Big Country Notes for Feb 20

JACK INGRAM, KELLIE PICKLER SAY THEY’RE READY FOR BRAD PAISLEY TOUR

Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler say they are ready for Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires and Apliifiers” tour. Both singers have heard that Brad is a real prankster on the road. Jack says, quote, “Being the new kid on the block I will kinda just wait and see what happens – but I will be ready.” Pickler says she’s excited about going out with Paisley but she wants him to know she’s ready for any pranks he can throw her way. Pickler says, quote, “I’ve been warned about some of the things he’s done on tour and I’ve been told to keep my bus locked at all times.” She adds, quote, “As long as he stays away from my shoes we’ll be fine. But if he messes with my shoes it’s gonna be war. So I’m ready for you Brad!” Ingram, who was out with Brooks & Dunn last year, says he’s not so sure that Brad is as bad as everyone said. He speaks from experience. He says, quote, “Everybody said same thing about Brooks & Dunn and they didn’t do a thing. I joked with them and said they were getting too old.” He adds, quote, “I’ll wait for Brad to draw first blood and see what goes on.”

LEE ANN WOMACK SAYS DAUGHTERS MIGHT FOLLOW HER FOOTSTEPS

Aubrie and Anna Womack, daughters of singer Lee Ann Womack, received guitars for Christmas. Lee Ann says she doesn’t know if that means they plan to follow in her footsteps as an entertainer. She says, quote, “They both say they want to but saying it at their age and following through 20 years later is another thing.” She adds, quote, “I try to give them the tools for whatever they want to do.” Womack is also encouraging her daughters to develop a health lifestyle. The singer is participating in the Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts program on behalf of The Heart Truth to raise awareness about the issue of heart disease among women. The campaign lasts through the end of February but Lee Ann says, quote, “We are hoping people will make heart health a daily part of their lives.” She adds, quote, “Your kids to learn to eat at your table. If you make healthy choices for them and integrate new things into their daily life as far as their diet goes, they are going to remember those things.”

HANK WILLIAMS JR. FILES FOR DIVORCE

Hank Williams Jr. filed for divorce from his wife Mary Jane last Friday. In the documents he cites his wife’s alleged substance abuse as the reason for the divorce. In an issued statement, Hank says, quote, "Today is one of the toughest days in my life. My family has lived with the pain of Mary Jane's addiction over the last several years and I have exhausted all efforts in the rehabilitation process.” He adds, quote, "I've decided for the sake of my children to create a healthier home environment during their formative years. All families experience difficulties, I hope everyone will respect our privacy during this time." Williams was supposed to be on hand to receive the Tennessean of the Year award from the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Friday night but opted to stay home with his children.

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL PENS SONG WITH JEWEL

Jason Michael Carroll has a song on his album that he co-wrote with Jewel. Once “No Good in Goodbye” was written, Carroll took it a step further and asked Jewel to sing it with him. She immediately said yes. Jewel, who is hosting USA’s “Nashville Star” this year, says of Carroll, quote, “He’s got one of the greatest voices of all time. He doesn’t look like a paper cut-out cowboy wearing a starched shirt and badly shaped hat. He’s refreshing.” Carroll’s album “Waitin’ in the Country” debuted at number one on “Billboard’s” Top Country Album chart last week. It includes his hit single “Alyssa Lies.”

BUCKY COVINGTON POSTS HIS FIRST BLOG FOR USATODAY.COM

Former “American Idol” contestant Bucky Covington is posting a series of blogs for USAToday.com, relating his move to Nashville and his quest for success with his first single “A Different World.” In his first blog, Bucky talks about buying a house in Franklin, just south of Nashville. He says, quote, “It's not a real big mansion -– you haven't seen the album go to number one, so you can understand that. But it's nice and roomy.” The house is so roomy that Bucky invited his twin brother, Rocky, and his sister-in-law to move in with him. Rocky will be Bucky’s drummer on the singer’s upcoming tour. Bucky says, quote, “Right now we're out visiting radio stations so there's nothing for him to do. There ain't no sense in him paying rent, so I just said, ‘Man, I got a house that I'm never in. Y'all would be doing me a favor by coming up and moving in with me.’" Bucky says that he and producer Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown have been in West Palm Beach, FL, working on his upcoming album, due out April 17th.

DANIELLE PECK THREATENS TO RENAME TRADE ADKINS TOUR “DANGEROUS WOMAN”

A slight misstep has Danielle Peck joking that she has a new name for the Trace Adkins tour “Dangerous Man.” Peck says, quote, “Based on what happened last weekend, I am calling this the ‘Dangerous Woman’ tour.” Peck says she saw Craig Morgan in the audience at the tour’s Moline, IL, show as she was wrapping up her set, so she decided to go down wish him well for his part of the show. She says, quote, “As I was climbing down the ramp approaching the audience, I missed my mark and fell on the diamond-plated ramp.” She adds, quote, “Immediately I knew I had hurt myself pretty bad, but Craig helped me up and I managed to hobble out of the arena.” Danielle will be up and about this week to make her on-going appearances on Speed-TV’s “Road Tour Challenge.” She’ll be seen on the NASCAR-intensive program throughout the season.

TAYLOR SWIFT FINALLY GETS TO MEET GEORGE STRAIT

She’s been opening for the George Strait tour since January but Taylor Swift just got to meet the singer in person. The 17-year-old says the tour has been, quote, “Absolutely amazing … the crowds are so great, and the shows are usually sold out.” When she met Strait, Taylor says, quote, “I talked to him for about ten minutes. I asked him about how he's developed such a cool [circular] stage for his shows and then I asked him if he has a secret to perfecting it.” Strait told her, quote, “Well, yes. About 25 years.” Swift is on the Strait tour through mid-March.
Taylor will be on WSMV-TV/Nashville’s “Nashville Music & More” in a profile piece on Saturday.

QUICK BITES

Vince Gill, Big & Rich, Patty Loveless and Willie Nelson are on the upcoming Don Imus compilation album that will raise money for The Imus Ranch in New Mexico. The ranch works with children who have cancer or blood disorders, or who have lost a sibling to sudden infant death syndrome. Imus is host of “Imus in the Morning.”

Rosanne Cash will perform with the Nashville Symphony on March 18.

Blake Shelton and Chris Young, who won USA’s “Nashville Star” last year, will perform Thursday night on the show.

Gretchen Wilson says she doesn’t need a trainer or special chef to help her keep in shape – she lives in a three-story house and she has to keep up with a five-year-old.

Merle Haggard has written a song called “Hillary” which extols the possibility of a woman president. According to countrynation.com, Haggard debuted the song at his Spokane, WA, concert last week.

Emmylou Harris guests on the new acoustic album by John Starling and Carolina Star, “Slidin’ Home.” Harris says, quote, “I love John’s voice. I think he might be my favorite singer.” She adds, quote, “He has an intimate way with lyrics that is almost conversational but he’s also a soul singer.”

IN STORES TODAY

Tammy Cochran – “Where I Am”
Dixie Chicks (DVD) -- “Shut Up and Sing”
John Starling and Carolina Star with Emmylou Harris – “Slidin’ Home”