Category Archives: Featured

Posts in the Featured Category will display in the top-slide and lead article in the new theme.

I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool

Posted on by

Blog Rodeo March 2013: Is The Love That Country Music Is Feeling The Real Deal? Or Will It Be Gone Before You Can Say Gaucho Pants? I consider country music to be one of the staples in my life. I grew up on the lyrics and have never been afraid to show my support in front of large crowds of strangers. As cliché as it sounds, I feel a real connection with Barbara Mandrell’s famous words, “I was country, when country wasn’t cool.” The topic for this month’s Country Music Blog Rodeo is “why is the mainstream in love with country music?” Well, for the most part I think people like to jump on the latest trend train and make sure everybody knows they have a first-class, window seat! We all know someone who bought skinny jeans and bubble necklaces in every color. Maybe you know a girl who proudly displays a bright pink browning sticker on her vehicle, yet she has never spent a minute in a deer stand. There are plenty of examples I could throw your way, but you get my point. If the “man” is telling them one thing is all the rage, then they’ll be the first on their block with that particular item. The Voice introduced countless people to Blake Shelton, Oklahoma’s own outspoken troubadour, and opened the doors wide open to display the country scene. I’m not saying it’s impossible that someone, who once was only a fan of Rap music would never hear of Shelton, but I will say that it was a pretty good chance. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s bad for country music to gain new fans…heck bring them all…but only those who are truly connecting to the music will last. In my opinion, those are the only ones you can call “fans.” Some things I know, you aren’t a cowboy/cowgirl just because you grew up in Texas, you aren’t an expert on country music because you have two Brad Paisley CD’s and a Shania Twain cassette tape, and I’m not a hillbilly because I live in Arkansas. No matter what TV show is or isn’t getting a high rating, my love for country music isn’t going anywhere. Blog Rodeo Roundup: See What Everyone Else Is Saying! CMchatLive: “Insight from Country Stars like Scotty McCreery, Sunny Sweeney, Tracy Lawrence and more!“ Urban Country News : “Why Country Music Is Like the Zombie Apocalypse“, “A Love Affair For The Ages“ For The Country Record: “TV and Nashille: It’s Merits and Implications for Country Music“ UKCountryMusic: “Is Country Music About To Be Mainstream In The UK?“ Country Music Tattle Tale: “For The Love of Country Music“ Country Music Pride: “Country Music Has A Little Something For Everyone, Traditional, Pop, Americana and More“ Keepin’ It Country Blog: “Everyone Loves Country Music“ Focus On The 615: “The Mainstream Hasn’t Fallen In Love with Country, Just The Opposite,” “Remember When Country Wasn’t So Cool?“ Country Music News Blog: “The Mainstream Has Fallen Continue reading I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool→

Gwen Sebastian Rocking New Single Annie’s New Gun

Posted on by

Gwen Sebastian’s Annie’s New Gun Is A Sassy Rocking Good Time. Gwen Sebastian has a voice that is raw with emotion, powerful in range and is guaranteed to grab your attention on first listen. You probably know her from her stint on NBC’s The Voice, and subsequently from her on going professional collaborations with Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Soon enough though, with an upcoming album release this summer, folks will know Gwen for her talent alone, and her new single, “Annie’s New Gun,” is proof positive of just that. This track is everything that I love about women in country music. Strong, take charge lyrics matched equally with sassy, energetic delivery showcasing Gwen’s undeniable talent. It’s easy to see why she fits so well in the Lambert/Shelton wheelhouse of country. Take a listen below, and be sure to catch up with Sebastian on Twitter! Listen! Gwen Sebastian “Annie’s New Gun.”

2013 ACM Awards Winners: Special Awards

Posted on by

Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and More Win Off Camera Awards for 2013 ACMs. If awards shows, like the ACMs, gave out every trophy for every category live, we would be sitting in front of the TV for a whole lot longer than three hours (who can do that?). So, every show, for the most part, will announce “off camera” winners usually ahead of the air date, sometimes after or the day of. Well, the Academy of Country Music released Friday (March 22nd) the list of artists who earned nods in the “special awards” categories. These were voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are apparently only bestowed when this board considers artists to be particularly deserving. Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award, honoring individuals who are pioneers in the genre: Keith Whitley and The Judds Crystal Milestone Award, given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement Jason Aldean Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement, Blake Shelton Jim Reeves International Award, presented to an artist for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world, Lady Antebellum Mae Boren Axton Award, which is given in recognition of years of dedication and service by an outstanding individual to the Academy of Country Music, Tommy Wiggins Poet’s Award, honors songwriters for outstanding musical and/or lyrical contributions throughout their careers, Guy Clark and Hank Williams To read more about past winners, and the “special awards” go here. The 48th Annual ACM Awards will air LIVE from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 8th and will be hosting by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan!

