Big Country Notes for JUNE 18

BLAKE SHELTON REMEMBERS SONGS THAT INSPIRED HIM

Blake Shelton says he can remember singing country songs by Jerry Reed, T.G. Sheppard and Kenny Rogers when he was just a kid. Blake says, quote, “Anytime a song got my attention I would listen to it over and over again until I just couldn’t stand it anymore.” He says the first song that he remembers just knocking him over was Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” Shelton says, quote, “It had a lot to do with Garth’s charisma and his ability to hold your attention. Nobody had ever done that to me before musically.” Blake adds, quote, “I think that’s the kind of feeing that I have chased ever since then with my music – trying to find out how he got that type of energy and feeling into a record. I’ll never know.”

BRAD PAISLEY PROUD TO BRING HUMOR TO COUNTRY MUSIC

Whether he’s singing about ticks or being a celebrity, Brad Paisley brings a sense of humor to country music. Brad says it’s a natural thing for him because he grew up in a time when country music was more humorous than it has been in recent history. Paisley says, quote, “It was not unheard of to have Alan [Jackson] sing a Roger Miller song or Garth [Brooks] do ‘Two of a Kind Working on a Full House’ or even ‘Friends in Low Places.’” Brad adds, quote, “I remember him [Garth] changing the words to that song and making everybody in the audience laugh and scream at the same time.” On his new record “5th Gear” Brad says he tried to look at topics that might be considered humorous but had not been done in a song before. He says, quote, “I’ve never heard about a guy who becomes a super hero once he’s on his computer and hooked up on-line.” Brad adds he sometimes worries that the humorous songs might overshadow the serious side of his music. He says, quote, “There are some very serious songs on my album and it always baffles me when someone comes up and says to me ‘All your songs are so funny.’” He adds, quote, “My last funny song was in 2005 and that was ‘Alcohol’ which was really more observational.” “5th Gear” will be released tomorrow.

CLINT BLACK SAYS SEARCHING FOR HIS SINGLE WAS HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

Clint Black’s new single took him awhile to find. For his upcoming album Black decided to record a song that he didn’t write and had not been previously recorded. The singer says once he started listening to songs he was anxious to find the perfect song to record. He says, quote, “Searching for that song has been one of the most humbling experiences I've had in this business. So many people made such a tremendous effort to find that song.” He adds, quote, “This is a first for me – recording an outside song – and it had to be something that I could not resist, even at the exclusion of one of my own songs from the CD.” Black says when publisher Tim Wipperman played him “The Strong One” he knew that was the song he wanted to cut and it would be the first single from his new album. Throughout his career Black has written more than two-dozen number one hits. Five of those were the first five singles he ever released. Black’s third album for Equity Music Group is scheduled for release later this year.

JOHN CARTER CASH RELEASES BOOK ON FAMOUS MOTHER

June Carter Cash’s 78th birthday would’ve be next Saturday, and her son with the late Johnny Cash, John Carter Cash, has written a book about his mother. “Anchored in Love: An Intimate Portrait of June Carter Cash” will release tomorrow. The book includes stories of June’s life on the road with the Carter Family when she was only a child and stories about her life with Cash. John includes information about her various marriages, her own trial with drugs and her skill as a musician and entertainer. John Carter says, quote, "I hope through these pages, people may come to know my mother in some of the ways I have known her, that though they may read of her pain, they will see her strength and beauty, most of all." A companion CD by the same title features songs written by or associated with June, performed by family and friends including Elvis Costello, Billy Bob Thornton, Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. The album was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio on the Cash property in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

BON JOVI’S NEW ALBUM A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY, A LITTLE BIT ROCK ‘N ROLL

Bon Jovi is releasing its album “Lost Highway” tomorrow – a project that is being described as inspired by Nashville. Frontman Jon Bon Jovi tells “USA Today,” quote, “When we announced plans to make a ‘country’ album, the perception out there was I was going to make an Alan Jackson/Vince Gill record. The truth was, I was only thinking Sugarland/Keith Urban/Big & Rich.” He explains, quote, “That style of music is, to me, what we already have done for 25 years. It's just storytelling with great choruses." Guitarist Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi tells the newspaper, quote, "From a lyrical standpoint, there's not that much of a difference. From a musical standpoint, it's just adding the country flavors, like a pedal steel and more mandolins than usual.” Richie adds, quote, “But the guitars are still heavy at times. I played a lot more slide on this record. I played some Dobro. I had a chance to extend myself and evolve." Special guests on the project include LeAnn Rimes and Big & Rich. The disc, “Lost Highway,” will be featured on several “Unplugged” performances on MTV, VH1 and CMT beginning Friday and running for three consecutive nights. This is not the rocker’s first foray into country – he had a hit with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland last year with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

QUICK BITES

Clay Walker will make a stop Monday, June 18, 2007, at Fox News Channel to visit the set of Your World w/ Cavuto.” He’ll then perform on Tuesday, June 19th on “Fox & Friends.” He is currently promoting his new album “Fall” on Curb Records.

Tracy Lawrence is filming a video for his number one hit “Find out Who Your Friends Are” in Enterprise, Alabama today. Close friends who are confirmed to make cameo appearances in the music video are George Jones, Darryl Worley, Roy Oswalt of the Houston Astros and Cornelius Griffin and Demetric Evans of the Washington Redskins.

John Berry has been working on his upcoming studio album, “Those Were the Days,” which should release later this year.

Gary Allan will be part of Cross Canadian Ragweed’s second annual Red Dirt Roundup September 2nd at the Stockyards in Forth Worth, Texas. Also on the bill – rockers the Black Crowes and alt-country band Son Volt.

LeAnn Rimes performed at the celebration of the opening of Samsung’s new Austin chip plant last Wednesday. It was a homecoming of sorts for the singer – 10 years ago she sang the National Anthem when the company opened its first plant there.

Merle Haggard will perform at Bass Hall in Forth Worth, Texas Wednesday night. Special guests on the show are the western swing band the Quebe Sisters.


HEADLINES FROM HOLLYWOOD

FANTASTIC OPENING FOR "SILVER SURFER"

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" rose to the occasion at the movie box office this weekend. The second film in the Marvel Comics superhero series brought in an estimated 57-point-four-million-dollars in box office receipts to open at number one. That's slightly better than the debut of the first "Fantastic Four" film, which grossed 56-million in its first three days of release in 2005. Last weekend's box office champion, the star-studded "Ocean's 13," dipped to number two this weekend with an estimated three-day gross of 19-point-one-million. Holding steady at number three was the comedy "Knocked Up" which took in another 14-point-five-million. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" was fourth with 12-million, followed by the animated penguin surfing comedy "Surf's Up" at number five with nine-point-three-million.
"Nancy Drew," the other new wide release this weekend aside from "Fantastic Four," grossed an estimated seven-point-one-million dollars to open at number seven. Former box office champ "Shrek the Third" checked in at number six with nine million-dollars in ticket sales. (Metro Source)

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. "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," $57.4 million.
2. "Ocean's Thirteen," $19.1 million.
3. "Knocked Up," $14.5 million.
4. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," $12 million.
5. "Surf's Up," $9.3 million.
6. "Shrek the Third," $9 million.
7. "Nancy Drew," $7.1 million.
8. "Hostel: Part II," $3 million.
9. "Mr. Brooks," $2.8 million.
10. "Spider-Man 3," $2.5 million.