January 30, 2009 - The Drive-By Truckers, Conor Oberst and Calexico are among the rootsy acts will play this year's Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in April.
The event, which comes a week before the StageCoach fest for country music, will also include Paul McCartney, The Cure, The Killers and Leonard Cohen.... »»»January 30, 2009 - The Zac Brown Band picked a follow-up single for their debut hit Chicken Fried. Whatever It Is will be the Georgia band's second single from their major label debut, "The Foundation."
Chicken Fried went number 1 on the charts and has more than 913,000 digital single downloads, earning gold status.... »»»January 30, 2009 - John Doe and The Sadies are joining forces for "Country Club," an album of classic country covers and originals due out April 14,on Yep Roc Records.
Both Doe, who is also a mainstay of X, and The Sadies, a Toronto-based, rootsy, country band, are already on the label.
"Country Club is the result of a... »»»January 30, 2009 - Taylor Swift will launch her first headlining tour - Taylor Swift Fearless Tour 2009 - in late April in Indiana, hitting 52 cities in the U.S. and Canada by the time it ends in October.
Swift is touring behind her second full-length studio release, "Relentless," which has topped the charts for eight... »»»January 29, 2009 - Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift lead the Billboard country song and album charts respectively with Swift once again having the best selling CD in the country with "Fearless." Swift sold 63,000 units of the CD.
On the song chart, Shelton's She Wouldn't Be Gone jumped from third to first, switching places... »»»January 29, 2009 - MySpace Music is premiering Dierks Bentley's new album, "Feel That Fire." The fourth studio album is available for streaming today- five days before the official release on Tuesday, Feb. 3. The exclusive debut marks the first country album premiere for MySpace... »»»January 29, 2009 - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform at the Grammys on Feb. 8 with a band including acclaimed performer and "Raising Sand' producer T Bone Burnett, and musicians from their album and tour.
This will be Plant's first Grammy visit. "I'm looking forward to being in Los Angeles, but musically - and... »»»January 29, 2009 - Apparently it's one and done for Phil Stacey and his record deal with Lyric Street Records, but expect to hear more music from Stacey soon.
The former American idol finalist announced via his MySpace blog Wednesday that he signed a new record deal with Reunion, a Christian music division of Sony based... »»»January 28, 2009 - Dierks Bentley will make the media rounds next week on radio and TV when his new CD, "Feel That Fire," is released.
Bentley kicks things off on Feb. 1 with an NPR "Mountain Stage" set in Charleston, West Va., before heading to New York City for a Feb. 3 performance of the top five lead single and title... »»»January 28, 2009 - Toby Keith is launching his own clothing line, TK Steelman.
Launching with a Feb. 18 event at his I Love This Bar & Grill in
Harrah's Las Vegas, the line was developed in partnership with Royal
Merchandising Group, which already produces merchandise for Keith's
restaurants.
TK Steelman will offer... »»»January 28, 2009 - Faith Hill is going to the Super Bowl Sunday in Tampa, Fla. to perform America The Beautiful. Hill will become the first artist to ever perform The Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful in the Super Bowl pre-show. Only three others have sang America the Beautiful - Vicki Carr (Super Bowl XI),... »»»January 27, 2009 - The release schedule is picking up today with several bluegrass releases out, former Jayhawks getting together and Pat Green.
Green is out with his 11th release, "What I'm For" (BNA). The Texas superstar is getting some airplay with the single Let Me. Dann Huff produced the music, including two acoustic tracks.... »»»January 27, 2009 - The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is launching a $l.1 million fundraising campaign to defray costs associated with the institution's acquisition of four instruments associated with Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash and Bill Monroe.
The effort follows approval of a $750,000 settlement with the Robert W.... »»»January 27, 2009 - Brad Paisley continued his string of sell-outs for The Paisley Party Tour by playing to capacity crowds this past weekend in Austin, Bossier City, La., Tulsa, Okla. and Lubbock, Texas.
Asleep at the Wheel's Ray Benson joined Paisley on stage to sing Miles and Miles of Texas. Ace guitarist Redd Volkaert... »»»January 27, 2009 - Miranda Lambert heads back into the studio in February to record her third album.
