Friday, August 26, 2011
Grandpa Strait
The pair of shoes Shania Twain was wearing when she tripped and fell at this year’s CMT Music Awards went up for auction on eBay recently. The auction ended this week and the final bid was $9,000! Shania autographed the shoes, which are size 6, black satin BCBG Max Azria heels. The money will benefit Shania’s charity, Kids Can.
Taylor Swift has been rocking the crowds in Los Angeles this week as part of her Speak Now Tour. On Tuesday night, Taylor shocked fans by bringing Justin Bieber on stage. Then on Wednesday night, Jason Mraz came out on stage and sang “I’m Yours.” After the show, Taylor tweeted, “I couldn't love LA crowds more. I can't believe how awesome tonight was. And thank you [Jason Mraz] for singing "I'm Yours" with me!!” Makes you wonder who she's going to surprise the crowd with during this weekend's shows. Are Lady Gaga and Katie Perry busy?
Probably. The MTV VMA's are this weekend. Taylor Swift’s “Mean” is nominated for Best Video with a Message. The VMA's will air live from Los Angeles on MTV on Sunday. Taylor’s video will compete against “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem featuring Rihanna, “Firework” by Katy Perry, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga, "F****** Perfect" by Pink and “Make It Stop (September’s Children)” by Rise Against.
And speaking of awards, The Band Perry and Jake Owen will reveal the CMA Awards finalists in five categories on Good Morning America on September 6th. Jake will also perform “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” on the show. Later in the morning, Jerrod Niemann and Thompson Square will announce the remaining finalists during a press conference at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Country Stars on TV
Lee Brice appears on a special ACM Award episode of The Price is Right today. Instead of competing on the game show, Lee actually helps host Drew Carey announce prices. “I thought when they first asked me to do it, I was like, ‘First of all, are you kidding me?” Lee said, “This is the show I grew up, since I was a kid, watching.’ Then I thought maybe I was going to get to be a contestant but this was actually cooler. Being the person on the stage, back-stage, running around. This was awesome.”
Wynonna and Naomi Judd are getting ready to launch their new show, The Judds, on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network on April 10th. Naomi says the show is “real” and unscripted, but it’s not “reality.” It’s more like a documentary series following the process of touring the country for the first time in years and healing their relationship that has been strained by the ups and downs of their career.
Meanwhile, Shania Twain’s new show for the Oprah Network, Why Not? premieres on May 8th. She also has a new autobiography coming out on May 3rd.
And finally, Jewel is going to be a part of this summer’s reality competition, Going Platinum. Interestinly, she's not the only one in her family to do TV. Her dad, Atz Kilcher, has joined the cast of Discovery’s Mountain Men of Alaska. His official website lists him as “Alaska’s foremost singer, song writer, yodeling, story-telling recording artist.” Now, he’ll be filmed as he uses his hunting and fishing skills to live off the land.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Backside of the Weekend
Meanwhile, on television last night, John Rich continued to represent for country music, albeit rather quietly this week. On Celebrity Apprentice, Teams Backbone and A.S.A.P. were tasked with producing a TV commercial for a video phone. Rapper Lil Jon lead the men’s team on an out-of-the-box concept that some, including John Rich, thought would be too risqué. Their commercial featured grandparents who call their son in Argentina and are introduced via the video phone to their grandson’s fiancé, another man, played by José Canseco. The women’s spot had a young girl studying abroad, calling home to her parents in the U.S. and introducing her deaf mother to her “host mother” played by Dionne Warwick. After the commercials were presented to over 400 company representatives, the audience picked the men’s commercial as their favorite in a 47 – 53% vote. In the board room, when Donald Trump asked Dionne Warwick who should be fired, she said, “fire me.” Trump obliged. With the men winning a third week in a row, Lil Jon picked up 40-thousand dollars for his charity, the United Methodist Children’s Home. Next week, John Rich plays project manager. He says that he’s been holding out for the big money, “I didn’t go on there ‘cause I’m sellin’ a book or anything else. I’m on there to wait for my chance to raise a ton of money for St. Jude. Matter of fact my goal is to raise a million dollars for St. Jude. When my time comes, I’m gonna call everybody I know and try to hit that mark.” Next week’s promos teased that more money will be raised in one episode than in an entire season of Apprentice.
