New Sheryl Crow Album Due In February

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Jonathan Cohen, N.Y. Sheryl Crow will return Feb. 5 with her next A&M/Interscope album, “Detours.” The first single, “Shine Over Bayblon,” is at iTunes now. Crow told Billboard.com this summer that the song “is very environmentally conscious, in the tradition of Bob Dylan.” “I’m really encouraging artists to write about what’s going on, because we seem to be very distracted by some lightweight topics,” she added. I think it’s time to start writing about the reality of what’s around us.” In additional comments on her Web site, Crow describes the single as “an every way a desperate cry for understanding. Perhaps it is even a battle song in the face of fear.” “Detours” was recorded at Crow’s Nashville farm and will feature “14 or 15” of the 24 songs put to tape. The artist’s baby son, Wyatt, makes an appearance on the song “Lullaby for Wyatt,” which will be featured in the upcoming movie “Grace Is Gone.” “The songs are very inspired by the last three years of events in my life,” Crow said of a time that found her battling breast cancer and splitting with partner Lance Armstrong. “Detours” is the follow-up to 2005’s “Wildflower,” which debuted at No. 2 on The Billboard 200.Country Music Photo Gallery

Jewel Signs with New Nashville Label Valory

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Scott Borchetta, the president and CEO for Big Machine Records, is launching a second imprint, the Valory Music Company, and has signed Jewel to a multi-album deal, billboard.com reports.“She’s just one of the best singer/songwriters in any genre,” Scott says, adding that a move to country is “a natural progression for her.” The label’s name is a variation on June Carter Cash‘s birth name, Valerie June Carter. According to Scott, the name means “fierce; the brave one; of valor.” Along with Jewel, whose album was produced by Big & Rich‘s John Rich and is expected in the spring, Valory will be home to Justin Moore and Jimmy Wayne. Justin has been in development, and Jimmy moves over from the Big Machine roster, which includes Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood and Jack Ingram, among others. It also handles promotion for Garth Brooks. Jewel, who has cut five of her six albums in Nashville, says country has always been in her plans. “I’ve been wanting to do this record my whole career,” she says, “but my label was always scared of country music. I’ve always had country songs on my records. If I had been discovered now, living in my car in San Diego, I think I would have been signed as a country act.” Earlier this year Jewel hosted the country reality show Nashville Star and she has made a number of appearances at Muzik Mafia events. She co-wrote and dueted with new artist Jason Michael Carroll on “No Good In Goodbye,” which appears on his debut album, Waitin’ in the Country. She will be a presenter on the Country Music Association Awards show on Wednesday. ~Courtesy of GACTV.comCountry Music Photo Gallery

LeAnn Rimes Does Double Duty at CMA Awards

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LeAnn Rimes confesses that appearing on awards shows isn’t quite as much fun as simply attending. “It’s nice to have people all in one place,” she tells the New York Daily News, “but if you’re performing or hosting, it gets pretty busy. You’re running around, you’re changing clothes, there’s some tension, you really don’t get to relax and enjoy the show very much. Thank God for TiVo.” LeAnn will be both a performer and a segment host this Wednesday, when ABC airs the Country Music Association’s “41st Annual CMA Awards” from Nashville at 8 p.m. But there’s one thing LeAnn says she will definitely enjoy: singing a duet with Reba McEntire. “Reba’s been one of my idols since I was a little girl growing up in Texas,” she says. “Now she’s also a friend, and it’s such a pleasure any time that I get to sing with her.” LeAnn could find herself on the nomination side of the show next year for her new CD, Family, which consists of songs incorporating a wide range of styles, from country to pop, rock and blues. “I think as a singer, that’s always been my natural inclination,” she says. “I love country music, that’s my base, but I don’t want to be pigeonholed. Country has definitely gone mainstream. It appeals to people everywhere now, and not just in America. People in other countries love it, too. It’s become an international music.” ~Courtesyof GACTV.comCountry Music Photo Gallery

Carrie Underwood Sells Some CDs

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When the smoke was cleared and all the numbers were counted, SoundScan reported that Carrie Underwood‘s new CD, Carnival Ride, sold 527,101 copies during its first week of release to place the American Idol queen at No. 1 on Billboard country albums chart and the Billboard 200 pop chart. It sets a record as the highest first week sales in SoundScan history for a sophomore country album, and it also gives her the highest selling debut week of any female artist in 2007. Her digital sales soared to 44,928 in the first week, the largest country debut in digital album chart history. Just so you know, Rascal Flatts‘ sales debut a few weeks ago was 546,505, the highest so far in 2007. Also of interest, Raising Sand, the new album by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, sold 112,308 units in its first week out. This doesn’t seem like we’re falling behind in CD sales, does it? By the way, when Carrie was told her numbers, she acknowledged the people who are truly responsible for her success and said, “I want to share a sincere thanks to all my fans for supporting me over the past two years and for making my dreams come true.”Country Music Photo Gallery

