Reba Releases Dates for Fall 2011 Tour. Reba McEntire has announced the details for her Fall 2011 All the Woman I Am tour. The tour kicks off September 1st and runs through November 19th and will hit 31 cities total! Reba will be joined on tour by The Band Perry, Steel Magnolia and Eden’s Edge on select dates. See below for complete tour details!
Miranda Lambert Featured on Good Morning America Concert Series. Listen up, Miranda Lambert fans! Miranda will be performing on Good Morning America Friday, July 8th as part of the morning show’s Summer Concert Series. The concert will be held in Rumsey Playfield in Central Park and admission is free to the general public. If you can’t make it to the show in person, though, just set your DVR! The concert will be presented throughout the show between 7am and 9am (ET). Be sure to check local listings!
American Idol Tour with Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery Kicks Off! The 2011 American Idol Live Tour featuring the Top 11 finalist from this season kicked off Wednesday, July 6th outside Salt Lake City. The tour, of course, will feature Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery. As previously reported, both Lauren and Scotty are actively pursing their careers within the country music industry, each having already released a single. All of you who voted Lauren and Scotty to the top, this is your chance to see them perform live for the first time! No doubt we will be seeing a lot of both of them after the tour wraps up on September 10th in Rochester, N.Y.
Recent Illness Causes Taylor Swift to Delay Performances. Taylor Swift is suffering from a bout a bronchitis, and unfortunately has had to postpone three more concerts as a result. In addition to one previously rescheduled performance in Louisville, KY, Swift, under doctor’s orders, has had to delay three additional shows in Charlotte, N.C. and Atlanta, G.A. Taylor has made the scheduling changes with a heavy heart. “I would never cancel if I thought I was physically able to perform these shows. I am so sorry to the fans, but I look forward to seeing you when we come back through your towns, which we will do.” -Taylor Swift Fans will have the opportunity to attend the concerts at a later date. The Louisville performance originally set for July 2 will be moved to October 11th. The Charlotte, N.C. concert will be moved from July 8th to November 16th. The Atlanta, G.A. concerts on July 9th and 10th will be reschedule for October 1st and 2nd. Taylor will resume her original tour schedule of July 14th in Montreal.
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott Engaged to Drummer! Congrats are in order for Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott who has announced her engagement to drummer Chris Tyrell. The couple met while touring with Tim McGraw in 2010. Tyrell proposed to Scott over the 4th of July weekend in East Tennessee while the two were enjoying a much needed break with family. This relationship milestone marks yet another success for Scott who has had a roller coaster of year of award nominations, wins and hugely positive reception from fans and the country music industry. Congratulations to Hillary and Chris!
Dolly Parton Releases New Video for Together You and I. Dolly Parton has debuted the video for the single “Together You and I” which is featured on her recently released album, A better Day. Parton has acknowledged that her new album is definitely different than her earlier work channeling a more modern vibe. The video for “Together You and I” also reflects this sentiment. The theme of this song and the imagery reflected in the video is definitely not the full on country fans are used, but it is a hybrid between country music and something else. It is almost a throwback to the hippie era of peace, love and happiness from the 60’s. The video features individuals clasping hands in a chain that begins in Nashville and continues all throughout the world from Washington D.C. to India. The individuals range from sick people to healthy people, from black to white, from young to old. The message is clear: together and with love anything is possible. Let me say, I really do like this song, and I am a huge Dolly Parton fan. However, there is something going on in country music right now that is different. Dolly is not the first country artist of late to present a song with such a message. Ronnie Dunn‘s “Bleed Red” has a similar globally minded, we-are-all-the-same theme. Newcomer Jennette McCurdy‘s “Generation Love” also encourages a positive world view focused on the power of love. These are good songs with admirable messages, but something about them does not sit right. The messages in these songs and their videos are recycling an older way of thinking from a time in American history where there was a wave of hope for change. Dolly and Ronnie lived during the 60’s, and it makes sense that they would revisit these themes. It seems though, the release of these songs are ill-timed. They simply do not take into account the past forty to fifty years of American history and all that encompasses. Country music is all about the hard times, getting the job done, dealing with life as it hits you. While Dolly’s (and Ronnie’s and Jennette’s) song is hopeful and lovely, I am not sure it is necessarily relateable for country fans. Yet, I might just be approaching Dolly’s new single and video from a too cynical angle. What do you think? You can check out the video here. Together You and I – Dolly Parton – Dolly Parton Videos
