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.

Kenny Chesney May Cancel Keg Tour

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Every year for the past 5 years Kenny Chesney has held what he calls the “Keg in the Closet” pre-tour, but this year he may scrap the whole thing thanks to some nosey net nerds. The tour consists of surprise shows announced only hours ahead of time at bars in smaller college towns prior to each stadium show on his Poets and Pirates tour. His first appearance on this year’s bar run was planned for the Jupiter Bar and Grill in Tuscaloosa Alabama, however someone “hacked” into the bar’s website and somehow found plans to the show. They announced these plans in a comment on the Kenny Chesney website, causing Kenny to re-think the whole idea. “The spirit of this has always been for me and the guys to get out, get a little sloppy, play a bunch of songs we love and have a good time,” Kenny explains. “It’s supposed to be loose, easy and in the moment. But if this kind of craziness is already happening, it means we may have hit the point where we can’t do it anymore. I’d hate that, but these clubs can’t handle that kind of crowding, and I don’t wanna put them through it. It’s a shame. It’s a lot of fun for everybody, and it’s always seemed like the people who didn’t get in were good sports about it.” This would be a terrible shame since the opportunity to see such a big-named artist in such an intimate venue is hard to come by. For Kenny Chesney 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Dolly Parton Pushes Tour Dates – Claims Breasts are the Bother

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Dolly Parton‘s always been famous for her humor, talent and… wits. Well it seems those wits are backfirin on her back. Dolly has now postponed her entire Backwoods Barbie concert tour citing back problems. As always though, she’s upbeat and playful about her predicament. “I know I have been breaking my neck and bending over backwards trying to get my new Backwoods Barbie CD and world tour together, but I didn’t mean to hurt myself doing it,” she said. “But hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don’t have back problems! Seriously though, the doctors said I will be good as new in a few weeks, and I can’t wait to get back out there.” In another statement Dolly Parton jokes about how she thinks of her buxom bosom as belonging to the world at large. “They do seem like public property,” she says in The Sun. “They have served me well. I don’t know if I’m supporting them or they’re supporting me.” Since it will be a while before we’re introduced to what she affectionately refers to as her “Shock and Awe” lets take a moment to enjoy them in her latest video release “Better Get To Livin” [youtube:http://youtube.com/watch?v=H-H5Nr25pLU]   For information on the hottest 2008 country concert tours, dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Brad Paisley – Letter to Me – Hot Country Music Video

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Brad Paisley finally knocked Taylor Swift off the top of the Billboard chart with this amazingly insightful song and video for “Letter to Me” from his current album “5th Gear“. I’d like to encourage my readers to comment below and tell me what one piece of advice you’d give yourself if you could write a letter like Brad describes? [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV6kcFAe0Qk] Also, congratulations are in order for Brad Paisley’s first Grammy win for his live performance of the instrumental “Throttleneck“. I can’t wait for the all instrumental album due out later this year! For Brad Paisley 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Country Music News in a Flash: Little Paisley’s First Step, Craig Morgan Leaves Broken Bow Records, and Underwood Makes Idol Proud

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Brad Paisley may have won the first Grammy award of his career on Sunday night, honoring his instrumental “Throttleneck.” But Brad had more important things to celebrate: He’d just witnessed his son, William Huckleberry Paisley, taking his very first steps! “Fatherhood is amazing,” he told Access Hollywood on the red carpet. “He’s basically walking as of [Saturday]. It’s the Otis Campbell of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ walk: Every day it’s different.” Little Paisley will celebrate his first birthday February 22nd and certainly will have many more milestones to come! Craig Morgan Has chosen to leave Broken Bow Records, although the reason is not yet clear. Craig first signed with Broken Bow in 2000 and has since produced hits like “Redneck Yacht Club”, “International Harvester” and “Little Bit Of Life”. Carrie Underwood‘s Grammy performance seemed to cause a spike in record sales pushing her to sales of “Some Hearts” to6.26 million after she sang her hit “Before He Cheats” on the nationally televised awards ceremony. This makes her the top selling American Idol to date! Carrie is currently touring with Keith Urban on the “Love Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride” tour. That’s it for today’s news, but keep in touch… there’s always more where this came from! For information on the hottest 2008 country concert tours, dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Brad Paisley – Country Artist of the Week

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Quite possibly the best guitar player on modern radio, Brad Paisley is definitely my favorite country star of today. Brad is a witty lyricist and a hell of a singer, and has a way with the fans that is seldom seen. From his fairly interactive blog to his abundance of meet and greets for each concert, he is a fan favorite. In an interview with NPR Radio, Brad talks about how his grandfather got him started playing the guitar. His grandfather, who worked the night shift on the railroad, urged him to play the guitar at a young age. He gave Brad his first guitar when he was eight years old. At first he was resistant saying “I kind of fought it for a while because at eight, you want to play sports or do anything other than something that hurts your hand. But the thing that kept me going was knowing how bad he wanted me to do that. How bad he wanted me to be a player. Because I think he enjoyed it so much I think he wanted me to be able to have that in my life… he changed my life in a way that no one ever will be able to again. His advice to me was, ‘Anything that’s going wrong in your life, you can pick this guitar up and it’ll go away.’” To start our week, let’s watch some classic Brad Paisley and say a thanks to his grandpappy for the gift he’s given us fans! This is “Nervous Breakdown” from his album “Time Well Wasted” which peaked on the Billboard Top Country Album charts at #1, and Top 200 Album (in all genres) at #2 in 2005. Brad is currently enjoying his recent win of “Best Country Instrumental Performance” for “Throttleneck” off his most recent album “5th Gear“. For Brad Paisley 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Taylor Swift Talks About Her Next Album