Grammy Committee Says Merle Haggard’s “The Bluegrass Sessions” Is Not Bluegrass

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Nashville, TN…McCoury Music, the artist-owned and operated label that released legendary singer/songwriter Merle Haggard‘s The Bluegrass Sessions on October 2nd, expressed its shock today at a National Academy Of Recording Arts & Sciences committee’s decision to exclude the acclaimed album from consideration for nomination in its “Best Bluegrass Album” Grammy category. The label, created by legendary bluegrass artist Del McCoury in 2004, earned its first bluegrass Grammy in 2005 with the Del McCoury Band‘s The Company We Keep. “Anyone who knows the bluegrass community knows that its members like to debate definitions,” McCoury Music’s General Manager Chris Harris said. “But this is an album that Merle and Del decided to call The Bluegrass Sessions, produced by a bluegrass musician with bluegrass musicians, recorded at a bluegrass studio, released on a bluegrass label, racked under bluegrass in record stores, aired on bluegrass radio, covered by the bluegrass press, and it’s currently in it’s fourth consecutive week at # 1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass chart. If that’s not enough, even The Washington Post wondered why ‘no one had thought to pair Merle and Bluegrass together before.’ “ McCoury, who holds nine International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Entertainer of the Year awards, expressed his disappointment personally. “Merle did everything in his power to make this record authentic except remove that unique Haggard sound–and that’s something he’s brought to every genre of music he’s ever visited,” McCoury said. “ Merle Haggard could make a polka record, and there’d be no mistaking it’s Merle Haggard.” Album producer Ronnie Reno, a bluegrass veteran who earned his spurs performing with two Bluegrass Hall of Fame artists–father Don Reno’s Reno & Smiley and the legendary Osborne Brothers–before spending some eight years in Haggard’s band, reacted in a more down to earth fashion: “that’s pure b******t.” Recorded at Ricky Skaggs‘ Hendersonville, TN studio, The Bluegrass Sessions features Haggard backed by an all-star–and all-bluegrass–cast of musicians that includes such IBMA award winners as fiddler Aubrey Haynie, dobro player Rob Ickes, guitarist and harmony singer Carl Jackson and Alison Krauss. As veteran mandolin player Marty Stuart, who got his own youthful career start with Hall of Famer Lester Flatt (Flatt & Scruggs) in the 1970s, wrote following the recording sessions, “Merle Haggard has put the blues back into bluegrass. I was honored to be there alongside of him when he did it.” On its release, The Bluegrass Sessions rocketed to the top of Billboard’s bluegrass album chart, racking up the legend’s highest first-week sales for a new release since 2000, and Merle‘s first #1 on any of Billboard’s charts since 1984. The Bluegrass Sessions is currently enjoying it’s 4th consecutive week at the top of the chart. There has been solid support from the Bluegrass media, from the monthly magazines to the increasingly popular Bluegrass Blog, the winner of this year’s IBMA Media Award, in addition to features in mainstream media such as TIME Magazine and major newspapers across the country, “When I contacted NARAS, they would not identify the committee, their Continue reading Grammy Committee Says Merle Haggard’s “The Bluegrass Sessions” Is Not Bluegrass→

Putting Family First

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How do Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Toby Keith and other stars balance home life and music? Country Weekly asked some of country’s top stars to share their secrets for keeping both their careers and families going strong. Alan Jackson reveals that it’s important to simply stay grounded. “[Wife] Denise and I started dating when we were in high school,” explains Alan, “so for the first 10 years of our marriage I was an ‘average guy.’ And Denise has reminded me over the years, ‘No one was throwing themselves at you when you worked second shift at the Kmart warehouse.’ That has been a good thing to remember.” Trace Adkins follows a similar path with his family. “My children have always kept me grounded, because to them, I’m just dad,” says Trace. “They’re not impressed by my celebrity, which keeps it in perspective.” Also featured in this cover story are Rodney Atkins and his family, Keith Urban and wife Nicole Kidman, and the families of Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. To read this story, pick up the Nov. 5 issue of Country Weekly, on newsstands now. ~Courtesy of Country WeeklyCountry Music Photo Gallery

