Monday 5 November 2012

Country Bites News snippets Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2012

Country Bites News snippets October 29 – November 2, 2012

UK & IRISH News
THE South Of Ireland Country Music and Entertainment Awards will take place at Killarney's INEC on Tuesday, November 6.
Among the stars performing on the night are Philomena Begley, Mike Denver, Nathan Carter, Michael English, Patrick Feeney, Trudi Lalor, Mick Flavin, Crystal Swing, Gina, Dale Haze and The Champions, Louise Morrissey, Paddy O'Brien, Lisa McHugh, John
Hogan and T.R. Dallas.
Philomena who recently celebrated (?) her 70th birthday continues to enjoy life as one of Ireland’s most popular entertainers.


Ed Sheeran (Press)

It’s a Swift rise to the top for Suffolk’s-very-own Ed Sheeran. He impressed Taylor Swift (see Sun photo !!! ) so much when they collaborated for her latest album RED that she’s invited him on her 2013 US tour.
Ed will be joining Tay for all 58 of her stadium and arena shows. Last week Ed jumped up 29-11 on the UK Album Chart (8,856 sales), its powerful resurgence following his appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show on ITV (a week after Miss Swift’s appearance), on which he performed a much shortened version of the album track “Give Me Love”,

Taylor’s “RED Team” might be needing to ship a few crates of Robinsons Fruit & Barley over pronto as Ed put it out there saying early in the year: “I’m putting it out there now – that I want to be the face of Robinsons Fruit & Barley. I will dress up as a giant peach in an advert and drink Robinsons for free.” The Suffolk singer-songwriter has stayed clear of the booze for more than a year.
Taylor recently said in her Esquire interview "I don't drink much alcohol,". "If it doesn't taste like candy or sparkles, I usually don't drink it." In April 2011 according to a source on PerezHilton.com all her fellow performers where required to stay sober and take random drug and alcohol tests while on tour: “All the dancers auditioning looked clean-cut and girlie. Everyone wanted to fit the role of Taylor’s good-girl image perfectly to get the job.” Taylor said “The second you put out a song and somebody likes it, you become a role model,” she’s said. “That’s just how it happens, so I’ve always been really mindful of that.”

Gretchen Peters has announced that Irish singer-songwriter Ben Glover will be supporting the entire UK portion of the 2013 "Woman On The Wheel" European tour. Ben's been hanging out in Nashville lately and he in the UK he recently, opening shows for Mary Gauthier. For a complete list of Gretchen’s UK dates

Lindi Ortega the ruby-lipped, raven-haired beauty pulls on her bright red cowboy boots once again in January for a European jaunt, playing 10 UK dates from Sat February 26, 2013 (OXFORD, Jericho Tavern) to  Friday March 8, 2013 (BRIGHTON, Green Door Store). Special guest support comes from Zervas & Pepper.
See dates  - “Lead Me On” >>  YouTube
After springing onto the scene last year with debut, self-confessed 'countrypolitan' debut Little Red Boots, the Canadian singer- songwriter delighted audiences at some of first ever UK live outings. Now she’s back January 21st with CIGARETTES & TRUCKSTOPS, her second full-length LP on Last Gang Records, and a stunning testament to her recent move to Nashville – Lindi’s spiritual home. The album hit the Billboard charts with a placing at #71 on the Country Album chart.
Despite keeping many of the folk-led, Americana flavours as her debut, it is a genuine country article but with a bluesy thread running straight through the middle.

UK Chart News
On the Hotdisc Chart Ian Highland with his single “Much Too Young” spends its 4th successive week at #1 on The Hotdisc British & Irish Independent Top 10

UK Official Albums Chart
Taylor Swift America’s 22-year-old sweetheart finally conquers the UK albums market as fourth time lucky offering RED goes all the way to the top of the Official Albums Chart (Published Oct 28, 2012)
The singer, whose previous two albums FEARLESS and SPEAK NOW peaked at Number 5 and 6 respectively, enlisted master of poppets Max Martin to oversee her lead single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, which along with a string of swiftly (excuse the pun) released album tracks, including the Martin-produced “I Knew You Were Trouble”, helped the former country singer to her first Official UK Number 1 album.
Spawning five Top 40 singles in the 10 weeks before it was released, Taylor Swift's fourth album RED achieved first week sales of 61,779 copies.
The 22 year old has come a long way since her 2007 debut!

