Big Country Notes for Jan 17

KEITH URBAN TO PLAY CHICAGO FEBRUARY 8TH

Keith Urban will perform a make-up show at the Chicago Theatre on February 8th. This is a reschedule of a November 11th concert that had to be postponed because he was in rehab. Tickets for the show go on sale Friday. The show will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Urban, who “People” magazine reports is out after nearly three months in rehab, is busy planning his world tour. The “Love, Pain & the whole crazy World” tour will kick off in the United Kingdom and Germany in April. The tour will then move to arenas in Australia in May before coming to the U.S. and Canada in June. Specifics for the tour have yet to be announced. More recently, Urban and his wife, Nicole Kidman, attended Creative Artist Agency’s private after-party for the Golden Globe awards Monday night. Tomorrow he will make an appearance on German television.

POLLSTAR REPORTS “SOUL2SOUL II” AS NUMBER 12 TOUR OF ALL TIME IN NORTH AMERICA

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's “Soul2Soul II” can add a new notch in it's belt of major awards and accolades – “Pollstar” ranks it as the number 12 Top Grossing Tour of All Time in North America. The only acts to beat the husband and wife team are the Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney and Barbara Streisand. McGraw says, quote, "This is unbelievable. It's not why we tour, but it's a compliment to each and everyone who helped make this show work night after night." The tour now ranks in front of such acts as Prince, 'Nsync, Madonna, Tina Turner and the Eagles.

GRETCHEN WILSON’S SINGLE REMINDS COUPLES OF PASSION OTHER THAN ANGER

Gretchen Wilson offers couples some sound advice in her current single “Come to Bed.” Wilson gets downright romantic when she says, quote, “…you can be in total disagreement with someone, but at some point there’s just nothing more that you can say and it’s time to agree to disagree…call it a night…and try to remember that there’s passion of another sort in your relationship. “ Fans who want to hear the song in person can do so February 3rd at the San Antonio, TX rodeo or February 23rd – 24th at Harrah’s Cherokee (NC) Pavillion. Other Gretchen dates include the Strawberry Festival in Plant City, FL on March 2nd and the Houston Rodeo on March 6th.

TAYLOR SWIFT TAPES NEW VIDEO WITH ACTOR TYLER HILTON

Taylor Swift was definitely not shedding any tears when she filmed her new video, "Teardrops on My Guitar." Co-starring in the video is Tyler Hilton of the CW’s “One Tree Hill.” Hilton also portrayed a young Elvis Presley in the film “Walk the Line.” Tyler is a fan of Taylor’s music. Their path’s crossed at one of her shows in California. Taylor says, quote, “I met him in the meet and greet line at my show and we became friends. He came onstage with me at the show and I asked him in front of the crowd if he wanted to be in my video … and he answered ‘yeah.’” The video was shot at a local Nashville high school and is a true story about an old flame from Taylor’s past.

JAKE OWEN MAKES IT EASY FOR FANS TO GET TO KNOW HIM

Sometimes it’s hard for fans to get to know who a new artist is and what they are all about. Jake Owen makes it easier for his fans to get to know him. He says the songs on his debut album “Startin’ With Me” are semi-autobiographical. Jake says, quote, “There is a lot about the life I’ve lived in the songs I sing, including the new single ‘Startin’ With Me’.” He adds, quote, “It’s cool because I got to take all those feelings and emotions and write them into a song.” Owen recalls when he first started writing songs. He says, quote, “I was playing in a bar … performing covers of other artist’s material. I felt like I couldn’t find my own voice singing covers and the only way I could feel some honesty in what I was doing was to write my own songs.”

NAOMI JUDD RECALLS THE FIRST TIME THE JUDDS WERE AT THE GRAMMY AWARDS

Nervewracking is how Naomi Judd describes the first time The Judds attended the GRAMMY awards. She says, quote, “The GRAMMYS is really way too stressful. Now that I think about it, we should have taken a psychologist or a therapist with us because it’s painful.” Naomi describes the feeling like a tsunami wave and says only after she and Wynonna returned to their hotel rooms did they get to really appreciate who they saw, met and talked to. One of those moments was when The Judds went up to accept their award and Naomi looked down into the front row. She says, quote, “There was Dolly [Parton}, Tammy [Wynette] and Loretta [Lynn] smiling at us .. the three queens of country music. I told Wynonna ‘Don’t ever forget this’.” The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

GEORGE JONES, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON ON SOUNDTRACK FOR “LUCKY YOU”

The poker-themed movie “Lucky You” is bringing riches to a few singer and songwriters. George Jones and Kris Kristofferson will have songs on the film’s soundtrack. Jones has two previously recorded songs on the disc -- “I Always Get Lucky with You” and “Choices.” Kristofferson has penned a new song, “They Ain’t Got “Em All.” Bruce Springsteen’s “Lucky Town” will be heard during the title sequence and the movie’s trailer. Bob Dylan’s “Huck’s Theme” and Bonnie Raitt contributes “Bartender’s Blues.” Others on the soundtrack include Drew Barrymore, Liza Minelli, Ryan Adams, Shawn Colvin and Johnny Rivers. The soundtrack album is due to be released to stores on March 6th. The film will be in theatres March 16th. The movie stars Barrymore, Eric Bana, Debra Messing, Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr.

QUICK BITES

Gretchen Wilson, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood are among the entertainment scheduled for this summer's Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming. Others who will perform during the July 21st – 29th rodeo include Big and Rich, Cowboy Troy and Tex-Mex rockers Los Lonely Boys.

Carrie Underwood will celebrate two number one singles today. Two separate parties are being held in Nashville for Carrie and the writers of the songs – “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” written by Ashley Gorley, Kelley Lovelace and Morgane Hayes, and “Before He Cheats,” written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.

Clay Walker is getting married. His fiancé’s name is Jessica Craig. He says a date for the wedding has not been set, but it could be as early as this fall. In the meantime, Clay is working on his new album, which he says will have a more stripped-down sound, but it will be very country.

Loretta Lynn is working on a Christmas album and a gospel album. Lynn brings her tour dates close to home with a concert Saturday in Owensboro, KY.

In the six degrees of connection category, “Cars”was named Best Animated Film at the Golden Globes Monday night. Country music stars Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts and Hank Williams Sr. all had music in the film.

Johnny Cash is a part of several songs on his sister Joanne’s upcoming album “Gospel.” Cash penned “Meet Me in Heaven,” “When He Comes” and “Welcome Back Jesus.” Johnny does the spoken word introduction on “When He Comes,” relaying how he wrote the song while he was in Jerusalem. He also sings on several of the songs. This took place before his death.