Sunday 16 September 2012

Country Bites News snippets September 10 – September 14, 2012

Country Bites News snippets September 10 – September 14, 2012

LINKS / SOURCES shown in Red


UK & IRISH News
Want new tracks from The Haley Sisters? Their new album WHEN I REACH THE PLACE I'M GOING, recorded in Keithley Yorkshire, is now available on cdbaby.com . Consisting largely of covers the blurb reads: 15 tracks of light & shade, Voices made in Heaven! Some classic tracks from various genre's including Americana, Country, Folk, Pop, a track leaning towards Gospel & a Rock & Roll track. The album is being played across the Local BBC country programmes. Steve Cherelle said They sing beautifully, if these girls were in America they would be big stars

Desribed as “Ireland's best-kept secret”, Johnny Brady from Antrim is being tipped by Daniel O’Donnell as one to watch – “a new country singer taking the scene by storm with his very special style of country music catching the imagination of the dancing public.
this great singer coming your way - he's not to be missed”
Johnny counts Big Tom among his many fans. "Johnny is a guy with a great voice and he has a big future," Tom said.
A few months back Brady was doing the local circuit around Co Antrim and now he has released his debut Album LIVING ALL MY DREAMS and launched his band to go on the road full time. The album consists of 6 covers and 6 originals – See Review
Since launching his country career Johnny has enjoyed singing at various shows like The Mid-West Radio Night With The Stars, The Shannonside/Northern Sound Radio Night With The Stars, The Galway Bay FM show, The West Limerick Awards Night and The Hot Country Awards Night where he received the award for Most Promising Country Act of 2012

OH, MY, GOSH! UK duo Travellin Rose (Kelly Lee & Talia Smith) have been making the news again this week. Their third single”Girl From The Backwards” went to #1 on The Hotdisc British & Irish Independent Top 10 Chart (9 September 2012). 
Travellin Rose


Then they made it, for the second time into the Daily Star National newspaper (Tues Sept 11) with the headline “Young Mums' Big Fat Gypsy Road To Fame ..Pals land No.1 and a TV Show” (see image)  Also Reveal.co.uk have ran a piece on them:
Gypsy mums Travellin' Rose hit the US charts and our TV screens….Forget My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding - the latest members of the travelling community to land a TV deal are two mums from South East England, who have bagged themselves a reality show on Sky after becoming massive country music stars.The Magazine encourages young women to share their opinions on “anything and everything showbiz, fashion, beauty or real life that is hot right now”
Travellin Rose @TravellinRose @revealmag we love reading your mag and were over the moon to see your piece on us online THANKYOU x Talia and Kelly - TravellinRose xxx
Showcase TV show Inside Music Row (Sky/Freesat) made mention of their British Country Music Award for winning the Horizon Act of the Year and they appeared live in the studio on Steve Cherelle’s Big Country Show on BBC Radio Essex (Sept 9) They spoke about their career to date and a new song “Repentance” was showcased from their yet to be officially named album.
Listen to an edited clip of their conversation and original music.



It’s been a big year for Yorkshire finishing 11th on The Olympics Medal Table and the success continued at the British Country Music Awards with “Dinningtons’s very own” Gary Perkins winning Male Vocalist of the Year UK and Nancy Ann Lee also from “God's Own County” winning Female Vocalist of the Year UK. They spoke to BBC Radio Sheffields Allan Watkiss about their success also Lee Guyler from Band Of the Year C’est La Vie spoke to Allan in his review of the BCMwards 2012
Listen to edited broadcast here  >>  Audio  

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(10 Sep 2012) Kathy Mattea - Calling Me Home (Sugar Hill)
Amazon UK CD Format - Amazon UK MP3's

(10 Sep 2012) Kix Brooks - New To This Town (Arista)
 Amazon UK CD Format - Amazon UK MP3's

(11 Sep 2012) Bucky Covington - Good Guys (Entertainment One)
Amazon UK CD Format - Amazon UK MP3's