Her self titled album TAYLOR SWIFT sold only 38 copies the week of its release date, and peaked 94 weeks later at #81(12/09/2009) . The album released on October 24, 2006 first appeared in the UK Chart at number 88 (05/09/2009). It was last seen on Chart at #99 (03/10/2009) and has spent 3 weeks on the UK Chart
FEARLESS had debuted and peaked at #5 with first week sales of 33,829 (With the help of her first hit single, “Love Story”)
SPEAK NOW, debuted and peaked at number six (28,223 sales) two years ago this week in 2010.

RED is the first album by a female country singer to top the chart since 1999, when Shania Twain's COME ON OVER reached number one, and it is the first number one album by an act that is “perceived as country” since The Eagles' reunion album LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN topped the chart five years ago this week.
RED debuts at #1 on the Ireland Album chart, #1 in Australia on the ARIA chart and #1 in New Zealand
** 
'RED' made its bow on Billboard Top 200 at #1 selling a whopping 1.208 million copies last week in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan,"  scoring music's highest weekly sales number in more than a decade (since 2002's The Eminem Show), and earning Taylor a new page in the history books as the only female artist (and the fourth artist ever) to hit the 1 million first-week figure twice since SoundScan began tracking actual sales in 1991.

Daniel O'Donnell’s latest 16 track album SONGS FROM THE MOVIES AND MORE,  released by DMGTV bows in at #7. The Donegal 50 year old Irish crooner maintains his record of having had at least one chart album every year since his chart debut, as FROM THE MOVIES AND MORE sold 11,462 sales. It is the 25th year in a row that O'Donnell has charted - he started in 1988 - a record no other act can match. Songs From The Movies... is O'Donnell's 15th Top 20 album since 2000 - another unmatched record. It is also his 29th Top 40 album, and his 33rd Top 75 album - both records for an Irish act.
** Note ** - Neither Taylor Swift’s or Daniel’s new releases are included on the UK Official Country Chart . In fact due to the criteria used by the Official Chart company which compiles both the Top 100 Album chart and the Country Album chart for the UK, Swift’s last album SPEAK NOW also never made a showing. This is despite the fact UK iTunes genre tag the “Love Story” singers new offering RED as: Country, Music, Honky Tonk, Contemporary Country, Rock, Pop, Teen Pop!

Making their debuts on the UK Country Album Chart are Nathan Carter with WAGON WHEEL at #5, Glen Campbell & Jimmy Webb  In SESSION at #9, Pokey La Farge and the South City Three with MIDDLE OF EVERYWHERE at #19 and rounding out the Top 20 is Mary Gauthier Proper Records release LIVE AT BLUE ROCK  

UK Official Top 10 Singles Chart
On the Official UK Singles Chart (Published Oct 28, 2012) RED’s smash hip lead-off single “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” moves 7-9 with a further 33,737 sales (334,838 copies sold in 10 weeks). “Never” is now Taylor’s second biggest seller,  behind “Love Story” (last weeks #55 down to #92 this week), it has now spent nine of its 10 weeks on release in the Top 10, compared to “Love Story” spent only seven weeks in the Top 10. The smash Love Story had sold 527,444 copies as of Oct 28, 2012.
 A sixth song from RED – “Everything Has Changed”, featuring Ed Sheeran - enters the Top 75 this week, debuting at number 50 (5,630 sales).
I Knew You were Trouble” has dropped from #27 to #53 this week but has announced that “Trouble” will be the next official UK single from her latest album ‘Red’! The track is the second single from the album will be released in the UK on December 10.
State Of Grace”, another preview track from RED made the Top 40 last week debutting at #36 (7,395 sales).

