The “Pontoon” vocal group of the year has a new event coming up this Summer. Little Big Town is set to host this years televised CMA Music Fest’s “Country’s Night to Rock”, which will air Monday, August 12th at 8pm EST. Karen Faichild of LBT says,”It’s an incredible honor to be hosting this years CMA Fest”. CMA Fest draws in ten’s of thousands of country music fans from around the world to walk the streets of Nashville and see some of the greatest country music acts of all time.
After touring from coast-to-coast the Band Perry can sleep well at night knowing that they received a ‘Teen Choice’ nomination in the “choice country group” category. You can check out the results of the bands nomination Sunday August 11th on FOX. Along with the ‘Teen Choice’ nod, The Band Perry will be crossing their fingers to win the CMT Award for group video of the year. Their video for ‘Better Dig Two’ is up against some stiff competition. Be sure to vote for your favorite video at CMT.com through June 2nd.
If you’ve ever wanted to tailgate and go to a great country music show, well, the Rascal Flatts are making it happen. On May 31st the Rascal Flatts will be kicking off there “Live and Loud” tour, presented by Farmers Insurance, and with the kicj-off of the new tour comes some great tailgating experiences. Fans who attend the “tailgate experience” can enjoy tons of fun and games all for FREE! From golf and archery to off-road vehicles and a photo booth, the Rascal Flatts have their fans tailgate experience covered. To check out when The Rascal Flatts will be coming to town near you click here!
Last week, country music’s “family-band” recording trio The Henningsens paid a VISIT to Public School 22 in Staten Island, New York, for a visit and performance with the fifth graders of the acclaimed PS22 Chorus. The chorus joined The Henningsens for a rendition of the trio’s hit debut single, “American Beautiful,” as well as a cover of this week’s #1 Billboard Pop Song radio airplay smash, Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors.”
We learned from Us Weekly that Kristen Stewart was driven by a girlfriend to country singer Taylor Swift’s place and “spent all day” there before returning home. A source close to Stewarts now ex, Robert Pattinson, told Us on May 18 that the Twilight costars were taking a break from their four-year relationship. The two have been having ongoing problems since Stewart’s fling with Rupert Sanders, and a recent fight over Pattinson’s birthday party pushed them over the edge. Though Stewart and Swift, 23, aren’t known to be close friends, the “Begin Again” singer is no stranger to a bad breakup having previously dated John Mayer, Jake Gyllenhaal, Harry Styles and other Hollywood hunks. The two megastars also share a mutual friend in Taylor Lautner. Stewart is good pals with the 21-year-old actor, having starred alongside him in The Twilight Saga films over the past five years, and Swift dated him for three months in 2009. On Sunday, Pattinson was photographed moving his possessions out of Stewart’s L.A. home in his pickup truck. “They’re both good people. It was just not the right thing for either of them right now,” recalls a friend.
Brad Paisley will guest star on tonight’s season finale of the ABC drama Nashville. He will play himself and perform with characters Rayna James (Connie Britton) and Deacon Claybourne (Charles Esten). Brad’s real life wife, Kimberly Williams- Paisley, is on Nashville, playing the recurring role of Peggy Kenter, who had an affair with Rayna James’ husband, Teddy Conrad. Back in March, Brad told Parade magazine he didn’t know if he could be on the show. “They’ve asked, but it’s a little odd, having Kim on there playing somebody else. … I can’t watch it. It is really good, but it’s disturbing to me, too close to what I do.” Apparently he’s come to peace with it all and you will see him tonight on the season finale of Nashville on ABC.
Another win for country music! The season finale of Dancing with the Stars wrapped up just minutes ago and country music’s own Kellie Pickler danced away with the ‘Mirror Ball’ trophy. Kellie and dancing partner Derrick Hough had one final dance, ‘The Jive’, and received three-tens from the judges. Although Kellie and partner Derrick were one of the favorites to win Kellie was still shocked when her name was called. The winners were picked by both the fans and viewers along with combining the judge’s scores from last night and tonight’s final dance routines. Also in tonight’s finale was former Dancing With the Stars contestant Wynonna who sang during the show.
Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland recently announced that she will be working on a solo album, but she sat down with Billboard and talked about moving forward with Sugarland. “We’re just taking time to do things individually, personally and professionally. And we’re super supportive of each other in what we do on both those fronts, personally and professionally,” said Nettles. Nettles went on to say that having two outlets for her music (solo career and Sugarland) would compliment each other very well. ”With Sugarland it’s been fun to write with Kristian, we go out and play the big shows, play the arenas,” she said. “I wanted to do something that was just different, you know? That was more intimate and more personal, more organic to me. And definitely speaks to my roots and to where I’m at right now in my life.” On top of all of her musical endeavors Nettles is also working on being a new mom.
