Country Bites News snippets March 18 - March 24, 2013

Country Bites News snippets March 18 – March 24, 2013

SOURCES/LINKS show in RED

UK & IRISH News

SummerTyne Americana Festival is pleased to announce The Mavericks, Heritage Blues Orchestra, Mud Morganfield, Patty Griffin, Matthew E White, Shelby Lynne and Willy Mason for its 2013 event, which takes place over three days at The Sage Gateshead, from Friday 19th – Sunday 21st July 2013. Many more acts still to be announced.

Will Banister, the highly acclaimed singer/songwriter from Clovis, New Mexico, continues his fast developing international career with a return to the UK this Easter.He’s set to be one of the headlining acts at the 10th Northern Nashville Country Music Festival in Halkirk, Scotland, staged over the Easter weekend (March 29-31), sharing the bill with Connie Smith, Bobby Flores, Kimberley Murray and Bob Manning among other US and UK artists. Banister will make his appearance on Good Friday (29), then heads south to Watton, Norfolk where he played a sell-out concert on his debut UK tour in September 2012. This time he plays the Queen's Hall on Sunday, March 31.

Will Baniste

“I’m really looking forward to returning to Britain”  he says.“The British country music fans love real country music. They made me very welcomed, listening to me and my songs. I hope to make a lot more friends this time around”.

In July he returns to the UK for the Americana Festival in Newark – this year celebrating its 33rd anniversary and boasting a star line-up that includes P.J. Proby, Georgette Jones, Mandy Barnett, Carl Mann, Jay Chevalier and Moe Bandy among four dozen acts set to perform on two different stages throughout the three day event (July 12-14).

A couple of weeks later Will Banister is set to make his European debut at the Country Rendez-Vous Festival in Craponne Sur Arzon, France – a three day event (July 26-28) headlined by The Mavericks.

Currently an Autumn tour is being planned, says promoter Nicky James, which may see Will Banister supporting Gene Watson.

On Tuesday March 19th, Brian Clough North East England country presenter celebrated 33 years of broadcasting country music. Brian’s broadcasting career started in hospital radio and took in Metro, GNR, Century and Smooth.

He aired an archived taped recording of the very first show he presented for Metro Radio on Wednesday March 19th 1980 at 9pm and shared some of the music from that show . The show was a pilot with a 3 month contract that was to last for 18 years! While at Metro, his song, “The Second Time Around”, which he recorded with Billie- Jo Spears, was released as a single for the station’s charity appeal.



Brian Clough & Suzy Bogguss
 Morecambe Festival
circa 1994



Brian was also the Voice of Country music in the North East on Smooth Radio for many years until the specialized music programmes was scraped. Brian, of Chesterle- Street, a former photographer with The Northern Echo and who worked in the offices of the Consett steelworks became the familiar voice of country for many fans and this was recognized in 2009 when he received the International Country Broadcaster Award from the Country Music Association (CMA) in America.

For the last few years Brian presents the American Connection Music Show which is available to listen online or download as a podcast. Latest show >> Audio

Brian lists his top five country songs as 1) People are Crazy – Billy Currington  2) The Last Word in Lonesome is Me – Roger Miller  3) Letting Go – Suzy Bogguss  4) Crazy – Patsy Cline  and 5) Sea of Heartbreak – Don Gibson

Lincolnshire born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter Callaghan [Georgina] is planning a special coast-to-coast tour called “Callaghan Across America,” which will see her perform house concerts each night as she makes her way from Boston on May 3rd to Berkeley, CA by June 2nd.  The tour, which will visit 22 towns in a month, highlights the growing importance of house concerts in the changing touring landscape and music industry.

Callaghan is no stranger to more traditional touring. She has performed across the country in clubs and theaters, and over the past year has shared stages with Shawn Mullins, Griffin House, Matthew Sweet, Steve Forbert, Michelle Malone, Matthew Perryman Jones, Michael McDermott and more, and also performed on the Cayamo Cruise in January -  “House concerts have helped me establish myself in the USA and kept me on the road doing what I love,” says Callaghan. “Since moving to the States, I have done more and more of them. I really enjoy getting a chance to perform in the intimate setting of someone’s living room. Those living rooms become listening rooms, and the interaction between the audience and artist at these events creates a strong bond. The vibe is laid back and relaxed, so you feel like you’re performing to a room of friends.”

