Big Country Notes for JUNE 6

KENNY CHESNEY’S NEW SINGLE CLIMBS CHARTS QUICKLY

In 57 hours, Kenny Chesney’s single “Never Wanted Nothing More” climbed to number 37 on the “Billboard” country charts. It’s the lead single from Chesney’s upcoming “Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates” album. Kenny reacted to the news, saying, “I wanted to give people a taste of the new album … so I went with something country, something tempo, something everybody is likely to be experiencing right now!” The song was written by bluegrass great Ronnie Bowman and Chris Stapleton, but the new album has tunes from numerous hit songwriters including Don Schlitz, Bill Anderson and Jon Randall. Chesney compares his fans and their experiences to hit songs. He says, quote, “Our fans bring their whole life to our shows - and even though they come to party and have a good time, you can see it on their faces when you sing 'There Goes My Life' or 'Anything But Mine'” He adds, quote, “I hang onto everything I see. Guess that's the songwriter in me, huh?”
Chesney will be singing his new single for his fans when he plays his first NFL stadium date of the year Saturday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Other stadium dates include Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 23rd; Seattle, Washington on July 7th; Cleveland, Ohio on July 14th; Boston, Massachusetts on July 28th; and Detroit, Michigan on August 18th. Kenny says, quote, “One thing about my fans: they like to get outside, they like to tailgate and they like to have fun. For me and the guys, we couldn't want anything more.”
Tickets for Chesney’s Raleigh, North Carolina on August 3rd and Atlanta, Georgia Sept. 7th shows disappeared in less than 30 minutes. Second shows for the following nights at each venue were immediately added. It’s not the first time fans have bought all the tickets in Raleigh. Chesney remembers, quote, “Two years ago people were using wire cutters to put holes in the fence to get in because there were no tickets.” He adds, quote, “The best thing about all of it is how insane the fans have been this year. Just when I’m sure they can’t rock any harder, they show me a whole new level of how loud, how crazy, how much fun they can have at a show.”

JASON ALDEAN HEADS TO TIMES SQUARE THIS MORNING WITH A NUMBER ONE ALBUM

Contrary to the line in his hit song, “Johnny Cash,” Jason Aldean won’t be headed for Las Vegas this morning. Instead the singer will go north to New York. There he will perform his hit single “Johnny Cash” on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” live from Times Square. "Johnny Cash” is from his new album “Relentless,” which just hit the top of the “Billboard” country charts and is number four in the all-genre “Top 200” chart in the magazine. Aldean sold 90-thousand albums, enough to make him the third best country album debut of the year, right behind Tim McGraw and Martina McBride. Aldean is excited and says, quote, "We've been out on the road trying to win audiences over one at a time with our live show, but you never know if that energy is going to translate into album sales.” He adds, quote, “This is definitely a career highlight so far, and I am really looking forward to being at CMA Music Fest this week, so I can thank all the fans personally!"
Aldean’s activities during this week’s CMA Music Fest in Nashvile include a Platinum Party to celebrate his debut album on tomorrow and a stadium performance at LP Field on Friday. He will also sponsor his third annual Concert for the Cure charity event to benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation later that night at the Wildhorse Saloon. Other television appearances include “Fox & Friends” Saturday.
Aldean will hit the road again with Rascal Flatts this summer and through the fall. For other upcoming appearances and tour dates, visit the newly relaunched www.jasonaldean.com.

BRAD PAISLEY SAYS HE LIKES TO APPROACH SONGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that wait in grass or trees for an unsuspecting host to come along, and they don’t seem like a particularly romantic subject to write a song about – unless you’re Brad Paisley. Of his hit single “Ticks, Paisley says, quote, “A song like ‘Ticks’ is purely an exercise in trying to garner a reaction from an audience as well as trying to entertain.” Paisley likened the song topic to that of hip-hop music, which uses the lingo and dialect of the street, making it a music that is directed at a particular group of people. “Ticks” is directed at his fans, who he says might indeed need to make a tick check every now and then. Brad says, quote, “It was absolutely a thought process that involved the fans when I was writing that song. It also has a lot to do with looking for unique ways to say new things.”

