August 26 - Trisha Yearwood got the scare of her life during a flight home to Oklahoma last Friday when a cracked window pane forced pilots of her plane to make an emergency landing. Trisha and her fellow passengers were in the air for an hour when they were shaken by a "loud pop:. The sound was the cracking of the front left window of the plane at 30,000 feet. Trisha said "the flight attendant came back and told us to remain calm. That's when we saw the two pilots with the oxygen masks on. Hearing them breathe like Darth Vader made it a little harder to stay calm". The pilots landed the plane in Baltimore.
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August 3 - The tenth annual Teen Choice awards, broadcast on FOX last night, honored celebrities in TV, film, music, sports and fashion. The awards show, taped Sunday at Universal Studios Hollywood, was hosted by Miley Cyrus, who picked up three awards': Choice TV Show Comedy and CHoice TV Actress Comedy for Hannah Montana, as well as Choice Music Female Artist. Carrie Underwood was named Choice Red Carpet Fashion Icon Female. The awards were selected by over 30 million votes cast online by teenagers.
Today, Heidi Newfield's debut CD as a solo artist arrives in stores. The project, titled 'What Am I Waiting For, includes Heidi's current Top 25 single, "Johnny & June," which is one of six tracks she had a hand in writing.
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July 28 - Hank Williams Jr. was in Nashville last week to record the new tracks for this seasons opening theme for Monday Night Football, a tradition he began in 1989. AP reports Bocephus will again base the theme song on his hit "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," and video shoot is slated for next month in L.A. Be listening for the debut of the new opening them when Monday Night Football kicks off its 39th season September 8 with a doubleheader on ESPN: the Minnesota Vikins at the Green Bay Packers followed by the denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders.
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July 21 - Kristy Lee Cook became a household name thanks to last season's "American Idol". With a new recording contract, and the new single "15 Minutes of Shame" ready to drop on August 11th, Cook has a second shot at fame and fortune.
Sara Evans has remade the jingle for Libby's Vegetables. It's part of an effort to encourage families to get back to the dinner table. The campaign and contest kick off September 1st with a nationwide contest that will give one family the chance to have dinner with Evans backstage at one of her concerts. Get more nfo at www.getbacktothetable.com.
Kelly Pickler is putting the finishing touces to her self-titled, sophomore album, due September 30th. The lead single, "Don't you Know Youre Beautiful", is an up-tempo, positive message about inner beauty. Other songs include "Best Days of Your LIfe," a song she co-wrote with Taylor Swift while on the road together last year. Swift also sang background vocals on the song.
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July 10 - CMT's highest rated sereies ever, "Gone Country," returns with John Rich as host for a second season of antics and a brand new cast of characters who are vying for a chance at a country music career.
Red Roof Inn willt eam up with Phil Vassar and Little Big Town for a series of promotions including commercials, bradband films and radio contests. Great American Country has also jumped on board and will air the 30 second promos.
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6/24/08 -
Travis Tritt and
Marty Stuart will reunite this fall for an acoustic tour. Recordings and tourning together in the early 90's, the duo scored two top ten hits- "This Ones Gonna Hurt You" and "The Whiskey Ain't Working Anymore".
Keith Urban orchestrated a massive sing-a-long for wife Nicole Kidman during his show in Chicago on Saturday. Kidman's 41st birthday was Friday. Keith asked fans to serenade her, sqaying, "It would be nice to have 50,000 people sing "Happy Birthday" to her." A surprised Kidman appeared onstage, where she blew the audience a kiss. The baby is due next month.
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6/16/08 - Sara Evans and her fiance, former University of Alabama football star Jay Barker, have tied the knot. The couple, who got enaged in March, said "I do" at Saturday evening ceremony in Nashville.
Josh Gracin and his wife Ann Marie are expecting their fourth child later this year. "we're all excited about he new additon to the Gracin clan," Josh said. Josh and Ann Marie were married in January 2001.
Vince Gill, Amy Grant and their 7 year old daughter Corrina Grant Gill will serve as the "spokesfamily" for Family Golf Month in July. It marks their second year to promote the campaign. Participating facilities will offer golf clinics and play days for a nominal fee and teach families to learn the game of golf.
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6/9/08 - Sara Evans is "madly in love with her fiance', former University of Alabama Quarterback Jay Barker. She gushed about her new man to a packed house at Nashvilles historic Ryman Auditorium during last weeks CMA Celebrity Close Up event, calling him the male version of her. She says that she feels like she is marrying her best friend, and that the two have been inseparable since the day they met. She called Jay a gentleman, sharing that she was afraid he just wanted to be friends after he didn't kiss her on their first three dates. She later found out that he was just trying to show her respect.
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5/27/08 - George Straits footwear line is helping out the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund reach an impre3ssive 5.5 million dollars for professional rodeo athletes, and about 20 grand of that was from the George Strait collection.
Kenny Rogers is selling his 9,000 square foot home in Atlanta for $7.95 million so he can relocate to a new Georgia estate. Rogers wants to relocate to a new 150 acre estate in Nicolson. The large residence is under construction while Kennyu's six bedroom Atlanta home is on the market.
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5/19/08 - The Academy of Country Music Awards will last night. Here are some of the winners...
