Lucky Cowboy Productions is based in Nashville, Tennessee, known to many as Music City, USA.
We support the Country Music industry and promote country
music artists, special events,
music venues, concerts, and other promotions. The Lucky Cowboy website strongly supports Country Music and its happenings. The Lucky Cowboy himself is available for personal appearances at special events to promote artists, company products, and services.
Lucky Cowboy Productions offers:
planning and implementation of promotional services
artist showcases and club entertainment bookings
artist promotions and advertising
consultation for special events, including country music festivals
radio and TV promotions with special appearances by the Lucky Cowboy
country music artist promotions and sweepstakes
artist marketing and booking at venues and special events
club and venue promotions including "spin and win"
complete company sweepstakes programs and drawings
cowgirls models available for artist videos and special events
product/service sampling programs to the general public at events
website promotions, advertising, and marketing on the Lucky Cowboy website
Lucky Cowboy appearances in video productions
much more - let us know what you need!
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The Lucky Cowboy - biography
Who is that crazy cowboy?
Lucky was born at a very young age in the "Land of Lincoln." Alton, Illinois, to be exact, is where old Lucky is from. Alton is famous for its celebrities of stage and screen. Remember Robert Wadlow, the tallest man in the world? How about TV star Clint Walker of "Cheyenne" and Butch Calvey the singer? Alton is also where one of the famous Lincoln/Douglas debates took place, and where Bluff City Beer was made. It seems Lucky was just destined to be a famous person.
In his early years, Lucky appeared at the Madison Avenue Corral in Alton as a live DJ for WOKZ radio. He's been a trapeze artist, a motorcycle stunt rider, and even hosted his own carnival. He was a National Indian Chief for the Boy Scouts of America and managed a scout camp. Lucky spent some time in Minnesota where he still has many country fans.
Nowadays, old Lucky is based in Nashville, TN, Music City USA. Here he founded Lucky Cowboy Productions. You might catch him anywhere in Nashville, or somewhere in the rest of the USA promoting country music. He's even been on the Today Show! But you'll always find him wearing his famous forty gallon orange cowboy hat - you can't miss him wherever he goes.
Lucky's favorite song is "I Feel Lucky." His handprints are on the WE Fest "Walk of Fame," and there's even a ceramic bobblehead doll of Lucky. Yep, you can bet old Lucky will continue to be a star in his own right.
Watch out for Lucky as you might just get "Lucky!" Yeeeeeeeeehaw!!!
Let's Party Like A Cowboy! LUCKY COWBOY Since 1992
Kenny Chesney has received nine nominations for the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards, the most of any artist this year. Chesney’s nominations include “Entertainer of the Year,” “Male Vocalist of the Year,” “Album of the Year” for ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’ (BNA), and “Single of the Year” for “You and Tequila,” his smash duet with Grace Potter. Chesney has received nine ACM Awards to-date, including four consecutive “Entertainer of the Year” awards.
The ACM announcement coincides with the news that the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour, with Chesney and Tim McGraw, has already sold more than 500,000 tickets for what is one of 2012′s biggest tours. The stadium-only tour will be the only cities and venues Kenny plays in 2012.
“It’s an honor to receive so much love from the Academy of Country Music after all they’ve done to support my music over the years,” Chesney said. “I can’t wait to get back on the road with my good friend Tim and throw one big spring break party all summer long.”
Kenny Chesney’s ACM nominations:
Entertainer of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Album of the Year (Artist) – ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’ (BNA) Album of the Year (Producer) – ‘Hemingway’s Whiskey’ (BNA) Single Record of the Year (Artist) – “You And Tequila” Singe Record of the Year (Producer) – “You And Tequila” Song of the Year – “You and Tequila” Vocal Event of the Year (Artist) – “You And Tequila” Vocal Event of the Year (Producer) – “You And Tequila”
SEE ALL THE STARS NOMINATED - CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE January 27, 2012 - TGIF Y'all! It's Friday and it's honky tonk saloon time. Cowgirls, beers and hangovers. What else is there these days? HAVE FUN THIS WEEKEND.
TIM & FAITH TO APPEAR IN HENDERSONVILLE, TN
Faith Hill & Tim McGraw will promote their new Soul2Soul fragrance set with an appearance at ULTRA Beauty, 1032 Glenbrook Way in Hendersonville, TN. next month. The couple will be in the store from 1-3pm on February 4 and will sign photos for the first 200 fans who purchase either one of their new fragrances.
“It’s something we’d been thinking of doing since I started in fragrance with my first scent with Coty in August 2008,” McGraw recently said of the fragrance set. “We always thought it would be cool and a natural progression.” “It’s been a collaborative effort, for both of us, from the beginning” Hill added. “Individually, we have very specific things that we like and dislike, and we just started from that point.”
CALL FOR TICKETS NOW! 615-374-4719 ONLY 500 TO BE SOLD.
We're All For The Hall with Keith Urban & Vince Gill and more! April 10, 2012 at Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn
The show—which will feature performances from an all-star line-up including Keith Urban, Country Music Hall of Fame members Vince Gill and Alabama, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Band Perry, Blue Sky Riders, Diamond Rio, Exile, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Oak Ridge Boys, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts and Thompson Square again promises to be a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime evening of music, friendship and camaraderie.
Tickets on sale to the general public TODAY Friday, January 27th at 10 AM at Bridgestone Arena Box Office, area Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone 800-745-3000 or online.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. January 17, 2012 - Keith Urban has rescheduled a benefit concert for April 10. He had to postpone the third annual "All For The Hall" Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum fundraiser in Nashville on Jan. 18 because he's still recovering from having a polyp removed from a vocal cord late last year. His first return to the stage since mid-November is expected to be on the Feb. 3 Grand Ole Opry. Tickets go on sale Jan. 27. He's raised about $1 million so far for the hall. GET VIVID SEATS TICKETS
APPEARING AT KELLER'S SALOON CASTALIAN SPRINGS, TN Broken Road Band playing at Keller's Saloon Castalian Springs, TN on Saturday January 28 - 9:00pm to 1:00am.VISIT: BROKEN ROAD FACEBOOK CMA MUSIC FEST'S LP FIELD LINEUP IS HEATING UP! It's only January and June is already lookin' HOT! Joining previously announced LP Field performers Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood are Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band. More stars will be announced soon. Tickets are going fast for the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, so get yours today! CMA FEST TICKETS
*COUNTRY STRONG*
WE'RE ALWAYS CROWING ABOUT SOMETHING. WE'RE COUNTRY FRESH and FREE SWEET TEA TOO! We got cold beer, cowgirls and country music.
Our web site is always country fresh with country stars news, country music, special events, tours, Nashville happenings and bold photos. We print the photos big so you can really see your stars. We're always updating (we don't sleep) to give you the best country entertainment on the web. Now, with over 200,000 hits per week. Bookmark us and GET UR' COUNTRY ON!
FRESH COUNTRY NEWS DAILY! Drop us a line or photo, we'd love to hear from you. If we print your photo or email, we'll send you a "Lucky" tee shirt and a "Lucky" photo collector card. Heck, their worth a buck on Ebay.
Where Country Grows!
Hoot an'a Holler then kick yer' boots off! Craving some southern barbeque, sweet tea and some hot country music? Well put on your cowboy hat and boots, say howdy to Music City's only Lucky Cowboy. Southern hospitality and all the country music stuff you can handle. So ya’ll come on down to Nashville, get roped up and get ready to meet Lucky Cowboy. We'll have a barrel of fun. This is where country grows. We'll rodeo till the cows come home, then stop for some bisquits and gravy.
LIVE FROM NASHVILLE 24 HOURS A DAY
Listen to REAL COUNTRY RADIO while you view Luckycowboy
“Want to showcase your product to our audience? Then check our advertising options.” EMAIL US: Lucky@Luckycowboy.com
MONTGOMERY GENTRY'S NEW VIDEO “WHERE I COME FROM” The video opens with a battlefield scene with a wounded soldier laying on the ground. While his fellow soldiers try to rescue him, he is having flashbacks and memories of his beloved hometown. “Where I Come From” is the lead single from Montgomery Gentry's new album, Rebels On The Run, released on their new label home, Average Joes Entertainment, Nashville. For More information on Montgomery Gentry, visit www.montgomerygentry.com. WATCH THIS VIDEO!
SUGARLAND & ZAC BROWN BAND TO STURGIS 2012 Sugarland will be performing again at this year’s Sturgis Rally along with Zac Brown Band, who will take the stage at Sturgis for the first time in their career. Sturgis Rally will take place August 3-12 at the Buffalo Chip Campground Sturgis, South Dakota.
Ronnie Dunn's newest music video "Let The Cowboy Rock" premiere. Be sure to visit www.RonnieDunn.com and "Let The Cowboy Rock." This is Ronnie's 3rd single off his solo debut album Ronnie Dunn.
JANUARY 31 AT TIN ROOF NASHVILLE Performing: The Cordovas, Eric Paslay, Josh Hoge, Dustin Lynch, Coldwater Jane.
FOLLOW LUCKY COWBOY ON TWITTER LATEST BREAKING COUNTRY NEWS GET LUCKY TWEETS AS IT HAPPENS LUCKY COWBOY TWITTER
COUNTRY GIRL: That's how we do it in Dixie!
NEW VIDEO: LAUREN ALAINA "GEORGIA PEACHES"
ENTER LUCKY SWEEPS TODAY TO WIN! WIN TRIP TO SEE TAYLOR SWIFT IN NEW ZELAND. LUCKY SWEEPSTAKES
VIDEO: TOBY KEITH "RED SOLO CUP" (UNEDITED VERSION)
VIDEO: THIRSTY FOR BEER - "Hell Yes I Like Beer"
Get UR Country On!
Hot Times & Cool Country
Let's have a Jim Beam and cola!
What is a Cowboy?
A Cowboy would be your typical, dirty, horse riding type. He drank until he fell over; fought everyone around him, rode a horse everywhere, pushed cattle around the county, and was a lonely soul. But in the Twentieth Century, he has stepped up and has become a symbol of the true Cowboy, not only with jeans, but work jackets and other apparel. T-shirts replaced button up shirts, having symbols of Hunting, Fishing, Outdoors, and Rodeo pictures. Cowboy boots were replaced with work, or hiking, boots.
The Cowboy traded in his horse, for a mass-produced American 4X4. The Ford pickup truck, has become synonymous to the Cowboy. Country music had reached its peak. Shirts, vests, dusters, chaps, spurs, and anything Cowboy was in. The Music industry changed how all Cowboys dressed due to singers such as Garth Brooks and the group Brooks and Dunn. Button up shirts now became colorful.
Cowboys now smoked (Marlboro country was born), dipped (Copenhagen cans were in every Cowboys pocket, Copenhagen belt buckles became a rage as well)(a worn area in the back pocket of the jeans become a symbol of a true Cowboy), and were wearing typical 'Rodeo' apparel. Cowboys were now wearing 10X felt Stetsons and $150 custom button up shirts. 'Cowboy Up' becomes the calling card for all Cowboys. This meant it was time for the Cowboy to mount up on the bull and get ready to ride.
Another way of thinking was it was time to toughen up and bear down and get it done. Winchester rifles have been an important part of the history of the Cowboy, even in today's day and age. Their 30/30 lever action is a symbolic Cowboy icon. Ropes and Stirrups have been replaced with Cell phones and Sunglasses. The Cowboys' of the 21st century had a wild ride. And now there's Lucky Cowboy in Nashville, Tennessee still playing cowboy and cowgirls at his age. YIPPIE-YI-O-KI-YAY!
TIM TEBOW'S GIRLFRIEND IS "FULL OF COUNTRY" Tim Tebow you sure are a "Lucky Man."
NEW VIDEO: KEITH URBAN "YOU GONNA FLY"
EXCLUSIVE PREMEIER NEW VIDEO: NEAL MCCOY "A-OK"
Taylor Swift on a rainy day London U.K.(Jan. 24) Taylor took time out of her busy schedule while in London to visit the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park. Normally full of smiles, Taylor was in a reflective mood as she quietly listened to music as she viewed the iconic London landmark. As she walked around in the rain with a giant umbrella, the country music star fed the swans and greeted fans.
Taylor Swift poses with fans outside the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 20, 2012.
Ethel Skakel Kennedy, second from left (wife of former attorney general and senator Robert Kennedy), subject of the documentary film Ethel, joins her daughter Rory, far left, also the film’s director, Rory’s husband, Mark Bailey, singer Taylor Swift and Rory and Mark’s daughters Georgia, second from right, and Bridget at the premiere of the film at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Taylor Swift in London Jan. 23 to discuss filming of Les Miserables which she will star in.
Lucky & Bucky invite you to Keller's Saloon Castalian Springs, TN April 7. It will be one hellava night. Curtis & Luckey and The Chili Chicks will be on hand too for some great entertainment. Call 625-374-4719 for tickets.
"Let's get this party started." LUCKY MEAT & GREET A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
"Here For A Good Time"
"Real cowboys don't line dance. Some rope calves, some throw steers, some ride bulls, I chase cowgirls. I'm A Lucky Man!"
Lucky Sez: "Country Girls Shake That Thing." "I've got these young fillies wantn to shake it up at the Cadillac Ranch and weer gona bring that joint to its nees."
