9 May 2008
Trisha Yearwood Tackles Difficult Parenting Subj
When Trisha Yearwood decided to marry Garth Brooks, she recognized that one of the added dimensions to the relationship meant becoming a parental figure to his three daughters: Taylor, August and Allie.

The girls range in age from 11-15, a period that frightens lots of fathers. Garth apparently does a pretty good job in handling their issues, but they’ve also run into a fair share of problems for which he has no perspective.

"Now we’re getting to that teenage thing where it’s the hormones," she told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "There are times when you are talking about what happened at soccer practice, and all of a sudden, someone bursts into tears for no reason at all. And that’s when he will look at me and go, ‘You’re gonna have to take this one, ‘cause I don’t understand. I can’t fix this one.’ It’s funny, ‘cause in a house full of women, you know, there’s just times when he’s outnumbered and he just has to put up his hands and walk away."

No doubt Trisha will feel appreciated this weekend, given that Sunday is Mother’s Day. She’s certainly feeling appreciated in the music business. Her current single, "This Is Me You’re Talking To," is No. 8 on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.

9 May 2008
Mel Tillis Home on the Kitchen Range
Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis is the first artist to sign up for the Country Music Association’s Fiesta Celebrity Grilling Challenge, a country version of the "Iron Chef" being introduced during the CMA Music Festival in June.

Six celebrities will be teamed with professional chefs during the competition, with each of the participants receiving a Fiesta Blue Ember Grill. Each team is required to create an appetizer, a main course and a dessert using a "mystery box" of ingredients.

Given his history in a kitchen, Mel might already be setting the bar high for his competitors. "I love to grill, I love to cook, I love to bake," Mel says. "My daddy had a little bakery in Pahokee, Fla. I grew up [there]. When I went into the Air Force, they made me a cook. I cooked for awhile, then I transported to another mess hall, and they put me to baking. So I’m experienced in all that stuff, and I thought it’d be a lot of fun, too."

Other competitors will be announced at a later date. The CMA Music Festival will also feature a BBQ Championship. The festival takes place in Nashville June 5-8.

9 May 2008
Rissi Palmer Becomes A Baseball "Prospect"
Rissi Palmer walks a unique road as one of the few African-American women to pursue a career in country music. So it’s not surprising that she also earned a unique place in the media when Major League Baseball gave her ink in its "Hot Prospect" section on MLB.com.

Rissi’s made herself known at a few ballparks, singing the national anthem during the American League Championship Series and at several NFL games. And she’s turned heads with her musical choices, as Charley Pride did years ago. Rissi actually declined to sign an R&B recording deal at an earlier age, insistent that country music was where she belonged.

"I have a deep love and passion for country music," she told MLB.com. "It’s not a gimmick that I thought of one day, like, ‘I’m gonna be a black woman in country music [and] see how that works out for me.’ It wasn’t like that. I genuinely love this music."

Her "Country Girl" video got played on GAC, and she’s received plenty of ink in such places as Newsweek, Rolling Stone, People and The Wall Street Journal. She takes the notoriety that accompanies that attention quite seriously.

"I feel a sense of responsibility to kids, especially young girls and women of color, to make sure that any time I’m seen and any time I put anything out that it’s very positive and it shows us in a positive light," she said. "A lot of time in society and in media, we don’t always get portrayed in the best way."

Her current single, "Hold On To Me," made its first appearance on the Billboard country chart last week.

9 May 2008
Dwight Yoakam Celebrates Co-Star
Dwight Yoakam recently finished filming the movie Four Christmases in which he plays an evangelical pastor who’s dating a character portrayed by Mary Steenburgen. Acting with Mary, who’s won an Oscar and a Golden Globe award, has become a highlight for Dwight in his movie career. "I was overjoyed to be able to work with Mary," he says. "I mean I really, really admire her and have admired her throughout her career. To be able to do the work that we did together was one of the memories that I’ll cherish always as an actor." Four Christmases is loaded with stars, including Jon Voight, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Vince Vaughn and Tim McGraw.

With shooting on Four Christmases completed, Dwight is working this month on another film, Crank 2: High Voltage. Tim meanwhile heads back on tour on Friday with opening acts Jason Aldean and Halfway To Hazard. Tim’s band, the Dancehall Doctors, will be expanded just a bit, with the addition of the Warren Brothers. Brett and Brad Warrenn have toured with Tim as an opening act in the past. They also co-wrote his hit "If You’re Reading This."

9 May 2008
John Rich Rips "Idol" Judge Paula Abdul
Paula Abdul caught plenty of flak last week when she critiqued two performances on "American Idol" by contestant Jason Castro, even though Jason had only sung one song. Among those less than impressed was Big & Rich’s John Rich, who will be a judge this summer when "Nashville Star" airs on NBC.

"'American Idol' infuriates me as an artist," John said during a Los Angeles press event, according to The Hollywood Reporter. "They’re being fake about it. When you can’t make a cognizant comment about someone’s performance and you’re commenting on something that happened the day before, why don’t you just walk up on stage and slap them right across the face while you’re at it? As an artist, I would just flip them the bird and walk off the stage. She wasn’t even paying attention to what was going on."

Ratings for "Idol" are down 10 percent this year, creating some concerns that the show has peaked. "Idol" producers have reportedly polled viewers about changing the format, while others have suggested that guests such as Neil Diamond and Andrew Lloyd Weber haven’t really appealed to the youthful audience they seek.

John believes the show has become phony. "We have to respect the fans’ ears and eyes and give them something that’s for real," he said. "Don’t try to con them. And I think that’s why ‘American Idol,’ in my opinion, is just dive-bombing. I can’t stand watching it. I wouldn’t want to be on that show now if you gave me a $100 bill."

The FOX-TV network responded with an official statement saying John’s "opportunistic comments are particularly disturbing considering the fact he attended a taping of ‘American Idol’ last April, told producers, judges and performers he enjoyed himself and also did an interview with a crew from ‘American Idol Extra’ where he was extremely complimentary toward the show."

If Paula wants to get back at John, she’ll be able to start picking him apart when "Nashville Star" debuts on NBC June 9. Billy Ray Cyrus will host the series, and Jewel and songwriter Jeffrey Steele will join John as judges.

9 May 2008
Phil Vassar: "Common Man" In Uncommon Place
Phil Vassar took a seat at a piano on the lawn at the White House on Tuesday as President George W. Bush presented six military spouses with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Phil sang the national anthem at the ceremony, attended by 1,100 on Military Spouse Day. He also served up three of his own songs: "Love Is A Beautiful Thing"; "I’m Alright," a hit he wrote for Jo Dee Messina; and the venue-appropriate "American Child."

The performance came as Phil is making plenty of waves in country music. His current single, "Love Is A Beautiful Thing," ranks at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at No. 19 on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown. He’s also the Artist of the Month at GAC. In fact, you can win a trip for two to Las Vegas by entering the Phil Vassar Love Is A Beautiful Thing In Vegas Getaway. Other prizes include a video message from Phil, a copy of his album Prayer Of A Common Man and $500 in FYE gift cards.

9 May 2008
Garth Turns Trisha Down
When Trisha Yearwood shot her current video, "This Is Me You’re Talking To," she picked actor John Corbett to play the part of her ex. John, who made a country album of his own, is best known for roles in "Sex And The City" and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but he was not the first person Trisha considered for the part. That distinction went to her husband, Garth Brooks, who decided against it.

"Garth and I kind of made a pinky swear early on that we would not gratuitously use each other in videos," she told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "We just kind of want to make sure that we make it special. He didn’t sing on the song. He didn’t write the song, so there wasn’t really a place for him. I offered him the part, but he said, ‘I’m gonna pass.’"

As a result, Trisha decided John would be perfect for the role, since he’s usually played nice guys in his other work, and that would lend a good spirit to the way fans perceived him in the video. "I know he’s not those [characters], but we want him to be those [characters]," she explained. "He’s 6’-5", so that was important. He’s tall. And I knew he made a record in Nashville. I knew he had a passion for music, and it was just one of those things where I thought, ‘He could just say no. That’s the worst thing that could happen.’ And he was so great. He was sweet to say yes, and I think [he] made a great song an even better video, because people want to see it, and they respond to the song."

9 May 2008
Singer Jerry Wallace Dies in California
Funeral services will be held Friday (May 9) in Corona, Calif., for singer Jerry Wallace, who scored a No. 1 country hit in 1972 with "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry." Nicknamed "Mr. Smooth" because of his vocal style, he died Monday (May 5) from congestive heart failure at age 79. A native of Guilford, Mo., Wallace enjoyed success in the late '50s and early '60s with a string of pop hits including "Primrose Lane" and "In the Misty Moonlight." Signed to Mercury Records in 1965, he moved to a stronger country sound and charted 35 country singles, including three other Top 10 hits, through 1980 on a variety of labels. The popularity of "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" was heightened when it was featured in the soundtrack of Night Gallery, a popular TV show in the '70s.

9 May 2008
The Duhks Releasing New Album on Aug. 12
The Duhks will release a new album, Fast Paced World, on Sugar Hill Records on Aug. 12. The Canadian band recorded the album in Nashville with producer Jay Joyce. The lineup now includes lead vocalist Sarah Dugas (replacing Jesse Havey) and drummer Christian Dugas. The band will perform at Bonnaroo on June 14 and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 22, in addition to several Canadian concerts throughout the summer.

9 May 2008
Hall Of Famer Eddy Arnold Dies at Age 89
Country Music Hall of Fame member Eddy Arnold died early Thursday morning (May 8) at NHC Place, an assisted living facility near Nashville at age 89. His wife of 66 years, Sally Gayhart Arnold, died in March while he was recovering in a Nashville hospital following hip replacement surgery.

One of the Nashville area's wealthiest residents, he also leaves an estate estimated to be in excess of $40 million. Before Garth Brooks came along, Arnold was easily country music's biggest record-seller. Sales of his discs from the mid-1940s to the present, in every recorded medium from 78s to CDs, have topped 80 million. Along the way, Arnold became a key figure in "urbanizing" country music -- smoothing it out, opening it to influences from the wider world of pop music -- a trend you could almost guess by knowing that his early musical favorites were Vernon Dalhart, Gene Autry, Gene Austin and Bing Crosby. The list of those he influenced is headed by Marty Robbins and Jim Reeves.

Richard Edward Arnold was born in the West Tennessee community of Henderson in Chester County (he titled his 1969 autobiography It's a Long Way From Chester County) on May 15, 1918. He learned to play just enough guitar on a mail order Sears Roebuck model to accompany his pleasing and expressive singing voice at area social events. Every little bit of income helped his widowed mother, as the Arnolds lost their family farm to foreclosure and became sharecroppers after his father's death in 1929. By the time Arnold turned 17, he was singing part time on radio and at venues in and around Jackson, Tenn., where he worked for an area funeral parlor.

Leaving his home country for larger entertainment markets, Arnold moved on to radio work in Memphis and St. Louis, where like many other rural entertainers of his day he mixed singing with rube comedy. His big break came in Louisville, Ky., in 1940, when he was hired by future Country Music Hall of Fame member Pee Wee King to play guitar and sing in King's Golden West Cowboys, a band that had previously starred on the Grand Ole Opry and been featured in at least one Gene Autry film. It was also in Louisville that he met his future wife, a radio fan named Sally Gayhart. They married Nov. 28, 1941.

In the process bringing of Eddy Arnold back to his home state for good, the Golden West Cowboys soon returned to Nashville and the Opry. Arnold gained wide exposure when the band joined the Camel Caravan, a 1942 tour of military bases in the Western Hemisphere, and the next year (1943) struck out on his own, armed only with a promise of radio work from WSM's Harry Stone. It was Stone who linked Arnold with Chicago publisher Fred Forster, and together the two men managed to interest RCA Victor Records in the young singer, an affiliation that would last for over 50 years with only a single minor hiatus.

Unfortunately, the musicians union's first long recording strike was going on then, and it would be December 1944 before Arnold and his band of Tennessee Plowboys made their first recordings. ("I felt like the world was passing me by," he later said.) That initial session in WSM's studios included his first version of "Cattle Call" (his somewhat incongruous cowboy theme song), "I Walk Alone" from the pop field (a hint of more to come) and a couple of maudlin tearjerkers, all framed by Ivan Leroy "Little Roy" Wiggins' crying steel guitar, the trademark sound of Arnold's earliest and countriest recordings.