The UK-born performer moved to the USA in summer 2010 to collaborate with Grammy nominee Shawn Mullins who produced her debut album LIFE IN FULL COLOUR, released on May 1st 2012.

James and Deborah



The new Mr and Mrs Duffin - Ashton Lane member James Duffin is now a married man to Deborah Suckle. James is the brother of singer-songwriter Esther O’Conner and son of Graeme Duffin, the lead guitarist for the Scottish pop band Wet Wet Wet.

Billy Bragg delivered TOOTH & NAIL,- his first full length studio album for five years and was rewarded with a number 13 debut (9,013 sales), making it his highest charting album since 1991, when Don't Try This At Home reached number eight. 55 year old Bragg supported the release by appearing on BBC Breakfast Time, and several radio shows including those of Steve Wright On Radio Two, Richard Bacon on Five Live and Steve Lamacq on 6 Music.

UK CHART NEWS

BBC Radio 1 has now added Taylor Swift’s “22” to it's 'A List' Playlist (The 15 songs they play most frequently), previously “22” was only on the 'B List' Playlist.

BBC Radio 2 has also now added 22/State of Grace to it's 'A List' Playlist. Capital FM the largest commercial radio station network in the UK currently had both “I Knew You Were Trouble” and 22 on its main playlist.

BBC Radio 2, prior to the C2C Festival, playlisted Tim McGraw’s single “Nashville Without You” from February 9th 2013 to March 16th for 5 weeks, with a potential 50 spins. They added Carrie Underwood’s UK Single “Before He Cheats” on their "C" listing February 9th 2013 to March 16th (5 weeks, potential 25 spins) and Little Big Town with “Leavin In Your Eyes” on the "C" listing February 23rd to March 16th (4 weeks , potential 20 spins). All 3 artists failed to chart on the UK Official Top 100 or published iTunes Top 10 during that period.

On the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (Week March 30, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s new UK single “22” moved 26-11 in its 5th week selling 24,199 copies and a total so far of 44,502.  “I Knew You Were Trouble” (Mercury) which peaked at #2, dropped 14-17 on its 24th chart week selling 16,800 copies with a total to date of 623,349. Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was down 7 slots 81-88 in its 31st chart week selling 2,770 copies with a new tally of 536,372.

On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week March 30, 2013)

Taylor Swift’s RED was up 27-23 in its 22nd chart week selling 5,246 copies with a total to date of 328,984.

Hot from the C2C London country festival, Tim McGraw with TWO LANES OF FREEDOM (Big Machine) dropped 19 slots in his second week from No.42 to No.61. OLD YELLOW MOON from Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell has now fallen off the chart in its third week.

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week March 23, 2013)

Tim McGraw with TWO LANES OF FREEDOM (Big Machine) holds the number one spot for a second week and former No.1 Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell with OLD YELLOW MOON stay at No.2.

Darius Rucker who performed at the C2C Festival debuts at No.5 with CHARLESTON SC 1966 and his album LEARN TO LOVE is back on the chart at No.11. Lee Hazelwood’s TROUBLE IS A LONESONE TOWN (Light InThe Attic) is new at #8

On the Hotdisc Chart (March 24, 2013 Chart)

Ray Scott's "Those Jeans" remains at No.1 on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart for a third week. Bart Connell (pronounced Cun-ail) with "The Grass Ain't All That's Blue" moved 3-2. Frank Ifield’s retro sounding “Roses From a Stranger” is finding favour with the European media pundits and its up on slot to No.3. His Aussie protege Stephanie Jansen is up to No.4 with “Shoes”

George Inglis’ remains No.1 on the British & Irish Top 10 for a sixth week.

UK COUNTRY ALBUM/ SINGLE RELEASES

(19 Mar 2013) Kyle Park - Beggin for More [Import] (Kyle Park Music) Time: 45:02  13 Tracks Amazon UK

(26 Mar 2013) Blake Shelton - Based on a True Story [Import] (Warner Bros / Wea) Amazon UK

"Best way to put into a song, my personality, and the kind of people that I hang out with," says Shelton of the album's lead-off track "Boys 'Round Here" which features Pistol Annies. "This [song] is the guys back in Tishomingo, OK and every town around this country." The 12-track album includes the current single, "Sure Be Cool If You Did" and the inspiration for the upcoming tour, "Ten Times Crazier."

