Month: May 2011

Dolly Parton’s New Album

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Dolly Parton Releases New Album Better Day. Dolly Parton has announced the debut of her new album, Better Day, will be June 28th released on her own record label, Dolly Records. The first single off the album is titled “Together You & I“, and Dolly will perform it live for the first time on The Ellen Degeneres Show on Friday, May 27th. Fans can expect the video for this single sometime soon after Dolly’s Ellen performance. Additionally, Parton will be kicking off a world tour July 17 in Knoxville’s Thompson Boling Arena with multiple dates scheduled in the U.S. The tour will continue to Europe in August and September, and then to Australia in November.

Josh Kelley Debuts Gone Like That

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Josh Kelley Releases His Second Single Gone Like That.” Josh Kelley debuted his new single “Gone Like That” Tuesday, May 23 on CBS’s The Talk. “Gone Like That” is the second single to be released from Josh’s debut country album, Georgia Clay on which he wrote or co-wrote each of the 15 tracks. This particular single is especially poignant as it played a role in his transition into being a country singer/songwriter. “When I sent “Gone Like That” into my publisher to pitch to a country artist, he said he really wanted me to record it. Hearing his reaction to this song really gave me the confidence to pursue making a country album – something I wanted to do for a long time. Writing and recording ‘Gone Like That’ really made that dream of mine seem real and achievable and I’m so excited for it to be a single.” -Josh Kelley Josh has most recently been on tour with Miranda Lambert and will join Taylor Swift‘s Speak Now tour in August and September. You can check out Josh’s Live performance on The Talk here. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjVKXPBUZyM]

Tim McGraw at Show Me Music and Arts Festival

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Country Star Line-up Featured at First Show Me Music and Arts Festival. The first ever Show Me Music and Arts Festival will take place June 17-19 in Springfield, MO, and will feature a line-up of country music stars on the festival’s main stage including Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Little Big Town, David Nail, and Big & Rich (see below for a complete list of performances and stage details). The festival will also feature the Show-Me Saloon Stage with additional musical performances, a Celebrity Chef Pavilion Stage with Food Network stars like Chefs Robert Irvine, Ellie Krieger, and Aaron McCargo, and a Comedy Tent Stage including acts from comedians Jamie Kaler and Jon Reep. Besides all the entertainment available for festival attendees, there will also have a Kid Zone which includes a Ferris Wheel, games, and entertainment, the Show-Me Arts and Crafts area featuring over 30 exhibitors, and many food and drink vendors featuring festival fare from all over the world. There are multiple ticket options including VIP packages, weekend passes and daily passes only. Additionally, there are also camping options available. For more information on ticket options and details click here. The concert line-up is as follows: Main Stage, Friday June 17th 1:30pm – Bush Hawg 3:00pm – Love and Theft 4:30pm – Matt Kennon 6:00pm – David Nail 7:30pm – Gloriana 9:00pm – REO Speedwagon 11:00pm – Trace Adkins Main Stage, Saturday June 18th 11:30am – Brennin 1:00pm – The McClymonts 2:30pm – Jessie James 4:00pm – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 5:30pm – Sawyer Brown 8:30pm – Big & Rich/Gretchen Cowboy Troy/ 2 ft. 11:00pm – Train Main Stage, Sunday May 19th 11:30am – Steve Holy 1:00pm – Kellie Pickler 2:30pm – Joe Nichols 4:00pm – Little Big Town 5:30pm – One Republic 7:30pm – Tim McGraw

CMT Music Awards New Performers

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CMT Music Awards Adds New Performances to Line-Up. The 2011 CMT Music Awards is shaping up to be a stellar event. A new list of featured performances has been announced including Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, and Zac Brown Band. Sheryl Crow will be performing with the show’s host, Kid Rock. Additionally, Big & Rich will be involved marking their first television appearance together in three years as well as their first CMT performance together since 2005. The duo has a new song, “Fake I.D.” in the works for the soundtrack of the upcoming remake of Footloose. These performances are added to the already star-studded line-up which includes Jason Aldean, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Keith Urban. The CMT Music Awards will air live on Wednesday, June 8th in Nashville, and you can catch the show on CMT or cmt.com. Fan voting is still open! Click here to see a complete list of nominees.

Brad Paisley Old Alabama Video

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Brad Paisley Debuts Old Alabama Video and Releases This Is Country Music. Brad Paisley released his much anticipated ninth album, This Is Country Music, Monday, May 23rd and it is now available for fans! The project features 15 tracks and is jam packed with guest appearances including “Old Alabama” with the band Alabama which is already a hit single (currently #1 on Billboard!). Other notable highlights include Clint Eastwood’s expert whistling on “Eastwood“, Carrie Underwood’s contributions on “Remind Me“, and Don Henley’s input on “Love Her Like She’s Leavin“. Additionally, Brad collaborated on tracks with Sheryl Crow, Blake Shelton, Carl Jackson, and Marty Stuart. See below for a complete track listing! Brad is out and about promoting This Is Country Music with appearances on Good Morning America, Hannity and The Late Show with David Letterman set for Tuesday, May 24th and The View on Wednesday, May 25th. On Saturday, May 21st, Brad stopped by in Charlotte, N.C. to debut the new video for “Old Alabama” at the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The video world premiered on multiple platforms, including SPEED, NASCAR.com and on the world’s largest HD video board at the Charlotte Motor Speedway before the start of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The video for “Old Alabama” is a whole lot of fun, and features appearances by Darrell Waltrip, Jeff Gordon, Rick Hendrick, and of course Alabama. Next up is Brad’s 2011 Summer Tour, H2O II: Wetter & Wilder! He will be kicking it off June 3 at the Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach in Virginia Beach, Virginia. You can watch the video for “Old Alabama” Now. Track Listing for This Is Country Music 1. This Is Country Music 2. Old Alabama (Featuring Alabama) 3. A Man Don’t Have To Die 4. Camouflage 5. Remind Me (Duet With Carrie Underwood) 6. Working On A Tan 7. Love Her Like She’s Leavin’ (Featuring Don Henley) 8. One Of Those Lives 9. Toothbrush 10. Be The Lake 11. Eastwood (Featuring Clint Eastwood) 12. New Favorite Memory 13. Don’t Drink The Water (Featuring Blake Shelton) 14. I Do Now 15. Life’s Railway To Heaven (Featuring Marty Stuart, Sheryl Crow and Carl Jackson)

