Friday 25 January 2013

Country Bites News snippets Jan 7 - Jan 13, 2013

Country Bites News snippets January 7 – January 13, 2013

SOURCES/LINKS show in RED

UK & IRISH News
The Phil Mack International Show Autumn Special takes place a Sand Bay Leisure Resort in Weston-Super-Mare on Friday 4th to Monday Oct 7, 2013. Artistes appearing include The Haley Sisters, Steve Cherelle, Raymond Frogatt and Gary Quinn

Ireland’s own Pete Kennedy was honored to take part in a UK tour with Philadelphia soul group, The Stylistics, throughout November and December. Kennedy was even more humbled when the lead singer of The Stylistics, Eban Brown, approached him about collaborating on a country project in the near future. The tour mates are now gearing up to record a classic country tune in Nashville during January 2013.

A young Donegal woman is keeping it country in her quest for a career in the music business.
Gráinne Gavigan from Ardara is one of this year’s nine contestants taking part in the Glór Tíre country music singing competition on TG4. The 18-year old singer, daughter of Hugh and Eileen, is the youngest contestant in this year’s competition and is the only contestant from the North West of Ireland.
Each of the nine contestants has an established Irish country music artist as their mentor. Gráinne’s mentor is the very talented Lisa McHugh, who reached the final of Glór Tíre in December 2009. Gráinne said “I am privileged to have been chosen by Lisa as her contestant on this year’s show”.
 
Rebecca Live in 2011

Rebecca Hollweg, singer and songwriter has a rare gig with the whole band, at the famous 606 Club in Lots Road, Chelsea London SW10 0QD on Monday 28th January.

This gig is a farewell for the time being to her violinist colleague and friend Julian Ferraretto, who from February will be based back in Australia, as he and his singer wife Elizabeth McCall are expecting their first child.

Rebecca and band: Phil Peskett (piano), Mike Outram (guitar), Julian Ferraretto (violin), Andy Hamill (bass), Justin Woodward (drums and percussion) Details - (020 7352 5953 / jazz@606club.co.uk )


UK CHART NEWS
On the Official UK Singles Top 100 Chart (Week January 19, 2013)
Taylor Swift’sI Knew You Were Trouble” (Mercury) which is on the BBC Radio 1 “A” Playlist, moved 5-2. The dub-step single sold another 49,418 units and it has now reached a total of 305,242 UK downloads. Taylor’s smash hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” falls 31-36 selling 8,750 copies with a UK tally to date of 485,532.

On the Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week January 19, 2013)
Taylor Swift’s RED sold 10,897 copies to move 16-8 buoyed by her latest UK radio single. RED sold 61,779 copies in its first week to give her first UK No.1 and it has sold 252,231 in 12 weeks

Official UK Country Album (Week January 19, 2013)
Lady Antebellum hold the Top 3 places with NEED YOU NOW (Capitol) in its 77th chart week at No.1, OWN THE NIGHT stays at No.2 in its 50th week and the NEED YOU NOW / OWN THE NIGHT compilation at No.3. Mary Chapin Carpenter falls 3-8 with her album ASHES AND ROSES (Rounder).  
Kris Kristofferson’s FEELING MORTAL and Emmylou Harris’ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES (Rhino) debut at #12 and #13

On the Hotdisc Chart (Jan 13, 2012 Chart)
British singer songwriter Graham Clark's "I'm Not Inclined" moves 3-1 on the Hotdisc Top 40 as fellow Brit Frank Jennings drops down to No.4. Clark who has never reached the number 1 position before also de-thrones Frank “Opportunity Knocks” Jennings after five weeks at the summit of the British & Irish Hotdisc Top 10.
Will Banister with “Turn Back Time” falls 2-5 as Michael Lusk jumps up from No.8 to No.2 after just two weeks in the Top 40 with his new single, "Try." The Swagger Kings with their debut single, "Tried And True" bullet 5-3

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES
(8 Jan 2013) Living Sisters Run for Cover (6 Track EP) [Import] (Vanguard Records) Indie & Alternative
included "A Poor Man's Roses (Or a Rich Man's Gold), "Jolene" and "Sweet Dreams"

(15 Jan 2013) Jeff Black B-Sides and Confessions, Vol. 2 (Lotos Nile Music) Total Length: 43:40 Folk/Indie & Alt.

