Big Country Notes for APR 9

KEITH URBAN READY TO HIT THE CONCERT STAGE IN GERMANY

Keith Urban says he’s fit and ready to begin his international tour. Urban’s “Love, Pain and the whole crazy World” tour begins April 19th in Munich, Germany. Urban says, quote, “Europe has been really good to us and Germany in particular. This will be our third or fourth trip there.” He does three dates in that country before heading for London for a two-night stand, April 24th and 25th. After a couple more dates in the United Kingdom, Keith returns to his homeland, Australia, for a six-city tour. Next on his agenda is the U.S., with an opening date June 8th in Phoenix, AZ. Keith says he feels great. He says he’s also finding that he can “Connect with an audience and then have a separate life offstage.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAYS SHE’S SHY AROUND GUYS

Carrie Underwood says she’s not looking for a marriage proposal but, quote, “I'd like to have someone other than my mom to call when I have good news." The singer revealed to “Cosmopolitan” magazine that she has a hard time finding a date. She told them she feels like, quote, “I’m horrible around guys.” Now that Underwood is a superstar, she also worries about the celebrity involvement. She says, quote, “Guys who would never look at me twice before might ask me out now, so I guess I have better opportunities. But when I do meet a guy, there’s this ‘Does he just want his picture in a magazine?’ factor.” Carrie admits to “Cosmo” that she hasn’t had a serious boyfriend since she broke up with her college boyfriend Drake Clark in 2005. Despite being linked to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, she says there was nothing to those rumors. You can read more about Carrie in the current issue of “Cosmo” on newsstands now.

WYNONNA JUDD’S ESTRANGED HUSBAND BACK IN NASHVILLE TO FACE CHARGES

Dan R. Roach, the estranged husband of Wynonna Judd, is back in Nashville after being arrested in Abilene, TX, in March. Roach will face three counts of aggravated sexual battery against a child younger than 13. According to Fox News, he was returned to Nashville by Abilene police and is being held in Metro Jail with bail set at 150-thousand dollars. Judd filed for divorce from Roach after he was charged. She cited irreconcilable differences for the reason for wanting a divorce. Judd and Roach were married in November of 2003. She has two children from a previous marriage.

MARTINA McBRIDE SAYS SHE PRODUCED ALBUM TO RECORD ON HER OWN SCHEDULE

Martina McBride wanted to work on her new album “Waking Up Laughing” on her own time, which is one of the reasons she decided to produce it herself. She says she didn’t want to be dependent on someone else’s schedule while she was recording the project. A typical day for her revolved around her children’s schedule and family time. She says, quote, “I’d go in around 10:30, 11:00 a.m. after I would answer my e-mail and do stuff at home and feed Ava breakfast. Usually I’d wait until she went down for her nap and then go in.” Her husband, John, was her engineer and she says that was a lot of fun. Once the kids were home from school, around 4 p.m., Martina says they would do their homework and, quote, “then we would all hang out for about an hour and a half…and then we’d all go home and I’d make supper and get the kids to bed…and sometimes we’d go back [to the studio] and work.”

STARS HONORED TONIGHT AT RECORDING ACADEMY CELEBRATION

Loretta Lynn and Rascal Flatts are among those being honored tonight by The Nashville Chapter of the Recording Academy. Lynn is a three-time Grammy winner and Rascal Flatts are multiple-award winners. Others to be honored are The Fisk Jubilee Singers and gospel-rock group Jars Of Clay. The Honors 2007 presentation will be hosted by actress Andie MacDowell with performances by Tanya Tucker, pop singer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, the Fisk Jubilee Singers and gospel singer Sara Groves. Marty Stuart will make a special presentation.

JOSH TURNER SAYS HE AND BAND NEVER PASS A CRACKER BARREL SIGN

Josh Turner says he and his band never get tired of seeing a Cracker Barrel sign on the interstate. He says, quote, “I am pretty sure my band and I have all the Cracker Barrel exits memorized between here and South Carolina.” Turner adds, quote, “When you’re on the road, it’s nice to know that you can pull into any Cracker Barrel and feel like you’re in your mama’s kitchen, waiting on your favorite meal.” It’s a good thing Josh feels that way, because he’s recording a live album for Cracker Barrel’s record label April 19th at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Josh says, quote, “I am looking forward to my first live album that will be recorded at the historic Ryman Auditorium. This is definitely going to be one of the most memorable nights of my career. It’s gonna be fun.”

