Big Country Notes for APR 30

JOHN RICH’S LOS ANGELES VISIT PAYS OFF FOR BIG & RICH

When John Rich of Big & Rich went out for the GRAMMYS in February he decided to stay a few extra days in Los Angeles. He says, quote, “I didn’t have any plans, I just wanted to see what I could get into.” Rich went to rapper Wyclef Jean’s concert at the House of Blues and before he knew it, he was onstage with him. He says, quote, “I met him before the show and then when he saw me in the front row he stopped the band and had his bouncers literally lift me up onstage.” After talking with Wyclef further, Rich discovered he is a huge country music fan. John says, quote, “He says that Charlie Daniels’ ‘The Devil Went down To George’ is the song that got him to want to be a rapper.’ The result was the two decided they wanted to do something together. They sent Wyclef “Please Don’t Call the Police, Man,” which they were getting ready to record and he sent them a rap segment and recorded it and sent it back. The song is on the duo’s upcoming album “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace,” due out June 5th.

BRAD PAISLEY KICKS OFF “BONFIRES & AMPLIFIERS” TOUR IN CHATTANOOGA

When Brad Paisley and special guests hit the stage last Thursday in Chattanooga, TN, the crowd was ready for them. It was opening night of the “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour and everyone was well received. Jack Ingram, Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler are all aware of Brad’s affinity for practical jokes. Taylor didn’t exactly play a joke on Brad but she did vow to carry around a cardboard stand-up of the singer until she met him. Sure enough, Swift was spotted with a stand-up Brad at lunch, during sound check and in the backstage area prior to the show. Just before show time she and cardboard Brad ran into the real thing in the hallway and she actually got to meet him. No word on where cardboard Brad now resides.

MIRANDA LAMBERT SAYS SHE’S GROWN SINCE FIRST ALBUM

Miranda Lambert says she grown a lot since she recorded her first album. Her sophomore effort, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” due out tomorrow, will reflect that growth. Miranda says, quote, “I’ve learned a lot about myself and about the road. I think it shows in my voice and in my [song] writing.” Lambert says she fells like she’s the same person as always, which includes being distrusting when dealing with people. She explains, quote, “My father is a police officer and I think that influenced me to not be very trusting of people. I pick and choose who I will let close to me.”

JUDD'S HUSBAND ENTERS INNOCENT PLEA FOR CHILD MOLESTATION

The estranged husband of country music star Wynonna Judd has entered a plea of "not guilty" to charges of child molestation. Dan Robert Roach was arraigned in a Tennessee courtroom last week on three counts of aggravated sexual battery. Roach was arrested in Texas last month, and brought back to Nashville to face the charges. Judd filed for divorce from Roach shortly after the charges were filed against him. Roach's attorneys convinced prosecutors to reduce bail to 75-thousand-dollars, but the judge also ordered him to remain in Tennessee, and to stay away from children. (Metro Source)

JOE NICHOLS RELEASES SINGLE FROM UPCOMING ALBUM

Joe Nichols is showing another side to fans with his new single “Another Side of You.” The song is off his new album project, which is due out in late summer or early fall this year. Nichols says, quote, ““I always enjoy the process of recording new material – being in the studio with the musicians and the producers and creating something we all feel is special.” For this disc Nichols paired with producers Mark Wright and Brent Rowan, of whom he says, quote, “Both of these men get where I am coming from and what I want to accomplish in the studio. I feel like we captured something fresh and vibrant, and I can’t wait for everyone to get a taste of this new music.”

KELLIE PICKLER HELPS ONE SPECIAL MOM GO TO THE ACM AWARDS

Kellie Pickler is helping a special mom fulfill her dreams. The singer recently taped a segment for CBS' “Early Show” on which she helps a special mom prepare for her dream trip to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 15th. The piece will air the day before the awards. Interestingly, Kellie’s current single “I Wonder” is about a person who did not grow up with a mother in her life and is very autobiographical for her. Pickler was raised by her grandparents and has spent very little time with her birth mother. She is nominated for Top New Female Vocalist along with Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift at the ACM Awards. The show will air May 15th on CBS at 8 p.m. Eastern.

CMT.com reports that Kellie choked up on the last line of “I Wonder” last Thursday in Chattanooga. The occasion was opening night of Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour. Kellie joins Jack Ingram and Taylor Swift on the tour with Brad.

