About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work? Get them right here.

Rascall Flatts and Disney/Pixar Again?

This weekend the guys in Rascal Flatts took a short break from the Rewind Tour to pop in on friend and Chief Creative Officer of Disney, John Lasseter, for a visit. Could the king of Disney have something in the works for Gary and the guys again, after the success their rendition of “Life Is A Highway” had in the animated film Cars? I hope so. Either way, it’s nice to see the guys out on the road but not running themselves ragged! *Photo courtesy of Rogers & Cowen

Johnny Cash and The Carter Family Exhibit Joins the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona is proud to announce the addition of a new exhibit featuring instruments and stage wear from the infamous Johnny Cash and Carter family. These new exhibits join the ranks of other prominent artists with ties to country music already featured in MIM’s Artist Gallery including Elvis Presley, Toby Keith, Roy Orbison, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Taylor Swift. Items on display in the Carter Family and Johnny Cash exhibits have never before been displayed for the public and come to MIM on loan from John Carter Cash, son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, and Dale Jett, grandson of A.P. Carter. The items will be on display through April 2016. “When I first visited MIM, I was excited by its inimitable beauty and scale. It has been a wondrous blessing to work with the staff there and help bring about the Carter Family / Johnny Cash display,” said John Carter Cash. “I feel it is inspired and shows a unique view into the history of country music that cannot be seen anywhere else.”

Dolly Parton Takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Dolly Parton

Kenny Rogers double-dog-dared Dolly and she accepted the challenge! “Kenny, you’ve got to pay extra for the wet t-shirt contest!” – Dolly Nashville, Tenn. (August 28, 2014) – Dolly Parton, who’s usually flooding stadiums with fans around the world, cools off her Summer by taking a dive into the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Dolly was challenged by several people including famous duet partner, Kenny Rogers. His doubted dare sparked her to accept and prove how nothing stands in her way for a good cause. “Kenny said you’ll never do it with your false hair, your false eyelashes, and your false nails,” responds Dolly. “Kenny, you’d be surprised at what all I do with my falses; for a good cause and a good laugh.” Parton drowns down the wigs, nails and lashes with a polar plunge to raise awareness for ALS at her Nashville home while resting after her Blue Smoke World Tour. “Although, I didn’t challenge anyone, I do challenge everybody to make a generous donation like I did!” adds Parton.

Brantley Gilbert Headlining Lakeside Country Bash

Brantley Gilbert announced as headliner for the annual Lakeside Country Bash fundraising concert in Fort Meyers, FL Saturday December 13th Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 22 for the sixth annual Lakeside Country Bash to benefit Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation. The concert features chart-topping country artist Brantley Gilbert and will be held Saturday, Dec. 13 with gates opening at 2 p.m. at Lakes Regional Park. Gilbert earned the Recording Industry Association of America’s gold certification for his third album “Just As I Am” released by Valory Music Group. The album also debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Country Albums Chart, scoring the third highest album debut of the year with over 212,000 copies sold in the first week. Brantley’s latest project has already produced the platinum-certified, No. 1 lead single “Bottoms Up,” and the music video has earned more than 23 million views. Quickly climbing the Country airplay charts, the Top 20-and-rising follow-up, “Small Town Throwdown,” features label mates Justin Moore and Thomas Rhett. Ticket prices are$29.75, $46, $56, $66.00, and $76, and do not include facility fee or service charges. Tickets for the event go on sale Friday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster outlets and at Ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone call 800-745-3000. For more information visit www.lakesidecountrybash.com. Tyler Farr recently released “A Guy Walks into a Bar” the next single off of his upcoming Columbia Nashville LP. The song, written by Melissa Peirce, Jonathan Singleton, and Brad Tursi, hit a chord with the Missouri-born singer, who loved the use of a simple act – walking into a bar – to highlight everything from a relationship’s first exciting meeting to heartbreak. Hailed as a breakout new country male vocalist, Columbia Nashville’s broke through the country and all genre charts last year with debut album, “Redneck Crazy”, which landed at No. 2 on the Country Albums chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart and marking the year’s highest entry by a debut male country artist on the all-genre Billboard 200 album sales chart at its debut. Colt Ford is just an unassuming good old country boy from Georgia, a one-time pro golfer turned songwriter and musician who has struck a chord with his growing fan base. On “Thanks for Listening”,his fifth album on his own perfectly named Average Joes Entertainment label, he returns the favor, offering his audience a humble token of his appreciation. With his groundbreaking blend of country music and hip hop rhythms, Ford is a cultural force who is ready to go from cult status to a household name, from the mud trucker events where he started to arena stages, where he’ll next be seen sharing the bill with Toby Keith. Parmalee’s country rock sound has its roots in the bluegrass, traditional country, southern rock and blues covers the guys grew up hearing their families play. Matt and Scott Thomas grew up near Greenville, North Carolina watching their father Jerry front a popular local southern rock blues Continue reading Brantley Gilbert Headlining Lakeside Country Bash