(26 Mar 2013) Thompson Square - Just Feels Good (Stoney Creek) Import - Amazon UK

“There are a lot of fun, upbeat songs on this new album. It’s very diverse and kind of all over the map,” says Keifer Thompson, who along with his wife Shawna make-up the reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Duo of the year. They wrote co-wrote five of the 13 songs including the lead single, "If I Didn't Have You"

(26 Mar 2013) Maggie Rose - Cut To Impress (RPM) Import  Time: 35:02 - Amazon UK CD - Amazon UK MP3-

The first full-length album pulls its title from a lyric in the track "Mostly Bad." "It was one of those lines that stood out to me because it represents so many things that embodied my debut album," says Rose. "It's a confident statement about all the cuts on the album and it’s also is a statement saying I have cut out a place for myself as an artist that is different and unique."

(25 Mar 2013) Alan Jackson - Precious Memories Volume II (EMI Nashville/ Wrasse Records) - Amazon UK CD - Amazon UK MP3

The follow up to the 2006 release Precious Memories, this marks Jackson's second foray into gospel music. “Denise and I had made a list of 30 to 40 songs to do for that first album,” says Jackson, who developed the project with his wife. “We had so many that we didn’t get to, I thought we’d go in and do a few more just the same way-- heartfelt and simple

(22 March 2013) The Secret Sisters – “Let There Be Lonely” (Universal-Island Records Ltd) Single - Amazon UK

US iTunes  It's the first peek at the new album coming soon. Jon Jackson (Avery) is due to perform The Secret Sisters "Let There Be Lonely" on ABC's hit show Nashville.

AUSSIE NEWS

Country music million seller Frank Ifield was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Canberra Country Music Festival.  As the first performer to have 3 consecutive number 1 chart hits in Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand, as well as numerous other Top 40 hits across Europe and North America in the 1960s.   Frank will always be associated with the songs “I Remember You”, “Lovesick Blues” and “She Taught Me How To Yodel” amongst many others.  

Born in Coventry, England to Australian parents, Frank relocated when he was 11 years to a farm just west of Sydney.   Growing up he listened to country music while milking the cows and imitating the vocal and yodel style of country stars like Hank Snow.   At the age of thirteen won a live radio talent competition, scored a contract with EMI and recorded "Did You See My Daddy Over There?".   By the age of 19 was the number one recording star in Australia and New Zealand and had his own country music television show “Campfire Favourites” from when he returned to Britain.

The Lifetime Achievement Awards is in addition to his Medal of the Order Of Australia for services to the arts as an entertainer, Country Music Roll of Renown in Tamworth, TIARA for services to Australian country music, Best British Male Vocalist International Country Music Awards and Male Entertainer of the Year by the International Country Music Association of America.   These days Frank is active in promoting emerging country music artists as patron of the Music & Arts Talent Search as well as the International Spur Award given to Australian Country Music artists who have international potential.

NEWS

The Adventures Of Tim McGraw: Back in 2000, Tim McGraw and Kenney Chesney were arrested in Buffalo, NY after Chesney tried to ride away on a police horse and McGraw tried to stop the cops from going after him. Same thing happened to Batman and Robin, like a million times. A misunderstanding with law enforcement while trying to save the world. So it's only fitting the incident serves as the opening scene in Fame: Tim McGraw, the new comic book featuring the half Cherokee and Choctaw Indian Outlaw we've all come to know better as Tim McGraw. It'll be made available March 20 in print and digitally

Tracy Lawrence, Bo Bice, David Ball and more will participate in the Christmas 4 Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament in Mount Juliet, TN April 23.

A working songwriter (Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart"), Kasey Musgraves did the whole reality show competition thing in 2007 on USA Networks' Nashville Star. She released "Merry Go Round" in 2012 and now the Female Vocalist of the Year ACM Award nominee offers her major label debut. Musgraves co-produced the album with fellow songwriters Shane McAnally ("Come Over," "Better Dig Two") and Luke Laird ("Hillbilly Bone," "Pontoon").

Kellie Pickler's drummer Gregg Lohman who was seriously injured in a car accident has now been released from the hospital and is in the care of a physical rehab facility in Louisville, where he is reportedly able to walk and eat on his own. We wish him and his family all the best.