DANIELLE PECK BATTLES TESTOSTERONE BY TAKING HER SISTER ON THE ROAD

The formula worked for Michelle Branch – now Danielle Peck is giving it a try. Danielle is the only girl traveling the road with her all-male band. To counter-act all the testosterone on the bus the singer is bringing friends out with her this summer. Danielle says, quote, “My sister even comes out on the road a lot with me these days.” Danielle is following in the footsteps of Branch, who invited her friend Jessica Sharp to join her on the road. It didn’t take long for the two to form the Wreckers. While Danielle doesn’t have plans to seek a duet partner, she says, quote, “I figure that the guys like it better when they don’t have to watch the chick flicks with me!”

CELEBRITIES PLAY BASEBALL FOR CHARITY

Country stars will be singing “Take me out to the ballgame” on June 7th when they come together in a friendly competition for the City of Hope. Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, Craig Morgan and Rodney Atkins have already signed up for Lynnco Custom Cycles 17th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge. The baseball game, Presented by Gibson Foundation at 1p.m. at Nashville’s Greer Stadium, will pit two teams of celebrities against each other for the research and treatment center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, 615-255-9600 or at www.ticketmaster.com. In past years many of country music’s most popular entertainers have come out to support the center’s work to find cures for life-threatening diseases.

QUICK BITES

The winner of the CMT/NSAI Song Contest will have the opportunity to sit down with John Rich of Big & Rich as part of their grand prize package. Charlie Worsham and Kyle Hurlbut of Nashville are the winners of the songwriting contest.

Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram will be featured throughout the month of May through Cinema Sounds, an in-theater music video program running on more than 65-hundred screens in AMC, Regal, United Artists and Cinemark theaters.

CMT One Country will hold an online auction of items from the CMT Awards Show. Include in the auction are gifts from the custom designed talent gift bags given to celebrities participating in the awards show as well as autographed memorabilia and donated merchandise from artists. The auction, benefiting CMT One Country partners America’s Second Harvest, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity and the USO (United Service Organizations), closes on May 10th.

Jack Ingram has extended his Real American Music brand with the addition of Real American Music Minute, a series of audio tour diaries debuting this week on his website, MySpace page and artist page at CMT.com. Jack will file audio reports numerous times throughout the week.

Crystal Gayle was named “Best Female Entertainer” in the second annual American Entertainment Magazine’s Reader’s Choice awards. Crystal says, quote, “I love performing and we always have a great time with our audience and I’m pleased that my show is appreciated by talent buyers and promoters.” The Oak Ridge Boys were declared “Best Music Act” and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Best Duo or Group.” Kris Kristofferson was named “Entertainer of the Year.”

Christian worship singer/songwriter Chris Tomlin’s video Amazing Grace” (My Chains are Gone)” is being played on CMT. It’s from “Music Inspired by the Motion Picture Amazing Grace” that includes Martina McBride singing “How Great Thou Art.”


“DISTURBIA” RULES BOX OFFICE AGAIN; “SPIDEY-3” READY TO GO

The psychological thriller “Disturbia” spent its third – and likely last – consecutive week atop the U.S. box office, taking in an estimated nine-point-one-million-dollars, bringing its three-week total to just over 52-million. The first blockbuster of the summer season, “Spider-Man 3,” opens this Friday and will undoubtedly take over the top spot. Both previous “Spider-Man” flicks took in well over 100-million-dollars during their opening weekends. Other upcoming blockbusters include “Shrek the Third" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."
This weekend’s number-two film was another new supernatural thriller, “The Invisible,” which earned an estimated seven-point-six-million-dollars. The Nicolas Cage action picture “Next” debuted at number three with seven-point-two-million. As for other new releases, “The Condemned,” a violent action flick starring pro wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin, premiered at number nine with four-million-dollars in receipts, while the comedy "Kickin' It Old Skool” starring Jamie Kennedy opened at number eleven with two-point-eight-million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. (final figures will be released today):

1. "Disturbia," $9.1 million.
2. "The Invisible," $7.6 million.
3. "Next," $7.2 million.
4. "Fracture," $7.1 million.
5. "Blades of Glory," $5.2 million.
6. "Meet the Robinsons," $4.84 million.
7. "Hot Fuzz," $4.8 million.
8. "Vacancy," $4.2 million.
9. "The Condemned," $4 million.
10. "Are We Done Yet?", $3.4 million.