Entertainer - Kenny Chesney
Top Male Vocalist - Brad Paisley
Top Female Vocalist - Carrie Underwood
Top Vocal Group - Rascal Flatts
Top Vocal Duo - Brooks & Dunn
Top New Male Vocalist - Jack Ingram
Top New Female Vocalist - Taylor Swift
Top New Duo or Vocal Group- Lady Antebellum
Album of the Year- Crazy ex-Girlfriend - Miranda Lambert
Single of the Year: Stay - Sugarland
Song of the Year - Stay - Sugarland
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5/12/08 - When Trisha Yearwood made her video for "This is Me Youre Talking to", she picked actor John Corbett to play the part of her ex. However, he was not Trishas first pick. She initially wanted husband Garth Brooks to play the part. Garth declined, and trisha agree with his decision. "garth and I kind of made a pinky swear early on that we would not gratuitously use each other in videos", Trisha said.
Kellie Pickler will debut her new single at the 2008 ACM Awards. Kellie, whose first album produced the hits "Red High Heels" and "I Wonder", will be performing "Don't You Know Youre Beautiful" live at this years ACM Awards show, which airs Sunday night on CBS.
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5/8/08- Gretchen Wilson, who dropped out of school in the ninth grade, passed her GED exam in April and will don a cap and gown during a May 15th graduati
on ceremony. Wilson said that her 7 year old daughter was the big reason she finally finished, saying, "I certainly don't want her to think you can be this successful without an education."
Toby Keith is continuing his two week 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.
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4/28/08- Kenny Chesney hurt his foot on the first night of his "Poets & Pirates Tour" in Columbia, South Carolinaa, on Saturday, but support from fans helped him play through the pain he said. Chesney injured his right fooot when it got caught in an elevator lifting device that carred him to the stage at Williams-Brice Stadium. "I took one look at those fans, and there was nno way I wasn't going on," Kenny said.
Keith Urban is giving five luck fans a chance to bring nine of their friends to Nashville for a backyard barbecue. You can enter at
www.kuconcerts.com/enter.
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4/21/08 - Dolly Parton will launch a cosmetics line this year. Parton tells Billboard, "When I first came to Nashville, I really was the "Backwoods Barbie"--too much makeup, too much hair, the big boobs, country girl straight out of the mountains". Dolly is also penning the score for the upcoming Broadway musical version of "9 to 5", and she's working on an autobiographical musical and a weekly kids t.v. show.
Kenny Chesney kicked off his "Poets & Pirates Tour" with a two night stand in Connecticut on Friday and Saturday. Chesneys tour will take him to 14 massive stadiums in the U.S. -- compared to 6 in 2007--not to mention dozens of amphitheaters and arenas coast to coast.
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4/14/08- Former Trick Pony lead singer Heidi Newfield has released her solo debut single, "Johnny and June". The song is from Newfields yet-to-be-titled debut alb um, scheduled for release this summer. newfield kicks off her first ever solo tour in Florence, Arizona, on April 20th.
George Strait's 1992 movie "Pure Country" has inspired a Broadway musical. Previews will take place in early 2009 with exact dates and theater to be announced later.
Billy Ray Cyrus recently took on some paparazzi for scaring his daughter. Cyrus says one day 'it got relly crazy" with Miley, so he had a man-to-man with the paparazzi that were involved in the inncident. "We sat underneath a shade tree and I said, 'My little girl is 16, and you guys scared her to death" Cyrus said. The photographers apologized and things have been simply peachy ever since.
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4/7/08 - Nicole Kidman is back in brentwood, California where she once lived with former husband Tom Cruise. Kidman and new hubby Keith Urban paid $7 million for a swanky estate where they hope to welcome their first child in July. Kidman sold her last Brentwood homei n 2004 for $10 million.
James Otto is in the top ten for the first time with his single "Just Got Started Lovin' You." Otto also has some travel plans, touring and opening for the likes of Hank Williams Jr.,Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes. But what James really wants is a trip to the Middle East. His family has a military background and he'd like to take advantage of his new found celebrity to extend a bit of gratitude to the people serving int he armed forces via a USO tour. James new album, "Sunsent Man", drops tomorrow.
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3/31/08 - Kenny Chesney, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, will kick off his 34 city "Poets & Pirates Tour" on April 18th. With 55 trucks and 28 buses lined up to move his show and crew, fans are in for something special.
Martina McBride will perform at more than 25 amphitheaters as she takes her "Waking Up Laughing" tour to the road this summer. The outdoor dates follow a tour of arenas in the U.S. and Canada. Jack Ingram, Chris Young and Jason Michael Carroll will be joing McBride at select shows.
The king of Country music will release his 37th album tomorrow. George Strait's "Troubadour" follows Strait's CMA Album of the Year "It Just Comes Natural" and includes his current single, "I Saw God Today." the 12 song album features guest appearances by Vince Gill, Patty Loveless and Dean Dillon.
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3/24/08 - Dolly Parton is spending her own cash to promote her ne CD, "Backwoods barbie." She has released the disc on her own Dolly Records label. "Ipuposely tailor-made this to try to get some hits.", Dolly says.
