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Your Source For Today's Country News!
(Check Out This Month's Album Releases on Blog Page)
Jason Michael Carroll "Growing Up Is Getting Old"
Jason Michael Carroll enjoyed a lot of success his first time out with hits Alyssa Lies, Livin' Our Love Song and I Can Sleep When I'm Dead from his 2007 debut "Waitin' in the Country." He returns with "Growing Up Is Getting Old," a 10-song set produced by Don Gehman. Where I'm From is the first signle.
Bluegrass band King Wilkie is going a different route this time out. They're releasing "King Wilkie Presents: The Wilkie Family Singers "on a new label (Casa Nueva) started by a former Rounder Records employee, the band's last label. They also recorded for Rebel Records.
New artist Dean Brody is releasing his self-titled debut on Broken Bow. He has enjoyed some success with his first single Brothers.
Bluegrass gospel band NewFound Road puts out "Same Old Place" (*Rounder). The group is Tim Shelton (vocals), Junior Williams (banjo), Joe Booher (mandolin) and Randy Barnes (bass).
Kenny Chesney will tape Austin city Limits May 12 for a television showing sometime this fall.
"There is so much history when you look back at the artists who've played 'Austin City Lim its' over the years," said Chesney. "If you wanna know about American music, about Texas music, about music that comes out of the South - whether it's the Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic - or songwriters like Jackson Browne and John Prine, Western swing like Asleep at the Wheel or classic country like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette... that's the place you go."
"And with everything I've been able to do in my career, it's still an incredible honor to be asked to do 'Austin City Limits.' That's a whole other kind of music show..."
"When you go in there - and you think about all the people who've come before you - you really want to stand and play and sing and let the songs have their moment," Chesney said. "This is about getting to the basics of what I learned when I first came to town: a good song sung from an honest place. Let people sense who you are, and do it with the best songs possible."
"I can't think of a better place to revisit the songs of the past eight years," he said. "'Austin City Limits" is all about the music... and these songs - for me - have certainly withstood the test of time. What a great place to play them and get to consider what they've meant to me and a lot of other people."
The Oak Ridge Boys will make their QVC debut Wednesday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. eastern during a special QVC Presents The Oak Ridge Boys Qsessions Live show. During the broadcast, the group will perform songs from their from their new release "The Boys Are Back" (Spring Hill Music Group/EMI), including a cover of The White Stripes' Seven Nation Army, and the Mama's Table.
Shoppers can buy the album, which has been specially-packed with a five-track bonus CD, more than two weeks before street date. "The Boys Are Back" features 12 new tracks, including songs penned by ACM Award Winner Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings and Jack White of The White Stripes.
"We are excited to debut this critically-acclaimed release on QVC," said Paul Sizelove, vice president of the Spring Hill Music Group. "As a household name, The Oak Ridge Boys have enjoyed consistent television successes over the years, and we feel they are a natural fit for the QVC audience."
Produced by Dave Cobb (Waylon Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Brooke White), the CD includes trademark Oaks harmonies.
Tim Switches Up His Management
Tim McGraw switched management, going from a Nashville team, to one based in Los Angeles that also includes Phish and the Dave Matthews Band.
McGraw is going to Red Light Management artist roster of Coran Capshaw. A press release described McGraw "as Capshaw's primary focus" along with Phish and Matthews. "I am very impressed with the level of resources and creativity that Coran brings to the table," says McGraw. "I have been blessed with an incredible career and look forward to breaking new ground with him."
"I'm honored to have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a visionary artist such as Tim," said Capshaw, founder and owner of Red Light Management. "He's a leader who shares our entrepreneurial spirit, a natural pioneer who embraces the cutting edge in everything he does."
McGraw had been with Scott Siman at RPM Management in Nashville for many years.
Red Light Management was founded in 1991 by Capshaw at the beginning of his 18-year role as the personal manager of Dave Matthews Band. Sister company Starr Hill Presents promotes live music on a regional and national level, and together with its partners, Starr Hill Presents produces large-scale music festivals nationwide including Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, San Francisco's Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival and the Mile High Music Festival in Denver. The fully independent ATO Records Group, co-founded by Capshaw and including its namesake label and the TBD Records label, also exists alongside Red Light Management.
Jason Aldean Hits Number One!
Jason Aldean will hit number one on the MediaBase country song chart this week with She's Country. This marks Aldean's second career number 1 hit and his sixth top 10.
"Man, it's hard work to get up to that number one spot, and I don't take it for granted," said Aldean. "I've got a small, but mighty team...from the guys at the label to my crew out on the road. Thanks to them and all my friends at country radio, we'll be celebrating extra hard this week."
The guitar-driven track was debuted with a performance on the 2008 Country Music Awards and went on to become the fastest rising of his career to date.
