August 31, 2007 - Larry the Cable Guy will hit the boob tube for a Christmas sepcial, though, of course, it won't be your typical holiday fare. "Larry The Cable Guy Christmas Spectacular" will be aired in December on VH1.
"I always wanted to do a variety show and when I say 'variety,' I mean 'variety,'" he said on his web site.... »»»August 31, 2007 - No one complained about being nominated for Country Music Association awards, which were announced Thursday.
Emerson Drive found out about their two CMA nominations while rolling down the highway. "We got the wake up call of the year this morning. We were on our bus headed to our gig in Ohio when we... »»»August 30, 2007 - Faith Hill taped a brand new song Thursday, "Red Umbrella," for the season premier of the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Set to air Sept. 5, Hill also will perform "This Kiss."
"Red Umbrella" will be released as one of the new song's on Hill's soon to be released CD "The Hits," due Oct. 2.... »»»August 30, 2007 - For the first time in a month, there's been a change at the top of the Billboard country charts. That's because Rodney Atkins' "These Are My People" wrested the top spot on the song chart for the week ending Sept. 8 on Billboard from Kenny Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More."
On the album chart,... »»»August 30, 2007 - Bluegrass band The Dixie Bee-Liners finished recording their first CD for Pinecastle. A release is still planned for the first quarter of 2008 pending the completion of the artwork.
Noted producer Bil Vorndick was at the helm for the CD.The Dixie Bee-Liners is comprised of led singer Brandi Hart, Buddy... »»»August 30, 2007 - Superstar Kenny Chesney took home four nominations from the Country Music Association Thursday. He received nods for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Video and Vocal Event for "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw.
The video nomination was for "You Save Me.... »»»August 30, 2007 - It's been a great week for Taylor Swift. Not only did she start her senior year of high school, but the singer also captured a Country Music Association award nomination Thursday and continuing having the number one country disc in the country.
Swift was nominated for the Horizoin Award, given to a... »»»August 30, 2007 - Brad Paisley and George Strait led the 41st Country Music Association awards nominations with five apiece. Close behind with four were Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride.
Paisley and Strait will face off against each other for entertainer of the year, male vocalist and album of the year.... »»»August 29, 2007 - Diamond Rio signed with Word, a Christian music label, and will release its first Christmas project, Oct. 9.
For years, Diamond Rio has wanted to record a Christmas project. "A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines" will feature classic holiday songs along with the original title track.... »»»August 29, 2007 - Rodney Atkins notched his third consecutive number one single this week because "These Are My People" took over the top of the Billboard song chart, which will be officially released Thursday.
Atkins previously had chart toppers with "If You're Going Through Hell" and "Watching You," inspired by his... »»»August 29, 2007 - "Carnival Ride" is the name of Carrie Underwood's second release, her label announced Wednesday.
Underwood is preparing to release her new 19 Recordings/Arista Records/Arista Nashville disc Oct. 23.
The first single, "So Small," is a country airplay Top 10 after 4 weeks.
Underwood's publicist said... »»»August 29, 2007 - Bucky Covington hopes he'll duplicate the success of his debut single with the release of his second single. The former American Idol finalist released a new single, "It's Good To Be Us."
The South Carolina native had a hit with his debut single, "A Different... »»»August 29, 2007 - Faith Hill will to perform the opening theme for NBC Sunday Night Football, "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night." A special version of the song, "Waiting All Year for Opening Night" will air Thursday, Sept. 6 in the "NFL Opening Kickoff" as the entire season starts with the Super Bowl Champion... »»»August 28, 2007 - Massachusetts teenager Ashley Gearing signed a record deal with Curb, the label announced.
Gearing, now 16, made history when she was just 12 years old as her song, "Can You Hear Me When I Talk to You", entered Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, eclipsing a 46 year-old record previously held by Brenda Lee.... »»»August 28, 2007 - XM, the nation's leading satellite radio service with more than 8.2 million subscribers, today announced an agreement with Nashville to expand its presence in Music City with new studios.
Construction on the new space is scheduled for completion later this year, meaning XM will abandon its current... »»»August 28, 2007 - "Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez Live from the Ruhr Triennale - October 2005" will be out in early October on Taylor's Trainwreck Records label.
The duo, who have been playing on their own in recent months, are backed by guitarist Bill Frisell, multi instrumentalist Greg Leisz and special guest Buddy Miller.... »»»August 28, 2007 - Dolly Parton debuts her new single "Better Get To Livin'" today exclusively for download on the iTunes Store and on country radio.
