Country Bites News snippets November 25 – December 1,
2013
SOURCES / LINKS
shown in RED
UK & IRISH News
On Sunday Dec 1, 2013 saw the launch of The Smith & Rogers Country Show (Sky 191/ Freesat
400) on Showcase TV which he hosts with Glenn Rogers (formerly one of the
presenters of the Phil Mack Country Show) - Graphic – Episode 1 available to view on smithandrogers.tv/watch (Videos that
have been previously shown on The Phil Mack and Lawrence John shows (Hayley
Oliver Band, Thorne Hill, Raintown) with additional interviews with UK and
Nashville based David Bradley and Ian Highland and live footage of Ray Peters
Band and Kent based Americana/Folk/Country duo Star Lane. Watch here
Taylor Swift took part in the Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace on
November 26th. She joined Bon Jovi,
and Prince William (The Duke of
Cambridge) to sing an impromptu rendition of the hit song >> 'Living On A Prayer' as real and rock royalty joined
forces in the name of charity.
"You'll be a Prince and I'll be your Princess..." |
She played an
acoustic version of ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, then ‘Fifteen’, then ‘Love Story’
(in that order).
The trio were the
main attractions at the Winter Whites Gala to support homeless charity
Centrepoint. While they were the most sought after
guests, others included Benedict Cumberbatch, James Blunt and Tinie Tempah.
The Prince, who
has been a patron of the Centrepoint charity since September 2005, delivered a
speech and presented the Centrepoint Great Britain Youth Inspiration Award to
Bon Jovi for his humanitarian work.
Maverick Magazine is excited and proud to announce its new editor
Laura Bethell who had been the longtime Editorial Assisantant responsible for
the layout and design at Maverick Towers as well as taking on the website
duties!
Alan Cackett backstage in London with The Band Perry |
Alan Cackett
stepped down as editor of Maverick magazine on November 15 and is now a free
agent again. Alan will still be writing about music, keeping almost exclusively
to mainstream and traditional country music, bluegrass and Americana, which are
his main passions. Having done a brilliant job launching Maverick with the very
first Issue 1 (July 2002) and growing the subscriber base with his key cover
features, album reviews, obituaries and organizing Maverick music nights in
Maidstone and the Suffolk Festival Mr Cackett will continue to post his reviews
and features on his own personal website - www.alancackett.com.
This week saw
reviews of new CDs by Rosanne Cash, Beth Neilsen Chapman and Danielle Bradbery
and a review
of The Band Perry Live at HMV Forum, Kentish Town, London, Monday December 2,
2013.
The Band Perry photos taken at The HMV Forum London (9-17 Highgate Road, NW5
1JY) on December 2nd. Gallery photos of the electric Kimberly
Perry in action taken by kissthefrography
Country/Pop singer
and 2012 X Factor contestant Carolynne
Poole performed for crowds at Stanley Christmas Light Switch on She told Sky (Tyne & Wear) she is due
to travel to Arizona in February and visit Nashville in March for song writing
seesions and will return to the UK in Autumn with new country songs.
Yorkshire chip
shop owner Tony Fascione has
released his first single "This Christmas Time" on iTunes and Amazon,
and will be heading to Nasvhille in 2014 to promote his first album.While
working hard behind the fryer at his own business, "Tony's Of
Outwood" near Wakefield, he has dreamt about becoming a country music
star.Listen out for "This Christmas Time" on UKCountryRadio.com
throughout this month
This month's UKCountryRadio.com's
Spotlight UK Artists are: Dec 6-8: Appalachia; Dec 13-15: N.J.Buckingham; Dec
20-22: Heather Bristow (pictured). Read UKCountryRadio.com's December Listener's Club Newsletter
UK CHART NEWS
Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending December 7, 2013)
Daniel O’Donnell
with A PICTURE
OF YOU (DMGTV) dropped 15 places, 28-43, in his 3rd week at retail for his
latest and 30th UK Top 40 album. -
CD - MP3
Taylor Swift’s RED slipped back 16 places from 60-76
on her 58th chart week.