Reba McEntire is the latest entertainer to be honored with an exhibit at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Her exhibit, Reba: All the Women I Am, will open Aug. 9 in the museum’s east gallery and will run through June 8, 2014.

“It’s impossible to overstate Reba’s impact on country music, and her contributions go well beyond recording,” said museum director Kyle Young in a statement.

A year after Gloriana appeared on an episode of “The Bachelorette,” the group is back in the romance business. The group will perform at a live-streamed wedding in Dana Point, Calif., sponsored by Conde Nast’s Brides magazine.

US Tours

Show Dog–Universal recording artist Josh Thompson is hitting the road on tour this spring and summer and country-lifestyle brand NRA Country is coming along for the ride! - Monarch Publicity

Tate Stevens, Syco/RCA Nashville recording artist and The X Factor “Season 2” Winner,  hoped the excitement he feels when in his hometown of Belton, Missouri would translate into a great album release celebration when he announced his first show on Sunday, April 21 at The Midland by ACM in Kansas City, Mo. However, he was stunned to hear that within just 30 minutes, all 3,000 seats were sold out - EB Media

In related news Tate is ramping up his newfound career. His debut single “Power of a Love Song” bows at No. 58 on Country Airplay in advance of his self-titled Syco/RCA album, which is due April 23.

Garth Brooks and George Strait, the Artist of the Decade Award winners will be performing together for the first time on the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards to be held in Vegas on April 7, 2013. Brooks and Strait will be part of the tribute to Dick Clark planned for the awards show

Larry Gatlin returns as the host of Opry Country Classics when the Thursday-night series launches a two-month run on March 28 at the Ryman Auditorium with special guests the Time Jumpers. Other spotlight acts lined up for the WSM-AM Nashville broadcast include Marty Stuart (April 4), Pam Tillis (April 11), Mel Tillis (April 25), Terri Clark (May 2), Lorrie Morgan (May 9) and Oak Ridge Boys (May 23).

Best known for solving crimes, hosting the Grammys and deodorant balls, LL Cool J also raps. And he brought Brad Paisley in to help him out on his upcoming album AUTHENTIC, due April 30. That collaboration follows LL's contribution to Paisley's track "Accidental Racist" on his new album WHEELHOUSE.

Brad Paisley appears on the cover of  Sunday's (3/24) Parade giving a Nashville tour including the Grand Ole Opry house, Artisan Guitars and the Frothy Monkey. Watch a behind-the-scenes video - www.parade.com

BABY NEWS

It’s all blue for country singer Chely Wright and her wife Lauren Blitzer-Wright. Wright announced in January that the couple was expecting identical twins and last week, after being bribed with French fries, Wright revealed she was pregnant with boys.

“We’ve known for a while that they were little boys, but we were keeping that private,” Wright told Howard Bragman when he played guest host on Joy Behar’s “Say Anything.” “But since you offered me French fries …”

Wright, who explained she has already gained 30 pounds thanks to French fries and doughnuts, said: “They’re healthy babies. They’re getting fat, thanks to my help. Everything looks good.” Wright is due in July but said the twins are scheduled to arrive in June.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

Darius Rucker has scheduled a May 21 release date for TRUE BELIEVERS, his third country album, he announced Thursday (March 14). He wrote 10 of 12 songs on the album produced by Frank Rogers.

Sugar Hill Records is pleased to announce that it will unveil three new, exclusive releases for Record Store Day (April 20). The varied offerings include a live-performance EP CD from Sarah Jarosz, a vinyl re-issue of the debut album from husband-wife duo Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicolson, and a a never before available vinyl edition of the  “Crazy” demo recordings from the legendary Willie Nelson.

Check out the track listing and album art for the Pistol Annies’ second album, ANNIE UP - www.pistolannies.com

Annie Up features 12 songs written by the Pistol Annies that deal with the unwashed experiences of real life. The first single “Hush Hush” talks about sweeping family secrets under the rug to maintain appearances, while “I Feel A Sin Comin On” is a blusy ode to temptation. “Unhappily Married” is a brash look inside the daily grind of a couple resigned to stay together.

The confessional “Being Pretty Ain’t Pretty” dishes on the exhausting process women go through to get dressed every day. The idea for the song was inspired by a Tweet that Ashley sent that she had just bought a ton of make-up and make-up wipes to take it all off. “Women are warriors and we go into battle everyday with the stuff we wear, said Angaleena. “You spend all this money for make-up and eyelashes and spray tanners just to wipe it all off at the end of the night,” added Miranda.