In a posting on her web site, Lambert wrote, "I've really been writing and concentrating on that...Once I get the record done, I'll be back into the swing of things. I have to say though I am missin' my fans, my band and... »»»January 26, 2009 - The Watson Twins will release a live EP, "Live at Fingerprints," Feb. 17 on Vanguard Records while also doing a tour. The six songs capture the pair performing acoustic versions of selections from their Vanguard debut "Fire Songs" plus a previously unreleased track, Rebel Soldier'. in Long Beach, Cal.... »»»January 26, 2009 - Blake Shelton reached the top of the charts, R&R Singles and MediaBase Singles, with She Wouldn't Be Gone. The song, written by Cory Batten and Jennifer Adan, takes over for Alan Jackson's Country Boy.
This is Shelton's second consecutive chart topper - the follow up to Home and his fifth career number one.... »»»January 26, 2009 - The Carter Twins debuted their first ever video for their premiere single Heart Like Memphis on CMT and CMT.com today. Josh and Zach Carter provide harmonies on the song, which will be available for download on iTunes and Rhapsody beginning Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The video was filmed in Nashville along... »»»January 26, 2009 - Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks announced the first leg of a U.S. tour to support the new studio album with the tour starting in late March. "Tangled Tales" is out March 24 on Surfdog Records. The CD, with eight originals, includes Hick's trademark swing music. David Grisman, Charlie Musselwhite, and... »»»January 26, 2009 - Brad Paisley can't seem to stay off the road. So, he will launch the American Saturday Night tour in June with special guests Dierks Bentley and Jimmy Wayne. The kick-off date for the 41-city tour is scheduled for June 5 in Charlotte, ending Oct. 17 in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Paisley just garnered his... »»»January 26, 2009 - Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out signed to Rural Rhythm Records, which will release the group's new album later this year. The bluegrass veterans self-released albums after having been with Rounder.
"We are all thrilled to be a part of this new chapter for Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out.... »»»January 25, 2009 - Jim Lauderdale, Nanci Griffith, Sam Bush and Foster & Lloyd, will be playing at a weekly series in Nashville sponsored by the Americana Music Association in February and March.
Every Thursday from Feb. 19 through March 26, the "Live at The Bluebird Cafe" concert series will be staged at the Bluebird Cafe.... »»»January 25, 2009 - Keith Anderson is off the road until March due to vocal cord surgery.
Following doctor's orders for complete vocal rest, Anderson canceled his tour dates for the remainder of January and February. "Anderson will undergo minor vocal cord surgery at Vanderbilt Medical Center later this month to correct a... »»»January 23, 2009 - Two showcase artists for this fall's Americana music fest will be chosen by Feb. 1.
Submissions began last week to be considered for the showcase by Sonicbids. "The initial response has been tremendous," the Americana Music Association said in a statement.
The fest will be held Sept. 16-19 in Nashville.... »»»January 23, 2009 - Neal McCoy will embark on a tour this year taking him to state fairs, rodeos and festivals.
Tour Dates are:
Jan. 24 - Billy Bobs Texas - Fort Worth, TX
March 6 - North Dakota Winter Show Arena - Valley City, ND
March 26 - Snoqualmie Ballroom - Snoqualmie, WA
March 27 - Skagit Valley Casino &... »»»January 23, 2009 - The tough state of the music business hit SonyBMG Nashville Thursday.
The web site allaccess.com, which reports about radio and record labels, said that five staffers would let go in the publicity and marketing departments. Let go were BNA Director/Marketing & Artist Development Dan Anderson; RCA... »»»January 23, 2009 - Jason Aldean will see if the hits keep on coming when he releases his third disc, "Wide Open," April 7 on Broken Bow.
The 10-song disc includes material from Neil Thrasher, Wendell Mobley and Brett James. Michael Knox produced, and Aldean's touring band participated in the studio recordings.... »»»January 22, 2009 - Taylor Swift once again had the top selling CD in the U.S. with "Fearless" for the seventh week and also had the second best selling disc on the country chart with her debut 117 weeks after its release. On the country song chart for the week ending Jan. 31, Alan Jackson scored his third number one from... »»»January 22, 2009 - Dailey & Vincent will guest on A Prairie Home Companion on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the show's home theater in St. Paul, Minn.
