King George On People's Country Edition Cover

It’s been five years since country music fans have heard from George Strait in an exclusive interview, but as he announced his final trek on The Cowboy Rides Away Tour, he sat down with People Country to reveal plans for another album after his touring ends, and those things in his life he’s most thankful for. “I’ve got great fans,” he says. “Some of them have been coming out since the 80s, and that means so much to me. They have been so loyal.”

 

Strait describes the sleepless nights that led up to his final decision to make this his final tour, “I had second thoughts about it, and third thoughts. Walking up on stage is still so much fun for me. Such a thrill… there’s nothing like it. I’ll miss that.” He also talks about the journey to selling over 65 million albums and experiencing 59 No. 1 hits. “I’ve been blessed with the ability to sing, and that has taken me so many places I never would have gone otherwise. I’ve had great people around me from the beginning … and they never tried to make me someone I wasn’t.”

 

Pick up a copy of the issue on stands this Friday, Nov. 2.

 

Media Contacts:
Ebie McFarland / Leigh Parr

Essential Broadcast Media

(615) 327-3259

ebie@ebmediapr.com / leigh@ebmediapr.com

 

Lori Christian 

UMG Nashville

(615) 269-2032

lori.christian@emicap.com

 

58 Shows; 45 Cities In 29 States And 3 Provinces

Taylor Swift announced Friday that she will launch a North American stadium and arena tour in early 2013 (click for a list of dates and cities) in support of her blockbuster new album, RED. Taylor made the special announcement in partnership with ABC News on primetime TV special “All Access Nashville with Katie Couric – A Special Edition of 20/20.”

“I didn’t think I could be any more excited about my RED album, but then I start thinking about how I’m going to put the new show together for The RED Tour,” says Taylor. “I have so many ideas about how to really bring this music to life, and I can’t wait to share the new show with all my fans!”

RED was released this week to widespread worldwide critical acclaim and has already topped the iTunes album sales charts in 40 countries.

Taylor Does.. (video)

Ellen:  (click to watch it)

Ellen asked Taylor Swift about the men she's dated. Since she tends not to answer such questions, Ellen gave her a bell, and showed Taylor pictures of suspected boyfriends. Who did Taylor ring for?

Dave:  (click to watch it)

He wants a song too. 

Also last week, she did hours and hours of local radio interviews after making a $4 million donation to the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Finally, Taylor will be making a major announcement w/ Katie Couric on 20/20 TONIGHT at 9pm ET!

Kenny Chesney's Message From Mexico

Click below to hear Kenny's thanks to The No Shoes Nation as he gears up for next year:

"Stay tuned for info regarding Kenny’s 2013 tour … tour lineup, dates, and locations to be announced soon and it's going to be bigger and badder than ever!"

A&O is equally excited about who's going to open the shows for Kenny!

Keith Urban's Morning Walk

He has an amazing view of the ocean, which he shared with fans via video.

Eli Young Band "On Call"

Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in health care facilities and just celebrated its launch in Nashville with a special private acoustic set by the Eli Young Band Oct. 19 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

As part of the day's events, the quartet, best known for No. 1 country hits Crazy Girl and Even If It Breaks Your Heart, visited the V.A.Tennessee Valley Healthcare System's Nashville campus to meet and perform for veteran patients and their families.

It's "Red" Day

Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album, Red, will be released worldwide today (10/22).

The CD includes 16 songs, 10 of which she wrote by herself, and the remaining six were collaborations with people Taylor had been wanting to work with.  Taylor also mixed things up production-wise.

Taylor tells us (click to hear the audio) she decided to switch things up with Red and change her approach to writing and recording music for the new CD.

“I just felt like I really wanted to push myself. I wanted to kind of stretch what I do artistically and, you know, my last album, Speak Now, I wrote every song by myself and writing alone became sort of a comfort zone so what I ended up doing for this album was just thinking, ‘I need to surround myself with people who do things differently than I do, and I want to see what that looks like, and I want to learn from it.’ You know, I think you have two choices when you’re making your fourth album – you can do things the way you’ve always done them or you can change, and I love the idea of evolving and giving the fans something new to listen to and a new direction to follow.”

Trace Adkins Back To Celebrity Apprentice

If at first you don’t succeed:  NBC’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” is bringing back 13 players fired from past “Apprentice” contests, plus one notable winner, in the first-ever “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.”