AUSSIE NEWS
The CMAA Winners compilation returns for another year featuring the very best of Australian country music. The album comprises of a CD and DVD of the nominees for the 41st CMAA Awards (to be awarded on Australia Day, 26th January 2013 in Tamworth). See full track listing - Cover Art

O'SHEA's new album, One + One (Sony Music Entertainment Australia), released Jan 18, 2013 is now available for pre-order in Australia and America: http://smarturl.it/OnePlusOne
Mark and Jay O’Shea are streaming the duo's brand-new album at soundcloud.com
The follow up to their debut, Golden Guitar Award-winning record, MR & MRS, this latest record captures O'Shea at the top of their musical game and is sure to be one of our favourite records of the summer.

CANADIAN NEWS
Dean Brody kicks off his first national headlining tour beginning January 24 in Victoria bringing Canada’s brightest artists across four regions to support Brody’s 26 dates. Support acts include Small Town Pistols (January 24-February 1), Bobby Wills (February 5,7,9,10), Keith and Renee (February 12-16) and Dylan Guthro (February 18-22) - Tour Dates

NEWS
Kenny Chesney’s documentary “The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story” aired on ESPNU. It originally aired on ESPN in February 2011. Chesney wore Holloway’s jersey number when he played high school football and idolized the University of Tennessee quarterback and was thrilled to produce and narrate the documentary which spotlights the life and career of the first African-American starting quarterback in the Southeastern Conference.

Guy Penrod’s HYMNS, the acclaimed Servant Records/Gaither Music Group sophomore release from ”music’s premier country recording artist” was the top-selling Southern Gospel album of 2012, according to Nielsen Christian SoundScan’s year-end chart. The project is also last year’s best-selling Gospel recording in Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores® nationwide

Justin Moore just celebrated his latest #1 song, “Til My Last Day,” and he’s working on a new album he plans to release in 2013. He also has plenty of other things he’d like to accomplish this year and in the years to come, but if he had to choose just one item to top his professional bucket list he says it would be to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry - "The most important thing to me would be to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. With the tradition and the history that goes along with that I think that matters more in the grand scheme of things than award here or there.”

Randy Travis has been charged with DWI some five months after the accident.Prosecutors filed a criminal charge of Driving While Intoxicated in Grayson County Court stemming from a one-car accident involving Travis in August 2012.  Travis is accused of having a blood-alcohol level greater than 0.15.
The case has taken some time because of blood tests that have been completed by both the prosecution and the defense,” said Grayson County District Attorney Joe Brown. Brown also says both sides have been negotiating and plan on resolving the charge as soon as possible. The current charge, which is a Class A misdemeanor, carried a punishment up to two years in jail and a $4000 fine. Grayson County / CBS 11 NEWS

Ruby Jane, the 18-year old fiddle player and singer-songwriter got her violin back more than a year after being carjacked at gunpoint after a show in Houston. Back on Dec. 8, 2011, teenaged fiddler Ruby and her mother Jobelle Smith were carjacked at gunpoint after a show in Houston. The thief drove off with, among other things, a prized violin Jonathan Cooper had custom-made for Ruby Jane. On Jan 9th, the 18-year-old was reunited with the violin after Houston police returned it.
Ruby Jane

The lead in the case came Sunday when an acquaintance saw a Craigslist ad for a Jonathan Cooper violin that looked a lot like “Danny,” as RJ has called the fiddle. “My Mom called the Houston police and they set up a sting,” said Ruby Jane. An officer, posing as a buyer, met with the seller, determined the violin was indeed the one stolen in the carjacking, and made the arrest and confiscated the instrument. The seller was eventually released when it was determined he was not involved in the carjacking. “He said he bought it on the street for $40,” said Ruby Jane. The Cooper violin is valued at about $4,000.

