Country Bites News snippets October 1 - October 7, 2012
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH News
Chart News:
Dane Stevens with “I've Got My Work Cut Out” remains top of the British & Irish Hotdisc Chart for a third week
On the the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (6 Oct 2012) Taylor Swift moves up from number six to number four with her single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and she debuts her latest single "Begin Again" at #30
On the iTunes Top 100 Country Songs (1 Oct 2012) WANEGBT remains #1 and Taylor is #1 on every Worldwide chart
Celtic Music Radio country presenter Stewart Fenwick talked with Teea Goans, a relatively new name on the Nashville scene who is very much in the Grand Ole Opry tradition. The Missouri native is marking her 10th anniversary in Music City, with the release of her second album “THATS JUST ME”. Listen to the edited interview here >> Audio Link
Stewart Fenwick Celtic Country Show goes out live every Sunday afternoon from 12:00 - 14:00
Teeas album is available to purchase at Amazon UK and Smart Choice Music
Although it was brief, Will Banister’s debut UK tour was a great success “playing to ecstatic audiences” in Basildon, Widnes, Leeds, Watton and Nottingham. After each concert he spent time meeting with the crowds, signing autographs and selling copies of his brand new album, TURN BACK TIME, which received its worldwide premier to coincide with the tour.
After the tour, Will Banister’s Facebook site has continued to host many compliments and good wishes.
“I enjoyed meeting all the great people and discovering so many real country music fans” says Banister. “I also loved seeing the beautiful country side ….. even enjoyed the rain!”
Backing him at every date were top British musicians Derek Thurlby (steel guitar), John J. Paul (keyboards), John Pettifer (guitar) and Roy Martin (drums), joined by Banister’s record producer/manager Johnny Mulhair (guitar/harmonica) and Jill Mulhair (bass/vocals). The tour was promoted by Nicky James who, previously, brought into the UK such country stalwarts as Gene Watson, Moe Bandy and Johnny Rodriguez.
Country Music People have provided the first print review for TURN BACK TIME, with editor Duncan Warwick writing:
“Once again Will Banister has showed the major labels, not only what they’re missing, but what they should be doing.” (Source Music News Nashville)
Daniel O’Donnell has millions of fans around the globe and now wants them all to come home to Donegal for The Gathering.
The singer, who meets and greets Donegal fans from Australia to America each year, wants to make 2013 a huge party back home.
He revealed “It’s no secret that I love Donegal, in 2013 I would like to invite all my fans to come and share in my love of Ireland.
“It is going to be a very special year with a packed calendar of entertainment.”
Paddy Harte, Chairman for the Donegal Gathering, said it is a great honour to have Daniel O’Donnell supporting the Gathering.
“His international stature and profile is world renowned and our plans for the coming year can only improve by having his support.”
At next years Americana International #33 being held a the Country Showground, Newark on July 11 - 15 will feature Georgette Jones, Mandy Barnett (USA), Will Banister (USA), Moe Bandy (USA), Billy Yates (USA) and from the UK Pig Earth, Raintown, Ian Highland & Twilight Country and many more
Maverick Magazine have Taylor Swift as their Nov/Dec cover feature titled “Small Town Girl To Country Superstar” written by 23-year old Emily Saxton
Read Maverick Nov-Dec 2012
The Haley Sisters new video “'Till I Can Gain Control Again' was shown on The Phil Mack Show this week and their new album
WHEN I REACH THE PLACE I'M GOING earned them 4.1/2 STARS by Maverick Magazine’s editor Alan Cackett who wrote: “Quality music from the Yorkshire siblings who deserve wider recognition from the music industry...Jo-Ann and Becky Haley are without question the finest female British country vocalists, but sadly country music in Britain is treated shabbily by the UK music industry...deserves to be placed up there with the finest Nashville country music and be fully embraced by country music fans and the media alike
Ireland’s own Pete Kennedy is packing his bags and traveling to the UK for a 3-month international tour. Pete will be joining the Neil Sedaka tour for 9 shows in October and then will be jumping on tour with Philadelphia soul group, The Stylistics, on their UK tour for 19 dates throughout November and early December.
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| Pete Kennedy Press Photo |
Wrapping up production for his music video, “I Am The One” in Nashville, TN last month, Pete is looking forward to a busy autumn with back-to-back UK tours. “It’ll be nice to be busy again,” said Kennedy. “We had a busy May and June in Nashville – first writing the songs with some of Nashville’s hit songwriters, then recording The Nashville Sessions Volume 2 and performing at a large portion of CMA Fest.”
Sedaka, pop singer/pianist/composer, whose career has spanned nearly 55 years, had had hits including “Laughter In The Rain” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” Pete Kennedy will open all 10 dates in the UK, from 6th October through 24th October.
The Stylistics was one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the seventies, and they continue to please audiences with hits like “You Make Me Feel Brand New” and “Stop, Look, Listen (To My Heart)”. Pete Kennedy will open all 18 dates in the UK from 1st November through 2nd December, including 21st November at The Indigo O2 in London.
“We’ve had some great success over the past year,” said Pete. “but it’s nothing compared to being able to support these legendary artists. I’m going to learn a lot!”
Related news: Yes music fans in Europe seem to have a different mindset when it comes to veteran artists than their equivalent in the United States. Over the last forty years, artists who have been cast aside in the states have found renewed careers in the U.K and throughout Europe. Their albums sell in numbers that are acceptable to the record companies where U.S. companies are less interested in working with older artists who are still very viable talents.
Such is the case with Neil Sedaka. It has been many years since we have gotten a new set from the singer, instead being given a myriad of different collections and live albums. The U.K just got such an animal with the Monday release of THE REAL NEIL. The acoustic album features a number of new songs along with a couple re-recordings of Sedaka classics such as Breaking Up is Hard to Do, Laughter in the Rain and Amarillo. Still, the majority of the album is new, something fans have been waiting for for a long time.