“We wouldn’t have done the ‘All-Star’ concept unless we were able to get the right contestants back,” said Donald Trump, the host and boardroom boss who once again will be pronouncing each contestant’s fate.

The series, which on Monday starts shooting this new season for a March 2013 premiere, announced its slate of 14 contenders Friday morning.

They include:
— country music star Trace Adkins.
— actor Stephen Baldwin.
— actor Gary Busey.
— magician and illusionist Penn Jillette.
— DJ artist and rap star Lil Jon.
— NBA Hall-of-Famer Dennis Rodman.
— Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider.
— actress and author Marilu Henner.
— singer La Toya Jackson.
— TV personality and actress Claudia Jordan.
— reality star Omarosa, who competed in the first, pre-celebrity edition of “The Apprentice.”
— actress and author Lisa Rinna.
— Playboy Playmate of the Year Brande Roderick.
— plus Poison frontman Bret Michaels, who in 2010 emerged as the winner despite life-threatening ailments that included a brain hemorrhage and hospitalization for what doctors called a warning stroke.

“They’re all very smart, and I think they learned a lot from their last go-around,” Trump told The Associated Press. “This time, some of them will change their game to fool their rivals — some for better, some for worse.”

Jennifer Nettles Celebrates "CMA Christmas" Early

Nettles announced the new benefit theme at the CMA Country Christmas press event.  Nashville Country Club was there with a video camera on hand (click to watch it).

Out Of Left Field

Jason Aldean to play first country music concert at Fenway Park

     -- The Washington Post

Given the many amazing surprises on his new album this is going to be a tour not to miss.

Danielle Tallman tweets: "Next stop... Boston MA"

CMHOF Fetes Garth Brooks, Pig Robbins, and Connie Smith

Join The Country Music Hall of Fame as Garth and Connie as the newest inductees.

Don't miss the red carpet arrivals of dozens of stars, including the 2012 inductees!  The festivities take place in Nashville on Demonbreun Street in front of the Museum at the corner of 5^th Avenue South. Arrive early, as space will be limited! The Red Carpet Fan Experience is free and open to the public. To prepare for the induction ceremony later that evening, the Museum will be closing at 2:30 p.m. that day.

Join A&O for your chance to win a VIP Red Carpet Upgrade! (click for more info)

One lucky fan (and a guest) will be selected from those in attendance that afternoon outside the Museum to stand alongside the red carpet for an up-close and personal glimpse of the stars as they arrive!

This prize does not include access to the Medallion induction ceremony that evening. The Medallion induction ceremony is a private event and is closed to the public.

Revisit the 2011 Medallion Ceremony

Nichols To "Start" When The Cards Play The Giants

Country artist Joe Nichols is set to perform the National Anthem Wednesday October 17th at the home opener of the NLCS playoffs in St Louis, when the Cardinals take on the San Francisco Giants.  The performance will air on Fox at 2:54 pm CT and will reunite Nichols with the team he spent many a childhood summer night watching when his father Mike was a security guard at Busch Stadium.

"I'm excited and always thrilled to see a Cardinals game - especially in the post-season when it's against an historic team like the Giants. The last two World Series championship teams meeting together in the league championship doesn't happen very often," Nichols said.

Nichols was five when he saw his first-ever baseball game, and it was, of course, in St. Louis. He has had the honor of performing the Anthem at several LCS playoffs.

Pictured:  Joe "Slugger" Nichols

CONTACTS:
Jennifer Bohler/Alliance
615 292 5804
jenny@jb-alliance.com

Jesse Atwell/Triple 8 Management
512 444 7600
jesse@triple8mgmt.com

Billy Currington In The New York Times

Houston-based journalist Kate Murphy got a great quote from Billy on eating:  "I had the opportunity to go to Ocean City, Md., recently. Have you ever heard of it? They hooked me up with the biggest blue crabs you have ever seen. We feasted on those things for days. I grew up catching and eating seafood but there’s something about crabs up there that is very special."

Listening:  "To be honest the music I listen to the most, whether it’s in my truck or in the house, is songwriter demos. Demos are when a songwriter makes a recording of a song just to pitch it to an artist. I get hundreds a year. I’ll put them on an iPod or my computer and listen to them over and over and file away the ones I like the most, and those are usually the songs I end up putting on an album a year or two or 10 later. Some of my favorite songs are from one gal named Karyn Rochelle. She’s a magnificent writer in Nashville. I’ve wanted to record every one of her songs but for various rhymes and reasons I haven’t been able to yet."