"Better Get To Livin'" will officially be sent to country radio Sept. 28. The track, written and produced by Parton with Kent Wells, is the first single from her... »»»August 27, 2007 - As part of her five-night runs in Los Angeles and New York City, Lucinda Williams said Monday that fans can purchase CD copies of each performance that same evening.
In July, the three-time Grammy Award winner, announced that she would be
performing five of her eight critically-acclaimed albums... »»»August 27, 2007 - Fifteen award-winning songwriters, including Flatt & Scruggs, Hank Williams Jr., Bob DiPiero, MacMcAnally and Thom Schuyler, were nominated Monday for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
"This is an amazing group of nominees, and every one of them is extremely worthy of induction,"... »»»August 27, 2007 - The Capitol Pub Crawl, a free music event featuring Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and others, drew about 5,000 people Thursday in the Music Row area of Nashville. Before Bentley's performance, Pub Crawl attendees packed several area bars for live shows from Capitol artists Eric Church, Lady Antebellum and Bryan.... »»»August 24, 2007 - Ricky Scaggs and Bruce Hornsby, who released an album together earlier this year, will play at the Americana Honors and Awards Show Nov. 1 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Producer/Engineer Jim Dickinson will also receive a lifetime achievement award that night while Jim Lauderdale is back as host... »»»August 24, 2007 - Brad Paisley, Gretchen Wilson, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill and Dolly Parton are among the artists joining Charlie Daniels for "Duents," an album due out this fall on his Blue Hat Records label.
Daniels said he was recording another disc when a friend suggested the idea, leading to the initial album being put on hold.... »»»August 24, 2007 - A Texas singer is on the road to Nashville after having won $50,000 and a demo deal with Capitol Records Nashville in an online contest sponsored by the label.
Joshua Engel of Grand Prairie, Texas, was named by Capitol Nashville as the winnter on Friday after 4 1/2 months of online voting.... »»»August 23, 2007 - The Kenny Chesney/Taylor Swift corner on the country music charts continued for yet another week. Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More" remained atop the Billboard country song chart for the week ending Sept. 1, while Swift's self-titled debut did the same on the album chart. Chesney has been number... »»»August 23, 2007 - Travis Tritt is back with his first disc for a new label, while traditional country singer Joe Nichols releases another album.
A Tom Russell tribute disc also is out this week.
Tritt put out "The Storm" on Category 5, a new Nashville label that has suffered growing pains. Randy Jackson of American... »»»August 23, 2007 - Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney and Brooks & Dunn contribute holiday songs to an upcoming Christmas compilation disc coming out in October.
"Hear Something Country Christmas" drops Oct. 2 from SonyBMG with 14 songs. Six were recorded exclusively for this collection.... »»»August 22, 2007 - Josh Turner just released an album recorded live at the Ryman, but he's not done releasing new music this year.
The traditional country singer will be putting out a new album Oct. 30. The disc, released via MCA Nashville, has yet to be titled, but the first single is "Firecracker.... »»»August 22, 2007 - Jason Aldean and his wife Jessica welcomed their second daughter, Kendyl, into the world weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces Monday night.
"Everyone is healthy and happy," said Aldean. "I've got three girls at home now...I'm sure they'll be ganging up on me in no time!"
Aldean will be back out on the road... »»»August 22, 2007 - Taylor Swift's self-titled debut CD holds down its lock on the number one position on the SoundScan Country Album Sales Chart for the fifth straight week. Swift sold 30,048 units last week for a total of 1,188,489.
Swift is the only country artist in 2007 to spend 5 consecutive weeks at the top.... »»»August 21, 2007 - RCA Nashville recording artist Chuck Wicks will make his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, Aug. 25. Wicks will perform his debut single "Stealing Cinderella" which he co-wrote with Rivers Rutherford and George Teren. Early Sunday morning, Wicks will head to Los Angeles where he will be a presenter that... »»»August 21, 2007 - Dierks Bentley will hit the road again this fall, starting the Throttle Wide Open tour in Oct. for 28 shows around the U.S. Jack Ingram will open the tour.
"Our show is all about making a real connection with our fans every night...not through high-def video screens or pyro or some crazy light show... »»»August 20, 2007 - "I'm With the Band," the first single from Little Big Town's November album release, is going for adds this week.
