Jason Aldean Raises $132k with Concert for the Cure!

Jason Aldean raises over $132,000 for the Susan G Komen foundation! Jason Aldean‘s 5th annual “Concert for the Cure” was a huge success this year, raising over $132,000! This marks the highest take in the events five-year history, an achievement Jason is extremely proud of. “We started this in memory of a close friend, and I know she would be proud of how much we were able to donate from the show in Evansville,” said Aldean. “I saw a lot of fans in the crowd wearing pink too, and thanks to them and everyone else that came out, we were able to raise more money than ever before.” Country Music Photo Gallery

It’s Official: Taylor Swift Auditorium

Taylor Swift’s former high school has officially renamed their auditorium after her! Following a final Sumner County School Board vote, Hendersonville High School Auditorium will now be known as Taylor Swift Auditorium. The meeting held tonight was merely a formality in the process, as the issue was already decided last month. Taylor has shown no lack of charity for her former stomping ground. In 2009 Taylor donated $75,000 to upgrade the school auditorium’s lighting and sound, hoping that the improved equipment will inspire more students to follow their performing arts dreams. In just a few short days, Taylor Swift will make history again as she releases her long-anticipated album, “Speak Now“, which is sure to break sales records like all of her others.

Brad Paisley featured on In The Spotlight

Brad Paisley to be featured on the new ABC Country Music Special titled In the Spotlight with Robin Eberts. Brad Paisley gives fans an insiders look at his farm on an upcoming special of ABC’s “In The Spotlight“. Also included on the special is an interview with LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian where they reveal all the details of their much-gossiped-about relationship. Carrie Underwood will make an appearance as well to spill all the details of her fairytale wedding. In The Spotlight with Robin Eberts: All Access Nashville will air on November 9th, and is just one of the many specials leading up to the 44th annual CMA Awards the following night on ABC.

Brad Paisley – The Diary of a Player

Brad Paisley signs a book deal, saluting the guitar gods of country, rock and blues. Brad Paisley has reportedly inked a deal with publishers Howard Books to issue his very first major book titled “The Diary of a Player“. In “Diary of a Player” Brad pays tribute to the many guitar gods in multiple genres that have shaped his career and heavily influenced his sound. It is a very personal story of his strong emotional ties to the art of playing, and the way he got to where he is today. The story jumps off with this quote, taken from the liner notes of his primarily-instrumental album “Play”: “When I was eight I got a gift from my grandpa. No coincidence that around that time I also got an identity. See, no matter how I have changed, learned and evolved as a person, the guitar has been a major part of it, and really the only constant. A crutch, a shrink, a friend, love interest, parachute, flying machine, soapbox, canvas, liability, investment, jackpot, tease, a sage, a gateway, an addiction, a recovery, backstage pass, pickup line, weapon of revenge, a makeover, compass, target, icebreaker, a temptress, a church, a voice, veil, armor, and lifeline. My grandpa knew it could be many of these things for me, but mostly he just wanted me to never be alone. He said if I learned to play, anything would be manageable, and life would be richer. You can get through some real tough moments with that guitar on your knee. When life gets intense, there are people who drink, who seek counseling, eat, watch TV, pray, cry, sleep, and so on. I play.” We can expect “The Diary of a Player” to release in May of 2011, and I personally cannot wait! Country Music Photo Gallery

Spend New Year’s Eve with Zac Brown Band!

Zac Brown Band’s New Year’s Eve tickets go on sale TODAY! Zac Brown Band is taking the party home as they get ready to ring in the New Year in Atlanta, GA! Tickets went on sale this morning for what will certainly be one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties in country music. This is the first in what they hope will become a great annual tradition of living it up in the town that built them.

The Judds are Everywhere!

The Judds are making the media rounds as they gear up for their Last Encore tour. As the nation clamors for tickets to the concert of a country fan’s lifetime, The Judds are making rounds to nearly every media outlet available to share the love. Here’s where you can find Naomi and Wynonna this fall: October 11th issue: Country Weekly – cover story on The Judds October 15th: 2nd Annual Opry Goes Pink performance – The Judds October 16th: CMT “Insider” – The Judds October 16th: NPR Weekend Edition – The Judds October 18th: On The Record w/ Greta Van Susteren – The Judds October 20th: The Joy Behar Show – Wynonna only October 20th: Fox Business News – The Judds October 20th: SiriusXM visit – The Judds to be interviewed on multiple channels October 21st : Good Morning America – The Judds exclusive performance October 21st: The Today Show – The Judds October 22nd: Wendy Williams Show – The Judds October 22nd: Fox & Friends – The Judds October 27th: Better TV – Wynonna only October 30th: GAC “Master Series” – The Judds October/November issue: CMA Close Up – The Judds November 11th issue: People Country – Naomi feature November 20th & 21st: Crook & Chase countdown – The Judds November 23rd: GAC “On The Streets” – The Judds November 25th: Crook & Chase Thanksgiving Special – The Judds December issue: Pain Pathways – cover story on Naomi Country Music Photo Gallery

Sugarland – Incredible Machine Album Review

Sugarland does it again with Incredible Machine and it’s… well.. incredible! It’s not often I get to listen to a new album that absolutely floors me, but let me say outright that Sugarland‘s “Incredible Machine” has done just that. The new release which comes out next Tuesday October 19th is nothing less than an unstoppable force of passion, power and… well… INCREDIBLE talent. The entire album seamlessly pays tribute to the many musical influences Jennifer and Kristian share, with each and every track bending those genre rules as if they were only ever an idea. Sugarland Incredible Machine Track List: All We Are Incredible Machine Stuck Like Glue Tonight Stand Up Incredible Machine (Interlude) Every Girl Like Me Little Miss Find The Beat Again Wide Open Shine The Light “A heart that beats… an Incredible Machine. Made of blood and love and hope and lust and steam.” Country Music Photo Gallery

The Band Perry Debut Album In Stores Today!

The long-awaited self-titled debut from The Band Perry is in stores TODAY! The Band Perry has been all abuzz over the release of their debut album, and you should be too! Fresh and lighthearted, the siblings’ sound is purely indulgent. With songs like “Hip to my Heart” and “If I Die Young” already claiming territory on top of the Billboard mountain, it is without a doubt that these guys are taking Nashville by storm!Country Music Photo Gallery

How The Judds Changed My Life

Looking back on when I fell in love with The Judds. Sometimes music is more than just entertainment. Sometimes music has the power to change our lives or steer our course. The Judds did that for me. As a very young child, I was part of an extremely dysfunctional family. Without going into details, it was needless to say that “love” in the common sense of the word was not something I witnessed in a real life setting. One day, when I was around 8 going on 9, my aunt came to visit my family for a little while. In the midst of the hurt and chaos that always surrounded our home, my aunt managed to give me the greatest gift I could possibly ever receive. She sang to me. She sang songs by Kathy Mattea that were lonesome and heartbreaking. Songs by Melissa Etheridge that were challenging and defiant. Songs by Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Reba McEntire, and even a little Debbie Gibson I think. But for years down the road, the only songs that stood out in my memory from that visit were songs of hope, friendship, romance, family, and life. Those songs would shape my dreams for my future. They would be the soundtrack that I built my life with my children around, and I would use as the bar to measure my relationships by. Those songs that my aunt placed in my head were songs about love in all its different forms. And they were all from The Judds. Thank you Aunt Trish, Naomi, and Wynonna… you changed my life.