A former Tampa dogcatcher named Tom Parker assumed the guidance of Arnold's career in 1945, and big things began to happen for both men. Even before his recording of "That's How Much I Love You" became the first of his many major hits, Arnold was co-hosting a Saturday midday network radio show for Mutual, Opry House Matinee. Chart-topping hits began coming regularly in 1947 with "What Is Life Without Love," "It's a Sin" and "I'll Hold You in My Heart" all reaching No. 1 in that breakout year. Arnold's lucrative publishing arrangement with New York's Hill & Range Songs made both parties a lot of money, much of it the huge 1948 crossover hit, "Bouquet of Roses."

At this peak of his early stardom, Arnold left the Grand Ole Opry cast over (what else?) money, and he always bridled in later years when anyone suggested the Opry "made" him. "If the Opry made me," he'd respond, "why didn't it make the Fruit Jar Drinkers?" As one of his records of that era suggested, "Baby I've Got Other Fish to Fry," and he did -- moving over to starring roles in network radio with Mutual and CBS and two movies (Feudin' Rhythm and Hoedown) for Columbia Pictures. The RCA hits just kept coming ("Just a Little Lovin'," "Don't Rob Another Man's Castle," "One Kiss Too Many," "I'm Throwing Rice"), and in the early 1950s, Arnold added television to his network notoriety, hosting summer replacement shows for Perry Como (1952) and Dinah Shore (1953).

Arnold fired Parker as his manager late in 1953 over a dispute never made public (they actually remained friends), and Parker soon moved on to Hank Snow and (most famously) Elvis Presley. By then, Arnold's record royalties, publishing and personal appearance income, plowed into such solid long-term investments as real estate and local utilities, had made him a wealthy man. He became one of the few country stars of his generation to make and keep a fortune, a rare achievement he modestly downplayed in such later assessments as "I guess they won't have to do any benefits for me."

Even before the coming of rock 'n' roll in the mid-1950s, Arnold's repertory evinced a move toward pop music in his duet with Jaye P. Morgan, "Mutual Admiration Society," and his 1955 remake of "Cattle Call" backed by Hugo Winterhalter's full orchestra. When rock came, innovations of some sort became almost a necessity for hard country artists who wanted their careers to survive. Arnold, already rich enough to consider retiring in his early 40s as the decade ended, soon found a second career and a new audience in the pop field, trading in his old Tennessee Plowboy duds for dinner jackets at concerts in fashionable nightclubs or in symphony halls singing with prestigious community orchestras.

His recordings, henceforth all made in Nashville and for years produced by Chet Atkins (the earlier country hits, produced by Steve Sholes, were usually done in New York or Chicago), featured full orchestration and vocal choruses and helped pioneer the smoother "Nashville Sound," a style fully exploited by Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline.

Arnold actually hit his full stride with this style after Reeves' 1964 death, scoring such hits as "Make the World Go Away" and "Welcome to My World" (both No. 1 hits in 1965). Amidst this career renaissance, Arnold had the distinction of winning election to the Country Music Hall of Fame (1966) the year before he was elected the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year, a feat never equaled and not likely to happen again. A frequent guest on NBC's The Tonight Show, Arnold became the first country artist to host the program in Johnny Carson's absence.

His career record sales reached 60 million by 1970, then 80 million by 1985, based on RCA's own figures. He won Academy of Country Music's Pioneer Award in 1985, and after an all-but-continuous association of more than five decades with RCA, moved over to Curb Records in the late 1990s. He performed his last concert at the Hotel Orleans in Las Vegas on May 16, 1999 (the day after his 81st birthday), though he continued to do some recording and maintained his Brentwood business office for some years thereafter. He returned to RCA in 2005 to record his 100th album, After All This Time.

Besides the aforementioned and rather sketchy 1969 autobiography, there are two published Arnold biographies, both from 1997 -- Don Cusic's Eddy Arnold: I'll Hold You in My Heart (Rutledge Hill Press) and Michael Streissguth's Eddy Arnold: Pioneer of the Nashville Sound (Schirmer Books-Prentice Hall).

Arnold is survived by a son, Richard Edward "Dickie" Arnold Jr. of Nashville, a daughter, Jo Ann Pollard of Brentwood, Tenn., two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A public viewing will take place Tuesday (May 13) from 5-9 p.m. and Wednesday (May 14) from 9 a.m.-noon in the rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Ryman Auditorium. Both are open to be public.

8 May 2008
Gretchen Wilson Working on No. 4
In between travelling for concert dates, parenting daughter Grace and doing homework as she earned her GED, Gretchen Wilson has started recording the fourth album of her career. The album has a heavy Southern rock feel to it, as Gretchen picks up on some of the influences that helped her get signed to a recording deal in the first place.

"The record is awesome," she told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "I wanted to try to track six songs on my first day in, but I only got four, which is kind of disappointing to me — but they’re four killers, though. I mean, it’s been like making the record that I was supposed to make the first time around, sort of. And it feels like old stuff, in a way that it feels familiar, but it also feels like when you listen to the four sides back to back, it’s got more of a Southern rock flow to it, like a female Southern rock record."

That makes sense, given that in her very first hit, "Redneck Woman," Gretchen namechecked Southern rock pioneer Charlie Daniels. Gretchen will likely provide more insight on the album when she discusses her career during the CMA Celebrity Close Up Series June 5 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Slated during the CMA Music Festival, the event allows fans to ask questions of Gretchen, Randy Travis and Taylor Swift. Tickets are $12 in advance or $17 the day of the event. To purchase, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) or visit ticketmaster.com.

8 May 2008
ACM Honoring Brenda Lee, Oaks, Conway Twitty,
Brenda Lee, the Oak Ridge Boys and the late Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner have been named as this year's recipients of the Academy of Country Music's Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. Additionally, Dick Clark will receive the ACM's Jim Reeves International Award, and Bill Anderson and the late Fred Rose will become the first recipients of the organization's newest honor, the Poet's Award.

The awards were announced Wednesday (May 7) along with awards recognizing musicians and those working in the radio and touring industries.The Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award honors individuals who have been at the forefront in the development of the country music genre. Past recipients include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Tex Ritter, Charley Pride, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Sr., Merle Haggard, George Jones, Dolly Parton and Alabama.

The Jim Reeves International Award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world. Previous recipients include Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Garth Brooks, Charlie Nagatani and Merv Griffin. Dick Clark, who hosted the ACM Awards show four times in the late '60s and early '70s, has produced the televised program since 1979. He offered television exposure to country artists on several other shows including American Bandstand, New Year's Rockin' Eve and the American Music Awards.

The Poet's Award honors songwriters for outstanding musical and lyrical contributions to country music. Anderson, who won his first ACM award in 2007 for co-writing George Strait's "Give It Away," has had his songs recorded by Ray Price, Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and many others. Rose and country star Roy Acuff co-founded Acuff-Rose Publications, Nashville's first music publisher, and worked closely with Hank Williams Sr. Rose enjoyed a string of pop hits during the 1920s before finding success with Western songs popularized by Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, the Sons of the Pioneers and others. His most famous song, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," was a hit for Willie Nelson in 1975.

The ACM will present the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, Jim Reeves International Award and Poet's Award -- along with its musicians awards -- in Nashville later this year. The industry and radio awards will be presented in Las Vegas on May 17, the day before the 43rd annual ACM Awards show.

MBI (Musician, Band Instrumental) Awards Guitarist: Dann Huff Piano-keyboard player: Matt Rollings Bass player: Michael Rhodes Percussionist-drummer: Shannon Forrest Steel guitarist: Paul Franklin Fiddle player: Stuart Duncan Top specialty instrument player: Jerry Douglas Audio engineer: Justin Niebank Producer: Mark Wright Industry Awards Nightclub: Billy Bob's (Fort Worth, Texas) Casino: Mohegan Sun Arena (Uncasville, Conn.) Don Romeo Talent Buyer: Gil Cunningham (Neste Event Marketing) Promoter: Brian O'Connell (Live Nation) Venue: Nissan Pavilion (Bristow, Va.) Radio Awards National on-air personality: The Big D and Bubba Show and The Lia Show On-air personality (major market): Gerry House & the House Foundation (WSIX/Nashville) On-air personality (medium market): Valleri St. John (WWGR/Fort Myers, Fla.) On-air personality (small market): Gator & the Styckman (WGSQ/Cookeville, Tenn.) Radio station (major market): WMIL/Milwaukee, Wis. Radio station (medium market): WUSY/Chattanooga, Tenn. Radio station (small market): WGSQ/Cookeville, Tenn.

8 May 2008
Garth Brooks Will Perform at ACM Awards
Garth Brooks will perform a medley of his greatest hits at the Academy of Country Music Awards on May 18 in Las Vegas. He will also accept the inaugural Crystal Milestone Award for his sales achievements. "The ACM has always taken care of me and my music," said Brooks, who added, "I am flattered and humbled by what this award means. The fact that they have never awarded it before makes me feel the respect and the faith they have in me as an artist, and I will continue to work my butt off to make sure they are happy with their choice."

8 May 2008
Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd Announce Tour Together
Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd will tour together for the first time with nine amphitheater shows scheduled in August. Billed as the Rock and Rebels tour, the first show will be held in Oklahoma City on Aug. 8 and conclude Aug. 31 in Hartford, Conn. In addition, Kid Rock will perform his new single, "All Summer Long," on The Late Show With David Letterman on May 14, followed by a concert with Lynyrd Skynyrd at Madison Square Garden in New York City on May 15.

8 May 2008
Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker Headlining ..
The Oak Ridge Boys, Tanya Tucker and Jett Williams will headline a tornado relief benefit Saturday (May 10) at Deerwood Park in Red Boiling Springs, Tenn. All proceeds are to be donated to residents of Macon, Trousdale and Sumner counties in Tennessee who suffered damages or injuries in the recent storms. Also scheduled to perform are Grand Ole Opry stars Bill Anderson, Jeannie Pruett, Jim Ed Brown, Jesse McReynolds, Jimmy C. Newman, Ernie Ashworth, Stu Phillips and Jeannie Seely, as well as harmonica wizard Charlie McCoy and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member Dallas Frazier.

8 May 2008
James Otto Hits the Charts With a No. 1 Single
James Otto titled his new album Sunset Man, but he could have just as aptly dubbed it Persistent Man. The album has been nearly five years in the making, during which time Otto saw the careers of his buddies Big & Rich and Gretchen Wilson skyrocket. Now it looks like it's finally his turn.

The week it was released, Sunset Man hit the Billboard country albums chart at a resounding No. 2, just 1,400 copies shy of ousting George Strait's Troubadour from the peak. At the same time, Otto's lead single, "Just Got Started Lovin' You," was in the Top 5 and moving up, powered in no small part by a sexy, sweet-talkin' music video. And just Monday (May 5), Otto learned that "Just Got Started Lovin' You" has become his first No. 1 single.

Otto co-wrote nine of the album's 11 songs and co-produced it with the ubiquitous John Rich of Big & Rich and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. He admits he didn't approach the project with any particular concept or organizing principle in mind.



"I wish I could say that I did," he notes. "I wanted it to be representative of me and [the growth] I've had as a man over the last five or six years. I think it became that simply because I did change a lot from the time I started making the record to the time I ended it. When I started, I wasn't married. I was getting out of a record deal and looking to get into a new one. I changed a lot, and the songs I wrote changed quite a bit along the way with it. The record kind of followed my journey."

The record deal Otto was getting out of was the one he'd been in with Mercury Records. That alliance yielded the 2003 album, Days of Our Lives, and three chart singles, none of which rose higher than the Top 30. Although he specifies certain of his complaints with Mercury on his Web site, Otto is no longer inclined to discuss that period.

"I don't want to talk too much about things that happened in the past over there," he says. "My whole deal is that I'm just really glad to be on to this new record. And I feel like I've done the best work of my life right now. ... I'm extremely proud of the record we made, and I'm proud of a lot of stuff that was on that last record."

Released on the Warner Bros. label, Sunset Man is, by turns, combative, sensual, pensive, whimsical, defeated and hopeful -- a mood or a situation for virtually everyone. The most dramatic creation is "Where Angels Hang Around," a song that places the listener in the mind of a frightened father who's driving his young cancer-stricken daughter to the St. Jude hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

"I wrote that song with Monty Criswell," Otto says. "He talked to me about a friend of his whose child was diagnosed with cancer and what a difficult thing that would be to go through. It really touched me, that sentiment. I watched my mother go through breast cancer when I was a little kid, and my grandmother died from cancer just a couple of years ago." Radio stations around the country have used the song in their fund-raisers for St. Jude, Otto reports.

