Big Country Notes for Feb 12

CARRIE UNDERWOOD NAMED GRAMMY “NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR”

Carrie Underwood made history last night at the 49th annual GRAMMY Awards when she became the first “American Idol” winner to take home the all-genre “New Artist of the Year” award. In accepting the award, the singer said, quote, “This is absolutely unbelievable. Thank you, Simon Fuller, who created the show ‘American Idol’ which got me here." Underwood also received the nod for “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” and songwriters Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson took home “Best Country Song” for Underwood’s song “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
The Dixie Chicks racked up numerous awards in country and several all-genre categories. They won for “Best Country Vocal Performance/Duo or Group for “Not Ready To Make Nice” and Best Country Album for “Taking the Long Way Home.” The Chicks also took home the all-genre awards for “Song of the Year” for “Not Ready To Make Nice” as well as “Album of the Year” and “Record of the Year” for “Taking the Long Way Home.”
Vince Gill took home honors for “Best Male Country Vocal Performance” for “The Reason Why.”
Best Country Collaboration with Vocals went to Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Bon Jovi for “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”
Randy Travis’ “Glory Train” was named “Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.”
Rick Rubin, who produced two Johnny Cash albums and the Dixie Chicks’ award winning disc, was named “Producer of the Year.”
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media went to the Johnny Cash movie “Walk the Line” with vocals by Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Shooter Jennings and others.
“Best Southern Gospel or Bluegrass Album” went to the Del McCoury Band for “The Promised Land” while Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder picked up “Best Bluegrass Album” for “Instrumentals.”
“Best Country Instrumental Performance” went to Bryan Sutton and Doc Watson for “Whiskey Before Breakfast.”
Carrie and Rascal Flatts were the only country singers who performed on the GRAMMY awards. They did a tribute to country rock with nods to Bob Wills and the Eagles.

COUNTRY ARTISTS SPIN THE WHEEL FOR CHARITY ON “WHEEL OF FORTUNE”

American gets to see how quickly country artists can solve puzzles this week. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, Richie McDonald, Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams of Lonestar, Lorrie Morgan, Wynonna and Trisha Yearwood are part of the country music contingent that went to Charleston, SC, to tape the weeks worth of episodes for the game show. Wynonna told “The State” newspaper, quote, “The last time I was on, I didn’t win much, I’ve been catching up and reviewing my vowels.” The singer adds, quote, “Is ‘Y’ a vowel?” Wy admits to being a competitive player, adding, quote, “I think I’m a very childlike person when it comes to games. I get really hyper.” This is the second year “Wheel of Fortune” has featured a week of country celebrities. Others trying their skills include Steve Azar, Terri Clark, Josh Gracin, Michael Britt, Julie Roberts, Trent Tomlinson and Mark Wills. Each artist is matched with a fan and will play for their favorite charity.
Gracin will spin the wheel for the National Guard Youth Challenge. Tomlinson and Roberts will play for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Gentry is playing for Keep the Music Playing, the Country Music Association’s music and schools program. Azar is playing for the St. Cecilia Foundation, a nonprofit corporation he and his wife formed to help various charitable organizations provide aid to sick, disadvantaged and abused children particularly in the Delta region as well as the Nashville area where he and his family reside. Lonestar is playing for AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort.

KEITH URBAN SET TO APPEAR ON “THE TODAY SHOW” FRIDAY

Keith Urban will perform on NBC’s “Today Show” on Friday. He will perform three songs on the plaza Rockefeller Center in New York City. Urban is gearing up for the first leg of his “Love, Pain & the whole crazy World” tour which starts with a show in Phoenix, AZ on June 8th. He will do a 33-city, 36-performance arena tour in the U.S. following club dates in Germany and arena dates in his homeland of Australia. Four new dates have been listed on his website --June 28th he will be in St. Louis, MO; June 29th, Memphis, TN; July 2nd, Oklahoma City, OK and July 6th, Dallas, TX.

GRETCHEN WILSON WON’T FORGET FIRST TIME SHE HEARD “COME TO BED”

Gretchen Wilson says she will never forget hearing her current single, “Come to Bed,” for the first time. She was at the end of a songwriting session with John Rich of Big & Rich and Vicky McGehee. The three were winding down with a glass of wine and Rich mentioned that he and Vicky had one other song that might need a little work. He sang “Come To Bed” and then asked Gretchen, quote, “You think we can tweak it a little bit?” Gretchen was so floored by the raw emotion of the song that she simply shook her head. <>
In other Gretchen news, the singer helped raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a performance at Graham Central Station in Albuquerque, NM. One-hundred-percent of the more than 15-thousand dollars will go to the hospital.