The new (as yet untitled) CD was written primarily by group members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook and Kimberly Roads and co-produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Little Big Town.... »»»August 20, 2007 - Taylor Swift will perform live on the season finale of America's Got Talent Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. With an average of 12.1 million viewers, America's Got Talent is this summer's most-watched television program.
Swift will leave the stage right after a tour date in Rapid City, S.D. and fly overnight in order... »»»August 18, 2007 - Garth Brooks made it official Saturday - he is releasing a greatest hits album this fall.
"The Ultimate Hits," with four new songs and a DVD full of videos, will be out Nov. 6.
The country music superstar retired in 2001, saying he wanted to spend more time with his three daughters.... »»»August 17, 2007 - Kenny Chesney's pro football career lasted one practice, and now it looks like the country superstar will have to return to his regular job.
Signed to the New Orleans Saints as a free agent, the 5-6 former high school football player hit Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati for a preseason game... »»»August 17, 2007 - Deana Carter will get help from friends like Kris, Willie, Dolly and George when her next disc is out in October.
Carter, who had a huge hit with "Strawberry Wine" in 1996, will release "The Chain" Oct. 9 on Vanguard, her second release for the label. Helping Carter out will be Willie Nelson, Kris... »»»August 17, 2007 - Uncle Kracker, who had a hit with Kenny Chesney on "When the Sun Goes Down," was arrested Friday in North Carolina, charged with second degree sexual assault.
Kracker, whose real name is Matthew Shafer, was held on $5 million bond after being arrested at a hotel. Police said Kracker and the woman did... »»»August 16, 2007 - If it's Monday night in the fall, Hank Williams Jr. must be in the house. That legacy will continue for the 19th year when Williams will perform the opening theme to ESPN's Monday Night Football this fall with a new all-star band featuring Brian Setzer and other popular artists.... »»»August 16, 2007 - Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift continued holding onto the number 1 singles and album spots on the Billboard country song chart for the week ending Aug. 25 with "Never Wanted Nothing More" and "Taylor Swift" respectively.
Elsewhere on the singles chart, Rodney Atkins was up one to second with "These Are... »»»August 16, 2007 - Rhonda Vincent & The Rage were the lead nominees for the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards with 11. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver captured a total of nine nominations, which were announced Thursday.
The IBMAs will be held Oct. 4 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.... »»»
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August 15, 2007 - The summer doldrums did not apply to releasing new CDs this week since six are out, including the woman who wrote songs for Faith Hill to Tim McGraw's first release on his new label to several bluegrass discs.
Boston-area singer Lori McKenna, best known as a songwriter of three songs on Faith... »»»August 15, 2007 - Is Kenny Chesney putting his singing career on hold for pro football?
The former Gibbs High Eagle wide receiver, all 5 feet 6 inches of him, will work out with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent the day before their pre-season game with the Cincinnati Bengals Aug. 17 to see if he is up to snuff.... »»»August 15, 2007 - Heartland's lead singer Jason Albert and his wife Kelly welcomed the arrival of their new baby girl, Kelson Noel, to the world yesterday, Aug. 14 at 7:09 p.m. Albert was born in Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Ala., weighing in at 7 pounds 6 ounces. Mama and baby are doing well.... »»»August 15, 2007 - Wynonna is taking her holiday album, "A Classic Christmas," on the road this fal in a series of holiday concerts featuring Christmas music along with her hits. Wynonna's "A Classic Christmas" tour kicks-off with an appearance in the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov.... »»»August 15, 2007 - Trick Pony debuted their new lead singer, Aubrey Collins, on the Grand Ole Opry stage last night. Collins joined the trio, replacing Heidi Newfield, who is pursuing a solo career. Ira Dean and Keith Burns round out the group.
The band performed a new song, "Mama Burned" along with "Heartbreak" and "Pour Me.... »»»August 14, 2007 - Heartland hit the top of the singles charts with its single "I Loved Her First," and now one record label later, the band is trying to duplicate that success.
Country Thunder Records released Heartland's "Once A Woman Gets A Hold of Your Heart."
The song was produced and co-written by John Rich, who... »»»August 14, 2007 - After months of touring opening for Toby Keith, Flynnville Train will release their self-titled debut album on Sept. 11. The Muncie, Ind. Band mixes country and revved-up twin-guitar rock.