Aldean is currently headlining his Wide Open arena tour and will also open a handful of dates for superstar Keith Urban in the coming months. Fans can catch Aldean perform on The Bonnie Hunt Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Kenny Chesney will play Late Night with David Letterman on May 19, the same day his 15-track "Greatest Hits Two" drops. Chesney will sing Out Last Night. "It's a fun song." Chesney said, "and everybody's been there. You're not goin' out, you're not stayin' out late... one thing leads to another, and next thing you're crawlin' in, goin' 'How'd that happen?' But you have a lot of fun in the process. I think the Letterman Show has a lot of that same spirit, so I can't think of a better place to sing it."
"I've heard it coming out of a few car radios and it makes me feel like summer," said Chesney. "You know, some songs just make you smile when you hear it...And this one, maybe because I remember all the fun me and Brett (James) and my buddies got in that night. Nothing too major, just the stuff guys do when they're out...But if it can make other people smile the way it does me when I hear it on the radio, then I think we've got something."
More on the CMA Fest Line Up
Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Wynonna (with a special appearance by The Judds) are added to the performance lineup for stadium concerts as part of the CMA Music Festival in June in Nashville.
The four-day festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14.
"Rascal Flatts remains one of today's great musical entertainers, and we are thrilled to have them at CMA Music Festival," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We're also excited to welcome Darius Rucker to our event for the first time, and to welcome back Wynonna and Naomi. We know our attendees are going to have a fantastic time."
Artists currently scheduled to appear at LP Field include:
Thursday, June 11 - Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Julianne Hough, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Darius Rucker.
Friday, June 12 - Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen, and Zac Brown Band.
Saturday, June 13 - Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack, and Wynonna (with a special appearance by The Judds).
Sunday, June 14 - Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, John Rich, and Taylor Swift.
Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows.
Urban Goes Acoustic
Keith Urban's acoustic performance for Yahoo! Pepsi Smash is now live at http://new.music.yahoo.com. The appearance, part of Urban's promotional trip, earlier this month to Los Angeles, to support his number one CD "Defying Gravity," includes two solo acoustic performances of Urban's current Top 10 single Kiss A Girl and his recent number 1 Sweet Thing.
Last week, Urban and his band, began rehearsing in Nashville for his Escape Together World Tour, which kicks off at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut on Thursday, May 7. He hits 58 North American cities. Supporting acts include Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Glen Campbell, Little Big Town or The Zac Brown Band.
John Rich Suing Former Nashville Star Contestant
John Rich sued a former Nashville Star contestant, accusing the aspiring singer of defaming him by claiming Rich hit him in the face, according to the Associated Press.
Rich filed the suit last Monday against Jared Ashley, who was on during the fourth year of the show. Rich alleged Ashley entered his private club without permission and was removed by security on March 13. The singer, who just released a solo album, also claimed Ashley made a false claim during a radio interview that Rich hit him that night.
Last week, Ashley said Rich's claims were false.
Miranda..... "The Touch, The Feel of Cotton"!
Miranda Lambert is feeling it when it comes to cotton. The singer is part of "the touch, the feel of cotton" marketing push along with Jazmine Sullivan and Zooey Deschanel of She and Him fame. Television commercials, created by DDB New York, began airing on April 5 as part of "The Fabric of My Life" advertising campaign that also includes print and Internet components.
"My style in three words is comfortable, funky, my own. Cotton is a big part of that style so I was very excited to be part of this campaign," said Lambert. "My favorite outfit is jeans, T-shirt and a great pair of cowboy boots but on a summer day, there is nothing like throwing on a cotton sundress and boots."
The melody was retired in 2001 and was revived because "It's the right message at the right time," says Glenn Sciachitano, Director of Consumer Advertising at Cotton Incorporated.
The 15- and 30-second television commercials are backed by a print campaign that shows stills from the commercial shoot and detail images of cotton wardrobe worn by the vocalists, along with notes from the singers about what that garment means to them. Internet components are slated to roll out in late May and will include a look inside Lambert's closet.
Charlie Daniels received the Joe M. Rodgers Spirit of America Award, an honor presented to a businessperson who has demonstrated the best of the spirit of America through significant contributions in government, education, and/or civic and charitable organizations, from Middle Tennessee State University.
MTSU's Executives-in-Residence program presented the award on campus Wednesday, April 8. "Charlie is a successful businessman with more than 50 years in the music business and a working ranch," MTSU Dean of Business Jim Burton said. "He has dedicated considerable time and talent to entertaining and building the morale of American servicemen and women, and he never fails to honor their service and dedication. He is a most worthy recipient of the Joe M. Rodgers Spirit of America Award."
Rascal Flatts' Has Yet Another Hit on Their Hands
Rascal Flatts' Here Comes Goodbye jumped from sixth to first on the Billboard/R&R and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts, meaning there will be a new number one when the charts are officially released Thursday. This is the trio's 10th chart-topping single. Rascal Flatts assumes the top spot from George Strait and River of Love.
"With everything this past week has brought we are blown away to have our 10th number 1 single with Here Comes Goodbye, said Jay DeMarcus "and are so thankful to country radio and the fans for all their support."
Rascal Flatts released their new disc, "Unstoppable," last Tuesday.
"Defying Gravity" Soars To Number One!!!
