Big Country Notes for MAY 22

CARRIE UNDERWOOD GOES PLATINUM SIX TIMES OVER

Carrie Underwood is now one of only two females to sell six million copies of her debut album. Carrie’s “Some Hearts” release has been certified by the Recording Industry Association of America for reaching sales of six million. Her album and “Blue” by LeAnn Rimes are the only debut albums by female artists in country music to reach those sales figures. “Some Hearts” was released November 15th, 2005, and has been on the “Billboard” Top Country Album charts for 78 weeks. For 26 of those weeks the disc was in the number one position. It reclaims that position this week after a 29 percent sales jump following the Academy of Country Music awards on May 15th.

The hit single “Before He Cheats” from the debut album breaks new ground on the digital frontier, as release-to-date total sales vault to more than one million downloads, ranking “Before He Cheats” as the best-selling digital country song in chart history.
“Some Hearts” remains the best-selling, single-disc country album by a solo artist, male or female, in the last six years -- since Tim McGraw’s “Greatest Hits” released in November of 2000. It’s the best-selling, single-disc country album by any artist since the release of the Dixie Chicks’ “Home” in August 2002.

KEITH URBAN SAYS NEXT YEAR "WOULD BE LOVELY" FOR HAVING KIDS WITH KIDMAN

Country star Keith Urban says he and his Oscar-winning wife Nicole Kidman aren't having kids -- yet. The singer tells Britain's "Sunday Times" that he is looking forward to fatherhood and that "next year actually would be lovely." Thirty-nine-year-old Urban and 39-year-old Kidman married in June 2006. Urban entered rehab in October. He says that since his treatment, "I've felt I'm alive, engaged in my own life, present, accountable and responsible. And the irony is, I'm becoming the person I was trying to be all along." Urban also says that his marriage has been good for him, because "I am more selfless and I am learning so much about myself from loving her. I am more comfortable with who I am because at the core I'm happy. It's a beautiful journey." (Metro Source)

GRETCHEN WILSON GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

The redneck woman who dropped out of high school at 15 is hitting the books again. Gretchen Wilson tells “People” magazine that she’s studying to get her GED certification. Wilson says, quote, “I felt like I was missing something – that there was stuff other people knew that I didn’t.” She adds, quote, “When Grace [her daughter] has trouble with algebra I want to be able to say ‘Let Mommy help you.’ I don’t want to be ignorant in my daughter’s eyes.” When Gretchen left school she was an A and B student. Wilson will study on the bus as she travels between concert dates this summer. She told “People” she hopes to take the test by the end of summer.

BILLY CURRINGTON STAYS AT NUMBER ONE WITH “GOOD DIRECTIONS”

When the single “Good Directions” first came out, Billy Currington found himself explaining to some deejays what turnip greens are. He’s not too worried about having to do that anymore now that the single is number one for the second week in a row. Billy says the line about turnip greens was his favorite lyric in the song. He adds, quote, “I really wanted a really country song at the time I found ‘Good Directions.’ Luke Bryant, who is one of my favorite writers, pitched it to me and I couldn’t pass it up.” Commenting on the song staying at the number one spot for two weeks in a row, Billy says, quote, “What a great place to be. This is extra special for many reasons.” Currington is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on his third album, slated for a Fall release.

JASON ALDEAN TO “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”

Jason Aldean heads for the Big Apple in June and a performance on “Good Morning America.” The singer will perform his hit “Johnny Cash” on the ABC show June 6th, just a week after his album “Relentless” hits stores on May 29th. The single is the fastest rising in Aldean’s career. It is also ranked as the highest rated song on AOL Radio’s country stations with a listener rating of nine-point-six out of ten. Jason will also be featured in this week’s “Entertainment Weekly” which is on stands Friday.
Aldean has a new web site, www.jasonaldean.com. Fans can get a sneak peak of the new album through streamed audio clips and behind-the-scenes video from the road. Jason is on tour with Rascal Flatts, and one fan club member will win an all-access pas to all of the singer’s remaining 2007 concerts.

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY TO EXPLAIN SOD BUSTIN’ TO DAVID LETTERMAN

Michael Martin Murphey will be on “The Late Show With David Letterman” tonight to give Dave a little lesson in history. Seems Murphey’s hit “Wildfire” is one of Dave’s favorite songs and Paul Schaefer and the CBS Orchestra was playing it a couple weeks ago. A friend of Murphey’s just happened to be watching the show and heard David tell Paul, quote, “I love that song but I’ve never known what sod bustin’ meant.” The friend quickly called Murphey about the incident. It just happened that the next day Murphey was at his bass player Gary Roller's Rockin’ R art gallery in Albuquerque, N.M. and the two were talking about it. Murphey says he told Gary, "We should send a video of me riding my horse to New York to explain sod bustin’ to Dave." Gary made a few phone calls and a few hours later a camera crew arrived to document Murphey mounting his horse and riding north to the Big Apple. At the same time the video was on its way to Letterman, Schaefer continued to play "Wildfire" and Letterman continued to talk about sod bustin'. Bottom line – when Dave got the video he invited Murphey to be on the show to perform “Wildfire.”

CLINT BLACK UNVEILS NEW FAMILY PORTRAIT AT TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM

Clint Black and his family – wife Lisa Hartman and daughter Lily – attended the opening day reception and exhibit of artist Peter Max at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville Saturday. Titled “Peter Max: Maximum Exposure,” the exhibit had a special activity the Black family was especially interested in – the unveiling of a portrait by Max of Clint, Lisa and Lily. Lisa says, quote, “Clint and I met Peter Max in 1991 during the Super Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia when we hosted his gallery showing and became friends…We were so honored to be hosting another showing for Peter where he’ll unveil a portrait he has done of the two of us and our daughter Lily Pearl Black.” Clint adds, quote, “On our last trip to New York, Peter took us on a tour of his studio and as an artist of a different kind, I can easily say that he is one of the most impressive and prolific artists of any period.”