Opry Star Porter Wagoner Succumbs to Lung Cancer

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Grand Ole Opry legend Porter Wagoner passed away tonight at 8:25pm at Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tenn. Wagoner, 80 years old, had recently been diagnosed with lung cancer. He is survived by three children, Richard, Debra and Denise. “The Grand Ole Opry family is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of our dear friend, Porter Wagoner. His passion for the Opry and all of country music was truly immeasurable. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this difficult time,” says Pete Fisher, vice-president and general manager of The Grand Ole Opry. Porter‘s last appearance on the Opry, which he joined in 1957, was September 29. Born in West Plains, Missouri in 1927, Porter was first a local radio fixture on his way to becoming a pillar of the Grand Ole Opry, a hit recording artist, television icon, Country Music Hall of Fame member, and the very model of the quintessential country music star. Beginning in the early 50s, Porter had more than 80 charting singles, including more than 25 Top 10 hits. Hits including “Misery Loves Company,” “I’ve Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand,” “The Cold Hard Facts of Life,” “The Carroll County Accident,” and “A Satisfied Mind” were all deeply rooted, hard-country classics. Other music such as “The Green, Green Grass of Home,” and one-of-a-kind concept albums are recognized today as being 20 and 30 years ahead of their time. Porter brought his songs, his resplendent wardrobe of flashy rhinestone suits, and country music as a whole, to a massive and often new audience through the most modern means then available – syndicated television. “The Porter Wagoner Show” ran for an amazing 21 years, beginning in 1961, and reached more than 100 TV markets. Like its namesake, it was one of the most influential forces in country music history. And it was on the show that Porter introduced fans to the talents of Dolly Parton. Their duets yielded hit after hit, winning a Grammy and three CMA Duo of the Year Awards. Porter‘s illness came after a comeback that saw him recording again and gaining new fans even as he reached his 80s. In May 2007 he celebrated his 50th year in the Opry. After years without a recording contract, he also signed with Anti Records records, a Los Angeles label known for alt-rock acts like Tom Waits, Nick Cave and Neko Case. His last CD, Wagonmaster, produced with Marty Stuart, was released in June 2007 and earned some of the best reviews of his career. Over the summer, he also was the opening act for the rock duo White Stripes at a sold-out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “I was thinking while on stage last night, ‘This is the biggest, most well-known arena in the country, and here I am performing at it,’” he said at the time. Tears came to his eyes as he recalled the crowd’s reaction. “The young people I met backstage, some of them Continue reading Opry Star Porter Wagoner Succumbs to Lung Cancer→

Brooks & Dunn Solo Projects in the Works

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Brooks & Dunn’s Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn plan to release solo albums in the near future, but that is not an indication that the award-winning duo is breaking up. “In the contract we are signing right now . . . we are allowed to release solo projects,” Ronnie tells Nashville’s daily newspaper The Tennessean. “That does not in any way mean the franchise is in danger.” Brooks & Dunn will be releasing their new CD, “Cowboy Town“, Oct. 2. ~Courtesy of Country Weekly Country Music Photo Gallery

Billy Currington Surprised by Success: Earns His First Platinum

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Billy Currington has a hot new single in “Tangled Up” and he’s just earned his first platinum album. At a recent party in Nashville celebrating the platinum status of Doin’ Something Right, he told Country Weekly that success snuck up on him.“I didn’t see it coming,” he says. “It was out of the blue, because we had the first album, and there were a lot of songs on there that didn’t make the radio, so it didn’t allow the record to get out there and sell and do what it needed to do. So at 200,000, it crashed, so it was like a heartbreak back then.” Billy says things got better when he released his next album Doin’ Something Right and the title song went gold. “I think, ‘Wow! We’re on our way to platinum,’ ” he says. “Then all of a sudden, sales just dropped for some strange reason, and I was told we had to move on to the next album. And that just crushed me. It broke my heart…when you’re a songwriter and you dream this big dream for years and years and it doesn’t happen.” Billy told his label, ‘Just put another song out there and I know it’ll go platinum.’ And they were so nice. My record label was so good to me. They were like, “All right, Billy. You want to put the turnip greens song out there, let’s put it out there.” And they did and they got behind it. And we’re sitting at platinum. It’s such a cool experience to see it happen like that.” Now Billy has learned to deal with the ups and downs of the business. “It always feels like you’ve just gotta keep working,” he says, “which is good for me, ’cause if I ain’t working it’s like my grandma said, ‘Idle time is the devil’s workshop’ and I’ll get in trouble. So, I’m just glad to be working. I’m glad to have a record deal. It’s very hard to come by.” ~Courtesy of GACTV Country Music Photo Gallery

Willie Nelson Sings for Marijuana Law Reform

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Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel were among the performers who gathered Friday night (Aug. 10) in Austin, Texas, for Austin Freedom Fest, a benefit concert for four pro-marijuana groups, including the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Marijuana Policy Project. The event at the Backyard music venue was hosted by Mark Stepnoski, a former lineman for the Dallas Cowboys. In an interview with News 8 Austin, a cable news channel, Nelson said, “We would like to see [marijuana] put in the same category as cigarettes and alcohol … where we can take it out of the hands of the illegal drug dealers. Empty the cells of all the pot smokers and get them out of jail so you’ll have more room for the child molesters and pedophiles out there who they keep releasing to throw pot smokers in. … The law needs to be changed.” Nelson is co-chairman of NORML‘s advisory board. ~Courtesy of CMT Country Music Photo Gallery