Chris Young Sells Out Billy Bob’s Ft. Worth

Chris Young Finds Out How Big The Crowds Are In Texas! Chris Young had a sold out performance on New Year’s Eve at Billy Bob’s in Ft. Worth, Texas. With close to 6,000 tickets sold, this was Young’s biggest headlining show to date! “Chris Young’s high energy performance in front of a sold out crowd was among the best New Year’s Eve shows in Billy Bob’s Texas History. It was perfect to close 2011 with the talent and optimism of a star that has such an unlimited future ahead of him. We are already looking forward to his return to Billy Bob’s.” -Venue President, Concho Minick Young’s massive success in the region has sparked other big dates as he is set for headlining shows at the San Antonio rodeo with more dates to be announced in the coming weeks! Young is also the special guest on Miranda Lambert’s “On Fire” tour, beginning January 12th in Rockford, IL. “You” is Young’s current single from his album NEON. The hit is in the Top 10 and rising!

Norah Jones Releases Country Album

Norah Jones’ Side Project The Little Willies Release Album of Country Covers Norah Jones is know for her soulful voice and music as a jazz/pop artist. However, she is releasing a second album titled For The Good Times of country covers with side project, The Little Willies. The group first got together in 2003, and now includes Norah on piano/vocals, Richard Julian on vocals, Jim Campilongo on guitar, Lee Alexander on bass, and Dan Rieser on drums. This is the follow up to their first album, The Little Willies. The track listing includes covers of several of the iconic classics like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and, of course, Willie Nelson. The band is in fact named after Nelson, as he was one of her childhood favorites! You’ll find a complete track listing below, and be sure to check out what promises to be an intriguing album! I know I’m curious to hear their rendition of “Jolene“! For The Good Times releases Tuesday, January 10th and is currently available for pre-order. For The Good Times, Complete Track Listing 1. I Worship You 2. Remember Me 3. Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves 4. Lovesick Blues 5. Tommy Rockwood 6. First City 7. Permanently Lonely 8. Foul Owl On The Prowl 9. Wide Open Road 10. For The Good Times 11. If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Times 12. Jolene 13. Pennies On The Floor (Bonus Track)

Lauren Alaina Releases New Video

Lauren Alaina Debuts New Video for Single “Georgia Peaches”. Lauren Alaina is set to release her video for her single “Georgia Peaches” this Friday, January 6th. The video will release on CMT at 8am ET/PT and will feature a 15 minute behind-the-scenes peak of the shoot. The video debut will also include an interview with Alaina! Lauren will be kicking off her tour with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan on January 20th in Greenville, SC. In the meantime, watch Alaina’s performance of “Georgia Peaches” from NYE! (This young lady sure knows how to work a crowd!) [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJxdgQf1rYs#!]

NRA Country Artist Of The Month

Trace Adkins Announced As NRA Country January Artist Of The Month! January’s NRA Country Artist of the Month is Trace Adkins! The month-long promotion gives fans the opportunity to check out a never before seen, behind the scenes look at a recent photo shoot on his personal farm near Nashville. The exclusive video can be seen here! In addition to the video, fans can register to win a NRA Country prize pack, including a hat and t-shirt of choice! Click HERE from now through the end of January to register to win! “I grew up in the Sportsman’s Paradise – Louisiana, so I guess it isn’t a surprise that the great outdoors has always been a big part of my life. All my favorite memories involve the outdoors – whether it was playing outside as a kid, playing football in college, goofing around with my kids, or going hunting. I support NRA Country because they share my love of the outdoors and my wish to safeguard America’s hunting heritage. I am Trace Adkins and I am NRA Country.” Fans can also catch Trace at the 2nd Annual NRA Country Jam on April 13th, during the NRA Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Tickets will be on sale soon, just visit NRACountry.com for more information. For those of you wanting to see Trace in concert and do your part to help charities at the same time you are in luck! Great tickets and VIP Charity Packages are available exclusively at NRACountry.com to benefit NRA Country Cares, working to help charities supporting our military, American farmers, firearm safety and other important causes. Click HERE for more information!

Tim McGraw Emotional Traffic Releases January 24

Tim McGraw’s Long-Awaited Emotional Traffic Will Release January 2012! After a long court battle which was partially resolved in November, Tim McGraw and Curb Records have set a release date for the long-awaited Emotional Traffic album, and fans can expect it to be available January 24th. The album features 12 tracks including latest #1 hit, “Felt Good On My Lips” and his current single, “Better Than I Used To Be”. The entire album was co-produced by McGraw along with Byron Gilmore, and McGraw also co-wrote, “I Will Not Fall Down” with Martina McBride and Brett and Brad Warren. Interestingly, R&B star Ne-Yo is thrown into the mix somehow featured on the “Only Human” track. All in all, we’ve been really curious about this album for awhile, and with these new details the curiosity is only growing! Emotional Traffic Complete Track Listing 1. Halo 2. Right Back Actha Babe 3. One Part, Two Part 4. I Will Not Fall Down 5. The One 6. Better Than I Used To Be 7. Touchdown Jesus 8. The One That Got Away 9. Felt Good On My Lips 10. Hey Now 11. Only Human 12. Die By My Own Hand

Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival 2012

Details on the 2012 Festival Showcasing Bluegrass and Blues! The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival is in its fourth year, and for the 2012 round of performances they are going to need more than just one weekend. Festival organizers have expanded the festivities to include an additional weekend in January. There will be a line-up of amazing performances on Saturday, January 21st and a second line-up of equally amazing performances on Saturday, January 28th. You can find details on both line-ups below! Tickets for the 21st run between $39.50 and $59.50. Tickets for the 28th are going for $35-$45. Saturday, January 21st, 2012 “Big Mon Jam” feat. the Del McCoury Band & David Grisman The Bluegrass Ball feat. The Travelin’ McCourys, Bill Nershi of String Cheese Incident, and Jeff Austin of Yonder Mountain String Band Additional Full Sets Include Del McCoury Band David Grisman Quintet Joe Purdy The Giving Tree Band Henhouse Prowlers Majors Junction Saturday, January 28th, 2012 Drive-By Truckers Dawes Joe Pug Van Ghost Bailiff Jaik Willis The Shams Band Great Divide Jon Drake & The Shakes Ben Ripani Music Co. Go Long Mule The Future Laureates Band Called Catch Michele McGuire Paper Thick Walls

Yonder Mountain String Band Cabin Fever Tour

Details On Neo-Bluegrass Group, Yonder Mountain String Band, 2012 Tour! Yonder Mountain String Band will be kicking off 2012 with their Cabin Fever Tour! The neo-bluegrass group will be hitting spots from the Gulf to Appalachia to the Midwest between February and March. So, chances are they are coming somewhere close to you! For a complete list of tour dates, see below! Beyond tackling their Cabin Fever Tour YMSB is also finishing up an album to release later this year! Their current album, The Show is currently available. Yonder Mountain String Band 2012 Cabin Fever Tour Dates 12.27.2011: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater 12.28.2011: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater 12.29.2011: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater 12.30.2011: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater 12.31.2011: Boulder, CO @ Boulder Theater – SOLD OUT 2.08.2012: Fayetteville, AR @ George’s Majestic 2.09.2012: Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theatre 2.10.2012: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works 2.11.2012: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle 2.12.2012: Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theatre Soundstage 2.15.2012: Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall 2.16.2012: Orlando, FL @ Beacham Theatre 2.17.2012: Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution 2.18.2012: St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live 2.19.2012: Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Cafe 2.22.2012: Charleston, SC @ Music Farm 2.23.2012: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 2.24.2012: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 2.25.2012: Knoxville, TN @ Tennessee Theater 2.26.2012: Charlottesville, VA @ Jefferson Theatre 2.29.2012: Lexington, KY @ Buster’s 3.01.2012: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall 3.02.2012: Covington, KY @ Madison Theatre 3.03.2012: Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre 3.04.2012: Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club 3.24.2012: Live Oak, FL @ Suwannee Springfest Haven’t met YMSB? Check out this video of their live performance on Craig Ferguson to see just how awesome they are! [youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8WQRB2C1gI]

HaleighT Reflects On 2011

To Mention All The Excitement Of 2011 Is A Hard Task, But Simply Put, It Was Awesome! This year has been a crazy ride and I have loved every minute of it! I am so thankful for the opportunities that have come my way and even more proud of myself for taking some chances! This week we have been focusing on the top moments of country music for the year and for me, getting this job (and in a small way becoming part of this crazy world) ranks at the top! I am honored to have met the people I have met, including all the artists who were gracious enough to give me their time to talk with them, the behind the scenes industry people who made each time possible and my employers who gave me the tools to do so! I am also so indescribably grateful for the family and friends who gave me such an abundant amount of support! When I look back at the interviews, the beginning of our video segment and even the littlest of things I was a part of in the first 8 months here at Country Music News Blog, I get excited for the things that I KNOW our team can accomplish in 2012! I hope everyone is ready because we plan on making it even more enjoyable for you to get you country music news fix! Thank you so much for reading my articles, especially the exclusive content (I would love to see some of you at some shows next year!)! Everyone have a very safe and festive weekend and we will most definitely be talking to y’all next year!!!!!!!!!

Sarah Darling Sings At The Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Sarah Darling To Have A Busy Two Days! Sarah Darling has been chosen to sing “God Bless America” at the opening of the 2011 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl. The college football game will be played by North Carolina’s Wake Forest and Mississippi State University and is expected to bring over 70,000 fans to Nashville’s LP Field today, December 30th! Tomorrow, Saturday December 31st, New Year’s Eve Darling will headline the 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop at Pier Parkin Panama City Beach, FL. She will take the stage at 10:45pm being the final performer of the night. The 800 pound glowing beach ball will slowly descend until the clock strikes 12! This event is free to the public and for more information click here!

Country Music Top Topics 2011

Top Posts Our Readers Loved The Most for 2011! #1 Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton From their wedding photos to wedding details to album releases, it is safe to say that Blake and Miranda topped the charts at number 1. Blake gained many fans for himself and country music in general when he showed the world his down-home, don’t give a crap attitude on the hit new show The Voice! Miranda joined a few girls to become the Pistol Annies. With the same attitude as her husband, these three took the world by storm with their outspoken lyrics and solid harmonies! #2 Award Shows We had the CMAs, the CMT Awards, the ACMs and the ACAs, not to mention other non-country based shows (Peoples Choice, Grammy, Teen Choice, Etc.) and each show gave us moments that we will remember for years to come! I would say that the recognition given to the artists that won was pretty spaced out. An artist might have done a great job at taking home the majority of the trophies at one particular show, but no one was the top dog at every show. That seems right on the money considering each award show has different ways of voting, whether its fan based or industry votes. Another thing that was interesting about the award shows this year was the number of surprise performances. Who would have ever thought we would see Ludacris (the rapper) at a country based award show?! #3 Summer Tours This year was no different than any other when it came to summer tours! One of the first things that comes to mind when dreaming about the next summer when I’m looking outside at 2 feet of snow on the ground is what shows I will be lucky enough to catch! This year two major summer tours were the return of Kenny Chesney’s Goin’ Coastal and Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic! Along with them there were other country superstars headlining all over the country and those fabulous festivals that included multiple artists that lasted almost a week! Shows are slowly beginning to be announced for Summer 2012, so everyone be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for your favorite artists coming to a stadium or bar near you!