Dierks Turns Down Trump

After winning this past season of Celebrity Apprentice, John Rich suggested that armchair apprentice Dierks Bentley would be a good candidate for the next season. But, with a new tour and kids at home, Dierks admits that he had to send his regrets to The Donald, “I did get the call, which I was totally flattered to get. It’s just for me, at this time, where I am, I’m really happy. I have the road and the show and the fans and the music and the songwriting and the making records. That stuff brings you so much joy and happiness…a family and everything that comes with that. I’m good. I don’t need anything more right now.” Dierks will head out on the Country & Cold Cans tour, beginning October 6th in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Luke Bryan’s new CD, Tailgates & Tanlines, soared to the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart this week and landed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart. The album sold over 145,000 copies in its first week, edging out Eric Church’s Chief to become the second highest debut for a country album this year behind Brad Paisley’s This Is Country Music.

Kenny Chesney set a new record for country music concerts in the NY-NJ area this past Saturday. With an estimated attendance of 55,000 fans at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the concert broke the former record, set by a 1983 festival featuring Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Linda Ronstadt at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands.

Next February 26th would have been Johnny Cash’s 80th birthday and to mark the occasion, Legacy Recordings has been releasing a ton of material from the Man in Black. The latest set will be called Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. 3 – Live Around the World. It features 50 of Johnny’s live performances from 1956 to 1979 – 39 of which have never been released. Among them are concert stops at the White House, in Vietnam and elsewhere. Get them all by picking up the double-disc album when it hits shelves on October 11th. The release coincides with the October 18th publication of John Carter Cash’s book, House of Cash: The Life, Legacy and Archives of The Man in Black.

Feel Good Friday

Rascal Flatts and George Strait kick off their 2011 tours today, in Sioux Falls and Austin respectively. With $41.6 million cited in Pollstar, George had the highest-grossing concert tour in 2010. This year, George has teamed up with RedShirtFridays.org to show support for US military servicemen and women. He personally began participating in Red Shirt Friday during the holidays and will continue that tradition tonight, wearing a red shirt for opening night. He's encouraging fans to wear red shirts to all of his Friday shows and says, "I want to see a building full of red shirts if possible."

Billboard has released its list of the hottest TV theme songs, selected from the Hot 100 charts of the last 30 years and ranked according to where each song peaked on the chart between 1980 and 2011. Waylon Jennings put the only country song on the list.

BILLBOARD’S TOP 10 TV THEME SONGS 1980-2011

1) “How Do You Talk To An Angel”, The Heights – The Heights
2) “Miami Vice Theme”, Jan Hammer – Miami Vice
3) “Theme From Greatest American Hero (Believe It Or Not)”, Joey Scarbury – Greatest American Hero
4) “The Theme From Hill Street Blues”, Mike Post feat. Larry Carlton – Hill Street Blues
5) “I’ll Be There For You”, The Rembrants – Friends
6) “Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good ‘Ol Boys)”, Waylon Jennings – The Dukes of Hazzard
7) “Moonlighting (Theme)”, Al Jarreau – Moonlighting
8) “Theme From Magnum P.I.”, Mike Post – Magnum P.I.
9) “Theme From Dynasty”, Bill Conti – Dynasty
10) “WKRP In Cincinnati”, Steve Carlisle – WKRP In Cincinnati

News From Around The Country
The first group of performers for the 53rd Grammy Awards has been announced, and the Miranda Lambert will represent country music. This will be her first time performing at the Grammys, which will take place live on CBS from Los Angeles on February 13th. ….. Jerrod Neimann will have his day in his hometown of Liberal, Kansas. Mayor Tim Long has declared tomorrow, January 15th as “Jerrod Niemann Day”. Jerrod graduated from Liberal High School in 1997, attended college in Texas, and eventually moved to Nashville. The proclamation made by the mayor mentions Jerrod’s success with his first single, “Lover, Lover,” and his album Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury. …… Reba McEntire has revealed her new Spring collection of clothes for Dillard's. Check here to see it. ……. And finally, Johnny Cash will be inducted in to the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame on January 24th in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

"Country Strong" Ticket Giveaway

Coming up on Friday, Country Strong opens in theatres nationwide, including our own Allen Theatres. We’ll get the chance to see Tim McGraw play opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, as the husband and manager of a down-and-out country star trying to make a comeback. Stay tuned for the chance to call in and win a pair of tickets to the movie. Otherwise, stop by the new Steel Magnolia Boutique in Mesilla on Friday for a chance to pick up a pair of tickets. Tim McGraw will make several TV appearances this week in support of the movie. Check out Good Morning America on ABC and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC on Wednesday; Thursday, see Tim on Chelsea Lately (E!); and Friday on The Martha Stewart Show. Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow will host NBC’s Saturday Night Live next Saturday, January 15th. This will be her third time hosting the show.