(10 Sep 2012) The Time Jumpers - Time Jumpers (Rounder)
Amazon UK CD Format - Amazon UK MP3's

AUSSIE NEWS
The famed Bluebird Café played host to some of Australia’s most talented singer-songwriters Tuesday night (Sept 11), as approximately 20 artists from Down Under delivered a pair of sold-out sets to help kick off Nashville’s Americana Week.
For the third year in a row, Australian government-supported music industry organization Sounds Australia has brought a group of Aussie artists to Nashville to participate in the Americana Music Conference and Festival. This year’s group is the largest yet, with more than two-dozen acts making the trip.
Featured artists: Kelly Menhennett, Lee Mogan, Sue Ray, Felicity Urquhart, Lachlan Bryan, Catherine Traicos, Jordie Lane, Jen Mize, Karl Broadie and Clare Reynolds.

CANADIAN NEWS
Dean Brody won Album of the Year for his latest release, DIRT, for the second consecutive year at the CCMA Awards. Newly crowned as Male Artist of the Year, Brody opened the CCMA broadcast performing his hit single, “Canadian Girls.”
Another stellar year for the Open Road team and our talented roster, says Ron Kitchener, President of Open Road Recordings. “Dean Brody’s time has come. Thank you to Canadian country radio and all those who have supported him. We look forward to seeing the excitement on Dean’s upcoming national tour.”
The five time CCMA Award winner Dean Brody announced his first national headlining tour which will kick off in January 2013.
For a full review on the the 2012 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA’s) Awards click on Blog Link

NEWS
Debbie Pierce, who was a member of the 1980s female country group Chantilly, has died at age 58.
A Nashville native, she was born in 1954 and began her career as a harmony singer and backup vocalist in the road show of her father, Country Music Hall of Fame member Webb Pierce (1921-1991).
She made her recording debut on Decca Records with two singles in 1969 and a third on MCA in 1973.  The father-daughter duets “On My Way Out” and “Reality of Life” were issued by Plantation Records in 1979 billed as “The Pierces.” She formed Chantilly with lead vocalist Kim Williams and harmony singer P.J. Allman. The group placed seven singles on the charts between 1982 and 1984.
Pierce later worked as a member of the security personnel for the Country Music Hall of Fame. www.musicrow.com

Josh Thompson is feeling grateful that he and his bandmates are all fine following an early morning bus crash on Sunday (Sept. 9), while en route to a concert in Arkansas. "Was involved in a small bus accident this morning, everyone's ok and we're on a new not so broken bus headed to Little Rock," the singer tweeted following the crash when the bus hit a guardrail. It's not a fun way to wake up, being tossed out of the bunk," he acknowledges to Taste of Country. "It was a close call, but thank God nobody was hurt, and we made it to the show on time. Hopefully we can check this off the list forever."
This follows a pattern of 2012 bus mishaps: Lee Brice, Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann and Joe Diffie have all watched their homes-away-from-home go up in flames in 2012, while Justin Moore and Bucky Covington both suffered bus accidents - Music City USA News

Dierks Bentley has added award winning country music singer and radio personality Kix Brooks to the artist lineup for his seventh annual “Miles & Music for Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert scheduled for Sun., Oct. 14 in Nashville. This year’s lineup on the ACM Lifting Lives main stage also includes previously announced special guests Sheryl Crow, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, The Cadillac Black and Craig Campbell.

Jason Aldean has announced a partnership with Coors Light, The World’s Most Refreshing Beer. Coors Light and Coors Banquet will be Aldean’s exclusive alcohol beverage sponsor, which includes a national retail promotion.
Coors Light is associated with so many of my favorite experiences… tailgating before University of Georgia games, vacations to the beach with my friends, playing bars and clubs when I was coming up in my career,” said Aldean. “This was a no-brainer partnership for me, and I’m especially looking forward to the fridge full of Coors Light they promised all of us for the road”.

In other country booze news, Jagermeister is sponsoring David Nail’s fall tour.
When David Nail took the stage to kick off his fall solo tour  he brought along his white hot band and a battery of songs that say something about the complexity of life in modern times. But he also brought along a new friend: a new tour sponsor in the form of Jagermeister.