The two songs Otto didn't co-write are "For You," a Jim Brown-Liz Hengber collaboration, and "The Man That I Am" by Cory Mayo and Craig Wiseman."I've probably written a thousand songs since I've been in Nashville," Otto notes. "So I could have filled the whole record with my songs. But I think you've got to ask yourself as an artist if you're just filling the record because they're your own songs or because they're the best songs. I really wanted these songs to be the best, and I feel that these two were better than anything else I'd written."

A native of Washington state, Otto became attracted to country music as a teenager while living in Alabama. "I tried to start bands in high school," he recalls, "but I never really got anything going. I moved to Seattle in the summer I graduated and tried to find a country band, but I wasn't old enough to get into clubs and I didn't find anything remotely country."

Otto got himself "pretty deep in debt" as a result of a move to Seattle. Raised in a military family, he decided he might be able to pay off his debts through by enlisting in the Navy, which he did. After completing his tour of duty, he returned to Washington and joined the Desert Fire Band, a group that performed cover versions of Top 40 country hits.

In 1997, when he was 24, Otto finally summoned up the courage to leave the band and move to Nashville. "I didn't know a soul, man. I didn't have a job. ... But I knew where I was [in Washington] was a dead end musically. I could play gigs, but I was never going to get anywhere."

In Nashville, Otto found solace -- and direction -- at a songwriters' hangout called the Broken Spoke."I used to go there all the time and watch guys like Tony Lane and Reese Wilson," he says. "Those were the guys that mesmerized me with their songwriting. They just blew me away. I idolized them. Whenever they would say something nice to me or compliment me in any way, I definitely took it to heart. I wanted to be like they were. I spent years in that place trying to perfect writing songs."

Eventually, Otto became a regular at the saloon. "I was there five or six nights a week for a couple of years," he says. "That was home away from home. When I wasn't at work, I was there." The aspiring singer's day job was driving an oil truck. "I delivered 55-gallon drums of oil all across Middle Tennessee," he says. "I had a great boss there that would let me do whatever I needed to do musically."

Otto struck his deal with Mercury in 1999 or 2000 -- he can't remember which -- and soon after helped found the artists' collective that's now known as the MuzikMafia. "When I joined MuzikMafia, nobody [else] had anything going on. John Rich was John Broke. His record deal hadn't taken off at RCA. I was actually the only one with a record deal at the time.

"Then my record deal [at Mercury] disappeared as Gretchen's and Big & Rich's stars took off. The great thing about MuzikMafia was that everybody agreed to reach back and help their brothers out. When they made it, they were going to give [other musicians] a hand up and let them play on their stages and do whatever they could to help them make it. I always believed in that. That was one of the things that was most appealing to me. It was about making music the way you wanted to make it, but it was also about working for something more than yourself. It seemed like a nobler cause to me than just working on my own. I feel that it's made us all strong."

A friend who admired Otto's writing helped him secure a publishing contract -- his first -- with Scream Music. It was there that he had his first songwriting success, a cut on a Confederate Railroad album. Later, when he signed his record agreement with Mercury, he moved his publishing to Universal. Now he handles his own songs.

DeMarcus co-produced three cuts with Otto on Sunset Man. "The way I met Jay was that he started dating my wife's sister," Otto explains. "Amy and I had been together like a year and a half when Alison and Jay met. ... We started becoming friends, and then we started writing songs together. Eventually I asked him to do a demo session with me of a couple of songs that I had found and wanted to cut -- one that I'd written and one that he and I had written. Those tracks ended up being the songs on this record that he produced."

Besides various solo appearances this summer, Otto will also be running the road with Hank Williams Jr. and Lynyrd Skynyrd in the Rowdy Frynds tour and later with Brooks & Dunn and possibly Taylor Swift. But surely the sweetest situation for Otto will occur June 8 when he takes the stage at Nashville's mammoth LP Field to sing for the crowd gathered there for the CMA Music Festival.

"It's really exciting," he says. "I got to watch Big & Rich and Gretchen do the same thing the years their records took off. I was supposed to be on [the smaller] River Stages this year, but they invited me to come over to the big stage and play with the big boys."

8 May 2008
Keith & Bentley Release Greatest Hits Albums
Toby Keith and Dierks Bentley are among the acts releasing greatest hits albums Tuesday (May 6). Keith's 35 Biggest Hits, a two-CD set, covers his career from his 1993 debut single, "Should've Been a Cowboy," through his current hit, "She's a Hottie." The collection is being released as a joint venture of Show Dog Nashville (which Keith owns) and Universal Music Enterprises. Bentley's Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008 (Capitol Nashville) features 10 hits, two new songs and five live recordings selected by his fans. Another greatest hits package, the 18-song The Very Best of Confederate Railroad, was also released Tuesday. ... Also new in stores this week is Blake Shelton's Pure BS Deluxe Edition, an expanded version of his most recent album, which contains two new tracks and his current hit single, "Home." Other new releases include 16-year-old mandolin prodigy Sierra Hull's Secrets (Rounder) and singer-songwriter Jason Matthews' Hicotine (S&S Mack).

8 May 2008
Kellie Pickler Goes to Washington
Kellie Pickler will sang on Wednesday afternoon (May 7) on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as part of the AARP GrandRally, an event targeting grandfamilies -- grandparents raising their grandchildren. Pickler was 2 years old when her parents separated and her mother left. Her father has been in and out of prison on a variety of charges, and Pickler was raised by her grandparents, Faye and Clyde Pickler Sr. At the rally, Pickler will perform "My Angel," a song she wrote about her late grandmother. As her charity of choice, Kellie has donated almost $50,000 to the AARP's Grandparenting Foundation, which addresses the financial, legal and medical challenges faced by grandparents. "Having been raised by my grandparents, I know the struggles they face raising their grandchildren," Pickler said.

8 May 2008
Rascal Flatts Announce Summer Tour Swiftly
Rascal Flatts' summer tour will feature Taylor Swift and songwriters Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley, the band announced Monday (May 5). The Bob That Head tour launches June 13 in St. Louis and is currently scheduled to hit more than 30 cities before ending Sept. 26 in Bossier City, La. Mobley and Thrasher worked together as two of the co-writers of three Rascal Flatts hits -- "Take Me There," "Fast Cars and Freedom" and "I Melt." Between the two of them, their other songwriting credits include Kenny Chesney's "I Know How Forever Feels," "There Goes My Life" and "I Lost It." In announcing the tour, lead vocalist Gary LeVox said, "We hope our fans look forward to our shows as much as we do. We want to give them an evening of entertainment that can take their minds off of life's pressures and lift their spirits, if just for a few hours."

8 May 2008
Chesney Performing During Sturgis Bike Week
Kenny Chesney will perform Aug. 6 in Sturgis, S.D., as one of the headliners during Sturgis Bike Week, one of the biggest motorcycle rallies in the world. Chesney will appear at the Glencoe Nation campground and amphitheater during a series of concerts billed as Rock'N the Rally. Sturgis Bike Week, now in its 68th year, takes place Aug. 1-7. Others performing in the area during the week include Sugarland, Dierks Bentley, Shoooter Jennings, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper and Puddle of Mudd.

5 May 2008
Carlene Carter Plays With Elvis in Memphis
Third generation country royalty maven Carlene Carter continues her musical voyage following the release of her new LP STRONGER on Yeproc Records. Known for bridging all sorts of musical genres and bridges, Carter opened for Elvis Costello in Memphis and at the Ryman in Nashville last week. She then jetted to LA to play a sold out show at hip venue The Mint ,where she was joined by producer and former Doobie brother John McPhee.Says McFee: "Carlene's heart and soul just come through. . . . She's smart and she's a good writer, so you know it's gonna be good."But this is more than just a bunch of songs," he added. "She pulls no punches. She's brave and she has this attitude to face life, to go on. She's been through a lot and she figured out how to pull something from it."

Longtime fan and Elton John partner Bernie Taupin ( writer of Goodbye Yellowbrick Road and Candle in the Wind) came to the show to congratulate Carlene. Like her peers, fans at each show were wildly enthusiastic and welcomed their queen back with open arms and standing ovations. Elvis Costello wrote McPhee immediately after hearing an advance copy of the record "I couldn't't let a day go by without writing about C.C.'s record- it is astounding!", he said.

Carlene, a wild child of the '70s L.A. country-rock and U.K. punk scenes, has emerged from a life that scanned far wilder than any country song. But in her own prolonged addiction and the 2003 deaths of paramour Howie Epstein, her mother, stepfather and sister Rosie, she found the strength to return to writing and created "Stronger," a song cycle that documents the pain, loss and courage it took to regain control of her life. Says Carter: " you know, everybody's lost somebody, got their heart broken, wanted to take the snot out of someone, been madly in love. . . . It's part of real life if you're living it." She certainly lived it , and at times those around her wondered whether she'd survive the downward spiral of shady characters, drug abuse and personal tragedy. "Once I started writing, it all flooded out of me," she says. "I've always been one of those people -- once I start something, I have to get it all out, because it gets me."

In spite of her musical laughter, Carter's been through things that would topple most. Rather than crumbling, she's emerged with a project as shiny and ebullient as her punk-era "Musical Shapes" or her 1990 mainstream country hit "I Fell in Love." Opening "Stronger" with a revved-up train beat, "The Bitter End" serves as the prologue for a song cycle that moves through the harrowing path she'd been on with Epstein, the former bassist with Tom Petty's Heartbreakers whose own addiction troubles ended with his 2003 overdose. Review after review, critics and fans alike attest to her incredible songwriting and performance abilities all of which are better than ever.

Carlene takes her third generation Carter family music to Europe next week and will continue her tour in Southern California the end of May.

5 May 2008
Dixie Chicks, Wynonna on "Stork" CD
The Dixie Chicks, Wynonna Judd and Jessica Andrews have each contributed tracks to a new compilation album that celebrates motherhood and was designed to enable relaxation during pregnancy.

Titled Stork Tunes: Songs For A Happy Birth Day, the album mixes songs from those artists with material by such pop acts as Billy Joel, Norah Jones, Celine Dion and Kenny Loggins, with all the profits — guaranteed to be at least $5 per CD — earmarked for the March of Dimes. The album was created under the belief, espoused by many women, that music actually eases the hardship of labor.

The Chicks provided one of their former singles, the Radney Foster-penned "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)," while Wynonna is represented by "Always Will" and Jessica Andrews chipped in "I Wish For You."

Stork Tunes can be purchased at storktunes.com.

5 May 2008
ACM Launches Entertainer of the Year Vote
Voting is now open as fans are enlisted for the first time to name the Entertainer of the Year during the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards May 18. The winner will be announced during the show, broadcast from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait and Keith Urban are all in the running for the trophy, which will be decided through an online ballot.

That certainly avoids a worst-case scenario, which Brad says would be to "line us up like on 'American Idol' where we're standing there on the stage ? there's just dark music, and they come across us as numbers flash for 'If you like Brad Paisley's performance, dial ...'" Had the ACM chosen that course for balloting, Brad says he would be seen at the awards "sitting there sobbing."

Instead, voting is being conducted at voteacm.com. All five Entertainer candidates are expected to perform on the awards, including Kenny, who recently damaged his right foot in an onstage accident.

5 May 2008
Phil Vassar's "Prayer" Answered With No. 3 Slot
Phil Vassar found a ready and waiting audience for his fifth album, "Prayer Of A Common Man." Released April 22, the CD vaulted to No. 3 on the Billboard country album chart and No. 10 on The Billboard 200, which measures all genres.

With the release, Phil tried something brand new, holding a satellite radio tour from his own home in Nashville, allowing him to chat live on individual stations across the country from the comfort of his living room — even if it was wired with a staggering amount of cable.

With that project under his belt, Phil is the subject of a GAC special that debuts Saturday, Origins: Phil Vassar — Prayer Of A Common Man. The special takes viewers to Phil's hometown, Lynchburg, Va., including a visit to 419 Lakewood, the address of his boyhood home, remembered in the lyrics of his 2002 hit "American Child." The program also features an exclusive, intimate concert taped at Nashville's Ocean Way Studio, where he recorded the new album.