Wedding bells were ringing loudly in the Caribbean on New Year’s Day. Media was quick with the news of Shania Twain’s second marriage, but also tying the knot in an intimate ceremony on a private island in the Caribbean was Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs. It's not surprising that Kellie chose to say her vows on the beach, considering that’s where they got engaged and she's a big fan of the ocean. Kellie posted tweets yesterday afternoon that read – "Private Island. Caribbean. Cigar in one hand, Rum in the other. Someone just called me "Mrs. Jacobs."....sounds nice :)" "Yes, it's true, @kylecjacobs and I said "I Do!" Thank you Jesus!" Kyle also posted a tweet that read, "It's official...I'm Mr. Pickler..." With a new husband and home in Nashville, Kelly admits she’s grown up quite a bit since her early days on the scene, and feels more confident than ever. Kellie said, “I know who I am better now, than I what I did when I was, you know, just turned nineteen and moved to Nashville, so I have a better sense of who I am, and everyday I’m learning more and more about what I like and what I don’t like…I’ve learned a lot.” Kellie kicks-off a series of spring performances January 29th.

The People's Choice Awards air tonight on CBS. Kid Rock is set to perform during the night and Taylor Swift has been confirmed as attending. Country artists are represented in several categories including:

Favorite MALE ARTIST
Eminem
Enrique Iglesias
Michael Bublé
Tim McGraw
Usher

Favorite FEMALE ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Katy Perry
Lady Gaga
Pink
Taylor Swift

Favorite COUNTRY ARTIST
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Taylor Swift

Favorite TV GUEST STAR
Betty White - Community
Britney Spears - Glee
Carrie Underwood - How I Met Your Mother
Demi Lovato - Grey's Anatomy
Neil Patrick Harris – Glee

And finally, The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, makes his long-anticipated debut on Rock Band this week. Eight of Johnny’s most-loved songs are available for download and play in Rock Band 3 as of Tuesday. Classics such as “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” and “Cry, Cry, Cry,” are just some of the tunes you will enjoy. The entire pack costs $13.49 on the Xbox 360, Wii, and Playstation consoles.

First of the Year Wedding Bells

1-1-11. A popular anniversary date. If you used it, you share the date with Shania Twain and Frédéric Thiébaud. The couple, who announced their engagement only a short time ago, exchanged vows on New Years Day. Shania's manager, Jason Owen, told People magazine exclusively that the two were married at sunset in Puerto Rico in front of 40 of their closest friends and family. The couple has been romantically involved since 2009, after their respective divorces.

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.

Tuesday Newsday

Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman, Bill T. Jones, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey were all honored at the 33rd Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday night in Washington, D.C. A-list celebrities such as Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Barbara Walters, and President Barack Obama were all in attendance to support the honorees. Merle had a strong support system from country music as well, as Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock and Jamey Johnson all took the stage to pay tribute to the Okie from Muskogee. The gala will broadcast on CBS on December 28th.

In other TV Notes, Garth Brooks will be spending some time with Larry King this Friday as part of his final week of shows on CNN. For one hour, Garth will sit down with Larry to talk about his upcoming string of benefit concerts for Nashville flood relief, family, his Vegas show, and why he’s not in iTunes. And if you missed the CMA Country Christmas show the first time, it will re-air on December 22nd on ABC. Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles hosts the special that features country artists sharing Christmas stories and family traditions. Guests include Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Reba, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, and Sugarland.

And finally, if you’ve got fifty-grand lying around, you could have been the owner of the blue denim jumpsuit worn by Johnny Cash during a rehearsal at the San Quentin prison. It was sold by an entertainment auction house last Sunday for $50,000. The infamous outfit is featured in the Jim Marshall photograph with Johnny wagging his middle finger into the camera lens. The expected sales estimate was only $5,000. Bidders made offers over the phone and at the gallery on not only the outfit but, a Martin acoustic guitar which Johnny signed and used to write the first four lines of his hit "I Walk the Line." It also went for $50,000, topping its estimates of $20,000.