Keith Urban has the number one selling disc in the U.S. with "Defying Gravity," according to Billboard. Urban's new disc sold 171,000 units in its first week out. This was Urban's first number one. He hit number three twice - with "Be Here" in 2004 and "Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing" in 2006. On the country charts, this is the third number one for Urban.
Urban barely beat out Prince's triple set "LotusFlow3r" (NPG), which sold 168,000 units.
"It's an incredible feeling to have a number one record," said Urban. "But equally moving is knowing that this particular record, that comes from such a joyous, loving and hopeful place, is connecting with so many people."
Urban takes over the top of the chart from last week's number one, the "Now 30" compilation (Ume).
Taylor Swift's "Fearless" (Big Machine) was the 10th best selling disc and number 2 on the country chart with sales of 42,000; up 5 percent.
The charts officially are out on Thursday.
The Brenda Lee Exhibit
Brenda Lee was the original teen queen with a powerful voice that would dominate rock and country music charts for nearly three decades. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will pay tribute to Lee with the cameo exhibition "Brenda Lee: Dynamite, Presented by Great American Country Television Network," which opens Aug. 7 and will run through June 2010, t he hall announced Wednesday.
"Brenda Lee is one of the most versatile singers ever to record in Nashville, and the only female artist to be enshrined in both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," said Museum Director Kyle Young. "She possesses a powerful voice that belies her four-feet-nine-inches-tall frame, and her innate interpretive skills have allowed her to tackle many disparate musical genres with equal authority. She has sold millions of records worldwide and charted in multiple categories, including country, pop, R&B and easy listening. In doing so, Brenda Lee has transcended musical boundaries to earn the awards and respect of fans and peers worldwide."
Born Brenda Mae Tarpley on Dec. 11, 1944, the Atlanta native sang from the time she could talk and won her first talent show at the age of 4. She soon sang on local radio stations. In 1951, the youngster made her television debut, performing Hank Williams' Hey, Good Lookin' on Atlanta's TV Ranch program. On weekends, she supplemented her family's income by performing for tips at concerts with the show's house band, John Farmer & the TV Ranch Boys.
Following the untimely death of her father in a construction accident in 1953, Lee landed a much-needed paying gig on the Augusta, Ga. TV show Peach Blossom Special and, at the suggestion of the station's program director, shortened her name to Brenda Lee.
Lee's big break came in February 1956, when she auditioned for Red Foley and was invited to join the cast of ABC's Ozark Jubilee program. Three months later, Lee signed with Decca Records, an association that would last nearly 30 years. Her inaugural recording session took place that July, under the supervision of Owen Bradley, and included a rousing version of Jambalaya (on the Bayou). The two worked together for two decades.
Although 11 at the time, Lee's first two singles were released under the name "Little Brenda Lee (9 Years Old)." Neither record charted, but through appearances on network television - The Perry Como Show and The Steve Allen Show - she became known nationally. Her year ended with a three-week engagement at Las Vegas' Flamingo Hotel, where she became the youngest headliner ever in that entertainment oasis.
In March 1957, Lee's third single, One Step at a Time, cracked the country and pop charts. Red Foley's manager, Dub Allbritten, took control of Lee's career, tirelessly promoting the young star. Allbritten also became a father figure to her, and guided her career for the next 15 years. As Lee's popularity grew, Allbritten booked her on package tours with country stars such as Kitty Wells, Faron Young and Patsy Cline; she also appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1957 and 1958.
Lee also was interested in rockabilly music. In 1960, Lee scored her first pop Top Ten hit with Sweet Nothin's and followed it up with her number 1 smash I'm Sorry." Bradley added lush, orchestrated strings to the latter. The follow-up single, I Want to Be Wanted, also hit the top. She topped off the year with the re-release of her classic Christmas standard Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, originally recorded in 1958.
Throughout the 1960s Lee performed regularly in Europe, South America and Japan, at one point touring Germany with The Beatles as her opening act.
As her pop hits began to dwindle in the late 1960s, Lee felt out of place in the contemporary music scene. After brief recording forays in New York and Memphis (at Bradley's urging) failed to yield any hits, Lee returned to Bradley and in 1973 recorded Kris Kristofferson's Nobody Wins at Bradley's studio. While there was no intentional effort to transform her into a country artist, the record rose to number five on the country charts. Feeling at home with the music of her roots, Lee scored 8 more Top 10 country hits, including Big Four Poster Bed (1974) and Broken Trust (1980).
In 1982, Lee collaborated with Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton on the Top Five Billboard country album "The Winning Hand." Three years later, Lee's duet with George Jones, Hallelujah, I Love You So, yielded another chart hit. At decade's end, Lee reunited with Bradley to record the Grammy-nominated Honky Tonk Angels Medley with k.d. lang, Loretta Lynn and Kitty Wells for lang's "Shadowland."
In 1997, Lee was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2002, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and that same year bowed her autobiography, Little Miss Dynamite: The Life and Times of Brenda Lee, co-written with Robert K. Oermann and Lee's daughter Julie Clay. In February, Lee received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her creative contributions to the field of recording.
Oprah Goes Country!
Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland and Darius Rucker will be on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Tuesday, April 14.They will be on the show for an hour with performances and interviews.
New Music Out!
Rascal Flatts leads the list of new releases today with their sixth studio CD. But it's not a day for musical lightweights because Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean, Emerson Drive and veteran folkie/country singer Ramblin' Jack Elliott also put out new music.
"Unstoppable," co-produced by Dann Huff and Rascal Flatts, is the band's first studio album since 2007's multi-platinum "Still Feels Good." The band will be out on the road supporting the music.
Cyrus is becoming better known for his daughter, Miley, than his own work. But he went "Back to Tennessee" to record this disc as the title suggests. The title track, also the current single, is in his daughter's movie coming out April 10, "Hannah Montana: The Movie." The Cyrus' duet on the song "Butterfly."
Jason Aldean has had success on his first two albums for Broken Bow. "Wide Open" may be poised to do the same as his first single, She's Country, is a hit for the Georgian.
Canadian band Emerson Drive make their label debut on the umbrella label of Big Machine with "Believe" (Valory Music). Belongs to You is the first single. Teddy Gentry of Alabama and Josh Leo, the same powerhouse team from the band's number one hit, Moments, produced the new CD.
In his late 70s, Ramblin' Jack Elliott steers towards country blues and away his country folk sounds on "A Stranger Here" (Anti-). Joe Henry produced the new songs, a follow-up to his label debut " I Stand Alone." Van Dyke Parks and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos guest on the CD.
Carrie Underwood! Entertainer Of The Year!
Carrie Underwood won the big award of the night at the Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday - in the final award of the evening in an award voted on by fans.
"Crying, Underwood said, "I've had a lot of good moments in the last four years. This one takes the cake. "Thank you God. Thank you fans...I never thought I'd be nominated, and I never thought I'd win. I don't know what to say. I got nothing." After a few more words, Underwood let out a scream and twirled around.
Underwood also won the top female vocalist. "It is my belief that country music makes the world a better place, and I'm so glad to be apart of country music," said Underwood. "I feel like I won American Idol all over again."
Taylor Swift took home album of the year for "Fearless." A very excited Swift hugged friend Kellie Pickler, who was sitting next to her.
""If I talked with you for more than five minutes, I probably wrote a song about you. I'd like to thank all the characters in my songs," said Swift.
Trace Adkins took home the song of the year award for You're Gonna Miss This. "I didn't expect this," he said. "I really didn't."
"This song was recording by a father whose oldest daughter had just gotten married. It was very personal for me, and I didn't think other people would relate to it the way that I did." He said that he did not expect the song to be released as a single, until label head Mike Dungan told him it would be. "Go ahead, ain't nobody gonna play it," Adkins told the ACM crowd. I'm glad I'm an idiot."
An absent Brad Paisley won the top male vocalist award. "I wish I could be there, but I didn't miss the birth of my next child," he said while seated on a couch in Nashville with Jimmy Dickens next to him. Paisley won two awards handed out last week for Video of the Year for Waitin' on a Woman, and Paisley and Keith Urban duet took Vocal Event of the Year forStart a Band.
Sugarland won the top vocal duo, beating longstanding duo Brooks & Dunn among others. "Thank you for dreaming back every time we dream," said Kristian Bush.
Julianne Hough won top new artist over Zac Brown Band and Jake Owen. Each had won their respective category of top new female, group and male artist. Those categories were combined for the awards show. "Thanks to everybody who believed in me," said Hough, who was holding back tears and trying to hold up her dress as well.
Jamey Johnson won the first award at the Academy of Country Music Awards with In Color for song of the year. He co-wrote the song with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller.
"Thanks to my band too for going in on an off day and producing an off record," said Johnson.
In no surprise, top vocal group went to Rascal Flatts over The Lost Trailers, Little Big Town, the Randy Rogers Band and Lady Antebellum. ""What an amazing ride this has been," said Jay DeMarcus. "Now, I know how Brooks & Dunn feels." Brooks & Dunn won awards in their category for many years.
LeAnn Rimes was awarded the Home Depot Humanitarian Award as previously announced. "Making a difference in other people's lives brings me a lot of joy, and I do it out of the goodness of my heart, never thinking I'm going to be honored for it," Rimes said. She said the award was to "remind us of the ability to make a difference in other people's lives."
Brooks & Dunn got the 44th annual ACMs show started with Play Something Country And while not everybody would agree that what followed fit the bill, the song was interspersed with snippets of Swift on Just Another Picture to Burn, Sugarland with It Happens, Underwood with All American Girl and Rascal Flatts with Me and My Gang. The end of the song included everybody together with B&D finishing their six-minute song.
"Oh my God, what an opening," said host Reba McEntire. "Now, that's what I call a stimulus package."
"It seems everyone wants to do a country album nowadays," said McEntire. "Michael Phelps and Willie Nelson are recording an album together. They are. They're covering the Doobie Brothers."
McEntire proved corny with her humor, referring to George Strait and Elton John, saying that was the first time she ever mentioned "straight and Elton John in the first sentence."
