Country Bites News snippets November 25 - December 1, 2013

Country Bites News snippets November 25 – December 1, 2013

SOURCES / LINKS shown in RED

UK & IRISH News

On Sunday Dec 1, 2013 saw the launch of The Smith & Rogers Country Show (Sky 191/ Freesat 400) on Showcase TV which he hosts with Glenn Rogers (formerly one of the presenters of the Phil Mack Country Show) - Graphic – Episode 1 available to view on smithandrogers.tv/watch  (Videos that have been previously shown on The Phil Mack and Lawrence John shows (Hayley Oliver Band, Thorne Hill, Raintown) with additional interviews with UK and Nashville based David Bradley and Ian Highland and live footage of Ray Peters Band and Kent based Americana/Folk/Country duo Star Lane. Watch here

Taylor Swift took part in the Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace on November 26th. She joined Bon Jovi, and Prince William (The Duke of Cambridge) to sing an impromptu rendition of the hit song >> 'Living On A Prayer' as real and rock royalty joined forces in the name of charity.

"You'll be a Prince and I'll be your Princess..."

She played an acoustic version of ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, then ‘Fifteen’, then ‘Love Story’ (in that order). 

The trio were the main attractions at the Winter Whites Gala to support homeless charity Centrepoint. While they were the most sought after guests, others included Benedict Cumberbatch, James Blunt and Tinie Tempah.

The Prince, who has been a patron of the Centrepoint charity since September 2005, delivered a speech and presented the Centrepoint Great Britain Youth Inspiration Award to Bon Jovi for his humanitarian work.

Maverick Magazine is excited and proud to announce its new editor Laura Bethell who had been the longtime Editorial Assisantant responsible for the layout and design at Maverick Towers as well as taking on the website duties!

Alan Cackett backstage in London
 with The Band Perry

Alan Cackett stepped down as editor of Maverick magazine on November 15 and is now a free agent again. Alan will still be writing about music, keeping almost exclusively to mainstream and traditional country music, bluegrass and Americana, which are his main passions. Having done a brilliant job launching Maverick with the very first Issue 1 (July 2002) and growing the subscriber base with his key cover features, album reviews, obituaries and organizing Maverick music nights in Maidstone and the Suffolk Festival Mr Cackett will continue to post his reviews and features on his own personal website - www.alancackett.com.

This week saw reviews of new CDs by Rosanne Cash, Beth Neilsen Chapman and Danielle Bradbery and a review of The Band Perry Live at HMV Forum, Kentish Town, London, Monday December 2, 2013.

The Band Perry photos taken at The HMV Forum London (9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY) on December 2nd. Gallery photos of the electric Kimberly Perry in action taken by kissthefrography

Country/Pop singer and 2012 X Factor contestant Carolynne Poole performed for crowds at Stanley Christmas Light Switch on She told Sky (Tyne & Wear) she is due to travel to Arizona in February and visit Nashville in March for song writing seesions and will return to the UK in Autumn with new country songs.

Yorkshire chip shop owner Tony Fascione has released his first single "This Christmas Time" on iTunes and Amazon, and will be heading to Nasvhille in 2014 to promote his first album.While working hard behind the fryer at his own business, "Tony's Of Outwood" near Wakefield, he has dreamt about becoming a country music star.Listen out for "This Christmas Time" on UKCountryRadio.com throughout this month

This month's UKCountryRadio.com's Spotlight UK Artists are: Dec 6-8: Appalachia; Dec 13-15: N.J.Buckingham; Dec 20-22: Heather Bristow (pictured). Read UKCountryRadio.com's December Listener's Club Newsletter

UK CHART NEWS

Official UK Albums Top 100 (Week Ending December 7, 2013)

Daniel O’Donnell with A PICTURE OF YOU (DMGTV) dropped 15 places, 28-43, in his 3rd week at retail for his latest and 30th UK Top 40 album. - CD - MP3

Taylor Swift’s RED slipped back 16 places from 60-76 on her 58th chart week.

