Want to Be,” and last fall’s “Gettin’ You Home,” and another recognizing 500,000 digital transactions for “Gettin’ You Home.”
· Young’s current single is “Voices.” The video stars several of his family members.
· Official Web site: www.chrisyoungcountry.com


 

Country News:
 
 
LeAnn Rimes On ‘America’s Got Talent’
LeAnn Rimes will appear on “America’s Got Talent” tonight to perform a song from her upcoming album, “Lady and Gentlemen.” On tonight’s reveal show, viewers will find out which wild card acts continue. Criss Angel will also appear, performing two illusions from his Las Vegas show.
 
Lady Antebellum Releases Exclusive iTunes Session
Lady Antebellum has released a seven song EP of their biggest hits and fan-favorite cuts as part of an iTunes Session. The band also recorded a cover song, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers’ “Learning To Fly.” The intimate performance was recorded at a studio in Nashville earlier this spring. Fans can catch the group on the road this fall for their first headlining tour, the “Need You Now Tour 2010.”
 
 
Taylor Swift’s Picks And Forks
If you open Taylor Swift’s silverware drawer at her new condo you’ll find silverware, but you’ll also find more than two dozen guitar picks. Taylor posted a pic of the picks online. Swift says her dad stashed them there as a joke and that “he likes to randomly hide guitar picks” at her place when he comes over. The picks have Swift’s photo on one side and her signature on the other.
 
‘American Idol’s’ Casey James Signs To BNA Records
“American Idol” finalist Casey James, who placed third on the ninth season, has signed a record deal with Sony Music Nashville and 19 Recordings/BNA Records. The Cool, Texas, native auditioned in Denver but says he never saw a single episode of the show. James is currently on the “American Idols Live” tour with winner Lee DeWyze and runner-up Crystal Bowersox, among others. James will begin working on his debut album, which is expected to be released next year.
 
Bentley’s ‘Miles & Music’ Adds Lambert, Niemann
Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert will take place October 17th at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville. Miranda Lambert and Jerrod Niemann will join Bentley at the concert following a motorcycle ride from the Harley-Davidson dealership in Columbia, Tennessee. All proceeds will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
 
CMA Award Nominations
The final nominees for this year’s CMA Awards will be announced August 31st and September 1st. Justin Moore and Chris Young will reveal nominees in seven categories at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on August 31st. Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert will be in New York City to announce the nominees in five categories on September 1st on “Good Morning America.” “CMT Insider Special Edition: 2010 CMA Awards Nominations” will premiere on September 1st and will re-air September 4th and 5th. The CMA Awards will take place in Nashville on November 10th and will air live on ABC.
 
George Jones To Be Inducted
George Jones, Al Dexter and Ray Winkler will be inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame on August 21st in Carthage, Texas.
 
Trace Adkins Thinks Beyond The Album
There’s not one single ballad on Trace Adkins’ new album – and there’s a good reason for it. Trace says he wasn’t going to do any ballads for the album because he started to think “beyond the album” and “whether it’s going to contribute to the energy level of the live show.” Adkins says, “These days it’s all about live performances. It’s all about touring.” He says artists often “can’t depend on living off of record sales anymore.” Trace’s new CD, “Cowboy’s Back in Town,” is available now.

 

8/17/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Randy Houser



· Randy Houser was fronting his own band by age 13. While attending East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, he formed another band called 10lb. Biscuit.
· Houser moved to Nashville in 2002 to pursue a songwriting career. One of his first cuts as a songwriter was Trace Adkins’s “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” which he co-wrote with Jamey Johnson and Dallas Davidson. Houser also co-wrote “Back That Thing Up,” Justin Moore’s debut single.
· Houser signed to Universal South Records in 2008 and charted the single “Anything Goes” that year. The Top 20 hit is the title track to his debut album, which also produced the Top 5 hit “Boots On.” Randy was the first new male country artist to reach the Top 10 in 2009 and the first Top 10 single by a new male country artist since Chuck Wicks’ “Stealing Cinderella” in February 2008.
· Randy Houser is gearing up for the release of his second album, “They Call Me Cadillac,” with a series of free streams available through his official website. The album is due out September 21st. The first single, “Whistlin’ Dixie,” was released last fall.
· ·Official website: www.randyhouser.com

 

Country News:
 
New Eric Church Video
Eric Church has released a new video for his latest single, “Smoke A Little Smoke.” The video was shot at the Clarksville Speedway near Nashville. It features appearances by Kasey Kahn (driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Ford Fusion) and ESPN NASCAR commentator Marty Smith. “Smoke A Little Smoke” is the third single from Church’s critically acclaimed 2009 album “Carolina.” The video was made available exclusively on Yahoo! Music.
 
Bellamy Brothers Get Some Classic Gold
The Bellamy Brothers will be honored along with Connie Francis, the Fifth Dimension, Little Anthony and the Imperials, and the late Isaac Hayes and Ronnie James Dio at the first-ever Classic Gold Music Awards. Along with general honors, the Bellamy Brothers are nominated for the Legends and Pioneers Award. The Classic Gold Music Awards are August 30th at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida. Three days running up to the awards will be filled with musical performances, seminars and exhibits. Details are at www.ClassicGoldMusic.com.
 
Country Stars Head To Cancun In Support Of Cancer Research
Neal McCoy along with Keith Anderson, Chuck Wicks, Trent Willmon, Wade Hayes, Laura Bell Bundy and Joanna Smith will perform at 2nd Annual Country on the Beach to be held at the Beach Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The event supports the T. J. Martell Foundation.
 
Hank Jr., Gretchen Wilson Supporting Alabama Beach Tourism
Hank Williams Jr., Gretchen Wilson and Lee Brice will play a concert at the Wharf Amphitheatre in Orange Beach, Alabama, on September 25th to promote tourism at the state’s beaches. Tickets for the “Rowdy Friends 2010” tour date will be available to Baldwin County residents for $10 tomorrow. Tickets will go on sale for $25 to the general public on Friday morning. The concert is sponsored by the Alabama Department of Tourism, which hopes to encourage visitors to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach communities following the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
Trace TV
Trace Adkins has planned numerous TV appearances to promote his new album, “Cowboy’s Back in Town,” out today. Adkins will appear on “Today” and “The O’Reilly Factor” on Thursday, followed by “Fox & Friends” on Friday. In addition, Adkins is scheduled for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live” next month, and “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” and “Chelsea Lately” in October. Adkins is currently on Toby Keith’s “American Ride” tour.
 
Tammy Wynette’s Widower Dies
Tammy Wynette’s widower, producer and songwriter George Richey has died after a long illness. The Arkansas native died July 31st. He was 74. Richey served as Wynette’s manager. They were married until her death in 1998. Richey remarried in 2001 and leaves behind his wife and three children. At his request, Richey was buried without a public memorial or publicity. He was laid to rest near Wynette’s grave site. He had been writing in the last days of his life on Facebook, urging people not to smoke cigarettes. In fact, the posts continued after his death on July 31st, causing some confusion. Richey also assisted the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to assemble an exhibit, Tammy Wynette: First Lady of Country Music, which opens Friday.
 
Toby Includes Country Classics On Deluxe Version Of ‘Bullets’
The deluxe version of Toby Keith’s upcoming album, “Bullets in the Gun,” will include his versions of several country classics recorded in June during a performance in New York City. The bonus tracks are Johnny Paycheck’s “11 Months and 29 Days,” Waylon Jennings’ “I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone)” and Roger Miller’s “Chug-a-Lug,” along with Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown.” Keith and a band of Nashville session musicians were billed as Incognito Bandito for the informal show at the Fillmore New York prior to the launch of his “American Ride” tour. Keith wrote or co-wrote all 10 new songs for the album scheduled for release on October 5th.
 

 

8/16/2010

 

Artist Of The Day:
Keith Urban
 
·         Keith Urban was born in New Zealand. He moved to Australia as a child. Urban signed with EMI in Australia in 1990 and recorded his first solo album, which charted four No. 1 singles Down Under. He moved to Nashville in 1992, where he formed The Ranch and landed a record deal with Capitol. The band broke up after one album.
·         Urban released his double platinum self-titled U.S. debut in 2000. The album featured three Top 5 hits, including his first U.S. No. 1 hit, “But for the Grace of God.”
·         He released “Golden Road” in 2002. “Somebody Like You” spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the singles chart, remaining No. 1 longer than any other single in 2002. Three other singles were released, two went to No. 1 and the third peaked at No. 3.
·         Keith’s 2004 album, “Be Here,” marked his third consecutive platinum recording. The first single, “Making Memories of Us,” gave Urban his 7th No. 1 single, breaking Air Supply’s record for an Aussie artist on the U.S. charts.
·         Keith’s album “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing” debuted at No. 1 in 2006. The first single, “Once in a Lifetime,” written for wife Nicole Kidman, set a record as the highest debuting song in the history of the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart. The album also spawned the hits “I Told You So” “Stupid Boy,” “Everybody” and “You Look Good In My Shirt.”
·         Urban went No. 1 hit on the all-genre Billboard 200 with “Defying Gravity,” which surfaced in 2009. The first three singles, “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl” and “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” topped the charts. The fourth single, “Til Summer Comes Around,” peaked at No. 3. His latest single, “I’m In,” is currently setting at No. 3.
·         Keith Urban recently won a Teen Choice Award for Male Country Artist.
·         Keith’s plans to record a new album have been delayed by the Nashville flood, which ruined all of his guitars. He has a few dates left on his “Summer Lovin’ Tour 2010.” Be sure to tune into Keith’s performance at this year’s CMA festival, airing September 1st on ABC.
·         Urban’s website is now accepting photo submissions for his 2011 calendar to benefit St. Jude Children’s Hospital. You can get all of the details at his official website, www.keithurban.net.

 

Country News:
 
 
Johnny Mathis Country Pop CD Set For Release
Columbia Records plans to release “Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville,” a new pop country album from Johnny Mathis, next month. The CD is set to drop September 21st. The album includes the songs “What a Wonderful World” featuring Lane Brody; “Let It Be Me” featuring Alison Krauss; “Make The World Go Away,” “Crazy,” “Southern Nights,” “You Don’t Know Me,” “Lovin’ Arms,” “Shenandoah,” “We Must Be Lovin’ Right,” “I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You,” “Love Me Tender,” “Please Help Me I’m Falling” and “What a Wonderful World (Christmas version).”
 
‘All For The Hall’ Concert
Lionel Richie will perform as a special guest at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s “All for the Hall” fundraising concert in Los Angeles on September 23rd. The main performers will be Taylor Swift, Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson.
 
Hank Williams Live Recordings Uncovered
Some rare recordings of Hank Williams were recently uncovered. Les Leverett, a Grand Ole Opry photographer, happened upon the tunes outside the National Life & Accident Insurance Company. The acetate recordings came from various “Mother’s Best” radio shows that Williams had performed on in 1951. A box set, some of it never released before, is due out September 28th.
 
Little Big Town Plan ‘GMA’ Performance
Little Big Town will perform on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on August 25th, as well as on “Fox and Friends” on the Fox News Channel on August 27th, to promote their new album, “The Reason Why.” In addition, the group will open several shows on Sugarland’s “Incredible Machine” tour this month. “The Reason Why” is due out August 24th. Their current single is “Little White Church.”
 
Reba McEntire Names Upcoming Album
Reba McEntire has named her upcoming album “All the Women I Am,” which will be released November 9th. The first single from the project is “Turn on the Radio.” Meanwhile, Reba’s Facebook page surpassed the 1 million fan mark last week to become only the 10th country artist to reach that milestone. Reba will resume her tour with George Strait and Lee Ann Womack on September 9th in Columbus, Ohio.
 
Buck Owens Honored With Star On Bakersfield Walk Of Fame
Buck Owens was honored posthumously with a star on the Bakersfield, California, Walk of Stars Wednesday, one day shy of what would have been his 81st birthday. On hand at the ceremony were Buck’s sons, Mike and Johnny, his nephew Mel and about 100 people including friends, employees of the Owens family, fans and Darryl Worley, who headlined Buck’s Birthday Bash at the Crystal Palace (the Bakersfield nightclub Owens owned).
 
Elvis Faithful Make Pilgrimage To Graceland
Elvis Presley fans from around the world flocked to Graceland yesterday for the annual late night procession past the king of rock ‘n’ roll’s grave. Presley died at his Graceland mansion on August 16, 1977. The procession is the highlight of a weeklong series of fan-club meetings, film showings and Elvis-impersonator contests. Elvis purchased the 13-acre Graceland property in 1957 for around $100,000.
 

 

8/13/2010

 Best Carrie Underwood Kareoke Ever!

Artist Of The Day: 

 

 
Brooks & Dunn

· Leon Eric Brooks (Kix) and Ronnie Gene Dunn joined forces in 1990 and released “Brand New Man,” their debut album, in 1991. The title track, “My Next Broken Heart,” “Neon Moon” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” all hit No. 1.
· 2005’s “Hillbilly Deluxe” launched their 23rd No. 1 single, “Play Something Country,” as well as the hit “Believe.”
· Except for the year 2000, Brooks & Dunn won the Country Music Association’s Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006. They took the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award in 1996. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in August 2008.
· 2007’s “Cowboy Town” produced several hits including “Proud Of The House We Built,” “Put a Girl In It” and “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” The title track charted as well.
· Brooks & Dunn are the top-selling duo in the history of country music. They’ve sold more than 30 million records, won 80-plus industry awards and released 23 No. 1 hits. They have received 27 Academy of Country Music Award trophies, the most of any artist in Academy history.
· Brooks & Dunn are currently on their final tour together. The “2010 Last Rodeo” tour will wrap up September 2nd in Nashville. The tour follows last September’s “#1’s and Then Some,” a career-spanning two-CD collection.
· Kix and Ronnie plan to re-launch their solo careers. Dunn is already working on an album he plans to release in 2011.
· Official website: www.brooks-dunn.com

 

Country News:
 
Leadership Music Ceremony Lineup Grows
Randy Travis, Lorrie Morgan and Jamey Johnson have been added to the list of performers at the Leadership Music Dale Franklin Award gala in Nashville. The August 29th event at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Nashville will recognize Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and record producer and label executive Fred Foster. Host Vince Gill and bandleader Shawn Camp will lead the presentations and performances that will also feature Lee Ann Womack, Lyle Lovett, Billy Swan, Rodney Crowell and surprise guests.
 
Loretta Lynn Tribute Album
A tribute album to Loretta Lynn has been scheduled for November 9th release. Titled “Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn,” the list of participating artists has not been revealed but it will represent a variety of genres. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Lynn’s first single, “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” Lynn and her music will be honored with an all-star concert at the Ryman Auditorium in October as part of the Grammy Salute to Country Music series. Lynn’s 1976 memoir, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” will be reissued in paperback in September. Earlier this year, “Coal Miner’s Daughter” was chosen for preservation within the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress.
 
Craig Morgan Charity Ride Raises $35,000
The Craig Morgan Charity Ride raised over $35,000 last weekend in Craig’s hometown, Dickson, Tennessee. Proceeds go to the Craig Morgan Charity Fund. Saturday’s ride was a dirt-biking event that began in Van Leer, Tennessee, where everyone rode with professional Motocross riders Kevin Windlam, Cowboy Kenny Bartrum, Fred Andrews and Barry Hawk. Sunday’s events featured an acoustic concert with Craig and his special guests, Montgomery Gentry and Aaron Tippin.
 
Justin Bieber Has Country Fever
Teen pop sensation Justin Bieber has raised more than $30,000 to help those affected by the floods in Nashville. Bieber performed at the city’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday and donated portions of ticket sales to victims of the storms which ravaged the city in May. Bieber presented a check to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for Flood Relief. At a press conference, Bieber name-checked several country stars as his favorites, including Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride. Then Justin kicked it up a notch at the show itself, offering his version of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee.”
 
2011 CMA Music Fest Tickets On Sale Soon
The ABC primetime special from this year’s CMA Music Festival hasn’t even aired yet but that’s not stopping the CMA from putting tickets for next year’s festival on sale soon. Sales start August 23rd at 9 a.m. [ET.] You can get them through www.cmafest.com or by calling 800-CMA-FEST. The festival takes place June 9-12, 2011, in downtown Nashville. ABC’s special airs September 1st.
 
Shania Twain The Back-Up Plan For ‘American Idol?’
Shania Twain is set to judge “American Idol” if talks fall through with Jennifer Lopez, according to sources close to the singer and “Idol” producers. “They’ve been after her ever since she was a mentor on the show last season,” a source close to Twain told People magazine. “And they haven’t given up.” The Jennifer Lopez deal is reportedly still alive, but just barely hanging on. The show has yet to make an official comment. The next season of “American Idol” will premiere in January.
 
Darius Rucker Reunites With Hootie For Back To School Benefit
Darius Rucker, now firmly rooted in country music, recently returned to his musical roots in his home state of South Carolina, reuniting with his Hootie & The Blowfish bandmates for the group’s annual Homegrown Roundup. The initiative began in 2003 after members of the band became concerned with cuts in educational spending which adversely affected low-income families in the state. In addition to the performance by the band, the yearly event also includes the opportunity for students to get everything from hair cuts to dental check-ups as they prepare for their first day back to school. More than 40 companies also donated school supplies that children could pick up free of charge. In addition, fans attending the concert were encouraged to bring items such as crayons and paper to the concert, which will be distributed to schools throughout the Charleston school district.

 

 

8/12/2010

Artist Of The Day:
Jamey Johnson
 
·         Alabama native Jamey Johnson moved to Nashville in 2000. Four years later he started singing at songwriter nights and met other songwriters. When those writers got publishing deals, they hired Johnson to sing their demos. His first song was a duet with Gretchen Wilson, also a demo singer at the time. He’s the co-writer of the Trace Adkins hit “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.”
·         Johnson signed to BNA Records in April 2005. His debut album, “The Dollar,” was released in January 2006. The self-penned title track charted and was followed by “Rebelicious.”
·         Johnson released “That Lonesome Song” online in 2007. Mercury Nashville Records signed him in 2008. His first single for the label, “In Color,” hit the Top 10. When “That Lonesome Song” CD was released in retail outlets it debuted at No. 6. The single “High Cost of Living” peaked at No. 34. Johnson won the ACM’s and CMA’s Song of the Year for “In Color.” “That Lonesome Song” garnered Johnson a Grammy nomination.
·         “Playing the Part,” the lead single from Jamey’s upcoming album, will be available for download on iTunes on August 24th. His new project, “The Guitar Song,” is a 25-song double album due September 14th.
·         Official Web site: www.jameyjohnson.com
 
Country News:
 
Josh Kelley Releases First Country Single
With his new single, “Georgia Clay,” Josh Kelley is following in the country footsteps of his brother, Charles. So if there’s a little Lady Antebellum feel to the song, that’s why. The Kelley brothers wrote the song together about living in Georgia in their teenage years. Before going country, Josh Kelley had six pop albums. Josh met his wife, Katherine Heigl, when she played “the girl” in his video for one of those pop tunes, “Only You.”
 
Randy Houser Previewing New Album Online  
Randy Houser is gearing up for the release of his new album “They Call Me Cadillac” with a series of free streams available through his official website. Starting this week, Houser will offer sneak previews of tracks including “They Call Me Cadillac,” “Addicted” and “Lowdown and Lonesome,” with more coming each week. Along with the previews, Houser will share the story behind each new track and talk about the writing and recording process he went through on the album.
 
Luke Bryan, Wife Welcome New Son
Luke Bryan and his wife Caroline welcomed a new son, Tatum Christopher, yesterday morning in Nashville. It’s the couple’s second child. Their other son, Thomas Boyer “Bo” Bryan, was born on March 18, 2008.
 
Little Big Town Ready To Release Next Album
Little Big Town is ready to release their long-awaited new album, “The Reason Why,” as the first single, “Little White Church,” continues to garner major airplay. The album drops August 24th and LBT will be on “Good Morning America” on August 25th and Fox-TV’s “Fox & Friends’ All American Concert Series” on August 27th.
 
Gary Allan Thanks Brooks & Dunn
Gary Allan played his last show as an opening act on Brooks & Dunn’s “The Last Rodeo Tour” on Sunday night and showed his appreciation to the duo by hanging a banner on his bus. The banner read; “Kix, Ronnie and the B&D Family, Thanks for having us on 82 shows over the past 10 years! You guys are the gold standard of how it should be done. If we ever grow up, we want to be just like you guys. Thanks. Gary and the Gang.”
 
Stars Added To Farm Aid Lineup
Kenny Chesney, Norah Jones, Jason Mraz and Jeff Tweedy have joined the lineup for Farm Aid’s 25th anniversary in Milwaukee. Also added to the bill are Band of Horses, The BoDeans, Amos Lee and Robert Francis. Previously announced performers for “Farm Aid 25: Growing Hope for America” include Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. The event takes place October 2nd at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV.
 

 

 

 

8/11/2010

 Artist Of The Day:


Toby Keith

· Toby Keith Covel formed the Easy Money band in the early 80’s. His self-titled debut album was released in 1993. The first single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” went No. 1, and the next two singles made the Top 10. In 1999, the title track from “How Do You Like Me Now” earned him his first Grammy.
· Toby released his first album on his own Show Dog Nashville imprint, “White Trash with Money,” in 2006. The album includes the hits “Get Drunk And Be Somebody” and “A Little Too Late.”
· 2007’s “Big Dog Daddy” spawned the fastest-rising single of Keith’s career, “High Maintenance Woman,” as well as “Love Me If You Can,” “Get My Drink On” and “She’s a Hottie.”
· 2008’s “That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy” shot to No. 1, marking his seventh chart-topping record. The set spawned the hits “Lost You Anyway,” “She Never Cried in Front of Me” and “God Love Her.”
· Toby Keith was named Billboard’s No. 1 Country Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade. Other accolades include being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, winning Entertainer of the Year from the Academy of Country Music two years in a row, and earning BMI’s Country Artist/Songwriter of the Year three times.
· In late 2009, Toby landed the 27th No. 1 single with the title track “American Ride.” “Cryin' For Me (Wayman’s Song)” also hit No. 1. “Every Dog Has Its Day” hit No. 15.
· In May 2010, Forbes named Toby country music’s No. top earning; raking in $48 million. He also made No. 7 on Billboard’s Top 15 Country Artists of the last 25 years.
· Keith will host his official fan club party in Tinley Park, Illinois, on September 18th. He has also been announced as guest host of WWE Raw on the USA Network on October 25th.
· Toby releases a new album, “Bullets in the Gun,” on October 5th. The lead single is “Trailerhood.”
· Official Web site: www.tobykeith.com

 

Country News:
 
Charity Motorcycle Signed By Country Stars Stolen
A motorcycle autographed by county music stars has been stolen in Kentucky, where it was to be auctioned to benefit breast cancer research and prevention. The 2010 Harley-Davidson Sportster was inside a locked trailer in the parking lot of the Lexington affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The bike had been signed by several country stars, including Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Dolly Parton. Charity employees noticed the trailer was missing on Monday and called police. The group had hoped to raise about $100,000 October 16th by auctioning items including the donated motorcycle.
 
Zac Brown Band Collaborates With Alan Jackson, Jimmy Buffett
The Zac Brown Band has collaborated with Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett on the upcoming album, “You Get What You Give.” Jackson is featured on the band’s new single, “As She’s Walking Away,” while Buffett sings on “Knee Deep.”
 
CMT Greenlights First Sitcom
CMT has ordered 12 episodes of its first scripted comedy, “Working Class,” a half-hour, family-oriented sitcom starring Melissa Peterman. Set to premiere on CMT in January 2011, “Working Class” follows the life of a single blue-collar mom who moves her family to a rich suburban neighborhood while retaining her working class roots.
 
Shelton Celebrates Six Pack Release With TV Visits
Blake Shelton is slated to visit “Good Morning America” and “The Today Show” tomorrow to celebrate the release of his second six-pack, “All About Tonight,” out now. In addition, GACtv is running an exclusive series entitled, “30 Days of Blake” that includes videos and clips of the singer. The series will air daily leading up to the exclusive 90-minute airing of one of Shelton’s sold-out arena concerts, “Blake Shelton LIVE: It’s All About Tonight” on September 8th.
 
Dolly Receives Gospel Honor
Dolly Parton will receive the Southern Gospel Music Association’s 2010 James D. Vaughan “Impact Award.” Parton will accept the honor on September 29th at the SGMA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Singing News Fan Awards at DP’s Celebrity Theatre inside Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
 
Trace Adkins Gets Stuck in Richard Petty’s Car
As part of the “rivalry” between Trace Adkins and racing legend Richard Petty for Goody’s and BC’s headache powders, Trace got into a bit of a tight jam trying to fit into Richard Petty’s No. 43 stockcar. The rivalry centers on which superstar can take the most pain. Fans can visit www.pickapowder.com to vote for either Trace or Richard and see the “rivalry videos.” You can also register to win several prizes, including an all-expense-paid VIP trip for four to the 2011 Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway for the Team Richard winner, and an all-expense paid VIP trip for four to a Trace Adkins concert next year for the Team Trace winner. So far, more than 20,000 votes have been cast.
 
