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.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton’s Wedding Plans

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton’s wedding plans slowly surface. Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton‘s engagement is certainly no secret, and it seems their wedding plans aren’t too tight-lipped either. Country Music Is Love posted a great interview piece today where Miranda talks about a May wedding and the joy of being engaged.It seems the closer those two get, the better their careers go, and us fans aren’t complaining one bit!Country Music Photo Gallery

John Michael Montgomery Launches MontgomeryMixPro.com!

John Michael Montgomery launches a new business venture – Album mixing and mastering at DIY rates. Normally I don’t single out a service or business venture that gets pitched my way, but it seems John Michael Montgomery has fallen into a loophole of mine. You see, CMNB, and The DH Network as a whole, was built on a foundation of supporting up and coming DIY artists, and John’s new business venture does just that. MontgomeryMixPro.com is John Michael’s new venture. John Michael is offering a service to aspiring artists and writers providing them with a professionally mixed mastered quality recording. From experience with the thousands upon thousands of demos we get here at CMNB each year, a good, solid, professional mix can really make you stand out in a crowd.  As I have said time and time again, when making an album, mixing is where you really want to focus your effort and budget! Montgomerymixpro.com also provides artists and songwriters with exposure to professional music companies which is an added bonus for using the service. “I’ve put together a team of top engineers, some who have worked on my own albums, to mix recordings for Montgomerymixpro.com,” says Montgomery. “I will also work on the mix sessions from time to time as well, and who knows, if I hear a song I really like, someone could be hearing from me personally!” Montgomerymixpro.com is very affordable and can start as low as $99.00 for twelve tracks. Since most aspiring musicians struggle with finances, it was important to John Michael for those who want to have a professional quality recording, but not tremendous financial resources, to be able to afford this service. Affordably priced full demo packages are also available. For more information on this new service please log on to www.montgomerymixpro.comCountry Music Photo Gallery

2010 CMA Award Nominees

Nominees for the 2010 CMA Awards are announced – Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert take the lead! Nominees for the 2010 CMA Awards are being announced in a 2-part press conference, with the first taking place this morning. So far the nominees are: New Artist Luke Bryan Easton Corbin Jerrod Niemann Chris Young Zac Brown Band * Vocal Group Lady Antebellum Little Big Town Rascal Flatts The Band Perry * Zac Brown Band Vocal Duo Brooks & Dunn Joey & Rory Montgomery Gentry Steel Magnolia Sugarland * Single of the Year (Award goes to artist and producer.) “A Little More Country Than That” Easton Corbin Producer: Carson Chamberlain “Hillbilly Bone” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins Producer: Scott Hendricks “Need You Now” Lady Antebellum Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum “The House That Built Me” * Miranda Lambert Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke “White Liar” Miranda Lambert Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke Song of the Year (Award goes to songwriter.) “A Little More Country Than That” Songwriters: Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress and Wynn Varble “Need You Now” * Songwriters: Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Josh Kear “The House That Built Me” Songwriters: Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin “Toes” Songwriters: Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, John Driskell Hopkins and Shawn Mullins “White Liar” Songwriters: Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby Music Video (Award goes to artist and director.) “Hillbilly Bone” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins Director: Roman White “Need You Now” Lady Antebellum Director: David McClister “The House That Built Me” Miranda Lambert Director: Trey Fanjoy “Water” * Brad Paisley Director: Jim Shea “White Liar” Miranda Lambert Director: Chris Hickey Musician Paul Franklin — Steel Guitar Dann Huff — Guitar Brent Mason — Guitar Mac McAnally — Guitar * Randy Scruggs — Guitar Entertainer of the Year Lady Antebellum Miranda Lambert Brad Paisley Keith Urban Zac Brown Band* Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley* Blake Shelton George Strait Keith Urban Dierks Bentley Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert Martina McBride Reba McEntire* Taylor Swift Carrie Underwood Album of the Year (Goes To Artist & Producer) Need You Now- Lady Antebellum Play On- Carrie Underwood Revolution- Miranda Lambert Twang- George Strait Up On The Ridge- Dierks Bentley* Vocal Event of the Year “Bad Angel”- Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson * “Can’t See You” Zac Brown Band and Kid Rock “Hillbilly Bone” Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins “I’m Alive”- Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews “Till the End”- Alan Jackson and LeAnn Womack (* = CMNB’s Favorite) Stay tuned for the reasons why CMNB picked these favorites! Hosted for the third time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, “The 44th Annual CMA Awards” airs live Wednesday, Nov. 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/EST) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.Country Music Photo Gallery