As if the night couldn’t take on any more major country artists the 2013 CMT Music Awards have added even MORE country Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum will perform during this year’s live show. They will be joining other country stars: Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift, who were announced as performers last week. Be sure to tune in as Jason Aldean and Kristen Bell host the 2013 CMT Music Awards LIVE on Wednesday June, 5th on CMT and CMT.com Presenters will be announced soon.
With a major “60-for-60“ campaign backing him up, George Strait has hit 60 #1 singles, which has never been done before. It just so happens that the singer’s newest hit “Give It All We Got Tonight” became a number one single the same week as his 61st birthday. I’d say that’s a pretty darn good present! ‘Give It All We Got Tonight’ is Strait’s first single from his new album ‘Love Is Everything’, which was released last Tuesday. It topped the Mediabase charts as the most played song on country radio. The country legend received considerable attention from fans during his lengthy 60 for 60 campaign, but it wasn’t only the fans wishing him lick on his birthday. Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Gary Allan, Tim McGraw, the members of Lady Antebellum and Scotty McCreery were among the stars wishing the King of Country a happy birthday, as well as congratulating him on his accomplishment. George Strait has said that he will be hanging-up his tour boots come 2014.
For the country music superstar yesterday’s tornados hit close to home. Keith, a native of Moore, Oklahoma revealed that his sister’s house was in the path of the tornado and was severely damaged. Keith told CNN’s Anderson Cooper, ”It (the tornado) passed less than a mile away from my mothers house.” Keith went on to write to his website, “This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in,” Keith said on his website. “I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all.” A few other country stars have ties to the surrounding Moore, Oklahoma area, including: Blake Shelton, Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks.
A headlining tour, a new album, and three hit’s in the top 30, and he still finds time for TV. Blake Shelton has already begun working on a new season of NBC’s ‘The Voice’ to air this Fall. ‘The Voice’ is planning to merge the original and current judges lineup, and will bring back Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, Adam Levine and Shelton for its fifth season in fall and will pair Levine and Shelton with Shakira and Usher for the sixth cycle in midseason. Carson Daly will return as host for both cycles. “We locked in a plan several months ago to have the outstanding Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green rejoin Blake and Adam for cycle 5, and we’re pleased to announce that the original four coaches are going to be back together in the fall,” said Telegdy of NBC. NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said, “We’re very fortunate to have these six incredible artists to weave in and out of the show as their performing and recording schedules permit,” said. “The show has taken off largely due to the rapport and commitment of these great coaches.” If you’d like to see Blake live you can catch him on tour this summer. He kicks off his “Ten Times Crazier” tour July 19th in Virginia Beach, VA.
It looks like second place on American Idol can still bring you some fame. Runner-Up on this season of American Idol, Kree Harrison, has been added to the Grand Ole Opry bill, set for Tuesday, June 4. That’s the same week that CMA Music Festivities kick off in Nashville. Kree told CountryMusicIsLove.com all about the call she received from the Opry, “I’m speechless. It has been my lifelong dream to perform at the Grand Ole Opry. I am so honored to be invited!” Kree’s debut single “All Cried Out,” is available now at iTunes. There is a star-studded line-up for June 4th too! Some of the other performers that night are: Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Lennon and Maisy from ABC’s “Nashville.”
Darius Rucker’s new album, True Believers, featuring his current single, “Wagon Wheel,” is out today. When people listen to this album, Darius says, “I want people to walk away with two or three songs that are so much about them as it is about me. You know, because that’s when you know you’ve really done something when somebody puts a song on and you’re singing it, but in their head they’re singing it. It’s them. They wrote it. It’s their life. That’s what you try to do with songs. That’s what I’ve really tried to do with this record is to just write songs that people are going to take and feel like it’s their song, not a Darius Rucker song.” True Believers is Darius’ third country album and he says, “I think the first two records, especially the first record, I wanted people to know how much I love the music.” The second album was almost a continuation of the first album, but Darius says for the third album, “It was totally different… this is an important record. Now we gotta wow them, we gotta get some songs that are really going to blow people away… I couldn’t rest on the last two records because even though they had been successes, I had to really go out and prove to everybody that we could make a great record.” Something else that was different with this third album is that Darius recorded it at his house and he says, “I think being at home just made me, relaxed is the big word, but it also made things easier. I mean, I think even [my producer] Frank was saying when we were doing the vocals that it seemed so much easier. We’re getting the good stuff instantly.” Darius says being able to record at home in South Carolina made it not feel like work. “That was the thing about the first two records and doing everything in Nashville. I felt like I was working. You know, I’m going to work. And when it was this record, you know it was drop the kids off at school, go get some lunch, and then go sing or a while and then go pick the kids up from school. And it was so [good] just being home and having fun.” Darius enjoyed the recording process so much that he says, “I want to do the rest of my records like that.” Darius will performing and promoting True Believers this morning on ABC’s Good Morning America, and then look for him tomorrow night on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The ‘Don’t Ya’ singer has just wrapped up his leg of the ‘Red’ tour with Taylor Swift. This was Brett’s first time out playing large arenas and touring with a superstar like Taylor, and he says he wouldn’t miss a chance to get new fans. Brett says, “I’ve been in front of so many new people. I’m the first person out there every night, but I’m walking out to a minimum of 8,000 new fans right off the bat.” He also told Taste of Country, “I just go out there and win them over. That’s what my grandpa always told me to do, he’s like, ‘Just go out there and win ‘em over. Turn on your charm.’ So I just go out there and I sing and have fun!” Although Brett is ending the tour with Swift he has a very busy Summer ahead of him including CMA Fest right here in Music City. For more performance dates click here!