Lizzie Sider the fourteen-year-old, country-pop singer/songwriter is hard at work visiting radio stations in support of her smashing, autobiographical debut, “Butterfly.”While balancing high school classes, homework and extra curriculum activities, this multi-talented artist finds the time to focus on her career by visiting radio stations, writing new songs, performing at various venues and working in the studio on her full-length, upcoming album which will be released later this year.....Kicking off the New Year, Lizzie has been selected by CMA as one of the “Artists to Watch” in 2013 and will be featured in their February/March issue of CMA Close Up. Her forthcoming debut album is produced by Joe Vulpis (Lady Gaga) and is being mastered by Tom Coyne (Red-Taylor Swift). - Music News Nashville

Bryan Grumble: Luke Bryan will try to squeeze into Reba's high heels (figuratively ... we hope) as co-host of the 48th ACM Awards alongside Blake Shelton. Bryan announced his new gig in a video that praised the ACM for selecting "someone that's maintained their country roots, hadn't moved out to LA and ... left us all behind in Nashville” Luke responded to Blake Shelton's search for the 2013 ACM Awards, Sunday, April 7th!  >> YouTube After eliciting 25,000 tweets to unlock and reveal Blake Shelton's mystery co-host, anticipating the news, the Academy of Country Music announced that Luke would be the co-host with Blake. The interactive promo campaign launched Jan. 4 with the release of a video in which Shelton teased Reba's replacement.

In related news and in keeping with recent versions of the show, the CBS telecast will include live footage from the concurrent ACM Fan Jam at the Orleans Arena, hosted by Brad Paisley. The ACM also plans to shoot a special in Vegas on April 8, though the theme and guests have yet to be revealed.

Taylor Swift has been named as one of the nominees for the BRIT Awards 2013 for the Best International Female (solo): Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Cat Power, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift
The BRIT Awards take place on February 20 at the O2 Arena in London, hosted by James Corden.

While We're Young... especially as that appears to be exactly what he's doing in London.
Taylor Swift beat out Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean and Tim McGraw for the coveted Favorite Country Artist at the 2013 People’s Choice Award.
Taylor also looked chuffed to announce the Hunger Games as the winner of Favourite Movie (image). The Hunger Games gang Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence had a big night, as did Swift – Video Highlights
The dress was a far cry from one of Taylor's usual embellished, retro confections and was perhaps chosen to attract a certain 18-year-old's attention as he partied it up across the pond in England. She can't have be too impressed that after accepting her award for Best Country Artist she was played off the stage to Harry's band One Direction's Live!
In a surprise special award presentation, pop country superstar Taylor was elected President of the United States in the opening moments of the Jan 9, 2013 People’s Choice Awards.
Okay, not quite. Actually, host Kaley Cuoco noted that this year’s People’s Choice Awards garnered more than 475 million votes — more than three times as many as were cast in the recent presidential election.
“So according to a loophole in the Electoral College, it’s official — the President of the United States is Taylor Swift,” Cuoco quipped.
Swift took the stage to a humorous back-and-forth with presenter Olivia Munn, who pretended to hold on to her award and not let her speak — a play on the infamous Kanye incident. “This always happens,” Swift joked. Turning her attention to more serious matters, the star earnestly thanked her loyal fans and radio, and also thanked her fans for calling radio to request her music.
You guys have blown my mind with what you have done with this album, ‘Red,’” she gushed. Beginning to choke up, she added, “Thank you for caring about my music and for caring about me.” Video Link - www.dailymail.co.uk

Jason Aldean promised to rock the People’s Choice Awards, and boy, did he ever try. But the singer’s performance of his mega-hit ‘My Kinda Party’ ended up being somewhat anti-climactic, though his fans certainly appeared to love it.
The entertainer recently told Parade magazine that he wanted to bring something different to the show. “I’m not used to playing a lot of black-tie events, but I’m going to get onstage and have fun and bring a country-rock flair to the show,” he said. “It’s my first time being nominated, and anything that comes from the fans is extra special.”

