Country Bites News snippets May 20 – May 26, 2013
SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
UK & IRISH News
Check out the latest ABC of British Country Music Live listings for Artists, Bands & Clubs What's On
CMA Festival
Nineteen artists representing seven different countries have been announced for the 2013 CMA Global Events, to be held June 3-4, 2013. The 10th CMA Global Artist Party will be held Monday, June 3 at The Stage On Broadway and is hosted by Nashville based David Bradley (UK). Kicking off the show will be noted guitar super picker Richard Smith (UK).
This year’s lineup includes, Kaylee Bell (Toyota Star Maker Winner – New Zealand), Jill Johnson (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Small Town Pistols (Canada), Natalie Howard (Australia), Jason Blaine (Canada), Jody Direen (Horizon Award Winner – New
Zealand), Baylou (CRA/NA2N Winner – Australia), Michelle Wright (Canada) and The Wolfe Brothers (Australia).
“CMA Presents The Aristo Global Show” will be held Tuesday, June 4 at The Second Fiddle and hosted by one of Australia’s top Disc Jockey’s Ben Sorensen (Australia).
The 2013 lineup includes Madison Kozak (Canada), Hicks (Sweden), Jason Hastie (Canada), Richie Scholl (Australia),
Ward-Thomas (UK) #, Two Rocks Band (Switzerland), Morgan Evans (Australia), Greg Hanna (Canada) and David Bradley (UK). AristoMedia and the CMA sponsor the event. Further details Aristo PR Press - CMA Flyer JPEG
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| Ward Thomas |
# Ward Thomas, who hail from Petersfield, head to Nashville May 31st, are twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy (Ward Thomas's). The singer songwriting duo have been recording a country/folk/pop album in Nashville TN, co-writing with Matt Greaves and Ann Bailey. An EP has been released ahead of an album launch. They have completed their debut album with Chris Rodriguez (Producer, previously guitarist in Keith Urban’s band), Bobby Blazier (Producer), Jeremy Hunter and Dan Dugmore (Lap steel, Acoustic Guitar) and Vince Gill (Electric Guitar)! They have a live band 7-piece band of UK Musicians – “None of this backing track gubbins!” they said on their Facebook
Listen to their super song "Take that Train" at soundcloud.com
They will have a feature in the next issue of Maverick Magazine.
The British Country Music Awards 2013 will take place on Sunday 24th November 2013 at the Concorde Suite, Crane Lodge Road, Heathrow, TW5 9PQ
Contact for tickets: http://www.bcmawards.co.uk/ - Flyer JPG
The voting forms have gone out to industry figures and various members (which number over 100) of the British Country music scene.
The nominees for the British Country Music Awards 2013 are:
Entertainer of the Year: Charlie Landsborough; Henry Smith; Alan Gregory; Tony Rouse; Magill.
Male Vocalist of the Year: Darren Busby; Chris Raddings; Gary Perkins; Pete Kennedy; John Taylor.
Event of the Year: Wolvestock; The Americana; Quickdraw Festival; CMA O2 Event; Northern Nashville Festival.
Duo of the Year: Raintown; Spur; Thrillbillies; Little Rock; Jonny & Lynnette.
Linedance Act of the Year: Glenn Rogers; Paul Bailey; Alan Gregory; Natalie Thurlow; Texas Tornados.
Female Vocalist of the Year: Nancy Ann Lee; Donna Wylde; Becky Haley; Hayley Oliver; Lisa McHugh.
Solo Act of the Year: Gary Quinn; Richard Palmer; Nancy Ann Lee; Darren Busby; Alan Gregory.
Band of the Year: Henry Smith Band; The Diablos; My Darling Clementine; John Taylor Band; Gary Perkins & The Breeze.
Horizon Act of the Year: Luke Thomas & Melanie Greggain; Jessie Roberts; Abbey Bridgeman; Raintown; Red Dirt Skinners.
International Act of the Year: Vince Gill; Tim McGraw; Carrie Underwood; The Band Perry; Rascal Flatts.
Musician of the Year: John Pettifer; John Permenter; Lee Guyler; Derek Thurlby; Steve Place.
Tift Merritt will be back in the UK this July for a full band tour! The run kicks off with a NIGHT performance in London at Southbank Centre's Purcell Room (* Pianist Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt join forces following the release of their album) and makes stops though England and Scotland.
