Big Country Notes

FOX HOPES TO LAND TIM MCGRAW’S “MY LITTLE GIRL” IN OSCARS

Fox has high hopes to have Tim McGraw’s “My Little Girl” from the movie “Flicka” in the running for Song of the Year at the Oscars. The tune was co-written by McGraw and Tom Douglas specifically for the film. It plays over the movie’s end credits and is also on the soundtrack album, which was released on Tim’s label, StyleSonic. “Flicka” stars McGraw as a tough dad who has to juggle keeping the ranch afloat with connecting with his teenage daughter. The film has grossed 20-million-dollars and continues to show in over one thousand theatres around the country.

GRETCHEN WILSON SAYS NEW SINGLE MORE LIKE A CONVERSATION

Gretchen Wilson says the thing she likes most about her new single, “Come To Bed,” is that it’s simple and realistic. Gretchen explains, quote, “There’s really no poetry in it. This song is a conversation.” Gretchen debuted the song on the CMA Awards show November 6th along with co-writer John Rich of Big & Rich. Admitting that the song is a little different for her, she says, quote “I think it’s really a sexy song.” The song is from a new album that is due in stores next year. <>

JOE NICHOLS AGES 30 YEARS IN HIS NEXT VIDEO

In a short 20 hours, Joe Nichols aged 30 years. Thankfully it was during the shooting of his new video, “I’ll Wait for You.” Nichols spent four hours in makeup to get the effect needed for the scenes where his character had aged. Nichols was instrumental in developing the concept of the music video. The singer says, quote, "When I first read the treatment for the video … I knew immediately I wanted to play not only the 'young' man, but I also wanted to get totally into character and play him in his 60's as well.” Then Joe found out how long he would have to be in makeup to become the old man. He says, quote, “I have a really hard time standing still for four minutes, much less sitting for four hours. But the treatment was so touching and beautifully conceived, I wanted to do it.” Nichols says he now has a whole new respect for women, adding, “Ladies, I do not envy you at all where makeup is concerned, and I have a newly acquired understanding of all the time I have spent waiting for dates to finish putting on their makeup."

ALAN JACKSON BUILDING A NEW HOME ON THE BEACH

Alan Jackson and Ronnie Gilley Properties (RGP) will be breaking ground ag the end of November in the development of La Borgata in Panama City Beach, FL, where Jackson will have a new beach home. As the official endorser of the development, Alan will be at the groundbreaking on November 30th. The singer will have a three-bedroom, two thousand square foot condominium in the complex. It will have a private balcony overlooking the pool. In addition to Jackson, RGP has aligned itself with other celebrities including Kix Brooks, Tracy Lawrence, Steve Holy and Darryl Worley to establish similar. George Jones is the official spokesperson for Ronnie Gilley Properties.
La Borgata is located between Destin and Panama City on a 14.5-acre site. The site features 189 luxury town homes and condominiums and a limited number of two-bedroom condominiums and studio units located above the retail shops.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD PERFORMS ON DALLAS COWBOYS HALFTIME SHOW

Carrie Underwood will be the featured performer at Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day halftime show. Underwood will help officially kick off the annual Salvation Army 2006 Red Kettle Christmas fundraising campaign. This is the tenth consecutive year that the campaign will be launched as part of a special live concert at Texas Stadium during the Cowboys' traditional holiday game. Carrie says, quote, “My family and I have been spectators several times in the past, and now I am thrilled to be performing at halftime this year! I look forward to teaming up with The Salvation Army and the Dallas Cowboys for a great day.” The game, pitting the Cowboys against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be televised nationally on the Fox Network beginning at 3:15 CST.

