Thursday, April 28, 2011

Ronnie Dunn Album Cover & Track List Revealed

The Boot has the first look at the cover art and track list for Ronnie Dunn's self-titled album, which hits shelves June 7.


It’s Ronnie's first solo music in 25 years and comes less than a year after his amicable split from musical partner Kix Brooks.


Ronnie wrote or co-wrote nine of the album's 12 tracks, with a who's-who list of famed co-writers including Craig Wiseman, Dallas Davidson, Terry McBride and Bobby Pinson.


Ronnie is currently on the road, with his next tour stop April 30 in Live Oak, Fla. Get his concert and ticket information here.


'Ronnie Dunn' Track List:


1. 'Singer in a Cowboy Band' -- Ronnie Dunn/Craig Wiseman


2. 'I Don't Dance' -- Ronnie Dunn/David Lee Murphy/Craig Wiseman


3. 'Your Kind of Love' -- Maile Misajon/Jeremy Stover


4. 'How Far to Waco' -- Ronnie Dunn/Terry McBride


5. 'Once' -- Jamie Floyd/Philip LaRue/Peter Sallis


6. 'Cost of Livin'' -- Phillip Coleman/Ronnie Dunn


7. 'Bleed Red' -- Andrew Dorff/Tommy Lee James


8. 'Last Love I'm Tryin'' -- Ronnie Dunn


9. 'Let the Cowboy Rock' -- Ronnie Dunn/Dallas Davidson


10. 'I Can't Help Myself' -- Ronnie Dunn/Terry McBride


11. 'I Just Get Lonely' -- Ronnie Dunn


12. 'Love Owes Me One' -- Ronnie Dunn/Terry McBride/Bobby Pinson

Trace Adkins shows fans his spring decorating ideas on HGTV

Trace Adkins is opening up his secluded get-away outside of Nashville to HGTV viewers this Saturday.

The one-hour special also features the homes of TV journalist Lisa Ling, actor John Leguizamo, and Olympic Gold winner Evan Lysacek. "Hollywood at Home" also includes the homes of musician Paul Shaffer from "The Late Show with David Letterman" and CBS' "The Insider" host Laura Spencer.


"Hollywood at Home" premieres this Saturday, April 30th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Taylor Swift Buys A Home In Beverly Hills


Taylor Swift has bought a home in the "seven figures" in Beverly Hills, California. According to "Page Six" in the "New York Post," it's described as "small, charming and very secluded." "The Post" says she closed a few weeks back on her new house and paid between three-million and four-million dollars. Taylor recently finished putting the final decorating touches on her Nashville condo.


Taylor hasn't much time in Nashville since the February ‘Speak Now’ Tour has gotten underway. She will have time to decorate her new Beverly Hills pad because she doesn't get back on the road until the end of May on the North American leg of her trek.


Taylor Swift appears to really enjoy purchasing real estate, as "Us" magazine says she just recently bought her parents a one-point-four-million-dollar home in Nashville. A source describes the property as an "incredible house”.

The Charlie Daniels Band Releases New Song 'Let 'Em Win or Bring 'Em Home'

Proud American Charlie Daniels has released a special patriotic track called Let 'em Win Or Bring 'em Home
A new original cut written by Daniels and recorded by The Charlie Daniels Band, "Let 'Em Win or Bring 'Em Home" is available at GMVNashville.com and all major online digital outlets, including iTunes, Amazon.com and Rhapsody.com.



The song was first released exclusively at CharlieDaniels.com on Friday, April 15, 2011.

LeAnn Rimes Marries Eddie Cibrian

Guests who thought they were arriving to celebrate the engagement of LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian were surprised Friday when they were in fact attending the couple’s wedding. In front of 40 guests, including Eddie’s two sons from his previous marriage, the couple exchanged personalized vows as they wed in California.


“LeAnn and Eddie were happily married today surrounded by their closest family and friends,” the bride’s spokesman, Rhett Usry, confirmed to People magazine.. “They thank everyone for their well wishes.” LeAnn and Eddie were engaged this past December.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Toby Keith on his Ninth USO Tour

Credit: facebook.com/catcountry1029
Toby Keith is on his ninth USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour. "My father was a veteran, and [in 2002] I wanted to go pay my respects and honor all the troops that were overseas fighting in different conflicts," Toby tells The Boot of his very first Middle East tour. "I got over there and fell in love with it. It's become part of my life now."


