Big Country Notes for APR 13

RASCAL FLATTS TO PERFORM ON “AMERICAN IDOL”

Rascal Flatts will perform their mega hit “My Wish” on “American Idol’s” “Idol Gives Back” two-hour special April 25th. Among others performing are first season winner Kelly Clarkson, actor Hugh Grant, pop star Gwen Stefani and adult contemporary singer Josh Groban. “Idol Gives Back” is a fundraiser and awareness effort for organizations that provide relief programs to help children in extreme poverty in America and Africa. Viewers can make donations via toll-free pledge lines and the Internet. Corporate sponsors News Corporation, Ford, Coca-Cola and AT&T will donate money for every vote cast on that particular night. Ford will also contribute a special music video that will be available for download after the show. One hundred percent of the money generated will be contributed to "Idol Gives Back."

Rascal Flatts is taking a break from recording their upcoming album to go to Los Angeles to make an appearance. The last time the group performed on the show was May 25th, 2005. That night Carrie Underwood was crowned the new “American Idol” winner.

KENNY CHESNEY TOUR GETS UNDERWAY IN OMAHA

Kenny Chesney says he had a good reason to start his “Flip Flop Summer” tour in Omaha, Nebraska last night. He explains, quote, “The fans there set the bar pretty high, so it's a great way to kick off the tour." Chesney is rolling out a whole new setup for this year’s venture, including 12 tons of speaker cabinets for the in-door shows and 18 tons for the stadium shows. The new high-tech screen behind the stage weighs in at five tons so it’s going to take a lot of power to set up and tear down every night. Kenny says, quote, “These are big shows. It takes an awful lot of stuff for people to really hear this music … to feel it the way those shows that really rock you do.” Chesney says he can’t wait to show fans what he’s been working on for the past six months, adding, quote, “I'm pretty blown away by all of it - and I see it every day! For folks who're seeing it for this first time, I can't even imagine what kind of rush it's going to be.”

TOBY KEITH ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR GOLF TOURNAMENT

Toby Keith will be swinging for a good cause April 28th when he plays golf to help children with cancer in Oklahoma. The singer’s annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will be held at Belmar Golf Course in Norman, Oklahoma. The tournament starts on Friday night with a party and auction where Restless Heart will perform for golfers and their guests. A live and silent auction will take place with items as diverse as Walt Disney vacations, autographs from golfer Tiger Woods and baseball icon Mickey Mantle, along with items from musical celebrities Garth Brooks and rockers Sammy Hagar and Bob Seger up for bids. Keith says, quote, “We throw a great party wit this event every year to support these kids in their battle with cancer.” The tournament benefits Ally's House, an organization that Keith helped establish. The association serves as a major source of support to Oklahoma's young cancer patients.
Ally's House is named after Allison Webb, daughter of Keith's friend and original bandmate Scott Webb. Ally died in August of 2003, one month short of her third birthday, from a form of kidney cancer called Wilm's tumors.

BIG & RICH HOST ACM CHARITY POKER TOURNAMENT

Kenny Alphin and John Rich of Big & Rich are going to need to seek out some advice from “The Gambler,” Kenny Rogers. The duo, along with Two-Foot Fred, are hosting the first annual Charity Poker Tournament on May 14th in Las Vegas. Big Kenny says, quote, “We are thrilled – we hope to see some big winnings come out of this throw down.” John says, quote, “Hosting the inaugural tournament is both an honor and privilege to rack up some chips for charity.” The tournament will be held at the MGM Grand, where the 42nd annual ACM awards will take place on May 15th. First place winner could win up to ten thousand dollars. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top ten players. The tournament tops out with 100 people participating. All proceeds from the event will go to the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund. To register to play in the tournament go to www.acmcountry.com. The 42nd annual ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas on CBS May 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Cowboy Troy and John Anderson will be on the cover of today’s “Billboard” magazine. Inside is a seven-page spread on the MuzikMafia. The story heralds the upcoming releases from Wilson and Anderson on May 15th, and from Big & Rich and Cowboy Troy on June 5th.

SARA EVANS HUSBAND FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST WIFE’S ATTORNEY

Craig Schelske, estranged husband of Sara Evans, has filed a 20-million dollar lawsuit. Unlike the lawsuit filed by Evans’ former nanny, Allison Clinton Lee, this suit is against one of his wife’s divorce lawyers and the Nashville law firm that employs him. Lee filed a suit earlier this week suing Evans and her lawyers for defamation, claiming the singer made slanderous and libelous statements about her when she filed for divorce last year. Schelske’s suit accused lawyer John Hollins Sr. of slandering him and causing him emotional harm because he relayed untruths to the media. Schelske is asking for ten million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages from the attorney and the same amount from his law firm of Hollins, Wagster, Yarbrough, Weatherly & Raybin. Lee is seeking three million dollars in punitive and compensatory damages in her suit.