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS
The Mavericks, move the American release of IN TIME, their studio first album in ten years, to February 26, 2013. The 14 track
Album on Decca/Big Machine comes out on 4 Feb 2013 in the UKAmazon UK
They have been sailing the high seas on the Sandy Beaches Cruise and return to Nashville for a performance on The Grand Ole Opry on Sat. January 19th before heading across the pond for a sold-out show at the Royal Concert Hall at the Celtic Connection in Glasgow, Scotland on January 22nd.

Kim Richey a Two-time Grammy-nominated Nashville-based singer/songwriter, who “writes some of the most beguiling melodies and freshest chord changes of her generation” (Washington Post), and “has built a career on blurring genre boundaries and confounding listeners’ expectations” (Acoustic Guitar), will make her Yep Roc Records label debut April 16 with the release of her seventh studio album, THORN IN MY HEART. Recorded at Mr. Lemon’s Studio in Nashville, Thorn In My Heart was produced by Neilson Hubbard (Garrison Starr, Glen Phillips, Matthew Ryan) and features 12 original compositions.

Mindy Smith and Matthew Perryman Jones released a new duet single, "Anymore of This" that is racing up the iTunes Singer/Songwriter Chart and was featured on Monday night's episode of ABC Family's "Switched at Birth"
Watch the Lyric Video >> YouTube - UK iTunes

Curb Records is releasing another "compilation" CD on January 22, 2013 from Tim McGraw titled "TIM MCGRAW AND FRIENDS". "Twisted" (Feat. Colt Ford) is the single choice which is going for 'immediate adds'
 >> YouTube = A MISS!!

The gorgeous Sarah Darling to set to release a new EP “HOME TO ME”, produced by Dan Huff, on Jan 29, 2013

Hot sibling trio, The Band Perry, will release their sophomore album (title TBA) on April 2. If the lead single, “Better Dig Two,” is any indication, the family band’s upcoming project on Republic Nashville is poised for success. In a mere two months, the Top 10-and-climbing tune has become their fastest-rising single to date and has already sold over 650,000 downloads.

Country sweetheart Jordan Anderson is back with an infectious sound and venomous lyrics to her new release, “Toxic.”

The deep string guitar with a heart pounding beat creates a chemical reaction which will shoot straight through your veins to the top of the country chart. This song, which was co-written by Jordan along with Lonnie Wilson (Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, etc) and former Blackhawk member/successful songwriter Dave Robbins, is off her debut album, KEY TO MY HEART

PRESS RELEASES
Brad Paisley is among a group of top celebrity musical guests announced by the WASHINGTON, D.C. The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) for the initial talent lineup for the Kids’ Inaugural concert on Saturday, January 19 and the official Inaugural balls on Monday, January 21. The events will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and will highlight the Obama and Biden families’ support for our military service men and women. The events will include appearances by Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Far East Movement, fun., members of the cast of Glee, John Legend, Katy Perry, Marc Anthony, Mindless Behavior, Nick Cannon, Soul Children of Chicago, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Usher - Sony Press Release

Andy Griggs and hit songwriter Bobby Pinson have penned a song dedicated to the families of those affected by the recent tragedy in Newtown, CT.  Proceeds from the song, “20 Little Angels” will be donated to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund managed by the United Way of Western Connecticut. 100% of Song's Proceeds go to Families of Mass Shooting Victims.
The song goes on to detail the fun these "twenty little angels" are likely having in the afterlife. "I know in heaven tonight, there's baseballs flying over fences / High in the sky, finger paintings hanging on fridges / In God's holy light, ballerinas blowing kisses / Filling heaven with love," the Louisiana native sings. (Absolute Publicity Press Release
Listen to the full track HERE 
Available on US iTunes

Related News (Jan 16): President Barack Obama’s broad effort to reduce gun violence will include proposed bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines as well as more than a dozen executive orders aimed at circumventing congressional opposition to stricter gun control. But Congress would have to approve the bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 bullets, along with a requirement for universal background checks on gun buyers. Some gun control advocates worry that opposition from Republicans and conservative Democrats, as well as the National Rifle Association, will be too great to overcome. “We’re not going to get an outright ban,” Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., said of limits on assault weapons.