Since that first trip, Toby has played for more than 159,000 troops and their families. He'll add to that number on a 12-day USO tour covering three countries (with exact dates and locations kept secret for security reasons).


"It's a wonderful geography lesson. It's a wonderful history lesson. Not to mention getting to shake hands with heroes every single day you're over there," says Toby. "It also allows me to be the poster boy for the USO ... to get other entertainers and people who have something to offer to go over there and support our troops. That's the least I could do."

Blake Shelton Wants to Bring the Grand Ole Opry to a New Generation

Credit: Grand Ole Opry
Blake Shelton joined the Grand Ole Opry last year. Though becoming a member of the show was a dream come true for him, Blake thinks the Opry has some work to do in reaching out to young people. Blake remembers the show airing on cable's TNN when was younger, but he says, "It's just not something kids know much about anymore."


Blake thinks for the Opry to survive, it must appeal to a new generation. "I want to be a part of something that brings it back to the youth again," Blake explains. He thinks people like his fellow Opry members Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley are helping bring new fans to the Opry. He says, "It's also going to be a fun challenge for me to get in there and create a buzz about it again."


Check out the great stories and photo's at the Grand Ole Opry website here.

Search Continues for Holly Bobo, Whitney Duncan's Abducted Cousin


As the search for 20-year-old Holly Bobo, nursing student and cousin of singer Whitney Duncan, continues, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into the possibility of whether another attempted attack in Centerville, Tenn., about 45 minutes from Parsons, Tenn., where Holly disappeared on April 13, is related to that incident.


AOL News reports that Centerville resident Heather Sullivan, 31, was approached by a "tall, skinny man" outside her home at around 5:30 one morning in January. She says the man grabbed her arm as she was getting out of her car. She dropped a lamp she was carrying and when her boyfriend heard the lamp break, he rushed out of the house and apparently frightened the man away.


On Monday (April 18), Whitney (pictured left), who has been asking for prayers and for people to assist in the search, tweeted: "Thanks to all the people that are praying & searching. We are so thankful for you. I've heard a lot of rumors tonight that I wish were true." The following day, she sent a tweet to her followers asking for volunteers to help search the area around the Decatur County Fairgrounds.


Holly was taken around 7:30 am on Wednesday (April 13), by a man dressed in camouflage clothing, as she was leaving for class at the University of Tennessee Martin, where she is a nursing student. Holly (pictured right) is 5-foot-3-inches tall with shoulder-length blond hair and weighs around 110 lbs. She was wearing a pink shirt and light blue jeans at the time of her suspected abduction.


Officials have asked that if you see Holly or anything suspicious, please contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.


A reward of $80,000 has been offered for information in the case.

Miranda Lambert Developing New TV Drama

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Miranda Lambert is currently developing an hour-long television drama for ABC Family.


The show will reportedly be based on Lambert’s childhood in Texas and will tell the story of a family whose parents are private investigators. The children of the family will help their parents solve crimes.
Lambert will share the role of executive producer with her mother Beverly, her manager Marion Kraft and Kapital Entertainment’s Aaron Kaplan. According to THR, Memphis Beat’s Scott Kaufer will write and also exec produce.

Chris Young Named ‘Country Weekly’s’ ‘Hottest Bachelor’

Credit: Country Weekly
Chris Young has been voted 2011’s Hottest Bachelor by the readers of Country Weekly . This year’s honor marks the second time in the past three years that the 25-year-old has topped the Country Weekly tally.


“Chris is a Country Weekly fan favorite and our readers told us in no uncertain terms that he’s their Hottest Bachelor,” says Editor in Chief Lisa Konicki, before adding her own personal opinion of Chris: “Who can resist that face?”


Chris is equally enthusiastic. “What can I say, country fans are the best!” he enthuses. “It’s thrilling to get any type of recognition and this one is even more fun since it comes directly from the fans. And thank you Country Weekly readers!”


Chris is currently on the road headlining his own shows before joining Jason Aldean on tour in July. His new album Neon will release this summer.


For the complete list of Hottest Bachelors, check out the May 2 issue of Country Weekly, on newsstands now.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Kenny Chesney Serenades Cancer Patient

Kenny Chesney unknowingly gave 14-year-old Carrington Walker, the Kansas Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's 2011 Girl of the Year, the night of her life at his recent Goin' Coastal Tour stop in Wichita.

