Big Country Notes

“CMT GIANTS” DEBUTS TOMORROW WITH TRIBUTE TO REBA MCENTIRE

Reba McEntire says she turned CMT down when they called to ask her to be the first person featured in their new “CMT Giants” series. Reba says, quote, “"Well, at first I said, ‘no, you all are kidding, that’s funny, no thank you’ because I don’t feel like a giant.” Once she realized that CMT was serious Reba consented, saying, quote, “I was very flattered and very honored – I didn’t know how I could live up to it but I sure did have a good time." Celebrities from music and television turned out to honor Reba. Kelly Clarkson told andpop.com, quote, “I am here to tell Reba she's awesome. I love her, I adore her. ... She's just done so many great things, and so many great things for people. She's just a really great person, amazing." Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles says, quote, “She does it all …she is the consummate professional. She sets a goal and she goes after it and that is definitely something to emulate.” “CMT Giants: Reba” airs tomorrow on CMT and simulcasts on MHD, the MTV Networks' high-definition channel.
Celebrities from both music and television will salute Reba, including Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, LeAnn Rimes, Megan Mullally, Wynonna, Dolly Parton, James Denton, Dakota Fanning, Andie MacDowell, Beau Bridges, Barbara Mandrell, Melissa Peterman and Christopher Rich.
Reba told contactmusic.com that hearing her friends and peers perform her hit songs for the CMT special was a little strange. McEntire says, quote, “I’ve been singing them all my life it seems like … to hear someone else sing them … I thought ‘Gosh I should have done it like that.” Reba adds, quote, “I told Kelly Clarkson she now owns ‘Why Haven’t I Heard from You.’ She sang the fool out of that one…it was just a different song.”

REBA MCENTIRE’S “REBA” DEBUTS NEW SEASON SUNDAY NIGHT

The day after her television special “CMT Giants: Reba,” Oklahoma native Reba McEntire will debut the new season of her sitcom “Reba” on the CW network. The show makes its return Sunday with back-to-back episodes beginning at 7 p.m. EST. The following week the network will air a repeat of the show at 7 p.m. followed by an original at 7:30 p.m. Reba says, quote, “We’re in our sixth season and we’re very excited that it is being put on the air in November.” When “Reba” was picked up by the CW discussion was that it would not be on the air until the first of the year. <>
Season four of “Reba” is now available on DVD. The storyline throughout season four centers around Reba’s onscreen ex-husband, Brock, and his new wife, Barbara Jean, and their ongoing marital problems, and how Reba gets pulled into them.

HOUSTON RODEO RELEASES INITIAL 2007 ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

George Strait opens the Houston Rodeo and Livestock show on February 27th, marking his 20th anniversary of playing the event. Alan Jackson is booked for March 8th and Sugarland is scheduled for March 12th. Texas rockers ZZ Top close out the event on March 18th. Although it doesn’t list any other specific country artists, the rodeo’s entertainment schedule notes ten other country acts will be performing. One of those will be Josh Turner, who says he is excited to be headlining a night of entertainment at the event.

Quick Facts – Brooks & Dunn hold the all-time attendance record, 72-thousand people, on March 17, 2006. Kenny Chesney brought in 70-thousand in attendance on 18, 2004, putting him in the rodeo’s top 20 and giving him the second highest attendance for a country artist.
George Strait has played the Houston rodeo more than any other artist – 19 times between 1983 and 2006. He performed 15 years in a row, from 1983 to 1997. Four of his concerts made it into the Top 20 attendance listing.

LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS HONORED BY ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Country Music Hall of Fame member Little Jimmy Dickens was the recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music last weekend during his Opry performance at the Ryman Auditorium. Dickens’ career has included hits from the early days of country radio including “Out Behind the Barn” and “A-Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed.” He also had one of country's most successful early crossover hits, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.” Dickens says of his award, quote, “I’m not quite sure I deserve this honor because for the past 58 years I had the pleasure of working with, and learning from the deceased pioneers of country music. I want to thank the Grand Ole Opry for the years I’ve spent with them because without them there would never have been a Little Jimmy Dickens.” Other artists on hand for the presentation were Rodney Atkins, Barbara Mandrell, Darryl Worley and Bill Anderson.

SAMMY KERSHAW GETS CALL FOR MOVIE ROLE

Sammy Kershaw was called to appear in the movie “Ghost Town,” an independent film shot in Maggie Valley, NC. The film, an 1850’s western, is based on a true story about a man who comes out of the mountains to avenge the death of his father and the abuse of his daughter. Sammy says, quote, “My character is this notorious marshall that you hear about throughout the film, and only see in the closing scene. It was great experience!” Stella Parton is also in the film, which is slated for release in May of 2007.

ALISON KRAUSS BRINGS JOY TO KIDS VIA SANTA TRAIN THIS WEEKEND

Alison Krauss will bring joy to lots of kids in Appalachia tomorrow when she rides the Santa Train through that region to help distribute 15-tons of toys and gifts. The tradition of the Christmas train is to take gifts to thousands of people in the Appalachian area for the Christmas season. Alison will begin her journey in Kingsport, TN and travel 110-miles through 14 towns in Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky before ending her ride in Pikeville, KY. This is the 64th year for the Santa Train. Previous celebrities who have taken the journey include Naomi Judd, Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

QUICK BITES

Renee Zellweger told the British tabloid “Now” that her four-month marriage to Kenny Chesney was, quote, "the biggest personal mistake of my life." Renee says she used the marriage as a way to escape her life as a Hollywood celebrity. She says, quote, “I was looking for something else…I was going through huge life changes at the time. I wanted to stop and be a girl for a while.”

Vince Gill and NASCAR driver Kyle Petty will be honorary co-chairmen of the second annual Spring Sound & Speed scheduled for January 12th – 13th in Nashville. Supermodel Niki Taylor, Ray Stevens and drivers Richard Petty and Michael Waltrip are already on the schedule. Billed as "A Celebration of Music & Motorsports," the event raised 300-thousand dollars for charity last year

Josh Gracin and wife Ann Marie welcome their third child, Gabriella Ann Gracin who was born Wednesday and weighed sevenpounds-12 ounces. Gabriella joins siblings Briana and Landon.
Hampton Otis Turner may be just a few weeks old but he’s already received his first music industry award. Hampton was given a plaque at the party Wednesday for his dad Josh Turner’s number one hit “Would You Go with Me.” Hampton’s plaque listed the things that were going on with his dad the week Hampton was born, including having a number one hit song, a platinum album and a number one video.

Keith Urban fans have created a very cool limited edition 2007 calendar that helps raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. T he singer authorized the calendar, which uses photos of him taken by his fans. The fifth edition of the calendar can be found at www.keithurban.net.

On the Opry this weekend – Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Radney Foster, Restless Heart and more