LONESTAR AND FRIENDS BOWL FOR FUN AND CHARITY

The third annual Lonestar & Friends Strike Out for the Kids was a huge success. The sold out event had fans throwing strikes beside their favorite celebrities, among them Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, former “Nashville Star” winner Buddy Jewel, Trent Tomlinson, Julie Roberts and Daryl Worley. Last year’s “Nashville Star” winner Chris Young, who was on hand to watch the competition, says, quote, “It’s great that fans come out to stuff like this to support such a great cause as St. Jude.” He adds, quote, “St. Jude is huge for me. I got to visit the hospital for the first time this year. You don’t know how it will impact you until you go.” Chris says he has urged friends to take the time to visit the research facility. He says, quote, “It’s one of those things where it helps the kids in the hospital but the research that goes on there helps people across the country and around the world.” Commending on his fans, Young says, quote, “This [CMA Music Fest] is really cool. It’s great to see people genuinely excited and have people recognize you and appreciate your music.” The annual bowling event raises money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

CMT PRESENTS SUMMERFECT 2007 FROM CMA MUSIC FEST

Sugarland, Sara Evans and Big & Rich will be a part of “CMT at Summerfest 2007,” CMT’s second series of specials from this Milwaukee’s annual music event. The three, one-hour concert specials will premiere the first hour August 3rd and subsequent hours on August 4th and 5th. Summerfest 2007 celebrates 40 years of music when thousands of fans descend upon Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 28th – July 8th for eleven straight days of live music from all genres. CMT’s Lance Smith will host the three specials. Additionally, CMT will tape a special episode of “CMT Top 20 Countdown” from the festival grounds.

GRAND OLE OPRY CRUISE HITS HIGH SEAS NEXT JANUARY

Craig Morgan, Country Music Hall of Famer Charley Pride, Hal Ketchum and Jeannie Seeley will join fans on the Grand Ole Opry Caribbean Cruise January 26th - February 2nd, 2008. Carnival Lines’ new ship Freedom will depart from Miami, Florida to visit three ports of call – San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Marten. The eight-day, seven-night cruise will feature private shows by the entertainers plus an exclusive cocktail party and question and answer sessions with the artists. Other activities on the ship include a casino, dancing, first-run movies and gourmet dining. The first 200 passengers to book their cruise will be entered to win a VIP Grand Ole Opry Nashville getaway including hotel accommodations and an all-access Grand Ole Opry experience. For more information on the cruise contact Corporate Travel Service Inc. toll free at (866) 653-6779.

EVENTS SURROUNDING CMA MUSIC FEST UNDERWAY

Among fan club parties for artists like Brad Paisley, Marty Stuart and Tracy Lawrence and afternoon block parties, country fans in Nashville for the annual CMA Music Fest have a lot to choose from. One of the afternoon events is Little Big Town’s Ride for the Cure, which begins at 1 p.m. at the Harley Davidson Cool Springs. The benefit for the T.J. Martell Foundation will include a ride from the dealership to downtown Nashville, ending at the Hall of Fame Park. A barbecue hosted by Applebees and a live auction featuring autographed memorabilia will conclude the ride. A 3 p.m. Music Fest Parade, also downtown, will culminate in a Block Party and concert at 4 p.m. at the Nashville Arena plaza. The Second Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party. Performing at the Block Party will be Cowboy Troy, this year’s “Nashville Star” winner Angela Hacker, Jason Michael Carroll, Darryl Worley and Mark Chesnutt. The event is free and open to the public.

QUICK BITES

LeAnn Rimes is inviting fans to be part of her booth at the CMA Music Fest this year. In conjunction with the release of her album “Family” she is asking fans to bring pictures of their family and friends to pin up on a special board in her booth. LeAnn will be signing autographs tomorrow from 2 – 4 p.m. Tickets will be issued to the first 120 people who make it to her booth when the doors to the exhibit hall open in the morning.

A little tropical storm didn’t deter Kenny Chesney fans in Palm Beach, Florida last weekend. By noon the parking lot was full of tailgaters and they remained at their cars until well after the concert was over. Uncle Kracker came out to duet with Kenny on “When The Sun Goes down,” “Follow Me” and “Midnight Rider/Cowboy.”

Bucky Covington’s debut single “A Different World” climbed into the Top 15 on the country radio charts, reaching a weekly audience of over 17-million listeners.

Big & Rich's album “Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace” and Cowboy Troy's disc “Black In The Saddle” were released yesterday and the members of the MuzikMafia had a huge party for their own in Nashville.

Steve Azar is bringing a few of his close friends along to help raise money at the "Steve Azar St. Cecilia Foundation Benefit & Jam” tomorrow. Guests who will sign autographs or join him onstage for the concert jam include Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, Super Bowl player Steve Cole, Pro-wrestler Ray Lloyd, actor Gary Valentine, Tennessee Titan Craig Hentrich and recording artists Julie Roberts and Blue County.