Tuesday 15 October 2013

Country Bites News snippets October 7 - October 13, 2013


Country Bites News snippets October 7 – October 13, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED
Click Images to ENLARGE

UK & IRISH News

  • Martina McBride has been added to the Saturday line up for the London C2C CountryToCountry Festival. The announcement was made via the BBC Radio 2 Country Facebook. Tickets went on sale 9am today Friday Oct 11th. Weekender Tickets have sold out with tickets available in the higher levels. Go to axs.com/c2c or Ticketmaster UK with full details on the artists in this Blog Post. C2C2014 also takes place in Dublin.
  • Newcomer Jeannine Barry’s much delayed (11 months) official debut EP release 'GIVE ME SOMETHING' is finally set as 31st October 2013!
  • The Lawrence John Show, a weekly one hour show of country music videos from the twinned cities of Belfast and Nashville, presented by country deejay, songwriter and record producer, Lawrence John is broadcast on Tuesdays: 9pm SKY 191 & FREESAT 400, Tuesdays: 10pm SKY 193 and Thursdays: 2pm SKY 191. The tongue firmly in cheek series, written and produced by Lawrence John, filmed by Philip Blair is broadcast on Showcase TV (Freesat 400). More info at: TheLawrenceJohnShow.com and vimeo.com
  • Sierra Cecil a American young beauty from Stockdale Texas will be appearing at the 2014 AMERICANA at Prestwold Park Airfield Nr. Loughborough LE12 5SH Leicestershire on July 12th 2014 - Graphic
  • Singer-songwriter Emily Maguire will be interviewed by Libby Purves on Radio 4’s Midweek on Wednesday 23rd October. A video for her song ‘Woke Up’ has been getting attention from environmental campaigners around the world. The song (from the album ‘Believer’) was originally used by Greenpeace for their Copenhagen campaign in 2009. Emily has booked a 3-week tour of northern Germany for June next year. This will be her first tour in Europe. She will be gigging down under in Australia, for the first time in six years, when she and hubby Christian go back to their shack for a visit in December. She is currently touring in the UK see dates emilymaguire.com
  • Florida Georgia Line sat down with Bob Harris for an interview and acoustic session that will air on Thursday, October 31, 2013 on BBC Radio 2. Read more news on the Big Machine Label Group Newsletter
  • Rock Ridge 2014 (Fri 25 July - Mon 28 July 2014) have Heather Myles & The Cadillac Cowboys as headliners with few more bands to be added, see the latest Flyer

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending October 19, 2013)
Taylor Swift’s RED dropped off the chart for the first time in her 51st retail week,from last weeks No.94

Official UK Country Album Chart (Week Ending October 19, 2013)
Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) returns to No.1 moving 7-1 in her 26th week. week.
Alan Jackson with THE BLUEGRASS ALBUM debuts at No.2.
Tony Joe White with HOODOO (Yec Rock) drops 1- 3 after 3 weeks at No.1. Lady Antebellum with GOLDEN fell 2-4 in their 23rd chart week. Laura Cantrell dropped 3-6 in her 3rd chart week with NO WAY THERE FROM HERE (Spit & Polish).
Hank3 new album BROTHERS OF THE 4X4 lands on the chart at No.14
My Darling Clementine with THE RECONCILiATION were down 10-20 in their second week

On the Hotdisc Chart (October 13, 2013 Chart)

With new tracks from the October 2013 Hotdisc #178 (Rush Released), impacting the chart saw Ray Scott debut at No.1 with “Still Screamin’ My Name” which follows in the wake of his 4-week #1 with “Those Jeans” back in March.
Michelle Wight
Last week’s #1 Chris Higbee’sLiving The Dream” dropped to No.2.
Canadian star Michelle Wright with her empowering title cut single “Strong” made a new entry at No.3.
Also new in the Top 10 at No.6 were Irish singer-songwriter Pete Kennedy with “Love Like That”, co-written with Beau Fuller and Jan Buckinghham, to land his first No.1 single on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart. 
Stu Stevens’Remember Me At Sunrise” comes in at #8 (#2 British & Irish Chart) and Chip Taylor with his self penned “Ukrainian Girls” rounds out the Top 10.



UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(26 Sep 2013) Tyler Farr - Redneck Crazy CD
 (7 Oct 2013) Patty Griffin - Silver Bell (Universal Music Catalogue)
14 Tracks/ Time: 58:58  CD - Vinyl - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(7 Oct 2013) Kimmie Rhodes - Covers (Sunbird)  15 Tracks / Time: 59:05
CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com  On her thirteenth studio album, she has laid down her songwriter's pen and recorded songs by Lennon and McCartney, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler among others.

(8 Oct 2013) Lindi Ortega - Tin Star (Last Gang) 11 Tracks/ Time: 33:54
MP3 - UK iTunes Blessed with a voice that suggests the high lonesome purity of Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris with an undertow of smoky sophistication, Lindi Ortega is a Canadian singer and songwriter who has become a rising star on the North American alt-country scene. UK Tour dates in January 2014.

(8 Oct 2013) Kenny Rogers - You Can't Make Old Friends (Warner Bros)
11 Tracks / Time: 44:42 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(8 Oct 2013) Joe Nichols - Crickets  16 Tracks/ Time: 54:43 CD
Eighth album from the Country singer/songwriter. The album was produced by Derek George and Mickey Jack Cones. Crickets includes the first single, 'Sunny And 75' as well as a cover of Merle Haggard's 'Footlights'

(8 Oct 2013) Joey & Rory - Made to Last [Import] (Farmhouse)
12 Tracks / Time 37:56 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - US iTunes 
(8 Oct 2013) Heidi Feek - Only (Western Pin-up Records)
11 Tracks/ Time: 37:09 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com

(8 Oct 2013) Gretchen Wilson - Christmas In My Heart (Redneck Records) 10 Tracks/ Time: 30:19 CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - US iTunes  

(8 Oct 2013) Emily Hearn - Promises (self Titled) 
 5 Tracks/ Time: 17:35 MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com - US iTunes - Listen to the whole album on bandcamp - Watch her Audiotree session performing "Cutting Ties" For fans of Brandi
Carlile, Colbie Callait, HEM, Taylor Swift, Nerina Pallot, Mindy Smith. Newcomer Emily Hearn takes a big step forward  with the release of “Promises,” an endearing 5-song EP full of piano-driven pop tunes. On her first single “Gotta Have Him,” the Georgia native couples a crisp voice with blissful, sweet confidence. The result is a hooky, carefree ode to young love - American Songwriter.com
23 year-old Emily Hearn (born April 7, 1990) is a singer/songwriter based out of Athens, Georgia known for her ability to write from an honest and vulnerable place of raw emotion balanced with whimsical, lighthearted charm. The new EP was made in Oklahoma with producer Chad Copelin (Ben Rector, Christina Perri, Green River Ordinance). It talks about the ups and downs of life--what it feels like to have a crush, and (sadly) what it feels like to be strung along waiting for someone to feel the same way, the big fights that change everything, the falling in love and getting married, and what you need to hear from a friend on those rough days.