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(23 Oct 2012) Donna Ulisse - All The Way To Bethlehem (Hadley Music Group)

(30 Oct 2012) Toby Keith - Hope On The Rocks [Deluxe Edition] (Show Dog-Universal)
 
(30 Oct 2012) LiveWire - Livin' (Way Out West) Amazon UK MP3 Downloads  

(30 Oct 2012) Kristen Kelly - Kristen Kelly [4 Track EP] (Arista Nashville)
(30 Oct 2012) Rosehill - Crooked Thoughts (Tenacity Records)

** Looking for a Christmas bargain? **  Carrie Underwood BLOWN AWAY [UK Special Edition] £5 incl postage

AUSSIE NEWS
The Frontier Touring Company regret to advise the cancellation of The Civil Wars’ upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The band has cancelled their 2013 tour dates worldwide, including dates scheduled to run in Australia & New Zealand from 6 March to 21 March inclusive.

BLUEGRASS NEWS
Sleepy Man Banjo Boys made their debut at #3 on Billboard Bluegrass Chart last week. The bluegrass trio of brothers, became an overnight sensation in 2011 after practice recordings for their grandparents went viral on YouTube. These videos have now collectively topped over 12 million views.
Tommy (Guitar), age 15, Robbie (Fiddle), age 13 and Jonny (Banjo) age 10, were encouraged by their parents to learn an instrument and first discovered their love for Bluegrass music by watching Earl Scruggs pick his five string on YouTube
Fresh off the sacred stage of the Ryman Auditorium where they kicked off a stirring tribute to the late Earl Scruggs with actor Steve Martin, the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys are pleased to announce the release of their new album, THE FARTHEST HORIZON. 
Press ReleaseThe 29+ min album was released 9 Oct 2012 and is available on Amazon UK
Watch them perform "Flint Hill Special" by Earl Scruggs on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2011 >> YouTube

Irish bluegrass songsmith, Niall (Neil) Toner, has released his first U.S. album, ONWARDS AND UPWARDS, on Pinecastle Records. Growing up in Ireland, a childhood friend of Toner's introduced him to the music of Bill Monroe, and from then on he was hooked on bluegrass music. Through the years he has befriended, and written songs  for bluegrass musicians who have visited Ireland in addition to being Ireland's bluegrass ambassador. He even has his own radio show, Roots Freeway, which is broadcast on Ireland's national radio station, RTE Radio One. With Toner being a lifelong songwriter, Onwards and Upwards is full of stories from his masterful pen. In preparation for the album, Toner wrote or co-wrote each tune on the album. He collaborated with Keith Sewell on four tunes with Sewell also producing the album. The deluxe booklet included with the CD version includes Toner's own accounts of writing each song as well as photographs from the studio sessions. (Source - Pinecastle Records Press)

COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS
The 50th Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards took place on Mon Oct 29 at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.
On the evening 35 different awards were given for the inclusion period April 2011-March 2012 songs before an audience of many of Nashville's most distinguished songwriters, top country stars and music industry leaders.
Special tribute was paid to Bob McDill, who was presented with the ASCAP Golden Note Award, and Lyle Lovett, who received the ASCAP Creative Voice Award.
The evening's top honors were awarded to the following:
ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year: Ben Hayslip
ASCAP Country Music Songwriter/Artist of the Year: Brad Paisley
ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year: "Barefoot Blue Jean Night," written by Eric Paslay and Terry Sawchuk; published by Cal IV Entertainment
ASCAP Country Music Song of the Year: "Honey Bee," written by Ben Hayslip; published by Warner/Chappell and This Music
ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year: Sony/ATV/EMI Music Publishing
For a full report www.ascap.com
See photos from ASCAP’s 50th Annual Country Music Awards - LINK

