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.

Brad Paisley Introduces New Album Titled Play

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Brad Paisley announces the completion of his instrumental album with a simple title of just “Play”. The long-awaited instrumental album from crooner and plucker Brad Paisley has finally finished the recording stage. Brad excitedly explains that he believes modern day music doesn’t have nearly enough guitar heroes making hit records these days. ” There was a time when every band had a great player,” he said. “I was watching VH1’s I Love The ’80s. They’ve got the hair bands on there. They were talking about 1985. There was so much guitar. These days, it’s different. There’s a lack. I’m doing my part, trying to play as many solos as possible.” Brad Paisley has definitely fullfilled that need, often filling his stage shows with amazing guitar work, and inspiring young musicians across the world to pick up their guitars and just cut loose. You may even recall that though Brad Paisley is no stranger to #1 singles, his first Grammy win was for his instrumental performance “Throttleneck” off the album “5th Gear”. this groundbreaking album boasts such guest performances as Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, B.B. King, and even a little from legendary Buck Owens. The album “will surprise people,” Brad told The Charlotte Observer. “It’s not all country. We do everything from jazz guitar to one [song] that’s very heavy metal.” Brad plans on heading back to the studio for his next album this fall after completing his current Paisley Party Tour with Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough.Country Music Photo Gallery

Sugarland Releases New Album: Love on the Inside

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Sugarland is set to release their new album Love on the Inside, with performances on Good Morning America and The View in the coming week! NASHVILLE, TN – National television outlets Good Morning America and The View are taking note of the excitement of the upcoming third release of Mercury Nashville’s duo Sugarland. On Tuesday, July 22, the day Love On The Inside DELUXE FAN EDITION is released, they will perform on both ABC shows. In addition, fans will find Sugarland blanketed across many other outlets, including the following. Access Hollywood Associated Press Atlanta Journal Constitution Cover Atlanta Magazine Cover Billboard Blender Boston Globe Cover Chicago Sun Times CMT Top 20, Insider and .com Dallas Morning News Entertainment Weekly Fitness GAC Top 20, GAC Master Series, GAC’s Country Music Across America, GAC On The Streets and GAC.com Good Morning America – Performance July 22 Houston Chronicle Miami Herald New York Times OK! Palm Beach Post Cover People Redbook Tennessean USA Today Cover The View – Performance July 22 For more Sugarland news or the Sugarland Tour Schedule, visit our partner site Country Music On Tour.Country Music Photo Gallery

Kenny Chesney Takes Top Tour Revenue

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Kenny Chesney shows his pirate plundering skill as he rakes in highest concert revenue for all country artists in the first 6 months of 2008. Kenny Chesney’s Poets and Pirates tour is the leading country tour in the U.S. for the first six months of the year with Rascal Flatts the only other country artist in the top 10, according to Pollstar. Bon Jovi leads the pack with a $56.3 million gross with an average ticket price of $87.98. Chesney enjoyed a gross of $35.3 million with an average price of $75.28. Rascal Flatts was eighth at $215.4 million on ticket prices of $64.57. Also in the top 100 were: 11. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood’s joint tour – $18.5 million (tickets averaged $55.89) 13. George Strait – $18 million ($64.06) 19. The Eagles – $15.8 million ($130.93) 27. Carrie Underwood – $12.3 million (($48.10) 36. Larry the Cable Guy – $9.5 million ($44.39) 37. Brad Paisley – $9.4 million ($41.21) 40. Rowdy Frynds with Lynyrd Skynyrd/Hank Williams Jr. -$8.5 million ($59.48) 49. Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson – $7.5 million ($53.78); 65. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – $5.4 million ($56.52) 76. Brooks & Dunn/Alan Jackson – $4.5 million ($92.77) 84. Blue Rodeo – $4.2 million ($43.93) 88. Martina McBride – $3.9 million ($51.88) 89. Garth Brooks – $3.8 million (39.29) 91. Trace Adkins – $3.8 million ($44.82) 96. Big & Rich – $3.2 million ($59.20) 99. Dolly Parton – $3 million ($70.38)Country Music Photo Gallery

Randy Travis Has New Album

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After 8 years since his last country album, Randy Travis has a new release just Around the Bend. The smooth deep sound of Randy Travis’ voice is unmistakable and unforgettable. But while he’s been loaning that voice to the higher powers, singing on christian albums and helping to spread the gospel, country music fans have been missing him on mainstream radio. Now, thanks to Randy Travis’ new release “Around the Bend”, the long wait is over. Randy will be giving us a run of national TV appearances to promote Around The Bend. He’s also on “The Late Show With David Letterman” Tuesday, “Good Morning America” Wednesday, “Regis & Kelly” Thursday and “The Today show” Friday. So be sure to watch, and then pick up the new album! For a chance to see Randy Travis perform live check out our sister site, Country Music On Tour.Country Music Photo Gallery

Country Hound Celebrates 1 Year

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Country Hound celebrates its one-year anniversary and CMNB’s staff tips their hat. It’s not often that one publication will congratulate its’ “competition”, but in this case, it must be done! Country Hound was launched in July of 2007 and has since proven itself a strong name in the country music news scene. As a top source of the latest information, polls, interviews and album reviews, Country Hound has been a great resource for hobbyists like myself. In the world of country music news, there are very few solid and reliable sites that provide current updates for real fans. Country Hound is one of those. Be prepared for a fresh new look as they work towards the 2.0 version of their site.Country Music Photo Gallery