And finally, artists from several genres have united to raise money for disaster relief efforts in Japan. Some of the biggest names in music have made their songs available on Songs for Japan, a 38-track download available on iTunes for $9.99. Proceeds go to the Japanese Red Cross. The track-listing includes Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum alongside other superstars such as John Lennon, Justin Timberlake, Elton John, and Cee Lo Green.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Feel Good Friday
Taylor Swift has signed on to join the cast of voices appearing in the movie adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. Zac Efron voices the character “Ted”, a boy who tries to win the affection of “Audrey”, the character that will be voiced by Taylor. Danny DeVito is slated to be the voice of the “Lorax”. The movie is scheduled for release in March 2012.
Rascal Flatts has officially announced that Flatts Fest will launch June 18th in Bristow, Virginia with opening acts Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore. The tour is currently slated to run through September with approximately 24 shows. The tour will also include an interactive pre-show festival atmosphere and tailgating experience, with activities spread throughout the plaza and parking areas for all fans who want to make a whole afternoon/evening of the show. Plans include a mobile karaoke vehicle, carnival games, photo booths, putt putt golf, food vendors, and plenty of exciting contests. More detailed information will be provided closer to the start of the tour.
Also back on the road, look for Big & Rich to roll out their 2011 Xtreme Muzik tour with buddies Cowboy Troy, Gretchen Wilson, and Two Foot Fred. Since their hiatus in 2008, Big Kenny has been doing charity work, and John Rich has released a solo album and joined the cast of this season’s Celebrity Apprentice. He hosts a weekly viewing party for the series at his Nashville home dubbed “Mount Richmore.” The 2011 Xtreme Muzik tour will kickoff June 25th in Walker, Minnesota. Celebrity Apprentice airs Sunday nights on NBC.
Oprah Winfrey is searching out the world’s “Ultimate Shania Fans” for an upcoming show featuring Shania Twain. A page on Oprah’s website invites fans to submit for their chance to be part of the audience when Shania appears on a future taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show. Shania plans to release her autobiography on May 3rd, and she also plans to star in the upcoming reality series on Oprah’s OWN Network, Why Not? With Shania Twain.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Busy Thursday
Kellie Pickler and her husband, Kyle Jacobs, have shared their wedding photo from the beach. The two called-off the large Nashville affair they were planning when they realized that the point of a wedding - the bride and groom and God - were getting lost among the details.News From Around The Country
Blake Shelton will be co-hosting the ACM Awards alongside Reba McEntire and co-parenting new pups with Miranda Lambert. The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcasts live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3rd on CBS. The two new puppies were rescued from the side of the road. They've named them Virginia Bluebell and Black Betty. According to Miranda, Black Betty is a spaz and Virginia is sweet and shy. The couple now has a total of seven dogs.….. Alan Jackson’s song “Good Time” is featured in a new ad for GE and its ecomagination technology initiative. In the ad, people of various professions are seen participating in a massive around-the-world line dance which begins as the song is heard on a radio. ….. Gwyneth Paltrow is adding to her resume with a new cookbook, My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family and Togetherness, dedicated to her late father, producer Bruce Paltrow. The book includes 150 recipes and pictures of Gwyneth at home with her family and friends. ….. Shania Twain will be honored by her home country when she’s inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the 2011 Juno Awards on March 27th. Shania has won 12 Juno Awards throughout her career in addition to 5 Grammys, 4 ACM Awards, and 2 CMA Awards. …… Sara Evans has released a newnovel, Softly & Tenderly. This is the second of a three-part series, Sweet By and By. The third part promises a lot more drama; Sara has been working on it since September.