(8 Oct 2013) Cassadee Pope - Frame By Frame (import)
CD - Amazon.com The solo debut album from Season 3 Winner of NBC’s hit show, The Voice.

(14 Oct 2013) Scotty McCreery - See You Tonight (Deluxe Version)
16 Tracks / Time: 57:36  CD (released Oct 21) - MP3 - Amazon.com  

(14 Oct 2013) Willie Nelson - To All The Girls...(Sony Music CMG)
18 Tracks / Time: 01:06:12  CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
5 STARS – this album is unique in the way Nelson includes different females to bring the fantasy of the songs to life…The perfect companion for a solitary midnight drive, far out of town when contemplation becomes uppermost in the mind - Alan Cackett (Maverick Magazine Editor)  Willie Nelson the story of To All The Girls >> Video

(13 Oct 2013) Scott Miller - Big Big World (FAY Recordings) 10 Tracks/ Time: 36:51
CD - MP3 - Amazon.com Miller’s new album, BIG BIG WORLD, was recorded, mixed and produced by Doug Lancio, with Lancio and Miller playing the parts of what would normally have been Miller’s backing band, The Commonwealth. Miller and Lancio met back in 2007 when Scott opened for Patty Griffin’s CHILDREN RUNNING THROUGH tour while Doug was bandleader and playing guitar for Griffin. BIG BIG WORLD is a ten-song offering that melds Miller and Lancio’s respective gifts of words and music.  Standouts: "Heavy on My Mind", "Cold War Veteran", * "I Can't Go Back to Your Love Anymore"

AUSSIE NEWS

  • Troy Cassar-Daley, The McClymonts and John Williamson are the first of the big name acts to announce details of their major appearances for the 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival January event.
  • Allan Caswell, a Golden Guitar singer/songwriter was the major winner at Southern Stars – Australian Independent Country Music Awards, presented by iiNet – with a total of three wins: Single of the Year "It's A Country Song; Album of the Year (It's A Country Song) and Independent Male Vocalist Of The Year - Full Awards Listing
  • Kristy Cox, thr Multi-award-winning Australian Bluegrass artist adds two new honors to her already multi-award winning career with recent wins at the Australian Independent Country Music Awards. Known as The Southern Stars, the prestigious awards are held annually in Mildura, Australia and play a major role in fostering Australian music talent. Kristy received the 2013 Capital News Australian Independent Female Vocalist of the Year Award, for the current single “I Hate That I Still Love You’ from the album, MILES AND TIMEZONES. Kristy also received the evening’s biggest award with the coveted Australian Independent Artist of the Year Award. Cox has planted new roots in Nashville and recently signed with Pisgah Ridge, an imprint of Mountain Home Music of Arden, NC. She also inked an exclusive songwriting contract with Asheville Forest Music (SESAC).
  • Catherine Britt's set ALWAYS NEVER ENOUGH was named winner of Best Country Album at the Independent Music Awards in Melbourne on Oct 9th.
  • Sara Storer's "Lovegrass" jumped up 3-1 to this week's (Oct 19) national Country Tracks Top 30 singles chart. It's the title cut nominated for an ARIA Award for "Best Country Album." Last weeks #1 Keith Urban's latest hit “Little Bit Of Everything” moved 1-2,  Zac Brown Band are at #3 with "Jump Right In" and Jasmine Rae's "If I Want To" holds at #4.
  • ABC Music scored multiple ARIA nominations across categories including Country. The nominee list for this year’s ARIA Awards, was announced in Sydney (Tuesday, 15 Oct 2013). Up for Best Country Album: Jasmine Rae (If I Want To), Lee Kernaghan (Beautiful Noise) and Sara Storer (Lovegrass)
NEWS
Taylor Swift made history by collecting her sixth Nashville Association of Songwriters International Singer-Songwriter of the Year award on Sunday Oct 13. 
Swift was named Songwriter/Artist of the Year for the sixth time — that’s more times than any other artist (surpassing five-time winners Vince Gill and Alan Jackson). At 23, she is the youngest artist to ever receive this prestigious award. Taylor tells The Tennessean, "Writing my own music is what makes up most of my identity, I think, as an artist and as a human being. I don’t know what my life would look like if I didn’t write songs."
 Taylor encourages her young fans to deal with their problems and emotions through songwriting.

Ed, Shears: On Saturday (Oct. 12) the Taylor Swift Education Center, made possible by her whopping $4 million donation, opened at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, The Tennessean reports. Taylors gift to the center is the largest individual artist gift in the Hall of Fames history. 
Taylor has a long history with the Country Music Hall of Fame -- she signed her record contract there, in 2005, as a teenager, and gave one of her first public performances on the buildings plaza - "I wrote some of my earliest songs on it when I was 13 and 14," Swift was on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting and handed over her first guitar, a 12-string Taylor Koa, for display in the center. "This will inspire a ton of people that walk through those doors," museum director Kyle Young said.
Taylor has also volunteered her time to several of the museums "All for the Hall" fundraising shows,and has donated numerous items to the museum for display. Her stand-alone multi-media exhibit has drawn big crowds every day for years, and the museum exhibition on her Speak Now tour was incredibly popular, and the first-ever of its kind, paving the way for subsequent contemporary exhibits.
The Education Center, which encompasses parts of two floors and features three classrooms, a learning lab and a state-of-the-art childrens exhibit gallery, increases the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museums educational capacity up to seven-fold (the museum previously had one classroom).

  • Blake Shelton was presented with a platinum plaque for his Based on a True Story… album last weekend before playing the final show on his Ten Times Crazier tour in Tulsa, OK.
  • Over the summer, Randy Travis stared down a serious health scare with congestive heart failure and suffered a stroke, and things were touch-and-go. Thankfully, Travis has been resting and recovering since. Billy Ray Cyrus opened up the singer’s condition during an interview with ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ revealing that the singer is doing well, but still needs prayers. Travis’ rep also told the news program that the singer is off life support and making progress and is “currently in Texas in physical therapy and doing great!” As it stands, Travis plans to return to his Texas ranch Friday (Oct. 11).
  • Ray Price remains hospitalized Thursday (Oct. 10) after being rushed to the cardiac intensive care unit on Tuesday night. The singer’s wife Janie has been updating fans on his health through his Facebook page. She says they were in “watchful crisis” mode for the better part of a day before Price stabilized on Wednesday morning. Price developed sepsis, a bacterial infection in his bloodline. Janie Price says Ray’s blood pressure dropped and his heart rate spiked.
  • Carrie Underwood was recently surprised with multiple honors by Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton. Following her Sound of Music rehearsal on Monday (Oct. 7) in New York City, Underwood was presented with three plaques commemorating recent RIAA certifications. “Good Girl” reached double platinum status for more than 2 million downloads, while “Two Black Cadillacs” is now platinum for more than 1 million downloads. Her debut DVD, The Blown Away Tour: LIVE has reached gold status. Carrie is temporarily residing in New York as she rehearses for the live three-hour broadcast of the original Broadway production of The Sound of Music that airs on NBC on Dec. 5
  • Jay DeMarcus, songwriter, producer and one-third of Rascal Flatts has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with BMG Chrysalis US’ Nashville office.
TOURS