Origins: Phil Vassar — Prayer Of A Common Man debuts Saturday, May 3 at 9 p.m. ET. Phil also appears Saturday on Opry Live, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. He's joined on the Opry by the Charlie Daniels Band, Emily West and the Steeldrivers.

5 May 2008
Swift, Travis and Wilson Get "Close Up"
Taylor Swift, Randy Travis and Gretchen Wilson take part in the CMA Celebrity Close Up Series at the Ryman Auditorium June 5. Each of the artists will take questions from fans with the aid of moderator Lorianne Crook as they provide insight on their music, their personal lives and their hopes for the future. All three acts are former winners of the Country Music Association's Horizon Award, given to artists who show the most growth during the course of a year. Randy is a veteran with more than 20 years of country superstardom under his belt; Gretchen was able to turn her first single, "Redneck Woman," into a career-jumping anthem that's led to significant touring action, the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year honor and a book in just four years; and Taylor is still working her triple-platinum debut album at a mere 18 years of age.

"The CMA Celebrity Close Up Series is such a spontaneous event," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "You never know what the artists are going to reveal to the audience in the course of their conversations. It really allows them to share their personal lives with their fans."

The Close Up Series is ticketed separately from the CMA Festival. Tickets go on sale Saturday, May 3, for $12 in advance or $17 the day of the event. To purchase, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) or visit ticketmaster.com.The CMA Music Festival runs June 5-8 in Nashville.

5 May 2008
The Eagles Take it Easy at Stagecoach
The Eagles headlined the first night of the Stagecoach country music festival on Friday night (May 2) in Indio, Calif. Although the band began their extensive set with four new songs (including the hit, "How Long"), they eventually rolled out many of their numerous classics, starting with "Hotel California" and encoring with "Desperado," with an easygoing crowd singing along with nearly every song. Other performers appearing at Stagecoach on Friday included John Fogerty, Glen Campbell, Trisha Yearwood, Craig Morgan, Michelle Branch, Shelby Lynne, Shooter Jennings and the Randy Rogers Band. The festival concludes Sunday (May 4).

5 May 2008
Toby Keith Continues Tour of Persian Gulf
Toby Keith is continuing his two-week, 18-show tour of U.S. military installations in the Persian Gulf region. Keith played to the largest crowd he's seen yet in Iraq when several thousand soldiers attended his concert at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. A massive sandstorm later hit Iraq, causing some uncomfortable conditions for soldiers and civilians alike. "We were stuck in Fallujah for a day and a half," Keith's agent, Curt Motley, said. "We got covered with dirt and dust even in our rooms, and the air appeared to be filled with smoke. We're covered in a fine, moon dust-looking powder, and the hallways appear to be smoking because there's so much dust and dirt in the air."

5 May 2008
Jim Hager Dies of Apparent Heart Attack
Jim Hager, who found national fame with twin brother Jon on Hee Haw, died Thursday afternoon (May 1) in Nashville of an apparent heart attack. He was 61. The Hager twins' boyish, clean-cut good looks helped make them a favorite among Hee Haw viewers from the show's first episode in 1969 until the duo left the TV series in 1988. Raised in a Chicago suburb, the Hagers were adopted by a minister and his wife. While in high school, the brothers regularly performed on a Saturday morning music show for teens on WGN-TV/Chicago. After serving in the Army, they moved to the Los Angeles area, where they played in clubs and eventually landed a job performing at the Disneyland theme park. Buck Owens attended one of their Disneyland shows and signed them to a management, recording and booking contract shortly thereafter. They spent several years opening shows for Owens, who also co-hosted Hee Haw. The Hagers signed to Capitol Records in 1969 and charted five country singles. Jim Hager reportedly visited his brother's house Thursday afternoon to discuss plans for them to travel to Florida to visit their stepmother. After leaving his brother's house, Jim Hager went to a coffeehouse in the 12th Avenue South shopping and restaurant district and collapsed in the parking lot. He was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

5 May 2008
2nd annual Country Weekly Fashion Show, June 4th
The 2nd annual Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler will take place at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, June 4th at 8 PM. This one-of-a-kind fashion event, where today’s hottest country stars take over the runway, benefits Musicians On Call.

Katie Armiger, Sarah Buxton, Charter’s Chord, Christian Cane, Ashley Gearing, Adam Gregory, Jennifer Hanson, Marcel, CMT’s Can You Duet Joey Martin, Lorrie Morgan, Erika Page-White, Danielle Peck, Mica Roberts, Phil Stacey, Crystal Shawanda, Fisher Stevenson, Trent Tomlinson, GAC Country Music Across America host Storme Warren, Jimmy Wayne, Emily West, Bryan White, Chuck Wicks, Trent Willmon, Blake Wise, NBC’s American Gladiator Hollywood Yates, and Chris Young and are all confirmed to strut their stuff on the runway. Neal McCoy will serve as the evenings host while GAC Nights host Suzanne Alexander will serve as emcee of the event.

Tickets for the Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler will be available at all TicketMaster locations starting Friday, May 2nd at 10 am or at www.ticketmaster.com

About Musicians On Call: Musicians on Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Musicians On Call continues its mission through room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities, and its CD Pharmacy and Project Playback programs.

MOC opened its first national chapter in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2007. In less than a year, we have played for over 3,000 people at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We have three weekly programs where volunteer guides and musicians visit adults in the Transplant, Dialysis, General Surgery, and Cardiac Units. For more information, please visit our website at www.musiciansoncall.org.

About Wrangler: Wrangler Western Wear, a VF Company, is available at over 2,500 western specialty, mid-tier and workwear stores nationwide that provide quality men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. For more information regarding the Wrangler family of products or to locate the Wrangler retailer nearest you, visit www.wrangler.com or call 1.888.784.8571.

VF Corporation is a leader in branded lifestyle apparel including jeanswear, outdoor products, image apparel and sportswear. Its principal brands include Wrangler, Lee, Riders, Rustler, The North Face, Vans, Reef, Napapijri, Kipling, Nautica, John Varvatos, JanSport, Eastpak, Eagle Creek, Lee Sport and Red Kap.

About Country Weekly: As America’s premier country entertainment magazine, over 3.5 million readers turn to Country Weekly for the latest news and exclusive stories about the lives, lifestyles, families, homes, favorite foods, fashion and music of country celebrities. Country Weekly is published 26 times a year by parent company American Media, Inc. www.countryweekly.com

5 May 2008
Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Foundation
The 39th Annual Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 26, 2008, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

Nominees for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will be announced in the next few weeks. Nominations in the Songwriter and Songwriter/Artist categories recognize songwriters whose first significant works achieved commercial success and/or artistic recognition at least 20 years ago and have “positively impacted and been closely associated with the Nashville music community and deemed to be outstanding and significant.” Nominees are recommended to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) board of directors by the nominating committee, which is comprised of Hall of Fame members and Music Row historians. Final voting is done by Hall of Fame members, Professional Songwriter members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and the boards of the NaSHOF and NSAI. Two honorees will be selected from nominees in the Songwriter category, and one in the Songwriter/Artist category, for induction on October 26.

Established in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame boasts 167 members, including songwriting luminaries such as Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Bob Dylan, Don & Phil Everly, Vince Gill, Harlan Howard, Bob McDill, Roger Miller, Bill Monroe, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins, Jimmie Rodgers, Cindy Walker, Jimmy Webb and Hank Williams, Sr. Last year’s honorees were Bob DiPiero, Flatt & Scruggs, Mac McAnally, Dottie Rambo and Hank Williams, Jr.

The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit foundation that owns and operates the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The NaSHOF’s principal purposes are to educate, archive, celebrate and honor the legacy of songwriting that is uniquely associated with the Nashville music community.

2 May 2008
Crystal Gayle on Korean Peace Mission
Crystal Gayle packs her passport and a set list this week for a 15-hour flight that leads to Seoul, South Korea, where she's part of a massive two-day Flower Power Peace Festival.

Crystal is the lone country star on the bill, which brings together a number of pop and rock acts Sunday and Monday. The festival will feature Linda Ronstadt, Rod Stewart, Janis Ian, Don McLean, the Alan Parsons Project, the Kingston Trio, Donovan, Judy Collins, Melanie, Dr. Hook and Blood, Sweat & Tears during a year that marks the 60th anniversary of South Korea's birth.

"I have always been a flower child at heart," Crystal says. "The lineup is amazing. Being asked to join these amazing entertainers, of which I myself am a personal fan of, is awesome."

It marks Crystal's first performance in South Korea and is reportedly the first time any of the acts on the bill #151; except for Melanie — have played there.

2 May 2008
Jewel Happy to Open for Brad Paisley
Singer-songwriter Jewel has sold a reported 30 million albums since she notched her first pop hit in 1996, so it would have been easy for her to try to transition into country music while still headlining concerts. Instead, she's hitting the road as an opening act for Brad Paisley this summer, beginning with a June 11 concert in Albuquerque, N.M., the week after she releases her first country album, Perfectly Clear. That means she'll have to cut her set list from 60 or 90 minutes down to 45 minutes, but she threw ego aside to prove her commitment to the genre.

"I really look at this as a building kind of thing," she told Billboard. "I want to show that I'm serious about this [country] thing and I'm willing to pay my dues."

Jewel will likely draw fans to the concerts who've never seen Brad before. She's had pop hits in the past with "Who Will Save Your Soul," "You Were Meant For Me" and "Foolish Games," among others, so she has a fan base of her own. "I think my fans are going to like Brad, because he's a songwriter and a musician," she said. "My fans like the real deal. And I think his fans are going to like me. I think it's a great fit, audience-wise."

Jewel insists her segue into country is not a big step for her. She notes that in many of her previous releases, her producers encouraged to take the country influences out of her original interpretations of the songs. "I just feel like [country] is a great continuation for me," she said. "I don't really feel like it's a musical switch, like it's the end of something and the beginning of something new. I've been here all my life; now I'm just getting a chance to really do it. I'm excited about that."

Whether or not she's a stranger to country music, Jewel is certainly familiar with Nashville. Her first album was mixed in Music City, and her 2002 pop hit "Standing Still" was produced by Dann Huff, who liner-notes freaks will recognize as the producer of hits by Lonestar, Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Leann Rimes.

Jewel's new album, and her single "Stronger Woman," were produced by John Rich, of Big & Rich.

2 May 2008
Rev It Up: 25+ Stars Join ACM Bike Ride
More than 25 country stars have signed up for the fifth annual Academy of Country Music Motorcycle Ride for charity in Las Vegas May 17, the day before the 43rd annual awards show. Lady Antebellum, James Otto and Little Big Town are among the newest names added to the event, which is being hosted - as it has ever year - by Montgomery Gentry.

The ride kicks off at the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson dealership, the largest in the nation, and treks into the desert and the mountains before circling back to Fremont Street, where Sugarland headlines an ACM-sponsored concert.

Other acts committed to the ride include Craig Morgan, Keith Anderson, Trick Pony alumni Heidi Newfield and Ira Dean, Jamey Johnson, Richie McDonald, Sarah Buxton, Carolina Rain and the Road Hammers.

Many of those artists will hit the bike trail a second time in Nashville at the second annual Ride For A Cure June 8. Artists planning to ride in both events include Little Big Town, James Otto, Ira Dean, Heidi Newfield and Lady Antebellum member Charles Kelley.

2 May 2008
"The Road Hammers" come South
Success in Canada is hard enough, but making it in the U.S. as a recording artist can be a particularly daunting experience. The difficulty of the task fuels the new GAC reality series The Road Hammers, which follows a band from north of the border as it tries to break into America's top tier. The band features Jason McCoy, who's twice won the Canadian Country Music Association's Top Male Vocalist Award, plus Clayton Bellamy, Chris Byrne and Corbett Frasz.

Fellow Canadian Jason Priestley directed the eight-part series, in which the Road Hammers uprooted themselves, tried to get a U.S. recording deal and hit Nashville without a single friend waiting for them. And they discovered that they have to weigh their desire to succeed against their integrity as musicians. It's not an easy road, and it's left the band members frustrated at times over the hurdles they've encountered."There better be a payoff at the end of this whole thing," Corbett insists.

