Big Country Notes for 12/11/06

RASCAL FLATTS “ME AND MY GANG” CERTIFIED TRIPLE PLATINUM

Rascal Flatts made music history for 2006 when their album “Me and My Gang” was certified triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group is the only artist with an album released this year that has reached Platinum certification of more than three million records. The album has been sold only through traditional and online retail outlets – it was not offered for sale through any record clubs, which makes it an even more unusual feat. “Me and My Gang” was released seven months ago and sold 721-thousand units the first week it was released. The disc also holds the distinction of being the only title released this year to hold the number one position on Nielsen SoundScan’s Top 200 all-genre chart for three consecutive weeks.

McGRAW AND KEITH HAVE SONGS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR ACADEMY AWARD

“My Little Girl” from Tim McGraw’s movie “Flicka” and “Broken Bridges” from Toby Keith’s movie of the same name are among 56 songs from eligible feature-length movies that are being considered in the Original Song category for the 79th Academy Awards. McGraw co-wrote his song with Tom Douglas. “My Little Girl is on the soundtrack album for the movie, which was released on Tim’s StyleSonic record label. The song is the first single released from the disc. Keith and co-star Lindsey Haun duet on “Broken Bridges,” which Toby wrote. It’s on the soundtrack album from Toby’s Show Dog Nashville record label.

TOBY KEITH KICKS OFF 2007 TOUR IN NEW YORK

Toby Keith finishes out 2006 with multiple showings of his movie “Broken Bridges” on CMT beginning with the premiere broadcast Friday, but he’s already looking ahead to the New Year. Keith's “Hookin' Up & Hangin' Out” tour kicks off 2007 with its first stop in Albany, NY on January 25th. He travels to Verona, NY, the next night. Dates follow in Manchester, NH, on February 1st, East Rutherford, NJ, on February 2nd and Providence, RI, on February 3rd. Toby heads south for shows in Chattanooga, TN, on February 8th and Gainesville, FL, on February 10th. Tickets for all shows are now on sale.
“Broken Bridges” stars Keith, Haun and Kelly Preston along with Willie Nelson and Burt Reynolds. It’s a story about Keith meeting his 16-year old daughter, played by Haun, for the first time and how the two of them and her mother, played by Preston, deal with the past and present.
Keith’s film “Broken Bridges” is offered as in-flight entertainment on several airlines including American, Delta, Royal Jordanian, Singapore, Thai and US Air.

JACKSON SAYS GRAMMY NOMINATION SWEET BECAUSE FAMILY ON ALBUM

Alan Jackson kept it all in the family on his gospel album “Precious Memories” and he’s glad he did. The album was recently nominated for a GRAMMY for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album. Jackson says, quote, ““It always feels good to be included in some of the best music in the business, especially with my wife and daughters’ voices on the gospel album.” His disc “Like Red on a Rose” was also nominated for GRAMMYs as Best Country Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The title song was nominated for Best Country Song for writers Robert Lee Castleman and Melanie Castleman. Alison Krauss, who produced Jackson’s “Like Red on a Rose,” says, quote, “I am thrilled for Alan and this project. He’s an incredible talent.” Keith Stegall, Jackson’s longtime producer who worked on “Precious Memories,” says, “I am so honored to have been a part of this…Like my mama always said, ‘God works in mysterious ways.’” The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air live from Los Angeles on February 11th on CBS Television.

LITTLE BIG TOWN KNOWS HIGHS AND LOWS OF RECORD BUSINESS

Members of Little Big Town know the highs and lows of the record business. The group just celebrated a Gold album with “The Road to Here” and received a Grammy nomination, but they have also been on the other side of the fence when it came to success. Their first album in 2002 did not produce hit songs for them and they were dropped by their label. Undaunted, they went back in the studio and produced a more rootsy project that became “The Road to Here.” Clint Black’s label took the group under its wing and “Boondocks” became Little Big Town’s first top ten hit. Group member Phillip Sweet says, quote, "This has been an exciting year. We're just amazed that we were able to put our hearts and souls out there and see people respond to that and we didn't have to compromise anything." <>