James Otto Bashes Teen Choice Awards
James Otto is not a fan of the Teen Choice Awards. James kept up a running commentary via Twitter about the awards show that began with: “Call me old fashioned but the fact that a porn star (Kim Kardashian) is a presenter on the teen choice awards is kinda messed up.” Otto went on to say Kim’s sister, Khloe, looks like a man before taking on other female teen stars for appearing in public wearing too few articles of clothing. Among those observations: “Miley Cyrus is running around with no panties for the paparazzi.” “Not sure our kids stand a chance in this era. Makes me glad to be a country artist where there’s at least a little more family values,” James concluded.

 

 

8/10/2010 

 

 Artist Of The Day:


Tim McGraw

· Tim McGraw released his self-titled debut album in 1992. That was followed in 1994 with “Not A Moment Too Soon.” Tim received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 17, 2006.
· McGraw’s “Let It Go” album surfaced in 2007 and became his ninth consecutive album to debut at No. 1. Hits from the album include “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” “I Need You” (with Hill), “Suspicions,” “If You’re Reading This” and the chart-topping title track.
· “Nothin’ to Die For” marked McGraw’s 51st charting single.
· Tim’s 12th studio album, “Southern Voice,” was released in October 2009. “It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You” was the first single from the album, followed by the title track and “Still.”
· Tim McGraw hosts the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” highlighting June’s CMA Music Festival in Nashville. It airs September 1st on ABC.
· Tim McGraw has been honored with Nielsen BDS’s Most Played Artist of the Decade Award for all genres, commemorating 7,965,000 radio spins, the most airplay of any artist from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2009.
· McGraw is a Hollywood attraction now, starring in “Friday Night Lights,” “The Blind Side” and Gwyneth Paltrow’s upcoming movie, “Country Strong,” set for a December release.
· Official Web site: www.timmcgraw.com

 

Country News:
 
Toby Keith Coaches His Son’s Football Team
Toby Keith does have a life outside of music. He tells People Country that when he’s home near Norman, Oklahoma, he’s involved with his son’s sports. Toby’s son, Stelen, is 13. Keith says he’s coached Stelen’s football team for the last six years. As for handling his superstar status, Keith says the kids deal better with that than adults do. He says the kids “are just, ‘Hey, coach! Can I go in?’”
 
Montgomery Gentry’s New Album
A new album is on its way from Montgomery Gentry. “Hits And More: Life Beside A Gravel Road” is their eighth album and their second greatest hits package. This one is a collection of previously-released hits and songs they consider to be fan-favorites, based on the reaction they get in concert. There also are three new tracks. “Hits and More” will be available September 28th.
 
Bucky Covington Working On New Album
Bucky Covington is working on his second album. Covington says “it has some good fist-pumping, good-time songs. It has some soulful songs. It has some great ballads on there.” He says he’s also written a couple of songs that he hopes will make it on to the album. The release date is not set but Bucky hopes it’ll come out in the fall.
 
Alan Jackson To Receive ASCAP’s Founders Award
Alan Jackson will receive ASCAP’s Founders Award during the performing rights organization’s annual Country Music Awards on September 14th. The award is given to musicians who have “made pioneering contributions to music by inspiring and influencing their fellow music creators.” The gala also honors the songwriters and publishers of the year’s most-performed songs, along with honoring the songwriter, songwriter/artist, song and publisher of the year with ASCAP affiliations. The invitation-only event will take place in downtown Nashville.
 
Luke Bryan Heads Back To The ‘Farm’
Luke Bryan will embark on a second “Farm Tour” run of shows in his home state of Georgia in late September. The idea for the “Farm Tour” concerts came from Bryan as a way to give back to local farming communities by celebrating the American farmer. Proceeds from the concerts will go to charities in the farming communities.
 
New Jamey Johnson Single
“Playing the Part,” the lead single from Jamey Johnson’s upcoming album, will be available for download at iTunes on August 24th. “The Guitar Song” is a 25-song double album due September 14th with linked sets of songs dubbed the “Black Album” and the “White Album.” The release also will be available as a limited-edition, black and white triple LP vinyl set that includes a deluxe lyric book.

 8/9/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Joey + Rory

· Husband and wife duo Rory Lee and Joey Martin Feek were third-place finalist on CMT’s “Can You Duet” in 2008. That same year they released their debut album, “The Life of a Song,” which debuted at No. 10 and remained on the charts for 50 weeks, selling 200,000 copies. Their debut single, “Cheater Cheater,” was their first Top 30 hit and also became a nationwide Top 10 Dance Club hit.
· Rory previously worked as a songwriter. His first song was Collin Raye’s No. 1 “Someone You Used to Know.” Others included the “The Chain of Love” by Clay Walker and the multi-week No. 1 “Some Beach” by Blake Shelton. In 2009, Rory was awarded two of ASCAP’s Most Played Songs for “I Will” by Jimmy Wayne and “You Can Let Go” by Crystal Shawanda. Rory also wrote Easton Corbin’s No. 1 song, “A Little More Country Than That.”
· Rory founded the independent label Giantslayer Records in 2004, on which Joey recorded the solo album “Strong Enough to Cry” in 2005.
· Joey + Rory have also appeared in commercials for Overstock.com and in February 2009 they were nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s Top Vocal Duo.
· CMT named them one of the Top 10 Artists of 2009 and they garnered a string of nominations, including CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, ACM’s Top Vocal Duo Award and CMT’s Nationwide Insurance On Your Side Award.
· Joey + Rory released their first holiday single, “It’s Christmas Time,” and a children’s Christmas album, “Merry Kidsmas,” in December.
· Joey + Rory’s upcoming album, “Album No. 2,” will be released September 14th. Rory co-wrote the lead single, “This Song’s For You,” with Zac Brown. The song features the Zac Brown Band. The video for the single was recently shot in Joey + Rory’s community near their farm in Pottsville, Tennessee and is scheduled for release mid-August. Joey + Rory are offering up a free download of the song at www.joeyandrory.com/download. Those who purchase the single on iTunes will receive a free copy of their cover of Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough” as a thank you.
· Official Web site: www.joeyandrory.com

 COUNTRY NEWS

Kristy Lee Cook Signs To Broken Bow Records
Kristy Lee Cook, an “American Idol” finalist from 2008, has signed with Broken Bow Records, according to a posting on her Twitter page. Cook placed seventh during the Fox series’ seventh season. Cook released her first country single, “15 Minutes of Shame,” in August 2008, followed by an album titled “Why Wait” a month later. Cook parted ways with 19 Records/Sony Music shortly afterwards. Cook currently stars in a hunting reality show, “Goin’ Country,” on the cable network Versus.
 
Womack Hosting ACM Honors For Special Honorees
Lee Ann Womack will host the ACM Honors ceremony for special honorees and off-camera award winners on September 20th at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Keith Urban will be honored with the Jim Reeves International Award, while Marty Robbins, Mel Tillis, talent agent Rod Essig and songwriters Don Schlitz and Cindy Walker will also be recognized for their accomplishments. The film “Crazy Heart” will be honored with the Tex Ritter Award for country music-related films. Winners in the musician, bandleader, instrumental and industry will be recognized as well. The remaining ACM Awards were presented in April in Las Vegas.
 
Louvin Recovers From Cancer Surgery
Charlie Louvin is recovering at home following pancreatic cancer surgery. On July 22nd Louvin went in for a complex, six-hour surgery at the Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, known as a whipple procedure. His son Sonny said Louvin was home recuperating and gaining his strength back. Louvin is hoping to host the Midnight Jamboree in Nashville on August 21st. Louvin also has a new CD, “The Battle Rages On,” coming this fall.
 
Bundy Lands Role On ‘How I Met Your Mother’
Laura Bell Bundy, whose numerous television credits include a two-year stint on “Guiding Light,” has scored a recurring role on the hit CBS sitcom, “How I Met Your Mother.” Laura’s character will appear alongside Robin (played by Cobie Smulders) as the co-host of the news show, “Metro News One.” Rumors are also swirling that the character may also be one of love-plagued Ted’s (played by Josh Radnor) romantic interests. Laura recently released her second single, “Drop On By,” from her debut album, “Achin’ and Shakin.” She can also be found in Miranda Lambert’s clever new video, ‘Only Prettier,’ alongside Kellie Pickler and Lady Antebellum’s Hilary Scott.
 
Big Kenny Does Spider-Man Imitation
Big Kenny may not have the ability to shoot webs out of his wrist, but he took on bit of a Spider-Man persona on Thursday, rappelling down the side of a 24-story building in downtown Salt Lake City to raise money for Special Olympics Utah. Big Kenny slid down the exterior of the Grand America Hotel a few feet at a time in conjunction with the second annual Over The Edge event. Each participant pledges to raise at least $1,000 for Special Olympics. Last year the inaugural effort brought in $70,000 for the charity.
 

 

8/6/2010

TAYLOR'S NEW SONG 

"Mine"

IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!!!!!!!!

 CLICK HERE TO BUY IT

 

 TAYLOR SWIFT'S NEW SINGLE "MINE" LEAKED ONLINE . . . SO THEY RELEASED IT IMMEDIATELY:

 

 

 

 

8/5/2010

TAYLOR'S NEW SONG 

"Mine"

IS NOW AVAILABLE ON iTUNES!!!!!!!!

 CLICK HERE TO BUY IT

 

 TAYLOR SWIFT'S NEW SINGLE "MINE" LEAKED ONLINE . . . SO THEY RELEASED IT IMMEDIATELY:


TAYLOR SWIFT wasn't planning on releasing the first single off her upcoming album, for another two weeks, on August 16th. But all that changed when "Mine" was leaked onto the Web yesterday.

After the initial shock and hand wringing . . . her record company regrouped and decided to go ahead and release the song immediately. "Mine" is the first single from her upcoming album, "Speak Now", which drops October 25th.

By the way . . . you can catch Taylor's TV debut of "Mine" during the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock". That airs September 1st on ABC.

The show features highlights from this year's CMA Music Festival. Performers include Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson and Tim McGraw.

 

 

 

 

 8/3/2010

The Bachlorette!!!

 

Who did Ali pick??????

 

 

 Artist Of The Day:


Rascal Flatts

· Rascal Flatts is Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney. Cousins DeMarcus and LeVox founded the group and later added Rooney. DeMarcus and Rooney were playing in Chely Wright’s band at the time.
· After landing a record deal with Lyric Street Records, Rascal Flatts recorded an eclectic mix of country and pop for the trio’s self-titled debut. The album arrived in 2000 and “Prayin’ for Daylight” became the group’s first smash single, hitting No. 3 on Billboard’s country chart.
· “Melt” appeared in October 2002. Co-produced by the band, “Melt” sold a million copies in eight weeks and yielded the band’s first No. 1 country hit, “These Days.”
· Rascal Flatts has released six studio albums and a greatest hits album. Their longest-lasting No. 1 is “Bless the Broken Road” (late 2004–early 2005) at five weeks, while their biggest crossover single, “What Hurts the Most,” topped both the country and AC charts in 2006, and was a Top 10 pop hit.
· Their latest album, “Unstoppable,” debuted at No. 1, becoming their 4th consecutive studio album to debut at No. 1. The album was also the biggest country release of 2009 and the biggest country first week sales since Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” in November 2008. It was also the third biggest debut of the year for all genres. The album holds the hits “Here Comes Goodbye,” “Summer Nights” and “Why.”
· A cover of Tom Cochrane’s “Life Is a Highway,” from the soundtrack to the 2006 film “Cars,” entered the charts from unsolicited airplay.
· In the past 10 years, Rascal Flatts has delivered 11 No. 1 singles and have more titles in Billboard’s Top 100 Songs of the Decade than any other group. The band has sold more than 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads. They have seen every one of their studio albums go multi-platinum and have become the most awarded vocal group in country music history. In 2009, Flatts broke Alabama’s streak of ACM Vocal Group of The Year wins when they took home the trophy for the 7th consecutive time. Next year they will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
· To celebrate their 10 year anniversary, the band has launched a new website, www.lsrcwr.com/rascalflatts10.
· Rascal Flatts is on the road with their “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour.” Kellie Pickler and Chris Young open.
· Rascal Flatts have signed on with the same label as Taylor Swift: Big Machine Records. Their previous label, Lyric Street, closed up shop in April. Lyric Street was owned by Disney, who will keep Rascal Flatts’ back catalog. Their new single, “Why Wait?” is from their new album, “Nothing Like This,” due out November 16th.
· Official Web site: www.rascalflatts.com

 

 

Country News:
 
Farm Aid Details
Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will headline this year’s U.S. music and food festival, organizers said yesterday. The 25th anniversary fundraiser is to take place October 2nd at Miller Park in Milwaukee. More artists will be announced later. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV. It will mark the first time the fund-raiser for family farmers will be held in a Major League Baseball stadium. Tickets go on sale August 14th.
 
Mellencamp Thinks Willie Should Get A Nobel Peace Prize
John Mellencamp thinks Willie Nelson deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his Farm Aid efforts. Nelson and Mellencamp appeared on a webcast yesterday to announce the 25th edition of Farm Aid. “Whoever does this Nobel Peace Prize business should look at Willie Nelson,” Mellencamp said. “He has helped millions and millions of people and entertained millions and millions of people. It’s 25 years of commitment. Myself and Neil [Young] work from the neck down. Willie is the brains.”
 
Lee Ann Womack On Sad Songs
Lee Ann Womack has a theory why there might be a lot of sad country songs: because life in general is sad. She says “that’s why people feed jukeboxes quarters, to have someone to share the misery with.” Womack says nothing can get to you quite like a sad country song. She says “if you want to feel bad, buddy, put on an old country record. That’ll do it.”
 
Co-Creator Of ‘Hee-Haw’ Dies
The co-creator of “Hee-Haw” has died. John Aylesworth was 81. He died in a hospital near Palm Springs, California, from complications of pneumonia. Years ago, Aylesworth’s producing partner, Frank Peppiatt, had told The Los Angeles Times that they created “Hee-Haw” with its cornball humor in 1969 by combining elements of the top-two shows of the time: “Laugh-In” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Aylesworth and Peppiatt also wrote for “The Andy Williams Show,” “The Jimmy Dean Show,” “The Jonathan Winters Show,” “The Julie Andrews Hour” and “The Sonny and Cher Show.”
 
Fox To Launch American Country Awards
Fox is launching a new country awards show. The American Country Awards will air December 6th live from Las Vegas. The two-hour telecast will be executive-produced by Bob Bain, who runs the network’s Teen Choice Awards. The winners of American Country Awards, as in the Teen Choice Awards, will be determined by fans.
 
Luke Bryan Schedules ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Appearance
Luke Bryan will perform his latest hit, “Rain Is a Good Thing,” during an August 9th appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The performance coincides with his current tour that includes dates this week in Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado. In September, Bryan begins the fall leg of Jason Aldean’s “Wide Open” tour.

 

8/02/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Jerrod Niemann

· Singer/songwriter Jerrod Niemann has penned songs for Garth Brooks, Neal McCoy, Jamey Johnson, and Zona Jones, among others, and has built a strong fan base as a performer of his own material as well.
· Jerrod self-released the album “Long Hard Road” in 1999. The Kansas native moved to Nashville a year later and signed a development deal with Mercury Records in 2001. The deal didn’t produce much, although Niemann now had a band behind him and they began touring the club circuit.
· Niemann self-released a second album, “Jukebox of Hard Knocks,” in 2004, then signed with Category 5 Records in 2006, releasing the single “I Love Women (My Mama Can’t Stand),” but the label soon folded and a projected album, “Behind This Microphone,” never appeared.
· Niemann next signed to Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville in 2009. His first album on a national label, “Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury,” toppled Lady Antebellum from their No.1 perch on Billboard’s country album chart – a position the band held for six months. The album’s first single, “Lover, Lover,” is charging to the top of the charts. The album also reached No. 7 on Billboard’s all-genre album chart.
· Jerrod is currently performing several solo dates, as well as planning shows with Randy Houser and Gary Allan.
· Official website: www.jerrodniemannofficial.com

Country News:


Happy Birthday Martina McBride
Martina McBride celebrated her birthday Thursday with about 4,000 friends. McBride, who turned 44, wrapped up a four-week West Coast tour in Woodinville, Washington. McBride’s husband, John McBride, surprised her by appearing onstage and leading fans in singing “Happy Birthday.” After the show, McBride received the annual birthday gift from her band and crew, Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill wine, and enjoyed a low-key celebration with family and friends. Martina said, “It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Bocephus Extends ‘Rowdy Friends’ Tour
Hank Williams Jr. is extending his “Rowdy Friends” tour into the fall. The second leg of the trek will begin in Evansville, Indiana, on September 17th and will conclude in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 23rd. For the second round of dates, Colt Ford, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Brice, Josh Thompson and Sunny Sweeney will open.

Jason Aldean Ringtones
AT&T is holding a two-for-one sale on ringtones and Jason Aldean’s are currently available as part of the deal. Fans can now order ringtones for Aldean’s “Crazy Town” and “Big Green Tractor.” The sale is available for a limited time only.


Kenny Chesney Video On ‘SportsCenter’
Since Kenny Chesney’s new single, “The Boys Of Fall,” is about football, it makes sense the video will premiere on ESPNs SportsCenter. A four-minute video edit will air twice today. Tomorrow, a full-eight-minute video will be available on CMT.com, GAC, VEVO and other locations. “The Boys of Fall” is the first single from Chesney’s upcoming album, “Hemingways Whiskey,” due out September 28th.

Farm Aid Webcast TODAY
A Webcast set for noon [ET] today will offer all the details for Farm Aid 25, set for October 2nd in Milwaukee. The webcast features co-founders Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. This year’s theme is “Growing Hope for America.” 2010 marks the 25th Anniversary of Farm Aid, which has, so far, raised over $37 million to support programs for farmers.

Jimmy Wayne Finishes Walk
Jimmy Wayne was sidelined just five miles shy of completing his “Meet Me Halfway” solo-walk across America when he had to visit a podiatrist on Saturday to address some severe foot pain. While walking the steep grades out of Mesa, Arizona, last week, Jimmy began suffering a swollen ankle, which resulted in him not being able to walk more than 13 miles on Friday. Jimmy tweeted that he was in so much pain he had to lie down on the concrete until the support vehicle picked him up. Dr. Brian Allan opened his Mesa office especially for Jimmy. The doc said Jimmy shattered the back of his right ankle, a very rare break that will take six to eight weeks to heal. After Jimmy’s ankle was put in a walking brace and he was given some pain pills, he set back out where he left off Friday evening in Scottsdale. He reached Phoenix yesterday after walking 1,700 miles to raise money and awareness for homeless youth. Jimmy walked through six states for HomeBase Youth Services, a charity that helps Arizona youth ages 18-21. Over 100 people joined Jimmy to walk the last half mile.

Hag’s Advice For Lindsay Lohan
Merle Haggard, who was thrown into San Quentin Prison when he was 19, has been keeping up with Lindsay Lindsay’s prison and rehab news and says he’s concerned about her future. His stay behind bars sobered Merle up and he’s hopeful it does the same for her. “I feel sorry for her because she’s such a lovely creature and such a talented person, and she’s also a spoiled brat,” he told Vanity Fair. Lindsay was sentenced to 90 days for a probation violation, but instead of serving the full term, she’s been ordered to go immediately into rehab after her release from jail. “I really do feel sorry for her,” Merle said. “She’s going to have to straighten out her life, otherwise she’ll be dead by the time she’s 30. That’s the bottom line.” Merle is also familiar with withdrawal. He had surgery for lung cancer in November 2008, and in the process he gave up his daily habit of smoking pot. “I quit but I never got over it,” he admitted. “Anybody who says it’s not habit-forming is a damn liar.”

 DIRT!!!!!

 Casey Affleck Faces Another Harassment Suit
Another female worker on Casey Affleck’s upcoming Joaquin Phoenix documentary is suing the actor, this time claiming Affleck climbed into bed with her and groped her as she slept. In a $2.25 million lawsuit filed Friday, cinematographer Magdalena Gorka says Casey engaged in a pattern of harassing behavior and refused to pay or credit her when the abuse forced her to leave the project. The allegations mirror a separate lawsuit filed on July 23rd by Amanda White, a producer who says she left the movie after witnessing shocking behavior and after refusing to sleep in a hotel room with Affleck.


Lohan’s Plush Rehab
When Lindsay Lohan moves from jail to rehab, she’ll land in a facility that just got a $220,000 makeover, TMZ reports. Currently jailed in Los Angeles for probation violations related to her DUI arrests, Lohan is due to be released soon. Her court-appointed 90-day treatment will be at a center based in Newport Beach, California, though she’ll actually be at a satellite facility in nearby Costa Mesa. The facility is getting new hardwood floors, repainted walls, freshly tiled private bathroom, new walk-in closets and a remodeled kitchen. Lohan will be treated for addiction to methamphetamine and bipolar disorder during her court ordered 90-day rehab stay.

Bullock Pulls Out Of Gulf PSA
Sandra Bullock asked to be pulled from the gulf restoration promotion video “Be the One,” her publicist said. The actress found out that some of the money funding the campaign may have indirectly come from BP. The public service announcement touts the Women of the Storm’s “Restore the Gulf” campaign, and asks people to sign a petition urging the government to fund the restoration of the Gulf of Mexico. Bullock’s publicist said the actress, who lives part-time in New Orleans, wants out of the campaign after learning Women of the Storm is sponsored by America’s Wetland Foundation, which has taken donations from oil companies, including BP.

Montag Files For Divorce From Pratt
Heidi Montag has filed for divorce from Spencer Pratt, her husband of about a year. Montag filed for legal separation from Pratt nearly two months ago. The former couple have appeared together on “The Hills” and “I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!”

DiCaprio Drops Out Of Gibson Movie
Leonardo DiCaprio will not star as a Viking in a flick Mel Gibson is directing, a source close to the actor said. DiCaprio decided to distance himself from the project after audio clips surfaced of Gibson allegedly speaking in an abusive manner to his ex-girlfriend. The woman has also accused Gibson of hitting her and endangering their 2-month-old daughter. “Leo has earned the right to pick and choose who he works with, and Mel Gibson is not one of them,” the source said.

Snookie Arrested
“Jersey Shore” cast member Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was arrested for public intoxication in the New Jersey beach town where the MTV show is based. Seaside Heights police said Snooki was arrested at around 3:25 p.m. Friday and charged with disorderly conduct after witnesses reported she was bothering them.

Fishburne’s Daughter To Star In Porn Film
Laurence Fishburne’s 19-year-old daughter, Montana, is starring in a porn video for Vivid Entertainment. Vivid, which has also distributed other celebrity porn films including Kim Kardashian and Kendra Wilkinson, will release the video on August 18th. In a Vivid Entertainment press release, Montana, also known as “Chippy D,” reveals she was inspired by Kardashian to do the flick.

Lindsay Lohan And Vince ‘Shamwow’ Guy Team Up
Square One Entertainment has released a hilarious trailer for the new movie “Underground Comedy 2010” – a raunchy over-the-top sketch comedy co-starring Lindsay Lohan, Michael Clark Duncan, Bobby Lee, Joanna Krupa and Vince “The Shamwow Guy.” You can find the trailer on YouTube. “Underground Comedy 2010.”

Update: Lopez, Tyler To Be ‘Idol’ Judges
Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are reportedly replacing Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres as judges on “American Idol.” DioGuardi was allegedly fired and DeGeneres announced Thursday she was quitting. The casting changes may mean the show is going back to a three-judge format with Randy Jackson as the only holdover for the 10th season. Simon Cowell left at the end of Season 9 to start a new show, “The X Factor,” for Fox.

 

 

 7/30/2010

LEE BRICE HAS BEEN "LADY HAZED"!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 Country News:


Sugarland Snag ‘Chuck’ Star For New Video
Sugarland has confirmed that actor Ryan McPartlin, best known for his role as Devon “Captain Awesome” Woodcomb on NBC’s “Chuck,” will appear in their new video for “Stuck Like Glue.” The track is the first single of the band’s upcoming release, “The Incredible Machine.” “When you see his character that he plays on Chuck, you know, he is Captain Awesome. He’s the perfect guy,” Jennifer Nettles says.