Beginning March 31st, John Rich plans to hold a talent competition the last Monday of every month at 12th & Porter, a small venue in downtown Nashville. The format allows 10 unsigned acts to peform for celebrity judges, with the winner taking home a $300 grand prize donated by John. More than 200 people have signed up to play the first show.
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3/17/08 - Kenny Chesney has hooked up with a non-profit group that helps at-risk communtiies to better prepare for storm and hurricane-related disasters. Chesney has joined the board of directors of PLAN!T NOW, which offers assistance for areas that lie between elize and Barbados, and Trinidad and North Carolina.
4-H alumni including Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Vince Gill and Glen Campbell are on a new country compilation CD aimed at raising awareness and support for the organization. "Clover Country" will be available on Amazon starting March 25th. A portion of the proceeds will benefit 4-H. Other 4-H alumni on the album include Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Alabama and Johnny Cash.
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Richie McDonald, former lead singer of Lonestar, will release a Comtemporary Christian album on June 3rd. "I Turn to You" includes an acoustic version of 'Hey God", which was previously recorded by Lonestar.
Clay Walker is going to be a dad again. Walker's wife Jessica is prenant. Clay made the announcement last week during the Country Radio Seminar in Nashville. Walker has two daughters from his previous marriage.
"Nine Lives" -- a new single featuring Def Leppard and Tim McGraw-- will be featured in the opening of NBA broadcasts on ABC through the rest of the season and on ABC and ESPN during the playoffs.
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Miranda Lambert isn't a stranger to the road--she's been playing clubs and traveling through Texas towns since the age of 16. But this spring, Lambert blazes her own trail with her first headlining tour hitting over 40 markets. The tour began in late January and more shows will be added soon.
Kenny Chesney is offering reduced prices on serval thousand seats for his July 5th concert at LP Field in Nashville. Named after his current single, tickets in the "Shiftwork" section will be $29.50. Other artists on the bill for the Nashville concert include Keith Urban, leAnn Rimes, Gary Allan, Luke Bryan and Sammy Hagar.
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Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have hinted at the possibility of recording an entire album together, but a duets project is not planned anytime soon. In a statement released on Friday, Hill said, "Tim and I have always talked about making an album togehter, but at this time there are no plans for one this year. We're both working on our own projects -- me on my first Christmas record and perhaps a few other surprises in 08 and he on a new tour, his next album and a movie to be released this Christmas.
Trace Adkins was picked as the on-air spokesman for his team on "Celebrity Apprentice" and had to talk about a vacuum cleaner--live on QVC-- for ten minutes. Luckily, his professional QVC co-host was from Tennesee. The two clicked and sold more of their procuct than the other team.
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Taylor Swift can now add the title of "director" to her resume. The 18 year old singer-songwriter edited and directed the new video for her song "I'm only Me When I Am With You". The video features footage of Taylor's journey over the past 18 months, including performance clips, shots with her band and other artists, as well as her fans.
The Grammys were handed out last night...some of the winner were: Vince Gill's album "These Days" for Country album, Carrie Underwood for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Keith Urban "Stupid Boy" for Best Male Country Performance and "Before He Cheats" for Best Country Song.
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Keith Urban has recorded a duet with Nelly Furtado. urban says, "It was a blast getting to sing on the track." Meanwhile, the baby hasn't even arrived yet and parenthood has already changed Keith. He says impending fatherhood has given performing "a whole new feeling". The baby is due in July.
Trisha Yearwood filmed her video for "This is Me You're Talking To" last week in Nashville. "We were looking for a leading man who might be someone recognizable and John Corbett came to mind for me", Yearwood said, adding, "So we just thought we'd ask him and he said yes. Isn't that cool? I'm so excited about this video!"
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Keith Urban will perform at nine of Kenny Chesney's stadium shows this summer. Brooks & Dunn will be appearing at five of the 14 concerts. LeAnn Rimes will appear at all of the shows, and Gary Allan, Big & Rich, Sammy Hagar and Luke Bryan will be performing on select dates. The Massachusetts show with Urban on July 27th is already sold out.
CBS will broadcast "Garth Brooks" Live In LA!" from the Staples Center this Friday. The event is the first of five unprecedented performances Garth will play over two days. As part of his first show on Friday night, Brooks will create a special one-hour performance for CBS. He'll perform two concerts on Friday and three on Saturday. Selling 85,000 tickets in less than an hour, Brooks is the only artist in Staples Center history to sell out five concerts in one hour and place in two days. All proceeds will go to the Southern California 2008 Fire Intervention Relief Effort.
"American Idol" season 6 finalist Phil Stacey will release his debut CD on April 15th. The album is prodcued by Grammy Award winner Wayne Kirkpatrick. Stacey's debut CD will include his first single, the recently released "If You Didn't Love Me."
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01/14/2008
Sugarland will be touring overseas this year, including an appearance on an all-star bill at the West Coast Blues "n" Roots Festival in Fremantle, Australia. Sugarland will be appearing on March 16th with John Fogerty and Patty Griffin, among others. The group will also appear March 10th at the houston Liverstock Show and Rodeo. They're also planning to record a new album next month.
George Straits "22 More Hits" compilation has been certified gold. It marks the 36th RIAA certified album in Georges 26 year career, and follows the blockbuster coompilation "50 Number Ones."