Official UK
Country Album Chart (Week Ending December 7, 2013)
Billie Joe (Armstrong) + Norah (Jones)
with their 12 track FOREVERLY (Warner Bros) debut at No.1. Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) moved 1-2 in her 33rd week.
Derek Ryan fell back 1
place to round out the Top 5 with COUNTRY
SOUL (Sharp Music)
Brandy Clark’s highly acclaimed 12 STORIES is new on the chart at No.10!
On the Hotdisc Chart
(December 1, 2013 Chart)
Billy Yates with “The
House That Jack Built” held at No.1 for a second week. The Hayley Oliver Band with “The Hand That Rocked The Cradle” was a
non mover at No.2 to hold the No.1 on
the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart
for a fourth straight week.
Michelle Wright’s title cut single “Strong” stayed at No.3
Moving into the
Top 5 is Britain’s Kickin’ Country with “Rock It Megamix” with a 4 place hop (8-4) Ally Harron’s single “Marions
Road”, (from Hotdisc 178) remained rooted
at No.5.
Tennessee Country Orchestra with “Hooked
On Country” made a 3 slot climb (9-6).
Erica Sunshine’s “Drinking
And Driving Me Crazy” made upward progress to make the top tier (12-10).
UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(25 Nov 2013) Billie Joe + Norah - Foreverly
(WARNER BROS)
12 Tracks / Time:
45:23 CD - MP3 - Green Day front man and Grammy Award
winning artist Billie Joe Armstrong and Grammy Award winning singer and
songwriter Norah Jones team up for "Foreverly", an unforgettable
collection inspired by "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us", an album of
traditional Americana songs reinterpreted, recorded and released by The Everly
Brothers in 1958. The album captures the beauty of the Everly's stunning close
harmonies to create a moving and powerful testament to these traditional
ballads.
Watch Billie Joe
Armstrong & Norah Jones >> "Long
Time Gone"
(2 Dec 2013) Jake Owen - Days of Gold ( RCA Records) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com
(3 Dec 2013) Wanda Jackson - Before the Music Died (Chrome
Dreams) [Box Set]
4 Disc Box set, 97
tracks/ Time: 3:56:14 CD - MP3 - Amazon.com
(2 Dec 2013) The Sound of Music (Music from the
Television Special) (Sony Music CMG)
CD
- Amazon.com - US iTunes -CMT got an exclusive first listen of Carrie Underwood singing the title
track.
AUSSIE NEWS
CMC Interview: Dean Brody
...We talk to the Canadian star about his new album, Crop Circles.
Taylor Swift took her Red Tour Down Under starting Friday (Nov 29) with a
three-night run at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. She'll then take the
show to Australia for a run of stadium shows. Madonna was the last female
artist to tour Australia's stadiums back in 1993, but Taylor knew she was up
for that challenge, thanks to the success of her last Australian tour in 2012.
Taylor says, "I think we
all had a feeling that things had really been going well there."
When her album,
Red, was a huge hit in Australia, Taylor says the fans would show up in droves
for the stadium tour. "They've just been
really supportive," she says, "and Australia has been one of the most fun
places we've ever toured." The trek hits Sydney, Brisbane,
Perth and Melbourne in the next few weeks.
CANADIAN NEWS
Canadian
Americana/Contemporary folk, singer- songwriter Tia McGraff released, 'Break These Chains' earlier this year. There will be a Maverick Magazine 4 star
review and featured ad to run in January and March 2014. She has UK tour dates
in 2014:
22nd May (The
Stables, Milton Keynes), 24th May (Market Harborough Leisure Centre, Market
Harborough), 25th May (Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury), 27th May (Acoustic Music
Club, Brighton) , 31st May (Belmont Bull, Bolton) and 4th June (Grateful Fred's
Americana, Liverpool)
NEWS
- Snapshot News: Country Aircheck's Insider News: November 26, 2013 - December 3, 2013
- Three For '13: Albums from Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves and Keith Urban are the only Country selections in the
just-released Rolling Stone list of the 50 Best
Albums of 2013. The highest Country ranker is Monroe's Like A
Rose at No. 18. Writes RS, "When
Monroe suggests ganja and whips and chains to her man on 'Weed Instead of
Roses,' it's clear this isn't your grandma's country music."