According to KWCH-TV, the superstar randomly choose to bring Carrington onstage and then serenaded her with 'Summertime.'


"I fell asleep that night with a smile on my face," Carrington, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoma leukemia in September 2008, told the CBS-TV affiliate.


"It was amazing," Carrington gushes. "I couldn't breathe at all. I just kind of stood there."


In the heat of the moment, Carrington wasn't able to get a picture of her sharing the spotlight with Kenny, but luckily some fans stopped the two before they left the show to let them know they'd snapped their own photos and would email them to her.

Blake Shelton has Twitter Moment When Actress Zooey Deschanel Answers

Credit: twitter/sheandhim.com
Blake Shelton‘s dream of getting through to Zooey Deschanel via Twitter finally came true.


“My coffee drinking is out of control! OUT OF CONTROL!” Deschanel tweeted from her official Twitter page. “You could not pry this mug from my morning hands.”


As Blake typically does, he re-tweeted her comment, adding: “It’s Zooey!!” Just minutes later, the actress sent the singer a reply, tweeting: “It’s true! It’s me!”


While Shelton gathered his thoughts, he once again tweeted her original tweet — but couldn’t quite contain his excitement. He said, “She answered!!!!! For God Sakes people!!! SHE ANSWERED!!! Happy happy joy joy!!!”


Without missing a beat, Shelton tweeted yet again, this time thanking a few folks for making his dream of getting Deschanel’s attention finally come true. “Wow … I’d like to thank all the followers who’ve supported me over the years, haters, PETA and of course Twitter … She finally answered!!!!” he said.


Deschanel kept the good times rolling, following his tweet with another one of her own: “This is clearly the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” To which Shelton replied, “So happy I seriously just high fived my bass player!! In the face.”


Shelton’s fiance, Miranda Lambert, got in on the fun, too tweeting: “Thank you @therealzooeyd for answering my financy, @blakeshelton’s tweet. Maybe now he’ll obsess over something else:) luv @Miranda_lambert.”


“Busted..” Shelton replied.

Little Big Town Sings in the Shower with Sugarland

Credit: sugarland.com and littlebigtown.com

Little Big Town has been touring with Sugarland on The Incredible Machine tour for quite a while now, and the two groups have gotten so close they're even singing in the shower together.

While working up their cover of the Mumford & Sons song "Sigh No More," the members of Sugarland and Little Big Town were having trouble hearing each other singing in their dressing room. Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlappman explains, "Somebody said, 'Let's just go to the shower,' and we did. It sounded killer in there, but it was just a nasty, old venue shower."


Little Big Town and Sugarland have also talked about writing songs together on this leg of their tour. "We love collaborating together, but we love watching each other too, you know, perform," Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild says. "Their show is really exciting. If you haven't seen the Incredible Machine tour, it's incredible." Little Big Town resumes their spot on Sugarland's tour May 13th in Ohio.

Dierks Bentley on the differences of being a man and a boy

Dierks Bentley chatted with the Tennessean to talk about Growing Up.


I love the fact that I can be a man and be a little boy. I get to go on the road and play Xbox with the guys in the band and drink beers and play music and rock out, and then I get to come home and have a real life with real responsibilities and be a father. A man can still go be a boy, but a boy can’t go out there and be a man. You can read the entire article here.

Josh Gracin talks ‘Idol’ Life, Has Advice to Scotty McCreery

Curfews, chaperones and no drinking: Those were just three of the rules ‘American Idol‘ contestants had to follow during season two of the reality show.

Former finalist Josh Gracin tells Taste of Country that there were a lot of rules, but he loved his mansion experience. “I got used to that with the military,” the former Marine jokes, “so it was no different for me.”


Gracin weighs in on why contestants in recent seasons haven’t had the staying power of early season singers, saying, “‘American Idol’ really doesn’t take that much time to get to know the contestants on an individual basis like they did when I was on the show. It’s a much more filled show than it was back then. You know, second season, they were still figuring out what they wanted to do.”


Scotty McCreery has gotten some advice from Gracin as he will no doubt be considering record labels and contracts very soon.


“Take your time, find the right people, really get to know them,” he says to McCreery. “You don’t want people that set you up for them to make a quick buck. You want people that will set you up for a career — something you can grow on and keep building on and keep getting bigger.”