Kix Brooks will launch a new win from his Arrington Vineyards during an upcoming charity event in New york. Brooks is a partner in the Nashville based winery. He will also perform at the benefit on February 3rd.
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01/07/08
Keith Urban and Carrie Underwoods "The Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour" is adding three more stops. They'll be in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on February 14th, Tallahassee, Florida on February 29th, and Anaheim, California on March 12th. Meanwhile, Carrie Underwood is on the cover of Shape magazine, due out January 14th.
Tim McGraw is considering following in the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger by going for the Governorship in Tennesee. McGraw is eyeing the possibility of running to succeed Democrat Phil Bredesen when his second term wraps in 2010. Faith HIll says, "Tim has talked about maybe running for office. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the first lady of Tennesee, but who knows" I don't rule it out. It's dangerous to say never."
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01/02/08
Jessica Simpson's first country album comes out sometime this year. Simpson tells Billboard she's been working with Nashville songwriters. The singer grew up in Texas and says Martina McBride, Shania Twain, Faith HIll and Reba McEntire are her inspirations.
Pat Green is recovering at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, after undergoing an emergency appendectomy last week. Green was forced to cancel his New Year's Eve concert in Waco, Texas, as well as several recording sessions in Nashville.
Keith Urban has contributed harmony vocals to "The Water is Wide", a track on Rhonda Vincent's new album. Set for relase next Tuesday, "Good Thing Going" also includes Vincent's duet with IIIrd Tyme Out's Russell Moore on "I Give All My Love to You" and features guest appearances by Jesse McReynolds, Bryan Sutton, Becky Issacs, Kathy Chiavola and James Stroud.
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Fifteen minutes after tickets went on sale for Kenny Chesney's stadium date in Massachusetts next summer, they were gone. "You know it's just surreal, but what a way to start out our year and our tour," said Chesney of the July 26th sell out of the "Poets & Pirates" tour at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Joining Chesney for this years show will be Keith Urban, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes and Gary Allen.
Garth Brooks donated his first gold record and other career memorabilia to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History during a ceremony Friday in Washington, D.C. . He also donated several pieces of stage clothing, including a shirt, jeans, hat, a belt, and elephant skin cowboy boots.
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Rodney Atkins got the VIP treatment when he went to Washington recently. Rodney is the spokesman for the National Adoption Council and he was at the white house for a special performance for National Adoption Month. He performed for the President and got to tour the White House and even bowled in the Presidents bowling alley. Rodneys wife, Tammy, his parents and his son joined him. While Rodney was performing "If your going through hell", his son Elijah climbed up in the presidents lap.
Leann Rimes is teaming up with All Small and mighty laundry detergent to find the greenest elementary school kids in America. She is encouraging students to become mini-environmentalists and help their families make easy changes at home, including switching to eco-friendly producst. For more info..go to www.gogreenwithall.com.
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11/19.07 Dolly Parton's new musical version of the "9 to 5" movie will premiere next September in Los Angeles. Allison Janney of "The West Wing" will star in the roll Lilly Tomlin played in the movie. Jane Fonda's and Dolly Partons role will be played by stage actresses Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty, who were both in "Wicked".
Tim McGraw has signed with Coty to market a signature fragrance line, designed to capture his "rugged, stylish demeanor," the company announced.
Keith Urban, whose "Grestest Hits:18 Kids" hits stores tomorrow, is making an exclusive series of weekly videos for iLike. The popular social music service will provide fans with behind the scenes access to Keith while he's on tour. Check it out at
www.iLike.com/Keith Urban.
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11/12/07 Tim McGraw earned two nominations for the People's Choice awards. McGraw is a contender for Favorite Male Singer along with John Mayer and Justin Timberlake. Rascal Faltts is up for Favorite group, joining daughtry and Maroon 5. In addition, nominees in the favorite Country Song category are "I Need You" by McGraw and Faith HIll, "Never Wanted Anthing More" by Kenny Chesney and "Stand" by Rascal Flatts. The fan voted awards will be presented on January 8th on CBS.
Newly crowned CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Brad Paisley is working out the details of his 2008 tour. the Hershey candy company, who backed his hugely successful "Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour has signed on again for this tour. Brad hasn't revealed a name for the tour, and hasn't said which additional acts will join him.
The Judds will headline the 2008 Stagecoach Festival, marking their first full length concert in seven years. The event will take place May 3-4 in Indio. California and will also feature Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift.
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Congratulations to the 2007 winners of the CMA Awards last night. The winners were:
Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland]
Vocal Group of the Year: Rascal Flatts
Single of the Year: Carrie Underwood - "Before He Cheats"
Song of the Year: George strait "Give It Away"
Album of the Year' George Strait "It Just Comes Natural"
Musician of the Year" Jerry Doublas
Musica Event of the Year' "Find Out Who Your friends Are" - Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
Music Video" Brad Paisley "Online"
Horizon Award: Taylor Swift
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October 29 - Porter Wagoner died last night in Nashville after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer. He was 80. Born in West Plains, Missouri, in 1927, wagoner began his career in the early 50s and charted more than 80 singles, including 25 top 10 hits. Porter's first charting single was "Company's Comin'", which peaked at Number 7 in 1955. His next single, "A Satisfied Mind," went to Number 1 that same year. On May 19th, the Opry honored Wagoner for his 50 years as an Opry member and celebrated him with what would be his final recording project, "Wagonmaster," produced by Marty Stuart.
