Big Country Notes for MAY 8

GRETCHEN WILSON ON SEVEN DAY COUNTDOWN TO ALBUM RELEASE

Gretchen Wilson will be seeing lots of the country over the next week. The singer will be on both coasts and in Las Vegas as she readies for her new album “One of the Boys” to be released next Tuesday. Her first stop will be Friday on NBC’s “The Today Show,” which she says helped launch her career when she first performed there on June 22nd, 2004. “Access Hollywood” will catch up with her following “The Today Show” for a feature that will air over the weekend. On Sunday, Gretchen will take over the famed Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas with a free concert as part of the Academy of Country Music celebration, where she’ll perform selections from the new album. Wednesday finds Gretchen singing “One of the Boys” on NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Later in the month she guests on syndication’s “Live with Regis & Kelly” May 21st.
Friday afternoon Wilson will rehearse her part in the “VH-1 Rock Honors” which will tape at Mandalay Bay Events Center. The show pays homage to the legends who influenced the sound of rock. This time around, honorees include Genesis, Heart, Ozzy Osbourne and ZZ Top. Gretchen, who befriended Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson almost three years ago, will take the stage to sing the group’s famous hit “Barracuda.” The show tapes Saturday and airs on VH-1 May 24th.
Tuesday, Wilson will be on the 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, where she has two nominations in the “Vocal Event of the Year” category. On one she joins with Merle Haggard on “Politically Uncorrect” and the other features her with Hank Williams, Jr., Van Zant and Big & Rich on “That’s How They Do It In Dixie.” The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS.

GEORGE STRAIT AMAZED AT HIS ACM AWARDS NOMINATIONS

George Strait is amazed at his longevity. Strait, who leads the Academy of Country Music awards with eight nominations, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist, says it just amazes him that after 25 years he is still such a viable part of the business. The Country Music Hall of Famer is also nominated for “Album of the Year” for “It Just Comes Natural” and “Single Record of the Year” for “Give It Away.” He also received nods as an artist and producer in those categories. His single “Give It Away” is up for “Song of the Year.” It was written by another Hall of Famer, Bill Anderson, along with Buddy Cannon. His last award nomination is for “Video of the Year” for “Seashores of Old Mexico.” Strait has previously won 15 Academy of Country Music Award honors. The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS.

BRAD PAISLEY THE PRANKSTER GETS PRANKED

Kellie Pickler, Jack Ingram and Taylor Swift have a new motto – Get Brad First! The three artists, all opening acts for Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour, know what a prankster Brad is on the road. All have mentioned they probably would let Brad pull the first prank on the tour. Last week’s full moon must have changed their mind because Friday night Kellie and Taylor dressed up as ticks and came out to attack Brad with a dance while Paisley and his band sang his new hit single. Not to be left out, Jacked rushed out in his ‘Jack’s Exterminator Service’ costume and killed off the pesky ticks. So far Brad has not retaliated but there are many dates left for him to do so. This Thursday finds the entourage in Moline, Illinois. Friday they are in Bonner Springs, Kansas and Saturday they’ll perform in Dallas. Paisley’s fifth studio album, “5th Gear,” will be out on June 19th.

RANDY OWEN SAYS HIS WIFE LOVES THE NEW SONGS HE’S RECORDING

Randy Owen says his wife Kelly will be sending John Rich of Big & Rich cookies and flowers. Randy says, quote, “When she feels like someone is doing something special for her husband she puts a lot of love on them and sends them lots of things.” Rich is producing Randy’s upcoming solo album. Apparently Kelly listened to what they have recorded so far and proclaimed it the best of Randy’s career. He says, quote, “She can be rough sometimes, like telling me she doesn’t know why I cut a particular song.” When asked what John should expect, Randy says, quote, “The studio is gonna fill up with stuff like baked goods and flowers. He’s gonna have problems you know; he just doesn’t know it yet.”

TAYLOR SWIFT WILL HAVE NEW CUSTOM DRESS FOR ACM AWARDS NEXT WEEK

Taylor Swift says she loves to shop, so come Tuesday at the Academy of Country Music awards show she’ll be wearing a new custom dress. Taylor, who is up for “Top New Female Vocalist,” is keeping the description under wraps until the cameras zoom in on her at the show. The singer is creating a fashion trend with her dresses and boots combination she wears most of the time. She says, quote, “Dresses are where my comfort zone is. I love boots because they’re easy to walk and perform in.” She continues, quote, “I like to jump around onstage and high heels aren't really my thing to sing in because I'm petrified of falling onstage.” Swift says she thinks about what she will wear weeks in advance and adds, quote, “I’m such a girl, I love to get dressed up.” The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS.
Taylor’s single, “Tim McGraw” was recently certified gold digitally. She joins an elite group of country artists including Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Big & Rich, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Dixie Chicks and Trace Adkins who share the same digital success.