The most challenging task for a songwriter is to write a simple tune but still bring an emotional feeling to it", says Neil. "After 60 years of writing, I am very proud of these new songs..The songs are very personal and come from my soul. It’s the culmination of all the years of writing. No frills. No production gimmicks
UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(1 Oct 2012) Iris DeMent - Sing The Delta (Flariella) :
(2 Oct 2012) Jerrod Niemann - Free The Music (Sea Gayle-Arista):
(2 Oct 2012) Blake Shelton - Cheers It’s Christmas (Warner Bros.-WMN) -
(2 Oct 2012) Charlie Peacock - No Man’s Land (Twenty Ten Music):
( 2 Oct 2012) Linda Ortega - Cigarettes & Truckstops (Last Gang Records) :
(2 Oct 2012) Angel Snow - Self Titled (Black Mesa)
(2 Oct / 15 Oct 2012) Willie Nelson - The Classic Christmas Album (Sony Music CMG)
AUSSIE NEWS
With eight weeks until the 26th ARIA Awards, the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) have announced the nominees in all categories along with the details of the 2012 ARIA Awards to be staged at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, Darling Harbour on Thursday, 29 November, 2012.
Keith Urban - For You (Capitol / EMI) is nominated for Best Male Artist
In the “Best Country Album” category the nominees are: Beccy Cole - Songs and Pictures (Sony Music), Catherine Britt - Always Never Enough (ABC Music), McAlister Kemp - Country Proud (ABC Music), The McClymonts (image)- Two Worlds Collide (UMA) and Troy Cassar-Daley - Home (Liberation Music)
Reigning CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum’s headlining Own The Night 2012 World Tour makes its final made its final curtain on Wednesday night (Oct 3) for their third consecutive sold out show at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia. "The success of this tour is probably the accomplishment we are most proud of as a band," said Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley. "It started as a sketch on a paper plate and it ended halfway around the world performing three nights at one of the most famous venues in the world. To think that we were able to take country music to all ofthese new places is mind-boggling to me. It's been one long, crazy, unforgettable year for us." Read More at...ladyantebellum.com
Tamara Stewart has released a tribute to female Australian country pioneers Thel Carey, Joy McKean and Shirley Thoms titled “Women In Song”. Co-written with Colin Buchanan, the song is the latest single from Tamara's acclaimed album APPLE SEED.
In Tamara's words, "the track honours three female trailblazers of Australian country music, with the spotlight on living legend Joy McKean. "We all know Joy well as the wife of the 'King of Country' Slim Dusty, and one half of The McKean Sisters with sister Heather, but Joy was also the first person to ever win a Golden Guitar award (Song Of The Year 1973) for writing Slim's monster hit Lights On The Hill along with many more accolades and honours in a career spanning many decades”
BLUEGRASS NEWS
The Compass Records Group have announced another partnership; the Nashville-based roots music company is handling distribution of Jim Lauderdale’s new bluegrass album Carolina Moonrise: Bluegrass Songs by Robert Hunter and Jim Lauderdale through Lauderdale’s personal label Sky Crunch Records which was available as of Sept 25th. (Read more at www.cybergrass.com)
In spite of all the deer that Junior Sisk as an avid huntsman may have collected over the years, last Thursday night was without a doubt the biggest night of his life. Sisk and his band Ramblers Choice were named two-time winners at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards when their names were announced as recipients of Song of the Year for “A Far Cry From Lester And Earl” and Album of the Year for their Rebel Records release, The Heart Of A Song. A visibly emotional Sisk was so overwhelmed he could barely speak…..Read more at musicnewsnashville.com
Punch Brothers mandolin player Chris Thile was among 23 people who have been awarded a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" in an official announcement on Tuesday (Oct 2). The fellowships from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, awards that can’t be applied for, are the stuff of fantasy. Besides the imprimatur of outstanding achievement, they come with a no-strings-attached $100,000 a year for five years!
Thile, 31, who got his start with the progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek, put together the Punch Brothers in 2006. He said he's considering using his grant to fund a chamber music project for a bluegrass quintet. The news came as a surprise to Thile: recipients don't even know they've been nominated until they get a phone call telling them they've won, and nominators remains anonymous - "I think I must have turned white," Thile said. "I've never felt so internally warm. My heart was racing. All of a sudden, I felt very askew physically. I was trying to catch my breath. . . . I thought, 'Oh, my God, did I win a MacArthur?'"..Read more: www.rollingstone.com The new MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile talking about his plans. >> YouTube
Russell Moore garners Fifth IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Award …. The International Bluegrass Music Association presented IIIrd Tyme Out's Russell Moore with his Fifth Male Vocalist of the Year award from the historic Ryman Auditorium last Thursday night (Sept 27) during the association's annual awards ceremony. Upon receiving a standing ovation when his name was called, an emotional and excited Moore thanked his parents, wife and sons, and the IBMA membership. "I want to thank each of you for entrusting me to represent the IBMA as your Male Vocalist of the Year for another 12 months," said Moore. "I'll do my best to make you proud!" Moore, who won the award in 1994 and 1997, has also received the honor the last three consecutive years..Read More at www.cybergrass.com
NEWS
The star-packed lineup for “The 46th Annual CMA Awards” continues to grow with the announcement (Oct 1) that co-host Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, and Zac Brown Band have joined the performer lineup. Bryan is making his debut in the Male Vocalist category. Bryan enters the elite list for the first time in 2012. Bryan also picked up a second nomination for Album of the Year for TAILGATES & TANLINES, produced by Jeff Stevens and Mark Bright.
Heidi Newfield has been chosen as the NRA Country Artist Of The Month for October. Heidi’s voice and presence in country music first established her as the center stage star of Trick Pony’s emergence in 2001. She recently released the debut single “Why’d You Have To Be So Good” from her sophomore solo project expected to launch in early 2013. She joins some of country music’s biggest artists in teaming up with NRA Country to celebrate her support of our brave men and women in uniform, appreciation for the great outdoors, and love of family.
