Author Archives: Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

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.

Ready Your Remote for TCN – The Country Network

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Former CMA exec takes the helm on a new all-country-music network. Tammy Genovese leaves the CMA to head up a new cable channel featuring all country music all the time. “This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to open another venue for our music reaching local, regional, national and international audiences,” TCN/Nashville President Tammy Genovese said of her new position. Genovese replaces Warren Hansen, who remains as chief operating officer reporting to her. She will direct operations at the network’s new principal office at 40 Music Square West, Nashville, 37212 opening next Monday. The Country Network is currently airing in HD on WIYC-DT Montgomery, Ala. and will begin national and international broadcasting during CMA Music Festival June 10. Programming will be country music videos and original programs about artists and fans. Videos from current and rising stars, as well as heritage artists, will be shown. Artists and Fans Network owns the network. TCH is looking to combine local and national broadcasting, mobile devices and the web into a “seamless music video experience,” according to Music Row’s web site.

Billy Joe Shaver found Not Guilty

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Billy Joe Shaver, a country music singer/songwriter found not guilty of shooting a man in Texas. Billy Joe Shaver was accused of shooting of a man outside a bar in Lorena, Texas in 2007. Shaver, testifying in his own defense, said he feared for his life when he shot Billy Coker in the upper lip with a 22-caliber pistol. Shaver went on to say that Coker showed a knife inside the bar and asked him to go outside. “I wanted to scare him … wanted to beat him to the punch. I feared he was going to kill me,” Shaver said. A jury reached a verdict of not guilty after two hours of deliberation in the case involving Shaver and Coker.Country Music Photo Gallery

Jamey Johnson goes back to Black and White

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Jamey Johnson’s concept album due out this summer Jamey Johnson fans only have to hold their breath a little bit longer, as news of a new album finally surfaces! Jamey describes his new concept album as a “black album” and a “white album.” Concept albums usually revolve around some kind of musical, narrative, or lyrical theme. “There will be more explanations inside the album jackets as to why it is done this way. But basically it is a little tale that revolves around a yin yang. As it gets further along you see how the opening situation evolves into some of these other situations. Each song … affects the next, or kind of sets up the next.”-gactv.com Still unsure whether the project will be come out as a single two-disc album, two simultaneously released CD’s, or a pair of releases staggered several months apart. Jamie goes on to say: “It gets dark and dismal [on the black album] and then it shows how on the white album everything gets better and better until it can’t get any better,” he said. “It just keeps going full circle. Each album bleeds into the other without stopping, and so if you put both albums on and hit the repeat button they play in perpetuity. They never stop.” Country Music Photo Gallery

Milwaukee Summerfest

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“The World’s Largest Music Festival,” Milwaukee’s Summerfest will run June 24th-July 4th. Fans will have the opportunity to see over 700 performances on 11 different stages, which includes Marcus Amphitheater. Performers already confirmed to appear are Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn with special guests Gary Allan and Kellie Pickler with additional performers to come soon.Country Music Photo Gallery

Bo Bice Releases 3

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On May 18th, Bo Bice will release his 3rd album titled 3. This album offers a touch of country with southern blues and rock along with gospel-like choruses. On this album, Bice wrote half of the songs himself playing both acoustic and electric guitar. I feel the new CD, 3, is my strongest to date, says Bo, filled with a plethora of sounds that show people who the real Bo Bice is. There’s something for everyone; country, soul, rock & roll…it’s like your favorite pair of jeans; it just feels right. Being a huge fan of Bo, I cannot wait for the release of this new album.Country Music Photo Gallery

Shania Twain:Reality Show Star

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New reality series called “Why Not?” will star country artist Shania Twain. According to sources, the series will “follow Shania as she begins her climb back to the top, a personal journey filled with risk, revelations and unexpected adventures.” The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) launches January 1st 2011 and will air the hour long series.Country Music Photo Gallery

Toby Keith: Charity Golf Tournament

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Toby Keith will host Charity Golf Tournament in Norman, OK May 21-22. Proceeds for “The Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic” will go to families with severely ill children. Friday night the classic begins with dinner, live entertainment, live and silent auctions. Those taking part in the tournament will tee-off the next day, with the event coming to an end in the FORD Shootout closest-to-the-pin contest. A new FORD F-SERIES pickup truck will go to the winner. DAVID WELLS, KEVIN GROSS, TONY CASILLAS, ROCKY CALMUS, and NANCY LIEBERMAN are just a few of Toby’s friends who will be involved in the Denim & Diamonds themed event, which will be held on May 21-22 in Norman, OK. For info on TOBY visit http://www.tobykeith.com. Country Music Photo Gallery

Dierks Bentley: Up On The Ridge

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On June 8th, Dierks Bentley will release his new acoustic album “Up on the Ridge.” This is Dierks 5th studio project and offers bluegrass roots that motivated him to becoming a country musician in the first place. The first single as well as title track, to be released to country radio on April 12th, was the inspiration of time spent on a plot of land in rural Tennessee. I fell in love with this kind of music the first time I walked into the Station Inn with a fake I.D. at 19 years old … these guys, who were my age, were playing their instruments so hard it knocked your head back. After that, I never missed a Tuesday night there in almost eight years,” explains Bentley. “Without the whole bluegrass community taking me in, I would have had no place to start from. It is my foundation. UP ON THE RIDGE TRACK LIST: 1. Up On The Ridge (Written by Angelo Petraglia, Dierks Bentley, Background Vocals by Alison Krauss) 2. Fallin’ For You (Written by Shawn Camp, Paul Kennerly, Background Vocals by Chris Stapleton) 3. Senor (Tales of Yankee Power) (with The Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile) (Written by Bob Dylan) 4. Rovin’ Gambler (with The Punch Brothers) (Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley) 5. Draw Me A Map (Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background Vocals by Alison Krauss) 6. Bad Angel (Featuring Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson) (Written by Verlon Thompson, Suzi Ragsdale) 7. Fiddlin’ Around (Written by John Scott Sherrill, Shawn Camp, Jeff Austin, Background Vocals by Vince Gill) 8. You’re Dead to Me (Written by Tim O’Brien, Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background vocals by Tim O’Brien) 9. Pride (In The Name Of Love) (with The Punch Brothers featuring Del McCoury) (Written by Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Dave Evans, Paul David Hewson) 10. Love Grows Wild (Written by Julie Miller, Buddy Miller) 11. Bottle to The Bottom (featuring Kris Kristofferson) (Written by Kris Kristofferson) 12. Down In The Mine (Written by Jon Randall Stewart, Dierks Bentley, Background vocals by Sonya Isaacs)Country Music Photo Gallery