Musgraves' Same Trailer Different Park comes in at No. 28. "She's ballsy, traditional and pop. Call
her the millennials' Loretta Lynn," the mag says. Ranking Urban's
Fuse at No. 39, Rolling Stone mused, "Only Taylor Swift has done so well synergizing dance-pop drive and
countrypolitan pump”. At #1 was Vampire Weekend, 'Modern Vampires of
the City'
- This year’s list of newly minted “New Faces”
for Country Radio Seminar's signature final event of their annual Trade
Show in Nashville (Feb 21, 2014) features Atlantic Nashville’s Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr from
Columbia Records, Cassadee Pope
from Republic Nashville, Thomas
Rhett from The Valory Music Co. and Charlie Worsham from Warner Brothers Nashville.
- Radio broadcasters are battling it for some of radio’s most lucrative listeners: country fans. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. said Tuesday it had signed a deal with Viacom Inc.VIAB +0.49%’s CMT to create central country-music programming to be distributed across 125 Clear Channel country stations, as well as television and digital platforms, such as Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio....Country fans have become particularly attractive to advertisers. More than 61% boast individual income above $75,000 a year, about half are homeowners and 40% have college or post-graduate degrees, according to Cumulus...read more at Wall Street Journal
- Taylor Swift
and Keith Urban are among the
artists slated to take part in “The Grammy
Nominations Concert Live!!–Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.”
Swift, who is currently taking her Red Tour overseas, will participate in
the event from Sydney, Australia.
TOURS
Garth Brooks is bringing his full band to the Encore
Theater at Wynn
Las Vegas for four shows on January 3 and 4, 2014. While Garth's
one-man show at the Wynn focused on the music that influenced him, he plans to
play his own hits during this concert, titled Garth Brooks: The Man, His Band
and His Music.
TV
CBS’ two-hour
telecast of Garth Brooks, Live From
Las Vegas delivered 8.7 million viewers and a 1.8
rating among adults 18-49. That’s double the viewers and adult demo rating of a
certain other music artist’s prime-time special this week — Lady Gaga’s romp
with the Muppets, which aired on Thursday.
Brandy Clark released the critically-acclaimed 12 Stories through
new indie label Slate Creek Records and Smith Entertainment (the label’s also
home to Neal McCoy), announced that she’ll be appearing on The Late Show With
David Letterman on January 6, 2014. She’ll likely perform her
‘single’ “Stripes” from 12 Stories and has said that it’s a ‘dream come true’
for the rising star to appear on the program.
COUNTRY AWARDS
American Country Award nominees Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen and Kellie
Pickler are set to perform at the awards airing live
from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 10 on FOX TV. Hosted by Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick, the
two-hour event will also feature appearances by Sara Evans, GLEE’s Matthew Morrison and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.
Previously announced performers
include Brad Paisley and Florida Georgia Line, and Sheryl Crow will sing with
Darius Rucker.
Previously
announced presenters include Trevor
Brazile, Shada Brazile, Cowboy Troy, Big Smo, Dan King, Scotty McCreery,
Thompson Square, Chris Young, Carrie Keagan, Olivia Newton-John, Joe Nichols,
Lauren Alaina, Clay Walker and Parmalee. Additional performers and presenters
to be announced soon.
Buddy Comedy: The boys are back. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan
will return as co-hosts for the 49th Annual ACM Awards (Academy of Country
Music). The show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
April 6, 2014
BABY NEWS
Crib Note: Congratulations to Love And Theft's Stephen Barker Liles and fiancée Jenna Kennedy, who welcomed baby boy Jett Barker Liles to the world this (Dec 2). "He's ready to
start Instagraming and tweeting right away," Stephen says. Jett
arrived in at 7lbs, 7ounces, and 20 and 1/2 inches. Of the delivery, he notes
"Jenna
was awesome, calm and collected the entire time. We checked in, stayed up all
night and watched 'Sports Center' and 'Friends,' and listened to Mozart during
the delivery."