Need another top up with the country booze news? Luke Bryan is taking the party to the streets! Luke will headline ‘Capitol Street Party 5: Luke Bryan Takes Broadway’ on October 17 in downtown Nashville. Luke and newcomers Kelleigh Bannen and Jon Pardi performing on a stage set up on Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenues. Sponsors for the Capitol Street Part include Wrangler, Middle Tennessee State University, Coca-Cola, Miller Lite with additional partnerships include: Whiskey Bent Saloon, Silver Dollar Saloon, and Bootleggers Inn.

Dwight Yoakam exclusively debuted new music this week from his upcoming album 3 PEARS, which is being released September 18th, 2012 on Warner Bros. Records. It is his first album of new material since 2005’s BLAME THE VAIN. It’s his first release since returning to Warner Bros. Records after a trio of releases from New West Records, features a pair of Beck productions, "A Heart Like Mine" and "Missing Heart," recorded at Beck's home studio in California, along with nine other Yoakam compositions that “exhibit a stripped-down, sparse, emotional, and intimate sound” Fans could listen to five brand new tracks every day this week.
DAY ONE (CMT Link) - “It’s Never Alright.” Co-written with the Pistol Annies’ Ashley Monroe, the track regrets that once love has moved on, things might get better, but they’ll never be as happy as they should. Yoakam says that as vocalists, he and Monroe share a similar approach to songwriting. In fact, this song was completed in about four hours

DAY TWO (Taste of Country)Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)” + hiccups ! This Max Fidler/Joe Maphis penned cover (previously recorded by the likes of Flatt & Scruggs, Marty Stuart, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Vern Gosdin and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder) proves Yoakam hasn’t lost a bit of his edge in the seven years between studio albums. The uptempo rocker is what Yoakam was referring to when he said the new disc would include cowpunk, a sub-genre that fuses punk rock with steel guitars. The style was popular in the early ’80s, but never caught on with mainstream radio. Yoakam delivers it fresh with inflections unique to the Kentucky native.
Dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music / Is the only kind of life you will ever understand,” he sings to begin the song.

DAY THREE (GACTV.com) Has an exclusive track preview for "Take Hold Of My Hand," the lead track 3 Pears
DAY 4 (AOL the Boot) Streamed the title track  3 Pears
DAY 5 (Yahoo) previewed the ballad "Long Way To Go"

Americana Music Awards and Honors 2012 Award Winners:
Instrumentalist of the Year: Dave Rawlings
Album of the Year: This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark; produced by Tamara Saviano and Shawn Camp
Song Of The Year Award :  Alabama Pines;” Written by Jason Isbell and performed by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Emerging Artist of the Year:  Alabama Shakes
Artist of the Year: Gillian Welch
Duo/group of the Year: The Civil Wars
Lifetime Achievement for Performance: Bonnie Raitt
Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist: Booker T. Jones
Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting:  Richard Thompson
Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive: Dennis Lord

The Americana Music Association’s 11th Americana Honors & Awards night opened with a performance of the Booker T. and the MG’s classic “Green Onions,” led by Jones with guitarists Thompson, Buddy Miller, Larry Campbell, Darrell Scott and Kenny Vaughn.
Welch and Rawlings, though both unable to attend.
The Civil Wars captivated the audience with a stripped down version of “Barton Hallow.” Before picking up the award, The Civil Wars’ Joy Williams and John Paul White also acted as presenters, handing Song of the Year honors to “Alabama Pines,” written by Isbell and performed by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. Isbell was formerly of roots-rock workhorse Drive-By Truckers. He also performed the song on the show.
Bonnie Raitt
at the awards
Guy Clark performed “My Favorite Picture of You,” accompanied by Verlon Thompson and Shawn Camp. After Clark’s performance, the award was presented by Rodney Crowell and Brandi Carlisle. This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark was lovingly produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Tamara Saviano (Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster)—who is also working with Clark on his definitive biography. The tribute includes 30 tracks by 33 Americana artists who are friends and colleagues of Clark. 

