Jimmy Kimmel To Appear Simultaneously In Los Angeles And Nashville Via Hologram To Celebrate The 2014 CMA Awards

Through the use of cutting-edge technology, Jimmy Kimmel will host the show “cross-country” on Country Music’s Biggest Night. 

On Wednesday, November 5, the late night host will be live in Hollywood, California while simultaneously being transported to Nashville, Tennessee via hologram.

To celebrate “The 48^th Annual CMA Awards,”  Jimmy Kimmel Live will broadcast via Hologram to a live audience at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.  

Using technology from Hologram USA, Kimmel’s monologue will be beamed  to the Nashville stage.  
His first guest, Julie Bowen (“Modern Family”) will be an in-studio guest in Hollywood while his second guest will be an unannounced CMA Award winner from that evening’s event who will be interviewed as a hologram by Jimmy on stage in Hollywood. 

The show will also feature a musical performance from reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line from Nashville that will also be hologrammed to Hollywood, California as if live on Kimmel’s outdoor stage for his studio audience.

Hunter Hayes Supports USO With Pre-CMA Show

The CMA Award-winning artist and four-time GRAMMY nominee is kicking off the week leading up to "The 48th Annual CMA Awards" with a free nighttime concert in downtown Nashville on Monday, Nov. 3 as part of Hayes’ involvement with the USO’s “Every Moment Counts” campaign.  A rare hometown performance for Hayes, the street party commemorates one of many “moments” in honor of Sergeant First Class Tyler Arnold and his family, who will be in attendance at the show along with servicemen and women currently stationed at nearby Fort Campbell. SFC Arnold has been deployed six times, including multiple trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, and is being recognized  by the USO  for his service, sacrifice and strength during the “moments” Arnold missed with his wife and two young daughters during his deployments.

As “Every Moment Counts” approaches its one year anniversary, Hayes has partnered with the USO to create special #USOmoments for troops and their families at each of 17 stops on his Tattoo (Your Name) Tour, which commences Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Best Buy Theater in New York City.  At each show, Hayes has created a unique moment recognizing all service members and their families while integrating concert-goers, including invited troops and their families, in an unprecedented way utilizing customized Glow Motion Technologies wristbands as part of the USO “Every Moment Counts” campaign.  All fans in attendance at the shows can download the official Hunter Hayes Tour App (available for Apple and Android phones) to physically integrate into the tour’s lighting design and participate in the entire show using #YouAreTheShow.
The app is available now at http://smarturl.it/HHMobileApp.

To date, Hayes has performed at two USO concerts--one at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia and one at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in the U.K.--in support of the “Every Moment Counts” campaign.

Randy Houser, Tracy Lawrence & Troy Gentry Join Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks & Darryl Worley for Tootsie's Birthday Bash on Nov. 12

Platinum-selling powerhouse vocalist Randy Houser, multi-platinum CMA and ACM award-winner Tracy Lawrence and one half of the fan-favorite country duo Montgomery Gentry Troy Gentry are the latest additions to the star-studded Tootsie's Orchid Lounge 54th Birthday Bash line-up.

Hosted by America’s Morning Show host Blair Garner, the annual Broadway street party will also feature performances by Terri Clark, Chuck Wicks and Darryl Worley, with even more exciting artist announcements coming soon. Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge Annual Birthday Bash attracts some of the biggest stars in music, including surprise appearances by Kid Rock, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, Colt Ford and more. 

 

The event, which takes place Nov. 12 on Broadway between 4th and 5th Avenue, will host entertainment on an outdoor stage throughout the day and is FREE to the public. For more information, please visit: www.tootsies.net.

RaeLynn Performs At National Association for Music Education Conference

In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of Music In Our Schools Month, The Valory Music Co. recording artist joined Boston Brass to debut “Always Sing,” a song she wrote with Nicolle Galyon and Jimmy Robbins for music students nationwide, yesterday (10/26) at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, TN.

The performance is one of the many highlights planned for a four-day national music education conference taking place this week. The conference draws music education professionals from across the country and centers on ways in which “Music Education Orchestrates Success”—in school, in work, and in life. Following the conference, “Always Sing” will be available to National Association for Music Education (NAfME) members as part of the Concert for Music In Our Schools Month. Song arrangements will be made available to NAfME members digitally on the NAfME.org website.

