A Million Miles From Albemarle

Kellie Pickler recently spent time at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, viewing the latest trends, meeting with designers, and watching the latest fashions walk down the runways. Kellie was spotted alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kim Kardashian, Nicky and Paris Hilton, among others. Kellie was seen in a variety of clothing and hair styles, many of which are not seen on country stages or red carpets. Which raises the question: Do country artists need to be dressed in high dollar fashion? Is it an obligation to the celebrity lifestyle to keep up with the coasts? Or should a country artist be more concerned with relating to their audience in middle America? Click off your opinion on the Listener Poll or write your comments.

This week Jake Owen releases his sophomore CD. Jake wrote 8 of the 10 songs on Easy Does It. To kick off release day, look for Jake performing the current single, “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” on ABC's Good Morning America tomorrow.

Trace Adkins will make a couple visits to the Glenn Beck Show this week. This afternoon, Trace will talk with Beck about current events on his live show on Fox-TV. Then on Saturday, Feb. 28, Trace will be back on the weekend edition of Beck’s show to perform "Marry for Money" and "Muddy Water." The radio-version of the Glenn Beck Show airs weekday mornings from 7 – 10 and Saturday from 4 – 7 pm on KSNM-AM 570, sister station to KGRT.

The nominations for the Gospel Music Association’s 40th Annual Dove Awards have been released. Among the nominees in the country categories are George Strait “I Saw God Today,” the Oak Ridge Boys “Did I Make A Difference,” and Point of Grace “I Wish” in the Country Song category awarded to the writers. Randy Travis Around The Bend and I Richie McDonald Turn To You are listed among the Country Album nominees. And up for special event album is the soundtrack to Billy: The Early Years, last year’s film about evangelist Billy Graham. The soundtrack features music by Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Patty Griffin, Brad Paisley and Josh Turner, among others. Nominated in the same category is How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites From the Grand Ole Opry, another compilation featuring country artists. The Dove Awards will be given out April 23 in Nashville.