Big Country Notes for APR 3

THREE SUPERSTARS RELEASE “LIVE AT TEXAS STADIUM”

The 2004 stadium show featuring George Strait, Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett performing together for the first time ever was a huge event. Now fans can relive the experience with the album “Live From Texas Stadium,” which releases today. The 15-song disc includes many of the singers’ classics including “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” “Margaretville” and “Where I Come From.” The duets are there, too, including Alan and Jimmy’s “Five O’Clock Somewhere” and George and Alan’s “Murder on Music Row.” Strait says the idea began to gel when he, Jackson and Buffett found themselves all in one place in the Bahamas a few years ago on separate fishing trips. The show was several years in the making, but Strait calls it one of his favorite concerts ever.

MARTINA McBRIDE RELEASES NEW ALBUM TODAY

“Waking Up Laughing” must be the way Martina McBride feels this morning. Her new album of that title releases today, and while the singer always puts 110-percent into her music, this album may be a little more personal. Martina not only produced it entirely by herself, she co-wrote three of the songs on the project. The singer says someone asked her if her single “Anyway” is more personal to her since she co-wrote it (with the Warren Brothers). She says, quote, “I’m just as excited about the last single I had out, or “In My Daughter’s Eyes,” as I am this song. I feel like those songs are as honest and real and as much me as something I would have written. All that said I am very proud of it.”

“NASHVILLE STAR” ANGELA HACKER RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM TODAY

Angela Hacker may have set a record for recording her debut album. The singer, who was announced as the new winner of “Nashville Star” on March 1st, is already releasing her first album today. The disc, titled “The Winner Is Angela Hacker: Nashville Star Season 5,” features four original songs and six cover tunes. Angela told the “Times Daily” that the disc will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart and iTunes. Angela says, quote, “I can’t remember a time in my life when I ever wanted to be anything but a singer. I wrote my first song at age ten and have been working at it ever since.” She adds, quote, “Now that it’s actually happening, all I can think is ‘wow.’ What did I do right?” Hacker is already making plans for her second disc, a duet album with her 23-year-old brother Zac Hacker, who was the first runner-up in the “Nashville Star” competition. Angela will hit the road along with Zac, David St. Romain and Joshua Stevens. The tour kicks off in Hershey, PA, on July 1st. The singers will do 40 dates over a three-month period this summer.

GRETCHEN WILSON TO PREVIEW MATERIAL FROM NEW ALBUM AT ACM CONCERT

Gretchen Wilson will preview material from her upcoming album “One of the Boys” when she performs May 13th in Las Vegas. Wilson will be participating in the Academy of Country Music’s concert after its annual Country Motorcycle Ride hosted by Montgomery Gentry. The celebrity ride is a benefit for the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund, which promotes and supports music education and humanitarian programs. The evening’s show will be held at the Fremont Street Experience. Gretchen’s new album will be released two days later, on May 15th, the same day as the 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards show. The awards show will be broadcast live over CBS.

DENISE JACKSON WRITES BOOK ABOUT LIFE WITH HER HUSBAND, ALAN

It’s not exactly a tell-all book, but Denise Jackson has written a tome about her life with hubby Alan Jackson. Set for a July release, “It’s All About Him: Finding the Love of my Life” is an in-depth look into the lives of the two childhood sweethearts. Denise talks about the couple’s struggles, dreams, successes and the near-failure of their marriage. She discusses rediscovering her faith and how that has helped to shape the life they now live. The book includes a bonus CD with two songs recorded by Alan for his wife’s project. There’s also a forward by Alan.

TIM McGRAW TO DO SPECIAL CONCERT AT CAMP JEEP

Jeep is sponsoring the “Soul2Soul Tour 2007” tour with Tim McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, so when McGraw was asked to perform a special concert at Camp Jeep on July 26th he was happy to say yes. Camp Jeep is the company’s “owner only” three-day mix of activities, including off-road driving. Held at the Oak Ridge Estate in Nelson County, VA, the event always includes entertainment for the thousands of Jeep owners who attend. McGraw holds a special place in his heart for the Jeep brand. In 1996, when Tim and Faith were on tour together, they borrowed a 1978 Jeep CJ to go for a ride. It was on that drive that the two decided to build a life together. Several years later, Hill tracked down that red Jeep and gave it to McGraw as a birthday present. The couple now affectionately refers to it as their "Date Jeep."

“TODAY” SHOW ANNOUNCES SPRING/SUMMER CONCERT LINEUP

Martina McBride performs on NBC’s “Today” show this morning and “Conan” tonight. On May 11th Martina returns to “Today” with Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson to officially kick off the show’s Spring/Summer concert series. Big & Rich guest on the series June 1st and Bon Jovi performs on June 19th.
· In other “Today” show news, Rodney Atkins will guest on April 20th.

BUCKY COVINGTON WRITES SONG WITH SAWYER BROWN’S MARK MILLER AND HOBIE HUBBARD

Bucky Covington is very conscientious about keeping his daily Internet blog going. In this week’s diary he talks about writing songs with Sawyer Brown’s Mark Miller and Hobie Hubbard. Bucky explains that Mark had an idea for a song titled “Carolina Blue.” Bucky says, quote, “He thought it would be good for me since I’m from Carolina. It’s about being out in Los Angeles chasing your dreams.” He adds, quote, “The song is about watching everything fall into place except you have a girl back home that you miss … thus the reason the singer is ‘Carolina Blue.’”

QUICK BITES

Tim McGraw performs on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” this evening and Billy Ray Cyrus continues his competition on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” tonight and tomorrow night.
According to KGET.com, Dwight Yoakam is planning to honor Buck Owens with a tribute song due for release in June. Owens died at the age of 76 just over a year ago. His last number one single was “Streets of Bakersfield,” a duet with Yoakam. The Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA, which was owned by the singer, plans to host a party on August 12th in memory of Buck’s birthday.

RCA is re-issuing three of Dolly Parton's early solo albums today – “Coat of Many Colors” (1971), “My Tennessee Mountain Home” (1973) and “Jolene” (1974). The new discs will include previously unreleased studio tracks.

Neal McCoy performed at an “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” benefit concert last week in upstate New York to raise money for the Oatman-Gaitman family from Schenectady. The family has two adopted sons who are HIV-positive. Neal says, quote, “Seeing a community pull together like this is what it's all about. I'm glad I could do my part to help and will bring home more than a good memory of the experience.”

LeAnn Rimes is in last week's issue of “Life & Style Weekly” discussing the latest trend of the purple eye shadow. Seems purple shadow makes LeAnn's Rimes' eyes look even bluer when she lines the upper and lower lids with it.

IN STORES TODAY

Martina McBride – “Waking Up Laughing”
Jimmy Buffet, Alan Jackson, George Strait – “Live At Texas Stadium”
Alison Krauss – “A Hundred Miles Or More: A Collection”
Dolly Parton – “Coat of Many Colors,” “My Tennessee Mountain Home” and “Jolene” (reissues)
“Charlotte's Web” DVD featuring Reba McEntire as the voice of Betsy the Cow