"When we sat down to talk about our goals for the first couple years of our career, we put A Prairie Home Companion on that list," said Jamie Dailey. "It was a lofty goal, but I've... »»»January 22, 2009 -
Little Jimmy Dickens moved from a Nashville hospital to a nearby rehabilitation center Wednesday, according to Musicty City TV.
The Grand Ole Opry star had surgery to repair bleeding on his brain. At the rehab center, "he anticipates a short stay to recuperate from his surgery," the Opry management said.... »»»January 22, 2009 - "Defying Gravity" will be the name of Keith Urban's new CD, dropping March 31. The disc contains Keith's 18th top 10 single Sweet Thing.
"I've always approached making records as a journey where I just have to let
myself go," said Urban. "If the conditions are just right the music will
reflect the... »»»January 21, 2009 - Luke Bryan will be the honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day, slated for Sept. 26.
Congress established National Hunting and Fishing Day to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation. Since launching in 1972, the day has been formally proclaimed by every U.S.... »»»January 21, 2009 - Blake Shelton will join George Strait on his tour starting in May and going through late July. Julianne Hough was previously announce as the tour opener.
"I have the utmost respect for George Strait and to be invited to be on his tour is a huge honor, he truly is a living legend.... »»»January 21, 2009 - Rodney Atkins, the Gatlin Brothers and Lee Greenwood performed at President Bush's welcome home rally Tuesday in Midland, Texas.
"It's such an honor to get to be part of this event," said Atkins. "I have so much respect for President and Mrs. Bush. My family and I are grateful for their service and... »»»January 21, 2009 - Little Big Town announced today that country musicians across the nation can register and compete to land a spot as the opening act on Little Big Town's upcoming A Place to Land tour.
The top four acts will perform at different stops on the tour during March. Once the bands are registered for the... »»»January 20, 2009 - Carrie Underwood will perform on the Grammys telecast on Sunday, Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.
The singer joins previously announced performers and nominees Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne and Katy Perry. Jennifer Hudson also will sing.
Underwood is up for Best Female Country Vocal... »»»January 20, 2009 - Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen, Little Big Town and Darius Rucker will be among the acts playing at the annual Country Radio Broadcasters luncheon in March.
The shows are sponsored by the Sony Music Nashville and Capitol Nashville label. Another luncheon will be sponsored by new label Golden Music and... »»»January 20, 2009 - Brad Paisley launched the final leg of the Paisley Party Tour this past weekend with sell-out shows in Memphis, Little Rock, Ark. and Pensacola, Fla. and "near capacity" in New Orleans, according to his publicist. He heads to Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana for more shows in the next week.... »»»January 20, 2009 - Billy Currington will top the country singles chart for the third time in his career with the first single off his current album, Don't. He takes over for Brad Paisley's Start a Band, his song with Keith Urban. The Billboard chart officially comes out Thursday.
"This is such an honor for me - Don't is... »»»January 20, 2009 - Pam Gadd, former member of the New Coon Creek Girls, releases the lone album out today, "Benefit of Doubt" on Home Sweet Highway. The disc contains 14 songs with Dolly Parton, Dale Ann Bradley, Marty Raybon and Steve Gulley of Grasstowne helping out. Among the songs are Jimmy Martin's Hold Whatcha Got,... »»»January 20, 2009 - Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh had a baby boy Monday in a Nashville-area hospital. Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born at 1:01 p.m., weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces. "Noah, mom and dad are all doing very well," according to a press release.
Messina married in October, 2007.... »»»January 19, 2009 - A Jonas Brothers 3d movie dropping next month apparently will include Taylor Swift signing a Shania Twain song, according to Billboard.com
The "3D Concert Experience" film, out Feb. 24, is likely to include a duet with Swift on Twain's "I'm Gonna Getcha Good."
