| Country Music News |
 Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride: CMA Nominations Trivia
If there’s one word that applies to Billy Currington’s recording career, it might well be unpredictable.
When Miranda Lambert set a record for female acts by picking up nine awards nominations this week from the Country Music Association, no one was more surprised than her.
But that wasn’t the only shock-a-roonie of the two-day nominations announcement. Lady Antebellum achieved something that’s never been done before, Steel Magnolia and The Band Perry each accomplished something that’s probably been done only once. And Miranda did something that’s only happened twice.
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 Brooks & Dunn Wave Goodbye
When they announced the Nashville finale for the Last Rodeo, Brooks & Dunn hinted that it would have a superstar lineup as they gave all the proceeds from their end-of-the-road concert to the Country Music Hall of Fame, located across the intersection from the Bridgestone Arena.
But when the last chord rang out and the lights went up on the sold-out auditorium at Thursday’s last-ever Brooks & Dunn show, you could count the extra artists who showed up on two fingers: Tyler Dickerson, who turned in a solid six-song opening set that sounded more mature than his chronological age — 16 — would suggest; and Reba McEntire, who kicked into gear for the last chorus of “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” a little more than half-way into B&D’s two-hour farewell.
Without the fanfare, it felt oddly like a regular Brooks & Dunn show. Kix Brooks broke into a bittersweet smile and doffed his cowboy hat at the end of the aptly titled “You’re Gonna Miss Me (When I’m Gone).” It looked on the video screen as if perhaps, just maybe, he was tearing up, but you couldn’t be certain.
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 Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert Honor Loretta Lynn
Country legend Loretta Lynn has been entertaining fans with her singing and songwriting for 50 years. To commemorate that anniversary, Sony Music Nashville is releasing Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn. When the label started putting the lineup together, they turned to the Coal Miner’s Daughter herself to choose which artists would be on the CD.
In alphabetical order, Loretta peronally chose: Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Allison Moorer, Paramore, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, The White Stripes, Lucinda Williams, Gretchen Wilson, and Lee Ann Womack.
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 Keith Urban, Band Perry: “Downright Excited” Over CMAs
A bunch of country artists got really good news over the last couple of days — Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry were just a few of the acts that found out they’re finalists for the 44th annual Country Music Association awards show.
And, guess what: They’re happy! Different forms of happy — in shock, completely elated, humbled — but they’re happy nonetheless.
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 Little Big Town, Randy Rogers Banded Together at Nos. 1 & 2
To purposely misquote a Paul McCartney classic, bands are on the run in country music — straight to the top of the charts.
Little Big Town’s new album The Reason Why, bolts out of the chute to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Country Albums chart, and it’s followed by the Randy Rogers Band’s Burning The Day, checking in at No. 2. In fact, groups occupy four of the Top 5 slots on the chart. Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now checks in at No. 4, and the the Zac Brown Band hanging in at No. 5 with the double-platinum project The Foundation. The only thing blocking bands from a Top 5 sweep is the Trace Adkins album Cowboy’s Back In Town.
Most fans probably don’t think much about it, but being in a band is completely different from working as a solo artist. There are more expenses, more opinions and more egos involved, so decisions require more communication and more time. As a reward for all that extra work, there’s less potential income — the band members have to split up the proceeds in the end.
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 Tim McGraw Hosts “Country’s Night To Rock”
Now that the Country Music Association has wrapped up its annual nominations process, the organization is looking forward to tonight’s broadcast of an ABC special, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock.”
The three-hour show is packed with heavy hitters, including Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker, and it’s hosted for the first time by Tim McGraw, who’s making it just one of several firsts on his agenda.
For starters, he’s set to play Australia for the first time this month, beginning Sept. 16, and he’s already got some extra-curricular plans. Tim and Faith Hill are making a family vacation out of the trip — he’s earned a pilot’s license and plans to fly out over the outback. In addition, one of his daughters has been working at getting certified to take a scuba expedition in a shark cage and see some great white sharks.
News & Pics Courtesy GACTV.com |
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| Country Chart |
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01. |
All About Tonight - Blake Shelton
Album: All About Tonight
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02. |
Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer - Billy Currington
Album: Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer
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03. |
I'm In - Keith Urban
Album: Defying Gravity
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04. |
Our Kind Of Love - Lady Antebellum
Album: Need You Now
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05. |
Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice
Album: Love Like Crazy
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06. |
Smile - Uncle Kracker
Album: Happy Hour
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07. |
The Boys of Fall - Kenny Chesney
Album: The Boys of Fall
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08. |
All Over Me - Josh Turner
Album: Haywire
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09.
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Roll With It - Easton Corbin
Album: Easton Corbin
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10. |
Little White Church - Little Big Town
Album: The Reason Why
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