Lorrie Morgan has filed for divorce from sammy Kershaw. Morgan cites irreconcilable differences and asks the court to enforce a prenuptial agreement. The two have been married for six years and separated two months ago. Kershaw recently ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana. Kershaw is Morgan's fifth husband while Morgan is Kershaw's fourth wife.
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October 22 - Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich has just returned from a mercy mission to Sudan with his wife. Kenny helped deliver medical and school supplies, musical instruments and clothing to a school for girls. Alphin and his wife donated $50,000 to charity to assist with helping Sudanese women. The money came from royalties he received from penning Tim McGraw's "Last Dollar."
Porter Wagoner has lung cancer and remains hospitalized in serious condition, his publicity said Saturday. The 80 year old Wagoner celebrated his 50th year at the Grand Ole Opry in May. He helped launch Dolly Parton's career by hiring her as his duet partner in 1967.
Martina McBride will perform at the American Freedom Festival concert November 10th in Washington, D.C. "A Tribute to the Veteran's Day. Martina will be joined by darryl Worley, "Jag" star Karri Turner, WWE wrestler John Bradshaw Layfield, and Crystal Rheams and the U.S. Army Band.
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October 15 - Joe Nichols canceled his Saturday night concert in Waco, texas, and entered rehab. Officials of the Heart O' Texas Fair were notified Thursday that Nichols had been hospitalized and would not be able to perform. Nichols married Heather Singleton on September 9th in Savannah, Georgia. He recently released the new album, "Real Things." Nichols will be taking about two months off from touring.
Keith Urban is set to join songwriter Monty Powerll ("Days Go By") for Better Start Livin', a fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association, on November 28th in Atlanta. During the stripped down, intimate acoustic evening, Monty and Keith will perform some of their biggest songs.
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Garth Brooks sold out nine concerts at Kansas City's Sprint Center, which seats 18,000 people. Brooks initially scheduled a single concert in Kansas City, but when the November 14th show sold out in minutes, tickets to the other eight performances went on sale. The additional shows, taking place November 5-12, sold out less than two hours.
Taylor Swift will release a limited, deluxe edition of her self-titled platinum debut album on November 6th. The CD/DVD set will include three new songs, a recording of her first phone call with Tim McGraw and a behind-the-scenes home movie of her life over the past year. Swift personally compiled and edited the video footage.
Trick Pony is searching for another lead singer. Aubrey Collins has left Keith Burns and Ira Dean to pursue a solo career. Collins became Heidi Newfield's replacement earlier this year after she decided to aunch a solo career.
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Josh Turner was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday. Turner will be formerly inducted by Vince Gill on October 27th. During "Opry Live", Turner presented Roy Clark with a plaque commemorating his career and 20 years as a Grand Ole Opry member. After accepting, Clark noticed an envelope attached to the back of the plaque. He opened it and found the formal invitation, which he read to the audience. After regaining his composure, Josh gave Roy a hug and said yes to joining the Opry.
Sara Evans was granted a divorce from Craig Schelske on Friday on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. The two agreed to a joint custody plan, and a split of marital assets. Evans also agreed to pay Schelske alimony of $500,000 over ten years.
Taylor Swift is featured in several magazines hitting newstands this week, including Rolling Stone, US Weekly and USA Today. Swift will perform 'Our Song" on "Live With Regis & Kelly" on October 10th.
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Rascal Flatts' newest CD release, "Still Feels Good," hits stores tomarrow,(the reviw is now posted under C.D. reviews on the Ron and Becky page) and the band will take a week off from their "Still Feels Good" tour to promote the set. Following their appearances tomarrow on ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS' "The Late Show with David Letterman", Gary Levox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney will jet from New York City to visit with radio stations for a series of appearances and acoustic performances.
Brad Paisley loves computers and the internet. If you've been to one of his shows, you've seen some of the animation and graphics on his huge video screens. Many folks don't know that Brad did most of it himself. Paisley says he might not even be in country music today if he had a computer when he was in school.
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Alabama singer Randy Owen has enlisted Big & Rich's john Rich to produce his first solo album. Owen has been writing with MuzikMafia members Shannon Lawson and James Otto for the album. No label or release date has been announced. Randy is also expected to tour to support the album.
Brad Paisley is in his hometown of Glen Dale, West Virginia, to shoot his latest video. The video is for the song "Letter to Me," from Paisley's "5th Geooar" album. The track is about what Paisleywould write to himself if he could send a letter back in time to when he was 17. Brad is inviting some of his classmates from John Marshall High School to be in the video. he graduated in 1991.
Mindy McCready was sentenced Friday to one year in jail for violating her proation on a drug charge.
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Billy Currington is offering his music for sale via digital download on his web site at
www.billycurrington.com. Currington is offering HQ mp3 downloads direct from his site for the same price offered on iTunes. Meanwhile, Halfway to Hazard is also marketing their self-titled debut album direct from their site (
www.halfwaytohazard.com) for just $7.99.