In conjunction with Music In Our Schools Month, Give a Note will engage schools across the country to submit their versions of “Always Sing” for yet-to-be-announced surprises along the tour. For a second consecutive year, Big Machine (parent company of The Valory Music Co. imprint) and Give a Note Foundation will partner for the Music In Our Schools Tour in March 2015. Rick DeJonge from Jupiter Band Instruments worked with RaeLynn and her team to arrange the music for several types of ensembles.

The Give a Note Foundation was started in 2011 by the leaders of NAfME and has since provided more than $1 million in grants to more than 75 schools in addition to generous support from many groups and organizations.  Through their partnership with Jupiter Band Instruments, Boston Brass has been helping to raise awareness for the Give a Note Foundation at their concerts for about two years.

With the highest charting debut single by a solo female artist in 2014, RaeLynn was recently selected as the first female for iHeart Media’s On The Verge, which showcases an artist that has the potential to break out of the pack with a great song. From her slow ballad “Love Triangle” to the empowering debut single “God Made Girls,” the spunky 20-year-old has penned a diverse catalog of songs. Taste of Country insists, “fans of every age will find a trio of lyrics to get behind” from the Texas native’s lead track. “Cheerful, charming, ultra-talented and downright hilarious” according to Popcrush, the songstress revealed a different side, spearheading the whimsical vision for the “God Made Girls” music video. Flashing pizazz while honoring her Country roots, RaeLynn made her Grand Ole Opry debut in September and the social media maven commemorated the career milestone with an “Op-Rae Selfie” from center stage. With a lengthy run on Season 2 of The Voice, RaeLynn garnered a plethora of fans, including mentor Blake Shelton. RaeLynn will join Miranda Lambert’s Certified Platinum Tour in early 2015.

Get Ready To Take Your Shoes Off, Nation

After a year making The Big Revival, his 13th #1 Country Album debut, Kenny Chesney is ready to get back to the fans.

With the multiple week #1 “American Kids” and “Til Its Gone” currently sitting at #18 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart, his new music has reinvigorated the No Shoes Nation.  Now Chesney returns to where he draws inspiration, energy and a reason to believe in the power of music: his 2015 tour!

The man The Wall Street Journal deemed “The King of the Road” mixes it up playing arenas, amphitheaters and stadiums. He kicks off on March 26, his birthday in Nashville -- and also teams with presenting sponsor Corona Light to do it.

“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate,” Chesney, who confirmed he’s bringing The Big Revival Tour to America today on ABC's Good Morning America, says. “I’ve been ready to get out there for a long time. Now that we’re announced I’m fired up! This new music brings a new energy to the show, and it’s gonna take what we do to a whole other level.

Impressive considering each of his headlining tours since 2002 has sold over a million tickets– making him the only country act in Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Acts of the Past 25 Years. That’s a strong showing, given Chesney’s only been headlining half that time.

“We’re going to be mixing up the line-up, too: different markets will have different acts playing with us. A few will be on all the stadium shows, some doing pieces – but I promise everybody who’s coming out rocks hard, and understands turning a crowd on.”

Chesney knows how to pick’em. Over the years, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood have supported Chesney’s full-tilt tours, as well as beyond genre artists Grace Potter and Uncle Kracker.

“This is really about us and the fans... the fact that every year, so many people make their summer about coming to see us. I’ve missed that sense of community and that passion for the music. There’s gonna be some stuff from the new record and songs people haven’t heard in a while. There’s gonna be a whole lot of music and some surprises…

“I didn’t know if I could take the music as far as we were able with the album. That’s the beauty of giving things time to be what they’re meant to. We’re already working on next year’s video. I’ve seen the stage – and the lights. As the set list comes together, and we start locking down rehearsals, this is gonna be a wild night. I hope the fans are ready.”  

Rolling Stone echoes that, saying The Big Revival “continuously brings a sense of musical energy and emotional urgency...” and Billboard raved it “captures the zeitgeist of American youth in a way that John Mellencamp once owned.” Look for this year’s tour to offer the same kind of energy, intensity and excitement.