The 2013 Grammy® Nominees Album contains 22 Tracks featuring a diverse array of artists and memorable songs. It includes:
Track 3. Taylor Swift "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" (Record Of The Year)
Track 13. Hunter Hayes  "Wanted"  (Best New Artist) ...read the Grammy Full Press Release
Catch 22: Everyone knows 13 is Taylor Swift's favorite number. But what about Hunter Hayes?  We're going to guess it's 22. Hayes turns 22 this year and, along with Swift, represents country music on the 22-track 2013 Grammy Nominees album, out Jan. 22!

Taylor Swift is set to perform on the 55th Grammy Awards. Current GRAMMY nominees the Black Keys, Fun., Mumford & Sons, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift are the first performers announced for the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast. Two-time GRAMMY winner LL Cool J returns as host of Music's Biggest Night.
Six-time GRAMMY winner Swift has three nominations:
a) Record Of The Year for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," b) Best Country Duo/Group Performance (with the Civil Wars) and c) Best Song Written For Visual Media (along with T Bone Burnett and the Civil Wars) for "Safe & Sound" (from The Hunger Games). The 55th  GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10 at Staples Center. Read the Full Press Release at Grammy.com

Mark Newton and Steve Thomas sign with Pinecastle Records. With the two banded together, the "sideman" becomes a "frontman," and the "frontman" becomes a "partner." Both men are native Virginians, they are eager to blend their various musical flavors together to share with bluegrass and Americana fans everywhere. Their debut album is titled Reborn and will be released on April 9, 2013...Read more Pinecastle Records Press Release

Powerhouse bluegrass band, DETOUR, begins the new year with a bang as chart success for their album, A BETTER PLACE continues to pour in -  Hope River Entertainment

ARTICLES
Tim McGraw graces the cover of the January 19th issue of Billboard. Inside, Tim discusses his new album Two Lanes of Freedom, the next phase of his career and his break from Curb. “They hurt my career,” he says of his previous label.
 “I felt like I was at the top of my game, and to not be able to get to the places I wanted to be … it was really hard to sit back, with me being competitive....."It's like I put it in a different gear now," he says. "I really feel like I'm only about 35% into my career. There's so much more ahead of me, musically and everything else. It feels like the clouds have parted and now I can find my lane and press the gas."Consider gas pressed. The album, produced by McGraw and Gallimore, is loaded with the hallmarks of the pair's past successes while venturing into new sonic territory....Read the Billboard Full Story

Billboard 615 Article - Brantley Gilbert Ready to Rock on Third Album . Extract: With two No. 1, gold-certified singles and a gold album under his belt buckle, Brantley Gilbert promises he'll be coming out "rockin'" on his third album, which he has started working on with producer Dann Huff.
"This one's definitely gonna be rockin'," Gilbert tells Billboard. "It'll have the girl songs on there, too, of course, the little softer side, but it's pretty intense....Gilbert, who topped the Country Songs chart with "Country Must Be Country Wide" and "You Don't Know Her Like I Do," says he and Huff have narrowed a list of 250 potential songs down to 35, with "nine solid songs we know are going on," including "The Lights of My Home Town," which Gilbert has played once publicly, at a benefit concert in Jefferson, Ga. "Now it's just finding the other ones out of the 35 that we want and finish them up." Gilbert adds that he wrote or co-wrote all of the songs that he's considering for the album.

