Big Country Notes for Feb 26

MARTINA, CARRIE AND KELLIE SET TO APPEAR ON “AMERICAN IDOL”

Country music will be well represented on the sixth season of “American Idol.” Carrie Underwood is set to make her second “Idol” appearance since her win in 2005 this season on March 8th. She will perform her current hit “Wasted.” Kellie Pickler will also appear which will mark her first return to the “Idol” stage. She’ll sing her current song “I Wonder.” Additionally, Martina McBride has been selected as one of nine new celebrity coaches to work with the contestants this season. She will also perform. Only Carrie’s date has been announced. “American Idol” airs on FOX.

CHESNEY HITS THE ROAD ON HIS ANNUAL COLLEGE TOUR

Kenny Chesney’s “Keg in the Closet” tour has become a tradition among the college crowd. The 2007 trek kicks off today at the Jupiter Bar & Grille in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “They’re always absolutely insane at the Jupiter Bar & Grille,” Chesney says. “They kick us in the butt, and really get us digging into our memory bank for songs.” The singer explains that the whole point of the tour is to “play every song we know, a few we don’t really remember and make up whatever we can’t fake.” Following Tuscaloosa, the tour heads to Tallahassee, Florida tomorrow and to Gainesville on Wednesday. “Keg in the Closet” is a forerunner of Chesney’s new ”Flip Flop Summer” tour which kicks off on April 12th in Omaha, Nebaska. Joining the singer are Pat Green and Sugarland.

REBA McENTIRE AND KELLY CLARKSON PREVIEW NEW DUET

Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson teamed up together for a taping of “CMT Crossroads” last Thursday night in Nashville. Among the numbers they performed was a new duet “A Lot Like You” before the invitation-only crowd. The song will appear on Reba’s upcoming duets disc due in stores this fall. McEntire is busy working on the project and has recorded eight songs so far. She confirmed that she’s already sung with Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Ronnie Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Carole King, Don Henley, Kenny Chesney and, of course, Clarkson. Justin Timberlake will also be on the album. Reba says, quote, “Justin Timberlake did write a song for us to sing together and we’re hoping to do so in the near future.” “CMT Crossroads” pairs country music stars with popular artists from other musical genres—pop, rock, R&B. The show will premiere later this year.
· Next on Reba’s calendar—she will perform at the 2007 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on Thursday.

NICOLE KIDMAN WANTS KIDS WITH KEITH URBAN

In an interview on Oprah Winfrey’s pre-Oscar telecast Thursday night, Nicole Kidman, already mom to adoptees Isabella and Connor with Tom Cruise, revealed to good pal Russell Crowe she wanted more kids. “Am I going to have a baby? I hope so,” Kidman said. Crowe told her “I want to see you walking around barefoot and pregnant,” to which the actress replied, “I’d like to see that, too.” In the conversation, Crowe asked Nicole about husband Keith Urban’s stint in rehab. She says, quote, “We’ve dug really deep. Three months into our marriage we had to dig really deep. And that’s what we are doing. We’re in the process of doing that.”

DREAMS ARE COMING TRUE FOR TAYLOR SWIFT

She may be only 17-years-old, but rising star Taylor Swift has accomplished more in the last few months than many singers. Last week in Nashville, she celebrated her first Gold album for her self-titled disc with a big party. She said, “This Gold party meant to me that something I used to dream about a year ago is actually, most definitely possible.” She has never lacked motivation saying, quote, “I feel like I was very lucky to find what would motivates me early in life.” Swift adds, quote, “Staying motivated is seeing the crowds I perform to every single night and seeing that they know the words to my songs.” Among her many accomplishments include her first stint on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and enjoying her first big hit “Tim McGraw.” Currently, she’s on tour with superstar George Strait. In April she joins Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires and Amplifiers” tour.

KENNY CHESNEY DOESN’T WANT PEOPLE TO FORGET HE’S ALSO A SONGWRITER

When it comes to accomplishments, Kenny Chesney has a huge list, including the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year honors. One of his talents that he hopes fans and peers won’t lose sight of is his ability as a songwriter. Chesney penned his current hit “Beer in Mexico” while lounging by the pool at friend Sammy Hagar’s home in Mexico. He’s also written his hit “Old Blue Chair” as well as “You Had Me From Hello,” “Road and the Radio” and “Guitars and Tiki Bars.” Kenny says, quote, “I got into the business as a songwriter, and the confidence level grew over the years. I just love making music…and songwriting’s still a very, very important part of my life.”

SARA EVANS DOES PHOTO SHOOT FOR AMERICAN RED CROSS

Sara Evans has been in front of the cameras again. This time she wasn’t dancing – she was doing a photo shoot for the American Red Cross. Evans is on the organization’s Celebrity Cabinet for the third year in a row. Sara took part in a new photo shoot for a national public service campaign that will be seen nationwide beginning next month. The singer joins a list of celebrities, including Jamie Lee Curtis, model Niki Taylor and Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden who are helping to spread the word about the Red Cross and its efforts to assist people nationwide. Sara says, quote, “My responsibility as a spokesperson is to get the word out about the organization at every opportunity.”

QUICK BITES

Mark Wills will perform a benefit concert for the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers on March 10th. The event will take place in Fountain Hills, Arizona. Wills serves as honorary chairman of the foundation. The organization provides immediate benefits to families in the U.S. and Canada from federal, state, county and local law enforcement organizations. Over one-million-dollars has been distributed to over 300 families in the U.S. and Canada since November 2004.

Craig Morgan’s current CD “My Kind of Lovin’” has been certified Gold by the RIAA for sales of over 500-thousand copies. The singer will celebrate his latest achievement with a Gold party tomorrow in Nashville.

The 2007 Houston Rodeo & Livestock concert series kicks off tomorrow with George Strait. Others performing include Reba McEntire, Clay Walker, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson, Alan Jackson, Pat Green, Martina McBride, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley and Brooks & Dunn. The series wraps up March 18th with ZZ Top.