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.