Forbes magazine has announced The Celebrity 100 for 2010, which is a ranking of film and television actors, TV personalities, models, athletes, authors, musicians and comedians, based on their entertainment-related earnings between June 1, 2009 and June 1, 2010 and media visibility, in terms of exposure in print, television, radio and online. They also added a new social media ranking criteria based on the popularity and power of sites like Facebook and Twitter. Country artists accounted for five of The Celebrity 100, with Taylor Swift coming in at #12, Kenny Chesney at #54, Rascal Flatts ranking 62nd on the list, Toby Keith 67th and Keith Urban coming in at #76 in the top 100. Oprah Winfrey topped this year’s list, followed by Beyonce, James Cameron, Lady Gaga and Tiger Woods who rounded out the top five. You can see the complete list and how they ranked in each category here.
Blake Shelton is known for getting a little ornery and stirring up some trouble from time to time, especially on Twitter, but considering he’s engaged to Miranda Lambert and will soon be a son-in-law, how does he get along with his future mother-in-law, Beverly? Blake told CMT Radio he and Beverly get along, “exceptionally well.” He claims their relationship is so great because he’s figured her out. “Here’s the thing … you can almost get away with anything as long as you have a banana Laffy Taffy ready to offer her after you’ve upset her. She loves them… you can get away with almost anything,” says Blake. But he doesn’t claim that a Laffy Taffy bribe will work for every son-in-law. “I’ve got my one trick, I don’t offer advice to other people’s situation. I’m just telling you this works for me.” Blake also revealed to CMT Radio that he recently filmed one of his live shows in Evansville, Indiana, for a live concert DVD he’s planning to put out later this year.
Justin Moore is learning a lot by being out on the road with Brad Paisley on his H2O tour, but one of the greatest things he heard Brad say recently was a quote he read. Justin joked, “It was the coolest thing I’ve heard him say, cause usually he says some pretty stupid things.” He quickly acknowledged that he’d probably be getting a call about that comment. But what he heard Brad say that impressed him so much was that “Fans want to think of us as friends, and not get above them and stay right there with ‘em and relate to ‘em.” Justin said, “Brad does a great job of that and you see it in his shows and the way he goes about his business backstage and everything, and that was one of the coolest quotes that I’ve seen by him.”
The Zac Brown Band will become a part of Texas football tradition when they help kick off the Texas Tech vs. University of Texas football weekend. The night before the two huge rival teams face each other at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Zac Brown Band will take the stage at City Bank Coliseum for a full show, with critically acclaimed funk and soul group Robert Randolph & The Family Band opening for them. Zac Brown is a Georgia boy, so we’re not sure he’ll be cheering for either team in the game, but we’re certain he and the band will have a great time kicking off the rivalry weekend.
Lady Antebellum will be on the road with Tim McGraw before embarking on their first headlining tour in September, and they’ve already got a lot of great memories they’ll take with them from this current tour. Charles says he’ll always remember Tim “making fun of me not ever wanting to go out and play basketball with them. He busts me pretty hard about that.” In all seriousness one of the coolest things he and Dave will remember is something they thought was a joke at first. “[Tim] has a tradition of giving a shirt to his opening act. I thought he was kidding at first, but his wardrobe person said that it’s something he does. So one day he came out and brought Dave and I each a shirt of his, which I thought was really cool.” While Charles thinks the shirt is a cool gift he can’t help but wonder how that tradition got started. “I wonder if it was like a new artist and he was like ‘You have bad style, here’s one of my shirts. Get started on the right path’.” The Need You Now Tour will kick off on September 20th in Orlando.
Kellie Pickler is so obsessed with Sonic ice that she had a mini-Sonic ice maker installed on her bus. While she doesn’t eat Sonic burgers, since she’s a vegetarian, she does enjoy their grilled cheese, tater tots and french fries, although she may be cutting back on the fried food as she prepares for her upcoming wedding. Before her own engagement happened, Kellie talked to CMT Radio about Carrie Underwood’s and Miranda Lambert’s upcoming weddings. “Nobody can plan your day for you,” she said when asked if she had any wedding tips for the girls. “That’s something you’ve gotta do. Every girl has visioned (sic) their wedding and what they want to wear. Every girl from the time they were five years old have played dress up. I mean, when I was little I was a bride I don’t know how many years for Halloween. I was a monster bride, I was a zombie bride, I was a witch bride, I was every little bride.” As for what kind of wedding she wants, Kellie said, “I really don’t know. I think you kind of visualize and plan it and then you really don’t know what you’re gonna do until you’re in that situation.” Now that she’s in that situation I’m sure the planning is already underway.
While Taylor Swift’s friends – Carrie, Miranda and Kellie – are all getting married, she’s not bothered by the fact that she’s still single. Besides the fact that she’s only 20 and still has plenty of time to meet Mr. Right, Taylor tells Showbiz Spy, “There’s a lot to distract me from dating. I don’t really sit around and wallow in being alone. It’s in my comfort zone, being single.” Plus, she adds, “I feel that a lot happens to you when you’re not looking for it, so I’m not actively looking. I don’t have a problem with being single.” The woman who just came in 12th on Forbes Celebrity 100 list might be intimidating to potential suitors, but Taylor says, “I don’t know how many are scared off. I try to be an approachable person and I don’t have a bunch of bodyguards or a big entourage. I’m just a normal person.”
Trace Adkins is planning to release a regular version and a deluxe version of his new CD Cowboy’s Back In Town on August 17th – a week earlier than originally planned. The album is a well rounded collection including songs that celebrate love like “Still Love You” to the hilarious and rowdy “Hold My Beer.” Trace’s new label mates, Trailer Choir, make a guest appearance on the album on a song called “Don’t Mind If I Don’t,” which celebrates love as the perfect excuse to take it easy. The deluxe edition of the album will feature four additional tracks. This is his first album since signing with Toby Keith’s Show Dog – Universal Record label and Trace says, “There’s an excitement surrounding this whole new chapter in our lives, and it’s reflected in the work I’ve done on this record… I had a great time making it, I’m in a great spot creatively, and I think all that shows in the way it sounds.”
Alan Jackson and his wife Denise just sold their Tennessee home for $28 million and now there are reports that he is selling one of his Florida homes. According to the Palm Beach Post, Alan is selling his 3,350 square foot Key West-style cottage in Tequesta, which he has used mostly for guests or high-level staffers for $1.27 million. The four-bedroom house has a wrap-around balcony and a deep-sea fishing motif, but perhaps the most unique feature of the home is the dock, which is big enough to park a mega-yacht,
which is rare in a private residence. Alan still has his 8,000 square foot Mediterranean-style villa in Jupiter Island, Florida, which he tore down in 2006 and paid $3.8 million to rebuild. Alan and his wife have been downsizing in anticipation of their three daughters – Mattie, 18, Alexandra, 15, and Dani, 11 – moving out of the family home. “We like living in Florida and we probably will do that when the girls are not living with us anymore.” You can see pictures of the house Alan is selling in Tequesta here.
Sugarland is planning to release their fourth studio album, The Incredible Machine, on October 19th. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush co-wrote the entire album, featuring the first single, “Stuck Like Glue,” which will be released late next month. “‘Stuck Like Glue’ is just plain, unashamed, Sugar-fun!” exclaims Jennifer. “It sticks in your brain, no pun intended. To me it feels young, hip and of course sassy! I can’t wait for it to get out there so we can play it live in our show. We’ve been sitting on our hands to not play it live ‘til it was released!” In anticipation of the album release fans can keep up with Sugarland by checking out new episodes of “The Week In Review,” which will be posted on their YouTube channel every Wednesday.