Sunday July 7th Cornbury Festival (Oxford), Mon July 8th Brudenell Social Club (Leeds), Weds July 10th Oran Mor (Glasgow), Thurs July 11th The Ruby Lounge (Manchester)
and Fri July 12th BST Hyde Park (London)
Tickets for certain events available on Ticketmaster UK
UK CHART NEWS
On the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (Week June 1, 2013)
Taylor Swift’s “22” stayed at No.42 in its 14th week. Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” (Mercury) which peaked at #2, moved up 69-61 on its 33rd chart week.
On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week June 1, 2013)
Lady Antebellum fell back 17 places (19-36) in their third week with new album GOLDEN.
Taylor Swift’s RED was down 3 slots 38-41 in its 31st chart week. In 18 weeks of 2013 it has sold 137,400 copies.
Darius Rucker debuts on the chart with TRUE BELIEVERS at No.89
Official UK Country Album Chart (Week June 1, 2013)
Lady Antebellum remain at No.1 with GOLDEN (Decca). Darius Rucker with TRUE BELIEVERS bows at No.2
The Handsome Family with WILDERNESS (Loose Music) moved up 9 places 12-3 in their second week.
Kacey Musgraves’ SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK fell 2-6 in her 6th week
George Strait with LOVE IS EVERYTHING (Humphead) was down 6 places (4-10) on its 2nd week.
On the Hotdisc Chart (May 26, 2013 Chart)
The Lawrence John Project remained Top of the Hotdisc Top 40 with the self penned cajun offering "Louisiana Love".
Nicki Gillis holds at No.2. Hayley Oliver Band (No.1 for 6 weeks on British & Irish Hotdisc chart) moved up one (4-3) on the Top 40. David Wood’s “Following A Full Moon” enters the Top 10 moving up 2 slots (11-9)
Avrio with emotional song “Sorrow” moved up 6 places (19-13)in particular who zoom up the lists inside the Top 30.
UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(6 May 2013) Shovels & Rope - O'Be Joyful (Decca) 11 tracks/ Time 43:13
Shovels & Rope have four nominations for the 2013 Americana Honors and Awards
(14 May 2013) Jason Boland & The Stragglers - Dark & Dirty Mile (Proud Souls Entertainment)
11 Tracks/ Time: 45:16 / Amazon UK CD - Amazon UK MP3
Bringing a decidedly philosophical bend to the classic do-right-by-God theme, Boland lays out his barroom insights with help from a woozy guitar and solid backbeat. It’s a life filled with calamity by his calculations, but Boland’s solution is to just “sin and bear it.”
(19 May 2013) Angie Johnson - Sing For You (Sony Music Nashville)
EP 4 Tracks/ Time: 14:56 Amazon UK MP3
(27 May 2013) Lee Ann Womack - The Definitive Collection (2CD) (Wrasse Records) Amazon UK
(27 May 2013) The Henningsens - The Henningsens EP (Arista Nashville)
AUSSIE NEWS
Finalists in the 2013 APRA (Australasian Performing Right Association) Music Awards were announced.
Catherine Britt (“Charlestown Road”),Troy Cassar-Daley ( “Country Is”), Beccy Cole (“Waitress”), McAlister Kemp (“Country Proud”)and The McClymonts (“Piece Of Me”) are in the running for the Country category.
Winners will be announced in Melbourne on Monday June 17. – www.apra-amcos.com.au
CANADIAN NEWS
Michelle Wright’s new single “Strong” (CA iTunes) is currently at radio and the CCMA Hall of Fame star hasn't lost any of her magic.
It is also the title track from her new 11 track album featuring 10 of her co-writes.
Wright was up for two awards (Female Artist and Songwriter of the Year) at the 1st annual Country Music Association of Ontario Awards, staged in the Markham Theatre on May 27. She was set to play the 14th annual Tin Pan Song Writing festival in Toronto, on Friday, May 27.
List of the 2013 Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) Award Winners:
Female Artist of the Year: Kira Isabella Group/Duo of the Year: The Stellas
Male Artist of the Year: Johnny Reid
Rising Star (TIE): Autumn Hill & Lindsay Broughton
Album of the Year: Deric Ruttan – Up All Night
Single of the Year: Jason Blaine (“They Don’t Make ‘Em Like That Anymore”)
Songwriter of the Year: Jason Blaine, Deric Ruttan (as above)
Radio Station of the Year (Major Market): CJKX – KX96 Oshawa/Toronto
Amy Rose will open for Travis Tritt announced MTS Management Group. The performance will take place on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the Charles W. Stockey Centre, located at 2 Bay Street in Parry Sound, Ontario.
