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.

Josh Kelley Naleigh Moon Music Video

Josh Kelley Releases The Music Video For Naleigh Moon! Josh Kelley has released the very sweet video for “Naleigh Moon!” Naleigh is the daughter of Kelley and actress Katherine Heigl. The video features home footage of the couple with their adopted three year old. The song “Naleigh Moon” appears on Kelley’s 2011 acclaimed album, Georgia Clay, and was go-written with Georgia Clay producer Clint Lagerberg. “I knew you [Heigl] were going to do a great job and you’re an awesome story teller. Also, I knew you would do it for free.” -Kelley says to Heigl at their home The video was shot in Los Angeles and includes home footage of Naleigh over the past couple of years. When asked about the first reactions to the video, Josh replies, “People loved it. My manager showed it to the record label. The CEO from the record label called me and said, ‘We just played the video for the whole label and over half the people were crying.’” Josh has been on the road extensively in support of Georgia Clay with opening slots for Taylor Swift, Eric Church and Miranda Lambert. He just wrapped up a tour opening for multi-platinum and award-winning group Lady Antebellum. You can catch him this coming weekend performing at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Colt Ford Interview With HaleighT

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Colt Ford and catching one of his shows! I’ll have to admit that the conversation went way better than I had expected and I found myself having a new respect for the Georgia man. Colt Ford had some of his early success when teaming up with Montgomery Gentry and Jermaine Dupri to help on their (separate) projects. He also joined the PBR in the making of Buck Em’, their official anthem. The thing that got him to pull the trigger and completely put himself in the industry was that he never wanted to look back and say “Why didn’t I try that.” The work Ford has done with other artists have been some of the biggest crowd pleasers in history. Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Rhett Akins, James Otto, Kevin Fowler, Randy Houser, Joe Nichols, John Michael Montgomery, Josh Gracin, Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, Charlie Daniels, Darryl Worley, Trent Tomlinson and Josh Thompson are just a few on the list of many that he has collaborated with! Craig Morgan joined Ford on the close to his heart tale of daughters growing older, “She Likes To Ride In Trucks.” Brantley Gilbert and Ford had a tremendous amount of underground success in 2008 with the now nationally huge hit they wrote, “Dirt Road Anthem,” (performed by Jason Aldean). Ford and Aldean are good friends, with a lot in common, including that they are both from Georgia. The two played over 20 shows together in 2009 and this is where the “Big Green Tractor” singer first fell in love with “Dirt Road Anthem.” He would watch Ford on stage and be shocked at the amount of people in the crowd singing along word for word. There have been many rumors that Aldean stole the song, but Ford was quick to defend his friend! “He didn’t steal the song. Lots of artists record others peoples songs, they just have to pay for them. Most artists wouldn’t even ask and he called me himself. He’s a humble dude and always says the song was a hit before him.” Aldean might have thrown people for a loop when they first heard him on this track, but they obviously liked it! The song is the biggest single of his career and was the #1 ringtone for 17 weeks, something no other artist in any genre has done! With all of these collaborations already under his belt, I was curious who would be next. Ford told me he would love to work with some of the best in the business including Keith Urban, George Strait, Blake Shelton, Hank Williams Jr. and of course his good friend Jason Aldean. Although he is known for teamwork, he still has songs that are his and his alone. “Chicken and Biscuits” and “Every Chance I Get” are both examples of his solo work. Last Thursday I saw Ford and his band give a show at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Let me tell you, Continue reading Colt Ford Interview With HaleighT

Cumberland River Justified Music Video

Cumberland River Releases The Music Video For “Justified”. Cumberland River has released their all-new music video for their hit, Justified! The song Justified along with 5 more original songs were featured on two episodes of the FX Network’s hit drama, JUSTIFIED, last season. The band is set to have more of their music on the new, 3rd season of the show, premiering January 17! Justified is off of their album, The Life We Live, and is available now. The music video was filmed on location in the band’s hometown of Harlan, Kentucky. “This is the sound that contemporary bluegrass has been missing. Blue to the core and grass throughout. This is what bluegrass music should sound like and Cumberland River is flowing quite well in this regard.” -Bob Cherry of Cybergrass If you are into bluegrass then you might want to check into these boys. They have recently been featured on numerous charts, including TOP 20 BEST OF BLUEGRASS – Engine 145; TOP 10 BLUEGRASS ALBUMS OF 2011; and WNCW RADIO’S TOP 50 BLUEGRASS ALBUMS 2011. Check the video out here!

Jo Dee Messina Gives Birth

Jo Dee Messina Gives Birth To Her Second Son! Country singer/songwriter, Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh, welcomed their second son to the family yesterday (1-11-12). Jonah Christopher was born at 2:43 PM Central Time weighing 6 pounds and 13 ounces! Noah, Jo Dee’s 3-year-old son now has a little brother to play with! Jo Dee reported from a Nashville hospital that everyone is doing wonderfully. “Noah couldn’t wait to hold his little brother. He’s so good with him. God has blessed us so much!” Congratulations to the entire family!

