March, 2009

Durham was General Manager of Opry for 15 years before becoming announcer...

Williams will offer fans who buy tickets standing credit at merchandise table...

Reba McEntire, Heidi Newfield and others will be featured on the game show this Friday...

 Performance show is available online beginning tomorrow, April 1... 

Danielle Peck and Darryl Worley will perform...

Joe Nichol's new single, "Believers," just hit radios nationwide today, and already its getting some high praise. According to Nichols, the song is a perfect fit for him as an artist and a person...

Lee Ann Womack is a nominee for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in the Top Female Vocalist category. However, Womack is not all that concerned about winning. She has already taken home five ACM trophies, but finds the nomination is actually sweeter than the win...

With her children quickly reaching the invincible stage, Wynonna Judd admits that having children and being a mother hasn’t always been the easiest task. She said that she feels more like a coach than anything to her 14-year-old son Elijah and 12-year-old daughter Grace...

Song available to Country radio today...

Single is from her first album under new label...

Date not yet set for album release...

 Jimmy Wayne tells GAC Nights about his experiences with love...

Darius Rucker and Taylor Swift found themselves at the top of Billboard's Country Songs and Country Albums charts, respectively, for the week ending April 4. Rucker's "It Won't Be Like This For Long" took over the top spot on the country songs chart while Swift's Fearless dominated the albums chart...

The finale of CMT Camp Nashville, a fantasy camp for Country singer hopefuls, will feature Country acts Lady Antebellum and Phil Vassar. The event, which includes a showdown between the camp's bands, will take place on May 25 at Nashville’s famous Wildhorse Saloon...

Fans have been waiting for Kellie Picker to release her Official Fan Club Web site since her days on American Idol, and now their wishes have been granted; Pickler’s Official Fan Club is now up and running and gives fans a chance to win tickets, view never-before-seen content and more...

"Bop" singer died due to complications from cancer...

Influential rock band reunites for California's biggest Country Music festival...

Singer, who is of Scottish and Irish descent, has 14 dates scheduled...

Bryna participated in "KEEP It Hollywood" event with comedian George Lopez...

Newcomers Love & Theft will make Opry debut...

Martina McBride has partnered with the loveisrespect campaign to bring more attention to the issue of teen dating abuse. They have launched the My Time to Shine program to help young people learn that there is something they can do about abuse. It runs on the fact that young people should take their teenage years and figure out who they are and what they're passionate about in life...

Lee Ann Womack, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus, Jamey Johnson and John Rich are among the latest performers to be added for the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The Awards are scheduled to be held in Las Vegas on April 5...

With a weight-obsessed media storm surrounding Country Music A-listers like Jessica Simpson, it's no wonder the topic of OK Magazine's blog spot with Carrie Underwood this week was about her flawless figure. The 2005 American Idol winner is a vegetarian, and does not subscribe to junk food...

Tonight marks the beginning of the weekly Thursday night show...

Sarah Buxton, Bob DiPiero and others put on boisterous show...

Documentary will be shown as webisodes on CBS.com...

 Swift and Wayne support listening responsibly...

 Duo to host listening party on CMT, guest star on radio shows and perform on Opry...

"I made this album like it was my last," insisted Billy Ray Cyrus - even though Back to Tennessee is far from his elegy. After all, Cyrus continues to be Country's high-profile presence in various media. Between hosting NBC-TV's Nashville Star and appearing as his daughter Miley's dad and manager on Disney Channel's hit series Hannah Montana, he is one of the most recognizable men on television...

John Rich is making headlines and waves today from a question and answer segment posted on Tennessean.com, about his involvement with the Country Music reality show, Nashville Star. When asked if he would appear on the show again, Rich responded with, "I wouldn't touch Nashville Star with a 40-foot pole."...

The excitement continues to build for the 2009 CMA Music Festival as Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen and Taylor Swift have been added to the performance lineup for the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field. The four-day festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14, in Downtown Nashville.

 Eric Church trashes newcomers who sing about legends but don't know them...

