Hank Off If You Can't Take A Joke

ESPN pulled Hank Jr.'s "Are You Ready For Some Football" theme song opening from Monday Night's NFL football game between the Colts and Buccaneers.  

Junior had made remarks ESPN found offensive on the Fox and Friends TV show earlier in the week.  Hank had made a ridiculous reference comparing President Obama to Hitler in a clear parody.  ESPN didn't get the joke.  

Williams commented, "Some of us have strong opinions and are often misunderstood. My analogy was extreme – but it was to make a point. I was simply trying to explain how stupid it seemed to me - how ludicrous that pairing was."

No word on whether the network's response was for a single show or a more permanent move.  

Williams has had many controversies in his career, including losing a major sponsorship from Anheuser-Busch after a reported drinking issue.  Williams had trouble at a performance in Kansas City in the early 90's.  Reports were he had been drinking heavily before the show and was unable to finish the set.

Farm Tour is This Week

Luke Bryan and NRA Country will once again be joining forces for the 2011 Farm Tour.

The partnership, now in its second year, will have NRA Country on site at all dates to add to the festivities.

The Farm Tour continues for its third consecutive year wrapping October 7 in Carrollton, Georgia.

The idea for the Farm Tour concerts came from Bryan as a way to give back to local farming communities by celebrating and lifting up the American Farmer and offering a fun escape with the outdoor shows. Proceeds from the concerts will go toward scholarships for students from farming families attending local colleges in each community where the shows are taking place.

More details at: ticketsforcharity.com/nracc.

Rest of 2011 for Flatts

Rascal Flatts gave ‘Billboard.com’ details of what the remaining 2011 year holds for them this past weekend while performing at the iheart radio music festival in Las Vegas.

The guys said that rest and relaxation will be a part of the next few months while they complete their new album which Jon Don Rooney said would be “released on April 3rd, 2012.”

Next up will be a chance to grab ‘Vocal Group of the Year’ for the CMA nominated Rascal Flatts at the 45th annual CMA Awards on November 9th.

McGraw Tries to Gag, then Fires Band

According to the National Enquirer's story, Tim fired five of his long-time band members because they wouldn't sign a gag order to protect his secrets.

Tim reportedly pressured the ‘Dance Hall Doctors’ into signing agreements promising they’ll keep quiet about his hell-raising past, sources say.

Insiders blame McGraw’s melt­down on his recent tour’s poor ticket sales, along with his fail­ure to win a major music award since a 2006 Grammy for his duet “Like We Never Loved At All” with wife Faith Hill.

Zac is Cooking

Zac Brown may be taking his love for food into your homes via his own cooking according to the AP.

The Zac Brown Band are known for their pre-concert "eat-and-greets," where they treat about 200 lucky fans to a huge spread of down-home southern fare. Most everything on the buffet is an original Zac Brown recipe, cooked in a 53-foot tractor trailer that serves as a "kitchen on wheels."

Zac is a former restaurant owner and has his own cookbook, 'Southern Ground.'