Big Country Notes for Jan 25

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC WILL ANNOUNCE AWARDS NOMINEES IN NASHVILLE MARCH 5TH

Kenny Chesney, Pat Green and Sugarland will announce the nominees for the Academy of Country Music Awards on March 5th during CBS’ “The Early Show.” The trio will join show anchor Hannah Storm from the Ford Theatre at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. The 42nd annual ACM awards show will be broadcast over CBS on May 15th from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.

KEITH URBAN TELLS GERMAN TELEVISION AUDIENCE DANKE SCHON

Keith Urban says he’s feeling much better, danke schon (thank you). He relayed that message to his German fans in his first public appearance since leaving the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol addiction. Urban discussed his time at the clinic on the German television show “Wetten, dass..? (Wanna bet?). “People” magazine reports that Urban told the audience, quote, “I'm very good, I'm feeling much better. And thank you to everybody out there.” He adds, quote, “I got a lot of support from everybody in the last three months, lots of e-mails and cards and letters. It meant a lot to me, so danke schön.” Urban performed “Once in a Lifetime” on the show, explaining that he wrote it about his relationship with his wife, Nicole Kidman. He says, quote, " 'Once in a Lifetime' is inspired by my marriage – it's a good, life-changing happening in my life. I think when you find your once-in-a-lifetime love, that's what everybody's looking for."
Look for a story on Keith in the new issue of “People” magazine on newsstands tomorrow.

GARTH BROOKS’ FOUNDATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PLAYGROUND IN FORT WORTH

Garth Brooks is the proud owner of a new hockey jersey. He received the shirt Monday when he announced that his Teammates for Kids Foundation will contribute to a hockey-themed “zone” playroom at the Cook Children's Medical Center of Fort Worth, Texas. The area will be a state-of-the-art therapeutic environment for pediatric patients and their families. While making the announcement at the medical center, Brooks praised the hospital’s staff, saying, quote, "Save children. It's a pretty cool job." The area will also be sponsored by the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). The event was part of this week's National Hockey League All-Star Week festivities.
Monday evening Garth hosted a benefit for Teammates for Kids and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, performed. The night included a cocktail reception, a silent auction, dinner and a live auction. Among items that were auctioned -- an NHL-themed OC Chopper, a Dodge Nitro and a trip for two to the 2008 All-Star Game in Atlanta.

JOSH TURNER SAYS ALBUM NOMINATION THE ONE HE WANTED

Josh Turner is thrilled with his Best Country Album nomination for the upcoming GRAMMY awards. Turner says he appreciates that award because he understands how much work goes into the making of an album. He says, quote, “I don’t go in and say let’s make sure we have two or three singles to put on the record. I go in and try to make sure every song is strong and every song is worth putting on there. That’s what we did and now here we are with a GRAMMY nomination.” Turner is up against the Dixie Chicks, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Willie Nelson for Best Country Album. He’s also nominated for Best Country Male Vocal for his single “Would You Go With Me.” Other nominees in that category are Dierks Bentley, Vince Gill, George Strait and Keith Urban. The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air February 11th on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

SARA EVANS SAYS HER TIME ON “DANCING WITH THE STARS” GAVE HER CONFIDENCE

Sara Evans has more confidence these days. The singer says the experience she gained while participating in last season’s “Dancing with the Stars” is always with her. Evans says she can feel the difference in her confidence and the way she carries herself on stage. She thinks fans will be able to see the changes when they come to see her show this year. The singer has a string of dates before her in 2007. She is already booked through August, including six stadium shows with Kenny Chesney beginning in June. Evans recently paired with her former “Dancing” partner, Tony Dovolani, when the “Dancing with the Stars” tour came through Nashville last weekend.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY DUO SAY THEY CAN STILL HANG OUT LIKE REGULAR GUYS

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are just regular Joes – really. The two men who comprise the duo Montgomery Gentry say they think one of the reason they have such a connection with their fans is they haven’t allowed success to change them. Troy says, quote, “Eddie and I still do the same things that we did before, back when we played the clubs … we still go out to eat and hang out.” He adds, quote, “There’s no mystique. We’re not hard to find!” The two Kentuckians will play the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night.