The movie was shot last summer on tour.... »»»January 19, 2009 - Trace Adkins makes several television appearances this week. Adkins will sing You're Gonna Miss This, his Grammy-nominated song," on the Ellen Degeneres Show on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Also airing later on Wednesday night, January 21, he sings his new single, Marry For Money, on Craig Ferguson's "The Late Late Show.... »»»January 19, 2009 - Lady Antebellum plays The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 22 and the final two-song performance of The Early Show's "Grammy Concert Series" on CBS, Saturday, Feb. 7. The trio's live show will be featured with a 30-minute special as part of DirectTV's Concert Series in heavy rotation through March 15.... »»»January 18, 2009 - Garth Brooks and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland were among the music stars performing at the pre-inaugural concert for President-elect Barack Obama Sunday.
Brooks sang three songs including Shout and American Pie. Nettles joined James Taylor and John Legend in doing Taylor's Shower the People.... »»»January 16, 2009 - Rascal Flatts will release its first single, Here Comes Goodbye, off their upcoming disc, "Unstoppable," Tuesday. The song was written by Clint Lagerberg and Chris Sligh.
The CD will be out April 7. During the People's Choice Awards earlier this month, the band invited fans to design the CD cover.... »»»January 16, 2009 - Johnny Bulford won the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown Thursday. Bulford was presented with a $100,000 Grand Prize check. The four other finalists were Korey Blake, Lance Lipinsky, LiveWire and Matt Reeves.
Bulford, the southeast winner representing WXXX of Orlando, is a singer/songwriter who has... »»»January 16, 2009 - Dale Watson will bring his truckers music to the silver platter once again. Look for the Texas honky tonker's "The Truckin' Sessions: Volume Two" April 21 courtesy of Hyena Records.
Songs on the CD, which Watson also produced, are:
1. Drag N Fly
2. Jack's Truck Stop and Cafe
3. Truck Stop in LaGrange
4.... »»»January 16, 2009 - Mercury Nashville is set to release an LP version of Jamey Johnson's Grammy nominated album "That Lonesome Song" on Jan. 27. Since its release in 2007, the CD has spent 8 weeks in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Country Albums Chart. Johnson has sold about 275,000 units of the release, his second.... »»»January 16, 2009 - Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks is working on a fiddle album, although details are scant. Among the players are Rob Ickes, Scott Vestal, Alison Krauss and Keith Sewell, who toured with the Chicks. Songs recorded included Fire on the Mountain.
Ickes said he went down to Texas in November for about... »»»January 15, 2009 - Brad Paisley notched another number one single on the Billboard song chart with Start a Band, his song with Keith Urban, while Taylor Swift stayed atop the overall top 200 and country album chart for the week ending Jan. 24 with "Fearless."
Paisley jumped from third to first, replacing Sugarland's... »»»January 15, 2009 - Ted Russell Kamp, a member of Shooter Jennings' backing band, is out with a new CD, "Poor Man's Paradise," on Feb. 17 on his own Poetry of the Moment (PoMo) label.
Kamp's music is roots, country-rock and soul. The music is a follow-up to "Divisadero" (2007). On the new CD, Kamp wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs.... »»»January 15, 2009 - Rockabilly and country singer Wanda Jackson and former Elvis band members will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland April 4. Jackson will join the hall as part of the Early Influence category.
Elvis Presley band members Bill Black and D.J. Fontana will be inducted as part of the... »»»January 15, 2009 - Pat Green and Randy Houser are spearheading the first Jagermeister Country Tour. The concerts kick off in Atlanta on Jan. 31, celebrating the release of Green's new CD "What I'm For," that hits stores earlier that week. The Jagermeister Country Tour runs through early May and will make stops in Denver,... »»»January 15, 2009 - MerleFest 2009's songwriting competition, the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, is now accepting submissions.
Now in its 17th year, the contest is a chance for writers to have their original songs heard and judged by a panel of Nashville music industry professionals, under the direction of this year's... »»»January 14, 2009 - Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens is recovering in a Nashville area hospital following surgery Tuesday to repair a subdural hematoma, a build-up of blood on the brain.