The music video for "Nowhere Than Somewhere" made its world-premiere on
country music video network GAC.... »»»August 13, 2007 - Toby Keith will release his first holiday album in more than a decade this fall. The two-disc A Classic Christmas features Keith's renditions of traditional yuletide favorites.
No exact release date was announced Monday.
Produced by Keith and Grammy winner Randy Scruggs, the set offers favorites... »»»August 13, 2007 - Mandolin ace Sam Bush will host the International Bluegrass Music Awards Oct. 4 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
"I am excited to be asked to host this year's IBMA Awards Show," Bush said. "Bluegrass is and has always been an important part of my life and the foundation of the music I play.... »»»August 12, 2007 - Big & Rich's "Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace" is officially certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 units. This happened nine weeks after it debuted number one on SoundScan's current country albums chart and fueled by the duo's first ever chart topping single, "Lost In This Moment,"... »»»August 10, 2007 - Garth Brooks looks to be making his way back to recording and releasing new material, according to Billboard.
The exact plans have not been released, although Brooks is slated to hold a press conference in Nashville Aug. 18.
Billboard is reporting that Brooks will release a three-CD boxed set, "The... »»»August 10, 2007 - Bucky Covington was scheduled to headline a show at the fairgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio last night to benefit Rock For Tots, a children's charity that supports 25 children's organizations throughout southern Ohio.
But not everything went according to plan.
As the day progressed, the skies opened up... »»»August 9, 2007 - Kenny Chesney's "Never Wanted Nothing More" stayed number 1 on the Billboard country song charts for the week ending Aug. 18. On the album chart, Taylor Swift's self-titled debut stayed there as well for the third straight week.
Swift was second on the song chart, up one, with "Teardrops On My Guitar.... »»»August 9, 2007 - After touring this summer, Ryan Adams will launch fall dates in the U.S. just after completing a two-week tour of New Zealand and Australia, in support of his "Easy Tiger" CD.
Tour dates are:
Sept. 13 - Charlottesville VA - Charlottesville Pavilion
Sept. 16 - Northampton MA - Calvin Theater
Sept.... »»»August 9, 2007 - The Dixie Chicks will make their only concert appearances this year in a double bill with the Eagles, opening a new concert venue in downtown Los Angeles in October.
The new Nokia Theatre will open with the double bill Oct. 18 and 20. The hall holds 7,100 people.
The Chicks won give Grammys in... »»»August 8, 2007 - Charlie Daniels recruited Taylor Swift, Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry and Chris Young to round-out the talent line-up for the 11th Annual Christmas For Kids Benefit Concert Nov. 19 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
"Anytime we get a chance to perform with Charlie Daniels, it is an honor," said Troy Gentry.... »»»August 8, 2007 - Life is becoming ho hum for Taylor Swift. For the third straight week, Swift's self-titled debut is numero uno on the Billboard country album chart. Sales increased for Swift by 2 percent to 36,271 units. The disc is 13, which she considers her lucky number on the all genre top 200 chart.... »»»August 8, 2007 - Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Montgomery Gentry, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, The Allman Brothers Band, Counting Crows, Matisyahu, Guster, The Derek Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, Supersuckers and The Ditty Bops will perform at Farm Aid 2007: A HOMEGROWN Festival.
The show will be held Sunday, Sept.... »»»August 7, 2007 - Faith Hill will participate in a free concert to celebrate the kickoff of the National Football League's 88th season Sept. 6 in Indianapolis. Others joining in the festivities are John Mellencamp and Kelly Clarkson.
There will be simulcast coverage of the 30-minute pre-game show at 8 p.m.... »»»August 7, 2007 - Brad Paisley took an unannounced detour from his Hershey's Presents Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour last night, bringing his band and tour mates Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift to Fort Campbell, Ky., home of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)- to entertain an estimated crowd of more than 35,000... »»»August 7, 2007 - Vince Gill, Mel Tillis and Ralph Emery were named to enter the Country Music Hall of Fame Tuesday.
Gill has enjoyed a long musical career, first gaining prominence with Pure Prairie League before launching a solo career.
Tillis has enjoyed a long singing career and recently was picked to join the Grand Ole Opry.... »»»August 6, 2007 - Lee Hazlewood, a singer and songwriter best known for writing and producing "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" for Nancy Sinatra, died Saturday at 78 at his home in Henderson, Tenn. of kidney cancer.
