Big Country Notes

KELLIE PICKLER ALBUM DEBUTS AT NUMBER ONE

Kellie Pickler’s album “Small Town Girl” debuts at the top of “Billboard’s” Top Country Album chart this week, and came in at number nine on the magazine’s all-genre 200 chart. Sales for the album in its first week available topped the 79-thousand mark, making the “American Idol” contestant the best-selling album this year by a new country artist. These past 12 months have been a huge leap for Pickler. Just over a year ago she was a roller skating waitress in Abemarle, NC dreaming of moving to Nashville, getting a record deal and maybe singing on the Grand Ole Opry. Today all those dreams have come true for the North Carolina native. Pickler says, quote, “I’m so excited to be on the country charts, let alone number one! 2006 has been the best year ever.”

RASCAL FLATTS TO MAKE GRAMMY ANOUNCEMENT IN LOS ANGELES

Rascal Flatts, Mary J. Blige, James Blunt, Chris Brown, Josh Groben, Evanescence’s Amy Lee, Ludacris, Corinne Bailey Rae, Justin Timberlake and KT Tunstall will announce the GRAMMY nominations on December 7th in Hollywood. The announcement for the 49th annual GRAMMY awards will be held at the Music Box @ The Fonda on Hollywood Boulevard. The Grammy awards will be broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 11th on CBS.


CARRIE UNDERWOOD HITS QUADRUPLE PLATINUM STATUS WITH ALBUM

Carrie Underwood received more good news this week – the new CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Horizon winner was just notified about the RIAA Quadruple-Platinum certification of her debut album, “Some Hearts” (signifying sales of four-million). Carrie says, quote, “There are so many people that have done so much – songwriters, producers, all the people at the label. Country radio has been awesome to me and people have requested my songs and bought the albums and seen me in concert.” Underwood just had her third number one single, “Before He Cheats,” off the album. Carrie joins Gretchen Wilson as the only solo female country artist in the past decade to have a debut album achieve that status.


RASCAL FLATTS PERFORM AT TONY BENNETT CONCERT TOMORROW

Rascal Flatts, “American Idol” winner Kelly Clarkson, Latin pop singer Marc Anthony and jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux will join co-hosts George Clooney, Billy Crystal, Paul Newman, Jack Nicholson and Bruce Willis at “Singers and Songs Celebrate Tony Bennett’s 80th” tomorrow at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. As a special highlight of the evening, Tony Bennett will also perform. The event will benefit “The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps,” which was founded by Paul Newman. “Hole in the Wall Camps” is a non-profit organization with camps worldwide reaching out to children with serious illness and life threatening conditions.


LEE ANN WOMACK GRANTED TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

Lee Ann Womack has been granted a restraining order against her alleged stalker. According to Georgia's "Savannah Morning News," the Grammy winner claimed in the petition filed last Friday that 36-year-old Mark Borer, who lives near Savannah, has been stalking her for the past year. Womack accuses the man of sending "various disturbing and harassing" letters and even showing up outside her parent's Texas home last November while was she visiting them.
The singer asked for immediate action on the temporary protective order because she feared Borer might try to find her at Monday night's CMA Awards in Nashville. The 30-day restraining order prevents Borer from coming within one-thousand feet of Womack, her family or production company. He also must refrain from attempting to contact Womack. Another hearing on the matter is set for December 1st.
(Metro Source)


KEITH URBAN FEATURED IN NOVEMBER 17TH ISSUE OF “BEST LIFE”

Keith Urban told “Best Life” that his marriage to Nicole Kidman is his best chance of beating his demons. He also told the magazine that like most men, he finds it hard to balance love and work. Urban says, quote, "I have spent most of my life torn between wanting to be a good husband and a good partner, and wanting to apply myself fully to my career." In regards to struggling with his addiction, Keith offered advice for those who are struggling. The singer says, quote, “Stay communicating with the people around you. Everyone gets overwhelmed at points, but it's when you think you can handle it yourself and you don't reach out for help." When Urban found himself once again drowning he checked himself into rehab on October 19th. He admits, quote, “I still wonder how to keep all these plates spinning sometimes, you know? I'm just really grateful to be present and doing what I can." For the full story, pick up of a copy of “Best Life” on newsstands November 17th.