The show is similar in concept to a GAC series dedicated to Taylor Swift at the beginning of her career. The Road Hammers premieres June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

2 May 2008
Toby Keith Responds to Front-Line Troops
Now in his sixth USO trip to the Persian Gulf, Toby Keith actually hits the front lines on his entertainment missions, and he's impressed with the progress he's seen in the way America's troops are handling themselves. "It's a tough war to fight," he told Blackanthem Military News in Baghdad. "It's not very conventional, and it's hard to figure out who the enemy is, and these guys get out on the streets and do a hell of a job. I'm amazed."

Toby has been inspired by the military several times as a songwriter. He paid homage to servicemen and women with his hit "American Soldier," and he used his father's experience in combat to fuel the opening lines of "Courtesy Of The Red, White And Blue (The Angry American)." That makes his current trip to the battle zone all that more of a personal event.

"I just want [the troops] to have a good time," he said of his appearances. "I want to know when we leave that we brought some sense of home to them, and for a little while maybe it'll lighten their world up, and they'll remember what they're fighting for. My father was a soldier, and he set an example, so this is more of a tribute to him than it is to me that I came over here. He taught us when we were kids to respect veterans and the people who serve our country."

Toby will have plenty to do when he gets home. On June 6, he'll launch his fifth annual Toby Keith & Friends golf tournament in Oklahoma, with the proceeds set for a local charity. The event includes an auction, and he's already got plenty of prizes lined up for bidding. Included are signed memorabilia from such athletes as Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Nolan Ryan and Troy Aikman. There's also a suite for sale to accommodate 16 people at a John Mellencamp concert. In addition, the auction will feature autographed pieces from George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Loretta Lynn and Montgomery Gentry.

2 May 2008
Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins in City of Angels
Nashville and Los Angeles are 2,000 miles apart, so when country artists hit the West Coast, they try to make it really count by doubling up on public appearances and media opportunities. That's part of the reason you'll see both Trace Adkins and Rascal Flatts on the tube in the next few days.

Trace is performing "You're Gonna Miss This" during tomorrow's episode of The Young & The Restless, which he actually taped last month while in California shooting his part for the movie American Carol. "When you go that far out, you want to make it to where you just stay out there for two or three weeks," Trace says, "so you plug in every hole that you can."

Which made "The Young & The Restless" role a no-brainer. "I looked at my schedule," he explains, "and said, 'Well, it looks like we're gonna be out there, so we'll run over and do that. That'd be cool.'"

The same philosophy is likely at work for Rascal Flatts. The band is performing in Indio, Calif., on Saturday. Two days later, they'll sing "Every Day" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Tuesday they'll be on the tube again, this time doing Dancing With The Stars.

2 May 2008
Dierks Bentley Visiting TV Shows and Backyards
Dierks Bentley will travel across the nation for media appearances and intimate parties to promote his new album, Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory 2003-2008, which arrives in stores Tuesday (May 6). Bentley will gain the greatest visibility with a performance Wednesday (May 7) on NBC's Today and a May 15 appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. However, he is also embarking on an 11-city tour to perform acoustic concerts in fans' living rooms and backyards across the country. Country radio stations are sponsoring contests to determine the winners. In addition, NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. will host an album release party at his club, Whiskey River, in Charlotte, N.C. "Almost every night at our fan club meet-and-greet, someone invites me to a cool party at their house after the show," Bentley says. "And I can never go because we have to load out to get to the next city, but we are going to make up for lost time starting next week."

2 May 2008
Voting Begins for ACM Entertainer of the Year
The Academy of Country Music began online voting Thursday (May 1) for its entertainer of the year award to be presented May 18 at the 43rd annual ACM Awards. It marks the first year fans have been allowed to vote in the category. This year's nominees are Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. All five acts have received multiple nominations at this year's ACM Awards. Chesney has won the entertainer of the year prize for the past three years. The show takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be broadcast on CBS. Voting is underway at www.voteacm.com.

2 May 2008
Songwriter Charged in Slaying to enter Rehab
Songwriter Richard Fagan, 61, will enter an in-patient drug and alcohol treatment after being arrested in Saturday's slaying of business partner Gaetano Thomas Oteri. Fagan appeared in a Nashville court Thursday morning (May 1) and waived his right to a preliminary hearing in connection with the death. A $20,000 bond was set for Fagan under the condition he enter the substance abuse center near Nashville. Oteri, 69, father of former Saturday Night Live star Cheri Oteri, apparently bled to death after his right wrist was slashed during an argument with Fagan at the home they shared in Nashville. His body was discovered Sunday (April 27). Fagan still faces the possibility of a criminal homicide charge after the case is heard by a grand jury. His songwriting credits include two of John Michael Montgomery's No. 1 hits, "Be My Baby Tonight" and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)."

2 May 2008
Underwood,Swift Among People's "Most Beautiful"
Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Barbara Mandrell and Nicole Kidman are featured in People magazine's "100 Most Beautiful" issue that hit newsstands Wednesday (May 1). Swift and actress Rebecca Romijn consented to be photographed without makeup. "I have blonde eyelashes and blonde eyebrows, so my typical insecurity is that my eyes go away when I don't have makeup on," she said. "But it's important to be comfortable with who you are and go natural once in a while." Kidman, who is married to Keith Urban, has been placed in People's Hall of Fame category after having made the list nine times.

1 May 2008
Trisha's Book in top 3 of NY Times Bestsellers
In its first week on sale, Trisha Yearwood’s GEORGIA COOKING IN AN OKLAHOMA KITCHEN cookbook came in at #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List in the “Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous” category (NY Times list published Sunday, April 27th). The Yearwood family recipes, documented in a new cookbook that the country star co-authored with her mother Gwen and sister Beth, is the top selling cookbook in the land, outselling its closest competitor by approximately 1,500 copies.

Filled with homespun recipes and the stories behind them, the cookbook began as homemade gift of family favorites that Trisha’s mom and sister made for the vocalist when she relocated to Oklahoma . The scrapbook of recipes took on greater significance for the ladies of the Yearwood clan after the passing of Trisha’s father. A year in the making, Georgia Cooking In An Oklahoma Kitchen contains anecdotes, funny quotes and recipes for down-home Southern fare like Gwen's Fried Chicken With Milk Gravy, Ribbon Meatloaf, Daddy’s Biscuits, Pecan-Pie Muffins and Just-Married Pound Cake. Says Yearwood, "My mom, my sister, and I are overwhelmed by the response! We're happy to hear that so many people have already tried the recipes and like how easy they are to make.”

GEORGIA COOKING IN AN OKLAHOMA KITCHEN (Clarkson Potter; $29.95, hardcover; April 8, 2008) is Trisha Yearwood’s first book published and follows another first for the three-time Grammy Award winner who celebrated the release of her first independent album, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love (Big Machine Records) in November 2007. USA TODAY wrote that the album “delivers everything its title promises and then some,” while PEOPLE MAGAZINE says Yearwood “infuses each tale with her pitch-perfect delivery.”

Trisha Yearwood is one of the highest-selling female artists in Country music history. Entertainment Weekly has called her “one of the finest interpretive singers ever.” Since her 1991 debut, each of Yearwood’s eleven albums have achieved gold or platinum status with over 10 million albums sold. She has had nine #1hits and twenty Top Ten hits, including “She’s in Love With the Boy,” “Walkaway Joe,” and “How Do I Live.” In addition to three Grammy Awards, the Grand Ole Opry member is a three-time Country Music Award winner and a two-time Academy of Country Music Award winner. She has been honored with an American Music Award, a Pollstar Concert Industry Award and was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2000. She has performed at the Olympic Summer Games, the White House, Clinton ’s inauguration, dueted with Pavarotti in Italy , and was named one of Redbook Magazine’s Women of the Year in 2005.

1 May 2008
Early Reaction Speeds Morgan's Single Release
Last week, with a few copies of Craig Morgan’s debut single, “Love Remembers,” the BNA Records promotion team began visiting radio stations across the country with the new song. The song received a quick thumbs up from radio and when a few of the copies that were inadvertently left behind were played on the air, the listeners called in and also gave the song a thumbs up.

When the song found its way to his myspace page, fans found it, and give it a thumbs up. In fact, the song received more than 30,000 plays in a few days. Though none of this happened according to plan, BNA decided to come up with a new plan! So with that, Craig Morgan’s “Love Remembers” will now be available digitally to radio this Wednesday, April 30. The physical CD is set to arrive by Friday.

1 May 2008
Mel Tillis Honored by IFCO
Mel Tillis will be recognized by the International Fan Club Organization (IFCO) the day before the CMA Music Festival officially kicks off with the Tex Ritter Award, an honor given artists who've made a life-long contribution to country music, its musicians and its fans.

It comes at a time when Mel's career is receiving renewed appreciation. He's recorded more than 60 albums in his lifetime, and a number of his releases during the late-1970s and early-'80s are in the midst of a reissue campaign. His 1979 album, Me And Pepper, was re-released yesterday.

A former CMA Entertainer of the Year, Mel built a successful career as an artist that trails back more than 50 years, leading to his peak as a hit machine during the 1970s. He appeared in several movies and wrote a raft of hits for other artists, including Webb Pierce's "I Ain't Never," Kenny Rogers' "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town," Bobby Bare's "Detroit City" and Ricky Skaggs' "Honey (Open That Door)."

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Mel joined the Grand Ole Opry in June 2007. He'll be approaching his one-year anniversary as a member when he receives the Tex Ritter Award in Nashville June 4. The CMA Music Festival is slated for June 5-8.

1 May 2008
Chris Cagle Puts Career in Perspective
When Chris Cagle's new album came out, it went immediately to the No. 1 position on the national country charts. It was a positive step for Chris, who's endured a number of trials and tribulations in both his career and his personal life over the last few years. In the process of making the album, it became apparent that he's looking to turn a corner.

"If you look at the titles — like 'No Love Songs,' 'What Kind Of Gone,' 'If It Isn't One Thing' and 'Never Ever Gone' — they're tremendously negative," he told CMA Close Up magazine. "But then you listen to the songs, you hear that 'I Don't Want To Live' is 'I don't want to live without you anymore.' The songs themselves are positive, which seems ironic to me in many ways."

Also ironic is the album's title. It's called My Life's Been A Country Song, but it comes at a time when Chris has decided that country music is not his life — at least not the most important part of it. "I'm turning 40 this year, and I don't have kids yet," he said. "But I want to live long enough to have a child and some grandbabies. Music is a chapter in my life, but it's not the chapter. My livelihood is performing, but my life is not a performance. I want to live to be 85. I'm not going to be sitting in a hospital room when I die looking at my gold records on the wall. No, I'm going to be talking to my kids and my woman. When I leave this world, that's what I want as my legacy: three or four amazing children, my namesakes. That's the stuff that matters."

1 May 2008
Glen Campbell Covers U2, Green Day
Glen Campbell may be following in the footsteps of his late friend Johnny Cash. The Man In Black loaded the latter albums of his career with his own versions of songs from a wide variety of sources - including Neil Diamond, the Carter Family and Nine Inch Nails - with guest appearances by Tom Petty and a member of the Clash. Now Glen is releasing a CD that features remakes of numerous rock songs and appearances by members of Cheap Trick and Jane's Addiction.

Meet Glen Campbell is set for release Aug. 19 by Capitol Records, the label that housed his original hits, including "Wichita Lineman," "Gentle On My Mind," "Galveston" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix." Produced by Julian Raymond — who's worked with Fastball and the Wallflowers — the album features songs associated with Tom Petty, the Replacements, Green Day, U2, Jackson Browne and the U.K. band Travis. "I really like all of the songs, and I had a great time recording them," Glen says. "While I didn't write these songs, this sounds like a Glen Campbell album, which is important to me."

Several rockers have guest slots on the album, which will be released digitally, on CD and in limited-edition vinyl. Among those contributing are Cheap Trick vocalist Robin Zander, Jane's Addiction bassist Chris Chaney, and Jellyfish members Roger Manning and Jason Faulkner.

The track list for Meet Glen Campbell, and the songs' originators follow: - "Jesus," Velvet Underground - "All I Want Is You," U2 - "Times Like These," Foo Fighters - "Grow Old With Me," John Lennon - "Angel Dream," Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Sadly Beautiful," the Replacements - "Sing," Travis - "These Days," Jackson Browne - "Walls (Circus)," Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)," Green Day

1 May 2008
Taylor Swift Giddy Over Triple Play
Taylor Swift had plenty to be excited about yesterday morning. Not only was she getting national exposure on a return visit to ABC's "Good Morning America," but she had rewarding sales news to report. "I'm so excited to be back," she told host Robin Roberts. "You guys were so cool to let me come on the show the day my album came out. They told me the other day that it's now triple-platinum — it's freaking me out! I'm so excited!"

