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OCT 27
~~BRAD PAISLEY and CARRIE UNDERWOOD were on "The View" yesterday talking about hosting next week's CMAs. When asked if they worry about offending the audience, Brad said, quote, "We're a family in that town. We're not RICKY GERVAIS.
"We don't go out and try to do anything that's far on the edge. If they can walk up to us when the show is over and say 'I laughed too', then we've done our job."
Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean will join forces for a series of 10 stadium concerts starting May 2 in San Francisco. The collaborations will be part of the itinerary for Chesney's The Big Revival tour and Aldean's Burn It Down tour. Both artists will maintain their individual tours as well. Special guests will be announced in the future.
"We've played so many of these stadiums so many summers, I know just how hard the fans coming out can rock," Chesney says. "There aren't a lot of guys out there who can hit it the way Jason does, so I'm glad we're able to bring both of our tours together for 10 nights this summer. I know what me and the guys are bringing in terms of music, and I know Jason can hang with us!"
"Kenny is the guy everybody in country music looks up to when they think about workin' hard, building your career out on the road and getting to eventually play stadiums," Aldean said. "When we first started dipping our toe into that business a few years ago, he's the guy I would call or text for advice. We have a real friendship. Don't get me wrong … that doesn't mean I'm going to make it easy to follow me every night … he's gonna have to work for it harder than he ever has before!"
OCT 21
~~BRANTLEY GILBERT is engaged to a woman from his hometown that he's known for 10 years. He made the announcement yesterday . . He said, quote, "It was one of those things that was on and off for a few years . . . mostly on . . . and then she was the one that got away for about five years. It came back around and I've never been happier. She's the one." He didn't mention her name, but he did bring up her profession: Quote, "She teaches school about a mile up the road from my house and it's an awesome thing. She loves to teach.
Last week REBA MCENTIRE mentioned she had a special announcement on the way. Well, it happened yesterday and it's big news. She's the first artist to sign with a brand new record label called Nash Icon Music, and she has several projects on the way. She said, quote, "I'm so excited to be the first to sign up. We've been in the studio recording new songs and I can't wait for my fans to hear them." She's finished 11 songs so far and promises a new album will be out soon. A tour will follow that. One of the cool things about the deal is that it brought Reba back to the game. She added, quote, "You get to a point in your career where you think, 'I've been very lucky to get to do what I do, and now it's everybody else's turn.' "For them to come back and say, 'We want you to record again, we want new music.' That's pretty big news to me and it made me feel so good that they wanted to hear more of my music. I'm very humbled."
OCT 17
Top Country Albums:
1. Jason Aldean, "Old Boots, New Dirt"
2. Blake Shelton, "Bringing Back The Sunshine"
3. Lady Antebellum, "747"
4. Kenny Chesney, "The Big Revival"
5. George Strait, "The Cowboy Rides Away: Live From AT&T Stadium"
6. Tim McGraw, "Sundown Heaven Town"
7. Luke Bryan, "Crash My Party"
8. Brad Paisley, "Moonshine In The Trunk"
9. Alabama, "Angels Among Us: Hymns & Gospel Favorites"
10. Brantley Gilbert, "Just As I Am"
Top Country Songs:
1. Jason Aldean, "Burnin' It Down"
2. Florida Georgia Line, "Dirt"
3. Sam Hunt, "Leave The Night On"
4. Blake Shelton, "Neon Light"
5. Carrie Underwood, "Something In The Water"
6. Luke Bryan, "Roller Coaster"
7. Chase Rice, "Ready Set Roll"
8. Kenny Chesney, "American Kids"
9. Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood, "Somethin' Bad"
10. Florida Georgia Line, "Sippin' On Fire"
OCT 15
JAKE OWEN loves going acoustic to perform "What We Ain't Got" in concert. He says, quote, "It's this big arena, but you can hear a pin drop. And then when the song is over, the crowd just erupts. That's why I released that song."
FULL STORY: Concerts are like parties. They're loud, people are all excited, frosty beverages are consumed. But they have quiet moments too . . . where the artist goes acoustic and grabs the audience a little tighter.
JAKE OWEN had that in mind when he put out "What We Ain't Got". He explains, quote, "It's this big arena, but you can hear a pin drop. And then when the song is over, the crowd just erupts. That's exactly why I released that song."
He also likes that it's a change from his lightweight stuff, like "Beachin'" and "Days of Gold". He adds, quote, "I could've released a song that was down the middle. The ones that are pleasant to hear even if you're not listening to the words.
"But with this one, it makes people think. [It] means something and says something that's poignant and will last forever."
Jake says "What We Ain't Got" is the favorite song he's ever recorded, so chances are we'll be hearing similar stuff in the future: Quote, "I don't think we have enough songs right now that make you go, 'Man, have you heard that song?'
No-Shave November" is almost here . . . and this year's "Chairman of the Beard" is DAVE HAYWOOD of LADY ANTEBELLUM. He says, quote, "St. Jude's [Research Hospital] brings hope to so many families, the least we can do is not touch the razor and beard trimmers all month long in support."
benefits the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Just like the name says, you give up shaving for the whole month, and then donate the money you would have spent on grooming products.
