Country Bites News snippets Jan 23 - Jan 27, 2012
Charley Pride is sorry to announce he has been removed from the line-up of the International Festival of Country Music at Wembley on the 26th of February 2012 – “I will try to make it up to you with a tour at the end of this year”
Tickets are NOW much cheaper than it was for the Wembley International Festival Of Country Music ( Sun Feb 26, 2012) with Discounted tickets. Adult tickets start at £30
It's 2 for the Price of One in the Daily Express. Reading the advert Daily Express it's through Ticketmaster.
1) Go here - http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/International-Festival-of-Country-Music-tickets/artist/1645170
2) Enter offer code/password - “FESTIVAL21”
It then shows a small Express Reader Promotion (Code Good for 2 Tickets) window.
3) You select the area, for example would of allowed me to book 2 tickets @ £54.85 (£49.00 Ticket + £5.85 Fees) in Sec A2, Row 23, Seat 11, 12 (FLAT FLOOR SEATING)
BBC TV and Radio Summary on Celtic Connections 2012 from Glasgow
Irish born and raised now Wigan based country singer-songwriter Gary Quinn been invited to perform at this years 7th Belfast Nashville Songwriters Showcase in Nashville, Tennessee in March.
The Publicist for Raintown has congratulated the Scottish duo Paul and Claire. Blurb reads: “ This “amazing duo” from Glasgow , Scotland
Lynn Butler, singer-songwriter musician and Internet DJ and well known figure on the UK
NEWS
Canadian singer/songwriter Jessica Ridley swept every talent category to win the BUD UNITED PRESENTS: THE BIG TIME contest and take the opening slot on the massive iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Ridley's road to victory was chronicled Saturday (January 21st) on ABC-TV's premier episode of the new series. She competed against Nashvillian Justin Nault and Laura Jeanne of St. Albans , England
The three finalists were picked from thousands who auditioned via Budweiser's online casting call.
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| Joanna Smith (Billboard Photo) |
The full issue can be viewed by clicking here, and Joanna's feature is on page 42. As she readies her new Buddy Cannon-produced single release on Columbia/BNA, due out this spring, Joanna continues to write and perform.
Holly Williams Blogs: This is how I hope to feel every single day this year (with my hair preferably looking that “undone”). This was taken by my husband at the idyllic Blackberry Farm when I had a show there in December. I’ve been to NYC and in the studio every weekday recording and finishing writing my new album.
Warner Music Nashville based 'One Tree Hill' actress Jana Kramer debut single, 'Why Ya Wanna.' was added to the playlists of more than 55 radio stations beating a Country Aircheck/Mediabase record for the most adds for a debut artist nearly nearly tripling the previous mark. "'Why Ya Wanna' is a song that everyone can relate to," Jana explains. "When I first heard the song, I was hooked immediately. It was literally everything I was going through and more, so it meant a lot to record a personal song that became my first single." The song has already been downloaded nearly 200,000 times to date and will be included on Jana’s debut album due for release later in 2012 on Elektra Nashville. She is currently in the studio with producer Scott Hendricks putting the finishing touches to it.
Last year Jana Kramer twanged up Deniece Williams “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” with a countrified take on the new Footloose soundtrack. Listen to her new single 'Why Ya Wanna' on Spotify - Jana Kramer – Why Ya Wanna
Taylor Swift was in London this week reportedly to rehearse for the Les Miserables film, where she thought to be playing the role of Eponine.
Following on from the success of his last #1 platinum-certified single, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” Luke Bryan has now landed his fourth No. 1 single with “I Don’t Want This Night To End” which he co-wrote with top songwriters Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip. It’s Luke’s fastest rising single to date with over 1 million downloads.
The Tennessean reports that Willie Nelson will perform with the Nashville Symphony at Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Tue. June 5. The word is that he will play his biggest hits with the Symphony, as well as Tin Pan Alley classics drawn from his latest release , American Classic.
Big Machine Records’ Rascal Flatts has been named the recipient of the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award based on their charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout the band’s career. In 2010, the group donated $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center. They currently serve as celebrity spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization, The Jason Foundation, and have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the past seven years.
Carrie Underwood & Steven Tyler’s ‘CMT Crossroads’ will air Feb. 4, 2012
Albums due to drop Tim McGraw's long-awaited record, ‘Emotional Traffic,’ is out Jan 24. Kellie Picker’s ‘100 Proof’ is out Jan 25 the Grammy Nominees album with Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Lady A, Eric Church and Blake Shelton along with ‘Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume Two’ is in stores as well with Dierks Bentley, Justin Moore, Montgomery Gentry, Pat Green, Jack Ingram & Hank Jr.
Billy Ray Cyrus says he never learned the dance that went along with ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ and that he couldn’t do it today if he was paid.
Billy Ray Cyrus says he never learned the dance that went along with ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ and that he couldn’t do it today if he was paid.
Garth Brooks has won a $1 million ruling in a court suit against an Oklahoma hospital that failed to build a women's health center in honor of his late mother.
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| Blake Shelton & -Reba McEntire ACM Award 2012 Hosts |
The Nominations have been announced for the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music® Awards (ACM’s) country music’s party of the year. Kenny Chesney leads male nominees with 9 nominations; Jason Aldean earns 6 , Brad Paisley earns 4, Toby Keith earns 3 ; Taylor Swift leads solo female nominations with 3, Grace Potter receives 3 noms for projects with Kenny Chesney; Lady Antebellum leads group nominations with 5, Eli Young Band earns 3.
For the fifth year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and for the fourth year, the New Artist of the Year category will also be opened up to fan voting. The awards broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network – Full List of final nominees.
