Big Country Notes for Jan 4

CARRIE UNDERWOOD LISTS ALAN JACKSON AND FAITH HILL AS FAVORITES

Carrie Underwood has Alan Jackson and Faith Hill at the top of her personal playlist. Underwood was asked by iTunes to list her current favorite 15 songs and Jackson's "Like Red on a Rose" and Hill's "Stealing Kisses" top Carrie’s country favorites. Carrie told iTunes, quote, “Alan Jackson was, is, and always will be the king of country music to me. He was my first concert, and I have always respected him immensely.” She adds, quote, “This song is smooth and romantic and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!" Underwood says country songs tell stories and Faith’s song, quote, “is very representative and makes one think about what the song is really talking about. Faith sings it beautifully, as always, and the video is very meaningful." Also on Carrie's country list are George Strait's "The Chair," Keith Urban's "Once in a Lifetime," and Brad Paisley's "Waitin' On a Woman."

TRAVIS TRITT TO PERFORM AT INAUGURATION OF GEORGIA’S LT. GOVERNOR

Travis Tritt will lend his talents to the Great State of Georgia for the inauguration of Lt. Governor Casey Cagle on Sunday. The show will be held at The Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The singer is currently in the studio working on his debut album for Category 5 Records. The album, co-produced by Tritt and “American Idol’s” Randy Jackson will be released in late Summer 2007. Tritt, a native of Georgia, was inducted into The Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1999.

LITTLE BIG TOWN TO GUEST ON “CONAN O’BRIEN” MONDAY

Little Big Town will perform its single “Good As Gone” when they make an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” Monday. During the holiday season, group members and newlyweds Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook actually got to take time for a honeymoon, while Kimberly Roads and Phillip Sweet stayed home for their rest and relaxation. The band is starting 2007 with the same intensity with which it closed 2006. “Billboard” magazine named them the Independent Artist of the Year for 2006, and their disc “The Road To Here” Independent Album of the Year. “The Road to Here”was certified Gold in early 2006, and is nearing Platinum status. Little Big Town toured with major names in music last year, including Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and rocker John Mellencamp, who was so pleased with the band’s turn as his opening act that he asked them to perform on his new CD, set for release in early 2007. Little Big Town will begin work on their new album early this year, with a release date set for the fall.
· Little Big Town received their first ever GRAMMY nominations in December for Best Country Album for “The Road To Here” and the other for Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals for their hit single “Boondocks.” The 49th Annual GRAMMY Awards air February 11th on CBS.

RUSHLOW HARRIS COMFORTABLE PERFORMING ACOUSTIC SET ON TOUR

Rushlow Harris members Tim Rushlow and Doni Harris are seasoned performers. It should come as no surprise that the duo performed a 20-minute acoustic set as the opening act for Toby Keith last year. Tim says, quote, “Every night we are focused and we give it our all. After that 20 minutes we come off stage and we’re soaking wet.” He adds, quote, “We don’t want a band right now because we feel doing the acoustic show sets us apart and we’re confident we can pull it off. If we’re not we shouldn’t be up there.” Rushlow says he isn’t sure if they will be on Toby’s tour this year or not but, quote, “We’ve had other people call to see if we’re available to come and open their show.” The two say they think they are intriguing to other artists as an acoustic act, just as Keith Urban was when he first started out. Like Urban, the two have had to learn what it takes to entertain an audience. Tim says, quote, “We’ve learned to be entertaining and how to care about the audience … I know Keith learned that early on and he had a great acoustic show.”

QUICK BITES

Toby Keith’s movie “Broken Bridges” releases on DVD Tuesday. Keith co-stars with Kelly Preston as his wife and Lindsey Hahn as his 16-year-old daughter. The movie also features Willie Nelson and Burt Reynolds.

Mel Tillis celebrates his 50th anniversary this year. He wrote the hit single "I'm Tired" for Webb Pierce in 1957. These days finds Tillis fitting a few dates in amongst his hobbies of painting and fishing. The singer/songwriter is also working on his first novel.

“American Idol” finalist Bucky Covington has signed a recording deal with Lyric Street Records in Nashville. His debut single, “A Different World,” will release this month. He says people don’t realize what the show can do for a singer. Covington’s debut project is produced by Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller.

The Oak Ridge Boys are celebrating 50 years in the business this year. Group member Joe Bonsall credits the fans of the group for their longevity. He says, quote, “I think we have a tremendous core group of fans who are growing older with us. We have folks our age, their kids and their kids kids.” He adds, quote, “I know there are tons of families who make the Oak Ridge Boys a part of their tradition. When they stay with you year after year it makes a difference.”

“Literary Cash,” a new book that features essays and short stories based on the life of Johnny Cash and his songs, will be released later this month. It is available for pre-order at amazon.com.