Big Country Notes for Mar 27

KENNY CHESNEY CELEBRATES HIS 39TH BIRTHDAY DOING WHAT HE LOVES TO DO

Kenny Chesney didn’t need his friends to throw him a birthday party. Last night Kenny Chesney threw his own party at the famed nightspot Tin Roof in Nashville to celebrate his 39th birthday. Like his “Keg in the Closet” shows, there was no set list and no production – just a lot of cover songs and a few acoustic tunes from “Be As You Are: Songs From an Old Blue Chair.” Chesney says of the impromptu show, quote, “…the idea of stripping it all back and just playing here in my hometown, letting it all hang out and seeing who shows up, well, that’s my kind of birthday – laid-back, chilled-out and ready for whatever happens.”

TIM MCGRAW NEW CD “LET IT GO” IS A FAMLY AFFAIR

Tim McGraw didn’t have to search too far for talent when it came to casting his new album “Let It Go.” The singer tapped his wife Faith Hill to sing on two tracks – “I Need You” and “Shotgun Rider.” Gracie, Maggie and Audrey – Tim and Faith’s three girls – contributed background vocals on his current single “Last Dollar,”
written by Big Kenny of Big & Rich. Additionally, producer Byron Gallimore’s kids – Sophie and Ella Rose – added their vocals. McGraw also recruited his touring band – The Dancehall Doctors – for the project. This is the third time he’s enlisted his band for an album project. When it came time to select songs for his eleventh disc, the singer picked songs he liked and wanted to record. He tells CBS’ “The Early Show,” quote, “…We’ve been doing it for so long now that I feel like I can stretch my wings and do all kinds of styles of music because when I open my mouth and sing, it’s going to come out like me.” McGraw adds, quote, “So it allows us a certain amount of freedom to pick whatever songs we like and not necessarily look for any type of song…” Other highlights of the disc include “Between the River,” a song McGraw co-wrote with the Warren Brothers and “Suspicions,” a cover of the Eddie Rabbitt hit.

Tim continues his media tour for “Let It Go” with more TV appearances. He performs on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” April 3rd. Other appearances include “Ellen” on April 5th and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” also on April 5th.


DIERKS BENTLEY OPENS UP TO “PEOPLE” ABOUT HIS WEDDING

Dierks Bentley has kept mum on the details of his engagement and wedding to his bride of 15 months—Cassidy –until now. After proposing to Cassidy in Las Vegas during a tour stop in 2005, the next day the singer surprised her with a plan to elope in Mexico. Cassidy tells “People,” quote, “We got married in a little chapel in Mexico, and it was beautiful and private and real.” As for a wedding dress, Dierks had a stylist friend bring the dress, adding, quote “I was nervous. You don’t want to pick out a woman’s wedding dress.” These days they are balancing marriage with life on the road. They live in Nashville’s Hillsboro Village area, but plan to build a new home on 40 acres they purchased south of the city.
· The couple met in eighth grade at Ingleside Middle School in Phoenix. But Dierks didn’t make a good impression, saying, quote, “I was way too immature and into drinking beer and guns and blowing things up.” They dated in high school, but Dierks moved to Music City at 19 and Cassidy moved to San Francisco. Eventually they hooked up in February 2005 when Cassidy saw Dierks’ show in Las Vegas. Before long Cassidy moved in with Dierks and a proposal followed ten months later.
· Dierks performs tonight on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” -- continuing his media tour for his new DVD “Live and Loud at the Fillmore.”


TODAY IS A BIG ONE FOR JACK INGRAM

Jack Ingram has been waiting for this day for some time—five years in fact! Ingram’s first studio album in five years – “This Is It” -- is in stores today. Since the singer’s last studio album “Electric” in 2001, Jack has done a lot of living and those life experiences are reflected on the disc. He says, quote, It’s been a whole life cycle since I put out a studio record. I’ve become a father three times over… My records in the past paralleled my growth and maturity and ‘This Is It’ is a further reflection of that.” Some of the songs are about and inspired by his kids including “Ava Adele.” Ingram says, quote, “This song is for her. I’m just like every dad I know, never knew that I could have so much love for anything or anybody.” One of the highlights of the disc – “Hold On” -- is a duet with last year’s touring partner Sheryl Crow. Ingram penned six of the 12 tracks.