After reports that Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will spend 2012 apart professionally they have got their first gig set – The Sturgis Rally in South Dakota (August 3-12)
American Songwriter Presents 30 Days Of Dylan - Tom Russell on Bob Dylan: “He’s an artist. We have precious few. He’s kept going, in spite of the constant booing and critical distractions along the way. He shattered our idea of poetry and song. He virtually altered our notion of folk music. He built his own church on the old concepts, and created a new vision. He gave me religion”
Merle Haggard was resting at home in Northern California on Friday after a long stint in a Georgia hospital, according to his publicist Tresa Redburn. Haggard, 74, was hospitalized on January 17 for treatment of double-pneumonia. While in the hospital in Macon, Georgia, doctors discovered a number of other conditions for which Haggard needed treatment. Merle went to the hospital after his illness forced him to cancel a show in Macon just moments before taking the stage.
Doctors had the double-pneumonia pretty much cleared up earlier this week. The singer stayed in the hospital to recover after eight polyps were removed from his colon and for treatment of three stomach ulcers and diverticulitis in his esophagus, all of which were discovered by the Macon medical staff.
PRESS RELEASES
Carrie Underwood will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on February 23. The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later this spring.
Underwood wrote the track with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley, who co-wrote two of Underwood’s No. 1 hits “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.” Once again Carrie teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.
Music icon Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his international hits recorded with some of the biggest names in country music, on March 27 on Mercury Nashville.
McGRAW STRIKES GOLD ON EVE OF NEWEST ALBUM RELEASE EMOTIONAL TRAFFIC WITH CERTIFICATION OF LATEST #1 SINGLE - Tim McGrawadds yet another awards plaque to his extensive trophy wall with the announcement that his most recent #1 single Felt Good On My Lips has struck digital download gold on the sales front. Read more
Alan Jackson has been confirmed for a special luncheon performance at CRS 2012 (Country Radio Seminar) on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012.
The 38th Annual SPBGMA BLUEGRASS MUSIC AWARDS & 29th National Convention takes place February 2 - 5, 2012
and will be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel - Nashville, Tennessee. SPBGMA (spig' ma) stands for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America and of its goals are to preserve the traditional spirit and art form of Bluegrass music.
and will be held at the Sheraton Music City Hotel - Nashville, Tennessee. SPBGMA (spig' ma) stands for the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America and of its goals are to preserve the traditional spirit and art form of Bluegrass music.
Here is the list of the 2012 Nominees.
CAT-LOVING CROONER KELLIE PICKLER HELPS DESIGN SWEATER THAT WILL HAVE FELINE FASHIONISTAS SAYING “ME-WOW - LINK
#1 for Michael Martin Murphey’s Tall Grass & Cool Water on the Top 20 Western Music Albums Chart - Read More
(Jan 26, 2012) Eric Church garners ACM Nominations for album of the year and video of the year – Read More
(Jan 26, 2012) Bellamy Brothers fall victim to Grand Llarceny, vandalism while shooting music video in Florida everglades - Read More
Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and five-time GRAMMY® winner Glen Campbell — currently out on the road for his "Goodbye Tour" — will join current GRAMMY nominees The Band Perry and Blake Shelton for a special performance on the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
PHOTO
Matraca Berg (left), Kenny Chesney and Deana Carter attend the Grammy nominees party in Nashville on Jan. 17, 2012. “You and Tequila” written by Matraca and Deana and performed by Kenny and Grace Potter is nominated for Best Country Song – See CMT Picture.
Faith Hill & Tim McGraw Photoshoot – See Facebook Image They will unveil their new fragrances at the Ulta store in Hendersonville, TN., Feb 4 from 1 to 3.
LISTEN
Spotify have the brand new album by Kellie Pickler - Kellie Pickler – 100 Proof
WATCH
Crosswind recording artist Teea Goans has been nominated for a regional Emmy in the arts category for her music video, Letter From God. Regional Emmy winners will be announced March 17 in ceremonies at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. “2012 is off to a great start” tweeted Goans. “I’m so blessed to have been able to record this song and then turn it into such a beautifully done video.” The video was directed by Matt Coale and produced by Terry Choate. Bradford VanDemark of BlueSky Filmworks was the video editor and Brian Parker designed and performed the unique sand art segments.
“Letter From God,” written by Angela Kaset and Rob Crosby, was released as a country single but has also found appreciative audiences in the inspirational and Christian markets. Watch it on Youtube
Kellie Pickler performed "Where's Tammy Wynette" from her brand new album 100 PROOF on The EllenShow (Jan 27) - Youtube
INTERVIEW
Suite101 chat with Amber Lawrence one of the rising stars of Australian country music about her new album. Check her
2007 release on Spotify Amber Lawrence – The Mile
Writer Chuck Dauphin’s has a new artist feature on Shawna Russell - 615 Spotlight: Shawna Russell Sees the Light
For Valentine's Day, people were asked by Zebra Pen Corp (with more than 2,500 people questioned) which celebrity they’d most like to receive a love note from.
The Result: 29% of the guys choose Taylor Swift & 45% of the ladies choose Keith Urban who nearly doubling those of the second-place finisher, pop star Bruno Mars, who got 24 percent of the female vote. Rock legend/American Idol judge Steven Tyler got (19 percent), rapper/producer Jay-Z (6 percent) and Justin Bieber (5 percent).
For the guys, pop singer Katy Perry edged out her country gal-pal Taylor Swift, 34 percent to 29 percent whilst Beyoncé received (21 percent), Lady Gaga (9 percent) and Britains very own Adele (6 percent).
TWEETS
Brad Paisley tweeted, “if you ever wondered if you can light a cigar with a laser, well, you can."