“Amy is over-the-moon excited about this show,” said her manager, Michael Stover of MTS. “We’re expecting all of Amy’s Ontario fans to come out and cheer her on. It’s going to be a busy couple of days for her, too. She will be heading for Nashville, immediately following this show. She will be performing the next night at B.B. King’s during CMA Fest.”
Tim McGraw, The Dixie Chicks and Kenny Chesney are among the headliners scheduled for the Craven Country Jamboree July 11-14 in Craven, Saskatchewan, Canada. View the full lineup www.cravencountryjamboree.com
Dean Brody has been chosen as one of HELLO! Canada’s Top 50 Most Beautiful Canadians.
Canadian band Hey Romeo have signed an endorsement agreement with Justin Boot Company, the leader in western and equine footwear. The signing of this band is part of the footwear brand’s initiative to expand brand awareness in the Canadian marketplace. Hey Romeo, made up of Rob Shapiro, Darren Gusnowsky and Stacie Roper, was formed in 2002 in the Alberta country music scene.
NEWS
Joanna Smith (RCA Nashville) singer/songwriter will have a life-long dream come true when she makes her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, June 15, 2013. “Playing the Opry is the biggest honor I can imagine,” said an elated Joanna. “I can remember watching it on my great grandmother’s tv and dreaming of the experience. It’s the most hallowed stage in country music and I’m truly humbled and excited.”
Her new single “Girls Are Crazy”, co-written and co-produced by Joanna, the uptempo song shows another side of the multifaceted artist and is quickly making an impact at country radio.
Joanna has been on the road opening dates for Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley on their “Locked and Reloaded” tour.
George Strait, Country Music Hall of Fame member became the first music artist in history, regardless of genre, to place 60 songs at the top of the charts when Mediabase named “Give It All We Got Tonight” as the week’s (published May 21st) most played song on country radio.
Cassadee Pope is hard at work recording her debut album and getting ready to go on tour and all of it is being captured on film for a new CMT series called The Cassadee Pope Project.
Cassadee says, “I’m excited about this. This is like a docu-series with CMT. They’re following me around the next few months, and they’re catching me in a studio, they’re going to get me on tour with Rascal Flatts preparing for the tour. So they’re going to get all the ins and outs of my life now since The Voice and what it takes to really break yourself as an artist. They’re gonna see the good and the bad. It’ll be good.”
Clare Bowen, who plays Scarlett on the ABC drama Nashville, has found several places in the city of Nashville that she loves. She says, “The Bluebird, the Opry and the Ryman are all very, very special places.”
In last episode of Nashville that aired in America, Clare performed a song on the Grand Ole Opry, and she says, “I got to walk out onto the Opry stage as Scarlett and sing ‘Looking For A Place To Shine’ with the most amazing band that includes Sam Bush and Colin Linden and Jim Lauderdale”.
Little Big Town (Capitol Nashville) recently played a benefit concert in FRANKLIN, TN for a non-profit organization called "Blood:Water Mission." The event raised $115,000."Blood:Water Mission" empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.
Darius Rucker’s “Wagon Wheel” moved 2-1 to displace George Straits at the top of the Country Aircheck/Mediabase chart. “Wagon Wheel” (Capitol) receiving 6,921 plays(+ 270) reaching a 52.082 million audience. Straits 60th No.1 “Give It All We Got Tonight” plummeted from 1-10 (MCA) with 4,490 plays (down 2507) with a audience of 34.087 milion (-15.3)
The Country Aircheck Add Leaders were: Dustin Lynch “Wild In Your Smile” (Broken Bow) 35 ADDS, Keith Urban “Little Bit Of Everything” (Capitol) 33 ADDS and Kellie Pickler “Someone Somewhere Tonight” (Black River) 27
The Top 10 Spincrease artists were: Keith Urban “Little Bit Of Everything” (+2345 spins), Lady Antebellum “Goodbye Town” ( +1555 spins) and Blake Shelton “Boys 'Round Here” (+1406 spins)
Mediabase is a music industry service that monitors radio station airplay in 180 US and Canadian markets. Mediabase publishes music charts and data based on the most played songs on terrestrial and satellite radio, and provides in-depth analytical tools for radio and record industry professionals. – Country Aircheck current Issue PDF File
OKC In Crisis: As the Oklahoma City area faces its trial and the nation watches and hopes for good news, a number of country artists find the tragedy hitting close to home. Among the many artists who hail from Oklahoma is Toby Keith, whose Norman, OK residence is not far from the devastated town of Moore - Houston Chronicle
"Hometown got hit for the gazillionth time," he posted on Facebook. "Rise again Moore Oklahoma.
