Feel Good Friday Findings

News From Around The Country
Sony Music Nashville has confirmed that the label and their long-time artist Alan Jackson have parted ways. Sony called it an “amicable parting” and wished him well in the statement released on Thursday. …… Lady Antebellum joins the line-up of Grammy performers, including previously-announced Miranda Lambert. Lady A is up for six awards, including Top Album, Top Record, and Top Song. …… Shooter Jennings and fiancée, actress Drea de Matteo, are expecting their second child in the spring and they’ve already picked out a name. Shooter’s mother, Jessi Colter, explained the baby’s name, “It’s gonna be a boy, and it’s gonna be called Waylon Albert. And Waylon’s father was Albert and Drea’s father’s name is Albert. And it’s customary that the eldest son preferably be called W.A., the initial it’s just something that’s come down Waylon’s family. They’re expecting in April, God willing.” Drea most recently made a guest appearance on Law & Order: SVU. The couple’s first child, Alabama Gypsyrose, is three-years old. The first in a three-volume Waylon Jennings tribute project, The Music Inside, will be released on February 8th.

The People Have Spoken

During last night’s People’s Choice Awards, country artists won in two all genre categories. Taylor Swift won the Female Artist award and Keith Urban took home the Male Artist award. Carrie Underwood won the Country Artist award.

News From Around The Country
Taylor Swift’s Fearless CD has been recognized as the top-selling album of 2009, scanning a total of 3,217,000 units. Susan Boyle’s I Dreamed a Dream came in second with cumulative sales of 3,104,000. Interestingly, Susan released her album nearly a year after Taylor. The two albums were the only projects to sell more than three million units last year. …. In other Taylor news, she is said to be part of a new comic series featuring today’s “culturally relevant celebrities and other pop icons,” called the Fame Series. Lady Gaga will appear on the first issue May 5th. No word on when Taylor’s will be available. … Set your DVRs. Carrie Underwood will make her acting debut on an upcoming episode of How I Met Your Mother. Reportedly, Carrie will play “Tiffany,” an enigmatic pharmaceutical sales rep and love interest for “Ted” -played by Josh Radnor) -in an episode scheduled to air in March. … Clay Walker and his wife Jessica Walker have had a second child together. The name of the little girl has not been announced. Clay and Jessica had their first child together, William Clayton, in 2008. Clay has two daughters from a previous marriage, MaClay and Skylor. … And finally, Shooter Jennings will release a new album, Black Ribbons, on March 2nd with special guest Stephen King. The author will play the role of “Will O’ the Wisp,” a radio talk-show host being phased out of his job due to government censorship. Shooter and Stephen collaborated on the spoken dialogue, even though they still haven’t met in person.

It Sure Is Monday

Happy Monday! …trusting that you had a safe and pleasant 4th of July. With so many country artists “working” on the holiday at fairs and festivals across the country, it’s ironic that it’s otherwise slow in the world of country music this morning.

News From Around The Country
It’s been announced that Shooter Jennings' fiancé, Drea de Matteo, is moving to Wisteria Lane to join the cast of Desperate Housewives for the show's sixth season. The Annual Music Row Award winners have been announced. Jamey Johnson was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year. James Otto is the Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year. And “In Color” was named the Song of the Year, written by both Jamey and James. And finally, if you’d like a taste of Kid Rock, you don’t have to wait much longer. A new brand of beer in his name makes its debut on July 17th.

It's a Wrap!

CMA Music Fest wrapped in Nashville last night with the finale performance by Kenny Chesney. Taylor Swift entertained. Sugarland showed up to surprise the audience. Naomi and Wynonna were back on stage together performing as The Judds on Saturday night. Kid Rock surprised the audience on Friday night and brought Martina McBride to the stage to sing “Picture” with him. The week included Fan Club Parties, charity softball, fashion show, autograph signings, and music in more places than any person could hear at one time. For comprehensive coverage from those with the all access pass, check out the official CMA Site, CMT or GAC. If you’ve got hours upon hours to kill on the internet – start clickin.

