Big Country Notes for Jan 31

CW NETWORK MAY CANCEL “REBA” AFTER THIS SEASON’S RUN

The sitcom “Reba” starring Reba McEntire on the CW network may be over. Reports in several publications including “Variety” say the network is looking for a viewership made up of a more urban audience, although the new season of “Reba” has done very well for its Sunday night timeslot. The “Northwest Herald” in Illinois spoke with actress Melissa Peterman who plays Barbra Jean on the show. Peterman says, quote, “We’re doing so well for the CW that we can’t quite figure it out. We still have new episodes that are coming up and there is always the possibility that next year could happen but right now it seems like it’s not going to happen.” According to CW, the series will conclude its sixth season with back-to-back episodes on February 18th. There is no mention on Reba McEntire’s website about the future of the show.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAYS SHE’S TAKING MORE TIME TO RECORD NEXT ALBUM

Carrie Underwood went from being the winner of 2005’s “American Idol” to a whirlwind schedule. She was not only visiting all the talk shows and doing a tour with other “Idol” contestants, she was recording her first album, “Some Hearts.” Carrie is back in the studio working on her sophomore effort and is using a little different approach. Underwood says, quote, “This time I get to take a little more time with it. The first one we had deadlines, even though we made sure not to skimp on anything.” While she is working on a new album, what will probably be her last single from “Some Hearts” is climbing the charts. Carrie says of “Wasted,” quote, “Of course I hope it will be as successful as the others have been. Its message is just about a person who has come to a crossroads in their life. They can’t put up with stuff anymore so they’ve decided it’s best to move on.” The singer adds, quote, “It is done in a way that is not sad and depressing – it’s an upbeat kind of song, about someone who is starting over.”

MONTGOMERY GENTRY RECORD 81 VERSIONS OF “LUCKY MAN”

Cities with National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball teams are getting specially edited versions of Montgomery Gentry’s single “Lucky Man.” The duo of Troy Gentry and Eddie Montgomery have customized the line “Last Sunday when my Bengals lost, Lord it put me in a bad mood” 81 times for the major leagues as well as college sports teams. Each version will include the name of a specific team. Eddie says, quote, “This is probably my favorite song on the whole album. T-Roy and I both grew up in Lexington, so we saw plenty of bad (NFL Cincinnati) Bengals years – definitely a few good ones, but a lot of bad ones.” Troy adds, quote, “Yeah, and this song really lent itself to plugging other teams in there. Every team has bad seasons just like we have good and bad seasons in our life. You just have to appreciate whatever you’re going through – good or bad.” The edited version of the song is being sent to the country radio station in cities that have the major league or college sports teams.
In a move designed to spur a little extra competition between the two Super Bowl cities, the Colts version of “Lucky Man” was sent to the country radio station in Chicago, and the Bears version was sent to the one in Indianapolis.

RASCAL FLATTS HANG WITH THE BENGALS CHAD JOHNSON IN SUPER BOWL AD

Rascal Flatts sure know how to party. The group will be one of the artists featured in a Super Bowl commercial with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson. The concept of the ad is a Super bowl party for Chad’s friends. Rascal Flatts will be joined by David Beckham, Janet Reno, Martha Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, LL Cool J, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Angus T. Jones, Chad Johnson, Reggie Bush, Edgerrin James, Warren Sapp and avid NFL Fan Matt Aselton. The ad, called “Hanging with Chad,” will air during CBS’s Super Bowl XLI broadcast this Sunday. The ad was created specifically by the NFL Network to be played in the state that is also famous for its “hanging chads.”

DARRYL WORLEY IS PLEASED TO BE AT HIS NEW 903 RECORDS LABEL

Don’t tell Darryl Worley not to do business with friends. He’s done exactly that, hooking up with pal Neal McCoy’s 903 Records label in Nashville. Worley says, quote, “It couldn’t be any better than it is. I think an ideal situation for an artist in this business would be to have someone running the company and making important decisions who knows and understands what we experience as artists. Neal is that person.” The only down side Worley can think of to working with Neal is sometimes having to open shows for the entertainer, who is known for his excellent stage performance. Darryl says, quote, “I had to go on after him a couple of times so I try not to get myself in that position anymore.” Worley says he and Neal have similar philosophies when it comes to making business decisions. In fact, when it came time to decide on Worley’s second single, he says Neal told him, quote, “I don’t know what your plans are for a second single but if you don’t release ‘I Just Came Back From a War” I will.” Worley adds, quote, “We see eye to eye and we have a great relationship. I couldn’t be happier to be where I am.”

CLINT BLACK SAYS JIM CROCE BIG INFLUENCE WHEN HE WAS PLAYING CLUBS

Clint Black fans who knew him when he was playing clubs in Houston might remember that he once sang a lot of Jim Croce songs. Now Clint is paying homage to Croce by recording “I’ll Have To Say I Love You In A Song” for his new “Love Songs” album. Black says, quote, “I’m a huge Jim Croce fan, so it was a natural for me to include his song in this collection. I was trying to find my own voice in this cover, but it is hard to get away from that original Croce sound, which is so good.” He adds, quote, “While his is more of a rolling, finger pickin’ style, my version has a slower groove—more of an R&B style.” Except for the Croce cut, the new album is filled with love songs from Black’s previous albums, all of which were re-recorded for this project. The cover is pretty special too – it’s an original Peter Max painting of Black and his wife, Lisa Hartman Black.
Clint and Lisa will make an appearance on “Dr. Phil” on Valentine’s Day for a special live performance of their hit duet, “When I Said I Do.”

TRACY LAWRENCE RELEASES “FOR THE LOVE” CD THIS WEEK

Tracy Lawrence is hitting the top 40 with his new single “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” from his CD “For The Love,” which is in stores now. It’s the first studio collection from Lawrence in nearly three years. The single is a duet with Brad Arnold of the alternative rock group 3 Doors Down. It opens the CD, and another version of the song featuring Tracy’s friends Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw closes it. Lawrence says, quote, “We wanted to release the version with Kenny and Tim as a single but there was just too much red tape to go through with the record labels to get it done.” He pointed out that the three singers came to town about the same town and became friends and hung out together. Tracy says, quote, “It’s so great to see how well they are doing in their careers.”
This isn’t the first time Brad and Tracy have recorded together. Arnold made a cameo appearance in Tracy’s video “It’s All How You Look At It” in 2004.

QUICK BITES

Keith Urban will perform on the NBC’s “Today Show's” Concert on the Plaza on February 16th.

Steve Azar, who continues on the Bob Seger tour through March, received a standing ovation when he performed at Madison Square Garden with Seger’s “Face the Promise” tour. Azar says, quote, “I've always imagined how cool it might be to someday perform at Madison Square Garden, where so many of my musical influences have played over the years. But actually being there -- on the same show with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band-- was truly a great night that I will always remember!”

On March 27th the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Shanachie Entertainment will release “The Best of the Flatt & Scruggs” television shows, volumes one and two, on DVD. Each volume is made up of two 30-minute episodes from the Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt’s classic show “Flatt & Scruggs at the Opry” which were taped in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Wreckers perform tomorrow night on the USA Network’s "Nashville Star." The show’s host, Jewel, is also slated to perform.

Allison DeMarcus, wife of Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus, wrote the cover story for the February 12th issue of “Country Weekly.” Allison spoke with several celebrity spouses about love, romantic getaways and more tender topics. Among those featured—Alan and Denise Jackson, Brad and Kimberly Paisley and George and Norma Strait.