Big Country Notes for Feb 21

RASCAL FLATTS CELEBRATE FLATTS TUESDAY IN NASHVILLE

Rascal Flatts was honored by the Country Music Association and the City of Nashville yesterday for being the best-selling act of all genres last year. The event was held at a Mardi Gras-style celebration at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The group’s Gary LeVox says, quote, “I don’t think we really have absorbed all that we accomplished last year. Maybe now we’re just starting to do that.” Flatts’ member Jay DeMarcus says, quote, “We are very thankful to our fans who have given us the best jobs in the world and are grateful to CMA, the City of Nashville and the Country Music community for making this our special day!”

The group and a group of invited guests celebrated the fact that the album “Me and My Gang” was the highest debuting album in 2006, selling more than 721-thousand units the first week it was in stores. By the end of the year it was the top selling artist album of the year with three-point-four million copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That figure now tops the four million mark.
The sales for “Me and My Gang” combined with sales of previous albums earned Rascal Flatts the title of being the best selling artist of 2006 in all musical genres. This is the first time in the era of monitored music sales that a country group had the top-selling artist album of the year, according to Nielsen SoundScan research.
The band joined Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks in the 45 years of shared country and Adult Contemporary (AC) radio charts to land two different songs in the number one position in the same week – “What Hurts The Most” topped the Radio & Records AC chart and “My Wish” hit the top of the Mediabase country chart.
Rascal Flatts is also known for giving back to the community. In September of last year they held a benefit for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. Since 2005 they have donated more than a million dollars to the hospital.

BIG & RICH JOIN JOHN ANDERSON FOR CMT “CROSS COUNTRY” TAPING

John Rich and Big Kenny of Big & Rich cited John Anderson as, quote, “the George Jones of our generation” when they introduced him to the audience at the Factory in Franklin, TN for the taping of CMT’s “Cross Country.” Rich says, quote, “He is our honky tonk hero.” Before launching into “Seminole Wind,” John told the audience, quote, “This is one of my favorite John Anderson songs … and the record company thought it was too regional when he played it for them.” The song’s lyrics discuss Anderson’s environmental concerns about the Okeechobee Swamp in his native state of Florida. Rich adds, quote, “There is nothing regional about saving the world!” When introducing John’s “I Wish I Could Have Been There,” Kenny says, quote, “Now that I have a little boy of my own this song has more meaning to me these days.”


JOHN ANDERSON’S LAST YEAR BEEN BUSY WITH RECORDING AND TOURING

John Anderson describes his last year as an uplifting one. The singer of such hits as “Seminole Wind” and “Swingin’” has been in the studio with John Rich of Big & Rich working on his “Easy Money” album set to release May 15th. Anderson says, quote, “I really thank these guys for giving me the chance to go back in and record these new songs. It’s been an uplifting year for me.” Anderson and Big & Rich taped a CMT “Cross Country” show that is set to air March 17th. On it he sings his first single, “A Woman Knows,” which Rich wrote. Anderson says, quote, “John played that song for me on the bus in Chattanooga and asked what I thought. I told him it was a hit … and I hope I’m right.”

JOE NICHOLS SHOOTS NEW VERSION OF VIDEO FOR “I’LL WAIT FOR YOU”

Joe Nichols is stripped down – at least the new version of his video for “I’ll Wait for You” is. Due to the overwhelming response of fans to the song, Nichols’ record company decided to shoot a more stripped down music video for the tune. The new clip was shot in black and white and focuses more on Nichols and the songs’ lyrics. Joe says, quote, “The strings add even more emotion to the lyrics of the song and we wanted to convey that emotion by shooting a new version of the video.” CMT will premier the new video this week on its “Top 20 Countdown” and Nichols will guest on the show. The response to the single has caused the album, “III,” to show a 247-percent increase in sales and moved it up 42 places to number 22 on the “Billboard” country album chart.

CMT ANNOUNCES FIRST PEFORMERS FOR APRIL AWARDS SHOW

Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Sugarland and Dierks Bentley will perform on the 2007 CMT Music Awards April16th. The sixth annual awards show honors country music’s outstanding videos. The winners are determined by fan votes at CMT.com. The final four nominees will be announced next Wednesday except in the category of Video of the Year. Those finalists will be announced at the beginning of the awards show and fans can vote during the show via CMT.com and by using their mobile phone. The show will be hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy for the third year in a row. It will air over CMT at 8 p.m. from the Curb Event Center in Nashville.

ALAN JACKSON, ALABAMA GARNER DOVE GOSPEL AWARD NOMINATIONS

Alan Jackson, Barbara Fairchild and Alabama are nominated for gospel music’s Dove Award for “Country Album of the Year.” Alan received the nod for “”Precious Memories,” Barbara for “He Kept on Loving Me” and Alabama for “Songs of Inspiration.” The Oak Ridge Boys and Fairchild both have nominations in the “Country Song of the Year” category of the Gospel Music Association awards – the Oaks for “Jonah, Job and Moses” and Fairchild for “On the Other Side of the Hill.” Bless the Broken Road" is nominated for “Song of the Year” for writers Marcus Hummon, Bobby Boyd and Jeff Hanna. It is also nominated for “Pop-Contemporary Recorded Song.” The song, originally a hit for Rascal Flatts, was released by Selah and Melonie Crittendon on an album of duets. The 38th annual Dove awards will be presented on April 25th at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville and will be televised in national syndication in May. They will be co-hosted by Back Street Boys member Brian Littrell, Natalie Grant and Donnie McClurkin.

QUICK BITES

Amy Grant and Vince Gill are co-chairs of Nashville's 2007 St. Jude Dream Home Team. They will perform at the kick-off event on March 1st in Nashville. The campaign gives away a 600-thousand dollar dream home in Franklin, TN, south of Nashville. Proceeds help fight childhood cancer.

Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn has a community development named after him. Brookwood in Enterprise, AL, had its grand opening last Friday. The 90-acres will feature three and four bedroom homes that range from 175 to 225 thousand dollars. Brooks received a key to the city of Enterprise during the grand opening event.

Sugarland will celebrate their number one single “Want To” and the Platinum success of their album “Enjoy the Ride” at a reception next Wednesday in Nashville.

Rodny Atkins will be on CBS’ “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” Friday night.

Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin has a list of players who will duet with him on his new album. His singing partners include George Jones, Joy Lynn White, Tom T. Hall, rocker Elvis Costello and Bobby Bare. Louvin will be playing the rockin’ Bonnaroo Music Festival near Nashville in June and will showcase at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music conference in Austin in March.