December, 2008

You give the money and their independent board decides who's most in need...

Pet loving Miranda works with several animal-related charities in Texas and Oklahoma...

Having been raised by adoptive parents, Atkins knows how important this cause is...

LBT's Kimberly Schlapman says they realize asking fans to donate in these lean economic times is asking a lot...

Evans was a member of the Red Cross’s National Celebrity Cabinet from 2003 to 2007...

Country Hound's own mascot, Webb, joined Country Music artist Laura Bryna for the "Be A Humane Hero" promotion designed to raise money for the Nashville Humane Association. The first 300 people to donate $20 to the association or more get a Laura Bryna/Webb "dog tag" that gives them the code to receive a free download of Bryna's song, "Hometown Heroes."...

Martina McBride broke into the Country Music scene in 1994 with “Independence Day,” the Grammy Award winning song that told the story of an abused woman who decided to take a stand against her husband – giving a voice for all victims of domestic violence. McBride was praised for not only her musical talents, but the attention her song shone upon the national Now, in 2008, McBride has become the national spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline...

Last spring, on The Celebrity Apprentice, Country Music star Trace Adkins showed America his dedication to the nonprofit Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. The singer has been an advocate of the organization for years and competed on the reality show to shed light on the topic of children and food allergies...

If you put off your holiday shopping until the last minute, don't worry, grab these CDs...

Tunesmith's treatment for pancreatic cancer continues with chemotherapy...

Self described as Country-blues, Goplen's style is as unique as his approach to marketing his music...

Celebrate the holidays at the Ryman with Vince Gill and Amy Grant...

Carrie Underwood reigns supreme on CMT and CMT.com, according to a list revealed today by the network. CMT announced that Underwood’s smash video, “Just A Dream,” took the No. 1 spot on a list compiling the year’s best Country Music videos...

Always thought you’d be a pretty good duet partner for Elvis singing “Blue Christmas?" Now, a new site from Sony BMG allows you to record with the King and e-card it to friends, or enemies...

After a banner coming out year in 2006, Tomlinson returns on a new label...

Weekend event brings NASCAR and Country Music stars together to benefit charity...

Now's your chance to play like Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Brooks & Dunn...

Decorated veteran who overcame injuries suffered in the war returns to serve troops...

Taylor Swift has broken through the 5 million album sales mark with her latest release, Fearless, reaching more than 1.5 million units sold...

Country Music star Trace Adkins and Hollywood great Clint Eastwood are joining together to help The Honor Flight Network, a nonprofit organization that arranges and finances trips for America's veterans to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C. Eastwood and Trace each filmed a 60-second spot to help raise money for honor flights...

Nashville's homegrown, uptown bluegrassers, The SteelDrivers, have been named by online retailer iTunes as the No. 1 seller in 2008 in the Americana/Bluegrass Album category for their self-titled debut -- beating out No. 2 Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's Raising Sand...

McCready's brother says she "is recovering just fine"...

Underwood is set to sing for the people...

List also includes Halle Berry, Demi Moore and Julia Roberts...

The singer looks back on his debut year in Country Music...

Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, The Whites, Restless Heart and more...

Opry member and 2008 CMA and ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood has lived up to her award, becoming the top-selling female Country touring artist of the year...

Taylor Swift will appear as the cover girl for the Spring 2009 issue of Your Prom magazine and talked with them about her first kiss, dream prom date and songwriting. Swift talked about where she draws her inspiration for songs she writes: previous relationships and boys...

Country Music star Keith Urban and mega-movie star wife Nicole Kidman are planning to spend the holidays in Music City, their first Christmas celebration with new baby, Sunday Rose. Rumors are that the couple is seeking refuge in their Nashville home after disappointing reviews of Kidman's new movie, Australia...

Artist discusses crossover success in interview with CMT.com...

Several artists, including Black, left without label now...

Sugarland joins all-star lineup during the 40th annual run of the music festival...

Randy Travis has seen a lot during his career, but what he saw at the Kennedy Center Honors' celebration of George Jones caught him off guard. Performances by Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson stunned the Country veteran...

Apparently, Boston is Kenny Chesney country. Tickets for Chesney's Aug. 15, 2009, concert at Gillette Stadium as part of the Sun City Carnival tour, went on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, Dec 13. Ten minutes later, all 60,000 tickets were sold...

Reports are flooding in today that Country Music singer Mindy McCready,33, has been hospitalized after an attempted suicide involving slitting her wrists and ingesting pills...

More dates are to be announced later...

Vegetarian Country Music star is well known for stance on treatment of animals...

Tis the season for Country Music stars to spin their own takes on holiday cd releases...

Kurt Thomas, Georgie Native, Gets Chance At Record Deal For Winning Fan-Voted Contest

Kid Rock, Blake Shelton among those adde...

McGraw downplays political rumors...

Paisley Set To Fight To Win Award From Chesney In 2009...

Taylor Swift Celebrates Big Birthday At Home With Friends And Family

Country Hound's Bev Moser sniffs out the latest Country Music CDs to review...