Chesney debuted his new song, Out Last Night, an uptempo countryish number.
Heidi Newfield performed her hit song Johnny and June about June Carter and Johnny Cash with photos of them on a screen behind her. Newfield sounded a bit float until she let loose on the chorus. At one point, the former Trick Pony lead singer was surrounded by a ring of fire. Newfield was nominated for five awards.
Toby Keith was on hand with his band to offer God Love Her. The song kicked, although the feed on the vocals sounded a bit off - not loud enough.
Johnson quickly followed that up with the non-commercial sounding In Color, strumming an acoustic guitar with the vocals once again not loud enough. Johnson displayed a lot of vocal grit, however, in a song far different than anything else played 45 minutes into the 3-hour show.
Jamie Foxx started leading a chant, before joking, "That's the BET awards...Things are changing (for black people in country). Darius Rucker...A black man is running the country." He then introduced fellow Texan George Strait, who played the hard country song Troubadour.
Magician David Copperfield was on hand, not to sing, but to work his his expertise to bring Swift down from a suspended box. She popped out to go to a piano and sing You're No Sorry. while Swift was way flat in previous performances on live TV, she sounded far better here in a performance aided by strings.
Swift received a crystal milestone award for sales this year from McEntire, who praised her for expanding country's audience. "I did not know this was going to happen actually," said a surprised Swift. She thanked her label "for letting be myself and writing my own songs."
Lady Antebellum came out to play their current single Run to You with a lot of energy.
Lee Ann Womack followed with a laid back, somewhat soulful song, Solitary Thinking, which never quite took off. Womack gained little attention with her last album and no hits.
Keith Urban changed his suit and tie for performing clothes to dish out a solid version of his hit Kiss a Girl. Wife Nicole Kidman nodded along favorably to the performance.
Miranda Lambert, decked out in black boots and dress, offered the new mid-tempo Dead Flowers, which built the heat as she went along, eventually hitting the mark.
John Rich trotted out his political song Shutting Detroit Down, about the unemployment in the U.S. while fat cats try to get rich. He dedicated it to working people in the U.S., while playing seated with acoustic guitar in hand in the most poignant song of the night (until that point anyway). Rich played a stripped down version of the song with no other instrumental help as well as being slightly slowed down. His guitar had a slogan "Made in the U.S.A." affixed to it.
Billy Ray Cyrus self-promoted his new disc out Tuesday along with daughter Miley's new Hannah Montana movie opening Friday before introducing her to sing The Climb, a loud sounding rock/pop song, which had nothing to do with country music. A string secdtion aided her performance, which was over the top in staging with sparkles coming dwon towards the end nad her band decked out in white.
Montgomey Gentry immediately followed with One in Every Crowd, a song in their traditional southern rock as country sound with the crowd enthusiastically singing along to the chorus.
Underwood with a huge maroon dress, belted out a version of Randy Travis' classic countrty hit I Told You So, where her pipes soared.
McEntire premiered her new big sounding single, Strange, from a CD due out later this year. the song featured some fiddle and banjo and McEntire's trademark powerful vocals.
Adkins sang Til the Last Shot's Fired with the help of the West Point Glee Club. He was introduced by a soldier, who lost both legs fighting in Iraq.The emotional song closed with the glee club singing "But we can't come home 'til/the last shot's fired/'Til the last shot's fired" and received tremendous applause from the crowd.
Sugarland trotted out their version of their hit What I Did with the typical soulful, bluesy vocals of Jennifer Nettles. "As a little girl, I dreamed of writing songs," Nettle said after receiveing a crystal milestone award from McEntire. "Live your dreams."
Blake Shelton was a late addition to the show performing in place of Tim McGraw, who was a no-show due to differences with the producers, according to Entertainment Weekly.
Rascal Flatts offered their hit Here Comes the Pain, with the vocals of Gary LeVox sounding distant for the group as they did with others during the night.
Tim McGraw Backed Out of ACM's
Tim McGraw did not play at the at the Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday as scheduled because of differences with the producers, according to Entertainment Weekly.
McGraw rehearsed the song, but then apparently had "major differences" about the production of the song, according to EW.
Blake Shelton replaced McGraw in performing during the evening.
Worley's Video "Sounds Like Life To Me"
Darryl Worley shot the music video for his single Sounds Like Life To Me this week. Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins and Jamey Johnson lent their acting skills as bartender and a bar patron at Miss Fran's in Columbia, Tenn., where part of the clip was filmed.
"To look behind the bar, and see this amazing athlete I watch on TV every week cleaning glasses and serving up beers was so cool," said Worley of Collins' appearance. "And to have my buddy Jamey take a day out of his exploding career meant the world to me...though he did get some free beer out of the deal."
Worley co-wrote the song with Wynn Varble and Phil O'Donnell. The video was directed by Birmingham-based duo The Erwin Brothers for Revolution Pictures, and it should be hitting the airwaves within three weeks.
Worley's new album, "Sounds Like Life," is due June 9 as the first release of Stroudavarious Records.