KEITH ANDERSON LOVES HEARING CROWD SING ALONG WITH HIM

Three men with guitars is a good description of Keith Anderson and his core group of musicians. Anderson, who just celebrated a Gold record for his album “Three Chord Country and American Rock ‘n Roll,” says he and his band played in clubs all over Nashville and couldn’t get anyone interested. Performing around town and honing his stage show paid off because once Keith had a recording deal he found himself on tour entertaining people who didn’t know his music. The singer says, quote, “I was lucky that I had written “Beer Run” for Garth [Brooks] and “The Bed” for Gretchen [Wilson] so I could throw them into the show and people would recognize them.” Anderson says the first time the audience started singing the lyrics to “Pickin’ Wildflowers” along with them, he and the band were so excited. Then he says, quote, “By the time ‘Pickin’ Wildflowers’ peaked in the top ten we could bring the music down in that last chorus to just drums and let the audience sing it without our help. That was so cool.” <>

KELLIE PICKLER RECEIVES SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT FROM JAY LENO

Kellie Pickler has gone undercover – she spent a few days in New York City last week on special assignment for “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.” Kellie and crew visited several locations in Manhattan including Chinatown, plus she took her first ride on a subway. The results of Kellie’s secret assignment will be shown Thursday. Friday finds Kellie presenting Ellen Degeneres with a special gift when she guests on her show “Ellen.” Pickler will sing “Red High Heels” and word has it that the special gift has something to do with the title to that song.

MARK WILLS SHARES CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH PRESIDENT BUSH

Christmas came early for Mark Willis and his wife, Kelly. The two shared Christmas dinner with President and Mrs. Bush Friday and received a personal tour of the White House. Wills embarks on a USO tour of the Persian Gulf region with Darryl Worley and Kenny Thomas on December 13th. Wills says, quote, “Going over there is something I never tire of, because I so appreciate what our men and women of the service are doing for this country. Our goal is to give them a relaxing evening of music and fellowship, and maybe a little taste of home.” The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders join them on the tour.

QUICK BITES

Carrie Underwood makes a special appearance on “Oprah” today when the topic will be “What’s On Your iPod?” Other guests include Tony Bennett, Michael Buble and Josh Groban.

The Wreckers perform “My, Oh My” on NBC’s “The Today Show” tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.

Brad Paisley makes an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” tomorrow. The singer will perform “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy” from his “Brad Paisley Christmas” album.

Tim McGraw’s voice made an appearance on CBS’ “Cold Case” last night. Seems Tim’s music inspired the story, set in Nashville, where the television show’s cast re-opens a case about a male singer’s death.

Reba McEntire made fan Dale Linzey very happy when she called and offered him tickets to her upcoming Atlanta show. Reba found out that Dale had lost his daughter in a fire and his wife was battling cancer. Dale’s wife, Kathy, says, quote, “This is the first time in a long time that he has really smiled."

A special live version of Sheryl Crow’s hit “If It Makes You Happy” featuring Jack Ingram premieres exclusively on iTunes December 19th. The track was recorded while the two were on tour together this summer in Huntsville, AL.

Jamie O’Neal spent 52 hours in airplanes recently when she traveled to Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany to perform for more than 30-thousand soldiers.


"APOCALYPTO" DEBUTS AT TOP OF BOX OFFICE

Mel Gibson's new film is shaking up the box office charts. Studio estimates show "Apocalypto" in first place for the weekend with 14-point-two-million-dollars. The new romantic comedy "The Holiday," starring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Jude Law and Jack Black, debuted in second place with 13-and-a-half-million-dollars. Last week's number-one film, "Happy Feet," slid down an icy slope into third place with 12-point-seven-million-dollars. "Casino Royale" kept its familiar place behind the dancing penguin movie, ranking fourth with eight-point-eight-million-dollars. Leonardo DiCaprio's "Blood Diamond" debuted in fifth place with eight-and-a-half-million-dollars.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. (final figures will be released today):

1. "Apocalypto," $14.2 million.
2. "The Holiday," $13.5 million.
3. "Happy Feet," $12.7 million.
4. "Casino Royale," $8.8 million.
5. "Blood Diamond," $8.5 million.
6. "Unaccompanied Minors," $6.2 million.
7. "Deja Vu," $6.1 million.
8. "The Nativity Story," $5.6 million.
9. "Deck the Halls," $3.9 million.
10. "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," $3.3 million.