March 31, 2011 - Mel McDaniel, 68, who had a number one hit single with "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On, died Thursday. He had a series of hits in the 1970s including Louisiana Saturday Night, Stand Up, Anger and Tears, I Call It Love, Let It Roll (Let It Rock)/I> and Stand On It.
The Opry reported his death Thursday night.... »»»March 31, 2011 -
Thompson Square achieves its first number one with Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not at the top of the Billboard Country Songs chart for the week ending April 2. The husband-and-wife duo took over from Billy Currington's Let Me Down Easy, which slipped to third.
Jason Aldean regained the top spot on the... »»»March 31, 2011 - Toby Keith is Locked & Loaded. Well at least that's the name of his tour this summer with Eric Church as the opening act.
The tour starts June 30 in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. More than 30 dates are confirmed with a total of 44 U.S. cities being scheduled, including stops in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.... »»»March 31, 2011 - Buffalo Springfield announced their first tour dates since breaking up in 1968.
The group - featuring original members Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay - will lay a six-date California tour in early June, ending at Bonnaroo on June 11.
Young's longtime bassist Rick Rosas will take the... »»»March 31, 2011 - Taylor Swift has surpassed the 20 million mark for album sales, it was announced last night just prior to her wrapping the overseas portion of her Speak Now World Tour 2011 with a sold-out show at London's O2 Arena.
Swift has sold 10 million albums in the last 18 months - she reached the 10 million... »»»March 31, 2011 - After a run in movie theatres last year, "Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D" is now out on DVD and Blu-ray.
The movie captures concert footage over six nights in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle, Indianapolis and Foxboro, Mass. The release features the theatrical version of the film plus extensive and... »»»March 31, 2011 - Singer, politician and author Kinky Friedman is returning to the setage in late April for a two-week tour as part of his Springtime for Kinky Tour of 2011. Friedman will appear primarily solo and promote his most recent books, "What Would Kinky Do?" and "Heroes of a Texas Childhood.... »»»March 30, 2011 - Country Dance for Wii hit store shelves on Tuesday.
The game from GameMill Entertainment features more than 25 songs from the likes of Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Johnny Cash, Miley Cyrus, Brooks & Dunn, Zac Brown Band and Tim McGraw.
Country Dance is accessible to... »»»March 30, 2011 - Jason Aldean will release Dirt Road Anthem as the third single off "My Kinda Party."
Aldean will perform the song Sunday, April 3 on the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS. The song, which can be streamed, hits radio on April 4.
"I always get excited to test new songs out on the... »»»March 30, 2011 - Willie Nelson won't be singing in court to avoid jail for possessing pot.
That was the supposed idea of Hudsepth Country, Texas Attorney Kim Bramblett, who said Nelson could resolve possession charges by pleading guilty, paying a fine and singing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain in court.... »»»March 30, 2011 - Songwriter Harley Allen, who wrote hits including The Baby, died of lung cancer this morning at 55.
In addition to the hit for Blake Shelton, Allen also penned Joe Nichols' I'll Wait For You and Darryl Worley's Awful, Beautiful Life. He also had songs recorded by Alan Jackson (Everything I Love andI... »»»March 30, 2011 - Alison Krauss and Union Station are soon going to release their first new studio CD since 2004. The music video for Paper Airplane, the title track and first single is out.
The CD will be out April 12.
... »»»March 30, 2011 - Emmylou Harris is offering a free download of The Road, a song from her new disc out in late April.
"Hard Bargain" was produced by Jay Joyce and will hit the public April 26 on Nonesuch Records.
Harris was just announced today as one of the performers at the Newport Folk Festival.... »»»March 30, 2011 - Emmylou Harris, The Decemberists and Elvis Costello will play at the 52nd annual Newport Folk Festival this summer.
The Decemberists return after performing at the Festival's 2009 edition, this time backed by their 2011 studio release, "The King is Dead." Costello makes his sophomore trip to the... »»»March 29, 2011 - Bluegrass band Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper are "Fired Up" with the release of their latest on Rounder. The band consists of Cleveland on fiddle, Jessie Banker on banjo, Marshall Wilborn on bass, Tom Adams on guitar and Jesse Brock on mandolin. Songs include the Delmore Brothers I've Got the Railroad... »»»March 29, 2011 - Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Garth Brooks and Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers will receive special honors from the Academy of Country Music.
