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(Check Out This Month's Album Releases on Blog Page)
November 15, 2008
And The Winner Is...........
Kenny Chesney won his only award of the night, but it was the biggest award of the night - Entertainer of the Year - at the 42nd annual Country Music Association awards. This marked the fourth time Chesney received the honor.
"As much as tonight is about awards, I really believe that being able tos tand up here is more about great songs. It's more about the fans. It's more about being on stage every stage in front of a lot of people every night that make it happen...This is my fourth time standing up here, and I'm really humbled, and I really appreciate it." He then proceeded to thank indivIdual people, who have helped him.
Chesney received the award from Shania Twain, who was listed as a special guest.
Brad Paisley, George Strait and Sugarland took two awards apiece during the three-hour show.
Sugarland's Stay won song of the year. Jennifer Nettles took the award as the writer. "I love writing songs and I love performing them, and I love fans coming to our shows," she said. "it's just been a gift from the beginning. It's been a gift to write."
Sugarland also won vocal duo of the year. "You never know when you get up here if you're ever going to be able to come up here again," said Nettles.
Paisley won male vocalist of the year. He then gave fellow nominee Keith Urban a hug and kissed his pregnant wife's belly. "it's an amazing thing being at that place where they do such great things with records," Paisley said of his label.
Prior to the televised portion, Paisley took home video of the year for Waitin' on a Woman.
Album of the year honors went to Strait's "Troubadour," his second win of the night. Tony Brown also took home an award as producer. "Wow," said Strait, in thanking the CMA and Brown. "I love this album, and I really appreciate everyone who bought it." He also thanked the musicians "who played on it, who played their hearts out...everybody says they have the greatest fans. I really have the greatest fans."
Strait took home the first award of the night with I Saw God Today as single of the year. In accepting the award with producer Tony Brown next to him, Strait thanked the songwriters Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell and Wade Kirby. "You all are very gifted," Strait said.
Female vocalist of the year went to Carrie Underwood. "I came here. I got here through an unconventional way, and you didn't have to accept me at all...Everybody in the country community has been so great."
Rascal Flatts won vocal group of the year, besting The Eagles, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town. The group thanked its fans and country radio.
Lady Antebellum took home the new artist of the year award. The trio released their debut earlier this year."It's not supposed to happen like this," said Dave Hayward. "This is so cool," said Hillary Davis.
Prior to the televised part of the evening, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant took home an award for event of the year with Gone Gone Gone. Keyboard player Mac McAnally won musician of the year. He plays with Jimmy Buffett.
The evening started with Paisley, who co-hosted the show with Underwood, and Urban performing together for the first time in doing the hit single Start a Band. The two exchanged guitar licks in a good reading of the song from Paisley's new disc "Play."
Kelli Pickler performed a rock song, her new single Best Days of Your Life, which she wrote with her friend Taylor Swift.
That led into Alan Jackson's stone country reading of the title track of his latest disc, Good Time, which provided a big musical contrast between new and old school country.
Miranda Lambert sat on a stool acoustic guitar in hand performing her current single, More Like Her, a contrast to the typical glitz and lights of many performances at awards show. Her eventually kicked in on the ballad.
The contrast continued on the next song, Lady Antebellum's Love Don't Live Here with a more rocking sound and Charles Kelley handling the gritty vocals. Martina McBride followed that up with her current single, Ride, which also tended to rock.
Superstar Swift performed amidst a Disney-themed Renaissance fantasy with couples twirling about. Unfortunately, for Swift, her vocals were thin, and she was drowned out by here band as well. Swift changed costumes as well during the song, which ended with her meeting up with Prince Charming.
Sometimes country singer Kid Rock followed with an on target reading of his southern rock hit All Night Long. Kid's friend, rapper Lil Wayne, showed up to help out, but he didn't do much save hold a guitar.
It was then back to something far more solidly country, George Strait's River of Love. Though introduced as being country Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean's new single She's Country sure sounded like southern rock.
Brooks & Dunn sang Cowgirls Don't Cry with Reba McEntire helping out on vocals, although she couldn't be heard at first. Darius Rucker later followed it up with his recent number one hit Don't Think I Don't Think About It.
Decked out in a white cowboy hat, Paisley was back on his own to sing his hit country ballad Waitin' on a Woman with a good amount of pedal steel coming through.
As it seemed to throughout the night, the musical flow went back to rock with Keith Urban's punchy new song, Sweet Thing. Carrie Underwood sang her power ballad hit Just a Dream after being introduced by Leslie Pound, the widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan. The song, which concerns a soldier going off to wawr and dying, drew the biggest applause of the night and an emotional Underwood.