- Heidi celebrates a Birthday this week, born Oct 4, 1970 in Healdsburg, California.
- Trick Pony, earned a gold album with its 2001 debut. She left for a solo career in 2006.
- Her highest charting single is "Johnny & June" which peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs in 2008.
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| Heidi Newfield |
“Country is much more than the place you were born and raised. To me, it’s about having a love for our beautiful land and a respect for this great nation’s founding principles. I’ve been lucky enough to travel across the U.S. and I think it’s the best place on earth. I’m Heidi Newfield and I am NRA Country.”
TWEET: @heidinewfield is @NRACountry2010’s Artist Of The Month! Register for prize & check out exclusive behind the scenes video at www.nracountry.com!!!
Each month a new country music artist will be featured on NRACountry.com, highlighting what makes them ‘NRA Country.’ Past featured artists include: Justin Moore, Lee Brice, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, Rodney Atkins, Gretchen Wilson, Josh Thompson, Love and Theft, Easton Corbin, and TV personality Storme Warren. (Monarch Publicity Press)
NRA Country is a celebration of American values. Get fast access to the latest news and legislation that affects your Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Respect. Honor. Freedom - It's a lifestyle and a bond between the country music community and hard-working Americans everywhere. It's powered by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military, and the responsibilities of protecting the great American life.
In August Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash fame was asked by the Associated Press what his take was about the Aurora shooting in which 58 people were wounded, along with 12 killed, when a gunman opened fire in a cinema on the opening night of The Dark Knight Rises on 20 July. It is said some 48,000 Americans will die from gun violence during a president's four-year term. Some think the NRA and lobbyists are a stain on the psyche of the USA
Graham Nash : My take on that is that in probably less than 100 years the National Rifle Association and the gun lobby and the pharmaceutical lobby and the tobacco industry and the liquor lobby will all be seen as major criminals.
- Gun deaths in the US - where guns are legal - pop 312 million, 2010: 8,775
- Gun deaths in the UK - where guns are illegal - pop. 65 million, in 2011 : 51
Question – Should country music artists really ally themselves with the NRA?
Trace Adkins, JoDee Messina to patriot Lee Greenwood along with to hit-making acts Lorrie Morgan, Collin Raye and more will all be making stops at various upcoming rally events to help bring Gov. Mitt Romney and Congressman Paul Ryan to The White House. “I am honored to be able to perform before Gov. Romney,” says Collin Raye. “I haven’t delved into politics much in the past, but I felt it was time to help speak out and support the GOP during this campaign.”
The Oak Ridge Boys are no stranger to the political scene. “We have been performing for Presidents since Ronald Reagan was in office,” says Duane Allen, lead vocalist of The Oak Ridge Boys. “When we were in Tampa last month for the RNC, we performed for our people and we will continue to do so as long as we are asked.” (Webster & Associates Press)
Country duo Steel Magnolia has just released their remake of the Paul McCartney classic, “Maybe I’m Amazed,” to country radio. The song is featured on the country all-star compilation project, LET US IN NASHVILLE – A TRIBUTE TO LINDA MCCARTNEY which benefits the Women and Cancer Fund.This summer the duo, comprised of Joshua Scott and Meghan Linsey, performed the song for an audience at the Grand Ole Opry
Taylor Swift brushed off a “Mean” internet prank with a generous donation to School for the Deaf...Taylor Swift has turned the tables on ill-intentioned internet pranksters, resulting in a big win for some much deserving students at a school for the deaf.
It all began with a contest sponsored by Papa John’s and Chegg, a textbook company, in which Facebook voters got to determine which school would win a concert from the ‘Begin Again’ singer. In a mean-spirited prank, a group of posters on 4chan started a campaign to vote for the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Allston, Mass. The campaign was a variation of a similar internet prank that resulted in rapper Pitbull performing at a Walmart in Alaska.
Chris Young is kicking off the first leg of his headlining Liquid Neon Tour next month, starting with a sold out show from Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium. The date marks his first-ever hometown headlining play in Music City. Special guests on the tour include Thomas Rhett and RCA recording artist and Young’s labelmate, Joanna Smith, will open the shows. (Monarch Publicity)
Darius Rucker has been invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. After Rucker had performed his hits “Alright” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It” as well as his current single “True Believers,” Rucker agreed to field questions from members of the audience during the Opry's Tuesday night performance. After answering questions posed by two fans, a third “fan”, Opry member Brad Paisley, appeared who made the offer to the singer-songwriter during a faux question-and-answer session with the crowd
"My question is in two parts," Brad told the "True Believers" singer. "Are you still the worst poker player in the world? ... Other question is would you like to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?"
"You're kidding me? Tonight? Really? No," was Darius' first reaction then graciously respond, "Yes, I would." >> YouTube
Rucker will formally be inducted into the Opry on Tues., Oct. 16, 2012.
On her blog, “Me and Emily” singer Rachel Proctor outlined her struggles over the last four and a half months. She suffered a postpartum hemorrhage following the birth of her daughter Olivia, who was born with a life-threatening heart defect
Shania Twain has taken a very long break from recording and performing, is getting back in the spirit of things, the Christmas spirit, that is, 2013?. In a new interview, she reveals that before she delivers new anytime studio music, she is “dying” to make a Christmas album. Shania told Up! magazine that she’s been so focused on her upcoming Vegas debut that it’s been difficult to make much progress on a new studio effort. “I’m concentrating on the show and not really getting any closer to recording a new album, even though I’ve done so much of the writing,” she explains. “I’m more inclined to make my next record a Christmas album”
Related: On Monday Oct 1, 2012, the Official Charts Company in Britain issued a special report on the biggest selling albums of the CD era (October 1982 to today) to celebrate its thirtieth birthday.Shania’s “Come On Over” was at #7 on the Top 30. ABBA were at #1over the last three decades as their Gold: Greatest Hits has sold four-million copies in the U.K. Adele's 21 is now the second biggest selling CD, just 400,000 copies behind.