JOE NICHOLS’ “I’LL WAIT FOR YOU” HITS 100,000 SPINS

Joe Nichols isn’t waiting for radio airplay – his single “I’ll Wait For You” has already wracked up 100-thousand spins. “Radio & Records” has given the song a “BDS Certified Spin Award” for reaching that achievement in April. Nichols joins a small group of artists who have had the same success, among them Keith Urban and Martina McBride. Joe is hoping for the same success with his new single “Another Side of You.” It’s the first release from his new album “Real Things.” which will hit stores this summer.

ERIC CHURCH PLAYS IN HOMETOWN TO SOLD OUT CONCERT

More than four thousand fans came out to South Caldwell High School’s Spartan Stadium in Hudson, North Carolina Sunday to see hometown boy Eric Church. The concert was a benefit for his alma mater. People from Church’s hometown of Granite Falls and the surrounding North Carolina counties came to the show as did hundreds of members of Church’s fan club, the “Church Choir.” His fan club presented the singer a check to benefit the school. Church says, quote, “I just want to say it was good to be home.” He adds, quote, “I’ve been fortunate enough to have played all across the country, but nothing beats playing to your home town crowd.” Church played a rousing set of songs from his debut album, “Sinners Like Me,” mixing in references to local fishing spots, rowdy bars, friends and relatives that drew loud cheers from the hometown crowd. Church says, quote, “The whole reason that “Sinners Like Me” is here is because of that school, that town and those people, so coming home to do this benefit was a no-brainer for me.”

NEWCOMER SARAH JOHNS SINGS ABOUT “THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE”

It takes a lot of courage as a newcomer to sing a kiss-off song titled “The One in the Middle.” Sarah Johns sings lyrics like “I would’ve given you the finger on my left hand, the one that you use for a wedding band, but now I’m giving you the one in the middle” without hesitation. She also didn’t hesitate when she was invited to attend the ACM Awards last week and hang out at the post parties with the likes of Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn and Miranda Lambert. Johns says, quote, “You know what I was doing this time last year? Cleaning tour buses!” After moving to Nashville, Sarah cleaned artists’ tour buses so she could support herself while she was writing songs and trying to get a record deal. She adds with a laugh, quote, “Honey, you wouldn’t believe the stuff people leave behind on those buses.”

JACE EVERETT HOTS CMA GLOBAL ARTISTS PARTY

Newcomer Jace Everett will serve as host and master of ceremonies for "The Fourth Annual CMA Global Artists Party" June 4th at The Stage on Nashville's Lower Broadway. The evening will showcase established and up-and-coming country talent from around the world. This is Everett's second year to host the event. Jace says, quote, "It's amazing to me that a kid from Tarrant County, Texas has become this ambassador for CMA stuff, but it makes sense too.” He explains, quote, “I moved to Europe and was playing bass in a band over there when I was 22. Europe has been a large part of my life since I was a young man, and now things are coming full circle."

QUICK BITES

Gary Allan’s appearance on "Oprah" has been rescheduled for Thursday. He will discuss depression and its warning signs -- a subject he sadly knows all too well, following the tragic suicide of his wife last year.

Rodney Atkins will give “Guidepost Magazine” readers a peak at his life and the folks in it when he is featured on the cover of the publication’s Father's Day issue. The story, written in his own words, details the events of his three adoptions as an infant and the family who raised him as their own, as well as his own family with wife Tammy and son Elijah. A photo shoot at his home includes the entire Atkins clan.

LeAnn Rimes will debut her new video "Nothing Better To Do" on CMT.com today. It’s the first single from her upcoming album, “Family,” due in stores August 28th. Fan club members can visit LeAnnRimesWorld.com to get a sneak peek of some behind the scenes footage from the video shoot!

Catch Blake Shelton on CMT.com’s “Studio 330 Sessions” for brand-new acoustic performances, including his current hit “Don’t Make Me” and his forthcoming single “The More I Drink.” Blake shows his more serious side in exclusive interview clips on stepping outside his comfort zone, connecting with his audience, and moving back to his home state of Oklahoma.

To congratulate the music world’s “graduating class” of 2007, iTunes is handing out superlatives to some of the best up-and-coming artists among all genres. The Wreckers are touted as “Most Likely To Stay Friends Forever,” and are noted to excel in Home Economics (the duo tours with Michelle Branch’s toddler, Owen, in tow) and History, for their Top 10 hit, “My Oh My,” in which they talk about “This parking lot used to be a field/ I parked here in my Oldsmobile/ Long before the Sonic and the Walgreens.”

Travis Tritt performed “When Something is Wrong With my Baby” with Patti La Belle last week while he was in Los Angeles to perform for the folks at Yamaha. This was the first time Tritt actually performed the song with the R&B diva although he recorded it with her in 1994 as part of the Grammy winning multi-platinum cross-genre collection “Rhythm, Country & Blues.” Tritt’s new single “You Never Take Me Dancing” is off his forthcoming album “The Storm,” due out this summer.

Lonestar will be on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes” on Thursday. The group will perform the title tracks to their latest album “Mountains.” They are also scheduled to be on an upcoming episode of “EMERIL LIVE!”