Sugarland performed "Already Gone," a mid-tempo rocker with Nettles taking charge vocally. Soulful singer James Otto reprised his number one hit Just Got Started Loving You. Kenny Chesney dished out a lively Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven with help from The Wailers. Trace Adkins sang his his hit single You're Gonna Miss This, which received several nominations. Adkins received a strong response from the crowd.
The Eagles played the CMAs for the second year in a row with Busy Being Fabulous with Don Henley taking lead vocals.
Reba, Ronnie & Kix!
Ten years ago, Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire topped the charts together with their If You See Him/If You See Her, and last night they debuted their version of Cowgirls Don't Cry live at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards. The song is Brooks & Dunn's newest single from their "Cowboy Town." A version of the song will be released to country radio today with McEntire singing along.
Brooks & Dunn said McEntire inspired the song. "I had just spent time writing the song on Reba's Duets record, Does the Wind Still Blow in Oklahoma, and when he sat down with Cowgirls Don't Cry co-writer Terry McBride, Dunn said, "I was thinking of Reba when I wrote it and how she grew up" around cowboys and the rodeo lifestyle.
Brooks & Dunn and Reba recently filmed a music video for the song, hitting airwaves by month end.
Miss Swift Leads The Charts!
Taylor Swift has another number one on the Billboard country song chart with Love Story, the first single from her just released "Relentless" disc for the week ending Nov. 22. The song took over from Carrie Underwood's Just a Dream, which fell to fourth. On the album chart, Brad Paisley debuted in first with his mainly instrumental disc, Play. Paisley took over from Toby Keith's "That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy," which fell to third.
The Zac Brown Band moved up one to second with Chicken Fried on the song chart, while Tim McGraw also up one to third with Let It Go. Montgomery Gentry climbed up a spot to fifth with Roll With Me. Rascal Flatts was up two to seventh with Here, while Brad Paisley's duet with Keith Urban, Start a Band was up two to eighth. Dierks Bentley's new single, Feel That Fire, was up 2 to 14th. Brooks & Dunn was up 2 to 21 with Cowgirls Don't Cry. Keith was a big mover with his second single, God Love Her, jumping 5 spots to 24th.
On the album chart, Rascal Flatts stayed second with "Greatest Hits Volume 1." Kenny Chesney was down one to fourth with "Lucky Old Sun." Faith Hill was up one to fifth with "Joy to the World." A big mover was Elvis Presley's "Christmas Duets," up from 17 to 11. Former Alabama front man Randy Owen debuted in 14th with "One On One." George Strait jumped 3 spots to 15th with "Troubadour." Alan Jackson also moved up 3 spots to 18 with "Good Time." The biggest mover was Julianne Hough's "NBC Sounds Of The Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection (EP)," up from 44 to 25.
On the overall top 200 chart, Paisley was 9th, Rascal Flatts 10th, Keith 13th, Chesney 15th and Hill 22nd.
Tim McGraw To Host SNL
Tim McGraw will host Saturday Night Live in his first appearance on the show on Nov. 22. McGraw becomes the first country music artist this decade to host the show. Previous hosts were Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.
"I'm looking forward to hosting the show," said McGraw. "I'm not exactly known for my comedy but then again if you've been to one of my shows you might feel differently. Hopefully, hanging around Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon and Jon Favreau is good training."
McGraw will appear in the Warner Brothers film "Four Christmases," with Vaughn, Witherspoon and Favreau, in theaters on Nov. 26. He also has a new COTY cologne, "McGraw By Tim McGraw," and a children's book, "My Little Girl," in stores now.
Merle Haggard Released From The Hospital
Merle Haggard went home Saturday, five days after having lung surgery in a Bakersfield, Cal. hospital. It was discovered during a previous biopsy that he had non-small cell lung cancer, "which has a far better cure rate than the small (oat) cell cancer," according to a statement released Sunday.
"At this time, tests show that they were able to eliminate the affected tissue when they removed the upper lobe of his right lung. Upon waking up after the surgery, Hag opened his eyes, yodeled and smiled. Haggard's post-operation progress was so rapid and successful he was discharged on Saturday night."
"Due to the surgeon, Dr. Peck, the Tylenol pushers on the fourth floor of the Memorial Hospital, and most of all, my wife Theresa, I'm feeling good...better and better each day," said Haggard. "If not for the love and wisdom of my wife, I might not be around today."
"I'd sure like to know who controls the largest shares of Tylenol. God forbid it be the oil companies."
