For most of you, it’s probably hard to believe a year has gone by since we officially launched CountryHound.com July 11, 2007. In fact, it seems like 7 years to me. It’s been a great for me though. I’ve had the chance to meet some fun CountryHound fans and some big Country Music dogs like Jason Aldean and Tracy Lawrence. I had the opportunity to attend my second CMA Music Festival, which is always a treat (mmmmmmm, treats) because of the new friends I make there.
I want to give a big Woof! to everyone who has supported us during the first year, including artists, publicists, other industry folks, radio stations, and of course, YOU, our visitors and loyal fans. I also want to thank people behind the scenes who have made this site possible for this old dog: Stephen Betts, Kasey Bell, Melissa Coker, Ray Capp, Mike Hassell, Meaghan Mitchell, Courtney Drake, Katie Shands, Mac McKinnon, Katie Ball, Patricia Montesinos, Amber Garner, Sandy Paul, Jeanette Lord, Dana Nelson, Michael Haydel and Leah Gilliam. Many kudos to Lisa Ann Schleipfer, and major tail wags to my favorite Webmaster, Wendy Mazur.
As many of you know I recently celebrated my second birthday (June 15, 2008) and announced a new generation for CountryHound, Webb 2.0. It is a whole new breed of Country Music news and entertainment. Soon you’ll see the latest version of our website with some great new features all intended to make it better for you, the fans.
Looking back, it’s interesting to go back and read some of the stories we’ve tracked down for you. I decided this was a good time to dig up some bones. Here are some of the hidden treasures I unburied the newsmakers we brought you over the past year.
The day we gave birth to this thang, here’s what was making news:
7/11/2007
Based on Nielsen Soundscan record sales for the first half of 2007, Tim McGraw is the top selling country artist of the year to date. ...
7/11/2007
On Friday, July 27, a Travis Tritt Martin Limited Edition will be unveiled...
7/11/2007
Kellie Pickler will perform her emotion-packed single, "I Wonder," on ABC's Good Morning America on Monday, July 23. Kellie wrote "I Wonder," from her debut album, Small Town Girl, about her absent mother, who left Kellie as a child....
7/11/2007
Grand Ole Opry legend Porter Wagoner tells Newsweek: "You can always tell if a guy knows where his roots are. I like the real thing."...
7/11/2007
Trace Adkins has been announced as honorary chairman of this year's Walk for Food Allergy: Moving Toward A Cure. ...
7/11/2007
The International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) annual World of Bluegrass is set for Nashville, October 1-7 . ...
7/11/2007
Jo Dee Messina jumped at the chance to help athletes prepare for the 2007 Special Olympic World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. ...
7/11/2007
Mark Wills Braves a Day of Thunder and Lightning for GAC Nights....
And what about the time Blake Shelton put on his superhero McGruff outfit:
7/16/2007
Would-be burglar was breaking into his home in Oklahoma . ...
Speaking of standing up for what’s right, Faith Hill didn’t take a hands-off approach when an overzealous fan couldn’t keep her paws off Tim McGraw:
7/30/2007
"You don't go grabbin' somebody else's -- somebody's husband's ...," Faith warns...
And then he stood up for someone else:
6/26/2008
Warning: Don't attack fans in the front row......
6/27/2008
Defends himself, claims he wasn't drunk or rowdy......
Then there was the time Tanya Tucker’s ex got a little too territorial:
8/2/2007
Laseter Allegedly Left Note (and Nothing Else) Inside Truck...
It was good to get one of my favorite hounds in the Hall of Fame:
8/7/2007
Ceremony To Be Held Oct. 28...
Everyone thought it was about dog gone time Charlie got in the Opry:
1/21/2008
Inducted by Mr. & Mrs. Marty Stuart...
Then Carrie joined the litter:
3/15/2008
Artist received surprised invitation by Randy Travis......
Of course we had our fair share of artists who decided they wanted to be a different breed:
9/11/2007
Singer's Father Says She's Considering Country Album...
Some events just make a dog want to cry:
10/21/2007
Remains Hospitalized in Nashville...
10/22/2007
Sends Letter to Opry Saying He's in Good Spirits...
10/28/2007
Country Music Legend Was 80 Years Old...
3/10/2008
Artist's band will wear the iconic rhinestone suits......
5/8/2008
"Tennessee Plowboy" crossed music lines......
Country Music proved it could run with the big dogs on television:
11/8/2007
Early Numbers Are In...But What Did YOU Think of the Show?...
Speaking of big dogs, Garth showed he could attract fans like flies on, oh well you know:
12/3/2007
Makes Donation to Smithsonian History Museum...
Garth and other big names like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and Sugarland were best-in-class for 2007:
12/23/2007
Sniffing Out Country Music's Best of 2007...
Kix Brooks warned that dog won’t hunt forever under these conditions:
2/20/2008
Worries Artists Won't Play If They Don't Get Paid...
Kenny Chesney also critiqued the ACM dogs’ new tricks:
5/19/2008
Ties the legendary Garth Brooks in this category......
5/19/2008
Calls it a sweepstakes to push people's buttons......
5/22/2008
Says controversy sells......
6/2/2008
Award winners see increased cd sales too......
Sara Evans got her a new dog:
3/25/2008
...
6/16/2008
Small ceremony with "country-style" reception......
My dog Snoop Dogg went Country:
4/24/2008
Recently recorded a new song in Amsterdam......
Speaking of breeding a new litter, the Aussie kind…
9/5/2007
Nicole "Yearning to Have One"...
12/29/2007
Newspaper Report Dismissed As "Another Rumor"...
1/7/2008
Statement from Nicole's Publicist Released ...
7/7/2008
Keith thanks everyone for support......
And some sagas were just a dog gone shame:
7/22/2007
Faces two misdemeanor charges: battery and resisting a law enforcement officer....
7/26/2007
Was taken into custody at Nashville International Airport...
12/31/2007
Was Held on Probation Violation...
4/28/2008
Clemens' lawsuit discusses relationship with teenage McCready......
6/6/2008
Improper language for family event......
6/27/2008
Accused of violating her probation again......
