Author Archives: HaleighT

About HaleighT

HaleighT grew up in rural Sallisaw, Oklahoma, completely immersed in the country music lifestyle. She works with CMNB as our field assignment journalist, gathering concert reviews and exclusive interviews from every artist she can. When she's not out on the road, she's in our web studio filming "Takin' a Break With HaleighT" a short weekly opinion and news segment that launched in 2011.

Willie Nelson Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die-Book

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HaleighT’s Thoughts On Willie Nelson’s Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die, Musings From The Road. If you haven’t got the chance yet, I suggest you get yourself a copy of Willie Nelson’s Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die – Musings from the Road. To say it is an easy read, would be a little off kilter. The story is always jumping, along with the people telling the story. It will shoot from song lyrics, to jokes and even to journal entries. And you can’t forget the drawings by Micah, Willie’s son. But if the book didn’t play out the way it did, it probably wouldn’t be worth reading at all! This book can teach you a lot. A lot about Willie, his family, his friends and his career. You find out how and why certain songs were written and even how he met many of his friends (many of who are great songwriters and musicians themselves). I was shocked to find out how much he sold some of his songs for, but I won’t tell you because it’ll ruin the surprise! However, I wasn’t shocked to read how much his children care, love and respect him. No, I haven’t ever met Willie. But sometimes you can just get a vibe from someone that says hey, he’s a good guy! By all of the things he does for other people, (Farm Aid, Peace Research Institute) you can tell he has a kind heart and believes in good. Willie repeats some of his philosophies many times in this book. Like…don’t be an asshole. Each time I read a line that had already been said, (he makes it known that he already said it) I couldn’t help but laugh. It’s funny to me because I can just imagine him looking at someone with a straight face, telling them not to be an asshole and then giving them a smile. Repeating yourself is fine by me, it lets people know that you are serious. Plus, nobody wants to be around an asshole… So my review for the book is, it’s a good time! During your read you will learn and you will laugh. If you are anything like me it’ll make you crank up some “Whiskey River” and start planning a trip to see a show. But like Willie would say, you can’t pay attention to reviews. If you believe the good ones, you have to believe the bad ones… Find Roll Me Up and Smoke Me online at Amazon!

American Idol Season 12 Premiere

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Episode 1 Of American Idol Season 12: Recap! Last night was the premiere episode of American Idol Season 12. This go around there are three new judges, including country music’s own Keith Urban. The episode was two hours long, had auditions in New York City and only featured one country artist. Sarah Restuccio, 17, came from Hammonton, New Jersey. She first auditioned with Carrie Underwood‘s “Mama’s Song.” But when Randy Jackson asked her to sing something else, she shocked all judges with her second song. Restuccio began to rap (with her own twist) “Super Bass.” For those who don’t know, “Super Bass” is one of Nicki Minaj’s (also a new judge on season 12) biggest hits. The second song started a bit of a debate with all four of the judges. It made Urban question who she was as an artist, but had Minaj loving her even more. Minaj fully backed the young girl, saying that the boys would love her and that the girls could identify with her. She even said something along the lines of, there are plenty of girls working on a farm singing “Super Bass.” I do have to question if it had been a country song and any other pop/rap song that wasn’t one of her own, would Minaj be so quick to defend? We will never know, but one thing is for certain…she made it to Hollywood! At the end of the stop in NYC, 41 contestants moved on to the next round. A new episode will air tonight on Fox at 8/7c where the judges will search for more people to move on in Chicago. Catch Sarah’s Audition and See What YOU Think!

Sarah Darling To Release EP

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Sarah Darling Is Set To Release Her Home To Me EP. Sarah Darling is gearing up to release her Home To Me EP. Comprised of new music from her forthcoming album, the EP is produced by Dann Huff and will be available digitally on January 29. At radio now, “Home To Me” continues to catch some attention. The song has over 46,000 units purchased since the digital release on August 21. Already a multiple week #1 on CMT Pure, the music video for “Home To Me” is playing on CMT, GAC and TCN. Fans can purchase the song and video on iTunes. Sarah’s partnership with MoonPie and the ‘“Home to Me’ Sweepstakes” continues throughout 2013 and features Sarah on several hundred thousand cartons of the nationally distributed product. The promotional feature of the partnership highlights Sarah’s hit single while tying in a yearlong sweepstakes including an all-expenses paid trip to Nashville, VIP tickets to see Sarah perform at the Grand Ole Opry and much more. For more on this sweepstakes CLICK HERE.