Rascal Flatts Live and Loud 2013 Summer Tour

Posted on by

Rascal Flatts Announce Brand New Live and Loud Tour for Summer 2013! Rascal Flatts fans get ready because this country group, who just wrapped their Changed Tour in early March 2012, have announced that they will be heading out again for the summer with the Live & Loud 2013 Summer Tour! The tour will be making stops in 34 different cities and will kick off on May 31st. They’ll be joined by special guests The Band Perry and The Voice Season 3 winner Cassadee Pope. Rascal Flatts is currently nominated for an ACM Award for Vocal Event of the Year for their collaboration on “Easy” with Natasha Bedingfield.

Dolly Parton: What She Taught Me About Being A Woman

Posted on by

Dolly Parton and Everything She Taught Me About Being A Woman! I’ve learned a lot from Dolly Parton. As a woman, I don’t think I’m alone in searching for a role model who accurately represents my own struggles and my sense of overwhelming ambition to escape the confines of a life unsatisfied. Dolly’s ‘rags to riches’ life certainly seems to fit that mold, and you’d be hard pressed to find an interview or public appearance where she doesn’t mention it in addition to its influence in a great deal of her songs. Dolly as a Model of Success. While I haven’t had a personal interaction with the rural experience that Dolly describes, she has been inspiring to me in the motivation to find your way out of a difficult situation, and to want to strive for better. She worked extremely hard to get where she is today, and as someone who was unhappy where I began in life, I find her example very powerful. To view the things she has achieved in comparison to her origins, why should I, with a better start in life than her, not become successful? Dolly as a Star On Her Own Terms. In addition, she has been able to become a global star, be accepted by Nashville but also by legions of fans of other genres, and at times transcend the limitations of country, where perhaps it might have negative perceptions, for example the UK. She has been able to do exactly what she wants, and never appears to have gone by a rule book. I mean, she left a national syndicated television show at the height of its success, only to write one of the biggest selling songs in music about it, become a movie star in her own right and then open a hugely successful theme park. I could list all her crazy achievements here but I might just go beyond my word limit. Dolly as a Rule Breaker. So she has taught me you don’t have to follow the rules, and that brings me to my main point – Dolly taught me so much about being a woman. The thing that’s so remarkable about her success, particularly as a businesswoman, is that she is a woman. To have managed that during the 1970s and 1980s when women were still burning their bras and feminist scholars were abstaining from sex in protest, Dolly dressed up like a small town prostitute and became one of the most respected women in the industry. It is this that taught me the most. Dolly exploited the male perception of female beauty, by exaggerating it, mocking it, and taking the power into her own hands. On the one hand she was selling herself as a sex symbol, yet at the same time shifting the power from men to women and exposing the farce of expectations of female beauty for what it really was. Feminist is perhaps seen as an ugly word (although it shouldn’t be), but Dolly Continue reading Dolly Parton: What She Taught Me About Being A Woman→

Ben Wells Untuck Ya Shirt Tour 2013

Posted on by

Ben Wells Lets Loose and Hits the Road with Untuck Ya Shirt 2013 Tour! Ben Wells, and his rock and roll country vibe, jumped on our radar last fall with his debut his self-titled album and his party friendly single “Get Down.” Leading up to his release, he spent a fair bit of time “on the road” in 2012, and now he’s ready to announce his very first independent concert series, the Untuck Ya Shirt 2013 Tour. He’ll be kicking things off on June 12th and cover 11 nights, 9 cities, 7 states through June 22nd! 2013 Untuck Ya Shirt Tour Dates: June 12 – Valdosta, GA – Milltown Groove June 13 – Atlanta, GA – Peachtree Tavern June 14 – Myrtle Beach, SC – The Boathouse June 15 – Raleigh, NC – Longbranch June 18 – Nashville, TN – 12th & Porter June 19 – Louisville, KY – Tin Roof June 20 – Sullivan, MO – Bliss June 21 – Birmingham, AL – The North Tavern June 22 – Valdosta, GA – Bluewater If you haven’t taken a listen to this talented young artist yet be sure to check out his album, and look him up on Twitter!