“Because of the number of artists we’re pulling into this tour, the roll out is a little trickier, but I think it’s going to be worth the wait and the finding out. Rather than locking in one thing, I wanted to make each market the best it could be. People will be fired up when they see who’s playing where. That means, there’s more news to come... A lot of our favorite cities are on the list, so are some places we’ve never been. Get ready!”

Contacts for Kenny Chesney:
Columbia Nashville - Ann Inman - (615) 301-4466
Essential Broadcast Media, LLC - Ebie McFarland - (615) 327-3259

Little Big Town Turn The Lights On

LBT released their album, Pain Killer, this week.

Anchored by their current Top 10 hit, “Day Drinking,” the album boasts several key life-affirming tracks, including “Quit Breaking Up With Me,” the title track, “Girl Crush” and “Turn the Lights On,” which the band can certainly identify with and even use to help other artists who have given up.

“We were talking about when you’re chasing something that you want to do as an artist, and you get knocked down or you’re gonna get rejected, you have to decide what you’re gonna do at that moment,” explains Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild. “You’re either gonna pick yourself up and be a better artist, better person, or you’re just gonna lie down and take it and just go away. We see it happen all the time. So many talented people come to Nashville and some quit, and they might be the best singers and songwriters and they just give up, because they get knocked down a couple of times.”

If Little Big Town had done that when they lost a record deal…or three…it would have been a very sad day in Nashville to not hear these four voices blend and soar as they were born to do.

Little Big Town, who is nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year, will sing the National Anthem at Game 3 of the World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals on Friday (October 24th) beginning at 8pm ET on FOX.

Trisha Yearwood Shows How It's Done At Game #1

10/21/14: Trisha Yearwood performs the national anthem prior to the start of Game 1 of the World Series (click to watch and listen)

What's new with her?  click here

Keith Urban Back To Judge For American Idol

It will be his third season, which begins airing after the first of the year.

Urban, along with Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Ryan Seacrest (as host), are currently crisscrossing the country for the audition process. Last year’s judges’ panel seemed to really click and they all became friends, and Keith says it feels like no time has passed since they were behind the desks. The “Somewhere in My Car” singer has also noticed some great talent coming through this year.

“This season, I think we’re finding some really strong talent,” says Keith. “It’s all [in] the journey. You find these diamonds in the rough, or sometimes you just find straight-out [snaps] diamonds, and I love watching the journey of them.”

Keith is nominated for four CMA Awards this year, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album of the Year for Fuse and Musical Event of the Year for “We Were Us” with Miranda Lambert. The 48th Annual CMA Awards will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena November 4th at 8pm ET

Maddie & Tae Can Kill Some Serious Time On Pinterest

The duo have been on the road a lot promoting their debut single, “Girl in a Country Song,” and one of the ways they like to kill time while they’re traveling is by checking out the Pinterest app on their phones.

Tae admits she’s one Pinterest and Twitter way too much. Maddie also loves Pinterest and she says, “I pin a lot of home décor stuff that I wish I could make that I really can’t, like a bunch of DIY stuff that I wish I could do but I never have time. That, and I love pinning recipes that I never get around to cook, but I still love it (laughs).”

Perhaps one day their schedule will slow down enough that Maddie & Tae can actually make some of the crafts and recipes they love pinning.

NEWS AND NOTES: Keith, Little Big Town, Strait, Lady A, Kacey, Luke, Dierks

Keith Urban picked up two ARIA Award nominations (Australia’s version of The Grammy Awards). He’s up for Best Country Album (for Fuse) and Best Live Act (for his Light The Fuse Tour). In the States, he’s nominated for several CMA Awards, including Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Album of the Year (for Fuse) and Musical Event of the Year for “We Were Us” with Miranda Lambert.

You can cruise the high seas with Little Big Town during the 2015 Carnival LIVE concert series. The band will perform three times on the “Fun Ships” in Nassau (March 30th, 31st and April 1st). Visit www.carnival.com/CarnivalLIVE for more information.

George Strait is featured cover-to-cover in a new commemorative “bookazine” that was just released by the Academy of Country Music. The collector’s edition celebrates the Country Music Hall of Famer’s career, life (including exclusive photos from his Texas ranch), behind-the scenes and much more. The “bookazine” is on newsstands now.