GARTH BROOKS MISSES FRIENDS IN NASHVILLE

Garth Brooks celebrated his 45th birthday in Los Angeles Thursday with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, and friends from Nashville who were in town to attend the GRAMMY awards. The “Tennessean” reports that Brooks misses friends who live in Nashville. He told the newspaper, quote, “The people made me love Nashville. Me and the industry always went head to head but me and the people were always just sweet.” Reports are that the studio Jack’s Tracks is up for sale and Brooks says he might look into buying it. He says, quote, “That is the place where we’ve done al of our stuff. For the love of (producer) Allen Reynolds, I’d do anything he talks about.”

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL DRAWS SELLOUT CROWD IN MINNEAPOLIS

Jason Michael Carroll drew a sellout crowd in Minneapolis, MN last week. After an announcement on local radio that he was performing, fans lined up to see the singer of the hit song “Alyssa Lies.” In fact, so many people called about the show that were younger fans that the club lifted the age limit and allowed younger fans in to see Carroll. In Raleigh, N.C., Carroll sold 600 copies of his new album “Waitin’ in the Country” while doing personal appearances at several retail stories and clubs in the area. The young singer has caught the attention of Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn, who says, quote, “He has one of those unique, recognizable voices and an ability to speak from his heart in his songs. This is not a ‘paint-by-numbers’ artist, and the success of his single, ‘Alyssa Lies,’ proves the public is always ready for a good dose of that …” Carroll is scheduled to be on the Grand Ole Opry on February 24th.

MIRANDA LAMBERT LIKES BEING ON BIG STAGE WITH TOBY KEITH TOUR

Miranda Lambert says she doesn’t get nervous before a concert, not even as the opening act on Toby Keith’s “Hookin’ Up and Hangin’ Out” tour. She says, quote, “I just feel like, ‘Wow! I’m actually on a stage that I used to go see people I’m a fan of on’…and then I get to be on the same stage!” Miranda says she never doubted she’d be onstage performing at this point in her life…but she figured the odds were that it would be in a much smaller setting – perhaps, quote, “at a bar somewhere.” In addition to her hit single “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Miranda is singing a few songs off the upcoming album by the same name for the crowds.

KELLIE PICKLER SINGS FROM THE HEART ON NEW SINGLE “I WONDER”

Kellie Pickler says her new single is not her favorite song to sing. “I Wonder” was written about the mother Kellie never knew, so it’s a very hard song for her to get through. On the other hand, the song comes from the heart of someone who has known the heartbreak of being abandoned by her mother at an early age. Pickler says the good thing about “I Wonder” is that it might help someone else who is going through a similar experience in their life. She says, quote, “It’s not something that I’m proud to sing about because it’s sad that any person would feel the lyrics of that song.”

QUICK BITES

Dierks Bentley joins the Grascals for a performance tonight on CBS’ “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”

Little Texas performed at Planet Gemini in Monterey, CA, last week, where a packed house called them back for two encores.

Nicole Kidman, who is married to Keith Urban, will return as a presenter at the 79th Academy Awards ceremony on February 25th. Kidman took home a Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for her portrayal of Virginia Woolf in “The Hours.” Kidman, who was heard in this year’s animated feature “Happy Feet” as the voice of Norma Jean, will be seen next in “The Invasion.” Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed June Carter Cash in “Walk the Line,” will also be a presenter awards ceremony. Last year Witherspoon received her first Oscar for her performance as June in that movie. Witherspoon serves as a producer on the upcoming “Penelope,” in which she also has a supporting role, and recently completed filming “Rendition.”

Taylor Swift’s new music video, “Teardrops On My Guitar,” has been added to CMT in Hot Shot rotation. The video features actor Tyler Hilton. Taylor will be on the Grand Ole Opry on April 14th.

Jack Ingram is enjoying his fastest-climbing single to date with “Lips Of An Angel.” It’s the lead track from “This Is It,” his first studio album in five years, which releases March 27th. Ingram says, quote, “The reaction to ‘Lips Of An Angel’ has been consistent and surprising. After the first few chords there is an audible gasp in the crowd and you can feel the tension in the first few rows.”

Sammy Kershaw, who is married to Lorrie Morgan, has filed for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Nashville. The singer listed liabilities at just over one-million-100-thousand-drollars in the Chapter 13 filing submitted to the court last Tuesday. His list of assets was in the same range.

Jimmy Wayne has been working on songs for his upcoming debut album on Big Machine Records. Wayne spent last week writing in Aspen, CO, with pop singer/songwriter John Oates.
Danielle Peck is featured in the current issue of Country Weekly in a photo spread for Ariat Boots.

Hank Williams Jr. fans have a new guitar. Copley Musical Instrument Company has created an acoustic guitar exclusively for the Hank Jr. fan. The limited edition guitar, engraved with the Hank Jr. logo, contains a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, an adjustable neck and sealed tuners. The full-sized six-string guitar has a top consisting of laminated spruce; the back and sides of the guitar sport exotic rosewood with inlaid bindings. The guitar is priced at just under 300 hundred dollars, which includes a hard shell carrying case.