Big Country Notes for Jan 15

ALAN JACKSON’S SINGLE “A WOMAN’S LOVE’ PERSONAL FOR HIM

Alan Jackson drew from personal experiences when he wrote his new single, “A Woman’s Love.” The song is actually several years old and was an album cut on the singer’s “High Mileage” disc. The second release from his “Like Red On a Rose” project is the only song on it that Alan wrote himself. Jackson says no one moment inspired the song. He says, quote, “I just recalled many different moments to write the song—different phases of things that I’ve been through…things I’d missed or that I’d done right or whatever.” Jackson is taking some time off while “A Woman’s Love” climbs the charts, but fans can catch him at the San Antonio Livestock and Rodeo Show on February 10th. He will also be on the Grand Ole Opry March 10th.

PAT GREEN SAYS “DIXIE LULLABY” A SONG PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO

Pat Green says “Dixie Lullaby” is about the reality of life. He believes everyone can identify with it’s message. The song, co-written with Patrick Davis and Justin Pollard, is about the death of one's father. Green says Davis came to him with the idea. Pat recalls, “I told him 'Oh man, if you play that for anybody else, I'm going to kill you’." The singer says he had some experiences to draw from because he watched his own father go through losing his father and saw how painful and difficult it was for him. Green says, quote, "It is definitely the most powerful song on the record [“Canonball Run”].”

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL SETS RECORD EARLY IN CAREER

Jason Michael Carroll is a new artist with a new record in more ways than one. Not only does Jason have a new single, “Alyssa Lies,” but that single set the record for the highest number of first week downloads – 14-thousand – for a debut artist since the chart for downloads was initiated. Carroll will release his new album February 6th and he’s pretty happy about the way the New Year is going. In fact, Jason says he didn’t even make any complicated New Year’s resolutions for 2007. He says, quote, “I usually just break ‘em, so this year I just decided to make a real simple one … I vow to breathe.”

QUICK BITES

Emmylou Harris makes an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry February 2nd and 3rd backed by John Starling & Carolina Star.

Darryl Worley stopped by the record release party for friend and singer/songwriter Jerry Salley Thursday night. Salley was celebrating the release of his “New Songs, Old Friends” CD that features Worley singing on “That’s What You Call a Friend.” Darryl says, quote, “I’ve known Jerry for many years. He’s a great songwriter and he’s been a wonderful friend tome.” Also featured on the new disc are the Oak Ridge Boys and Ricky Skaggs and wife Sharon White.

Grand Ole Opry singer Stonewall Jackson has filed a ten-million-dollar lawsuit against the long-running radio show. Seventy-four-year-old Jackson claims age discrimination, breach of contract and retaliation. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Nashville. Jackson says his appearances on the show have declined since 1998. An Opry spokesman denied any instances of age discrimination, explaining that the show has always endeavored to represent all ages of country music and its fans.


"STOMP THE YARD" AMERICA'S NEW #1 FILM

"Stomp the Yard" has jumped to the top of the box office charts. Studio estimates show the film earned 22-million-dollars in its debut weekend. It knocked "Night at the Museum" out of the top spot, which it had held for three weeks. The Ben Stiller film had to settle for second place with just more than 17-million-dollars this weekend. "The Pursuit of Happyness" earned a little more than nine-million-dollars to place third. "Dreamgirls" rose from fifth place to fourth with a take of just over eight-million-dollars. "Freedom Writers" rounds out the top five with seven-million-dollars this weekend.
In addition to "Stomp the Yard," three other films debuted in the top ten this weekend. "Alpha Dog," "Primeval" and "Arthur and the Invisibles" entered at seventh, eighth and ninth place, respectively.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC (final figures will be released Tuesday):
1. "Stomp the Yard," $22 million.
2. "Night at the Museum," $17.1 million.
3. "The Pursuit of Happyness," $9.1 million.
4. "Dreamgirls," $8.1 million.
5. "Freedom Writers," $7.1 million.
6. "Children of Men," $6.4 million.
7. "Alpha Dog," $6.1 million.
8. "Primeval," $6 million.
9. "Arthur and the Invisibles," $4.3 million.
10. "The Good Shepherd," $3.9 million