Lucky Sez: "If you want to be a Lucky Cowgirl......Boots, chaps and cowboy hat is all that's required, nothing else matters."
"Hell Yes She Likes Beer."
COUNTRY DANCE WORLD CHAMPIONS "THE CHILI CHICKS" Catch the Chili Chicks at Keller's Saloon Castalian Springs, TN on April 7 6:30pm. Visit them at: THE CHILI CHICKS
"You can come as you are, there ain't no dress code. Just some rural-route rules that you need to know. Don't mess with the bull, he can get real mean. Don't forget to shut the gate, stay out of the beans. Oh and leave your guns at the bar." Enjoy the Jim Beam!
Lucky Cowboy Sez: "Pour Some Sugar On Me."
TOP COUNTRY SINGLES JANUARY 22, 2012 (Billboard) These are the Top 10 Lucky Cowboy Country Singles now playing radio. The chart is updated weekly based on data from Billboard and country radio. These are top singles on the chart, not albums.
1 LUKE BRYAN - I Don't Want This Niight To End 2 CHRIS YOUNG - You 3 ERIC CHURCH - Drink In My Hand 4 THE BAND PERRY - All Your Life 5 KENNY CHESNEY - Reality 6 KEITH URBAN - You Gonna Fly 7 DAVID NAIL - Let It Rain 8 MARTINA MCBRIDE - I'm Gonna Love You Through It 9 DIERKS BENTLEY - Home 10 TOBY KEITH - Red Solo Cup
FEBRUARY STARS BIRTHDAYS
FEB. 02 BLAINE LARSEN FEB. 03 JESSICA HARP FEB. O4 CLINT BLACK FEB. 05 SARA EVANS FEB. 06 ANITA COCHRAN FEB. 07 GARTH BROOKS FEB. 09 TRAVIS TRITT FEB. 09 DANNI LEIGH FEB. 17 BRYAN WHITE FEB. 21 MARY CHAPIN CARPENTIER FEB. 21 ERIC HEATHERLY FEB. 24 SAMMY KERSHAW FEB. 24 EMMA JACOB FEB. 26 THE LATE JOHNNY CASH
TAYLOR SWIFT, CMA'S ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Still Writing for Next Album
Taylor Swift wins her second trophy for CMA Entertainer of the Year Nov. 9, 2011 in Nashville.
Taylor Swift is still writing songs for her next album, she told reporters backstage at the CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday night (Nov. 9). Shortly after winning her second trophy for entertainer of the year, Swift told the press, "With this next album, I am so excited because I am writing so much. We're still in the first year of making it, so I'm kind of seeing ideas as I finish songs. And as we demo them up in my producer's basement, I can picture them being played on the stage. It's such a fun, daydreamy job to have. You spend so much of your time daydreaming about the future, and it's such a blast to call that your career." Swift's latest album, Speak Now, was released in October 2010.
Swift, who won the entertainer of the year award in 2009, has toured relentlessly following last year's release of her Speak Now album. "I'm so happy right now!" she told the crowd. "Thanks to all the fans who filled up those stadiums and arenas all over the world this year. ... This is amazing!
"One of my favorite things about this year is the camaraderie between all these artists that I just make a phone call and I say, 'Hey, do you want to come sing with me.' And there were a lot of artists who showed up and, just out of the goodness of their heart, came out and performed for the fans at my shows. And I'd like to thank those artists, and I need to remember all of them -- Tim McGraw, Justin Bieber, Hot Chelle Rae, Nicki Minaj, Ronnie Dunn, Haley Williams, T.I., Shawn Colvin, Switchfoot, B.o.B., Tal Bachman, Kenny Chesney, Jason Mraz, Ellen DeGeneres, Andy Grammer, Jimmy Eat World and Usher. Thank you for coming out and playing for my fans. I'm so happy we had so many to play for this year. You have made my year. Thank you so much!"
FULL LIST OF CMA AWARDS 2011 WINNERS
Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland New Artist of the Year: The Band Perry Album of the Year: My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean Single of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry Song of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry Video of the Year: "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert Musical Event of the Year: "Don't You Wanna Stay," Jason Aldean featuring Kelly Clarkson Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally, guitar Music Video of the Year: "You and Tequila," Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
LUCKY COWBOY COUNTRY NEWS JANUARY 26, 2012 NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
RICK MONROE SIGNS RECORD DEAL WITH L.A./NASHVILLE BASED RENDER RECORDS
Nashville, TN (January 25, 2012) - Country Music Singer/Songwriter Rick Monroe has inked an exclusive recording deal with Nashville based Render Records, it was announced today by Render's Steve Freeman. All combined, the Render Records team is responsible for more than 10 Billboard #1 records, countless Top 40 singles and over 10 million units sold to date. Render currently works or has worked with some of the largest companies and most influential people in television, music and film. Render Records Artists represent a span of the globe from South Alabama to South Africa and include a diverse variety of musical genres from Country to Rock to Christian Contemporary to Hip Hop.
Of the new agreement, Steve Freeman said, "When it came time for us to sign an act that we could send to the country audience, I didn't have to look far, I knew exactly who I wanted to associate our brand with, Rick Monroe. We are very excited that Rick is joining the Render family. We are currently in the studio recording Rick's debut project for the label and are hoping to release his first single (Crazy Not To) to country radio in late February."
Rick Monroe added, "I am absolutely thrilled to be working with a forward thinking company like Render Records. With the rapid speed at which the music business is changing and evolving these days, being signed to a label that really 'gets it' from every angle is invaluable. And having talented, entrepreneurs, writers/musicians at the helm certainly allows for the perfect creative and open environment where artistry comes first and hard work is rewarded." Visit: www.Rickmonroe.com
GARTH BROOKS HAS A HIT IN COURT An Oklahoma hospital has been ordered to return the $500,000 the country-music superstar donated in his late mother's name after he accused officials of funneling it out to projects other than the women's health center Brooks earmarked the money for. And that's not all. A jury also awarded Brooks $500,000 in punitive damages after ruling that IntegrisCanadian Valley Regional Hospital was in breach of its contract with the "Friends in Low Places" singer. "Obviously we are disappointed, particularly with the jury's decision to award damages above and beyond the $500,000," said hospital spokesman Hardy Watkins. "We're just glad to see the case come to a resolution." Brooks grew emotional while testifying last week, saying that a women's health center was the perfect legacy for his mother, Colleen Brooks, who died of cancer in 1999.
BRAD PAISLEY TEBOWING IN DENVER
Denver Broncos Tim Tebow, sings with Brad Paisley “Still A Guy” at Denver show.
Tim Tebow is still a guy. That much we know. But what I don't know is if Brad Paisley Tebowed before he sang a duet with the Denver Broncos quarterback on Saturday night (Jan. 21) in Denver. Tebow came out onstage, much to the crowd's delight, to sing Paisley's funny-but-manly "I'm Still a Guy." The tweets that followed included Paisley saying, "me and @TimTebow, probably not gonna be nominated for musical Duo of the year, but you never know" and "Still a guy has never been so exciting. Or quite so beautifully offkey." And Tebow himself tweeted, "Had a great time last night @BradPaisley! I won't quit my day job and you keep shopping at Baby Gap haha!" There's no word if Paisley ever did Tebow before or after the duet (which means getting down on one knee to pray, often with head in hand), but I'm sure it was the best part of the concert regardless. _CMT
TIM MCGRAW'S 'EMOTIONAL TRAFFIC' ALBUM EARNING HIGH PRAISE Country music superstar and “Artist of the Decade” Tim McGraw’s 11th studio album Emotional Traffic is being praised by music critics and fans across the country. With Rolling Stone saying, “His 11th LP is his most assured, with a dozen sharp songs about middle-American struggles.”
“I’m profoundly proud of this album, and I’m extremely happy to finally be able to share this with the fans, especially the ones who came out to see us on the Emotional Traffic tour last summer,” said McGraw. “We’re getting ready for the Brothers of The Sun tour, and I can’t wait to share some new music and create some truly memorable nights together this year.”
This June, McGraw will kick off what is anticipated to be the biggest stadium tour in country music history with old friend Kenny Chesney. The ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour will reunite McGraw and Chesney for the first time in 10 years. The 20-city tour kicks off on June 2 in Tampa and will hit the nation’s biggest stadiums through August. Next up on McGraw’s schedule is an Australian arena tour with wife Faith Hill. For more information and a full list of tour dates, visit www.timmcgraw.com
CARRIE UNDERWOOD NEW SINGLE "GOOD GIRL" Carrie Underwood has a new single! Officially announced earlier this week, the song “Good Girl” will be released to country radio next month as the first single from Carrie’s upcoming fourth album, set for release this spring. Carrie co-wrote “Good Girl” with writers Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley, and for those of you who are avid readers of album credits, you may recognize Ashley’s name as a co-writer on two of Carrie’s earlier chart-toppers: “All-American Girl” and “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.” Carrie says she’s thrilled to have a new single on the way, and she promises, it’s rockin’! WATCH THE VIDEO:
WILLIE NELSON, LYLE LOVETT & JOHN HIATT SCHEDULED FOR NASHVILLE SYMPHONY DATES Nashville Symphony has added two special new performances to Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s calendar, and tickets for both will go on sale Friday, January 27 at 10 AM. Tickets can be purchased at www.nashvillesymphony.org, at the Schermerhorn box office or phone at 615-687-6400.
First on the calendar is a double-your-fun evening with singer/songwriters Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt on Tuesday, March 13 at 7 PM. The artists won’t perform with symphonic accompaniment on this date, but the intimate acoustic evening will feature them trading songs and stories from their years in music.
Further down the road is Willie Nelson, with accompaniment by the Nashville Symphony. That takes place Tuesday, June 5 at 7 PM. The country icon will perform selections from the many periods of his career, including his recent release American Classic.
BILLY CURRINGTON ANNOUNCES FIRST HEADLINING TOUR
Billy Currington is scheduled to kick off his first headlining tour on Mar. 24 in Biloxi, MS. Currington, who recently started work on his fifth studio album, has announced eleven dates in major cities including San Antonio, Knoxville, and Charlotte. UMG Nashville labelmates David Nail and Kip Moore will be joining him on the road. Fans can go to www.billycurrington.com to get more information about on-sales and an up-to-date tour itinerary.
2012 Billy Currington Tour:
Mar 24 – Biloxi, MS – Hard Rock Live Apr 13 – San Antonio, TX – Cowboy’s Dance Hall Apr 20 – Kingston, ON – K-Rock Centre Apr 21 – Orillia, ON – Casino Rama Apr 27 – Huntington, WV – Big Sandy Arena Apr 28 – Knoxville, TN – Civic Auditorium May 03 – Lowell, MA – Tsongas Arena May 04 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre May 17 – Asheville, NC – NC Civic Center May 18 – Charlotte, NC – Uptown Amphitheatre May 19 – Rome, GA – Rome River Jam
TAYLOR SWIFT ONE BUSY GIRL THIS WEEK
Taylor Swift attended the Sundance Film Festival screen of 'Ethel' in Park City, Utah.
It’s been a busy few days for superstar Taylor Swift! Late last week, Swift appeared at the Sundance Film Festival where she attended the screening of Ethel, a new HBO documentary about Ethel Kennedy. Swift has formed an unlikely friendship with the famous family in recent months and has even gone so far as to write a song about them.
Taylor Swift filmed promo spots with L.L. Cool J. for the Annual Grammy Awards
After leaving Sundance, Swift headed to L.A. where she filmed promos for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards with show host L.L. Cool J. The GRAMMYs are less than three weeks away and will air on CBS on Sunday, February 12.
Taylor Swift in London Jan. 23 to discuss filming of Les Miserables which she will star in.
Swift then crossed-the-pond as she headed from L.A. to London, U.K. where she was spotted arriving at her hotel and then later on at the offices of theater producer Cameron Mckintosh. Swift is set to star in the Mckintosh-produced film adaptation of Les Miserables, which is tenatively scheduled for a December 2012 release.
Taylor also visit the kids at a Ronald McDonald House earlier this week.
Earlier this month, during a separate business trip to L.A., Swift was spotted dining (and reportedly flirting!) with actor Zac Efron. While gossip outlets were quick to report that the couple may be dating, friends close to the pair dismissedthe rumor. The two have been friends for a long time and were just enjoying dinner after doing promos for The Lorax, a new film in which they co-star.
The jet-setting mega-star has plenty of time to work on film projects and her new album, reportedly being released this fall, as her next scheduled tour date isn’t until March when her “Speak Now World Tour” heads to Australia.
LEE BRICE ESCAPES TOUR BUS FIRE IN ARIZONA MESA, Arizona January 22, 2012 — A tour bus carrying country music star Lee Brice caught on fire outside a restaurant in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa Arizona forcing the musician and his crew to flee. Reports that the group had been on the road for nine hours when the bus caught on fire Saturday. The "Love Like Crazy" singer had a concert set at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill in Mesa on Saturday.
Mesa firefighter Shaun Denman says crews worked quickly to keep the fire from spreading to a trailer behind the bus. He says the flames were "about as high as the roof of the building." Brice says he and a few other people were asleep at the time. He says they left the bus "and within of minutes it was in flames." He says he's thankful no one was hurt.