Click the link to see what he's reading, watching and following too.  Catch Currington at http://www.billycurrington.com/.

A Sell Out "Strait" Away

George Strait’s The Cowboy Rides Away Tour featuring special guest Martina McBride was so popular when tickets went on sale this morning that six tour markets sold out within the first few hours—with Lubbock, Texas selling all 15,431 tickets within just 15 minutes. 

“I never expected the fans would react like this. It’s just incredible,” shared an ecstatic Strait upon learning the news.  “I really do have the best fans in the world, and I’m looking forward to seeing you all on the road very soon.”

In addition to Lubbock, sold out cities include Oklahoma City, Okla., St. Paul, Minn., Albuquerque, N.M., Las Vegas, Nev., and Las Cruces, N.M. In select markets, remaining single show tickets are still available for purchase.

The full list of tour dates with tickets available is at www.GeorgeStrait.com; ticket prices begin at $69.50 with V.I.P. packaging available for purchase.

"Relay for Life" Is Scotty McCreery's Cause

“My Cause: American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Garner, NC” highlights an annual event in McCreery’s hometown of Garner, North Carolina.   

The walk not only honors cancer survivors and remembers loved ones lost, but also raises awareness about what people can do to stay well from cancer and raises money to help fuel the world’s largest walk to end cancer.  Donations can be made to the charity using a donate link available with the video. 

Click here to watch the October“My Cause” Academy of Country Music video and donate to his cause.

Jana Kramer Re-wrote History This Week

Her label, Warner Atlantic Reprise, has reason to brag this week:  "for a DEBUT female to have her first single inside the Top 3 is ASTONISHING!"

Factoids:

• Highest Charting Female Debut in Country Aircheck History!
• Over 650,000 singles sold to date and certified GOLD by the RIAA!
• 103,140 spins to date ranks currently as the #18 most played single of the year!
• #1 Most Added Debut Artist in Country Aircheck History with 55 first week adds!
• 7,372,457 Youtube views of the music video of "Why Ya Wanna"!
• Numerous TV performances included The Tonight Show w/Jay Leno, Fox & Friends, & her Grand Ole Opry debut!
• Nearly 200,000 Twitter followers and over 65,000 Facebook likes!
• Connected with fans in 21 markets as part of Brad Paisley's Virtual Reality Tour 2012!
• Critically-acclaimed debut album ranked as the highest female debut of 2012!

"Whiskey" will be her next single and add date is confirmed for 11/5.

Cowboy Rides Away Onsale

The iconic George Strait stepped out last month to announce The Cowboy Rides Away Tour featuring special guest Martina McBride.  Strait will take 2013-2014 to tour the country and celebrate his last years of touring with his legions of fans.  Concert-goers can anticipate hearing a range of Strait’s staggering 59 No. 1 career hits in addition to some brand new tunes due out next year.

 

Strait fan club members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets tomorrow, Oct. 9 beginning at 10 a.m. in the venue’s respective time zone by visiting www.GeorgeStrait.com; ticket prices begin at $69.50.  General public ticketing opens Oct. 12 (same time zone restraints apply). 

 

Limited VIP packages will also be available for purchase.  For $399, the “Ace in the Hole” package includes a top tier ticket in the first 10 rows, an invitation to an exclusive pre-show party, a tour of a private exhibit of Strait memorabilia, a special VIP gift, and more.  At $999, “The Troubadour” package secures a front row seat and, in addition to the pre-show events and access listed above, includes a guitar signed by Strait.  For more information on VIP options, visit HERE.

 

Strait will also be auctioning off two pairs of front row seats, as well as meet and greet passes, to each tour stop.  Proceeds from the auction will benefit The Jenifer Strait Foundation, a foundation that focuses its donations on various children’s charities including Boys and Girls Clubs of San Antonio and St. Jude’s Ranch.  Bidding opens on the first lot this Friday, Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. EDT.  Click HERE for more information on the auction.

Preview The Pilot: "Nashville"

Big Machine Label Group will have four songs placed in the first episode of the new ABC drama Nashville.