Cyrus and Steele nominated for Best Original Song...

Former American Idol contestant to appear in Christmas special airing tonight...

Newcomers get free CD or DVD of their choice...

Couple Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough also on this edition of the Opry...

If you don’t have any plans during the last week of 2008, how about spending a night in with Taylor Swift? Swift will host GAC’s Top 50 Videos of 2008 every weeknight beginning at 8 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 29, through Jan. 2...

What I’m For scheduled for release on Jan. 27, 2009...

Females 21-26 years old needed to tell their story of a broken heart...

Christmas songs make big impact on charts...

From the Grand Ole Opry to the Stagecoach festival, actor-gone-Country is making rounds...

Little Big Town has sold hundreds of thousands of albums and has performed alongside Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and many others. However, there is one thing they haven't had: their own tour. That will change in 2009 when the band kicks off their A Place to Land tour...

Country Music legend George Strait recently announced his plans for his 2009 tour, saying that one of his opening acts for the tour will be two-time Dancing With the Stars champion and Mercy Nashville recording artist, Julianne Hough...

Many Country fans would love the chance to perform with Brad Paisley, and now they can get their chance through a new contest. The "Start a Band" Green Screen Challenge lets fans make their own version of the video for "Start a Band," the smash duet with Paisley and Keith Urban... 

 Tim McGraw is used to being on top of the Country world, but lately, he's been conquering other worlds as well. The superstar is in the chart-topping Four Christmases, has his own cologne and wrote his first children's book...

Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts were in the Top 10 on Billboard's highest grossing tours of 2008 list. Chesney raked in $86 million and ranked at No. 6 while Rascal Flatts brought in $55.8 million and placed at No. 10...

Country Music star Tim McGraw may be considering running for Tennessee Governor in 2010, according to the New Republic, a political magazine. McGraw would most likely be running against current governor Bill Frist for the seat...

Just a few months after her split with Joe Jonas, Taylor Swift has created a list of dating rules to ensure her future relationship will be better than that last. “I have this rule: I don’t call a guy first”...

Label Bloodshot Records puts high expectations on younger Earle's sophomore release...

After three years of interruptions and touring breaks, Hill is very pleased the new holiday CD captures the spirit of the season...

Annual tour bus show raises money for needy children...

Finalists will compete for $100,000 in January's grand finale...

Festival offers new ticket payment plan...

Diamond Rio, Jimmy Wayne and Whisperin' Bill Anderson on the bill for this weekend...

Kenny Chesney is already starting to think about his next tour, and apparently, it's going to be sunny. The ACM Entertainer of the Year announced this week his 2009 tour will be the Sun City Carnival, a theme honoring all the tailgaters that seem to have so much fun in the parking lot outside of Chesney's shows...

Twain spotted in New York with husband of Mutt Lange's alleged affair partner...

After an amicable split with Capitol Records, Hanson starts fresh with new album...

More than 1,500 birds go to charity...

Charity boatride sets sail this Friday...

Jessica Simpson tells media she's a shy person, despite public perception...

Julianne Hough told her fans there won’t be any engagement between her and boyfriend Chuck Wicks anytime in the near future. Hough posted a statement on her Web site to clear up any rumors that may’ve popped up after her saying that they saw marriage in their future...

Country Music duo Montgomery Gentry has received an early holiday present. Their latest single, "Roll With Me," has reached No. 1 on both the Billboard and Country Airplay singles charts this week, giving them back-to-back single success...

John Rich married his longtime girlfriend and former model Joan Bush in Nashville on Saturday, Dec. 6...

Naughty or nice? CountryHound's Bev Moser reviews the artists' recent Christmas CDs...

Stephen Cochran took time out of his busy schedule to perform for the vets of Palo Alto, Calif., veteran's hospital...

New album set for February release...

Duo set for live performance on Fox News...

The Grascals bring their Bluegrass pickin' to the Grand Ole Opry this Tuesday night...

Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. announced Lady Antebellum, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Chuck Wicks and The Zac Brown Band will perform in the Country Radio Seminar New Faces of Country Music Show on Friday, March 6, 2009. The New Faces of Country Music Show allows five upcoming artists who have achieved significant success to perform a 20-minute set...

Taylor Swift and the Jonas Brothers are coming together alongside pop veteran Lionel Richie to ring in the New Year in Times Square for Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, which will be broadcast on ABC...

He may have been known as "No-Show Jones" earlier in his career, but George Jones was sure to be on time during last weekend’s Kennedy Center Honors, where he received an award. The honors, which are regarded as one of the highest achievements in the arts, pay tribute to the lifetime work of the award recipients...

Travis' first Country album in eight years nominated for Country Album of the Year...

Country Music star's non-profit charity, Band Against MS, expands mission to include pediatric MS...

Skaggs and Monroe join group on new single...

NASCAR and Country Music go hand in hand, and once again, they will be teaming up for a common goal. For the fourth conseccutive year, the two worlds collide in Nashville for Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by Suntrust on Jan. 9-10, 2009. Country mega-duo Montgomery Gentry will be headlining the kickoff concert on Friday, Jan. 9, at the Sommet Center.

