Country Stars on TV

Several projects are in the works to bring country artists to television in non-traditional capacities. Zac Brown of the Zac Brown Band is producing a program for the Outdoor Channel that will combine three of his favorite things: hunting, cooking, and music. Fear No Evil is said to be primarily a hunting show, but while he's outdoors, Zac will find a way to introduce some cooking in places where you may not have seen it before. No word on an air date for the new show, but watch for ZBB performing with James Taylor on Sunday’s ACM Awards.

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.

Award Season Is Starting

Darius Rucker will receive the Triple Play Award from the Country Music Association. The honor will recognize Darius for having three consecutive number one hits in a 12-month period – “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” and “Alright.” Past Triple Play Award winners include Shania Twain, Toby Keith, and Alan Jackson. And speaking of Darius, it’s fun to see that he is offering two bonus tracks to fans that purchase his new album, Charleston, SC 1966, on iTunes. The bonus tracks are “Let Her Cry” and “Family Tradition” from his CMT Invitation Only performance.

Billboard has announced the finalists for this year’s Billboard Touring Awards, and some country artists have made the cut. The awards will be announced on November 4th and are based on a global box office number from October 2009 to September 2010. Three country artists rule the Top Package category with top grossing tours. Brad Paisley’s H20 World Tour, Taylor Swift’s Fearless Tour, and Tim McGraw’s Southern Voice Tour are all up for the award. The Zac Brown Band with their Ram Trucks Letters for Lyrics campaign is up for the Concert Marketing and Promotion Award.

And finally, Charlie Daniels will receive the Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award from the T.J. Martell Foundation during a special ceremony in New York on October 27th. Charlie is being recognized for his 50 year career in the music industry.

So Much For Turning Off In-Flight Electronic Devices

At the United Nations in New York City on October 25th, CMT and MTV Networks will host an international streaming event and online contest to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s new album, Speak Now. The online contest, “Speak Now With Taylor Swift In New York City” will give fans a chance to see Taylor perform live in New York and join her on a cross-country flight to Los Angeles where they will have a chance to speak one-on-one with Taylor mid-air. Taylor’s performance will stream live on CMT.com at 3 PM Mountain on October 25th. Click here to enter for a once in a lifetime experience with Taylor.

Sugarland will be celebrating their Thanksgiving with a performance on this year’s CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. The two hour show honors everyday people who are changing the world. The duo will perform “Stand Up,” a track off of their upcoming album, The Incredible Machine.

News From Around The Country
Selling 183,000 physical CDs – astounding by today’s standards - Kenny Chesney has the number one album this week on both Billboard’s Country Albums chart and Top 200 Albums chart with Hemingway’s Whiskey. Rounding out the rest of the Billboard Country Albums chart is Zac Brown Band’s You Get What You Give at number two, Billy Currington’s Enjoy Yourself at number three, Jamey Johnson’s Guitar Song at four followed by Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now at number five…… Trace Adkins will travel back to the Middle East soon to visit and perform for troops on his third USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. Trace has traveled on two USO tours since 2002 which took him to Bahrain, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has also received numerous military honors in recognition of his patriotism, including the 2007 USO Merit Award, Wounded Warrior Project's 2010 Talkhouse Award and the 2010 Medal of Honor from the Daughter's of the American Revolution. …. And finally, Zac Brown Band will headline the free NASCAR Championship Drive concert in Miami, Florida. For those that can’t make it to the fan fest, the concert will be streamed live on NASCAR’s official website. Zac couldn’t be more excited to headline the show and said, "Over the past few years we've had the opportunity to participate in a few NASCAR events and it's always fun for the whole band. Not only does everyone make us feel at home when we're on the track but we have a great respect for the sport itself." The event will begin on November 18th, with a parade prior to the fan fest concert.

Tuesday Newsday

As though you didn’t have enough contests to enter that were mentioned last week. Keith Urban is working with a guitar retailer to find talent among unsigned artists. The company's Your Next Record contest provides the winner with an opportunity to record a three-song EP with a top producer and have Keith make a guest appearance on the single. The prize package also includes musical merchandise, product endorsement deals, and an opening slot at one of Keith's concerts. Check it out if you’re talented.