Nickelback is a big fan of a country singer Joe Nichols. The band returned to the stage of Nashvilles Sommet Center over the weekend for an encore and launched into the hit "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off". Lead vocalist Chad Kroeger said that he couldn't get the songout of his head for over a year. Nichol's latest hit is "Another Side of You."
Billy Ray Cyrus has been added to the CCMA Awards lineup for September 10th in Regina, Saskatchewan. The 2007 Canadian CMA Awards will be hosted by Paul Brandt, with performances by Doc Walker, George Canyon and Emerson Drive, among others. Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Jimmy Rankin will also participate. The broadcast will air across Canada on CBC, in the U>S> on GACtv, and in Australia on CMC.
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8/27 - While in Sturgis, South Dakota, for the 67th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Toby Keith made an impromptu stop that surprised some local fans. Live Nation executive Brian O'Connell, riding in a group of four with Toby, noticed a homemade banner hanging from a house that read, "Hey Toby Keith, come in her and Get Drunk And Be Somebody. You'll Love This Bar House!" When he pointed the sign out to Toby, the group crossed three lanes of bumper-to-bumper traffic and pulled up in the front yard, shocking fans staying at the house. Toby signed autographs and posed for pictures.
Tirsha Yearwood and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds will team up for the next installment of "CMT Crossroads," set to premiere in September. Meanwhile, Trisha will launch her first studio album in two years on November 13th. The album titled "Heaven, Heartache and The Power of Love".
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8/21 - Taylor Swift will perform live on the season finale of "America's Got Talent" tonight. The 2 hour finale airs live on NBC. Taylor will leave the stage right after a tour date in Rapid City, South Dakota and fly overnight in order to be in Los Angeles for the show. She is performing at the request of 14 year old finalist Julienne Irwin, whose wish was to sing a duet with her favorite singer, Taylor swift, if she made it to the finals.
Dierks Bentley is playing a free show in Nashville this Thursday. His concert will conclude an after work pub crawl featuring club performances from fellow artists Eric Church, Luke Bryan and Lady Antebellum. The event will take place in several bars near music row.
Trent Willmon will sing the national anthem before the Food City 250 Busch Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday. The event will air on ESPN2.
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Reba McEntire has added a few more concerts to her schedule, which now extends through mid-November. She has been tapped to open Orlando, Florida's new UCF Arena September 8th and will play a mid-October benefit show at New york city's Carnegie Hall with Broadway actor Brian Stokes Mitchell. McEntire will release her new album, "Reba Duets," on September 18th.
Big & Rich's "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace" was officially certified gold by the RIAA nine weeks after it debuted at No. 1, fueled by the duo's first-ever chart topping single, "Lost In This Moment". Big & Rich's next single, "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace", will be released today (8/13). The duo will shoot the video for the single in September in Los Angeles.
Sugarland is joing Elmo and Big Bird on "Sesame Street" today. The children's show is celebrating its 38th season beginning today. Meanwhile, Sugarland has been learning a lot this summer on tour with Kenny Chesney. "They have knowledge that you just can't get anywhere else about how to do it", Kristian Bush tells billboard. "To just watch all the logistics of it is really amazing. This is a wonderful man to learn from."
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Kellie pickler pulled one over on Brad Paisley during a recent tour stop in her home state of North Carolina. As Brad launched into an acoustic version of "Dixieland Delight," Kelly, with hair in pigtails and dressed in coeralls, jumped onstage with live chickens. Check out the video on YouTube.
Alan Jackson's wife Denise took her turn in the spotlight at a reception celebrating her new book, "It's All About him". The celebration took place at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center Nashville last Thursday. Denise was surprised with congratulatory letters form First Lady Laura Bush and Tennesee Senator Lamar Alexander. Alan address the crowd of 250 and praised Denise for her book and support. Denise's book chronicles her marriage to Alan and reveals several intimate details of the couples relationship.
Kimberly Roads of Little Big Town and husband Stephen Schlapman are the proud parents of Daisy Pearl, born July 27th in Phoenix, Arizona. the baby made her debut a few weeks early, while on the road with the band.
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Hallmark is introducing three new cards that play Tim McGraw songs when opened. The cards will be available at Hallmark stores and at hallmark.com. The Tim tunes featured are "I Like It, I Love It", "Down On The Farm" and "Just to See You Smile."
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Crystal Gayle
s chart-crossing smash, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue," recognized by ASCAP as one of the ten most performed country songs of the 20th Century. "Crystal Gayle" Greatest Hits" will be released August 28th. Three new ringtones will also debut on August 28th.
Kimberly Roads of Little Big Town is eight months pregnant and fans are invited to be part of a Little Big Town online baby shower at
www.littlebigtown.com. Kimberly wants her shower to benefit Mercy Ministries, which helps young women who are struggling with issues such as eating disorders, addictions, sexual abuse, unplanned pregnancy and depression.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Joe Nichols has been seen at a number of Nashville bridal shops with his girlfriend, Hether, according to WKRN in Nashville. It seems Joe enjoyed a smoke outside the boutiques while his lady shopped. No comment from Joe's publicist.