Russell Crowe to Play Country Singer
“Salt” director Phillip Noyce is planning on transforming Russell Crowe to a down-on-his-luck country singer. Noyce says his next project will be a film adaptation of the novel “Dirt Music,” with Crowe in the lead for the story of a grieving country singer who has lost the ability to write or play music. Crowe, who was the frontman for the rock band Odd Foot of Grunts, will reportedly write his own songs for the movie.

Emerson Drive Start Their Own Record Label
Emerson Drive is forming their own label, Amdian Records. The band’s first single with their new label is “That Kind of Beautiful,” due out in U.S. August 16th. The single was released in Canada last month.

Elvis Spotlighted In Country Hall Of Fame
With 2010 being the 75th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville is opening a spotlight exhibit, “Loving You: Elvis Presley” on August 6th. Elvis was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. The exhibit will be on display for visitors until January 2011. This special exhibit gives fans the chance to see items from the Museum’s collection that are rarely available to the public, including a Munsingwear bathrobe and Lord Nelson wristwatch owned and worn by Elvis, a bottle of “Always Elvis” white wine, and much more.


Rascal Flatts Sign With Big Machine Records
Rascal Flatts have signed a new deal with Big Machine Records, the Nashville-based label home to Taylor Swift. The move comes three months after the Disney Music Group confirmed plans to phase out Lyric Street Records, the company’s country label headquartered in Nashville. The band’s first Big Machine single, “Why Wait,” was released yesterday, and their new album, “Nothing Like This,” will arrive on November 16th.

Farm Aid Headed To Milwaukee
Willie Nelson has announced that the annual Farm Aid concert will take place in Wisconsin for the first time. Marking its 25th anniversary, the fundraising event is scheduled for October 2nd in Milwaukee. Nelson and co-founder John Mellencamp will reveal more details on the Farm Aid website on Monday.

Jay DeMarcus Having A Girl
Daddy-to-be and Rascal Flatts’ bassist Jay DeMarcus has announced the gender of his first child with wife Allison, who is due in January. “We found out this week that it’s going to be a girl,” Jay said yesterday. “We’re very excited about that. It’s just what I need ... another girl in the house!” Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox offered a suggestion on what to name the baby, “Garyetta Don.”



 

7/29/2010

Are Carrie Underwood and her new Hubby havin a BABY??

 

CARRIE UNDERWOOD and MIKE FISHER are still newlyweds . . but Mike tells the "Ottawa Sun" they want to start a family, someday. "We want kids, but that's down the road. Now is not the time, especially with our busy schedules, everything we've got going on. We don't know exactly when, but definitely we will."

Mike said he wants to finish his hockey career in Ottawa (Canada) so they'll both live there and Nashville for now. But after his career is over, he's gone. He explains, quote, "When I'm done (with) hockey, she'll still be working. I'm sure she can always work. We'll settle in Nashville. I love it there. I've got lots of friends there now. There's a nice church that we love, that we go to . . . I love the area. I like a lot of things about it."

As for Carrie's career . . . she recently told AOL.com that she's thinking about doing an unplugged tour. "I might follow (the fall tour) next year with an acoustic tour. That would be just about my favorite thing.There's so many moments in the show that I absolutely love, (and) I've never done before. They're so exciting because they're new for me, but my love is singing, and I could stand in front of a mike and do that all day long and be so happy with that."

 Country News:


Carrie Underwood At The Opry
Newlywed Carrie Underwood delivered a 30-minute set during her Grand Ole Opry appearance Tuesday night at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. It was her first performance since her July 10th wedding to hockey player Mike Fisher. An Opry member since 2008, Underwood performed “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Undo It” and several more hits. She will be appearing on NBC’s “Today” summer concert series tomorrow morning in New York City.

Aaron Tippin Touring With Classic Plane
Aaron Tippin and a classic airplane are going on tour. Tippin’s “Red, White and Loud Tour” will celebrate America’s freedom through song. Tippin will arrive at each venue in a Boeing B-29 Superfortress. The first stop is Denver at the Colorado Sport International Air Show on August 28th. Tippin will be a passenger at that point. But Aaron, who is a pilot, will co-pilot the plane, helping fly the heavy bomber to every performance.

Reba’s Video Shoot Plagued By ‘Weather Gremlins’
Reba McEntire was filming the music video for her new single, “Turn on the Radio,” in Nashville this week, in spite of powerful storms, tornado warnings and technical glitches. “We’ve had weather gremlins during our video shoot today,” Reba tweeted Monday night. “Hot weather, thunderstorms, tornado warnings, even went down to the storm cellar. Oh yeah, technical difficulties with generators and camera glitches. What’s happening????” The video was shot near downtown Nashville in a century-old warehouse with temperatures soared above 100 degrees.

Fans Go ‘Cross Country’ With Luke Bryan
LongHorn Steakhouse and Miller Lite sent two lucky sweepstakes winners and their guests “Cross Country” with Luke Bryan this weekend. The winners received a VIP experience at Bryan’s headlining show at the Brickyard 400’s Miller Lite Cars and Guitars concert in Indianapolis as well as his performance at Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. As part of the grand prize, they also got to ride with Luke on his tour bus from Indianapolis to Twin Lakes, giving them a glimpse of what life is like on the road.

Gary Allan Raises $225,000 At Benefit Concert
Gary Allan helped raise more than $225,000 to benefit children with DiGeorge syndrome at a House of Blues concert in Chicago on July 22nd. The event was sponsored by the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Family Foundation, created by the Chicago Cubs pitcher and his wife to honor their 15-month-old daughter, Riley, who was born with DiGeorge syndrome. The concert also featured an opening set by Jaron and the Long Road to Love. The crowd included Cubs players Ryan Theriot and Derrek Lee, former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka and hockey players Adam Burish, Danny Briere and Claude Giroux. DiGeorge syndrome affects the physical development of infants.

Darius Rucker To Mentor Winner of NSAI/CMT Songwriting Contest
Darius Rucker will mentor the winner of a songwriting contest presented by the Nashville Songwriters Association International and CMT. The contest begins Sunday and runs through October 31st. After the grand prize winner has been announced, fans can vote on the remaining finalists for the CMT Listeners’ Choice Award, which will be presented in early 2011. All genres of music are encouraged.

Wynonna’s Visionary Philanthropy Awarded
Wynonna Judd will receive The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award for 2010. Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and First Lady Andrea Conte will be on hand at the event on August 24th as Nashville celebrates Wynonna for her countless contributions to the Nashville community and future generations who wish to pursue a career in the music industry. The event will be held at Conservation Hall at the Tennessee Residence in Nashville. The Cecil Scaife Visionary Award was founded in the name of the Music Row pioneer and veteran, who was instrumental in the formation of the music business program that is now known as the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

 
Kellie’s Keeping Wedding Plans Mum
Kellie Pickler didn’t give up much info on her pending nuptials during a recent interview. Kellie is engaged to songwriter Kyle Jacobs, her beau of three years. She did say that the wedding will happen within the year. But that was about all she revealed. Kellie also said that she hasn’t picked out a wedding dress yet.

Blake Invites Martina Get ‘Goldberged’ On Tequila
Blake Shelton’s excited that his upcoming album, “It’s All About Tonight,” has hit the top spot on the iTunes country chart, even before its August 10th release. He’s even more thrilled that Martina McBride offered him congrats via Twitter on Tuesday, with the simple message: “Awesome! Congratulations!” Blake responded, “Martina?!! I love you!! And I just bought us a bottle with a worm in it! Let’s get Goldberged!” Blake’s label publicist had no clue what “Let’s get Goldberged!” meant, according to Country Weekly.

 

 

7/28/2010

 

 Artist Of The Day:


Brad Paisley



· Brad Paisley released his debut solo album, “Who Needs Pictures,” in 1999. The record produced two chart-topping singles: “He Didn’t Have To Be” and “We Danced.” He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1999 and became a member after 40 appearances.
· Paisley’s “Mud On The Tires” (2004) was his third consecutive album to sell more than a million copies. 2005’s “Time Well Wasted” CD landed at No. 1 and was 2006’s CMA and ACM Album of the Year. The 16-track collection includes the chart-topping “Alcohol,” “When I Get Where I’m Going,” “The World” and “She’s Everything,” 2007’s first country chart-topper.
· Paisley’s album “5th Gear” was released in June 2007. The first five singles – “Ticks,” “Online,” “Letter To Me,” “I’m Still A Guy” and “Waitin’ On A Woman” – all hit No. 1.
· Brad released his 7th album, “Play,” in 2008. The first single, “Start a Band,” became Paisley’s 13th No. 1 hit and his ninth consecutive No. 1.
· Paisley scored his 13th straight No. 1 hit in a row with his current single, “Water.” The streak began with “When I Get Where I’m Going” in 2006 and includes such hits as “Ticks,” “Online,” “Letter to Me,” “Waitin’ On a Woman,” “The World,” “She’s Everything,” “I’m Still a Guy” and “Start A Band” with Keith Urban. “Water” is his 17th No. 1 single overall; his fourth off the latest album, “American Saturday Night.” The other three No. 1s from the set were “Then,” “Welcome to the Future” and the album’s title cut. He is second only to Sonny James as the solo country artist with the most consecutive No. 1 singles in country chart history.
· Brad is currently on his “H2O Tour” with Justin Moore and Darius Rucker.
· Official Web site: www.bradpaisley.com

 

Country News:


Julianne Hough Releases Video For ‘Is That So Wrong?’
Julianne Hough released her new video for the single “Is that So Wrong.” The track will be featured on her upcoming album, “Wildfire,” due out in November.

Brooks & Dunn’s Cheyenne Frontier Days Concert A Hit
Brooks & Dunn’s concert at Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming, attracted 20,911 fans on Saturday night, making it one of the most-attended concerts in the event’s history. The performance was part of the duo’s “Last Rodeo” tour. The annual music festival and rodeo series began Friday and will conclude Saturday. Other country artists appearing later this week include Alan Jackson, Josh Turner, Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Clay Walker.

Keith Urban Performs ‘Days Go By’ With Grammy Campers
Keith Urban jammed with students from a Grammy-sponsored camp during a sold-out concert on Friday night at the L.A. Tennis Center at UCLA. The six students sang and played with Urban on “Days Go By” during the “Starry Night” event, a fundraising concert that benefited the Grammy in the Schools music education program and the Southern California Tennis Association. Urban said he was “impressed by their talent and their obvious love for playing.”

James Otto Shakes It On New CD
James Otto’s new disc, “Shake What God Gave Ya,” comes out September 14th. “Musically I’d say I’m the love child between Ronnie Milsap and Barry White,” jokes Otto. “This sexy, sultry, soulful sound makes you wanna move and dance. And that is exactly what I want fans to do while listening to this album, ‘Shake What God Gave Ya’.” Otto penned 11 of the 12 tracks, including the current Top 25 hit country single “Groovy Little Summer Song” and the duet “Good Things Gone Bad,” featuring Milsap.

Little Big Town Gives ‘The Reason Why’
Little Big Town’s exclusive iTunes Countdown to their upcoming album “The Reason Why” has kicked off with the title track. Pre-release tracks will be available exclusively on the iTunes Store every week for four weeks leading up to the album release. Subsequent tracks include “Kiss Goodbye,” “Why Oh Why,” and “All The Way Down.” Each track will count towards the purchase of the full album through iTunes’ Complete My Album feature. “The Reason Why” hits stores on August 24th. LBT also will offer fans a video podcast series that complements the weekly countdown. The podcast will give fans an inside look at the making of the CD with footage and in-depth stories from the band.

Worley Running The Tennessee River Again
Darryl Worley’s 9th Annual Tennessee River Run will be held September 16-18 near his hometown of Savannah, Tennessee. The festival will feature three days of activities, including a concert with Danny Gokey and a golf tournament. All proceeds from the festival will benefit the Darryl Worley Foundation.

7/27/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Luke Bryan

· Singer/songwriter Luke Bryan got his first guitar at the age of 14. A year later he started sitting in with local bands. He started writing songs at 16.
· Luke made his debut in 2007 with the Top 5 single “All My Friends Say.” His first album, “I’ll Stay Me,” was released later that year. The album’s second single, “We Rode in Trucks,” peaked inside the Top 40. “Country Man” hit the Top 10.
· Music Row magazine named Bryan the industry’s Breakthrough Songwriter in 2008. In addition to his own material, Luke earned his first hit by writing Billy Currington’s “Good Directions,” which also won Country Song of the Year honors from ASCAP in 2008.
· Bryan won the 2010 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Artist awards.
· Luke’s second album, “Doin’ My Thing,” landed at No. 2. The song “Do I” hit No. 2. His current single, “Rain Is A Good Thing,” has been at the top of the country chart for two weeks. He has a new single titled “Someone Else Calling You Baby” coming out August 2nd.
· Bryan has been nominated for Favorite Male Country Artist at this year’s Teen Choice Awards, which will air August 9th on FOX.
· Bryan will be on the road this fall opening for Jason Aldean’s “Wide Open Tour.”
· Official Web site: www.lukebryan.com 

 

Country News:



Jimmy Wayne On Final Leg Of Walk
It's been a long 1,700 miles, beginning in Nashville, with one of the coldest winters on record, and continuing through Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico with hailstorms, tornadoes, severe rain and flooding and then triple digit temperatures all along the way. But Jimmy Wayne is finally nearing his end goal of Phoenix, Arizona. The organizer of Meet Me Halfway will arrive in the Phoenix area the weekend of July 31st, with a free concert set for Mesa, Arizona on July 31st and the official arrival into Phoenix the morning of August 1st. The July 31st event will be an evening concert at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill. The concert is considered the "Last Big Push" rally to cheer Jimmy on into Phoenix. Then on August 1st supporters are invited to walk the last mile with Jimmy to the HomeBase Youth Services. More details will be announced soon.

Josh Turner, Wife Expecting Third Baby
Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer are expecting their third child early next year. The new baby will join Hampton, 3, and Colby, 1. The couple married in 2003.

Pickler, Young Cancel Fair Dates To Join Rascal Flatts Tour
Kellie Pickler and Chris Young have canceled fair dates in September because both artists will tour with Rascal Flatts. Pickler was scheduled to perform in Centreville, Michigan, at the St. Joseph Country Grange Fair on September 23rd, while Young was booked to open for George Jones at the same venue on September 25th. Jones is still scheduled to perform. Young also canceled fair appearances in Frederick, Maryland, on September 24th and Kennesaw, Georgia, on September 25th. Rascal Flatts’ next tour stop with Pickler and Young will be Thursday in Virginia Beach.


Underwood Gets A Lucky 13th
Carrie Underwood has scored her 13th No. 1 single with “Undo It,” the third consecutive chart-topper from her platinum-certified “Play On” album. The song is one of seven tracks co-written by Underwood for “Play On” and becomes the sixth No. 1 of her career that she has co-written. Underwood will perform “Undo It” on NBC’s “Today” show this Friday.

Dierks Bentley Performs With Bon Jovi
Dierks Bentley joined Bon Jovi onstage over the weekend for a rendition of the band’s iconic hit “Wanted Dead or Alive.” The performance took place at the HullabaLOU Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. A video of the performance is currently circulating the web and shows the crowd singing along as Bentley and Bon Jovi rip through the track. The performance lasted a little over three minutes. “That was the quote in my yearbook,” Dierks told the crowd of the song. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HERE!


Rimes And Cibrian Shacking Up
Eddie Cibrian is reportedly moving in with LeAnn Rimes – and he’s bringing his kids with him. The actor and his two sons, Mason and Jake, will move into Rimes’ Hidden Hills house in Calabasas next week, according to E!

 

 

7/26/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Martina McBride


· Martina McBride signed with RCA at the end of 1991 and released her debut album, “The Time Has Come,” in 1992. The title track was her first charting single and stayed on the charts for five months.
· The title track from 1995’s “Wild Angels” became her first No. 1, and she joined the Grand Ole Opry that same year. She captured her first CMA Female Vocalist award in 1999.
· Martina’s other hits include “A Broken Wing,” “Happy Girl,” “Wrong Again,” “Whatever You Say,” “I Love You” and “Love’s the Only House.”
· Martina’s more recent albums include “Timeless,” “Waking Up Laughing” and “Shine.”
· Her more recent singles include “Anyway,” “How I Feel,” “For These Times,” “Ride,” “I Just Call You Mine” and her current hit, “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong,” which crossed over from the country charts and onto Billboard’s Hot 100.
· Martina has teamed up with the “Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline,” working with them on a program called “My Time to Shine” – a reference to her “Shine” album.
· McBride’s summer tour calendar is filled with several fairs and festivals, including a couple of dates on this year’s Lilith Fair tour.
· Martina will be performing September 15th at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. She’ll be joined by Kevin Fowler in an event for the South Texas Academic Rising Scholars organization, which helps raise scholarship money for South Texas students.
· McBride has teamed with Cheerios on a new heart health awareness campaign. Submit an essay about what you love to do and if selected as winner you’ll spend a day in Nashville with Martina. Find out more at www.cheerios.com/Love/DoWhatYouLoveContestRules.aspx.
· Official Web site: www.martinamcbride.com

 

Country News:

 

Wynonna Involved In Head-On Car Crash
Wynonna Judd, her daughter and her tour manager were in a head-on car accident in Salt Lake City last Wednesday. They were on their way to a sushi restaurant to eat dinner when they were in the collision. Wy said, “It’s a miracle that I’m alive.” The next day, Judd told the Lake Tahoe Daily Tahoe Tribune that her doctors didn’t want to let her out of the hospital so that she could perform her show that night. But she insisted, saying she would be fine. She added that she “spent 10 years on a bus with my mother. If I can do that I can do anything!” However, Judd wasn’t released until midnight, after she had a CAT scan. She is determined to stay on her touring schedule and perform July 31st at the Lake Tahoe Music Festival.

Eric Church – Kitty Hero
North Carolina native Eric Church was out for a jog a few weeks ago and found two abandoned cats. Eric took the felines to his house and came up with a creative way to find homes for them. “Hi, I’m Jesse Colter and this is my mama June Carter,” one of the cats “wrote” on the singer’s website. “I’m around four or five months old and June is around a year old. We were dumped out in a subdivision near a lake and left to fend for ourselves in the woods. It’s very dark and scary in the woods all alone but we had each other through thunderstorms, wild coyotes and bobcats. I would have never made it if it wasn’t for my mom hunting for me, nursing me, even when she had no food for herself she always put me first.” A woman in Eric’s home state adopted both cats. Eric will be spending much of the next few months out on the road. His single, “Smoke a Little Smoke,” is steadily climbing the charts.

Dixie Chicks Sing With Steve Martin
The Dixie Chicks have been tapped to sing on actor and musician Steve Martin’s sophomore bluegrass CD. The hicks, who just wrapped up a tour with the Eagles and Keith Urban, are continuing to emerge from their self-imposed break, which began in 2007. “We just take one thing at a time as far as opportunities from the outside,” Emily Robison tells Billboard. “I think we’re excited to start writing again and getting new songs for whatever project they happen to be for. But [the Chicks] had a lot of fun in June playing with the Eagles, so I would dare say that in the next nine months we’ll be doing something, one way or another.”

Underwood’s ‘Some Hearts’ Goes Seven-Times Platinum
While Carrie Underwood is on her honeymoon with new husband Mike Fisher, her debut album, “Some Hearts,” has officially hit the 7-million-sold mark in the U.S. The album produced the hits "Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Wasted” and “Before He Cheats.” “Some Hearts” was released in November 2005. In December 2009, Billboard listed the album as the biggest-selling country album of the decade, and the 14th-best selling album of any genre.

Taylor Swift’s ‘Groom’
Taylor Swift says she hand-picked the groom for her new video, “Mine.” Taylor was struck by British actor Toby Hemingway as she watched his performance in the movie “Feast of Love,” and now she gets to be his bride in the video. She knew she’d found her perfect onscreen groom when she watched another film featuring the 27-year-old, which included her favorite number. She adds, “I was doing some more research and watched another movie he was in called ‘The Covenant.’ I’ve got this crazy 13 lucky thing, and he walks on screen for the first time wearing a sweatshirt with a 13 on it! That was the deciding factor. It wasn’t really up to me, it was about the number.”

 

7/23/2010

 

Artist Of The Day:

 

Gretchen Wilson

 

· Gretchen Wilson stormed onto the scene in 2004 with her debut single, “Redneck Woman.” Her debut album, “Here for the Party,” remained No. 1 for nine consecutive weeks, earning her the award for Best Country Female Vocalist at the Grammy Awards.
· Her second album, “All Jacked Up,” debut at No. 1 and earned her the Top Female Vocalist awards for 2005 from the CMAs and the American Music Awards. The album features her Grammy nominated duet with Merle Haggard, “Politically Uncorrect.”
· Gretchen’s third album, “One of the Boys,” dropped in May 2007. It debuted at No. 1 and houses the hits “Come to Bed” and the title track.
· Wilson’s latest album, “I Got Your Country Right Here,” features 11 tracks, including her latest hit single, “Work Hard, Play Harder.” Gretchen looks forward to a full touring schedule this year.
· Gretchen Wilson serves as a spokesperson for earning GED diplomas in a new public service advertising campaign. Wilson partnered with the Advertising Council and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for the campaign. Wilson dropped out of school after the eighth grade at age 15 and received her GED nearly 20 years later at age 34.
· Gretchen has been nominated for the 2010 Teen Choice Awards Favorite Country Female Artist Award. The show airs August 9th on Fox.
· Official Web site: www.gretchenwilson.com


Gretchen Wilson is wearing her patriotism on her feet. The singer is among the country stars participating in The Boot Campaign's poster series. The Boot Campaign is using the images of celebrities, photographed wearing combat boots, to help raise money and awareness for U.S. troops returning home following a tour of duty in a combat zone. Wilson's poster, which is up for viewing on her website, shows her perched atop a four-wheeler with a guitar, both feet -- clad in combat boots -- clearly visible. The poster also includes The Boot Campaign motto, "When They Come Back...We Give Back." Joe Nichols, Heidi Newfield, and Randy Houser are also participating in the initiative. Money is generated from the sales of combat boots, which are available online at BootCampaign.com, and is going to the USO and the Lone Survivor Foundation. The Boot Campaign began last year as a grassroots effort started by five Texas women. The campaign is launching nationally on Friday.

 

 Country News:

Joe Nichols’ Devoted Fans
Joe Nichols has some devoted and thoughtful fans. When asked by Ladies’ Home Journal for a poignant story about his fans, Nichols says a group of fans got together and bought him a brick in the new Busch stadium. He says his dad was a security guard at Busch stadium in St. Louis when he was a kid and they used to go to Cardinals baseball games together. Joe says he grew up a Cardinal fan and his fans know that. He says when they were building the new Busch stadium the fans bought him a brick and had it inscribed and dedicated to his dad. Nichols says it was a “really cool and a very thoughtful gift.”

Jeff Bridges In Concert
Jeff Bridges, who won an Oscar for playing an alcoholic country singer in “Crazy Heart,” is booked for September 1-2 at the Fallsview Casino Resort on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. He’s expected to do songs from “Crazy Heart” and from his own album called “Be Here Soon.”

Joe Diffie’s Kids Try Out For ‘American Idol’
Joe Diffie’s son and daughter, Parker and Kara Diffie, were among the thousands who auditioned in Nashville for the upcoming season of “American Idol.” Diffie told TheBoot.com his kids are “both are really good singers and good people. It’s pretty gratifying to see their interest in music. I’ve recorded both of them here at the house, and people rave about how good they sound.” The next season of “American Idol” will premiere in January 2011.

Dierks Bentley Expecting Second Baby
Dierks Bentley is expecting a second child with his wife Cassidy Black. Black and Bentley, who are already parents to 21-month-old daughter Evie, are expecting to give her a little brother or sister in December. The couple married in December 2005. Meanwhile, Dierks will treat television audiences to the debut of two new tracks from “Up on the Ridge” on late night TV next week. He will perform the ballad “Fallin’ For You” on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday and “Draw Me A Map” on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Wednesday.

Toby Keith Loading His ‘Bullets’
Toby Keith will release a new album, “Bullets in the Gun,” on October 5th. The album’s lead single is “Trailerhood.” Toby will host his official fan club party in Tinley Park, Illinois, on September 18th. He has also been announced as guest host of “WWE Raw” on the USA Network on October 25th.

Miranda Lambert’s New Video To Premiere On VEVO
After sitting pretty on the country charts with her record breaking four-week No. 1 single, “The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert is releasing her new single, “Only Prettier.” The video for the tongue-in-cheek commentary about mean-girl cattiness will make its world premiere on VEVO August 3rd. The “Only Prettier” video will be available on all media outlets beginning August 5th. The video was shot against a 1950’s rockabilly backdrop at a middle school gymnasium in Joelton, Tennessee. Lambert asked friends Kellie Pickler, Laura Bell Bundy and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott to join her in a mini-movie as two rival cliques of girls attend a high school sock hop. “Only Prettier” is the fourth release from Lambert’s third album, “Revolution.”