Monday, April 25, 2011

Tim McGraw On Current Label's Last Upcoming Album

Tim McGraw reports that his upcoming 'Emotional Traffic' CD will be his "absolute last album" with Curb, and while it has been finished since last fall, a release date has yet to be issued.


"All the songs have been done for a long time, and the label has had it," Tim tells the Associated Press. "It's the last album that they have of mine, so they're trying to hold on to it as long as they can."


Tim and his label have not been on the best terms for several years, and he feels the release of several 'Greatest Hits' collections has denied the fans of his new music. 


In spite of this hold on his new album, Tim in addition to his Emotional Traffic tour, he will help celebrate SiriusXM's 10 years of broadcasting country music with an exclusive, invitation-only concert for listeners at New York City's Beach Theater on April 27. 


SiriusXM is also launching the Tim McGraw Radio channel, which went live Yesterday (April 20) and is scheduled to run through April 27. The channel will feature Tim's hits, along with in-depth interviews and live concerts from his Emotional Traffic tour.


Following the private show, the singer-actor returns to the road with a show in Tampa, Fla., on April 29. For a detailed list of Tim's tour dates, click here.

Brad Paisley Has A ‘Tweet’ Addiction

Brad Paisley says he’s getting hooked on Twitter. Brad admits to using Twitter  for observation and as a way for fans to see a little bit of his personality. "It's a great tool. It's not as effective as people thought at selling product. That's not why I do it. They found in studies that it depends on the person. People following Charlie Sheen may not buy things because he tells you to, but people following Oprah [Winfrey] would be more likely to run out and do it if she tells you to do it," he explains. "I don't know where I fall in that -- probably somewhere between Charlie and Oprah." 


Brad also admits that some Carrie Underwood fans are kind of ganging up on him on Twitter because they want "Remind Me," the duet he recorded with her for his upcoming album, to be the next single. "There are a lot of Carrie fans that are upset it's not the next single, and they've never heard it. ... They're like, 'What a missed opportunity!'" Paisley said. 

Jewel to Re-Record the Libby's Fruits and Vegetables Jingle

Get back to the table

Jewel has signed on with Libby's Fruits and Vegetables to re-record their classic "When it says Libby's Libby's Libby's on the label label label" jingle. 


It's due out this September.  Jewel is also inviting families to record their own version of the jingle. Fans can submit their videos singing the song at Facebook.com/LibbysTable, with a grand prize of 10 thousand dollars cash.


Jewel is currently working on a new album of lullabies, gearing up to host the new Bravo music competition show Platinum Hit, and preparing for the birth of her son. 


She says, "As an expectant first-time mom, I am thrilled to be partnering with Libby's to encourage families to come together, both at meal time and through music."

Alison Krauss & Union Station's 'Paper Airplane' Debuts at No. 1

Alison Krauss and Union Station are at the top spot on Billboard's Country Albums chart with the No. 1 debut of their latest album, 'Paper Airplane.' The disc also scores the No. 3 spot on the Billboard 200, behind Foo Fighters and Adele, with 83,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen Soundscan.


'Paper Airplane' is the first-ever No. 1 album of Alison's career. 


Jason Aldean's 'My Kinda Party' drops to No. 2, while the 'Country Strong' soundtrack goes to the No. 3 spot, helped by the release of the film on DVD.


"The only thing I can say," Alison tells The Boot, "is that I'm grateful that I got to experience this whole thing with the people I've got to experience it with. I know of so many musicians that inspire me and keep me up at night that the majority of the population may never get to hear. I don't understand it, why it didn't work [for them]. They're still proud of what they're doing, it's just not on a grand scale."


Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will be touring this summer.

Josh Turner Admits Raising Three Young Boys Is a Challenge

Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer welcomed their third son, Marion, last December. Josh says he's heard from a lot of couples who have three or more children that having three kids at home is the toughest. "I told Jennifer, I said, 'We either have to give one away or have another one," Josh says with a laugh. 


Josh says it's challenging for him and Jennifer to take care of all three boys at the same time. He says, "We're obviously outnumbered," adding, "The two older ones are just into everything." 


Going out came be a challenge for Josh and Jennifer too. "We have to be a little more methodical, a little more strategic in how we get out of the house," Josh admits. Josh will be taking the whole family along when he hits the road again in Redding, California on April 28th. 