Jason Aldean Is a Busy Man!
Jason Aldean will visit eight cities in eight days to promote "Wide Open," his new CD out Tuesday.
He will travel from an appearance on the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas to Minneapolis before making his way to Chicago, Washington DC, Baltimore, New York City, Atlanta and Charlotte for a series of fan events and media appearances. He will be on NBC's Today on April 10, followed by an evening appearances at the opening game of the Atlanta Braves home season, where the baseball fanatic will throw out the first pitch and sing the National Anthem.
Aldean will also be featured on a one-hour GAC special titled "Jason Aldean: Wide Open" premiering on release day. The special was shot at a sold out arena show in Knoxville, Tenn. last month and in his hometown of Macon, Ga. Aldean will play Jimmy Kimmel Live's outdoor concert series on May 1. "I feel like with my first two albums, I was trying to dial in who I was as an artist and what my fans liked and expected to hear from me," said Aldean. "Four years into it, I think understand that now, and I'm really just starting to hit my stride. I'm excited to see what happens the next few weeks and months because I'm really proud of the new album."
Recorded with his touring band and produced by Michael Knox, "Wide Open" has a southern rock style. The disc contains the hit single She's Country.
Nashville Star Not Renewed by NBC
Is the future of Nashville Star in doubt? One thing seems apparent - it won't be on NBC if it does resurface for its seventh year, according to Country Aircheck.
An email from Country Aircheck on Friday said the network did not renew the show's contract.
This is the second piece of bad news within a few weeks for the show. Judge John Rich told the Nashville Tennesseean the show "completely bastardized what country music is about." He said he would refuse to participate any more.
In reality, the show has produced few singers with any lasting career. The most successful of the batch has been Miranda Lambert, who did not win the contest
Kenny's New Single Debut
Kenny Chesney will debut his new single, Out Last Night, along with an ad for his tour sponsor Corona at the April 5 at the Academy of Country Music Awards show.
"It's weird how there are sponsors and there are partners," Chesney said. "And for me, Corona is the way I live my life... It's a part of hanging out, kicking back, chilling with my friends - so anything we ever do together just feels like another day, not some kind of work."
This year's ad - again shot by director Phil Jouron, who teamed with U2 for their "Rattle & Hum" - was shot in Tulum, Mexico and features Chesney's
Beer In Mexico. For Corona, Chesney marks the first time the beer company has had a person in their spots.
"We had a great time on this shoot," Chesney said. "We did it at night...and Tulum is just beautiful. And it really does, like I said, feel like a page out of my life: it's me by myself playing my guitar. Just chilling, having what I think is a quiet night - and then, for the people who're watching the ACM Awards, you'll see what happens."
Kellie Returns To Her Roots
Kellie Pickler will return to American Idol to perform her single, Best Days of Your Life, which she co-wrote with Taylor Swift, on the results show Wednesday, April 8 at 9 p.m. eastern live/Pacific tape-delayed) on Fox.
"Going back to American Idol is like going to a family reunion, well, it's more fun than going to my family reunions," she said. "Seriously, it's always great to see the gang and feel the excitement from the contestants. And, I'm thrilled to be singing, Best Days of Your Life, which is a blast to perform."
The song is the second single from her self-titled sophomore album, is a sassy revenge song about a cheating ex-boyfriend. In addition to her performance, Pickler will also be seen on Idol Extra and will make an appearance on On-Air with Ryan Seacrest next week.
Whose Topping The Charts?
Martina McBride has the top country album, debuting in first with "Shine" on the Billboard country album chart for the week ending April 11. She takes over the top from Taylor Swift's "Fearless." Darius Rucker was atop the song chart with It Won't Be Like This For Long.
Swift was second on the song chart with White Horse, while George Strait remained fourth with River of Love," Jake Owen fourth with Don't Think I Can't Love You and Rodney Atkins fifth with It's America.
Keith Urban was up 5 to 15 with Kiss a Girl, his new single from "Defying Gravity." Dierks Bentley also was up 5, to 17, with Sideways, the second single from his new disc. Brad Paisley jumped six spots to 20 with Then,/I> a song from his upcoming CD. Kenny Chesney debuted in 25th with Out Last Night.
On the album chart, John Rich debuted in third with "Son of a Preacher Man," while Eric Church debuted a spot behind with "Carolina." Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" slipped from second to fifth. Dolly Parton re-entered the chart, at ninth, with "Backwoods Barbie," which was re-released with several new tracks.
Every album from 10th to 25th was lower in the chart compared to last week. The biggest drop was Randy Travis' " I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits Of Randy Travis," from 3rd to 12th. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand," was down 8 to 16.
On the overall top 200, McBride was 10th, Swift 12th, Rich 16th, Church 17th and Underwood 31st.
Duane Jarvis Passes Away at 51
Roots rocker Duane Jarvis, who played with Dwight Yoakam and Lucinda Williams and also had his own career, died Wednesday after a long bout with colon cancer at 51.
Jarvis entered a hospice facility last week after stopping treatment last week.