Toby spent the afternoon viewing the damage left behind by one of the worst recorded tornadoes in Oklahoma’s history. Watch his interview with FOX News
Related Posts: In a relief effort dubbed “Fill the Willie Bus,” Okemah, Oklahoma recording artist Shawna Russell used her tour bus – formerly owned by music icon Willie Nelson to help with the collection and delivery of badly needed supplies to tornado victims in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
More For Moore: Miranda Lambert joined Blake Shelton Tuesday (5/21) on The Voice to perform an acoustic version of "Over You" and urge donations for recovery. "They're going through hell there right now," Shelton said as the program aired live Monday night (5/20). "Lot of fatalities, lot of children. It makes it hard to actually sit here and do this tonight, but [I've] got a job to do and my team's counting on me, so here I am."
Reba: "All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados. Stay safe everyone!"
Carrie Underwood: "Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen ... it doesn't change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray"
As Carrie wrapped her 2012-2013 “Blown Away Tour” in Abbottsford, BC, a one million dollar donation is being made to the Red Cross for disaster relief - “I have watched the devastation in my home state of Oklahoma over the past several days with great sadness,” says Carrie. Sony Press
Blake Shelton said he would do it and now he's done it! Blake will headline the "Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert" telethon on May 29 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, the recent events that struck Moore hit close to home for Blake. “Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy,” Blake said. “This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero.”
Scheduled to appear on the telethon are fellow Okies, Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, along with Blake's wife Miranda Lambert.
BABY NEWS
Mark O’Shea and his wife Jay, welcomed daughter August Eve into the world on Saturday 18th May.
Mark made the announcement via Facebook and posted "It's a..... Girl! Meet August Eve O'shea! Born 5.18.13 and weighing in at 8lb 5oz. Both August and Jay are doing great. Thanks so much for all the well wishes. We think she's just perfect!"
Congratulations are in order for Chely Wright and her music executive wife, Lauren Blitzer Wright. According to Wright’s rep, the couple welcomed identical twin sons on Saturday, May 18 in New York City.
“We are grateful for all the amazing medical care and the love and support of family and friends,” Wright, 42, told PEOPLE.
The boys, who weren’t due until this summer, have been named George Samuel and Everett Joseph, after their great-grandfathers. The rep added that everyone is doing well. Chely and Lauren wed in August 2011, following the singer coming out announcement in 2010. The couple, who announced the pregnancy in January, revealed the sex of the twins back in March.
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Ashton Shepherd's been working on her third studio album:
"Ridin..... Listenin to the roughs of my new 10 song record.... And I want to say THANK YOU. So much. To every fan who's a subscriber, who's liked my fb page, who's bought my records, who's came to my shows” she shared on Facebook.
She recently started her own "company", as opposed to a full-fledged label, so the record will be self-released (she left MCA Nashville last year).
The first (digital) single release from the album is slated to be a song titled "This Is America," and another confirmed track is titled "Seventeen Again."
Jason Cassidy ( A-Blake Records) announced the July 16, 2013 release of KEEP IT COUNTRY, the second studio album from the artist whose latest single, “Blame It On Waylon,” has skyrocketed into the Top of the Texas music charts, this week jumping 4-2. A tribute to the keepers of the traditional country sound, this new recording features the songwriting talents of Larry Bastian, Garth Brooks, Craig Wiseman, Matt Nolen, Jamey Johnson, Aaron Tippin, Kevin Fowler, and even one from the mighty Merle Haggard
LoCash Cowboys debut album is coming out on June 18. Click here for photos, album artwork, track listing and 2013 US tourdates.
A new single from Grits and Glamour (Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan) “I Know What You Did Last Night” is at radio and impacts June 10th. It’s described as: “The most uptempo fun you will have with 2 Country legends in under 3 minutes”!
A new CD Dos Divas will hit the streets July 23rd.
Jo Dee Messina, the multi-platinum, award-winning country singer/songwriter is now paving a new path with her “My time. Our music.” Campaign.