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Darius Rucker No. 1 With 'This'

Darius Rucker continues his string of consecutive #1 hits as 'This' climbs to the top of the Mediabase Country Singles Chart. 


Kenny Chesney's 'Live a Little' leaps from #5 to #2, and Miranda Lambert moves to #3 with 'Heart Like Mine.' 


Sara Evans 'A Little Bit Stronger' enters the top 5 at #4 this week. Zac Brown Band's multi-week #1, 'Colder Weather,' drops to #5, and Jerrod Niemann stays put at #6 with 'What Do You Want From Me.' 


Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban each gain one spot with 'I Won't Let Go' (#7) and 'Without You' (#8) respectively. 


Brad Paisley's 'Old Alabama' has been flying up the charts and, this week, jumps from #14 to #9. The Band Perry again close out the top 10 with 'You Lie.' 


The chart-topping single is Darius' fifth No. 1 country hit, and the second from his latest solo album, 'Charleston, SC 1966.' 


Darius co-wrote the tune with producer Frank Rogers and Kara DioGuardi (songwriter and former 'American Idol' judge).


"I love everything about it. I love the danceability of the song," says Darius. "I love the words to the song. I love the sing-a-long chorus, and then you get the payoff : 'All that stuff, all that stuff led me right here.'"


Darius will obviously perform 'This' when he takes to the stage in New York City for an intimate benefit show at the Housing Works Bookstore Café on April 26. 

Blake Shelton Surprises With Humor and ‘Punk Rock’ Attitude on NBC’s The Voice

Credit: nbc.com
Blake Shelton will be a vocal coach on NBC’s new music competition show, ‘The Voice.’ 
Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine, was surprised when meeting Shelton.


“I wasn’t expecting you to be funny,” Levine tells Access Hollywood. “I was expecting like a really earnest, like straight up country guy. I wasn’t expecting this like, subversive punk rock man.”


Shelton admits his twitter language may not make the show, “I don’t think I can incorporate the tweet behavior of my personality into this show because there is, you know, some language barriers I would say.” ‘The Voice’ debuts on NBC next Tuesday April 26.

Mercury Records Taking Submissions For New Artist


Mercury Records, the Nashville label home to Billy Currington and Sugarland, is on the hunt for a new male artist to add to their roster. 


According to Mercury, they are “looking for a male rock and country singer, ages 18-26 with range & twang. The right person will be signed to the label, make an album with a multi-platinum producer, promote it and take it on the road. This is a rare opportunity to submit directly to our A&R department.”


Aspiring musicians can visit Mercury’s website for more information and to submit their vocals.

The Band Perry See Signs of Love on Tim McGraw Tour

Credit: thebandperry.com
The Band Perry's fans have turned out in droves to wave elaborate signs at the trio.


"We have seen some of our favorite signs," Reid tells The Boot. "They remind me of Hallmark cards on poster boards."


Perhaps one reason Reid favors the signs is that many declare the fans' love for him.


"We see them all the time, the ones that say 'I love Reid,'" laughs brother Neil. "His head is getting bigger and bigger. He gets an incredible amount of love from the ladies."


The adoring fans are just one of the delights on the tour, the siblings say.


"My favorite thing about the tour is the one solid catwalk with two arms that branch off," says Kimberly. "I love to [walk out toward the audience] and reach down and smack the hands of fans all night long."


The Band Perry had never seen Tim in concert before they were in the music business, they all admit they were major fans.


"Where we grew up, we did mud riding," says Kimberly who adds she shared this memory with Tim. "We used to go mud riding with 'It's Your Love' cranked up. We'd play it over and over again. We got to tell Tim that a couple of nights ago!"


The Band Perry's next scheduled concert on Tim McGraw's Emotional Traffic tour with Luke Bryan is April 29 in Tampa, Fla. For more concert dates and news, check here.

Billy Currington Reveals What He Wants in a Woman

Credit: Kate Powers/Mercury Nashville
Plenty of female country fans dream of going on a date with Billy Currington, and the blue-eyed singer likely wouldn't disappoint them. "I'm so romantic, it's ridiculous," Billy tells People Country. "I dig a candlelight dinner and all those things you do when you're trying to impress." 


The older Billy gets, the more he focuses on getting to know a woman more than just focusing on her looks. He says, "When you're attracted to someone and then the personalities kick in and there's chemistry, that's hot." 