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Zac Brown Band announced (Nov 26) that they will release The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1 on iTunes
on December 10th. The release, which Dave Grohl produced and played the drums
on, will feature the recorded debut of the song "Day for the Dead,"
which the band and the Foo Fighters frontman recently performed at the CMAs.
Other tracks on the release include "All Alright," "Let It
Rain" and "The Muse," the latter of which was written by the
Wood Brothers, an ensemble signed to Brown's label Southern Ground Artists.
>> Watch
a preview
Jessica Campbell has a new Christmas song "Love & Snowmen", produced
by Park Chisolm, and released officially on iTunes written with Raquel Cole (same
co-writer as "Gone" from her new album).
Lauren Alaina has a special gift for fans this holiday season, one
that will also benefit a cause important to her. She will release her rendition
of the holiday classic, “Grown Up Christmas List,” to iTunes on December
10 in conjunction with the 26th anniversary of the Special Olympics’ A Very Special Christmas
holiday music album series. Lauren will perform “Grown Up Christmas List” and
“Jingle Bells” during NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center which will air
December 4 at 8/7c on NBC. Lauren is currently working on her forthcoming
sophomore album.
Sound Effects: Carrie Underwood gets her hands on an
advanced copy of The Sound Of Music - Music From The NBC Television Event,
available Dec. 3 - Photo
Little Big Town are busy working on their next studio album, and they expect
to release some new music in in the coming
months. On Monday, LBT tweeted a photo of themselves writing some new music
with their co-writers. The caption says, "One
everyone gets #SOBER, lets all do a little #DAYDRINKING. Spring 2014."
PRESS RELEASES
- Trinchero Family Estates welcomed Willie and Korie Robertson, of Duck Commander and Duck Dynasty fame, to Napa Valley November 17-19 to meet with the Trinchero Family about their collaboration and to celebrate the successful launch of Duck Commander Wines.
- Every country star needs his guitar. For Tenacity/WeBlast recording artist Jason Mitchell, the latest guitar came in the form of a special Pittsburgh Steelers edition electric guitar presented to him (Photo) by Bear Claw Custom Guitar co-founder John Felten last week in Nashville - apt considering Mitchell's first single release with the Tenacity/WeBlast venture, "Stomp", has become this year's official anthem for the Steelers (Nashville Music Media )
- Kenny Rogers shared his time and talent at
Nashville’s 5th annual Hymns, Hams & Jams concert from Loveless
Barn in support of The Shalom Foundation. The event was a huge
success, raising much-needed funds in support of its medical program in
Guatemala.
- Hank Williams Jr.
and Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle
Haggard spent some time in the studio recording the 1980 hit song “I Think I'll
Just Sit Here and Drink,” for Hank Williams Jr.’s latest studio
album Old School New Rules.
- Nu-Blu's latest
album Ten is available on Rural Rhythm Records -
- Craig Campbell
is thrilled to release his follow up single to
country radio, the up-tempo romantic romp “Keep Them Kisses Comin’.” The
track, written by Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, is a refreshing mature
look at two people with a true and intimate love, and already firing up
his fans on the road. The song’s supercharged Hot Radio Mix released at
iTunes. This brand new mix can be downloaded now, HERE.
- Aaron Lewis,
along with producer and co-host Rock Bordelon are nominated in four categories for
the 2013
Sportsman Choice Awards set to take place on January 15th in
Las Vegas. Aaron and Rock co-host the weekly ever-popular outdoor
lifestyle show “On The Road” that airs on the Sportsman Channel each
Tuesday.