Swift will be given the Jim Reeves International Award for her contributions to the acceptance of country throughout the world. McEntire will receive the... »»»March 29, 2011 - Randy Travis will celebrate his 25th anniversary as a recording artist with a disc re-recording his hits and new songs on a duets disc including Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band.
"Anniversary Celebration" drops on June 7 on Warner. Zac Brown Band, Kristin Chenoweth,... »»»March 27, 2011 - Thompson Square are number one with their single Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not. This is the first number one for the husband-and-wife duo off their recently released self-titled debut album.
Billy Currington has been number one the Billboard country song chart with Let Me Down Easy.... »»»March 27, 2011 - Johnny Reid won the Juno Award for the best country album in Canada over the weekend with "A Place Called Love."
The Junos are the Canadian equivalent of the Grammys.
"My Hands Are On Fire and Other Love Songs" by Old Man Luedecke won Roots & Traditional Album of the Year Solo.... »»»March 27, 2011 - The Coal Porters, the band fronted by former Long Ryders' leader Sid Griffin, is returning to the U.S. this spring for five shows, including Stagecoach.
"Durango" was released in January 2010. "For all the satisfaction of success in Europe and becoming the UK's leading 'alt-bluegrass' ensemble," said... »»»March 27, 2011 - Jason Michael Carroll got his start singing in public while working as a server at the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store location in Henderson, N.C. Now, Carroll will release "Numbers," his first studio album since 2009, on July 25.
The title track will be the new single out today.... »»»March 27, 2011 - Blake Shelton is making the rounds of television in advance of co-hosting the Academy of Country Music awards next Sunday.
While in Los Angeles this week, Shelton will make his fourth visit to E!'s "Chelsea Lately" set on Tuesday, March 29, CBS' "The Talk" on Thursday, March 31 and CBS' "The Early... »»»March 25, 2011 - Lady Gaga has gone country.
The singer posted a self-described country version of her current hit Born This Way on her YouTube site. The song adds country instrumentation, including fiddle.
The song is also slightly different lyrically as Gaga added lyrics at about the three minute mark of the video.... »»»March 25, 2011 - Thompson Square partnered with CMT to launch the "Thompson Square 'Crash My Wedding' Dream Honeymoon" contest. The online contest starts today and ends April 27 on CMT.com.
To enter, fans need to submit short essays about why Thompson Square should crash their wedding. The grand prize winner will... »»»March 25, 2011 - The CMA Songwriters Series will bring some of Nashville's hit makers to New York City in May to share stories and music.
Bill Anderson, Dean Dillon, Steve Wariner and Craig Wiseman will join host Bob DiPiero at Joe's Pub on Wednesday, May 11.
"Songwriting is what lured me into country music in the... »»»March 24, 2011 - Billy Currington took over the top spot of the Billboard Country Songs chart for the week ending April 2 with Let Me Down Easy. He displaced Jason Aldean's Don't You Wanna Stay, his song with Kelly Clarkson, which slipped to second. On the album chart, Sara Evans stayed first with "Stronger.... »»»March 24, 2011 - Toby Keith will perform two songs during the April 19 episode of Dancing With The Stars on ABC. The performance was announced on the premiere of Season 12 on... »»»March 24, 2011 - The Grascals pay tribute to The Andy Griffith Show with the release their newest disc, "Dance 'Til Your Stockings Are Hot and Ravelin' (A Tribute To The Music of the Andy Griffith Show)" later this month.
Available digitally via BluGrascal Records/Saguaro Road Records on March 29 and via CD on June... »»»March 24, 2011 - Eric Church may have written a song about the anxiety of awaiting a pregnancy test (Two Pink Lines), but the results are in for Church and his wife - they're becoming parents.
Church and his wife Katherine are expecting their first child this fall. "Katherine and I are very excited and are looking... »»»March 24, 2011 - Taylor Swift, who is in the final week of the European leg of her Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour 2011, announced today she will extend the North American portion of the tour by 16 dates. New dates were added starting in September through late November.
