Big Country Notes for MAY 30

KENNY CHESNEY’S CURRENT TOUR VERY DIFFERENT FROM HIS COLLEGE DAYS

Kenny Chesney has an entourage of semis and a road crew on his current “Flip-Flop Summer” tour, but the singer can still remember the days when it was just him and his truck. Kenny recalls, quote, “When I was in college I would go to the music store and rent my sound equipment. Then I’d put it in the back of my truck and drive to every bar in East Tennessee and Virginia and play.” Today Chesney is driving all across America in his spiffy tour bus, carrying several semi-loads of equipment and a crew that sets up the stage and tears it down. His venues are packed arenas and stadiums instead of clubs but the fans still love the music. Chesney says, quote, “This tells you that people are really passionate about country music and about our music. They’re not only listening to our music on the radio, but they’re living their life with it and they want to experience it live.”

MONTGOMERY GENTRY SAY MAYA ANGELOU AN INSPIRATION TO THEM

Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry renewed a friendship Monday night. The duo met with Dr. Maya Angelou backstage prior to their performance of “Some People Change” at Fisk University in Nashville. Dr. Angelou had asked the duo to sing the song prior to her speaking engagement at the college. Dr. Angelou says, quote, “When I listen to Montgomery Gentry they are young men I can claim as my sons – they don’t know that but it’s alright.” Troy says, quote, “Dr. Angelou is an inspiration. I am honored to have shared a moment in time with her. Her presentation is a life experience that no one should live without.” Eddie says, quote, “What an incredible night that was. You can just feel the energy around Dr. Angelou, and there is no doubt in my mind, before I meet the man upstairs, Dr. Angelou will be the first one to greet me with open arms. I will never forget that moment!"

BIG & RICH HELP PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH JOHN LENNON’S MUSIC

Big & Rich are telling everyone to promote peace. They are the sole country act on the charity project “Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.” The two-disc set features covers of the late John Lennon’s solo work. Big & Rich recorded the former Beatles’s "Nobody Told Me" from his posthumously released album "Milk and Honey." Others on the album include rockers U2, Green Day, Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, and Avril Lavigne. Jakob Dylan and Dhani Harrison, sons of folk-rocker Bob Dylan and Lennon's former Beatle band mate George Harrison, respectively, team up for one of two versions of "Gimme Some Truth." "Instant Karma; The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur" will be available June 12th. It’s aim is to help raise money and awareness of the fight for human rights around the world.

TAYLOR SWIFT KEEPING HER WORD ABOUT TAKING TROPHY ON THE ROAD

Taylor Swift is keeping her promise to her fans. When she won the fan-voted CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video, she promised fans that she would bring the buckle out for them to see. Swift says, quote, “I've taken the award to every single meet and greet line on the Brad Paisley [Bonfires & Amplifiers] tour so far. I think this might just be the most photographed award ever!” Taylor explains that she wanted to take the belt buckle award out for two reasons – she wanted to thank the fans who voted for her and because fans hardly ever get to see an artists’ award unless it is in a museum. She says, quote, “When I was little, I always wanted to see what it would be like to hold an award like a CMT trophy. And now I love seeing people's reactions to it! They voted for my video and I think they deserve to feel like they got something back from that.”

JACK INGRAM’S NEW VIDEO PREMIERS TOMORROW ON CMT

Jack Ingram’s “Measure of a Man” video shows him driving a 1969 Mach One Ford Mustang. While the video is very serious, Ingram was thrilled to be able to drive such a cool classic car. The singer explains that the video chronicles him finding his father both physically and emotionally. Ingram says, quote, “One minute I am doing a performance shot under a Nashville overpass with my Beat Up Ford band, and the next I jump in a 1969 Mach One Ford Mustang and go looking for my dad. It was killer…and I actually got to drive the car around some.” He adds, quote, “You know, it’s funny, I guess there are common themes beginning in my videos…there seems to either be a car or a chick. And with ‘Love You’ we had both!” The video world premiere is tomorrow on CMT’s Top 20 Countdown.” It will also debut online at www.cmt.com.

MERLE HAGGARD RELEASES ALBUM OF NEW “OLD” MATERIAL THROUGH CRACKER BARREL

Merle Haggard has a new album filled with old material. When Cracker Barrel asked Merle to do a project for their new label he came up with a unique idea. He went through about 600 songs that he previously recorded but had not released. He picked 12 of them to be on the album “Working Man’s Journey,” which was released yesterday. Haggard says, quote, “I had the working man in mind when I went through the archives. We’re talking about a guy who spent his lifetime writing songs for the common man. These are all working man songs.” Among the songs on “Working Man’s Journey” are previously unreleased versions of classic Haggard songs including “If We Make It Through December,” “Are The Good Times Really Over,” “Working Man Blues,” “Kern River” and “Rainbow Stew.”

COUNTRY FANS WILL MEET LORI McKENNA ON DEMAND

Fans can now demand to see Lori McKenna when she joins Faith Hill and Tim McGraw’s “Soul2Soul 2007” tour. The “Demand Lori McKenna” competition will allow fans based in 14 cities on the tour to demand that Lori perform a special, free acoustic session where they live. The city with the most demands for Lori will host the performance, with tickets going exclusively to the “Eventful Demanders” that take part. McKenna says, quote, “I’m very grateful to Faith and Tim for the opportunity to be part of their tour, but playing to a small group, whether it’s in a coffee shop or local bar, also means so much.” She adds, quote, “This contest gives me the opportunity to reach out to my fans in a very personal way and I can’t wait to see the results of the contest.” The contest runs through Friday. The tour kicks off in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 5th.

QUICK BITES

Kellie Pickler will perform the National Anthem at today’s National Hockey League Stanley Cup game between the Ottawa Senators and the Anaheim Ducks. The game will be played in Anaheim, California, beginning at 5 p.m. PT.

Dolly Parton has autographed an auto harp to be auctioned of to benefit The Songwriters Hall of Fame programs. Parton will receive the Johnny Mercer Award from the organization June 7th.

Jimmy Webb signed a Baldwin M. Satin Ebony 5'2" Baby Grand Piano which also included signatures from a list of celebrities including crooner Tony Bennett, producer Jimmy Jam and pop icon Phil Collins. Fans can big on these and other items at www.charitybuzz.com.

If you’ve always wanted to own one of those famous Fender Telecasters but couldn’t afford the real thing, here’s your chance. The die-cast company GMP has created tiny replicas of three of Fender’s most famous instruments – the Telecaster, Stratocaster and bass guitars. The telecaster has always been a favorite of country musicians. Waylon Jennings played a telecaster. It was the sound behind Buck Owens, played by his lead guitar player Don Rich. Modern-day artists like Brad Paisley and Gary Allan, who were influenced by these artists, continue the sound in their music.

Chely Wright is offering a number of major prizes at her “Reading, Writing and Rhythm” benefit Tuesday. American Airlines, a primary sponsor, has donated five fly-aways to see Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and/or Keith Urban in concert. The packages include two show tickets, two meet & greet passes and two round-trip air tickets from any domestic destination in the US. Silent auction items include a full-size casino-style poker table, an assortment of guitars and country music memorabilia.