New Music Releases

Just when we thought there wasn’t going to be a country music connection to Celebrity Apprentice this year, appearances by Emily West and Luke Bryan have been announced. Emily and Luke will appear in an episode of the show where contestants will be challenged to see if they have what it takes to be a country music star. This season features some rockers like Bret Michaels, Cyndi Lauper and Sharon Osbourne, but will they have what it takes to be a country artist? The new season kicks off this Sunday.

It’s a big year for Jamey Johnson. He will be inducted into The Alabama Music Hall of Fame on March 25th, and he will be putting out two albums. The Guitar Song, full of upbeat material, is scheduled for July, and the second album, still untitled, should be out in the fall. It will focus on songs about economically tough times. Jamey says the reason for the two albums is mainly because he’s been on a creative streak. He’s got all this material recorded, so why not release it?

In other new releases, Dolly Parton’s gospel recordings from the early 1970’s will be reissued on both CD and digital formats on May 4th. The 16-track album, Letter to Heaven: Songs of Faith and Inspiration, features music from her early career with producer Bob Ferguson. The collection’s first 10 songs are from her 1971 album, The Golden Streets of Glory. A previously unreleased track, “Would You Know Him,” is also included. ….. Also coming to the digital world, fourteen of Johnny Cash’s later albums for Columbia Records will be released digitally in March and April by Legacy Recordings. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, The Johnny Cash Show, Man in Black, A Thing Called Love, Johnny Cash and His Woman. The series will also include Rainbow, his final album for the label. Specific release dates will be determined by the digital service providers.

CRS - Can Remember Stuff

Good Monday morning. Now that country radio folk, including yours truly, have had the weekend to get home and recover from the whirlwind that is CRS, let’s see if we CAN Remember Stuff! So many things are going on, often times simultaneously, that it’s good to look back and review some of the highlights or announcements that may have been missed.

With Kenny Chesney off the road this summer, it looks like Brad Paisley is picking up the slack on the festival-style concert experience. To open the H20 summer tour, Brad’s pulled the A-list of new talent together, including Darius Rucker, Josh Thompson, Miranda Lambert, Steel Magnolia, Easton Corbin, and Justin Moore. The tour kicks off in May. ….. Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, and Kellie Pickler took home award plaques as souvenirs from CRS. Carrie’s award was for 20 million “Digital Transactions;” Miranda got a gold plaque for her album Revolution, and Kellie took home a platinum decoration for one million digital downloads of “Best Days of My Life.” ….. Bryan Adams showed up as the surprise guest at one of the many industry parties that go during CRS Week. He sang “Summer of ’69,” and “Run To You,” after which Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood jumped up to sing their respective Bryan Adams covers. ..... Rupert showed up. A name not often associated with country music, Rupert Boneham from Survivor Hereos vs. Villians was spotted mingling among the radio and record folk. ….. A little bit of baby talk was also heard in the hallways, and no, it wasn’t from radio people who were spending a little bit too much free time away from microphones. Luke Bryan spilled the news that he and his wife, Carolyn, are expecting their second child in August. Their first son, Bo, will be turning two in March. James Otto was also pretty giddy about the news that he and his wife, Amy, will be welcoming their first child, also in August. … There was also talk in the hallways on Friday of what would have been Johnny Cash’s 78th birthday. How fun is this? By pure coincidence, the 10 billionth song was downloaded on iTunes on Friday, and it was Johnny Cash’s “Guess Things Happen That Way.” iTunes checked the account records, and it was a 71-year-old man, Louie Sulcer of Georgia, who downloaded the tune, and to his surprise, he received calls from both Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne Cash. Apple also threw in a $10,000 iTunes credit for the lucky downloader.

Monday Musings

The March 2010 Country Special issue of People magazine has hit the newsstands. Don’t miss bikini-babe Carrie Underwood, a feature article on Keith Urban (including a family shot with Sunday Rose), a look inside Big Kenny’s house, country stars giving shout-outs to their favorite romantic songs and tell the stories behind their own songs, and a selection of People’s signature free song downloads.

While appearing on The Early Show Saturday, Wynonna announced that she and her mother Naomi Judd will hit the road again for a tour as The Judds. No tour dates have been announced yet.

Friday, February 26th will be Black Friday. Isn’t that in November, you ask? Not if you’re a Johnny Cash fan. On what would have been Cash’s 78th birthday, fans are encouraged to wear black and post pictures of themselves to a special Facebook group in order to enter to win Johnny’s five-CD box set Unearthed. Also on the 26th, the Man in Black’s final studio album, American VI: Ain’t No Grave, will be released.

