Big Country Notes for Mar 26

RENOWNED GROUP OF TURTLES WRESTLE BOX OFFICE LEAD FROM ANCIENT WARRIORS

The ancient wars of the hit movie "300" have been knocked off their perch by a group of very special turtles. After coming out on top the past two weekends at the box office, "300" came in second this weekend to the new hit flick "TMNT" which is a computer-animated comedy which brings back to the spotlight the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The hard-shelled superstars of the 1980s sold an estimated 25-point-four million dollars worth at the box office during its first three days. The audience was divided pretty even among kids and nostalgic adults. "300" raked in 20 and a half million dollars this weekend, raising its three-week grand total to 162-point-four million dollars. The Mark Wahlberg thriller "Shooter" opened at number three, pulling in 14 and a half million dollars.

RASCAL FLATTS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN SEPTEMBER

Rascal Flatts will release the group’s new album in September. The fifth disc is being produced by Dan Huff. Group members Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney are staying busy these days. It has been six years since the release of their debut album. Since then they have sold more than 14 million copies. “Me and My Gang” and “Feels Like Today” both have sold quadruple Platinum with more than four million units sold. Their other two albums, “Rascal Flatts” and “Melt” are certified double Platinum. “Me and My Gang” is the group’s fastest selling title to date. Not only are the guys working on the upcoming release, they have been playing to capacity crowds on their “Me and My Gang” tour.

BILLY RAY CYRUS BACK TO “DANCING WITH THE STARS” TONIGHT

Billy Ray Cyrus and partner Karina Smirnoff took the low man position last week from the judges on “Dancing with the Stars.” Smirnoff noted that it was also the lowest score ever given to anyone on the series. In his blog on CMT.com, Billy Ray says, quote,”Its really important and helps so much to have friends like you to lean on. You don't know how much your comments and support have meant to me.” He adds, quote, “I'm listening to your suggestions! If I'm hearing you right, you want me to Smile more, Relax, have some fun…” Cyrus says he hopes things go smoother tonight. He says, quote, “I practiced really hard last week so I can come back out tonight and have another shot at this thing!” “Dancing with the Stars” will air on ABC tonight at 8 p.m. Votes will be cast by the judges and the viewing public. Tomorrow night’s show will reveal who will be the first to leave the series.

SUGARLAND PENNED “ENJOY THE RIDE” IN ALL DIFFERENT PLACES

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush wrote or co-wrote all eleven tracks on their sophomore disc “Enjoy the Ride.” At the time the duo was putting together the project last year they were busy touring and wrote whenever or wherever they found some downtime. Nettles says she and Kristian wrote in all different ways, explaining, quote, “The majority of it was written on the road either on the back of a tour bus or in hotel rooms which was something new. It was a different experience for us to write in those different environments.” Their current song, “Settlin’,” was written by the duo along with their friend Tim Owens.

JOSH TURNER CREATING NEW MUSIC

When Josh Turner is not busy on the road, he’s most likely working on the follow-up to his sophomore disc, “Your Man.” That CD was certified for sales of two-million, garnering the singer a few GRAMMY and Academy of Country Music nominations. Additionally, two of the songs from “Your Man” CD topped the charts—the title track and “Would You Go With Me.” Josh says that the feeling he gets from the success of that project has carried over to the next one. “It definitely gives me a boost going into the next project. Things I learned from the success of the second record and stuff that happened I never dreamed would happen, allows me to go in and further that momentum.” No word on when the new project is expected. His third single from the “Your Man” CD—“Me and God” --is heading up the country charts.

Josh is nominated for 3 ACM Awards including Single Record and Song for “Would You Go With Me” and for Vocal Event for “Me and God,” featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio. The ACM Awards air live May 15th from the MGM Grand on CBS.


TAYLOR SWIFT CREDITS WRITING HER OWN SONGS TO HER SUCCESS

The old adage is write what you know about. And that’s what Taylor Swift did on her self-titled Gold disc. While she’s only seventeen-years-old, she draws inspiration from her everyday life to tackle serious issues like an eating disorder and other mature subjects. Swift feels she’s been successful so far because she’s filling a niche. She says, quote, “Very few country singers sing about things that both young people and older people can relate to…I sing country music with topics that haven’t been previously addressed.” Whether it’s addressing being dumped – the subject of her current single “Tears On My Guitar”-- or evoking memories on her top five hit “Tim McGraw,” Taylor says, quote, “I’m not afraid to let people know details about my life or who I am as a person.” Swift wrote or co-wrote all eleven tracks on her first album.

In other Taylor Swift news, the singer has been invited to extend her run on the second leg of Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour. The September through November run will also feature Rodney Atkins.


MIRANDA LAMBERT IS PROUD OF HER ACM

Miranda Lambert has been on a rollercoaster since the release of her debut disc, “Kerosene,” over two years ago. Since then she’s received GRAMMY, CMA and ACM nominations and recently received a Platinum certification for “Kerosene.” Now the singer feels as if she’s in the big league since receiving an Academy of Country Music nod in the Top Female category. Lambert says, quote, “I am actually in a category with some big names in music like Faith [Hill], Sara [Evans] and Martina [McBride]. I have been buying those girls’ records since I was 15 and now I am a peer. The singer adds, quote, “WOW! This is huge.” Miranda is also up for Top New Female Vocalist alongside Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift. Miranda’s sophomore project “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is scheduled to hit stores May lst.

In other news, Lambert says her new puppy Delilah has been to six states and on a video shoot already.

PAT GREEN’S “DIXIE LULLABY” IS THE STORY OF LOVE

Three-time GRAMMY nominee Pat Green took a snapshot from his own life when he penned his new single “Dixie Lullaby.” The singer says, quote, “The song is more than the story of a father and son. It’s really just the story of life…the story of love.” He adds, quote, “You learn how to be in love by watching your parents be in love with each other.” Green credits that kind of loving environment for the successful marriage he has with his wife Kori. “Dixie Lullaby” is the latest hit from Pat’s “Cannonball” CD.



QUICK BITES

The Statler Brothers have been named Virginians of the Year by that state’s press association. One of the most awarded groups in country music, the men in the quartet lived in Virginia throughout their entire career and performed numerous free Fourth of July concerts in Staunton, VA.

Jack Ingram will be in Los Angeles this week taping an installment of “AOL Sessions.” He joins a group of top performers who have been taped the show, among them Tim McGraw, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond and Tom Petty.

When the Country Music Associatoin presents “The World Tour of the Hit Men” in Nashville it will be a special preview of a songwriter series that is scheduled for Joe’s Pub in New York City later in the week. Bob DePiero, Jeffrey Steele, Craig Wiseman and Tony Mullins will perform at this week’s at 3rd & Lindsley tomorrow night as part of the Tin Pan South activities.