Monthly Archives: September 2010

Keith Urban Asks Fans to Choose CD Cover

Keith Urban is asking for his fans help in choosing the cover for his new Get Closer CD.  He posted two covers on his Facebook page and said, “I’d love to hear your thoughts … leave a comment of ‘like’ your favorite pic.”  One cover shows Keith sitting on the floor by a bed, alone, with a guitar on the floor near him.  The other shows Keith with the arms of a woman draped over his shoulders.  Not surprisingly, at last check, the album cover without the woman’s arms in it was winning by a two to one margin.  You can pick your favorite and leave your comments by visiting Keith’s Facebook page.

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:59 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and Wife Have Chosen a Name

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and his wife Allison are expecting their first child in January, a baby girl, and they’ve already chosen Madeline Leigh as her name.  “Leigh is Ally’s middle name and we finally settled on a [first] name that we both liked together,” Jay explained to Country Weekly.  “I love kids. I’m really, really close to my nephew and two nieces and I love kids so much. This is a part of my life I’ve wanted for some time and just had to wait a little longer to get there. I’m really excited and can’t wait to kiss [her] face off.”  This will be the fifth little rascal in the Flatts family, joining Gary’s two kids, Brittany and Brooklyn, and Joe Don’s son Jagger and new baby girl Raquel.

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:57 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Zac Brown Band Have #1 Album

All week Zac Brown Band’s new CD, You Get What You Give, has been doing battle with the new CD from pop group Maroon 5 for the number one spot on the all genre Billboard 200 chart, and after selling 153,042 copies Zac Brown Band was declared the winner in the tight first week sales race.  With their major label debut CD, The Foundation, and their recent live album, Pass the Jar, continuing to sell well, they now own three of the top 20 spots on the Country Albums chart as well.

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:48 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn Working on Solo Projects

Brooks & Dunn may be done, but Kix and Ronnie are not.  Arista Nashville has confirmed that Ronnie is self-producing his solo album that could be out as soon as early next year.  The album will be released on Arista Nashville, which was Brooks & Dunn’s longtime record label.  Over the weekend we spoke to Kix Brooks and he told us he is also in the process of recording a solo album.  We spoke to him at a charity event Sunday evening and when we asked if he was slowing down and taking a break since the final Brooks & Dunn show and he said not really.  He’s busy with his vineyard, planning to take his weekly radio countdown show on the road in 2011 and he’s currently recording his new solo project.  No word on when or where Kix’s CD will be released, but we’ll keep you posted.

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:47 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Montgomery Gentry Working on New Music

After it was announced that Montgomery Gentry parted ways with their record label earlier this month, fans have been wondering what would happen next, especially since they were supposed to be releasing a greatest hits CD this past Tuesday.  The guys took the time to write this note to their fans and Underground members:

Eddie and Troy here.  As you may have heard, there were plans to release a Greatest Hits yesterday but we wanted to make sure you knew that would not be happening.  BUT, know that we are working on an album of brand new material.  We are more motivated than ever to get the biggest and baddest Montgomery Gentry album ever out there!  Hang in there and we’ll get that done as quickly as we can.  In the meantime, we can’t wait to see you out on the road!!
-Eddie and T-Roy

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:44 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Taylor Swift Makes a Pact to Stay Normal

A lot of times you hear celebrities complain about paparazzi or lack of privacy or not being able to go anywhere without being hassled, but one person you won’t hear complain about that is Taylor Swift. “There’s nothing that hard about it,” she told FOX 411. “It’s not that tough, I’m not complaining.”  Something else Taylor isn’t doing is getting all caught up in the idea of being a celebrity or getting out of control like some other Hollywood starlets.  Taylor’s BFF Selena Gomez tells Showbiz Spy they have made a pact with each other to stay “normal.”  Selena says, “We both have that same mentality.  We make a point of going out and doing normal things; it’s not going to stop us from being teens.  Part of the way they keep each other in check is by talking every day.  Selena told Showbiz Spy, “Taylor has helped me through some really hard times, we talk every single day.  It’s kind of amazing that someone like her, who has sold millions of records, is still humble.”

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:40 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Miranda Lambert Takes a Cue from Beyonce

Miranda Lambert has always said someone she greatly admires is pop star Beyonce, and she has something in common with the megastar.  Beyonce has always said when she’s onstage she assumes her stage personality, Sasha Fierce, and when she’s off stage, she’s just Beyonce.  Miranda tells the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “I have this rowdy, fun, head-banging, rock-star-girl side that is full of energy and makes performing for the fans so much fun… that is definitely a part of me.”  But when she’s not on stage Miranda enjoys dialing it down and speding time on her farm.  “My farm in Oklahoma is where my dogs and other animals are, so I love spending time there every chance I get,” she says. “I am the regular 26-year-old, small-town girl that likes to make cupcakes and go to the chicken coop for fresh eggs to make breakfast. My farm gives me a chance to do that. It is somewhere I can go to get away and just be Miranda.”