"He is resting comfortably," according to a statement from the Opry. "The family asks for your thoughts and prayers for Jimmy as he recovers.... »»»January 14, 2009 - Martina McBride will sing the National Anthem at Heinz Field before the Pittsburgh Steelers go head-to-head against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Championship game Sunday. To date, the multi-platinum singer's rendition of the Anthem has led to 26-5 wins for NFL home teams.... »»»
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Country News Digest
 CST
 CST
January 14, 2009 - Anti- Records released a free download of People Got A Lotta
Nerve, the first single from Neko Case's new album "Middle Cyclone"
(March 3).
For every blog that posts the song and iLike user who
adds it to his/her profile, Case and Anti- will make a donation
benefiting Best Friends Animal Society.... »»»January 14, 2009 - Kenny Chesney is among the first performers announced for the 51st Annual Grammy Awards telecast, which is slated for Sunday, Feb. 8, in Los Angeles.
Others who will play are Coldplay, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, and Katy Perry.
Chesney is nominated for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (Shiftwork).... »»»January 14, 2009 - Gretchen Peters collaborate with Tom Russell for a new CD, "One To The Heart, One To The Head," out Feb. 1 on Frontera/Scarlet Letter Records. The pair made the album in four whirlwind days in Austin after Russell planted the seed of an idea with an email.
"When Tom suggested this collaboration it... »»»January 14, 2009 - Keith Urban's video for Sweet Thing, the first single from his upcoming
March 31st album release, premieres on MySpace on Friday, January 16th. The video, which was directed by Trey Fanjoy (Raining on Sunday and Somebody Like You) and includes shots of Urban's vintage Ford Mustang, will mark the site's... »»»January 14, 2009 - Music industry veteran James Stroud will bring country music to China and launch an international music and entertainment exchange program this year.
Stroud, who recently returned from China over the New Year's holiday weekend, settled the plans to organize and coordinate a series of concerts to take... »»»January 13, 2009 - Eric Church announced Tuesday he will launch a tour in support of his sophomore release, "Carolina," dropping March 24 on Capitol Nashville.
Jay Joyce-who also produced Church's debut-produced Carolina and Church wrote or co-wrote each of the album's 13 tracks. Church's debut, "Sinners Like Me,"... »»»January 13, 2009 - Kenny Chesney announced he would perform about 50 shows in 40 cities on his 2009 Sun City Carnival Tour. The tour starts April 17-18 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
"We've got a bunch of football stadiums because that is an experience like no other, but we're also going to do some... »»»January 13, 2009 - Patty Loveless will make her first appearance on the A Prairie Home Companion this Saturday, Jan. 17. Loveless will sing several cuts from her Grammy nominated a"Sleepless Nights" (Saguaro Road Records).
"I've been listening to A Prairie Home Companion for over 20 years now and am a fan of Garrison as... »»»January 13, 2009 - Mandolin player Butch Baldassari, a member of Weary Hearts and Lonesome Standard Time, died Saturday of brain cancer.
The native of Scranton, Pa. was first introduced to the mandolin at the Philadelphia Folk Festival in 1972, where he saw Andy Statman with David Bromberg and Barry Mitterhoff with the Bottle Hill Boys.... »»»January 13, 2009 - Garth Brooks and Jennifer Nettles will join Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, U2, Shakira and a slew of other musical stars Sunday for a pre-inauguration concert for President-elect Barack Obama in Washington.
John Mellencamp, Usher, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor will perform as well Sunday afternoon.... »»»January 13, 2009 - The Greencards are set to release a new album on a new label for them in April and hit the road.
"Fascination" drops April 21 on Sugar Hill. The trio - singer/bassist Carol Young and multiple stringed-instrument master Kym Warner from Australia, and violinist/violist Eamon McLoughlin from the U.... »»»January 13, 2009 - Banjo player Kristen Scott Benson offers her second solo disc, "Second Season," on Pinecastle. Benson joined The Grascals this fall. Benson was voted banjo player of the year by the IBMA. Benson is the wife of Wayne Benson of iiird Tyme Out.