Swift will now headline 78 shows in stadiums... »»»March 24, 2011 - Josh Thompson is making a slight detour on the Jagermeister Country Tour for a couple of national TV appearances next week. Thompson will visit Fox & Friends on Monday, March 28 to perform his current single and break-up anthem Won't Be Lonely Long. He'll also swing by Better TV for a performance and... »»»March 23, 2011 - Dolly Parton will release a new disc later this year and tour in the U.S. and Europe starting in July.
"A Better Day" will be out on Parton's own label, Dolly Records. The first single, Together You & I, will be unveiled with a live performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. A video will be released thereafter.... »»»March 23, 2011 - Gretchen Wilson performs a free Saturday night infield concert for Talladega Superspeedway race fans on April 16, a prelude to Aaron's 499 race the next day.
"The social atmosphere of the Talladega Superspeedway infield is one of our key selling points," said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch.... »»»March 23, 2011 - Alan Jackson teamed up with Capitol Records Nashville, it was announced Wednesday. Jackson spent his entire career with Arista until leaving last year.
Jackson's new music will be released as a joint venture between ACR (Alan's Country Records) and Capitol/EMI Records Nashville.... »»»March 22, 2011 - Country newcomer Josh Kelley is out with his genre debut, "Georgia Clay," (MCA Nashville) today. Kelley previously had a career going as a pop singer. The title cut of the 11-song CD is the single on the airwaves. Naleigh Moon is a song about his adopted daughter.
Ashton Shepherd received praised for... »»»March 22, 2011 - Taylor Swift joins the cast of an animated movie, "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," for her second stab at the movies.
The movie is to be released by Universal and Illumination Entertainment. This CGI animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book also stars Danny DeVito, Zac Efron and Betty White.... »»»March 22, 2011 - Ronnie Dunn will launch his solo career with a self-titled solo album, coming June 7.
A 12-track collection, Dunn produced and wrote or co-wrote 9 of the songs.
The first single is Bleed Red, and the disc also includes the Dunn/Terry McBride co-write, How Far to Waco, Cost of Livin' and the ballad... »»»March 22, 2011 - Brad Paisley set a Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo record by attracting 73,825 paid attendees to his Saturday night concert.
The feat makes Paisley the top country draw and places him third in the event's history. Paisley broke his own attendance record, set last year with 72,977 attending.... »»»March 22, 2011 - NewFound Road's live gig at Johnson City, Tenn.'s The Down Home will see the light of day in late April on CD.
Due April 26 on Rounder Records, "Live at the Down Home" is NewFound Road's first live album.
Tim Shelton, founder, band leader, lead singer and (mostly rhythm) guitarist, spearheads the... »»»March 21, 2011 - Steel guitarist Chuck Mooney, who co-wrote Crazy Arms, died at 82.
Born Sept. 16 1928, Duncan, Okla., Mooney became interested in music as a child. After moving to live with his sister he was taught to play guitar, mandolin and fiddle. He became attracted to the instrument after hearing Leon... »»»March 21, 2011 - Billy Currington celebrates his seventh number one single with Let Me Down Easy. The single, from his fourth studio album "Enjoy Yourself," marks his fifth straight chart topper.
The song takes over number one from Jason Aldean's Don't You Wanna Stay, his hit with Kelly Clarkson.... »»»March 21, 2011 - Thompson Square will perform their hit single, Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not, on Conan next Thursday, March 31. The following Saturday, April 2, the husband-and-wife duo will perform for The Academy of Country Music's two day all-star concerts at the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas.... »»»March 21, 2011 - Dierks Bentley is introducing his sixth Capitol Nashville studio project with Am I The Only One, shipping to radio today. Fans can stream the song this week through Bentley's social networks and can purchase through iTunes beginning March 29.
"We just kicked off the Jager Tour this past weekend, and... »»»March 21, 2011 - Craig Morgan was honored Saturday night for his efforts in rescuing two small children from a house fire last month.
Four members of the Tennessee City Volunteer Fire Department (TCVFD) gathered backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville Saturday evening to recognize Morgan for his actions in... »»»March 21, 2011 - Keith Urban will perform next week on both The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (March 23) and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which will air on Monday, March 28. He will be performing Without You, the new single from his Gold certified CD "Get Closer."