The songs include "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" (Eli Young Band), "Did It For The Girl" (Greg Bates), "Too Good To Be True" (Edens Edge), and "Small Town USA" (Justin Moore). Nashville premieres Wednesday, October 10th on ABC, but you can watch the pilot now on ABC.com.

 Be sure to watch each week for more songs placed throughout each episode of the series.

Scotty McCreery's Items At N.C. Museum Of History

Fans will soon flock to Raleigh to catch one of Scotty McCreery’s performances at the N.C. State Fair.  Another must for fans — a visit to the N.C. Museum of History to see several of McCreery’s items on exhibit. 

From Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, through Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, an exhibit case will spotlight objects the 2011 “American Idol” winner has donated to the museum. Admission is free.

The exhibit case, titled Scotty McCreery: An “American Idol,” will feature these items:

● The outfit — black leather jacket, jeans, T-shirt and cross necklace —  that McCreery wore when he sang his final duet, “Live Like You Were Dying,” on “American Idol” with country superstar Tim McGraw at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, Ca., on May 25, 2011.

● The lyrics sheet for “Live Like You Were Dying.” The sheet indicates the individual parts: “S” for Scotty and “T” for Tim.

● The gold record presented to McCreery by Mercury Records for his first album, Clear as Day, which sold over 500,000 copies in the seven months after his “American Idol” victory.

● The backstage pass used by McCreery’s mother, Judy McCreery, on May 24 and 25, 2011, for the “American Idol” final rehearsal and show at the Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, Ca.

Garth Brooks Concludes Three Year Run at Wynn Las Vegas Nov 17

The final performance date of Garth Brooks at Wynn Las Vegas will be Nov. 17, 2012. The show called by Las Vegas Weekly "the best thing on any Vegas stage… EVER," has been running since Dec 2009.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wynn," said Garth Brooks. "Mr. Wynn told me that the Wynn audiences were some of the best in the world and he was right. As for Steve Wynn, he is one of the smartest guys I have ever had the pleasure of talking to or listening to. He does everything top notch and is the easiest and best boss I have ever worked for…..I just love him!"

Hailed as the Solo Artist of the 20th Century by RIAA and currently sitting atop the sound scan era, Brooks plans to film his one-man show next summer for a possible network special sometime in the near future.  (click for full ticket distribution info)

Meanwhile at note on Brooks' website warns fans:  "IMPORTANT ALERT: We've become aware of some websites offering tickets to a Garth Brooks concert in Atlanta. Garth does NOT have a concert scheduled in Atlanta so please do not provide your credit card or other personal information to these sites."

Greg Bates, Shopping Cart Wrangler

Bates, who has his first top 20 hit on his hands with “Did It for the Girl,” has a strange pet peeve and he blames his mom for it.

Greg explains, “When I was a kid, my mom's biggest pet peeve was when you pull into the parking lot at a grocery store, and people have left their carts out in the parking spaces, she would always make us as kids go grab them and bring them in. So, to this day when I pull into a grocery store parking lot and I see a buggy sitting out in the parking lot, outside of the little gated area that they have for you, it just drives me nuts and I don't know why… I can't seem to be okay with carts being left out.”  

Coincidentally, when Greg was a teenager he worked at Target one summer and his job was to wrangle the carts in the parking lot, which of course he loved.  “I was the cart guy outside and loved it! It was amazing! I basically got to move carts around all day!”

Eli Young Band Enjoys The Surreal Moments

While there have been some pretty incredible moments in Eli Young Band's career over the last year they say there have also been some surreal moments, like performing on the David Letterman show.

James explains, “I grew up watching it as a kid. You know any of those tonight shows are just like' pinch me moments'."  Another moment that almost didn‟t seem real was performing on an awards show.  The guys have sat  in the audience at awards shows, but to actually be up in front of their peers performing one of their songs, Mike says, “I personally thought I was going to be very uncomfortable up there because it's not like a normal show. You've got all the other artists that are sitting right in front of you watching you perform so it's a different dynamic to be able to perform to. It felt actually really comfortable and it was one of the moments, it's like, I'm singing 'Crazy Girl' to Carrie Underwood right now, and this is crazy.”  

Chances are with the success they've been having, they'll have plenty more opportunities to get comfortable singing songs like their new one, “Say Goodnight,” in front of an audience full of their peers. The band is vying for two big CMA awards trophies next month.