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:37 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)

Country Strong Soundtrack Has Strong Lineup

The soundtrack for the Tim McGraw/Gwyneth Paltrow movie Country Strong is filled with a familiar list of country stars plus four songs featuring Gwyneth on lead vocals.  One of the songs that she sings, a duet with Tim called “Me and Tennessee,” was written by her husband, Chris Martin, the lead singer for the group Coldplay.  The soundtrack will be in stores on October 26th and the movie will be in theaters in Los Angeles and Nashville on December 22nd and nationwide on January 7th.  The title track, “Country Strong,” is sung by Gwyneth and was released yesterday to radio.

Below is a complete list of songs, artists, songwriters, and producers featured on the soundtrack:

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Country Strong”
(Jennifer Hanson/Tony Martin/Mark Nesler)
Produced by Byron Gallimore

Chris Young & Patty Loveless – “Love Don’t Let Me Down”
(Marv Green/Troy Olsen)
Produced by James Stroud

Sara Evans – “A Little Bit Stronger”
(Luke Laird/Hillary Lindsey/Hillary Scott)
Produced by Tony Brown

Garrett Hedlund – “Chances Are”
(Nathan Chapman/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose)
Produced by Frank Liddell and Luke Wooten for Carnival Productions

Lee Ann Womack – “Liars Lie”
(Sally Barris/Morgane Hayes/Liz Rose)
Produced by Frank Liddell and Chuck Ainlay for Carnival Productions

Ronnie Dunn – “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double)”
(Wayne Carson Thompson)
Produced by Ronnie Dunn

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shake That Thing”
(Mark Irwin/Josh Kear/Chris Tompkins)
Produced by Byron Gallimore

Hank Williams, Jr. – “Thirsty”
(Dallas Davidson/Rhett Akins/Brett Eldredge)
Produced by Michael Knox

Faith Hill – “Give in to Me”
(Billy Falcon/Rose Falcon/Elisha Hoffman)
Produced by Jay Joyce

Trace Adkins – “Timing Is Everything”
(Natalie Hemby/Troy Jones)
Produced by Kenny Beard

Leighton Meester – “Words I Couldn’t Say”
(Gregory Becker/Tammi Kidd/Steve Robson)
Produced by Nathan Chapman

Gwyneth Paltrow – “Coming Home”
(Bob DiPiero/Tom Douglas/Hillary Lindsey/Troy Verges)
Produced by Byron Gallimore

Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow – “Me and Tennessee”
(Chris Martin)
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw, and A. Martin

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:31 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

First Round of CMA Awards Performers Announced

The first round of performers for the 44th Annual CMA Awards has been announced, and they include Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and Zac Brown Band singing with Alan Jackson.  Many more performers will be announced in the coming weeks, leading up to the awards, which will be broadcast live from Nashville on ABC on November 10th.

By Becca September 30, 2010 – 6:19 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Taylor Swift Rolls Out CD Pre-release Plan

Taylor Swift has planned a three-week ramp up to the release of her new Speak Now CD, which will be in stores on October 25th.  Beginning the week of October 4th a new track will be made available for purchase from iTunes each week leading up to the release, plus, each song will be available in advance as an exclusive 30-second preview, along with a brief interview with Taylor each week on Comcast On Demand, online at XfinityTv.com, and on E! News Daily.

The iTunes / Comcast countdown pre-release tracks and previews schedule is as follows:
October 4 & 5: “Speak Now”
October 4th: 12:01 a.m. – preview and interview available on Comcast on Demand and XfinityTv.com. Clip and interview featured on E! News that evening.
October 5th:12:01 a.m. – “Speak Now” available for purchase at iTunes.com

October 11 & 12: “Back To December”
October 11th: 12:01 a.m. – preview and interview available on Comcast on Demand and XfinityTv.com. Clip and interview featured on E! News that evening.
October 12th: 12:01 a.m. – “Back To December” available for purchase at iTunes.com

October 18 & 19: “Mean”
October 18th: 12:01 a.m. – preview and interview available on Comcast on Demand and XfinityTv.com. Clip and interview featured on E! News that evening
October 19th: 12:01 a.m. – “Mean” available for purchase at iTunes.com

In addition, Comcast On Demand and XfinityTv.com, will offer a 30-second preview of “Story of Us” beginning at 12:01 a.m. October 22nd. The clip will also be featured that weekend on E! News.

By Becca September 29, 2010 – 7:54 am | Posted in Ask Becca | Tagged | Comments (0)