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.

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.

Happy Monday

The latest issue of People Magazine Country Special hit the newsstands over the weekend. Brad Paisley is becoming quite the regular on the cover. Inside you'll read articles on hot country stars as well as see behind-the-scenes pictures of stars with their families. See Brad Paisley's and Josh Turner's new babies, as well as their wives and older boys. Check out a spread on twins in country music including Bucky Covington's brother, Rocky, and Jake Owens' brother, Jarrod. Also, if you need more free iTunes downloads, grab the latest People country playlist here.

Six of Waylon Jennings' early RCA albums will be reissued by the Collectors' Choice label on November 24th. Originally released between 1966 and 1970, the six albums will be compiled on three new CDs: Folk Country/Waylon Sings Ol' Harlan, Love of the Common People/Hangin' On and Waylon/Singer of Sad Songs. Liner notes were written by music historian Colin Escott.

Dierks Bentley held his 4th annual Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville yesterday and raised $215,000 to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Celebrity riders included Troy Gentry, Wynonna, former American Idol contestant Kimberly Locke and members of rock group Three Doors Down. They were later joined by Darius Rucker, Eric Church, and Michelle Branch for a jam session at downtown Nashville’s Riverfront Park. This year, Dierks has partnered with CMT’s One Country to expand Miles & Music to six additional cities. Dierks’ next Miles & Music for Kids takes place in his hometown of Phoenix on November 21st. Proceeds will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

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.