Lady Antebellum and Kacey Musgraves will be among the artists performing on the new ABC TV Special, Countdown to the CMA Awards: 15 Songs That Changed Country Music next month. The special, which is hosted by Robin Roberts and also features Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Hunter Hayes, Rascal Flatts and Martina McBride, will air Monday, November 3rd at 10pm ET on ABC.

Lady Antebellum are together again with Stevie Nicks. They appear on the song “Blue Water” from the legendary performer’s new album, 24 Karat Gold.

  -- Universal Music/Nashville

Glen Campbell and His Family Featured On NBC-TV This Week

Already one of the most acclaimed documentaries of the year ahead of its October 24 release, GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME, will give movie-goers an intimate look at the life and musical legacy of Country music icon Glen Campbell and his family. Directed by James Keach (Walk The Line) and produced by Trevor Albert (Groundhog Day), the film shows the three-year period after Glen’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.

Landing the first interview with Glen and his family in advance of the documentary premiere, NBC Nightly News will air the special segment tomorrow (10/7) while TODAY will feature another portion of the interview on Wednesday (10/8). The piece was filmed in Nashville with NBC News correspondent Cynthia McFadden with Jake Whitman serving as producer of the package.

Additionally, a music video for Glen’s final recording, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” will first appear on NBCNews.com today

The Hollywood Reporter’s film critic Scott Feinberg recently said this of Oscar documentary contenders: “I’m not sure any can match James Keach’s Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, a gut-punching look at what Alzheimer’s Disease has done to the titular music legend — and the remarkable way in which the 78-year-old and his loved ones have conducted their lives since his diagnosis in 2011.”

The GLEN CAMPBELL…I’LL BE ME SOUNDTRACK EP fro Big Machine Records is now available at all digital music retailers. The five-song set includes Glen’s final recording, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” a cover of “Gentle On My Mind” by The Band Perry, an original song and performance by daughter Ashley Campbell and two LIVE performances from his final tour stop at the Ryman Auditorium.

Click here to watch video segments.

Country Is Well-Represented In Film

Thomas Rhett, Hunter Hayes, Lady Antebellum, Eric Paslay, Kacey Musgraves, Kip Moore, David Nail, Thompson Square and Colbie Caillat, among others, are among the artists featured on The Best of Me soundtrack.

“Having a song in The Best of Me soundtrack is really cool for me," says Thomas. "Me and my wife have been huge fans of Nicholas Sparks for a long time. I thinkt hat most girls were since they saw The Notebook. For me, I actually got to read the book, The Best of Me, which was awesome. This is the first song I’ve ever had in a movie before. So, it’s a really cool thing,"

Hunter agrees, and says it's a dream come true for him to have a song in the movie. "One of the coolest things as a songwriter is being anywhere at any point in time and being caught off guard by hearing your song," says Hunter. "And one of the coolest, I’ve always thought, one of the biggest dreams is sitting in a movie theater watching a movie [and having your song come on]."

The soundtrack to the film was released this week, while the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' film hits theaters nationwide October 17th.

Scotty McCreery Celebrates 21st

McCreery will celebrate his 21st birthday on Thursday (October 9th), and he’s asking fans who are thinking of sending him a gift, to instead make a donation to the 12.14 Foundation.

Scotty serves as a National Goodwill Ambassador for the Newtown, Connecticut-based foundation that plans to build a multi-purpose performing arts and education center as a beacon of hope and positive change for use by and to benefit people everywhere. McCreery has made multiple visits to Newtown to meet with families there since the 2012 shooting tragedy which shocked the nation.

“I’ve got such wonderful, generous fans, and they have been e-mailing my fan club asking what they could send me to celebrate my birthday,” says Scotty.  “They’ve already given me far more than I could ever have imagined by letting me live out my dreams, so I would like to encourage the fans to donate to the 12.14 Foundation. Together we can support a great organization doing positive things in a town that is still recovering. Let’s help them reach their goal of building a state-of-the art performing arts and education center. That would be the best birthday gift I could receive.”
Donations can be made by visiting the organization’s website at http://www.1214foundation.org/donate/. For those mailing checks, donations can be sent to 12.14 Foundation, P.O. Box 90, Newtown, CT, 06470. 