- In a recent Huffington Post poll, the
“new queen of bluegrass” as named by the Wall Street Journal, Rhonda Vincent joins some of the
biggest names in music for having the “BEST ALBUM” of all-time with the “WORST
ALBUM ART.” As quoted by The Huffington Post, “Hey, look! Your Sunday School teacher
made an album! Hailed today
as one of the best bluegrass records of the
past 30 years, Rhonda Vincent’s first album may also have one of the
all-time dweebiest covers. The hair. The sequins. The font. The blush. The
lavender. The hair. Everything about this screams the early ‘80s (which is
all the dorkier considering that the record came out in the early ‘90s).
But if you are able to unsee that awkwardness, the performances on this
extraordinary debut are all utterly thrilling.”
- Country Thunder is preparing for a massive musical
onslaught in the Arizona desert from April 10-13, 2014. Country music fans
will two-step the night away with Jason
Aldean, reigning ACM “Male Vocalist of the Year.” Alongside powerhouse
Aldean is the firecracker artist herself, Miranda Lambert. Also headlining are The Band Perry. The festival site will become a massive
sing-a-long when the likes of Sawyer
Brown, Craig Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hit the
stage. Joining these legendary acts are some of the hottest artists up and
coming in country music. Enter Charlie
Worsham, Will Hoge, and Chad
Brownlee.
- Christmas Remembrances 2013, it has become a tradition at so much MOORE
media to collect unique holiday memories from their clients and share them, reflections of Christmases
past from: The Roys, Lisa Matassa, Jay Jolley, Joanna Mosca, LiveWire,
Sherry Lynn, Nadine Budge (The Stetson Family), Lizzie Sider and Mike
Aiken.
- NRA Country Presents: Trace Adkins at The Great American Outdoor Show. The National
Rifle Association of America (NRA) is nonprofit organization that promotes
firearm competency, safety and ownership. The NRA's political activity is
based on the tenet that firearm ownership is a civil right protected by
the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
- Highway Angel Lindsay Lawler performed "Standing Tall", at
Capitol Tree lighting ceremony on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
- Hank Williams Jr. song "Angels Are Hard To Find" is featured in George Clooney &
Sandra Bullock movie “Gravity”. Thes song was on both his 1974 album
Living Proof and the 1991 album Pure Hank.
- Josh Ritter
Ireland Acoustic Tour + Merch Sale
- CDX Volume 584 Newsletter -
- Sirius XM’s The Highway premiered High Valley’s new video,
“Rescue
You”. Watch it here
- Lucy Hale
fans got another sneak peek of her highly anticipated
country album when the “Pretty Little Liars” star revealed “You Sound
Good To Me” (written by Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, and Hillary
Lindsey) as her debut single and shared
the cover art for the track. The
exciting announcement took place via LucyHale.com, Facebook, Instagram and
Twitter. It's set to hit country radio early next year and available for
download starting January 7, 2014.
- Big Machine Records Newsletter (Dec 2)
ARTICLES
- CMA Close Up by Kip Kirby: Jennifer Nettles Goes It Alone
- Country Weekly Back in the Spotlight for Deana Carter
- Billboard 615 - Rosanne
Cash Rediscovers Her Roots With
'The River & The Thread'.....Extract: Rosanne Cash admits that when she looks back at her classic work
from the 1980s, she feels somewhat removed from the artist that was
topping the chart with works like "Seven Year Ache" and
"Blue Moon With Heartache" during her years with Columbia
Records. "It's like listening to my daughter," she tells
Billboard. "I think when I was close to it a few years after making
those records, I was very critical of myself, thinking 'I could have done
better.' I look back now, and I have a fondness for that girl. She's
younger than some of my daughters, but it's me. I really didn't know what
I was doing, but that innocence and longing to be good really moves me
now." Cash returns with her first album of original material since
2006 -- "The River & The Thread," due in stores January 14.
She says that the inspiration for many of the songs on the album came
about while re-discovering her roots in the mid-south....