Gas Prices Put a Damper on Touring Musicians

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CMT reports that gas prices are causing some artists to book alternative transportation while others are simply drowning in expenses. Imagine if you will, that your gas tank holds up to 25 gallons of that liquid gold. At today’s prices, that’s almost $1200 per fill-up. Not to mention that the lumbering beast of a tour bus only gets 6-7 miles to a gallon. At that price it’s no wonder the music industry is all abuzz about how to recuperate rising fuel costs, and some artists are canceling tour dates alltogether! “It’s killing the smaller bands out there,” says Keith Case, whose Keith Case & Associates books such acts as Alison Krauss & Union Station, Ralph Stanley and the Dan Tyminski Band. So far festival and concert ticket prices haven’t risen much to make up for the additional fuel costs, primarily because the ticket rates are set many months in advance and do not take increasing travel expenses into account. So while fans are able to afford the tickets, they’re having to spend more on gas just to get to the shows, which takes a direct hit out of merchandise and concession stand revenues. “That’s a big deal for a lot of midrange bands,” Case says, “and they’re finding that [those sales are] dramatically down. What it feels like to them — at least what they’re reporting to me — is that people are spending so much to go to festivals, as far as fuel costs go, that they are not spending as much at the festivals.” And for those smaller bands, merchandise sales are where the money’s at, so artists are struggling to keeps up with the cost of touring, and choosing instead to stick with local festivals or combining transportation with other bands. Meanwhile sources say that overall festival and concert attendance has only seen a mild impact. Attendance was actually up at Country Stampede in Manhattan, Kan., he noted. Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift headlined that extravaganza. “The organizers of this event tell me that the people they’ve talked to [made the festival] their vacation of the year,” Cunningham said. To find which of your favorite country artists will be playing near you, please visit our sister site, Country Music on Tour.Country Music Photo Gallery

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Welcome Baby Girl!!!

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Congratulations to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on the birth of their first child together! Nicole and Keith Urban the birth of a baby girl this morning in Nashville. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 1/2 ounces. Urban was by Nicole’s side. “Mother and baby are very well,” according to a press release. This is the couple’s first child. Kidman has two other children with her former husband Tom Cruise, Isabella, 15, and Connor, 13.Country Music Photo Gallery

Tim McGraw Almost Fist Fights Fan

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Was Tim McGraw’s rescue effort staged or real? You decide. Tim McGraw fans and media hounds alike are in heaven as this juicy morsel of video was released showing Tim yanking a concert-goer out of the crowd and kicking him out of the show. Claims are that McGraw looked down from the stage and observed a man being abusive to a woman just below him. He didn’t think security was fast enough so he began pulling the man up himself to break up the fight. However, in watching the video I find it odd that the incident occurs and is over with in perfect time with the song. Call me a cynic but to me the entire ordeal seems more staged than Jessica Simpson’s foray into country music. Watch the video and leave your comments below. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiAAIqFOrZE] This incident occurred on Tim McGraw’s Live Your Voice tour. Country Music Photo Gallery

Toby Keith Thanked for Supporting the Troops

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Toby Keith gets recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for his unwavering support of US Military Personnel. “Toby has done so much to show his commitment and appreciation to our nation’s armed forces,” Rep. Tom Cole said. “He has given his time and energy to put on performances for our troops overseas and at home. He has really gone out of his way to support our servicemen and women and their families.” “I appreciate Congressman Cole’s recognition in introducing this resolution,” Toby Keith said. “I have to say that the real glory belongs to those men and women I’ve met who leave their families and put it on the line for the rest of us. Getting to visit with them once a year is the biggest honor for me, and I will continue to encourage other artists and performers to make that USO trip.” Show your support for Toby Keith on the 2008 Big Dog Daddy tour!Country Music Photo Gallery

Faith Hill Finishes Christmas Album

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Faith Hill will be singing “Joy to the World” this fall as her long-awaited holiday album hits store shelves this September. After 2 years in the making and a few minor setbacks (including knee surgery and a bronchial infection) Faith Hill has finally put the finishing touches on a christmas album that was two years in the making. The album, titled “Joy to the World”, will feature holiday classics like “O Holy Night” and “Winter Wonderland” as well as the original single “A Baby Changes Everything” written by Nashville’s own Tim Nichols, Craig Wiseman, and K.K. Wiseman. A big factor in the albums lengthy production was Faith Hill’s determination to make this holiday hit everything she had imagined. This means including The Nashville Orchestra as well as the London-based choirs Metro Voices and The London Oratory School Boys Choir. “I had a very clear vision for the type of Christmas album that I wanted to make,” said Hill. “Indicative of the big band orchestras of the ’40s and ’50s, with a full compliment of horns, stings, woodwinds, percussion and chorales. David’s orchestrations were a gift. They embodied everything that I could have imaged; unique and beautiful, and yet they seem as though they were always intended for these songs.” Here she is referring to David Campbell who has also worked with such greats as Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones. “Joy to the World will release on September 16th 2008, and in the meantime Faith is spending her time with her children while husband Tim McGraw carries on with his “Live your Voice” tour. For Tim McGraw tour dates, as well as updates on upcoming Faith Hill concerts, please visit our partner site, Country Music On Tour.Country Music Photo Gallery