In between opening and closing numbers, the show also included performances by Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson; The Mavericks; Lee Ann Womack, Tom T. Hall and Peter Cooper, who together performed song-of-the-year nominee “I Love;” The Punch Brothers; Robert Ellis; Hayes Carll and Cary Ann Hearst; the Carolina Chocolate Drops; Sarah Jarosz; Deep Dark Woods; Earle; and Miller and Lauderdale.

Read the FULL Review in this Press Release
If you missed said awards, you can listen to the NPR archived webcast. (Eg LeeAnn Womack + Peter Cooper + Tom T Hall singing who together performed song-of-the-year nominee "I Love" from The Fox Hollow Project = Wow!) 

Just what is Americana? Nashville’s City Paper attempts to answer that question with a Venn diagram – PDF Link
MCA Nashville’s Josh Turner has just been awarded another Platinum certification for sales reaching 1 million for his hit songs “Your Man” and “Would You Go With Me.” Both songs appear on Turner’s DOUBLE-PLATINUM selling Your Man which MCA released in 2006. Furthermore, Turner’s current single “Time Is Love” from his critically acclaimed new album Punching Bag has also reached GOLD status for sales topping 500,000

Rascal Flatts will be on the West Coast next week when their star is dedicated on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They'll also be performing a series of California concerts leading up to the ceremony and an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.

Eric Church will premiere the music video for his new single, "Creepin'," from the CMA Album of the Year nominated record, CHIEF, exclusively on RollingStone.com Friday, Sept. 14. The music video was directed by Peter Zavadil and filmed in Chattanooga, Tenn. at the East Chattanooga Depot. The video features a normally sunglass-clad star sans his regular shades as he and a group of bandits--all Church's longtime band members disguised alongside Church--set out to rob a train. Costume designer and stylist Katy Robbins worked in conjunction with Church and Zavadil to recreate the late 18th century fashion. (Essential Broadcast Media)

Carrie Underwood will begin her much anticipated 55-city headline North American arena tour this Friday, “The Blown Away Tour,” in Manchester, New Hampshire with special guest Hunter Hayes. The shows are presented and hydrated by vitaminwater®, sponsored by Olay, and promoted by AEG Live.

Martina McBride will continue her highly acclaimed ONE NIGHT intimate theater tour throughout fall before embarking on her own Christmas-themed tour entitled THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS. - “I am extremely excited to get back out on the road this fall to continue our ‘ONE NIGHT’ tour,” said Martina. “The reaction from fans this spring and summer has been fantastic. I have never done such an intimate tour before that allows me connect with my fans in such a close way.”
The Christmas season is by far the McBride family’s favorite time of the year. Holiday music is some of my most favorite to sing and it reminds me of the memories I have growing up that I’ve shared with my daughters,” continued Martina. “I have compiled all of my favorite Chistmas songs and will package them together in a fun concert for all.”
SESAC’s 2012 Nashville Music Awards are coming up, during CMA Awards week,on Sunday, October 28th and will be honouring the top Country and Americana songwriters and publishers.

Scotty McCreery will appear in the new Guinness World Records 2013 book. Scotty takes the title of the youngest male to enter the U.S. album charts at No. 1. In 2011, the 18-year-old's debut album, CLEAR AS DAY, premiered at the top of the all-genre Billboard 200 albums chart, also making him the first "American Idol" winner to do so since Ruben Studdard in 2003.

Alan Jackson has 2 homes for sale now – one’s a lake near Smithville, TN that comes with its own helipad at almost 4 million. Alan also has a Jupiter Island Florida property for sale for $14.9 million.


You can dock four yachts there and his neighbours include Tiger Woods.
If your interested the stone and shingle lakeside Smithville, Center Hill Lake property has an asking price of approximately $5 million.The estate is situated on its own 3.6 acres of gated peninsula. The Hampton-style main residence has five bedrooms, five full and three partial baths. Wooden floors, paneled ceilings, rustic stone fireplaces and a state-of-the-art home theatre are other attractions of the home. The property also has a pool that is heated for year-round use.