Joe Walsh to Frampton: The Story of the Talk Box – Extract: The back story for the modern-day version of the talk box begins in the early ‘60s, when Nashville steel player Pete Drake first used it on an album titled FOREVER. Designed by fellow pedal steel player Bill West (Dottie West’s husband, the contraption consisted of an 8-inch paper-cone speaker attached to a funnel from which a plastic tube emerged. Speaking with M – Music & Musicians in 2012, Joe Walsh revealed how this version of the talk box fell into his hands a few years later…Full story - www2.gibson.com

INTERVIEWS
Carrie Zaruba: 'Woman on a Mission' - A phone interview with sultry country sensation Carrie Zaruba, where she talks about "Woman on a Mission." - Suite101: Interview

BOOKS
A new book by steel guitarist/producer Don Davis offers an insider account of Nashville’s music industry and its hijinx during the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s. “Nashville Steeler: My Life in Country Music” (Dec. 28, Schiffer Publishing) connects the dots among the Grand Ole Opry, Chet Atkins, the Carter Family, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, among others. The book recounts a fair number of pranks and—with a little bit of interpretation, shows how several Music City neighborhoods, including downtown and East Nashville, contributed to the growth of the industry before Music Row was established in the late ’50s.

FREE DOWNLOAD
rpme artist Maggie Rose is Country Weekly’s January spotlight artist for a free download, presented by Turbo Tax.  The popular magazine claims Rose as one of country’s bright young talents with powerful vocals and equally powerful songs. The free song, “Mostly Bad,” was made available at http://www.countryweekly.com which has expired.
* It’s a 160 kbps MP3, sample/download from Box.com .
It was written by Rose and Jim Wes, can be found on Rose’s upcoming rpme debut album hitting stores March 26, 2013.

WATCH
Keith Urban appeared with Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Friday (Jan 11, 2013. The Amerian Idol judges and host commented on personality conflicts that often result in on-screen disagreements. "I've got a restraining order against Randy right now," joked Urban. "But the plus side is that if the four of us unanimously agree on you ...  it's a magical moment” >> YouTube

Brad Paisley visited Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday night (Jan 9, 2013) to announce the title of his new album, WHEELHOUSE, out April 9 in standard and deluxe versions.
"It's all about leaving your comfort zone," said Paisley after Kimmel suggested the title Thriller. "It's like what is in my wheelhouse?" Paisley also performed his first single off the album, "Southern Comfort Zone" and premiered "The Ballad Of Honey Boo Boo," his proposed new theme song for the hit TLC series. Watch Jimmy Kimmel Live PART 1 >> YouTube

Fort Payne, AL native Leah Seawright premiered her scorching hot new music video, “Set It On Fire,” on Yallwire.com. The video, which depicts the story of a scorned woman torching all her ex’s things, was directed by Tyler Evans and David Lavender of Yeah Yeah Creative. Leah’s own property down in Fort Payne served as the shoot location and that 20 foot bonfire offering her character sweet revenge is most certainly the real deal. Watch it here at www.yallwire.com

"Burning Down" is a new song by Country music artist Tennessee Daniels
 >> YouTube
The 18 year old singer/songwriter Tennessee was born in Washington DC, she moved to Australia at the age of six. TD studied music and performance in Melbourne, with an early ambition to make country music her career. She is influenced by country music greats such as: Dwight Yoakam, Wyonna Judd, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift and Reba McEntire to name a few. She will arrive in Nashville January 2013.

