Big Country Notes for Jan 24

GRETCHEN WILSON CELEBRATES GRAMMY NOMINATION AT NASHVILLE PARTY

A number of GRAMMY nominated artists gathered at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville Monday night to celebrate their GRAMMY nominations. Among them was Gretchen Wilson, who is nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “I Don’t Feel Like Loving You Today.” The song is up for Best Country Song for its writers, Matraca Berg and Jim Collins. Wilson says, quote, “Being here tonight I’m excited about representing the song itself. It’s the first GRAMMY nomination I’ve had for a song I didn’t write.” She adds, quote, “I write most of my songs so a song has to be really good for me to cut it.” Other artists who turned out for the party were Carrie Underwood, Big Kenny of Big & Rich, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Matraca Berg and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna, who co-wrote last year’s Best Country Song – Rascal Flatts’ “Bless The Broken Road.” The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

MIRANDA LAMBERT READY TO GO ON TOBY KEITH TOUR TOMORROW

Miranda Lambert is ready to hit the road this year. She’s got a new bus and a new gig. The singer is the opening act on Toby Keith’s “Hookin’ Up and Hangin’ Out” tour along with Lindsey Haun. The tour kicks off tomorrow in Albany, NY and travels to Vernona, NY, on Friday and Portland, ME, on Saturday. Miranda is also excited about the fact that she has a new bus in which she will travel. Lambert says with 12 people on the road and her being the only girl, she had to have her own space. The singer says, quote, “I couldn’t wait to get something that was mine and built for me. It makes it easy to be on road.” The bus was designed by Junk Gypsy, who does all Lambert’s merchandise. Miranda says, quote, “It’s absolutely amazing. You walk in and you don’t feel like you’re on a bus, you feel like you’re in a house. It’s so cool.” Personal details include Merle Haggard lyrics on the ceiling. Miranda describes it as, quote, “… like a cowgirl rock ‘n roll bus, I can’t wait to get on the road and spend time in it.”

LONESTAR LENDS HELP TO ADOPTAPLATOON SOLDIER SUPPORT EFFORT

Lonestar wants people to write to our soldiers. The group is helping raise awareness for The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort (AAP). The effort, founded in 1998, is a nonprofit organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers to ensure that members of the military are not forgotten. It provides needed mail support and promotes patriotism in schools and communities. The group’s Michael Britt will show his support for AAP during his appearance on Wheel of Fortune February 12th – 16th, which has been designated Country Stars Week. Britt’s earnings on the show will be donated to AdoptaPlatoon. Members of Lonestar urge their fans to become involved with the various projects supported by AAP.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD TAKES FOUR CMT.COM LOADED AWARDS

Carrie Underwood racked up four awards including Number One Digitally Active Female Artist for CMT’s cmt.com Loaded Awards. Rascal Flatts were also multiple winners, taking the Number One Digitally Active Group. They also took Number One Streamed Music Video for “What Hurts the Most.” Keith Urban took the top male honor for Number One Digitally Active Male Artist. The awards were created specifically for CMT’s broadband channel CMT Loaded and winners are determined solely by the fans’ clicks. Each winner receives the CMT.com Loaded Mouse Award, a hand-painted gold computer mouse mounted inside a genuine mason jar.

TAYLOR SWIFT SAYS NEW SINGLE IS REAL LIFE STORY

Taylor Swift’s new single “Teardrops on my Guitar” is a story she knows all too well. Swift says the song echoes her feelings when she was in high school and had a horrible crush on a guy named Drew. Taylor says, quote, “Drew would sit there every day talking to me about another girl - how beautiful she was, how nice and smart and perfect she was." The singer adds, quote, “I guess this is a good example of how I let my feelings out in songs, and sometimes no other way. I love this song, because of its honesty and vulnerability.” The singer says that to this day, Drew and his girlfriend are still together and he has no idea about this song or her true feelings for him. Taylor is currently on tour with George Strait and will join Brad Paisley’s tour in the spring.

QUICK BITES

Jo Dee Messina headlined the festivities following Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen's second inauguration Sunday night in Nashville. The singer performed at the governor's Pioneer Ball at the Wildhorse Saloon.

Country Music Hall of Famer Earl Scruggs was honored Sunday in Nashville with a surprise party celebrating his 83rd birthday. Among the family and friends who gathered at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum were sons Gary and Randy Scruggs, plus friends John Anderson, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members Jeff Hanna and Jimmy Ibbotson, Travis Tritt, Emmylou Harris and Tom T. Hall. Scruggs was born January 6th, 1924, in Flint Hill, N.C.

Bruce Hornsby and Ricky Skaggs performed songs from their upcoming CD when they taped CMT “Crossroads” last week. They were joined by John Anderson for a rendition of “Super Freak.” The show is set to air February 24th.

Willie Nelson and actress Jessica Simpson will perform February 10th in Dallas at a benefit for the AetheriA Foundation, which provides college scholarships for artistically gifted students. Nelson and Simpson co-starred in the 2005 film version of "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Jeffrey Steele will be on a panel in Los Angeles February 10th titled “How I Wrote That Song.” Steele has written songs for Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry and Gretchen Wilson. The panel, sponsored by Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) and the “Los Angeles Times,” is a part of the GRAMMY Week celebration. Others scheduled to participate are Cee-Lo (Gnarls Barkley), Dallas Austin, Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, Sean Garrett, Kara DioGuardi and Butch Walker. The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.