Bassist Jon Jones From the  Eli Young Band announced that his wife Sarah is expecting the couple’s first child, a baby boy, due on Dec. 23. That makes two babies in 2012 for the ACM Award-winning group, as singer Mike Eli welcomed his first baby in July.
It’s funny that in the band, Mike got married first, and then me,” Jones tells People, who broke the news on Friday. “Then Mike and Kacey got pregnant … and Sarah and I are right behind them.”
SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Lady Antebellum, CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year are also in the Christmas Spirit! Preparing for the changing seasons they made a video announcement regarding a Christmas album ON THIS WINTER'S NIGHT, available in stores on October 22nd.
I love the excitement, the child-like spirit of innocence and just about everything that goes along with Christmas,” said Hillary Scott. “My little sister will be 12 this Christmas and it is always so sweet to see her wake up every Christmas morning and wonder what Santa brought her. It was that way for me growing up and it’s so amazing to be able to spend that time with her now.”….
We recorded this album in two sections, but both times were in the summertime,” noted Dave Haywood. “It is always weird to be in the studio in June and July, so we decorated the entire studio, we really did. We brought out lights, fake trees and decorated the place to get in the Christmas spirit. You'd leave the studio, and it'd be 100 degrees out in Nashville, but nonetheless, a great experience.“
Between legs of their Own The Night 2012 World Tour earlier this year, Lady A hit the studio in Nashville to record the new collection where they also return as co-producers alongside veteran producer Paul Worely. For the festive release, the trio penned the album’s title track and created their own arrangements for two of the disc’s additional 11 holiday classics. (More info - Cover Art & Tracks)
Lady A is currently in the studio in the beginning stages of recording new music while also preparing for the final leg of their Own The Night 2012 World Tour. The tour will come to a close in October in Australia.

Billy Dean is back with his first studio album in nearly four years, A MAN OF GOOD FORTUNE (Rainman Records). The all-new ten track album is slated for a national retail release via Red Distribution on September 25, 2012. Earlier this week, through his VIDDY account, Dean uploaded a special video teasing a song from the forthcoming album.
Watch the VIDDY 10 Seconds preview
In 2009, Dean took a break from the recording studio, spending his time developing Billy Dean Music Group (BDMG - his very own publishing and production company) . Dean co-wrote seven of the ten songs included on A Man Of Good Fortune.
Music has deeply enriched my life," notes Dean. "My fans have waited patiently for this new release because they know this one is for them. It's because of my fans and their support that I've spent most of my life on a musical journey and that's why I truly feel like 'A Man Of Good Fortune.'"  (Absolute Publicity Press)

Arista Nashville recording trio The Henningsens are introducing themselves to country radio on a promo tour, with their first single and album title track, “American Beautiful” produced by Paul Worley
Togetherness - The Henningsens & The Band Perry
A family trio consisting of father Brian Henningsen (bass, guitar, vocals), son Aaron (guitar, vocals), and daughter Clara (lead vocals, guitar), The Henningsens, writers for EMi Nashville, have already been turning heads in songwriting circles, penning songs recorded by such artists as Wynonna, Sara Evans, and The Band Perry, whose two-week #1 smash, “All Your Life,” was written by Brian and Clara.( #1 Party Photo) The Band Perry's opening track on their self titled debut "You Lie" was penned by Aaron, Brian and Clara and they collboarated with TBP on "Miss You Being Gone" and the closer "Lasso"
Officially impacting country radio for airplay this December, “American Beautiful” was co-written by the trio, together with songwriter Brett Beavers. “It’s an American spirit story wrapped up in a love song,” Clara says of “American Beautiful,” which showcases the band’s tight harmonies, dynamic energy, and gift for vivid, inventive lyrics. (Arista Nashville)
Meet The Henningsens  >>  YouTube 

UK fans of Taylor Swift can pre-order her forthcoming album RED and also an Exclusive Limited Edition ZinePak CD Album
with Bonus Tracks and 70 page booklet (£14.99).

