Big Country Note for Tuesday, December 5, 2006

KEITH URBAN STRIVES FOR DIVERSITY IN THE STUDIO

Keith Urban says he tries to keep the listener from being able to predict the songs they’ll hear on his albums. He does this by being diverse in subject matter and by combining slow sensuous ballads with up-tempo rocking numbers. Although he writes a lot of his own material, he isn’t opposed to looking for songs elsewhere to make the album better. Urban says, quote, “Usually the songs I record that were written by other people are songs I wish I’d written.” Fans often sing along with Urban at his concerts and the singer says that is a great feeling. Keith says, quote, “It’s really humbling to be playing to people you’ve never met and hear so many of them singing along to the words of the songs that you have written and recorded. Sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming.”

ALAN JACKSON LOOKS BACK AT BANNER YEAR WHILE MOVING FORWARD

Alan Jackson’s new single, “A Woman’s Love,” will be the first product released by his record label in 2007. The song is from his self-produced album “Like Red on a Rose.” While he’s releasing new product the first week of 2007, Jackson will surely look back at an incredible 2006, when the singer found success in both gospel and country music. Fans showed their support for him within both genres, with the gospel project selling more than a million discs. Jackson initially recorded that album for his mother, who says she always knew there would be a huge fan base for her son if he ever did a Christian recording. Jackson’s most recent project debuted at number one and number three on the “Billboard” Country and Top 200 all-genre album charts, respectively.

TRACE ADKINS ANNOUNCES TOUR WITH CRAIG MORGAN AND DANIELLE PECK

Trace Adkins has invited Craig Morgan and Danielle Peck to join him on his “Dangerous Man” tour, which kicks off February 2nd in Fairfax, VA and runs through March 10th in St. Joseph, MO. Adkins, who is celebrating his tenth year in music, has a high-energy show that includes his hits along with some of his fans’ favorite album cuts. As would be expected, the crowd roars when he goes into his hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” and they stand and wave lit cigarette lighters when he talks about the single “Arlington.” The tour will also include hits from his “Dangerous Man” album such as the singles “Swing” and “Ladies Love Country Boys.” Morgan loves performing, averaging about 200 shows a year. He will include his single “Little Bit of Life” along with hits “That’s What I Like About Sunday” and “Redneck Yacht Club” in his concert appearances with Adkins. Peck has been fronting her own band since she was 16. She has opened for Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, and Big & Rich.

“Dangerous Man” tour dates:
February
2 Fairfax, VA
3 Salisbury, MD 8 Cincinnati, OH (*Rodney Atkins replaces Morgan on this date)
9 Moline, IL
10 Port Huron, MI
17 Reading, PA
23 Pikeville, KY
24 Canton, OH
March
8 Columbus, OH
9 Bloomington, IL
10 St. Joseph, MO

GARY ALLAN WINDING DOWN TOURING UNTIL 2007

Gary Allan played before one million fans while touring with the Rascal Flatts “Me and My Gang” tour this year. With that tour over, he and friend Jack Ingram are doing a series of headlining shows in California. Tonight the two are in Palm Desert and tomorrow they are in Ventura. They round out their tour on Saturday in Kelseyville. Allan slows down mid-month but plays a New Year’s Eve gig in Lexington, KY. His 2007 tour starts up again January 30th in Pryor Lake, MN. Allan says he enjoys the break but he’s usually ready for to be back on the road after his break.

SHERYL CROW SAYS SHE IS RECORDING OLD-STYLE COUNTRY ALBUM

Sheryl Crow says recent events in her personal life have been an incentive for her to focus on a new album. The singer told soundgenerator.com that the album will be a country project. Crow says, quote, "I'm going to produce myself again and I'm working on an old-school country record in the style of The Carter Family.” She points out that many of her songs, such as “If It makes You Happy,” are country songs. She adds that the Carter Family’s traditional tunes have inspired her and says, quote, “I'm in that world of trying to strip it down and make something that feels honest and steeped in American influence. I had a lot of things happen to me in the last five years that I feel compelled to write about." Crow lives in Nashville and has already found friends in the country music community. She and Vince Gill recently recorded with Brooks & Dunn on the duo’s “Building Bridges,” and has been nominated in Vocal Event categories for both the CMA Awards and the ACM Awards.

QUICK BITES

LeAnn Rimes will host the 25th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final on January 25th, 2007 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.

Reba McEntire, Josh Gracin, Trisha Yearwood and Little Big Town are all on the soundtrack to the Disney DVD “The Fox And The Hound 2.” The DVD will be released next Tuesday.

The Dixie Chicks' “Accidents & Accusations” tour is winding down. After a stop in Nashville Friday, the tour ends tonight in Dallas.

Andy Griggs has been recording his new album but he’s taking a break December 14th through 18th to travel the high seas for a Christmas cruise. While Griggs will enjoy the cruise, he’ll make it more enjoyable for fans by performing a concert one evening. Stops include Freeport and Nassau, The Bahamas. For more information call 888-600-5774.

Collin Raye, the Bellamy Brothers, Mel Tillis and Suzy Boggus will participate in a country music cruise February 25th through March 4th, leaving from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Stops include San Juan, Puerto Rico and Casa de Camp, Dominican Republic. For more information contact info@countrycruise2007.com.

Trent Tomlinson makes his fourth visit to the Grand Ole Opry tonight. He’ll perform three songs including his hit single "One Wing In The Fire."

Sarah Buxton made her Grand Ole Opry debut over the weekend and says in her blog, quote, "What a cool weekend. My folks came in for my first performance on the Grand Ole Opry.” She adds, quote, “I performed right before Mel McDaniel in both performances...and he was awesome! The band was killer and they played magically.”

SHeDAISY is featured on the homepage of WomenOfCountry.com. The girls talk about their favorite songs never released as singles, the pranks they've played on youngest sister Karli, and their plans for 2007, which includes recording a new album.

Jimmy Wayne has been in New York City for the first time on a promotional tour. While it was a business trip, Jimmy managed to squeeze in a trip to Rockefeller Center and the World Trade Center site. He says, quote, “As a songwriter, it was really inspiring to go there.”

John Conlee will be on hand in Washington, D.C. Thursday for the 83rd lighting of the national Christmas Tree. Conlee will perform prior to President Bush pulling the switch that turns on the lights of the tree.