Country singer-songwriter Chase Rice has earned the accolade of a gold single with the success of his co-write on new country duo Florida Georgia Line’s (FGL) hit single, “Cruise.” The song was penned by Chase and his talented circle of fellow singer songwriters Jesse Rice, FGL’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, and FGL producer Joey Moi.
Chase released his independent debut album DIRT ROAD COMMUNION in March 2012, peaking at #6 on the Country iTunes chart and punching through at #48 on the Billboard Top Country Album Chart. (www.chaserice.com)
As part of Country Music Month’s promotions, events, and activities spotlighting the genre and leading up to the annual CMA Awards on Thursday, Nov. 1, the CMA Songwriters Series will return to Nashville on Wednesday, Oct. 31at Marathon Music Works.
Featuring Kristian Bush, Brantley Gilbert, and host Bob DiPiero, the CMA Songwriters Series allows music fans insight into the stories behind some of their favorite songs. Read more at www.cmaworld.com
The Willie Nelson Train Tour has been cancelled. The “country legend” and Band of Horses were billed to headline the eight-show train-bound festival tour, which was scheduled to begin in Georgia on 20 October (12).
A statement from the organisers reads: "It is with extreme regret that we announce the cancellation of the 2012 Railroad Revival Tour. The decision to do so was a difficult one, but it was determined that certain complications would not permit us to host the shows in the manner intended, and that the bands and fans deserved."
The inaugural Railroad Revival Tour in 2011, which featured Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Old Crow Medicine Show, was a huge success.
X Factor 2012 judge Louis Walsh confirmed on Oct 5th that Taylor Swift will be performing on The X Factor this year.
Louis Walsh (it now seems) teased: “Taylor Swift [u]is on this week and Leona Lewis. The biggest acts in the world are on X Factor this year. Taylor did performing during a special show on Friday, but it wasn’t broadcast to viewers this weekend.
Instead, the pre-recorded performance will air next weekend on October 14.
US Country singer Taylor has been in the UK plugging her new track “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, is most likely the
song she performs on the show. An unconfirmed source says:
"It was pre-recorded on 5 October 2012 and I can tell you that a cut out guitar is involved in the performance"
Meanwhile the track listing has been revealed for her album RED due to hit stores on Monday, October 22
1. State Of Grace 2. Red 3. Treacherous 4. I Knew You Were Trouble
5. All Too Well 6. 22 7. I Almost Do 8. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
9. Stay Stay Stay 10. The Last Time 11. Holy Ground 12. Sad Beautiful Tragic
13. The Lucky One 14. Everything Has Changed 15. Starlight 16. Begin Again
5. All Too Well 6. 22 7. I Almost Do 8. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
9. Stay Stay Stay 10. The Last Time 11. Holy Ground 12. Sad Beautiful Tragic
13. The Lucky One 14. Everything Has Changed 15. Starlight 16. Begin Again
Eager crowds of young girls waited outside a London hotel on Saturday (Oct 6) not for British heartthrobs One Direction but for Taylor Swift who was due to appear that night on ITV’s Jonathan Ross Show and then the Radio 1 Teen Awards on Sunday .
The country singer wore a check shirt tucked into a pair of fitted beige trousers, she teamed the pieces with Oxford-style shoes and brown satchel. The 22-year-old dealt well with the hysterical admirers, she kept fans happy by posing for photographs who turned up to get her autograph and pictures with the star, requests to which she happily obliged (PHOTO)
But as the blonde signed items such as magazine covers she appears on, she admitted on Saturday’s The Jonathan Ross Show that she prefers not to reveal all of her personal life in the features she agrees to.
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| Taylor Swift & Jonathan Ross |
Instead she likes to open up via her songs.
I would much rather my personal life be sung about. I think it sounds nicer that way, rather than me talking about it in some magazine article,’ Taylor shared. Jonathan asked if she worries that her material will dry up if her current relationship [with Conor Kennedy] turns out to have a happy ending. Taylor admitted: ‘Do I worry about that? I worry about everything. Name a topic, I worry about it.’
The singer then explained that she can be inspired by any type of emotion.
She confessed: ‘I think there's no such thing as a simple emotion. I think you can be happy but there's always a complex undertone to that. ‘What if you're scared you're going to lose it? That's a type of sadness that's a by-product of happiness.
‘In every emotion you feel there are 80,000 different sub categories that you can turn into a simple emotion and make it three and a half minutes long and write a song about it.’ Taylor told Jonathan that she can always use previous break ups to inspire later singles. “You stockpile all the pain and you just draw from it later.”
Do you give too much of yourself too soon? Asked Ross – “I choose not to apply rules to love” said Tay >> YouTube Interview
Mayor Karl Dean joined Hall of Fame songwriters Wayland Holyfield, Pat Alger and Kye Fleming today, along with officials from the Music City Center, to announce the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will be permanently housed in the new convention center.
The Hall of Fame will be located in the lobby adjacent to Sixth Avenue and facing Demonbreun Street, and will feature songwriting artifacts as well as three 55” touch screens that will allow visitors to access sound, video and other digital information about the history of Nashville-connected songwriting and all 184 members of the Hall of Fame.
Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood hail Songwriters Hall inductees: Kim Williams hesitated only slightly when asked who he thinks has been the best interpreter of his songs before the start of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
"That's tough, but I'd say it would have to be Garth Brooks because I wrote them with him," Williams said. "He was part of the songs, too, before he sang them. We had so much fun writing together."
They had a load of fun together Sunday night, too.
Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood were on hand to help celebrate this year's inductees — Williams, Tony Arata, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Larry Henley. Brooks saluted Williams and Arata, while Yearwood paid tribute to Carpenter and Henley, the writer of the enduring hit "The Wind Beneath My Wings."