Scotty will continue to support the organization when he bring his “See You Tonight Tour” with special guest Danielle Bradbery to the Toyota Oakdale in Wallingford, CT on Thursday, Dec. 4th for a 12.14 Foundation Benefit Concert.

Scotty is planning on a low-key birthday celebration with his buddies. “We’re gonna go to the beach and kind of hang out for the 21st party, and then we’re gonna head out from there and go to Pinehurst and we’re gonna go play a little golf,” says Scotty. “It’ll be a big time. Me and the guys are sure to enjoy that.”

After celebrating his birthday, McCreery will return to the road with upcoming dates in Fayetteville, North Carolina on October 17th, Toms River, New Jersey October 18th and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania October 19th.

For tour dates and more information, visit www.ScottyMcCreery.com.

The now-legal adult has grown up before the nation’s eyes since winning the 10th season of American Idol at age 17.

Little Big Town Invited To Join The Opry

The critically acclaimed Grammy®-winning vocal group (Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook) was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by Opry member and friend Reba McEntire.  The group will be formally inducted into the Opry on Fri., Oct. 17 by Opry member Vince Gill.

As the group finished a three-song set with its smash “Pontoon,” McEntire appeared from the side of the stage, improvising on the song’s last few words. “I know the Grand Ole Opry is very important to y’all, because this is the first place you guys played together as a group in 1999,” McEntire began after the impromptu collaboration. “I have been asked to ask y’all, Little Big Town, would y’all like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?”

After hugs with McEntire and between the members as well as a collective “yes” from the group, McEntire said, “Special moments like this—they’re priceless.”

Speaking for the group, Fairchild cheered, “Thank you, Grand Ole Opry! We will try to make you proud!”

Brantley Gilbert Lays All His Tricks On The Table

Brantley has always said he is an open book and doesn’t hold much back from his fans, so it’s not surprising that he doesn’t have any hidden talents.

He says, “I really am kind of an open book and kind of a ‘what you see is what you get’ kinda guy. I don’t have any hidden talents like I can’t juggle, I can’t do card tricks.”

The “Small Town Throwdown” singer says he’s not even a card player when he gambles. When he does go to a casino Brantley says, “The only gamblin’ I do is roulette and I only pick red or black. Course that usually turns out pretty good for me, I got some good luck gamblin’. So far, knock on wood.”

It's A Big News Day For Garth Brooks

Singer/songwriter Garth Brooks confirmed today that his highly-anticipated new album, available November 11th, will be titled, MAN AGAINST MACHINE. The album will be released on Pearl/RCA Nashville and will feature his current hit on country radio, “People Loving People.”

"Music has always been a reflection of where mankind is at the time.  For 14 years, I have watched heart and soul, dreams and individualism, fighting for their very existence in a world of increasing technology.  This album is a reminder to all those who dream, work, and fight for what they believe; do not give up your vision," said Garth Brooks.

Fans can pre-order the album at garthbrooks.com (http://smarturl.it/garthbundled2c)  and ghosttunes.com(http://smarturl.it/garthghosttunes). In addition to the album, fans can order an additional mega bundle including all eight iconic studio albums digitally updated, the new double live 25th Anniversary Edition featuring 30 songs along with 30 videos, an instant download of the new single, “People Loving People” and the bonus track, “Send ‘Em On Down The Road.”

Tickets for Minneapolis went on sale today. Back in 1998, October 6th through the 14th at the Target Center, Garth played nine shows. This time around he will be playing ten shows. Over 153,000 tickets have been sold and he is still selling!!!

Purchase tickets and see a list of the shows at www.axs.com/garth

Garth, who in 2000, was certified by the RIAA as the #1-selling solo artist in U. S. history and has sold 134 million albums to date, virtually receiving every music award possible, is currently on his world tour.

It Was A Big Day For Jason Aldean Yesterday

 

About Brittany Kerr Engagement: "It's Pretty Good Times"—Watch E! Online Video.

Jason could not help but break into a smile as he was asked about his engagement by Ellen DeGeneres. (click to watch it)

CMA + Country Superstars Almost Ready For (Sold Out!) Awards And Then Christmas Shows

The star-studded lineup for Country Music’s Biggest Night™ continues to grow with today’s announcement of additional performers for “The 48th Annual CMA Awards.”