Official UK Country Album Chart  (Week Ending December 7, 2013)

Billie Joe (Armstrong) + Norah (Jones) with their 12 track FOREVERLY (Warner Bros) debut at No.1. Kacey Musgraves with SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARKHOODOO (Decca) moved 1-2 in her 33rd week.

Derek Ryan fell back 1 place to round out the Top 5 with COUNTRY SOUL (Sharp Music)

Brandy Clark’s highly acclaimed 12 STORIES is new on the chart at No.10!

On the Hotdisc Chart (December 1, 2013 Chart) 

Billy Yates with “The House That Jack Built” held at No.1 for a second week. The Hayley Oliver Band with “The Hand That Rocked The Cradle” was a non mover at No.2 to hold the No.1 on the Hotdisc British & Irish Chart for a fourth straight week.

Michelle Wright’s title cut single “Strong” stayed at No.3

Moving into the Top 5 is Britain’s Kickin’ Country with “Rock It Megamix” with a 4 place hop (8-4) Ally Harron’s single “Marions Road”, (from Hotdisc 178) remained rooted at No.5.

Tennessee Country Orchestra with “Hooked On Country” made a 3 slot climb (9-6).

Erica Sunshine’s “Drinking And Driving Me Crazy” made upward progress to make the top tier (12-10).

UK COUNTRY ALBUM RELEASES

(25 Nov 2013) Billie Joe + Norah - Foreverly (WARNER BROS)

12 Tracks / Time: 45:23 CD - MP3 - Green Day front man and Grammy Award winning artist Billie Joe Armstrong and Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Norah Jones team up for "Foreverly", an unforgettable collection inspired by "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us", an album of traditional Americana songs reinterpreted, recorded and released by The Everly Brothers in 1958. The album captures the beauty of the Everly's stunning close harmonies to create a moving and powerful testament to these traditional ballads.

Watch Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones >> "Long Time Gone"

(2 Dec 2013) Jake Owen - Days of Gold ( RCA Records) CD - MP3 - UK iTunes - Amazon.com 

(3 Dec 2013) Wanda Jackson - Before the Music Died (Chrome Dreams) [Box Set]

4 Disc Box set, 97 tracks/ Time:  3:56:14 CD - MP3 - Amazon.com

(2 Dec 2013) The Sound of Music (Music from the Television Special) (Sony Music CMG)

CD - Amazon.com - US iTunes -CMT got an exclusive first listen of Carrie Underwood singing the title track.  

AUSSIE NEWS

CMC Interview: Dean Brody ...We talk to the Canadian star about his new album, Crop Circles.

Taylor Swift took her Red Tour Down Under starting Friday (Nov 29) with a three-night run at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. She'll then take the show to Australia for a run of stadium shows. Madonna was the last female artist to tour Australia's stadiums back in 1993, but Taylor knew she was up for that challenge, thanks to the success of her last Australian tour in 2012.

Taylor says, "I think we all had a feeling that things had really been going well there."

When her album, Red, was a huge hit in Australia, Taylor says the fans would show up in droves for the stadium tour.  "They've just been really supportive," she says, "and Australia has been one of the most fun places we've ever toured." The trek hits Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne in the next few weeks.

CANADIAN NEWS

Canadian Americana/Contemporary folk, singer- songwriter Tia McGraff released, 'Break These Chains' earlier this year.  There will be a Maverick Magazine 4 star review and featured ad to run in January and March 2014. She has UK tour dates in 2014:

22nd May (The Stables, Milton Keynes), 24th May (Market Harborough Leisure Centre, Market Harborough), 25th May (Henry Tudor House, Shrewsbury), 27th May (Acoustic Music Club, Brighton) , 31st May (Belmont Bull, Bolton) and 4th June (Grateful Fred's Americana, Liverpool)