Brad Paisley – Country Nation – Official Video

Brad Paisley on Country Music News Blog

It seems while Taylor Swift was busy twerking on Yahoo! Brad Paisley was making his own debut for his new single “Country Nation” on a brand new site that appears to be created/ran by WalMart. You can see the full video below: Besides being surrounded by Walmart ads, and even including Walmart employees in the video, we also learned that Brad Paisley is releasing his new album next Tuesday, August 25th. The album is titled “Moonshine in the Trunk” and I’m pretty sure there’s no twerking in these videos!

Taylor Swift – Shake It Off – Official Video

Like clockwork, Taylor Swift is back again this fall with a brand new album, and let fans know with a special livestream broadcast today on Yahoo! Music. The livestream featured the release of Shake It Off, and you can see the video in its entirety below. We’re honestly still scratching our heads here at CMNB HQ… we know Taylor has never been pure country at any point in her career, but it seems that with this album, the last remaining twang she held onto is what’s getting “shaken off”.

Kris Kristofferson to perform at Ryman All For the Hall Benefit

Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson will perform an intimate solo acoustic show at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium on Saturday September 13, 2014 at 8:00pm as part of the “All for the Hall” concert series. Tickets will go on sale Friday August 15 at 10:00am. Ticket prices are $49.50 and $39.50 plus applicable service charges and will be available via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, Ryman box office, ryman.com or by calling 800-745-3000. All proceeds will go to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Funds raised through the All For the Hall concerts support the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s preservation efforts, exhibitions and educational programs that teach audiences about the enduring beauty and cultural importance of country music.

Taylor Swift Live Online! Huge Announcement!

Taylor Swift is back in action this fall, and we’ll have all the details on August 18, 2014 as she hosts a special online live stream event hosted by Yahoo, and presented by LiveNation! What do YOU think the news could be? A new album? A new tour? Maybe both? Maybe something totally new? Either way, we’ll have it here at CountryMusicNewsBlog.com the moment Taylor goes live! Find out more at http://yahoo.com/TaylorSwift

Garth Brooks Breaks Ticket Sales Record With Chicago Dates

The first stop on The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood, has shattered Garth’s previous record for ticket sales in a single city in North America. Previously, the record was 162,822 tickets sold for the Target Center in Minneapolis from October 6th through the 14th, 1998. Chicago ticket sales have officially surpassed that and are continuing to sell. The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood will begin September 4 at 7:30pm. Subsequent dates in Chicago are September 5 at 6:00pm, September 6 at 6:00pm and 10:30pm, September 11 at 7:30pm, September 12 at 6:00pm and 10:30pm, September 13 at 6:00pm and 10:30pm and September 14 at 7:30pm at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. Tickets for the Philips Arena in Atlanta will be on sale tomorrow, Friday, August 8th at 10:00 AM EST. There will be a six ticket limit per purchase. They can be purchased at ticketmaster.com, 1-800-745-3000 or Ticketmaster Express 1-866-448-7849. Please note there will be no sales at the venue box office or Ticketmaster outlets on August 8th. Tickets will cost $56.94 plus $4.56 tax, a $4.00 facility fee and a $6.00 service charge, totaling $71.50. Read more straight form the source at http://www.countrymusicislove.com/country-music-news/garth-brooks-breaks-north-american-ticket-sales-record/

CMA Music Festival – Full Show Online!

Last night ABC broadcast one of the most highly-anticipated country music parties of the year, and like most busy people, you probably missed it. Well have no fear, we’ve got the best highlights of the CMA Music Festival performances submitted by fans who were actually there, so grab a seat and tune in! If that doesn’t quench your thirst, you can always go to ABC.COM where they allow subscribers of most cable providers to watch the entire show online!