Faith Hill will soon have her own signature fragrance. The five-time Grammy winner will join Coty to develop and debut her own fragrance for 2009. This will be Faith’s first fragrance. Coty said it will “capture Hill’s natural beauty, warmth and strength”...

Kenny Chesney’s 2003 Country hit, “There Goes My Life,” is still touching the hearts of many people today. The lyrics of the song discuss the sanctity of life, and a posting for his music video on YouTube may have saved the life of an unborn child...

All Dixie Chicks members' names in suit, but focus is on Maines...

Holiday video debuts next week...

Peterson receives award for dedication to  working with the troops...

Nashville's sweetheart premieres her yuletide concert on GAC...

The Opry has a big lineup this weekend with flavor added by Emmylou Harris and The Del McCoury Band...

Country artists like Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift and Lee Ann Womack paid homage to Country great Alan Jackson during the taping CMT's CMT Giants: Alan Jackson. The program, which features the above artists singing Jackson's songs, airs this Saturday at 9 p.m. EST...

Country singer Carrie Underwood talked with the Tennessean’s Beverly Keel recently about what goes through her head before she goes onstage and how she’s overcome nerves when performing for her peers and fans alike...

Country Music legend Reba McEntire has lent a little magic to the Brooks & Dunn hit "Cowgirls Don't Cry"; she recorded a verse on the track, and then gave a live performance on this year's Country Music Association Awards. The track shot to No. 17 this week on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart...

Rocker shows his country roots...

Tippin spent 10 days meeting with troops, signing autographs and performing concerts...

Cookbook features Brown's sweet potatoes and pork sauce...

AOL concert released today...

The Grammy nominations are in, with a few surprises. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant have made headway with their collaboration Raising Sand, picking up a nomination for the big Grammy title: Album of the Year. The duo are also up for Record of the Year with "Please Read the Letter" and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Rich Woman."...

LeAnn Rimes will be hosting and performing at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final at the Ryman Auditorium on Jan. 15, 2009 for the third year in a row...

When looking back on 2008, Alan Jackson seems to attribute much of the great times had with the number 50.  Jackson, who turned 50 in October, was recognized by his record label for the sales of 50 million albums...

Singer-songwriter to perform at the lighting of the national Christmas tree in D.C...

Country star announces tour but no specific concert dates...

Show returns for a third season with a one-hour premiere Saturday, Jan. 24...

Big names, new organizers coming to festival

Specials From Larry The Cable Guy, Faith Hill And Alan Jackson To Be Featured On CMT...

Fans of Alison Krauss can begin watching for her DVD special, A Hundred Miles or More: Live from the Tracking Room, on PBS this month. PBS signed a three-year licensing deal to show the special, originally taped for GAC...

A lot of musicians have made the jump over to acting recently, from former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson to Country superstar Toby Keith. However, one person who is so worried about branching out into a different career is Carrie Underwood...

The title Meet Glen Campbell is a little puzzling, considering the album was released this year. Given all of this history, is there anybody who in one way or another has yet to Meet Glen Campbell? "I don't know," the legend answered, laughing. And then he added, "It doesn't really matter to me what they call it."...

Former Bachelor star Andy Baldwin has eyes on Underwood...

Special will feature live peformances and a recap of the biggest stories of the year...

To headline a four-week tour of Europe, the Mediterranean and Middle East next year...

Concert benefits The Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Florida...

Montgomery Gentry make an Opry appearance, and of course Little Jimmy Dickens is on hand...

Sing Chapter 1 will feature covers of a variety of songs from Tammy Wynette, Stevie Ray Vaughn and many others...

Four Christmases landed the No. 1 spot over the holiday weekend, grossing nearly $32 million at the box office. But in a recent interview with GAC, Faith Hill revealed hubby Tim McGraw was “terrified” to take the role of an amateur cage fighter for the comedy...

In 1968, Elvis Presley appeared in a comeback TV special. At the time of that show, he and Priscilla Presley were in their second year of marriage. To commemorate that, Martina McBride dressed up like at 1960s Priscilla when she performed "Blue Christmas" on Elvis’ comeback-special concert for a new video...

Priscilla Presley personally asked Underwood to be part of project...

Lambert chosen for her love of hunting and charity work...

Native Texans campaigning for burned Governor's Mansion...

Young but critically acclaimed guitarist with a Southern rock background infuses a little country flavor...

The pair of Country singers met during Brad Paisley's summer tour and are "very much in love" according to Wicks...

Now that Zac Brown has scheduled to undergo Lasik eye surgery, he will soon be able to see clearly the Billboard success of the Zac Brown Band. This week the Zac Brown Band reached No. 1 on the Country singles chart with their single “Chicken Fried"...

In just two years, Taylor Swift has achieved Country Music superstardom. To add to her list of successes, her newest album, Fearless, has sold more than 800,000 copies since its release on Nov. 11, according to Nielsen SoundScan...