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

Brad Paisley performs in Grammy Beatles tribute

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Brad Paisley along with fellow Grammy nominees Feist, Alicia Keys, and the casts of “The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil” and Across The Universe will participate in a special Beatles segment at the 50th annual Grammy Awards telecast Feb. 10. Paisley is the second country act announced to perform at the Grammys. Carrie Underwood also will sing at the shindig although it is not clear whether they will be singing their duet found on his 5th Gear album. Paisley is up for three awards: Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (“Oh Love” with Underwood), Best Country Instrumental Performance (“Throttleneck”) and Best Country 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

Dwight Yoakam Only Country Singer on Coachella Festival

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One set of dates that’s solid on Dwight Yoakam’s schedule comes April 26. He’s the only country artist set to appear in Indio, Calif., at the annual Coachella music festival, which this year features Pink Floyd alum Roger Waters, Death Cab For Cutie, Kraftwerk and Portishead. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly known as Coachella) is a three-day (formerly a one or two-day) annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Fields in Indio, California. The event features many genres of music including alternative rock, hip hop, country, and electronica as well as large sculptural art. The event has several stages/tents set-up throughout the grounds, each playing live music continuously. The main stages are: Coachella Stage, Outdoor Theatre, Gobi Tent, Mojave Tent, and the Sahara Tent (2006 also saw the addition of a smaller Oasis Dome). The following weekend, he’ll return to the same location for the second annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival. Among the artists booked so far for that event are Carrie Underwood, Big & Rich, Earl Scruggs, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley and country music legends, The Judds. For Dwight Yoakam 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Dwight Yoakam, ZZ Top and Kelly Clarkson Lead College Footballs Gridiron Bash Concert

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Are you ready for some football? MSL Sports and Entertainment plans to roll out the Gridiron Bash, a two-day event April 18-19 that will use a campus concert to bring attention to the next day’s games, which serve as warm-ups for the coming season. Dwight Yoakam is among the artists who has committed, though his location hasn’t been yet announced. Several other artists have already been pegged to specific Division 1 schools: Pop singer Fergie is scheduled at Penn State, blues-rockers ZZ Top play Texas A&M, Counting Crows hit the field in Colorado, and the Goo Goo Dolls perform at Kansas State. Among the participating colleges that have yet to announce their Bash attractions are Rutgers, the University of Tennessee, Army and a college from Dwight’s home state, the University of Kentucky. Gridiron Bash, the Ultimate Fan Competition, will be the largest single-day sports and entertainment event ever to take place on college campuses. “We’re very excited by the caliber of talent this event is attracting,” says Gary Cioffi, Chief Executive Officer of MSL, the creator and producer of Gridiron Bash(TM). “In many cases, this marks the first time that top artists will be ‘playing the field’ at these campuses, as universities consider their football fields a kind of sacred ground, and, prior to Gridiron Bash, have prohibited even the most sought-after acts from performing on them.” Known Performance Roster: Artist School Dwight Yoakam TBA Fergie Penn State Maroon 5 TBA Counting Crows Colorado Goo Goo Dolls Kansas State ZZ Top Texas A&M Kelly Clarkson TBA TBA Rutgers TBA University of Tennessee TBA Army TBA University of Kentucky MSL Sports and Entertainment is in final discussions with Good Charlotte, OAR, Counting Crows, Fall Out Boy, Taylor Swift, and Montgomery Gentry. Other artists including, Hank Williams Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd, Journey, Steve Miller Band, Goo Goo Dolls, 3 Doors Down and Alan Jackson also are being pursued. On the university side, MSL is finalizing partnerships with schools, including Penn State, University of Iowa, Arizona State, West Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, Kentucky, University of Texas at El Paso, BYU, Auburn, Alabama and Boston College. Tickets will be available through university box offices and can also be purchased through http://www.gridironbash.com. On-sale dates for schools, including Texas A&M, Kansas State, University of Tennessee, University of Colorado, Army and Rutgers will be announced shortly. 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