Jiggley Jones Baby Blue Music Video

Posted on by

Alt Country Artist Jiggley Jones Releases Music Video for Single Baby Blue. Jiggley Jones has a unique sound that is reminiscent of the alt rock we heard come out of the nineties with just a little bit of twang mixed in here and there. His music isn’t exactly what I would call easily classified, and current single “Baby Blue” is featured on Jones’ EP No Spring Chicken which features four tracks that all seem to offer a different side of this new on the scene artist. While I am not over the moon crazy about the new video, shaky editing and overly dramatic effects detract from the quality of the song, I think there is some real potential in the honesty and heartfelt, almost raw, emotion in the lyrics on his tracks. Take a couple minutes to check out the video below, listen to the single, and let us know what you think. If you want more, you can find Jiggley Jones on Twitter! Watch Jiggley Jones New Video for “Baby Blue.”

Jason Aldean 1994 Music Video

Posted on by

Jason Aldean Premieres 1994 Official Music Video. Jason Aldean debuted his new music video for “1994” exclusively on Entertainment Tonight yesterday (Wednesday, March 20th). Further channeling his “rap” side, Jason does a lot of slow talking in this single especially in the open of the song, and overall it has a really addictive rock vibe. While the video is a lot of fun featuring cameos from Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Hayden Panettiere and others, there’s a lot more daisy duke clad booty shaking than I expected and even a little break dancing mixed in there. It’s a modern and fresh track, but it’s interesting to me that while it’s an homage to Joe Diffie, except for the lyrical references, it couldn’t be less in line with Diffie’s brand of country. In a way, Aldean’s “1994” encapsulates where country was, where it is now and possibly where it is headed as a genre. Take a look below, and let me know what you think. Jason Aldean “1994” Official Music Video.

Florida Georgia Line Remix Cruise with Nelly

Posted on by

Florida Georgia Line Team Up with Rapper Nelly to Remix Hit Song Cruise. Florida Georgia Line rocketed onto the country scene with their now double platinum, multi-week #1 single “Cruise,” and followed that up with the equally popular “Get Your Shine On,” which hit 15 on the charts already and continues to climb. The new country duo is taking things to the next level with “Cruise” by teaming up with rapper Nelly for a remix loosely scheduled to debut sometime this Spring. Both halves of FGL  are very excited about the upcoming collaboration. “When we caught wind that Nelly was a fan of ‘Cruise,’ we were floored. We’ve been fans of his music for years and thought it would be cool to team up on a remix.” -Brian Kelley “Nelly really brought a fresh, unique sound to ‘Cruise’ and we’re super excited for our fans to hear!” -Tyler Hubbard You can hear a “hint” of the remix in Nelly’s recent video for “Hey Porche” which I’ve included for you below. Spoiler, its at the very, very end of the video. So, if for some strange reason you can’t make it through the whole song, just skip to last couple of seconds.  Check it out, and be sure to tell me what you think in the comments below. Next up, FGL will be helping kick off the Outnumber Hunger Live! benefit concert which will air on AXS TV. You can also catch them live from Las Vegas at the 2013 ACM Awards on Sunday, April 7th as the duo is nominated for ACM Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year. Florida Georgia Line Nelly Remix Sneak Peak.

Wynonna Judd Is Back with a Bang

Posted on by

Wynonna Judd Takes On 2013 with New Music, New Shows and More! Wynonna Judd has had her share of trials and tribulations over the years, but this is one woman that just can’t be held down for long. In true form, this country icon is taking on 2013 with lots of new developments including new music, a feature documentary, and a spot on popularity reality TV hit Dancing with the Stars! “I focused on being a wife and a nurse for the last seven months and now I’m doing something for myself. The main word for me this year is ‘risk.’ I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and doing something that a lot of people tell me is crazy—but they get it.” -Wynonna She and husband Cactus Moser experienced tragedy shortly after their wedding when Moser was involved in a motorcycle accident and subsequently had to have his leg amputated. The couple’s story is the subject of the hour long documentary, “Wynonna and Cactus: The Road Back,” which aired on GAC on Monday, March 18th. Also on Monday, Wynonna’s new single, “Something You Can’t Live Without,” which will be featured on her Moser produced upcoming album was sent to country radio and is available on iTunes! As if that’s not enough though, she debuted on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars with a cha cha routine, and did a pretty good job! One thing is for sure, this Judd has enough energy and charisma to really be a stand out on the show! We love Wynonna around here at CMNB headquarters, and we are anxiously anticipating her new album and can’t wait to see how she does on DWTS!