Lady In Waiting: Leaving fans disappointed, Lady Antebellum announced (Mon Oct 15) that they would be postponing their scheduled 2013 Take Me Downtown Tour until early 2014. It was due to start Nov. 8. "To accommodate the [deluxe release of Golden] and in order to give you guys the best show possible, we've had to move things around," the trio posted on their website. "We hope these changes aren't too much trouble for you, and that we'll get to see you in one of the more than 60 cities the tour will hit next year." Peoria, IL will be the first stop Jan. 10. Kip Moore and Kacey Musgraves are still on board to open. See their 2014 dates

TV
CMA Country Christmas that will air in America on Monday, Dec. 2 on ABC see line up  
Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson has joined the performers lineup to deliver a song from the new holiday album, Duck the Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, due out October 29. Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Jake Owen, Darius Rucker and Kellie Pickler are among the stars set to perform at the CMA Country Christmas taping in Nashville November 8. Jennifer Nettles returns as host.

Keith Urban has been chosen as one of the performers on this year's GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live!! -- Countdown to Music's Biggest Night TV special, airing on December 6.

Spoiler: ‘NashvilleRecap (episide 3, Season 2): The Queen Of Country Is In Trouble...The battle against Edgehill records is on for Rayna James, but the fight might be a lot harder than anyone could have imagined. Nashville >> Sneak a peek

COUNTRY  AWARDS

Country Music Assn. (CMA) members received their third and final CMA Awards ballot on Oct 10th, and they have until Oct. 28 to fill it out. 

The final results will be revealed during the 47th annual CMA Awards, which will air at 8 p.m. ET Nov. 6 on ABC.
Why They Vote
“ONE VOTE CAN CHANGE a nomination. Only the accountants know how many votes separate the sixth nominee from the fifth nominee. And multiple nominations can really change the perception of an artist’s career and, in some ways, have more impact than actually winning.” - Fletcher Foster, Red Light Management
“PART OF the fun of the awards show is seeing all of your friends and celebrating the past year in country music together. Voting for the CMA Awards is a way for me to give a shout-out to my friends and show support for their accomplishments. That’s why I never miss a vote.” - Brian Kelley, singer, Florida Georgia Line
WE FEEL honored that we have the opportunity to participate in CMA Award voting. And any time we have the chance to vote for ourselves why wouldn’t we take it?” - Kimberly Schlapman, singer, Little Big Town
“SOME PAST CMA wins have come down to the difference in a small amount of votes. That’s why I feel it’s important I make my vote count. In this era of block voting by corporate entities, the little guy’s vote can make a difference.” - Bob DiPiero, songwriter; CMA board member.








A second round of performers was announced (Oct 14) for “The 47th Annual CMA Awards.” Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Kacey Musgraves, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood are now scheduled to perform. Alan Jackson and George Strait, the two top nominees in CMA Awards history, will perform together in a tribute to the legendary George Jones.

Carrie Underwood will receive the Artist Achievement Award at the T.J. Martell Foundation 38th Annual Honors in New York Oct. 22. Sting will perform with Bryan Adams at the event, and Brett Eldredge, Sean Combs, Susan Lucci and Tony Martell are scheduled to attend. More at tjmartell.org

The nominations for the 2013 American Music Awards are out and Taylor Swift and Florida Georgia Line are among those Nashville artists vying for multiple trophies. The annual fan-voted event airs live on Sunday, Nov. 24, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
In the all-genre categories, Taylor scored a nod for Artist of the Year, where she’s up against Justin Timberlake, Bruno Mars and others, as well as Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album nominations in both the country and pop/rock categories.
Florida Georgia Line nabbed nominations for Single of the Year (for “Cruise”) as well as New Artist of the Year, where they’re competing with hip-hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and rock band Imagine Dragons. FGL is also up for Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group and Favorite Country Album.

Artist of the Year : Justin Timberlake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Bruno Mars
Single of the Year:  Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly ("Cruise"), Robin Thicke featuring Pharrell & T.I. ("Blurred Lines")
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz - "Thrift Shop"
New Artist of the Year: Florida Georgia Line, Ariana Grande, Imagine Dragons, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Phillip Phillips
Favorite Female Artist: – Pop/Rock: P!nk, Rihanna, Taylor Swift
Favorite Album – Pop/Rock: One Direction - Take Me Home, Taylor Swift - Red, Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
Favorite Male Artist Country: Luke Bryan, Hunter Hayes, Blake Shelton
Favorite Female Artist – Country: Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood
Favorite Band, Duo or Group – Country: The Band Perry, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum
Favorite Album – Country: Luke Bryan (Crash My Party), Florida Georgia Line (Here's to the Good Times), Taylor Swift (Red)
*Voting is open to the 50 US states. For a FULL LIST of nominees visit  abc.go.com

BABY NEWS

Dierks Bentley and his wife, Cassidy, welcomed baby boy Knox on Weds Oct 9th. The newest Baby Bentley will join sisters Evalyn Day (nicknamed Evie) and Jordan Catherine. Bentley announced the exciting news on his Twitter:
Dierks Bentley  @DierksBentley well... our boy knox is here! about to have the best tasting cold beer of my life! so proud of my wife. she rocked it. crazy stuff. #beerme.