The album wil be officially released on 22nd October 2012.

Taylor will be in the UK in October as one of the main performers at this year's Radio 1 Teen Awards

PRESS RELEASES
Award-winning Bluegrass brother/sister duo THE ROYS have aligned with Team RealTree™ Outdoor Energy Drink for a strategic partnership.  THE ROYS will travel to their upcoming shows in a newly-wrapped bus with design and camouflage graphics courtesy of RealTree.  "It looks amazing," says Lee Roy.  "Very earthy," Elaine adds with a wink.  "We're truly excited about our partnership with THE ROYS," says Jamey Grosser, Managing Partner of Team RealTree Outdoor Energy Drink.  "Lee and Elaine are hard-working, energetic and talented.  They are in touch with Middle America and aren't afraid to get their hands dirty and enjoy the great outdoors." (Press Release)
Southern Rocker’s LiveWire's much-anticipated debut Way Out West Records' release, LIVIN', issues October 30.  The 10-track CD, produced by Justin Woods, challenges the status quo with music that puts the band right in the mix with the best of today's artists.  A six-piece group based in Joplin, Missouri, LiveWire features lead vocalist Andy Eutsler, lead guitarist Bobby DeGonia, drummer Adam Hagerman, fiddle player Cory Shultz, rhythm guitarist Danny Bell and bassist Landon Rolfe. LiveWire released a self-titled EP in 2011 which included the group's debut radio single, "Tater Fed," a stirring backwoods rocker that quickly became the band's anthem.

Curb Records is celebrating some “serious heavy metal success” with a number of their top country stars striking gold and platinum status in digital sales. The latest stack of RIAA certifications adds to the decades of top awards and accolades for the label, which has just marked its 50th Anniversary as one of the industry’s leading independent music companies.
Rodney Atkins, Tim McGraw, Lee Brice, Steve Holy and Hank Williams Jr. recently received certifications (Press Release)

IGT Announces New Dolly Parton Slot Machine -  Dolly Parton comes to the casino as she brings her chart-topping hits to both video slot and five-reel spinning reel games. Dolly Parton® Video Slots, along with Two Doors Down and Nine to Five Spinning Reels, feature interactive juke-box-style song selections, big bonus action and front-row concert experiences all with Dolly cheering the player along. Dolly stated, “As you know, I love doing lots of different things and this is the most different thing that I’ve done so far.  I’m very excited to be working with IGT with my very own video slot machines and five reel spinning reel games.  Wanna play?  Well, come on!   (Webster & Associates)

ARTICLES
Little Big Town Explores New Horizons in Harmony and Production  ( 2012 CMA Close Up by Bob Doerschuk )

INTERVIEWS
Dustin Lynch talks with Chris Rutledge of American Songwriter about the story behind “Cowboys and Angels.”

Little Big Town’s ‘Tornado’ of change - An excerpt:  
Little Big Town has adjusted to change both personal and professional. The group’s new album TORNADO comes out in America Tuesday 11 Sept.
I’ve been depressed and on the verge of tears for 10 days,” said Schlapman, surrounded by her Little Big Town bandmates. “Things are changing and I don’t like it, and it’s really, really making me very emotional.”
A few hours from then, the country group was set to debut its new album “Tornado” live for several hundred music industry professionals and a few select fans at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The night was one the band had looked forward to for months. They were in rehearsals until after midnight the night before. And two hours before Schlapman’s confession, her biggest concern was whether the stylish, red brocade pants she picked up at Nordstrom were the right choice for unveiling “Tornado.”
But the tears weren’t about pants. After spending the last three hours in hair, makeup and rehearsals and the last 30 minutes talking about the band’s new music, the subject changed to Schlapman’s daughter, Daisy.
Daisy, 5 — like member Phillip Sweet’s daughter Penelopi Jane, 4½, and Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook’s son, Elijah, 2½ — has grown up on the Little Big Town tour bus with her mom and the other kids. In the past few weeks, Daisy started kindergarten, and Penelopi started pre-school. Not getting to be with her daughter on a daily basis is a huge, unwanted adjustment for Schlapman. Full story by Cindy Watts at  The Tennessean  

