Big Country Notes for Mar 7

ALAN JACKSON WILL CLOSE TOUR WITH BROOKS AND DUNN

The arm wrestling is over and Brooks and Dunn won. The prize -- they get to open on their upcoming tour with Alan Jackson. Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn says, quote, “Alan’s camp asked for him to close the show and we had no problem with that.” Dunn’s singing partner, Kix Brooks, says the main element for the tour is that they give the fans something different that will make them want to purchase tickets. The singer says, “Fans are gonna look at that ticket and go ‘This is different.’ Once you get them out there then everybody gets to have fun. Part of getting them to come out is giving them a new bang for their buck, something they haven’t seen.” The two think Alan might bring in the more conservative country music fan for the tour. Opening acts will be Jake Owen and Catherine Britt. The tour begins May 5th in Virginia Beach, VA and closes October 21st in Orlando, FL.

KENNY CHESNEY SAYS “KEG IN THE CLOSET” TOUR HELPS HIM PREPARE FOR UPCOMING DATES

Kenny Chesney is finished with his “Keg in the Closet” tour but now the real work begins. Kenny says his recent stops at Florida clubs including the Hogs Breath and Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville set the stage for his major arena and stadium shows beginning in Omaha, NE on April12th. Chesney says, quote, “The Keg in the Closet tour gives us the change to play a bunch of really laid back college shows where we try new music and different sequencing of songs to see what is going to work this year.” He adds, quote, “Once we start in Omaha, the rehearsals are over. So we’re gonna be really intense in the next four weeks preparing to make the show the best we can do.”

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC MALE VOCALIST CATEGORY SEES REPEAT WINNERS

There are no newcomers to the nominee list for the ACM Top Male Vocalist category. Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban have all been nominated in this category before. Urban is the reigning Male Vocalist, having received the award for the past two years. Toby Keith won in 2003 and 2000 while Chesney took home the honor in 2002. Strait has the most wins with five. Chesney says, quote, “The ACM is one of those organizations that has been there all along, and they really care about this music and the people who make it.” Kenny adds. “Just having them along for this ride has been great, so it's always wonderful to be honored like this.” The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

GRETCHEN WILSON DOUBLES UP ON VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS

Gretchen Wilson is nominated twice for the Academy of Country Music’s Vocal Event of the Year category. The singer is featured in Hank Williams Jr.’s “That’s How They Do It In Dixie” plus Merle Haggard joins her for their “Politically Uncorrect” duet. Wilson says, quote, “To be in two vocal events is really cool, especially since I got to do them with legends like Merle Haggard and Hank Jr.” Williams is equally complimentary when he says, quote, “Man to know that Big & Rich, Gretchen and Van Zant all took time to record a song and video with me and now it’s acknowledged by the fans and the Academy.” He adds, quote, “After ten to 12 years of not being nominated, it sure feels good. Now if we could just win the damn thing!” Gretchen says of her performance with Haggard, quote, “What I love about “Politically Uncorrect” is that when I listened to it the first time, I got the sense that it’s just like the perfect political stance for a musical artist,” she said. “I can tell you the day I heard it on the radio was one of the highest points of my life. It's unbelievable, just the feeling that overcomes me as soon as Merle’s vocal kicks in on that, it's like 'Oh, my God, I can't believe that's him.'” The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

SHANIA TWAIN, DIXIE CHICKS ON THE “DEFINITIVE 200” ALBUM LIST

Several country artists have made the "Definitive 200" list of albums and soundtracks co-sponsored by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Shania Twain is the highest ranking country act with 1997's "Come On Over" checking in at the number 21 spot. Three Dixie Chicks albums made the list -- 1998's "Wide Open Spaces" at number 33 -- 2002's "Home" at 100 -- and 1999's "Fly" at number 113. Faith Hill’s 1999 album, "Breathe" comes in at 76 and the 1968 "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" ranks 77th. Willie Nelson's 1975 album "Red Headed Stranger" is listed at number 143 on the list and his 1978 release "Stardust" lands at 192.

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME HONORS MEL AND PAM TILLIS

“It’s All Relative: Mel and Pam Tillis” is on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. The museum is spotlighting the careers of Mel Tillis and his daughter, Pam, each of whom is an established singer, songwriter and actor. Tillis has written hit songs for Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare and Ray Price, and had his own string of hits including “I Ain’t Never,” Coca Cola Cowboy” and “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town.” He’s also starred in several movies including “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” and “The Cannonball Run.” Pam had cuts by Highway 101, Juice Newton and Conway Twitty before hitting with her own recordings including “Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)” and “Maybe It Was Memphis.” The exhibit includes original stage costumes by Nashville designer Manual, memorabilia from several movies and Pam’s Gibson EC-20 Starburst guitar that she played the night she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The exhibit will remain open through June 2007.

QUICK BITES

Carrie Underwood heads to Los Angeles Thursday to perform her current single “Wasted” on "American Idol."

Michael Martin Murphey will be presented with a Western Heritage Wrangler Award on April 21st for Outstanding Original Western Composition for his song “Long and Lonesome Ride To Dalhart” from his “Heartland Cowboy: Cowboy Songs Vol. 5” album. Murphey is doing a benefit Saturday for the Fiona Rose Foundation in Nashville. He’s also a guest on the Grand Ole Opry that night.

Phil Vassar is moving his recording career to the newly reorganized Universal Records South.

Award winning artist and sculptor D Michael Thomas has created a sculpture of Chris LeDoux that will be housed at Chris LeDoux Memorial Park in Kaycee, WY. The bronze titled “Good Ride Cowboy” depicts LeDoux’s 1976 world championship ride on Stormy Weather, and further incorporates his love of music by depicting LeDoux’s Guild acoustic guitar and strap as the base of the sculpture. The bronze will be life size and a half.

Lee Roy Parnell and the Marshall Tucker Band will perform at an All-Star concert at the Forum in Rome, GA on June 18th as part of the South Atlantic League All-Star weekend in that city.

More than three million viewers tuned in to watch Angela Hacker win “Nashville Star” last Thursday. The season finale of the USA Network show was the number one most watched program in basic cable primetime this year.

“Hope Floats” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” featuring Trisha Yearwood, Lyle Lovett, the Mavericks, Sheryl Crow and Bob Seger, is being reissued on April 24th. The disc has been re-mastered and expanded by six tracks. It is already a double-Platinum certified album.