NEWS

• Snapshot News: Country Aircheck's Insider News: November 26, 2013 - December 3, 2013 
• Three For '13:  Albums from Ashley Monroe, Kacey Musgraves and Keith Urban are the only Country selections in the just-released Rolling Stone list of the 50 Best Albums of 2013. The highest Country ranker is Monroe's Like A Rose at No. 18. Writes RS, "When Monroe suggests ganja and whips and chains to her man on 'Weed Instead of Roses,' it's clear this isn't your grandma's country music." Musgraves' Same Trailer Different Park comes in at No. 28. "She's ballsy, traditional and pop. Call her the millennials' Loretta Lynn," the mag says. Ranking Urban's Fuse at No. 39, Rolling Stone mused, "Only Taylor Swift has done so well synergizing dance-pop drive and countrypolitan pump”. At #1 was Vampire Weekend, 'Modern Vampires of the City'
• This year’s list of newly minted “New Faces” for Country Radio Seminar's signature final event of their annual Trade Show in Nashville (Feb 21, 2014) features Atlantic Nashville’s Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr from Columbia Records, Cassadee Pope from Republic Nashville, Thomas Rhett from The Valory Music Co. and Charlie Worsham from Warner Brothers Nashville.
• Radio broadcasters are battling it for some of radio’s most lucrative listeners: country fans. Clear Channel Communications, Inc. said Tuesday it had signed a deal with Viacom Inc.VIAB +0.49%’s CMT to create central country-music programming to be distributed across 125 Clear Channel country stations, as well as television and digital platforms, such as Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio....Country fans have become particularly attractive to advertisers. More than 61% boast individual income above $75,000 a year, about half are homeowners and 40% have college or post-graduate degrees, according to Cumulus...read more at Wall Street Journal

• Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are among the artists slated to take part in “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!–Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.” Swift, who is currently taking her Red Tour overseas, will participate in the event from Sydney, Australia.

TOURS

Garth Brooks is bringing his full band to the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas for four shows on January 3 and 4, 2014. While Garth's one-man show at the Wynn focused on the music that influenced him, he plans to play his own hits during this concert, titled Garth Brooks: The Man, His Band and His Music.

TV

CBS’ two-hour telecast of Garth Brooks, Live From Las Vegas delivered 8.7 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. That’s double the viewers and adult demo rating of a certain other music artist’s prime-time special this week — Lady Gaga’s romp with the Muppets, which aired on Thursday.

Brandy Clark released the critically-acclaimed 12 Stories through new indie label Slate Creek Records and Smith Entertainment (the label’s also home to Neal McCoy), announced that she’ll be appearing on The Late Show With David Letterman on January 6, 2014. She’ll likely perform her ‘single’ “Stripes” from 12 Stories and has said that it’s a ‘dream come true’ for the rising star to appear on the program.

COUNTRY AWARDS

American Country Award nominees Lady Antebellum, Jake Owen and Kellie Pickler are set to perform at the awards airing live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Tuesday, Dec. 10 on FOX TV. Hosted by Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick, the two-hour event will also feature appearances by Sara Evans, GLEE’s Matthew Morrison and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Previously announced performers include Brad Paisley and Florida Georgia Line, and Sheryl Crow will sing with Darius Rucker.

Previously announced presenters include Trevor Brazile, Shada Brazile, Cowboy Troy, Big Smo, Dan King, Scotty McCreery, Thompson Square, Chris Young, Carrie Keagan, Olivia Newton-John, Joe Nichols, Lauren Alaina, Clay Walker and Parmalee. Additional performers and presenters to be announced soon.

Buddy Comedy:  The boys are back. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan will return as co-hosts for the 49th Annual ACM Awards (Academy of Country Music). The show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 6, 2014

BABY NEWS

Crib Note:  Congratulations to Love And Theft's Stephen Barker Liles and fiancée Jenna Kennedy, who welcomed baby boy Jett Barker Liles to the world this (Dec 2). "He's ready to start Instagraming and tweeting right away," Stephen says. Jett arrived in at 7lbs, 7ounces, and 20 and 1/2 inches. Of the delivery, he notes "Jenna was awesome, calm and collected the entire time. We checked in, stayed up all night and watched 'Sports Center' and 'Friends,' and listened to Mozart during the delivery."