Baby A: New mom Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum has shared the first true photo of her precious baby girl Eisele Kaye, who was born over the summer. Dad is Scott’s husband, drummer Chris Tyrrell. The Lady A frontwoman posted baby’s picture to social media, letting fans “meet” her pride and joy. Now, we can’t stop “ooohing” and “aaahing” over little Eisele (pronounced “eyes-lee”), who made her grand entrance into the world on July 22. However, it’s easy to see why Scott may have been enticed to spend a little more time on maternity leave — who could deny Eisele!
Hillary Scott @HillaryScottLA Hello World, my name is Eisele Kaye - pic.twitter.com/hZ6WbTYdbR

MUSIC NEWS
BBC introduces new digital music product, BBC Playlister, partnering with Spotify, YouTube and Deezer...
BBC Playlister will let audiences add and save their favourite tracks heard on the BBC to a personal online playlist, which they can then export to one of the BBC’s digital music partners where they can hear the music in full. Music fans will also get hand-picked recommendations from their favourite DJs and presenters. = Listen to music in FULL without having to BUY a Thing! This is the reality and just the beginning on the BBC music experience of the future! - bbc.co.uk

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

Martina McBride announced last week her plans to release a new studio album in March. McBride’s album will be a sequel to her first covers album, TIMELESS. The new will feature standards from the soul and jazz catalog, sources close to the artist told CMTT . McBride has admitted she has been in the studio, but she remains coy about the project. McBride has been removed from Republic Nashville's artist roster on their website. McBride’s only album on the label, ELEVEN, has been, for her, a commercial disappointment for an artist that has sold over 14 million albums in the United States. Eleven opened with around 40,000 copies (#4 Billboard Country) on the chart dated October 19, 2011. It has since failed to sell even 200,000 copies and featured only one top 10 hit, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.”

Krystal Keith is set to drop her debut album on December 10. The singer will release her 10 track album Whiskey & Lace via Show Dog-Universal. 
She is credited with three co-writes on the album including the current single "Get Your Redneck On" and her summer preview song "Daddy Dance With Me." Other writers on the album include Rodney Clawson, Tim James, Casey Beathard, Nathan Chapman, Mica Roberts, Scotty Emerick, Dennis Linde and her father Toby Keith.

PRESS RELEASES

  • Kelly Clarkson will feature on the MUSICIANS ON CALL 6th anniversary benefit concert in the intimate setting of downtown Nashville's Hard Rock Cafe On Nov 14.
  • Lizzie Sider, 15-year old emerging country artist, performed her self-penned song, “Butterfly,” on The Queen Latifah Show (Tues October 8 -). The appearance coincides with the launch of her bullying prevention assembly tour. 
  • “Playin' Possum! Nancy Jones revealed (Oct 8) additional talent for what would have been George Jones’ final concert appearance at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, on November 22, 2013 but is now a tribute to the country music legend. "The evening of George Jones songs is going to be the best musical tribute Nashville has ever seen,” says Nancy Jones. The sold out tribute concert will feature performances by Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Big & Rich, Loretta Lynn, Lee Ann Womack, Craig Morgan, Thompson Square, Ronnie Milsap, Bill Anderson and rockers Megadeth.
  • Tim McGraw is set to perform a special concert in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday, Nov. 10 for military members and their families at U.S. Naval Station Mayport to celebrate Veterans Day
  • Chase Rice was  “Ready Set Roll” on Fox & Friends, Saturday, October 12  performing his recently-released lead single off of Rice’s forthcoming EP by the same title
  • Chris Young is the first country artist to participate in the new web series Called "ReImagined ", created to connect the legacy of the GRAMMY’s with the present and future. He performed an impressive rendition of Eric Clapton’s classic hit "Change The World"
  • George Strait sold out 5 more dates for The Cowboy Rides Away Tour. Tour stops in Chicago, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas, Nev. and Tulsa, Okla. sold out within a half-hour
  • Larry Gatlin and Kris Kristofferson perform at Autry's 25th Anniversary gala
  • Leah Turner (Columbia Nashville) has sent her co-penned track “Take the Keys,” to country radio. Recently featured in Billboard’s “Bubbling Under” column, which takes a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts, Leah is currently at work writing and recording her debut album for Columbia Nashville. Of her debut single, Leah says “We all know the feeling of getting stuck in the same routine and needing an escape. This song is an anthem for knowing that, whatever your circumstances are, you can always take the keys, roll down the window, turn up the radio and break away for however long you need.”
  • Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby are set for a national TV performance on CONAN (TBS) this week.
  • Mike Aiken's newest Video, "Dance With The Wind," premiered worldwide on THE BOOT as the single shipped to country radio Monday Oct 14th.
  • WYNONNA READY TO 'TALK" ABOUT "GOT SOUL" JUST IN TIME FOR 'A SIMPLER CHRISTMAS'
  • Wynonna Judd will make an appearance on CBS TV’s “The Talk,” daytime television’s fastest-growing network talk show, Monday, October 28 to reveal details on her new women’s shoe line Got Soul, as well as plans for her “A Simpler Christmas” tour kicking off December 3. Wynonna Judd  @WynonnaMusic My inspiration for "Got Soul." I wear them onstage. I like to sparkle!!!!! Lol....You will too!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/rLBeMPjyoS
ARTICLES

Who Is Country Music’s Most Beautiful Woman of 2013? Vote at Country Weekly

Billboard: Kenny Rogers Breaks Down His Biggest Duets: 'There's a Chemistry Between Us'

CMT: Luke Bryan Opens Up About Siblings' Deaths…..In People magazine's he talked so openly about the very untimely deaths of his brother and sister. He has always tried to maintain a positive attitude and focus on the good in life. But this time, he gave the magazine details about what had to be the saddest years for his entire family. In November 1996, Bryan was five days away from moving to Nashville to pursue his country music dreams. But his older brother Chris, 26, was killed in a car accident. So Bryan put his music plans on the backburner.
"I was never convinced I'd get back to Nashville, but I didn't spend time on 'Should I go or should I not?'' Bryan said. "It was just 'Not going.' Your mother had just lost a child. At that point, her youngest son was not going to leave the house. Chris' dying got me a little more mature." Bryan eventually started working for his dad's business after college, but he was miserable and his dad encouraged him to head to Nashville in 2001. Bryan did and landed both a publishing deal and a record deal. He started making his debut album I'll Stay Me, but then tragedy struck again when his sister Kelly, 39, collapsed and died at home.

Music Mix: How country music went crazy: A comprehensive timeline of the genre's identity crisis....Are you aware that Nashville is currently embroiled in an outright civil war?
The country music genre has gone through quite a transformation in the past couple years, adopting the electric guitar sounds of nearly-defunct rock radio, the rap-infused cadences and AutoTune normally reserved for hip hop, and, most controversially, the pop elements left behind as that genre gravitated toward electronic dance music. And attitudes have become ever more contentious between traditional and modern-country fans in 2013. Lately, the frustrations have reached a boiling point. The straw that broke the camel’s back arrived two weeks ago, when Zac Brown called Luke Bryan’s No. 1 single “That’s My Kind of
Night” the “worst song I’ve ever heard.” That remark caused Jason Aldean to hop on Instagram and tell Brown, “trust me when I tell u that nobody gives a shit what u think.” The country community quickly took sides in the debate, and the resulting feud has catapulted country music’s identity crisis straight into the spotlight. These days, pop-country is more popular than ever — but also more despised than ever. Stars like Brown, Alan Jackson, Kacey Musgraves, and Gary Allan have begun publicly expressing unhappiness with their format, which this year has become an increasingly homogenous platform for men...