Fans Line Up In Milwaukee To Try Out For ‘American Idol’
Ryan Seacrest, Danny Gokey and thousands of their friends showed up in Milwaukee Wednesday for a shot at being the next “American Idol.” Milwaukee is Gokey’s hometown. Contestants sang in groups of four for preliminary judges, who decided who gets to sing for the executive producers. Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres will get to see the talent in a third round in August or September. 
 


 

7/22/2010

 

JERROD IS #1!!!

MOVE OVER LADY A, there's a new #1 in town!!!   After 24 weeks, Lady A's "Need You Now" is no longer on top! Lady A drops to # 2.Newcomer Jerrod Niemann will have the top selling country disc and make the overall top 10 when the Billboard charts are released today. "Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury" sold 34,000 units in its opening week, good for seventh on the top 200 chart. Niemann has the number three country single with "Lover, Lover". Jerrod benefitted from cheap pricing on the release. The disc sold for less than $7 at both Best Buy and Wal-Mart with a list price of $9.99. 

 

Country News:

 

Taylor Swift Planning To Retire To Maine With "A Lot Of Cats"

Taylor Swift is making her retirement plans. While the 20-year-old country star isn't ready just yet to bring her career to a close, she says she knows where she's "gonna end up" -- and that's Maine. She also intends to have many feline friends there with her. Swift recently shot a video for her upcoming single, "Mine," in Portland, and during her webchat Tuesday she said she fell in love with the area, calling it "amazing and gorgeous." The singer added, quote, "When I am old, and I have silver hair -- or white, I don't know which one it'll be, some shade like that -- I wanna live in Maine. I wanna have a house and make necklaces or something. And have a lot of cats."

Swift hosted her webchat to announce her next CD, "Speak Now," which will be released October 25th. "Mine," due August 16th, is the first single from the project. More details on the album as well as a video of the webchat are posted online at Swift's new website SpeakNow13.com.  

 Gretchen Wilson Becomes GED Spokesperson
Gretchen Wilson serves as a spokesperson for earning GED diplomas in a new public service advertising campaign which aims to reach high school dropouts in their mid-20s. Wilson partnered with the Advertising Council and the Dollar General Literacy Foundation for the campaign. Gretchen dropped out of school after the eighth grade at age 15. She received her GED nearly 20 years later at age 34.

Kristofferson, Swift Set For Hall Of Fame Fundraiser
Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson and Taylor Swift will perform on September 23rd in Los Angeles at Club Nokia for a fundraiser for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. The All for the Hall event will follow the “guitar pull” format, where the songwriters share the stage and take turns playing their songs. Seating for 10 is available for $10,000. Seating for five is $5,000. Individual tickets are available for $1,000. A cocktail reception and dinner will precede the guitar pull. Find out more at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

 

7/21/2010

 Artist Of The Day:


Lee Ann Womack

 

· Lee Ann Womack self-titled album was released in 1997.
· Womack earned her biggest hit with the title track from “I Hope You Dance.” The album earned six Academy of Country Music nominations in 2001 and she took home prizes for Single and Song of the Year. The Country Music Association also named her Best Female Vocalist of 2001.
· Lee Ann released her last album, “Call Me Crazy,” in 2008. The first single, “Last Call,” received a Grammy nod for Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
· Womack released “There Is a God” in October 2009 as the lead single to her upcoming seventh studio album, expected for release this summer. Womack has revealed a few of the tracks that she has recorded for the album, including “Talking Behind Your Back” and “You Do Until You Don’t.”
· Lee Ann Womack will be touring with Reba McEntire and George Strait through the fall. August 6-8 she’ll be joined by Mark Chesnutt when she performs as part of a series of twilight concerts benefiting the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.
· Official Web site: www.leeannwomack.com

 

Country News: 


New Taylor Swift Album Due In October!!!!!

 At last count, more than 59,000 viewers logged on as Taylor Swift chatted yesterday about her third album titled "Speak Now". It hits stores Oct. 25.

Taylor wrote all the songs on the collection including the first single "Mine," to be released in August.

She says "Mine" is about "my tendency to run from love".

SOME CHAT HIGHLIGHTS:

Selecting Title for New Album: That pertains to the album as a concept and as an entire theme of the record -- more than I can even tell you. I've been working on it for two years. Ever since we put out Fearless, I've been writing for this record and conceptualizing it and putting it together in my head as to what I wanted it to be. I like to take a lot of time in between albums to work up the next one and to see what it is. ...

For me, I write everything that I live, so you've got to give yourself a little bit of time to live a lot of things so you can write about a lot of things. My only option is to write about what I've been through and what I've lived. Thankfully, in the past two years, I've experienced a lot of things I've been dying to write about and a lot of things I wanted to say, in the moment, that I didn't. You know, in life, you have a lot of situations that pop up, and people that come into your life. Sometimes you don't get to tell them what you wish you'd told them. This album is my opportunity to do that. Track by track, each song is a different confession to a different person.

"Mine," the Album's First Single: It's a song that is about ... my tendency to run from love. It's been sort of a recent tendency. I think it's because that, for me, every really direct example of love that I've had in front of me has ended in goodbye, has ended in breakups. I think I've developed this pattern of sort of running away when it comes time to fall in love and to stay in a relationship. The song is sort of about finding the exception to that and finding someone who would make you believe in love and realize that it could work out. I'm never, ever going to go past hoping that love can work out. I'm always going to be very hopeful and blindly optimistic when it comes to love.

The Video for "Mine": We shot the video in Portland, Maine, which was the most beautiful place I've ever been. It was gorgeous. I loved it. I absolutely fell in love with it. ... I went there and got to spend two or three days just falling in love with it. When I am old and I have silver hair ... I want to live in Maine. I want to have a house and make necklaces or something -- and have a lot of cats. It's a whole fantasy for me.

Her favorite coffee—Starbucks iced caramel or skinny vanilla latte
Her fave summer outfit—sundresses and headbands. “I haven’t varied much from my true and deep love of the summer dress.
She loves mason jars.
She’s very excited about her new place, her first on her own, and she has found many pieces for it in antique stores.
That she’s currently obsessed with cooking and cookbooks, and she has a particular fondness for Japanese food.
She has no plans for acting right now as she is completely absorbed with the upcoming album and the worldwide tour that will follow its release.  READ MORE ON CMT!!

 

Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?’ Country Week
This week wraps up two weeks of country stars trying to prove they’re smarter than elementary school kids. Country week of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” is taping now in Los Angeles. The Trailer Choir, Craig Morgan and Joe Nichols have already taped their segments. Today, Josh Turner and Laura Bell Bundy will get their chance. The show airs on CMT.

Kenny Chesney’s Churchill Downs Concert
This weekend Kenny Chesney will be performing at the inaugural HullabaLOU Music Festival at Churchill Downs. That’s where the Kentucky Derby is run. Chesney is one of three top musical headliners, along with Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews. Gloria will also perform. The producers of the show hope to make the HullabaLOU Music Festival an annual event.

Paisley Brings ‘H2O’ To Chicago
Brad Paisley’ “H2O World Tour” played to a sold-out crowd in Chicago last Friday. With 25,000 folks showing up, it was the second consecutive year that Brad has sold out First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre. Brad joined Josh Thompson on the Waterworld Stage at Saturday night’s show in Moline, Illinois. At that show, Brad surprised Josh and they jammed out Merle Haggard’s “Rambin’ Fever” in front of more than 5,000 folks who’d come early prior to the main event.

Trace Adkins Joins Matthew McConaughey Film
This August, Trace Adkins will begin shooting his role as the leader of a biker gang in the drama, “The Lincoln Lawyer,” starring Matthew McConaughey. The film tells the story of a lawyer who conducts business from the back of his Lincoln Town Car while representing a high-profile client in Beverly Hills. “The Lincoln Lawyer” also stars Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, John Leguizamo and William H. Macy.

New ‘GAC Minute’ With The Band Perry
The Band Perry – siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry – is featured in a new “GAC Minute” that begins airing this week. The “GAC Minute” – a regular feature on the cable network – is expected to run throughout the summer. The sixty-second feature was filmed during the 2010 CMA Music Festival. A camera crew followed the three siblings as they went about their jam-packed day, filming the band as they met with fans, talked to the media, performed live twice – and even managed to find a few quiet moments in which to enjoy a quick lunch. The Band Perry will release their self-titled debut album on October 5th. The album will contain the trio’s current single, “If I Die Young.”

Lady Antebellum Planning First European Concert
Lady Antebellum will perform their first European concert on August 11th at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. “Need You Now” has already been a Top 10 hit in the U.K., while the trio’s current single there is “I Run to You.” In the U.S., their follow-up single to “Need You Now” was “American Honey.”

Martina McBride Reveals Health Conscious Choices
Martina McBride is sharing her strategies to stay trim, slim, healthy and beautiful. In a new Self mini magazine sub-titled “Love Your Lilith,” Martina joins Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Sheryl Crow, and other Lilith Fair performers in sharing personal stories about healthy living.”Having responsibility for another life makes you pay attention!” says Martina in the magazine, which is available at Lilith Fair concerts now or on newsstands beginning August 3rd. “I wanted to put the best things in my body so my babies would get the nutrition they needed.”

Steel Magnolia’s ‘Just Be Being You’ On iTunes
Steel Magnolia’s power ballad, “Just By Being You (Halo & Wings),” is available for purchase at iTunes now. Fans can purchase both the single and the music video, which became a Top 5 most-streamed video at CMT.com after its world premiere on the network. The second single from the duo’s self-titled, debut album, available September 21st, is already a Top 40 hit at Country Radio. “Just By Being You (Halo & Wings),” is the follow-up to the Top 5 “Keep On Lovin’ You,” which was featured in the hit film “Valentine’s Day.”

 

7/20/2010

 

Artist Of The Day:


Darius Rucker

 

• Darius Rucker is the co-founder, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & the Blowfish. Along with his work in Hootie, Rucker recorded one studio album, “Back to Then,” in 2002. Rucker also portrayed a singing cowboy in a TV commercial for Burger King in 2005.
• One of Rucker’s first appearances in country music was on Radney Foster’s 1998 album, “See What You Want to See.” He sang backing vocals on the track “Raining on Sunday,” which was a Top 5 hit in 2003 for Keith Urban.
• Rucker decided to go country full time and signed to Capitol Records Nashville in 2008. His first country solo album was “Learn to Live.” The album and its first three singles – “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” and “Alright” – all hit No. 1 on the country charts, followed by the No. 3 hit, “History in the Making.” The album has been certified platinum.
• Rucker is the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year. He was also nominated for CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year in 2009, making him the first male artist to be nominated for both awards in the same year since Brad Paisley in 2000. He also became the second African-American to win a major individual CMA. The first was Charley Pride, who won Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist in 1971 and Male Vocalist in 1972.
• Darius Rucker will release his new album, “Charleston, SC 1966,” on October 12th. The title is a reference to his hometown and the year of his birth, and also pays tribute to Radney Foster’s first solo album, “Del Rio, TX 1959,” which noted Foster’s birthplace and birth year. The first single is “Come Back Song.”
• Darius is currently on Brad Paisley’s “H2O World” tour
• Official Web site: www.dariusrucker.com 
 

Country News:



Keith Urban Records With The Wiggles
Keith Urban is cutting a song with Australian band The Wiggles. The Wiggles are huge with the pre-school set, with characters like Captain Feathersword and Dorothy the Dinosaur and well on their way to selling more than 17 million DVDs. Among the band’s fans is Keith and Nicole Kidman’s daughter, Sunday Rose. Keith said he’s cutting the Roger Miller song “England Swings” with The Wiggles for an upcoming album.

Rimes Back On Twitter
LeAnn Rimes is back on Twitter only about a week after declaring she was “taking a break from twitter for a while.” LeAnn posted July 7th that it was unhealthy for her and her family to have to “read negative comments from people whose opinions have no bearing on my life.” LeAnn had been getting some negative reaction to her posts about her relationship with Eddie Cibrian, who she reportedly started dating while the two were married to others. Her Twitter silence lasted exactly seven days. “Hi twitter land! Missing u all and thought I’d just say hello!” she posted July 14th. “I have so many darling fans and want you all to know how much u r appreciated.” Since her Twitter return, LeAnn has thanked concertgoers, posted some pictures, gushed about friends, tequila and the California sun and noted that “The phoenix airport smells like dirty mop water. Yuck!”

Jimmy Wayne Celebration Planned For His Walk Into Phoenix
Jimmy Wayne is feeling the heat as he closes in on Phoenix. In a video shot and posted on Friday, Wayne says when he was walking east of Phoenix, it was 117 degrees. So he’s asking forgiveness in advance by saying if he doesn’t tweet as much as he usually does as he’s walking toward Phoenix – it’s going to be because he’s “about half dead.” Jimmy Wayne uses Twitter to update fans daily. Wayne’s walk from Nashville to Phoenix will end July 31st with celebrations in Phoenix on that day and August 1st. Wayne is walking to raise awareness about older kids who age-out of the foster care system and could become homeless.

Darius Rucker Over-Writes
Darius Rucker wrote 77 songs for his new album. Obviously, most didn’t make the cut for “Charleston, SC 1966,” Rucker’s follow up to his country breakthrough, “Learning to Live.” The new album will be out October 12th and will include 12 new songs, not 77. Rucker says it was no problem coming up with a final track list. He says he and his team “just listened to them and saw what was rising to the top.”

Reba Still Excited To Hear Her Songs On The Radio
Reba’s latest single “Turn On The Radio” is Billboard’s Hot Shot Debut song, commemorating 30 consecutive years of hits on the radio. And Reba is still excited to hear her work on the radio. “I really do get excited every time I hear my songs on the radio. It’s a form of acceptance for me. Someone still wants to hear me sing. It’s a great feeling and I never take it for granted.” “Turn On The Radio” will be available for sale at iTunes and all digital retailers on August 3rd. Reba will release her new album on November 9th.

Jaron To Perform On ‘The Tonight Show’
Jaron of Jaron And The Long Road To Love will perform his hit single “Pray For You” on July 27th on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Jaron’s single is quickly becoming a worldwide phenomenon – in addition to being a runaway hit in Canada, the track just cracked the top 15 in Australia!

Nichols Goes Digital Gold
Joe Nichols’ multi week No. 1 hit single “Gimmie That Girl” has been certified gold by the RIAA, selling more than 500,000 digital downloads. Eight weeks ago, Nichol’s single topped the charts for the third consecutive week, making it the first multi-week No. 1 single for 2010 and Nichols only the sixth artist since 2008 to achieve such a goal on the Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts. The song remains the top recurrent single this week. The follow-up single, “The Shape I’m In,” is out now. The song is also included on Nichols’ “Old Things New” CD.

 

 7/17/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Jason Aldean

 

· Jason Aldean was 14 when he started performing. At 15, he joined the house band at the Macon nightspot Nashville South. Aldean recorded an eight-song album in Nashville in 1996 to sell at his shows.
· He was signed as a songwriter to Warner-Chappell publishing company and moved to Music City when he was 21. A month later he was offered a record deal. When that didn’t pan out, he signed with another label. The second label dropped him in 2000. Aldean was signed to Broken Bow Records in 2004. His self-titled debut album is certified platinum and he hit the Top 10 with “Hicktown” and “Amarillo Sky.” “Why” went to No. 1.
· Jason earned the ACM’s 2006 Top New Male Vocalist award.
· Aldean’s second album, “Relentless,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Albums Chart. “Johnny Cash,” the first single from the album, reached No. 6; “Laughed Until We Cried” reached the Top 5.
· Jason Aldean’s latest CD is “Wide Open.” The album was certified gold after just 10 weeks and has produced three No.1 hits: “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor” and “The Truth.” “Crazy Town” is the album’s fourth single. He released “Wide Open Live & More,” his sold-out live concert DVD from a March show in Knoxville, Tennessee, in August 2009.
· Jason Aldean will extend his “Wide Open” arena tour into the fall with the addition of 25 dates beginning September 10th in Corbin, Kentucky. Luke Bryan will once again join Jason on the road on a majority of the dates. Uncle Kracker will also appear on select dates. Throughout the first leg of the “Wide Open” tour, Jason sold out 39 of the shows and broke attendance records coast-to-coast.
· Jason's latest single, “Crazy Town,” is working its way to the top spot on the country singles chart.
· Official Web site: www.jasonaldean.com

Country News

Hank Williams Jr. Adds More ‘Rowdy Friends’
Hank Williams Jr. is extending his “Rowdy Friends” tour with the addition of several musical acts. Joining Williams will be Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Colt Ford, Gretchen Wilson, Lee Brice, Josh Thompson, Sunny Sweeney and The Grascals. The “Rowdy Friends” tour is currently scheduled to begin in Evansville, Indiana, on September 17th and will conclude in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 23rd.

Cracker Barrel And Craig Morgan Say ‘That’s Why’
Cracker Barrel is gearing up for its next musical release: Craig Morgan’s “That’s Why – Collector’s Edition.” The CD features 13 songs, including “Bonfire” and “This Ain’t Nothin,” as well as two previously unreleased songs – “You” and “Evel Knievel.” To celebrate the release, Cracker Barrel is holding a contest that includes everything from a four-day trip to Washington D.C., to having lunch with Craig on September 25th at an area Cracker Barrel. Find out more at www.crackerbarrel.com.

Lee Brice Makes History With ‘Love Like Crazy’
Lee Brice made history when the Garth Brooks hit “More Than a Memory” – a song Lee co-wrote – became the first single to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Now Brice’s current single, “Love Like Crazy,” has the distinction of making the slowest climb into the top 10, taking 46 weeks. Lee laughs, “Hey, I’ll take it any way I can get it. If it goes No. 1, then I’ll have the fastest-rising No. 1 and the slowest-rising No. 1. That would be something I can hang my hat on.” “Love Like Crazy” is the title track to Brice’s Curb debut album. The third single from the set, “Love,” scores the fourth-longest chart run in the 66-year history of Hot Country Songs, surpassed by Eddie Arnold’s 1948 hit “Bouquet of Roses” (54 weeks on the chart), Bobby Helms’ 1957 hit “Fraulein” (52 weeks), and Gary Allan’s “Right Where I Need to Be” (48 weeks in 2001).

Darius Rucker Schedules New Album
Darius Rucker will release his new album, “Charleston, SC 1966,” on October 12th. Rucker co-produced the 12-song album with Frank Rogers. The title reflects singer-songwriter Radney Foster’s 1992 country album, “Del Rio, TX, 1959,” which noted Foster’s birthplace and birth year. Rucker said Foster’s album showed him the possibilities of country music. Rucker released his first country album for Capitol Nashville, “Learning to Live,” in 2008.



 7/16/2010

 

New photos of Miss Carrie on her Honeymoon!!!!!

 Check them out on

Radaronline.com

 

Artist Of The Day:


Taylor Swift



· Taylor Swift was only 10 when she began performing. She performed the national anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers NBA game when she was just 11 and started writing songs at 12.
· Swift released her debut single, “Tim McGraw,” in 2006, followed by a self-titled album that topped the charts for four weeks. The album produced five hits with “Our Song,” “Teardrops On My Guitar” “Tim McGraw,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No.” It ended up spending 157 weeks on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart! She’s the first female artist in country music history to take writing credit on every song of a platinum-selling debut.
· In 2007, Taylor was named breakthrough artist at the CMT Music Awards, and she won the CMA Horizon Award. She also nabbed her first BMI award for “Tim McGraw.”
· Swift’s album “Fearless” was released in November 2008. She ended up as the biggest-selling artist of 2008 with combined sales of more than four million albums. Her “Fearless” album and her self-titled album finished 2008 at No. 3 and No. 6, respectively.
· “Fearless” spent 11 weeks at the top of the charts, the 10th longest-running No. 1 album in the history of the Billboard 200 chart and the most weeks at the top ever for a female country artist. The album’s hit singles included “Love Story,” “White Horse” and “Fearless.” The album charted 7 songs in its debut week alone, tying Swift with Hannah Montana for the most songs by a female artist to make the charts in a single week.
· In 2009, Swift became the first country artist to ever win an MTV Video Music Award. She won for Best Female Video for “You Belong with Me,” although rapper Kanye West famously ruined her acceptance speech and turned himself into a certified butthead.
· At 2009’s CMA Awards, Swift took home Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist, Album of the Year for “Fearless,” and Music Video for “Love Story.”
· At the 2010 52nd Grammy Awards, Swift won Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for “White Horse” Album of the Year and Best Country Album for “Fearless.”
· In February 2010, Swift was awarded Most Digital Song Certifications – Female Solo Artist by RIAA for 25 songs achieving gold or multi-platinum status.
· Swift released the track “Today Was a Fairytale” as a digital download on iTunes in January. The song was featured on the soundtrack for the film “Valentine’s Day,” in which she made her feature-film acting debut.
· The official Taylor Swift iPhone app features Facebook and Twitter connectivity and is available at http://app.mobileroadie.com/taylor-swift.
· Taylor Swift has the third biggest grossing tour in North America for the first 6 months of 2010, according to Pollstar, behind Bon Jovi and James Taylor/Carole King.
· Swift is currently recording songs for her third album, due out in late 2010. She just launched a summer line of 14 new cards, expanding her American Greetings card line.
· Official Web site: www.taylorswift.com

 

Taylor Swift has scheduled a live web chat with her fans on Tuesday at 4pm!! She will be in Nashville answering fan questions and talking to her fans about her upcoming third album. The chat will be available on her official website, her MySpace and Facebook pages and Ustream.tv/taylorswift. Fans can submit questions directly into the live Ustream chat window on all viewing sites.

 

Country News:

 


‘American Idol Auditions Begin
The search begins this week for the next “American Idol.” The first auditions for season 10 start tomorrow in Nashville. You need wristbands to get inside the venue, Bridgestone Arena. Auditions are being held in six cities, starting with Nashville tomorrow, and then moving to Milwaukee on Wednesday, New Orleans on July 26th; East Rutherford, New Jersey, on August 3rd; Austin, Texas on August 11th, and San Francisco on August 19th. This year, the age range is 15 through 28.


Carrie Underwood Headed To The Opry
When Carrie Underwood comes back from her honeymoon, her first concert will be for the Grand Ole Opry. She’s performing July 27th at the Opry’s temporary home, the Ryman Auditorium. Then she heads to New York City for a concert July 30th on NBC’s “Today.” The next day, Underwood is in Fairlea, West Virginia, for a concert with Brad Paisley at the private Greenbrier Classic.

Little Big Town’s Charity Ride Raises $55,000
Little Big Town’s charity motorcycle ride and concert featuring Luke Bryan, Randy Houser, Josh Thompson and The Band Perry raised more than $55,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation last Sunday. The Ride for a Cure event began at the Tin Roof in Nashville and concluded at the Harley-Davidson Superstore in Columbia, Tennessee, and also featured morning sets by new artists Brett Eldridge, Randy Montana and Cali Rodi.


Taylor Swift Becomes Calendar Girl
Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert are featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum official calendar for 2011. The calendar also features portraits of Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland and Keith Urban. The wall calendar also includes dozens of archival photos from the museum’s collection and country music facts for every day of the year. The calendar sells for $13.99 and is available at the museum and retail outlets nationwide.

 

7/15/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Zac Brown Band



· Zac Brown performed as a solo artist for years before founding the Zac Brown Band in Atlanta in 2004. The group’s initial members also included John Hopkins and Jimmy De Martini, with Coy Bowles and Chris Fryar joining later.
· The Zac Brown Band self-released their debut album, “Home Grown,” in December 2005. “Live from the Rock Bus Tour” followed in January 2007.
· The band signed to Live Nation Records in 2008. Their first single, “Chicken Fried,” was a chart-topping hit, making them the first country band to reach No. 1 with a debut single since Heartland in 2006 with “I Loved Her First.
· Atlantic Records took over distribution of “Chicken Fried” and released the album “The Foundation” in November 2008. Their second single, “Whatever It Is,” hit No. 2, while a third single, “Toes,” peaked at No. 1. The album also includes “Highway 20 Ride.”
· In January 2010, the group took home the award for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards. The band was also nominated for, but did not win, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “Chicken Fried” and Best Country Album for “The Foundation.”
· The Sailing Southern Ground cruise will be hosted by the band in September. Find out more at www.sailingsouthernground.com.
· In May, the band released, “Pass the Jar,” a DVD and two-CD set recorded live in Atlanta.
· The Zac Brown Band is working with a Ram Trucks for a national campaign aimed at sending 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed throughout the world. Participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier will receive a special compilation CD, “Breaking Southern Ground,” featuring three new songs. A live version of the band’s single “Free” is available for download on www.ramtrucks.com.
· Zac Brown Band will release “You Get What You Give,” on September 21st. The album features songs that the band has been testing on the road over the past year, including “Colder Weather,” “Who Knows” and “As She’s Walking Away.”
· Zac Brown Band is touring throughout the summer and joining Dave Matthews Band on several dates.
· Official Web site: http://zacbrownband.com

 

CARRIE'S WEDDING!!!!!!!