With the release of the May 7 album, fans of vinyl music will also be able to Annie Up anywhere vinyl is sold In America.

George Strait has a new album, LOVE IS EVERYTHING, due out May 14

Broken Bow’s James Wesley is back with his new single “Thank A Farmer,” >> Audio  Described as a powerful, heartfelt homage to America’s heartland just in time for National Agriculture Day (March 19).

Wesley, whose previous hits include the Top 25 singles “Real” and “Didn’t I,” scored 25 first week monitoring stations  upon the single’s debut yesterday at Country Radio, including major markets of Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), NY; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA and Kansas City, MO

Co-written this past summer by Wesley’s Broken Bow Records label mate Dustin Lynch, GRAMMY-nominated Magic Mustang songwriter Steve Bogard and recording artist Josh Thompson, “Thank A Farmer” immediately hit home for Wesley. Having grown up on a dairy farm in Mound Valley, KS, Wesley spent his high school years raising livestock on his family’s farm and studying crops as a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America).

This song IS me and where I am from which is ‘The Heartland’ of Southeast Kansas. I raised goats, chickens, ducks, pigeons, and we always had a big garden growing up. I can’t tell you how many green beans I picked before and after school growing up!” says Wesley of his background and decision to record the song.

Kelly Clarkson has released a new CHR Pop single “People Like Us” (RCA Records) from the Album: Greatest Hits- Chapter 1

To impact at radio on April 8, 2013. It’s the follow-up to the PLATINUM selling single "Catch My Breath” http://media.allaccess.com:8001/5083/1363730419_strm.mp3

Kelly Clarkson Career Highlights:

Has sold 28 MILLION singles in the U.S. Kelly’s album STRONGER is certified PLATINUM & Won the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.

THIRTEEN Top 5 singles to date, EIGHT of which went #1!!!

Kelly is the recipient of:

3 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 3 MTV Video Music Awards, 2 Academy of Country Music Awards, 1 Country Music Association Award in 2012 (Female Vocalist) and 12 Billboard Music Awards

PRESS RELEASES

Award-winning brother/sister duo THE ROYS will cover new territory May 1 - 5 as they make their European debut with select dates at two picturesque Danish Culture Houses, Germany's ever-popular 11th Annual Buehler Bluegrass Festival and the quintessential English theatre, Leicester Square.  Hailed for their superb sibling harmonies, signature "Rootsy Bluegrass Country" sound and compelling original tunes, THE ROYS complement their vocal style with a vibrant and progressive instrumental attitude that has enchanted fans since the duo's first release.

Tour Details: May 1 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Karens Rninde Kulturhus , May 2 Trekanten Culturehouse Aalborg, Denmark -

May 4 Buehler Bluegrass Festival   Buehl, Germany; May 5 Leicester Square Theatre, London - leicestersquaretheatre.ticketsolve.com Press Release

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and Arista Nashville announce the release of Brad Paisley’s WHEELHOUSE - Special Edition album which will be available on April 9 at all Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations and online at crackerbarrel.com and select digital retailers. The release includes three additional exclusive tracks and coincides with Paisley’s Wheelhouse standard edition release on Arista Nashville.Among the special guests joining Paisley on Wheelhouse - Special Edition are Charlie Daniels, LL COOL J, Eric Idle, Mat Kearney, Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes, and the late Roger Miller. Paisley produced his new album and wrote or co-wrote all 17 of the tracks - EB Media

The 26th Old Settler’s Music Festival takes place Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, April 21 south of Austin, Texas.

30 Acts to Perform on Four Stages During Four-day Hill Country Event featuring some of the world’s finest roots, bluegrass and Americana artists including Michael Franti, Del McCoury Band, Son Volt, Martin Sexton, Jerry Douglas and Carolina Chocolate Drops. Rose’s Pawn Shop who toured the UK in February and March will be on the Bluebonnet Stage Sat April 20 McGuckin PR Entertainment

ARTICLES

New York Times - Kacey Musgraves’s Rebel Twang (4 Page review)

CMA Close Up (by Bob Doerschuk) - NEW ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Kacey Musgraves

INTERVIEWS

"I'm all about small towns," Kacey Musgraves says. "I think it's a great place to grow up. But I think it might be a little more comforting to some people to hear it from a real perspective, instead of one that tries to sweep things under the rug."