For the first time in her successful 18-year music career, while grateful for the support of her previous record label, she is looking ahead to this new chapter in her career and will release a new full-length album with the people’s help through Kickstarter.com.
This project will only be funded if at least $100,000 is pledged by Sunday Jun 23!
“Now that I have the ability to make any record I want, I’d like to take a different route,” JO DEE explains. “I want to give the public a chance to be heard. This time I want to make a record WITH you, in addition to making one FOR you. Kickstarter is the perfect platform. It allows me to change the way things have traditionally been done in my career for years. It’s totally exciting!”
Mark Chesnutt, with a new release "When The Lights Go Out (Tracie's Song)," out at radio, is planning to record an all-new album this year. "That's the goal," he told Billboard. "Since I'm doing it myself, I don't have the budget I would like to have, but we do pretty good with what we've got. I'm not saying it isn't important, because it is, but it wouldn't kill me if it didn't. I know there's a lot of competition out there. My main objective was to get some new music out from people who wanted new music from me."
PRESS RELEASES
Rounder Records Press - THIS WORLD OFT CAN BE, Della Mae's Rounder debut, shows that like The Avett Brothers, The Lumineers, and Punch Brothers, the five multitalented young women of Della Mae (photo) are respectful of American musical tradition, but not restricted by it, combining centuries' worth of musical influences with an emotionally tough, undeniably modern songwriting sensibility. 12 Tracks/ Time: 41:21
Amazon UK CD - Amazon UK MP3 - Deluxe Album bundles include One-of-a-kind polaroid from The Band
Watch "Empire" (Official Video) >> YouTube
Rural Rhythm Records is saluting the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War (1861-1865) with an instrumental album by Mike Scott & Friends titled HOME SWEET HOME, which contains 14 songs that were popular during the Civil War Era.
For the first time in its illustrious 87 year history, 650 AM WSM is releasing a compilation volume of live, in-station performances by world renowned artists and writers from Billy Dean, Rodney Crowell, the Del McCoury Band, Mark Wills, The Grascals, The Time Jumpers and more. On June 25, 2013, this 16-track release, titled LIVE FROM THE ARCHIVES OF 650 AM WSM - VOLUME ONE (Red River Entertainment / RED Distribution) will be available on CD and a limited, numbered edition two-jacket vinyl release, as well as digitally.See Track listing and full details - Absolute Publicity
Hank Williams Jr. is gearing to launch a 2013 summer tour in celebration of his latest album, Old School, New Rules. Cities among the concert lineup include Detroit, Orlando, Atlantic City, Biloxi and many more.
Aaron Lewis will make his debut on the historic Grand Ole Opry Tuesday May 28, 2013 along with a star-studded lineup that includes Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Dustin Lynch, Craig Campbell and Sam Palladio (from the ABC hit show “Nashville”) among others.
“Getting to play the Grand Ole Opry is such an incredible honor,” says Lewis. “It’s a dream come true to think that I’ll get to stand in that same iconic circle where music royalty has stood.” Aaron’s new single “Granddaddy’s Gun,” from of his critically-acclaimed album The Road, ships to country radio next week - Webster & Associates
Jared Ashley appeared in front of a national TV audience TODAY on “AXS LIVE” to perform two songs, including his first single, “Last Train To Memphis”.
Republic Nashville Superstar trio The Band Perry just wrapped a weeklong trek from coast-to-coast with national television appearances, which were broadcast across ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC networks.
The 2013 CMA Music Festival will take over downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 6-9, with six free stages in the outdoor footprint and countless activities.
Tickets for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field sold out a record-setting six weeks in advance of the 2013 Festival, but fans will still have innumerable opportunities to watch Country Music’s best and brightest perform at CMA Music Festival - CMA World
Little Big Town will host “Summer’s Hottest Concert Event, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock”. It will air August 12th on ABC. "It's an incredible honor to be hosting this year's CMA Fest,” said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. “We could not be more excited about the party that's going to break out at LP Field every night!"
Joanna Mosca has released an engaging new single with a poignant ballad titled "I Guess That Says It All" written by hitmakers Bryan White, Travis Thibodaux, Steve Williams.
Mosca will make her CMA Music Festival debut with three performances,
see Press Release for dates/times.
Shortly after the release of Craig Campbell’s highly acclaimed sophomore album, NEVER REGRET, and in honor of his late father, Craig will host the inaugural Celebrity Cornhole Challenge to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation’s colon cancer research efforts.