And finally, be looking for the new game Country Dance for Wii to be released sometime in the spring. In the game, players use the Wii remote to dance along to more than 25 hit country songs and earn points based on how well you’ve danced. Some of the songs included are:
Carrie Underwood, “Cowboy Casanova”
Brad Paisley, “Water”
Sugarland, “Stuck Like Glue”
Trace Akins, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”
Tim McGraw, “Just to See You Smile”
Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”
Rascal Flatts, “Life is A Highway”
Blake Shelton, “All About Tonight”
Miranda Lambert, “White Liar”
Johnny Cash, “Ring of Fire”
Monday, January 3, 2011
First of the Year Wedding Bells
One of the first things on Toby Keith’s list of things to do in 2011 will be to keep a promise made to his daughter, Krystal. When she was younger, Toby told her that he would help produce and release her first album if she graduated college. She kept her end of the bargain in 2009, it’s time for Toby to do his part. You may remember that Krystal released a duet with her father, “Mockingbird,” for his Greatest Hits 2 album back in 2004. Also on tap for Toby in 2011, the opening of his 11th I Love This Bar & Grill restaurant, and a potential Grammy win. Toby is up this year in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance category for his song, “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)”. The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards will be broadcast February 13th on CBS.
And finally, a collection of rare recordings from Johnny Cash’s early career, From Memphis to Hollywood, will be released as a double album on February 22nd. The first album covers Johnny’s career in Memphis from late 1954 to late 1957, beginning with a Memphis radio broadcast, including eleven previously unreleased demos, and ending with seven outtakes from Sun Records. The second disc gathers Johnny’s non-album singles, outtakes and B-sides he recorded for Columbia from 1958 to 1969, following his move to L.A. to pursue TV and film work as a songwriter and actor.
Monday, December 27, 2010
One Week Since Men's Hearts Broke Around The Globe
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Relationships Come Full Circle
Former Fugees front man Wyclef Jean is said to be recording a duet with Kenny Rogers. Kenny’s hoping that the song will be heard on his upcoming duets album, Killer Combinations. Wyclef did a rap rendition of Kenny’s hit, “The Gambler,” back in 2000 and now Kenny says he wants to do something a little more “musical” with Wyclef on the new album. Both artists have a strong following in Wyclef’s home country of Haiti.
Eddie Montgomery is celebrating this holiday season after a successful surgery has left him without any need for further cancer treatment. Eddie will spend the holidays at home with his family this year, enjoying some down time, old-fashioned traditions, and maybe some funny-tasting eggnog. Eddie said, “Back when I was a kid growin’ up, we didn’t have a whole lot. Course Mom and Dad played music. It was usually, our Christmas basically ended up with all a bunch of musicians in our house and havin’ people come over and just playin’ music, and there was some real funny-tastin’ eggnog.” Montgomery Gentry will hit the road early next year for a USO Tour.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Thursday Briefing
Hitting the ground with a respectable 62,000 copies out-the-door, Jamey Johnson’s latest album, The Guitar Song, has debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart. ….. Shania Twain has signed an agreement with Atria Books to publish an authorized autobiography to detail her well-publicized challenges and upbringing in Ontario, Canada, the tragic death of her mother and stepfather, her rise to fame, and the recent struggles in her personal life. …. Taylor Swift has been spotted on set of the upcoming film, Todd vs. High School. The film tells the story of a genius student who is kicked-out of several schools before returning to high school to get his diploma. This is Taylor’s second movie role; no release date yet. …. And finally, Miranda Lambert recently made a surprise appearance at her alma mater, Lindale High School in Texas. She was there to hand out framed “Thank You’s” to several Lindale ISD campuses in response to student’s efforts to raise money to support recovery efforts in Nashville after the flood in May.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Hope You Have A Dual-Channel DVR
And if that isn’t enough for you, clear more room on the DVR for The Celebrity Apprentice this Sunday, opposite the ACM’s. Trace Adkins will be back in New York to sit in Donald Trump’s boardroom when he acts as celebrity advisor on an episode where the current contestants will be given the task of creating image makeovers for Emily West and Luke Bryan. Considering the remaining contestants include Cyndi Lauper, Brett Michaels from Poison, and Sharon Osbourne, among others, this could be a scary proposition. Good thing Trace will keep them in line with country. Trace was the runner-up to winner Piers Morgan of the 2008 reality series, and raised a half-million dollars for the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.