Meanwhile, Gretchen Wilson is endorsing a million-dollar sweepstakes with a dollar store chain. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to Nashville along with one-million dollars, and other qualifiers have the opportunity to win over 5-thousand prizes. The contest runs through December 15th.

News From Around The Country
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott will be featured on Dave Barnes upcoming Christmas album. The song “Christmas Tonight” will be a duet shared between the two singers. ….. Zac Brown’s wife, Shelly, is pregnant with the couple’s fourth daughter. Zac jokes that he and his wife are going to keep trying until they have a boy, even if that means 13 kids. Although, 13 kids may not seem too far out of the question considering that Zac is one of 12 children in his family. ….. This past weekend, the 25th edition of Farm Aid took place in Milwaukee and concertgoers got quite a surprise. Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler came out to harmonize with Willie Nelson. The pair sang “One Time Too Many” and “Once is Enough” together. Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and many others performed at the annual event, which raises money for independent farmers. ….. Keith Anderson is off the market. He’s built his career on songs about the girl who got away. He popped the question to his longtime girlfriend, Lauren Woodruff, so she wouldn’t get away. Keith said, “I'm so excited to be marrying my best friend of 10 years. Lauren has been my rock and support and has always believed in me and my crazy dreams. I don't deserve such a great lady and I'm so happy she said, 'yes!’” The couple is planning to marry sometime this fall. …. And finally, early political returns are starting to come in. Sammy Kershaw was defeated in his second bid to be elected as Louisiana's lieutenant governor. According to the Louisiana Secretary of State's office, he placed 3rd out of 8 candidates with approximately 19 percent of the votes. In 2007, Sammy received 30 percent of the votes and placed second behind Mitch Landrieu who resigned as lieutenant governor in May to become mayor of New Orleans.

Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire

No sooner does one relationship end, than Ronnie Dunn is at it again. A month after playing the final show of Brooks & Dunn’s Last Rodeo Tour, Ronnie has started work on a solo album. Ronnie’s manager says that Ronnie has recorded two or three things; He’s mixing them and playing them for people and making the determination of when he’s ready to go. When complete, the album will be released on Arista Nashville, the longtime label of Brooks & Dunn.

News From Around The Country
With 154,000 copies out the door, Zac Brown Band’s sophomore album, You Get What You Give, debuted as the number one album on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and Billboard’s Top 200 chart. Zac and the band knew they had something good on their hands and are very pleased with how well fans have embraced their new music. …..
The first round of performers for the 44th Annual CMA Awards have been announced. Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton will all take the stage at the Bridgestone Arena. The Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson will perform together as well. The CMA Awards which will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will take place November 10th in Nashville and will air live on ABC. ….. And finally, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and his wife, Allison, have announced the name for their daughter who is due to be born in January. The couple decided on the name Madeline Leigh. Jay said, "Leigh is Ally's middle name and we finally settled on a [first] name that we both liked together." They plan to call her Maddy. The baby will join the Flatts’ family that includes Gary LeVox and wife, Tara, their two daughters, Brittany and Brooklyn, and Joe Don Rooney and wife, Tiffany, who have a son, Jagger, and recently had their daughter, Raquel.

Don't Mess With Pretty Girls

Miranda Lambert was not happy with a couple of guys in the audience at her show this weekend after she had to stop her set to break up their fight. She said, “Y’all gonna get in a fight? Cuz we gotta stop because these guys are getting on my nerves.” Later she informed her Twitter followers about the situation saying, “Tonight some idiots got in a fight on the front row at my show. I had to stop and call them out. Funny part…it was during ‘Only Prettier.’” Miranda has stopped her set before after a crowd became rowdy. It’s safe to say that it’s best not to get out of line at her concerts.

Zac Brown Band is featured on this month’s cover of American Songwriter magazine, and inside is a six-page spread discussing the bands road to stardom and insight on their music. Zac Brown is known for his southern hospitality and wouldn’t label the band’s music in just one genre. He says, “The songs that I write are Southern, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them country. We’re Southern. My roots are Southern.” Fiddler De Martini agrees saying, “As far our approach, musically and professionally, we’re a long way away from how Nashville does it.”