B-Jam stars, Cole Deggs and the Lonesome, the five man band behind the song "I Got More" -- release their debut album Tuesday, July 10th. The release is a dream come true for the group, which consists of Texas born Cole and Shade Deggs, Lousisian natives Jimmy and David Wallace, and Florida raised Brian Hayes.
Gretchen Wilson turned a show into a mini-vacation when she appeared at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base on Hawaii's Oahu Island recently. Several of her band members toured Pearl Harbor while Gretchen stayed behind to play with her daughter Grace on Waikiki Beach. When officials at Pearl Harbor found out Gretchen was performing on the nearby base, they sent her an American flag that had been flown over the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Upon receiving the flag, Gretchen noticed the placard indicated the flag was flown on June 26, 2007, her birthday!
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Wynonna is getting into the holiday spirit. Wy sang "Winter Wonderland" at the Ford Theatre in Washington on Sunday during the taping of an ABC holiday program. The annual benefit is held at the landmark theater where President lincoln was fatally shot in 1965. Wynonna even asked President Bush if he had done his Christmas shopping yet during the show, which airs in December.
Alabama lead singer Randy Owen is working on a solo album with John Rich. It's not clear what label would release the Owen CD, orwhen. Owen is also doing a solo tour, starting in Craven, Canada, on July 13th. Dates stretch through September.
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Brooks & Dunn will be in some pretty elite company next year. The guys will be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, along with Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and George Harrison.
Faith HIll and Tim McGraw will make their current tour their last. The husband and wife team, who have toured as partnership with their "Soul2Soul" shows since 200, have revealed the 70-date 2007 tour will be their final live collaboration for "a long time." Hill says, "Probably the last for a really, really long time. I mean, I think it's dangerous to say forever.
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People magazine has picked their annual Hottest Bachelors of the Year. Kenny Chesney joins Jake Gyllenhaal, Justin Timberlake and Hottest Bachelor Matthew McConaughey. Kenny's currently on his "Flip Flop Summer Tour". His upcoming CD is titled "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates."
Trisha Yearwood is ready to return to the studio this summer to begin work on her first studio album for Big Machine Records. Yearwood says the song selection process is definately a labor of love. "You don't get "The Song Remembers When" and "Walkaway Joe" in the mail every week. But when you do find the right ones, you just know it," she says.
Blake Shelton celebrates his 31st birthday this week (6/18)
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Tracy Lawrence has his 17th No. 1 record under his belt. "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" is Tracy's first No. 1 since 1997, when he topped the chart with "Is that A Tear.". His last Billboard no. 1 was with 1996's "Time Marches On".
Brad Paisley's "Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour continues to play sold-out shows across the country. Last weekend, over 50,000 fans in Indianapolis, Buffalo and Boston came out for the show, amking it the largest tour weekend of his career. Paisley has played to over 250,000 fans in just 19 dates. His next albu, "5th Gear," will be released on June 19th. Lokk for him on "Good Morning America" this Friday, June 15th.
Fashion comes at a high price, and self-admitted shoe fanatic Kellie Pickler found that out last weekend while on tour with Brad Paisley. Just as she started singing "Red High Heels," Kellie realized her red high heels had punctured through the carpet and were jammed in the grates on the catwalk. Pickler was unable to free herself so she sat down on the stage while singing the song. One of Paisley's crewmembers came out and rescued her.
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Jason Aldean's sophomore set, "Relentless", has earned him his best charting and sales week yet, entering the all-genre Billboard 200 at No. 4. The album also debuts at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, a career first for Jason. His 2005 self-titled debut peaked at No. 6 on the Country chart.
Jo Dee Messina is set to perform for politicians at the 2007 President's dinner, taking place next Wednesday(6/12). Jo Dee will open the dinner by singing the national anthem for the audience of roughly 5,000, which will include President Bush as well as members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Following the dinner, Jo Dee and Trace adkins will perform. Jo Dee is working on her latest studio album, set for release this fall. Her first single, "Biker Chick," will be out July 9th.
Brad Paisley previewed material from his upcoming album, "5th gear", during a show yesterday (6/6) in Nashville for his fan club. Paisley was joined at the Ryman by Little Jimmy Dickens and Bill Anderson. Paisley told his fans, "I though we'd let you hear it first and unedited--before they tune the vocals." "5th Gear" will be in stores next Tuesday.
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Big & Rich will do a cover version of John Lennon's "Nobody Told Me" on the upcoming Instant Karma: The Amenesty International Campaign To Save Darfur," which will be released June 12th. The two-disc compilation includes 23 of Lennon's songs covered by artists from a variety of genres.
Clint Black has started a foundation to help families of fallen soldiers. The Clint Black foundation has handed out over $125,000 so far.
Darryl Worley heats up the press next month with a feature in the July issue of Playgirl Magazine. worley talks about adding a sexual element to his music and videos, the guilt he feels form his divorce, his workout routine and his respect for women.
Taylor Swift will be touring this summer with Tim Mcgraw, the artist who inspired her to write the songe that became her first hit single. Sift will perform on select dates of the "Soul2Soul" tour.