"Second Season" features eight instrumental and four vocal... »»»January 12, 2009 - Taylor Swift, the best-selling musical artist of 2008, will guest star in an upcoming episode of the "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on CBS. Swift will play Haley Jones, a teenaged girl whose family runs a seedy Vegas motel. Over the course of a year, Haley goes through a series of changes that have... »»»January 12, 2009 - Brad Paisley notched his ninth consecutive number one single with Start a Band, the song he did with Keith Urban, which will be officially at the top when the charts are released later this week. Paisley assumes the top slot from Sugarland's Already Gone.
No other artist has achieved this in the... »»»January 12, 2009 - The Flatlanders return with "Hills And Valleys" on March 31 from New West Records with a tour to follow starting in April.
Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock co-wrote 8 of the 13 tracks on the disc, their first in 5 years and only fourth studio album in 30 years. Lloyd Maines (Dixie Chicks... »»»January 12, 2009 - Rascal Flatts will start the final leg of their "Bob That Head Tour" this Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. This leg will run for 20 dates with Epic/Columbia Nashville's Jessica Simpson opening.
Last week, Rascal Flatts was named Favorite Group at the 2009 People's Choice Awards and during the live... »»»January 12, 2009 - Loretta Lynn is working on two musical projects for release this year, the follow-ups to her 2004 acclaimed CD "Van Lear Rose," according to Billboard.
Lynn is recording new material for a possible late spring release. The songs will be in Lynn's traditional country style and concern modern issues.... »»»January 12, 2009 - Rob Ickes is forming his own record label. The Dobro master said Saturday that he has formed the label Reso Revolution and will release his next CD on his own.
"I just finished mixing it," said Ickes, who has won 10 IBMA Dobro player of the year awards. The new disc, as yet untitled, will be jazz... »»»January 12, 2009 - Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum were officially announced late last week as opening acts on Kenny Chesney's Sun City Carnival 2009 Tour.
Lambert and Lady Antebellum were previously disclosed to be part of the tour along with Sugarland and Montgomery Gentry.
"This tour is going to be a wild ride," said Chesney.... »»»January 12, 2009 - Charlie Louvin returns to the road starting in February on the eve of the Grammus to support two albums he released since September. Louvin put out "Steps To Heaven," nominated for a Grammy, Best Southern, Bluegrass or Country Gospel Album, and "Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs.... »»»January 11, 2009 - Hee Haw cast member Jon Hager, one-half of the Hagers vocal duo, died Friday, Jan. 9, in his Nashville apartment. Hager, 67. apparently died in his sleep. Hager's brother, Jim, died on May 1, 2008 in Nashville.
The Hagers were on Hee Haw's first episode in 1969 and were on the show until the late 1980's.... »»»January 9, 2009 - John Hartford will be the subject of the Country Music Hall of Fame's newest spotlight exhibit, John Hartford: Ever Smiling, Ever Gentle on My Mind, which opens Jan. 24. The exhibit examines Hartford's career, including his songwriting success with the country-pop standard Gentle on My Mind, his... »»»January 9, 2009 - Billy Ray Cyrus released a new single this week, Back To Tennessee, the title track to his new album releasing March 31. The song, penned by Cyrus, Tamara Dunn and Matthew Wilder, has its inspiration in the singer's longing to return to his roots. Cyrus grew up in Kentucky and has been living on the... »»»January 9, 2009 - Keith Urban will perform at the Daytona 500 Pre-Race Show, the pre-race
event leading up to the start of the race at Daytona International Speedway, on Sunday, Feb. 15. Urban will perform three of his eight number one songs prior to the 51st annual Daytona 500, the season-opening event to the NASCAR... »»»January 9, 2009 - Ronnie Milsap will go the gospel route when his next release hits the streets in March.