The Telly Awards has named Nashville band HERRICK as a Bronze winner in the 34th Annual Telly Awards for the music video for "Do You Love Me"
>> YouTube
Co-written by Donna and Kerry Herrick, "Do You Love Me" appears on the album NEW DANCE which was produced by Herrick with Music Row hit makers Michael Bonagura and Buddy Cannon. Herrick is comprised of Donna (mandolin/lead vocals), her husband Kerry Herrick (bass/vocals), percussionist/drummer Jeff Bradshaw and lead guitar player Jefferson Rogers. - Press
ARTICLES
CMA Close Up - Darius Rucker Does It All ..Extract: “Mike Dungan, who signed me to Capitol, told me he called the 13 most important people he thought were tastemakers in Nashville and told them he was signing me. Twelve of them told him he was crazy. But Capitol let me make the record I wanted to make, and then they asked me to go to work. All of a sudden, ‘Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It’ (written by Clay Mills and Rucker) comes in and it’s on Country radio. I’m on the radio again — only it’s Country!”....
“There’s no offer in rock that could financially, spiritually or emotionally make me happy or put me where I am right now,” he said. “It takes years and years to get to the point where you feel you’re actually getting it. I don’t want to be a big pop star. I just want to sing Country Music.”
Archive CMA Close UP (July 13, 2010): CMA New Artist Winner Darius Rucker
INTERVIEWS
CMC Interview: Set to bring her spectacular show to Australian stadiums in November and December, Taylor Swift caught up with CMC (Country Music Channel) to chat about the tour, Billboard Awards success songwriting and being a role model.
MAGAZINES
Saddle up and check out the Buckle Bunnys of 2012!
Here's the latest Festivals! supplement from the MUSIC NEWS Scotland team.
WATCH
RPM Entertainment’s Maggie Rose recently stopped by the Yahoo! studios in Santa Monica, CA to perform for Ram Country on Yahoo! Music. Performances include “Better,” the new single off her debut album Cut To Impress, and her Ram Country Cover of Linda Ronstadt’s “You’re No Good.”
Yahoo! Ram Country is a series committed to creating intimate and exclusive musical experiences, featuring music, news and original music videos showcasing today’s hottest acts. Watch after the Ad - music.yahoo.com
Angie Johnson “Sing For You” (Acoustic) >> YouTube
Gwen Sebastian Suitcase (Lyric Video) >> YouTube
Released on Flying Island Entertainment / Warner Music Nashville the single will impact radio June 24, 2013.
TV
Patty Griffin was on BBC 2’s Later With Jools Holland. Robert Plant joins her for second song >> YouTube
Kellie Pickler came into the final of Season 16 "Dancing With the Stars" episode in second place but finished in first.
The "Someone Somewhere Tonight" 26-year-old country singer won the show's mirror ball trophy. "This is amazing!" she beamed to her professional partner, Derek Hough.
The pair earned two sets of perfect scores and another the next night. Judges' scores combined with viewer votes determine the winner.
Teen Disney Channel star Zendaya danced perfectly during the final two episodes, collecting the most points from the judges, but she fell short of the title. Football pro Jacoby Jones finished in third place.
Read more: www.foxnews.com - Team Kellie Page - ABC Shows
Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough - Super Size Freestyle >> YouTube
COUNTRY FASHION
Nicole Kidman made a long awaited return to the red carpet for the ‘Nebraska’ premiere during Cannes Film Festival at Grand Théâtre Lumière in Cannes, France.
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| Nicole Kidman |
The actress wore a Valentino Spring 2013 Couture off-white sleeveless gown featuring a high-neck and floral overlay - Fashion Pic. He elegant styling, included a sweeping updo and Cathy Waterman jewels.
Gwyneth Paltrow attended the Goop Launches The Summer Season event at a party held at Mark’s Club in London on May 21, 2013.
She wore a silk chiffon ivory baroque printed bishop sleeve Prabal Gurung Fall 2013 dress with Tom Ford shoes carrying a Ela clutch.
The unique Fall-Winter 2013/2014 design includes cutaway detail at the shoulders that are bordered in black and connected to the center placket. A black leather belt with a rope attachment and gold hardware sits above a loose draped skirt featuring a sexy slit at the thigh.
