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.

Eric Church Welcomes First Child

Posted on by

Eric Church and Wife Are Proud Parents of First Child! Eric Church and his wife, Katherine, welcomed their first child, Boone McCoy Church on Monday, October 3rd in Nashville, TN. Understandably, the two new parents are very happy! “Everybody always tells you what an awesome and unique experience being a parent is. Words can never do the feeling justice. I am very thankful and blessed to have a healthy and happy baby boy and baby mama” -Eric Church Church will be reducing his touring schedule somewhat for the remainder of 2011 so that he can spend more time with his wife and Boone!

Leann Rimes Lady & Gentlemen Album Review

Posted on by

Leann Rimes Makes Magic With Her 12th Studio Album! Leann Rimes has done a brilliant thing with the help of Vince Gill and Darrell Brown! Lady & Gentlemen was released late September and is a collection of some of Rimes’ favorite country classics! As the album title says, this is a playlist full of gentlemen hits sung by a lady with a powerful voice! “Wasted Days And Wasted Nights”, “Rose Colored Glasses“, “Help Me Make It Through The Night“, and “When I Call Your Name” are just a few songs from the ablum that literally brought a smile to my face and chills to my body when I heard them for the first time! It is more than obvious that Leann Rimes has one of the most gifted and talented voices in music that there has ever been (anyone who says otherwise is lying to themselves!). She has definitely done Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, John Conlee, George Jones, John Anderson and the rest of her heroes proud! Taking their legendary songs and tweaking them ever-so-slightly to make sense from a woman’s perspective is easily one of the best pieces of work created in a long while! Me telling you how great this album is will not come close to the beauty that comes from hearing it first hand! I HIGHLY suggest that you get your paws on a copy pronto! The last track on the album, “Give“, is her current single on radio now! Below is the video for that touching tune! =) Lady & Gentlemen Track Listing 1. Swingin’ 2. Wasted Days And Wasted Nights 3. The Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line 4. I Can’t Be Myself 5. 16 Tons 6. Help Me Make It Through The Night 7. Rose Colored Glasses 8. A Good Hearted Woman 9. When I Call Your Name 10. He Stopped Loving Her Today 11. Blue 12. The Bottle Let Me Down 13. Crazy Women 14. Give [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vALhBgHC_FE]

Stoney LaRue At George’s Majestic Lounge

Posted on by

Stoney LaRue Visits George’s Majestic Lounge For The First Time Since The Release Of His Newest Album. Stoney LaRue was welcomed with open arms by his fans this past Wednesday at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville, Ar. This was his first performance at the venue since the release of his latest album, Velvet. The show, as usual, was phenomenal! The crowd sang along word for word to his classics (“Idabel Blues“, “Feet Don’t Touch The Ground“, “One Chord Song“, “Down In Flames“, etc.) and danced with excitement to the beat of the new tunes! It’s hard to narrow down a single favorite part of the night at any Stoney show, but especially this one! I really enjoyed hearing the new material for the first time live and of course belting his time-honored songs with the best of my abilities! Obviously being an Oklahoma native, I thoroughly enjoyed “Oklahoma Breakdown” (written by Mike Hosty) and couldn’t get enough of “Te Amo Mas Que La Vida“! If he would have sang that song three times in a row I wouldn’t have minded. LaRue will be hitting the Wormy Dog Saloon tonight in OKC and then will travel to Nacogdoches, Tx Saturday. His new album is available now on iTunes! Velvet Track Listing 1. Dresses 2. Wiregrass 3. Look At Me Fly 4. Travelin’ Kind 5. Sharecropper 6. Sirens 7. Te Amo Mas Que La Vida 8. Has Been 9. Way Too Long 10. Velvet 11. Travelin’ Kind (Acoustic) Here is a video that features LaRue performing “Velvet” on an acoustic guitar! [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouKgYXI7sWQ]

Kellie Pickler I Wonder Video

Posted on by

Kellie Pickler Has Come A Long Way Since Her American Idol Audition At Age 19! This week the spotlight was on Kellie Pickler! I decided to end the week with a video of one of my favorite Pickler songs, “I Wonder!” Who would have thought that same young, sweet 19 year old who auditioned for American Idol, would be the successful and “Tough” woman she is today?! Here’s to You Kellie! Congratulations on all your goals and dreams you have accomplished and to the ones still to come!

Bucky Covington Signs Record Deal

Posted on by

Former American Idol finalist, Bucky Covington has signed a new record deal with Entertainment One Music Group! Bucky Covington has signed with Entertainment One Music Group and plans to release new music as soon as winter 2011! Entertainment One represents talent across many music genres but plans on making Covington their premier country talent! “From the first time I met Bucky a couple of years ago I’ve been very impressed with not only his great music but also his engaging personality and love of performing for country music fans . We are really enjoying with Bucky Covington and his management team on his sophomore release in 2012 for Entertainment One Nashville.” -Van Fletcher, eOne Nashville Vice-President Bucky first came onto the country music scene after doing very well on the hit show American Idol. He gave us “A Different World” and “It’s Good To Be Us” but after his first label closed he was left kind of stranded, still recording new music and playing sold-out crowds across the country! “After getting to know everyone at eOne, they are a perfect fit for me. Being a part of eOne is such a great opportunity, and I truly believe it will be a winning combination. I love these guys! I am very excited and can’t wait to get the party started and share my new music with my fans!” -Covington If you happen to catch one of Bucky’s shows in the near future you will be able to get a sample of what to be is expected on his sophomore album!

