Tuesday Newsday

News From Around The Country
Here’s a treat to be looking out for, the National Anthem recorded by Alan Jackson. By way of special request from the Rotary Club in his hometown of Newnan, Georgia, Alan recorded “The Star Spangled Banner” to be used during the city’s Fourth of July celebration. After the debut of the song this weekend, it’s surely going to popping up around the internet. Aaron Tippin has launched his own lifestyle initiative with the introduction of a line of nutritional supplements, Aaron Tippin Nutrition. Regarding ATN, Aaron’s wife, Thea, says, “Our primary motivation is to promote healthy changes to enhance your life, and your lifestyle, make it a family affair, and have fun at it.” Congratulations are extended to The Lost Trailers’ Stokes Nielson and his wife, Maria. The stork paid a visit and brought the proud parents a healthy baby boy this past Monday, June 22nd, in Nashville. Weighing in at 7.7 lbs, both the little one and his mom are doing well. The newest little Lost Trailer joins a big sister and the rest of the band. And if you’ve got the DVR set for this year’s TV coverage of the CMA Music Festival, you better add additional time. Due to all the incredible performances, the special is being expanded from two to three hours! Watch for it on August 31st.

Holiday Clearance Sale

Today only, Half Off Wednesday is having a clearance sale! Log on early and save more than half on certificates from local businesses that you can use or give for the holiday season. All remaining offers are while supplies last.

The long-awaited photo of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's baby, Sunday Rose, has emerged! What a doll! Nicole calls her "a little Keithette."

Emerson Drive moved out of their old home-on-the-road yesterday. Their aging tour bus recently turned over its one-millionth mile. The milestone, (if you’ll pardon the pun), was reached November 1st at 6:07 in the morning as the band traveled across New Mexico. The band decided it was time for a new ride, and they took possession of a new bus yesterday. They’ll be taking the new bus to Columbus, Ohio for an appearance tomorrow night.

If you’re looking all over the internet for unique gift ideas, don’t miss this auction at ebay. Dolls decorated by Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Jessica Simpson, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Dierks Bentley, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Eric Church, Faith Hill, George Strait, Wynonna, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Lady Antebellum are being auctioned for a good cause. Project Paper Doll benefits the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital in Nashville. Different dolls will be released until the auction ends December 17th. Any guesses as to who may have created this and the above examples? Comment with your guesses.

After several concerts, countless autographs, and giving his personal thanks to countless soldiers stationed throughout Iraq, Aaron Tippin has returned home from his Thanksgiving USO trip. “It is amazing how well things are going,” comments Tippin on Iraq’s current state. “Once again, our guys and gals have demonstrated that they are the best and most professional warriors on the face of the planet!” Next up, Rockie Lynne will be taking an overseas trip around Christmas to entertain the troops and hand deliver a special CD he created just for them, Songs for Soliders.

They Call Me The Fireman.....

Looks like Aaron Tippin can now add the title of Firefighter to his resume. Aaron and his wife, Thea, were enjoying a quiet lunch near their home in Liberty, TN, this past Monday when they heard a call come over the scanner about a fire near their home. Aaron left the restaurant immediately and rushed to the scene. He then assisted local fire squads by piloting a dozer to dig fire trenches and helping to rescue livestock and secure the Tippin residence. After the ordeal, Aaron joked, “Tell George Strait to move over, there’s a new Fireman in town.”

Willie Nelson’s got a new movie roll. He’s tagged to portray an Indian guide-to-afterlife who's on a 300-year quest for justice, in Secrets of the Lost San Sabas. The film is being described as a "wild west ghost story," and it’s being shot entirely in digital 3D. There’s no word yet as to when this 3D movie will be released, but in the meantime, you can enjoy Willie in the films Beer For My Horses and Swing Vote. He also plays Farmer Bob in the Matthew McConaughey comedy, Surfer, Dude.

The prankster’s been pranked again. Jewel got Brad Paisley not once, but twice! Jewel talks about the first prank that was timed while Brad was singing his hit “I'm Still A Guy," "He has this 40 foot, ginormous screen onstage, so I decided to Photoshop pictures of his head on women's bodies. Everything from women in bikinis to Miss Universe to little girls in tu-tus ... Brad's head was on it! When he turned around, he knew someone had been messing with his production!" Jewel's second prank took place during what is supposed to be a Brad and Jewel duet of Merle Haggard’s song, “That's the Way Love Goes.” Jewel explains, "I had my tour manager, Steve, dress up as me, in my dress with a blonde wig and everything. As the song began, I stood offstage and began singing while Steve walked out to the end of the walkway behind Brad, strutting his stuff. Once Brad realized it wasn't me standing there, he could barely get through the song!" Jewel finishes her ride on the Paisley Party Tour in November, so Brad only has a few weeks to retaliate.