The triple-platinum honor means Taylor's label, Big Machine Records, has shipped 3 million copies of her self-titled debut. It's just the latest development in a career that continues to move swiftly along. She became the first solo female artist in country-music history to go platinum with an album that featured her as a writer on every single track. She also became the first person to have a No. 1 country single written and performed on her own before the age of 18.

Look for her today on Live With Regis And Kelly. She also has three nominations for the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be handed out May 18.

1 May 2008
Toby Keith Fights Iraq Elements
Toby Keith might have thought the enemy's soldiers were his worst nightmare when he undertook his sixth USO tour of the Persian Gulf, but firearms and angry fighters aren't the only thing he's had to battle. As we previously reported, Toby did have to stop performing during a show in Afghanistan when the base came under mortar fire, but he also found Mother Nature working against him on his current tour when he moved on to Iraq. He gave a performance at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, but then found himself stuck in Fallujah for 36 hours, thanks to a sandstorm.

"We were covered with dirt and dust, even in our rooms," his agent, Curt Motley, told Country Aircheck. "We're covered in a fine, moon dust-like powder, and the hallways appear to be smoking because there's so much dust and dirt in the air." The dust isn't the only part of the environment that's uncomfortable. The temperature gauge in one vehicle that had been sitting in the sun hit 131 degrees.

Toby's Persian Gulf mission is expected to last a total of 14 days.

1 May 2008
Rascal Flatts Appear on Dancing With the Stars
Rascal Flatts will be in the Los Angeles area next week for two major TV appearances to promote their current single, "Every Day." The trio will perform Monday (May 5) on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and Tuesday (May 6) on Dancing With the Stars. The TV shows follow Saturday's appearance at the Stagecoach music festival in Indio, Calif. They will resume their tour May 9 in Fort Wayne, Ind.

1 May 2008
Willie Nelson in Europe on 75th Birthday
Willie Nelson celebrated his 75th birthday on Wednesday (April 30) in a foreign country with a day away from the stage and the spotlights before a performance Thursday (May 1) in Oslo, Norway. Nelson, born April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas, is in Europe for a concert tour that has already taken him to the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. He'll perform in England, Scotland and Belgium before the overseas tour ends on May 16 in Paris. Earlier this month, Sony/Legacy released One Hell of a Ride, a four-CD, 100-song boxed set containing highlights from his career. Also coinciding with his birthday is the publication of Willie Nelson: An Epic Life, a comprehensive biography written by veteran Texas writer Joe Nick Patoski.

1 May 2008
CMA PRESENTS 2007 AWARD TO UK’S ALAN CACKETT
The Country Music Association presented its 2007 Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award to Alan Cackett, editor and publisher of Maverick Magazine earlier this week. The Award was given to Cackett by Bobbi Boyce, CMA International Director.

The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievements in the media which contribute to the development of Country Music outside the United States. Radio, TV and print journalists; authors; editors; television writers and producers who reside outside the United States are eligible to win this award. It does not have to be presented annually. The award was named after Country Music Hall of Fame member Wesley Rose, who served as the first Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors.

"I’d like to thank CMA for presenting me with the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award,” said Cackett. “For my peers in the Country Music industry to acknowledge my endeavors is quite humbling and unexpected. You know I only got into all of this because I’m so passionate about the music. For me it’s all about introducing as many people as possible to good music they’d otherwise miss out on. That’s what continues to drive me.”

Cackett launched the first British Country Music monthly magazine in the mid-60s with Country Music Monthly. He later wrote about the format for a variety of publications, including The Times, Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Music Week and Q, and many others. Cackett wrote a Country Music column for Kent Messenger from 1968-1997. He also served as a feature writer for Country Music People from the ‘70s through the early ‘90s before moving to Country Music International in 1994. He launched Maverick Magazine in 2002, which covers Country and roots music.

Cackett served as a promoter of many concerts, festivals and tours in the United Kingdom, including the acclaimed Good’n’Country Festival of the late ‘80s and ‘90s. He is also a founder of the Zebra Bar, one of the UK’s leading Country and roots music venues.

For picture please go to the cmrnashville.net Gallery.

30 April 2008
Little Big Town Cycles Down at CMA Fest
Little Big Town will rev things up on the final day of the CMA Music Festival in June when the band takes part in the second annual Ride For A Cure, a motorcycle trip that kicks off at the Harley-Davidson lot in Cool Springs outside of Nashville and ends up 60 miles down the road in Columbia, Tenn.

The band will not be alone. Others on the ride will include Darryl Worley, Jennifer Hanson, Lonestar, Gary Chapman, Heidi Newfield, songwriter Mark Nesler, Trent Tomlinson, Ira Dean, Keith Anderson, Chuck Wicks, James Otto, Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley and GAC personality Storme Warren.

"We are excited to be involved with the Ride For A Cure to help raise vital research dollars for the T.J. Martell Foundation," Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild says. "Folks will be able to come out and ride, have a great lunch and enjoy a fun show. It is a great way for everyone involved to make a difference."

The cost to participate ranges from $35-$250. For more information, visit tjmartellfoundation.org/Ride-for-a-cure.aspx. The ride takes place June 8, the day after Little Big Town performs at LP Field during the CMA Music Fest. Also due to play the stadium with them are Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Kenny Rogers and Craig Morgan.

30 April 2008
Blake Appreciates Miranda's Taste
Blake Shelton has a hit on his hands with his remake of the Michael Buble pop song "Home," but he might never have thought of recording it if it wasn't for his girlfriend, Miranda Lambert. Miranda puts music on Blake's iPod, but usually the songs she loads up are the ones he's requested. Miranda liked "Home," which Michael turned into a pop hit back in 2005, and she copied it onto Blake's iPod without telling him about it.

"When I heard it, I was like, 'What is this? I didn't give her this one,'" Blake told Billboard. "Then I looked to see who was singing it and kept listening. I loved it, started singing it around, added it to my live show, and here we are — it's now on my album."

A new, deluxe version of his Pure BS CD will be released next Tuesday, featuring his recording of the song, which relates well to the lifestyle of a musician. "I travel a lot, and I'm fortunate as a singer to get to do what I do, but sometimes I just want to go home," Blake noted. "I get to missing my house, my land, my family — everything that makes home 'home.'" The background singer on "Home" is, of course, Miranda.

30 April 2008
Alan Jackson Has "Small Town" Party
Alan Jackson recently topped the country charts with "Small Town Southern Man," the first time he's hit No. 1 in more than three years, and that accomplishment certainly deserves a party.

Alan got one yesterday at the Music Row offices of ASCAP, a songwriter agency that presented plaques to Alan and his longtime record producer Keith Stegall. Alan, in fact, received enough mementos to fill up his backseat, including one from the Country Music Association that's several years past due: The organization gave him a Triple Play Award for having three No. 1 singles in a one-year period. Those chart-toppers came in 2001 and 2002, with "Where I Come From," "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)" and "Drive (For Daddy Gene)."

ASCAP chief Connie Bradley, calling Alan a "modern-day Hank Williams," noted that Alan has amassed 32 No. 1 singles, 22 of which he wrote. He is still a bit behind George Strait, who last week reached the summit for the 56th time with "I Saw God Today." Alan remains grateful, but keeps his latest accomplishment in perspective.

"I don't think it'll ever be as exciting as the first song," Alan said. "The first single, it's totally different — the first No. 1 especially. But I think people like George and myself have been around so long, it's a privilege for us to still be on the charts at this point in our careers, so it's even more meaningful than some of the No. 1s from the past."

Showing some of the same dignity as the character he wrote about in "Small Town Southern Man," Alan isn't getting greedy about those honors either. "If I never had another No. 1, it'd be fine," he told the guests. "I wouldn't be bitter about it or dissatisfied."

Meanwhile, Alan and wife Denise Jackson will be in their hometown of Newnan, Ga., today to accept the first-ever Richard Brooks Visionary Award of Artistic Achievement.

30 April 2008
Taylor Swift's Album Certified Triple Platinum
Taylor Swift's self-titled debut album has been certified triple platinum for retail shipments and digital sales of 3 million units. She made the announcement on Tuesday (April 29) on Good Morning America. She'll appear on Live With Regis and Kelly on Wednesday morning (April 30). The album includes "Tim McGraw," "Teardrops on My Guitar," "Our Song" and "Picture to Burn."

30 April 2008
Idol Finalist Phil Stacey Releases New CD
Phil Stacey, a finalist on the 2007 season of American Idol, released his self-titled debut album on Lyric Street Records on Tuesday (April 29). Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox co-wrote the first single, "If I Didn't Love You," with Wendell Mobley and Jason Sellers. The album was produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick, who co-wrote Eric Clapton's "Change the World" and co-produced Little Big Town's last two albums. A native of Kentucky, Stacey and his family now live in Nashville.

30 April 2008
Martina McBride, Chris LeDoux Among New CD/DVD's
New CD/DVD sets from Martina McBride and Chris LeDoux were released on Tuesday (April 29). McBride's Live in Concert (RCA Nashville) is her first live album. She recorded the DVD at a concert in Moline, Ill., in September. Classic Chris LeDoux (Capitol Nashville/EMI) collects 14 singles on CD, with their videos on DVD. The CD includes a bonus track, "Whatcha Gonna Do With a Cowboy" with Garth Brooks, while the DVD offers a previously unreleased video, "Ridin' for a Fall."

30 April 2008
Miley's Vanity Fair Photo Is International News
The continuing controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus' photo spread for an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair magazine has become an international news story. With domestic coverage in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Newsweek, the story has also been featured in other newspapers throughout the world, including The Times and The Guardian of London, The Globe and Mail of Toronto and the Herald Sun in Melbourne, Australia. Celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz took the photos which include an image of the 15-year-old Hannah Montana star clutching a sheet with her bare shoulders and upper back exposed. Cyrus, who has apologized to her fans for the photo, said in a statement she "took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic.'" Leibovitz says she and Cyrus discussed plans for the photo before she shot it, adding she is sorry the portrait "has been misinterpreted."

In the media reports, journalists have blamed a variety of people for the photo being taken, including Leibovitz, Vanity Fair editors and Cyrus' father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who was present for at least part of the photo shoot. Billy Ray Cyrus has not commented regarding the Vanity Fair feature.

30 April 2008
Tim McGraw's Fragrance Coming in August
Tim McGraw's first fragrance, named "McGraw by Tim McGraw" and developed with Coty Beauty Inc., will be available in stores in August. McGraw shot the advertising campaign in Los Angeles with photographer Michel Comte. The rectangular glass bottle features a silver cap and a black leather-like collar to suggest the brim of his cowboy hat. The carton has a matte black texture with a silver embossed pick on top and rope running along each panel.

30 April 2008
Crystal Gayle To Perform In Asia Peace Festival
This week, country music’s classiest lady, Crystal Gayle will make the 15-hour flight to Seoul, South Korea to join some of folk and pop music’s biggest names for the Flower Power Peace Festival spectacular! Crystal will join the likes of music legends, Don McClean, The Alan Parsons Project, Donovan, The Kingston Trio, Judy Collins, The Brothers Four, Dr. Hook, Melanie Safka and Blood, Sweat & Tears for the two-day peace jam.

“Well, I have always been a ‘Flower Child’ at heart,” says Crystal. “The lineup is amazing… being asked to join these amazing entertainers, of which I myself am a personal fan of, is awesome… this will be an incredible event!”

The Flower Power Peace Festival will take place on May 4th and 5th at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in the heart of Seoul, the tenth largest city in the world. Crystal will take the stage at the festival on May 4th at 7:00 pm. Her performance at the star studded-event is meant to promote peace in Korea, the only country still divided since World War II.

Multi-platinum country-pop sensation Crystal Gayle has nineteen #1 singles to her credit. Earlier in her career, Crystal took home the Grammys’ “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” award with her hit, “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” She’s a former ACM “Top New Female Vocalist” winner, a three-time ACM “Top Female Vocalist” winner and a two-time recipient of the CMA’s “Female Vocalist of the Year” Award. She’s won the AMA’s “Favorite Female Artist” award on three separate occasions and was the first country music singer to reach platinum sales.

For more information on Crystal Gayle, visit www.crystalgayle.com.

