Big Country Notes for JUNE 5

“SOUL2SOUL TOUR 2007” KICKS OFF TONIGHT IN OMAHA

The much-anticipated revival of one of last year’s most popular tours kicks off tonight as Tim McGraw and Faith Hill debut the new version of their “Soul2Soul 2007” tour in Omaha, Nebraska. The husband and wife team say that when the tour ended last year it was as if it wasn’t really finished. Tim says, quote, “It felt like we had more to do and more ground to cover.” He adds, quote, “Everything works so smoothly on the road that we couldn’t wait to get back out there and do it again.” While the couple decline to give away too much of what the new tour will be like, Faith says, quote, “We have a phenomenal stage and there’s so much more we can do with it. We’re just going to try to give the fans even more of what they want.” When the tour is all planned and ready to roll, Faith says it comes down to just one thing. She says, quote, “We’ve been doing this long enough to know that the bottom line is you can have all the bells and whistles the law will allow but it still all comes down to the music.” Another thing that makes the tour exciting is Faith and Tim do special things for their fans, like the intimate acoustic shows for a small group of fans that they perform prior to the main event. This year they’ve added a special touch with special guest Lori McKenna, a songwriter who has written several songs that were on Faith’s album “Fireflies,” including “Stealing Kisses.” Newcomers Halfway to Hazard and Lance Miller will perform on the outdoor stage late afternoon. The “Soul2Soul Tour 2007” stays in Omaha for another night then heads to St. Paul, Minnesota on June 8th. The next date is Monday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

BIG & RICH RELEASE NEW ALBUM TODAY

Big & Rich find themselves between a new CD and their debut book project. Big Kenny Alphin and John Rich will celebrate the release of both today. Their album “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace” and the book “Big & Rich: All Access” both chronicle various chapters in the life of the duo. As for the title of the disc, Big Kenny says, quote, “It really seems like we’re always between raising hell and amazing grace -- that’s the place we live in you know.” He adds, quote, “We try our doggonest to be good guys and do good things and live in as godly a way as we possibly can but we also really enjoy life and we enjoy a good time.” Big Kenny says sometimes both he and partner John Rich push life to the extreme and when they do they, quote, “the place we always end up is back on our knees.” The disc has several guest performers, among them R&B great John Legend and hip-hop star Wyclef Jean. Legend lends vocals to “Eternity,” which he sang on the Academy of Country Music awards with Big & Rich last month. Wyclef Jean wrote and recorded a rap for “Please Man.”

Big & Rich have a series of television appearances to help promote the new projects. They will perform on the “Tonight Show’s” Outdoor Concert Series June 18th, the “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” on June 20th and live from Kansas City for the “CBS Early Show” Concert Series August 10th.

Track Listing for Big & Rich's “Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace”:
1. Intro
2. Lost In This Moment
3. Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace
4. Faster Than Angels Fly
5. Eternity (Features John Legend) Intro
6. Eternity
7. When the Devil Gets the Best Of Me
8. Radio Intro
9. Radio
10. You Never Stop Loving Somebody
11. High Five
12. Please Man (Features Wyclef Jean)
13. You Shook Me All Night Long
14. Loud

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, SUGARLAND ON GRAND OLE OPRY TONIGHT

Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Rodney Atkins and Craig Morgan are among the artists on tonight’s Grand Ole Opry. The show officially kicks off the Opry’s participation in CMA Music Fest. Additional Opry shows during CMA Music Festival week include the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund Benefit Show at the Ryman Auditorium Thursday featuring Joe Nichols, Emerson Drive, Cherryholmes, Tracy Byrd, Chris Young, Jeff Bates, Riders in the Sky and John Conlee. Terri Clark, Pam Tillis, Charley Pride, Joe Nichols and more are scheduled Friday. There will also be an Opry at the Ryman CMA Music Festival Matinee on Saturday with Lorrie Morgan, John Berry and Chely Wright in addition to the regular Saturday Opry performances.

CHELY WRIGHT’S READING, WRITING & RHYTHM OFFERS HUGE AUCTION ITEMS

Fans attending tonight’s “Reading, Writing & Rhythm” benefit hosted by Chely Wright will have the opportunity to bid on some high-profile auction items as well as hear good country music. Event sponsor American Airlines is donating five fly-away trips this year to major country concerts. Bidding interest will be high on opportunities to see Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Reba McEntire and/or Keith Urban in concert. The packages include two show tickets, two meet and greet passes and two round-trip air tickets from any domestic destination in the U.S. Also on the live auction block are two one-of-a-kind getaways -- a Grand Ole Opry Vacation including a backstage tour of the Grand Ole Opry, backstage seats during the evening’s Grand Ole Opry Show, round-trip airfare and a stay at Opryland Hotel, and a “Sea-Ya” Fly-Away Vacation to a Caribbean destination of the winning bidder’s choice. The concert will be held at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville. The evening’s festivities benefit “Reading, Writing & Rhythm.”
Scheduled to perform are Keith Anderson, Emerson Drive, Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift, Trent Tomlinson, Clay Walker, Chris Young and Danielle Peck as well as other surprise guests.
The silent auction will include a full-size casino-style poker table, an assortment of guitars, televisions, digital cameras, computers, country music memorabilia, autographed artist swag and personal accessory items such as two Catena watches valued at five-thousand dollars each.
Chely Wright established “Reading, Writing & Rhythm” in 1999 with the objective of improving the quality of music education in America's public schools and raising public awareness surrounding the importance of music education for our nation's youth. The charity has raised over one million dollars and donated gifts of music, musical instruments and services to schools and students nationwide.