"Australia" To Present At CMA's
Nicole Kidman and fellow Australian actor Hugh Jackman, who are co-starring in the upcoming movie "Australia," will present an award together on the 42nd Annual CMA Awards on Wednesday, Nov. 12. "We are thrilled to have two of Hollywood's biggest stars join us for 'Country Music's Biggest Night,'" said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We know our fans and viewers will be excited to see Nicole and Hugh on the awards."
Previously announced presenters include Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Heidi Newfield, Jake Owen, John Rich, Swift, Josh Turner, Jimmy Wayne, Lee Ann Womack and Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon
Previously announced performers include co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, along with Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney with The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and a surprise performer.
Kidman and Jackman's movie "Australia," will be in theaters on Nov. 26. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, "Australia" is an epic and romantic action adventure, set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II. In it, an English aristocrat (Kidman) travels to the faraway continent, where she meets a rough-hewn local (Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she inherited.
Richard Marx and Vince Gill teamed up to record The Beatles classic And I Love Her, featured on Marx's November release, "Sundown." The longtime friends have previously worked together with Gill singing background vocals on Marx's 1994 multi-platinum release "Paid Vacation" and Marx co-writing and producing If You Ever Leave Me, Gill's 1999 duet with Barbra Streisand, and co-writing Someday from Gill's "Next Big Thing" album in 2003. Sundown is now being offered exclusively on www.RichardMarx.com.
Jessica Andrews also helps Marx out on the CD.
"I've been buddies with Vince for years," said Marx. "I remember seeing him perform at the Grammys in the early 90s. I was so blown away that I got his number and called him just to rave. We recorded And I Love Her the old fashioned way: live, in the same room, standing side by side. It was great fun to do."
Gill said, "Richard is a very, very talented man. He's a gifted singer, gifted songwriter and gifted producer. Even more importantly, he has a wicked sense of humor. God knows I love to laugh. It was an honor to be asked to do this duet."
Taylor Swift Is On FIRE!
Taylor Swift had a massive hit with her self-titled debut and tries following up with "Fearless" (Big Machine) on Nov. 11. This is Swift's second full-length CD. In between, she released a deluxe edition, a Christmas set and a Wal-Mart exclusive CD. The 13-song disc includes the hit single "Our Love." Like her debut, the Pennsylvania native wrote the songs on "Fearless."
The history of Kevin Costner and Modern West goes back 20 years when Costner first met band mate John Coinman in Los Angeles during an acting workshop. The two began playing and writing music together and soon after started a band called Roving Boy. As Costner's star began to rise in the movie industry, he was unable to devote much time to the band. However, he and some of the band members continued behind-the-scenes playing, writing and recording. The album, "Untold Truths," (Universal South), out Nov. 11, is comprised of 12 original tracks all written or co-written by the group. Modern West is Coinman, Blair Forward, Teddy Morgan, Larry Cobb and Park Chisolm.
The Boxmasters, a trio including actor Billy Bob Thornton, are busy. They released a 2-CD debut earlier this year and now are back with a 10-song Christmas collection, "Christmas Cheer' (Vanguard) on Nov. 11. Songs include "Silver Bells" and "Blue Christmas" along with "Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)" and "Christmas in Prison." The group also includes J.D. Andrew and Mike Butler.
A Must Have!! Keith Urban's Live DVD @ Walmart!
Keith Urban's "Love, Pain & the whole crazy World Tour" live DVD, hits Wal-Mart stores, including Sam's Club and Walmart.com, today. The DVD includes Urban performing 18 songs in concert from his "Love, Pain & the whole crazy World Tour."
Performing 150 shows in 6 countries and 3 continents, Urban played to more than million fans. The live DVD also includes bonus footage; exclusive outtakes, in-studio footage of Urban re-recording his recent number one hit You Look Good In My Shirt, as well as exclusive photographs.
Urban will premiere his newest single, Sweet Thing on Wednesday night's CMA Awards. His first single from his as of yet untitled '09 offering, debuted this week on the chart at number 30 and was number 1 most added.
Songs on the DVD are: 1. Once In A Lifetime 2. Where The Blacktop Ends 3. Shine 4. Raining On Sunday 5. Stupid Boy 6. Used To The Pain 7. You're My Better Half 8. Making Memories Of Us 9. You'll Think Of Me 10. I Told You So 11. Days Go By 12. You Look Good In My Shirt 13. Tonight I Wanna Cry 14. Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me 15. Somebody Like You 16. Got It Right This Time (The Celebration) 17. Better Life 18. Everybody.