The 2-CD "'Then Sings My Soul: 24 Favorite Hymns & Gospel Songs" will be out March 10 on EMI CMG. The set includes I'll Fly Away, Amazing Grace and Up To Zion along with Stand By Me and People Get Ready.... »»»January 8, 2009 - Taylor Swift was the number 1 disc in the U.S. on the Billboard Top 200 chart for the week ending Jan. 17 with "Fearless," meaning she also had the best selling country disc. On the singles chart, Sugarland is number one with Already Gone, taking over from Rascal Flatts' Here, which fell to second.... »»»January 8, 2009 - What began as a song on Brooks & Dunn's "Cowboy Town," then became a special radio edit with the addition of vocals from the song's inspiration and longtime Brooks & Dunn friend, Reba McEntire, and now will be a digital release for the first time. Cowgirls Don't Cry will be a digital single as of Feb. 10.... »»»January 8, 2009 - Jamey Johnson will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday, Feb. 5. Jamey's Mercury Nashville debut album "That Lonesome Song," spawned the hit single In Color. Johnson received nominations for three Grammy... »»»January 8, 2009 - With a little help from their fans, Rascal Flatts will have a new cover for their next release, "Unstoppable," which drops April 7.
The trio is collaborating with Choice to create a contest for fans to create and vote on the cover art for Rascal Flatts' sixth studio disc.
"It only makes sense to have... »»»January 8, 2009 - Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts were winners Wednesday at the 35th annual People's Choice awards.
Underwood took home best female singer over Alecia Keys and Rihanna. Underwood also won favorite country song for Last Name. Taylor Swift's Love Story and Rascal Flatts' Take Me There also were nominated.... »»»January 7, 2009 - Rascal Flatts announced today via text message to their fans the upcoming release of the band's sixth studio album, "Unstoppable," on April 7. The trio will make a special announcement tonight about the upcoming record on the People's Choice Awards (CBS 9 p.m./8 p.m. central) where the band is nominated... »»»January 7, 2009 - Look for a new Charlie Robison disc perhaps in late April or early may on Dualtone. This is his first release since November 2005's "Good Times." Robison already has completed recording the disc, which he self-produced.
The music was being written during his divorce from Dixie Chicks member Emily Robison.... »»»January 7, 2009 - The chart magic of Taylor Swift continues because she is celebrating her fifth non-consecutive week at number 1 on The Billboard 200 with "Fearless" (Big Machine). The disc sold 90,000 units in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
However, that represents a drop of 66 percent from the previous week.... »»»January 7, 2009 - Trace Adkins is not the only one in the family with an eye for the stage. Mackenzie Adkins, his 10-year-old daughter, will play a Munchkin in the Nashville engagement of The Wizard of Oz, Jan. 13-18 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC).
Mackenzie is 1 of 12 students from a dance school in Franklin Tenn.... »»»January 7, 2009 - A Tennessee judge sealed records in a paternity suit filed last year against the late country singer Eddy Arnold, according to the Tennessean.
Davidson County Probate Judge Randy Kennedy ordered all new filings private starting on Monday. Christopher Tanner, a California man, filed suit last June, a... »»»January 7, 2009 - Jason Michael Carroll number one CD, "Waitin' in the Country," has gone gold for sales of 500,000 mobile masterone units. The debut disc had back-to-back top five singles, Alyssa Lies and Livin' Our Love Song.
Looking ahead, Carroll will release a new CD this spring and the disc's first single,... »»»January 6, 2009 - Austin-based band The Gourds released the first country CD of the year Tuesday with "Haymaker!" (Yep Roc). The group consists of Claude Bernard on accordion and piano, Max Johnston on vocals and guitar, Keith Langford on drums, Jimmy Smith on vocals and bass and Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell on vocals and guitar.... »»»January 6, 2009 - Sugarland is moving on up. At least the duo's single, Already Gone, is because the song will be number one on the Billboard country song chart when it is officially released Thursday. Sugarland will take over the top spot from Rascal Flatt's... »»»January 6, 2009 - Canadian rootsy singer Kathleen Edwards returns to touring her third U.S. release "Asking For Flowers" (Rounder) in late January. The CD was Edwards' first in three years with 11 songs all written by Edwards.