News From Around The Country
Shooter Jennings popped the question to his longtime girlfriend, Drea de Matteo, so wedding bells will be in the future for Waylon and Jessie’s son. The Tony-nominated Broadway cast recording of 9 to 5: The Musical will be released on July 14th on Dolly Parton’s label, Dolly Records. Loretta Lynn was inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame last Thursday night. Since 1998, stars such as Doug Kershaw, Charley Pride, Michael Martin Murphy, Johnny Paycheck and John Denver have been inducted into the hall. And finally, the fan frenzy ends tomorrow night with the CMT Music Awards.

Outlaws, Horses, and Teen Queens

Top o’ the Monday to you. It’s Monday Music Madness today, so tune in for your chance to win a copy of Mark Chesnutt’s latest CD Rollin’ With the Flow. You’ll also notice a couple new features in the left sidebar. Sheila’s Spotlight Artist gives you a chance to get to know a topical artist a little better. First you’ll meet Darryl Worley. He’s got a hot, err, make that cool new single on the air this week, “Tequila On Ice.” Listen for it. You’ll also see the Hanson Happy Hour Humor. It’s Dana, y’all. Expect off the cuff quips and anecdotes, but you may also get an interesting thought to ponder every once in a while. Check back often. Now, country music around the web.

Bocephus did it. Lisa Marie Presley did it. Now Shooter’s done it. He joins the class of second generation artists who have recorded with deceased parents. For Shooter Jennings, it was a project that began in 1995. "I was 16 years old and way into Nine Inch Nails and Guns N' Roses, but [Dad] was really excited to do something together. So I came up with all these ideas for new arrangements of his songs and a few covers." At the time, Shooter’s dad, Waylon Jennings, recorded the vocal tracks for the album he intended to record with his son. The project was put on hold, and then Waylon passed on in 2002 with the project unfinished and unreleased -- until now. Shooter completed the project with his band, The .357s, and says that he was inspired to do a slowed-down version of his dad's classic, 'Don't You Think This Outlaw Bit's Done Got Out of Hand' after hearing Johnny Cash's plaintive take on Nine Inch Nails 'Hurt.' But for the younger Jennings, who memorably portrayed his dad in the Oscar-winning film Walk the Line, the most important aspect of the process now seems to be relishing the time he had with his father. "I may not have appreciated it as much as I should have then," he says, "but I couldn't be happier to be doing a record with him now. It's like I'm finishing the job we started together." Waylon Forever is a nine-song collection of Waylon originals and unique covers that reflect Shooter's edgier musical taste in the Nineties. The CD should be out later in the summer.

With the movie Beer For My Horses just two weeks away, if you don’t see Toby Keith on TV, you’re surfing channels too fast. The media mania begins for Toby tonight, when he makes his third appearance on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report. He’s got a full day of radio interviews on Tuesday. Tomorrow night, he’ll be on CNN Headline News with Glenn Beck. Wednesday includes a stop at Fox and Friends, Nick News, and Thursday, Toby will perform on ABC’s mid-morning talk-fest The View. Next week, Toby’s appearances include The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson. The movie finally makes it to the theatre for everyone to see on August 8th.

Lastly, Miss Taylor. While most local high school seniors received their coveted pieces of paper in May, Taylor Swift just received her diploma – in the mail. "Education has always been at the forefront of my priorities, so I'm really glad to have my diploma," the 18-year-old singer-songwriter said Friday. Taylor attended public school for 9th and 10th grade, but when her career took off, she needed more flexibility and switched to Aaron Academy, a private Christian school that offered home schooling. "I never expected that my senior year would go the way it has," she said. "There's something really exciting about getting to live your dream and continue your education at the same time." That book education is over for the time being. While her peers prepare to move into dorms across the country, Taylor is out on tour with Rascal Flatts, and has a sophomore album coming out in the fall.