Following these performances, Urban will head to Las Vegas... »»»March 18, 2011 - Oprah Winfrey Network will premiere the series "Why Not? with Shania Twain" starting on Sunday, May 8.
Airing that night at 11 p.m. eastern/Pacific following the "The Judds" finale, the series will move to its regular time period (Sundays at 10 p.m. eastern/Pacific) beginning the following Sunday, May 15.... »»»March 18, 2011 - The divorce is off. At least that's what Billy Ray Cyrus told The View in an episode airing today.
Cyrus recently said that he was divorcing his wife, Tish, to whom he has been married for 17 years. He also had criticism of the "Hannah Montana" show, which starred his daughter Miley.... »»»March 18, 2011 - Loretta Lynn postponed shows through late March due to knee surgery, she said on her web site.
Due to a torn cartilage in her right knee, which is requiring surgery, Lynn postponed shows Mach 18-29. Rescheduled dates will be added at a later date. "We thank you for your understanding and patience,"... »»»March 17, 2011 - Sara Evans debuted in first with "Stronger" on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the week ending March 26. Jason Aldean stayed first on the Billboard Country Songs chart with Don't You Wanna Stay, his song with Kelly Clarkson.
Billy Currington was up one to second with Let Me Down Easy on the... »»»March 17, 2011 - Rascal Flatts announced today they will launch a brand new tour this summer, Flatts Fest, on June 18 in Bristow, Va. with opening acts Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore. The tour is currently slated to run through September with 24 shows.
The Flatts Fest tour will include a new stage... »»»March 17, 2011 - Country Music Hall of Fame member Ferlin Husky, 85, died today after battling health problems.
Ferlin Eugene Husky was born in Flat River, Mo. After World War II, Husky became a disc jockey in his home state and Bakersfield, Cal.
He later signed with Capitol Records in 1953 under the guidance of Cliffie Stone.... »»»March 17, 2011 - Lee Brice announced his partnership with NRACountry Thursday, a group supported by the National Rifle Association.
NRACountry is a partnership between the National Rifle Association and country acts including Trace Adkins, Josh Thompson, Luke Bryan, Justin Moore, Gretchen Wilson, and Blake Shelton.... »»»March 17, 2011 - Big & Rich are hitting the road together this summer with some of their Muzik Mafia compadres.
The future of the duo - John Rich & Big Kenny Alphin - has been in doubt as both pursued solo projects.
Their web site said the two were touring with Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred.... »»»March 17, 2011 - k.d. lang was added to the fifth annual Stagecoach festival line-up in California, it was announced today.
k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang's show will come on the heels of the release of the "Sing it Loud" album, due out April 12. This is lang's first studio album since 2008's "Watershed," which... »»»March 17, 2011 - Great American Country (GAC) produced a series of public service announcements asking viewers to donate to the Red Cross to support relief efforts in Japan.
Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Chris Young, Josh Thompson, Phil Vassar, Randy Houser, Heidi Newfield, Randy Montana and Katie Armiger taped PSAs... »»»March 17, 2011 - Carter's Chord will perform the national anthem Saturday March 19 at the NASCAR Nationwide Series At Bristol. ESPN will broadcast both the performance and the race, beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The Show Dog-Universal Music recording artists just released a new single and music video, A Little Less Comfortable.... »»»March 17, 2011 - Kip Moore debuted this past week at country radio with his first single, Mary Was the Marrying Kind, becoming the fourth most-added song this week.
The song, released to radio on Monday, ranked behind Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley and Toby Keith in most adds at country radio with 22 stations,... »»»March 16, 2011 - Sara Evans will have the only country album in Billboard's top 10 when the charts are out Thursday. Evans' "Stronger" sold 55,000 in its first week out, good for sixth on the overall chart.
The disc is Evans' first of new material in six years. This is the singer's third top 10 disc and her second country number 1.... »»»March 16, 2011 - John Oates, one half of Hall & Oates, goes back to roots on "Mississippi Mile," out April 12. The disc goes merges the influence of classic hits with his Americana Blues sound.