REVIEWS
Star Tribune: Girls with Guitars scores with giggles, personality & country music….A few thoughts on BUZ’N 102.9 FM’s Girls with Guitars gig Tuesday at Mill City Nights featuring Sheryl Crow, Kellie Pickler, Gloriana, Maggie Rose and Ashley Monroe. It was a benefit for Park Nicollet’s Jane Brattain Breast Center.

The Telegraph: Laura Cantrell, Union Chapel, Live review (5 STARS) ..Wryly apologetic, she thanked the audience for their patience as she introduced excerpts from her new album, No Way There From Here. No need: the title song, a calm reflection on her own southern identity, is one of her finest to date. The instantly memorable Can’t Wait has a jaunty but yearning quality; Letter She Sent is a brisk account of a woman’s quiet desperation...

Maverick Magazine:
Michael and The Lonesome Playboys album review BOTTLE CAP SKY (5 STARS) - Image
Larkin Poe, with support Fabian Holland live review Wigan Parish Church -
Richard Shindell supported by Jess Morgan live review at The Live Room, Saltaire

INTERVIEWS

CMT: Kenny Rogers: A Master of the Game...He Raises the Ante With New Album and Upcoming Country Music Hall of Fame Induction

Billboard: Big Machine's Scott Borchetta on Spotify, Beats Music, Entering TV With Dr. Luke  Extract: We understand people are streaming, we get it. I’m not saying we’re not gonna be there. I think people want to keep streaming new music. Well, news flash: If [we] keep making $0.000001, we’re not gonna be able to afford to keep making records. ...On the terrestrial radio front, Big Machine became the first label group to sign a strategic alliance with Clear Channel that allowed the company to share in the revenues from promoting its artists like Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts across Clear Channel’s 850 stations as well as its digital properties. Earlier this month, Warner Music Group became the first major to join the fold, which Borchetta described as “the biggest ripple in the pond.

Hollywood Reporter 'Voice' Winner Cassadee Pope Talks Debut Album, Life After Television: 'It's Harder'...Cassadee Pope first traded her Converse sneakers for Cowboy boots when she decided to audition for The Voice. Now, it seems the 24-year-old season three winner has permanently hung up her rock laces as she releases her debut country album, Frame By Frame, out Oct. 8....."I'm not gonna say never, but I don't see me going back with Hey Monday [Pop-Rock band] for a long time," she tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I've barely scratched the surface as a solo artist."...."I feel like country music has done that so well through the years, gone with the times, but stayed authentic," she says. "Country music has evolved since it began, quite a lot actually, so this isn't the first time that change has happened. Country music continues to be the biggest and most relevant genre because it is good at juggling both [sides of the argument]."

BOOKS
Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley contribute to a new book titled "Once-A-Day Country Faith: 56 Reflections from Today’s Leading Country Music Stars". It's an intimate look at your favorite country stars as they discuss the personal significance of their favorite Bible passage. With contributions from 56 of today's top country artists, the Once-A-Day Country Faith includes the Bible passage that tops each of their charts as well as the reasons why this part of scripture is so valuable to them. Published by Zondervan its available Hardcover: 144 pages from Amazon UK and Amazon.com  
and the Kindle version at Amazon.com

MAGAZINES

Carrie Underwood shows off her “smokin’ hot” idolized physique on the cover of Women’s Health‘s November 2013 issue. 
Inside the issue, the Grammy Award-winning singer dishes on her forthcoming starring role as Maria Von Trapp in NBC‘s live broadcast of The Sound of Music, set to air on December 5.
On her work for "The Sound of Music":
 “My entire fall has basically been all about The Sound of Music,” she says. “That’s a wonderful project that I’ve been asked to be a part of. It’s a live musical on TV so there’s been a lot of prep work. I’ve been in New York quite a bit doing run-throughs and working on a kind of music that’s not exactly the kind of music that I’m use to singing. So it’s been a lot of work and it’s been really challenging. But I think in the end it’s really going to be very rewarding.”
On her role as the iconic "Maria":"The live thing? It's gutsy. it's ambitious. Music is where i live. But doing other things broadens me and my experiences and what I can do. I'm up for anything."
On her strict vegan diet: The “Blown Away” singer makes sure her body is in tiptop shape by adhering to a strict vegan diet. “I am a vegan but I consider myself to be a practical vegan,” Carrie explains. “If I order something on a menu and it has a sprinkling of cheese on top I’m not going to send it back. I’ve been vegetarian—no fish no chicken no meat vegetarian—for about a decade now. The vegan thing is something I try to do my best on because it’s a cheesy world out there.
Go behind-the-scenes of Carrie’s shoot with Women’s Health.
Looking more like she is about to hit the beaches of California, the singer dons a pair of black and gold mini shorts - which prefect complimented her tanned legs - and a black tank, under which she decided to go bra free!
However Carrie's hair almost steals the show glistening in perfect waves in the cover shot. Read more: dailymail.co.uk

Sneak Peek: Taylor Swift Graces InStyle’s November 2013 Cover!
Described by the mag as a “Pop superstar” Taylor graces the cover of the November InStyle, which is arrived in subscribers’ mailboxes. 
On the cover, Swift dons an embellished, emerald green cashmere sweater and skirt by Burberry Prorsum with a H. Stern bracelet — with her signature red lipstick, of course. And inside that magazine, the 23-year-old is as candid as ever.
They photographed the star at New Jersey’s luscious Greenwood Gardens, where the seven-time Grammy winner arrived at the shoot in a yellow H&M sweater and Joe’s Jeans. (Meredith, the star’s adorable Scottish Fold cat, hung out in the window of her trailer during the day.) Inside the issue, the singer is dressed up in Lanvin, Erdem, and jewelry by Dior, to name a few—but when does she feel most confident? “I feel most confident when I have a red lip on,” the singer, shared.
She opens up to the magazine about her love life, her haters, and how she feels about bad boys. Sharing the advice of her friend Ed Sheeran, Taylor talks about how her attitude toward relationships has changed over time, saying that she's no longer coming from a "daydreamy prince-and-princess place."
Pop Sugar shared some of her candid quotes. Check out the rest of the interview when the issue hits newsstands on Friday Oct. 18. - instyle.com - Facebook