This year's "Chairman of the Beard" is DAVE HAYWOOD of LADY ANTEBELLUM. He says, quote, "St. Jude brings hope to so many families, the least we can do is not touch the razor and beard trimmers all month long in support."
There are three basic ways to get involved: You can do it solo, you can join a team online . . . or even better, you can pressure a bunch of your friends into forming your own team. Get up to speed on the details by hitting up NoShave.org.
OCT 14
~~Every once in a while there's a great story about a country artist who wanted to perform so badly as a teen that their parents would drive them to the clubs . . . and then pick them up later.
And then there's BRANTLEY GILBERT. He did the club part, but hid it from his parents. Instead, he told them he was performing at a praise and worship convention.
It all crashed down the night they went to a bar at 1:30 in the morning and there he was on stage. He says, quote, "Yeah, they walked in and caught me." No word what kind of punishment they handed out, but they did eventually come around.
He adds, quote, "In the beginning it was a little different, but once I got to a certain age and they started seeing that I could make a living out of it, or at least the beginning of it, I could screech by. They really got on board big time."
KELLY CLARKSON announced the details of her first-ever charity concert, and it's going to be huge. It's called Miracle on Broadway and it's going down December 20th in Nashville. Proceeds will benefit four different charities.
Performers include Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Kacey Musgraves, Paramore minx Hayley Williams, "All About That Bass" singer Meghan Trainor, Charles Esten from TV's "Nashville", and Kelly's mother-in-law REBA MCENTIRE
Florida Georgia Line, Eric Church and Kacey Musgraves have been added to the list of performers at next month's CMAs. (Previously announced performers include Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban.)
JERROD NIEMANN married his fiancée Morgan Petek on Sunday in Puerto Rico.
He got all romantic with it too. The ceremony took place at the top of a Spanish fort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. He tells "People", quote, "I'm looking forward to seeing what the world has in store for us as a married couple."
OCT 09
A pair of country artists took the top two spots on the Billboard 200 this week. BLAKE
SHELTON earned his second #1 album with 101,000 copies of "Bringing Back the
Sunshine" . . . and LADY ANTEBELLUM was behind him with 74,000 copies of "747".
It's the first time the top two albums came from country artists in nearly four years. (It last
happened in November of 2010, when Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean were #1 and #2,
respectively.
OCT 07
~~The 48th Annual CMA Awards superstar lineup continues to grow Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw are each performing during “The 48th Annual CMA Awards,” which airs live Wednesday, Nov. 5 (8:00 PM/CT) from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Hosted for the seventh consecutive year by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, Country Music’s Biggest Night™ will also feature performances by Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Paisley, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Underwood, and Keith Urban.
TYLER FARR talked to "Rolling Stone" about his most dangerous drinking buddies. Although he stopped short of getting anyone in trouble . . . including himself.
He said, quote, "Some of these stories, I would love to get into detail about . . . but I would put myself at risk along with every one of my friends. TMZ would be parked outside of my house."
So, here are the names and the stories:
JASON ALDEAN: "He's the kind of guy that when you mix me and him together . . . he drinks tequila, I drink whiskey . . . tequila and whiskey together equals bad. It's fun as hell, don't get me wrong, but it's like fire and gasoline."
LEE BRICE: "I think Lee wears the crown. The last time I was in Vegas, I was on my way to my room and ran into him. It was going to be a 2:00 A.M. bedtime curfew, and it ended up being a 5:00 A.M. bedtime curfew.
"And then we had a Cabela's' archery tournament the next day. When your hands are shaking profusely, it doesn't enhance your performance."
RANDY HOUSER: "Randy can hold his own, don't let him fool you."
JERROD NIEMANN: "I remember back in the days of playing the honky-tonks in Nashville and Niemann literally bringing moonshine into the bar.
"My dad happened to be in town and before I knew it, me and Dad are drinking moonshine inside a bar in Nashville. I thought, all right, they haven't thrown us out yet.
SEPT 29 MONDAY
MOMMY TO BE CARRIE UNDERWOOD will be releasing her first-ever hits project, called "Greatest Hits: Decade #1", on December 9th. It includes a brand new song titled "Something In The Water", which is out today. and PLAYING ON KIIM FM every hour on the hour TODAY
ERIC CHURCH and his wife are expecting their second child. His rep confirmed with People.com that it'll be a boy. No word on a due date. Their other son Boone McCoy will be three THIS Friday.
In case you missed this:
BRITTANY KERR posted an Instagram pic of her kissing JASON ALDEAN while showing off her SHINY engagement ring. She wrote, "We've been on cloud nine the past few days. My heart has never been more full of happiness and love. Can't wait to spend the rest of my life with this man."
Lady Antebellum have revealed details on their upcoming fifth studio album. The record will be called 747 — named for one of the tracks on the album. Hillary Scott says, “The track itself has this pushing, driving spirit about it that sums up our attitude right now. We are pushing ourselves as a band and as songwriters…taking ourselves out of our comfort zone and not taking ourselves too seriously." Charles Kelley says the band really needed to try step outside their comfort zone "Everything is great and the fan base is huge, but there was that little part that was like, 'What are we really doing, are we really pushing ourselves? Or are we just staying content because everything is great and has always been great. Now we have a little kick in the but to say, 'Let's try some new things.'