Lee Ann Womack to Host 2010 ACM Honors

Lee Ann Womack is set to host the 2010 ACM Honors celebration September 20th. The Academy of Country Music has chosen the lovely Lee Ann Womack to host this year’s celebration as they present special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 45th Annual ACM Awards. ACM Honors will take place September 20th at the historic Ryman Auditorium and tickets go on sale tomorrow, Wednesday Sept 1st.

Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give – Ep1

Zac Brown Band takes you behind the scenes for the album You Get What You Give. Zac Brown Band gives you an inside look into what makes up their new album “You Get What You Give” in this all-new webisode series. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKVyVPw0GTU] “You Get What You Give” will be available in stores September 21st, but you can pre-order it now at www.zacbrownband.com Watch for more ZBB on tomorrow night’s CMAFest on ABC!Country Music Photo Gallery

Petty Blue Documentary

Petty Blue – A Legend – A Legacy Look inside the family that defines NASCAR. Petty Blue is a documentary that traces the timeline of the Petty family as they carve their way into racing legacy. Available on DVD September 21st, and on CMT in October. Buckle up. Country Music Photo Gallery

Jennette McCurdy’s Debut EP

iCarly’s Sam Puckett steps out on her own: Jennette McCurdy debuts in country music with her first EP, Not That Far Away. Jennette McCurdy may not be a name you’re familiar with, but ask your daughters who Sam Puckett is and just watch their eyes light up! That’s because Sam Puckett is the character Jennette plays on the hit Nickelodeon show iCarly. Make no mistake though, Jennette is not suffering a bad-wig-induced identity crisis nor a coming-of-age breakthrough. She’s simply a talented, well-rounded girl with a knack for comedy, and a stellar voice. Not just stellar… phenomenal! Unlike other current pop stars, her live performances add to the rich, developed, controlled, and all-around quality her voice carries. Take a listen to the clip below and tell me Taylor could pull that off! Then, when you hear that I’m right, hop over to http://www.jennettemccurdy.com and buy her debut EP. Heck, buy 2 copies! One for you and one to replace your daughter’s copy of Fearless! [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHqV1NdOLa0]Country Music Photo Gallery

Taylor Swift :Behind the Scenes – Mine

Go behind the scenes with Taylor Swift at the making of her new video, Mine. Taylor Swift‘s new video “Mine” debuts tomorrow, but you can take a sneak peek behind the scenes as Taylor discusses all the elements, excitement, and hype behind her smash single. “Mine” is the first track released off the upcoming album “Speak Now”. And here’s the full video! Taylor Swift – Mine – Full Video Taylor Swift   More CMT Music   More CMT Music Videos Country Music Photo Gallery

CMT Artists of the Year 2010

CMT set to honor the 2010 CMT Artists of the Year, promising “this is NOT another award show!”. CMT has announced that on December 3rd, 2010 they will be airing a special 90minute celebration, honoring the top 5 artists of the year. The artists are chosen based on album and download sales, radio airplay, online activity, and touring. Producers brag that this is not another award show, instead offering an intimate and worm setting, with a variety of performances and tributes to the industry’s finest. Make no mistake: This is not an awards show or a competition, but a year-end party on a grand scale,” said John Hamlin, senior vice president, music events and talent, CMT. “CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR celebrates the artists that made this year a great one for country music. It’s their night because it’s been their year and they deserve to be wined, dined and entertained like no other evening anywhere else. Country Music Photo Gallery

Kenny Chesney Football Documentary Airs Sunday!

Kenny Chesney’s high school football documentary airs this Sunday on ESPN. Kenny Chesney has made his year chasing that high school football spirit, and he’s finally ready to share what he’s found. His new documentary “The Boys of Fall” premieres at 1pm central, this Sunday, August 29th, 2010 on ESPN. Follow along as he explores what drives the players, and how football experiences guided him through his adult life and through all his successes and failures. In other news, Kenny Chesney’s new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey” is due in stores September 28th.