Big Country Notes for Jan 9

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS TONIGHT FEATURES KENNY CHESNEY

Kenny Chesney will perform his hit single “Young” on the 33rd annual People’s Choice Awards tonight on CBS. Chesney is up for Male Singer along with Trace Adkins and Toby Keith. Faith Hill, Chakira and Carrie Underwood are nominated for Female Singer. Underwood’s "Before He Cheats," Rascal Flatts’ "What Hurts The Most" and McGraw’s "When the Stars Go Blue" are up for Country Song. Rascal Flatts’ song “Life is a Highway” received nods for Remake and Song from the Movie for “Cars.” Queen Latifah will host awards from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

SARA EVANS’ DAD SINGING ON SINGLE “YOU’LL ALWAYS BE MY BABY”

Sara Evans has multiple reasons to love her recording of “You’ll Always Be My Baby”: not only did she co-write the song, her dad is singing harmony with her on the single. Sara will be singing the song to her fans when she embarks on her new tour this Friday in Charlotte, NC. She performs in Baltimore, MD, on Saturday. The singer will take a break early in the tour to return to Nashville on January 21st to be a part of the “Dancing with the Stars” show at the Gaylord Entertainment Center there. Evans was a competitor on the television series last year but dropped out after she filed for divorce from her husband, Craig Schelske, in October. Evans has dates scheduled through June with additional dates expected to be added.
· Sara will perform “You’ll Always Be My Baby” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” tomorrow. Sara takes a break from her tour on Monday to headline a concert at Governor Bob Riley’s inauguration in Birmingham, AL.

GRETCHEN WILSON DOES BENEFIT FOR ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL

Gretchen Wilson is accustomed to playing larger venues these days, so it took a special reason to get her back to the club scene. When the singer performs at Graham Central Station in Albuquerque, NM on February 6th, all proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Tickets for the event are special, too – the 15-dollar ducats go on sale Friday.

BLAKE SHELTON SAYS HE WON’T BE TOUCH GUY ON “NASHVILLE STAR”

If you’re looking for Blake Shelton to be the tough guy on this season’s “Nashville Star,” think again. Shelton says, quote, “I think Randy [Owen of Alabama] will be the tough one. He’s already researched a lot of the contestants through their websites. He’s really into this.” Shelton notes that there is a good mix of judges this year. He says, quote, “When you look at it you’ve got an industry insider and a veteran who has accomplished more than anybody in country music.” He adds, quote, “Then you’ve got me -- somebody who is deep in the middle right now just getting started.” Shelton says there is a reason he decided to be a judge this year. He says, quote, “I think it’s an opportunity for people to finally figure out my sense of humor!” He adds, quote, “I just want to have fun with it. I’m sure I’ll probably say something before it’s over with that will offend somebody though.”

KENNY ROGERS CHANGES MIND, UPSETS NEIGHBORS

Kenny Rogers, who was planning to build a home in Sandy Springs, GA, has angered some of his neighbors. Rogers reportedly bought a property more than a year ago for two-point-three-million-dollars. He then tore it down and began the construction of another house on the seven-point-five-acre property. But he has apparently changed his mind and instead is selling the land without finishing the home. Neighbors said they had a beautiful buffer before the demolition, now they have dense woods and dirt to look at over their patios. Rogers has apologized, saying he realized the house would be too big for his family if anything ever happened to him. (The Metro Source)

QUICK BITES

· The Wreckers’ cartoon alter-egos will make their comic strip debut this week in the Guy Gilchrist strip “Nancy.” Gilchrist met the duo at a Massachusetts concert last month along with Little Big Town, who will also be featured in one of this week’s strips. Look for the Grammy-nominated duo to make an appearance in the strip on Aunt Fritzi’s T-shirt.

· Big & Rich are currently putting the finishing touches on their third studio album, to be released this spring.

· John Anderson is set to shoot the video for his next single, “A Woman Knows,” Monday in Nashville. The video will bring to life the love triangle conceived by songwriters John Rich of Big & Rich, Vicky McGehee, and Julie Roberts. Rich co-produced Anderson’s album “Easy Money,” which will be released May 15th.

· The Sportsman Channel will feature country artists in its new show, “Backstage & Backroads with Daniel Lee Martin.” The show will offer viewers a glimpse of the inner workings of the music business, a backstage pass to live concerts and behind-the-scenes happenings and then return to the great outdoors for hunting and fishing trips. Celebrity guests scheduled to appear on the show are Billy Ray Cyrus, Craig Morgan, Andy Griggs and others.

· Jason Michael Carroll’s single “Alyssa Lies” begins this year setting a sales record. Available in advance of his album’s February 6th release, “Alyssa Lies” entered the chart with nearly 14-thousand purchased downloads, scoring the highest country new artist debut sales since the inception of the SoundScan Digital Song chart.

· Marty Raybon and T. Graham Brown are among a group of artists who will perform a special benefit for Cody Hulsizer, who was injured in an auto accident during his first year of college last year. The benefit will be held at The Center in Springfield, TN on January 21st.