Exclusive Ourstage Q and A: Pony Boy Talks Poetry, Pop, and Production
Exploring themes of the Ol' West and heartache, Pony Boy's gravel-riddled tunes have been coined, "Junkyard Country." Recalling a1950's nostalgia and Southern Gothic Soul.
Excerpt: Pony Boy, the brainchild of Marchelle Bradanini, is a self-described “junkyard country” group that sounds like a dusty old Ford rumbling down a deserted road. Having already put in time as a member of the eclectic Bedtime for Toys, Bradanini channeled her rediscovered love of classic country, blues, and Americana into her latest project. We caught up with her to chat about her poetic past, her distaste for manicured pop, and what really separates her from R. Kelly
Check out the video for Pony Boy’s single “Not In This Town” >>    YouTube

LISTEN

Bucky Covington’s long-awaited sophomore album was released Tuesday, September 11.  As part of the launch week plans for GOOD GUYS, which GAC declares “a solid collection that serves as an important step for the young artist
Produced by Mark Miller and Dale Oliver and releasing on Bucky’s new label home eOne Music, GOOD GUYS features 12 tracks including “I Wanna Be That Feeling” and raucous, sing-along Shooter Jennings duet “Drinking Side Of Country,” which Covington co-wrote and co-produced. (Monarch Publicity Press Release)
Fans can get a preview of the FULL album at AOL  
TWEET: Be a good guy & buy @BuckyCovington's new cd GOOD GUYS w/ "Drinking Side Of Country"-1st wk benefits @HelpTheGoodGuys

Title track of Rosie Flores’ upcoming record, Working Girl’s Guitar  >   Audio
Listen to Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire’s new duet “Oklahoma Christmas” after the jump at blog.gactv.com
WATCH
Keith Urban tells Nashville high school students about faking it and making it - tennessean.com

A benefit concert for Planned Parenthood featuring Wine, Women & Song: Gretchen Peters, Suzy Bogguss, & Matraca Berg on August 29, 2012 at The Rutledge, Nashville, TN  -  www.youtube.com

Surfdog Records has announced “A Better Place,” the second video from Glen Campbell’s critically acclaimed album GHOST ON THE CANVAS, featuring a special guest appearance from Joshua Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss, Them Crooked Vultures) and directed by Kii Arens and Jason Trucco is being released to media nationwide. This farewell video showcases Campbell looking back at his life and career. (Webster & Associates Press Release)
Watch Video here >>  YouTube

Check out West Australian Chelsea Basham’s second single and lead-off track "Laugh It Off" (Written by Chelsea Basham, Travis Meadows, and Michael Tan) from her debut album released August 2012. The song was produced by Graham Thompson
>>   YouTube
The first single “I Make My Own Sunshine” (Written by Alyssa Bonagura) from Chelsea Basham  >>  YouTube

Canadian Country/Pop singer-songerwriter Leah Daniels single “One Night”
 >>  YouTube

Wanda Jackson can still rock it out! For her next album, Unfinished Business—out October 9th—she teamed up with young soul virtuoso Justin Townes Earle. The difference between the two records? [Last one produced by Jack White] "The other sure was a lot of fun, just cookin' and pushin'. I had to spit those words out—it was really different for me," she told GQ. "This record's the opposite, you might say. Jack's is hard-drive and punch-punch, and Justin's is laid back and cool."
Premiering exclusively on GQ.com, the new single and Seth Graves-directed music video for "Tore Down" - a Freddy King cover, shows off the results: rockin' blues, edgy minimalism, maximum Wanda. "Justin said  >>  YouTube

Full video of Kellie Pickler shaving her head with her friend Summer Miller for Breast Cancer >>  YouTube

Vince Gill receiving his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! >>  YouTube

