Josh Turner Surprises Scotty McCreery

Josh Turner Stops By For Duet with Scotty McCreery. Josh Turner paid a special visit to American Idol contestant Scotty McCreery during his finalist celebration. Taking place in McCreery’s hometown of Garner, N.C., this included a special concert in front of over 30,000 fans. McCreery’s “gold ticket” audition song which carried him through much of the American Idol competition was Josh Turner’s “Your Man“, and just as McCreery was beginning to perform the song for his fans, Josh Tuner appeared on stage very nearly giving McCreery a heart attack. Josh and Scotty then performed “Your Man” together on stage to the delight of all the fans present. McCreery has received much attention throughout the competition, and honestly, his performances, at least as far as his stage presence is concerned, have improved. However, it remains that Scotty simply is not an original talent. He is a copy, either intentionally or by accident, of Josh Turner. The surprise visit by Josh was incredibly generous, and it is nice to see a country star put his weight behind a newcomer. Yet, it is painfully obvious just how similar Scotty’s voice is to Josh’s when you hear them sing together. It is actually difficult to tell that their are two people, not one, singing. Originality is important, and Scotty, up to this point, just has not proved he has it in him. It seems America is a fan of Scotty McCreery, and that he will continue to have success on or off idol. I will probably just go straight to the source though, and stick with Josh Turner. The episode of American Idol featuring footage of the duet will air Thursday, May 19th, and you can see what I mean then.

Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors Returns

“Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors” Season Two Coming Soon! Craig Morgan and Outdoor Channel have teamed up to give the hunting viewers what they want! After a very successful first season the hit reality show will return to television for the premier on June 25. The Saturday morning show will have 13 new episodes that give an inside look at Morgan’s travels with his crew as they cover North America looking to have a great time while scoring some great game! Other country artists, motocross stars and pro-athletes will join Morgan on each episode to try their luck in the woods as well as give viewers a few laughs. The captivating show is sure to give a “wish you were there” feeling for all hunters and country music fans alike! Be sure to watch Saturday mornings at 11 am (EST) on Outdoor Channel!

President Obama Joins CMT Disaster Efforts

President Obama Offers Call to Action on CMT’s Music Builds: CMT The Disaster Relief Concert. President Obama will be offering a special call to action during CMT’s Music Builds: CMT The Disaster Relief Concert which airs live tonight at 9pm on CMT and cmt.com. The President will be urging citizens to get involved with relief efforts for those coping with the aftermath of the recent storms. Additionally, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Shania Twain will also be lending their voices to urge people to provide aid in any way they can. This fund raising event was originally initiated by Hank Williams Jr., and over the last week it has grown to larger and larger proportions. The 90-minute live special will highlight a number of regions affected by recent storm, tornado and flooding damage including Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Ala.; Natchez and Vicksburg, Miss.; Vidalia, La.; Memphis, Dyersburg and Tiptonville, Tenn.; and Raleigh, N.C., as well as others. This show will be live out of Nashville without a studio audience and performances will include Hank Williams Jr., Lady Antebellum, Ronnie Dunn, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Gretchen Wilson. The show will be co-hosted by ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, HLN anchor Robin Meade and comedian Ron White. If you miss the concert tonight it will be re-aired on Sunday, May 15th at 9pm ET/PT CMT One Country, the network’s pro-social initiative, encourages viewers to support those affected by the storms by visiting the American Red Cross website, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Honky Tonk TV’s Take on Everything Country

The Latest Episode of Honky Tonk TV Has Plenty of Info for Country Fans. There’s lots of fun stuff in the latest episode of Honky Tonk TV! This week features a special look at trio Eden’s Edge, the inside scoop on Margaret Durante, the low down on Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert and Julianne Hough. Also in the mix are videos from David Nail, The Dirt Drifters and Sugarland. If that’s not enough the crew catches up on Taylor Swift’s latest stats, and take a little time to rewind with Julie Roberts. Check it out now. You can get more of Honky Tonk TV by clicking here.

Wynonna’s New Single “Love It Out Loud”

Wynonna Judd Releases New Single “Love It Out Loud”. Wynonna Judd has released a new single “Love It Out Loud“, and it is now available on iTunes just in time for Mother’s Day. She co-wrote the song with boyfriend Cactus Moser as a tribute to mother, Naomi, and all the love and affection she has for her. The single was a surprise, and Wynonna performed it for Naomi at the final show of their tour in Phoenix, AZ. You can catch this performance on the season finale of “The Judds” which airs Sunday 10pm ET/PT, May 8th on OWN and highlights the end of their tour and how they cope with it. An added bonus for fans, Wynonna and Naomi will be joining the live chat at 10/9c for the first time. They will be sharing behind the scenes info and commentary. So, be sure to tune in! For more info on the show click here.

CMT Hosts Disaster Relief Concert

CMT Hosts All-Star Disaster Relief Concert to Raise Funds for Victims CMT will be hosting a disaster relief concert next Thursday, May 12th in an effort to raise funds for the victims of the recent storms, floods and tornadoes impacting the U.S. All money raised will go to the American Red Cross. Hank Williams Jr. who initiated the concert last weekend seeking CMT for help will be involved in the concert and other notable guests include Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum, Ronnie Dunn, Alabama, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. “I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing on TV. Alabama is home — I am really pumped about helping. I want to raise lot of money, and thanks to my good friends, we are going to be able to make a difference.” -Hank Williams Jr. The concert will air live out of Nashville at 9pm ET/PT on CMT and will also be streaming on cmt.com, so you can check it out and get involved with these relief efforts! CMT One Country, the network’s pro-social initiative, encourages viewers to support those affected by the storms, flooding and tornadoes. Viewers can get involved by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation to support the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts.