At the 60th Annual BMI Country Awards Dallas Davidson and Luke Laird were honoured as Songwriters of the Year in Nashville, with Sony/Atv Music Publishing Nashville taking Publisher of the Year honours.
"Take a Back Road," written by Laird and Rhett Akins and recorded by Rodney Atkins, won the Song of the Year award.
 Davidson and Luke Laird who shared the Songwriter of the Year crown contributed five songs each to the year’s most-performed list. Davidson is the writer behind hits “Country Girl (Shake It for Me)” and “I Don’t Want This Night to End” recorded by Luke Bryan; “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” by Justin Moore; and “Just a Kiss” and “We Owned the Night” recorded by Lady Antebellum.
Laird penned smashes “A Little Bit Stronger” by Sara Evans; “Baggage Claim” by Miranda Lambert; “Drink in My Hand” by Eric Church; “You” by Chris Young; and “Take a Back Road,” recorded by Rodney Atkins. Read More

Also saluted were the writers and publishers of the past year’s 50 most-performed songs on radio and TV from BMI’s country repertoire. In addition, the incredible songwriting career of Tom T. Hall was celebrated by naming him a BMI Icon. Truth is the newest BMI Icon is a homebody. "I'm missing the second episode of a two-part 'Gunsmoke' tonight," Hall joked. "That was bad. But I was very proud of the fact I could get back in my tux. I don't think I've had it on in 12 years."
Adding some glam and stepping out for a fun-filled evening was Miranda Lambert joined by her Pistol Annies cohorts Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, the “House that Built Me” songstress looked lovely in a black floral printed dress as she posed at the BMI Building.
See photos and read report from the 60th Annual BMI Country Awards - LINK

The 46th Annual CMA Awards 2012:  Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert made it a Family Affair on Nov 1st:
Blake Shelton received the Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year Awards and Miranda Lambert was named Female Vocalist of the Year. Eric Church, Little Big Town and Thompson Square won their first CMA Awards; Willie Nelson received the First CMA Lifetime Achievement Award, which will now be known as the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Read full reports and see all the winners on related Blog Posts

CMA Presents Scott Borchetta with the Jo Walker-Meador Award
Scott Borchetta, President and CEO of Big Machine Label Group was presented by The Country Music Association, with the Jo Walker-Meador Award Wednesday (Oct 31) during the Association’s International Media Reception leading up to “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.”

Named for Country Music Hall of Fame member and longtime executive director of CMA – Jo Walker-Meador – the award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or company in advocating and supporting Country Music’s marketing development in territories outside the United States. The award was presented by Walker-Meador and Steve Moore, the Chief Executive Officer of CMA.
It’s truly an amazing honor – and Jo it is great to have you here,” said Borchetta upon receiving the award. “She’s truly a living legend and when you look at her works, in a lifetime of loving this music, there’s probably nobody more important than Jo…And so, I am honored today.”  (www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com)

NEWS
Taylor Swift is getting into the Grammy spirit a few months early as she is set to co-host "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" along with longtime host and two-time Grammy winner LL Cool J who will return for a fifth year in a row. Swift who has signed on to help her rap icon friend LL will be the first to announce the nominees live during the fifth annual nominations show on Wednesday, December 5 at 10 p.m. E.T.. For the first time ever, the show will broadcast live from Nashville, at downtown Music City's Bridgestone Arena in Swift's hometown.
The Grammy nominations special also features several performances, including three-time Grammy winners, Maroon 5 and just-added country singer/songwriter Luke Bryan. The 55th annual awards show will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 10.

Taylor Swift will be coming to the UK to switch on the Christmas lights at the Westfield shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush, London. The switch-on takes place on Tuesday November 6 and will feature “an amazing display of pyrotechnics, snow and lasers”.
Swift will also perform three songs live at the event, including the not exactly unpopular ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’.
On their Facebook Westfield posted: We're delighted to announce that Taylor Swift will be performing and switching on our Christmas lights on 6th November! ...Westfield London, Shepherds Bush from 6pm. We'll have more details soon!
The Sun recently reported that Rihanna has got a very tidy £5-million bonus heading her way — just in time for her Christmas shopping. The singer was asked to switch on the festive lights at Westfield in Stratford — just across from the Olympic Park. In return for the massive pay cheque, the Bajan star will also be obliged to perform a mini concert for 20,000 fans.