Taylor Swift Raises $750,000 For Relief Efforts

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Taylor Swift’s Speak Now…Help Now Raises Substantial Funds for Tornado Relief Efforts. With more devastating storms hitting Oklahoma and Missouri Sunday night, it is comforting to see so many country stars, including Taylor Swift, doing what they can to aid in relief efforts. Saturday, May 21st, Taylor opened her final dress rehearsal for the North American leg of the Speak Now tour to fans to raise funds for tornado relief programs. With only two weeks notice, she managed to pack the arena, and the ticket sales alone accumulated $750,000. Taylor also told the audience during the performance all merchandise sales from the evening would also be donated. “I felt like if it was possible to help them in any way, we should do it.” -Taylor Swift As a bonus, fans received a complementary red souvenir t-shirt. All of the sales from the concert event were donated directly to help tornado victims via the Speak Now … Help Now Fund established through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennesse.

2011 Billboard Music Awards Country Winners

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Country Wins 2011 Billboard Music Awards! The 2011 Billboard Music Awards took ABC by storm Sunday night, and the country nominees were on the scene to represent! Beyond multiple award nominations and wins for country artists the show featured country performances including Keith Urban‘s “Long Hot Summer“. Taylor Swift dominated in the country only categories winning Top Country Album for “Speak Now“, and Top Country Artist. Additionally, Taylor beat out artists in other genres including Eminem, Susan Boyle, and Justin Bieber winning the Top 200 Album Artist of the Year. Taylor had also been nominated for both Top Artist and Top Female Artist. Lady Antebellum received recognition for their hit single “Need You Now” winning Top Country Song. The group was also nominated for Top Duo/Group and Top Streaming Song but were beat out by The Black Eyed Peas and Nelly respectively. Many other country artists were acknowledged for their talents as well including Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean, Zac Brown Band, and Kenny Chesney being nominated in various categories. The forty-six award categories were based on measures provided by Billboard’s data partners including sales data from Nielsen SoundScan, radio airplay monitored by Nielsen BDS, streaming data measured by Tubemogul and Nielsen BDS, social media consumption gauged by Next Big Sound and tour grosses tracked by Billboard Boxscore.

John Rich Wins Celebrity Apprentice

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John Rich Final Winner of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. John Rich was named the winner of Celebrity Apprentice on the show’s Sunday night season finale. The celebrity version of the hit series differs from the original Apprentice in that the celebrities featured on the show are competing for the charity of their choice versus trying to win a prestigious position working for Donald Trump. As such, John managed to surpass his goal of $1 million raised, raking in a whopping $1.25 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Well done, John! In other news, John Rich is teaming up again with Big Kenny as the two are collaborating on a new single “Fake I.D.” to be featured on the soundtrack of the upcoming Footloose. So, keep an ear out for that!

CMNB Is Seeing Red and You Should Too!

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Country Music News Blog is seeing red, and we want you too as well! In light of the disastrous tornadoes that struck right near our headquarters here at Country Music News Blog, we URGE every one of our readers to find a way to help the victims of this and other disasters! Last night another deadly tornado violently ripped through the town of Joplin, Missouri, just one hour north of our offices, and the death toll is at 96 and rising. The storm system left a path of destruction over half a mile wide and six miles long, hitting St John’s hospital as well as hundreds of residential homes and businesses. Emergency crews and The American Red Cross are set up all through the town and using their limited resources to treat, shelter, and feed the victims of this deadly tornado, and they just got word that more storms of equal strength are expected tonight and tomorrow. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApsSVASq5hg] How do they manage? How do they sit through one storm and another and another, saving lives, comforting families, and protecting those who are unable to protect themselves? WITH YOUR HELP! We URGE you to TAKE ACTION! Donate your time, your money, your belongings, your blood, your skills, and your voice! We ALL have something we can spare! Visit http://www.redcross.org or call your local chapter to find out how you can help!

Blake Shelton Announces New Album Title

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Blake Shelton Shares Title of Upcoming Album. Blake Shelton has had quite an eventful life as of late, personally and professionally! After releasing two EPs last year in addition to a greatest hits compilation, Blake recently announced he would be generating yet another album. The due date for this album is set for July 12th, and we now know that it will be titled Red River Blue. It’s amazing that in between his wedding with Miranda Lambert last Saturday in Texas, his role as judge on NBC’s hit show The Voice and participating in relief efforts with Reba that Blake has had time to complete and polish an album for release! Yet, that’s exactly what he has done, and the album has already produced his fastest rising single to date, Honey Bee. So, keep your ears open for more details on Blake’s upcoming album, Red River Blue!