Click Here!!



  

7/14/2010

Today's YouTube Videos

with Scott and Brenda....

 

 

Get ready y'all ...it's DOUBLE RAINBOW!!!

 

the DOUBLE RAINBOW Remix....

 

 

VOTE FOR LUKE BRYAN at the TEEN CHOICE AWARDS!!!

 

DIRT!

Radaronline.com has pix of Miss Carrie and Her new hubby on their HONEYMOON!!!

 

CLICK HERE!!

Who is this famous COUNTRY STAR ???

CLICK HERE!!!

 

 

7/13/2010

 

 Artist Of The Day:

Joe Nichols



· Joe Nichols released his self-titled debut in 1996. The single “Six of One, Half a Dozen (Of the Other)” was a minor hit. He burst onto the scene in 2002 with his Grammy-nominated debut, “Man with a Memory,” and enjoyed instant stardom with his two back to back No. 1 hits: “The Impossible” and “Brokenheartsville.” He earned the CMA Horizon Award and the ACM Best New Male Vocalist Award in 2003.
· Nichols “III” marked his second gold CD. The lead single, “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” topped the Country Singles Chart and was named one of Rolling Stone Magazine’s Top 10 Country Singles of 2005. The album also holds the Top 10 hits “Size Matters (Someday)” and “I’ll Wait For You.”
· Joe’s 2007 CD, “Real Things,” holds “Another Side of You” and “It Ain’t No Crime.”
· Nichols has released his new single, “The Shape I’m In,” as a follow-up to his No. 1 “Gimmie That Girl.” Both songs were written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, aka the Peach Pickers. The singles come from Nichols’ latest album, “Old Things New.”
· Official Web site: www.joenichols.com 
 

 Today's Cool YouTube Videos!

 

Brad Paisley's #1 Fan!!!

 

 

 

Lenny Kravitz Surprises A Youth Choir in New Orleans!!

 

Country News

 

Jaron Set To Join Toby Keith’s Tour
On the heels of his new album, “Getting Dressed In The Dark,” becoming the highest-charting debut album from a new act this year on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, Jaron of Jaron And The Long Road To Love is now hitting the road with Toby Keith on Toby’s “American Ride Tour.”

Jack Ingram Charters Private Jet To Get To Concert
Jack Ingram’s 4th of July weekend performance in Aberdeen, South Dakota, almost didn’t happen due to Hurricane Alex. Jack was on a delayed flight connecting through Houston on July 2nd. Because of impending weather issues, flights were grounded and all flights later in the day were oversold. So Jack made some calls and found a private jet. But the plane was an hour away. Jack said he “ran down to the rental car counter (and) jumped into whatever car they had on-hand.” He said it was “insane all the way there. Water was rising on the streets and the road that led me to the charter jet had water knee high. I was hoping that the engine wasn’t going to give out on me as I drove through the water. Luckily, I made it to the small plane, boarded as the lone passenger, asked them to take off immediately, and arrived in sunny South Dakota in just enough time to hit the stage.”

Big Kenny’s Africa Single
Big Kenny is celebrating the first-ever World Cup in Africa by co-writing a new song called “Heart Of Africa.” He debuted the song at a special concert Sunday in Kenya to raise money for the World Food Program of the United Nations. A studio version of “Heart of Africa” was up on www.BigKenny.tv after the concert. While in Kenya, Big Kenny wanted to see the UN World Food Program in action in the classroom, so he helped feed the kids at one of the schools.

Justin Moore’s New Video Shows How He ‘Got To Be This Way’
Justin Moore’s latest single, “How I Got To Be This Way,” is a self-penned autobiographical song, so when it came time to filming the music video, Justin chose to provide insight for fans showing how he got to be who he is through childhood photos placed throughout the video. “There are some performance clips in it, of me performing in this old shed. And then we also put in some performance clips of me and my band at different shows we’ve performed over the past year. And then we have some pictures of when I was a kid doing some of the stuff I sing about in this song.”

Brad Paisley’s Lake Concert Draws Record Crowd
Brad Paisley’s appearance Saturday at the AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event near Austin, Texas, attracted more than 65,000 fans and 7,000 boats. The concert at The Reserve at Lake Travis was accessible only by boat, although some fans got closer to the stage with flotation devices. The stage included a floating 100-foot extension that allowed Paisley to walk among the fans. Attendance was around twice as large as last year’s estimate. The show also featured Jerrod Niemann and Lee Brice.

Jamey Johnson Joins CMA Songwriter Series In NYC
Jamey Johnson will participate in the CMA Songwriter Series at Joe’s Pub in New York City on September 8th. In addition to co-writing “In Color,” which won the CMA Award for Song of the Year, Johnson’s credits include Trace Adkins’ “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and George Strait’s “Give It Away.” Johnson will release a new album, “The Guitar Song,” on September 14th.

Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan Extend ‘Wide Open Tour’
Jason Aldean has extended his “Wide Open” tour with Luke Bryan into the fall with 25 additional dates. The tour begins September 10th in Corbin, Kentucky, and will conclude November 20th in Duluth, Georgia. Uncle Kracker will perform in Bryan’s place on four of the dates. Aldean is currently in the studio working on a new album.

Opry Launches Trivia Challenge To Raise Money For Flood Relief
Country music fans can now answer trivia in the Grand Ole Opry’s new online Country Music Video Challenge to benefit flood relief. The Challenge is at www.opry.com. The Country Music Video Challenge features video clips of country music performances followed by questions about those clips and the artists featured in them. Throughout the Challenge, players are invited by country stars to donate to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s flood relief efforts. Opry Presenting sponsor Humana has also pledged to donate $1 for each of the first 25,000 fans who play the game. Fans will also be entered to win prizes, including a Gibson guitar autographed by Brad Paisley, $500 cash and a trip to Nashville including VIP tickets to the Opry.

Steel Magnolia’s Debut Album To Be Released In September
Steel Magnolia will release their self-titled debut album on September 21st. The album includes Steel Magnolia’s smash hit, “Keep On Lovin’ You,” as well as their new single, “Just By Being You (Halos and Wings).”

Luke Bryan Celebrates Back-To-Back No. 1 Singles
Luke Bryan is celebrating his second consecutive No. 1 single with “Rain Is A Good Thing” hitting the top of both the Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck singles charts. This comes on the heels of his No. 1 gold-certified smash “Do I.” Both songs are from his current album, “Doin’ My Thing.” Bryan continues a heavy tour schedule this summer and will hit the road again this fall with Jason Aldean for his successful “Wide Open” arena tour.

Taylor Swift’s Wedding
Taylor Swift got married in Maine last week for an upcoming video for an unknown song off her yet-to-be-released album. Representatives of Swift and even Swift’s mom declined to comment on what song the video was for. The video shoot took place in Kennebunk, Maine. The marriage took place at Christ Church in Kennebunk. For the on-screen marriage, Taylor went with a less traditional cream-colored wedding dress. Swift’s wedding comprised of guests who blew bubbles at her and her mysterious on-screen boyfriend.

 

7/12/2010 

RYAN SEACREST AND JULIANNE HOUGH 

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 Artist Of The Day:


Restless Heart

 



• Restless Heart formed in 1984 with John Dittrich, Dave Innis, Paul Gregg and Greg Jennings. They were joined by Verlon Thompson to record a demo. After signing with RCA in 1983, Thompson was replaced by lead singer Larry Stewart.
• Restless Heart’s self-titled debut album, released in 1985, included only eight songs including “Let the Heartache Ride,” “I Want Everyone to Cry,” “(Back to the) Heartbreak Kid” and “Til I Loved You.” The latter three were all top 10 country hits.
• The 1986 follow-up, “Wheels,” was their real breakthrough, topping the charts and producing four No. 1 hits: “That Rock Won’t Roll,” “I’ll Still Be Loving You,” “Why Does It Have to Be (Wrong or Right),” and “Wheels.” “Big Dreams in a Small Town” in 1988 gave them six consecutive chart-toppers with its first two singles, “A Tender Lie” and “The Bluest Eyes in Texas.”
• Stewart left the group for a solo career in 1990. He later scored a hit with “Alright Already.” Meanwhile, Gregg and Dittrich split lead vocal duties on 1992’s “Big Iron Horses.” Innis left the band in 1992.
• After 1994’s “Matters of the Heart” they disbanded. Jennings joined Vince Gill’s band, while Dittrich worked with the Buffalo Club. Restless Heart reunited in 1998 – minus Innis – with four new tracks appearing on a “Greatest Hits” compilation. They toured behind the album with Vince Gill.
• In 2004, Restless Heart released “Still Restless,” their first album of all-new studio material in 14 years. The band released a live album, “25 and Live,” in 2007.
• The original members of Restless Heart have reunited and are headed back on the road. Larry Stewart, John Dittrich, Paul Gregg, Dave Innis and Greg Jennings kicked off their concert tour on July 3rd in Albertville, Alabama, and will be on the road through December.
• Official website: www.restlessheartband.com 

 

Country News:
 
Update: Carrie Underwood, Mike Fisher Wed
As we reported on Friday, Carrie Underwood and Canadian hockey player Mike Fisher tied the knot Saturday afternoon under a tent on the grounds of the Ritz-Carlton, Reynolds Plantation, an upscale resort near the Oconee National Forest in Greensboro, Georgia. Underwood and Fisher were married in front of 250 friends and family. The ceremony included their favorite Bible readings and classical music. Guests were not told their destination until they boarded flights to Georgia, and the entire resort was booked for the wedding. Some reports estimate the total cost of the wedding at $500,000. Underwood and Fisher, a center for the Ottawa Senators, said they planned to reside in Nashville and Peterborough, Ontario.
 
Taylor Swift Releases New American Greetings Cards
Taylor Swift has 14 new greeting cards out in stores right now, which were all written and inspired by her. The whole line of new cards can be viewed on the American Greetings Facebook page. “We had so much fun with the summer collection,” said Maureen Meidenbauer, Swift’s brand manager at American Greetings. “It is also great for us to see Taylor get excited about the products.”
 
Band Perry Sets October For CD Debut
The Band Perry – siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry – will release their first album on October 5th, a follow-up to their recently released EP. The self-titled album will contain the trio’s current single, “If I Die Young.” This summer, the band is putting the finishing touches on their debut while also touring, opening for such artists as Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band.
 
Rosanne Cash Gets ‘Composed’
Rosanne Cash’s new memoir, “Composed,” will be out August 18th. The book is full of personal recollections and anecdotes and comes on the heels of last year’s CD “The List.”
 
Craig Morgan Charity Ride Set For Next Month
The Craig Morgan Charity Ride is set for next month. The two-day event August 7th and 8th takes place in Craig’s hometown of Dickson, Tennessee. Proceeds benefit the Craig Morgan Charity Fund. Saturday’s ride is a dirt-biking event that begins in Van Leer, Tennessee, where everyone can ride with professional Motocross riders and Barry Hawk. Sunday’s events feature an acoustic concert with Craig and his special guest, Aaron Tippin.
 
Merle Haggard Tribute Show To Air On PBS
PBS’ “Merle Haggard: Learning to Live with Myself, American Masters,” premiers July 21st. The documentary traces Merle’s life story from his delinquent ways as a teenager to time spent in San Quentin Prison through his success as one of country music’s most respected singer/songwriters and entertainers. There are some great clips of a young Merle before music became his life, as well as footage of him singing some of his best-known songs, including “Okie From Muskogee” and “Workin’ Man Blues.”
 
A New Resident On Emerson Drive
Emerson Drive’s David Pichette has confirmed that his wife Jill is pregnant with their second daughter, due in October. The new addition will join big sister, 19-month-old Emma.


 

 

 

7/9/2010

 

JERROD NIEMANN

Jerrod Niemann is not a typical country artist, and the audacious, groundbreaking Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury is a far cry from a typical country album. With the first track, which is a humorously hyperbolic movie trailer, and the attention-grabbing lyrics of the opening song, “They Should Have Named You Cocaine,” listeners quickly realize they’re in for an extraordinary ride.

Niemann’s debut for Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville includes up-tempo cuts, heartache balladry, wicked wordplay and a couple of cool covers, all woven together with short comedic interludes. The 20 tracks constitute a progressive, album-length voyage into utterly unique territory in the country music landscape.

The lead single, “Lover, Lover,” is a groove-oriented, handclap-fueled Top 15 smash that features nine vocal parts, all recorded by Niemann himself.

“My original plan was to just sing the lead vocal part,” Niemann explains. “I was going to get Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Chris Young and a bunch of my friends to each sing a part. But I didn’t have a record deal, and I realized that getting permission for all of them would have been torturous, so my co-producer, Dave Brainard, suggested that I try singing all the parts. I sang eight out of nine parts the first night. The only part I didn’t have was that low bass part. I just couldn’t hit those notes. So Dave and I went down to the Tin Roof in Nashville, and in the name of country music, we properly medicated the vocal cords. When I woke up the next morning, I sounded like a mix between Richard Sterban from the Oak Ridge Boys and that cartoon Grape Ape.”

Listeners might get the catchy chorus of “Lover, Lover” permanently stuck in their heads — which is exactly what happened to Niemann when he heard the original version of the song, written by Dan Pritzker of the rock band Sonia Dada, and titled “You Don’t Treat Me No Good.”

“When I first heard that song, I was in a community swimming pool in Liberal, Kansas, in 1993,” Niemann recalls. I’ve always loved that song, and I associate it with my childhood. I took it into the studio, played it for Dave [Brainard], and literally five minutes later we were recording it, just on a whim.”  READ MORE...
 

7/8/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Bucky Covington



• William Joel “Bucky” Covington III first came to fame when he came in 8th on Season Five of “American Idol.” He signed with Lyric Street Records in December 2006 and released the single “A Different World” the following month.
• Covington’s self-titled debut album, produced by Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, debuted at No. 1 in 2007 and sold 61,000 copies its first week. It was the biggest debut from a new country artist and the best first-week sales for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. “A Different World” was a Top 5 hit and his second and third singles, “It’s Good To Be Us” and “I’ll Walk,” respectively, made the Top 10. The track “Empty Handed” appeared in “NASCAR 08” as part of the in-game soundtrack.
• Bucky’s latest single, “A Father’s Love (The Only Way He Knew How),” is sitting at No. 25 on the country singles charts. It is from his new EP, “I’m Alright.” The lead single, “I Want My Life Back,” peaked at No. 32. A cover version of Nickelback’s hit “Gotta Be Somebody” was released last October. The release date for the full album for “I’m Alright” has yet to be determined.
• In April 2010, it was announced Lyric Street Records would be closing, but Covington would be transferred to another label owned by Disney Music Group.
• Official Web site: http://buckycovington.musiccitynetworks.com 

 

MUSIC NEWS

 

 Faith Hill Ready For Sunday Night Football
Faith Hill is back as the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football, performing the opening theme song “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night” for the fourth year in a row. Hill recently shot a video for the theme, co-starring several of today’s hottest football stars, including the Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher, the Philadelphia Eagles’ DeSean Jackson, the Minnesota Vikings’ Adrian Peterson and Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney. Some of the other players included in the video are Peyton Manning and his brother Eli, Tony Romo, Drew Brees and Ray Lewis.

Kenny Chesney To Present On ESPY Awards
Kenny Chesney will serve as a presenter on the 18th annual ESPY Awards, which will broadcast live on ESPN on July 14th. Chesney will also appear on a special pre-show edition of “Mike & Mike.” Other presenters include racecar driver Danica Patrick and skateboarder/snowboarder Shaun White, as well as Emmanuelle Chriqui, Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue cover model Brooklyn Decker, Zac Efron, Will Ferrell, Ashley Greene, Samuel L. Jackson, Tracy Morgan and ESPN personalities Chris Berman and Stuart Scott. “Saturday Night Live’s” Seth Meyers will host the ceremony. Chesney is in the final stages of co-producing and co-directing “The Boys of Fall,” a 90-minute documentary about high school football and its impact on the players’ lives. He will release a new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” on September 28th. Chesney will also be featured with the Steve Miller Band on a new episode of “CMT Crossroads,” premiering Friday.

Judds Announce Tour Ticket Details
Tickets to select dates for the Judds’ “Last Encore” tour go on sale July 16th. Along with the standard tickets, premium ticket packages will be offered on The Judds website. The “fan package” includes seating in rows six through 10, early access into the concert venue, a pre-show reception with hors d’oeuvres and an exclusive T-shirt. The packages will be sold for $150-$350, depending on the market. The VIP offer includes all elements of the fan package plus seating in the first five rows and a post show meet-n-greet with Wynonna and Naomi Judd. The tour begins November 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and concludes December 19th in Phoenix.

Shelton Announces Six Pack Songs
Blake Shelton has announced the tracks that will be included on his second six pack, “All About Tonight,” due out August 10th. The title track is the new single and is currently at No. 11 on the country charts. In addition to the title track, other songs include: “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” “That Thing We Do,” “Draggin’ The River” (featuring Miranda Lambert), “Suffocating” and “Got A Little Country.”

Willie Nelson Talks About Kissing Charley Pride
Willie Nelson has lived through some wild days throughout his illustrious career, including a time when many business execs were prejudiced not only against skin color but also against long-haired hippies or anyone who was different. Willie recalls watching his buddy Charley Pride struggle to get bookings back then, even going to some pretty extreme measures at one point to support his friend when a stubborn club owner balked at letting Charley sing. “Charley’s been treated unfairly. They didn’t want him to sing there,” Willie tells Parade magazine. “The owner of the club, who’s a real good friend of mine, was a solid redneck, and he didn’t want him there. So I kissed Charley on the mouth. I was just trying to ease the tensions a little bit.”

 

7/7/2010

 

 Artist Of The Day:


Kellie Pickler

 



• Kellie Pickler finished sixth on Season 5 of “American Idol.” Her debut Top 20 single, “Red High Heels,” was released on September 25, 2006. Her chart-topping debut album, “Small Town Girl,” followed in October. The album also holds the Top 20 hits “I Wonder” and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.”
• Her second album, a self-titled effort, was released in September and debuted at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album features “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” and “Best Days of Your Life,” which she co-wrote with Taylor Swift. The song has become her first Top 10 and her most successful hit to date. Kellie’s latest tune is “Makin’ Me Fall in Love Again.”
• Pickler, who recently announced her engagement to songwriter Kyle Jacobs, is currently working on a new album and opening shows on Rascal Flatts’ tour. She is also plotting her fourth USO tour.
• Official website: www.kelliepickler.com

 

7/06/2010

Artist Of The Day:

Billy Ray Cyrus



• Billy Ray Cyrus was singing with his father’s gospel quartet and his mother’s bluegrass group before he started school. He was 19 when he began playing guitar and performing locally with his Sly Dog band, named after his one-eyed pet bulldog.
• Cyrus was opening for Reba McEntire in 1990 when Mercury talent scouts discovered him in Louisville. Two years later he hit it big with the chart-topping “Achy Breaky Heart.”
• Billy Ray’s had several Top 5 singles, including “Could’ve Been Me,” “In the Heart of a Woman” and “Busy Man.”
• From 2001 to 2004, Cyrus starred in the television series “Doc.” In late 2005 he began appearing in the Disney Channel series “Hannah Montana” with daughter Miley.
• Billy Ray released “Wanna Be Your Joe” in 2006. It features several special guests, including George Jones and Loretta Lynn on “Country Music Has The Blues” and daughter Miley on “Stand.”
• Cyrus released his 10th studio album, “Home at Last,” in 2007. The album debuted at No. 20. “Ready, Set Don’t Go,” a duet with Miley, was a cross-over hit.
• Billy Ray released his latest album, “Back to Tennessee,” in April 2009. The first single, “Somebody Said A Prayer,” hit the Top 40 on the Hot Country Songs chart in 2008. The title track and “A Good Day” followed as the second and third singles, reaching No. 47 and No. 59, respectively. Also on the album is “Butterfly Fly Away,” a duet with Miley. Cyrus and Lyric Street Records parted ways shortly after the debut of “A Good Day.”
• Billy Ray has formed a rock band. Brother Clyde is a L.A. based combo with Billy Ray, Samantha Maloney and Jamie Miller. Their self-titled debut album is due out August 10th, with the first single, “Lately,” now at iTunes.
• Official Web site: www.billyraycyrus.com

 

 

MUSIC NEWS

 

 

Dolly Defends Miley
There’s been a lot of criticism recently over Miley Cyrus and her skimpy outfits. When asked about Miley in a recent interview, Dolly Parton defended the young singer. “If you think I’m going to sit here and pass judgment on Miley, you’re wrong,” Parton told “Access Hollywood” when asked about Cyrus’ outfits. “I think she’s beautiful. I love her. She’s trying to grow up, you know. I remember when I was horny and young.”

Trace Adkins, Richard Petty Face Off
Richard Petty and Trace Adkins are going head-to-head in a new campaign for BC Powder and Goody’s Headache Powder. The two icons have started a humorous “rivalry” of one-upmanship about who experiences the toughest pain. Both Adkins and Petty will try to get their fans to pick their team online at www.pickapowder.com to support either Team Richard for Goody’s or Team Trace for BC. The man who gets the most fans to join his team will get to see the other “perform” live at the Goody’s 500 in Martinsville, Virginia, next spring. The campaign will also make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of Adkins and BC, and Victory Junction Camp for seriously ill children on behalf of Petty and Goody’s. Fans can vote daily through September 30th and will also be able to participate in various contests for prizes. Winners will be announced in early October.

LeAnn Rimes Tweeting About Her Man
LeAnn Rimes is much more open these days about what started out as a controversial relationship with actor Eddie Cibrian. Tabloids said the romance started when both were married to other people, and LeAnn issued several statements saying her personal business was just that – personal. Now, however, LeAnn’s Twitter messages are full of references to her new man. LeAnn tweeted on Friday, “Cried leaving Eddie. I never do that! Super emotional this morning.” About 30 minutes before, LeAnn wrote, “So sad! :( Eddie and I go different places this morning. He goes home to the kiddies while I go wrk. Hate this!” LeAnn also shared that airport security made her check her bag because she had more than one baggie of three-ounce toiletries. “Ahhhh, TSA sucks sometimes,” she tweeted.

Jaron’s ‘Getting Dressed In The Dark’ A Hit
Jaron And The Long Road To Love’s freshman album, “Getting Dressed In The Dark,” landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The album sold nearly 24,000 copies in its first week, behind only Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.” “Getting Dressed” ranked higher in its inaugural week on the country albums tally than any other title this year from a new act. Jaron attributes the success to the relationship he has with his social media “frans” [part fan/part friend]. His online army grew 700% last month to over 160,000. Jaron’s debut single, “Pray For You,” continues to charge up the charts.

Melissa Peterman Sees The Impact Reba Has On Fans
Melissa Peterman is spending the summer working on material for her debut Big Machine comedy album and performing solo stand-up shows across the country. She’s also gearing up to return to the road this fall on the second leg of George Strait and Reba McEntire’s co-headlining arena tour. It was during the spring run of dates on the tour that Melissa saw firsthand the impact her good friend Reba has on fans. “It’s a very big connection. There’s not a lot of artists when you walk away you feel like she really touched you,” says Melissa. “And so much of her music is the soundtrack to lives of people.”