The Future and Past of Country Music

The stars are aligning for Zac Brown Band to take over Brooks & Dunn’s reign in the future. The groups fourth single “Free,” off their debut album, has reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country Songs Chart this week. The only other group to release four number one hits off a debut album was Brooks & Dunn back in 1991! The Zac Brown Band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, You Get What You Give, will be released September 21st.

To honor past legends of country music, Loretta Lynn is next in line to be the subject of a tribute album. Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn is scheduled to be released on November 9th. The names of the contributing artists so far have been kept secret. The album will follow the 50th anniversary of Loretta’s first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage. In October, The Recording Academy will host a Grammy Salute in Nashville where Loretta will receive The Recording Academy’s President’s Merit Award for her contributions to country music.

Last weekend, Craig Morgan held his annual hometown Charity Ride event and raised over $35,000. Four-hundred fans participated to raise money for Billy’s Place – a place being built in the future for children who are in transition through foster care. The two-day event featured a motocross exhibition with guest professional riders Cowboy Kenny Bartrum, Kevin Windham, Fred Andrews, Barry Hawk and others, as well as musical friends Montgomery Gentry and Aaron Tippin.

And finally, yesterday we talked about Luke Bryan and his wife, Caroline, welcoming their second son, Tatum Christopher. Today we find out where his name comes from. His middle name pays respect to Luke’s brother, Chris, who passed away in a car accident, and the boy’s first name was borrowed from a long time friend of the family. This is how Luke tells it, “My mother said his name around the supper table out at the ACM’s, and me and Caroline kinda looked at each other, and it kinda stuck, so there you go.” Tatum joins big brother Thomas Boyer "Bo" Bryan.

Another Voting Opportunity

News From Around The Country
Lady Antebellum’s latest album, Need You Now, has sold more than 2.2 million copies, making it the biggest album of the year so far. The band has sold an additional 2.8 million downloads of its songs, 2 million of those of the title track of the album. Meanwhile, Lady A is also doing remarkable overseas. In Europe, the album debuted at number eight on the charts back in April, and the trio would love to get over there for some international dates, but since they are on the road with Tim McGraw now and will soon headline shows, their time is limited for worldwide travel. ….. Speaking of Tim McGraw, he is scheduled to wrap up the Super Bowl Concert Series (which his wife, Faith Hill, opened in March) at the new Cowboys Stadium on September 10th. The event will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dallas Cowboys and the induction of Emmitt Smith into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. …… In celebration of Father’s Day, you can find Zac Brown and his dad chatting about music and other stories on a free iTunes celebrity podcast. ….. If you’re looking for Little Big Town’s latest single, “Little White Church,” it will be available on their next album, The Reason Why, which will be out in late August. This will be their fourth album and the first since 2007's A Place to Land.

And finally, how about throwing a vote or two Bob Kingsley’s way. Bob is the host of the Country Top 40, heard every Sunday here on The Country Station. Bob has been nominated for induction into the National Radio Hall of Fame in the “Active: National” category. He’s the only nominee in the National category from the Country format. The national online balloting runs through August 1st, and the general public is invited to vote. The National Radio Hall of Fame has very little representation from the Country format. Currently it only includes the Grand Ole Opry, inducted in 1992, and Gene Autry, inducted in 2003. This induction would be an honorable award for not only Bob Kingsley, but the country radio industry as well.

Tribute2Tim

Will the real McGraw please stand up? L. Tim McGraw. R. Adam D. Tucker as Tim.

Memorial Day Weekend in the Valley: wine, women, and song! Er, wine, men, women, children, and song. The Southern New Mexico Wine Fest played out under three days of sunshine and brought record numbers of wineries, artisans, and spectators to the fairgrounds. Featured on Sunday’s country music day were singer-songwriter Terry Bullard, as well as Tim McGraw tribute artist, Adam D. Tucker. Stay tuned for a little peek at what you may have missed at the wine fest.