Hazlewood was most famous for his work with the daughter of Frank Sinatra, including writing and... »»»August 6, 2007 - Carrie Underwood's first single from her sophomore disc, "So Small," is racing up the charts and setting a record along the way. The song hit number 20 on the Billboard/R&R country airplay chart, marking the highest chart entry by a solo country female in Nielsen BDS history.
Penned by Underwood with... »»»August 6, 2007 - Brad Paisley may have needed three months, but he got his revenge on opening act Kellie Pickler in a show over the weekend.
In early May, in Moline, Ill., Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram and Pickler joined up to play a prank on Paisley doing his current big hit "Ticks." Swift and Pickler went on stage in... »»»August 6, 2007 - Trisha Yearwood may have left MCA Nashville for Big Machine Records, but her next disc will come on MCA, it was announced Monday. A greatest hits package is slated to hit streets Sept. 11.
"Greatest Hits" includes 17 songs with 2 never before released - "Nothin' to Lose" and "Just a Cup of Coffee.... »»»August 5, 2007 - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss are releasing an album together, "Raising Sand," out Oct. 23 on Rounder. The disc was produced by T Bone Burnett and recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with guitarists Marc Ribot and Norman Blake, multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, drummer Jay Bellerose, and bassist Dennis Crouch.... »»»August 3, 2007 - Jennifer Hanson is back in action after a four-year layoff. Universal Records South released "Joyride," Hanson's first single for the label, this week.
Hanson, a California native, co-produced her upcoming CD release with Nick Brophy, co-wrote all of the songs on her record and played several of the instruments.... »»»August 3, 2007 - The future looked bright for Kellie Coffey. She had a hit single with "When You Lie Next To Me" in 2001 and was the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female of 2003, but she split with her label.
But now Coffey, is back with a new independent album entitled "Walk On." The follow-up release to her... »»»August 2, 2007 - Looking for a new set of wheels with a country connection? Try John Rich's Corvette.
But having the chance to drive away will depend on whether winning an auction on eBay with a price tag of at least $50,000. "Anything over the book value is being donated to Vanderbilt's Childrens Hospital," according... »»»August 2, 2007 - For the second consecutive week, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift topped the Billboard country song and album charts, for the week Ending Aug. 11, with "Never Wanted Nothing More" and Swift's self-titled debut respectively.
On the song chart, Keith Urban remained second with "I Told You So.... »»»August 2, 2007 - Tim McGraw added his emotional live performance of "If You're Reading This" on the Academy of Country Music Awards from May to his album "Let It Go." The song became an official radio single in June from the ACM recording.
"If You're Reading This," written by McGraw and the Warren Brothers, was a... »»»August 2, 2007 - Dolly Parton will form her own record and be its sole artist with a new disc due in February 2008, according to an article in Billboard.
Parton has ventured into bluegrass, but her manager, Danny Nozell, told Billboard the new CD would be "the first mainstream country record Dolly has done in 17 years.... »»»August 2, 2007 - Vince Gill will appear on NBC's Today as part of the Toyota Outdoor Concert Series, live from Rockefeller Plaza this Friday, Aug. 3. Gill's wife, Amy Grant, will make a special guest appearance. Gill will perform "Sweet Thing" from his current four-CD set "These Days" plus his old hit "Don't Let Our... »»»August 2, 2007 - Forty weeks after its release, Taylor Swift's self-titled debut CD remains atop of Billboard's Country Albums chart, with sales this week of 35,525 albums. This is Swift's second consecutive week at number one.
Swift just wrapped a series of dates on Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul 2007 tour.... »»»August 1, 2007 - George Canyon and Shane Yellowbird led the Canadian Country Music Association award nominations with five apiece.
Canyon, of Nova Scotia, was nominated for Single of the Year, Album of the Year, and the coveted Fans' Choice Award. Yellowbird, from Hobbema, Alberta, received nominations including Chevy... »»»August 1, 2007 - Clint Black will kick off his Up Close & Personal Tour Aug. 23 in California. Black will play in more than 40 cities by the end of the tour in November.
Black starts in with 2 nights at the Cerritos Center in Cerritos, Cal. Opening for Black on select dates will be Laura Bryna, a new artist on Black's... »»»August 1, 2007 - Shooter Jennings will release his third studio disc, "The Wolf," and fourth overall on Oct. 23 on Universal South.
Jennings wrote 9 of the 13 tracks for this project. Several tracks on the disc, which was produced by Dave Cobb, include the autobiographical country blues tinged title cut, as well as... »»»
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