Craig Morgan Makes National TV Appearances

Posted on by

Craig Morgan To Be On A TV Near You! Craig Morgan has a list of TV appearances he will be making this week! The first happened this past Wednesday on Hannity on Fox News. He was featured as a part of the Great American Panel. This weekend he will be a part of the Opry’s 86th Birthday Bash Weekend celebration. That along with his episode of “Day Jobs” will air on GAC. Also keep an eye out for Morgan on his very own hunting show on the Outdoor Channel! All of these appearances are in support of “This Ole Boy“, which is his new single and the title track to his new album that will be out in 2012! You can purchase the single now on iTunes.

Darius Rucker I Got Nothin’ Video

Posted on by

Darius Rucker’s Current Single I Got Nothin’ Music Video! Darius Rucker’s current single “I Got Nothin’” is currently #20 on Billboard’s Top 100 country charts! The emotional song is off of his sophomore album, Charleston, SC 1966, and was released earlier this summer. I find this song getting stuck in my head daily! It is a story of a difficult relationship, and for some reason I can’t help but love it. It could be his great voice or the awesome music it is set to, but something about this song pulls me in! Take a gander at Rucker’s always passionate performance in the video here!

Tom’s Wild Life On GAC

Posted on by

I Have To Share With You One Of My New Favorite Shows! First of all I’m going to admit that I am a bit of a reality TV junky…yes, I’m guilty! One of my new favorite shows is “Tom’s Wild Life” on GAC! The series was premiered Sunday, September 18 and is hilarious! It is a reality show that is based on Tom McMillan’s life and outfitting business. Each episode includes him, his family and friends (usually from the country music world) hanging out and hunting! The first episode we are introduced to Tom and his friendship with Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. We are invited to their Halloween party as well as a successful hunting trip! The second episode features Josh Kelly, Miranda Lambert’s parents, tattoos, fly fishing and turkeys. This past Sunday Tom was joined by Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert and Angaleena Presley, the ladies of Pistol Annies! It is just a fun show that has me laughing the entire time, so I thought I’d share it with you in case you were looking for a new Sunday night program. It comes on at 9/8c on GAC every Sunday! Here is a video to give you a sneak peak of the kind of humor you are in for!

David Nail To Release Sophomore Album

Posted on by

David Nail Plans To Release His Sophomore Album, The Sound Of A Million Dreams, November 15! David Nail is set to release his sophomore album, The Sound Of A Million Dreams, November 15. This is the follow up to his successful first album, I’m About To Come Alive. His first album gave him the honors of a Grammy nomination for “Turning Home” and an ACM award nomination for “Red Light.” The Sound Of A Million Dreams was produced by Chuck Ainlay and Frank Liddell and includes his current single, “Let It Rain.” Nail will join Taylor Swift starting October 14 on tour and will open for a few select shows, including San Diego, Phoenix and Austin. Be sure to catch David on the October 30 episode of Day Jobs on GAC where he goes back to his roots and spends a day working at a Missouri Dairy Queen!

Matt Stell & The Crashers

Posted on by

Let’s Get To Know Matt Stell & The Crashers! Matt Stell is a tall guy with a killer voice looking to play loud music for whoever will listen! Although he has been recording music for the past few years, he has started a new adventure with a fresh new band! Darren Barry (guitar), Cliff Aaron (drums) and Eric Williams (bass) make up what is The Crashers. They are all really enjoying the ride and are excited to see where it takes them! I recently had the opportunity to sit down with band after getting to peek in on their sound check before a show in Fayetteville, Arkansas where the guys opened up for the Eli Young Band. It is hard to pin point exactly what genre this band fits in, there is a bit of everything. I like to call it the rockin’/soulful/smooth/blues/country/story telling genre. MS&C really puts out a sound that is like no other. They all love what they’re doing and you just have to see them perform one song to see that. Cliff Aaron was the first to say that music picks you more than you pick it and the others were quick to agree! “You have to love to play music whether your making money or not” -Aaron Everyone in the band also agreed that they couldn’t picture themselves doing anything else. The combined amount of time put into this craft by these men is quite impressive. Another thing that is impressive is Stell’s songwriting capabilities. He has had a hand in penning all of his songs for the last two records in some way or another. One thing he is adamant about is writing about things he knows. If people can relate to a song, then that is just a bonus! “Vestibule Blues“, is the title track of the album and a song that Stell is pretty proud of. The lyrics speak about a specific church from Stell’s childhood and brings us back to the reason we have funerals in the first place. Stell spent a good amount of time doing radio tours for his single “Robert Tatum” and it is currently in the 50s (call in to request it!). The band is looking to release their next single pretty soon, but still making the final decisions on what it might be. There are a couple front runners but my vote would be “Break Me Down” or “Piney Woods“, so be looking for a new song to hit the radio! The band will be playing the Great Arkansas Pig Out in Morrilton this Friday, September 30. Jason Boland & the Stragglers and the Turnpike Troubadours will also be there. This is about as close to their hometown festival as it gets, so come out, eat some good food and listen to some great music! If you can’t make it to that show have no fear, head on over to www.mattstell.com and find a performance near you! Vestibule Blues Track Listing 1. Break Me Down 2. Continue reading Matt Stell & The Crashers→