News From Around The Country
Sugarland, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band have all earned new certifications from the RIAA for their album sales. Sugarland earned a triple-Platinum certification for the sale of three million copies of their 2006 album Enjoy the Ride. Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band have gone double-Platinum for their respective albums Need You Now and The Foundation.

Trace Adkins is being honored with the Medal of Honor from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR, in recognition of his patriotism and humanitarian works. The award will be presented on June 5th by the Nashville DAR Sarah Polk Chapter. The DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children.

LeDoux Honored and ZBB Honors Soldiers

As a celebration of his life and legacy in American music and rodeo, Chris LeDoux is being honored in Kaycee, Wyoming with his own park and bronze statue called “Good Ride Cowboy.” Chris sits atop Stormy Weather in the statue, the horse that earned him a World Championship. The park features a unique walkway with Chris’s boot prints fading as you near the sculpture. The dedication of the park will take place on June 19th.

Inspired by the latest single, Little Big Town gave weddings to two couples in their “Little White Church” tent last weekend as part of the Country Throwdown tour. The ceremonies happened in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. The members of Little Big Town attended both ceremonies and signed the marriage licenses as official witnesses.

More than 70,000 people have participated in the “Letters For Lyrics” campaign, a partnership between the Zac Brown Band and Ram Trucks. Fans who write a letter to a U.S. soldier are rewarded with a CD that features three new songs from the Zac Brown Band. As part of the campaign, RamTrucks has video installments of Zac Brown Band’s visit to soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf.

If you can’t make it to Lady Antebellum’s fan club party, the performance will be streamed live on their website on June 10th. 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit Nashville flood relief. It will be a $5 minimum donation to watch.

And finally, Julianne Hough wants her fans to help her pick out a dress to wear on the red carpet for the 2010 CMT Music Awards. Click here to check out the gallery and cast your vote.

Wednesday? Where's The Week Gone?

News From Around The Country
There’s good news for fans who just can't get enough of Taylor Swift! Taylor has launched her own TV channel on the web! TaylorTV.net features all her music videos and other links to her empire, plus exclusive video content like video blogs. Check it out and you can see Taylor shooting hoops, hunting for Easter eggs and baking a cake for her brother's birthday. ….. Coming up on July 3rd, a TV special about the 25th Anniversary of Dollywood is set to air on The Hallmark Channel. Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, Kenny Rogers, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney and others will appear on the special to help celebrate. It’s interesting that Dolly Parton’s former business advisors told her not to invest in an aging tourist attraction that had surely seen its glory days. But, in 1986, Dolly did so anyway. 25 years later, Dollywood is still going strong. The park features 10 distinctly themed areas, spans 150 acres, and plays hosts to four of the South’s largest festivals each year. Dollywood boasts thrilling roller coasters, including Thunderhead, twice voted the world’s best wooden coaster. Wagon making, blacksmithing and woodcarving are always on display courtesy of the dozens of master craftsmen. ….. Yesterday, Zac Brown Band released the live DVD Pass The Jar. Kid Rock and Little Big Town were among the special guests last October, the night that the ZBB performed at Atlanta's Fox Theater. Proceeds from that show benefited the rebuilding of the historic Georgia Theater.

ZBB Supports The Troops

The Zac Brown Band has partnered with Chrysler Group’s Ram truck brand to offer free music to fans through a creative campaign designed to boost morale of U.S. soldiers stationed overseas. Beginning May 10th, you can participate in the Letters For Lyrics campaign by dropping off a letter for the troops at local Ram dealerships. In exchange, you will receive a 3-song mini-album, Breaking Southern Ground, while supplies last. The goal is to receive one-million letters “thank you” letters. Soldier’s Angels will deliver the letters. Additionally, you can log on to a special website to be one of the first 100,000 fans to download an exclusive live version of the band’s latest single, “Free.”