TOBY KEITH BEGINS TOUR TONIGHT AS “BROKEN BRIDGES” SALES SURGE

Toby Keith heads for Albany, NY tonight to debut his 2007 “Hookin’ Up and Hangin’ Out” tour with special guests Lindsey Haun, Flynnville Train and Miranda Lambert. As he travels into the cold north, Keith has been told that sales for the “Broken Bridges” DVD have done well and have sparked a spike in sales of the movie’s soundtrack album. The soundtrack, which is on Toby’s Show Dog Nashville record label, had a 123-percent increase in sales since the DVD became available. Keith co-starred in the film with Kelly Preston, Haun, Willie Nelson and Burt Reynolds. As he prepares for his tour, Keith also gets ready to release his new single, “High Maintenance Woman,” on February 12th.

TRACY BYRD RECEIVES DR. RICHARD SHORKEY AWARD TONIGHT

Tracy Byrd loves kids. Tonight he will be recognized for his work with special needs children at an event in his hometown of Beaumont, TX. Byrd will be presented with the Dr. Richard Shorkey award for his dedication and service to children with disabilities. Byrd, who is a Children’s Miracle Network ambassador, has always taken time to help kids with special needs. Not only does he give of his time, he takes time to get to know some of the children and develop relationships with them, which enriches their lives. Tracy and his wife Michelle have three children, Evee, Logan, and Jared.

HANK WILLIAMS JR. RE-RELEASES “A COUNTRY BOY CAN SURVIVE” ON SONGS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Hank Williams Jr. is still a country boy and he’s still survivin’! Williams celebrates the 25th anniversary of his classic “A Country Boy Can Survive” by releasing a re-mixed version of the song. His new version climbed into the top 50 on the country charts this week, 25 years to the week that the original song went number one. Williams says, quote, “Well you know that song represents a lot of Americans. It did 25 years ago and it’s more profound than ever today with the state of the world.” He adds, “I performed this song when [coalminer] Randal McCloy got to return home last year, and he is a true example of a miracle and a true country boy that survived.” Williams plans to release a new music video for “A Country Boy Can Survive,” which is on his current album “That’s How They Do It In Dixie; The Essential Collection,” which is in stores nationwide.”

THREE 1970’S DOLLY PARTON ALBUMS SET FOR REISSUE

Three Dolly Parton albums will be reissued April 3rd. RCA/Legacy will release 1971's "Coat of Many Colors," 1973's "My Tennessee Mountain Home" and 1974's "Jolene." Each disc will include previously unreleased studio tracks as bonuses. Among the new songs are an acoustic version of “My Blue Tears,” “Just As Good as Gone,” “Cracker Jack, Barbara on Your Mind” and “Last Night’s Lovin’.” Parton will play four U.S. dates before leaving for a European tour that begins March 6th in Horsens, Denmark. She is performing February 13 in Santa Rosa, CA; February 14th in Santa Ynex, CA; February 15th in Indio, CA; and February 16th in Primm, NV. A&E will run Dolly’s “Biography” Saturday.

QUICK BITES

Tim McGraw will return to perform at the Brett Favre Celebrity Golf Tournament & Auction May 4th -6th in Tunica, SM. The event benefits the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation.

Rascal Flatt’s Joe Don Rooney and his wife, Tiffany Fallon, will be featured in the ABC “InStyle” special on celebrity weddings February 5th.

Little Big Town performs on USA;s "Nashville Star" tonight.

Trent Tomlinson forgot to sing his hit “One Wing in the Fire” at a show last week in Kansas City, MO. Not wanting to disappoint fans, Trent pulled out his guitar and performed an acoustic version of the song at his merchandise booth after the show. To top it off, he gave everyone in the crowd a free T-shirt.

Steve Azar fans are getting a preview of his new album when they see him on the Bob Seger tour. Azar is making advance copies of the disc, “Indianola,” available at the concerts. Before beginning his tour with Seger this month, Azar taped shows for “Wheel of Fortune’s” Country Music Week in February. He is playing for the St. Cecilia Foundation, a nonprofit corporation that he and his wife formed to help various charitable organizations provide aid to sick, disadvantaged and abused children.

Phil Vassar sold out three shows in the past week -- Annapolis, MD; Harrisburg, PA; and Atlantic City, NJ. Vassar is currently working on a new studio album, due for release this year.

Beverley Mitchell of the CW’s “7th Heaven” recorded her new album, released Tuesday, in Nashville. The actress, who co-wrote seven of the disc’s 14 songs, says, quote, “I’ve always appreciated country music because of the songs—they’re real and honest. When I realized my dream of being able to write and record my own album, I knew Nashville was the place that best suited me as a writer and a singer.”