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.

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw Tour 2012!

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw have announced that they will launch the “Brothers of the Sun” tour! Minds are being blown this morning as Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney confirm on Good Morning America that they will be joining forces for a 2012 concert tour! “Tim and I have been great friends since we first toured together, and I can’t wait to get back on the road with him,” Chesney said. “He’s one of my closest friends in music and in life, and I know this tour is going to be something special.” “Our friendship was forged on the road, so it’s going to be a blast heading out with Kenny again,” said McGraw. “We’ll be having as much fun on stage as the fans will be having in the audience.” This will mark the first time on 10 years the two country stars have toured together and is sure to be a sellout at all 19 stadium stops. Special guests Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Jake Owen will join them for different stops on the road. ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour 2012: Sat. June 2 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium Sun. June 3 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome Sat. June 9 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium Sun. June 10 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium Sat. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field Sat. June 23 – Nashville, TN – LP Field Sun. June 24 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium Sat. June 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field Sun. July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – Paul Brown Stadium Sat. July 7 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field Sun. July 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field Sat. July 14 – Anaheim, CA – Angels Stadium Sat. July 21 – Denver, CO – Sports Authority Field at Mile High TBA – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium TBA – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium Sat. August 11 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium Sun. August 12 – Washington, DC – FedExField Sat. August 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field Sat. August 25 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium

George Strait 2012 Concert Tour

George Strait unveils concert tour plans for 2012 – Martina McBride to join him! George Strait‘s 2012 concert tour will fire up on January 27th in Lafayette, Louisiana and so far the tour itinerary includes stops in Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah and Kansas. The February 4th Las Vegas appearance goes on sale Saturday, October 29th with other ticket on-sale dates announced soon. Martina McBride has been confirmed as a special guest on the tour, so I know I’ll be clamoring for tickets the minute they are released!

Own the Night with Lady Antebellum!

CMNB is giving away two autographed copies of Lady Antebellum’s Own The Night! Lady Antebellum is going to own more than just the night with their new album… they’re owning the stage, the radio, and their fans’ hearts! Now’s your chance to own an autographed copy of “Own The Night” simply by subscribing to our newsletter. Just make sure you are signed up for our weekly country music newsletter and you’re automatically entered to win! Own the Night will hit stores and digital retailers on September 13th. The first single from the album, “Just a Kiss” has already soared to the top of the Billboard charts, and Lady Antebellum will be launching a full tour to support the album this fall. The “Own the Night” tour will kick off November 11th in Knoxville, TN with special guests Josh Kelley, Eden’s Edge, and Randy Montana. * Prize provided by Lady Antebellum’s promotional staff. * Entries must be received by Sunday September 25th. * Winners will not be eligible for another prize drawing until 90 days after this one. * 1 Winner will be drawn Sunday September 25th from ALL email subscribers with a valid shipping address. Can’t wait to win it? Pre-order your copy on Amazon today!

Congratulations Ben & Matt of KNIX!