Julianne & Craig Hit the Red Carpet
Julianne Hough and Craig Morgan will host a live, half-hour red carpet type show in advance of the Country Music Association awards in November.
"I'm so excited to be a part of the CMA Awards pre-show," said Hough. "This will be my first time at the CMA Awards and it is definitely the biggest night in country music. I am looking forward to interviewing the artists that have inspired me and that I've looked up to over the years."
"What a great day," Morgan said. "I was in New York City just leaving the 'Good Morning America' studios when I heard that CMA had asked me to host their first ever Red Carpet special. I was and am extremely honored. It's gonna be a great night and I'm looking forward to working with Julianne Hough to bring all the excitement of the Red Carpet to the fans."
CMA Awards Red Carpet Live! Presented by Chevy is being made available to all ABC affiliates in the half hour leading up to the 2008 CMA Awards, which will be broadcast live Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. eastern on ABC.
"Country Music's Biggest Night will be even bigger and brighter with the addition of this exciting new program," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. "And we are delighted that our valued partners at Chevy are making it possible for us to bring all the sparkle and glamour to fans across the country."
The special features multi-camera coverage of the Red Carpet arrivals, with Hough and Morgan conducting celebrity and artist interviews and backstage access.
Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" tour has reached more than 1 million fans, her publicist said Friday. The current fall leg of shows included a sold-out show at the BOK Center in Tulsa in her home state of Oklahoma Wednesday night, a sold-out run of five shows in Canada earlier this month, and many other sell-outs. By the end of 2008, Underwood will have performed 137 live concerts.
Underwood will take a quick break from the "Carnival Ride Tour" to host the 42nd Annual CMA Awards with Brad Paisley on Nov. 12. She will depart Nashville the day after the CMA's to resume the tour in Bakersfield, Cal.
The Academy of Country Music announced today that open submissions for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will begin for the radio awards categories on Monday, Nov. 10, earlier than usual to maximize the time that radio stations nationwide will have to prepare submissions. The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be held Sunday, April 5, 2009.
The Academy's Board of Directors voted to recognize four market size categories instead of three, adding a Large Market category in-between Major Market and Medium Market. "The Academy is lucky to have an esteemed Radio Task Force made up of veteran radio industry influencers, and they made some recommendations following the show in May that made a lot of sense," said Bob Romeo, Executive Director of the Academy of Country Music. "The board listened and supported the timeline and market size shifts, without hesitation."
"We feel these important changes will even the playing field for mid-size markets in particular, more than ever," said Charlie Cook, chairman of the ACM Radio Task Force. "We look forward to the many amazing submissions we'll get for the 2008 calendar year, and we think giving more time to submit will enhance and streamline the submissions experience for program directors nationwide."
Miley Cyrus, star of Disney's "Hannah Montana" and the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated film "Bolt," returns to the 42nd Annual CMA Awards CMA Awards to present a trophy alongside her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. They previously appeared together on the CMA Awards as presenters in 2006. "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards" airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 12 on ABC.
Performers announced today are Jason Aldean and James Otto (each nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year) and Martina McBride (nominated for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year). Additional presenters will include Heidi Newfield, Darius Rucker (in his CMA Awards debut), Josh Turner, and Lee Ann Womack. Previously announced performer Taylor Swift will also present.
Newfield will also co-present the pre-telecast awards, including the CMA Broadcast Awards, with Premiere Radio Networks radio personality Blair Garner, host of "After Mid-Nite with Blair Garner."
Co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, along with Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, Swift, and Keith Urban all will perform. Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon is the previously announced presenter.
"The CMA Awards showcases the depth of our format to the entire nation," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "These performers and presenters are all unique artists who come together under the banner of Country Music."
Bread Paisley goes the instrumental route on many songs of his new CD, "Play." He also has a new single with Keith Urban, I>Start a Band. BB King and Steve Wariner also play on the disc.
Randy Owen & Mark Wills Make Some Changes
Randy Owen is best known for fronting Alabama, but he goes out on his own on "One On One," a John Rich-produced disc on the Broken Bow label. Let's pretend We're Strangers for the Night was the first single. Label mate Megan Mullins sings with Owen on Holding Everything.
Mark Wills, who had several hits when he was on the Mercury label, is on a new label with "Familiar Strangers" (Tenacity). He had 8 top 10 hits for Mercury and none with his second label, Equity. He also never released an album for Equity. The Things We Forgot is the first single from the new project.