"Over 200 artists have recorded 'The Wind Beneath My Wings,' so it's kind of how do you do a new twist?" Yearwood said before the ceremony. "And with Chapin, I've just known her a long, long time, so it was a no-brainer when she asked me. It's the Garth and Trisha show and we're just going to have a good time." (Live PHOTO) - Gallery Photos (AP)
The Tennessean have an in depth report - Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees speak of collaboration
LeAnn Rimes’ health woes are mounting after a “massive infection” forced her to pull the plug on a gig.
Her concert KO comes just weeks after she left a rehab clinic, where she enrolled to battle anxiety and stress. She was due to perform in Wendover, Nevada, on Friday ( Oct 5) but cancelled at the last minute after falling ill. It’s thought her infection could be related to the emergency root canal treatment she underwent in her mouth in July.
Addressing fans after the axed concert, she tweeted: “I feel like I got hit in my right side of my face with a baseball bat. Not a good feeling when I am getting on a plane. “For all my fans at Wendover last night, the show will be rescheduled, not a cancelled show.
“Worst way ever to kick off a tour... under anaesthesia and a massive infection.
In August, LeAnn checked herself into a 30-day programme at a health facility just hours after celebrating her 30th birthday.
She said: “This is just a time for me to emotionally check out for a second and take care of myself and come back in 30 days as the best 30-year-old woman I can be.
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Taylor Swift fans were seeing ‘Red’ on Monday morning, as she debuted a clip of the title track to her highly anticipated fourth studio album during a segment of ‘Good Morning America’. She honoured her promise to premiere a new song on the popular morning news show each Monday leading up to the album’s Oct. 22 release.
Taylor explained that “Red” refers to emotions. “Some things are hard to forget because emotions are so high” >> YouTube
Cynthia McFadden was charmed by Taylor Swift and said at the end of Monday’s “GMA’s interview, “She is truly adorable and oh so talented.”
Swift’s ‘Red’ and UK boy band One Direction’s ‘Live While We’re Young’ are battling for the top spot on iTunes. (PHOTO)
Rolling Stone writes:
With just a few weeks until Taylor Swift releases her hotly anticipated new album, Red, the singer stoked the flames a bit more by streaming the record's earworm of a title track.
Certainly more country-fried than the massive pop thump of first single "We Are Never Getting Back Together," the twangy "Red" does sneak in some Top-40 tropes – the chopped and repeated last syllable of "red" in the chorus, for example – but is overall more reminiscent of Swift's break-out broken-hearted anthems. With banjos flying, strings swelling and guitars wailing, Swift keeps her lyrics simple but effective: "Loving him was blue like I've never known / Missing him was dark grey, all alone / Forgetting him was like
Billboard saw it as a return to form for the singer-songwriter after she’s departed from her country sound, writing, “Not since her ‘Love Story’ days has Swift sold such a country kick to mainstream fans: while much of her music is guitar-based with a hint of pop, ‘Red’ is downright Nashville. The steel guitar twangs all the way through the song, while there’s an electronic effect on her vocals in the chorus that serves as both a hook and as a device to emphasize the importance of the title word.
Brad Paisley’s new single, “Southern Comfort Zone,” from his upcoming album out April 9, 2013 became Paisley’s highest career chart debut in Billboard two weeks ago when it debutted at #25 on the Hot Country Songs Chart.
Donna Ulisse re-tells the story of Christ’s conception and birth in her powerful new album, ALL THE WAY TO BETHLEHEM. But this is not a conventional Christmas CD. Rather, it occupies the same artistic territory as such Bible-based narratives as Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. ll The Way To Bethlehem will be released October 23.
Produced by Keith Sewell, the much-praised sideman for the Dixie Chicks, Lyle Lovett and Ricky Skaggs, the 11 songs on the album are performed principally to acoustic instruments.
PRESS RELEASES
Craig Campbell’s “Outta My Head” has been released for Digital Download and he celebrated it with a LIVE StageIt webcast on Thursday (Oct 4) (Monarch Publicity)
Rural Rhythm Records is very proud to announce numerous International Bluegrass Music Association Awards presented to their artists last week during the IBMA Awards Show held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Darrel Adkins accepted the award for the Musicians Against Childhood Cancer’s IBMA Recorded Event of the Year Award for the song, “Life Goes On.” The song is the title track from the album that benefits St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Lonesome River Band was honored with the IBMA Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year Award for their song “Angeline the Baker” from their album, CHRONOLOGY, VOLUME ONE. The band is led by Sammy Shelor who won his fifth IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year Award. Top vocalist, Russell Moore also took home his fifth IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Award. (Rural Rhythm Records- Press)
Little General Records recording sibling trio Taylor Made first >> music video for current single “Things You Don't Grow Out Of” was picked up by country music network Great American Country (GAC). On Friday, September 28th, the single became the group's highest charting single to date when it landed at #26 on the Music Row chart. And on Tuesday, October 2nd, the single became the group's first to chart in Media Base."This single has done a lot for us in terms of furthering our career," said Greg Duckworth, member of Taylor Made and lead vocals on the single. "We're looking forward to seeing what else Things You Don't Grow Out Of has to offer, as well as what the future holds for us as a trio." Born and raised in Grafton, West Virginia, trio Taylor Made has been performing together since childhood (Nashville Music Media Press)
ARTICLES
Kix Brooks Takes Control on New to This Town by Deborah Evans Price © 2012 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association
New Artist Spotlight: JT Hodges by Bob Doerschuk used by permission © 2012 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music
Tuesday, October 02 2012 @ 03:43 PM EDT
CMT's Craig Shelburne - Dolly Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors” Fits the Fall Season …Extract: Dolly Parton’s classic “Coat of Many Colors” is so vividly written, the humbling narrative always unfolds like a movie in my mind. Those mean kids! But that coat is more than just an imaginative way to tell a story. You can see the actual article when you visit Dollywood, the country star’s theme park near her hometown of Sevierville, Tenn…...Next to the little patchwork jacket, which I think most parents and kids would consider cute now, is a set of small papers with Parton’s scrawled lyrics to the song. I find it interesting that Parton was a pretty harsh editor of her own work. The scratched-out words almost outnumber her remaining lyrics. It’s also incredible that she could tell her life story in just a few lines.