News From Around The Country
Country Weekly has calculated our votes and ranked the Hottest Bachelors in Country Music. With over 40,000 votes, Gary Allan wins the 2010 title. Phil Vassar, Jake Owen, Danny Gokey, Josh Thompson, Billy Currington, Kenny Chesney, Chuck Wicks, Lee Brice, Blake Shelton and Chris Young were among the other candidates. The remainder of the Top 10 should be revealed soon. ….. Clay Walker and the Band Against MS bike team participated in the annual BP MS150 bike ride in Houston last weekend, raising over 130,000 dollars for the National MS Society. Clay was the ride’s grand marshal, and sang the national anthem before the ride. Over 108 riders on the team pedaled 180 miles to raise cash. The money raised will help further the mission of funding research to find a cure for MS. …… Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and his wife, Tiffany Fallon, have announced the gender of their second child due in September. It’s a girl. The couple has not decided on a name, because as Tiffany said, “We’re one of those couples that has to play with names. I can’t even decide what I want for dinner half the time and this is naming a child for the rest of her life!”

Happy Thursday

News From Around The Country
If there’s any room left on your DVR, you may want to set it to catch Faith Hill on the season finale of Project Runway on Lifetime tonight. Faith will act as one of the guest judges. …… Remember the footage of Zac Brown Band’s USO Tour on the ACM awards? More of the same is supposed to be made into a documentary about the overseas trip. “It’s not front page news anymore, a lot of people don’t think about it anymore, outta sight outta mind. But to the people who are actually living there, and the families that are missing their folks, it’s very real. We are excited to go over and help to give them a little relief from the monotony that’s going on,” said Zac. No word on when the documentary will be released. ….. Taylor Swift will be the next superstar turned into a comic book character. The 32-page biographical series will feature the journey she has traveled so far, including writing music at the age of ten. The first edition should be released in July. ….. And finally, Blake Shelton was talking backstage at the ACM Awards that his next Six Pak album should be coming out in late summer. The smaller album concept is supposed to allow fans more new music more often.

Is It Thursday Already?

It looks like the next CD from Zac Brown Band should be out in the fall. This will be the first album all six members will have played on. They’re planning to make this album even bigger than The Foundation and have brought guest performers Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson on board for the project. They haven’t decided on a name just yet but if it was up to Zac, he would name it You Get What You Give, which just so happens to be one of his tattoos.

So where’s Jimmy? Not quite at the halfway point on his Meet Me Halfway Walk Across America, Jimmy Wayne invented a game to occupy his time. After Jimmy was reunited with Lieutenant Jason Garkey, whom he walked with in January, the two came up with a friendly competition – collecting coins they find on the road. Jimmy says, "I had been collecting them before he came out, but it really got competitive when he came out because he's a military guy! When he would find a quarter, it would wear me out. Of course, I'd find a nickel, and he'd laugh.” Jimmy is still on the road to Phoenix.

During a party to celebrate four weeks at number one, Josh Turner’s publishing company Colbat Music, treated Josh and the co-writers of “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” with gift certificates for ballroom dance lessons. He should have just done Dancing With The Stars.

And finally, word is out that Taylor Swift stumbled across a website of three Auburn University guys who are making a grassroots effort to get one of her famous hugs. The guys came up with a random idea to film a documentary and series of webisodes of their mission to get a hug from Taylor. Being the video taker that she is, Taylor responded back, challenging the guys to do good deeds in order to score a hug. It will only be a matter of time until their next mission is revealed. Check out the madness at AHugFromTaylorSwift.com.

Life Is Good Today In Margaritaville

Based on the reception for ZBB a couple of weeks ago, TVs all over Las Cruces will be tuned in to CMT tonight. The episode of CMT Crossroads with Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett premieres tonight. It should be a great show, because as we heard that night, so much of ZBB music has a carefree feel, the complement to Jimmy Buffet’s hits should be fantastic. How did the pairing come about? Zac Brown says that he actually met Jimmy at a retreat for men in the music business, “We were sitting around a fire trading songs, with Jimmy and one other guy for a good two hours. That’s the first time we really got to meet. I told him I had some songs I wanted to play for him, and we just sat around and traded songs. That was just amazing.”