Craig Campbell Returns To Australia

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Craig Campbell Makes Another Trip Down Under! Craig Campbell will travel to Australia this week with a full schedule during his second trip Down Under. Campbell will have several performances at the Tamworth Festival and will take part in the 41st CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia on January 26th. In celebration of his headlining performance at the Tamworth Festival, ABC Music / Universal Music Australia are releasing a deluxe edition of his previously released self-titled album, which includes bonus material as well as Campbell’s new single “Outta My Head.”

Chris Young Honored By CMA

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Chris Young Gets Honored By The Country Music Association. The CMNB team is so very proud of Chris Young. He will be honored on January 29th by the Country Music Association with the coveted Triple Play Award for his #1 hits “Voices,” “Tomorrow,” and “You.” The award recognizes songwriters who have written three number-one songs within a 12-month period. As well as the award, the CMA selected Young as a featured artist to help further the popularity of country music overseas. In February, Young makes his inaugural trip to the U.K. and Ireland as part of the Country Music Association’s Songwriters Series with stops in Dublin, Belfast and London. The series is set to be recorded and broadcast at a later date on BBC Radio 2. “I Can Take It From There,” is Young’s latest single from his third album NEON.

Darius Rucker Wagon Wheel-New Single

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Darius Rucker Releases “Wagon Wheel” As His New Single.” Darius Rucker has released “Wagon Wheel” as his new single. The song is the follow up to “True Believers” and will be on his upcoming album, True Believers. Now this song is not new by any means…It was started by Bob Dylan and then later finished by Old Crow Medicine show. The song has become a huge hit, with practically everyone knowing the lyrics and everyone covering it. Including Rucker. Now I love a cover, but in this case I have to say I’d prefer the original. Number 1, I feel like the song isn’t old enough and way too popular for someone to already be releasing it again. Like I said, I love a cover. If Rucker played it at show, just for fun, I’d probably go crazy singing along. I’d even think wow, he’s really cool for singing that. But I also thought it was cool each time I heard numerous different people play it sitting around the fire having a few drinks… Now this is just my opinion and we want to know what YOU think! So, comment below with your thoughts on this matter.

Craig Morgan On Hotel Impossible

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Craig Morgan Appears On His Second Episode Of “Hotel Impossible.” Craig Morgan will be on Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” series for the second time! The show will air on Monday, January 14. In the upcoming episode, Morgan joins hotel “fixer” Anthony Melchiorri as he heads north to Glacier Bear Lodge in Yakutat, Alaska to fix a hotel dominated by commercial and sport fishermen. With fewer than 700 people in a town of 10,000 square miles, the sleepy community has some incredible features to offer those who are interested in getting closer to nature. Unfortunately, the lodge is out of date, not very accommodating and literally rotting away. Melchiorri enlists the help of Country star and expert outdoorsman Morgan to show him the finer points of big time fishing and why sportsman from all over the world would flock to this beautiful and wildlife abundant destination. Morgan joined Melchiorri on “Hotel Impossible” last summer in an episode that featured Nashville. Morgan’s new album This Ole Boy, featuring his latest single “More Trucks Than Cars” is available everywhere music is sold.

Watch-Dierks Bentley And Miranda Lambert Tour Rehearsals

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A Special Look At Rehearsals For The Locked & Reloaded Tour. Here is a funny clip from Dierks Bentley. Rehearsals have begun for the Locked and Reloaded Tour, with the first show about a week away! Bentley and Miranda Lambert are sure to give fans a very energetic show each night they take the stage. Have you got your tickets yet? Are you getting excited? Current Miranda Lambert Tour Date and Tickets

JB And The Moonshine Band Kiss Me That Way-Video

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The Official Music Video For JB & The Moonshine Band’s “Kiss Me That Way.” JB & The Moonshine Band has released their latest music video for their current single, “Kiss Me That Way.” The song comes from JBMB’s sophomore album, Beer For Breakfast. The love song, in my opinion, has a very hot, sultry vibe to it. But, it is also sweet and the video takes on that sweet side. “Sometimes the best way to cool off a heated argument is with a well timed kiss,” JB Patterson said in reference to the song. Watch the video for “Kiss Me That Way” below and pick up your copy of Beer For Breakfast now!

Music Fest 2013 At Steamboat

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The Festival That Starts Off The Year! Music Fest started on Saturday, Jan 5 and ends tomorrow, Jan 10. The festival is held at the Steamboat ski resort in Colorado and is a week of skiing and music. In its 28th year, the festival is currently going with plenty of Texas and Americana acts hitting the stage, over 40! Among the performers are Adam Hood, Randy Rogers Band, Cody Canada & the Departed, Kyle Park, Kristen Kelly, Roger Creager, Cory Morrow, Whiskey Myers, Will Hoge, Jason Eady and more! Here is a look back at Music Fest 2012! Hope you enjoy and maybe it will get you thinking about going to Music Fest 2014!