LISTEN

The Telegraph - Willie Nelson - To All the Girls - exclusive full album stream

PRX.org Willie Nelson - To All The Girls... Radio Special hosted by Tony Lawson (WDVX – Knoxville).
Tony was raised in the mountains of Campbell County, TN, and has been in professional broadcasting since 1978.
Tony has been WDVX’s Program Director since it went on the air and is an oft-consulted authority on bluegrass and Americana music, on independent radio and on the culture and history of East Tennessee.
Public Radio favorites Rosanne Cash, Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, The Secret Sisters, Norah Jones and Emmylou Harris discuss how Willie Nelson affected their lives, both personally and musically. 
 While their interviews conclude with their new duet recoredings, the songs heard throughout the show are not the end of their stories.  It's clear that Willie's role in their lives will continue long after this program is over.
Part 1: Conversation + Songs: Somewhere Between, Grandma’s Hands, From Here To The Moon And Back, Always On My Mind
Part 2: Conversation + Songs: Till The End Of The World, Walkin’, Dry Lightning, It Won’t Be Very Long
Part 3: Conversation + Songs: No Mas Amor, Bloody Mary Morning, Far Away Places, Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends, Have You Ever Seen The Rain
>> LISTEN HERE at www.prx.org

World premier / Warner Bros exclusive + Kenny Rogers talks about his new album You Can't Help Old Friends
Listen back from 15 mins




SPOTIFY COUNTRY

Do you have what it takes to predict the 2013 CMA Awards winners?
Spotify is giving you the chance to win a trip to the 2014 CMA Awards by making your predictions! 
There are click through's to preview the nominated artists.

New albums (October releases):


Emily Hearn – Promises  (singer-songwriter EP)

Singles:
GB Leighton – Get Up - Title track at radio Oct 8, 2013
Ty Herndon – Lies I Told Myself - New radio single Oct 8

FREE DOWNLOADS

For an email share:
  • Heidi Feek THE ONLY (SAMPLER) : "Someday Somebody",  "57 Bel Air", "Heartbreak Hotel" from the brand new album THE ONLY (released Oct 8) along with  "Take It Slow" and "I Didn't Know About You" (Live at Welcome to 1979 NoiseTrade Exclusives) all 192kbps MP3's - noisetrade
  • Noisetrade Compilation - This is a compilation of Emily Hearn's previously released music (Not Walkin' Away, "Rooftop", "Like Ships Need The Sea"), as well as a brand new song, "Gotta Have Him," from her new EP "Promises"(Oct 8). tracks are 192 and 160 kbps MP3's.
  • Craig Campbell “I'll Be Home For Christmas” Insane quality 320kbps MP3! - noisetrade
WATCH

  • Alan Jackson "Blue Ridge Mountain Song" from his new release The Bluegrass album
  • Krystal Keith Official Lyric Video for "Get Your Redneck On" at vevo.com
  • Aussie songstress Kate Cook has audio vid for "Come a Long Way". She released her debut EP Come A Long Way on July 30th (UK iTunes) and she was a Top 6 Finalist in Australian Idol back in 2009
  • Cassadee Pope Video update from the Mall Of America  and Promo Week update
  • Lovely Up-and-coming artist Brynn Marie is back with the moving new single and video for “I’m Sorry"
  • Deana Carter talked about her new Album, “A Southern Way of Life” with Country Weekly
  • Mickie James, who had a "New To You..." feature on p42 of the latest Maverick Magazine, gives you a great look at what it's like for Mickie on the road
  • Scotty McCreery opened up about his new album and performed ‘See You Tonight in a Taste of Country interview/session
  • Overly Attached Taylor Swift  >> Video

COUNTRY FASHION

Kelly Clarkson visited the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on Tuesday Oct 8th to promote her Christmas album, ‘Wrapped Up’.
Getting in the festive mood early, the singer jumped on the plaid trend wearing a McQ Alexander McQueen fit-and-flare dress with a deep V-neckline, and exposed zippers snaking around the frock - Fashion Pic

Hayden Panettiere flashed a diamond ring for an early appearance on ‘Good Morning America’ at the Times Square Studios in New York City, signaling the confirmation of her engagement to boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
But the bling wasn’t her only bold move. The starlet strutted out a structured, black-and-white jacket from Givenchy’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection, which was accentuated with the flourish of a ruffle in front. (available Net-A-Porter.com)
Skinny, black cigarette-leg pants were all that were needed as an accompaniment to this statement jacket. With her blonde locks straight and centre-parted and a rather neutral makeup approach, she popped the monochromatic ensemble solely with a pair of Saint Laurent Paris cherry-red booties, not forgetting to fulfill a bit of that rocker-chic edge - Fashion Pic

Hayden was also spotted out in Manhattan wearing Saint Laurent Janis platform boots. These Fall 2013 heels feature black leather, pointed-toe, foldover cuff with an exposed side zipper and 130mm heel - available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys.
Promoting the second season of ‘Nashville’, she also wore Saint Laurent stretchy red leather skinny pants paired with a Helmut Lang smoking tuxedo blazer. She carried a Rebecca Minkoff Maria shoulder bag - Fashion Pic

Taylor Swift officially opened the Taylor Swift Education Center at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN on Saturday 12th October. 
She looked chic wearing an Elie Saab Fall 2013 three-quarter-sleeve dress with a sheer neckline, fitted bodice and slightly flared skirt. 
Her sophisticated look was styled with maroon Miu Miu ‘Suede Platform Pump’ $270.00 (Image) and Red C jewels. 
A simple ponytail and her signature red pout completed her look – Fashion Pic.

Taylor Swift attended the 43rd Nashville Songwriters Association event who named her their 2013 Songwriter/Artist of the Year. 
She opted to sparkle, wearing a Houghton Spring 2013 sleeveless silver cord-embroidered sheath ‘Margaux Cocktail Dress’ from Houghton’s Bridal 2014 Collection (Fashion Pic) with a high neckline and illusion back. 
Going silver for silver, she styled her look with Norman Silverman ‘Diamond Cluster Flower Earrings’ (Fashion Pic) with Christian Louboutin ‘Wrap Specchio Laminato Heel’ ($875.00) Fashion Pic. Opting for a half-up, half-down hairstyle, she applied a rare pink lip colour.

The Hollywood Reporter: Taylor Swift's Costume Designer Talks 'Red Tour' Outfits (Q&A)...To help the 23-year-old's love stories come to life on stage, Emmy-award winning costume and wardrobe designer Marina Toybina told The Hollywood Reporter how she prepped for the show and the inspiration behind the designs. Toybina, who has designed for The X-Factor, and Katy Perry's and Carrie Underwood's tours, recently received an Emmy award on Aug. 14 for her costume designs for Swift's opening number at this year's Grammy Awards.
THR: What would you say was the inspiration behind all the outfits? Toybina: Taylor’s songs, as well as our passion, art and individuality. It is the fire inside all of us that keeps the mind believing and the heart beating. My goal was to make sure each design told its own story and could serve as a visually, beautiful extension to Taylor's stage presence.
THR: Considering that there were so many wardrobe changes throughout the show, what was challenging about designing 128 pieces--23 for Taylor and 103 for the dancers? Toybina: Developing a show is a fluid process, so you have to be ready to roll with deadlines and creative changes. Adapting to wardrobe changes/alterations during tour rehearsals is not always easy or practical, but you get it done and you sleep after it’s all over.