Fans can race with Country star...

Show will feature Kenny Chesney, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood

While returning from a recent tour date in Jackpot, Nev., Tracy Lawrence and his road crew experienced a bit of a bumpy ride. The bus was being driven at the time by crew member Chuck Pursel, who was giving the bus driver a break. The left front tire blew out around North Platt, Neb., sending the bus out of control...

Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr. and David Young have been selected to receive ACM Special Awards, which are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are only awarded during years when the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates...

Country act Rascal Flatts released their latest single, “Love Who You Love,” on iTunes yesterday, March 24. While this song is not directly aimed at a gay audience, Rascal Flatts has told CMT that they do not mind if it is perceived that way...

Artists go back to the basics, each in their own style, to bring listeners some new music...

Artists will honor Strait at ACM Artist of the Decade All Star Concert...

Book will center on Brooks' personal life and unparalleled career...

TV special will help benefit Feed the Children...

Dierks Bentley and Emily West on roster...

Dolly Parton fans everywhere will have the opportunity to purchase collector's items at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store today. Cracker Barrel and Dolly Parton are featuring a collector's edition album, featuring unreleased songs, a limited edition pink rocking chair and a photo album that documents Parton's life up until today...

Martina McBride’s schedule is normally already filled with summer dates and concerts. However, as of late, McBride has started to ease up on the gas, wanting to spend the summer months with her three daughters and her husband, John...

Toby Keith is as synonymous with U.S. troops as America is with baseball and apple pie, so it is fitting that the United States Marine Corps will be saluting his work by presenting him with the Johnny "Mike" Spann Memorial Semper Fidelis Award...

Jon Bon Jovi, Jordin Sparks to perform for event...

Kid Rock says Zac Brown Band is "antithesis of American Idol"...

Pair will partake in event at Kennedy Center honoring women...

Duo preparing for digital release next week...

Beginning this spring, the Grand Ole Opry will embark on a new show titled Opry Country Classics, which will be new each Thursday night during the spring. To kick off the very first show on March 26, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers will be there to host the show. Performers will include Lorrie Morgan, Loretta Lynn, and Mandy Barnett performing their hits as well as featured songs by Patsy Cline...

As previously reported by CountryHound, John Rich promised a star-studded lineup for his upcoming video for "Shuttin' Detroit Down," and boy did he deliver. AOL's The Boot reported that Oscar-nominee Mickey Rourke and Country legend Kris Kristofferson will appear in the video for the second single off Rich's upcoming solo album, Son of a Preacher Man, which is due out Tuesday, March 24.

Darius Rucker’s single, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” has been on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 22 weeks and has finally grasped the No.1 spot, beating out Keith Urban's "Sweet Thing." This makes the second No. 1 single for Rucker...

Dierks Bentley, Kellie Pickler and many more!...

Fans can expect Tweeting from the Academy of Country Music Awards this April...

Mother, grandmother and aunt form Rucker's support group...

Star-studded music video for "Shuttin' Detroit Down" will also premiere soon...

Release of a "9-5: The Musical" and collectors edition album are also in the works for Parton...

This coming June 11-14, Nashville will host the 38th annual CMA Music Festival, filled with countless concerts by top performers, autograph signings and much more family fun. New additions to the lineup for the 2009 CMA Music Festival are Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley and John Rich...

Politics and music have gone hand-in-hand for decades, with many Country Music stars being tapped during elections to perform on campaign trails and back their favorite political candidates. But West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin has turned the tables, lending his voice and support to the campaign of Brad Paisley for ACM Entertainer of the Year...

Country Music star Martina McBride is preparing for her March 24 release, Shine, with a flurry of TV appearances, performances and interviews from New York City to Texas, including Today, Regis & Kelly and Rachel Ray...

Singer said a gay Country star "might be a hard sell"...

Rock And Rebels tour follows up stellar 2008...

Texas-based band gets honor from the City of Austin...

Modern Country group performed at Race To Witch Mountain premiere party...