 

 

 7/2/2010

Artist Of The Day:

Vince Gill



• Vince Gill worked with such acts as the Bluegrass Alliance, Boone Creek, Sundance and the Pure Prairie League early in his career. He briefly joined Rodney Crowell’s Cherry Bombs before signing a solo contract with RCA in 1983. His first RCA album, 1984’s “Turn Me Loose,” earned him the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Male Vocalist Award.
• Vince moved to MCA and 1989’s “When I Call Your Name” was his breakthrough, spawning a hit with the title track. He earned his first CMA Award and Grammy in 1990.
• Vince’s solo career got off to a bumpy start. His first single, “Victim Of Life’s Circumstances,” peaked at No. 40 in 1984. His next three Top 40 charting singles barely cracked the Top 40. However, 1985’s “If It Weren’t For Him,” a duet with Rosanne Cash, peaked at No. 10. His first No. 1 single was 1992’s “I Still Believe In You.”
• 2006’s four-disc set “These Days” comprises 43 songs, all of which Gill wrote or co-wrote. It also features more than 20 guest performers. The set snagged a Grammy in the Best Country Album category and spawned the hits “What You Give Away” and “The Reason Why.”
• Gill was recently ranked 17th on Billboard’s Top 25 Country Artists of the Last 25 Years. He’s sold more than 26 million albums and earned 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1993 and 1994. He is tied with George Strait for having won the most CMA Male Vocalist Awards (five), and is currently second only to Brooks and Dunn for accumulating the most CMA Awards in history. Gill is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has received 19 Grammy Awards to date, the most of any male Country artist.
• In August of 2007, the Country Music Association inducted Gill into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Gill released “Vince Gill – Love Songs” in January (2010). The album includes “Whenever You Come Around,” “Til Love Finds You,” “Nothing Like A Woman” and “Rock Of Your Love.”
• Vince produced LeAnn Rimes’ upcoming album and is working on a new CD of his own.
• Vince Gill and Amy Grant will embark on their fifth Christmas tour in December. The “Twelve Days of Christmas Tour” kicks off December 8th in Sarasota, Florida, and wraps in Nashville.
• Official Web site: www.vincegill.com



________________________________________

Alan Jackson Selling One Florida Home
Alan Jackson has put his beachfront home in Tequesta, Florida, on the market with an asking price of $1.275 million. The home was built in 1966, has 2,200 square feet inside and two wraparound balconies adding 1,000 square feet. Tequesta is a few miles northwest of Jupiter, Florida, where Jackson still owns an 8,000-square-foot home.

Jewel, Ty Host ‘John Wayne All-American Weekend’
Jewel and her hubby, professional bull rider Ty Murray, is hosting AMC’s “John Wayne All-American Weekend,” running through Sunday. They will introduce each film with cowboy stories, and Jewel will perform her new single, “Summer Home In Your Arms.”

Jimmy Wayne Crosses Arizona State Line on ‘Halfway’ Journey
Jimmy Wayne left Nashville on foot January 1st on his “Meet Me Halfway” solo-walk across America. On Wednesday evening, June 30th, Jimmy crossed over the Arizona state line. “I have walked from Nashville to Arizona,” Jimmy told The Boot as he stood at mile marker 0. “I still can’t believe it, but knowing that I’m not only talking the talk, but also walking the walk for these teens make it worth it day after day.” Jimmy came up with the idea for Project Meet Me Halfway last December, while thinking of ways to help give back to those less fortunate. Jimmy’s final destination on this portion of his “Meet Me Halfway” trek is HomeBase Youth Services in Phoenix, Arizona. He expects to arrive there toward the end of July.

Bill Monroe’s Life May Hit The Big Screen
Bill Monroe, widely regarded as the father of bluegrass, may soon get the same sort of movie treatment that’s been given to Johnny Cash and Ray Charles. Peter Sarsgaard, known for his work in “Jarhead” and the new “Knight And Day,” is in the early stages of development in a film about the late mandolin player. The actor is apparently a big fan of Bill, who played a central role in creating and shaping the acoustic genre named after his band, the Blue Grass Boys. Monroe died in 1996.

Jimmy Buffett Gives Impromptu Concert
Jimmy Buffett gave an impromptu concert Wednesday night at his sister’s restaurant in Gulf Shores, Alabama, bringing in hundreds of fans. Buffett and other stars including Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown had planned to give a free concert yesterday as a way of bringing tourists back to the beaches along the Alabama coast. But that show was postponed until July 11th because of Hurricane Alex. Despite the date changes, Buffett’s crew and band were in town to get ready for the show that was postponed, so Buffett decided to join them for a mini-show.

Lady Antebellum Remixed
Producer/DJ/remixer Jason Nevins has worked his magic with Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now,” turning it into a dance remix. The multi-format hit has already topped the Billboard country, adult contemporary and Top 40 charts. The dance chart could be next. The new tune is available now via digital retailers like iTunes and Amazon.

 

 

6/30/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Alan Jackson



• Alan Jackson started performing professionally when he was 20, later starting his own Dixie Steel band.
• His debut album, 1990’s “Here In The Real World,” produced his first No. 1 – “I’d Love You All Over Again.” His next album, “Don’t Rock The Jukebox,” produced four No. 1 singles, with the title track, “Someday,” “Dallas” and “Love’s Got A Hold On You.”
• “What I Do” debuted at No. 1 in 2004 and included the No. 1 tune “Remember When,” as well as “USA Today,” “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues,” “Monday Morning Church” and “Too Much of a Good Thing.”
• Jackson offered “Precious Memories,” a gospel album, in early 2006. The disc was named Country Album of the Year at the Dove awards. Later that year, he released “Like Red on a Rose,” produced by Alison Krauss.
• “Good Time” was released in March 2008. The album helped him reach the 50 million album sales mark. The title track topped the list of the 10 most requested and played songs of 2008. “Country Boy” also hit No. 1, as did “Small Town Southern Man.” Other hits from the album included “Sissy’s Song” and “I Still Like Bologna.”
• Jackson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on April 16, 2010.
• Alan’s latest album, “Freight Train,” hit stores in April. The album features 12 new tracks including “It’s Just That Way” and “Hard Hat and a Hammer.” He’s touring behind the album.
• Last month, Jackson played a concert to honor the miners and rescue workers who were killed and injured in the Upper Big Branch Mining disaster in West Virginia. He raised more than $150,000 for the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund.
• Official Web site: www.alanjackson.com 
 

 

AquaPalooza Lineup
Brad Paisley will be joined by Jerrod Niemann, Lee Brice, Joanna Smith and Matt Stillwell on July 10th at AquaPalooza 2010 at the Reserve at Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas. The free concert will let fans watch the show from their boats.
 
Willie Nelson’s Fourth Of July Picnic
It’s time for Willie Nelson’s Annual 4th Of July Picnic. This year’s event takes place just outside Austin at the Backyard At Bee Cave. This year’s line-up includes Willie & Family, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, The Courtyard Hounds, Leon Russell, Asleep At The Wheel, Jack Ingram, Gene Watson, Kevin Fowler, David Allan Coe, Billy Joe Shaver, Ray Price, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and many more. The day-long jam session has been held every year since 1972.
 
McBride Loves Her Cheerios
Martina McBride and Cal Ripken Jr. are teaming up with Cheerios to recognize Americans who show commitment to a healthy lifestyle with the “Do What You Love” contest. One music lover and a guest will tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with McBride, hang out with her in her recording studio and get VIP tickets to one of her upcoming concerts. One baseball enthusiast and guest will have lunch with Cal and get a tour of the Ripken Youth Baseball Academy. The winner will also throw out the first pitch at the Cal Ripken World Series game and sit in Cal’s seats at a Baltimore baseball game. To enter, submit a 150-250 word original story and photo at www.Cheerios.com/love. Entries should showcase what they love to do and how they take care of themselves. The contest runs through July 23rd with winners notified the week of August 10th.
 
Vince Gill, Amy Grant Announce Christmas Tour
Vince Gill and Amy Grant will debut their 11-city “Christmas With Amy & Vince” tour on December 8th in Sarasota, Florida. It will conclude December 22nd with two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

 

  

6/29/2010

Artist Of The Day:

 
Josh Turner


• Josh Turner sang in numerous church choirs. After high school, he moved to Nashville and enrolled in Belmont University while launching his singing career.
• Turner’s career got a boost on December 21, 2001, during his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. He was signed to MCA Nashville a month later. He released his debut album, “Long Black Train,” in 2003.
• Prior to “Long Black Train,” Turner had issued two vinyl singles, “She’ll Go On You” and “Long Black Train,” both backed with the same B-side, “Backwoods Boy.”
• His second album, “Your Man,” is one of only three albums released in 2006 to go double platinum. “Your Man” made its debut at No. 1, produced back-to-back multi-week No. 1 singles, and earned him two Grammy nods.
• In 2007, Turner became one of the youngest artists ever inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
• His album “Everything Is Fine” was released in 2007. The record peaked at No. 3 and spawned hits with the title track, “Firecracker” and “Another Try” (a duet with Trisha Yearwood).
• Josh Turner released a new album, “Haywire,” in February. The lead single, “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” hit No. 1. “All Over Me” was released in April as the album’s second single. The Country Music Hall of Fame included Turner’s “Long Black Train” in an album of songs with Christian subject matter, “Sunday In The Country,” which came out earlier this year.
• Official website: www.joshturner.com

 

Country Stars Line Up For Gulf Recovery Project
Sammy Kershaw has been outspoken in his support of Louisiana and its coastline in light of the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Currently vying for the Lieutenant Governor position in the state, the ongoing devastation spurred Kershaw to create a new charity, ProtectOurCoastline.org, benefiting both the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation and America's Wetlands Foundation. Kellie Pickler, the Zac Brown Band and Colt Ford have all signed on to be a part of the “sp[OIL]ed” photo campaign, with 100% of the proceeds benefiting ProtectOurCoastline.org.

Willie’s Special Wife
After three failed marriages, it looks like Willie Nelson’s fourth one is a keeper. He tells Parade magazine his 19-year marriage to Annie D’Angelo works because he understands a lot more than he used to. Nelson says he’s not easy to live with and he’s “pretty temperamental.” He says he’s been so used to doing things his own way for so long that he’s not interested in any suggestions. He says, “It takes a special person to live with me” and D’Angelo seems to be it. Nelson says he’s become easier to live with because he’s cut down on liquor. But at the same time he says he’s increasing the weed.

Steve Martin’s ‘Leaked’ Tour Demands
Steve Martin’s tour demands have been leaked online. However, the leak is an inside job since the rider is on his own website. Items in the rider include, “One platter of cold cuts, ham, turkey, roast beef, all preferably bluish” and “Venue must have Bela Fleck on Speed Dial, in case Steve’s feeling lazy.” Martin also writes that “if venue is a sporting arena, scoreboards should read: Steve 1, Bluegrass 0.” He says beverage service must include a “thoughtful assortment of meads and bendy straws.” And he says the venue must provide “six pairs of men’s tube socks, sizes 9-13, in case tour manager forgets someone’s birthday.” Martin is on a break from touring right now. His next date is July 17th in Montreal.

Keith Urban Replacing Brooks & Dunn At Canadian Festival
Keith Urban will replace Brooks & Dunn at the Canadian country music festival, Countryfest, in Dauphin, Manitoba, on Friday. Brooks & Dunn were forced to cancel their appearance because of Ronnie Dunn’s prescribed vocal rest. The four-day festival begins Thursday. The lineup also includes Randy Houser, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton and many Canadian country artists. Brooks & Dunn will resume their “Last Rodeo Tour” on July 16th in Indianapolis.

Paisley, Underwood Concerts Canceled After Montana Tornado
Upcoming concerts by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood in Billings, Montana, have been canceled following a tornado that hit the Rimrock Auto Arena on June 20th. Paisley’s show was scheduled for September 26th, followed by Underwood’s on December 10th. Refunds will be available Thursday when the box office reopens. Promoters are also encouraging fans to attend the artists’ concerts in Bozeman, Montana, roughly 140 miles to the west. Paisley is scheduled to play Bozeman on September 30th, while Underwood will perform there on December 12th.

Trace Adkins ‘Cowboy’ Coming To Town Early
Trace Adkins’ new album, “Cowboy’s Back in Town,” will be released on August 17th, one week earlier than previously announced. It’s his first album for Show Dog-Universal Music, the label headed by Toby Keith and producer Mark Wright. Trailer Choir, Adkins’ labelmates, appears on “Don’t Mind if I Don’t.” A deluxe package will also be available on August 17th with four additional tracks, including “Hillbilly Bone,” his collaboration with Blake Shelton. Adkins will tour with Keith through September.

Little Big Town Riding For A Cure
Little Big Town will Ride For A Cure in Nashville on July 11th, benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation. The ride will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by a post ride performance in Columbia at 12:30 p.m. by Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Josh Thompson and The Band Perry.

New Sugarland CD Set For October
Sugarland’s fourth studio album is set for release this October. “The Incredible Machine” is scheduled to go on sale October 19th and “Stuck Like Glue,” the first single off the album, will drop July 26th. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush co-wrote the entire CD and co-produced it with Byron Gallimore. “‘Stuck Like Glue’ is just plain, unashamed, Sugar-fun!” Nettles said. “It sticks in your brain, no pun intended. To me, it feels young, hip and, of course, sassy!”

Rascal Flatts Launch Tour
Rascal Flatts launched their “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour” last weekend with shows in Raleigh, Charlotte and Atlanta for 50,000 fans. The tour will continue with shows in Stateline, Nevada, on July 16-17. Kellie Pickler and Chris Young are openers.

Jimmy Buffett & Friends Gulf Shores Concert Rescheduled
The Jimmy Buffett & Friends concert scheduled for Thursday in Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been rescheduled for July 11th because of concerns about surf conditions on the beach. Gulf Shores city officials said storm conditions are not expected to be a threat to the area, although increased water inundation at the beach is not conducive to keeping the large stage stable in the sand. A portion of the July 1st concert was to be telecast live on CMT and CMT.com as a 90-minute special. Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Allen Toussaint, Sonny Landreth and Jesse Winchester were among the confirmed guests. CMT executives are working on the possibility of airing the July 11th show.
 

 6/28/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Loretta Lynn

 

• Loretta Lynn began performing her own songs in local clubs, backed by a band led by her brother, Jay Lee Webb. It was another 10 years before she signed with Zero Records and released her debut single, 1960’s “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl.” The single peaked at No. 14. Since then, she’s had more than 70 hits including “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” is also the title of her autobiography, which was turned into a successful movie.
• Lynn toured with The Wilburns in 1960. She signed with Decca and released “Success” in 1962. It peaked at No. 6 and began a string of Top 10 singles that would run for the next two decades. Between 1966 and 1970 she racked up 13 Top 10 hits, including four No. 1s.
• Loretta and Conway Twitty had five consecutive No. 1 singles between 1971 and 1975. The Country Music Association named Lynn and Twitty the Vocal Duo of the Year from 1972-1975. In addition to their No. 1 singles, they had seven other Top 10 hits between 1976 and 1981.
• By the time Lynn released her last hit of the ‘80s, “I Lie,” she had logged 52 Top 10 singles and 16 No. 1 songs.
• Lynn is one of only five solo female artists (w/Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton and Shania Twain) to win the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year award.
• Lynn won two Grammys for her collaboration with Jack White on the album “Van Lear Rose” in 2004.
• Lynn’s 50-year recording career will be celebrated throughout 2010, including a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award she received earlier this year. 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of Loretta’s first single release and the 30th anniversary of the movie “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Last week, the Library of Congress added “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to the National Recording Registry.
• Loretta Lynn’s autobiography, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” out of print since 1998, will be reissued in September. It’s also coming out as an e-book and audio book on CD and digital download with Sissy Spacek (who played Lynn in “Coal Miner’s Daughter”) as narrator.
• Loretta is re-recording many of her No. 1 hits for an upcoming album produced by John Carter Cash. She is also working on an album of new material. Lynn is also doing several performances with the “Lilith Fair” tour this summer as well as her own headlining dates.
• Official website: www.lorettalynn.com

________________________________________
 

Garth Salutes Dick Clark
Garth Brooks was just one of many superstars that took part in a salute to Dick Clark on last night’s Daytime Emmy Awards. Joining Garth was Cher, The Spinners, Marie Osmond, Barry Manilow, Ann-Margret, Jay Leno and Simon Cowell for a tribute to Clark and his show “American Bandstand,” which began its long run in 1957.

Jake Owen, Josh Turner Join Oklahoma State Fair Lineup
Jake Owen and Josh Turner are among the country artists appearing at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City in September. Owen will perform on September 23rd, followed by Turner’s closing concert on September 24th. The Eli Young Band will open the music series on September 16th. Concerts are free with the purchase of gate admission to the fairgrounds.

Zac Brown Band, Chris Young Win Big At MusicRow Awards
Zac Brown Band and Chris Young were among the winners at this year’s MusicRow Awards, held last Thursday at BMI’s Nashville office. Zac Brown Band took home the award for Breakthrough Artist, while Chris Young received the nod for Breakthrough Songwriter. Song of the Year went to Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me,” written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas.

Gary Allan To Hit The Beach
As the temperatures rise and summer is in full effect, Gary Allan is going to hit the beach as much as he can. In between dates on the Brooks & Dunn “Last Rodeo Tour,” he’ll cool off by the ocean and surf, one of his favorite pastimes. Gary says, “When I get my breaks, I’m going to fly out to beaches most likely. I’m going to spend some time in Mexico and I’m going to spend some time in California, just trying to get as much surfing as I can in.”

Chuck Wicks Releases ‘Hold That Thought’
Chuck Wicks has released the single and video for “Hold That Thought,” the first single from his upcoming sophomore album. The song is heating up more than a few fans with its sexy portrayal of the much-anticipated reunion of a guy and his gal. The steamy music video captures the spirit of the song, with actress Julia Jones (Leah Clearwater in “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”) portraying Wicks’ love interest in the video. Fans are also getting to see another side of Chuck in the July issue of People Country, available now, as the magazine cast him in the role of “Mystery Date,” in a tip of the hat to the classic board game.

Kenny Chesney DVD Debuts At No. 1
Though it was 3-D in the theatres when the movie bowed this summer, nothing slowed the impact of “Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D” when the 2-dimensional conversion hit the shelves. Though offered exclusively through Kmart on the initial run, first week sales of the film bested the No. 2 seller offered everywhere – by almost 33%. U2 had the 2nd concert DVD, followed by George Strait, Bon Jovi and Barbra Streisand. Kenny will release his new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey” on September 28th.

Dolly’s New Special
Dolly Parton made sure her old pals Kenny Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus and daughter Miley Cyrus were all on the guest list at the taping of her upcoming TV special celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Dollywood theme park. Dolly says each guest is special to her for different reasons. “Kenny and I are like an old married couple,” Dolly says. “Miley is so hot right now, and Billy Ray, well, he’s just plain hot to me!” Miley and Dolly worked up a special version of “Jolene” for the show, while Kenny helped Dolly on their smash duet “Islands In The Stream,” and “I Will Always Love You.” The special will also include views of the park and taped well wishes from artists who have performed at the theme park through the years. “Dolly Celebrates 25 Years of Dollywood” premieres July 3rd on the Hallmark Channel.

More Underwood Wedding Rumors
The gossip mags are reporting that Carrie Underwood’s marriage to Mike Fisher will take place July 10th. The wedding date, along with the actual location of the nuptials, has been one of the best-kept secrets in Music City. As for the honeymoon, Carrie says, “I don’t where it is. That was Mike’s project.” Word is, however, that Tahiti and Bora Bora will be where they honeymoon. Carrie completed the first leg of her “Play On Tour” recently and the next leg doesn’t begin until fall so she has a little time set aside.

Lady A Appears On Ellen Special
Lady Antebellum debuted their new single “Our Kind of Love” last night on Ellen DeGeneres’ “Somewhat Special Special” on TBS. The group joined DeGeneres in Chicago recently to pre-tape the special at the Chicago Theatre in front of a sold out crowd.

 

 

6/25/10

 

 

Artist Of The Day:


LeAnn Rimes

• Margaret LeAnn Rimes started singing when she was only 2. Her first public performance was singing “Getting to Know You” in a Mississippi talent contest when she was 5.
• By age 11, she recorded her first album, “All That,” which was released on a small, independent label. Her major-label debut, 1996’s “Blue,” made her a star at age 13 and earned her two Grammys, one of which was Best New Artist – marking the first time a Country artist ever captured that honor. She also picked up the CMA Horizon Award in 1997.
• Since then, LeAnn has sold more than 37 million albums and scored numerous hit singles, among them “One Way Ticket,” “I Need You,” “Nothin’ ‘bout Love Makes Sense,” “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way” and “How Do I Live,” which spent a record-setting 69 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Rimes’ career tanked with the pop-oriented “Twisted Angel” album in 2002, her first disc not produced by her dad. But she returned to her country roots and bounced back with her seventh studio album, “This Woman,” in 2005. It reached No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
• LeAnn’s latest album is 2007’s “Family.” The CD includes the single “Nothin’ Better to Do” as well as a duet with Jon Bon Jovi on “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore.” The album – her first featuring all original material she wrote or co-wrote – reached No. 2. The single “What I Cannot Change” scaled Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart and spawned Rimes’ first book of the same name – an inspirational work based on the concepts of peace and acceptance.
• Rimes married backup dancer Dean Sheremet in 2000. She made headlines by announcing plans to divorce Sheremet and going public with her relationship with actor Eddie Cibrian, her romantic interest from the TV movie “Northern Lights.” Her divorce was finalized June 19, 2010.
• Rimes is planning to release a new album of cover songs, featuring her updated rendition of John Anderson’s “Swingin’,” later this year. She is also working on another album, featuring original material.
• Official Web site: www.leannrimesworld.com  

 

 

Loretta Lynn’s Autobiography To Be Re-Released
Loretta Lynn’s autobiography, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” out of print since 1998, willl be reissued as a trade paperback in September. It’s also coming out as an e-book and as an audio book on CD and digital download with Sissy Spacek as narrator. Lynn has written a new forward to her book, which first came out in 1976. Lynn is having a phenomenal year. The Grammy people honored her with a lifetime achievement award earlier this year. Earlier this week, the Library of Congress added “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to the National Recording Registry. Lynn is also doing several performances with the Lilith Fair this summer as well as her own tour dates.

Miranda Lambert Gets ‘Only Prettier’
Miranda Lambert has released “Only Prettier” as the next single from her album “Revolution.” Miranda recently filmed the video in Joelton, Tennessee, with guests Kellie Pickler, Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum and Laura Bell Bundy. The video features the artists dressed up as rival “socials” and “greasers” at a high school sock hop.

George Strait’s Artist Of Decade Show To Air On GAC
If you missed the ACM special “George Strait: ACM Artist of the Decade” you’ll get a second chance this weekend. The show gets a re-broadcast on GAC Sunday. The show was taped the day after the 45th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas.

Kevin Sharp Recovering From A Broken Leg
Kevin Sharp, who successfully battled cancer and delivered the Top 10 Hit “Nobody Knows” in the mid-90s, is recovering from a badly broken leg. Kevin suffered the fracture June 12th at his hotel as he prepared for a performance at Relay For Life in Riverton, Wyoming. After a brief stay at a local hospital, it was determined that he needed additional attention. A Life Flight flew him to Denver for surgery. He is now home recovering comfortably.

Carrie Completes ‘Play On’ Tour
Carrie Underwood wrapped up the first let of her “Play On Tour” last weekend in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. In all, she performed for nearly 400,000 fans and almost all of the 54 shows sold-out. Craig Morgan and Sons Of Sylvia where her special guests. The tour continues this fall beginning September 25th in Portland, Oregon.

Nashville’s Lilith Fair Canceled
The Lilith Fair stop in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena, which was scheduled for August 7th, has been cancelled. Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, The Court Yard Hounds and Sugarland were among the artists scheduled to perform. You can get refunds at your point of purchase.

Craig Morgan Won’t Be At Carrie’s Wedding
Craig Morgan says that while he was invited to attend Carrie Underwood’s upcoming wedding, he will not be able to attend because he’s working. Craig tells Country Weekly, “[Carrie’s fiancé] Mike [Fisher] and I really hit it off. We share a lot of common interests. I think they are going to have a great marriage. He’s a great man and she’s good lady, and a sweet girl.” Craig predicts at least one thing may change for Carrie after she gets hitched. “She doesn’t write [songs] on the road. I think that will change for her when she gets married. I told her that when I’m home I try to spend as much time with my family and my kids as I can, so I do a lot of writing on the road.” Craig says he and Carrie have talked about writing songs together later in the year between tour dates.
 