ARTISTS JOIN TOGETHER FOR CHARITY

Country music celebrities are always willing to step up for their favorite charity. Now a group of artists have joined forces with the non-profit organization Musicians on Call for an online auction. Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and others hope to raise awareness and money for the program at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Among the items on the auction block – a chance to meet Carrie during her tour this summer, luxury suite tickets to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and Keith Urban; Johnny Cash’s harmonica; an autographed Montgomery Gentry guitar and dream vacation in Nashville, including tickets to the CMA Music Festival. Fans can log on to www.charitybuzz.com through Tuesday to place their bid.
Musicians On Call brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of people in healthcare facilities. To date, MOC has served over 76-thousand individuals through Bedside Performances utilizing local musicians and national celebrities.

BARRY GIBB THANKS FANS FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF HIS FAMILY AFTER FIRE

The man who sang about “Stayin’ Alive” with his siblings in the Bee Gees is having one of those “good news, bad news” times in his life. Barry Gibb’s recently purchased Johnny and June Carter Cash’s home north of Nashville went up in flames Tuesday. Barry posted a notice on his website saying, quote, “The family is devastated and we thank you all for your support. No further comment at this time.” Gibb purchased the home in January 2006 and was in the process of renovating it. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. When he bought it, Gibb said he and his wife were determined to preserve it to honor the memory of the Cash family. In other news for the Bee Gees, they will be honored as BMI Icons at Broadcast Music Inc.’s annual Pop Awards in Los Angeles May 15th.

BUCKY COVINGTON HAS WEEK’S WORTH OF ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE NEW ALBUM

Bucky Covington’s self-titled debut album releases Tuesday and the singer is gearing up for a week-long promotional blitz. Sunday the former “American Idol” contestant will guest-host two special episodes of “CMT Outsider” offering fans a man-on-the-street perspective of the CMT Music Awards Monday night. He will walk the red carpet for the awards show Monday, then jet to New York City.
Tuesday morning he will be on Fox’s “The Morning Show” for an interview and performance. That night he goes to Los Angeles to tape an interview for Americanidol.com and guest on the TV Guide Channel’s “Idol Tonight.” Bucky returns to “Idol” as an audience member Tuesday night and will then tape “American Idol Extra,” which airs April 19th.
Thursday finds Covington visiting with Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM show and then performing on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Friday finds Covington returning to his home state of North Carolina for a concert date and CD signing. After a show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Saturday, he goes back to New York City for an appearance on Sunday’s “Fox & Friends” morning show. Bucky Covington will be released on Lyric Street Records on April 17th, 2007.
The album is produced by Mark Miller and Dale Oliver. It features eleven songs including the current hit single, “A Different World,” and Covington’s first co-write, “Carolina Blue.” Autographed copies of Bucky Covington can be pre-ordered from cmt.com, gactv.com and buckycovington.com while supplies last.

MAN WHO ABDUCTED SANDY BROOKS NOW FREE ON PROBATION

Quintine Cornelius Harper agreed to a plea agreement and has plead no contest to an amended charge of kidnapping in connection with the April 2006 abduction of Sandy Brooks, former wife of Garth Brooks, from her Oklahoma home. The “Tulsa World” reports that Harper was released from jail Tuesday after satisfying the conditions of his sentencing. According to the newspaper Harper also entered the same pleas on two misdemeanor counts of pointing a firearm. Harper was found guilty and sentenced to seven years on the kidnapping count. After finding Harper guilty, Rogers County District Judge Dwayne Steidley suspended six years of the term and gave him credit for time already served. He also received a six-month sentence on the firearms charge and was ordered to pay 300 dollars in fines, 150 in victims’ compensation fees and court costs. Terms of his probation require that Harper not contact Brooks or any member of her immediate family in any way.

QUICK BITES

Keith Urban has been rehearsing his upcoming “Love, pain and the whole crazy World” tour at the Curb Event Center in Nashville. Word from those with offices near the auditorium is that if rehearsals are any indication, Keith’s show is going to be loud and rocking this year. The first U.S. date for the trek is June 8th in Phoenix, Arizona.

Billy Currington has a new friend out on the road with him. Paco is a nine-week old chocolate Labrador retriever. Billy is already working with Paco on his basic obedience commands.

Little Texas returns home this weekend to perform at the Chevy Thunder at Sundance Square show tomorrow in Fort Worth, TX along with the Charlie Daniels Band. Sunday they will sing National Anthem and “God Blessed Texas” before 250-thousand fans at the Samsung 500 race at the Texas Motor Speedway. In honor of their coming home, Little Texas’ bassist Duane Propes has had a special bass with a design depicting the Texas Flag commissioned by the First Act Luthier Shop in Boston. It will be unveiled during their race performance. Little Texas will release a new album, “Missing Years,” on June 12th.

Trick Pony and Aaron Tippin will be among the performers at the 40th Anniversary IFCO "Fun Fest Show" on June 4th at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

Blake Shelton will perform on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on May 8th to promote his upcoming album “Pure BS” which hits stores May 1st. Blake keeps everyone up to date with pure BS on his ongoing webisodes at youtube.com/blakeshelton.

Actor and comedian Larry the Cable Guy will perform as part of a USO tour at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland on May 1st. The tour will feature a special screening of Lionsgate's "Delta Farce," which stars Larry the Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, DJ Qualls and Marisol Nichols. The film will be released in theaters nationwide on May 11th.

On the Grand Ole Opry this weekend: The Wreckers, Steve Wariner, the Oak Ridge Boys, Marty Stuart and other Opry greats.