"This album is about honoring the tradition of the song itself," Oates said. "I wanted to go back to the songs that really... »»»March 15, 2011 - Comedian turned bluegrasser Steve Martin is out with his second CD today. After much success with "The Crow," Martin teamed up with the Steep Canyon Rangers to put out "Rare Bird Alert." (Rounder) The 13-song release includes a remake of Martin's big hit from the '70s, King Tut.... »»»
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March 15, 2011 - Eric Church is celebrating his second Gold certified single from his sophomore album "Carolina." The hit single Love Your Love The Most was certified Gold by the RIAA and marks Church's second Gold certification, joining Smoke A Little Smoke in the last week. Love Your Love The Most was co-penned by... »»»March 15, 2011 - Martina McBride, mother of three daughters ranging from 5 to 16, put her daughters in her son. Delaney, 16, Emma, 12, and Ava, 5, provide the autobiographical content of McBride's new single, Teenage Daughters, off her upcoming Republic Nashville debut album release
The song, co-written by McBride... »»»March 15, 2011 - The Country Music Association unveiled plans last night at Belmont University for a new, education-based, national college initiative, CMA EDU.
The program is designed to reach and engage undergraduate college students with a hands-on opportunity to enhance their skills in marketing and promotion.... »»»March 15, 2011 - Keith Urban will premiere the music video for his new single Without You on iTunes, CMT and GAC today.
The video was shot at Soundstage in Hollywood by Grammy nominated director Chris Hicky, who has previously directed Urban's videos. To coincide with the video's release, all of Urban's albums will... »»»March 14, 2011 - Will Greg Allman do a country album?
It's possible, said the Allman Brother in an interview Monday broadcast on NPR.
"Quite a few people have approached me about doing a country record," Allman said. " I was born right there in Nashville. Let me see...I don't know. If the right kind of country songs... »»»March 14, 2011 - Actresses playing country singers seem to be in vogue. First, Gwyneth Paltrow was in "Country Strong." Now, Jennifer Aniston is going to star in "The Goree Girls," about female prisoners who form a country band in Texas in a musical set in the 1940s.
The also includes Pam Tillis and Jennette McCurdy, a... »»»March 14, 2011 - A car accident Friday involving Jewel and a fire truck resulted in no injuries to her or her fetus.
Jewel's vehicle was hit by a fire truck Friday morning in Texas. "She was taken to the hospital and current medical tests conducted indicate that she and the baby are doing fine," her web site said.... »»»March 14, 2011 - Toby Keith is sponsoring a golf tournament in May to benefit America's service members and helping families of children with life-threatening illnesses.
The eighth Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic is set for May 20-21. The event will again feature live and silent auctions, a dinner, entertainment... »»»March 14, 2011 - Kenny Chesney has partnered with Costa to design his first collection of Kenny Chesney Limited Edition Costa sunglasses. Proceeds from the sale of the sunglasses will benefit ocean conservation group, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), a shared cause for both Chesney and Costa.... »»»March 14, 2011 - Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit announced summer tour dates in support of their upcoming Lightning Rod Records release, "Here We Rest," out April 12. Isbell will hit more than 25 markets, beginning on May 12 in Murrells Inlet, S.C. and making stops along the way in Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Toronto, Chicago, St.... »»»March 14, 2011 - Todd Cerney, who wrote Good Morning Beautiful for Steve Holy and I'll Still Be Loving You, for Restless Heart, died this morning from cancer.
He has had songs recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad English, Eddie Money, Cheap Trick, Loverboy, The Four Tops / Aretha Franklin, Martika, The Cover Girls, Lita... »»»March 14, 2011 - Lee Brice released a video for his single Beautiful Every Time. The song is in the top 40 on the charts.
The video comes from Brice's debut disc, "Love Like Crazy," which came out last... »»»March 11, 2011 - Craig Campbell surprised an Ohio family earlier this week based on their love of his hit single.
Campbell, the man behind the single Family Man Ohio parents learned of the Vince and Amy Spicocchi family after Vince posted a family video on YouTube set to the hit.
The Massillon, Ohio fireman and... »»»March 11, 2011 - Dierks Bentley announced today that he will once again take his Miles and Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert on the road in 2011, starting in Columbus, Ohio on May 22.
