Big Country Notes for JUNE 21

TOBY KEITH’S “BIG DOG DADDY” NUMBER ONE ON BILLBOARD 200, COUNTRY CHART

Toby Keith has said if his new album “Big Dog Daddy” doesn’t do well he has only himself to blame because he produced it by himself. The singer doesn’t have to worry - the disc debuted in the top spot on “Billboard”s country album chart yesterday. It also debuted at number one on the magazine’s all-genre Top 200 chart. Keith sold just over 200-thousand units the first week the project was in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His previous album “White Trash with Money” sold 330-thousand copies but debuted in the number two spot. This is Keith’s fifth album to debut at number one on the country album chart and his third to top the all-genre 200 chart. Toby’s second single from the disc, “Love Me if you Can,” is the most added record at country radio this week.

CMT FEATURES KEITH URBAN ON “CMT INSIDER” SATURDAY

Keith Urban says he was successful with his stint in rehab last year because he wanted to be. Urban took time to talk with CMT for “CMT Insider” before opening night of his U.S. tour in Phoenix. He told CMT, quote, “You can’t do it for anybody -- you know, you can’t do it because you think you should. You can’t even do it because you need to. You’ve got to do it because you want to.” The show debuts Saturday at 2 p.m. Eastern. In the meantime, fans can get a preview of Urban’s show on his website, www.keithurban.net. Urban and The Wreckers continue on the “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Tour” next week in St. Louis on Thursday and Memphis on Friday. Saturday finds them in Atlanta.

MARTINA McBRIDE SINGLE LENDS TITLE TO HER ALBUM

Picking an album title is tricky business. It has to be catchy enough to grab the attention of the potential record buyer. Martina McBride found the title of her disc “Waking Up Laughing” in a line in her current single "How I Feel.” The singer says, quote, "We were trying to think of things that you do or experience that are just the best-that make you feel the best." Martina, who co-wrote the song, contributed the image of "waking up laughing" which she says is something that's actually happened to her on three or four occasions in her life. They tossed around the line for a title and then forgot. A few months later the subject of an album title came up again and her daughter Emma said she liked the title “Waking Up Laughing.”

ABC TO AIR CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL SPCIAL NEXT MONTH

Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson will sing their single “Because of You” from “Reba Duets” album on the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” when it airs July 23rd. Other artists featured on the show will include Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. The special was taped during the recent CMA Music Festival in Nashville. In addition to concert footage there will be some special moments as cameras follow several fans as they are experience personal encounters with their favorite country stars. The third annual special from CMA Music Festival will air at 9 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
Gold Circle seating at LP Arena for next year’s CMA Music Festival is already sold out. For more information on the 2008 event visit www.CMAfest.com.

QUICK BITES

Videos on LeAnn Rimes’ "Ready for a Miracle" and Room for Two's "Be the Miracle" from the movie “Evan Almighty” will be released in July. The soundtrack includes music by a number of artists, among them Blue County, Jo Dee Messina, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Hal Ketchum. The soundtrack will be in stores July 3rd.

Sales of Trent Tomlinson's “Country Is My Rock” have increased 45 percent over the last four weeks since his current single, "Just Might Have Her Radio On," was released.

"Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur" enters “Billboard’s all-genre Top 200 chart this week at number 15. Big & Rich are just one of the artists who contributed to the album that features John Lennon covers. Other on the project include alternative group Green Day, rockers R.E.M. and pop singer Avril Lavigne.

Sarah Buxton will release a digital EP on July 10th that will have five cuts on it. Among them will be the Keith Urban hit "Stupid Boy," which Buxton write along with "American Daughters" and "Love Is A Trip."

Grand Ole Opry star Bill Anderson and songwriters Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam were among those who gathered to honor publishing great Buddy Killen Tuesday when the Music Row roundabout was renamed Buddy Killen Circle.

Recording sessions by Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family will be recognized in an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The display opens next Thursday and honors the Bristol, Virginia sessions done in 1927 that are often considered to be the first country sessions every done. On display at the museum will be the first recording, a 78-rpm disc of “The Poor Orphan Child” by the Carter Family and Rodger’s typewriter that he used to type lyric sheets for the sessions.