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.

Thompson Square – Let’s Fight – Video

Thompson Square recently signed on to open for Jason Aldean’s tour, but who are they? This husband and wife duo is a country love song and legacy in the making. Thompson Square consists of Shawna and Keifer, country and rock, sugar and spice. The pair met while working their way through the crazy town of Nashville, trying to find their own way. After years of paying dues and romancing each other like crazy, they stumbled upon the best decision they ever made… to perform together. Now with their debut album “Let’s Fight” they’re performing their way all the way to the top! Check out Thompson Square performing the title track off that debut album: [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyystwcqQjA]Country Music Photo Gallery

Meet Brantley Gilbert

Brantley Gilbert – The south’s best kept secret… until now! Lately the web has been all abuzz over Jason Aldean‘s newest single “My Kind of Party“, but surprisingly the buzz isn’t about Aldean! Fans throughout the southeast are making it known that the song’s writer, Brantley Gilbert, is the one we should really be watching. Trust me fans, we are! In a statement on Brantley’s site, it’s clear that he is enjoying the single’s success every bit as much as Jason Aldean is. I’m proud to see my name attached to Jason’s version and hope you guys feel the same. This is a big step for me as a songwriter and I couldn’t have asked for a better artist to perform the song. After all, he is a Georgia boy! I love how passionate you all are about this song and my music, I just want you to know that this is a good thing. Let’s show support as Jason runs “My Kinda Party” up the charts! This is a great thing for all of us, including you. Thanks again for all your support! Can I get a hell yeah?!!!! Brantley’s blend of country and rock has grabbed more than just Jason Aldean’s interest. Record label’s industry publications, and fans alike are clamoring for more from the “prodigal son” of the south. His sophomore album “Halfway to Heaven” is slowly making it’s way around the nation, and I predict, will be a sudden hit come this fall. Give Brantley Gilbert a try with “Kick it in the Sticks” off the new album “Halfway to Heaven” [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCsyA4DHwHE&feature=player_embedded] For more on Brantley, visit http://brantleygilbert.comCountry Music Photo Gallery

Lionel Richie added to All for the Hall Benefit

Lionel Richie has been added to the All for the Hall Benefit concert line-up! Lionel Richie has confirmed he will perform in September 23rd’s All for the Hall Benefit which will raise funds for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Dozens of stars are gathering in Los Angeles, California next month to host an all-star concert to raise funds for the long-term financial needs of the museum. Other stars on this year’s bill include Taylor Swift, Emmylou Harris, and Kris Kristofferson, as well as a fourth mystery guest. Tickets go on sale this weekend!Country Music Photo Gallery

CMNB Wants YOU – Looking for columnists!

Country Music News Blog wants to publish YOU! Country Music News Blog would like to invite you, our readers, to come test out your writing skills! We are currently looking for columnists who would like to contribute posts to our site. You can write for us one time, or aim for a weekly column. Any person chosen for the weekly column will receive a dedicated featured space on the homepage as well as a writer’s bio on the site. While we don’t pay for news, we do understand the importance of getting published and will give plenty of credit where credit is due. All contributing writers will receive special consideration for the schwaag that comes our way as well (review CD’s, books, DVD’s, etc). Still reading? Good! Here’s what we’re looking for: Something fun and witty to read, that country music fans can relate to. It doesn’t have to be about country music either, although that would be a natural fit. You could also write about cooking tips, parenting techniques, farm life, vehicle maintenance, getting by in these rough economic times… whatever you want! There is no corporate backing or politics that get in the way of simply sharing our love of the country music lifestyle, and we would love for you to share it with us. We’ll be happy to publish any article as long as it at least somewhat relates to the site here. We do have a few simple rules to follow before you send in that article though: 1. Be helpful. Although our editorial staff may post a negative review here and there, we try to stay in the area of constructive criticism so that the artists and readers can get something useful out of it. Teach us something. Show off what you’ve found. 2. Keep it clean. No cussing, adult-natured content, or slander. There might be a kid or a lawyer reading somewhere. 3. Keep it original. If it’s already posted somewhere else, then we won’t post it here. The best you might get is to have the post summarized, and then a link added to the original article for more information. 4. Be patient. Not all articles are right for the site, and we find that out by letting a live human being read through them, check facts, and possibly edit for search engine friendliness before we’ll post it live. This takes time. If you have a specific date you want an article to start running, please include that in your email but we can make no guarantees. 5. No Sales Pitches! You can review a product or service that our readers may be interested in, just know that each submission is read thoroughly and anything deemed as a “sales pitch” will considered a sponsored post. Not sure of the difference between a sponsored post or guest post? Email me and we’ll go over it. Please send all article submissions (including related pictures, links, and possibly MP3’s) to whiskeychick@drunkenhillbilly.com for review.Country Music Photo Gallery

Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn

Details of a Loretta Lynn tribute concert and album slowly surface. Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn is the working title for an upcoming concert and album paying homage to one of country music’s finest legacies. Loretta Lynn will be honored in October as part of a Grammy Salute to Country Music concert series, with the album to follow on November 9th. Details of who will be singing her classic songs are still surfacing, but you can be sure we’re excited! In the meantime, Lynn’s 1976 memoir, Coal Miner’s Daughter, will be reissued in paperback in September.

Kenny Chesney to Perform at FarmAid 2010

Kenny Chesney has confirmed that he will perform at the upcoming FarmAid concert on October 2nd. Kenny Chesney, Norah Jones and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy will perform during Farm Aid’s 25th anniversary concert taking place Oct. 2 at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Tickets will go on sale this Saturday August 14th. In the meantime, Kenny Chesney can be found professing his love of football in the instantly successful documentary “The Boys of Fall”.

Stagecoach Festival 2011

Stagecoach Music Festival returns in 2011! After a year of slow sales and canceled major-market tour stops, fans of the ever-popular Stagecoach festival were relieved to find out today that the festival WILL be returning in 2011. The fifth annual critically acclaimed event–which features an impressive array of artists from the genres of mainstream country, bluegrass, folk, roots rock and alt-country–will again take place at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA. Details on the 2011 STAGECOACH line-up and information on ticket sales will be announced later this year, but concert-goers can again expect a variety of activities, including a leading BBQ competition with participants offering tastes from across the country and a camping area which has grown into one of the largest annual gatherings of RV and tent camping in Southern California. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.Stagecoachfestival.com.Country Music Photo Gallery

Luke Bryan’s Second Son Arrives!

Luke Bryan joins his wife in celebrating the birth of their second child, Tatum Christopher Bryan! Luke and Caroline Bryan welcomed their second son into the world today. Tatum “Tate” Christopher Bryan was born in a Nashville area hospital, weighing in at 6.8 pounds and is 21 inches long. Mother and son are doing well and will be released for home soon. “Nothing like coming home after an eight day run and having an early surprise like this!,” exclaimed Bryan. “Such an amazing day for me and my family. We are so blessed to have another healthy baby boy. All the fishing holes in Nashville better look out when I get out there in the next few years with Tate and big brother Bo!! Tate is now the baby brother to two-year old Thomas Boyer “Bo” Bryan. Country Music Photo Gallery

Miranda Lambert: CMT Invitation Only

Miranda Lambert offers an intimate performance on CMT’s Invitation Only August 23rd. Set your DVR’s for August 23rd as Miranda Lambert offers a closer look at her performances of her top hits. This episode of CMT’s Invitation Only is sure to please as the feisty Miranda gives fans a special performance of “The House that Built Me“, “Only Prettier” and many more of her signature tunes. Who knows… maybe she’ll even dish a little on “Makin Plans” with Mr Blake Shelton for their upcoming wedding!

PreOrder Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give

It’s time to get your orders in for Zac Brown Band’s You Get What You Give! Zac Brown Band fans are chompin at the bit to get their hands on the new album “You Get What You Give” and now’s your chance to get ahead of the game! ZBB has opened up shop for pre-orders of the album, and given fans the option of including some pretty sweet schwaag packs to go with it! Check it out at ZacBrownBand.com!