The 24-year-old singer, a breakout success in country music this year, has been on the road promoting her major-label debut, SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK. She says that on a recent press stop, she had to gently explain that the album's first single, "Merry Go 'Round," isn't a knock on small-town life. NPR news >> Audio 

LISTEN

90's Country stars Sammy Kershaw, Joe Diffie and Aaron Tippin are set to tour together later this year and to help celebrate the tour, the trio of Platinum-selling stars have recorded a single together. "All In The Same Boat" is the groups new single take a listen to the track on soundcloud.com

FREE DOWNLOADS

To celebrate the release of her new album, THORN IN MY HEART, Kim Richey offers a 5 track sampler (ZIP folder for an email share) which includes "Something More" from the album plus a selection of demos and live tracks (MP3 quality 192kbps) at

www.noisetrade.com. For fans of: Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell, Tom Petty, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Wilco

WATCH

Music video by Kristen Kelly performing her soulful “He Loves To Make Me Cry”

 >> YouTube - http://vevo.ly/12NfmvQ

It’s taken from her 4 track self titled EP available on UK iTunes . Named one of CMT's "Next Women Of Country" Kristen will open in the summer for Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry and Gary Allan.

Cadillac Blue “Thinkin' Bout' You” >> YouTube They are a country duo based out of Nashville, TN. formed in 2003 when Terry (from Barrie, Ontario) and Lisa (from Thunder Bay, ON) began writing and performing together in Barrie, On. In 2006, they moved into their 1983 RV (which also became their recording studio) and began their journey to Music City.

Susan Ashton performing "Moonshine" from her EP THIEF released March 13

 >> YouTube

Chattanooga, TN native Rachel Holder’s "Five Days" (Curb Records)

Lyric Video >> YouTube

It has a Shania "Any Man Of Mine" vibe in the intro buried in the mix at 1min 30, don't ya think? She shares: I am an excitable person who only understands life lyrically, musically, in whom feelings are much stronger as reason. Reality doesn't impress me. I'm Rachel:)

Get ready to party like it's 1994! Country superstar Jason Aldean, alongside a slew of his superstar friends including Lady Antebellum, Florida Georga Line, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Hayden Panettiere, Little Big Town, Jake Owen and the dude that wrote the song, Thomas Rhett, all make appearances, dancing in a photo booth that transports us back to them sweet Diffie days.ET bring the exclusive world premiere video of his single "1994" - http://et.tv/ZLIii4

Darius Rucker – “Wagon Wheel” >> YouTube

TV

Dancing With The Stars Season 16 premiered on Tues March 19 on ABC. First up on was Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough. Kellie "feeling sexy and free" danced her Cha-cha-cha to Jessie J's "Domino" and looked like a pro dancer!

Newly wed judge Len Goodman said "Yum, Yum. pink bum, that was fun and you sold it, great start to Season 16 well done" however he pointed out that her legs were “a little bit stiff"

Kellie Pickler



Bruno Tonioli agreed that she showed much promise:"That's the way we do it, turn on full blast, the shapes of things to come, very, very interesting..can't wait to see you again"

Carrie Ann Inaba said "I think you’ve got sass and you’ve got class" They score three 7s for 21 >> YouTube

Wynonna Judd partnered with Tony Dovolani tackled the Cha Cha Cha to Kiki Dee's "I've Got The Music In Me". Wy struts her attitude from the get-go – it’s fun and a strong effort. Len deems it "a very good performance", Bruno raves that they "love a giver and she gives plenty", and Carrie Ann grins that "she was workin’ it"! They receive 6's across the board for 18 total. >> YouTube

Kellie Pickler joined Craig Ferguson on the Late Late Show at 30mins >> YouTube

Elizabeth Cook was a delight on the Late Show (2 videos) with Georgia Southern University Marching Band - www.twangnation.com

Special Ks: Kacey Musgraves released Same Trailer Different Park on Tuesday (3/19) and not only has she been spending time promoting herself, she's rallying behind American Idol contestant Kree Harrison. "[Kree] is one of my friends and is doing absolutely amazing," Kacey tells CMT. "She just has this voice that is unreal and she is so sincere about it. So, she is a definitely a huge inspiration. I mean, American Idol or not she’s just got this real quality that people are craving and I think music really needs right now – so I’m really happy for her." Kree sings background vocals on Kacey's album

Watch Kree Harrison perform “With A Little Help From My Friends” >> YouTube

COUNTRY FASHION

Taylor Swift met fans after the second date of her RED Tour in Omaha wearing a black lace dress.  She wore a Free People Floral Mesh Lace Dress ($128.00).