2011 CMT Music Awards Nominees

Complete List of CMT Music Awards Nominees Announced! Nominees for the 2011 CMT Music Awards were announced this morning April 27th, on NBC’s the Today show. Nominations were revealed in a segment featuring CMT host Evan Farmer and Today co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. The Band Perry also performed on the show. Jason Aldean is dominating so far with a total of four nominations. Other notables with multiple nominations include: Mranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood. You can vote now!! Online fan voting in all 10 categories is now open at CMT.com through June 7. The show will take place in Nashville on June 8 and will air on CMT and cmt.com. Stay tuned to find out who will be performing! A complete list of nominees is featured below: Video of the Year Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party” Kenny Chesney – “The Boys of Fall” Lady Antebellum – “Hello World” Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me” Rascal Flatts – “Why Wait” Sugarland – “Stuck Like Glue” Taylor Swift – “Mine” The Band Perry – “If I Die Young” Carrie Underwood – “Undo It” Zac Brown Band – “Colder Weather” Male Video of the Year Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party” Kenny Chesney – “The Boys of Fall” Tobey Keith – “Bullets in the Gun” Blake Shelton – “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” Keith Urban – “Without You” Female Video of the Year Sara Evans – “A Little Bit Stronger” Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me” Reba McEntire – “Turn On the Radio” Taylor Swift – “Mine” Carrie Underwood – “Undo It” Group Video of the Year Lady Antebellum – “Hello World” Little Big Town – “Little White Church” Rascal Flatts – “Why Wait” The Band Perry – “If I Die Young” Zac Brown Band – “Colder Weather” Duo Video of the Year Steel Magnolia – “Last Night Again” Sugarland – “Stuck Like Glue” The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow” The JaneDear Girls – “Wildflower” Thompson Square – “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year Lee Brice – “Love Like Crazy” Aaron Lewis – “Country Boy” Jerrod Niemann – “Lover, Lover” The Band Perry – “If I Die Young” Thompson Square – “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” Collaborative Video of the Year Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson – “Don’t You Wanna Stay” Justin Bieber featuring Rascal Flatts – “That Should Be Me” Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow – “Collide” Aaron Lewis featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels – “Country Boy” Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow – “Coal Miner’s Daughter” CMT Performance of the Year (musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT) Martina McBride and Train – “A Broken Wing” from CMT Crossroads: Train and Martina McBride Reba McEntire – “If I Were a Boy” from Unplugged: Reba Darius Rucker and Adele – “Need You Now” Continue reading 2011 CMT Music Awards Nominees

American Idol: Lauren Alaina VS Scotty McCreery

American Idol’s Country Singers: Lauren Alaina versus Scotty McCreery Okay, American Idol fans, tonight is elimination night and one more contestant will be out of the running. There are still seven talented individuals in it to win it, but let’s be on honest, there are only two we really care about around here: Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery. Both are country, both have been kept in by fans up until this point, and both are loved by the judges, so who would it be saddest to lose tonight? It’s a good question, and in my mind, there’s a very simple answer: Lauren. I’m sure there are those who would disagree, but because of her talent and lovableness, Alaina is my pick for winnner! It isn’t that Scotty is devoid of talent, I just think that in comparison to Alaina, Lauren is more of the “whole package” that McCreery is. Lauren has a brighter and more engaging stage presence. She sings, and you get lost in her performance. She absolutely gives it her all, and her personality shines through every single time. Scotty, on the other hand, doesn’t do much more than sway on stage. Lauren has plenty of confidence while also being relatable. Scotty also possesses confidence, but to me he come across as more smug than down to earth. A good way to gauge the divide between Lauren and Scotty is by seeing them sing together. Check out their duet here. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54MSEjXH4ek&feature=related] So, if it came down to Lauren Alaina versus Scotty McCreery, I hope Lauren stays. Still on the fence? You can always catch them touring live this summer with American Idol Live. Click here for ticket info.

Miranda Lambert’s Pistol Annies

Miranda Lambert’s New All Girl Trio: Pistol Annies. Miranda Lambert spoke openly earlier this month about her venture: an all girl trio! The Pistol Annies features Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe, and they will have their debut performance on CBS, Friday April 22nd on ACM’s Girls’ Night Out television special. Not to fret Miranda fans, she will not be abandoning her solo career, but will simply be adding to it! Miranda is fulfilling the desire to work with an all girl group while channeling some excess creative energy! “They’re both artists on their own and they’re great friends of mine. We’ve just been writing songs like crazy, and I always wanted to do a girl project. It’s not your typical girl trio. We definitely have an edge. [laughs] We sing a lot about housewives.” Miranda Lambert Be sure to check out Girls’ Night Out, and keep you’re ears open for more news about Lambert’s Pistol Annies!

ACM’s Girls’ Night Out on CBS

Top Female Country Artists to Preform on ACM Girls’ Night Out! Top female country artists give a not to be missed show on CBS Friday, April 22nd at 9 PM ET/PT, 7 Central! ACM’s Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country will feature Jennifer Nettles, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and The Judds. The ladies will be joined by special guests that will take this show above and beyond. Ronnie Dunn will join Jennifer Nettles, the soon to be married Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will share the stage, Rascal Flatts rocks with Reba, Little Big Town and Martina McBride collaborate, Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood light up the stage, and the rock legend John Fogerty will join The Judds. Miranda Lambert will also introduce her upcoming female group Pistol Annie. Each woman will be honored for an achievement from their career. An additional honoree will be the great Loretta Lynn recognizing her 50-year career. Be sure to tune in, this is something you won’t want to miss!