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5/31/07 - After several weeks of development, Clay Walker has announced the debut of his foundation's new Web site. The official site for Band Against MS,
www.bandagainstms.org, is now online. The site provides information to those living with multiple sclerosis.
Reba McEntire has fans in high places. President Buish and his father seent their love and praise to her during a benfit concert Sunday in Denison, Texas. Halfway through the show, Reba was givena hand-signed letter from President Bush, praising her work on behalf of the Texoma Medical Center foundation. A giant TV screen played a personal message from former President Bush.
Dierks Bentley will partner with the Bluebird Cafe and virtual community Second Life to become the first ever country artist to stream a live performance to online residents from 100 countries around the world. The live stream happens monday, the day he kicks off 'Superstars of the Bluebird" week at the lengendary Nashville venue.
Gretchen Wilson is hoping to get a high school diploma by the end of summer. Gretchen says she's pursuing her high school equivalency certificate because she feels she's missing some basic knowledge and wants to fill in the gaps. Wilson dropped out of school at 15 after completing only the eighth grade. She says that as her daughter Grace's school work gets more complex, she wants to be able to help her with her homework.
Toby Keith is going into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Keith was born in Clinton, Oklahoma, and now lives in Norman. He'll be inducted November 8th in Oklahoma City. Toby's new CD, "Big Dog Dadd," comes out June 12th.
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Toby Keith was in the Persian Gulf this past weekend to entertain U.S. troops during his fifth USO tour. The tour gegan in Afghanistan with a performance at a remote base near the border of Pakistan. He then headed to Iraq for a performance in front of more than 5,000 troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad. Earlier in the day, Keith took pictures and signed autographs with the Army's first Calvary and thrd Infantry division and members of Task Force Troy. keith's USO tour also includes a stop in Germany.
Gretchen Wilson has a perfect record when it comes to album releases. Wilson's much antiicpated thrid CD, "One of the Boys", debuted at number one on the Soundscan Country Chart. Her first two alubms, "Here For The Party" and "All Jacked Up," both entered the country chart at number one. Her first two albums alone have sold more than six million copies.
Quantas Airlines has issued a brief statement after one of its flight attendants offered recovering alcoholic Keith Urban a bottle of wine during a week-end flight. Urban voluntarily admitted himself into rehab last year. On the Sunday flight from Sydney to adelaide, one of Urban's assistants responded to the stewards offer by noting that the singer "doesn't drink." Later, during his concert in Adelaide, Urban jokingly told the crowd, "I knew I was back in South Australia when the host came up to me, smiled, gave me a bottle of red and said, "welcome to Adelaide, Mr. Urban". In a statement, a Quantaas spokesman said the steward "genuinely did not realize who the passenger was."
Collin Raye will donate proceeds from the sale of his new single, "Asoldiers prayer," to the Wounded Warrior project, a non-profit group that helps soldiers who have been wounded in the Iraq war. The song is included on Collin's new album, "Then & Now", which will drop late in June.
Carrie Underwood and Dallas Cowbys quarterback Tony Romo aren't sneaking around anymore. Romo accompanied Underwood last week to the ACM's, where she took home top Female Vocalist honors as well as Album and Video of the Year. The two have been linked since last December but had never talked about their relationship until the night of the ceremony. Carrie said, "We're really good friends and we hang out and we support each otherin everything that we do. It's great to have somebody here who's got your back."
Nature called at a bad time for Blake Shelton at the academy of Country Music Awards. He missed girlfriend Miranda Lambert's win for New Female Vocalist because he was in the bathroom. Lambert says, "I had nobody to hug." as for her occasionally rowdy lyrics, Lambert says, "A lot of women don't sing about drinking and cheating, but we all do it, so wh not sing about it".
"You Never Take Me Dancing," Travis Tritt's first single on his new Category 5 label, will be released this coming Monday, May 21. The osng, written by Richard Marx, was co-produced by Randy Jackson of "American Idol" and Tritt. No definative release date was set for the C.D, "The Storm", although it could be out in late summer or early fall.
Big and Rich's debut album, "Horse of a Different Color," has been certified triple platinum. The project featured the hit single "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," which was previously certifed as a gold digital single and - as a ringtone--a gold mastertone. Big & rich will perform tonight in Las Vegas, at the Academy of Country Music awards. Their third alubm, 'Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace," will be released in June.
Brad Paisley is performing his hit single "Ticks" on tonights Academy of Country Music Awards show in aLas Vegas. He's nominated for aCM Top Male Vocalist. Paisley's new album, "5th Gear", come out June 19th. His 'Bonfires and Amplifiers" tour hists Bakersfield, California, this Thursday.
Lonestar's Richie McDonald will hop off the band's tour bus and hit the high seas in November on the 2007 Girl's Get-A-Way Cruise. The cruise, marketed as a special vouage/event for "girls of every age," will set sail November 15th from Mobile, Alabama, on the Carnival cruise ship Holiday.
George Strait was recently honored as one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. George jones presented George with his medallian and talked about his dedication to traditional country music and to his wife, Norma Strait and son Bubba. Dean Dillon, Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack performed.
After 16 years with MCA Records, Trisha Yearwood is leaving the label to join Big Machine Records. Trisha's first studio record since 2005 will be released on Big Machine Records in early 2008.
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