Kevin Costner Makes Opry Debut
Kevin Costner and Modern West will debut on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday as the Opry returns to the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville for its wintertime run. Costner will be in Nashville promoting his first country album "Untold Truths," set for a Nov. 11 release. The Academy Award winner joins a list of artists scheduled for the first weekend of the Opry's Ryman run including Josh Turner, Randy Travis and Billy Currington. Costner and Modern West's Opry appearance will air on Opry Live on GAC the following weekend, premiering Sat., Nov. 15.
Heidi Newfield's Latest Single
Heidi Newfield's latest single, Cry Cry ('Til The Sun Shines) went for adds at country radio Monday. The song is the second single from her debut solo album, "What Am I Waiting For." Cry Cry was written by Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey and Marv Green.
The song is the follow-up to Newfield's solo debut single, Johnny and June, which went top 10. Newfield is 1 of only 4 solo women in country to have a Top 10 single in 2008. She also the first female to score a Top 10 hit with her debut single since Taylor Swift did so with Tim McGraw.
Newfield will present an award on-air at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards" on Wednesday, Nov. 12, as well as to co-present the CMA Broadcast Awards alongside Premiere Radio's Blair Garner during the pre-Telecast ceremonies. She will also perform at the 2008 Chevy CMA Awards Kickoff Concert on Tuesday, Nov. 11 in Nashville.
Taylor Swift Performing @ Grammy Nominee Concert
Taylor Swift will perform at a concert announcing the Grammy nominees along with Celine Dion, the Foo Fighters, B.B. King and John Mayer. The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" will be a one-hour special on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in Los Angeles. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. Tickets to the live event will be available for sale to the public beginning Oct. 27, and proceeds will benefit the Grammy Museum.
Lee Ann Womack and Craig Morgan lead new releases this week, while a Waylon Jennings recording with son Shooter will be out also.
Lee Ann Womack releases her seventh album, "Call Me Crazy" (MCA Nashville), and first since the very traditional sounding "There's More Where That Came From." The first single is "Last Call." Womack does a duet with George Strait on Everything But Quits and also covers a song Strait recorded, The King of Broken Hearts.
Craig Morgan makes his label debut after leaving Broken Bow where he enjoyed much success for BNA with "That's Why." Morgan wrote 6 of the 10 songs on the new CD, which he co-produced with Phil O'Donnell. The first single is Love Remembers.
Waylon Jennings' "Waylon Forever" (Vagrant) is a collaboration between Waylon and his son Shooter. The 8-song project began in 1995 and was completed after Waylon's death in 2002. Among the songs are Are You Ready for the Country, Waymore's Blues and Lonesome On'ry And Mean.
Country rebel Hank Williams III was last heard from on 2006's "Straight to Hell" and now is out with "Damn Right Rebel Proud" (Sidewalk/Curb) Here, Hank III covers hard rock and traditional country sides. The first single is "Long Hauls & Close Calls."
Singer James House had some success more than 13 years ago with a few hit singles, Little By Little and This is Me Missing You, but mainly has made his mark as a songwriter. Now, the 53-year-old Sacramento, Cal. native is back with a Christmas disc, which includes Jose Feliciano, "On This Christmas Night" (Friday).
Toby Keith will have the number one song in the nation this week as She Never Cried In Front Of Me hits the top of the Billboard/R&R and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts. The debut single from Keith's Oct. 28 release "That Don't Make Me A Bad Guy" becomes the 24th number 1 single of his career. When the Billboard is officially released Thursday, Keith will replace Kenny Chesney's Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven.
God Love Her, an anthemic story of rebellion and redemption, written by Keith and Vicky McGehee, will be the second single. The video for the song is Keith's first video in 1 1/2 years (since Love Me If You Can). God Love Her will open on CMT in Hot Shot rotation, GAC adds it in Turbo Track rotation with CMT Pure cranking the video in Heavy as well. Toby Keith fan club members have already received access to a 30-second clip, and Keith's I Love This Bar restaurants will have the video in non-stop rotation as well.
John Rich of Big & Rich allegedly has been involved in two fights in Los Angeles in two days, according to the TMZ web site. One fight involved another musician, while another appeared to be a sucker punch, which led to the arrest of the other person.
The first fight occurred Wednesday night at the Saddle Ranch on the Sunset Strip, across the street from the Mondrian where Rich stayed. The web site said, "Cops were called to the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood at 4:20 a.m. after John Rich got into it with Jerry Montano, a former bassist of the rock band Danzig. It appears someone got whupped because paramedics responded to the scene at 4:28 a.m.. We're told one of the dudes was treated for a bloody nose, but no one was transported to the hospital."