ALABAMA RELEASES SECOND CD OF INSPIRATIONAL SONGS

Alabama -- Country Music Hall of Famers – are set to release “Songs of Inspiration II” today. The disc of inspirational songs and hymns is the follow-up to “Songs of Inspiration” – released last October. There’s a difference in both discs notes lead singer Randy Owen saying, quote, “The second one is more like an Alabama live show.” The new set includes such classics as “Church in the Wildwood,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” –featuring the Del McCoury Band—and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This is the first time the band has recorded “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Like the first collection, the new project includes original Alabama music, too. While Owen penned a couple songs on the first CD, this time around band member Teddy Gentry wrote a song called “When It Comes My Time.” Alabama set a record when the first inspirational disc was released. The CD debuted at number one on the country album chart which was the first time an album by the band had done so in more than 15 years. Randy says of the accomplishment, quote, “I couldn’t believe it. I knew fans had said they would like for Alabama to make an album like this, but I had no idea that people would respond like that.”


VINCE GILL, WILLIE NELSON AND MORE SET FOR BENEFIT GUITAR FESTIVAL

Vince Gill and Dan Tyminski are among those taking part once again in the Crossroads Guitar Festival. They're set to support classic rocker Eric Clapton for his second all-star fundraiser for his Crossroads Centre in Antigua. They were also involved in the first such event three years ago. In addition, Willie Nelson is on board this time around, and Tyminski will be joined by his band mates as Alison Krauss and Union Station are also slated to join in. The festival will feature performers from various musical genres including rock, pop, blues, and country teaming up for special live one-time-only collaborations. Others who've signed on include Sheryl Crow; John Mayer; classic rockers Jeff Beck, Steve Winwood, Jimmie Vaughan, and Derek Trucks; and blues greats Buddy Guy and B.B. King. Clapton says all the participants are musicians he admires and respects, and he calls the event "the realization of a dream." The Crossroads Guitar Festival is set for Chicago's Toyota Park on July 28th. (Metro Source)

TRACE ADKINS IS HONORED TONIGHT WITH USO MERIT AWARD

Trace Adkins will receive the 2007 USA Merit Award tonight at the 25th annual USA-Metro awards dinner. The event will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Past recipients of the USO Merit Award include Steven Spielberg, Elizabeth Taylor, Willie Nelson, Craig Morgan and Bob Hope. Adkins is being honored for his support of our troops and their families. He has traveled into war zones as part of a USO tour to entertain service members, as well as lend his support to various other USO functions.

QUICK BITES

Keith Anderson is the latest addition to the Country Music Marathon and Half-Marathon's post-race concert in Nashville. Anderson says, quote, "So many people from all over the world come to our city to participate in this race, and I look forward to playing for them." As previously announced, Sara Evans will headline the concert at the Nashville Arena on April 26th.
Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich are part of the line-up for the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days concert series. The event runs July 20th-29th.
Marty Stuart celebrates the past, present and future of country music with “Compadres: An Anthology of Duets.” The project features collaborations with Merle Haggard, Steve Earle, Travis Tritt, Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Johnny Cash. The disc is in stores June 5th.
Amy Grant and Jon Bon Jovi will be in New York City on June 2nd. They will perform at BookExpo America as part of the annual fundraiser benefiting the Book Industry Foundation.

IN STORES TODAY:

Tim McGraw—“Let It Go”
Jack Ingram—“This Is It”
Alabama—“Songs of Inspiration II”
David Ball—“Heartaches By the Number”