JUNE CARTER CASH INSPIRES NEW CD IN STORES TODAY

GRAMMY award winning producer John Carter Cash, the only child of Johnny and June, conceived and produced a new album “Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash,” which arrives in stores today. The project celebrates June’s life and encompasses all phases of her career, from the songs she sang with the Carter Family to her award-winning duets with her husband on “Ring of Fire” and “Jackson.” John’s sisters Rosanne Cash and Carlene Carter, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn, Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Patty Loveless are among the talents lending their voices to the project. In selecting the singers, John says, quote, “Almost all of the people who participated in the album were family or friends who knew her personally. Everyone who appears on the record, whether they knew her or not, respected her and loved her dearly.” Paisley and June became friends later on in her life. John recalls his mother meeting Brad at the CMT Music Awards and his mother saying the next day “that Brad Paisley is a nice young man.” “Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash,” the book written by John Carter will be released next Tuesday.

Track Listing
1. Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson—If I Were a Carpenter
2. Carlene Carter and Ronnie Dunn--Jackson
3. Loretta Lynn—Wildwood Flower
4. Patty Loveless and Kris Kristofferson—Far Side Banks of Jordan
5. Brad Paisley—Keep on the Sunny Side
6. Rosanne Cash—Wings of Angels (written by June)
7. Elvis Costello—Ring of Fire (written by June and Merle Kilgore)
8. Billy Bob Thornton and the Peasall Sisters—Road to Kaintuck (written by June and her sister Helen)
9. Grey DeLisle—Big Yellow Peaches (written by June)
10. Billy Joe Shaver—Kneeling Drunkard’s Plea (written by June and her sisters Helen and Anita, her mother- Mother Maybelle Carter)
11. Ralph Stanley—Will the Circle Be Unbroken
12. Emmylou Harris—Song of John (written by June)

COWBOY TROY SECOND CD IS OUT TODAY

Be careful about what you say around John Rich. Cowboy Troy found that out when he jokingly suggested “Black in the Saddle” as a possible album title. Troy says, quote, “John just seized onto it, and the label loved it. They wouldn’t let me change it.” Troy admits he’s a fan of Gene Autry’s music and one of his favorite traditional western songs is “Back in the Saddle Again.” The singer thought it made sense and would be kind of cool to draw the title from the classic song. Rich produced the disc and contributes vocals as J. MONEY. Other guest vocalists include M. Shadows, lead singer of the hard rock group Avenged Sevenfold; MuzikMafia buddy James Otto and “Nashville Star” season five winner Angela Hacker. Troy and Hacker met on the set of USA Network’s “Nashville Star,” which Troy has co-hosted the past two seasons. The singer will celebrate the disc’s release on Thursday with a party in Nashville. “Black in the Saddle” is in stores today.

PORTER WAGONER SET TO RELEASE “WAGONMASTER” TODAY

Porter Wagoner says it was Marty Stuart who persuaded him to record a country album after he had released a series of gospel projects. Stuart says Porter is one of the easiest projects he’s done. Marty explains, “You just put him in the studio and leave him alone.” Wagoner, who suffered a near-fatal aortic aneurysm in July of 2006, told “Billboard” magazine, quote, “I just want the record to be the best I’ve ever done because it could be the last I’ll ever do.” The first single from the album, “Committed to Parkview,” was written by Johnny Cash. Cash actually gave a tape of the song to Stuart 25 years ago but Marty lost it. When he started working on this project with Porter he remembered the song. A search turned up the tape and Porter agreed to cut it. Wagoner says both he and Cash spent time in the Nashville asylum. Wagoner just celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Look for Porter and Marty to tour this summer in support of “Wagonmaster,” which is in stores today.

QUICK BITES

CMT has announced that “CMT Crossroads” show with Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson will premiere Sunday, June 24th at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific.

Trace Adkins is going presidential. The singer has been invited to perform at the annual President’s Dinner on June 13th. The event, considered to be one of the largest political gatherings of the year, will be held at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. More than five-thousand people are scheduled to attend, including members of both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Taylor Swift will experience another milestone Sunday night. The singer is scheduled to perform at LP Field during CMA Music Fest in Nashville. One year ago, Swift made her festival debut on the Riverfront Stage. She says of the big event, quote, “This is going to be a huge moment in my life, because I always went to that concert and watched that show in the stadium. You have all these dreams when you’re starting out and the fact that these dreams are coming true for me is such an overwhelming feeling.” In more news, Taylor will make her third appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America” June 14th.

Jack Ingram is featured in a new exhibit by famed photographer Jim McGuire at Nashville’s Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, George Strait are among the other photos. The “Nashville Portraits” exhibit runs through September 9th.

Jennifer Hanson has a new video and new record label. The singer/songwriter recently shot a video for “Joyride”-- her debut single on Universal Records South. Filmed in the Valley of Fire State Park outside of Las Vegas, the clip will premiere on “CMT Top 20” Thursday. Hanson is working on a new album, which she co-produced as well as having a hand in writing all the songs.

Trent Willmon is the new spokesperson for Horses For Healing (HFH). The organization uses therapeutic horseback riding to help special needs children across Northwest Arkansas grow physically, mentally and emotionally. In addition, the singer is scheduled to headline the HFH benefit Barn Dance this Saturday.

Darryl Worley has posed “shirtless” for the July issue of “Playgirl.” It’s the publication’s annual country edition.

IN STORES TODAY

Big & Rich—“Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace”
Cowboy Troy—“Black in the Saddle”
Various artists--“Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash”
Marty Stuart—“Compadres: An Anthology of Duets”
Porter Wagoner—“Wagonmaster”
Big & Rich—“Big & Rich: All Access” book
Marty Stuart—“Country Music—The Masters” a photography book