After a hard-fought battle against his friend Penn Jillette, Trace Adkins was crowned the overall champion on last night’s All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. For their final task the two men had to create a unique ice cream flavor for Walgreen’s DeLish brand, they had to create a TV commercial and organize an ice cream social including entertainment and star power, selling tickets for as much money as they could raise. Trace created Maple Macadamia Mash-Up ice cream and he managed to raise $664,000 through his party, although $100,000 of it didn’t count toward his final total because Tim Tebow delivered the check after the deadline. Some of the other guests at his party included Billy Ray Cyrus, Wynonna, Thompson Square and The Oak Ridge Boys. Before the winner was announced, Trace felt he deserved to win because he said, “I think I delivered the best ice cream, I made the best commercial, I put on the best show, I brought in the biggest celebrities and I raised the most money.” For winning last night, Trace won an additional $250,000 for the American Red Cross, his chosen charity this season. If our math is correct, going into last night’s finale Trace had already won $710,000, combined with the $664,000 he brought in and the $250,000 grand prize, that means Trace won $1,624,000 for the American Red Cross this season on All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. The charity is close to his heart because they helped his family when their home burnt to the ground back in 2011, but also, because as he said last night, “There’s a Red Cross volunteer right this second helping somebody in this country.”
Congratulations to Taylor Swift who was the huge winner at last night’s Billboard Music Awards. She took home the overall Top Artist Award and seven other awards, including Top Country Artist, Top Country Album, Top Country Song for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Top Billboard 200 Album for Red, Top Female Artist, Top Billboard 200 Artist, and she tied with Carly Rae Jepsen for Top Digital Songs Artist. Taylor, who is known for writing and recording songs that are all about falling in love, breaking up and every emotion in between said during her acceptance speech for Artist of the Year, “To the fans who come to the shows, who buy the albums, I just want you to know this one thing – You are the longest and best relationship I have ever had.” The awards were based on album and digital singles sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social interactions on sites like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, VEVO and Spotify.
Kenny Chesney played to over 43,000 fans at Milwaukee’s Miller Stadium this past weekend and he used the opportunity to wish his good friend George Strait a happy 61st birthday by getting the entire crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to him. Kenny filmed them singing and promised to email it to George. He also chose that show to debut the song “When I See This Bar” off his Life on A Rock album, with special guest Eric Church (who does not sing on the version on the album). “’When I See This Bar’ is the kind of song you have to have lived,” explains Kenny. “Most people do, they just never step back and realize what all those lost nights, afternoon beers and friendships really mean. They make you who are, get you through tough things and get you laughing… Obviously, ‘When I See This Bar’ is important to me; I know Eric’s been there, too, and knows that power of place, so it was great to get him up there.”
Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland has announced she will release her first solo album this fall. She’s working with well-known producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with artists such as Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Aerosmith and AC/DC. “I am absolutely thrilled and wholly proud to be working with Rick,” says Jennifer. “If you ask any musician who is on their producer ‘bucket list,’ Rick would be on each and every one.” Jennifer’s partner in Sugarland, Kristian Bush, has been pursuing his own solo projects while Jennifer has been on maternity leave, after giving birth to her song Magnus, back in January. There was no indication made whether the two would work as a duo again in the future.
Kellie Pickler has one final night of dancing to do tonight before she and her partner, Derek Hough, find out if they will take home the coveted mirror ball trophy on this season of Dancing with the Stars. Kellie is competing in the finals against Jacoby Jones, Aly Raisman and Zendaya. Her final dances will be a contemporary routine and the Cha Cha. All four competitors have received perfect scores from the judges in the last few weeks, so Kellie definitely has some stiff competition tonight. The two final episodes of this season of Dancing with the Stars airs tonight and tomorrow night on ABC.