Adam Gold from the Nashville Scene has an extensive feature on the new ABC drama, “NASHVILLE” about "love, power, money, family and music" that will premier on Wednesday, Oct. 10.
ABC's new country music drama Nashville takes Music City to prime time. Will Nashville recognize itself?
Extract: The Bluebird Cafe has a new location. It's on a rather isolated hilltop overlooking Trinity Hills Park, 11 miles north of the Green Hills strip mall that houses the original — a hallowed hole in the wall that's the Nashville singer-songwriter's answer to The Cavern Club.
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| Nashville TV Drama |
This new Bluebird is built on a soundstage deep inside a warehouse previously home to the Baker Curb Racing team. Aside from the slight change in scenery, it's a carbon copy of the original — all the way down to the airbrushed, overexposed headshots and framed gold records lining the walls (each placed in the exact same order). It even has the bluebirds embedded in the bar's wood top, as well as the paper disclaimers that say, "No recording, copyrighted material," and thank patrons for their support…
Don't expect to see house luminaries like Don Schlitz or Pam Tillis performing at this satellite club, though — unless they're appearing as extras in Nashville, the highly anticipated prime-time drama…… Read More
Related - ABC Studios and Big Machine Records have entered an exclusive partnership to release and market music from the this upcoming ABC series Nashville. Original music will debut each week on iTunes and ABC’s Music Lounge. Multiple songs from the show’s first episode will become available on iTunes Oct. 9. Stars Connie Britton (PHOTO), Hayden Panettiere (PHOTO!), Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio are among the cast members who will perform original songs on the series. See Photo Gallery - Country Weekly Cover PHOTO
Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta tells Billboard.biz he will wait to see the momentum of the show before announcing the release of a soundtrack album. "If I Didn't Know Better," written by the Civil Wars' John Paul White and Arum Rae and sung by cast members Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio, will be the first single released on iTunes. Co-star Hayden Panettiere's version of "Love Like Mine" and Charles Esten's rendition of "Back Home" will also be released.
"Telescope," which Hayden Panettiere sings and was written by Hillary Lindsey and Cary Barlowe, will appear in the second episode and be the first song sent to radio. At least one song from each original episode will be released to iTunes for sale during its first season. Watch the AMB Promo Video >> YouTube
INTERVIEWS
Tift Meritts album TRAVELLING ALONE was released this week (Oct 2) and she comes to the UK in November for 5 dates: 11/22 London ( Assembly Hall Islington), 11/23 Oxford (Bullingdon Arms), 11/25 Manchester (Ruby Lounge), 11/26 Edinburgh (Pleasance Courtyard & Theatre) and 11/28 Newcastle (The Cluny). Full album stream at soundcloud.com
The touch of sweet sadness in Tift Meritts's voice has rarely served her better than it does on Travelling Alone writes The New York
Swedish sister act First Aid Kit finds inspiration in American folk and pop – It all started with Conor Oberst. Or actually, maybe it all started with Britney Spears. As sisters growing up in Sweden, First Aid Kit's Johanna and Klara Söderberg would listen to American pop music on the radio and harmonize along — Spears, Beyoncé..... Interview with www.nashvillescene.com
Rolling Stone Magazine - Brad Paisley Stepping Out 'On a Ledge' for Next Album …Country superstar challenges himself on follow-up to 'This Is Country Music' …Ultimately he hopes to make a record that surprises both himself and his fans. "My goal is that, every time, your head does what my dog's head does when he's heard a word he's never heard before," he said. "We should do that with every song, whether that's lyrically or production or subject matter. You like it, but it's like, 'I didn't see that coming.' And I think there's plenty of room in country music for that."…Read more
Ourstage Exclusive Q and A: Brantley Gilbert Talks CMAs, Eric Church and Lessons from the Road
WATCH
Official video for “Holiday” from the self-titled album by Angel Snow out everywhere on October 2nd >> YouTube
Ryan Bingham singer-songwriter released his fourth studio album TOMORROWLAND On Sept. 18 of his own Axster Bingham Records. “With this record I tried to take a step back and take more time than I have on any previous albums,” said Bingham. “The decision to produce it myself with co-producer Justin Stanley was a step into unknown territory at first, but once we started recording it almost felt like it was creating itself. I think the songs can speak for themselves and I’m excited to get out on the road and play them for people. Check out the "Guess Who’s Knocking" video which has a raucous Led-Zep-esque fueled sound >> YouTube
Watch Dwight Yoakam receiving the ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. Hunter Hayes and Ashley Monroe perform tributes.
>> YouTube also available are the ACM Honors 2012 Red Carpet and postsd featuring Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs, Bobby Braddock and Billy Sherrill at www.youtube.com/user/ACMCOUNTRY
FREE DOWNLOADS
Los Angeles, based Alternative/Americana artist Grant-Lee Phillips has 6 Free songs "Green Corn Songs - Live At McCabes" for an email share at Noisetrade.com He emerged in the early ‘90s as the front-man and songwriter of the internationally acclaimed trio Grant Lee Buffalo. Recommened for Fans of: Grant Lee Buffalo, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, Sara Watkins, R.E.M.
COUNTRY RECIPE
Joey Martin (of Joey and Rory fame) Marcy Jo's Mealhouse Famous Angel Biscuits - Ingredients and directions!
COUNTRY FASHION
Taylor Swift Glamour Magazine Photoshoot
Left - Sequined tank, Burberry London; skirt, belt, Dior; diamond bracelet, Tiffany & Co
Centre - Dress, Erin by Erin Fetherston; vintage belt; satchel, Mark Cross; pumps, Casadei.
Right - Top, skirt, Marc Jacobs; pink sapphire earrings, Fred Leighton; gloves, L’Wren Scott; belt, heels, Kate Spade New York; blue satchel, Mark Cross.