And finally, watch for the return of Shania Twain to American Idol. As a guest judge during Idol’s Chicago auditions earlier this season, Shania proved she has an ear for talent. This time, Shania will return as a mentor to the contestants. Unlike some of past season nine mentors, Shania has plenty of experience to draw on after being in the business for nearly two decades, selling over 65 million albums and winning five Grammys.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Close Enough To See Them Sweat
News From Around The Country
OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network is announcing that Shania Twain will be starring in her own series on the network. The series Why Not? With Shania Twain is described as “her climb back to the top, a personal journey filled with risk, revelations and unexpected adventures.” Expect a "docu-series" rather than a reality show. The network will launch the one-hour episodes on Jan 1st, 2011, into 80 million homes.
Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, and Taylor Swift have all donated autographed high heels to the Wish Upon A Star Hero Campaign. The heels will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting women with cancer. Miranda’s are listed for $89, Martina’s are $295, and Taylor’s are listed as priceless. Um, where are Kellie Pickler’s red high heels?
And finally, in preparation for their 2010 tour, The Judds are inviting fans to participate in their Name That Tour Contest! The Judds said, “Fans are our family of choice and this tour is truly a family affair. So, it just felt right to ask them to help us name the tour. After all, they are the reason we are embarking on this journey together one last time.” Visit www.wynonnna.com by April 23rd and follow the directions to enter the contest. The winner will take home $500 in tour merchandise, a personal “thank you” video message from The Judds, and a mention in the 2010 Commemorative Judds Tour Book.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday by the Numbers
Where’s Jimmy? In Oklahoma. Jimmy Wayne has crossed the state line from Arkansas to Oklahoma in his effort to walk halfway across the continental U.S. Jimmy started his journey January 1st in Nashville, and arrived in Oklahoma early Tuesday night. So far, he has completed 530 miles of the approximately 1,700-mile walk for his Meet Me Halfway campaign to raise awareness of homeless teens and young adults. With breaks and time-outs from the walk to play gigs around the country, Jimmy travels approximately 20 miles per day in his walk to Phoenix.
And finally, it's nice to see that two country artists made the Top 10 results when Billboard magazine asked readers who they felt were the Sexiest Females in Music. Here’s the list:
1) Britney Spears
2) Beyonce
3) Miley Cyrus
4) Rihanna
5) Lady Gaga
6) Carrie Underwood
7) Shakira
8) Nicole Scherzinger (formerly of Pussycat Dolls)
9) Taylor Swift
10) Katy Perry
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Shania Takes on Idol
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Charlie Daniels, who suffered a mild stroke last Friday while snowmobiling in Colorado. He was treated at a hospital in Durango and was later airlifted to a hospital in Denver and later released on Sunday. He is now resting at his Colorado home where he had been vacationing since December 27th. As of right now Charlie does not plan on cancelling any shows and thanks fans for their support.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday Musings
As an artist coming-of-age in the digital era, it’s no surprise that Taylor Swift would become the top-selling digital artist in music history. Taylor has sold over 24.3 million digital tracks to date. She’s proud to have accomplished this by singing country music and says she’s honored to represent country music anywhere in the world. Speaking of which, Taylor is now a Global Brand Ambassador for Sony products. On her way to the People’s Choice Awards last week, she made a surprise appearance at Sony’s exhibit at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Specifically, Taylor is excited to use Sony’s 3D technology and told the audience she will be using the product to document her upcoming tour which kicks off next month. As of yet, there is no news as to whether the footage she captures will be made available to the public. Taylor’s next big event is the Grammy awards on January 31st where she is nominated for eight awards and will perform during the show.