Celebrity gossip has caught up with Country Music star LeAnn Rimes, this time by the Hollywood rag, US Weekly. This week's issue features a story about Rimes having an affair with her Lifetime movie co-star, Eddie Cibrian...

Josh Turner has a second child on the way, a successful current single and now, he's working on another album to follow that success. Turner is in the midst of his follow-up album to 2007's Everything Is Fine. He doesn’t have too many details about the project yet, but he does intend for people to hear it before 2009 is over...

During a recent celebration for Blake Shelton's No. 1 hit, “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” the singer revaled why living life on top is so good. "One of the good things that goes along with this type of momentum is things like offers to go out with George Strait," he told partygoers, according to AOL's The Boot. "That's probably the biggest deal of them all for me at this point."...

Relationship could mean more money for artists and labels...

Album from Hank Williams Jr.'s daughter will come in June...

Singer is also on his first headlining tour now...

Performance to air on DIRECTV’s original channel on March 20...

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 20...

Taylor Swift wouldn't be considered shy in interviews; she can talk about a range of things, including ex-boyfriends, mean girls and her idea of fairy-tale love. But there's one subject that Swift doesn't think is appropriate -- sex...

Trace Adkins has been named the Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter for the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500 at the Martinsville Speedway on Sunday, March 29, in Martinsville, Va...

Because of Keith Urban’s success in the Country Music industry, iLike, a social music discovery service, announced that Urban’s upcoming album, Defying Gravity, will debut exclusively on iLike. Urban will be streaming one song per day from his album until it is available for retail on March 31...

Nashville Irish Stepdancers to perform for St. Patty's Day show...

Leaves Country group Heartland without a label...

Bash will feature concerts from Jason Michael Carroll, John Rich and Phil Vassar...

Legendary music maker celebrates latest No. 1 with new label deal...

Four grand-prize winners will perform at BamaJam...

Dierks Bentley is known for his laid-back performance style and drifter attitude, but that has all changed thanks to a special little package. Bentley and his wife welcomed their first daughter, Evie, into the world five months ago, which has not only caused him to get a new look at life, but also has kept him at home playing the role of dad more often...

Despite having six studio albums and numerous concert appearances, Jessica Simpson made a few mistakes during her final performance while opening for Rascal Flatts on Saturday. She messed up the lyrics to two songs and started each over again so the audience could hear them the right way...

Evans describes the book as "emotional, Southern-flavored, multi-generational tale, featuring a compelling love story." Evans drew inspiration for the characters from her own family life and experiences growing up...

Said there was an "intense unkindness" during filming...

Performers include Julianne Hough, Jake Owen, Zac Brown Band and more!...

"American Storytellers" would be hour-long drama based on songs...

Singer says he'd be interested "way down the road"...

He’s the biggest ticket-seller in North America of the 21st century, and he’s the 4-time and reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year. He has sold in excess of 25 million records – and since 2001, has been the soundtrack of summer for a whole generation of young Americans coming of age. Now, eight years and eight million fans later, he thinks it’s time for another greatest hits album…

Not long after Jessica Simpson received a lot of criticism over her weight, she silenced those critics by performing on stage as part of her tour with Rascal Flatts in Daisy Dukes and a corset top, reported OK magazine...

Taylor Swift is preparing to begin her very first headlining tour. Because of her phenomenal success with album Fearless, she is finally able to announce her official tour dates, which stretch from April 23 to Oct. 10. Opening acts include Kellie Pickler as well as new act, Gloriana...

Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Tracy Lawrence, Charlie Daniels Band and more...

Paisley Joined By Brooks & Dunn, George Strait And Kenny Chesney As Top Artists..

Adkins and ACM honor veterans at the ACM Awards ceremony...

Chesney makes good on a promise to return to Panama City for spring break this year...

Next week American Idol will go country for a week they title "Grand Ole Opry Week." Special performers will include Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis and Brad Paisley...

Emerson Drive travels to El Salvador with charity organization Compassion International...

