Big Country Notes for Jan 8

TIM McGRAW TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN MARCH

Tim McGraw’s new album, which hits stores March 27th, is aptly titled “Let It Go.” It’s the singer’s first studio release in almost three years. According to allaboutcountry, McGraw says, quote, “I am really excited about this new studio album. It was great to work with [producer] Byron Gallimore, Darran Smith and my band in the studio again and to build upon our work together.” There are several special moments on the new project, not the least of which is Faith Hill’s guest vocals on two cuts – “Shotgun Rider” and “I Need You,” which are duets from the husband and wife’s 2006 “Soul2Soul II” tour. McGraw co-wrote one of the 13 cuts, “Train #10.” This marks the second song he’s recorded that he also wrote, the first being “My Little Girl” from the movie soundtrack “Flicka.” McGraw went to some of the bigger names in songwriting for songs to record for the new disc. For instance, Big Kenny of Big & Rich wrote the current single “Last Dollar.”
A new album is not all McGraw has in the works. He has a part in the Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner movie, “The Kingdom,” which is due out in April. And he’ll play a police chief in the upcoming movie “Crash,” is now in production.

COUNTRY DOMINATES MALE SINGER CATEGORY FOR PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS TOMORROW

Country has the nod tomorrow night in the Male Singer category and Female singer categories at the 33rd annual People’s Choice Awards. Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith are nominated for Male Singer while Faith Hill, Chakira and Carrie Underwood are nominated for Female Singer. Chesney is scheduled to perform “Young” on the awards presentation. Country song nods go to "Before He Cheats" by Underwood, "What Hurts The Most" by Rascal Flatts and "When the Stars Go Blue" by Tim McGraw. Rascal Flatts drew two extra votes, both for their song “Life is a Highway.” It’s up for Remake and Song from a Movie for “Cars.” That film, which also featured music by Brad Paisley, Hank Williams Sr., James Taylor and Sheryl Crow, is in the running for Favorite Movie and Favorite Family Movie. Bon Jovi is up for Rock Song for “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” – the country version of that song featured Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. The People's Choice Awards will be hosted by Queen Latifah from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and will air live on CBS.

TOBY KETH’S MOVIE “BROKEN BRIDGES” DVD DUE TOMORROW

The DVD for Toby Keith’s “Broken Bridges” will release tomorrow. Keith made his acting debut in the film, co-starring with Kelly Preston, Tess Harper, Willie Nelson, Lindsey Haun and Burt Reynolds. Keith plays the former boyfriend of Preston’s character, with whom he has a 16-year old daughter (Haun) he doesn’t know. In the movie, he and Haun form a relationship and Toby and Kelly’s characters review their past history. The DVD includes several features other than the move. Toby Keith’s video “Alien” is there as is a featurette about filming on a base with real soldiers. Also included is a Meet the Actors segment with Keith, Preston, Reynolds, Anna Marie Horsford, Harper and Katie Finneran. Keith’s label, Show Dog Nashville, released the soundtrack to the film. Keith wrote much of the music. Haun is also featured on the soundtrack album.

DIERKS BENTLEY STARTS CANADIAN TOUR TODAY

Dierks Bentley heads north to Canada today for a three-week tour that will include stops in Vancouver, Red Deer, Calgary, Regina, Manitoba and London, Ontario. He’ll also pick up two U.S. dates at the end of the tour. He plays Fargo, ND, on January 19th and Waterloo, IA, the next night. The tour ends January 24th in Ottawa. Dierks works more shows than just about any artist in Nashville. The singer told bullz-eye.com, “There’s a lot of stuff that comes with playing music for a living, but the part that I love is being onstage. The hour and a half is where I live. That’s why we’re out here playing so much. And that’s how we’re building up our fan base, our real core fan base, through touring.” Eric Church and Canadian band Doc Walker will open the shows.