After a 90-minute ride, a concert will be held with Bentley, Joe Nichols, Josh Thompson, Uncle Kracker and Miss Willie Brown.... »»»March 10, 2011 - Aaron Lewis had the top selling country disc in the U.S. on the Billboard Country Album chart for the week ending March 19 with "Town Line." Lewis took over for Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now." On the singles chart, Jason Aldean's song with Kelly Clarkson, Don't You Wanna Stay, remained first.... »»»March 10, 2011 - Brad Paisley celebrated his 10th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member before a sold-out crowd, part of the Opry's All-Star Weekend, last weekend.
After an on-stage presentation by Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher and Opry member Bill Anderson, Paisley reflected on 10 years of Opry membership.... »»»March 9, 2011 - Eric Church's recent hit single Smoke A Little Smoke was certified Gold by the RIAA.
The song, co-penned by Church and band mates Driver Williams and Jeff Hyde, is the third hit single (Love Your Love The Most and Hell On The Heart) from his sophomore album "Carolina."
The ACM Top New Solo... »»»March 9, 2011 - CMT's Next Superstar will come a group of five men and five women. The show premiers April 8 and will last 10 episodes.
The intent of the show is open the door for undiscovered singer-songwriters. The 10 include a writer, Wynn Varble, who penned such well-known songs as Waiting on a Woman for Brad... »»»March 9, 2011 - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers will tour the U.S. starting with five New York City shows in support of their new CD, "Rare Bird Alert."
The CD will be issued in three formats: the standard CD, vinyl and a deluxe edition that will include specially created trading cards featuring performers on the album.... »»»March 9, 2011 - Randy Houser's tour bus caught this afternoon, resulting in no injuries. However, gear, clothing and personal belongings were lost in the blaze.
Houser and his crew as they were preparing for their concert tonight in Isle of the Palms, S.C., but at about 12:40 p.m. central, the crew noticed flames... »»»March 9, 2011 - Eli Young Band is off to a fast start with their new single, Crazy Girl, a prelude to an EP coming out in May.
The song topped the charts as the most added single at Billboard and the second most added at Mediabase. with 38 stations on by add date. The band catapulted to the top of the iTunes Country... »»»March 9, 2011 - Staind front man Aaron Lewis scored a umber one with his debut country disc, "Town Line."
The EP, produced by Grammy Award-winner James Stroud, also lands at 7 on the Top 200 Albums Chart, with first week sales exceeding 37,000 copies.
The CD takes over the top of the chart from Lady Antebellum's... »»»March 8, 2011 - A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, a punk rocker, a youthful bluegrasser and an established country singer putting out her first disc in six years top the list of new releases Tuesday.
Charley Pride returns with "Choices" on Music City. This is the hall of famer's first disc in five years.... »»»March 8, 2011 - Jon Dee Graham, Freedy Johnston and Susan Cowsill united to form the Hobart Brothers & Lil' Sis Hobart. The trio, backed by drummer Russ Broussard and bassist Andrew Duplantis, will make their live debut during SXSW week in a series of Austin appearances.
The trio got together at last year's SXSW to... »»»March 8, 2011 - Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band join Easton Corbin, Sara Evans, the JaneDear girls, Little Big Town, Ashton Shepherd, Josh Turner and Chris Young as the next group of performers announced for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during 2011 CMA Music Festival, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.... »»»March 8, 2011 - Gwyneth Paltrow reportedly has signed a record deal with Atlantic Records for $900,000.
The news was reported on several country web sites. Paltrow, who starred in the movie "Country Strong," has been pushing the musical side of her performing career lately. She appeared on the Grammys with Cee Lo... »»»March 8, 2011 - Jason Aldean will extend his 2011 My Kinda Party tour into the summer, with special guests Chris Young and Thompson Square. After selling more than 154,000 thousand tickets to the first leg's 14 dates so far, the tour will pick up on July 8 in Milwaukee with more shows to be announced over the coming weeks.... »»»March 8, 2011 - Easy Come, Easy Go, the video for the single from Sierra Hull's album "Daybreak" debuted Monday on CMT.