The Big Men of Country Team Up

Toby has signed Trace! During a press conference yesterday about the merging of Toby Keith’s label, Show Dog, with Universal South, Toby announced the label’s new act – Trace Adkins. Trace has been with Capitol records for 15 years and said they were in the middle of renegotiating his contract when he heard about Toby’s new label Show Dog Universal. Having toured with Toby over the summer, Trace decided this was the perfect way for him to achieve what Toby has in his career. Trace said of Toby, “He’s like a twelve-year-old when he’s on stage. That joy that I’ve seen from him is real. He ain’t that good of actor! And I said, ‘I want me some of that.’” It just so happened that yesterday was Trace’s 48th birthday so everyone at the press conference sang happy birthday to him and the label presented him with a cake. Trace has been in the studio working on a new album and has eight songs recorded already.

A new year means new music, and the list of pending releases lengthens daily. Alan Jackson fans have March 30th circled on their calendars, as that is the day Freight Train pulls into the station, er, store. The new CD will include 12 songs, including the current single "It's Just That Way." He wrote or co-wrote eight of the songs. As a tribute to the late Vern Gosdin, Alan and guest singer Lee Ann Womack will duet on Vern's "Till the End." This is Alan's 18th album and was produced by Keith Stegall. His last album, Good Time, was released in March 2008.

Johnny Cash’s American VI will be released February 26th, concluding the American Recordings album series. The release date coincides with the 78th anniversary of Johnny’s birth. The collection includes songs written by Sheryl Crow (“Redemption Day”) and Kris Kristofferson (“For the Good Times”), as well as a Cash original, “I Corinthians: 15:55,” written over the last three years of his life.

Ever wonder how much income you’d be declaring on your taxes had you married well?
Forbes magazine has revealed the top power couples in entertainment. It’s neat that two country couples have made the list! Check it out:
1. Beyonce and Jay-z - $122 million (beyonce - $87m / jay-z - $35m)
2. Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart - $69 million
3. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - $55 million
4. Will Smith and Jada pinkett smith - $48 million
5. David and Victoria Beckham - $46 million
6. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi - $36 million
7. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson - $35.5 million
8. Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy - $34 million
9. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes - $33.5 million
10. Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow - $33 million
11. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick - $29 million
12. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - $28 million
13. Eva Longoria and Tony Parker - $22 million
14. Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley - $20
15. Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban - $17 million

Feel Good Friday Happenings

Are you going to the FFA convention this year? Say hey to Toby Keith for us! Toby will be your guest entertainer at this year’s FFA (Future Farmers of America) convention in Indianapolis. Toby says that he is looking forward to the convention because he was a member of the FFA when he was in high school. The convention will bring in around 55-thousand students this year.

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.”

Thursday Entertainment

Taylor Swift is on CSI tonight. She plays a teenage girl whose family runs a seedy Vegas hotel in the episode "Turn, Turn, Turn." Like CSI tends to do, the story turns tragic after a series of events occur in the character's life. Watch the trailer and stay tuned after Survivor to see Taylor's acting debut!



Tracy Byrd kicks off his first European tour this week with four shows in three different countries. "I’ve always heard that fans over there are serious about their country music," Tracy says. "So I’m looking forward to playing my hits for them, but I also can’t wait to pull out some hard-core classics and see for myself if what I’ve heard is true." The tour starts Saturday in Minehead, Great Britain; followed by concerts March 11-12 in Zurich, Switzerland; and March 14 in Untermeitingen, Germany. Back in the U.S.,the independent movie Noble Things, featuring Tracy and Lee Ann Womack, has its Southeastern premiere at the 40th annual Nashville Film Festival April 16-23.

Luke Bryan is preparing for Spring Break with an iTunes EP and a new texting contest. Luke will be doing a couple of spring break concerts in party cities Daytona Beach and Panama City. To coincide, Luke will be releasing an exclusive downloadable acoustic version of “All My Friends Say.” The other two songs on the EP are songs that he wrote to perform in all the college towns he plays, “Sorority Girls” and “Take My Drunk A** Home.” There has been such a demand for the college-themed songs that Luke decided to offer them on the download rather than trying to put them on his sophomore CD which is due out sometime in the spring. Furthermore, Luke is offering the busiest texting college the chance at a concert. Instructions are posted on his official website as to where to send a text. The college town or sorority that sends the most texts will win 100 tickets to a Luke Bryan concert. Luke says, “This is going to be the best time I think I've ever had on spring break – and I'm not even in school anymore!”