Read More at www.glamour.com
Nightline’ accompanied Taylor Swift on the sweltering August photo shoot for her third Glamour cover >> YouTube
COUNTRY GOSSIP
Jason Aldean was photographed in Hollywood flirting, caressing, snuggling and kissing with former ‘American Idol’ Contestant Brittany Kerr. He got up close and personal with a former "A.I" contestant right in the open at a very public bar on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles.
TMZ obtained photos of Jason and Season 11 "A.I" contender Brittany taken on the crowded bar patio area at The Den on on Wednesday night (Sept. 26), frequented by locals and tourists always on the hunt for celebrities.
In the photos Aldean and Kerr get very flirty hugging, touching each other and at one point it appears Aldean goes in for a kiss.
Ironically Aldean the “Take A Little Ride” (With Me)’singer, who performed in So Cal eventually left the bar in a cab without Brittany.
In Kerrs Idol audition she was given a pass moreso for her bombshell good looks than for her singing ability.
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| Steven Lawton / Streeter Lecka Getty Images |
Jason was having a night off from his “My Kinda Party” Tour in Hollywood and took advantage of the opportunity to go out on the town with the boys.
Jason Aldean celebrated his 11-year wedding anniversary with his high school sweetheart Jessica last month. Jason and Jessica have two children together, Keeley, 9, and Kendyl, 5
Jason made a statement, which has appeared on his Facebook Page Sunday evening (Sept 30) regarding the allegations and has asked for help in dealing with the matter privately:
Hey Guys – I wanted to talk to you directly, so you were hearing the truth from me and not just reading allegations made about my personal life on gossip web sites.
The truth is that I screwed up. I had too much to drink, let the party get out of hand and acted inappropriately at a bar. I left alone, caught the bus to our next show and that's the end of the story. I ultimately ended up embarrassing my family and myself. I'm not perfect, and I'm sorry for disappointing you guys. I really appreciate being able to work through this privately with my family and for all your continued support. www.facebook.com/jasonaldean - View all 35,000 + comments?? !!!!
Brittany Kerr, NBA cheerleader who dances for the Charlotte Bobcats (photo) decided to issue her own apology for the Jason Aldean cheating scandal, saying that hooking up with the married country star was a "lapse in judgment." Kerr sent an apology to TMZ, who first leaked the photos of Aldean kissing Kerr at a bar in West Hollywood.
"The actions I portrayed recently were not a representation of my true character, but a lapse in judgment on my part," she told TMZ. "I would like to sincerely apologize to everyone that has been affected by this, including my friends and family."
One day after the cheating scandal broke, Kerr deleted her Twitter account, according to E! News.
Thomas Rhett has revealed to Taste of Country that he will marry fiancée Lauren Gregory later this month. “We’ve known each other since we were in the first grade,” he said. “We dated once when we were 15, and it didn’t work out. We remained best friends even after we broke up. We both dated other people for like five years. When I heard that she had ended her other relationship — this was last spring — I moved in for the kill. We kissed, and that was it. We dated for probably six months, and we got engaged last December, around Christmas time.”
LeAnn Rimes has left rehab and attended a movie premiere with husband Eddie Cibrian, 39, and stepsons, Mason, 9, and Jake, 5 on a family outing. LeAnn Rimes recently returned to her home in Los Angeles after spending 30 days in treatment to deal with anxiety and stress. While the month-long stay may have seemed intense at times, she says it felt perfectly natural for her to take a break to deal with her own issues. LeAnn, 30, attended the Batman Live premiere - "I've been in therapy my whole life," she tells the Boston Herald. "I like going. I like being able to have that third-party input and someone to listen that has nothing to do with your life. Everyone has an opinion of how I am and how I should be, and now I'm focusing on how I want to be."
Keith Urban’s wife Nicole Kidman hit a low point in her life when her marriage to Tom Cruise broke down and she spent months battling a severe bout of depression. The Oscar-winning actress married her Days of Thunder co-star in 1990, when she was just 23, and they adopted two children together before the relationship crumbled and ended in divorce in 2001.
She tells Who magazine, "I got married really fast and really young. But I don't regret that because it got me (my children) Bella and Connor and I did have a fantastic marriage for a long period. Then when it didn't work out I had to really dig deep and find my way through depression. I have no regrets about all of it. It was all part of growing up."
Kidman reveals her depression also stemmed from years of trying to have kids of her own, and when she finally fell pregnant with her first biological child, daughter Sunday Rose, she found the experience uplifting.
Taylor Swift who at 22-years old and one of the highest paid celebrities who recently topped Forbes magazine's list of under the age of 30 is saving up her hard-earned cash for her future family because she wants a brood of at least four.
Taylor said: "That money will be really good for sending my kids to college some day - or maybe I'll have a few more kids than I thought. I want a bunch of them running around, minimum four."
Blonde beauty Taylor is keen to wait a few years until she starts to think about settling down and becoming a parent and told Britains Marie Claire Magazine: "I want to wait a while, but the idea of pouring everything you are into another person when you become a parent has always been amazing to me."
She confessed she is a hopeless romantic despite having her heart broken in the past. She gushed: "[I believe in love] even after it explodes into a million pieces and burns down and you're standing in a pile of the ash of what it once was thinking, 'Why did I have to meet this person, why did this have to happen?
The Sun reports that Taylor Swift parted Swift-ly with £50k in cash on an antiques shopping spree. She splashed out £50,000 on antiques in a five minute spree in Notting Hill on Wednesday (Oct 3). She popped into antique dealer Alice’s on Portobello Road with her boyfriend Conor Kennedy. A source said: “She wandered into Alice’s and dropped £30,000 then went up the road and spent another £20,000. “She was only in there for about five minutes. About half of what she bought was for her, the other for Conor. “She bought a drawing of a shark, some old medicine bottles and a pinball machine for him.”