Taylor Swift RED TOUR Wardrobe
























Marina Toybina Custom Ensemble
"State of Grace"/ "Holy Ground"/ "Red" -  Taking a contrast silk-paneled blouse, Marina added on rhinestones to make Taylor sparkle under the spotlights.
 “You Belong With Me.” - Sparkled in a custom glittery ensemble with old Hollywood gloves and a sateen bustier outline gave the girly frock a bit of sex appeal.
"The Lucky One" - Tay oozed old-school Hollywood glamour an open-concept red silk number which includes a deep plunging neckline on a red silk bodysuit complete with elbow-length gloves and sequinned shorts.
"Mean"/ "Stay Stay Stay"  - Marina designed a versatile red bodysuit to slip under the flowing open-concept skirt and high-waisted embellished shorts for “The Lucky One” costuming, but would also suit a cute and simple polka dot skirt.
"I Knew You Were Trouble" - Taylor debuted a darker and sexier side to herself during her performance which she also wore at the BRIT 2013 Awards.
The designer reveals it took her and 15 stylists, sewers and dressmakers 10 days to create the costumes for Swift’s Grammys stageshow. She says, “It was exhausting. We didn’t get much sleep for a week and a half. But it was all worth it when we saw the end result and the look on Taylor’s face made all the effort worthwhile. She was so excited.”
"All Too Well" - The designer showed her fashion prowess by integrating black widow lace sleeves from the previous number “I Knew You Were Trouble.” and creating a dramatic evening gown by adding on gathered and bustled black skirting. 
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" - Served by a full-out circus set up à la her MTV European Music Awards. InStyle magazine November 2013

Taylor Swift InStyle’s November 2013 Photoshoot!



































The stunning photos above are credited to Giampaolo Sgura - instyle.com - taylorswiftstyle

  • For the cover she wore a Burberry Prorsum ‘Embellished Sweater’ ($1595.00) (Fashion Pic)
  • The couture is stunning in the photoshoot especially the silk Lanvin Resort 2014 taffeta gown - Fashion Pic
  • She wore an all-black Christian Dior Fall 2013 off-the-runway embroidered silk dress with embroidered strech-satin boots that feature the same eye print present throughout the Dior collection. She assesorized with Louis Vuitton Joaillerie diamond (Pinterest), spinel, and 18kt white gold earrings - Fashion Pic
  • The skirt of Taylor’s sheer collared Lanvin dress was replaced by a longer, all-black chiffon The Erdem Resort 2014 skirt - Fashion Pic
  • The Red singer also donned a ruby red Marchesa Fall 2013 velvet ensemble - Fashion Pic
  • On p335 she is seen in a Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2013 RTW dress, the sleeves on this D&G bejeweled blood red dress were turned into bell sleeves. She wore matching shoes are also from the fall collection.
  • On p345 she graces the magazine with a breathless and mesmerizing look with a Valentino Haute Couture silk and guipure lace dress from the Fall 2013 collection. She wore Sylva & Cie 18kt gold earrings and ring (left hand) with diamonds and smithsonite, and 14kt rose gold ring with black diamonds. Her hair was styled by Ben Skervin with Make up by Mariel Barrera.
COUNTRY GOSSIP
Nashville” star Hayden Panettiere (aka Juliette Barnes) confirmed her engagement to Olympic boxer Wladimir Klitschko.
Appearing on Wednesday’s “Live with Kelly and Michael,” (>> video)  the 24-year-old actress was flashing a large diamond ring that prompted host Kelly Ripa to inquire what it might signify. Panettiere confirmed she’s engaged as the studio audience cheered. She added that she and longtime boyfriend Klitschko haven’t set a wedding date.Panettiere made her entrance on the show wearing a huge, live boa constrictor meant to startle host Michael Strahan, who is not a snake fancier. Clearly Panettiere’s ring, and big news, upstaged even her pet reptile.

"You're No Good": Nashville country music producer Tony Brown was arrested Thursday after his wife accused him of domestically assaulting her.
For decades, the record executive has worked with some of country music’s most notable artists such as George Strait, Vince Gill and Reba McEntire. Brown, 66, was charged with domestic assault resulting in bodily injury this week related to an alleged dispute that Belle Meade Police were called to in September. His wife, Jamie Brown, swore out a warrant for his arrest on Wednesday.According to a police affidavit (image), Jamie Brown told authorities her husband kicked in the door to the room she was sleeping in after they had an argument the night of Sept. 11. Tony Brown then allegedly pushed and choked her as she tried to flee to a different area.
Brown's first marriage was to Janie Levin, with whom he had two children: Brennan and Brandi. He was later married to Anastasia Pruitt from 1999 until their divorce in 2009. Brown wed Jamie Nicole Antee in a private Valentine’s Day ceremony at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville, Tenn. on Feb. 14. The former president of MCA Nashville and co-founder of Universal South Records — was released from jail on Thursday after posting a $5,000 bond. He’s due back in court Nov. 20, to face charges.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's daughters love singing. The couple have two children, Sunday Rose, five, and Faith Margaret, two, and the 'American Idol' judge, 45, believes they might follow in his footsteps - "Sometimes I'll just hear Sunny singing 'Kiss a Girl. It's just infectiously catchy pop and I have a side of me that loves that stuff. "She sings 'I Love It' by Icona Pop all the time. She and Faith sit in back of the car and sing, 'I don't care, I love it, I love it.' We've had to figure out the clean version of the song."

Kelly Clarkson has opened up about her "confusing" wedding plans. The 'Stronger' singer is set to marry music manager Brandon Blackstock very soon, but plans were put on hold after the couple decided to scale down the ceremony.
Asked by E! News if they were married yet, she said: "OK, this is why it's confusing. "I'm not married yet, because we had a wedding planned, like a huge one - and we still have a wedding planned, but we're not doing the big huge one."
Instead, the pair will "go off with" Brandon's two children - Savannah and Seth - from a previous marriage and tie the knot in an intimate fashion. She added: "We're just gonna go off with the kids and go get married and it's just gonna be literally, seriously small." The 31-year-old star has also revealed details of her wedding dress after she was seen in both Marchesa and Monique Lhuillier gowns during the photoshoot used to announce their engagement

TOWIE (Ed): Ed Sheeran has been teaching Taylor Swift about love. The flame-haired singer has been helping his good friend try to figure out where she has gone wrong following failed relationships with several stars including his pal, One Direction hunk Harry Styles, John Mayer and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Ed Sheeran recently revealed he couldn't stop staring at Christina Aguilera's breasts when he met her for the first time.
The flame-haired 'The A Team' star found it hard to avert his eyes from the busty beauty's bosoms when he was an advisor for her acts on the US version of 'The Voice', but tried hard to be as professional as possible while filming the show.
He is quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying: "I went in and she was wearing this really, really tight white top without a bra. And I'm a 22-year-old boy and I'm meeting this girl for the first time, trying to be professional as hell. "So I walk in there and my eyes just keep slowly going down. "Then I kind of realise what I'm doing and my eyes go up again. So like yeah, I'm young - what can I say?" Ed might have to get used to the sight of Christina's cleavage as the 32-year-old singer recently said she would love to work with the "super talented" 'Lego House' hitmaker.