Toby Keith’s new album HOPE ON THE ROCKS, came out Tuesday, Oct. 30. For one lucky fan, however, will be getting their hands on the keys to his truck as well. Toby and Clear Channel Radio have partnered for a text-to-win promotion airing on every Clear Channel country station from Fairbanks, Alaska to Key West, Florida. Winners of daily cash prizes will also be entered to win a new Ford F-150, and will be flown to a secret location where Toby will personally hand over the keys. The truck will also have a custom Toby Keith iHeartRadio channel on the Ford Sync digital dashboard.

Missouri Air National Guard Tech Sergeant Angie Johnson signed a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville. “The YouTube sensation” was discovered after a video of her performing for troops in Afghanistan went viral. Pic and Full story - Sony Press

Kenny Chesney will spend part of his Thanksgiving Day at Dallas Cowboys Stadium, where he's set to kick off the Salvation Army's 122nd annual Red Kettle holiday fund drive. The country superstar is also offering fans the opportunity to join him on the football field at halftime. "There are great traditions in America -- especially Thanksgiving, family and football," says the singer. "For 16 years, the Dallas Cowboys and the Salvation Army have been an American tradition and I'm happy to be a part of it. I'm calling on all of my fans to not only give back this year but also send in their best football highlights videos for a chance to see me live in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day”

Little Big Town will be hitting the road next January with over 25 stops on a tour called “THE TORNADO TOUR” which will be launched on Jan 31, 2013 in Murray, KY with MERCURY artist Kacey Musgraves and MCA NASHVILLE artist David Nail as openers.

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
Tim McGraw will return with a new album a little over a year after the January release of "Emotional Traffic." "TWO LANES OF FREEDOM" is slated for release on Feb. 5, 2013, and marks the country superstar's debut on Big Machine Records, after spending much of his career on Curb Records. Lead single "One Of Those Nights" will arrive at country radio on Thursday (Nov. 1), the same day in which McGraw will perform the song at the 2012 CMA Awards in Nashville. The singer will also stop by "Ellen" on Tuesday to preview the new song and talk about the forthcoming album.
Produced by McGraw and Byron Gallimore, "Two Lanes of Freedom" is McGraw's 12th studio effort and represents a quick turnaround from last year's "Emotional Traffic."
"To come into a situation where there's some weight lifted, some refreshment going on, you can feel that in the music," says McGraw of the album in a press statement. "I think you can feel the horses gallop on this record, and where I might go and what I might do when my engines are revving." (Billboard Story)

The Band Perry's new single, “Better Dig Two” has been released in America -
Rolling Stone Magazine describing the song said:  "Better Dig Two" suggests duality, which is appropriate: The Band Perry play with loud and soft dynamics on their new track for a mix of clang and twang. The family country band shifts from subdued hand claps and banjo finger-picking to explosive choruses flush with huge guitar crashes and Kimberly Perry's searing hot siren calls. It's a rugged sound for the siblings, but one they balance well with moments of delicate melody. "Better Dig Two" will be on the Band Perry's still-untitled second album, which is due next spring. Listen to the track  >>  YouTube

Darius Rucker will release a new album, TRUE BELIEVERS, on Jan. 22. The project is named for his current single, which he wrote with Josh Kear. Rucker co-wrote nine of the album's 11 tracks. He previewed the album at an industry luncheon at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville on Tues afternoon (Oct. 30). "For this album, we really paid attention to what our friends and fans were telling us on the road," Rucker says. "The result is an album that I'm so proud of because my fans really have been the true believers since I released my first single to country radio. I can't wait for everyone to hear it on Jan. 22."
The album was produced by Frank Rogers (Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1969).
True Believers Track Listing:
True Believers (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear) / Miss You (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers) / Wagon Wheel (Bob Dylan, Jay Secor)
Love Without You (Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally)/ Radio (Darius Rucker, Luke Laird, Ashley Gorley)
Lost In You (Darius Rucker, Mark Nesler, Phillip White) / I Will Love You Still (Darius Rucker, Josh Kear)
Take Me Home (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers, Monty Criswell) / Shine (Darius Rucker, Frank Rogers)
Heartbreak Road (Darius Rucker, Dallas Davidson, Rhett Akins) / Leavin’ The Light On (Darius Rucker, David Lee Murphy, Phil O’Donnell) / Lie To Me (Darius Rucker, Rodney Clawson, Bob DiPiero)