Billy's currently busy on the road opening shows for Kenny Chesney. Billy also reveals that someone whom loves to surf and catch the waves would also make a great partner.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Taylor Swift Keeping Control Of Her Image -- And Herself

Taylor Swift tells Britain's "Telegraph" she's not out to project a "sexy" image, and simply wants to be genuine. "'I wouldn't wear tiny amounts of clothing in my real life so I don't think it's necessary to wear that stuff in photo shoots." Taylor calls it a "life decision," saying she enjoys wearing pretty dresses and dabbling with different styles, but, "I don't feel comfortable taking my clothes off."


Swift admits people used to try to persuade her to do something a little more risque, but "not anymore," since she's made it clear how she feels about the matter. Taylor adds that it's important to her to remain in charge of herself, which is also why she doesn't drink. She says she's concerned that if she were to overindulge she, "might come off in a way that I can't control."

Trisha Yearwood Has a New Cooking Show, Acting on Broadway Next?

Image: www.trishayearwood.com
Trisha Yearwood has a new daytime cooking show premiering on the Food Network and she is also trying to fulfill a lifelong dream by starring on Broadway one day.


While further details of her cooking show are to come, husband Garth Brooks is rumored to maybe drop by from time to time.


As for her Broadway dreams, Yearwood admits she’d even move her family to New York City if given an opportunity. “I’ve always loved Broadway shows,” Yearwood tells WENN. “I’ve always loved musical movies. I’ve seen several shows here [in New York City], and every time I see one I’m always in tears, like, ‘I want to be in that so bad.’ I saw ‘Wicked,’ like, three times.”


“I don’t know what it is about it — I just love it. I did a little bit of theatre in college and I’ve always been drawn to it,” she says. “I don’t know what the role would be, but I would really love to do it.”


Trisha is no stranger to acting, having had a recurring role on the television series ‘JAG’ for a few years. Yearwood caught Reba McEntire when she was in ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ a few years ago and admits, “I wept. She was amazing and I felt like that role was made for her.” Not long ago, she said, “I’m at a place in my career where I can do some different things, so we’ll see what happens.”

ACM Presents Girls Night Out: Superstar Women Of Country This Friday on CBS

Image: CBS.com

The Academy of Country Music will pay tribute to Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Reba, Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles, Miranda Lambert, Loretta Lynn and The Judds this Friday.  Loretta Lynn was unable to attend because of recent surgery.
Among the performances during the evening: 
Vince Gill teaming up with Carrie Underwood for her hit “Jesus Take The Wheel” 
Blake Shelton singing “Famous In A Small Town” for Miranda Lambert
Ronnie Dunn shares the stage with Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles for “Stay.”
Rascal Flatts and Reba McEntire sang 'The Heart Won't Lie.'
Miranda Lambert introduced a new trio, Pistol Annie, which she has formed with Angeleena Presley and Ashley Monroe
Martina McBride and Little Big Town sang 'When Will I Be Loved,' a hit for Linda Ronstadt whom Martina cited as one of her biggest influences.
Sara Evans honored the late Tammy Wynette with 'Stand by Your Man' 
the JaneDear girls sang 'Wild Side of Life' in tribute to Kitty Wells. 
The Band Perry honored Patsy Cline with a rendition of her hit, 'Walkin' After Midnight.'
Jason Aldean sang 'She's Country
John Fogerty and Wynonna sang Creedence Clear Water Revival’s  ‘Proud Mary’
The Girls’ Night Out special, taped April 4th, will air This Friday (April 22nd) at 9:00 PM ET on CBS.

Julianne Hough Appears Without Makeup in People's Most Beautiful Issue

Image: www.juliannehough.com/press
Julianne Hough is one of the celebrities featured in People's Most Beautiful issue in the "Not a Drop of Makeup" section.

Julianne tells People, "It's definitely nice to not have all that stuff on right now, because when you were there it was lights and sweating and just the whole aspect of performance, and then you have this caked on."

Even though she admits it sounds like a cliché, Julianne insists that true beauty comes from inside. She says, "When you're healthy, when you're fit, when you're eating good things, it definitely comes out in your face and your skin and your eyes." Julianne also thinks who you hang out with influences how you look. You can credit Julianne's boyfriend Ryan Seacrest with increasing her face value for the People shoot.