Attention ebay shoppers. An original Johnny Cash concert performance is up for bid. This is the original 24-track analog recording from July 28, 1990 at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, N.J. The auction ends March 11 and has a starting price of $4,999. This collection includes three tapes on 14-inch reels; the first tape is lost, so the winner will get tapes two, three, and four which pretty much contain the balance of the show, including all of Cash's performance.

Papa had the "Achey Breaky," Miley's got the "Hoedown Throwdown." Here's the preview of this spring's trendy dance which will surely be the rage after the release of Hannah Montana, The Movie on April 10th.

T.G.I.T.W.E.F.

Thank Goodness It's The Whole Enchilada Fiesta. This weekend TWEF takes over the Meerscheidt area. One week until the Josh Gracin concert at the Southern New Mexico State Fair. This afternoon at 5 is the grand prize drawing for the Line-X of Las Cruces contest. And through it all, there is news.

Dierks Bentley will be going back to Norway for a performance, but this time the crowd won’t be made up of normal fans. Instead, he’ll be playing at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. Dierks had planned to lay low during the month of December, but couldn’t say no to the Nobel Peace Prize winners, “It’s one of those opportunities that’s pretty tough to pass up and what a cool thing to be part of. World leaders from all over the world. And what a unique crowd of folks and a chance to go back to Norway.” The last time Dierks played in Norway, it was during the summer and he says all of the rivers were running and it was gorgeous. But going in the winter, Dierks says it’s going to be a little chilly. Couldn’t be any chillier than the icy river he jumped into for the “Tryin’ To Stop Your Leaving” video.

An unreleased recitation will be featured as part of an upcoming documentary that takes a look at Johnny Cash’s opinions on America. The narration – called “I Am the Nation” – was uncovered with some of his effects after his death. The documentary, Johnny Cash’s America, airs on the Biography Channel October 23rd and features interviews with Al Gore, Snoop Dogg, Bob Dylan, Sheryl Crow, Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, and Vince Gill. It will be available as part of a CD/DVD package on October 28th.

Look for Jason Meadows in new automotive advertising campaign. Chrysler is going to use online and television reality Webisodes to show off the Dodge Ram. The ads will be based on four rounds of driving challenges by Dodge’s primary demographic: Military, Firefighters, Contractors and Cowboys. Jason will represent the cowboys. His song, “Ride It Out” has just been chosen to be the official theme song for CBR and it will be featured in their RFD-TV show and all their events for the remainder of 2008 and throughout 2009.

Dates and Times:
On Wednesday October 1st Kellie Pickler will appear on Live With Regis and Kelly and perform her current song “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.”
Toby Keith will receive the 2008 Will Rogers Spirit Award, November 4th in Tulsa.
Lady Antebellum will perform tonight on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

And it’s a shame to have wrap up a Feel Good Friday with sad news, but word is out that Emilio and his wife, Maria, were injured in a car crash in San Antonio. You may remember that Emilio and his band were in a bus crash this past Easter Sunday. After having spent the first few days following the crash on life support, Emilio has been recovering and traveling from the rehabilitation hospital to physical therapy. It was on the way back from one of those physical therapy sessions that the car they were riding in was struck at an intersection. They were both taken to the hospital and the two are reportedly in stable condition said. "They were scared, but the docs said everything looks alright," said Raul Navaira, Emilio's brother.

Elvis Week = Cash

Yee Haw! It’s Half Off Wednesday with the Texas Roadhouse! Better hurry. 6:00 comes and goes rather quickly.

What else is as hot as half price Texas Roadhouse? How about Jimmy Wayne? He’s been named People's Hot Guy of The Month. The feature inside People’s Special Country Music issue reveals some of Jimmy’s craziest female fan encounters, including moms that want to play matchmaker for their daughters at his concerts. He also discusses his ideal day off and the special qualities he looks for in a woman. Jimmy was quite humbled upon learning of People magazine’s accolade. "It's a bit embarrassing,” he blushed. “However I'm very fortunate to have an amazing bunch of female fans, and I'm very thankful for them." You may also remember that Jimmy was named one of People’s Sexiest Singers in 2003. The special issue is available until September 8th.

Kenny Chesney got to take practice with the New Orleans Saints this week. It was the second year in a row that Kenny got to attend the training camp with his buddies Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, and Jeremy Shockey. Although this year, he got to do more than just walk through with the team the night before the big game. He got to participate in a full practice, which proved to be a bit more of a challenge than Kenny anticipated. “As good a shape as you think you're in -- and people know I work out pretty hard -- you get out here and you know what in shape really means," Kenny admits. "These guys are in unbelievable condition, and just keeping up makes me feel like I'm hitting my marks." The highlight of Kenny’s practice session was catching a 45-yard punt. And thanks to that feat, Coach Sean Payton gave the team next Sunday off.