Gwyneth accessorized by partnering the belted dress with sexy Tom Ford Spring 2013 black gladiator sandals - Fashion Pic
Taylor Swift
a) She posed backstage at her RED Tour in Dallas, TX on May 25th, 2013 wearing a Corey Lynn Calter Saffron a Whim Dress ($194.99) from ModCloth - Instagram Pic
b) She met Club RED fans after her performance in San Antonio on May 22nd, 2013 wearing a Floral print Bernie Dexter You’re Inn Luck Dress ($155.99) from ModCloth - Instagram Pic
c) Taylor wore a pair of Deena & Ozzy Electro Oxford on stage at the 2013 Billboard Music Awards. Similar shoes can be sourced for $40 at Nordstrom, $150 by Sam Edelman or $180 at Nasty Gal.
TWEETS
River Waltz: "Had fun in Hollywood but glad to be back in the country," tweets Dancing With The Stars winner Kellie Pickler. "It's a gorgeous day in TN ...went kayaking w/friends!"
BIRTHDAYS
Happy Birthday this week to:
Rosanne Cash (24th May), Billy Gilman (May 24), Jessi Colter (May 25), Tom T. Hall (May 25), Hank Williams, Jr. (May 26), Don Williams (May 27), Jerry Douglas (May 28) and Brad Hull of Due West (May 28)
R.I.P
Ms. Lillian Lorene Mann (January 4, 1937 - May 24, 2013)
Lorene Mann, a co-founder of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), died Friday, May 24.
The singer-songwriter was 76 years old. While serving as the organization’s secretary in the early 1970s, she came up with the slogan “It All Begins With a Song.” This remains the motto of the NSAI to this day.
- Mann was a native of rural Tennessee, born in Huntland, near the Alabama border, on Jan. 4, 1937 as the youngest of 10 children. She began playing guitar at age 12 and moved to Nashville to pursue a songwriting career in 1956.
- Signed to RCA Records in 1964, an irreverent songwriter, she achieved minor success as a Nashville-based country artist in the mid-‘60s.
- Her first successes came as a duet partner. She scored her biggest hits singing with Archie Campbell on 1968’s “Dark End of the Street” and “Tell It like it Is.” Their duet LP, Archie and Lorene Tell it Like it Is, also appeared in 1968. She also partnered with Justin Tubb with 1965’s “Hurry Mr. Peters” >> YouTube and 1966’s “We’ve Gone Too Far Again” >> YouTube
- Their 1966 LP, TOGETHER AND ALONE, included both duets and solo performances, such as her self-composed “Please Don’t Take the Children From Me”.
- As a solo act she struck out on her own she provided country fans with an oft not heard take on dating and love. Her "Don't Put Your Hands on Me" was a call to arms for any woman ever hit on in a bar by a drunken slob. Even more controversial was her song "Hide My Sin," one of the only country-music abortion songs ever issued by a major label, in which she tells the sad tale of a woman who decides to terminate her pregnancy while backup singers chime in by spelling out ABORTION. After those minor hits Mann soon faded from the scene, perhaps her songs were just too far ahead of their time and maybe still are in conservative Bible Belt Nashville.
- She wrote such notable successes as the 1960 Kitty Wells top-10 hit “Left to Right,” the 1962 Rex Allen smash “Don’t Go Near the Indians,” Skeeter Davis’s 1962 hit “Something Precious” and the 1974 Jerry Wallace top-10 charting “My Wife’s House.”
- She also co-wrote her 1970 single “The Apron Tree.” Three years later, its exact plot was lifted by the massive pop hit “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree.”
- Other Lorene Mann songs recorded include “I Wanna Go to Heaven” (Jerry Wallace), “Don’t Put Your Hands on Me” (Norma Jean, Koko Taylor), “I Loved You Then” (The Wilburn Brothers) and “Beautiful Junk” (Vernon Oxford). She also wrote the “answer” song to Johnny Tillotson, “It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’ Since I Left.”
- In 2011, the NSAI gave Lorene Mann its Maggie Cavender Award, a lifetime-achievement honor to recognize her “extraordinary service to the songwriting community.”
- She is survived by husband of 23-years Freddie Clay, daughter Karen Clay, two grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life was to be conducted on Tuesday, May 28 in the chapel of Spring Hill Funeral Home. Interment to follow in the Spring Hill Cemetery in Madison - Obituary
I’ve told me so many times, half a world won’t last
And your future can’t be mine. She’s been in your past
But I forget how long it is, and what a price I’ll pay
When the sun goes down, and we slip away
Slip away, slip away, oh when the sun goes down, and we slip away