Lyric Street Record recording artist Bucky Covington will release his sophomore album in September of this year...

The Rutlege was home to a full house on Tuesday March 10th as Ole’ Music and NSAI kicked off the upcoming week long songwriter’s festival with an exclusive preview party for media and music industry executives.

 The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame's principal purposes are to educate, archive, celebrate and honor the legacy of songwriting that is uniquely associated with the Nashville music community...

"I thought it would be fun, and it's a more personal way to spend time with some of my friends in radio and say thanks for all they do for me," ...

Brooks & Dunn already had a hit when they brought in Reba McEntire to add her voice to "Cowgirls Don’t Cry...

The singer-songwriter and former Dixie Chicks man steps out with a new album...

Is the Nashville sweetie stealing Aussie hearts?

Urban's first single from Defying Gravity is hanging strong at number one...

The list of performers on the main stage during the Nightly Concerts on the VAULTTM Concert Stage at LP Field includes...

With a hard-earned reputation as The First Family of Country Music's resident rebel for her misbehaving ways, Carlene has rich songwriting material...

Jennifer Nettles lost her voice and was forced to cancel two shows from Sugarland's Eurpoean leg of their tour...

Carroll is preparing to release his latest single, “Where I’m From.”  His new single will be featured on his new album Growing Up Is Getting Old, which is scheduled to hit stores on April 28...

Earle will also be joined for the first time on this album by his son, Justin Townes Earle, who was named after Townes Van Zandt. Earle selected these songs for the album because they meant...

Smith Joins The Second Season Of The Show That Searches For New Country Duo...

Kenny Chesney's duet with songwriter Mac McAnally titled "Down the Road," has reached the Billboard number 1 spot. ASCAP threw a party in celebration...

Jamie O'Neal has a weekend of performances to honor two leading charity organizations...

Eric Church, Little Big Town slated to perform...

The first weekend in March country radio brings in 1000’s of representatives from stations all over the map and Nashville TN comes alive...

Host John Rich tapped Sheila E. as the winner of the third season of CMT's hit series, GONE COUNTRY. ..

Known for their outlaw ways and tremendous songwriting, rocker Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson come together for the next CMT Crossroads...

Country Music star Carrie Underwood, season 4 American Idol winner, four-time GRAMMY winner, and 2009 ACM Entertainer of the Year nominee has recorded a song for the new season of American Idol...

Now’s your chance to win a trip for two to see the new Broadway show, 9 to 5: The Musical! Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® is offering up the Backwoods To Broadway Sweepstakes to celebrate its latest exclusive CD, the Backwoods Barbie Collector’s Edition by country music legend Dolly Parton...

Kenny Chesney is taking a break from his rehearsals for the upcoming Sun City Carnival to play unannounced college bar gigs at various clubs throughout the Southeast, and bringing a keg with him...

For the first time ever, Rascal Flatts will make available four songs from their highly-anticipated new CD UNSTOPPABLE in advance of the project's release on April 7...

Nelson will open for DMB for three shows...

Irby Mandrell acted as Barbara's manager for more than 30 years...

CRB announced award winners in four categories...

"Celebrating 50 Years of Del McCoury" includes new recordings of essential McCoury tunes...

Team McGraw, an endurance sports training program, raises money and increases awareness for the Tug McGraw Foundation. The team will host a bowling party to celebrate the Country Music Marathon runners on April 24 at 5:30 p.m. at Tusculum Lanes in Nashville...

Last year, Brad Paisley released his chart-topping album, Play, which consisted mostly of instrumental tracks. This year, however, Paisley will release his eighth studio album, American Saturday Night, on June 30...

Nominations for Album of the Year have just been released from the Academy of Country Music for the 44th awards show to be held in Las Vegas on April 5. George Strait and Brad Paisley now tie for the lead for most nominations, each receiving six...

Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood among those performing...

George Jones Will Join Clint Black, Lee Greenwood And Aaron Tippin To Highlight Resort Opening...