RASCAL FLATTS TO RECEIVE ARTIST HUMANITARIAN AWARD Rascal Flatts have been named the recipient of the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award to be presented at Country Radio Seminar in Nashville on Feb. 22. The award was created in 1990 to honor country artists who have exhibited exceptional humanitarian efforts during their career. Past recipients include Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels, among others. Band members Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney have been active in charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout their career. In 2010, they donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt's Pediatric Surgery Center in Nashville. They currently serve as celebrity spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the past seven years. Country Radio Seminar, a private event attracting radio programmers and personalities from throughout the nation, takes place Feb. 22-24 at the Nashville Convention Center.
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) TO ANNOUNCE NOMINEES On Thursday, January 26, the ACM will host the first-ever ACM digital press conference (also hosted by CBS Television and dick clark productions) via the ACM social media channels, www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic and www.twitter.com/ACMAwards. The press conference will announce the nominees for the 47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.
LUKE BRYAN & ERIC CHURCH TO HEADLINE FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE LAS VEGAS MARCH 30-31 Luke Bryan and Eric Church will headline the Fremont Street Experience during ACM Awards Weekend March 30-31. Luke will headline Friday, March 30, and Eric on March 31. The concerts will be part of ‘The Week Vegas Goes Country’ leading up to the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
For the sixth year in a row, the ACM will hold free and open-to-the-public concerts starting at 6:30 p.m. on two stages in downtown Las Vegas. The weekend-long party is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and features performances by headliners and emerging artists. Show times, additional performers and stage locations will be announced soon.
PHIL VASSAR'S NEW SINGLE "DON'T MISS YOUR LIFE" IS ON FIRE ON THE AIR-WAVES Phil Vassar is no stranger to country radio or their legions of listeners, as he has topped the country charts on numerous occasions both as a writer and artist. And now, his latest single, “Don’t Miss Your Life,” is exploding at country radio, Facebook and Twitter even before it has been officially released. “I wrote this song on a plane recently, when I was really missing my family and especially my two daughters,” said Phil. “The response we’re receiving from country radio and from fans has been absolutely incredible. I am always amazed when a song touches people like this.” “Don’t Miss Your Life” is on your radio now. The single debuted at #1 on Play MPE’s Top 5 Download and Top 5 Streaming charts this week. The single can be heard at www.PhilVassar.com and is currently available at iTunes.
KELLIE PICKLER'S NEW ALBUM "100 PROOF" IS JUST THAT! Kellie Pickler has reached back to her country roots and provided fans with an album that’s reminiscent of the days when you didn’t have to wonder whether you were hearing country music on a country radio station or a pop radio station. It may have taken three tries, but 100 Proof has definite potential to rocket Pickler’s career into new territory.
100 Proof leaves no doubt about the type of music that Kellie Pickler wants to make. Pickler’s fans should be extremely happy with the way she has opened up and written such personal stories, but it’s her ability to perfectly execute all eleven songs that will garner her a wider fan base with this album. This is definitely the most ‘country’ album that any previous American Idol contender has made thus far. So if you know anything about true love, lost love, less than perfect families and/or independent women and you like traditional country music, try this album out, you won’t be disappointed.
JASON ALDEAN BREAKING ATTENDANCE RECORDS Breaks Attendance Records During First Weekend of 2012 Tour
Multiple GRAMMY nominee Jason Aldean kicked off the 2012 leg of his “My Kinda Party Tour” with a sold-out first run in Greenville, SC, Fayetteville, NC and Orlando, FL this weekend. Each of those shows set new attendance records for the arenas. Fellow Georgia natives Luke Bryan and Lauren Alaina joined Aldean, with DeeJay Silver returning to the tour to keep the party going between sets with his signature rock and country mixes. Due to overwhelming demand for this final leg of the “My Kinda Party Tour,” the new production features a 360-degree configuration that allows fans who couldn’t get tickets before to purchase a view from the rear of the stage. The 2012 “My Kinda Party Tour” is an extension of the record-breaking 2011 leg that sold one million tickets across the country last year.
BRAD PAISLEY 'VIRTUAL REALITY TOUR' SELLING OUT SHOWS
Brad Paisley’s “Virtual Reality World Tour 2012″ presented by Chevrolet had another exciting weekend with three sold-out shows in Kansas City, Wichita, KS and Denver, CO. Special guests on the tour are CMA New Artist of the Year The Band Perry and 2011 “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery.
BRAD PAISLEY TEBOWING IN DENVER
Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos quarterback, sings with Brad Paisley “Still A Guy” at Denver show.
Tim Tebow is still a guy. That much we know. But what I don't know is if Brad Paisley Tebowed before he sang a duet with the Denver Broncos quarterback on Saturday night (Jan. 21) in Denver. Tebow came out onstage, much to the crowd's delight, to sing Paisley's funny-but-manly "I'm Still a Guy." The tweets that followed included Paisley saying, "me and @TimTebow, probably not gonna be nominated for musical Duo of the year, but you never know" and "Still a guy has never been so exciting. Or quite so beautifully offkey." And Tebow himself tweeted, "Had a great time last night @BradPaisley! I won't quit my day job and you keep shopping at Baby Gap haha!" There's no word if Paisley ever did Tebow before or after the duet (which means getting down on one knee to pray, often with head in hand), but I'm sure it was the best part of the concert regardless. _CMT
Paisley, band and crew then headed to San Francisco to perform during the halftime of the NFC Championship game between the 49ers and New York Giants. Military personnel were treated to on-field access for the performance and the 49ers cheerleaders performed a dance routine during Paisley’s current single “Camouflage.” The Virtual Reality Tour continues this week with shows in Boise, ID, Salt Lake City, UT and Las Vegas NV. Live Nation is the national tour promoter. Log on to www.bradpaisley.com for tour dates and information.
Trace Adkins announced the “Songs & Stories Tour,” this week which will visit many of America’s most beautiful theaters this Spring. These intimate evenings of powerful performances will incorporate stories, both humorous and meaningful, that pay homage to Adkins’ working-man roots and rich musical heritage. Tickets for March dates go on sale to the public on Friday (1/27), more dates are expected to be added. Inspiration for the “Songs & Stories Tour” came as Trace released his 10th studio album, Proud To Be Here, last summer with a “CMT Invitation Only” special. The special featured new hits “Just Fishin’” and “Million Dollar View,” a Q&A session and the most-loved songs from Adkins’ twenty year career. The taping was so fun for Trace and his guests that he began laying plans for a tour.
“I’ve had many narrow escapes and blessings in my life,” Adkins says. “The right song at the right time has been my saving grace and that’s something I have in common with the audience. Sharing meaningful songs, stories and some laughs ‘around the campfire’ is the Country music tradition and I’m looking forward to it.” Fans can share their own stories, questions and the songs that have inspired or shaped their lives on the Songs & Stories page at www.traceadkins.com.
SONGS & STORIES TOUR DATES 2012 (More to be added):
Mar 08 Des Moines IA Mar 09 Kansas City MO Mar 10 Peoria IL Mar 15 Milwaukee WI Mar 16 Rochester MN Mar 17 Grand Forks ND Mar 22 Birmingham AL Apr 12 Ashland KY Apr 14 Toledo OH Apr 19 Spartanburg SC Apr 20 Charlotte NC Apr 21 Louisville KY Apr 25 Denver CO Apr 27 Salinas KS Apr 28 Tulsa OK May 03 N. Charleston SC May 04 Savannah GA May 10 Davenport IA May 11 South Bend IN May 12 Memphis TN May 17 Atlanta GA
AMERICAN IDOL 2012 OFF TO A COUNTRY START Lucky Cowboy sez: "Keep an eye on Stephanie Renae - Only 15. She's a hit already!" Stephanie Renae just turned 15 and just in time to make American Idol auditions. The first show she did a grown-up version of Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven," and she did it well. Her song choice on the country side went well with the judges and she's GOING TO HOLLYWOOD! Stephanie Renae, an Orange Park, Florida student and only 15 is going to Hollywood American Idol 2012 auditions. She should do well with the American public casting votes and she will go far.
STEPHANIE RENAE WOWS AMERICAN IDOL JUDGES SEASON 11 American Idol Season 11's Hollywood Week will include 15-year-old Stephanie Renae, who wowed Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez. WATCH THE VIDEO AND YOU JUDGE.
Stephanie Renae - Inside Your Heaven - American Idol 2012 - Savannah AudItions
NASHVILLE TO GET NEW THEME PARK - GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT & DOLLY PARTON
On her birthday, Dolly Parton partnered with Gaylord Entertainment Co. to announce what they say will be a gift to Nashville: a new water-and-snow amusement park near Gaylord's Opryland hotel.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. January 19, 2012 - Gaylord Entertainment Co. and Dolly Parton have announced plans today to build a water-and-snow theme park near Gaylord's Opryland hotel. The facility, to be located on 129 acres across Briley Parkway from the Hotel, would be a water park during warmer months and would manufacture snow in colder months. The new park will open no later than the spring of 2014, with a hope of employing up to 450 people and drawing 500,000 visitors in the first year. Herschend Family Entertainment, Parton's partner in the Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., also lists Stone Mountain Park as one of its properties.
There will be two distinct areas next door to each other: a 27-acre water park and a winter park about half that size. Conceptual plans include several slides and pools and a lazy river in the water portion, and a pair of snow runs in the winter park. An additional 39 acres would be available for future expansion. Each area will have its own attractions.
Officials hope to begin construction by early next year and open the park in time for the 2014 summer season. Admission prices haven’t been determined. The water park likely will operate from May to September, with the snow park possibly opening as early as before Thanksgiving and operating as late as March. The operating seasons will vary, depending on the weather.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD, STEVEN TYLER TOGETHER FROM CMT CROSSROADS SPECIAL PEPSI SUPER BOWL FAN JAM Country superstar Carrie Underwood is teaming up with rocker Steven Tyler for a special “CMT Crossroads” the night before Super Bowl XLVI. CMT Crossroads special airing live from Indianapolis on Feb. 4, the night before Super Bowl XLVI AT 11:00 PM CT on CMT. Fan Jam will take place at the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. The concert is a private event. Tyler and Underwood previously performed together in 2011 at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The duo brought the arena crowd to its feet and wowed millions of viewers at home performing Underwood's No. 1 song "Undo It" followed by Aerosmith's "Walk This Way."
TOOTSIES ORCHID LOUNGE LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 25 BEST NIGHTCLUBS AROUND THE WORLD NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tootsies Orchid Lounge on Broadway is known as the world's most famous honky tonks, and now it can add another on its list of honors. Complex magazine has deemed Tootsies Orchid Lounge one of the 25 best nightclubs of all time. Steve Smith, owner of Tootsies Orchid Lounge, told Nashville's News 2, "Today, you got Randy Houser and Jamey Johnson. They'll come in and get on stage. We had Kenny Chesney about a year ago, get up on stage and hang out." Tootsies opened in the 1960s, and Smith bought it in the early 90s. At Tootsies, it's clear the focus is keeping the history alive. Instead of modern décor, the walls are lined with autographed pictures of county legends, many of whom have enjoyed a beverage or two at the bar. Tootsies ranks number 21 on the list of top nightclubs from around the world. Visit tootsies.net.
TAYLOR SWIFT ATTENDS SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Making her debut visit to the annual rocky mountains cinema showcase, Taylor Swift attended the Artist at the Table Dinner and Discussion during Day One of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Thursday night (January 19). With the gathering taking place at The Shop, the "Mine" singer joined alongside filmmaker Rory Kennedy - as she's in town to attend Friday's screening of Rory's Ethel Kennedy focused HBO documentary titled "Ethel".
During her evening at the Artist at the Table Dinner and Discussion, Miss Swift also mingled with Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford, Executive Director Keri Putnam and Vice-chair Pat Mitchell, as well as fellow musicians such as Mary J Blige, Kendrick Scott, Shoree Boyd, and Derrick Hodge.
Taylor Swift mingled with Sundance Institute President and Founder Robert Redford January 19, 2012.
As for her attachment to the Kennedy's, Taylor spoke with Vogue magazine's February 2012 issue about how meeting Ethel and Caroline Kennedy was the only time that she’s ever been starstruck in her life. “I got to spend the afternoon with Ethel a couple of weeks ago,” the 22-year-old dished. “She is one of my favorites because you look back at the pictures of her and Bobby and they always look like they are having the most fun out of everybody. You know, eleven kids, all these exotic animals on their property. I’ve read a lot about them.”
TAYLOR'S RUMORED BOYFRIEND ZAC EFRON If Zac Efron. 24, fancies Taylor Swift, 22, he has a very strange way of showing it. The High School Musical star and the country music pop star were romantically linked earlier this week after enjoying an intimate dinner. The pair allegedly arrived at an Italian restaurant and 'were deep in conversation and very giggly' earlier this week. However, while Taylor was alone, networking at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Zac was out partying with Ashley Tisdale.