Hayden Panettiere, Do try this at home: She paired a chunky multicolor sweater with skinnies, rolled the cuffs and added a pink lip and blue booties. The Nashville star wore the easygoing look to PaleyFest in L.A.

Who: Hayden Panettiere wearing an Étoile Isabel Marant ‘Maverick Americana’ knit pullover

Shop: Forward by Elyse Walker $335

Where: The Paley Center For Media’s PaleyFest 2013 Honoring “Nashville”, LA Nashville" at the Saban Theatre on March 9, 2013 

Hayden



For PaleyFest honor of “Nashville” on Saturday, Hayden Panettierre wore this sporty look, deviating from the usual dress and heels. It’s no secret that the 23-year-old has a bangin’ body, but we love how she shows it off in a subtle way.

Styleblazer.com reported: She paired her Étoile Isabel Marant “Maverick” sweater with tight jeans and suede wedges (image) . The cozy sweater can be found here - www.net-a-porter.com for $335.

COUNTRY GOSSIP

Rumour has it for Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman’s 7th anniversary on June 25, they’ll renew their vows in a small ceremony in Australia, where they were first married.

Taylor Swift has made her most direct admission yet that “I Knew You Were Trouble” was written about her ex Harry Styles.

The One Direction star was in the audience when she performed the hit at the Brit Awards, and Taylor's imitation of a British accent at one point was widely tipped to be an attempt at mocking Harry, who she dated for two months.

'Well, it's not hard to access that emotion when the person the song is directed at is standing by the side of the stage watching,' Taylor told The Sunday Times Magazine.

'You're balancing the analytical side of your brain, which is telling you where to go and how to go there, with the other side of your brain, which is saying: "Feel everything you're singing, and show it on your face. 'Feel everything exactly as you felt it when you wrote the song."'

Taylor and Harry, 19, originally met in spring 2012 and she is believed to have written the song about him then. They dated for 65 days at the end of 2012, breaking up in the New Year. Just after the split Taylor, 23, Tweeted 'Back in the studio. Uh oh...'

So perhaps I Knew You Were Trouble is not the last song Taylor will write about her ex.

Splitsville – Wow! Did anyone see this one coming? Some days ago, fans were shocked to learn that Pop/Country singer, actress and Dancing with the Stars‘ Julianne Hough, 24, and American Idol‘s Ryan Seacrest, 38, ended their relationship of more than two years. These two lovebirds were talking about having a family together someday and rumors of a marriage proposal were swirling around. But now, out of the blue, it’s over? What happened?

We all assumed that Seacrest would be fine, since he is so busy, but fans worried about how Hough would handle the split. According to her brother, and fellow Dancing With The Stars guru Derek Hough, Julianne is doing just fine after the split.

According to US Weekly, the busy power couple may very well have their incredibly busy schedules to blame for the demise of their relationship. Not only does Ryan host FOX’s hit series, American Idol, he also has his own radio show, On Air With Ryan Seacrest. And as if that wasn’t enough, he’s a red carpet host as well.

Julianne Hough with her
brother Derek

But Ryan wasn’t the only busy person in his and Julianne’s relationship. She had a full plate too. Not only is she a former Dancing With The Stars pro, she’s been busy lately promoting her new movie with Josh Duhamel, Safe Haven. Plus, she and her brother, Derek Hough have been working on the ballroom dance drama, Blackpool, which will be filmed in England.

A source close to the couple said their relationship fell apart because, “Their work schedules were too hectic [and] it just got to be too much.” And while we can’t be certain if their split is just for now or permanent, the source said, “I think it’s for good.”

R.I.P

A memorial service for Jack Greene, Grand Ole Opry Legend was due to be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at 11AM at the Ryman Auditorium. The memorial service will be a “Celebration of Life and Love of Jack Greene.” The Ryman was Jack’s music home for many years and it is fitting that he return home so that all of his friends, fans, and his Grand Ole Opry Family can say goodbye to the Jolly Green Giant.