Country Music News in a Flash: Little Paisley’s First Step, Craig Morgan Leaves Broken Bow Records, and Underwood Makes Idol Proud

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Brad Paisley may have won the first Grammy award of his career on Sunday night, honoring his instrumental “Throttleneck.” But Brad had more important things to celebrate: He’d just witnessed his son, William Huckleberry Paisley, taking his very first steps! “Fatherhood is amazing,” he told Access Hollywood on the red carpet. “He’s basically walking as of [Saturday]. It’s the Otis Campbell of ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ walk: Every day it’s different.” Little Paisley will celebrate his first birthday February 22nd and certainly will have many more milestones to come! Craig Morgan Has chosen to leave Broken Bow Records, although the reason is not yet clear. Craig first signed with Broken Bow in 2000 and has since produced hits like “Redneck Yacht Club”, “International Harvester” and “Little Bit Of Life”. Carrie Underwood‘s Grammy performance seemed to cause a spike in record sales pushing her to sales of “Some Hearts” to6.26 million after she sang her hit “Before He Cheats” on the nationally televised awards ceremony. This makes her the top selling American Idol to date! Carrie is currently touring with Keith Urban on the “Love Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride” tour. That’s it for today’s news, but keep in touch… there’s always more where this came from! For information on the hottest 2008 country concert tours, dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On Tour Country Music Photo Gallery

Brad Paisley – Country Artist of the Week

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Quite possibly the best guitar player on modern radio, Brad Paisley is definitely my favorite country star of today. Brad is a witty lyricist and a hell of a singer, and has a way with the fans that is seldom seen. From his fairly interactive blog to his abundance of meet and greets for each concert, he is a fan favorite. In an interview with NPR Radio, Brad talks about how his grandfather got him started playing the guitar. His grandfather, who worked the night shift on the railroad, urged him to play the guitar at a young age. He gave Brad his first guitar when he was eight years old. At first he was resistant saying “I kind of fought it for a while because at eight, you want to play sports or do anything other than something that hurts your hand. But the thing that kept me going was knowing how bad he wanted me to do that. How bad he wanted me to be a player. Because I think he enjoyed it so much I think he wanted me to be able to have that in my life… he changed my life in a way that no one ever will be able to again. His advice to me was, ‘Anything that’s going wrong in your life, you can pick this guitar up and it’ll go away.’” To start our week, let’s watch some classic Brad Paisley and say a thanks to his grandpappy for the gift he’s given us fans! This is “Nervous Breakdown” from his album “Time Well Wasted” which peaked on the Billboard Top Country Album charts at #1, and Top 200 Album (in all genres) at #2 in 2005. Brad is currently enjoying his recent win of “Best Country Instrumental Performance” for “Throttleneck” off his most recent 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

Taylor Swift Talks About Her Next Album

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While Taylor Swift’s self-titled debut is still riding the number one spot on the Billboard charts, she’s already got her mind on her next album! “I look at my favorite artists and how I feel when they put out a new album, like Garth Brooks or Tim McGraw,” she told The Los Angeles Times. “It still has so many things about the reasons I love that artist, but there’s new material. I’m not going to throw anybody for a loop or try to change my sound or be edgier. I’ve aged two years, and I’ve been writing for the past two years, and I really think there won’t be any fans who feel like I’ve tried to desert who I am.” “When she writes her songs, she hears them in her head,” producer Nathan Chapman said, “and she knows where she wants the mandolin to come in, or what guitar lick should be there.” “Obviously,” she said, “creative control is the most important thing for me, or I wouldn’t have left the biggest label in Nashville for a label that didn’t have any furniture.” So on that note, we close out our week-long look at Taylor Swift, and wish her the best on her current tour with Rascal Flatts. For Taylor Swift 2008 concert tour dates, artist biographies and event details, please visit our partner site Country Music On TourCountry Music Photo Gallery

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