RASCAL FLATTS TO RELEASE 'CHANGED' APRIL 3 Country music supergroup Rascal Flatts announced that they will release Changed, their highly-anticipated seventh studio album, on April 3. Award-winning musician Dann Huff co-produced the new project with Flatts. The trio recorded the new album, which they call their strongest album yet, at the home of member Jay DeMarcus. “We actually cut the whole thing at Jay’s house. Watch for it April 3!
KELLIE PICKLER '100 PROOF' RELEASE AND TV APPEARANCES Singer-songwriter Kellie Picker will release her third album, 100 Proof, on Tuesday, January 24. Pickler is gearing up for multiple television appearances in support of the release. On Wednesday, January 25, she’ll perform on ABC’s “Good Morning America” and on Friday, January 27, she’ll perform on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The 11 song album, which features 6 co-penned by Pickler, showcases the North Carolina native’s country roots. It’s already receiving rave reviews from critics. The album hits stores Tuesday Jan. 25.
AMERICAN IDOL 2012 OFF TO A COUNTRY START
Lucky Cowboy sez: "Keep an eye on Stephanie Renae - Only 15. She's a hit already!" Stephanie Renae just turned 15 and just in time to make American Idol auditions. The first show she did a grown-up version of Underwood's "Inside Your Heaven," and she did it well. Her song choice on the country side went well with the judges and she's GOING TO HOLLYWOOD! Stephanie Renae, an Orange Park, Florida student and only 15 is going to Hollywood American Idol 2012 auditions. She should do well with the American public casting votes and she will go far. Lauren Mink from Kentucky was another hopeful snd she did "Country Strong," from the Gwyneth Paltrow/Tim McGraw film of the same name. "You sure are," said judge Steven Tyler after she ended on the lyric, "'Cause I'm country strong." She also said Sugarland is her favorite band. So we are off to a great country start on IDOL.
KID ROCK GETS INTO "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" AT TRAVIS TRITT SHOW
DETROIT January 17, 2012 - So, as you may have heard, Kid Rock was in the news this past weekend for lighting up a cigar when he shouldn't have. But I think there's a bigger story here. And that's that he was doing it at a Travis Tritt show. I guess Kid Rock and pal Uncle Kracker wanted to see the show, so they joined the roughly 1,000 people there. I love that Kid Rock loves Tritt enough to go to a show when he comes to his hometown. Tritt has always had kind of a Southern rock sound and had some of the same lyrical themes as the Detroit rocker. So I can see why Kid Rock wanted to take in this acoustic show. It was on Friday night (Jan. 13) at the Andiamo Celebrity Showroom in Warren, Mich. Now, Michigan has a statewide ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. And Kid Rock has since apologized, saying,"My most sincere apologies to the patrons I may have offended and a big middle finger in advance to all the haters and attorneys who will try somehow to find an easy paycheck in this." So maybe he had the best of intentions.
GRAMMY NOMINATIONS PARTY HELD IN NASHVILLE NASHVILLE, TENN January 17, 2012 - Grammy nominees celebrated in Nashville. Stars including Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Brandon Heath, Dave Barnes, Steven Curtis Chapman, TobyMac, Keb’ Mo’ and Del McCoury showed up at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Tuesday to celebrate their Grammy nominations for the 54th annual all-genre music awards show. George Jones, who will receive a lifetime achievement Grammy, strolled from reporter to reporter with his wife Nancy and his publicist in tow. The Grammy awards show will air Feb. 12 on CBS.
GRETCHEN WILSON'S RANCH SELLS FOR $2.9 MILLION Gretchen Wilson hit No. 1 on the list of Nashville area homes sold during December 2011, as her 340-acre Wilson County estate brought in a reported $2.9 million. The singer decided to sell the property after the sudden death of her Uncle Vernon Heuer in Sept. 2011 from a heart attack at the age of 44.
STEEL MAGNOLIA SPLITSVILLE? A Big Machine Records representative confirmed today that Steel Magnolia has parted ways with label. In addition to the news of the label departure, it’s rumored that the duo, comprised of Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey, has broken up. According to Country Weekly, Steel Magnolia’s March 24 show at Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville, Tennessee has been canceled. A NPAC representative hints at the duo’s split in a press release.
“It is our understanding that the duo is no longer performing together,” NPAC executive director Darrell Bryan said. “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause our patrons.” The magazine reports that the Big Machine Label Group rep did not address the rumor of the duo’s split.
Fans were first introduced to Steel Magnolia on the CMT competition series, Can You Duet, in 2009. The duo is best known for the top 5 single “Keep On Lovin’ You.” Last summer Linsey and Jones, who were engaged for more than four years, revealed plans to possibly wed in 2012. In September, the duo announced that Jones had entered rehab to be treated for alcohol and substance abuse. Linsey continued on with Steel Magnolia’s fall tour dates on her own. James Otto filled in for Jones on a handful of the dates as well. The duo’s website has not been updated since September 30.
GARTH BROOKS GOES TO TRIAL CLAREMORE, OKLAHOMA January 17, 2012 -
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood arrive at the courthouse in Claremore, OK Jan. 17.
A jury was seated Tuesday in a breach-of-promise case pitting country music icon Garth Brooks against the largest health-care system in Oklahoma. Brooks, 49, sued Integris Rural Health Inc. in 2009, alleging that it reneged on a promise to name a hospital building in Yukon after his mother in exchange for Brooks' $500,000 donation to the nonprofit organization. Colleen Brooks died of cancer in 1999.
The Tulsa-born Brooks, the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history with at least 128 million albums sold, sat at his counsel table in Wranglers and a denim shirt, clutching a black cowboy hat that he took off when he entered the courtroom. His wife, fellow country music superstar Trisha Yearwood, was in an audience composed mostly of prospective jurors and a few members of the media.
Brooks donated the money to Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in December 2005, according to his lawsuit. When the hospital notified Brooks that it wasn't attaching naming rights to the gift, he asked for his money back in 2008 and was turned down, the lawsuit alleges.
MERLE HAGGARD HOSPITALIZED NASHVILLE January 18, 2012 - Merle Haggard is being treated for pneumonia in a Macon, Georgia hospital and has had to cancel the rest of his January concert dates. Merle’s publicist, Tresa Redburn, told the AP she spoke to Merle by phone today in his Macon hospital room. Merle, 74, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday after having to cancel a Macon show. He was supposed to perform at least four more shows this month. Tour manager Frank Mull told The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer that Merle has been sick since leaving his home in northern California last week.
BLAKE SHELTON'S FATHER PASSES January 18, 2011 - Blake Shelton‘s father, who has been in declining health over recent months, has passed away. Due to the passing, Blake has rescheduled some upcoming tour dates. An official statement on Blake’s website reads… It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Blake Shelton’s father, Dick Shelton. Mr. Shelton, who was in declining health this past year, was surrounded by loved ones in Oklahoma upon his passing this evening. Due to this unfortunate event, the following dates of his “Well Lit & Amplified Tour 2012″ have been rescheduled: Rapid City, SD (1/19), Bismarck, ND (1/20), Billings, MT (1/21) and Bozeman, MT (1/22). Miranda has also cancelled some dates this weekend. Lucky Cowboy condolences to Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and the Shelton family. www.blakeshelton.com
ST. JUDE HONORS JOHN RICH WITH 'ANGELS AMONG US' AWARD John Rich just received what very well may be the most meaningful award of his career. No, it wasn’t an ACM, CMA, or a GRAMMY award, it was something even more special. Rich was honored this past weekend with the Randy Owen Angels Among Us award during the Country Cares For St. Jude Kids seminar in Memphis, TN. The award was given to Rich for his immeasurable commitment and dedication to kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Rich gained national attention for his support of St. Jude last year when he won “Celebrity Apprentice.” He had appeared on the show on behalf of the hospital and throughout the series, he was able to raise over $1.4 million for the cause. “St. Jude holds a very special place in my heart,” Rich said. “It’s like no other place and I’m just so honored to help raise awareness for this organization and to receive the first-ever Angels Among Us Award from Randy.”
TAYLOR SWIFT IS FEBRUARY VOGUE MAGAZINE COVER GIRL Taylor Swift's Vogue cover was leaked! Maestro Anna Wintour thought her to be a perfect fit for the February Issue. The cover shot by Mario Testino, featuring the "Speak Now" singer-songwriter, surfaced on The Fashion Spot this past weekend. The photo reveals Swift with blunt bangs toped off with a nude floppy brimmed hat and dressed in an pale green sweater.
TAYLOR'S NEW ALBUM COMING In the February issue and Taylor tells the magazine her next album will be about an “absolute crash-and-burn heartbreak” she experienced. The 22-year-old singer doesn’t name names, but she did date Jake Gyllenhaal for a few months in 2010, and he broke up with her. Swift says it helps her to “feel better” and gain “clarity” by writing songs about her relationships.
JAKE OWEN CANCELS SHOWS DUE TO BROKEN COLLARBONE - OUCH! Jake Owen had a very unlucky Friday the 13th and things just seem to keep getting worse. As we previously reported, the “Alone With You” singer sustained a broken collarbone on Friday when he took a tumble on the slopes while snowboarding in Crested Butte, Colorado. After the accident Owen promised fans he’d make it to his next scheduled shows even if he had to “sit on a stool” while on stage. Well, it turns out Jake’s plan didn’t sit too well with his doctor. “In the Dr. waiting on my sentence,” Jake tweeted to his fans. “You know it’s not good when doc comes in and says, ‘That break is worse than the football teams.’ Damn.” After the exam, Jake returned to Twitter to deliver more bad news. “I guess I spoke too soon,” he wrote. “So sorry to my friends and fans. I’m going in for surgery tomorrow morning. My shows will be postponed. :(”
Jake was originally scheduled to perform at Joe’s Bar in Chicago on Jan. 18 and Jan. 19. According to the venue’s website the shows have now been postponed until April 18 and April 19.
KENNY CHESNEY LOOKING FOR A NEW RECORD LABEL REPORTS NEW YORK POST WORKING ON NEW MUSIC IN THE CARIBBEAN New York Post‘s “Page Six” column is reporting that country superstar Kenny Chesney is looking for a new record label home. Chesney is said to be “very displeased” with how his current label, BNA Records (Sony), has handled him and wants to be more mainstream. “Page Six” reports that Chesney is currently shopping a 5-year, $30 million deal to EMI, Universal, and Warner. A representative for Chesney was quick to deny the report, saying “This is very inaccurate. We have no plans to be anything but a country-music artist. Also, we have enjoyed a long-term, successful relationship with Sony. The numbers you speak about and Warner Bros., etc. are purely rumors that are far from the truth.”
While it’s unclear of Chesney’s record label future, the “Reality” singer is working on new music as a follow-up to his 2010 album, Hemingway’s Whiskey. Working with longtime producer Buddy Cannon, Kenny has been recording and mixing music at Ocean Way St. Barths in the heart of the Caribbean. The famed studio has been used by such music icons as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, and many others. Chesney has not announced a release date for his new music.
MIRANDA ROCKS FARGO DOME
MIRANDA LAMBERT ROCKS FARGO DOME CONCERT REVIEW: The Fargo Forum
FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA January 14, 2012 – Country star Miranda Lambert kicked off the year with a flash. After a video montage of female artists set to Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls),” Lambert and her band stormed the stage for “Fastest Girl in Town,” backed by a seizure-inducing light show. The lights let up, but Lambert didn’t as she charged through a blistering “Kerosene” and “Heart Like Mine.” Lambert may be classified as country (as she showed in “Famous in a Small Town”), but Saturday night was mostly a rock show, including covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Up Around the Bend” and Tom Petty’s “Free Girl Now.”
Whether rock or country, the singer is one of the best performers in either camp, and she showed it Saturday.
After supporting headliners at previous dome shows and at WE Fest last summer, the feisty singer showed she could hold down a headline gig, even if she didn’t quite fill the half-dome setting. She gave fans an up-close look as she sat on the side of the stage to sing the ballad “More Like Her” and then was back on her feet and standing tall on the sassy “Baggage Claim.” She played it quiet again, hushing the crowd on a touching “The House That Built Me” and then torched them with “Gunpowder & Lead” and “White Liar.”
Jerrod Niemann showed the same party-hard charm he opened WE Fest with in August. He knocked back “One More Drinking Song,” “Good Ride Cowboy” and “What Do You Want” before closing his 30-minute set with his chart-topper, “Lover, Lover, Lover,” which he claimed Fargo downloaded more than any other area in the country.
Former “Nashville Star” winner Chris Young filled the middle bill with “Save Water, Drink Beer,” “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song)” and “The Man I Want to Be.”
But it was girls’ night as Lambert held the stage, working the crowd. She returned for an encore, paying respects to all of her female role models with a faithful rendition of Aretha Franklin’s “Do Right Woman” and then showed her roots with Niemann and Young pitching in on Waylon Jennings “My Honky-Tonk Heroes.” It won’t be long before some young singers start paying respect to Lambert in songs like that.
BLAKE SHELTON & MIRANDA LAMBERT TO SING AT SUPER BOWL XLVI The Associated Press is reporting that country music’s hottest couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will perform “America The Beautiful” together prior to Super Bowl XLVI on February 5 in Indianapolis. Dierks Bentley and Darius Rucker will also be in town prior to the Super Bowl to perform free concerts at the Super Bowl Village in Indy.