Chris Young On Ellen Show

Chris Young Will Be Making His First Ever Appearance On The Ellen DeGeneres Show! We are only in the second week of 2012 and things are looking great for Chris Young! After having a sold out show at Billy Bob’s Texas during New Years, this NEON singer has got some great things to look forward to! Tuesday, January 17, Young will make his debut appearance on the hugely popular syndicated daytime program, The Ellen DeGeneres Show! There he will perform “You“, his current top 5 single that keeps on rising to the top of the charts! After this daytime appearance, Young will join fellow label-mate, Miranda Lambert, on her On Fire tour! Be looking for stops in Jacksonville, FL, Charlotte, NC, Lexington, KY and Greensboro, NC!!!

Casey Donahew Band Double Wide Dreams Video

Casey Donahew Band Shows Us How To Live The Dream In Their Music Video! If you don’t know by now, I (HaleighT) am a huge fan of all aspects of Country Music including Red Dirt! This Oklahoma/Texas style has a way of telling life stories that are totally relatable (Brandon Jenkins, Eli Young Band, JB & the Moonshine Band) and I can’t get enough! In this particular song, the Casey Donahew Band speaks of a couple so completely happy with life! Double Wide Dream is obviously a comical tune with a great beat! Since the making of this video, rumors and comments have been flying around the World Wide Web, saying it is offensive OR that it is just trashy. I’m here to say there is nothing offensive about it and for those with the rude comments….well don’t knock it till you try it! The song can be found on their latest album, Double Wide Dream! Yes, it is the title track and first single, but is only 1 of 10 great songs! For my review on the album that was released in the fall of 2011, click HERE! With that being said enjoy the song and watch the video now!!! Get More: Double Wide Dream, Casey Donahew Band, Casey Donahew Band Videos

The Band Perry Performs At The Cotton Bowl

The Band Perry To Sing The National Anthem At The 2012 Cotton Bowl! The Band Perry will kick off the night right when the sing the National Anthem to a sold-out Cowboys Stadium in Arlington! Tonight is the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and this is a night many football fans have been waiting for! The Arkansas Razorbacks and the K-State Wildcats will leave it all on the field as they fight for the title! It should be a great game and I’m sure those Perry kids will get everyone in the patriotic mood! For those of you who are looking for a full performance from this trio of siblings, you are in luck! The Band Perry will be hitting the road with Brad Paisley on his Virtual Reality World Tour 2012! The first show will be January 12 in Grand Rapids, MI at the Van Andel Arena!

Lee Brice Is Engaged!

Lee Brice Has Asked Longtime Girlfriend To Get Hitched! Lee Brice has popped the question to his love, Sarah Reevely! It happened January 2, while the couple was vacationing in Key West, Florida. Brice, 32 and Reevely, 29 have known each other for 13 years and have a 3-year-old son together, Takoda. Brice said he was very nervous, and to me that is just plain precious! Congratulations to these two and the rest of their families and thanks for sharing it with the fans!

Canaan Smith Releases We Got Us

Canaan Smith Is Set To Release His Debut Single “We Got Us” To Radio! Canaan Smith will be releasing his very first single “We Got Us” to Country Music Radio January 9. The Mercury Records singer/songwriter has been named one of the top 12 artists to watch in 2012 by Country Weekly! The story of “We Got Us” is about a couple in love who take a leap of faith and set out on their own, fueled by their affection for one another. “Getting to be the voice for this song is a feeling like no other. It felt special when we wrote it and I am stoked to see the positive early feedback at radio! Thanks for all the support!” -Canaan Smith Canaan performed “We Got Us” to an audience for the first time at the Universal Music Group Nashville CRS luncheon held at the Ryman Auditorium last March. His debut album will release later this year, but fans can now purchase “We Got Us” on iTunes.

Chris Young Sells Out Billy Bob’s Ft. Worth

Chris Young Finds Out How Big The Crowds Are In Texas! Chris Young had a sold out performance on New Year’s Eve at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth, Texas. With close to 6,000 tickets sold, this was Young’s biggest headlining show to date! “Chris Young’s high energy performance in front of a sold out crowd was among the best New Year’s Eve shows in Billy Bob’s Texas History. It was perfect to close 2011 with the talent and optimism of a star that has such an unlimited future ahead of him. We are already looking forward to his return to Billy Bob’s.” -Venue President, Concho Minick Young’s massive success in the region has sparked other big dates as he is set for headlining shows at the San Antonio rodeo with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks! Young is also the special guest on Miranda Lambert’s “On Fire” tour, beginning January 12th in Rockford, IL. “You” is Young’s current single from his album NEON. The hit is in the Top 10 and rising!