Sheryl Crow is selling her Hollywood estate for $16 million. The 50-year-old singer has listed the 11 acre property in the Hollywood Hills for $15,950,000 but it includes three homes, a four bedroom main house, the second with three bedrooms and a third which comes with two bedrooms, according to TMZ. The main house includes a library, wine cellar and chef's kitchen, while the mid sized property reportedly has the best views of all three.
Coldplay’s Chris Martin flew his favourite DJ to France to play at “Country Strong” actress/singer and wife Gwyneth Paltrow's 40th birthday over last weekend, which was held on a luxury boat.
Kenny Rogers is estranged from his first child because he made an agreement with his ex-wife to stay out of her life.
Janice Gordon fell pregnant the night Rogers lost his virginity when he was 19, and the couple wed in May, 1958. But the union was doomed and the couple separated two years later.Rogers' teenage sweetheart quickly remarried and asked the country star to stay out of her life.
Kenny told Fox News, "I don't (have any contact with my daughter), but that was my promise to them, that I would be her father but he (his ex-wife's second husband) would be her dad, and I don't want to disrupt that. "He stepped in at a time that was really awkward for all of us and he became her dad, and I love him for that. He was a good guy."
74-year old Rogers has four other kids: eight-year-old twins and two grown children.
Kenny Rogers on Chemistry with Dolly Parton & Plastic Surgery on a CBS This Morning Thursday interview he said:
“She’s too good of a friend,” Kenny said. “It would have ruined a friendship. I think what we had was a real chemistry and we loved people talking about it. It was great to hear people talking about it and I would wink back, but we were too good of friends for that “
hen it comes to plastic surgery, it’s a topic he discusses in depth in his new book. When asked about why he had it, he admitted to having at least some regrets - “I had the money to do it and I had time off,” he said. “But, it’s one of those things that I think everybody — you look at yourself and you go could I be better if I did this or if I did that? I did it and the guy who did it was one of the world’s best. He just had this concept that the edge of your eyes had to be higher at a certain place. I regret that. The truth is, I don’t know what I would’ve looked like if I hadn’t done it. I mean, I could be all down here. So, you do it and live with it”.
Keith Urban is upset by Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj's feud on 'American Idol'. The country singer and fellow panelist Randy Jackson were caught in the middle when Mariah and Nicki had a furious bust up earlier this week, leading to auditions being cancelled for a day and sources close to Keith say he doesn't know what to do.
An insider told the Chicago Sun Times: ''Keith is such a wonderful, easygoing, lovely guy. This kind of drama was not the reason he signed on to be an 'Idol' judge. ... He hates nastiness in any form”
The tirade was captured on video, and TMZ wasted no time posting it. So was this an early example of the anticipated acrimony between the two divas or a publicity stunt? >> YouTube
Carrie Underwood thinks her hair makes her look thinner. ....The super slim country singer who is known for her tousled blonde locks has admitted she likes to use lots of extensions and hairspray to make her hair bigger so the rest of her looks even smaller.
She told People.com:
"The higher the hair, the closer to God. It makes me laugh, but it really is southern humour. We country folk, we like our big hair. I am certainly no exception."I just feel like ... maybe it makes the rest of me look smaller. I'm not sure of my reasoning, but that's the number-one thing I do, when someone fixes my hair, I put my fingers in it and make it look bigger.
"I mean for me, it was all about country women. They like sparkles, they like big hair and they wear big hair. That was gorgeous to me and it still is."
Reba McEntire told Ladies Home Journal that principles, morals and a good sense of humor makes someone a true Southern belle.
Toby Keith was at last weeks Ryder Cup and had the privildge to watch inside the roped off areas. Toby performed ‘Red Solo Cup’ for the U.S. Golf Team = YIPPEE it worked EUROPE WON in the biggest comeback ever!
Tim McGraw’s way to get away from it all? He hunts quail and pheasant on his property.
Faith Hill spilled out some confessions on Facebook. a) She’ll never be a morning person b) She likes to swing and makes her daughter Gracie push her c) Faith says she’s secretly in love with Johnny Depp d) She’s second cousins to The Band Perry.
TWEETS
Ronnie Dunn - RonnieDunn: Only guy in a house full of females getting ready for a wedding….S.O.S.
Brad Paisley - BradPaisley: One of the greatest honors of my life was getting to ask my friend @dariusrucker to join the @Opry tonight. Welcome to your new home pal.
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| Daily Mail (photo) |
For LeAnn Rimes, after facing a tough time with critics it looks like her plan to get rid of stress and anxiety is already working. Thirty-year-old LeAnn Rimes stepped out of her own in Los Angeles on Saturday looking fabulous in a body contour dress
She looked fresh-faced at the Autry National Center: Kick It Off & Kick It Up Anniversary Gala held on Saturday at the Autry Museum in Griffith Park, California.
LeAnn’s champagne colour bandage tan dress gradually featured more tones toward the hemline that showed off her toned figure Shematched this wore a pair of high heel Christian Louboutin shoes, and the added height appeared to have given her mounds of confidence. PHOTO 1 – PHOTO 2
About the gala: The Autry National Center announced its 25th annual gala with a celebratory look back at the past quarter century and the launch of its Jubilee Year. The black-tie or dressy Western event is co-chaired by Autry Trustees Vince and Colleen Caballero, Lynn and John Carter, and Lois R. Rice. The gala is among the largest fundraisers of the year for the Autry, honoring the best of the American West with award presentations, a silent and live auction, dinner, and dancing.Founded in 1988, the Autry was the vision of America’s favorite singing cowboy, Gene Autry, who wanted to pay tribute to the American West. Since then, the Autry has shared the stories of the diverse people of the American West with millions of visitors.
The Autry’s annual gala has proven to be one of Los Angeles’ most anticipated social events, featuring Pat Sajak as the Master of Ceremonies, the presentation of the Spirit of the West™ Award, a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions, an elegant dinner, and dancing under the stars at the Kick It Up after-party.
The evening’s entertainment included the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus and a performance by Grammy-winning artist LeAnn Rimes
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