FRIDAY THE 13TH BAD LUCK FOR JAKE OWEN Get well soon wishes to Jake Owen, who broke his collarbone yesterday while snowboarding in Colorado, reported Taste Of Country. “Just broke my collar bone,” Jake tweeted. “Guess I charged this mountain a little too hard.”
3RD ANNUAL COUNTRYMUSICISLOVE CONCERT BENEFITING CITY OF HOPE SET FOR FEB. 21 Chuck Wicks will perform at the 3rd Annual CountryMusicIsLove Concert Benefiting City of Hope on Tuesday, February 21 at the Exit/In in Nashville, TN. The “Old School” singer joins previously announced performers Chris Cavanaugh, JT Hodges, Love and Theft and Casey James. Chuck, who was a fan favorite at the 2nd Annual CountryMusicIsLove Concert Benefiting City of Hope in 2011,is currently in the studio working on his sophomore album due for release later this year. Be sure to follow Chuck on Twitter and ‘like’ him on Facebook. Stay tuned- more artist announcements are coming soon! Tickets are available for just $15 +$2.75 fee. As always, 100% of proceeds from the show will benefit City of Hope, one of the nation’s leading research, treatment and education centers for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Visit www.exitin.com
47th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS The Academy of Country Music and Great American Country (GAC) announced that for the fourth consecutive year, the newcomer category for the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, New Artist of the Year will be opened up to interactive fan voting beginning Monday, January 16, 2012. First round fan voting for New Artist of the Year will begin at VoteACM.com and GACtv.com/ACM on Monday, Jan. 16th at 9 a.m. ET, and will close on Monday, Jan. 30th at Noon ET. The final three nominees will be announced in February and will move on to compete for ACM New Artist of the Year. Final round voting for the New Artist category will begin at VoteACM.com on Monday, March 19th and will close on April 1st, with the winner being announced live during the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast on CBS on Sunday, April 1st at 8p ET/PT.
NEW ARITST OF THE YEAR SEMI-FINALISTS ARE: · Brantley Gilbert · Hunter Hayes · JT Hodges · David Nail · Jerrod Niemann · Justin Moore · Scotty McCreery · Thompson Square
KEITH URBAN PLANS OPRY SHOW - FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE SURGERY Keith Urban will appear at the Grand Ole Opry on Feb. 3, marking his first performance since successfully undergoing vocal cord surgery late last year. He has also scheduled a performance at the Opry for March 9. Urban announced plans for vocal surgery in November 2011 and was forced to cancel two Opry appearances that month. In related news, the Opry will conclude its winter run at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville on Feb. 3, then will move back to the Grand Ole Opry House the following night.
People's Choice Awards 2012 Winners Taylor Swift Wins Favorite Country Artist
On Wednesday night (January 11), the 2012 People's Choice Awards was dominated by Katy Perry, "Harry Potter," Johnny Depp and Emma Stone. With show-stopping performances by Favorite Pop Artist winner Demi Lovato and Faith Hill, the show handed out prizes voted on by more than 230 million people.
Faith Hill performs onstage at the 2012 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
Faith Hill took the stage at the People's Choice Awards for a moving performance of "Come Home," her current single and a cover of the OneRepublic song from 2008. In a bright red jumpsuit, backed by a six-man band and with faux smoke at her feet, Hill shined like the four-time People's Choice Award winner she is. And from the looks of things, Hill might have been the only country star at the fan-voted award show. At the beginning of the live broadcast, Taylor Swift tweeted, "Thanks for wishing me luck at the Peoples Choice Awards tonight! I'm not there, but I'll be watching on tv from Nashville!" That luck must've worked because Swift was voted the favorite country artist, beating out Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts.
VIDEO: FAITH HILL PERFORMS "COME HOME" PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
JASON ALDEAN, TAYLOR SWIFT TO PERFORM AT 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS
Current GRAMMY nominees Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, and Taylor Swift are the first performers announced for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast. Aldean and Minaj will perform on the GRAMMY telecast for the first time, while Clarkson, Foo Fighters, Mars, and Swift are returning to the GRAMMY stage. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Aldean and Swift are up for three awards each. Aldean has nominations for Best Country Solo Performance for “Dirt Road Anthem,” Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” (with Kelly Clarkson), and Best Country Album for My Kinda Party. Four-time GRAMMY winner Swift has nods for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Mean,” and Best Country Album for Speak Now.
The music industry’s premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 12, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Networkfrom 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio worldwide via Westwood One/Dial Global, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/thegrammys.
KEITH URBAN PENS SONGS FOR MOVIE For the first time in his career, Keith Urban has written and recorded a song specifically for a motion picture. The song, “For You,” will be in the closing credits of American Valor, an upcoming film about Navy SEALS fighting global terrorism. American Valor will be in theaters on February 24 and “For You” will be available to fans via digital download beginning February 21.
CMA MUSIC FEST'S LP FIELD LINEUP IS HEATING UP! It's only January and June is already lookin' HOT! Joining previously announced LP Field performers Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood are Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band. More stars will be announced soon. Tickets are going fast for the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, so get yours today! CMA FEST TICKETS
KELLIE PICKLER TO HOST 'UNLEASHED: DINNER WITH YOUR DOG' Kellie Pickler is set to take part in a fun event next weekend in Nashville. The singer, who is getting ready to release her 100 Proof album, will host the “Unleashed: Dinner With Your Dog” event. The dinner and pet fashion show will feature Nashville-area designers and decorators who have made “canine couture” pieces for the runway. Appearing as celebrity dog-walkers at the event will be Sarah Darling, Alison DeMarcus, Julie Roberts, Jimmy Wayne, and many others. “Unleashed: Dinner With Your Dog” will take place on January 21 at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel. For more information or to purchase tickets, NASHVILLE HUMANE.ORG
BLAKE SHELTON COVERS 'REDBOOK' Superstar Blake Shelton covers the special ‘Hot Husbands’ issue of Redbook, on newsstands January 17, 2011. In addition to Blake’s candid interview, the issue also features relationship secrets from his wife, Miranda Lambert.
Known to be country music’s all-American bad boy, Blake is as famous for his music as he is for being the ‘heart-and-soul favorite’ judge on NBC’s hit new singing competition, “The Voice.” In February issue, Shelton opens up about his misfit beginnings on the show, his country-boy image and his marriage to one of music’s biggest stars.
“I think you’ve got to be confident and a little bit of a pushover” says Shelton about what makes a good husband. “Obviously, you’ve got to be a loyal person. I’m never going to listen to someone trash my wife. I think you have to be willing to take a bullet for somebody if you’re going to stand up there, take your vows, and be married to them for the rest of your life.”
CHRIS YOUNG TO APPEAR ON 'ELLEN' RCA Recording Artist Chris Young. Following a sold out New Years Eve headlining show for nearly 6,000 fans from Billy Bob’s Ft. Worth, Young continues the momentum with his first appearance on the hugely popular syndicated daytime program, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Airing Tuesday, January 17, Young will perform his current hit single, “You,” from his recently released album Neon.
MUSIC CITY CENTER IS DRAWING THE CROWDS ALREADY Pre-booked 600,000 room nights in Nashville
The new Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee will open in 2013.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - According to officials with the Music City Center, the convention center has already pre-booked 600,000 room nights for future guests in Nashville. Officials with the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau said they hope to reach the one million mark before the new convention center opens in 2013. Some of the pre-booked dates stretch into 2023. The new convention center is located just south of the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. The $585 million, 1.2 million square foot project will feature a ballroom and 60 meeting rooms of varying sizes. www.nashvillemusiccitycenter.com
BLAKE SHELTON & REBA TO HOST THE ACM AWARDS APRIL 1, 2012 The Academy of Country Music has announced that Blake Shelton and Reba will return as hosts together for the second year at “The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards” on Sunday, April 1, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
In addition, the ACM Fan Jam, a concert coinciding with the awards held at Mandalay Events Center, will also return for the second year. This year, the Fan Jam will be hosted by Zac Brown Band. Additional performers, to be announced later, will join Zac Brown at the concert.
On April 2, the academy will host ”ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits” featuring performances by Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and others. The special will air on CBS on a later date.
REBA MAKES HUGE DONATION TO OKLAHOMA FOOD BANK Reba is making quite an impact on hungry children in her home state of Oklahoma. After learning about the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program, the queen of country music made a large donation to the organization that will feed more than 200,000 children. Through it’s different programs, the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma serves over 46,000 kids every week.
LUKE BRYAN & BLAKE SHELTON TOPPED THE LIST OF DANCE CLUB HITS The 2011 Marco Club Connection Top Ten Country Dance Club Hits are: 1. Luke Bryan – “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” 2. Blake Shelton – “Footloose” 3. Big & Rich – “Fake ID” 4. Blake Shelton – “Honey Bee” 5. Gloriana – “Wanna Take You Home” 6. Billy Currington – “Love Done Gone” 7. Jason Aldean – “Dirt Road Anthem” 8. Dierks Bentley – “Am I The Only One” 9. The Lacs – “Kickin’ Up Mud” 10. Chris Young – “You”
BILLBOARD LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER MINI-MAGAZINE Decicated to country music. Billboard, the world’s most influential music media brand, and marketing agency ‘stache media have announced the launch of the first-ever Billboard mini-magazine dedicated to country music. This special fan-focused publication is available now exclusively in Target stores nationwide for only $4.99.
Guided by Billboard‘s esteemed editorial team, the limited edition mini-magazine includes two collectible covers featuring Zac Brown Band and Jason Aldean, more than 48 pages of artist interviews and reviews, a fold out 2012 calendar/poster, and a 20-track bonus CD showcasing music from Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Aaron Lewis, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Thompson Square, and more.
The Billboard mini-magazine will be prominently featured in the music section at all Target retail stores nationwide, and are also available at Target.com/billboardcountry.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM AT NORDSTROM SYMPHONY FASHION SHOW Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform for an exclusive presentation of designer Oscar de la Renta‘s Pre-Fall 2012 collection at the Nordstrom Symphony Fashion Show. The event will be hosted by GAC's Storme Warren at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville 6-10 PM on Feb. 28.
The fashion show will act as a benefit for the Symphony center and will be preceded by a cocktail reception with dinner to follow. Guests will have an opportunity for a closer look at the featured fashions at an exclusive boutique inside Schermerhorn.
This is Carrie’s first performance at the Symphony Fashion Show and Nordstrom’s first year producing the show since opening a store at The Mall at Green Hills in September 2011.
THE MUSIC INSIDE - DEDICATED TO WAYLON JENNINGS RELEASES
Average Joe’s Entertainment, in conjunction with Scatter Records, will be releasing The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings, Volume II. Digital versions will be available January 24, with physical copies hitting shelves February 7. The 11 track album is the second part of a Waylon tribute trilogy that started over three-and-a-half years ago under the guidance of Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter, his son Shooter, guitarist Reggie Young and producer Witt Stewart. Volume I, featuring Jamey Johnson, Alabama, and more, was released in early 2011 via Big Machine Records. A third installment is also planned, but no date has been set. A full track list for Volume II is included below.
“I feel like this project could very likely break another sound barrier,” says Colter. “Waylon was so original. For his songs to be sang by other people and to take me somewhere else is not an easy task.”
The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume II Track Listing: 1. Lonesome, On’ry and Mean – Dierks Bentley 2. Waymore’s Blues – Hank Williams Jr. 3. Good Ol’ Boys – Montgomery Gentry 4. I Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This – Justin Moore 5. Bob Wills Is Still The King – Jack Ingram 6. Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line – Colt Ford 7. Rainy Day Woman – Pat Green 8. Love of the Common People – Josh Thompson 9. Mama – Jessi Colter 10. Dreaming My Dreams With You – Jewel 11. A Long Time Ago – Wyatt McCubbin (Bonus Track)
HELLO HOUSTON "WE HAVE A...LADY ANTEBELLUM, MIRANDA LAMBERT AND BLAKE SHELTON LANDING AT RODEO
Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton are just three of the A-list country stars performing at this year's Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo taking place Feb. 28-March 18 at Reliant Stadium. The full lineup was announced Monday (Jan. 9). Alabama kicks off the entertainment on Feb. 28 during the second show of their 2012 reunion tour. The remainder of the schedule includes Kid Rock (Feb. 29), Lady Antebellum (March 1), John Legend (March 2), Luke Bryan (March 3), Big Time Rush, China Anne McClain from A.N.T. Farm with the McClain Sisters (March 4), the Eli Young Band (March 5), Enrique Iglesias (March 6), Blake Shelton (March 7), ZZ Top (March 8), Reba McEntire (March 9), Chris Young (March 10), Duelo, La Original Banda El Limon (March 11), the Zac Brown Band (March 12), Miranda Lambert (March 13), The Band Perry (March 14), Jason Aldean (March 15), Train (March 16), Brad Paisley (March 17) and Alan Jackson (March 18). Tickets are available via VIVID SEATS TICKETS
ELVIS FANS CELEBRATE THE KING'S 77TH BIRTHDAY IN MEMPHIS MEMPHIS, Tennessee January 8, 2012 — Elvis Presley fans celebrated what would have been his 77th birthday on Sunday with a cake-cutting ceremony and the singing of “Happy Birthday” by guitarist Jose Feliciano. Feliciano sang “Love Me Tender” and “Happy Birthday” in English and Spanish to about 500 fans. The gathering at Graceland, the longtime Memphis home of the music icon, also featured a proclamation honoring Elvis by local dignitaries. Elvis was born Jan. 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Miss., and later moved to Memphis with his parents. The celebration is the first in a string of events leading up to a remembrance of his death, which happened 35 years ago this August. The three-day birthday celebration also included the opening on Jan. 5 of the new Graceland exhibit Elvis on Tour.
