Big Country Notes for APR 12

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SCORES FOURTH NUMBER-ONE SINGLE

Carrie Underwood hasn’t wasted any time landing her fourth single at the top of the charts. The success she’s had with the single “Wasted” marks the first time a female country artists has achieved four number-one singles from a debut album. The other recent artists to climb to the same heights are labelmates Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn. Underwood’s first single, “Jesus, Take the Wheel” went to number one and brought numerous accolades for the singer. Her second and third singles, “Don’t Forget to Remember Me” and “Before He Cheats,” followed her first success at the top of the charts. All are from her debut album “Some Hearts” which has been certified quadruple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Fans can also be looking for a cover feature on Carrie in the May issue of “Cosmopolitan,” on sale now.
Carrie is up for Female Video and Video of the Year at Monday’s CMT Music Awards. The show airs live from Nashville over CMT at 8 p.m. Eastern.

GARY ALLAN OPENS UP TO “PEOPLE” MAGAZINE ABOUT HIS WIFE’S SUICIDE

Gary Allan says he’s not yet over the October 24, 2004 tragedy of losing his wife, Angela Herzberg. In a first-person account in the new issue of “People,” on newsstands Friday, Gary talks about his loss for the first time. He talks about what an ideal life he thought they had in their home outside Nashville, where they lived with their extended family of six kids. He recalls the night when Angela took her life, on a day when he had just come home after being out for a series of concerts. The singer says that she was not feeling well that evening and he was concerned about her. He says she went into their bedroom and he followed her in case she needed something. She asked him to get her a soft drink and while he was in the kitchen, quote, “I heard a loud pop. It sounded like she had thrown something.” He quickly returned to the bedroom, where he found her dead from a gunshot wound. Even though he later learned she had been told to get help for her depression, Allen continued to blame himself for the suicide for a long time. He says, quote, “After she died, I couldn’t write, I couldn’t do anything. I was a mess.” He says after two years he is beginning to feel better and continues to pull his life back together.
Gary’s video “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful” has landed a CMT Music Awards Director of the Year nomination for Paul Boyd. The show will air Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern over CMT.

TIM McGRAW MAINTAINS THE TOP SPOT ON “BILLBOARD’S” COUNTRY ALBUM CHART

Tim McGraw holds down the top spot on “Billboard’s” Country album charts for the second week in a row with “Let It Go.” Martina McBride’s “Waking Up Laughing” is at the number two spot. McGraw’s disc remains at number two on the all-genre Top 200 album chart. McBride’s album is at number three, a tie for her best position on the all-genre chart to date. Bluegrass diva Alison Krauss enters the Top 200 with her "A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection" at number ten with the triple threat trio of Alan Jackson, George Strait and Jimmy Buffett settling in at number eleven with their “Live at Texas Stadium” disc.
McGraw is up for Male Video of the Year for “My Little Girl” on the CMT Music Awards Monday night. The show broadcasts live from Nashville over CMT at 8 p.m. Eastern.

GEORGE STRAIT SIGNS UP TO RIDE FOR THE WRANGLER BRAND AGAIN

George Strait is once again endorsing Wranger Jeans. The company’s 2007 promotion with the singer will encompass 22 cities and 90 retailers. The campaign includes poster giveaways in select outlets and ticket giveaways to one of Strait’s concerts with a purchase of 30 dollars or more in Wrangler gear. The giveaways are limited and available in select retailers nationwide. Wrangler’s George Strait Collection includes a line of cowboy cut jeans and long and short-sleeved button-up shirts that mimic the Texan’s cowboy style. The clothing line was launched by Wrangler in 2003 and has developed into one of its most popular buys. Strait has had a relationship with the manufacturer since the late 1980’s.

TAYLOR SWIFT FOLLOWS “ROAD TO THE ACM’S”

Taylor Swift will be featured in video clips titled “Taylor Swift’s Road to the ACMs.” The segments will be created diary style and will document a behind-the-scenes view of Taylor’s life leading up to the 42nd annual ACM awards on May 15th. Swift is nominated for Top New Female Vocalist. Swift says, quote, “I have always dreamed of being nominated for this award and, like most people, I am never without my cell phone.” She adds, quote, “To be able to use this technology to give people a glimpse into such an important event is so exciting to me.” A new diary segment will be available each week on CBS’s mobile platforms. Fans can also go to www.cbsmobile.com to download ringtones and wallpapers of Taylor-related product for their mobile phones. The ACM Awards will be broadcast live from Las Vegas, Nevada on May 15th on CBS.
Taylor is also nominated for an award on another awards show. Her video for “Tim McGraw” is up for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards Monday. The show airs over CMT beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern.