Big Country Notes for Jan 10

DIERKS BENTLEY WILL RELEASE LIVE DVD IN MARCH

Fans can go behind-the-scenes with Dierks Bentley when he releases his first live concert DVD March 20th. According to Bentley, “Live and Loud at the Fillmore” is a dream come true. Dierks says, quote, “When you go on the road you have to learn this whole new animal called the stage. We’ve worked hard these last three years … and I really wanted to capture what we are doing in our live show [on the DVD].” Bentley filmed his concert at Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium before a standing-room only crowd for the project. He and his band perform some of his biggest hits plus new tracks from his most recent album “Long Trip Alone.” Fans also get to see behind-the-scenes footage of life on the road from Bentley’s perspective. The DVD has a contemporary feel and director Russell Thomas says, quote, “I tried to imagine what a good rock and roll band should look like and then tried to transfer some of that imagery onto country music and Dierks...gritty, grainy, gutsy." Dierks’ love for touring continues – he is currently performing a series of dates in Canada with Eric Church and Canadian artist Doc Walker. The trek ends in Ottawa on January 24th.

KENNY CHESNEY HINTS AT TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT IN NEAR FUTURE

It’s beginning to feel a lot like time to announce plans for the 2007 tour in Kenny Chesney’s camp. The singer says, quote, “It’s getting to be that time of year when we get ready to make some announcements.” He adds, quote, “I just hope people are ready ‘cause we’ve definitely got some stuff in store.” More than a million fans came out to see Chesney on his “The Road and the Radio” tour last year, and they all know they can trust Kenny to have a high energy show and as low a ticket price as possible. Chesney says, quote, “We have a pretty cool stage, a lot of lights… but in the end, it still comes to down the songs, my band, and the way we play.” Out of respect to his fans, Kenny tries to keep ticket prices low. He says, quote, “I know what it's like to want to bring a date to a show and not know if I can afford to do it… and I don't want someone to not be able to come because it was too much money.”

MONTGOMERY GENTRY TAKING HIT SINGLE TO HEART

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry don’t just sing the words to “Some People Change” – they are trying to make some changes of their own. With the arrival of a new year, the duo says they’d like to spend more time with their families and they would like to lose a little bit of weight. The duo always comes back to the music, however, so they also are making a commitment to their fans for more great music on the road in 2007. Fans can hold them to that promise when they kick off their 2007 tour in Salt Lake City next Friday where they perform with comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
Prior to their tour, Montgomery Gentry will visit MSNBC’s “Imus in the Morning” on Tuesday and CBS’s “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” next Friday.

BLAKE SHELTON SAYS GIRLFRIEND MIRANDA LAMBERT DOESN’T LIKE HIS MUSIC

It’s pretty rough when your girlfriend doesn’t like your music. It’s even harder when both of you are up-and-coming country artists, like Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Blake told WKRN-TV’s “Bradon2”, quote, "She and I rarely agree on music. I mean, she hates the music I listen to…and she’s not a fan of my music either.” Shelton adds, quote, "She'll tell you, or me, to my face, that there's very few of my songs I've recorded that she likes." Miranda’s least favorite Blake song is “Some Beach.” At least the feeling is mutual. The singer says, quote, “The music she listens to stinks. But don’t ask me who it is…”

GRAMMY AUCTION OFFERS VIP PACKAGES TO AWARDS SHOW

Rubbing shoulders with the stars just got easier. The GRAMMY Foundation is holding an online auction for three exclusive VIP 49th annual GRAMMY awards ticket packages. Each package includes Two Platinum-level tickets to attend the GRAMMY awards telecast, including some of the best seats in the house, plus two after-party passes. The Recording Academy's GRAMMY Celebration party has the reputation of having the city's finest cuisine and entertainment as well as offering the opportunity to mingle with some of the music and entertainment industry's best-known VIPs. The auction runs through next Thursday and can be accessed through www.ebay.com/grammy. All proceeds will benefit the GRAMMY Foundation. The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

QUICK BITES

Jack Ingram’s video for “Lips Of An Angel” premiers in Hot Shot rotation tomorrow on CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown.” On Friday CMT’s Pure Country channel will debut the video. Jack says, quote, “We filmed this video at a mansion around Nashville. I think the video storyline puts a new twist on the song and certainly makes you think about what is happening in the song. I can’t wait for the fans to get to see it.”

Texas honky-tonker Sunny Sweeney will release her debut disc, Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame, on Big Machine March 6th.

Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown and Charlie Daniels are two of the artists who participated in “Roar into Action,” a children’s video and CD soundtrack/sing-a-long. Miller performs “Covered In Love” Daniels sings “Little Folks." A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity and college scholarship funds.

Ty Herndon released a new album yesterday, his first in five years. “Right About Now follows a “Greatest Hits” package in 2002 which included Herndon's number one hits "What Mattered Most," "Living in a Moment" and "It Must Be Love."

The museum at Elvis Presley's birthplace in Tupelo, MS., reopened to the public Monday. The museum just underwent a 250-thousand dollar renovation. The collection features memorabilia given by Elvis to his personal friend, Janelle McComb.