Blue Sky Riders, the vocal trio of Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr, will have their first album released, titled Finally Home, on January 22.

Out this week, The Notes and The Words: A Collection of Demos & Rarities, the new limited edition 4 CD box set includes choice selections from the highly acclaimed 19 disc Sandy Denny Box Set. It features 75 tracks spanning her entire career, including 17 demos taken from Sandy's home recording tapes. Among these is the first known recording (from 1967) of Who Knows Where The Time Goes, plus further home demos, rarities and alternate versions of many Fairport and Fotheringay classics as well as outtakes and demos from her solo albums.  (See Press Release)



PRESS RELEASES
Rural Rhythm Records is very proud to announce the new self-titled album by AMERICAN DRIVE made its debut on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart at #11 this week.  Band members Rickey Wasson, Dwight MCall, Matt DeSpain and Kyle Perkins are also celebrating the addition of their new banjo player, Josh Hymer. (Rural Rhythm Records)

Are you between the Pistol & Pen? Rural Rhythm Records recently released the emotional new music video for the song >> “Pistol and the Pen” by the Darrell Webb Band from their album, BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS. The song and video involve the serious subject of depression and thoughts of suicide that have touched so many people - prompting some to write back describing their own personal experiences and struggles. (For more info see Press Release)

Blaster Records’ Aaron Lewis has announced “The Road Tour” and Mercury Nashville’s Randy Montana will open. Lewis’ first Full length solo album, THE ROAD, wil be released November 13  ( More details: Webster & Associates PR)

ARTICLES
The Tennessean -The Next Taylor Swift’ proves elusive…Extract: When Mike Dungan signed new artist Kelleigh Bannen to a Capitol Records Nashville record deal, he told her he would rather be “the guy who had to go put out the oil rig fire” than to try to make it in country music as a new female solo artist. “I looked at her, someone I like very much, and I said, ‘You realize that you’ve chosen a path that is maybe the most difficult on the planet,’ ” recalled Dungan, who is now chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville. Indeed, country music hasn’t successfully launched a reliable female hitmaker since Taylor Swift in 2006….
Country music industry executives have differing ideas on the small number of female singers, ranging from female fans’ hesitation to support other women to radio’s reluctance to give new women an equal shot.
The gatekeepers at radio have a mindset that females are tough, so they put themselves into this space where they’ll only really truly consider one at a time, maybe two at a time,” Dungan said. “And that’s very, very unfortunate and very frustrating.”
Gary Overton, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville, explained that because country radio is the most effective way to break a new artist, “this can be a major hurdle”

The State of Streaming Music - Spotify, Rdio, Xbox and more: Rolling Stone rate the six biggest streaming services and their chances of survival

Defining Americana by Chuck Dauphin – Extract: A few weeks ago, I wrote about the never-ending debate about the definition of Country Music. As tough as that is, it’s nothing compared to how one defines the term “Americana.”....I say all that to say this. I’m not sure if I have made this definition any more clearer – or murkier than before………. But, the Americana format has become one of the most exciting movements out there – regardless of definition or lack thereof!