"Duane passed away this morning at 1:30 a.m. with a smile on his face," Kevin Jarvis wrote in an e-mail. "We knew time was short by the way things were going that day, although Duane surprised us a little by leaving us quite so soon."
Jarvis toured Australia with Yoakam. He wrote Still I Long For Your Kiss for Williams' Grammy-winning album "Car Wheels On a Gravel Road." He also played guitar.
The Oregon native spent time playing in Los Angeles, Nashville and Austin. His albums included "Far From Perfect" in 1998, "Combo Platter" in 1999 and "Certified Miracle" in 2001.
Brad & Keith Vocal Event of The Year!
Brad Paisley won Video of the Year for Waitin' on a Woman, and Paisley and Keith Urban duet took Vocal Event of the Year for Start a Band, the Academy of Country Music announced today.
For the video award, the producers were Mark Kalbfeld and Jim Shea, while Shea and Peter Tilden directed.
Start a Band was produced by Frank Rogers.
The awards will be held this coming Sunday from Las Vegas with Reba McEntire hosting.
New Releases Out Big Time!
It's a big day for new releases with superstar Keith Urban, Rodney Atkins, a well-respected, veteran trio of country performers and a few bluegrass albums from stars in that genre as well among the releases.
Urban is out with "Defying Gravity," (Capitol Nashville) which contains his 18th top 10 single, Sweet Thing. The CD contains 11 songs. Urban will tour behind the package later this year with Taylor Swift opening.
Rodney Atkins broke big time with his last release, "If the You're Going Through Hell," with four songs hitting number one. "It's America" (Curb) drops today. The title track is the first single and another hit for Atkins.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely are back for another go-round as The Flatlanders. "Hills And Valleys" (New West) comes out today with their first CD in five years and only the fourth in three decades. The trio wrote 8 of the 13 songs on the disc produced by Lloyd Maines.
On the bluegrass front, last year's breakout act, Dailey & Vincent are out with "Brothers From Different Mothers" (Rounder). Their self-titled debut earned them numerous IBMA and SPGMA awards. The new CD contains a dozen songs, which they produced. The Statler Brothers remain a touchstone for Dailey & Vincent with the duo covering two of their songs and one written by Jimmy Fortune, who also was in the group. The sound consists of Southern gospel, country music, folk-oriented music and bluegrass.
Bobby Osborne may be getting closer to 80, but his singing prowess remains intact on "Bluegrass & Beyond" (Rounder), done with his backing band the Rocky Top X-Press. The 12 songs cover bluegrass, gospel, soul and country. Appearing are Marty Stuart and Connie Smith (What Would You Give In Exchange For Your Soul) and Rhonda and Darrin Vincent (After the Fire Is Gone. The band consists of Osborne (mandolin & vocals), Bobby Osborne Jr. (bass), Dana Cupp (banjo), Richard Bennett (guitar), and Glen Duncan (fiddle).
New CD Releases!
One half of Big & Rich, one of country's finest singers and a tribute disc to a Tex-Mex star are among the CDs out today.
John Rich is a busy guy. He has his duo with Kenny Alphin, aka Big & Rich. He is the driving force behind the reality country TV show "Gone Country." And he is active in writing and producing music as well. Now he is out with his second solo disc, "Son of a Preacher Man." Rich has gained airplay with Shuttin' Detroit Down, the highly topical song about Wall Street and Main Street.
Martina McBride is out with her 10th disc, "Shine." She had a hand in producing the 11 songs along with Dann Huff, who puts more guitar on the music. The first single is Rise.
Tex-Mex singer Doug Sahm died in 1999 after having been in many musical incarnations including Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados. Some even thought he was British at one point. Sahm's music comes alive on the tribute disc "Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm," with a bevy of players including Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo, Dave Alvin and Delbert McClinton. Shawn Sahm, the singer's son, closes with one of his biggest hits, Mendocino.
Eric Church gained a good amount of ink, some sales, but no big hits from his debut, "Sinners Like Me." Now, he returns with "Carolina." The title track is the single.
Veteran bluegrass group Lost & Found is out with their first disc in seven years, "Love, Lost and Found." The group's last disc was "It's About Time" in 2001. Since then, mandolinist and co-founder Dempsey Young died in 2006. The current line-up is Alan Mills on bass and lead vocals, Scottie Sparks on guitar and lead vocals; Ronald Smith on banjo; and Scott Napier on mandolin. Young played on mandolin on seven tracks.
Special Consensus is out with "Signs," featuring Justin Carbone, Ashby Frank and David Thomas on vocals. The group, founded by Greg Cahill about three decades ago, wrote six songs. The CD also includes the traditional gospel with What A Beautiful Day For the Lord to Come Again) and the Bluegrass Cardinal's Mountain Girl.
Shooter Jennings surfaces with a best of package, "Bad Magick: The Best Of Shooter Jennings & The .357's." The CD contains two unreleased songs, Lonesome Blues (Live) from an AOL Music Sessions, and Living Proof.
ACM Award Winners.... Instrumentalists & Venues!
Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Harland Howard, Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, and Hank Williams Jr. were among those named Tuesday to receive Academy of Country Music Awards. Awards to instrumentalists and venues also were disclosed by the ACMs, which are being held April 5 in Los Vegas.
Parton will receive the Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.
Haggard and the late Howard were named winners of the Poet's Award, honoring songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers in the field of country music. Haggard scored his first Top 20 in 1964 with a cover of Wynn Stewart's Sing A Sad Song, and later his own major hit Swinging Doors and The Fugitive. He has had 40 number 1 hits.
Howard wrote more than 4,000songs including I Fall To Pieces, I've Got A Tiger By The Tail, Somebody Should Leave and Why Not Me. Howard's career took off in the late 1950s with Charlie Walker's rendition of Pick Me Up on Your Way Down and Ray Price's Heartaches by the Numbers.
Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, and Hank Williams Jr. were chosen to receive the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honoring individuals who are pioneers in the country music genre.
Reed scored his first single If the Good Lord's Willing and the Creeks Don't Rise when he was 18 years old and gained recognition in 1958 when Gene Vincent covered his Crazy Legs. He penned Brenda Lee's That's All You Got to Do and had his own hits with Goodnight Irene, If I Don't Live Up to It and his first charting single Guitar Man. His biggest hit was When You're Hot, You're Hot in 1971.
Rogers got his first taste of musical fame as a member of First Edition with hits Reuben James and Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town and became a superstar in his own right with Lucille, The Gambler, Daytime Friends and Coward of the County. He has nine ACM awards to his credit (among countless other awards), including Entertainer of the Year in 1978 and the Career Achievement Award in 2000. Rogers has sold more than 120 million records during his career, and is one of the Top 10 best-selling artists of all time. His new project is scheduled for release in 2009, featuring another duet with fellow music legend Parton.
Travis' debut, "Storms of Life," sold more than 3 million copies, making him the first country act to go multi-platinum. Travis has sold more than 25 million records, has 22 number 1 hits, 6 Grammy Awards and 9 ACM Awards.
Williams hits include A Country Boy Can Survive, Family Tradition, All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down) and Whiskey Bent and Hellbound.Williams was named the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year three times.
The Tex Ritter Award goes to "Beer For My Horses," which is given to a movie released and/or receiving major exposure during the preceding calendar year, featuring or utilizing country music.
The Mae Boren Axton Award goes to David Young, given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music. Young has been with the Academy of Country Music in various positions for 20 years. Most recently as senior director of operations, his responsibilities have included managing the office and all logistics for the Academy.
Other awards were:
Top Guitarist - Tom Bukovac
Top Piano/Keyboard - Gordon Mote
Top Bass - Glenn Worf
Top Percussion/Drummer - Greg Morrow
Top Steel Guitar - Dan Dugmore
Top Fiddle - Aubrey Haynie
Top Special Instruments - Eric Darken and Jelly Roll Johnson (tied)
Top Audio Engineer - Chuck Ainlay
Top Producer - Tony Brown
Industry Awards:
Nightclub of the Year - Joe's Bar - Chicago, IL
Casino of the Year - Turning Stone Casino - Verona, NY
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year - Fran Romeo - Romeo Entertainment
Promoter - Louis Messina - The Messina Group
Venue of the Year - The Ryman Auditorium
LeAnn Denies Affair!
Celebrity gossip has caught up with Country Music star LeAnn Rimes, this time by the Hollywood rag, US Weekly. This week's issue features a story about Rimes having an affair with her Lifetime movie co-star, Eddie Cibrian. The two star in Nora Roberts' Northern Lights, which premieres Saturday
The magazine claims to have photos of Rimes and Cibrian meeting up at a Malibu Beach Inn, as well as video of a "date" the couple went on in Laguna Beach, Calif. The video, as posted on www.usmagazine.com, offers a grainy surveillance video of a blonde woman and a dark haired man in a baseball cap having dinner and cozying up at their table for two.
Rimes recently celebrated her 7th anniversary with husband Dean Sheremet. Cibrian is married to model Brandi Glanville; the couple have two children.
Cibrian responded to the rumors in a statement to Access Hollywood this week: "Other than being friends and two actors who were romantically intertwined in a movie-for-television we filmed last fall, there is no truth to the reporting initiated by US Magazine," Cibrian said. "It is a fabricated story that is using random snapshots as connective tissue to create a scandalous relationship."
On Rimes' Web site the following message was posted yesterday: "This is a difficult time for me and my loved ones, but I appreciate all your continued support. I would like to assure all of you that this is a place for you to hear things directly from me and as you all know, not everything in our lives is always black and white. Have faith, Le."
The CMA Fest Is Coming!!!
Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley Brooks & Dunn, John Rich and Montgomery Gentry were announced to appear at the 38 CMA Music Festival June 11-14, in Nashville.
Over four days, the event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities,and more.
Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Paisley, and Rich will all perform on the main stage during the nightly shows at LP Field, along with previously announced performers Trace Adkins, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.
"It is a pleasure to host such great entertainers at CMA Music Festival," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We know our attendees are going to love these performances."
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