Lindsay Bruce
Stupid and Seventeen” Official music Video by Lindsay Bruce >> YouTube
Former Ursuline High School graduate Lindsay is a 21-year old now Nashville-based country singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Northern California, Lindsay has written songs since age seven. With an emphasis on lyrics and catchy melodies, Lindsay's sound incorporates the influence of The Band Perry, Taylor Swift, Patti Griffin, and The Dixie Chicks. Her first CD comes out in February and she plans to approach 3 major labels (Ref Froggy 92.9 FM Interview )

COUNTRY FASHION
Taylor Swift couldn't disguise her red eyes at The People’s Choice Awards, on January 9, 2013, even with layers of kohl pencil and eye shadow and though she bravely managed the odd, weak smile... her eyes remained resolutely sad following her recent raw break-up with One Direction’s Harry Styles.
She accessorized the new look with a pair of simple turquoise earrings (photo) and a sweeping updo that again, was much more grown up and sexy (or at least an attempt to be) than her angelic curls.
The Nokia theatre bash in Los Angeles was filled with favourite celebs including a rather saucy looking Taylor Swift with her cleavage revealing dress. She took home just one (‘Favourite Country Artist’) of the three awards she was up for. 

Taylor Swift
People's Choice
Nokia Theatre (Getty Image)

The country/pop singer however hit a home-run and looked super chic in a show-stopping Ralph Lauren cap-sleeve gown with flowing skirt featured a daring plunging neckline. Finishing touches included a braided updo, beautiful ice-blue Sutra drop earrings, soft neutral makeup including soft smoky eyes and a nude lip. She accessorized with 18k honey gold ring with chocolate and vanilla diamonds from Le Vian
She wore Christian Louboutin Corpus d’Orsay sandals (photo) These shoes are from the Spring 2012 collection featuring a silver chain front, peep-toe and beige leather.
Taylor with the Fans - Daily Mail JPEG

Julianne Hough also attended the 39th Annual People’s Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on January 9, 2013. She wore a Tony Ward Couture cocktail dress, Guiseppe Zanotti shoes (Image), a Misaki pearl and zircon ring, and a pair of 18k white gold yellow diamond studs by Norman Silverman.
The midnight blue creation was delicately embroidered with a plethora of dazzling shaded tone sequins in a ombré effect of silver and blues (Fashion Pic). The country singer, “Footloose” and “Safe Haven” star completed the look with her bob-cut hair styled in swept waves.

Katy Perry missed the fashion mark at the People's Choice Awards. The 28-year-old singer appeared uncharacteristically frumpy in her bizarre Bavarian-style dress. (Image)

COUNTRY GOSSIP
Redneckbook: Miranda Lambert graces the Feb. cover of Redbook and dishes about Twitter feuds with Chris Brown, insecurity and maintaining a private life with Blake Shelton. "He's the sweetest guy," she says. "Like, he will talk to anyone, sign anything, take a picture with everyone. And if I don't stop it at some point, it ruins our whole night. I have to be the bad guy. The people are like, 'Oh, God, don't mess with her, she'll murder people.'" The issue hit newsstands Jan. 15

Miley Cyrus has become the latest famous beauty to climb into bed with One Direction heart-throb Harry Styles.
The 20-year-old actress posted pictures of herself cuddled up to Harry on her Twitter page just hours after his split from her fellow US star Taylor Swift.
However Miley's fiance Liam Hemsowrth doesn't need to panic just yet - the cosy images are just a cardboard cut-out of the 18-year-old boyband star. Miley was joined by her younger sister - who turned 13 yesterday - as they posed in bed puckering up to the life-like image. She wrote: "In no way do I want Harry. No offense. I'm sure that'll be a story now 2. I'm happily engaged. Just got saucy with a cardboard cut out."
Miley then confirmed that her sister is most definitely the only Cyrus girl to have a crush on the singer.
And it seems Noah - who is also an actress like her big sister - was among a long list of happy One Direction fans yesterday after news of Harry's split from his girlfriend of just 65 days Taylor Swift.
She excitedly wrote on her Twitter page: "Happy bday to me happy bday to me Harry broke up with Taylor happy bday to me."