MIRANDA LAMBERT SAYS CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIENDS COME TO HER SHOWS

Miranda Lambert says she knows about what she sings. She explains that she sees lots of crazy ex-girlfriends at her concerts. Miranda says, quote, “Don’t get the wrong idea – they come to my shows and cheer and that’s why I love them.” Lambert sang her new single, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” on the CMA awards show November 6th. She not only sang the song, she smashed her guitar at the end of her performance! Lambert’s new album featuring the single will be released in 2007. <>

TAYLOR SWIFT TO OPEN FOR GEORGE STRAIT ON UPCOMING TOUR

Taylor Swift has been invited to open for George Strait on his the first leg of his 2007 tour. The tour kicks off January 11th in Lafayette, AL. Swift says, quote, “I couldn’t imagine anything more thrilling than to be on a tour with George Strait … I keep pinching myself to make sure this isn’t just a dream.” In other news, Taylor will sing “The Star Spangled Banner on Thanksgiving Day from Ford Field in Detroit, before the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins game on CBS. Additionally, she will be at Minneapolis’ Mall of America on Sunday to perform and sign copies of her self-titled album.

CRAIG MORGAN SAYS HE’LL PERFORM FOR MILITARY WHEREVER HE’S NEEDED


Craig Morgan had hoped to do a USO Tour in Afghanistan and Iraq for the military in December but says he thinks now there may be a conflict with the dates he was supposed to go. He says he, Darryl Worley, Mark Wills and Kenny Thomas were going to go on the tour. Morgan says, quote, “I told them if we can’t go in December, we’ll go in January … and we’ll go wherever they need us to go.” In the meantime, Morgan is scheduled for several Grand Ole Opry appearances, including November 28th and December 2nd. He performs with Kellie Pickler and country music Hall of Famer Ray Price on the latter date. <>

QUICK BITES

Danielle Peck will perform the National Anthem at when Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers for the Monday Night Football match-up airing live on ESPN November 27th.

Sunny Sweeney signed with Big Machine Records this week. Her first album for the label, “Heartbreaker’s Hall of Fame,” will be released March 6th, 2007. Sweeney says, quote, "It's nice to finally find a label and a team who are willing to support and invest in REAL country music!"

The Poverty Neck Hillbillies went to Bristol, TN, thinking they were going to play one show at the Stateline Grille last week. Little did they know they would end up playing the area’s largest venue as well as the original gig. The group filled at Viking Hall for Sugarland, who got stuck in New York due to inclement weather.

When Vince Gill played Escondido, CA, last week, he called Patti Page, who lives in nearby San Diego, to come out and perform with him. While introducing the woman who made “Tennessee Waltz” famous, Gill explained that he always includes a waltz in his show because his mom taught him to waltz to Page’s music. Vince became so choked up when the two tried to sing that he just grabbed Patti and danced with her. When they finished, he said, quote, "That is a moment I will remember the rest of my life."

CMT Insider catches up with Billy Currington on the road during "CMT On Tour" Saturday, November 25 at 12:30 p.m. CST.

HEADLINES FROM HOLLYWOOD

PENGUINS TOP JAMES BOND AT WEEKEND BOX OFFICE A group of happy penguins beat agent double-oh-seven at the weekend box office. "Happy Feet" is at the top of the box office charts this weekend, bringing in more than 42-million dollars. Coming in a close second was the "Casino Royale," which introduces British actor Daniel Craig as the new James Bond, with 40-point-six-million dollars. Slipping to third place this week was last week's number one movie, "Borat." The political mockumentary brought in 14-point-four-million dollars this weekend. Rounding out the top five this week were "The Santa Clause 3" with a little bit more than eight-million dollars in ticket sales and "Flushed Away," which took in six-point-eight-million-dollars. (Metro Source)
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. (final figures will be released today):
1. "Happy Feet," $42.3 million.
2. "Casino Royale," $40.6 million.
3. "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," $14.35 million.
4. "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," $8.2 million.
5. "Flushed Away," $6.8 million.
6. "Stranger Than Fiction," $6.6 million.
7. "Babel," $2.9 million.
8. "Saw III," $2.8 million.
9. "The Departed," $2.6 million.
10. "The Queen," $2.3 million.