Big Country Notes for Jan 23

KEITH URBAN THANKS FANS FOR SUPPORT DURING HIS STAY AT BETTY FORD

Keith Urban says he never felt alone during his stay at the Betty Ford Center, where he underwent treatment for alcoholism. The singer says, quote, “I got cards, I got letters, I got emails. When I finally got to my laptop, and I could retrieve them all, there were hundreds of emails. I just didn't expect that kind of support, I truly didn't, and it helped so much.” Urban says that no one event led him to check himself into the center on October 15th, 2006, just, quote, “a lot of small moments that were starting to accumulate that were telling me very loud and clear that I was a long way from my program of recovery.” Learning to manage his life was one of the reasons Keith stayed at the center for 90 days. He says, quote, “The first 30 days I learned about abstinence … then there was all this other area of my life to learn about… it's hard to quantify what I learned but suffice to say, it's been one of the most impactful times of my whole life.” Urban says he’s ready to be back on the road and doing what he loves most, which is playing music. He plans to play some club gigs in Europe before starting his "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy World" tour with arena engagements in Australia. After that he will return to the U.S. for arena shows.
Keith is up for a GRAMMY for Best Country Male Performance for “Once in a Lifetime.” Although there have been reports that Urban will attend the GRAMMY awards show on February 11th, his publicist, Paul Freundlich, says, quote, “We don’t anticipate Keith attending the GRAMMY Awards this year.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAYS SHE IS EXCITED TO BE GOING TO THE GRAMMYS

Carrie Underwood is going to the GRAMMY awards next month. Not only is she going for the first time, it’s her first time as a nominee. Underwood is up for the all genre category of Best New Artist and for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Jesus, Take the Wheel.” She says she is honored to represent country music as a Best New Artist alongside James Blunt, Chris Brown, Imogen Heap and Corinne Bailey Rae. She adds, quote, “Getting a nomination for Best Female is really awesome. Of course, the competition is stiff as always.” She is nominated with Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes and Gretchen Wilson. “Jesus, Take the Wheel” is also nominated for Best Country Song and Song of the Year. The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

SUGARLAND GEARING UP FOR TOUR NEXT WEEK

Sugarland has a big year ahead for touring. They’ll headline their own tour in support of their Platinum album “Enjoy the Ride” the first part of the year, then they’ll join Kenny Chesney’s “Flip Flop Summer” tour along with Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans and Pat Green. First on the agenda, the group’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will headline shows through March, performing at various shows with fellow artists Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins and The Wreckers.

RASCAL FLATTS BACK IN STUDIO TO RECORD NEW ALBUM

Rascal Flatts is back in the studio to create more of the same for their fans. Group member Jay DeMarcus told “The Tennessean,” quote, “We aren't trying to re-invent the wheel with our sound, because it's been good to us so far." He adds, quote, "We always try to better ourselves from the last record. We always try to challenge ourselves to find better songs than the last time and to find hit songs and keep cutting hit music.” Despite the fact that critics have not always been kind when reviewing their music, DeMarcus explains that the group loves country music and they aren’t crazy about the fact that there is negativity about their music despite its success. DeMarcus says, quote, “Sometimes I don't really give a whole lot of weight to what the critics say about us. We believe there's room for all of us, whether we are traditional or country-pop or whatever label they want to put on us.” The band is working on the follow-up to their top selling album, “Me and My Gang,” which turned out to be the best-selling album in all genres last year.

MIRANDA LAMBERT SAYS SHE STANDS OUT FROM OTHER FEMALE SINGERS

Miranda Lambert admits she was worried when her first album came out how she would stand out from other female artists. Lambert says, quote, “When I released ‘Me and Charlie Talking’ I think there were 12 other new chick singers. I thought ‘How in heck am I going to get on radio?’” Miranda says that by recording music that she believes in and by being herself, she had managed to find her own niche. One thing Lambert says she won’t do to be noticed is enter into a marketing campaign that focuses on her body and not her music. She says, quote, “If I can’t be recognized for my music then maybe I should think about [doing] something else. I just feel like I make good enough music to carry me through.” She adds, quote, “I don’t want to market myself by wearing little or no clothes because when you do that you can’t eat!”

A DOZEN CHRIS LEDOUX ALBUMS BEING REMASTERD BY RECORD LABEL

He was a rodeo star before country music discovered him. But first and foremost, the late Chris LeDoux always stayed true to himself. LeDoux, who gained recognition in country music when Garth Brooks sang about him in his hit single “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” was the 1976 World Championship Bareback Bronc rider. By that time he had already recorded nearly 20 albums of material about his rodeo life. Capitol Records has digitally remastered a dozen LeDoux discs, recorded between 1974 and 1993, pairing them together into six releases due in stores on March 20th. Each will retain its original artwork. LeDoux, who passed away in March 2005 from a rare form of cancer, has sold more than six million units and has one Platinum and two Gold album certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America.

QUICK BITES

Kenny Chesney was up all night after the Indianapolis Colts won their bid for the Super Bowl. Seems the singer was partying with his friends, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his brother, Eli, as well as singer Con Hunley and tight end Dallas Clark. Kenny told WKRN-TV’s Brad Schmidt, quote, “We sang all night … then had to call a car at 4:30 a.m. to take us to the airport. Now that’s rock ‘n roll.”

Never follow small children or cute animals. Keith Urban should have taken that advice to heart. His co-star this past weekend on the German television show, “Wetten, dass…?” was Sweet Pea, a dog who could balance glasses of water on his head. Urban valiantly performed despite the competition.

Toby Keith will close out the 40th Anniversary of Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 8th. Also appearing will be Flynnville Train and Miranda Lambert. The festival begins on June 28th.
According to tmz.com, country music will be represented on the next season of “Dancing with the Stars” -- Billy Ray Cyrus will be one of the contestants. Others heading for the dance floor are former "90210" actress Ian Ziering, Muhammad Ali's daughter Laila Ali and former 'NSYNC member Joey Fatone. A representative for "Dancing" would not confirm the names to tmz.
Dustin Wilkes, Rickiejoleen and Tim LaRoche have been eliminated from the USA Network’s “Nashville Star.”

Aaron Tippin has some competition in his new video for “He Believed.” Aaron’s son, Teddy, plays a younger version of his father in the project. Tippin wrote the song after his father died in an auto accident in 2005. He says, quote, “He [father] taught me to stand for what I believe in.”

Alison Krauss joins British pop/rocker John Waite on his 1984 hit “Missing You” in a version that has been shipped to country radio.

More on the Gene Autry tribute album … in addition to the previously mentioned Alabama’s Randy Owen, the disc will include vocals by Marty Stuart, Charlie Daniels, Riders in the Sky, Vince Gill and John Anderson.

The Tracy Byrd Hunting & Fishing Expo takes place Friday through Sunday in Knoxville, TN.