It’s less than a month until Carrie Underwood brings the Carnival Ride Tour to Las Cruces. Little Big Town is the opening act this fall, and as you might expect, the band is thrilled to be on the tour. Karen Fairchild talks about what it’s like to see Carrie light up the room, “When Carrie comes out the crowd just comes unglued. She is a kick-butt singer, just a girl who has the chops. The tone of her voice is so easy to listen to." When you attend the show at the Pan Am Center, you’ll hear Carrie’s signature hits and her favorite cover songs, but Karen reports that fans are also in for a song that’s fairly unexpected, "She's a rocker at heart, and it's just cool to see what influenced her. So she rocks it out at the end with a Guns N' Roses cover."

And finally, a sweet treat for a sweet milestone. It originated in Las Cruces, and now the Bucky Covington video, affectionately dubbed 'the official unofficial video for “I’ll Walk”' has reached 100,000 views in just over 3 months. See the video that everybody is watching on the right sidebar, and on Bucky’s myspace and iLike pages. The video producer thanks everyone for the kind comments. However, the real credit for Bucky’s third hit song belongs to the writers, Lonnie Fowler and Brent Wilson, for a touching story; Bucky for an empathetic delivery; and Mark Miller for bringing it all together with great production.

Say What?

The TSA is no laughing matter, but you can’t help but find a little humor in a story that has Jimmy Wayne’s name plastered in more places than a number one record would ever get for him. Jimmy had just finished a routine radio station visit and was on his way home to Nashville through the Oakland International Airport. Still groggy from a country music artist’s grueling road schedule, Jimmy approached security dressed in shorts, a t-shirt, and a sweatshirt. He tried to walk through, but the detectors went off. He made repeated attempts to walk through, all the while stripping off his sweatshirt and jewelry, but the detectors kept going off. Jimmy continues the story, “Finally the TSA officer said something to the effect of, ‘Remove your shorts,’ and I thought to myself, ‘Now that sounds a little weird, but I guess it’s okay – I mean they show guys in boxers in the Sunday paper ads, right? I guess maybe between not having enough sleep and not understanding him … I don’t know. I did it!” Now picture the shorts on the conveyor belt and Jimmy Wayne walking through in his skivvies. “He flipped!” Jimmy says. “I ran back to the belt – I thought I could grab my shorts real fast – but the belt sucked the shorts up in the X-ray into the other side. So now I’m stuck in my boxers and everyone’s staring.” Unamused, TSA Officers called for backup. Jimmy continues, “Two Oakland Raiders-sized police officers come up to me and were like, ‘Sir put your hands behind your back now!’” From there, Jimmy was cuffed and questioned for 25 minutes as other airport passengers filed past – some shooting photos with their cell phones. “At least my hair was fixed,” Jimmy jokes, although because he was arrested and place in juvenile detention when he was a teenager, he added that the incident brought back memories “…I’d rather not revisit.” After the interrogation, Jimmy was released to fly home, clothes and all, and no charges were issued. Although you do have to wonder, if not “take off your shorts,” what were the instructions that Jimmy misheard?

Dancing With The Stars made a triumphant return last night. A marathon 13 couples danced the first of two routines that were prepared, and tonight 12 of those couples will be called upon to stay on the show and dance the second routine during the first elimination of the 7th season. Tomorrow night, the last of the 3-night premiere will dismiss one more couple based on the lowest combined total of judge’s scores and viewer votes. Country music’s newest darling Julianne Hough returned for her 4th season on the show with partner, Cody Linley. The youngest couple ever to compete, the two made a strong entrance despite seemingly low judge’s scores. As the night progressed, it became apparent that Julianne and Cody’s scores were pretty average for the low-balling first night. The judges are leaving the contestants plenty of room for improvement to earn the healthier scores. First night injuries included dancer Karina with a twisted ankle, celebrity Jeffrey Ross with a scratched cornea, and Julianne with a hurt leg from slipping in her driveway while wearing flip flops. She’s apparently used to wearing heels, so flats make her a little clumsy. High ball for the first night went to Lance Bass and his partner Lacey, low ball to Jeffrey Ross and Kym, and the Oscar for most entertaining dancer went to 82-year old Cloris Leachman for being woman enough to fling her leg at judge Bruno Tonioli and flash her cleavage to elderly judge Len Goodman.

News from Around The Country….
If you see a familiar face on a package in the frozen foods department, it’s not your imagination. That’s Lee Ann Womack, the new face of Banquet’s new healthy TV dinners, Banquet Select Recipes. Aaron Tippin has signed with a new record label. He’s now on Stroudavarious Records, home of Darryl Worley and Richie McDonald. And finally, look for some yuletide music from Randy Travis. His next Christmas album called Christmas on the Pecos is out November 4th.