Taylor Swift , the 23-year-old “I Knew You Were Trouble” singer,  doesn't want to end up with a "bad" boy.
She finds "shady" guys attractive however she doesn't want to settle down with somebody who has those qualities and thinks she needs to "change" what she looks for in a man. The blonde beauty told US InStyle magazine: "I think it needs to change. My friends tease me about the fact that if someone seems bad or shady or like they have a secret, I find them incredibly interesting"That's just a phase I've been in lately. I don't think this should be how I proceed in life. It's important to be self-aware about these things because you don't want to end up with that guy." She explained: "Sometimes you know after two dates that you're not the right fit. And sometimes you know you're not the right fit, and you fall for it anyway. One thing I've learned that I'm proud of - drum roll, please - is when to walk away. I've had some short relationships because I know when to do that."

Sinead O'Connor has once again demanded an apology from Miley Cyrus.
The 'Nothing Compares 2 U' hitmaker penned a fourth open letter to the 20-year-old star on Tuesday (08.10.13), hitting out at Miley for calling her "crazy" during an interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show on Monday (07.10.13), and urging her to be more supportive of people battling mental health issues.

Trisha Yearwood says, “I love to cook, but I have to sing. For me, the challenge is how to balance it all.”

TheNational Enquirer continues to target Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, saying Faith’s given Tim an ultimatum - put his wedding ring back on or get out and stay out.

PHOTO

  • Taylor Swift Thanks North America - Graphic
  • Jake-O'-Lantern: Jake Owen gets ready to scare the children this Halloween with his very own pumpkin head. -
  • Wynonna was a guest of Jerry Jones for Dallas vs Denver at AT&T stadium - Largest crowd in NFL history
  • Shania is working hard on her first album in years but she still hasn’t found a producer for it. This weekend she was seen in Vegas, hanging out with John Bon Jovi Image
  • It's been 10 year since the Dixie Chicks shocked us with the controversial Entertainment Weekly picture.
    In 2003, they posed naked for for an article teased with the headline “The Dixie Chicks Come Clean.” Much has changed for the women since that shoot, yet the group remains united, even touring periodically. The shoot took place just weeks after lead singer Natalie Maines said they were ashamed President George W. Bush was from Texas before introducing ‘Traveling Soldier’ in London. Many, if not most, radio stations had begun to ban the group. Some were even staging rallies to steamroll their albums. Recently Martie Maguire said they stand by everything they went through in 2003, including a photo shoot that their publicist tried hard to prevent.

BIRTHDAYS

Oct 12: Lisa Matassa  (Belated Happy Birthday!)
Oct 14: Melba Montgomery (1938), Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks)
Oct 15: Little Big Town’s Kimberley Schlapman  (Previously Roads) (1969) 
Oct 17: Alan Jackson (1958)
Oct 19: Jeannie C Riley  (1945), Cyndi Thomson 
Oct 20: Philomena Begley (1954), Wanda Jackson (1937)

R.I.P
Barry McCloud, born and raised in England, best known as the author of Definitive Country, has died (Sept. 26) at age 70.
His book Definitive Country: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Music and its Performers was first published in 1995 and remains one of the genre’s essential reference works. He was also a journalist, a photographer, a songwriter, a record producer and an educator. He taught at Belmont University.
In the 1960s, he operated the largest folk talent agency in the U.K. In the 1970s, he became a booking agent for such bands as Mungo Jerry, Humble Pie and Fleetwood Mac. McCloud began concentrating on songwriting in the 1980s. His collaborators have included Buddy Cannon, Fred Koller, Don Goodman, Jeff Tweel and Karen Taylor-Good. He moved to Nashville in 1992. He has operated Barry McCloud Management & Productions for the past 17 years.
Tributes "He was the first international DJ/writer that I met in the 70s. What a brilliant archivist, writer, lover of music and people and MORE! His works will live on! - Martha Moore (Publicist)
A gentleman, an ace photographer, and a great lover of hardcore country music. RIP friend -  Barry Mazor (Wall Street Journal Journalist/Author)

Calvin Grand Shofner (April 7, 1932 — October 10, 2013).
Known professionally as Cal Smith, and famed for top-charting hits “Country Bumpkin,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking” and “It’s Time To Pay the Fiddler” , died Thursday, Oct. 10, in Branson, Mo., at age 81.
Born in Gans, Okla., Mr. Smith grew up in the San Jose, Calif., area, and became a popular disc jockey prior to joining Ernest Tubb’s Texas Troubadours as a rhythm guitarist in 1962. Mr. Smith worked with Tubb until 1968, when he became a solo performer.
In 1972, he recorded Bill Anderson’s “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” which became a No. 1 country hit for Decca Records. In 1974, Mr. Smith scored with “Country Bumpkin” (written by Don Wayne, released by MCA in Feb 1974)  which became the Country Music Association’s Song and Single of the Year and the Academy of Country Music’s song of the year. (>> Video and Audio) Garth Brooks sang “Country Bumpkin” for years in his sound checks, and he has called Mr. Smith’s recording of “Country Bumpkin” his favorite country single.

Top 5 Billboard Country albums included: I've Found Someone of My Own (1972, #5, Decca) , Country Bumpkin (1974, #4, MCA) and It's Time to Pay the Fiddler (1975, #8, MCA)
Top Billboard Country singles: "Country Bumpkin” (1974, #1), "I’ve Found Someone of My Own” (1974, #4), “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler” (1975, #1), “Between Lust and Watching TV (1975, #11), "She Talked a Lot About Texas" (1975, #13) and “Jason’s Farm” (1975, #12) and 1977’s “I Just Came Home to Count the Memories” (1977, #15)
Mr. Smith’s last-charting single, at #75, came in 1986 with “King Lear” from an album STORIES OF LIFE. 
His later years were spent with his wife, Darlene. He is survived by his wife, five children and 15 great-grandchildren.

Listen to the 10 track album Together by Ernest Tubb and Cal Smith on bandcamp.com

BUY The Best Of Cal Smith [CD] on Amazon.UK

Buy Top Albums by Cal Smith on:
 UK iTunes and Amazon.com and listen on SPOTIFY

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