News From Around The Country
Brad Paisley will make his directorial debut at The Nashville Film Festival on April 22nd. Brad’s directorial skills will be featured in two short films - When Mom’s Away, and Teenage Paparazzo. The subject matter has yet to be revealed but many speculate the films will display Brad’s sense of humor. ….. Dierks Bentley will be featured in the April issue of Esquire magazine (hits the stores on March 23rd). He did the two-day fashion shoot in Mississippi in February. At the end of the trip he was challenged to record an original song that included the phrase “Somewhere in Mississippi.” The result will be available for a one-day-only download on March 29th, and the full version of the song will be available April 5th at esquire.com. ….. And while you’re at the newsstand, you may want to pick up a copy of the April issue of Good Housekeeping. Keith Urban shares his favorite home cooked recipe for crust-less quiche.

So Much For The Dance Floor - ZBB Rocks!

Zac Brown Band rocked the Pan Am Center for 3-1/2 hours last night. This band of musical machines played everything from their hits “Chicken Fried,” “Toes,” and “Whatever It Is” to new music, southern music, and favorites like “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” There was nary a dull moment as Zac Brown and rotating members of his band played on most every song heard throughout the night. The goal was to give the hard-workin’ people of Las Cruces their monies worth, and it was surely worth every penny as the show was much more like a jam session than a scripted concert.

For some, the evening started with what Zac Brown Band calls the Meet-and-Eat. It’s a much more flavorful version of the traditional handshake and photo parade that most country artists do before a show. Invited guests are taken backstage before the show to mingle with the band over dinner. It’s like being invited to Zac’s home for dinner. The whole experience is so casual that you’d hardly know you’re having dinner among “stars.” To start, gracious host Zac shook everyone’s hand to welcome them to the dinner. Beverages were made available and then Zac and Chef Rusty greeted the group and explained the meal. Chef Rusty travels with the band to prepare these meals, and he said that he enjoys shopping at local markets for the ingredients, as well as picking up fresh, local produce. So while in New Mexico, he explained that one of the dishes had (you guessed it) green chile. One of the slaws served was Zac’s recipe, and the meat had one of Zac’s rubs as a spice. More on his recipes is available in his cookbook. Chef Rusty also prepared a strawberry-vinaigrette salad, rolls, mashed potatoes, a noodle dish, and two types of meat. And cookies for dessert. All very tasty, but the real treats were the acoustic performances from each of the opening acts. Around all the food and music, Zac, the members of his band, and all the opening acts just mingled among the crowd like old friends. Joey & Rory and some band members stepped behind the chafing dishes to serve food; all the musicians just fixed their plates and picked a table to sit and chat. Zac mingled the room to assure that everyone was enjoying themselves. It was a special experience that really showed how Zac and his organization do not put themselves on the celebrity pedestal. They’re good people. They just happen to play music for a living.

Showtime brought a fresh approach to the concert experience. Gone was the opening act warming up the crowd for the grand entrance of the headliner. Joey & Rory, acting as singing MCs, brought Levi Lowrey out to sing a couple of songs, and then Zac and necessary members of the band quietly appeared onstage to jam with Levi. Just as quietly, they went away so Sonia Leigh could do a couple of songs – until it was time to appear again to jam with her. Again, Nic Cowan sang a couple songs; guess who came back to help? Each time Zac was onstage, he made sure the spotlight was on his opener, and he was just there to backup. Each opener did a combination of their own music and music written with Zac, but all of it had a fresh, rootsy sound that was spiced with just the right dash of attitude for the Thursday night crowd.

