Big Country Notes for Jan 18

GEORGE STRAIT REMAINS LOYAL TO FOLKS WHO REMAIN LOYAL TO HIM

Loyalty is an important character trait for George Strait. The newest member of the Country Music Hall of Fame told “USA Weekend” in its upcoming issue that he has kept basically the same band he had when he started out playing honky tonks in Texas. Strait says, quote, “They’re great players! We started out playing at the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, which was a honky tonk by the railroad tracks. We’d be playing a song and – whoosh – a train would go by.” Strait adds, quote, “We didn’t make much money. One night we left with seven dollars each in our pockets. But we always got the beer free.” George says he thinks playing those Texas honky tonks was good schooling for him. He says, quote, “Live music is important in Texas and it was good for me to go through that. I might not have been ready to play the big arenas without that experience. Hell, I still get nervous about performing.” Strait is the cover story for “USA Weekend” magazine this Sunday as part of the publication’s American Icon series.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY’S “SOME PEOPLE CHANGE” PART OF GROWTH PROCESS FOR DUO

Country music has always reflected the story of the every-day man. Montgomery Gentry’s single “Some People Change” hits really close to home in that respect. Eddie Montgomery, one-half of the duo, says, quote, “I definitely think on this album you know, we’re singing songs that reflect where Troy [Gentry] and I are today.” Fans write that the “Some People Change” is a direct correlation to their lives, even to the point of a family member or friend making a dramatic, life-changing decision. Eddie says, quote, “When you hear stories like that, man that moves you. There isn’t anyone who likes to have a better time then me but if you got a problem with whatever it is -- alcohol or racism or drugs -- whatever man, you need to take care of it.” Troy agrees, saying, quote, “In today’s society there are a lot more demons than ever out there for people to get involved in but at the same point there’s a lot more people out there that are willing to give a hand and help out people in need.” He adds, quote, “Hopefully with this song, somebody will be able to hear it and it will strengthen somebody and give them the courage and the inner peace to be able to overcome whatever is going on in their lives.”

DIERKS BENTLEY ONLY SINGER/SONGWRITER NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY “BEST COUNTRY SONG” CATEGORY

Dierks Bentley is the only singer who also wrote the song nominated for a GRAMMY in the “Best Country Song” category. Bentley co-wrote “Every Mile a Memory” with Brett Beavers and Steve Bogard. It’s the first song the three of them wrote together. That song and his current single, “Long Trip Alone,” were written on the same day. Dierks says, quote, “I had been gone for about three weeks and I got home at 8 a.m. and I had a writing appointment at 10 a.m.” He adds, quote, “We had already started writing on “Every Mile a Memory, but we actually wrote ‘Long Trip Alone’ before we finished it. That was just a really cool day.” The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards airs February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.
The premier of the video for “Long Trip Alone” is today on CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown” at 4 p.m. ET. It was shot in Mexico City the end of December.


JASON ALDEAN HEADS OUT ON RASCAL FLATTS 2007 TOUR

The boys from Rascal Flatts must have liked what they saw when Jason Aldean performed with them for a few select dates in 2006. Aldean has been asked to be the opening act for the spring shift of the “Me and My Gang 2007” tour, which kicks off February 8th in Charleston, WV and ends April 7th in Kelseyville, CA. Jason is starting the year with a bang – his video “Amarillo Sky” is his third number one on CMT. Aldean, who has sold over 850-thousand copies of his self-titled debut album, says, quote, "I feel really fortunate to have had some success this past year and a half. A huge thanks goes out to everyone at country radio, our friends at CMT, and all of the fans who called and requested ‘Amarillo Sky.’"

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL’S “ALYSSA LIES” GETTING GREAT RESPONSE

One of the best things that can happen with a new artist is for his first single to touch people. Jason Michael Carroll’s top ten hit and debut single, “Alyssa Lies” is doing just that. Carroll says, quote, “I can’t believe the reaction that people are having to the song. It’s really kind of taken on a life of its own.” He’s heard from people who have told him that the girl’s story in the song is their story and it has helped them come to grips with what happened to them. When people relay those kinds of stories it can be overwhelming for the singer, but Jason says he tries to keep things in perspective. He says, quote, “I’m very proud of the effort I put into it, especially hearing that kind of response.”

QUICK BITES

Dierks Bentley, Darryl Worley, The Wreckers, Heartland, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Billy Currington and Ronnie Milsap are among the performers for Star Spangled Celebration in Krouskop Park, Richland Center, WI June 21st-23rd.

George Strait, Reba McEntire and Gretchen Wilson headline Country Thunder – Texas over Memorial Day weekend, May 24th – 27th, in Waxahachie, TX.

Sammy Kershaw will offer insight on the movie "Coal Miner’s Daughter" when it airs on the Women's Entertainment Network's "3 Men and a Chick Flick," Saturday.

Big & Rich will headline Kenworth Truck Company's 19th annual Customer Appreciation Concert March 23rd in Louisville, KY. The occasion is the Mid-America Trucking Show. Cowboy Troy will open the show.

Miranda Lambert returns to "Nashville Star" tonight to perform. It is the singer’s first appearance on the show since she competed in its premiere season. In other Miranda news, her sophomore album “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” will be released May lst.

Want to find out all about country music? Attend the newly formed George Jones University, which will is dedicated to teaching students the basics of how the music industry works and how aspiring applicants can deal with the challenge of breaking into the business. George Jones University will hold its first three-day instruction session in late March. The school will convene each quarter of the year.