Harry Styles and Justin Bieber were reportedly planning to jet off on a raucous holiday to get over ex-girlfriends Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez.
The pair have been looking at visiting either Las Vegas or Mexico during Spring Break when their busy schedules have calmed down a little. 'The lads talked about a boys' trip when they were going out with the girls, but it was never on the cards. Now they're footloose and fancy-free,' a source told The Sun.
After splitting from Taylor, 23, last week, Harry, 18, was supported by BFF Nick Grimshaw during a lunch date at Yo! Sushi in Camden, London. But Nick, 28, couldn't resist poking fun at the couple's 65-day relationship on his Radio 1 breakfast show's game Showquizness yesterday.
'Where does Taylor take her boyfriends on the third date?' Nick asked a listener. 'Nobody has ever found out.' Ouch!

TWEETS
Victoria Banks: X Factor winner Tate Stevens is in the studio today recording a song I wrote with Emily Shackelton & Phil Barton. Go Tate! Can't wait to hear it

PHOTO
Toby Keith Seals a Deal!


Elizabeth Cook Live at Variety, Playhouse in Atlanta, GA in January 2013 - Music News Nashville






R.I.P
Singer and songwriter Sammy Johns has died at the age of 66. MSN reported on Tuesday, Jan.8, 2013 that the "Chevy Van" hit maker died of unknown causes in Gaston, N.C. Johns “Chevy Van” record was finally released in January 1975, it sold 3.5 million copies and made him an instant celebrity
Johns was born in Charlotte, N.C., and first started playing guitar at the age of nine. He later formed his first band known as the Devilles.Sammy Johns' signed his first recording contract in 1973, and is best known for his hit "Chevy Van," which sold over three million copies, and was dubbed the "The Song of the Seventies" by Rolling Stone magazine.
For years, he’d admired a friend’s Chevrolet van and imagined a man riding around in it, picking up beautiful women and making love in the back.
"Chevy Van" ( >> Video) drove up to No. 5 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, remaining on the charts for 17 weeks and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. on 4 May 1975.
Sammy Johns is also known for writing the hit songs "America" for Waylon Jennings, "Desperado Love" for Conway Twitty, (his final gold record,) and "Common Man" for John Conlee. Johns released his last album, "HONKY TONK MOON," in 2000.
He was remembered during a funeral service in Belmont on Wednesday, Jan. 9.
Bo Baity, who collaborated with Johns in 2000 on a CD “Honky Tonk Moon,” called him “a gentle soul.” Johns never stopped songwriting, performed whenever he got the chance and never lost his voice. Baity was backstage at the Grand Ole Opry while Johns sang “Chevy Van” and when he hit the high note “the place came unglued.” “I saw Vince Gill raise an eyelid and say ‘He can still do it,’” Baity said. - www.charlotteobserver.com

John Wilkinson, the longtime rhythm guitar player for Elvis Presley has died at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer.
Wilkinson, died Friday Jan 11, 2013 after a four-year battle with cancer. With his wife, Terry, whom he married in 1983, he spent his final hours listening to Presley songs, said Brett Miller, a close family friend.
Mr. Wilkinson, the Springfield guitarist played in Presley’s Taking Care of Business Band and was by Elvis’ side for the last 10 years of the singer’s life, playing over 1,200 shows with Presley until 1977. The pairing was both destined and miraculous, as Wilkinson when a 10-year-old, snuck backstage to tell the legend that he didn’t know how to play guitar. It would be another decade before they’d join forces. Wilkinson went on to become an accomplished guitarist, playing in folk groups such as the Kingston Trio and the New Christy Minstrels. (Rolling Stone)

Frank Page longtime KWKH-AM/Shreveport, LA personality and Country Radio Hall-of-Famer, passed away (1/9). He was 87. Page's career spanned 65 years, beginning in 1941 at KGHI/Little Rock. He went on to serve in World War II with Armed Forces Radio and was on the air in Berlin as the war ended. After joining KWKH in 1947, he helped launch the career of Jim Reeves by hiring him as a station announcer in 1950, and went on to introduce a 19-year-old  Elvis Presley to his first national audience via the Louisiana Hayride in 1954 >> YouTube
 


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