A hometown shout-out for radio sensations Ben & Matt of KNIX for their 2011 CMA Radio Personality of the Year nomination! Congratulations to Ben & Matt from my hometown favorite radio station KNIX! They’ve been nominated as the CMA’s Radio Personality of the Year for 2011!!! KNIX has also been nominated as Station of the Year as well. You know which way MY vote is swingin guys!!! Cheers! ~WC~ WARNER MUSIC NASHVILLE duo THE JANEDEAR GIRLS announced the finalists for the 45th ANNUAL CMA AWARDS Broadcast Award Personality and Radio Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large, and major markets), as well as the finalists for the CMA National Broadcast Personality this morning (9/6) in NASHVILLE. The Broadcast nominees winners will be notified in mid-OCTOBER and will be acknowledged during the televised awards. The CMA AWARDS will take place at the BRDGESTONE ARENA in NASHVILLE, TN on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9th on ABC TELEVISION. CMA Personality of the Year: National KIX BROOKS, “AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN WITH KIX BROOKS” – CITADEL MEDIA DEREK HASKINS & SEAN POWELL, “BIG D & BUBBA SHOW” – PREMIERE NETWORKS LIA KNIGHT, “THE LIA SHOW” – DIAL GLOBAL Major Market BEN CAMPBELL & MATT MCALLISTER, “BEN & MATT SHOW,” KNIX/PHOENIX CHUCK EDWARDS & LINDA LEE, “EDWARDS & LEE,” WYCD/DETROIT KELLY FORD & MARK NEWMAN, “KELLY FORD & RIDER,” KYGO/DENVER LAURIE DEYOUNG, “LAURIE DEYOUNG MORNING SHOW,” WPOC/BALTIMORE PAUL SCHADT, MEG BUTTERLY & GEOF KNIGHT; “PAUL SCHADT MORNING SHOW,” WKKT/CHARLOTTE Large Market CHRIS CARR, JEFFREY “MAVERICK” BOLEN & JASON STATT; “CHRIS CARR & COMPANY,” WUBE/CINCINNATI BILL CODY, “COFFEE, COUNTRY & CODY,” WSM-A/NASHVILLE JEFF ROPER & ANGIE WARD, “JEFF ROPER IN THE MORNING,” WTQR/GREENSBORO JESS TYLER, BRYAN PHILLIPS & AMANDA LEONARDO; “JESS, BRIAN AND AMANDA,” WCTK/PROVIDENCE MIKE WHELESS, MARTY YOUNG & JANIE CAROTHERS; “Q MORNING CREW,” WQDR/RALEIGH Medium Market KEVIN RICHARDS, “KEVIN RICHARDS SHOW,” WGNA/ALBANY BRIAN PIERCE & KELLIE MICHAELS, “MORNINGS WITH BRIAN AND KELLIE,” KFDI/WICHITA TOM O’BRIEN, ROGER TODD & MELISSA MORAN, “THE 97 COUNTRY BREAKFAST CLUB,” WPCV/LAKELAND STEVE LUNDY & GINA MELTON, “THE KAT 103 MORNING SHOW,” KXKT/OMAHA BILL ELLIS & BETH BRADLEY, “ELLIS AND BRADLEY MORNING SHOW,” WSSL/GREENVILLE, SC Small Market BILL BARRETT, TIM FOX & TRACY BERRY, “BARRETT, FOX & BERRY,” KKNU/EUGENE, OR BENNY “BEARMAN” MARTIN, KEN HICKS & DANIEL WYATT, “BEARMAN AND KEN IN THE MORNING,” WUSY/CHATTANOOGA SCOTTY COX & CARISSA LOETHEN, “SCOTTY AND CARISSA IN THE MORNING,” KCLR/COLUMBIA, MO EDDIE FOXX & SHARON GREEN, “THE EDDIE FOXX SHOW,” WKSF/ASHEVILLE, NC BRIAN GARY, TODD HARDING & SUSAN MOORE, “THE GOOD MORNING GUYS,” KUAD/FORT COLLINS, CO CMA Radio Station of the Year Major Market: KMLE/PHOENIX KNIX/PHOENIX WKKT/CHARLOTTE WMZQ/WASHINGTON WYCD/DETROIT Large Market: KASE/AUSTIN KVET/AUSTIN WFMS/INDIANAPOLIS WQDR/RALEIGH WUBE/CINCINNATI Medium Market: KATM/MODESTO-STOCKTON, CA KFDI/WICHITA KUZZ/BAKERSFIELD WBBS/SYRACUSE WYRK/BUFFALO Small Market: KCLR/COLUMBIA, MO KUAD/FORT COLLINS, CO WKSF/ASHEVILLE, NC WKXC/AUGUSTA, GA WUSY/CHATTANOOGA

Official 2011 CMA Award Nominees!