CONTRADICTING TESTIMONY REGARDING BILLY JOE SHAVER COMES TO LIGHT

There is new testimony that contradicts that of singer/songwriter Billy Joe Shaver in his recent arrest case in Texas. Shaver’s attorney says he was acting in self-defense when he shot a man outside the Lorena’s Papa Joe’s Bar. But witnesses say Shaver was the one who was aggressive in the incident. Shaver and the victim, Billy Bryant Coker, had apparently met in the bar and talked for an hour or so before the shooting. During the conversation the men determined that a cousin of Coker’s had once been married to the singer’s wife, Wanda. Although no one knows what was said between the two men, they exited the building about the same time then what was believed to be a gunshot was heard. The “Waco Tribune-Herald” says a woman who went outside to see what had happened says she heard Shaver to Coker, quote, “Tell me you’re sorry…nobody tells me to shut up.” A second witness says he saw the shooting, and claims Coker came outside first with Shaver following him with his pistol in his hand. Coker’s story is the same as the two witnesses. Coker was shot in the cheek and is in stable condition. Shaver has a concealed handgun permit but even so is prohibited from bringing a gun into a bar.
Shaver posted bond and was released the same day (April 3rd). That night he celebrated the release of his new “Greatest Hits” album at a party in Austin. He told the audience there, quote, “It’s great to be anywhere,” according to the “Waco Tribune-Herald.” He also asked fans, quote, “Don’t forget to pray for me, and tell your kids to pray for me, too.” Shaver is known for such classics as Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and John Anderson’s “I’m Just An Old Chunk of Coal (But I’ll be a Diamond Some Day).”

QUICK BITES

LeAnn Rimes is previewing her new single “Nothing Better to Do” today for her fans on her website, http://www.leannrimesworld.com/. Fan club members can go directly to their pages to listen.

Jerry Lee Lewis, southern rockers the Allman Brothers Band and rocker George Thorogood are among the headliners at next the "Beale Street Music Festival" in Memphis, May 4th through 6th.

A new episode of “Hee Haw” will be available on DVD May 1st. It’s from 1983 and features George Strait performing "Amarillo By Morning" and "A Fire I Can't Put Out." The Statler Brothers sing "Guilty" and "Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely." The late Buck Owens & the Buckaroos do "There Must Be Something About Me That She Loves."

Reba McEntire is wrapping up the final stages of her much talked about duets album. At last count, eleven country and pop artists are singing with her on the new disc. Confirmed partners include Kenny Chesney, Ronnie Dunn, Justin Timberlake, Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, Carole King, Don Henley, Trisha Yearwood, LeeAnn Rimes and Rascal Flatts. The first single will be released next month and the album is scheduled to be out this fall.

Big & Rich and Lee Greenwood will perform at the Vietnam Veterans of America's National Convention July 18th-22nd in Springfield, Illinois.

Wynonna Judd will perform with the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Symphony August 2nd-3rd for its summer Picnic Pops Series. The outdoor concerts are held at Cannonsburg Ski Area.



"BLADES OF GLORY" LEADS BOX OFFICE AGAIN; "GRINDHOUSE" OPENS AT #4

The bloody Quentin Tarantino – Robert Rodriguez double-feature "Grindhouse" proved no match for Will Ferrell's "Blades of Glory" at the box office. The skating comedy earned an estimated 23-million-dollars over the three-day weekend to stay at the top of the movie charts. The three-D animated family romp "Meet the Robinsons" placed second with 17-million-dollars. Ice Cube's family comedy "Are We Done Yet?" made 15-million-dollars in its debut weekend to place third. The three-hour "Grindhouse" had to settle with fourth place with just over eleven-point-six-million-dollars. The Hilary Swank-headlined supernatural thriller "The Reaping" rounded out the top five with a take of just over ten-million-dollars.
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. "Blades of Glory," $23 million.
2. "Meet the Robinsons," $17 million.
3. "Are We Done Yet?", $15 million.
4. "Grindhouse," $11.6 million.
5. "The Reaping," $10.1 million.
6. "300," $8.8 million.
7. "Wild Hogs," $6.8 million.
8. "Shooter," $5.8 million.
9. "TMNT," $4.9 million.
10. "Firehouse Dog," $4 million.