To transition from openers to headliner, the stage went dark and a video retrospective of Zac Brown Band’s career and backstage antics was played. After all, Zac promised a variety show. Again, there was no definitive point in the video that would have bridged the video and live show with a climactic introduction. The band more or less interrupted the video with “Whatever It Is.” Interestingly, all the bands hits were scattered unceremoniously throughout the show. Oh sure, Zac did his fair share of talking between songs, but he more often pointed out new music than the songs that they he’s already been rewarded for. Highlights of the show included the fiddle-screamin’ CDB cover, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” and “America The Beautiful” introduced with a salute to the troops. But more so, the musicianship displayed by the entire band through the whole night was the major highlight. It didn’t really matter if the song was new, a hit, or an admittedly-silly chicken song, make no mistake, Zac Brown Band can pick and grin with the best of ‘em. The only disappointing part of the show was that there was not nearly enough dance floor set up for all those who wanted to dance. The general admission area that was promised for dancing was so packed that it was standing room only. A few fringe dancers found some room in front of the stationary floor seats; the rest of the healthy Thursday night crowd were in bowl seats.

This fresh, COUNTRY, sound sets Zac Brown Band up as a marking point in the ebb and flow of country music. Like Alabama and Lonestar before them, who respectively made southern-rock and pop okay in country music, Zac Brown Band is in the process of shifting the axis of the sound of hit country music. And that’s ok. Congratulations on all your deserved awards, and glad you had a good time during your day-trip to White Sands.

Zac Brown In Town

The Breaking Southern Ground Tour comes to Las Cruces tonight! Levi Lowery, Nic Cowan, and Sonia Leigh open the show for Zac Brown Band. Joey & Rori are the guest MCs. It will be a full house tonight at the Pan Am Center. The GA tickets (that’s General Admission; not Georgia) are sold out, so the floor of the Pan Am will have its fair share of dancers. The lower bowl seats were said to be full with the exception of a few scattered single tickets. And the last-minute batch of upper bowl seats are said to be selling pretty briskly. Check the box office for availability, because the community and the region will be coming together tonight for the opportunity to see one of music’s hottest bands in action. Look for a report about the show in this space tomorrow.

News From Around The Country
Jessica Harp is retiring. In a post to her fans, Jessica wrote at-length about her decision to quit pursuing a singing career and concentrate on songwriting instead. She thanked fans profusely for being there with her through her rise as an independent artist, her stint with The Wreckers, and her transition to a solo artist. Now she hopes that that allegiance can be given to another young artist as she pursues other interests. She vented her frustration surrounding the release of her album, but did mention that as a parting gift, her label will be releasing her digital album on March 16th.

Set the DVRs, Keith Urban will be singing “Til Summer Comes Around Again” on Jimmy Kimmel Live, directly after the Academy Awards on Sunday. ….. Taylor Swift kicked off the North American leg of her Fearless 2010 Tour with a sold-out show in Tampa, Florida. Meanwhile, she is nominated for a 2010 JUNO Award for International Album of the Year. ….. And finally, word is out that after the taping of CMT Crossroads in Nashville on Tuesday, Kenny Chesney and Steve Miller took to tradition, left the Ryman Auditorium, crossed the alley and snuck into the backdoor of Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to continue the party until all hours of the night. That must have been some treat for those lucky enough to fit into such a small venue.

The Wake of the ACM Nominations

Ever seen a 3-foot pizza? Short of the book of world’s records, “The Big One” is likely the largest single pizza you’ll ever see. You can get one at Fox’s Pizza Den. If get one of today’s Half Off Wednesday certificates, you can get one for half price. Check it out on the main website because there’s nothing better than impressing your kids at their next birthday party with a pizza that’s likely bigger than they are!

If you're in El Paso tonight, you're welcome to join the Eli Young Band for a great show at Whiskey Dicks. Tickets are $15 at Horse N Hound or ticketbully.com. The last time EYB was in El Paso, the show was a sell-out, so door tickets may be scarce. Advance tickets are always the safest bet.

Tomorrow night, Zac Brown Band will be bringing the Breaking Southern Ground Tour to the Pan Am Center. Yesterday, 500 more tickets were opened up. Grab yours so you don't miss the chance to see the ACM-nominated and Grammy-winning band.

News From Around The Country
While reactions to yesterday’s ACM Award Nominations are settling down, one winner has already been named. Montgomery Gentry will receive the 2010 ACM and Home Depot Humanitarian Award. Troy and Eddie will be honored during the April 18th award show for their ongoing community service and charitable giving, especially to the U.S. military. Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, and Brooks & Dunn, among others, have all been recipients of the Award.