SINGLE / ALBUM NEWS

Zac Brown Band announced (Nov 26) that they will release The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1 on iTunes on December 10th. The release, which Dave Grohl produced and played the drums on, will feature the recorded debut of the song "Day for the Dead," which the band and the Foo Fighters frontman recently performed at the CMAs. Other tracks on the release include "All Alright," "Let It Rain" and "The Muse," the latter of which was written by the Wood Brothers, an ensemble signed to Brown's label Southern Ground Artists. >> Watch a preview

Jessica Campbell has a new Christmas song "Love & Snowmen", produced by Park Chisolm, and released officially on iTunes written with Raquel Cole (same co-writer as "Gone" from her new album).

Lauren Alaina has a special gift for fans this holiday season, one that will also benefit a cause important to her. She will release her rendition of the holiday classic, “Grown Up Christmas List,” to iTunes on December 10 in conjunction with the 26th anniversary of the Special Olympics’ A Very Special Christmas holiday music album series. Lauren will perform “Grown Up Christmas List” and “Jingle Bells” during NBC’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center which will air December 4 at 8/7c on NBC. Lauren is currently working on her forthcoming sophomore album.

Sound Effects: Carrie Underwood gets her hands on an advanced copy of The Sound Of Music - Music From The NBC Television Event, available Dec. 3 - Photo

Little Big Town are busy working on their next studio album, and they expect to release some new music in in the coming months. On Monday, LBT tweeted a photo of themselves writing some new music with their co-writers. The caption says, "One everyone gets #SOBER, lets all do a little #DAYDRINKING. Spring 2014."

PRESS RELEASES

• Trinchero Family Estates welcomed Willie and Korie Robertson, of Duck Commander and Duck Dynasty fame, to Napa Valley November 17-19 to meet with the Trinchero Family about their collaboration and to celebrate the successful launch of Duck Commander Wines.
• Every country star needs his guitar. For Tenacity/WeBlast recording artist Jason Mitchell, the latest guitar came in the form of a special Pittsburgh Steelers edition electric guitar presented to him (Photo) by Bear Claw Custom Guitar co-founder John Felten last week in Nashville - apt considering Mitchell's first single release with the Tenacity/WeBlast venture, "Stomp", has become this year's official anthem for the Steelers (Nashville Music Media )

• Kenny Rogers shared his time and talent at Nashville’s 5th annual Hymns, Hams & Jams concert from Loveless Barn in support of The Shalom Foundation. The event was a huge success, raising much-needed funds in support of its medical program in Guatemala.
• Hank Williams Jr. and Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard spent some time in the studio recording the 1980 hit song “I Think I'll Just Sit Here and Drink,” for Hank Williams Jr.’s latest studio album Old School New Rules. 
• Nu-Blu's latest album Ten is available on Rural Rhythm Records -
• Craig Campbell is thrilled to release his follow up single to country radio, the up-tempo romantic romp “Keep Them Kisses Comin’.” The track, written by Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, is a refreshing mature look at two people with a true and intimate love, and already firing up his fans on the road. The song’s supercharged Hot Radio Mix released at iTunes. This brand new mix can be downloaded now, HERE.
• Aaron Lewis, along with producer and co-host Rock Bordelon are nominated in four categories for the 2013 Sportsman Choice Awards set to take place on January 15th in Las Vegas. Aaron and Rock co-host the weekly ever-popular outdoor lifestyle show “On The Road” that airs on the Sportsman Channel each Tuesday.
• In a recent Huffington Post poll, the “new queen of bluegrass” as named by the Wall Street Journal, Rhonda Vincent joins some of the biggest names in music for having the “BEST ALBUM” of all-time with the “WORST ALBUM ART.” As quoted by The Huffington Post, “Hey, look! Your Sunday School teacher made an album! Hailed today
  