Tour dates are:
Jan. 30 Kent, OH The Kent Stage
Jan. 31 Pittsburgh Rex Theatre
Feb.... »»»January 6, 2009 - Cledus T. Judd re-signed with Koch Records and will release a new single this month, Waitin' On Obama after a three-year hiatus. The song is a parody of Brad Paisley's hit single, Waitin' On A Woman, and a video was shot Monday at the Factory in Franklin, Tenn. The single is available on iTunes and the... »»»January 6, 2009 - Kenny Chesney may have had the fourth biggest tour of 2008 according to Pollstar - behind Madonna, Celine Dion's extended Vegas run and The Eagles - but he also had the cheapest aggregate ticket prices and the most tickets sold.
"It's not about the money, it's about the fans," Chesney said.... »»»January 6, 2009 - Lady Antebellum will introduce their upcoming single, I Run To You this Thursday, Jan. 8 on NBC's Late Night With Conan O' Brien.
The song is the third single from their number one debut album, which spawned two hits in 2008 with Love Don't Live Here and Looking For A Good Time.... »»»January 5, 2009 - James Otto underwent surgery today to repair a torn rotator cuff and remove the bone spurs that caused it.
Otto said on his myspace page that "I won't be canceling any shows, but could be in a sling for a few. I should recover pretty quickly, but will require six weeks of physical therapy.... »»»January 5, 2009 - Keith Urban will play 58 cities in North America, including Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Toronto and Vancouver, during his tour, which follows on the heels of a new, as yet untitled, disc out March 31.
The tour kicks off in May, and likely go through the summer and into the fall,... »»»January 5, 2009 - The Time Jumpers, the Grammy-nominated swing sounding band of Nashville aces, will be featured on today's edition of All Things Considered on NPR stations. The audio from today's show will be available online after 7 p.m. eastern at www.npr.org. The piece was produced by music writer Craig Havighurst... »»»January 5, 2009 - Country music sales suffered a 24-percent drop in 2008, the second biggest decline of any genre. A total of 47.7 million country CDs were sold, compared with 62.7 million in 2007.
The brightest star for country was Taylor Swift, who was the top selling artist in the U.S. last year, racking up sales of... »»»January 5, 2009 - The Americana Music Association is offering an early bird rate ending today for the 2009 Americana Music Festival and Conference being held in September. A discount of $200 for members and $300 for non-members will last until the end of today.
The dates for this years Festival and Conference are... »»»January 5, 2009 - Ray Price will celebrate his 83rd birthday, Monday, Jan. 12 with a party at the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and Tex Ritter Museum in Carthage, Texas. The public is invited to join the festivities.
The country singer retains an active touring schedule. Two years ago, he released "Last of The... »»»January 5, 2009 - Taylor Swift, who had an ultra successful 2008, will be the musical guest on Saturday Night Live this week.
Swift joins host actor Neil Patrick Harris on the first new SNL this year on Jan. 10. Other country artists, who have appeared in the past, are Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton and Tim McGraw.... »»»January 4, 2009 - One of the leading bluegrass music magazines, which turned into a web site, is no more. Wayne Bledsoe announced on the web site of the longstanding Bluegrass Now that he was closing, a victim of the economy.
On the ezine's web site, Bledsoe wrote, "the current downturn in the U.S.... »»»January 2, 2009 - Tanya Tucker and Collin Raye will try in 2009 to duplicate the success that label mate Patty Loveless received last year.
Saguaro Road Records, a division of Time-Life, will release new album from Tucker and Raye this spring, Raye's disc, "Never Going Back" will be out April 7. The disc will include a... »»»January 2, 2009 - Merle Haggard is returning to the stage tonight in California for his first shows since undergoing lung cancer surgery in early November.
In an interview with Reuters, Haggard said, "I think we can stir up some good humor out there among the folks that are crying for good news, and just give them a... »»»January 1, 2009 - Bob Boatright, 69, fiddle player for Bob Wills Original Texas Playboys, died Sunday of cancer.
Mr. Boatright was born Sept. 30, 1939, in Denison, Texas. "He started taking lessons when he was 10 years old on the fiddle,"
said Mr. Boatright's wife, Linda in an obituary in the Fort Worth, Texas Star-Telegram.... »»»
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