Photographs on the web site apparently showed Montano having suffered bleeding on his face from the fight.
The web site said, "Cops say they're investigating the incident but no arrests have been made - at least so far. Neither guy wanted to press charges against the other."
In a second incident, "Rich told cops he was minding his own business when a lady he was talking to went to the restroom - and suddenly he was socked in the ear by some random dude. John made a citizen's arrest and when the cops showed up, Chris Poggi - the alleged assailant - was arrested."
Curb Records took issue with comments made by Tim McGraw earlier this week in saying he had "no involvement" in putting out his third greatest hits package when he was expecting a CD of new music to come out.
Curb Records' Executive V.P. and General Manager Dennis Hannon said in a statement "that he had numerous conversations with McGraw's representatives with respect to all aspects of the 'Greatest Hits 3' album."
McGraw said on Tuesday, "I am saddened and disappointed that my label chose to put out another hits album instead of new music. I've only had one studio album since my last hits package. It has to be just as confusing to the fans as it is to me. I had no involvement in the creation or presentation of this record. Sure I love the songs, and I don't want to take anything away from all the creative people who were a part of making those records. But the whole concept is an embarrassment to me as an artist. In the spirit of an election year, I would simply say to my fans 'I'm Tim McGraw and I don't approve their message.'"
The new disc debuted at number one on the Billboard country album chart released Thursday with 44,000 units sold.
The statement also said, "We share Tim McGraw's disappointment with the first week's sales levels, and we acknowledge that unfortunately the week that this album was released was right at the peak of the collapse of the economic and finance markets. We are going to work hard to try to take the current single Let It Go to number one in hopes that the economic climate is improving and that sales will also improve.
McGraw's statement made no mention of sales figures.
McGraw has worked on a new studio album for more than a year and debuted three new songs on this year's "Live Your Voice Tour." McGraw wanted new music out this fall, but Curb wanted to release a greatest hits CD to extend McGraw's recording contract term, according to McGraw. The new greatest disc contains 12 songs, including a live version of Real Good Man and Nine Lives featuring Def Leppard, which was previously released by the rock band.
Curb spokesperson Liz Cavanaugh said Friday she was unsure when McGraw's new disc would be released.
Belmont University Alumni Perform for Crowd @ Presidential Debate
Belmont University alumni Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood, Josh Turner and Julie Roberts along with special guests Darius Rucker and Bob Schieffer and Honky Tonk Confidential entertained the invitation-only crowd that included national media in Nashville for the presidential debate during a special Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium this evening.
CBS News chief Washington correspondent and moderator of "Face The Nation" Schieffer, a country music fan who has long enjoyed singing and writing country songs, performed two songs then returned to the stage with Paisley to close the show. He appeared on the last CD of Washington, D.C.-band Honky Tonk Confidential.
"Can I say something I've wanted to say all my life?" said Schieffer after being introduced. "I'm Bob Scheiffer, and I'm proud to be on the Grand Ole Opry. I'm appearing between Trisha Yearwood and Brad Paisley. I want to moderate that third debate, but I'll tell ya, I won't be feeling near the pressure I'm feeling tonight."
Dierks Bentley and his wife Cassidy welcomed their first child, Evie, at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital Saturday night, 16 hours before he performed onstage for the Music and Miles concert at the Riverfront.
Bentley looked really proud and happy (and a bit exhausted) as he performed, but kept relatively quiet on his new arrival. "This guy's being propped up by Red Bull today," shouted host GAC's Storme Warren.
Evalyn Day Bentley weighed 7 lbs. 10oz.
John Rich Performs On CBS Early Show
John Rich will sing and talk about his favorite Republican presidential candidate Tuesday morning on the CBS Early Show. Rich, of Big & Rich fame, will sing songs and talk about Sen. John McCain, for whom he previously has campaigned. Rich also wrote a song for his campaign. The segment airs between 8 and 9 a.m.
Amazing New Releases!!
A movie soundtrack, a Christmas disc, a greatest hits package and a lot of unreleased material from one of America's greatest musicians highlights new releases out today.
George Strait returns with yet another holiday disc. This one contains 10 songs, ranging from Deck the Halls and O Come, All Ye Faithful to Up on the Rooftop on "Classic Christmas" (MCA) .
Tim McGraw's "Greatest Hits 3" is out on Curb. The album contains 12 tracks, including live versions of the award winning If You're Reading This and Real Good Man.