  as one of the best bluegrass records of the past 30 years, Rhonda Vincent’s first album may also have one of the all-time dweebiest covers. The hair. The sequins. The font. The blush. The lavender. The hair. Everything about this screams the early ‘80s (which is all the dorkier considering that the record came out in the early ‘90s). But if you are able to unsee that awkwardness, the performances on this extraordinary debut are all utterly thrilling.”
• Country Thunder is preparing for a massive musical onslaught in the Arizona desert from April 10-13, 2014. Country music fans will two-step the night away with Jason Aldean, reigning ACM “Male Vocalist of the Year.” Alongside powerhouse Aldean is the firecracker artist herself, Miranda Lambert. Also headlining are The Band Perry. The festival site will become a massive sing-a-long when the likes of Sawyer Brown, Craig Morgan, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band hit the stage. Joining these legendary acts are some of the hottest artists up and coming in country music. Enter Charlie Worsham, Will Hoge, and Chad Brownlee.
• Christmas Remembrances 2013, it has become a tradition at so much MOORE media to collect unique holiday memories from their clients and share them, reflections of Christmases past from: The Roys, Lisa Matassa, Jay Jolley, Joanna Mosca, LiveWire, Sherry Lynn, Nadine Budge (The Stetson Family), Lizzie Sider and Mike Aiken.
• NRA Country Presents: Trace Adkins at The Great American Outdoor Show. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is nonprofit organization that promotes firearm competency, safety and ownership. The NRA's political activity is based on the tenet that firearm ownership is a civil right protected by the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights.  
• Highway Angel Lindsay Lawler  performed "Standing Tall", at Capitol Tree lighting ceremony on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.
• Hank Williams Jr. song "Angels Are Hard To Find" is featured in George Clooney & Sandra Bullock movie “Gravity”. Thes song was on both his 1974 album Living Proof and the 1991 album Pure Hank.
• Josh Ritter Ireland Acoustic Tour + Merch Sale
• CDX Volume 584 Newsletter -
• Sirius XM’s The Highway premiered High Valley’s  new video, “Rescue You”. Watch it here  
• Lucy Hale fans got another sneak peek of her highly anticipated country album when the “Pretty Little Liars” star revealed “You Sound Good To Me” (written by Ashley Gorley, Luke Laird, and Hillary Lindsey) as her debut single and shared the cover art for the track.  The exciting announcement took place via LucyHale.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It's set to hit country radio early next year and available for download starting January 7, 2014.
• Big Machine Records Newsletter (Dec 2)

ARTICLES

• CMA Close Up by Kip Kirby: Jennifer Nettles Goes It Alone
• Country Weekly Back in the Spotlight for Deana Carter
• Billboard 615 - Rosanne Cash Rediscovers Her Roots With 'The River & The Thread'.....Extract: Rosanne Cash admits that when she looks back at her classic work from the 1980s, she feels somewhat removed from the artist that was topping the chart with works like "Seven Year Ache" and "Blue Moon With Heartache" during her years with Columbia Records. "It's like listening to my daughter," she tells Billboard. "I think when I was close to it a few years after making those records, I was very critical of myself, thinking 'I could have done better.' I look back now, and I have a fondness for that girl. She's younger than some of my daughters, but it's me. I really didn't know what I was doing, but that innocence and longing to be good really moves me now." Cash returns with her first album of original material since 2006 -- "The River & The Thread," due in stores January 14. She says that the inspiration for many of the songs on the album came about while re-discovering her roots in the mid-south....
• Listen to "A Feather's Not A Bird" 
• Billboard 615: Eric Church: The Billboard Cover Story....With "The Outsiders," due in February, Church is bringing his harder-rocking country sound to the next level. "It's important for the health of the format that we all don't follow the leader, that we branch out"