If you’ve been waiting for the CMT Crossroads episode with Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band, set your DVRs for March 19th. Taped before an invitation-only audience in Nashville last December, the two acts will perform each other's hit songs. It should be great to hear ZBB on "Margaritaville" and "Son of a Sailor" and Jimmy on "Chicken Fried" and "Toes."

Carrie Underwood has been working with the Pedigree dog food company to assist with animal shelters and find homes for abandoned animals. For every person requesting to be the company’s friend on Facebook, Pedigree will donate eight ounces of dog food to animal shelters. Last week, Pedigree made a 50-thousand dollars donation to Carrie’s foundation to help build an animal shelter in her hometown of Checotah, OK.

Feel Good Friday Fun

Here’s what you’ve been waiting for! WIN ZAC BROWN BAND TICKETS from The Country Station! Check out the Contest Page back on the main website and submit your best fried chicken recipe! Winners will get a pair of tickets to the concert on Thursday, March 4th at the Pan Am Center. A grand prize winner will be chosen from among all regular ticket winners to receive additional tickets and a chance to attend a Meet & Eat with Zac Brown Band. So get to cookin’ and good luck!

With the weather warming up in some parts of the country, spring is on the way and summer will be here before we know it. In country music circles, summertime means great concerts and festivals, and there’s none bigger than the CMA Music Fest. This year’s headline lineup includes Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band. The festival takes place June 10th through the 13th in downtown Nashville. Tickets are now available.

News From Around The Country
After two albums, Jason Michael Carroll and Arista Nashville have parted ways. Jason will continue to tour and record and will be shopping for a new record deal. …. Jimmy Buffet will be expanding his Margaritaville Café to Tennessee for the first time, opening later this year in the music district on lower Broadway in Nashville. …. Keith Urban and wife Nicole Kidman will be donating $50,000 each year for five years to a fund a school in Port-au-Prince Haiti. ….. Taylor Swift just finished her tour in Japan. Her Fearless album was certified Gold in Japan yesterday morning. Furthermore, “Love Story" can be found at #8 as the only country song among the Top 25 Most Downloaded iTunes Songs of All Time. …. Jake Owen recently posted a picture of himself on Twitter with a cut between his eyes. Apparently, he and his twin brother were hunting when a rifle recoiled, smacking the scope into his face.

And finally, if you missed Brad Paisley on Jimmy Kimmel Live earlier this week, here’s a great story that Brad told about the best prank he’s pulled to date. He was opening for Lonestar at the time and during his set, they thought they would pull a prank on him by putting minnows in his drinking water. He took several sips before realizing what they had done. His revenged involved closing out his set with their biggest hit “Amazed.” Brad said that at first, Lonestar thought he would only sing a verse or two and the prank would be over. Instead, Brad made the song last five minutes and even had the audience stand up and sing a chorus or two. By the time he was done with them, the audience was tired of hearing Lonestar’s biggest hit.

Downhill Til The Weekend!

News From Around The Country
Kenny Chesney and Sugarland have been added to the “Stand Up To Cancer,” benefit on the Demand Channel. The new channel, which is available to Comcast subscribers for no charge through March 14th, is an encouragement for viewers to donate money for cancer research. ….. Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, and Jamey Johnson will be representing country music at the 2010 Bonnaroo Festival. ….. Miranda Lambert will host her third annual “Cause for Paws” fundraiser on May 15th in Tyler, Texas. All proceeds go to Miranda’s favorite charity, the Humane Society of East Texas. ….. And finally, if you ever had any doubts that country music is based on real life experiences, Carrie Underwood shares the story of her first date. She was 16, and the boy was 18. “And he came in, and my dad actually had gotten out his shotguns earlier to start cleanin’ ‘em. I don’t know why he decided to clean them right before my first date, but he did. Mom made him put ‘em up, though,” said Carrie. The date was a complete bust. Her date had planned to take her to an R-rated film but since she wasn’t 18 they had to see a movie Carrie admits was “horrible.” They left halfway through the film and the guy took her home.