Justin Moore Feels a Bit Guilty Being Away from Daughter Ella

Image: The Valory Music Company
Justin Moore is away from home on tour most of the time, so any days he gets to spend at home with wife Kate and their daughter Ella are precious. In fact, Justin felt guilty about wanting to go fishing on an off-day at home recently. He says, "My wife goes, 'Justin, go fishin'," and I threatened to take my daughter, but I didn't. I felt like she's a little too young." 


When he's home, Justin is a real hands-on dad. "I do the changing of the diapers and all that stuff," he says. Justin actually encourages his wife to go out shopping when he's home so he can have time to bond with Ella. Justin explains, "She's pretty infatuated with her mom at this point because of the lack of time I get to spend at home."  Justin's hoping to turn Ella into a daddy's girl in the next year.

Taylor Swift Purchases $1.4 Million Estate For Parents

Taylor Swift and her father, via twitter
US Weekly is reporting that Taylor Swift recently purchased her parents a $1.4 million home in Nashville.


According to the magazine’s website, the 5,000 square foot estate was built in the 1920's was recently renovated. “It’s an incredible house,” a source tells US Weekly. ”Taylor’s been visiting her parents there and she’s so excited for them.”


The magazine also reports that, in addition to buying her parents a house, Swift recently bought herself a home in California. ”She is in L.A. so much — and she was paying a fortune in hotel charges,” another source reveals.

AMBER ALERT CONTINUES: Whitney Duncan’s Cousin Kidnapped During Break-In

The Amber Alert for 20-year-old Holly Bobo, the cousin of Whitney Duncan, is still in effect.

Bobo was dragged from her Decatur County, Tenn. home, which is about 100 miles outside of Memphis, Wednesday morning by a man dressed in camouflage.


“My cousin Holly was kidnapped this morning. Please pray for her & our family,” Duncan, a former ‘Nashville Star’ finalist, posted to her Facebook page. “This is really sad & shocking.”


According to reports, Bobo’s older brother saw the man pull his sister, a University of Tennessee Martin Nursing student, into the woods after invading their home around 7:30AM on April 13.


The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has called on the Violent Crime Response Team for help, and an Amber Alert has been issued for Bobo. Bobo, pictured below, is 5-foot-3-inches tall, 110 pounds and has shoulder-length blonde hair. Officials have urged that anyone with information about Bobo’s whereabouts should contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.


“Lord have mercy,” Duncan posted to Twitter. “I feel like I’m walking in a nightmare. Thanks for all the prayers and please keep spreading the Amber Alert.”

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

You Could Win a Trip to Meet Lady Antebellum at the Opry

www.facebook.com/grandoleopry

The Grand Ole Opry is giving fans the chance to fly to Nashville for CMA Music Fest and meet Lady Antebellum at the Opry.


Throughout April, fans of the Opry’s Facebook page can enter to win a prize package including a trip for two to Nashville in June. The trip will include a six-night stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, airfare on Southwest Airlines, a pair of tickets to attend the Grand Ole Opry on June 7, a backstage tour of the Opry, and a meet-and-greet with Lady Antebellum. 


The winner will also receive a pair of four-day passes to CMA Music Fest, a picnic dinner during the Opry Plaza Party, a pair of tickets to attend the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge, Guitar Auction “bucks” to be used at the Guitar of the Stars Auction, and a pair of tickets to the Opry Fan Fair matinee show at the Ryman.


The “Win a Trip to Meet Lady Antebellum” sweepstakes will end on Monday, May 2nd. Visit the Grand Ole Opry’s Facebook page for more information on how to enter to win.

The Band Perry Have Avoided Heartbreak Thus Far

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Band Perry sings about heartbreak and broken engagements in songs like 'You Lie,' yet heartbreak has eluded them thus far.


"No, I have not been engaged," Kimberly Perry tells The Boot. "I would like to be one day. [laughs] We always walk, especially with this album, along the lines of reality and the surreal. Engagement and even deep sort of relationships always feel surreal to us at this time because we're all tied up in the music."


They may not have lived through the breakups of their music, but they are able to draw from personal experiences when writing and performing those tunes. "We're squeaky clean when it comes to heartache," Kimberly continues, "although, folks really close to use have walked through that."


The Band Perry are nowhere near making up their minds on what the next single will be. "We're debating," Kimberly says. "There are a few options."


"It depends on the day of the week," Neil adds. "Seeing what mood we're in."  There are definitely ample choices. "'All My Life' would be a good contender," Kimberly admits


The family are out on the road with Tim McGraw for his Emotional Traffic tour.