REVIEWS

threechordsandthetruthuk The Band Perry - The Institute, Birmingham Friday 29th November 2013

Billboard's Chuck Dauphin: Box Set Review: Garth Brooks - Blame It All On My Roots

Garth Brooks has made a history of doing things on a big scale. The Country Music Hall of Fame member’s latest release, Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades Of Influences is yet another example of that. Exclusively available at Walmart for just under $25, the set might very well be the strongest example of the true vocal magic and charisma that Brooks has – with more than a few surprises along the way. Roughstock takes a look at the set disc-by-disc.Read more

MAGAZINES

View the Offical 108 Page CMA Awards 2013 Programme with all the nominees and past winners listings -

LISTEN

Cream of the Crop – Twang Nation Top Americana and Roots Music Picks of 2013. If there’s a theme to this year’s choices it’s that women are blazing a trail between Americana and mainstream country music. Lindi Ortega, Brandy Clark, Julie Roberts, Kelly Willis, Aoife O’Donovan and Valerie June might honing their craft from different angles, but a more than cursory listening shows they are making great contemporary music drawing from a common roots music well. - Listen to their Spotify and soundcloud playlists:

SPOTIFY COUNTRY

For users of this online music streaming service here are some of the more recent additions and recommendations.

When its free and easy on Spotify who needs music piracy?

Danielle Bradbery – Danielle Bradbery – Brand new album, released Nov 19, 2013

Shelby Lynne – Call Me Up -  New Five-song EP released Nov 19, 2013

Jake Owen – Days of Gold - Brand new album, released Dec 2, 2013

Sarah Darling – Silent Night – New Christmas track from 4 Track EP

Kelly Clarkson – Wrapped In Red – New Christmas Album

The Voice UK 2013 (BBC One)  BBC Playlister

WATCH

• Kellie Pickler on “Dancing With The Stars” and “The View”. Pickler performed “Little Bit Gypsy” on “The View.” Watch her performance HERE
• Brandy Clark - Orange is the new Black in her new lyric video for Stripes
• Emily Hearn “Found a Heart” (Official Music Video)
• Aussie star Lee Kernaghan's “It's Only Country” (Official Music Video)
• Payton Rae “Gone Girl” (Official Video) from the "Gone Girl EP" (Pink Pony Records) preorder on UK iTunes / US iTunes (out Dec 17)
• Canuck girls One More Girl cover "Love Like Mine" (Official CMT music video) as heard by the Nashville Cast on TV show (written by Kelly Archer, Justin Weaver, Emily Shackelton) and performed by Hayden Panettiere.
• Gary Allan "It Ain't The Whiskey" . He is known for his moody ballads about lost-love, and his latest single, "It Ain't the Whiskey," follows in that vein. The lyrics tell the story of a guy attending an AA meeting to talk about the woman who broke his heart instead of his increasing dependence on the bottle. Says Gary, "I  love, like heart-wrenching songs and songs that really make you think, and they're my favorites. It's a 12-step song, but it's so poignant." "It Ain't the Whiskey" was a staple of Allan's concert sets long before he put it on his latest album, Set You Free.
• Chuck Dauphin of Billboard interview: Deana Carter Goes All In: If New Album Doesn't Succeed, 'I Will Go Down Smiling'....On "Cyber Monday," Dec. 2, Deana Carter will release her first disc of all-new music since 2005. The digital release of "Southern Way of Life" is something that the country singer says she is very excited about, and also a project that reflects several years of living. There's been a lot of writing, and a lot of living," Carter >> tells Billboard. "I've been through a lot.

COUNTRY FASHION

Taylor Swift attended and performed at the Winter Whites Gala in aid of Centrepoint held at Kensington Palace in London.