The video was directed by award winning director David McClister (Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Leann Rimes) and was filmed in one day at the Two Rivers Mansion in Nashville, featuring her... »»»March 7, 2011 - Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three will have two songs put out on Jack White's label Third Man Records on vinyl on Tuesday, March 15.
The songs are Pack It Up and Chittlin' Cookin' Time in Cheatham County.
Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three, a St. Louis band playing old time/vaudeville style... »»»March 7, 2011 - Gloriana will release the first single from their forthcoming second studio album to all digital retailers tomorrow. The song, Wanna Take You Home, was co-written by Tom Gossin, the band's producer Matt Serletic (Willie Nelson, Rob Thomas, Aerosmith), and hit Nashville songwriter Wendell Mobley (Kenny... »»»March 7, 2011 - Taylor Swift kicked off the European leg of her Speak Now World Tour in Brussels, Belgium last night.
Swift started the 90-minute show with Sparks Fly at the Forest National Arena. Swift performed on two different stages, playing several different acoustic and electric guitars, and also the piano and... »»»March 7, 2011 - Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show are hitting the road. Make that rails. Traveling exclusively in vintage railcars, the three bands will journey across the American Southwest over the course of a week. The Railroad Revival Tour will feature the 3 bands playing... »»»March 4, 2011 - Julianne Hough will star with Tom Cruise in "Rock of Ages," the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical.
"I'm dying right now... I'm so excited and can't wait for this journey of becoming Sherri! It all starts... NOW!!!" said Hough on Twitter late Thursday.
The cast also includes Mary J. Blige.... »»»March 4, 2011 - Montgomery Gentry apparently has a new home.
After spending its entire career with Sony Nashville, the duo has inked with Average Joe's Entertainment, according to Music Row. The label currently includes Colt Ford on its roster along with Josh Gracin and Matt Stillwell.
"It's now official.... »»»March 3, 2011 - Jason Aldean stood at the top of the Billboard Country Songs chart for the week ending March 12 with help from Kelly Clarkson on Don't You Wanna Stay. Aldean took over from Blake Shelton whose Who Are You When I'm Not Looking fell to fourth. Lady Antebellum stayed first on the album chart with "Need You Now.... »»»March 3, 2011 - Taylor Swift announced a slew of opening acts for the North American leg of her tour, which starts in late August. Almost all of the acts are signed with major labels. Swift just wrapped the sold-out Asian leg of her Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour 2011, and the European tour kicks off this week with... »»»March 3, 2011 - Rascal Flatts announced Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield will join them in their concert special- "Rascal Flatts: Nothing Like This Presented by JCPenney" - set to air Saturday, March 12 at 8 p.m. eastern.
Bieber will appear in a never before seen clip of the Flatts-Bieber video That Should Be Me... »»»March 3, 2011 - Country singer Eilen Jewell's fourth album will be released June 28 on Signature Sounds.
"Queen of the Minor Key" features 13 all new original tracks and was produced by Jewell and her band. The disc features guest vocalists including Zoe Muth and Big Sandy (from Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys).... »»»March 3, 2011 - Steve Wariner has launched a series of short instructional video clips at his web site in which he plays songs from his new "Guitar Laboratory" CD, demonstrating various licks and showing aspiring guitarists how to capture the same sounds.
This week's mini-lesson is on the song Crafty, and... »»»March 3, 2011 - Pinecastle Records signed Town Mountain to its roster. The band combines driving bluegrass with slow country crooning and a honky tonk edge.
Town Mountain, based in Asheville, N.C., won the prestigious Rockygrass Band Competition in 2005. Town Mountain features Phil Barker (mandolin, vocals), Robert... »»»March 3, 2011 - "Hard Bargain" will be the new album from Emmylou Harris, out April 26 on Nonesuch Records. The album follows Harris's acclaimed 2008 release, "All I Intended to Be."
The upcoming disc includes 11 new songs by Harris and 2 covers. Jay Joyce (Cage the Elephant, Patty Griffin) produced.... »»»March 2, 2011 - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill received one of five humanitarian awards Wednesday at the Country Radio Seminar convention in Nashville.
Trace Adkins presented them the awards, mentioning their help during May's Nashville floods along with their Neighbor's Keeper Foundation, formed to help people in need... »»»March 2, 2011 - This was not a big week for country sales as Lady Antebellum had the only country CD in the top 10 for overall sales.