GOOD MORNING AMERICA ANNOUNCES SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts are booked to be on “Good Morning America’s” summer concert series in Bryant Park. Rascal Flatts are there May 18th and Paisley performs June 15th. Sugarland is scheduled for July 27th. Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter, Miley, performs as “Hannah Montana” on June 22nd. All concerts are free and open to the public. They take place live during “Good Morning America” Fridays from 7:00 – 9:00a.m. Eastern.

MONTGOMERY GENTRY’S ROAD TO LAS VEGAS TAKES THEM TO NEW YORK

Montgomery Gentry is gearing up for their job as hosts of the fourth annual Academy of Country Music Motorcycle Ride on Sunday. Strange as it may sound, the duo will head east before they go west. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry will perform on “Fox & Friends” Friday before they jet to Los Angeles to perform “My Town” on CBS’ “The Late, late Show with Craig Ferguson” that night. Saturday finds them back in New York City for the “CBS Early Show.” Then it’s on to Las Vegas and the motorcycle ride on Sunday, when they will also perform at on the Fremont Experience free concert after the ride. Tuesday night Eddie and Troy are up for “Top Vocal Duo” along with Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland and The Wreckers. The 42nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas May 15th at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific on CBS.
Montgomery Gentry can be seen in the 40th Anniversary issue of “Rolling Stone” as part of Orbit Gum’s double-page fold out, “Playing Dirty” and “Playing Clean.” They are the country act in the special section. Their song “Good Clean Fun” from their “My Town” album made the musical grade for “Top Clean Picks.”

TOBY KEITH WILL EMBARK ON FIFTH USO TOUR

Toby Keith will not only be singing “American Soldier,” he will be visiting them very soon. He’s set to do his fifth USO tour to the Persian Gulf and Germany. Keith does much more than sing his hits on these tours. He takes time to shake hands with the men and women in the Armed Forces and give them a break from their daily grind. Toby has previously traveled to Africa, Cuba, Belgium, Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Italy, Germany and numerous times to Iraq and Afghanistan for the USO. Other country artists who have done USO tours include Chely Wright, Carrie Underwood, Jo Dee Messina, Montgomery Gentry and Rascal Flatts.

JAMIE O’NEAL SAYS LOTS OF UNDISCOVERED TALENT OUT THERE

Jamie O’Neal is wearing a different hat these days. She’s helping judge Yahoo’s "The Road to Nashville" online talent contest. Jamie says, quote, “I was approached by Yahoo to be a judge for this online contest. I think it’s a great idea.” She adds, quote, “There is so much undiscovered talent out there. Obviously ‘American Idol’ has shown us what kind of great talent can come out of shows like that.” The contest is in phase one now, which allows singers to submit audio karaoke performances from a selection of more than 700 songs through auditions at http://bix.yahoo.com/TheRoadToNashville. Fifty semifinalists will move to the second round on July 10th. At that time they will be given free webcams and asked to submit one video karaoke performance. Ten people will advance to the final round, which begins August 21st. These folks will be flown to Nashville for their final audition in front of a panel of judges. The grand prize winner will receive 50-thousand dollars and the opportunity to record three songs in Nashville.

JACK INGRAM MEASURES UP FOR NEW VIDEO

Jack Ingram filmed the music video for his new single “Measure Of A Man” last week in Nashville. Jack says the song is the second part of a song he wrote a few years back. He explains, quote, “I wrote a song called ‘Biloxi’ a long time ago in response to the break-up of my parent’s marriage. It was ten years after the fact and I had a lot of unresolved issues and many unanswered questions about how it all went down.” He adds, quote, ‘Measure Of A Man’ is, to me, the second part of this story. It is the story about the next step in the relationship between a father and a son and I think a lot of people will feel the same way I did when they hear this song.”

QUICK BITES

Kimberly Roads of Little Big Town, Charlie Daniels and Carolyn Dawn Johnson will attend a luncheon today in Nashville honoring Tony Martell, music industry veteran and founder of the T.J. Martell Foundation. Also scheduled to attend are Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Chely Wright, Blue County and Megan Mullins.

Keith Anderson says his new album will be another fun album. Anderson says, quote, “I wrote a bunch of new stuff all through the fall and I’m so excited. It’s going to be another fun album with plenty of party music and a few of those songs that’ll pull on the ol’ heart strings.”

A feature on Taylor Swift will run in the May 21st issue of “People” magazine. Taylor has been chosen by AOL Music as one of their Top 21 Artists Under 21.

Danielle Peck will skydive with the elite Screaming Eagles parachute team at Fort Campbell on May 17th.

Jimmy Wayne, Dusty Drake and Danielle Peck just returned from a promotional trip to Jamaica.