6/24/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Garth Brooks



• Garth released his self-titled debut album in 1989. It spawned the Top 10 hits “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “Not Counting You” and “The Dance.”
• “Ropin’ the Wind” was the first country CD to debut at the top of the pop music charts. Brooks’ most successful album, 1990’s “No Fences,” has sold nearly 20 million copies. His last album, 2001’s “Scarecrow,” has sold three million copies.
• Garth received the Academy of Country Music’s Jim Reeves Memorial Award in 1995, the first to be presented in 13 years. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• In the midst of one of the most successful careers in music history, Garth retired in 2001, delivered his last record for Capitol Records and moved back to Oklahoma to raise his children. He split from Capitol in 2005, and took his catalog to an exclusive deal with Walmart, which released a boxed set of his material that became the biggest selling music item in the store’s history. The first single, “Good Ride Cowboy,” landed in the top five in just seven weeks.
• Garth received the Academy of Country Music Awards’ inaugural Crystal Milestone Award for his sales achievements in May 2009. With sales in excess of 123 million records sold and the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million sales mark, Brooks has been certified the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. His latest album, “The Ultimate Hits,” has been certified five times platinum.
• Brooks has been the recipient of 18 ACM awards, including Artist of the Decade in 1998. He has received every accolade the industry can bestow on an artist, including 2 Grammys, 17 American Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 5 World Music Awards, 12 People’s Choice Awards and 36 Billboard Music Awards, among many others.
• Garth is developing a TV movie with Lifetime based on his song, “Unanswered Prayers.” Brooks is serving as executive producer for the project. The movie is scheduled for release sometime this year. “Unanswered Prayers” was originally released on his 1990 album “No Fences” and spent two weeks at No. 1.
• Garth Brooks is back in action, doing weekend performances at Steve Wynn’s Encore Hotel in Las Vegas. Visit http://boxoffice.wynnlasvegas.com for a complete list of dates.
• Official website: www.garthbrooks.com

 

 


Rascal Flatts Steps Up To Stop Teen Suicide
Rascal Flatts have been named as Ambassadors, or celebrity spokesmen, for The Jason Foundation (JFI). In addition to their roles in public service announcements, public awareness programs and fundraising, they will also promote the foundation’s newly created “B1” Project, a nationwide effort specifically geared to educate youth and students on how to recognize when a friend might be struggling with thoughts of suicide or life in general, and how to help. The theme is “Someone you know may need a friend – B 1.” Rascal Flatts will be showing their PSAs during concerts throughout their “Nothing Like This Tour,” which launches June 25th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Go to www.jasonfoundation.com to learn more.

Kellie Pickler Engaged
Kellie Pickler says her songwriter honey Kyle Jacobs proposed to her on a Florida beach at sunset. The “American Idol” alum told People magazine Jacobs asked for her hand in marriage June 15th, her late grandmother’s birthday and a day that is usually “sad and hard for me.” “It turned out to be the most amazing day of my life,” said Pickler, who was raised by her grandmother. “My whole world changed. We both feel like we got my grandmother’s blessing.” The couple has been dating for more than two years.

Dolly Plans Another Backwoods Barbie-Q
After drawing a $75,000 winning bid for the chance to share a Backwoods Barbie-Q and home-cooked breakfast with her last year, Dolly Parton is once again offering a lucky bidder the chance to experience the unique event in order to benefit the Dr. Robert F. Thomas Foundation. The foundation’s annual Evening of Elegance fundraiser takes place on August 14th at Mills Auditorium in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. One lucky auction winner will win a free tour of Dolly’s Sevierville mountain home, and that evening the winner can invite 10 guests to a huge barbecue on the grounds. Then they’ll get to spend the night and be treated to a big breakfast. Dolly will be entertaining the crowd.

Brooks & Dunn Offer VIP Tickets For ‘Last Rodeo’ Finale
The shows may be sold-out, but Brooks & Dunn fans will have one last opportunity to see the duo’s final tour. The duo has partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to make VIP tickets available for the finale of their farewell tour, “Last Rodeo.” The finale, originally set for August 10th in Nashville, has been moved to September 2nd. Fans can purchase the Hillbilly Deluxe Package for $750, which will include a floor seat at the concert, dinner at the museum’s Hall of Fame Rotunda prior to the event, a meet-and-greet opportunity with the award-winning duo, a merchandise package and an autographed item. Other packages are also available. The VIP packages are available through www.countrymusichalloffame.org while supplies last.

 

 6/23/2010

 

 Artist of the Day

 
Jewel
 
·         Jewel Kilcher, generally known just by her first name, is a singer, songwriter and poet. Her debut album, “Pieces of You,” became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time, selling more than 12 million copies.
·         In early February 2007, Jewel started her transition to country music, recording a duet with Jason Michael Carroll titled “No Good in Goodbye.” The song was featured on Carroll’s debut CD, “Waitin’ in the Country.”
·         Jewel’s first country album, “Perfectly Clear,” debuted at No. 1 and features the country singles “Stronger Woman,” “I Do” and “Till It Feels like Cheating.”
·         Jewel released the album “Lullaby” last year. The 15-track album, done in partnership with Fisher Price, features 10 original songs and five childhood standards.
·         Jewel’s second country album, “Sweet And Wild,” just debuted at No.3. The first single, “Stay Here Forever,” is also featured on the soundtrack for “Valentine’s Day.”
·         Jewel is featured on the cover of the July issue of Shape magazine.
·         Official website: www.jeweljk.com
 
 

Update: Ronnie Dunn On Vocal Rest
Ronnie Dunn is on vocal rest and been ordered to keep his talking and singing to a minimum. That’s why Brooks and Dunn postponed two concerts over the last weekend in Virginia. And why they weren’t performing at the “Nashville Rising” fundraiser last night. New dates have been set for the two “Last Rodeo” concerts. July 11th is the new date for the Virginia Beach Amphitheater in Virginia Beach. The Bristow concert at Jiffy Lube Live is set for August 1st. The original tickets are good for the new dates. The duo has partnered with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to make VIP tickets available to their sold-out concert in Nashville, which will now take place September 2nd. Details are pending due to the rescheduling.

Kenny Chesney Releasing ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’
Kenny Chesney has scheduled a new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” for a September 28th release. It’s his first album of new material since “Lucky Old Sun” in October 2008. “I knew I wanted the record to be something more, something that took what I do in my special projects and weaved it into what I do for the mainstream,” Chesney says. “It takes a lot of energy and mental space to be on the road ... and I kind of felt like – especially coming off of this second ‘Greatest Hits’ – this next record should be something that set the stage for the next phase of my music, the same way ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ opened up the music I’ve made for the past eight years.” Chesney released “Greatest Hits II” in 2009 and re-released it earlier this year with two bonus tracks.

Bill Anderson Bus Destroyed In Fire
A bus leased by Whisperin’ Bill Anderson caught on fire on Sunday, just as the entertainer was going on stage for a show in Branson, Missouri. No one was on board at the time, but the bus was completely destroyed inside. Several band members suffered damage to their instrument cases, while everyone lost numerous valuables in the fire, including clothes that Anderson was planning to wear to Jimmy Dean’s funeral. The cause of fire was determined to be electrical.

Gloriana Gets Ready For ‘Long Hot Summer’
Gloriana is set to kick off their “Long Hot Summer Tour 2010” June 24th in Colorado at Country Jam USA and ending in September in Ohio. Gloriana held a contest and a live chat where fans got the chance to name their tour. The 40-date tour will make stops at major fairs and festivals across the country as well as headlining performances.

Charlie Daniels Receives Patriot Award
Charlie Daniels has been awarded the Operation Troop Aid Patriot Award for his lifetime of support of American Troops at home and overseas. The Award was first presented in 2006 to pay tribute to artists and entertainers who demonstrate exceptional support of the troops.

Dierks Unplugged – Literally
Dierks Bentley and his band didn’t let a power outage stop them from performing his single “Up on the Ridge” during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Dierks and company promptly improvised a truly unplugged performance of the song for Kimmel, who recorded the show on the webcam of his laptop computer. The performance impressed Jimmy Kimmel, who commented, “Man, 99 percent of the bands we have on our show would have never been able to pull that off musically ... that was incredible.”

Miranda Lambert’s ‘House’ Breaks Records
Miranda Lambert’s latest hit, “The House That Built Me,” continues to hold strong at No. 1 on the country singles chart for the fourth consecutive week. Miranda breaks this year’s record by having the longest running No. 1 song of the year on the Media Base/Aircheck Chart and ties the record for the longest on the BDS/Billboard chart. “

Country Stars Make ‘Smash Hits’ for Military Heroes
Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Randy Houser, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley are just a few of the artists who contributed songs for a new CD titled “My Country: Smash Hits.” With a new compilation released every year, all proceeds benefit the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free housing for servicemen and women and their families who are receiving treatment at a military medical center. The album also includes an audio message by former President George Bush, as well as artwork by famed cartoon artist Gary Trudeau.

Hank Williams, Jr. Returns To Monday Night Football
Are you ready for some football? For his 22nd year in a row, Hank Williams Jr. will once again sing the opening theme song for the NFL’s Monday Night Football. Bocephus recently shot the video for Monday Night Football’s opening sequence while the University of Tennessee’s dance team gyrated around him. Williams also recorded specific lyrics for each week’s game, including two involving the Minnesota Vikings and Brett Favre.

Nashville Rising Brings In Big Money
Seven weeks after the devastating Nashville floods, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill staged a sold-out benefit show last night. The bill featured 19 acts from multiple genres, including Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and ZZ Top. Following a video package about the flood, Hill, McGraw, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Mayor Karl Dean, Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Titans quarterback Vince Young greeted concertgoers. Noting that the rising waters caused $2 billion in damages and generated 70,000 tons of debris, Hill told the crowd, “Nashville will rise, and that is why we have come together tonight.” An estimated $2 million-$3 million was raised for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which distributes donations to area non-profits.

2010’s Library Of Congress Nod
Songs from Tupac Shakur, R.E.M. and Little Richard, along with albums from Willie Nelson and Patti Smith are among the 25 eclectic recordings inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. To be inducted, the work must be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and be at least 10 years old.

Stars Line Up For DC July 4th Event
The 2008 “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta and Gladys Knight will perform at the annual July Fourth holiday concert in Washington. “A Capitol Fourth” will be broadcast live from the west lawn of the Capitol at 8 p.m. on PBS. Jimmy Smits is hosting the event. Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, John Schneider and the National Symphony Orchestra are also scheduled to perform. The program is celebrating its 30th anniversary on the air. It will end with a 17-minute fireworks show.

Swift Gets Animated
Taylor Swift’s life story has been turned into a 25-page comic book. The singer has been animated for “Fame: Taylor Swift,” which chronicles her childhood and her rise to superstardom. The Bluewater productions comic also features her screen kiss with one-time boyfriend Taylor Lautner in “Valentine’s Day” and her infamous 2009 MTV Video Music Awards stage encounter with Kanye West. 
 

 

 6/22/2010

Artist Of The Day:

 


Miranda Lambert

• Miranda Lambert began entering country talent contests when she was 16 and later appeared in a Ruffles potato chip ad and had a part in the 2001 teen comedy “Slap Her She’s French.”
• She was 17 and still in high school when she formed the Texas Pride Band. She released an independent self-titled CD in 2001.
• She finished first in the Texas auditions for “Nashville Star” in 2003. She finished third overall, which led to a recording contract with Sony. Her first major-label single, “Me and Charlie Talking,” was released in 2004.
• Lambert’s debut CD “Kerosene” entered the Billboard Country Albums Chart at No. 1 in 2005, earning her an elite spot in music history as the sixth country artist ever to have their first album debut at No. 1.
• Lambert released her second album, the chart-topping “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” in early 2007. Although the title track failed to make top 40, the next three singles – “Famous in a Small Town,” “Gunpowder & Lead” and “More Like Her” – were all Top 20 hits, with “Gunpowder & Lead” becoming her first Top 10 in July 2008.
• Miranda’s latest album, “Revolution,” features the singles “Dead Flowers,” “White Liar” and her current No. 1, “The House that Built Me.” “Revolution” debuted at No. 1 and joins her previous two releases that debuted at the top of Billboard’s Country Album Charts, making her one of four artists in country music history whose first three albums debuted in the No. 1 spot.
• Due to a scheduling conflict, Miranda will headline Country Jam USA in Grand Junction, Colorado, this week, and not Alan Jackson, as originally planned. The event runs June 24-27.
• Lambert has been nominated for her first Teen Choice award, in the Female Country Artist category. She recently took home her first CMT Music Award for Female Video of the Year for “White Liar.”
• Miranda is engaged to Blake Shelton.
• Official Web site: www.mirandalambert.com 
 

 

Garth Brooks Sells Out Again
The latest Garth Brooks tickets are already gone. Tickets for the third round of dates went on sale Saturday. The tickets were for 20 shows this fall at the Encore Theatre at the Las Vegas Wynn Hotel.

Billy Ray Cyrus, Phil Vassar Bow Out Of Roswell UFO Festival
Billy Ray Cyrus and Phil Vassar have bowed out of this year’s UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico. While neither Cyrus nor Vassar said why they dropped out, the chairwoman of the UFO Festival blames the cancellations on publicity about the way the festival is funded. The festival is still on; it runs June 30th through July 5th.

Charlie Daniels Releasing Two Patriotic Singles
The Charlie Daniels Band is releasing a pair of digital singles, “Iraq Blues” and “(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010,” on July 4th. The two tracks are featured on the CDB’s August 10th release of “Land That I Love,” a patriotic compilation album. Charlie says, “I wrote ‘Iraq Blues’ on three separate trips to entertain troops over there in Iraq. It’s about the troops and for the troops. ‘(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010’ is an updated version of a song I recorded several years ago. The new lyrics reflect life in America in the 21st century.” The singles will be available at all major online retailers.

Rascal Flatts Gearing Up For New Tour
Rascal Flatts launches a new tour this Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The first leg of the “JC Penney Presents Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This Tour” will continue with 28 shows through September 19th at Boston’s Comcast Center. Kellie Pickler and Chris Young will open. Rascal Flatts recently wrapped their “Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour,” which played 57 shows during its run from June 2009 to March 2010, with fan attendance near 800,000. The total also includes the two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, last summer. Meanwhile, the band expects to release a new disc this fall.

Carrie’s Wedding Not Postponed
Despite recent rumors in OK! magazine that Carrie Underwood and fiancé Mike Fisher had postponed their wedding due to a scuffle over what food will be served at the reception, Fisher’s agent, Todd Reynolds, said the wedding date has not been moved. The couple will wed in July, although a specific date and location are being kept tightly under wraps.

 

 

 6/18/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Carrie Underwood

• Carrie Underwood won Season Four of “American Idol.” She has since sold more than 10 million albums. Her debut album, “Some Hearts,” sold 7 million copies, spent over 100 weeks on the charts, and yielded a slew of No. 1 hits including “Inside Your Heaven,” “Jesus, Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats.” In addition, Carrie scored another Top 10 Billboard hit with her charity single, “I’ll Stand by You.”
• Her second album, “Carnival Ride,” was released on October 23, 2007. It has so far sold over 3 million copies and produced five No. 1 country hits, “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” “Last Name”, “Just a Dream” and “I Told You So.”
• Underwood dropped “Play On,” her third studio set, last November. The record debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200. First-week sales also marked the biggest one-week sales total for a female recording artist in 2009 and second-best sales week for the country genre as a whole in 2009. Her first single off the album, “Cowboy Casanova,” became Underwood’s eighth No. 1 country single. Her current single is “Undo It.”
• Earlier this year, Underwood took home a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “I Told You So” with Randy Travis. She had already received four Grammys, including the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category for three straight years.
• In April, Carrie became the first female in ACM history to capture two Entertainer of the Year trophies. She also took home a special statue for her “triple crown” of ACM wins – Entertainer of the Year, Top Female Vocalist and Top Newcomer – throughout her career.
• Underwood made her acting debut this year on “How I Met Your Mother.” In real life, she is engaged to hockey center Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators.
• Underwood recently won 2 CMT Awards – Video of the Year for “Cowboy Casanova” and Performance of the Year for “Temporary Home” from “Invitation Only.” She has also been nominated for a 2010 Teen Choice Award – Choice Music: Female Country Artist.
• As part of Carrie’s fall tour, 36 cents from each ticket will be donated to support Save the Children’s work to help the 1 in 5 kids living in poverty in the United States.
• Later this month, Carrie is set to perform at “Nashville Rising,” a benefit concert to help the victims of the Nashville flood, hosted by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
• Official website: www.carrieunderwoodofficial.com


Chesney Finalizes Debut Documentary
Kenny Chesney has spent the last year shooting “The Boys of Fall,” a documentary about the power and passion of high school football – in the moment and throughout one's life. For the doc, Kenny utilized his longstanding relationships with some of football's most successful players and coaches – including Sean Payton, John Madden, Brett Favre, Troy Aikman the former University of Tennessee's Phil Fulmer and University of Alabama’s Nick Saban and Bobby Bowden – as well as high school coaches from Illinois, Texas and Tennessee. Negotiations are almost finalized for “The Boys of Fall” to have a home.

Randy Owen Announces Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Randy Owen, longtime frontman for Alabama, underwent treatment earlier this year after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. He made the announcement Sunday during his annual fan club party in Fort Payne, Alabama. During a routine checkup, a blood test indicated abnormal levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA). After the diagnosis, Owen underwent an ultrasound procedure to treat the disease, and his doctors say the treatment was a success and his recovery is now almost complete. Owen plans to spend the summer managing his cattle business in Fort Payne before resuming his tour schedule in September.

Jackson Out, Lambert Up And Walker In At Country Jam
The four-day country music festival “Country Jam USA,” taking place near Grand Junction, Colorado, next week, has made a few changes in its lineup. The festival said Alan Jackson will not headline the June 26th date as previously announced. Taking his place is Miranda Lambert, who was previously scheduled to appear on the “Country Jam” stage right before Jackson but now occupies the evening’s closing slot. Clay Walker has also been added to the festival’s June 26th lineup as well. Organizers said Jackson will perform at next year’s Country Jam USA on June 25, 2011.

Taylor Swift Honored At Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Taylor Swift was hanging out with some big names in songwriting last night, including Leonard Cohen, David Foster and Phil Collins, among others. They were all honored yesterday by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Swift received the Hal David Starlight Award, which honors “gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.” Collins was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award, named after the legendary songwriter and founder of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Tracy Lawrence’s Dog Returned
Tracy Lawrence’s dog and family friend, Tank, is now safe and sound back at home. It’s not clear whether Tank, a 2 year-old, English bulldog, was removed from Tracy’s truck or jumped out Monday night while Tracy was making a quick stop at a local Walgreen’s in Mt Juliet, Tennessee. Tank was discovered near Route 109 in Mt. Juliet, quite a distance from the drugstore parking lot where he was last seen.

Jewel’s Rules For A Rockin’ Body
Jewel is on the cover of Shape Magazine, looking fit for the summer. Inside, she shares her secrets for staying healthy, happy and fit, saying her “All Or Nothing” mentality has kept her that way. She says, “I had seen so many performers develop eating disorders or try to control their weight with drugs. I had to remind myself that standards of beauty are very fickle. One minute J. Lo’s body is considered beautiful, and the next, everyone wants to look like Kate Moss. I’m all for people wanting to feel more confident, but altering your body to fit a current trend is serious stuff.”


Foo Fighters Guitarist Releasing Country Album
Foo Fighters longtime guitarist Chris Shiflett recently announced that he has a new side gig in country music. Shiflett is the frontman of the new country/Americana band, Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants, who will release their self-titled debut CD on July 13th.


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6/17/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Little Big Town

• Little Big Town consists of Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet. Fairchild and Westbrook are married.
• Little Big Town’s self-titled 2002 debut for Sony’s Monument Records failed to draw any attention. The album had two minor singles on it, but the group was eventually dropped from the label.
• They resurfaced on Clint Black’s Equity Music Group label in 2005 and released their second album, “The Road to Here,” which sold over a million copies and produced 4 Top 20 hits, including “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home” and “Good as Gone.” The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Album in 2006 and they were the 2007 CMA Vocal Group of the Year and 2007 ACM Top Vocal Group.
• Little Big Town latest album, “A Place to Land,” was released in 2007 and later reissued with bonus tracks. The lead single, “I’m With the Band,” peaked at No. 32, while “A Little More You” hit the Top 20. The single “Life in a Northern Town” is a collaboration with Sugarland and Jake Owen.
• Fairchild recorded a duet with John Mellencamp on his 2008 album, “Life, Death, Love and Freedom.” The song, “A Ride Back Home,” was released as the album’s third single. Fairchild also duets with Mellencamp on “My Sweet Love” and appears in its music video.
• A new album from Little Big Town is coming August 24th. “The Reason Why” will feature a dozen songs, including their current single “Little White Church.”
• LBT is currently on the road with the “Country Throwdown Tour.”
• Official website: www.littlebigtown.com 
 

 

Tracy Lawrence’s Dog Is Missing
Tracy Lawrence is asking Nashville-area residents, law officials and media for assistance in the search of his dog, Tank. The two-year-old English bulldog was removed from Lawrence’s truck Tuesday evening while he made a quick stop at a local Walgreens. Having just been bathed, Tank was not wearing his collar or ID. “Tank was my Father’s Day present two years ago,” Lawrence said. “He’s not only a member of our family but a part of our road crew.” Lawrence is offering a $500 reward to anyone with information about the dog’s theft or whereabouts. If you have any info, contact Sgt. Michael Mullins at the Mt. Juliet Police Department at 615.754.2552.

Mark Chesnutt An ‘Outlaw’
Mark Chesnutt revives the music from the outlaw movement of the 70’s when his new album, “Outlaw,” comes out next Tuesday. Mark says, “I was introduced to Waylon and Willie and those guys on the rock stations. I was into 70’s rock at the time. Up ‘til then country stations played country and rock stations played rock. Then, there’s these long-haired guys with beards on both formats. They put the real meaning behind ‘cross-over’ artists and they made a life-long impression on me.”
 


Billy Joe Shaver Pays Fine In Weapons Charge
It looks like the end of a 3-year ordeal for Billy Joe Shaver, who made his final appearance in a Waco courtroom yesterday. Shaver pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of taking a firearm into a bar and received a $1,000 fine. He also was required to forfeit the handgun. The charge stems from a 2007 incident when Billy Joe was charged with shooting Billy Bryant Coker outside of Papa Joe’s Saloon in Lorena, Texas. He was acquitted of an aggravated assault charge on April 9th, but still faced the weapons charge. Under the terms of the deal, Billy Joe gets no jail time.

Jamey Johnson? There’s An App For That!
Jamey Johnson has a new digital mobile app that’ll give fans access to his music, videos and tour info. Created by Mobile Rodie, it’s free and available for use with an iPhone, iPad, iTouch or Android.

Little Big Town Announces New Album Release Date
Little Big Town will release their new album, “The Reason Why,” on August 24th. The first single from the album is “Little White Church.” The group is currently on the “Country Throwdown” tour, which concludes Sunday in Mountain View, California.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute CD Honors Band’s Country Roots
Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson and Uncle Kracker are among the musicians who have recorded tracks for “Sweet Home Alabama – The Country Music Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd,” due out July 20th and available exclusively at Walmart.

Justin Moore’s Home Burglarized
Justin Moore – whose guitar was stolen and later returned in March – now says his house was broken into recently as well. Nobody was home when the burglary occurred. Only his wallet and some of his memorabilia were stolen, while the rest of the house was untouched. Police are still investigating the crime, which may be the work of an obsessed fan.
 

 

 

 

 

Artist of the Day:

 


Jo Dee Messina

• Jo Dee Messina was singing in clubs with various bands at 13. By 16 she was fronting “The Jo Dee Messina Band,” which included her sister and brother.
• She signed to Curb Records in 1994 with help from friend Tim McGraw, who co-produced her first album, 1996’s “Jo Dee Messina.”
• Jo Dee’s second album, 1998’s “I’m Alright,” made her the first female in the history of Billboard’s Country Singles chart to achieve three consecutive, multi-week No. 1 singles from one album with “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright” and “Stand Beside Me.”
• Jo Dee’s last studio album, “Delicious Surprise,” debuted at No. 1 in 2005. It features “My Give A Damn’s Busted,” “Too Late Too Worry” and “I’m Not Going Down.”
• Jo Dee continues her tour in support of the first of a trilogy of EP’s, “Unmistakable: Love,” which was released earlier this year, “Unmistakable: Drive,” set to drop this summer, and “Unmistakable: Inspiration,” which hits stores later this year. Tour dates are currently scheduled through October 24th in Tacoma, Washington.
• Official Web site: www.jodeemessina.com
 

A Capitol Fourth For Reba And Darius
Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will get to see Fourth of July fireworks from the bandstand on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington. They’ll be performing at the annual Independence Day special, “A Capitol Fourth.” McEntire will also be presented with the country’s National Artistic Achievement Award. “A Capitol Fourth” airs live on PBS.


Jimmy Dean Misses Country Music Hall Of Fame Induction
Jimmy Dean died knowing he’d been selected for the Country Music Hall of Fame, but he didn’t get to go to the ceremony. It was planned for this October. His wife says she thinks he was looking forward to it. Dean had tied with Ferlin Husky in voting, so both were selected. Husky’s induction was a few weeks ago, with Billy Sherrill. Jimmy Dean’s induction ceremony was set for October with Don Williams.

CMA Music Festival A Hit
Just weeks after that devastating flood, the CMA Music Festival hit an all-time record. The Country Music Association says all four nights were sold out at LP Field, where the headliners performed Thursday through Sunday. The CMA says this year the estimated daily attendance throughout the festival was 65,000. That compares with 56,000 last year.