Elvis Week continues in Memphis with movies, movies, movies, and it continues on The Country Station with another chance to win an Elvis #1 Hit Performances DVD. Just take note of today’s Presley Password and be ready to call in and answer this afternoon during the Happy Hour. Meanwhile, the projectors are rolling on the other side of the Mississippi. Elvis made 31 movies, so it’s only natural that Graceland’s activities would include a Film Fest. Yesterday five of those movies were screened for Elvis fans attending the King’s devotional. Part two of the Music and Movies series on the front lawn of Graceland gave fans another opportunity to watch Elvis movies under the stars. The ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist contest continued, and by week’s end there will be a new winner who gets a contract performance with the Legends In Concert franchise. And to add interest for longtime fans who may have already toured Graceland enough times to have their address changed to the Jungle Room, new exhibits have been added to the area. This year fans can view new photos from the 1972 Madison Square Garden concert, as well as artifacts set out to mark the 50th anniversary of Elvis’ induction into the Army. The Elvis Expo opens today.

Elvis Week Video of the Day: Early footage of Johnny Cash doing his best impression of a certain rock n roll singer.

A Bounty of Blonds

It’s a Feel Good Friday at The Country Station and the news is flying at us in more of a random pattern than a loopy pilot on final approach.

We’ll make a swift start because a day without Taylor Swift is like an ocean without water. Today it’s being reported that country music’s favorite 18-year-old blond has been named a “Goddess of Summer” by the makers of a national brand of women’s razors. "This has been an amazing year for me -- and my new 'Goddess of Summer' role is a fun way for me to connect with my fans," Taylor said. Be watching for Taylor and her goddess-worthy legs in ad campaigns beginning August 15th.

Blond #2. Garth Brooks’ pretty wife, Miss Yearwood is sporting a ‘stache that you can’t shave. Trisha Yearwood is the latest celebrity to be featured in the “Got Milk” ad campaign.

Cute-as-a-cowgirl Jessica Simpson will be on the September cover of Elle magazine with an accompanying article about her love life and musical inspirations. That’s 3.

Blond #4 comes with a little more testosterone, but it’s attractive to learn that there’s some intellect under the curls. Dierks Bentley recently finished reading a biography of Henry the 8th. It was 900 pages long and he says he felt smart pulling it out to read on planes. He finished it while in Europe on tour.

And as long as we’re shopping in the good-lookin’ blond men’s department, how about a fifth tow head for a Feel Good Friday? Word is circulating that Bucky Covington is shopping for material for a sophomore album. New songs are being auditioned to receptive audiences on the concert trail this summer, with studio time tentatively booked for the fall. Stay tuned for a release date. Meanwhile, the third single from Bucky Covington, “I’ll Walk” continues to climb the charts (#13 MR / #29 MB) and burn up the video sharing services. You can see one of the most popular creations here.

Now for those that prefer your fellas a little on the darker side, Johnny Cash fans will want to set your DVR’s to see The Man in Black on August 5th. A 40-year old documentary will air on PBS. The documentary aired originally on public TV shortly after it was made in the late '60's, was released briefly in theaters, was shown in the United Kingdom, and aired last year on a cable channel. Cash is shown in a variety of footage onstage and off. Asked why PBS would air such dated footage, Executive Director Simon Kilmurry said, "Johnny Cash has become an almost mythic figure, and Bob Elfstrom's film captures him as a three-dimensional, complex person at a pivotal point in his life and career." Look for Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music on TV Tuesday as part of the 21st season of PBS' Emmy-winning P.O.V. series.

And lastly, sad news related to the Spotlight Artist of the Week. Darryl Worley’s Uncle Ed Howard has died at 95 this week in Savannah, Tennessee. He made regular appearances in his nephew’s videos, including the featured spotlight video “Tennessee River Run." Uncle Ed was also a fixture at Darryl’s annual Tennessee River Run to raise money for charitable causes. Condolences to the Worley Family. Share some memories with one of Uncle Ed’s appearances in this built-for-Friday video “A Good Day To Run.”
And one more Friday Feature for our Spotlight Artist. Check out Darryl Worley performing “Awful Beautiful Life” for the troops on a USO Tour. That should be enough to keep you occupied all weekend.
Awful Beautiful Life USO TOUR