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood 2008 Concert Tour

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Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood have announced three more dates for their 2008 concert tour together. The Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride concert tour will hit Hershey, Pa., on Feb. 14, Tallahassee, Fla., on Feb. 29 and Anaheim, Calif., on March 12. Previously-announced stops include the tour opener at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 and other shows Feb. 16 in Roanoke, Va., March 7 in Omaha, Neb., and March 11 in San Jose, Calif. Be sure to get your Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood Concert Tour Tickets NOW! Simply use the ticket selection menu on the right. Save time, buy online! 2008 Tour Dates: 02/01/08 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino – Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT 02/02/08 Blue Cross Arena – Rochester, NY 02/13/08 Madison Square Garden – New York, NY 02/14/08 GIANT Center – Hershey, PA 02/15/08 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, NJ 02/16/08 Roanoke Civic Center – Roanoke, VA 02/29/08 Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center – Tallahassee, FL 03/01/08 Mississippi Coast Coliseum – Biloxi, MS 03/05/08 Sprint Center – Kansas City, MO 03/07/08 Qwest Center Omaha – Omaha, NE 03/09/08 Pepsi Center – Denver, CO 03/11/08 HP Pavilion at San Jose – San Jose, CA 03/12/08 Honda Center – Anaheim, CA 03/20/08 East Coast Blues and Roots Music Festival – Byron Bay, Ne 03/22/08 Point Nepean Festival – Melbourne, 0 04/12/08 Bryce Jordan Center – State College, PA 04/18/08 Charlotte Bobcats Arena – Charlotte, NC 04/19/08 RBC Center – Raleigh, NC 04/24/08 The Arena at Gwinnett Center – Duluth, GA 04/25/08 The Arena at Gwinnett Center – Duluth, GA 07/26/08 Gillette Stadium / New England Patriots – Foxboro, MA In related news Keith Urban will also share the headlines with Kenny Chesney on his 2008 Poets and Pirates concert tour at Gillette Stadium near Boston, on July 26, according to the tour section of his Web site. Billed as the New England Country Music Festival, Chesney will be joined by Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan and Sammy Hagar. For Carrie Underwood 2008 concert tour dates, tickets, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Martina McBride 2008 Concert Tour Dates

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Martina McBride is currently on tour promoting her newest album, “Wake Up Laughing“. So far this album has received outstanding reviews from both fans and critics alike, getting names “One of the top country discs of 2007” by the Chicago Tribune. “McBride hasn’t run out of inspiration. This album has her aging gracefully into a more soulful singer/songwriter. With fewer feminist anthems, McBride has time to devote to the bright spots on this effort.” Concert tickets for the Huntsville, Alabama concert go on sale this Saturday at 10AM Central. The fan club pre-sale is today starting at 10AM Central today (Wednesday). Fan club members should log into the fan club web site for the information needed. Otherwise, check the link to our right for ticket pricing and availability. Martina McBride is also in the process of updating her online store to be completely in-house instead of using a outside company so stay tuned for new merchandise and memorabilia! For Martina McBride 2008 concert tour dates, tickets, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

Faith Hill Premieres “That’s Alright Mamma” Video in Tribute to Elvis

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Faith Hill is set to premiere her performance of Elvis Presley’s classic “That’s Alright Mama,” today at 11am EST. After originally recording both “Mama” and “Peace In The Valley” for “Viva Las Vegas,” a 2-hour ABC Network television special honoring the late singer, CMT began airing “Peace In The Valley.” But numerous inquiries were made at FaithHill.com requesting “Mama,” and now the Grammy Award winning singer will give the video its online premiere. “We recorded “Mama” and “Peace In The Valley,” last year in a completely empty arena, in the round and stripped down, said Faith. “It was a blast. We channeled Elvis by setting the stage as if we were back in 1968 (his comeback special). These songs and being a part of the special reminded me of who he was, what he stood for; he defined what it was and is to be an entertainer.” The “Viva Las Vegas” special, produced in cooperation with Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc, originally aired on September 18, 2007. The special honored Elvis Presley’s legacy and contribution to contemporary music, and featured some of music’s most influential and talented artists, including Celine Dion, Aerosmith, and Paul McCartney. The complete 2-hour special, which includes Faith’s covers of “That’s All Right Mama” and “Peace in the Valley,” is set for a DVD release in Spring 2008.Country Music Photo Gallery