LADY ANTEBELLUM'S HILLARY SCOTT IS OFF THE MARKET!!! Marries in New York State Hillary Scott and her fiance of six months, drummer Chris Tyrrell, were married just before sunset Saturday (Jan. 7) in upstate New York, where family and friends had gathered for the intimate ceremony. In a special video on Lady A's official website, Scott-Tyrell and new hubby give fans their special news in casual matching gray T-shirts. "I'd like to introduce you to Miss Hillary Scott-Tyrell," the new groom says while the bride flashes her wedding ring and says, "We got married, and we just wanted you to hear it from us first. We love you. We're so excited to be starting our life together, and we just had to let you in on the exciting news." May they share a lifetime of happiness, a never-ending supply of love, and good country music.
LADY A'S HILLARY SCOTT TO HELP OPEN ORPHANAGE IN HAITI Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott is working with a Franklin, Tennessee family to start an orphanage in Haiti, reports The Tennessean. Missy and Mike Wilson adopted one child from Haiti and are in the process of adopting another. The two girls, Tia and Naika, are two of six Wilson children.
The Wilsons have previously been involved with Haiti via ministries. One of the Wilson’s children, Katie Erie, traveled to Haiti to participate in an internship at a children’s home in 2010. Just eight days after her arrival, she was left stranded with 48 children and 12 other workers after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the island. Since then, the Wilsons have made dozens of trips to Haiti to deliver goods and help. Hillary has traveled with the family to Haiti and pledged her help both financially and emotionally. “To watch how the Wilson children have adapted, it’s a model we want to take into Haiti,” she said. The MyLifeSpeaks organization will create a special type of orphanage in Neply, a small town 25 miles south of the nation’s capital, Port-Au-Prince.
MIRANDA LAMBERT TO APPEAR ON 'LAW & ORDER: SUV' She will also lend a hand on NBC's "The Voice." Miranda Lambert, who often tweets about watching “Law & Order” marathons while on her tour bus, is set to make her acting debut on the hit television show. According to TV Guide, Miranda will play an actress who claims to have been sexually assaulted by a reality show producer. An air date for Miranda’s episode of “Law & Order: SVU” has not yet been announced. The show airs Wednesdays nights at 10pm ET on NBC.
NBC has also announced “The Voice” coaches have enlisted multi-platinum singer-songwriters Kelly Clarkson, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds,” Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Alanis Morissette, Ne-Yo, Lionel Richie and Robin Thicke to lend their knowledge and skills as advisers to six separate artists on Teams Adam (Levine), Blake (Shelton), Cee Lo (Green) and Christina (Aguilera), respectively, during the “battle rounds” phase of competition on the upcoming season.
RONNIE DUNN TELLS AUDIENCE "I'M NOT WEARING ANY UNDERWEAR" Music isn’t the only way former Brooks & Dunn singer Ronnie Dunn can earn his supper. Judging from his laugh-filled show Saturday at Franklin, Tennessee Theatre, the singer has a future in comedy.
“My name is Ronnie Dunn and I’m not wearing any underwear,” Dunn, 58, quipped when he walked on stage.
Dunn tore through two originals before joking he was out of material and launching into Brooks & Dunn’s hit “Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You.” It was around this time Dunn’s smoke machine triggered the fire alarm, overriding the main speakers in the theater. Dunn finished the song and after a little chat with his band, left the stage. Regardless of the alarm, the audience didn’t budge. Within minutes the fire department showed up, did a walk-through and declared the building safe. Dunn brought one of the firefighters on stage for a wave, then continued the show — minus the smoke machine.
Brad Paisley has changed the name of his upcoming tour to Virtual Reality World Tour 2012 to reflect the high-tech visuals onstage. The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery will also perform on the tour. "When you see plans and sketches on paper, it's one thing, but to actually see it in real life is something else, and that's what happened to me when we were in tour rehearsals. When I saw the visuals and how exciting and sometimes mind-blowing they were, I just felt the tour name needed to reflect what the fans were going to see," Paisley said. "For two hours each night of the tour, they can be taken away from reality -- literally." The tour had been previously billed as the Camobunga! 2012 World Tour, which combined the name of his single, "Camouflage," with the signature phrase of Howdy Doody, "Cowabunga!" www.bradpaisley.com for current information.
REBA TO BE FEATURED ON 'OPRAH'S MASTER CLASS'
Country queen Reba McEntire will be featured on an episode of “Oprah’s Master Class” on the OWN network. The series shares experiences from people in the spotlight what are “mastering” life and have a story to share. For her part, Reba opens up about the 1991 plane crash that killed 7 of her band members along with her tour manager. “It killed everyone on the plane,” Reba tells Oprah of the crash. “I really thought it was over.” Reba opened up to People magazine shortly after the accident over twenty years ago. “Oprah’s Master Class” airs on Sunday nights at 10pm ET; a date for Reba’s episode has not yet been announced.
LORETTA LYNN CANCELS MORE TOUR DATES
After cancelling tour dates last year due to knee replacement surgery, Loretta Lynn has cancelled her first two tour dates of 2012, originally scheduled for this weekend. A rep for Lynn says that the iconic singer just needs “a few more weeks of Physical Therapy to be in top condition to start her 2012 tour schedule.” The dates have already been rescheduled for this spring.
PISTOL ANNIES FEATURED ON NEW CHIEFTAINS ALBUM
Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monrow and Angaleena Presley are The Pistol Annies.
The Hot new trio Pistol Annies- consisting of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley- joins The Chieftains, a traditional Irish band, on the new Voice of Ages album. The collection of songs marks The Chieftains 50th anniversary. The Annies teamed up with The Chieftains for two tracks- “Come All Ye Fair” and “Tender Ladies” (check out the premiere of “Tender Ladies” from USA Today below).
“Pistol Annies took the old Irish melody of ‘Come All Ye Fair’ and ‘Tender Ladies’ and, with the help of The Chieftains, brought it to life in their own unique way,” says Chieftains founder and Voice of Ages co-producer Paddy Moloney (he produced the album alongside famed music producer T Bone Burnett).
NEW ALBUMS COMING IN 2012 New upcoming albums with release dates include Tim McGraw’s final Curb Records release, Emotional Traffic, is due in stores Jan. 17. Kellie Pickler’s 100 Proof, is due in stores Jan. 24; Dierks Bentley’s Home, out Feb. 7; and Lionel Richie’s country duets project, Tuskegee, set for March 27.
Rascal Flatts’ new album is due in April, although a representative for the band’s label says an exact date has not been set. Josh Turner’s new single, “Time Is Love,” goes to radio Jan. 9, and his new album is due in stores this spring. In the coming months, fans also can look for new albums from Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, The Band Perry, Darius Rucker, Jerrod Niemann, Dwight Yoakam, Easton Corbin, LeAnn Rimes, Zac Brown Band and Kip Moore. Album titles and/or release dates haven’t been locked in — or, if they have, the artists aren’t sharing.
TAYLOR SWIFT OFFERED FLIM ROLE FOR LES MISERABLES Taylor Swift has been offered the role of Eponine in the film version of Les Misérables, according to Broadwayworld.com. However, it has not been confirmed that Swift has accepted the offer. Filming begins in March, with an expected December release date. In addition, Amanda Seyfried has been offered the role of Cosette. Confirmed cast members include Hugh Jackman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Anne Hathaway and Helena Bonham Carter. Les Misérables is the world's longest-running musical.
FAITH HILL, CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO APPEAR ON PBS SPECIAL Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood are set to be a part of Tony Bennett’s upcoming PBS Special, “Great Performances.” Including many of his Duets II partners, the show will include the following songs: “The Way You Look Tonight” (Faith Hill) “It Had to Be You” (Carrie Underwood). Tony Bennett: Duets II, a presentation of “Great Performances,” will air on Friday, January 27, 2012, at 9 p.m. on PBS
DIERKS BENTLEY NEW ALBUM CELEBRATION AT THE RYMAN Dierks Bentley’s new album, Home, is due in stores Feb. 7, and like the title suggests, that’s just where he plans to celebrate the collection — with a show at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, his adopted hometown. The album release show is set for Feb. 2 with Bentley scheduled to resume his Country & Cold Cans tour on Feb. 15. Ticket’s to Bentley’s Feb. 2 Ryman Auditorium show are $35.
KEEP MUSIC IN THE CITY SHOW PLANNED FOR TIN ROOF Performances by Nashville’s top up-and-coming artists with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Keep Music in Music City. Tuesday, January 31 5:30pm at Tin Roof Nashville. Performers include: The Cordovas, Eric Paslay, Josh Hoge, Dustin Lynch and Coldwater Jane. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, while supplies last. Each ticket includes two (2) complimentary cocktails. Get your tickets early - we will sell out! Sponsored by: The Tin Roof and Nashville Lifestyles - GET YOUR TICKETS HERE! MUSIC IN THE CITY TICKETS
SARAH DARLING NEWEST ADDITION TO THE PALM WALL OF FAME Country artist Sarah Darling, a recording artist for Black River Entertainment, is the newest addition to the collection of wall art at The Palm Nashville in downtown Music City. Darling recently was immortalized at the 140 5th Ave. South eatery with her own image, which is now forever part of the dining room’s panorama of classic cartoons and caricatures of local regulars, business people, politicians and celebrities who compose The Palm's to-die-for customer base.
“Welcome to The Palm family!” an enthusiastic Rae Krenn, manager of The Palm Nashville, declared, as she unveiled the likeness of songstress Darling.
This long-standing tradition reportedly originated at The Palm’s original Big Apple location, which was founded in 1926 by Pio Bozzi and John Ganzi. Instead of artists “singing for their supper” at the now-legendary steakhouse, they settled their tab by painting an original portrait on the wall. Consequently, the proximity of New York’s cartoon syndicate offices led to the proliferation of colorful caricatures found at every Palm.
GLEN CAMPBELL HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES AT RYMAN CONCERT
Glen Campbell performs at his 'Goodbye Tour' at the Ryman Auditorium January 3, 2012.
You have to cut Glen Campbell some slack these days -- but not much. He was in excellent form Tuesday night (Jan. 3) during a 70-minute concert of his classic hits and newer material at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The Country Music Hall of Fame member is deep into a farewell tour after announcing last year he's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He has concerts booked through the end of June, but after acknowledging he suffers from memory loss, the big question surrounding the tour is whether he's still capable of providing a solid performance. Based on his Ryman appearance, the answer is a resounding yes.
He relies on computer monitors near the front of the stage to prompt him on the lyrics. Granted, there were a few minor fumbles on specific words as he sang, but he always quickly recovered and put the audience at ease by acknowledging the glitches with a humorous comment or facial expression.
MIRANDA LAMBERT GOES GOLD 'FOUR THE RECORD' Singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert starts the New Year with some shiny new metal and high praise for her latest album Four The Record. The album achieved Gold status faster than any of her three previous albums, all of which have been certified Platinum.
Released November 1, 2011, Four The Record, garnered rave reviews from the press and ended up on many Album of the Year lists including Rolling Stone, USA Today, People Magazine, American Songwriter, The Houston Chronicle and many others including CountryMusicIsLove’s 11 Favorite Albums of 2011.
“Over You,” is the just released, second single from Four The Record, and is one of the most personal lyrics of her career. Written by Miranda and husband Blake Shelton, the song is about Blake’s brother who died in a car accident when Blake was a teenager.
Miranda’s kicks-off her new headline tour “On Fire,” next Thursday January 12, in Rockford, Ill. With two of country’s hottest male acts Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann, the coast-to-coast tour will play more than 30 cities.
NASHVILLE'S LEE BRICE SONGWRITTER WRITES ALL THE RIGHT STUFF
Lee Brice is one of the top songwritters in Nashville, TN.
With singles like “She Ain’t Right,” “Beautiful Every Time,” and the record-breaking “Love Like Crazy,” fans have come to know Lee Brice as one of the top up-and-coming singers in the Nashville community. What they may not know is that Lee is just as talented when it comes to songwriting.
Along with Billy Montana and Kellie Pickler’s husband, Kyle Jacobs, Lee wrote Garth Brooks’ 2007 hit “More Than A Memory.” The song, which became the first-ever single to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, was very special to Lee and he wouldn’t have let someone else record it if it hadn’t been Garth Brooks.
“Garth was my hero my whole life and that was a very special song to me and I did not want to give it up,” Lee tells CountryMusicIsLove. “But it was Garth. If it wouldn’t have been Garth, I would’ve never gave it up, but it was Garth. And so I’m proud of that.”
Another self-penned song that he wanted to hang on to was “Crazy Girl,” the smash hit for Eli Young Band this past summer. Lee knew the song would be a hit, but without the support of his record label, he had to let it go.