Ralph Stanley's "Old-Time Pickin' A Clawhammer Banjo Collection" (Rebel) has an interesting history. Stanley started a clawhammer disc about five years ago, cutting about a dozen songs. The label had other songs in the can and put the two together.
A soundtrack to a biopic about Billy Graham, "Billy: The Early Years," is out. Among those on the soundtrack are Josh Turner, who also is in the movie, singing Almost Persuaded. Alan Jackson sings Look At Me, while Brad Paisley turns in an instrumental What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Also out is a compilation from a Florida bar band veteran Charlie Pickett, "Bar Band Americanus The Best of Charlie Pickett And" on Bloodshot. Pickett never received widespread recognition for his work, which mixes Stones and Yardbirds sounds with Gram Parsons.
Sarah Buxton's New Single
Sarah Buxton is back with a new single, Space, trying to gain headway at country radio. The song is available for digital download.
Written by Buxton with Lari White and Chuck Cannon, the song explores the response after a woman hears her partner say that he needs space in their relationship. Buxton also produced the track, uncommon for new artists. "I wanted the song to have a raw intimacy to it, like you're hearing a private conversation at a really emotional moment between a woman and her man," said Buxton. "We've all heard someone say 'I need some space.' I wanted the song to show the hurt you feel when someone says that, but I wanted the reaction of the woman to show strength and not just pain. It could have been an insecure, feeling sorry for myself ballad but it turned into a self-empowering anthem."
Buxton's 2007 digital EP, "Almost My Record," includes Innocence, That Kind Of Day andStupid Boy along with American Daughters and Love Is A Trip. Buxton co-wrote four of the five tracks on the project. Stupid Boy was a hit for Keith Urban. Innocence and That Kind of Day both made the top 40 of the charts.
Blake Releases Fifth Album!
Blake Shelton will release his fifth album, "Startin' Fires" on Warner on Nov. 18. On the heels of Shelton's fourth number one single, Home, the first single from She Wouldn't Be Gone, written by Jennifer Adan and Cory Batten. Shelton co-wrote two of the songs on the album, Here I Am, with Dean Dillon and Bare Skin Rug with girlfriend Miranda Lambert, who also is featured on vocals.
"I'd like for this album to start some musical fires in some new fans and maybe fan the flames for the loyal fans who have been with me for a while," said Shelton. "So, I named it "Startin' Fires," which comes from one of the songs on the album, Good At Startin' Fires.
Veteran singer Aaron Tippin has been working on a new CD for his new label. Tippin started working on the CD with producer James Stroud in June. While still working on the CD, look for a release in early 2009 on Stroud's new label, Stroudavarious. He previously headed Giant and DreamWorks Records.
Toby Keith's "Beer For My Horses" movie will premier Sunday, Nov. 2 on CMT. The film, produced jointly by CMT Films and Keith's Show Dog Productions, is a follow up to Keith's 2006 CMT Film "Broken Bridges." "Beer for My Horses" will be out on DVD Nov. 11.
The movie also stars comedian Rodney Carrington, Claire Forlani, ("CSI: NY"), Ted Nugent, Willie Nelson, Barry Corbin, ("No Country For Old Men," "Dukes of Hazzard"), and Tom Skerritt ("Brothers and Sisters"). Written by Keith and Carrington, the movie follows the exploits of small town deputies and best friends who defy the local sheriff to embark on an outrageous road trip to save Keith's girlfriend from drug lord kidnappers.
The flick was produced by Keith and Donald Zuckerman and TK Kimbrell serves as executive producer for Show Dog Productions Michael Salomon directs.
While in Nashville for the Presidential debate, the CBS Early Show will broadcast live from the Belmont University campus on Wednesday, Oct. 8. Belmont alumni Josh Turner will perform his current hit single Everything Is Fine.
Turner also will perform at the Ryman Auditorium Sunday night for journalists who are in town for the Presidential debate, which will take place at the Curb Events Center on the Belmont campus Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Tonight, Turner will walk the red carpet at the Nashville movie premiere for "Billy: The Early Years" - the Billy Graham biopic that opens Oct. 10. This marks Turner's acting debut. He plays the role of Graham's musical counterpart George Beverly Shea. Turner performs Almost Persuaded on the original motion picture soundtrack, produced by John Carter Cash, which will be out Oct. 7.
Little Jimmy Dickens, the longest-standing member of the Grand Ole Opry, will be honored with a Signature Show celebrating the Country Music Hall of Fame member's 60th Opry Anniversary on Sat., Nov. 1 at the Opry. Among the artists scheduled to participate in the celebration are friends and fellow Opry members Trace Adkins, George Jones and Brad Paisley.