30 April 2008
International Country Music Conference Awards
The 25th annual International Country Music Conference (ICMC) is a premier event for country music scholars and enthusiasts. ICMC is pleased to recognize the work of authors and journalists and their contributions in the study of country music by presenting the following awards during the event.

The Belmont Book Award is presented annually to the committee's choice as the overall best book on country music. This year's recipient is Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry written by Holly George-Warren and published by Oxford University Press.

"It's a great honor to receive this award for my biography of a man who did so much to advance the popularity of country music around the world," remarked Holly George-Warren. "Gene Autry inspired numerous legendary artists--from Johnny Cash to Solomon Burke to Bob Dylan. I'm thrilled that by recognizing my book, the Belmont Book Award is also acknowledging Gene Autry's many contributions to country music."

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a long-term commitment to linking books with country music. This year, the award will be presented to the Country Music Hall of Fame Foundation and Library. "This is the first time we've ever given the Lifetime Achievement Award to an institution," said Don Cusic, chair of the awards committee. "In the past, we have always recognized an individual with this award. However, it was clear to us that the Country Music Hall of Fame Foundation and Library deserves this honor."

The Charlie Lamb Awards are given to outstanding country music journalists. The 2008 honors will be awarded to Beverly Keel of The Tennessean in the contemporary category and entertainment industry veteran Barry McCloud in the lifetime category.

The winner of the Belmont Book Award receives a check for $1,000, funded by the Mike Curb Family Foundation. Each of the recipients in the journalist category receives a check for $500, funded by Gary and Peggy Walker, owners of The Great Escape, in honor of legendary country music journalist Charlie Lamb.

All of the awards will be presented at the International Country Music Conference, which will be held at Belmont University May 22-24. Registration for the event is $100. Registration materials must be received by Friday, May 16, 2008. Checks should be sent to James Akenson, Box 5042, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee 38505.

For more information on the conference, visit www.internationalcountrymusic.org.

29 April 2008
Country Acts Ready for Stagecoach
This weekend, Southern California will host its second annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival with three days of wall-to-wall artists performing on multiple stages. The Eagles will headline Friday night, Rascal Flatts has top billing Saturday, and Tim McGraw closes the festival Sunday.

Last year, when it began as a two-day event, Stagecoach drew between 25,000 and 30,000 people each day, though everyone was clearly worn out by the end, with a stream of people heading to their cars with strollers and picnic baskets during the final act on closing night. Which is a big reason why Trace Adkins is more than happy to not be a headliner at the festival.

"That's the worst slot to be in one of these festival things, the closer," he told The Orange County Register. "It's that way at every one we play, man. Once you start a festival at four o'clock in the afternoon and you let those people go all day long, by the time you get to the headliner, they're spent, man. Most of 'em are wantin' to get out of there." Trace is a much bigger fan of what he calls the "rockin'-chair hole": the next-to-last performer in the evening, who usually catches the audience at its energetic peak.

Stagecoach actually runs in the same venue that the Coachella rock festival occupied this past weekend. Dwight Yoakam was the only artist scheduled to play both events, which attract different crowds. Stagecoach has more of a family audience, but Dwight said he's able to play no matter who attends, or how they react.

"I'm gonna be me in both events," he explained. "I try not to overthink it. If it's a younger crowd, they tend to respond younger. And if it's an older crowd, they tend to respond wiser and ? with longer memories." "There's much to be said for the enthusiasm of youth," he added, "and there's a whole lot to be said for the embracing knowingness of the journey of age."

Among others on the long list of performers at Stagecoach, slated for Indio, Calif., are: Trisha Yearwood, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Carrie Underwood, Bucky Covington, Dan Tyminski, Earl Scruggs, Charlie Louvin, George Jones, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Glen Campbell, Craig Morgan, Rissi Palmer, Whiskey Falls, John Fogerty and Taylor Swift. The festival will also feature a rare reunion of the Judds.

29 April 2008
Glen Campbell's Session Work in Film
Glen Campbell's career as a singer and entertainer launched him into the Country Music Hall of Fame, but before he became a household name as a hitmaker, he was a very successful studio musician in Los Angeles. As a result, he's featured in the independent movie "The Wrecking Crew," which closed the Nashville Film Festival with a special showing in two adjacent theaters last week.

The Wrecking Crew is the name given to a loose collection of players who dominated Southern California session work at the time Glen got started. The movie began with music from the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album, in which Glen played acoustic guitar, and took the viewer on a ride through songs by such 1960s pop staples as the Ronettes, the Mamas & The Papas, Nancy Sinatra and Jan & Dean. One of the most entertaining people in the picture was Carole Kaye, a woman who remarkably created a full-time job for herself in a male-dominated profession prior to the feminist movement. Carole showed in the film how she came up with the signature bass line for Sonny & Cher's "The Beat Goes On" and demonstrated her five-note kickoff to Glen's classic hit "Wichita Lineman."

Among the musicians featured in the picture was bass player Joe Osborn, who left Los Angeles to become a session player in Nashville, appearing on country hits by the likes of Hank Williams Jr., John Conlee, Mickey Gilley and the Oak Ridge Boys.

Music City, which still has a very active studio scene, was an appropriate place to show the film, produced by Danny Tedesco, the son of Tommy Tedesco, who was one of Glen's Wrecking Crew peers. Nashville, Danny said at the screening, "is the only town you can walk through the front door with your instrument instead of the back door."

Several members of the Wrecking Crew performed following the screening at the Film Festival's closing party, including keyboard player Al De Lory, who produced all of Glen's early hits. Foster & Lloyd founder Bill Lloyd and current Nashville session musician Jim Hoke traded lead vocals during the party on the Bob Dylan classic "Like A Rolling Stone," with Al Kooper — who was on the original — playing organ. The band also featured Nashville bassist Garry Tallent, of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band; singer-songwriter Kim Richey; Henry Gross, who made the 1976 pop hit "Shannon"; and drummer Craig Krampf, who's backed both Patty Loveless and Kim Carnes.

29 April 2008
Aaron Tippin Honors Father in New CD
Aaron Tippin will become the latest country artist to put together an album specifically for the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain with a CD that pays homage to his late father.

He Believed is tabbed for a May 6 release. The album's title track, which Aaron co-wrote with his wife Thea, was created as a tribute to Willis Tippin, who died in a traffic accident in North Carolina in 2005. "Although this CD is dedicated to my dad, I hope it speaks to everyone who has had a mentor like he was to me," Aaron says.

Half of the album's 12 songs are brand new recordings, while the other six are songs that have become hits for Aaron, including "Working Man's Ph.D.," "Whole Lotta Love On The Line" and "I Got It Honest." Cracker Barrel has an entire line of country albums in its general store. Aaron joins Alabama, Josh Turner, Lonestar and Merle Haggard among the artists who've had new releases through the company in the last year.

29 April 2008
Brooks & Dunn Booked Solid
When the word "book" is used in conjunction with Brooks & Dunn, it's usually because they have an agent trying to book a concert date for them. But come May 12, they'll have another kind of book in the public realm. In this case, it'll be a novel, The Adventures Of Slim And Howdy, co-written with Bill Fitzhugh. The project is built around the characters that have been featured in very short stories in the liner notes on the duo's albums.

"When Ronnie and I were first getting together and really having fun with that first album, Brand New Man, we were sitting around talking about what we liked about albums growing up," Kix Brooks told Billboard. "We both had the whole liner notes deal in common. So we thought, 'Let's get a little adventure story going here and give people something to read.'" They had no idea at the time that their alter egos, Slim and Howdy, would be the fodder for a much bigger project than liner notes.

In the meantime, Brooks & Dunn have some of their more usual bookings coming up. They performed with Kenny Chesney this weekend in Columbia, S.C., and they've got several more stadium dates due with Kenny in the months ahead, including a performance this weekend in Frisco, Texas. In August, they'll also launch more than 25 shows with ZZ Top.

29 April 2008
Keri McInerney Electrocuted During Performance
Australian country music performer Keri McInerney, was electrocuted whilst performing at a corporate event, over the Anzac Day long weekend.

A lighting rig, began to spark, developing swiftly into a larger electrical fire, threatening the on stage equipment, staging, Keri and her fellow musicians of The River Band.

Keri reacted swiftly and attempted to remove the nearby lighting plug from the power source. In doing so Keri was flung backwards to the floor receiving a major jolt of electricity.

Medical attendants at the scene, examined Keri, who was then given medical assistance. Keri sustained burns to her left hand, damage to her left shoulder, heart arrhythmia and shock.

Keri is currently recuperating at home in Hervey Bay. For further information, please contact by email at: kerimcinerney@gmail.com

29 April 2008
British Red Cross Charity Auction Prize Announce
Magical Musical Tour in the American South . A unique once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arisen to take an exclusive musical tour of the American South, tailored to your musical tastes and interests, from country and jazz to rhythm and blues.

This wonderful idea has been generously donated by Shonda Warner* and the good people of Mississippi, Tennessee and Louisiana and will be available, via auction, at the ‘La Vie En Rose’ themed Royal Charity Gala Evening in benefit of the British Red Cross at The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair on 12 June 2008.

The experience includes a tailored ten-day tour in a chauffeur-driven 1957 pink Cadillac through the musical history and culture of the Deep South, from the celebrated musical centres of Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans to the hidden gems that are the rural clubs and juke joints where legends play just for fun. With an array of celebrity performers as your guides and exclusive access to music studios and venues, this is an experience that money cannot buy. Full details of auction prize, entitled “Rose Roots” are below.

The Charity Gala on 12 June begins at 7pm with a Private View of the world-renowned Art and Antiques Fair in the Great Room at Grosvenor House on London’s Park Lane. Guests can stroll around the Fair and enjoy champagne and canapés at leisure. Special guests include HRH Princess Alexandra and Annie Lennox.

For a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime trip at the Royal Charity Gala, and to experience the Fair’s special Private View, visit www.grosvenorfair.co.uk/charitygala or call the Gala Box Office on 020 7877 7114. Tickets to the Private View are £100. If you are unable to attend, pre-bid forms are also available.

Money raised from the Charity Gala Evening will fund the essential life-saving work of the British Red Cross both in the UK and overseas, which this year has included the Kenya Crisis Appeal, flooding in the UK and ongoing HIV work in Africa.

29 April 2008
Despite Injury, Kenny Chesney's Tour Continues
Kenny Chesney's concert schedule will not be affected by an injury he sustained Saturday night (April 26) while aboard a hydraulic lift used during the opening of his concert in Columbia, S.C. The concert production began with Chesney being elevated onto a stage while the band provides the introduction to his opening song. At Saturday's show, Chesney's boot was lodged between the lift and the stage for nearly 40 seconds as the lift motor kept trying to push the platform up. Chesney managed to complete his performance that lasted almost two hours, but he was in considerable pain and received two shots of morphine after leaving the stage.

Although initial reports indicated he crushed bones in his foot, Chesney later consulted with the Tennessee Titans' sports medicine and orthopedic specialist after returning to Nashville on his tour bus early Sunday morning. The diagnosis is that Chesney sustained a hematoma from the ankle down -- with most of the damage in his toes. Chesney emphasized to his doctor that he wanted to avoid cancelling any concerts. His next show takes place Thursday (May 1) in Austin, Texas. "He told me it's going to hurt -- though nothing could hurt worse than Saturday, I don't think -- and they can give me something to deaden the pain when I get out there," Chesney said. "I also have to have a doctor standing by should something give, but I'm going to tape it up, and I'm going to get out there."

29 April 2008
Toby Keith's Concert Interrupted by Mortar Fire
Toby Keith's USO concert in the Persian Gulf was interrupted by mortar fire onto the Kandahar Base on Thursday night (April 24). Keith and most of the soldiers found shelter near the performance site. He signed autographs for the troops afterwards. This is Keith's sixth USO tour and will include 18 shows in 14 days.