“I kept “Crazy Girl” forever,” Lee tells us. “I wouldn’t let anybody have it, but the label just wasn’t behind it like I was. I was like, ‘Guys, I’m telling you this thing’s a hit,’ and they were like, ‘Ah, we don’t know.’ So now I’m kinda going, ‘told you so!’ So now they kinda listen to me. That’s why I’m kinda getting somewhere with them.”
Lee, whose current single “A Woman Like You” is racing up the charts at country radio, has also written songs that have been recorded by superstars Jason Aldean and Tim McGraw. He’s also looking forward to the release of what he believes will be Kenny Chesney’s next single, “Seven Days.” Lee co-wrote the tune with Billy Montana and Jon Stone, and it’s a song that Chesney has called “chapter two” to his 2005 hit “Anything But Mine.”
“That Chesney cut, it’s on his latest record,” Lee told us of “Seven Days.” “I think it’s coming out next. That’s a big deal for me. And it kinda keeps giving me credibility.”
With his immense songwriting talent, it’s clear that Lee has what it takes to bring his career to the next level. Beneath the persona that you see singing on stage each night is an incredibly talented songwriter, and according to Lee, that’s who he’s always been and what he’d like to be remembered for.
“I’ve always been a singer/songwriter. I wrote songs as a kid to sing them. I had never separated the two, but now they are separated in two different lives of mine. They’re always one, but then there’s that writer’s side of me that loves the fact that I get to cut with other artists, ‘cause I’m just so honored by that, and it makes me feel like I really can write a song with the best of ‘em. I wanna go down and I want people to remember me one day and go, ‘He was a good writer. He made a stand in this town’ so that’s a positive thing for me.”
2012 'BASH ON BROADWAY' NASHVILLE. TENNESSEE BREAKS THE RECORD FOR NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION
Nashville, TN December 31, 2011 - Music City 'High Note Drop'
NASHVILLE, TN January 1, 2012 - A record-breaking crowd celebrated the beginning of 2012 in downtown Nashville and flooded Broadway and bars from First Avenue all the way up to 5th Avenue. Broadway was closed for the NYE celebrations. The honky tonks were all full of people with lines out the doors waiting to get in.
55,000 on Broadway in downtown Nashville, TN December 31, 2011.
According to the Convention and Visitors Bureau about 55,000 people lined the streets of Broadway to see the inaugural note drop, fireworks and a live performance by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lucky Cowboy Sez: "Biggest crowd I have ever seen in downtown Music City. I say it was over 100,000 counting the people in the honky tonks." Some of the spectators watched the event from the roofs of nearby buildings. "Music City is known worldwide for phenomenal live performances, and this year's New Years Eve showcases that reputation on the international stage," said C.V.B. president Butch Spyridon. "We had the best attendance yet, with thousands of people singing and dancing in the street."
Despite the success of the show, there appeared to be some problems with the inaugural "note drop." The giant eighth note started its descent on time, but appeared to get stuck about half-way down. There was a similar incident last year during the "guitar drop" marking the beginning of 2011. Overall, event organizers considered the Bash on Broadway to be a huge success. The C.V.B. estimates that visitors spent about $20 million during the past week in Nashville.
Nashville, TN December 31, 2011 - Hannah Blaylock of Edens Edge belts out a tune during the New Year's Eve Bash on Broadway.
Nashville, TN December 31, 2011 - Edens Edge performs for the crowd during the New Year's Eve Bash on Broadway.
Eddie Montgomery joined Jeffery Steele at the Bash on Broadway December 31, 2011.
"The Farm" performs at the Broadway Bash Nashville, TN December 31, 2011.
Lead singer Johnny VanZant, Gary Rossington and other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd perform for thousands during the New Year's Eve bash December 31, 2011 in Nashville, TN.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAVES A PUPPY! "PUPPY LOVE" Over the holidays, Carrie Underwood had every up and down a dog-lovin' girl could ever have. The day before New Year's Eve, she was on her way back to Nashville after visiting her family when she saw two Labradors on the side of the highway. She tells the whole bittersweet story on her fan club blog, so you can read details there. The gist of it is: Underwood pulled over, checked on the puppies and rescued the one that was still alive. She took the dog to an emergency vet, who said it had road rash, had bitten through its tongue and was most likely thrown from a moving vehicle.
After all that, Underwood took the dog home to her garage and named it Stella. But she already has two dogs and a busy 2012 ahead, so she decided to find Stella a home with a couple that lives down the street. That will work out nice when Underwood wants to check up on Stella, even though her husband warned her not to stalk Stella.
TRACE ADKINS NAMED NRA COUNTRY ARTIST OF THE MONTH Many of country music’s biggest stars have joined “This Is NRA Country” celebrating their support of our U.S. military, appreciation for the great outdoors, and love of family.
January’s NRA Country Artist Of The Month is country superstar Trace Adkins. The month-long promotion gives fans the opportunity to check out a never before seen, behind the scenes look at a recent photo shoot on his personal farm near Nashville, TN. The exclusive new video can be found only at www.nracountry.com
TIM McGRAW: TIPS HIS HAT TO MUCH-ANTICIPATED JANUARY 24 RELEASE OF “EMOTIONAL TRAFFIC” TERMING IT “MY BEST ALBUM EVER”
Nashville, Tennessee January 2, 2012 – With 2012 freshly out-of-the-box, Curb Records offers an adrenaline rush to country music’s new year with the January 24 release of Tim McGraw’s latest album, Emotional Traffic—a studio project the iconic performer named ‘Artist of the Decade’ by Nielsen BDS proclaims as a ‘best ever’ creative effort in his more than three decades of hit music. Creatively collaborating on the production with Bryon Gallimore his longtime producer whose fingerprints are consistently found throughout the remarkable McGraw dynasty of 32 #1 singles and 44 million units of music sold, Emotional Traffic leaves little doubt of the foundation material McGraw’s now legendary career has been built-in. It’s the artistic brick and mortar of great songs and a great talent.
The new 12 track set fast lanes with McGraw’s latest #1 single, Felt Good On My Lips, certified digital gold. His current single, Better Than I Used To Be, is now climbing the charts and is also included here. Of the sessions that produced the new music, McGraw noted in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer on August 9: “…one of the best song I’ve ever recorded and certainly one of the best records we’ve ever made.”
A surprise guest artist collaboration from R&B pop wizard Ne-Yo on one of the tracks (Only Human) brings producer Darran Smith into the mix and adds further creditability to McGraw’s visionary artistic reach. Additional stand-out tracks include the catchy and inspiring Touchdown Jesus (written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, and I Will Not Fall Down (penned by McGraw, Martina McBride and The Warren Brothers—Brett & Brad).
Curb Records is set immediately to further announce the availability of two digital single releases from the new package which will be exclusive to iTunes and available prior to Emotional Traffic reaching its official in store street date of Tuesday, January 24.
In summer 2012, Tim McGraw will join Kenny Chesney on the “Brothers of the Sun Tour,” already anticipated to become one of the highest grossing tours of the year across all genres.
. KENNY CHESNEY & TIM MCGRAW "BROTHERS OF THE SUN" TOUR NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE CONCERT PLANNED
Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw will reunite in 2012 for the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour. The 19-date stadium tour will no doubt be one of the biggest of next year.
NASHVILLE SHOW: Saturday, June 23, 2012 at LP Field. ‘Brothers of the Sun’ will also feature special guests Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen.
NASHVILLE TICKETS
'BROTHERS OF THE SUN' TOUR 2012 UPDATED 12/26/11:
Sat. June 02 - Tampa, FL - Raymond James Stadium Sun. June 03 - Atlanta, GA - Georgia Dome Sat. June 09 - Dallas, TX - Cowboys Stadium Sun. June 10 - Kansas City, MO - Arrowhead Stadium Sat. June 16 - Philadelphia, PA - Lincoln Financial Field Sat. June 23 - Nashville, TN - LP Field Sun. June 24 - Charlotte, NC - Bank of America Stadium Sat. June 30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Heinz Field Sun. July 01 - Cincinnati, OH - Paul Brown Stadium Sat. July 07 - Chicago, IL - Soldier Field Sun. July 08 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Field Sat. July 14 - Anaheim, CA - Angels Stadium Sat. July 21 - Denver, CO - Sports Authority Field at Mile High Sat. July 28 - Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium Sun. July 29 - Cleveland, OH - Cleveland Browns Stadium Sat. Aug 11 - East Rutherford, NJ - MetLife Stadium Sun. Aug 12 - Washington, DC - FedExField Sat. Aug 18 - Detroit, MI - Ford Field Fri. Aug 24 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium Sat. Aug 25 - Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium
VINCE GILL & AMY GRANT NAMED 'TENNESSEANS OF THE YEAR' Vince Gill and Amy Grant have been named “2011 Tennesseans of the Year” by Nashville’s newspaper, The Tennessean. Gill and Grant were recognized for their years of charity work with organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Red Cross and the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee. “Amy Grant and Vince Gill not only make a meaningful impact on the global stage through their music, but their philanthropy also helps people throughout Tennessee,” The Tennessean editorial board noted while making their decision. This isn’t the first time Vince and Amy have been recognized for their charitable efforts. Earlier this year, they received the 18th annual Joe Kraft Humanitarian Award from the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
WYNONNA GETS ENGAGED TO "CACTUS" MOSER DRUMMER Wynonna is engaged to Scott "Cactus" Moser, longtime drummer for the band Highway 101, she announced Thursday (Dec. 29) in People magazine. It will be the third marriage for the 47-year-old singer. She divorced her second husband, security consultant D.R. Roach, in 2007. During her previous marriage to businessman Arch Kelly III, she had two children, Elijah and Grace, who are now teenagers. Moser, 54, currently performs in Wynonna's touring band, the Big Noise. Signed to Warner Bros. Nashville in the '80s, Highway 101 scored four No. 1 country singles, including "Somewhere Tonight" and "Cry, Cry, Cry."
TAYLOR SWIFT, KENNY CHESNEY,JASON ALDEAN, TOBY KEITH TOP 2011 TOURS Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and Toby Keith represent the country music genre on Billboard’s recently-released list of Top 25 Tours of 2011. U2 ‘s “360 Tour” tops the list with $293,281,487 in ticket sales. Swift’s “Speak Now” tour claims the No.5 spot, grossing $97,368,416. The superstar sold out an impressive 87 of her 89 tour dates and played to 1,356,720 fans. Chesney follows Swift at No.6. The singer’s “Goin’ Coastal” tour played to 1,160,132 fans and grossed $84,576,917. Also included in the list is Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” tour at No.24 with $27,768,963 in ticket sales and Keith’s “Locked & Loaded” tour at No.25 with $27,313,132 in sales at the box office.
TAYLOR SWIFT SURPRISES FANS WITH "HUNGER GAMES' SONG, SAFE AND SOUND
Taylor Swift surprised fans late Thursday evening by releasing a brand new song, “Safe and Sound,” to iTunes. The song, which features two-time GRAMMY nominated duo The Civil Wars, will be featured on the soundtrack of the forthcoming movie The Hunger Games.
“Something I’ve been VERY excited about for a VERY long time is going to be happening VERY soon (and I’m not referring to Christmas),” Swift Tweeted, later adding: “And this is it, the big surprise… Go get it!”
Fans were so excited about the news that #SafeAndSound quickly became the No.1 trending topic in the U.S. and the No.2 trending topic worldwide.
The Hunger Games, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth hit theaters March 23. The film is adapted from the popular novels by Suzanne Collins. To purchase 'Hunger Games' Song go here itunes.com
DIERKS BENTLEY & DARIUS RUCKER WILL ROCK SUPER BOWL VILLAGE Dierks Bentley and Darius Rucker are among the performers who will rock the streets of Indianapolis, IN in the days leading up to the Super Bowl. The free concerts will take place at an outdoor stage in Super Bowl Village which will hold a 10-day music festival prior to Super Bowl XLVI.
ERIC CHURCH'S 'GUITAR BABY'
Guitar Baby 'Boone McCoy Church' Born October 3, 2011 Nashville, Tennessee
Eric Church and wife Katherine welcomed a new baby boy, Boone McCoy Church, on Oct. 3, and now, at 10-weeks-old, their son meets the world for the first time looking up from the casing of his daddy’s 6-string guitar. Born at 7 lbs. and 11 oz., Boone is a very healthy and happy boy, and according to Eric, is the most amazing gift he’s ever received.
NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE PLANS RASCAL FLATTS CRUISE Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced that country super group Rascal Flatts will perform a concert for passengers aboard the Norwegian Spirit on March 2, 2012 in Cozumel, Mexico. The stop is part of a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise that embarks from New Orleans on February 26. The Rascal Flatts concert will take place in the ship’s Stardust Theater, which seats only 899 guests. The Norwegian Spirit will also make stops in Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Roatan, Honduras. A limited number of cabins are still available.
TAYLOR SWIFT & CARRIE UNDERWOOD ON FORBES TOP-EARNING WOMEN IN MUSIC LIST
Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood each earned a spot on Forbes recently-released Top-Earning Women in Music list. Swift landed at No.2 with estimated earnings of $45 million. The superstar’s paycheck is result of her highly successful tour, album sales and her contract with CoverGirl cosmetics (among other things). According to Forbes, Swift grosses over $1 million per night on tour.