Introduced by Roy Acuff in 1948, Dickens, always decked in his rhinestone-studded suits, has entertained Opry audiences with a succession of hits such as A-Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed, Out Behind The Barn, Take an Old Cold Tater And Wait (the song that prompted Hank Williams to dub him "Tater"), May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose, Country Boy and The Violet and the Rose.
The West Virginia invited Adkins to join the Opry from atop a kitchen ladder on the Opry stage in 2003; shared stages for 50 years with Jones and appeared in videos with Paisley.
"Jimmy Dickens is uniquely and forever tied to the Grand Ole Opry," said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager. "He is one of the most beloved and respected people in the history of not only the Opry, but all of country music, and we are thrilled to celebrate this landmark anniversary with him."
Marty Stuart celebrated his 50th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night with a little help from his friends. Little Jimmy Dickens rolled a birthday cake, decorated like one of Stuart's trademark Manuel designed jackets, to center stage as Stuart's wife and fellow Opry member Connie Smith enjoyed the surprise.
Keith Urban led the audience of 4,400 in singing Happy Birthday to Stuart and then joined him on the Hank Williams classic I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. The two also joined forces on Stuart's hit Now That's Country and Urban's chart-topper Who Wouldn't Want To Be Me?"
What's Happening, On The Charts!
For the second week in a row, Darius Rucker tops the Billboard country song and album charts with Don't Think I Don't Think About It and "Learn to Live" respectively.
On the song chart for the week ending Oct. 11, Kenny Chesney remained second with Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven from his forthcoming CD out in 2 weeks. Toby Keith was up two to third with She Never Cried In Front of Me. Kid Rock remained fourth with All Summer Long, while former number one from Jimmy Wayne, Do You Believe Me Now, fell two to fifth. Tim McGraw broke into the top 10 - at 9 - with Let It Go up 2. Luke Bryan had his second consecutive hit with Country Man up 2 to 10.
The big mover was Taylor Swift, whose new single Love Story skyrocketed 7 spots to 11. Montgomery Gentry was up 3 to 13 with Roll With Me. Another huge mover was Sugarland with its second single from its new CD, Already Gone, jumping from 25 to 18. Rascal Flatts moved up 5 to 21 with Here. Brad Paisley moved into the top 25 - at 24, up 5 spots - with his new single, Start a Band. The song, a duet with Keith Urban, is from Paisley's upcoming CD, "Play," out in November.
On the album chart, Sugarland stayed second with "Love on the Inside." The Randy Rogers Band debuted in third with their self-titled second major label disc. Taylor Swift maintained her fourth place with her debut, while Jessica Simpson was down two to fifth with "Do You Know."
There was not a lot of movement elsewhere in the top 25. Lady Antebellum was up 3 to 16th with its self-titled debut. Alan Jackson was up 3 to 19th with "Good Time." The Eli Young Band's "Jet Black & Jealous" dropped 13 spots to 18th in its second week out.
On the top 200 overall chart, Rucker was 13th, down 8, Sugarland 18th, Randy Rogers Band 29th, Swift 32nd and Simpson 37th.
The stars came out once again for Dobro ace Jerry Douglas, who finished his residency at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood appearing. Earlier shows included appearances by Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Travis Tritt, Bela Fleck, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs and Guy Clark.
Also appearing on Tuesday were bluegrasser John Cowan, guitarist Russ Barenberg and singer Maura O'Connell.
According to a review by Michael McCall, Douglas told a story before his next guest came on stage. "This guy is the first guy I called when I started putting these shows together," he said. "I thought, 'Why not just shoot the moon, start out high, go ahead and call somebody, they'll say no.' So I called, and he said, 'I'm there, I'll do that, I'd love to do that. But first I have to do this thing with Billy Joel.'"
"Brooks walked out wearing jeans and a blue Kansas City Royals baseball hat. With Cowan still on stage to sing harmonies, Brooks tore into "Don't Cross the River," a song by country-rockers America that Brooks covered on his album "Scarecrow." Before he reached the chorus, Yearwood walked out unannounced to join in.
"This is not a two-for-one," Douglas quipped, referring to the famous husband and wife standing beside him. "You might think that, but it's not. I talked to them separately." Yearwood confirmed, nodding toward Brooks and joking, "I didn't know he was going to be here tonight!"
Yearwood sang her hit Walkaway Joe. Yearwood sang The Nightingale per Douglas' asking. Brooks and Cowan then returned for Callin' Baton Rouge, a Brooks hit first recorded by Cowan and New Grass Revival.
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