29 April 2008
Songwriter Charged in SNL Father's Death
Nashville songwriter Richard Fagan was charged with criminal homicide on Monday morning (April 28) in the death of Gaetano Thomas "Tommy" Oteri, 69, father of former Saturday Night Live cast member Cheri Oteri. The victim, who was Fagan's manager, music publisher and roommate, was found stabbed to death inside their Nashville home on Sunday night (April 27). According to police, Fagan, 61, and Oteri got into a fight inside the residence around 9 p.m. Saturday. At 10:45 p.m., Fagan was arrested for DUI in another area of Nashville and admitted drinking six shots of alcohol. He was bonded out of jail at 2:15 p.m. Sunday. Around the same time, a mutual friend who had been told of the fight by Fagan, reported to police that the screen door to the home was locked, the house appeared to be in disarray and Oteri was not responding to the door. Police arrested Fagan at his bail bondsman's office. Fagan wrote two No. 1 hit songs, "Be My Baby Tonight" and "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)," for John Michael Montgomery. His credits include Clay Walker's "Only on Days That End in 'Y'" and Montgomery's "I Miss You a Little," both Top 10 hits, and other songs recorded by George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., Neil Diamond, Shania Twain and others. Fagan is being held without bond.

29 April 2008
Roger Clemens Was Involved With Mindy McCready
The New York Daily News has reported that baseball star Roger Clemens and Mindy McCready were romantically involved for a decade, beginning when McCready was 15 and Clemens was 28. The romance was mentioned in a defamation lawsuit filed by Clemens in January against his former personal trainer. Clemens' attorney told the Daily News, "He flatly denies having had any kind of an inappropriate relationship with her. He's considered her a close family friend." McCready released her first single, "Ten Thousand Angels," in 1996, when she was 20. Her second single, "Guys Do It All the Time," reached No. 1 a few months later.

28 April 2008
Congratulations to Kylie Diffie, Daughter of Joe
The winners of Nashville's Most Photogenic Babies of 2008 was announced on Sunday, April 13th in Nashville, TN's Cool Springs Galleria Mall. Kylie Diffie, five year-old daughter of country star Joe Diffie, took home the title of Judge's Choice Overall Winner, as well as Judges Choice in the Comical Category, and Voters Choice in both Precious Category and Comical Category-- all in the 4 & 5 year-old age group.

"Well I have to say the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree," says Diffie. "I'd like to think I can take the credit, but Kylie gets all her good looks from her Mama."

Nashville's Most Photogenic Babies of 2008, presented by American Performing Arts Network, raised over $4,000 to support the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

28 April 2008
Talladega Nights For Keith Anderson
“C’MON!” to Talladega this weekend with Columbia Nashville’s Keith Anderson and hear the title track off his brand new disc, C’MON!, to be released June 24. This driving, up-tempo song, along with live clips of Anderson will be featured in the never-before-seen NASCAR highlights video, debuting this Sunday, April 27, 2008, at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama . This new reel will also be displayed at all of the upcoming NASCAR Sprint Cup races with nearly 30 left to go in the season, thanks to MRN Radio and Sprint Nextel. Anderson is thrilled to be a part of the NASCAR tradition, and on viewing the reel for the first time, exclaimed, “Shake and Bake!”

Currently, Anderson is on the road in support of his new single, “I Still Miss You,” which is his fastest rising to date and already a Top 30 hit on the country singles charts. For NASCAR Sprint Cup race dates and locations, visit www.racingone.com and for Keith Anderson, www.keithanderson.com.

28 April 2008
Shawna Russell Hits the Road Visiting Radio
Singer-songwriter Shawna Russell hit the road last week visiting radio stations across Middle America to promote her Way Out West/Nine North Records debut single “Goddess.”

As she made her way across Oklahoma , Kansas , and Arkansas , she picked up momentum, wowing staffs at 13 Music Row radio stations along the way with her music, charming personality and interview skills.

PD, Jason Drake of KAIR echoed the sentiment heard from the majority of the stations: “She’s an amazing talent...we loved her visit and have had some great positive reviews from listeners...this gal can sing!!

By Friday the 18th , “Goddess” was #1 on Play MPE’s Top 5 Download and Stream chart, and it remains on the chart at press time. That same day, esteemed Music Row critic Robert K. Oermann weighed in with a “DisCovery Award” for Russell, saying “Her ‘Goddess’ would not be denied.”

This week, Russell visited major market stations in Kansas City, Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln, as “Goddess” landed MediaBase airplay in several regions of the country.

On Tuesday, she snagged the much-sought-after guest slot on the highly-rated KBEQ morning show in Kansas City with PD Mike Kennedy, Zeke, and Natalie. Nine North’s Larry Pareigis stated, “Shawna more than held her own with Mike & the morning crew – it was great radio!”

Later, Russell sang for and visited with KFKF PD, Dale Carter, before departing for an evening dinner with Des Moines PD, Andy Elliott, of KHKI/KJJY. Also on Tuesday, Russell’s manager/publicist, Clif Doyal, announced her signing with Kevin Neal and Buddy Lee Attractions.

On Wednesday, Russell performed in Nebraska for MD Craig Allen at KXKT in Omaha , and closed the day in Lincoln with a rousing mini-concert for PD, Hoss Micheals, and MD, Carol Turner and the staff at KZKX.

Russell returned to Oklahoma late last night with her co-manager/producer/uncle, Tim Russell, to perform with her band tonight at the Cherokee Casinos in Tulsa , and on Friday and Saturday nights in Sallisaw , Oklahoma .

This week, Russell will tour the Southeast U.S. with radio stops in Atlanta , GA ; Greenville , SC ; Jacksonville and Tampa , Florida .

28 April 2008
Big Kenny Premieres Film for Sudan
Big Kenny Alphin, who makes up one-half of Big & Rich, premiered a movie at the Nashville Film Festival Wednesday night in his continuing effort to aid the victims of a 20-year-old civil war in Africa.

Bearing Light: A Journey To Sudan documents Big Kenny's trip with wife Christiev Carothers to the southern part of the nation, where the population is struggling to overcome the loss of lives and property during the war. The couple were part of an entourage of nine people who brought supplies to aid an Akon Village girls' school, which has grown from 200 students to more than 1,000. Wearing a safari jacket with the Big & Rich slogan "Love Everybody," Kenny brought aid, compassion, entertainment and a doctor, who tended to 146 patients in just two days. One-third of the population suffers from malaria, and one of the crew members contracted the disease on the journey.

An estimated 200,000 - 400,000 people were slaughtered in the war, according to the film, leaving many children without parents. Large numbers of them were taken as slaves as a result. "I cannot believe to save my life there's still slavery on our globe," Big Kenny said during a question-and-answer session after the screening. "These women," Big Kenny said in the film, "don't want to see their children die, and I don't think that's too much to ask."

Big Kenny urged people who want to help to visit www.mskeepers.org.

28 April 2008
Little Big Town Makes Changes
Part of the story of Little Big Town’s history was a frustrating recording contract in which the band made a ton of compromises, only to come up with an album that didn’t really work. To add insult to injury, they got dumped by the label.

Now they’re changing labels again, leaving the independent company where they first found success to sign with a major. The band officially left the Equity Music Group yesterday in favor of a new deal with Capitol Records, which has bought the rights to both of their Equity albums, The Road To Here and A Place To Land. And after a lengthy wait, they’ll finally follow up last fall’s single "I’m With The Band" with a new single, yet to be announced. Whichever song they choose, Little Big Town is looking to raise its status a bit

"We’re perfectionists and strivers," group member Karen Fairchild said recently. "So we keep going and going, always reaching for that next level, whatever that might be and never feel like we’ve made it. I guess we’re still really hungry and excited about doin’ [music], and don’t take any of it for granted."

The band is currently nominated for Top Vocal Group in the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards, slated for May 18 in Las Vegas.

28 April 2008
Tim McGraw Announces 2008 Date for Swampstock
Tim McGraw will host Swampstock, his hometown charity event, on Sept. 13 in Rayville, La. The event benefits McGraw and Faith Hill's Neighbor's Keeper Foundation. No performers have yet been announced for the event. McGraw recently announced that Swampstock will now be held every two years. The first Swampstock was held in 1994. McGraw launches his new tour in May and will release a two-disc set, titled Greatest Hits: Limited Edition, in Wal-Mart stores on Tuesday (April 29).

28 April 2008
Swift Receiving Superstar of Tomorrow Award
Taylor Swift will accept the Superstar of Tomorrow Award at the 10th annual Young Hollywood Awards on Sunday (April 27) in Hollywood. She is the first musician to be recognized with the honor. The actor Gary Dourdan, who plays Warrick Brown on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (one of Swift's favorite shows), will present the award. Swift's future appearances include Good Morning America and Live With Regis and Kelly next week, along with the cover of the June issue of Seventeen magazine on stands May 6.

28 April 2008
Harris, Stoneman in Hall of Fame Induction
Emmylou Harris and Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman will be officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during private ceremonies on Sunday (April 27) in Nashville. Among those expected to attend the event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Lucinda Williams, Phil Everly, Guy Clark and several Hall of Fame members, including Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Phil Everly, Charlie Louvin and the Jordanaires. Also attending will be musician and former Hee Haw cast member Roni Stoneman and other members of the Stoneman family. "Pop" Stoneman died in 1968. This year's inductions are taking place during two separate ceremonies. The Statler Brothers and Tom T. Hall will be officially inducted on June 29.

28 April 2008
Urban and Underwood Sizzle as Tour Winds Down
A reality talent show winner from a small town in Oklahoma and a once-struggling musician from down under joined forces in January to embark on a co-headlining tour. One sold-out show after another led Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban to the Atlanta area on Thursday night (April 24) to begin the last weekend of their Love Pain & the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride tour.The tour continues Friday for a second night at Duluth's Gwinnett Center before closing Saturday in Lexington, Ky.

Kicking off Thursday's show with a countdown on the screen followed by quick images of the "All-American Girl," Underwood emerged onstage dressed in head-to-toe black, complete with knee-high boots. Greeting the already-standing crowd, she immediately cranked out a couple of album cuts and her big hit, "Wasted." Her first wardrobe change for the evening also included a flooring change. The lights went down, and Underwood reappeared high atop a pedestal in a full-length blue gown singing "Jesus, Take the Wheel." Talking about her childhood home in Oklahoma, the first notes of "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" played as she tore away the bottom half of her ballroom gown, appearing at that moment to be very Dollyesque.

It could be the months spent on the road with Urban, or maybe she's just found her groove, but Underwood seems to have undergone a transformation to become more an entertainer-rocker chick -- and less country princess -- than her days on American Idol.Her band kept the crowd entertained while she changed into her third outfit for the evening -- jeans and a top. She sassied her way through "Last Name," the current hit from her Carnival Ride album, before taking a seat on a barstool. Guitar resting on her legs, she took a moment before rolling into the next song to let the fans know how much she appreciates them.

"Thanks for putting me on the stage. I mean it. Thank you so much," she said with tear-filled eyes. "I've got to start singing before I start to cry!" The glistening eyes that she had going into "Don't Forget to Remember Me" soon turned to tears as she attempted time and time again to get the words out. As she played her guitar, the crowd took over the singing duties, and as tears streamed down her face, the fans rose to their feet."OK, that's the last of that, I promise!" Underwood laughed.When the lights went down, she was gone and back in seconds, looking as fresh-faced as ever as she shook off the emotional tune and rolled into "Twisted," "All-American Girl" and "So Small."

The Urban-Underwood stage lends itself to interactive concerts. A catwalk extends off the main stage with a smaller round stage out in the middle of the crowd. And apparently there is a trap door or two where rock hits from the '80s are kept because Underwood disappeared into the floor and emerged seconds later with a silver jacket and Guns 'N Roses' "Paradise City.""Before He Cheats," Underwood's anthem for women who have been wronged, rounded out her performance.

Following an intermission, the lights went down and the echo of a heartbeat filled the arena. The opening notes of "Where the Blacktop Ends" began to play as a smiling, laid-back Urban emerged from behind the stage. A massive screen gave the audience an up-close look of the Aussie superstar. It's obvious that Urban relishes his time in front of a crowd, treating them to extended guitar solos on live versions of the songs they sing along with on the radio.His two-hour set consisted of rollercoaster-like ups and downs with Urban floating effortlessly from country superstar with happy-go-lucky anthems to a tortured artist hitting keys on his piano to a guy who likes to play straight-up rockers.

After acoustic versions of hits "Raining on Sunday" and "Stupid Boy," he and the band took to the center stage where he quipped, "I must apologize for the view behind us." (For the record, no one was complaining.) They gave a front-row perspective to the often neglected crowd in the back of arenas while playing "You're My Better Half," "Picture of Us" and "You'll Think of Me."

The band took its place back on the main stage as Urban broke into the Tom Petty-Stevie Nicks h