Rascal Flatts Headed ‘To Appomattox’ For HBO Miniseries
Rascal Flatts will appear in a miniseries about the Civil War on HBO called “To Appomattox,” lead singer Gary LeVox says. The battle at Appomattox, Virginia, effectively ended the Civil War, as General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant.

NFL Tough Guy Goes Country
Former NFL tough guy Kyle Turley will try his hand at country music. The 10-year NFL veteran had a reputation as a dirty player during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. Turley is hosting a concert showcase in Nashville next month. A video of his debut single, “Another Whiskey,” is airing on YouTube.

Jimmy Dean To Be Interred In Piano-Shaped Mausoleum
Jimmy Dean, who died Sunday at age 81, will be laid to rest in a $350,000 piano-shaped granite mausoleum that he purchased several years ago. The 9 1/2-foot long tomb is located near the banks of the James River on his property in Varina, Virginia. In reference to the lyrics of his 1961 hit “Big Bad John,” the mausoleum will be inscribed with the epitaph “Here lies one hell of a man.” Funeral services are scheduled for June 21st at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Martina McBride Helps YWCA Raise More Than $100,000
This year’s YWCA celebrity auction hosted by Martina McBride raised $102,289 during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Sunday’s event benefited the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The highest bids of the day were two $11,000 offers for handwritten, autographed and framed lyrics for “She’s a Butterfly.” Big Kenny, who co-wrote the song, assisted McBride in the auction. The money raised at this year’s auction is a 29% increase over last year. McBride has hosted the charity auction since 1995.

Tim McGraw Paying Tribute To Cowboys
Tim McGraw has scored a dream gig, performing at a historic NFL event. On September 10th, Tim will sing at a dual-celebration show honoring recent Pro Football Hall of Fame member Emmitt Smith as well as celebrating the Dallas Cowboys’ 50th anniversary. Tim will be the final performer in a three-concert series dubbed “XLV: Live From Cowboy’s Stadium,” which began with his wife, Faith Hill, back in March and also included a sold-out show by Sting last month.
 


 

 

6/15/2010

Artist Of The Day:


Blake Shelton

• Blake Shelton signed a deal with Sony in 1997 and reached the top of the charts in 2001 with “Austin,” the first single from his self-titled debut album. His sophomore effort, “The Dreamer,” appeared in 2003.
• Shelton’s album “Blake Shelton’s Barn & Grill” debuted at No. 3. Released in October 2004, the 11-song collection features the chart-topping “Some Beach” and the Conway Twitty song “Goodbye Time.” “Nobody But Me” peaked at No. 4.
• “Pure BS” includes his hit single “Don’t Make Me.” John Anderson and George Jones sing on “The Last Country Song,” which Shelton co-wrote. The album also includes a cover of Chris Knight’s “It Ain’t Easy Being Me” and Michael Bublé’s “Home.”
• Blake Shelton released his fifth album, “Startin’ Fires,” last year. The first single, “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” became his fifth No. 1. The album also houses the hits “I’ll Just Hold On” and “Bare Skin Rug,” a duet with Miranda Lambert.
• Shelton released a six-song album, “Hillbilly Bone,” earlier this year. It debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart and No. 2 on the Top Country Albums Chart. It also featured the No. 1 one title track with Trace Adkins.
• Blake’s new single, “All About Tonight,” is his first from the second installment of his EP Six Pack series, due in August.
• Official Web site: www.blakeshelton.com
 


Garth Brooks Announces New Concert Dates
Garth Brooks has scheduled a string of additional Las Vegas concert dates for September, October and November. Tickets to the shows at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas go on sale Saturday through Ticketmaster. The new dates are September 10th-12th, October 1st-3rd, October 22nd-24th, November 5th-7th, and November 19th-21st. Tickets for 20 Garth concerts at the Encore Theater for the spring and summer sold out within hours.

Who Faith Hill Thinks Is Hot
You’d think Faith Hill would agree with People magazine that Tim McGraw is the hottest guy in country music. But McGraw tells People his “wife would pick George Strait. She thinks he’s gorgeous! Or Kris Kristofferson.” McGraw says when he and Hill are around Kristofferson, “she can barely speak.” There are 25 stars on People’s list of Country’s Hottest Guys, including Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and George Strait.

Luke Bryan Spills Baby Name
Luke Bryan’s second son is due in August and he will officially be named Tatum Christopher, the singer has revealed. “Tatum is a guy from my hometown, and then my brother’s name was Chris,” Luke tells The Boot. “So then we’ll have Bo and Tate – sounds like two little rednecks!” Bryan’s first son, Thomas Boyer Bryan, was born in March 2008, nearly a year after Bryan and his wife Caroline were married.

Tim McGraw’s ‘Fan Fair’ Fun
Thursday night was a first for Tim McGraw. He says it was the first time he’d played at the new CMA Fest, which he still calls by its previous name, Fan Fair. Tim says it’s the first time he’s “played in this setting in a long, long time.” McGraw taped a CMA Music Fest special that will air September 1st on ABC.
 

Tim, Faith Add Artists, More Tickets For Flood Relief Concert
Additional tickets and artists have been announced for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s June 22nd “Nashville Rising” concert. Proceeds from the concert will benefit flood relief efforts of the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Seats previously reserved for production purposes went on sale to the public yesterday. Toby Keith, who lost nearly all of his touring equipment in last month’s flood, has been added to the lineup. Other additions include Billy Ray Cyrus, Montgomery Gentry, Julie Roberts, Blake Shelton and ZZ Top. Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Miley Cyrus, Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Lady Antebellum Comments On CMA Music Fest
This year wasn’t just another CMA Music Fest. After what middle and west Tennessee went through, with the floods, Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum says, “It took a lot of hard work to pull it all together.” Charles Kelley says the festival was important because “this is Nashville: Music City. And the music needs to keep playing.”

Little Big Town Announces New Music
A new album from Little Big Town is coming in late August. “The Reason Why” will be out with a dozen songs including their current single, “Little White Church.” This will be LBT’s fourth album and first since 2007’s “A Place to Land.”

Jason Aldean Gets His Chesney Experience
Playing at LP Field at the CMA Music Festival was a different kind of experience for Jason Aldean. He says usually only huge stars like Kenny Chesney know what it’s like to play for a stadium full of fans. Aldean says “it’s exciting to go out and play for that many people.” LP Field seats about 68,000 fans.

Taylor Swift Thanks Fans At CMA Music Festival
Fifteen-year-old Aleeshya Broome immediately started crying when she scored the wristband she needed to meet Taylor Swift during the singer’s 13-hour fan party and autograph session. Aleeshya says she found the whole experience “too overwhelming.” In fact, that 13-hour meet-n-greet turned into 15 hours, with over 10,000 fans showing up. The event finally concluded at 11 p.m. [CT] Sunday. Taylor personally greeted 2,000 fans who won the special wristbands for the meet-n-greet. Swift says the marathon meet-n-greet was a way of saying thanks to her fans. She also thanked them from the stage at the CMA Music Fest.

Natalie Maines’ New Buzz Cut
Natalie Maines has pulled another shocker, only this time it wasn’t with her mouth. Maines now sports a buzz cut. She’s been laying low for a while, but now that she and the rest of the Dixie Chicks are on a limited tour, she’s out there front and center onstage with almost no hair.

 


 6/14/2010

 

 

 

Taylor Swift Signs Autographs for 15 Hours at CMA Music Fest

Rascal Flatts Head 'To Appomattox' for HBO Miniseries 

Vince Gill Talks Drop in Radio Airplay

Brad Paisley Charms Crowd at His Outdoor Fan Club Party

 

 

6/16/2010

Artist Of The Day: 

 

 

 6/16/2010

Artist of the Day:

 


Jo Dee Messina

• Jo Dee Messina was singing in clubs with various bands at 13. By 16 she was fronting “The Jo Dee Messina Band,” which included her sister and brother.
• She signed to Curb Records in 1994 with help from friend Tim McGraw, who co-produced her first album, 1996’s “Jo Dee Messina.”
• Jo Dee’s second album, 1998’s “I’m Alright,” made her the first female in the history of Billboard’s Country Singles chart to achieve three consecutive, multi-week No. 1 singles from one album with “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright” and “Stand Beside Me.”
• Jo Dee’s last studio album, “Delicious Surprise,” debuted at No. 1 in 2005. It features “My Give A Damn’s Busted,” “Too Late Too Worry” and “I’m Not Going Down.”
• Jo Dee continues her tour in support of the first of a trilogy of EP’s, “Unmistakable: Love,” which was released earlier this year, “Unmistakable: Drive,” set to drop this summer, and “Unmistakable: Inspiration,” which hits stores later this year. Tour dates are currently scheduled through October 24th in Tacoma, Washington.
• Official Web site: www.jodeemessina.com

A Capitol Fourth For Reba And Darius
Reba McEntire and Darius Rucker will get to see Fourth of July fireworks from the bandstand on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington. They’ll be performing at the annual Independence Day special, “A Capitol Fourth.” McEntire will also be presented with the country’s National Artistic Achievement Award. “A Capitol Fourth” airs live on PBS.

Jimmy Dean Misses Country Music Hall Of Fame Induction
Jimmy Dean died knowing he’d been selected for the Country Music Hall of Fame, but he didn’t get to go to the ceremony. It was planned for this October. His wife says she thinks he was looking forward to it. Dean had tied with Ferlin Husky in voting, so both were selected. Husky’s induction was a few weeks ago, with Billy Sherrill. Jimmy Dean’s induction ceremony was set for October with Don Williams.

CMA Music Festival A Hit
Just weeks after that devastating flood, the CMA Music Festival hit an all-time record. The Country Music Association says all four nights were sold out at LP Field, where the headliners performed Thursday through Sunday. The CMA says this year the estimated daily attendance throughout the festival was 65,000. That compares with 56,000 last year.

Rascal Flatts Headed ‘To Appomattox’ For HBO Miniseries
Rascal Flatts will appear in a miniseries about the Civil War on HBO called “To Appomattox,” lead singer Gary LeVox says. The battle at Appomattox, Virginia, effectively ended the Civil War, as General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant.

NFL Tough Guy Goes Country
Former NFL tough guy Kyle Turley will try his hand at country music. The 10-year NFL veteran had a reputation as a dirty player during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. Turley is hosting a concert showcase in Nashville next month. A video of his debut single, “Another Whiskey,” is airing on YouTube.

Jimmy Dean To Be Interred In Piano-Shaped Mausoleum
Jimmy Dean, who died Sunday at age 81, will be laid to rest in a $350,000 piano-shaped granite mausoleum that he purchased several years ago. The 9 1/2-foot long tomb is located near the banks of the James River on his property in Varina, Virginia. In reference to the lyrics of his 1961 hit “Big Bad John,” the mausoleum will be inscribed with the epitaph “Here lies one hell of a man.” Funeral services are scheduled for June 21st at Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia.

Martina McBride Helps YWCA Raise More Than $100,000
This year’s YWCA celebrity auction hosted by Martina McBride raised $102,289 during the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Sunday’s event benefited the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee. The highest bids of the day were two $11,000 offers for handwritten, autographed and framed lyrics for “She’s a Butterfly.” Big Kenny, who co-wrote the song, assisted McBride in the auction. The money raised at this year’s auction is a 29% increase over last year. McBride has hosted the charity auction since 1995.

Tim McGraw Paying Tribute To Cowboys
Tim McGraw has scored a dream gig, performing at a historic NFL event. On September 10th, Tim will sing at a dual-celebration show honoring recent Pro Football Hall of Fame member Emmitt Smith as well as celebrating the Dallas Cowboys’ 50th anniversary. Tim will be the final performer in a three-concert series dubbed “XLV: Live From Cowboy’s Stadium,” which began with his wife, Faith Hill, back in March and also included a sold-out show by Sting last month.
 

 

 

Dolly Defends Miley

There’s been a lot of criticism recently over Miley Cyrus and her skimpy outfits. When asked about Miley in a recent interview, Dolly Parton defended the young singer. “If you think I’m going to sit here and pass judgment on Miley, you’re wrong,” Parton told “Access Hollywood” when asked about Cyrus’ outfits. “I think she’s beautiful. I love her. She’s trying to grow up, you know. I remember when I was horny and young.” 

 

Trace Adkins, Richard Petty Face Off

Richard Petty and Trace Adkins are going head-to-head in a new campaign for BC Powder and Goody’s Headache Powder. The two icons have started a humorous “rivalry” of one-upmanship about who experiences the toughest pain. Both Adkins and Petty will try to get their fans to pick their team online at www.pickapowder.com to support either Team Richard for Goody’s or Team Trace for BC. The man who gets the most fans to join his team will get to see the other “perform” live at the Goody’s 500 in Martinsville, Virginia, next spring. The campaign will also make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project on behalf of Adkins and BC, and Victory Junction Camp for seriously ill children on behalf of Petty and Goody’s. Fans can vote daily through September 30th and will also be able to participate in various contests for prizes. Winners will be announced in early October.

 

LeAnn Rimes Tweeting About Her Man

LeAnn Rimes is much more open these days about what started out as a controversial relationship with actor Eddie Cibrian. Tabloids said the romance started when both were married to other people, and LeAnn issued several statements saying her personal business was just that – personal. Now, however, LeAnn’s Twitter messages are full of references to her new man. LeAnn tweeted on Friday, “Cried leaving Eddie. I never do that! Super emotional this morning.” About 30 minutes before, LeAnn wrote, “So sad! :( Eddie and I go different places this morning. He goes home to the kiddies while I go wrk. Hate this!” LeAnn also shared that airport security made her check her bag because she had more than one baggie of three-ounce toiletries. “Ahhhh, TSA sucks sometimes,” she tweeted.

 

Jaron’s ‘Getting Dressed In The Dark’ A Hit

Jaron And The Long Road To Love’s freshman album, “Getting Dressed In The Dark,” landed at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The album sold nearly 24,000 copies in its first week, behind only Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.” “Getting Dressed” ranked higher in its inaugural week on the country albums tally than any other title this year from a new act. Jaron attributes the success to the relationship he has with his social media “frans” [part fan/part friend]. His online army grew 700% last month to over 160,000. Jaron’s debut single, “Pray For You,” continues to charge up the charts.

 

Melissa Peterman Sees The Impact Reba Has On Fans

Melissa Peterman is spending the summer working on material for her debut Big Machine comedy album and performing solo stand-up shows across the country. She’s also gearing up to return to the road this fall on the second leg of George Strait and Reba McEntire’s co-headlining arena tour. It was during the spring run of dates on the tour that Melissa saw firsthand the impact her good friend Reba has on fans. “It’s a very big connection. There’s not a lot of artists when you walk away you feel like she really touched you,” says Melissa. “And so much of her music is the soundtrack to lives of people.”  

 


 

 

 

 

Country News:
 
Farm Aid Details
Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews will headline this year’s U.S. music and food festival, organizers said yesterday. The 25th anniversary fundraiser is to take place October 2nd at Miller Park in Milwaukee. More artists will be announced later. The show will be broadcast live on DirecTV. It will mark the first time the fund-raiser for family farmers will be held in a Major League Baseball stadium. Tickets go on sale August 14th.
 
Mellencamp Thinks Willie Should Get A Nobel Peace Prize
John Mellencamp thinks Willie Nelson deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his Farm Aid efforts. Nelson and Mellencamp appeared on a webcast yesterday to announce the 25th edition of Farm Aid. “Whoever does this Nobel Peace Prize business should look at Willie Nelson,” Mellencamp said. “He has helped millions and millions of people and entertained millions and millions of people. It’s 25 years of commitment. Myself and Neil [Young] work from the neck down. Willie is the brains.”
 
Lee Ann Womack On Sad Songs
Lee Ann Womack has a theory why there might be a lot of sad country songs: because life in general is sad. She says “that’s why people feed jukeboxes quarters, to have someone to share the misery with.” Womack says nothing can get to you quite like a sad country song. She says “if you want to feel bad, buddy, put on an old country record. That’ll do it.”
 
Co-Creator Of ‘Hee-Haw’ Dies
The co-creator of “Hee-Haw” has died. John Aylesworth was 81. He died in a hospital near Palm Springs, California, from complications of pneumonia. Years ago, Aylesworth’s producing partner, Frank Peppiatt, had told The Los Angeles Times that they created “Hee-Haw” with its cornball humor in 1969 by combining elements of the top-two shows of the time: “Laugh-In” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Aylesworth and Peppiatt also wrote for “The Andy Williams Show,” “The Jimmy Dean Show,” “The Jonathan Winters Show,” “The Julie Andrews Hour” and “The Sonny and Cher Show.”
 
Fox To Launch American Country Awards
Fox is launching a new country awards show. The American Country Awards will air December 6th live from Las Vegas. The two-hour telecast will be executive-produced by Bob Bain, who runs the network’s Teen Choice Awards. The winners of American Country Awards, as in the Teen Choice Awards, will be determined by fans.
 
Luke Bryan Schedules ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Appearance
Luke Bryan will perform his latest hit, “Rain Is a Good Thing,” during an August 9th appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The performance coincides with his current tour that includes dates this week in Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Colorado. In September, Bryan begins the fall leg of Jason Aldean’s “Wide Open” tour.

 

COUNTRY NEWS:
 
Carrie Underwood Goes Canadian
It looks like Carrie Underwood and her new husband, hockey star Mike Fisher, will make their home in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario. The city is the home to Fisher’s NHL team, the Ottawa Senators. During a recent interview with the National Post, Fisher explained the he has a strong connection to the city and that Underwood is supportive of his desire to stay.
 
Charlie Daniels Band To Release New CD
The Charlie Daniels Band is gearing up to release a new collection of patriotic songs called “Land That I Love.” The full-length release features 15 tracks. Set to drop August 10th, the CD will include new versions of “Iraq Blues” and “(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010.” Other songs include Daniels classics such as “Simple Man,” “This Ain’t No Rag, It’s A Flag,” “In America” and “Still in Saigon.” The Charlie Daniels Band will continue to tour through the end of 2010, kicking off a run of “Sean Hannity Freedom Concert” performances tomorrow in Jackson, New Jersey.
 
 

 

Jimmy Wayne’s Surprise Greetings At Nashville Airport
When Jimmy Wayne arrived at the Nashville airport Tuesday from Phoenix, he thought the only person who would be greeting him would be his drummer who was there to pick him up. Instead, about 60 people were there to surprise Wayne – half of them were foster kids. They cheered and held up homemade signs when they saw Wayne near the baggage claim. Wayne was in a wheelchair because of his broken heel. Jimmy said the first thing he planned to do when he got home was make a cup of coffee and look at his thermostat. He says he was inspired to do his Nashville-to-Phoenix walk when he adjusted his thermostat a little higher and it hit him that homeless kids didn’t have that luxury to keep them warm.
 
Grand Ole Opry’s Opening Date On Track
Flood repairs are on track for the Grand Ole Opry to reopen in two months. The chairman of Gaylord, the company that owns the Opry complex in Nashville, told stockholders that Gaylord’s “team has been working tirelessly, and the restoration process is well underway and going well.” Colin Reed says the company is “confident” they’ll reopen the Grand Ole Opry House on October 1st and Opryland Hotel on November 15th.
 
Jason Aldean Drops ‘My Kinda Party’
Jason Aldean dropped his new single, “My Kinda Party,” yesterday. It’s the first release from his upcoming album, due in the fall. “This song is all about workin’ for the weekend. My fans work hard, so they can rip it up when Saturday rolls around,” says Aldean. “I hope they hear this one and want to turn it up. We put a little extra juice on the electric guitars just for that reason.”
 
‘Invitation Only’ Performers
Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts are among the performers on upcoming episodes of the CMT concert series, “Invitation Only.” Taped before a small studio audience in Nashville, “Invitation Only” features artists performing their biggest hits and new favorites, as well as answering questions from fans during an informal question and answer session. Lambert’s episode will debut on August 23rd. Other new episodes will debut monthly this fall.
 
Joey + Rory Ready ‘Album Number Two’
Joey+Rory are ready with “Album Number Two,” their sophomore disc due September 14th. The disc is the follow-up to their successful debut album “The Life of a Song,” which included the hit “Cheater Cheater.” The new material featured on “Album Number Two” is largely co-written by Rory. He co-wrote the final track and lead single, “This Song’s For You,” with Zac Brown. The song, featuring the Zac Brown Band, is a working man’s anthem and a tip of the hat to country music fans and concert-goers. The writers penned the song on the road and first introduced on the “Breaking Southern Ground” tour. The response prompted a halt to the release of the already completed album until the song was recorded and added. 


 

 

Country News:
 
Mark Wills Hosting ‘3-Gun Nation’
“3-Gun Nation,” a shooting competition that involves a rifle, shotgun and pistol, debuts on Versus-TV Monday, with Mark Wills as host. Mark says, “I am a huge fan of competitive shooting. When Versus approached me to host this exciting show, I was thrilled to get the chance to play around and see some of our nation’s greatest shooters.” The eight-part series will showcase amateur and professional gunslingers alike.
 
HullabaLOU Loses $5 Million
The HullabaLOU Music Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, lost $5 million in its first year. The three-day event at Churchill Downs drew 78,000 people and featured Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam and the Zac Brown Band, along with numerous pop and rock acts including Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews Band. However, the organization cited hot weather, low ticket sales and a declining concert industry as factors in the financial loss, about twice the amount they expected to lose. The company plans to do to a second year of HullabaLOU, but organizers said the timing, length and talent lineup will be reviewed before the 2011 event.
 
Sugarland’s Original Three Members To Reunite In Court
Sugarland’s original three members will reunite in a federal court trial in Atlanta scheduled to begin on November 15th. The trial will determine when the trio’s partnership began and ended, in addition to clarifying the ownership of the band’s trademarked property. Earlier this year, a judge denied lead singer Jennifer Nettles’ request to dismiss the suit, which former member Kristen Hall filed against Nettles and Kristian Bush in 2008. Hall claimed she was owed $1.5 million for being denied her one-third share of the band. Hall left the band at the end of 2005. The trio wrote most of the material on their 2004 debut album, “Twice the Speed of Life.” Hall is also credited as the sole writer on the band’s Top 10 hit, “Just Might (Make Me Believe).”
 
Toby Keith Gets Ready To Rumble
World Wrestling Entertainment has nabbed Toby Keith for guest host of an upcoming episode of their “RAW” series. Toby will take over hosting duties on October 25th, the night after the “Bragging Rights” pay-per-view special from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Toby will help deliver the commentary as well as talk about his new album, “Bullets in the Gun,” due out October 5th.
 
Lineup Announced For CMA Special
Performances by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean and Dierks Bentley are included in the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special taped in Nashville. Also appearing on the show – taped during the June festival and airing September 1st on ABC – are Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Justin Moore, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Uncle Kracker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. Tim McGraw served as host for the annual celebration of America’s music. An expected highlight of the show will be a special performance by Taylor Swift, who premiered her new single, “Mine,” for fans at a top-secret private event in Nashville during CMA Music Festival. The song is the first single from her upcoming album, “Speak Now,” due in stores October 25th.
 
Kenny Chesney Going Bald
Kenny Chesney had a love-hate relationship with his football helmet in high school – because that is where he saw evidence he was going bald. He tells Parade magazine when he was 17 or 18 he’d take his helmet off on the field and he’d see hair in it. Kenny says going bald did bother him in college a little bit. But, it doesn’t bother him now. He says friends of his in their 30s and 40s are just starting to lose their hair “and are freaking out.” But, he says he “went through all that in high school.”
 

 

 

 

Country News:
 
Jerrod Niemann Gets Gold
Jerrod Niemann’s “Lover, Lover” has gone gold. The album that the single is from, “Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury,” will always been known as the one that knocked Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” out of No. 1 on the country album charts in July, even if it was just for one week. It’s still in the top three.
 
Rodney Atkins Releasing Album Through Cracker Barrel
Rodney Atkins will release an expanded version of his 2006 album “If You’re Going Through Hell” through Cracker Barrel stores on September 6th. Titled “Cracker Barrel Presents Rodney Atkins,” the project also includes two additional tracks – his latest single, “Farmer’s Daughter,” and the previously-unreleased “More Like Your Memory (Always Takes Me Back).” The album’s No. 1 hits include “If You’re Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows),” “Watching You,” “These Are My People” and “Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy).” The album was certified platinum in 2007.
 
Kenny Chesney Breaks The Record For Most Downloads
Kenny Chesney has broken his own record for most downloads of a song, with his recent single “The Boys of Fall.” The new track, which has accrued more than 82,000 downloads, is off of his new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” which will hit stores on September 28th. Having the biggest opening-week by a country artist, the single beat out his former record-