- Listen to "A Feather's Not A Bird"
- Billboard 615: Eric
Church: The Billboard Cover Story....With "The Outsiders,"
due in February, Church is bringing his harder-rocking country sound to
the next level. "It's important for the health of the format that we
all don't follow the leader, that we branch out"
REVIEWS
threechordsandthetruthuk The Band Perry
- The Institute, Birmingham Friday 29th November 2013
Billboard's Chuck
Dauphin: Box Set Review: Garth Brooks
- Blame It All On My Roots
Garth Brooks has
made a history of doing things on a big scale. The Country Music Hall of Fame
member’s latest release, Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences
is yet another example of that. Exclusively available at Walmart for just under
$25, the set might very well be the strongest example of the true vocal magic
and charisma that Brooks has – with more than a few surprises along the way.
Roughstock takes a look at the set disc-by-disc.Read more
MAGAZINES
View
the Offical 108 Page CMA Awards 2013 Programme with all the nominees
and past winners listings -
LISTEN
Cream of the Crop
– Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music
Picks of 2013. If there’s a theme to this year’s choices it’s that women are
blazing a trail between Americana and mainstream country music. Lindi Ortega,
Brandy Clark, Julie Roberts, Kelly Willis, Aoife O’Donovan and Valerie June
might honing their craft from different angles, but a more than cursory
listening shows they are making great contemporary music drawing from a common
roots music well. - Listen to their Spotify and soundcloud
playlists:
SPOTIFY COUNTRY
For users of this
online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and
recommendations.
When its free and
easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?
Danielle Bradbery – Danielle Bradbery – Brand new album, released Nov 19, 2013
Shelby Lynne – Call Me Up - New
Five-song EP
released Nov 19, 2013
Jake Owen – Days of Gold - Brand new album, released Dec 2, 2013
Sarah Darling – Silent Night – New Christmas track from 4 Track EP
Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped In Red – New Christmas Album
The Voice UK 2013
(BBC One) BBC Playlister
WATCH
- Kellie Pickler
on “Dancing With The Stars” and “The View”.
Pickler performed “Little Bit Gypsy” on “The View.” Watch her performance HERE
- Brandy Clark
- Orange is the new Black in her new lyric video for Stripes
- Emily Hearn “Found a Heart” (Official Music Video)
- Aussie star Lee Kernaghan's “It's Only Country” (Official Music
Video)
- Payton Rae “Gone Girl” (Official Video) from the
"Gone Girl EP" (Pink Pony Records) preorder on UK iTunes / US iTunes (out Dec 17)
- Canuck girls One More Girl cover "Love Like Mine" (Official CMT
music video) as heard by the Nashville Cast on TV show (written by Kelly
Archer, Justin Weaver, Emily Shackelton) and performed by Hayden Panettiere.
- Gary Allan
"It Ain't The Whiskey" . He is
known for his moody ballads about lost-love, and his latest single,
"It Ain't the Whiskey," follows in that vein. The lyrics tell
the story of a guy attending an AA meeting to talk about the woman who
broke his heart instead of his increasing dependence on the bottle. Says Gary, "I
love, like heart-wrenching songs and songs that really make you
think, and they're my favorites. It's a 12-step song, but it's so poignant."
"It Ain't the Whiskey" was a staple of Allan's concert sets long
before he put it on his latest album, Set You Free.
- Chuck Dauphin of Billboard interview: Deana Carter Goes All In: If New
Album Doesn't Succeed, 'I Will Go Down Smiling'....On "Cyber
Monday," Dec. 2, Deana Carter will release her first disc of all-new
music since 2005. The digital release of "Southern Way of Life"
is something that the country singer says she is very excited about, and
also a project that reflects several years of living. There's been a lot
of writing, and a lot of living," Carter >> tells Billboard. "I've been
through a lot.
COUNTRY FASHION
Taylor Swift attended and performed at the Winter Whites Gala in aid of Centrepoint held at Kensington Palace
in London.