The songstress herself was a vision in white, as she swept through the soiree in a divine Reem Acra Spring 2014 silk chiffon off-the-shoulder gown. The lacy, metallic-embellished nude bodice and the skirt’s long layers of fluid chiffon were near angelic. She kept her Neil Lane jewels to a minimum, instead accessorizing with complementary René Caovilla Wishbone platform sandals, Swarovski crystal heels and a Jenny Packham glitter fabric Mini Casa clutch, finishing her entrance with a bold, bright magenta lip and the classically glam flourish of a retro pin-curled updo - Fashion Pic

COUNTRY GOSSIP

Keith Urban got a haircut this week. And despite more than 700 retweets of the new hair photo he posted on Twitter on Tuesday (Nov. 26), that alone isn't really news. But what is news is that Urban hasn't had hair this short since his debut solo self-titled album was released in 1999. That was his breakout album. It was the one that almost overnight made the Australian country singer a household name in America. It brought us hits like "But for the Grace of God" and "Where the Blacktop Ends." So maybe this new style is a way of returning to his make-a-statement roots.

Seeing short hair on a man who has had face-framing layers most of his professional life is a bit of a shock. But it's sexy, youthful and just a cool change of pace. Urban has evolved musically since arriving in Nashville in 1992, so it makes sense his hair would evolve with him.

Did Kacey Musgraves pull a Houdini after the CMA Awards? Kind of. "I went to Texas and hung out with family and did nothing but eat a bunch of Mexican food," Musgraves told Rolling Stone magazine of her much-deserved R&R after a big break out year. It was a year packed with ups and downs, but mostly ups. But then there was that moment at the CMA Awards when the camera panned to Musgraves after Miranda Lambert's name was announced as female vocalist of the year.

She explained that as a newbie, she isn't quite used to having camera on her all the time. (I don't know if you ever get used to that.) "And there's no way you can be caught smiling at all times. If you know me, sometimes when I'm just sitting there, it looks like I'm not having a good time, but I am," Musgraves told the magazine.

It doesn't matter all that much what tabloids and gossip websites had to say about the look on her face. But Musgraves did want to make sure Lambert wasn't offended.

"I've reached out to Miranda and let her know that that I didn't mean anything, and we laughed about how dumb those things can get. I don't like that because it can take away from music at certain points. I didn't mean anything by that. It's funny because I was clapping and smiling before and after that clip," she said. "If anyone should be offended, it should be me! I mean, did you see my face? I look like a dumbass. It was a long day. My feet were hurting."

"According to the Boston Herald, country stars Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and Tim McGraw all use Auto-Tune in performance, calling it a safety net that guarantees a good performance. However, other country music singers, such as Allison Moorer, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Martina McBride, have refused to use Auto-Tune." Big & Rich will never use Auto-Tune mostly because it's doesn't work on more than one voice at a time - "We're not about perfection" said John Rich. >> watch video  

Jessica Hart is the Victoria’s Secret model who publicly dissed Taylor Swift after Taylor sang on their recent TV fashion show. Even tho she took back what she said days later, sources say company executives are furious and Jessica is off next year’s show and she won’t be in anymore upcoming catalogs either.

PHOTO

Trailer Swift - Image

BIRTHDAYS

December 2:  Danielle Alexander (1954),

December 3: Ferlin Husky (1927)

December 4: Lila McCann (1981), Chris Hillman (Desert Rose Band/Byrds) (1944), 

Amie Comeaux (1976)

December 5: Ty England (1963), Gary Allan (1967)

December 6: Bill Lloyd (Sky Kings/Foster & LLoyd) - (1955)

December 7: Sunny Sweeney (1976)

December 8: Marty Raybon (Shenandoah/Raybon Bros), Walt Aldridge (The Shooters)

R.I.P

Songwriter/producer Nelson Larkin died on Nov. 18 in Brentwood, Tenn. A label executive with Atlantic, Sunbird and GRT, he wrote Tracy Lawrence’s “Somebody Paints the Wall” and Billy Joe Royal’s “Love Has No Right,” and produced hits for Earl Thomas Conley, Robin Lee and Toby Keith, among others