Big Country Notes for Feb 22

TIM McGRAW, FAITH HILL TOP LIST OF PUBLIC FIGURES LOVED BY AMERICANS

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are among a list of celebrities and other public figures who score high in recognition and favorability with Americans. The survey was conducted by Barna research, which found that 72-percent of those interviewed knew McGraw and 71-percent knew Hill. Actor Denzel Washington had the highest recognition with 85-percent followed by talk show host Oprah Winfrey with 83-percent and Microsoft founder Bill Gates with 80-percent. Behind Tim and Faith were actors Mel Gibson with 69-percent and George Clooney with 67-percent. Former president Bill Clinton and the Reverend Billy Graham had a 64-percent recognition factor. The survey was conducted in October 2006 and January 2007 and is based on interviews with over one thousand adults.

ALAN JACKSON, GEORGE STRAIT AND JIMMY BUFFETT RELEASE LIVE ALBUM

Friends having fun with friends is a good description of the new album “Live At Texas Stadium” which will be released April 3rd. The disc features both individual and collaborative live performances by Alan Jackson, George Strait and Jimmy Buffett. The recordings were made during their 2004 concert in Dallas. The album will contain 15 songs including Jackson’s “Five O’Clock Somewhere” and Strait’s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” both featuring Buffett; Buffett contributes “Margaritaville,” which features vocals by both George and Alan. Solo performances from Alan include “Seven Bridges Road” and “Where I Come From.” Strait offers “Milk Cow Blues” and “Cowboys Like Us.” Buffett contributes “North East Texas Woman.” Alan and George’s “Murder On Music Row” is also on the album.

GARY ALLEN SAYS HE NEVER LOOKS BACK AT PAST RECORDINGS

Gary Allan is right where he needs to be. He’s looking at the release of his first “Greatest Hits” album on March 6th. Putting the album together was cause for some reflection. Allan says, quote, “You know it doesn’t seem like eleven years [since the first disc] … it just flew by.” The singer admits he usually doesn’t go back and listen to the music he’s already recorded. He says, quote, “I never go backwards like that. That’s my biggest problem with my songwriting. I write and then I have cassettes all over the house that aren’t labeled.” Gary includes his hits “Smoke Rings in the Dark,” “Man to Man,” “Nothing On but the Radio” and “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” on the upcoming disc. The CD features two new songs, his current new single, “Feelin’ Like That,” and another new tune, “As the Crow Flies.”

REBA MCENTIRE AND KELLY CLARKSON TAPE CMT”S “CROSSROADS” TONIGHT

Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire combine their talents tonight for a special performance that will be taped for CMT’s “Crossroads." Kelly is a huge fan of Reba’s and the two have become good friends. Clarkson and McEntire will perform before an invitation-only Nashville audience, singing on each other’s hits and talking about their friendship on and off stage. Clarkson will sing on Reba’s duets album which will be in stores later this year. The two first met on the stage of “American Idol” in 2002. Since that time, Clarkson was a guest on “CMT Giants: Reba McEntire” and on the sitcom “Reba.” Their “Crossroads” taping will premiere in the fourth quarter of 2007.

KELLIE PICKLER SEEN AS ROLE MODEL BY YOUNGER FANS

Kellie Pickler says it’s hard to think of herself as a role model for younger fans. The singer says when she does think about it she tries to envision what her six year old brother or 17-year-old sister might think of her music and the other things she is doing in her career. Pickler says, quote, “I have everyone from toddlers up to 90-year-old men at my concerts. I think the young kids should be able to look up to their moms and dads as role models.” She adds, quote, “We [celebrities] should not be the one who is responsible for a child drinking just because they saw a celebrity holding a drink.”

BILLY RAY CYRUS NAMED AS “DANCING WITH THE STARS” CONTESTANT

Billy Ray Cyrus’ dance moves to his hit song “Achy Breaky Heart” created quite a sensation when he first came on the country music scene in 1992. Now he’ll have the opportunity to use those moves along with a few new ones on the new season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Cyrus is a contestant in the show’s fourth season, which begins March 19th. Cyrus dancing partner will be season three's finalist, Karina Smirnoff, who returns for her second season. Celebrities will perform choreographed dance routines with their partners. They will be judged by ballroom expert Len Goodman and dancer/choreographers Bruno Tonioli and Carrie Ann Inaba. The performance shows will air from 8:00-9:30 p.m. ET on Mondays. “Dancing with the Stars the Results Show” will air on Tuesdays from 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET. Viewers will have two weeks to see the entire cast of contestants dance before an elimination takes place on Week Two. The winners will be named on the May 22nd finale.
Cyrus will be joined by boxing pro Laila Ali, basketball pro Clyde Drexler, actor and former ‘N Sync band member Joey Fatone, Miss USA 2004 Shandi Finessey, former “Entertainment Tonight” co-host Leeza Gibbons, Olympic gold medalist Apolo Ono, actor Vincent Pastore, supermodel Pauline Porizkova and actor Ian Ziering.
“Dancing with the Stars” will be co-hosted by Tom Bergeron and Samantha Harris.

EMERSON DRIVE GETS FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Emerson Drive is serious about their association with Second Harvest Food Bank. The guys in the band recently took some time off from touring to spend a morning at The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The band performed for the Second Harvest staff before taking a tour of the facility. Lead singer Brad Mates says, quote, “Visiting the Second Harvest Food Bank location in Nashville was a real eye opening experience for all of us. We had no idea how many children are affected by this problem each day.” He adds, quote, “We are a busy touring band and if we spread the word in each city we visit, maybe we can help make a difference in the lives of people who suffer from hunger all over the country.”
In other news, members of Emerson Drive, who now live in Nashville, say they will apply for U.S. citizenship. They will then hold duel citizenship for Canada and the U.S. The band assures fans in both countries that they will continue to book numerous dates so all their fans will have the opportunity to see them.

QUICK BITES

Toby Keith’s record label, Show Dog Nashville, is signing Mica Roberts. The singer has toured with Faith Hill as a featured background vocalist and worked and performed with artists including Billy Bob Thornton, Martina McBride and Willie Nelson

Blake Shelton is a guest on CBS' "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" next Wednesday.

Lonestar raised more than 130-thousand dollars for charities when they participated in “Wheel of Fortune’s” country music week. Lead singer Richie McDonald was the big winner on Wednesday night, winning sixty-one thousand dollars for St. Judes Children’s Hospital. Thursday night Michael Britt went to the bonus round and raised just over 59-thousand dollars for Adopt A Platoon (adoptaplatoon.org). Dean Sams and Keech Rainwater brought in ten thousand dollars each on their respective turns at the wheel.

A host of country artists combined their talents and personalities to help raise more than 300-thousand dollars for the T J Martell Foundation through Country in the Rockies. The annual event benefits Cancer Research at the Frances Williams Preston Lab at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Among the stars participating were Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town, Blue County, Gretchen Wilson and pop stars Kenny Loggins and Richard Marx.

A two-DVD set featuring “The Best of Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters” will be released May 1st by Time Life. The television show starred Barbara, Louise and Irlene Mandrell and aired on NBC from 1980 to 1982. It had a weekly audience of 40 million viewers. The set includes 44 musical performances from guests including Johnny and June Carter Cash, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Alabama, Glen Campbell, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the Statler Brothers and the Charlie Daniels Band.