The 2011 CMA Award Nominees Have Been Announced! Nominees have been announced for the 2011 Country Music Association Awards, which will broadcast on November 9th. Here are your contenders! CMA Awards Nominations! Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Taylor Swift Keith Urban Vocal Group: The Band Perry Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts Zac Brown Band Vocal Duo: The Civil Wars Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Sugarland Thompson Square Male Vocalist: Jason Aldean Kenny Chesney Brad Paisley Blake Shelton Keith Urban Female Vocalist: Sara Evans Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood New Artist: The Band Perry Luke Bryan Eric Church Thompson Square Chris Young Single of the Year: “A Little Bit Stronger” Sara Evans Produced by Tony Brown RCA Nashville “Colder Weather” Zac Brown Band Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson Produced by Michael Knox Broken Bow Records “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton Produced by Scott Hendricks Warner Bros. Nashville “If I Die Young” The Band Perry Produced by Paul Worley Republic Nashville Album of the Year: All About Tonight Blake Shelton Produced by Scott Hendricks Warner Bros. Nashville My Kinda Party Jason Aldean Produced by Michael Knox Broken Bow Records Speak Now Taylor Swift Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift Big Machine Records This Is Country Music Brad Paisley Produced by Frank Rogers Arista Nashville You Get What You Give Zac Brown Band Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records Song of the Year: “Colder Weather” Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles – songwriters “Dirt Road Anthem” Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford – songwriters “If I Die Young” Kimberly Perry – songwriter “Mean” Taylor Swift – songwriter “You and Tequila” Matraca Berg and Deana Carter – songwriters Musical Event: “As She’s Walking Away” Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson Southern Ground Artists/Atlantic Records “Coal Miner’s Daughter” Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert Columbia Records Nashville “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson Broken Bow Records “Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Arista Nashville “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter BNA Records Music Video: “Honey Bee” Blake Shelton Directed by Trey Fanjoy “If I Die Young” The Band Perry Directed by David McClister “Mean” Taylor Swift Directed by Declan Whitebloom “Old Alabama” Brad Paisley featuring Alabama Directed by Jim Shea “You and Tequila” Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter Directd by Shaun Silva Musician: Sam Bush – Mandolin Jerry Douglas – Dobro Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar Dann Huff – Guitar Mac McAnally – Guitar The 2011 CMA Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th. The show will air live out of the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and will be broadcast on ABC that evening at 7pm. Want to know what HaleighT thinks about this year’s nominees? Check out the first ever episode of “Takin’ a Break with HaleighT” and hear her dish about the 2011 crop of nominations! Continue reading Official 2011 CMA Award Nominees!

Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert to Record Together!

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton to record an album together with Neal McCoy in charge! Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert made a surprise announcement just moments ago via Neal McCoy’s youtube account confirming that they are indeed making an album together! I’m so excited about this that typing is a challenge, so I’m just gonna share the video right here! Stay tuned for more details as they unfold! [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eWmRaRl404] I have SO many questions!! Will they be duets, or one song from one, and one from another back and forth? Will they launch a supporting tour together for the album? How many tracks, who’s producing it? what studio are they going through? Will there be any other guest performers? And of course WHEN CAN WE HEAR SOME OF IT???? EEEK! Okay… I think I got a bit of that out of my system now… we’ll keep ya posted as more details are released Cheers! ~WC~

Sponsored By: CountryMusicOnTour.com

Country Concert and Festival Tickets Country Music News Blog is sponsored by our sister site, CountryMusicOnTour.com where we dedicate ourselves to bringing you the hottest COUNTRY concerts. You won’t find Lady Gaga or Justin Bieber there, but you will find the most up-to-date tour information on artists like Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and more! Pop on over to CountryMusicOnTour.com today and start planning your concert calendar!

2011 CMA Award Nominees – Contest!

Help Country Music News Blog choose who to vote for in the 2011 CMA Awards! It’s voting time for the 2011 CMA Awards and we’re plowin through all the nominee’s videos to help make our decisions! We’ve compiled a playlist of videos belonging to this year’s second round nominees and embedded it below to make a nice long soundtrack while we work here in the newsroom. We need YOU to play along and comment below on who you think deserves the honors and in which category? We’ll be drawing a winner from the comments to receive a special prize which will be announced on November 9th during the awards broadcast! 2011 CMA Awards Video Playlist: The 2011 CMA Awards Categories are: Entertainer of the Year Female Vocalist of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year New Artist of the Year Vocal Group of the Year Vocal Duo of the Year Single of the Year Album of the Year Song of the Year Musical Event of the Year Music Video of the Year Musician of the Year Comment with your winning picks below! * Prize provided by CountryMusicNewsBlog.com. * Entries must be received by Saturday November 8th. * Winners will not be eligible for another prize drawing until 90 days after this one. * 1 Winner will be drawn Sunday November 9th from ALL comments on THIS post with a valid email address.