FASHION
Taylor Swift performed at the 2012 MTV VMAs wearing Candy-Cane Stripes & Urban Outfitters Shorts!
Taylor Swift Graphic
Taylor Swift hit stage last night for her most “pop princess” performance to date as she danced along with her new single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” wearing short-shorts and bold stripes.
Flaunting her mile long legs, Taylor partnered her custom made red-and-white cotton tee with a sassy pair of black high-rise denim shorts from the Urban Outfitters exclusive label Cooperative.
With her long blonde hair styled in a high ponytail, Taylor finished off her look with a whole lot of vibrant fire engine red. Not only was she sporting a scarlet pout and matching manicure — check out her colorful microphone and suede Christian Louboutin “Fred Flat” oxfords!

COUNTRY RECIPE
Sara Evans has an easy and delicious recipe for corn casserole at tasteofcountry.com
From Sara: I love this corn recipe! It goes with everything… We grilled steak last night and I made this with a salad and dinner rolls. And it’s so easy!
What You’ll Need: 2 cans creamed corn, 2 cans sweet corn, 1 stick melted butter, 1 cup cream, 2 sleeves of crumbled saltines,
Salt and pepper to taste. What You Do: Mix ingredients together, pour into baking dish, bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes until golden brown

COUNTRY GOSSIP
Billy Ray Cyrus performed his new single "Change My Mind" on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" last week, and chatted with the show's host about his family and upcoming Broadway debut. (Watch the interview below.) The singer-songwriter talked about his daughter, Miley Cyrus, and her engagement to "The Hunger Games" actor Liam Hemsworth, revealing that his future son-in-law asked for permission to marry his famous daughter.
"[He] Begged me. He came several times. Third time I said, 'Yeah, sure,'" Billy Ray deadpanned. "No, I said 'yeah' right off the bat ... We all love Liam. He's a great young man. He did ask."
Jay then asked about how this proud papa felt about his 19-year-old daughter tying the knot. "She's pretty young, yeah, but ya know what? She's happy," he explained. "It's good to see her happy. That's what I care most about."
Miley Cyrus
new look!

Another hot topic in regards to his daughter has been her new bleach blond, not-quite-buzz cut. "I think she's beautiful," Billy Rays says of Miley's daring new 'do. "She did come to me afterwards and asked me if I had any tips, so I tinkered around with it. I may have something ..."

Miley Cyrus is postponing her wedding with actor Liam Hemsworth in order to complete a new album.
The 19-year-old pop star admits that she hasn't even begun planning the ceremony because she's been too busy putting together her upcoming record.
The singer spoke to E! News on the red carpet at last night's MTV Video Music Awards to gush about her new found sound.
Looks like any day now Keith Urban will sign with ‘American Idol’ as he has just quit Australia's 'The Voice'.
Negotiations are in the final stages with Keith Urban & pop star Nicki Minaj; Fox is expected to give the news at the end of the week. Randy Jackson was recently confirmed back to the Judges panel alongside already confirmed Mariah Carey. The 4 judge panel is reprising their 4 judge concept from the 2009/2010 seasons

TWEETS
Gretchen Peters - This is going to be a crazy week. TV taping, a party for Whispering Bob Harris, Americana showcase, couple of interviews, then a flight to Minnesota and a long drive up the Bob Dylan Highway (61) to Grand Marais for Mountain Stage. Whew!

Canadian singer-songwriter Victoria Banks - Just want to tip my hat to the road musicians who cover thousands of miles, spend birthdays & holidays in lonely hotel rooms, and rehearse tirelessly to make the person standing in the spotlight sound good! Plus, they're usually better musicians than the artists that front them. :)

Terri Clark - Hangin with Miranda Lambert and the pistol Annie's backstage at the CCMAs. I've been dubbed " Alberta Annie (photo)

PHOTO
Styling Irish singer/songwriter Pete Kennedy for his UK, October tour with Neil Sedaka!!! Congrats on your BCM Album of the Year award Pete!!!! — with Melissa Core, Pete Kennedy and Rick Caballo (Photo)

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