INTERVIEWS
K102 Wake Up Crew - Toby Keith Interview & Preview His New Album 
>>  YouTube

WATCH
Lisa Matassa's dynamic and visually-enticing new video, "Somebody's Baby," premieres on AOL's The Boot – Video Link
The single also debuts on the New & Active Billboard/BDS Indicator Chart.  Hotshot Traci Goudie (Hunter Hayes, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin) directed the video, which perfectly reflects Matassa's artistry.
"It's a song about connections," Lisa states. "It immediately resonated with me. As a mom of two teenagers who are college-bound, I know that regardless of their age or where they go in life, they will always be my 'babies.'  Webster & Associates Press

Pistol Annie Ashley Monroe let the first solo single off of her upcoming Vince Gill-produced album out of the bag = It's a beaut!
Listen to “Like a Rose  >> YouTube

Gretchen Peters appearing in front of the Music Fog cameras at Marathon Recorders in Nashville, TN. This recording of “Five Minutes” was made during the 2011 Americana Music Festival and Conference week. The song even drew props from Miley Cyrus! 
>>  YouTube

Were you digging up bones on Halloween? Watch Corb Lund’s new vid “Gravedigger” from his 2012 record, CABIN FEVER.
He is a Juno-award winner and seven time Roots Artist of the Year winner at the Canadian Country Music Awards. The clip follows the gorey life of a gravedigger, who seems to enjoy his lonely life, until his corpses turn into zombies, yikes!  >>  YouTube

Amanda Shires - "Sloe Gin" (Official Music Video)   >>  YouTube

Kailey Swanson Video "Hooked" music and lyrics by Kailey Swanson and Jill Krachmer, produced by Luke Tozour, video by Jared Sagal and featuring Austin North best known for his roles on the Disney Channel  >>  YouTube

Kenley Shea "Seek the Joy" official Music Video, written by Kenley Shea, Wayne Baird and Dale Oliver. Musicians: Kenley Shea-vocals, acoustic guitar. Dennis Holm- drums. Erik Sandin-Bass. ACTORS: Elizabeth Grullon, Chelsea Didier, Ryan Kopperud, Dennis Holm, Erik Sandin.  >> YouTube

The music video to "Traveler's Prayer," from Jesse and Noah Bellamy's upcoming album "Driven Back." >> YouTube

COUNTRY GOSSIP
Jessica Simpson, country/pop singer, Actress and TV personality, is slowly coming to terms with the breakdown of her parents' marriage. Joe and Tina Simpson - who are also parents to singer Ashlee Simpson - have "amicably split" after 35 years together and although Jessica is saddened, she is trying to get on with her life. A source told People magazine: "She's going on with everything. She's sad but she's fine."

Fern Britton has been given a Strictly Come Dancing boost from Dolly Parton. Hopeful Fern Britton, 55, who is dancing with Russian hunk Artem ­Chigvintsev, 30, was ninth on the leader board last weekend has had A-list backing to win the series – from country music queen Dolly Parton.
Fern became pals with singer Dolly, below, after interviewing her for a chat show series three years ago.
The pair hit it off while filming the episode in Nashville for BBC1’s Fern Britton Meets – and Dolly gave Fern a gift before she left.
Last night Dolly said she was hoping Fern could waltz her way to victory at the final in December.
Speaking from LA, the Hollywood star said: “I really hope Fern does well on the show. “She’s done well so far and I want to congratulate her on it.”

TWEETS
Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) took note as Brad Paisley, her co-host at the Nov. 1 Country Music Assn. Awards, turned 40 on Oct. 28: “BRAD! Happy birthday! Are you going to be able to read the teleprompter at the CMAs? You know, eyesight is the first to go!”

PHOTO
"Pint sized" (well maybe not?!) ...Dairy Queen! Country star Miranda Lambert unveils latest advert for the Got Milk? campaign wearing leather-look top. Drink up! Miranda is lending her name to the campaign to get us to drink more milk
The now 3 times CMA Female Vocalist slipped into an on trend black leather top for the big occasion, which suited her well. She paired it with black trousers and a black and silver chain tassle necklace.
The Texas born beauty is often praised for not succumbing to pressure to become a size zero, and that radiance shone through.
See all the photos at www.dailymail.co.uk

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