Underwood came in at No.7 with an estimated $20 million in earnings. Like Taylor, Carrie’s success on the charts and on tour helped her rack in the cash. Underwood’s contract with Olay as a celebrity ambassador for the brand was also calculated. Last year, Carrie made more than fellow American Idols Adam Lambert and Kelly Clarkson combined. World-wide pop phenomenon Lady Gaga topped the list with estimated earnings of $90 million.
MONTGOMERY GENTRY TEAMS WITH THE BULLS FOR 2012 TOUR Montgomery Gentry built a legion of fans through their music and their rebel lifestyle that recently caught the attention of The Professional Championship Bullriders, and now the two powerhouses have teamed up for a multi-city arena tour beginning in January 2012. The Professional Championship Bullriders Tour features 35 of the nation’s top riders battling the toughest, rankest bulls in the world, and now fans will have the added bonus of a Montgomery Gentry concert after the dust settles on the arena floor.
“We’re pairing some of the toughest superstars in all of professional bull riding and the rowdiest duo in all of country music,” said a Professional Championship Bullriders spokesman. “This tour will be an affordable night of entertainment for the entire family including plenty of non-stop action that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
The first two dates to go on sale are the tour kick off January 13 & 14, 2012 at Battle Creek, Michigan’s Kellogg Arena and the February 3rd date at Chicago’s Sears Center Arena. Ten dates are confirmed so far, and additional dates throughout 2012 will announced in the near future.
NOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A PARTY CRUISE! 'BLAKE SHELTON & FRIENDS CRUISE' 2012 Blake Shelton is setting sail with some of his country music friends on the “Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise” from October 14-21, 2012. Adding to the already previously announced acts, Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and Neal McCoy are Lee Brice, Randy Houser, Justin Moore and Jerrod Niemann. The “Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise” is a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean’s on board the Norwegian Cruise Lines “Pearl.” For more information on the cruise, visit www.BlakeSheltonCruise.com
CHRIS CAGLE 'GOT MY COUNTRY ON' GETTING GREAT RESPONSE
Bigger Picture Group hit-maker Chris Cagle is celebrating his Music Row homecoming with “Got My Country On,” the first single from his highly anticipated fifth in-studio album, due out in early 2012. Rocketing to No. 36 on the Billboard Country Charts only 11 weeks after its debut, this high-energy take on a classic country theme has gained more than 3,152,900 impressions to date, reached an audience of 4.2 million and maintains a consistent bullet on the charts. Using Chris’s way of life – a balance of working hard and playing hard – as a launching pad, “Got My Country On” explores two sides of Cagle – the rocker and the rancher. Written by Kelly Archer, Justin Weaver and Danny Myrick (songsmiths for country greats like Jason Aldean, Craig Morgan and Jo Dee Messina), and produced, in conjunction with Cagle, by ACM and CMA award winner Keith Stegall, the song is a perfect combination of the talents of these music industry heavy-hitters, and showcases Cagle’s musical range.
Chris Cagle - "Got My Country On" Official Music Video:
The song, now available to country stations nationwide, is a taste of what’s to come. “The first moment I heard it, I thought – this resonates,” Chris says. “And the more I got into it, the more I realized I could not come back to country music and to radio and to my fans with a better representation of who I am as an individual.” Cagle is hard at work in Nashville recording his forthcoming full-length album.
Cagle’s professional credits include two gold albums, two No. 1 albums and 12 charted songs. From 2000-2008, Cagle released an impressive string of hits that resulted in a scorching hot career. After taking a break to focus on the thrills that family and hard work bring him, Chris is back in action. Visit: CHRIS CAGLE.COM
CHRIS CAGLE'S UPCOMING SHOWS:
FEB. 03 - San Antonio, TX - At Cowboys FEB. 04 - Fort Worth, TX - At Billy Bob's FEB. 10 - Jackson, MS - Dixie National Livestock Show FEB. 11 - Amite, LA - Bear Creek Saloon JUN. 05 - Nashville, TN - Chris Cagle Unbridled 2! "Saddle Up" Charity Concert Details to come At Wildhorse Saloon 120 2nd Avenue North.
ERIC CHURCH ANNOUNCES BLOOD, SWEAT & BEERS TOUR Brantley Gilbert will join Eric as a special guest.
Eric Church fans are preparing to put a drink in their hand in 2012. Eric has announced he will launch The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour on January 19 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The tour will stop in more than 50 cities in 2012 including New York, NY, Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, IL and Nashville, TN.
“We have been building our entire career for this tour,” Eric said. “It is truly the culmination of a lot of blood, sweat and beer that has brought us to this point in our career. I have always trusted our fans to deliver with their dedication and passion, they have always exceeded my expectations. I have never been more excited to begin a tour than this one. The band and I are committed to emptying the tank every night and delivering the best show we can.”
Tickets start at $34.75 for reserved seats with the option to purchase the “Put a Drink in YOUR Hand” VIP Package. The package will be limited to no more than 200 fans per show and include premier seating, a pre-show party with food and drinks, a two-song acoustic performance by Eric and autographed memorabilia. VIP experience will be made available through all ticketing outlets.
Eric Church-The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour Dates:
1/26 Madison, WI – The Alliant Energy Center 1/27 Saginaw, MI- The Dow Event Center 1/28 Terre Haute, IN- The ISU Hulman Center 2/02 Savannah, GA-Savannah Civic Center 2/03 Knoxville, TN-Thompson Boling Arena 2/04 Norfolk, VA-Ted Constant Center 2/16 Greenville, SC-Bi-Lo Center 2/17 Salisbury, MD- Wicomico Civic Center 2/18 Greensboro, NC-Greensboro Coliseum 2/23 Battle Creek, MI-Kellogg Arena 2/24 Cleveland, OH-Wolstein Center at CSU 2/25 Ft. Wayne, IN- Allen County War Memorial Col. 3/01 Portland, ME- Cumberland Country Civic Center 3/02 Lowell, MA- Tsongas Center at UMASS Lowell 3/03 Indiana, PA- Kocalchick Center 3/08 Oklahoma City, OK- Chesapeake Energy Center 3/09 Jonesboro, AR – ASU Convocation Center* 3/10 Orange Beach, AL- Amphitheater at The Wharf 3/14 New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom* 3/15 Binghampton, NY – Broome County Arena* 3/16 Reading, PA – Sovereign Center* 3/17 Atlantic City, NJ – Etess Arena* 3/22 Estero, FL – Germain Arena* 3/23 Orlando, FL – UCF Arena* 3/24 Tallahassee, FL – Tallahassee Civic Center* 4/12 Tupelo, MS – BancorpSouth Arena* 4/13 Bossier City, LA – Centurylink Center* 4/14 Auburn, AL – Alpha Psi Rodeo* 4/19 Evansville, IN – Ford Center* 4/20 St Louis, MO – Chaifetz Arena* 4/21 Pikeville, KY – Eastern KY Expo Center* 4/26 Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena* 4/27 Lexington, KY – Rupp Arena* 4/28 Bloomington, IL – US Cellular Coliseum* 5/03 Springfield, MO – JQH Arena* 5/05 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena* 5/10 Toledo, OH – Huntington Center* 5/11 Hoffman Estates, IL – Sears Centre* 5/12 Youngstown, OH – Covelli Center* 5/17 Minneapolis, MN – Target Center* 5/18 Topeka, KS – Landon Arena* 5/19 Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
ALABAMA IS BACK! TOUR IN 2012 AND POSSIBLE OVERSEAS TOUR IN 2013 Alabama will reunite for more than a dozen concerts in 2012, band members Jeff Cook and Teddy Gentry confirmed in an interview with WAKA-TV in Montgomery, Ala. The reunion shows come after Cook, Gentry and lead vocalist Randy Owen were featured on Brad Paisley's No. 1 single, "Old Alabama." The first scheduled date takes place Feb. 28 at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "Alabama's agreed to do 15-20 shows next year, and possibly if that works out, we will do an overseas tour in 2013," Cook said. Longtime drummer Mark Herndon was not featured on Paisley's single and will not be involved in the band's reunion shows. The three founding members are also planning to record a new album. "We hope to put out some new music," Cook said. "We're reviewing stuff right now. We'll have some studio time to get in and hopefully come out with something better than we have ever had before."
WHERE THE STARS ARE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE AREA LIVE CONCERT-SHOW SCHEDULE Updated 01/17/2012. Subject to Change
Nashville, Tennessee Showtime!
JAN. 29 BROKEN ROAD BAND At Keller's Saloon 9pm Castalian Springs, TN
JAN. 31 KEEP MUSIC IN THE CITY SHOW PLANNED FOR TIN ROOF Performances by Nashville’s top up-and-coming artists with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Keep Music in Music City. Tuesday, January 31 5:30pm at Tin Roof Nashville. Performers include: The Cordovas, Eric Paslay, Josh Hoge, Dustin Lynch and Coldwater Jane. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, while supplies last. Each ticket includes two (2) complimentary cocktails. Get your tickets early - we will sell out! Sponsored by: The Tin Roof and Nashville Lifestyles - GET YOUR TICKETS HERE! MUSIC IN THE CITY TICKETS
FEB. 02, 2012 DIERKS BENTLEY New album release concert at The Ryman. Tickets for the concert now on sale. VIVID SEATS TICKETS
FEB. 10, 2012 JAIME FOX Full band show at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville.
FEB. 12 54TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS at Staples Center in Los Angeles, 8-11:30 pm ET. Check local listings for air time and station.
FEB. 21 3RD ANNUAL COUNTRYMUSICISLOVE CONCERT BENEFITING CITY OF HOPE Tuesday, February 21 at the Exit/In in Nashville, TN. Chuck Wicks, Chris Cavanaugh, JT Hodges, Love and Theft, Casey James and more to be added. Tickets are available for just $15 +$2.75 fee. Get tickets at www.Exitin.com
FEB. 22 LADY ANTEBELLUM with DARIUS RUCKER and THOMPSON SQUARE At Municipal Auditorium Nashville. VIVID SEATS TICKETS
FEB. 22-24 COUNTRY RADIO SEMINAR 2012 in Nashville.
FEB. 24 2012 JASON ALDEAN "MY KIND OF PARTY" IN NASHVILLE FEB. 24 Bridgestone Arena at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24. Lauren Alaina and Luke Bryan will open the show. Tickets for Aldean’s My Kinda Party Tour at: VIVID SEATS NASHVILLE TICKETS
APR. 01 2012 ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Vegas. Broadcast on CBS on Sunday, April 1st at 8p ET/PT.
APR. 07 2012 LUCKY COWBOY PRESENTS BUCKY COVINGTON AT KELLER'S SALOON CASTALIAN SPRINGS, TN. Opening acts "CURTIS & LUCKEY" and "THE CHILI CHICKS" For a great Saturday night of entertainers - get tickets $15 call 615-374-4719. This show will sell out! Doors open at 6pm. The Chili Chicks dance all evening and Curtis & Luckey on from 8:30 to 10:30pm. Bucky at 11:00pm. IT WILL BE A PARTY Y'ALL
APR. 10, 2012 KEITH URBAN'S 'ALL FOR THE HALL' BENEFIT CONCERT Vince Gill and Alabama, and Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert's Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Band Perry, Thompson Square and others will perform in the benefit concert along with Urban at Bridgestone Arena. Tickets go on sale Jan. 27.
MAY 05, 2012 ERIC CHURCH 'BLOOD, SWEAT AND BEERS TOUR' BRANTLEY GILBERT & BLACKBERRY SMOKE Bridgestone Arena. VIVID SEATS TICKETS
JUN. 07-08-09 2012 LUCKY COWBOY NASHVILLE MUSIC SHOWCASE Artists peforming TBA Held during CMA Music Fest from 11am to 7pm daily June 7-9 featuring over 21 Top Nashville artists and bands free for CMA Fest attendees and local fans. LOCATION TBA
JUN. 07-10 2012 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL Downtown Nashville and at LP Field. Hundreds of stars appearing and performing daily. Joining previously announced LP Field performers Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood are Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band. More stars will be announced soon. Tickets are going fast for the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience, so get yours today! VIVID SEATS CMA TICKETS
JUN. 23, 2012 KENNY CHESNEY & TIM MCGRAW 'Brothers of the Sun' Tour 2012. Special guests Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen. Saturday, June 23, 2012 at LP Field Nashville. KENNY CHESNEY - TIM MCGRAW TICKETS
GRAND OLE OPRY RETURNS TO THE RYMAN FOR THE WINTER November 02, 2011 The Grand Ole Opry is returning to its most famous former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Opry began its three month winter run at the Ryman on Tuesday night with a show featuring Rascal Flatts, Rodney Atkins and more. Artists scheduled to appear at the Opry at the Ryman include Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, The Civil Wars, Marshall Tucker Band, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Charlie Daniels and more. To purchase tickets for an upcoming Opry show, visit opry.com or call (800) SEE-OPRY.
For those planning to attend this week's shows, you can stay updated by visiting OPRY.COM
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DOLLY AND GAYLORD TO BUILD NEW THEME PARK IN NASHVILLE.