Not only are they hosting for the seventh consecutive year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will each perform during the three-hour live broadcast Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

Strike up the bands, because joining the superstar lineup are three of the hottest groups in County Music – Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and The Band Perry. Previously announced performers include Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Keith Urban.

Paisley is among the top CMA Award winners of all time, with 14 trophies. He is a former CMA Entertainer of the Year (2010) and three-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (2007-2009), with multiple wins in the Music Video and Musical Event of the Year categories. Paisley’s first CMA Award came in 2000 when he won the Horizon Award, now known as New Artist of the Year.

A three-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year (2006-2008), Underwood is again nominated in that category in 2014, as well as Music Video and Musical Event of the Year with Lambert for “Somethin’ Bad.” Underwood is a five-time CMA Awards winner with 21 career CMA Awards nominations. She has been nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year every year since her first nomination in 2006 (2006-2014).

Lady Antebellum has 16 career CMA Awards nominations and six wins including three for Vocal Group of the Year (2009-2011), two for Single of the Year (“I Run to You” in 2009 and “Need You Now” in 2010), and a win for New Artist of the Year in 2008. In 2014, they are nominated for Vocal Group of the Year and Music Video of the Year for “Bartender.”

Little Big Town has 16 career CMA Awards nominations and has been nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year every year since 2006 – and 2014 is no exception. The group has won three CMA Awards including Vocal Group of the Year (2012, 2013), and Single of the Year in 2012 for “Pontoon.”

The Band Perry has eight career CMA Awards nominations and two wins including New Artist of the Year (2011) and Single of the Year for “If I Die Young” (2011). The sibling trio is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year in 2014 (they have been nominated in this category each year since 2010).

Tickets for “The 48th Annual CMA Awards” are officially sold out, marking the sixth year in a row the ceremony has sold out in advance.

Winners of “The 48th Annual CMA Awards” will be determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP. The third and final ballot will be emailed to CMA members emailed to CMA members Thursday, Oct. 9. Voting for the CMA Awards final ballot ends Monday, Oct. 27 (5:00 PM/CT).

Jennifer Nettles returns to host CMA Country Christmas for the fifth year in a row. The special, which tapes in front of a live audience November 7th, will air during the holiday season on ABC.

“After being the host of ‘CMA Country Christmas,’ for five years now, it is hard to pick one thing I love about it. There are so many fun moments,” Nettles said. “Whether it is the performances or duets, getting to perform Christmas songs with great artists is really fun for me.  It’s really a fun show all around.”

Artists scheduled to perform and celebrate the season include Little Big Town, Jennifer, Michael W. Smith, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Broadway star Idina Menzel, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood.

For the third year, audience members are being encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the taping to help make the holidays brighter for Nashville area children. The Nashville-based non-profit group Generosity will have volunteers on site with specially marked bins to collect toys beginning at 5:00 PM/CT on Nov. 7. In 2013, the group collected more than 5,000 toys.

“Our artist community is extremely generous and so are our fans,” Trahern said. “It is our goal to make sure no child goes without a present this Christmas and we are grateful to our partners at Generosity for helping to make this a dream come true for children in Nashville.”

Tickets for “CMA Country Christmas” are on sale now and can be purchased at CMAChristmas.com; by calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office, located at 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, Nashville). Tickets for “CMA Country Christmas” are $25 for Upper-Level seating and $50 for Lower- and Club-Level seating. Ticket prices include tax, but exclude applicable service fees.

Miranda Lambert Gives To Mutts

RCA reports that Miranda will donate proceeds from her Oct. 4 performance at the Las Vegas Route 91 Harvest Festival to her 7th Annual Cause for the Paws event, which benefits Lambert's MuttNation Foundation.

Check them out on Twitter.

The 91 Harvest Festival is produced by Live Nation.

Lady Antebellum's "7 For 7" Goes Into Day #3 And From Miami To "Today" In New York

LA's second stop on the 7 For 7 campaign brought them to NYC on 747 release day to surprise longtime fan, Katharine Laventis, on The Today Show!

Simply put – Katharine is a loyal, understanding, and kindhearted friend to many of her peers and is diligently putting herself through nursing school. Katharine – you rock and we're proud to have you as a fan.

More on the event (click here).