The Academy of Country Music has announced performers for the 2009 show being held in Las Vegas April 5...

Two females make it into the finals for ACM Album of the Year.  Country Music queens Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift score nominations...

After the 2008 CMA Music Festival, CMA donated half the proceeds to improving music education in Nashville's public schools...

First time in 20 years a father and daughter have singles listed in the Billboard Charts...

Singer-songwriter, Rick Huckaby was awarded “Small Label Breakthrough Artist of the Year,” by MusicRow Magazine...

Seventeen year old Texas native, Sarah Jarosz debuts her first album on Sugar Hill Records...

Former Trick Pony member gets a second chance...

Chastises ex-label chief...

Easy Does It makes Top Country Albums chart...

Worley will release sixth album under Stroudavarious Records...

Fans who have been waiting to see 19-year-old Country sensation Taylor Swift make her acting debut won't have to wait much longer. Swift's episdoe of CSI, titled "Turn Turn Turn," airs tonight from 9-10 p.m. EST on CBS, and apparently, Swift is a natural actress...

Jamey Johnson is not worried about one-upping his last album, That Lonesome Song. The singer/songwriter plans to live in the moment, taking music as it comes to him...

Superstar Kenny Chesney is continuing his sell-out streak, as 14,000 tickets for the May 9 show in Kansas City sold out in less than 14 minutes this week. With such fan turnout, Chesney is promising to make good on their support for his Sun City Carnival tour...

Bryan to perform for college students and release an iTunes exclusive...

Solo album, film in wings for John Rich and Big Kenny...

Died days before his 45th Opry anniversary...

Newcomer Holly Williams will open...

Singer will spend 10 days touring the country...

Little Big Town joined with Eventful, a concert promotion service, to announce the four winners of a contest in which artists competed for a spot opening for the band on their tour in March. Contestants had to fight for votes by promoting themselves online through social networking sites like Myspace...

Country Thunder, a four day country music and camping event in Florence, Ariz. has teamed up with GAC. Ending just the day before the Academy of Country Music awards in Las Vegas, the featured artists who will be there include Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and others...

March is American Red Cross month, which celebrates those who have helped the cause and raises awareness for their emergency response organization. As such, the Red Cross is hosting an essay contest with tickets to see Keith Urban as the top prize...

Auctions ends Thursday, March 5...

Co-producer and writer Brett Beavers has been there since day one...

Travis will also appear on The Tonight Show on March 13...

April 3 is last day to get Early Bird discount...

Appearing are Josh Gracin and Ricky Skaggs...

Hollywood’s Nicole Kidman, who is married to Country singer Keith Urban, sparked baby speculation after she was photographed posing with her arms covering her stomach during a Japanese tour to promote the movie Australia...

George Strait has the honor of performing at the first event inside the Dallas Cowboys’ new record-setting stadium.  However, don’t expect to get tickets any time soon. The show, which will also feature Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough, sold out in less than an hour...

Platinum-selling artist Tracy Lawrence will release his latest single, "Up To Him," on March 24, followed by the debut of his new album, The Rock, in June. "Up To Him" is already available via MP3 today..

Adan co-wrote Blake Shelton's "She Wouldn't Be Gone"...

Stars symbolize USO tours...

Rucker says he writes all the time now...

New singles from Randy Houser and Blake Shelton enter charts...

Country Music icon LeAnn Rimes, who sang "How Do I Live" in a 2007 episode of Dancing with the Stars, said she would love to compete on the dance floor. And it would be an added bonus that husband Dean Sheremet was a professional dancer at one time. So far, Rimes has been prevented from joining the cast by her hectic work schedule...

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Taylor Swift opened up about her current philosophy on relationships.  She told the magazine, “Right now I play it cool. If he doesn’t want to be with you, then let him do what he wants to do. The worst thing in the world to do is kick and scream and nag.”...

After Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush from their month-long European tour, they will begin touring across the U.S. in April, for what Bush is calling the "I Was There" tour...