LITTLE BIG TOWN THRILLED TO BE NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY

Group members of Little Big Town describe the phone calls regarding their GRAMMY nomination as one of the most fun times they’ve ever had. Jimi Westbrook of LBT says, quote, “2006 was a great year for Little Big Town but this has allowed us to start the new year on a high note.” Jimi explains that the group was on the bus headed for New York when the nominations were announced. He says they were trying to find the telecast for the awards nominee announcement when their phones started ringing. He says, quote, “When the call came in from our management pandemonium broke loose on the bus ... it was a blast.” The group was on their way to at a New York casino so when they arrived at their destination they popped a bottle of champagne for a toast. Westbrook says, quote, “We toasted an amazing year for the group and our GRAMMY nomination. Then we went gambling and lost money!” The 49th annual GRAMMY Awards air Sunday, February 11th on CBS.

Little Big Town will perform their new single "Good As Gone" on NBC’s "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" tonight.

JOHNNY CASH ITEMS UP FOR AUCTION

The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, LLC is offering a number of special items formerly belonging to Johnny Cash in an auction on January 21st in Scottsdale, AZ. Among the items available are musical instruments and original lyric sheets. One of the singer’s handwritten “to-do” lists includes the notation “Kiss June.” The day’s auction will also include rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia and lifestyle items. For more information on the items up for bid go to www.johnnycashauction.com. There will also be a separate group of Johnny Cash items on display and up for private sale at the Rock on the Block retail store on site at WestWorld in Scottsdale. To view these items specifically, please visit www.barrett-jackson.com.

DIAMOND RIO WILL AGAIN SPONSOR TEAM TIO IN COUNTRY MUSIC MARATHON

Team Rio marches forward. The team started by Diamond Rio to compete in the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon on April 28th is already in recruitment mode. The group’s Jimmy Olander and Marty Roe are the celebrity running captains and Gene Johnson is the celebrity walking captain. People who want to help Diamond Rio raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee don’t have to be experienced. Jimmy told the “Tennessean,” quote, “We have everything from walkers to people who are absolutely blazing fast and anything in between. I can't tell you how much fun it's been and how many great folks we have doing it with us." Team Rio recruited 60 people the first year and more than 100 the second year, raising more than 70-thousand dollars. This year the goal is 200 runners and/or walkers who will raise over 100-thousand dollars for the organizations. For more information visit the Diamond Rio website at www.diamondrio.com.

QUICK BITES

Sara Evans will headline a concert for Alabama Gov. Bob Riley during his inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 15 in Birmingham. The Huntsville Symphony Orchestra will also perform. Sara returns to ABC’s “Good Morning America” Wednesday to perform her latest hit single, “You’ll Always Be My Baby.”

Jake Owen’s debut hit, “Yee Haw,” figures into a prominent party scene in a recent episode of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” The Florida native’s first single proved such a favorite that it will be featured in this Wednesday’s installment.

Chris Young says he is flattered that “Country Weekly” readers voted him their “Hottest Bachelor” in the magazine’s January 15th issue. However, he says, quote, “My band spares no expense to make fun of me about that every chance they get.”

Ashley Monroe’s duet with Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, “I Don’t Want To,” is from her upcoming album “Satisfied.”

Blaine Larsen had a great 2006, touring with Gretchen Wilson and moving to Nashville with his new wife. He started the year off with continued momentum by playing the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium.

Kellie Pickler performed the National Anthem at the Nashville Predators hockey game last Saturday. She and Predators player Jordan Tootoo have been seen together at local clubs but apparently the two are neighbors and just friends.




MUSEUM SECURITY GUARD BRINGS BOX OFFICE TO LIFE FOR A THIRD WEEK Ben Stiller's time at the museum is keeping him at the top of the box office charts. For the third week in a row, "Night At The Museum" topped the box office bringing in about 24-million dollars. "The Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith came in second with 13-million in ticket sales. In third place was the new release, "Children of Men," which had more than ten-million dollars in sales. Rounding out the top five were "Freedom Writers" with more than nine-million dollars and "Dreamgirls" came in fifth, bringing in eight-point-eight-million dollars. (Metro Source)
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC (final figures will be released today):
1. "Night at the Museum," $24 million.
2. "The Pursuit of Happyness," $13 million.
3. "Children of Men," $10.3 million.
4. "Freedom Writers," $9.7 million.
5. "Dreamgirls," $8.8 million.
6. "Happily N'Ever After," $6.8 million.
7. "Charlotte's Web," $6.6 million.
8. "The Good Shepherd," $6.5 million.
9. "Rocky Balboa," $6.3 million.
10. "We Are Marshall," $5.1 million.