The songstress
herself was a vision in white, as she swept through the soiree in a divine Reem Acra
Spring 2014 silk chiffon off-the-shoulder gown. The lacy, metallic-embellished
nude bodice and the skirt’s long layers of fluid chiffon were near angelic. She
kept her Neil
Lane jewels to a minimum, instead accessorizing with complementary René Caovilla
Wishbone platform sandals, Swarovski crystal heels and a Jenny Packham
glitter fabric Mini Casa clutch, finishing her entrance with a bold, bright
magenta lip and the classically glam flourish of a retro pin-curled updo - Fashion Pic
COUNTRY GOSSIP
Keith Urban got a haircut this week. And despite more than
700 retweets of the new hair photo he posted on Twitter on Tuesday (Nov. 26),
that alone isn't really news. But what is news is that Urban hasn't had hair this short since his debut
solo self-titled album was released in 1999. That was his breakout album. It
was the one that almost overnight made the Australian country singer a
household name in America. It brought us hits like "But for the Grace of
God" and "Where the Blacktop Ends." So maybe this new style is a
way of returning to his make-a-statement roots.
Seeing short hair
on a man who has had face-framing layers most of his professional life is a bit
of a shock. But it's sexy, youthful and just a cool change of pace. Urban has
evolved musically since arriving in Nashville in 1992, so it makes sense his
hair would evolve with him.
Did Kacey Musgraves pull a Houdini after
the CMA Awards? Kind of. "I went to Texas and hung out with family and did nothing
but eat a bunch of Mexican food," Musgraves told Rolling Stone magazine of her much-deserved
R&R after a big break out year. It was a year packed with ups and downs,
but mostly ups. But then there was that moment at the CMA Awards when the
camera panned to Musgraves after Miranda Lambert's name was announced as female
vocalist of the year.
She explained that
as a newbie, she isn't quite used to having camera on her all the time. (I
don't know if you ever get used to that.) "And there's no way you can be
caught smiling at all times. If you know me, sometimes when I'm just sitting
there, it looks like I'm not having a good time, but I am," Musgraves told
the magazine.
It doesn't matter
all that much what tabloids and gossip websites had to say about the look on
her face. But Musgraves did want to make sure Lambert wasn't offended.
"I've reached
out to Miranda and let her know that that I didn't mean anything, and we
laughed about how dumb those things can get. I don't like that because it can
take away from music at certain points. I didn't mean anything by that. It's
funny because I was clapping and smiling before and after that clip," she
said. "If
anyone should be offended, it should be me! I mean, did you see my face? I look
like a dumbass. It was a long day. My feet were hurting."
"According to
the Boston Herald, country stars Faith
Hill, Shania Twain, and Tim McGraw
all use
Auto-Tune in performance, calling it a safety
net that guarantees a good performance. However, other
country music singers, such as Allison Moorer, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill,
Garth Brooks and Martina McBride, have refused to use Auto-Tune." Big
& Rich will never use Auto-Tune mostly because it's doesn't work on more
than one voice at a time - "We're not about
perfection" said John Rich. >> watch
video
Jessica Hart is the Victoria’s Secret model who publicly dissed Taylor
Swift after Taylor sang on their recent TV fashion show. Even tho
she took back what she said days later, sources say company executives are
furious and Jessica is off next year’s show and she won’t be in anymore
upcoming catalogs either.
PHOTO
Trailer Swift - Image
BIRTHDAYS
December 2: Danielle Alexander (1954),
December 3: Ferlin
Husky (1927)
December 4: Lila
McCann (1981), Chris Hillman
(Desert Rose Band/Byrds) (1944),
Amie
Comeaux (1976)
December 5: Ty
England (1963), Gary Allan (1967)
December 6: Bill
Lloyd (Sky Kings/Foster & LLoyd) - (1955)
December 7: Sunny
Sweeney (1976)
December 8: Marty
Raybon (Shenandoah/Raybon Bros), Walt
Aldridge (The Shooters)
R.I.P
Songwriter/producer
Nelson Larkin died on Nov. 18 in
Brentwood, Tenn. A label executive with Atlantic, Sunbird and GRT, he wrote Tracy
Lawrence’s “Somebody Paints the Wall” and Billy Joe Royal’s “Love Has No
Right,” and produced hits for Earl Thomas Conley, Robin Lee and Toby Keith,
among others
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