On March 11th, Lady Antebellum will debut their upcoming album Need You Now at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Fans can purchase tickets starting January 15th at the Ryman box office. The album will be released January 26th. Lady A is also making it a priority to do whatever they can to protect the environment. They have partnered with FilterForGood for an event to be held at the Sundance Film Festival. Dave Haywood says that one of the easiest changes they’ve made on the road is “kicking the bottled water habit” and switching to products that filter water.
Shania Twain is normally the one being interviewed, but Friday she interviewed Queen Rania of Jordan. Shania was a guest host on The Current which had scheduled the Jordanian to talk about the global charity for underprivileged youth called 1 Goal. Shania experienced childhood poverty herself and as part of her co-hosting duties she visited inner-city Toronto schools and performed for students.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy 2010
Last Friday night in Timmins, Ontario, Shania Twain braved the below freezing temperatures to carry the Olympic torch through her old stomping grounds. She took the flame the last 400 yards to Hollinger Park where she lit it in the Olympic cauldron . Shania’s dash is part of the torch’s journey to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics that kick off February 12th. It was so cold outside – 16 below zero – that when red beach balls were tossed into the crowd to celebrate, they fell apart in a matter of seconds. "I know that sounds crazy, but it wouldn't be Timmins if it wasn't 40 below with the wind chill factor!" she said.Country stars find the most interesting charity endeavors. If you’re around New York City Times Square anytime soon and need to use the restroom, you can take care of things with the help of Martina McBride. She and several other celebs have designed toilet seat lids for Charmin Restrooms, a stunt is for the company’s Go For Good campaign. For every patron at the free New York City Times Square location, Charmin will give a buck (and up to 10-thousand dollars) to the star’s favorite non-profit organization.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Feel Good Friday Happenings
With the Aggies’ Tough Enough To Wear Pink game coming up on September 12th, we know a thing or two about pink in Las Cruces. Carrie Underwood will join the pink crowd when she helps the Grand Ole Opry stage turn pink for two shows on October 2nd. Carrie will flip the switch to turn the Opry’s signature backdrop pink in support of the groups Women Rock for the Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.News From Around The Country
George Strait’s new video for “Livin’ For The Night,” premieres exclusively today on CMT.com and debuts Monday on CMT. The video is a taped performance from George’s concert at Reliant Stadium in Houston. …. Today is Shania Twain’s 44th birthday and the day she promised fans a special gift on her website. Open it here. …. CMA Award Nominations are coming out on September 9th. ….. American Idol alum Danny Gokey has confirmed he is heading in the direction of country music. …. Abrams ComicArts will introduce Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness in November. It’s a new comic book/graphic novel based on the life of Johnny Cash. … Jack Ingram has partnered with KC Masterpiece in a campaign to encourage Americans to keep grilling throughout football season. … And finally, Trace Adkins, Elvis Presley and Keith Urban are among the latest artists receiving sales certifications from the RIAA. The digital single for Trace’s “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” earned Platinum status for one-million paid downloads. Elvis’ album, 30 #1 Hits, from 2002, reached five-times Platinum. Keith received three Gold digital singles this summer for more than 500-thousan downloads of “Tonight I Wanna Cry,” “Stupid Boy” and “Sweet Thing.”
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday Newsday
Shania Twain has been hinting on her myspace page that a big surprise for the fans is coming on her birthday. Today, rumors are circulating that she will be filling Paula Abdul’s seat during American Idol auditions in Chicago August 30 and 31st. We'll know soon enough if it's true. Even though the show won't air until next year, somebody will see her (or not) at the annual fall auditions. It's not too far of a stretch, Mary J. Blige teamed up with the Idol crew in Atlanta, while Victoria Beckham filled in for Abdul in Boston. … Taylor Swift is heading back to England for two performances at the annual V-festival. Taylor is the only country act among the mostly pop/rock lineup which includes Lady Gaga and The Killers. Look for Taylor on this side of the pond performing her own version of "Tonight" from the Broadway musical West Side Story at the MTV Video Awards on September 13th. … Last year, two young women were killed in a car crash outside the New England Country Music Festival in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This year, to make an effort to crack down on underage drinking at the festival that Kenny Chesney headlines, police stepped up patrols and more than 100 people were arrested. … And finally, Dolly Parton fans will want to be looking for a big boxed set on October 27th. The set will contain four CDs with 99 songs that cover the years 1957 to 1993, beginning with "Puppy Love" and "Girl Left Alone" which were recorded for the Goldband label in 1957, when she was 11 years old. Dolly will also include seven previously unreleased tracks. Singles and album tracks represent her recorded work for Goldband, Mercury, Monument, RCA, 20th Century and Columbia. The package will also include a 60-page booklet with liner notes and previously unreleased photographs.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Feel Good Friday Briefing
News From Around The Country
Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland has been placed on a 10-day vocal rest, forcing the duo to cancel three concerts this week with Keith Urban. Jennifer has been diagnosed with a viral tonsil condition. As a fill-in, Jason Aldean was added as an opening act for Keith Urban’s concert kickoff last night in Uncasville, Connecticut. Little Big Town will now open tonight’s show. The magazines have really been highlighting the pretty people lately. Hello! magazine has put Shania Twain at the top of their Canada’s Most Beautiful List. Shania has never understood why people found her attractive saying, "I don't think I'm ugly, I just think I'm overrated on the cutie factor." Brooks & Dunn and Dierks Bentley received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award this week on the final stop of their Australian Tour in Sydney. And remember, Monday is your last day to vote for the CMT Music Awards. You can use the link at the top of the page.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
He Didn't Steal Cinderella
Biggest surprise of the night: Melissa & Tony. Melissa Rycroft was the 11th hour replacement for injured Nancy O’Dell. After two hours of hearing about how little they practiced, Melissa & Tony were no where near the stink league. They learned THAT in two days? Oh, but viewers learned in post-dance interview that Melissa has had ballet experience and she’s a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. No wonder she can dance and learn routines quickly. In a field of amateurs that saw an NFL player clunking around the dance floor, it will be interesting to see where the voting public throws support. And if they would just let Ty Murray dance in his cowboy boots, he may get comfortable enough to move his feet! Next show: Next Monday. Photo: last season’s champion Derek Hough and his new partner Lil’ Kim.
Carrie Underwood will be heard back on American Idol this season. She has recorded a version of Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” which will be played when contestants are voted off the show. It will be available as a digital single on iTunes on March 16th. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Humane Society of the United States. Carrie said, “I’ve always loved this song, and besides being very fitting for Idol, to me, the title is also very fitting with animal rescue and finding animals their own homes.” PS: Today is Carrie’s 26th birthday!Rascal Flatts is now in the game to release songs on iTunes before the new album is released. Unstoppable is coming out on April 7th; the first single “Here Comes Goodbye” is available to download today. Next, look for “Forever” on March 17th, “Love Who You Love” on March 24th and “Things That Matter” on March 31st.
News From Around The Country
Jack Ingram will be going out on his first USO tour to Guantanamo Bay at the end of March. Tanya Tucker is going to be releasing an album full of classic country covers on June 2nd. Shania Twain appears on the cover of the March 30th issue of First magazine. And sadly, Grand Ole Opry star Hank Locklin passed Sunday at his home in Brewton, Alabama at age 91.