"Need You Now" was the 10th best selling CD in the U.S. on the Billboard top 200 chart with 28,000 units sold, down 67 percent.
British singer Adele led the charts with her sophomore... »»»March 2, 2011 - Mac McAnally was honored twice last week by his home state of Mississippi.
During a ceremony in Jackson, and emceed by Marty Stuart, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Arts Commission presented McAnally with the 2011 Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.... »»»March 2, 2011 - The 2011 class of the Country Radio Hall of Fame was officially inducted last night at a sold-out ceremony and dinner held inside the Nashville Convention Center.
Dale Carter, Barry Kent and Lee Rogers were inducted in the On-Air Personality category, while Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam (posthumous) and... »»»March 2, 2011 - Joe Nichols will make his second appearance in Australia this week with a third trip set for May.
The Show Dog-Universal Music singer will headline the first of two days at the CMC Rocks the Hunter music festival on March 5 (the other day will be headlined by Alan Jackson) and will return in May for... »»»March 1, 2011 - Miss Willie Brown is the first country act for the A&M/Octone Records label. Comprised of Amanda Watkins from West Virginia and Texas native Kasey Buckley, the duo will soon hit the road with Dierks Bentley.
"Amanda can write music that sounds like what I'm saying," said Buckley, "and I can write... »»»March 1, 2011 - James Otto and Warner Brothers parted ways, Otto announced via Twitter Monday.
Otto released two albums for the label and had several hits, most notably the soulful Just Got Started Lovin' You.
Otto said, "I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent working with Warner Brothers Records.... »»»March 1, 2011 - Lucinda Williams, Buddy Miller and Aaron Lewis are among the key CDs out today.
Williams rocks, gets bluesy and croons country on "Blessed," which is produced by Don Was along with Eric Liljestrand and Thomas Overby. Elvis Costello and Matthew Sweet help on backing vocals.
Buddy Miller is known as an... »»»March 1, 2011 - Zac Brown Band will curate its first Southern Ground Music and Food Festival at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. April 8-10.
Ticket pre-sale are already available for fan club members and open to the public on Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. eastern (http://bit.ly/ticketmaster-ZBBClemson).... »»»March 1, 2011 - Caitlin Rose will kick off her U.S. tour in Austin during SXSW, followed by 11 dates opening for Ron Sexsmith and then off of Australia for dates with The Felice Brothers. And 16 more back in the U.S. opening for Johnny Flynn.
The Nashville native's full-length debut, "Own Side Now," will be... »»»March 1, 2011 - Brad Paisley announced his 2011 tour, H2O II World Tour presented by Chevy, kicking off May 28 at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 33-city tour includes 5 stadiums and an international trek that includes London's O2 Arena, Dublin, Stockholm and Oslo. Special guests on the tour will be... »»»March 1, 2011 - Ricky Skaggs has announced the first five shows of his 2011 Treasure Chest Tour. This tour will feature a mix of Skaggs' country hits as well as a collection of his bluegrass tunes. The tour kicks off in Prestonsburg, Ky., on March 18, with additional dates to be announced in the upcoming weeks.... »»»March 1, 2011 - Gloriana joined Smokey Robinson, Sheryl Crow, Jordan Sparks, Nick Jonas, Jamie Foxx and John Legend on Thursday at the White House for "The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House" concert for President Obama and his wife.
The concert, celebrating Black History Month and the legacy of Motown... »»»March 1, 2011 - The Drive-By Truckers will appear on TBS' "Conan," Tuesday, March 8. The band will perform a song off Go-Go Boots, their 11th record released on Feb. 15 on ATO Records.
The Go-Go Boots tour continues tomorrow in Reno, Nev. Livestream.com will be webcasting the Reno show. On Thursday, the band will... »»»March 1, 2011 - Reba McEntire, Bobby Braddock and Jean Shepard were named to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Braddock, 70, was named in the new songwriters category. He has written songs, including He Stopped Loving Her Today, D-I-V-O-R-C-E, Golden Ring, I Wanna Talk About Me, Time Marches On and People Are Crazy.... »»»
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