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While Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut is still riding the number one spot on the Billboard charts, she’s already got her mind on her next album! “I look at my favorite artists and how I feel when they put out a new album, like Garth Brooks or Tim McGraw,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “It still has so many things about the reasons I love that artist, but there’s new material. I’m not going to throw anybody for a loop or try to change my sound or be edgier. I’ve aged two years, and I’ve been writing for the past two years, and I really think there won’t be any fans who feel like I’ve tried to desert who I am.” “When she writes her songs, she hears them in her head,” producer Nathan Chapman said, “and she knows where she wants the mandolin to come in, or what guitar lick should be there.” “Obviously,” she said, “creative control is the most important thing for me, or I wouldn’t have left the biggest label in Nashville for a label that didn’t have any furniture.” So on that note, we close out our week-long look at Taylor Swift, and wish her the best on her current tour with Rascal Flatts. For Taylor Swift 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Hot Country Music Video: Taylor Swift – Our Song

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Taylor Swift has been riding high for the last year off the phenomenal success of her debut self-titled album. Breaking into the country music radio rotation with her hit single “Tim McGraw” in the fall of 2006, there certainly shouldn’t be any teardrops on her guitar. With her debut album still number one on the Billboard Country Album charts, it’s easy to see why Taylor Swift has captured the world with her voice. Taylor recently received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist Here’s Taylor Swift with “Our Song“. Be sure to catch her at the upcoming Stagecoach Music Festival and stay tuned for details on her upcoming August concert tour! For Taylor Swift 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Country Music News in a Flash: Wrecker Jessica Harp Marries, Tim McGraw Gets Suspicious, Carrie Underwood goes All American

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Tim McGraw released his new video for the song “Suspicions” using live footage from the Soul2Soul2 concert. I love the stage effects but otherwise I’m not a fan of the song or his rendition of it. Suspicions was originally recorded by Eddie Rabbit in 1979 and reached #1 on the Billboard charts. Somehow I don’t see the same success for Tim on this number. Watch the video and tell me what you think. The Wreckers‘ Jessica Harp celebrates this lover’s season by tying the knot in an intimate candle-lit ceremony to band-mate, boyfriend, and violinist extraordinaire Jason Mowery. Jessica and fellow Wrecker Michelle Branch each plan to release their own solo albums later this year. Carrie Underwood breaks records as she goes through about 20 costume changes in her new video for “All American Girl” that was recently released. Carrie is also celebrating the record-breaking double platinum Digital Single status for “Before He Cheats“, and having a blast on tour with Keith Urban. Click Here To See Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood’s 2008 Concert Tour Schedule. For information on the hottest 2008 country concert tours, dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Country Artist of the week – Taylor Swift

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This week we begin showcasing our artist of the week by taking a closer look at that little blonde sweetheart, Taylor Swift. We all know she’s busted through the billboard charts over the last year with songs like “Tim McGraw“, “Teardrops on my Guitar“, and of course her current hit, “Our Song“. Now here’s a few things you may not have known: Did you know that Taylor Swift was signed to her first record deal before she ever got her driving license? “I can drive in a straight line and turn,” admitted Taylor, “But I don’t like arrows and lines. And I don’t like stop signs. The whole bigger car rule definitely applies when I drive.” Taylor’s first “big time” break was when the manager of Britney Spears team caught her performance of the national anthem at a U.S. Open tournament and brought her aboard. Soon after she would find herself featured as a rising star in an Abercrombie & Fitch campaign. About that lovely mane, Taylor says: “I will never straighten my hair to impress a guy ever again.” Taylor gets her stylish cowboy boots from Liberty Boot Co. Liberty has served a lot of famous feet including Kid Rock, Hillary Duff, and Avril Lavigne. Taylors response when asked her thoughts on Sushi: “Ha! I’ve been trying so hard to like sushi.. It’s trendy. I’m trying, but it’s not going so well so far. I love Japanese food, but I’m not into sushi so far.. yet. “ Stay tuned throughout the rest of the week for more on Taylor Swift! For Taylor Swift 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Classic Country Star of the Week: Chet Atkins

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“Years from now, after I’m gone someone will listen to what I’ve done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they’ll hear my guitars speaking for me.” -Chet Atkins Chet Atkins has often been credited with being “one of the key architects of the Nashville Sound“. His influence extends from the country-music realm into rock and roll, as well. As a studio musician, he appeared on records by Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, and countless country musicians. Atkins thumb-and-fingerpicking style influenced George Harrison, Duane Eddy, the Ventures, Eddie Cochran, Eric Clapton and Mark Knopfler, as well as innumerable country pickers. Even the likes of Ted Nugent has credited Atkins with inspiring him to take up the instrument. Some of his best work was particularly his collaborations with Les Paul (“Chester and Lester”) and Merle Travis from the mid-70s. Atkins received numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993), and nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards. Billboard Magazine awarded him their Century Award, their “highest honor for distinguished creative achievement”, in December 1997. In 2002, Atkins was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Fame. His award was presented by Marty Stuart and Brian Setzer and accepted by Atkin’s Grandson, Jonathan Russell. The following year, Atkins ranked #28 in CMT’s 40 Greatest Men of Country Music. Chet passed away at 76 very full years following a long struggle with cancer, but his memory, influence and music live on. Country Music Photo Gallery