Jo Dee Messina Set to Perform in DC for the 4th of July. Washington D.C. is going to be alive and happening with all sorts of events and celebrations for July 4th weekend! Country stars are performing in special concerts all over the nation, and Jo Dee Messina will be featured in a performance right in the heart of the capital! Messina will be performing near the Washington Monument on the WAMO Stage between Madison, Ave & Jefferson, Drive. She is scheduled to be on stage at 8:00pm. For those who will be there earlier, the U.S. Navy Band performs at 6:00 p.m. on the Southwest corner of the grounds of the Washington Monument. No word on whether or not these festivities will be broadcast on television or the web at some point, but maybe you will be able to catch them live! If not, there are sure to be celebrations closer to home country fans can participate in to honor our country’s independence.
Gloriana Celebrates Military Service in Honor of 4th with Free Download. Gloriana will be celebrating the 4th of July this year by offering fans a free download of their song “Soldier Song” which is featured on the group’s upcoming album. The free download will be available to fans exclusively through Facebook, and will be accessible June 30th-July 7th. The group wishes to release the song as a tribute to service men and women and as a way to celebrate with fans. “After our trip overseas we were so inspired by the military men and women we met. We wrote Soldier Song to show our gratitude and give something back to all the service men and women out there. The timing couldn’t be better than 4th of July weekend to celebrate this song by releasing it to our fans.” -Mike Gossin In addition to the release of the song, there will be an accompanying video also available exclusively on Facebook. The video is comprised of photos of service men and women submitted by fans who have friends and family in the service. No matter what your plans are for the 4th, Gloriana is offering country fans a simple and heartfelt way to honor and remember those who are serving the United States through the military.
Wynonna Judd Headlines Special 4th of July Concert. Wynonna Judd, will be performing at the 29th Annual Independence Day Concert on July 1st in Warner Robins, Georgia. Judd will be joined by host Robin Meade who anchors the CNN Headline News morning show and the U.S. Air Force Reserve Band. This is a free show, and it is intended as a demonstration of thanks by the Air Force Reserve to the 1.1 million deployed service members and their families,as well as the surrounding communities. They wish to show their gratitude for the overwhelming military support shown throughout the mid-Georgia region and across the nation. The concert will start at 8 p.m. with the singing of the National Anthem and an F-15 fighter jet fly over at McConnell-Talbert Stadium and will conclude with a celebratory fireworks show. This performance marks this celebrations 29th year, and it is a hugely popular event expected to draw in up to 30,000 attendees. Although the show is taking place on July 1st, it will be taped and broadcast on the American Forces Network on July 4th.
New Country Group LiveWire Release Debut EP. LiveWire is a newcomer on the country scene, and they are releasing their debut EP. The Joplin, Missouri based band is comprised of lead guitarist Bobby DeGonia, lead singer/acoustic guitarist Andy Eutsler, drummer Adam Hagerman, fiddle player Cory Shultz, rhythm guitarist Danny Bell and bassist Landon Rolfe, and their music is a blending of country with Southern Rock for a sound that is becoming more and more familiar to country fans. Their name might not have a country ring to it, but their music definitely does. LiveWire debuted the first single, “Tater Fed” on May 9th, and this EP features five other original songs including “Heart Burn“, “That’s What Makes You A Man“, “Drink About It“, “For the Last Time” and “Gone“. “Tater Fed” is receiving positive feedback, and it is possible this could be a band for country fans to keep an eye on. The EP is currently available through iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and other digital retailers. So, check it out and let us know what you think.