VINCE GILL LANDS SONG ON NEW BOB SEGER ALBUM

Vince Gill wrote the only song on the new Bob Seger album “Face The Promise” that Seger didn’t write. The song, “Real Mean Bottle,” was on Gill’s “Next Big Thing” album. The idea for the song came from a story about Hank Williams Sr. A musician on one of Hank’s sessions remarked to the singer that the song they had just cut had some of the saddest lyrics he had ever heard. Hank replied, quote, “Well it was a real mean bottle.” Vince loved the phrase and turned it into a tribute to one of his major musical influences, Merle Haggard. Seger recorded it as a duet with Kid Rock. Vince says, quote, “Bob and I became friends through the game of golf but I’ve always had his records. I was drawn to his songs and have always been a big fan.” Gill adds, quote, “In the past year I’ve had cuts by Bob Seger and Eric Clapton, so it’s been a very good year.”

REBA MCENTIRE CAN’T PINPOINT ONE FAVORITE THING IN HER CAREER

Reba McEntire is at a point in her life where she could slow down, but that word is not in her vocabulary. Her sitcom “Reba” returns to the CW network on November 19th, and she has a new bedding line coming out in conjunction with Dillard’s department stores in March of 2007. In the meantime she continues to work on her clothing line. Plus Reba just taped “CMT Giants,” a special tribute to the singer by her peers which airs Saturday on CMT. Reba says, quote, “I love television. I love Broadway. The clothing line is so creative … it’s just a challenge and I think that’s what I like best in life is a challenge.” McEntire says she doesn’t think she could retire like friend Barbara Mandrell did a few years ago. She explains, quote, “I love what I’m doing, I love the entertainment business, all facets of it … but I think Barbara is totally happy with it – she’s totally content.”

TAYLOR SWIFT JUST HAPPY TO BE IN MUSIC BUSINESS

Taylor Swift may work in the music business but she says for her it’s never been a job. She explains, quote, “There are some artists out there that this is their job and then they go home and they have their life. For me this is my life. It’s never been a job.” As in any job, Taylor has studied the marketplace and found things that inspire her. She says everyone in the business whom she respects is great because they have different qualities that make each one an amazing individual. She adds, quote, “Someday I hope to have the face of Faith Hill or the charisma of Tim McGraw. I love how Miranda Lambert speaks her mind and LeAnn Rimes was one of the first country artists I ever listened to – she’s amazing.”


CMT PREMIERES JOHNNY CASH VIDEO “GOD’S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN”

Johnny Cash’s new video, “God’s Gonna Cut You Down,” will premiere over multiple channels today via CMT, MTV and VH1. The video features an all-star list of 36 celebrities who join together to pay tribute to Cash in the black and white video. Among those participating are Kris Kristofferson, the Dixie Chicks, Bono, Johnny Depp and Dennis Hopper. The artists mimic Cash as they all dress in black for the video presentation. “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” premieres first during “CMT Top 20 Countdown” today at 4 p.m. EST. VH1 and MTV will simultaneously premiere the video later at 11:00 p.m., EST. Additionally, CMT will re-broadcast “Johnny Cash in San Quentin” tonight from 8-9 p.m. The special was filmed in 1969 and features Cash hits including “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk the Line.” “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” is the first video from Cash’s gold-certified album “American V: A Hundred Highways.”

QUICK BITES

Rascal Flatts scored their first number one crossover single as "What Hurts The Most" tops the “Radio & Records” mainstream AC chart.

Tomorrow Josh Gracin will perform at the Veteran's Day ceremony at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA. Fifteen-thousand invited guests, including President George W. Bush, former astronaut and Senator John Glenn, active duty service members, veterans and their families will attend.

Trace Adkins received his first nomination for Favorite Male Singer in the People’s Choice awards and says, quote, “I am extremely flattered to receive this nomination and the fact that these awards are determined by the fans makes this mean even more to me.” The awards will be announced January 9th on CBS.

Danielle Peck will be the spokesperson for Safe Haven Family. The shelter provides financial, social and spiritual guidance for homeless families with children in Nashville. The singer has taped PSAs that will run on local radio stations.

Taylor Swift will perform the National Anthem live on NBC prior to the Checker Auto Parts 500 NASCAR Nextel Cup race series at Phoenix International Raceway.

Tracy Lawrence couldn’t find the perfect red velvet cake for his wife, Becca’s, birthday so her baked one for her himself. Tracy says, quote, “We wanted to crown her queen for a day so it only made sense to have a cake befitting a queen.” Becca adds, quote, “It was beautiful, perfect. This was a very special birthday … having Tracy home and off the road on my birthday.”

The Memphis home of Johnny Cash will be sold on Ebay, according to Nashville-based Honky Tonk Hall of Fame. The home goes up for sale on the auction site on Friday. The home boasts the guitar shaped mailbox Cash himself built on the front curb. It is well maintained with original bathroom tiles and flooring, and rich wood on the vaulted ceiling of the living room. The house sits on a cul-de-sac.