A Reba Doll of Your Very Own

Reba McEntire is now a Reba Barbie doll.  The doll is available at Wal-Mart, along with many other retail stores online. 


The Reba doll doesn’t sing, but would be “Fancy” in any young girl’s collection.

Kellie Pickler Among ‘People Magazine’s’ “Most Beautiful 2011?

Credit: George Holz/people.com
People Magazine released it’s list of “Most Beautiful 2011.” Topping the list, that also includes Zac Efron, Reese Witherspoon, and Jessica Simpson, is Jennifer Lopez.


The only country star appearing on the list shown online is Kellie Pickler, who is among the mag’s “25 Beauties (and Hotties) at 25.”

Lady Antebellum Meets Mikey the Koala Bear in Australia

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Lady Antebellum met someone really special on their tour of Australia -- Mikey the koala bear. 


The band was surprised with a visit from the adorable creature during a radio interview Down Under. 


Lady A's Hillary Scott is seen petting Mikey, prompting her band mate Dave Haywood to declare, "We are the biggest tourists in the world." 

Reba McEntire on Success of ‘Turn On the Radio’


Reba McEntire celebrated her recent No. 1 hit, ‘Turn on the Radio.’  With the chart success of ‘Turn on the Radio,’ Reba has had a total of 60 Top 10 hits, with 35 of them being No. 1 singles.

 “Reba is unbelievable, and to have her sing a song we wrote is so incredible,” added Cherie’s husband and the song’s co-writer, Mark Oakley. “She’s an amazing singer and for someone like her to take us to the next level has made my dreams come true. It’s been an amazing ride.”


Reba has released her latest single from her ‘All the Woman I Am’ album, the Jon Randall, Jessi Alexander and Gary Nicholson penned tune, ‘When Love Gets a Hold of You.’

Blake Shelton Has Record Breaking Week With “Honey Bee”

Blake Shelton sold over 138,000 digital singles of “Honey Bee” in its debut week, a feat unmatched by any country male soloist to date.

Shelton made the world premiere debut of “Honey Bee” on CBS at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. 

Jason Aldean Marks Third Week at #1 with My Kinda Party

Jason Aldean is enjoying a third week at #1 on Billboard's Country Album Charts with his latest release My Kinda Party..


Jason will continue his My Kinda Party Tour through to August. For a full list of tour dates and upcoming appearances, visit jasonaldean.com.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Brad Paisley is Billboard’s April Cover Model

Credit: billboard.com

In this week’s issue of Billboard, Brad Paisley talks about his new album “This is Country Music,” his rise to stardom.


Brad talks to Billboard about being 13 and entering the music industry saying:


“That was in 1985, so you know the Judds were rocking. The opening slots kept coming. I was on there every other week—Jimmy Dickens and Steve Wariner and George Jones, Roy Clark, Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill, Exile and Desert Rose Band, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dwight Yoakum—everybody came through there. I got to see them all.”


Read more from the interview here.

Taylor Swift Is Amazed by Fan Support, Stoked About ‘The Lorax’

Credit: flickr.com
Taylor Swift recently chatted with WYCD and expressed her deep, sincere appreciation for the fans who helped her sell 20 million copies of her albums at the tender age of 21.


“That’s absolutely insane,” Swift said about the fact that she has reached a massive career milestone at such an early age. “I can’t really comprehend the fact that that is happening. The fans have been so amazing. A record can sell 20 copies or 20 million copies, but the fans are the ones who decide that. They have been so nice to me and I love them. I am so happy we are going on tour to go say ‘hi’ to them.”


Swift will lend her voice to a Doctor Seuss project called ‘The Lorax.’ “It’s a well-written movie and I am stoked about being involved,” Swift said. She also acknowledged that doing a film that’s a voiceover is convenient, since “you fit it in your schedule whenever you can!” 

Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott Talks New Hair Style

Credit: ladyantebellum.com

Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley chatted with WYCD about Hillary’s bangs. “They’re new and I just decided to go for a change,” Scott says about making the big snip. She alludes to being a bit of a hair chameleon, saying, “I’ve been blonde, I’ve been brunette, I’ve had long hair.  Now I want bangs. I went for the whole ‘shebang.’”


Lady Antebellum mentioned during the ACM Awards that they are about half done with the upcoming 3rd album.