Big Country Notes for JULY 25

TIM McGRAW, FAITH HILL ANNOUNCE BENEFIT CONCERT IN BILOXI

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill announced yesterday that 100-percent of the net proceeds from their July 27th concert in Biloxi, Mississippi will go to continued hurricane relief efforts in that state. The money will be used to assist organizations and individuals who are still in need of goods, services and finances due to the continued devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. The money will be distributed through the artists’ Neighbors Keeper Foundation to support these efforts. The two issued a joint statement, saying, quote, “It is a long term, continuing struggle for so many people in the region.” Last year their Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation held a benefit concert in New Orleans, Louisiana, marking the return of the concert industry to the city. As a result of the concert proceeds and other donations, Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation has donated one million dollars directly to the Community Initiative Foundation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Community Initiative Foundation runs children and young adult art therapy programs at the Renaissance Camp, the largest trailer city in Baton Rouge.
McGraw and Hill have 13 dates left on this year’s “Soul2Soul” tour, which ends in Anaheim, California with two concerts on August 10th and 11th. The Biloxi date is a part of their current tour. Tonight the husband and wife duo are in Tampa, Florida.

GARTH BROOKS WILL BE PART OF MARTIN LUTHER KING BENEFIT CONCERT

Garth Brooks has joined the lineup for the September 18th New York City concert that will raise money for the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial in Washington, D.C. Other artists who will perform at the Radio City Music Hall show include actress and singer Queen Latifah, R&B’s Stevie Wonder and rocker Carlos Santana. NBC "Today" show weatherman Al Roker will be a special guest presenter. About 81-million dollars of the 100-million dollars has been raised for the memorial, which will be completed next year. Tickets go on sale July 30th. The show will be taped for an NBC special to air in September.

MIRANDA LAMBERT, JACK INGRAM TAPE CMT “CROSS COUNTRY”

Miranda Lambert was extremely excited to tape CMT “Cross Country” with Jack Ingram last night, but Ingram insists the excitement was mutual. He told “The Tennessean,” quote, “We were fast friends, and then she became Miranda Lambert, and I was still trying to be Jack Ingram. It's nice to have somebody out there you have a genuine interest in professionally and as a friend.” He adds, quote, “It's nice to smile when you see things happen for that person." Miranda says, quote, “It’s cool that we came back together after years of me following him around and being a fan. Now we’re sort of new artists together but to me he’s not new at all.” The show will air on CMT August 31st.

THE WRECKERS’ JESSICA HARP ENGAGED

Jessica Harp of The Wreckers is engaged. The singer announced she will marry bandmate Jason Mowery. No wedding date has been set. The announcement was made by duo partner Michelle Branch from the stage of the Bowrey Ballroom in New York City Monday night. Jason plays fiddle in The Wreckers’ band. Michelle’s husband, Teddy Landau, plays bass, so it will be totally a family affair when the two are married.
· In other Wreckers news, Branch told the “Quad-City Times” that she and Jessica will each work on solo albums before there is another album from the duo. She says, quote, “No one really wanted us to do this. We signed a one-record deal and everyone thought we were crazy.” She says now everyone is asking when they’ll start on the next Wreckers album and, quote, “We’re going to revisit that as it feels necessary.” She says that even though they will work on individual projects they won’t be recording pop songs. Michelle says, quote, “We’re still going to be living in this [country] genre.”
· After a couple weeks off from Keith Urban’s “Love, Pain and the whole crazy World” tour The Wreckers are back on the road with him tomorrow night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Friday in Moline, Illinois. Saturday finds the tour in Omaha, Nebraska.

JASON ALDEAN MEETS INTERESTING FANS ON THE ROAD

Fans are wonderful people but sometimes they make strange requests. Jason Aldean remembers a concert in West Virginia where he was asked to sign a rather unusual object. He says, quote, “This guy came up and asked if I’d sign his prosthetic leg. He just walked up, propped up on the bus and clicked it off.” The singer adds, quote, “It was pretty shocking -- that’s one of the weirder things that’s happened to me so far.” Aldean is on the road with Rascal Flatts and their “Still Feels Good” tour this summer so he will have many opportunities over the next couple months to encounter other interesting requests! Tonight they play Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Tomorrow and Saturday they are in Texas, first Dallas and then San Antonio.

HALLMARK ANNOUNCES NEW CARDS FEATURING ORIGINAL MUSIC

Tim McGraw will have everyone singing when they open their Hallmark greeting card. The merchandiser announced a new line of 100 cards that feature original music by artists including McGraw. Tim says, quote, "I've always loved expressing myself through song. Now with three of my songs featured in Hallmark's newest Cards with Sound, other people can use that music to express themselves too.” He adds, quote, "When someone opens one of these cards, I hope the unexpected surprise of hearing the song will bring a smile to their face." Among the singer’s songs that will be featured are “I Like It, I Love It,” “Down on the Farm” and “Just To See You Smile.” Customers who shop at Hallmark Gold Crown through September 9th and purchase one of the new cards will get a free song download from the iTunes store. The stores are also now selling iTunes gift cards.

PAT GREEN RECEIVES AWARD FROM AMERICAN RED CROSS

Pat Green received a special Crystal Cross award from the American Red Cross yesterday in recognition of his service to the organization. The award presentation was immediately followed by a special performance by Pat and his band for the volunteers, employees and supporters of the Red Cross. Green says, quote, “It meant a lot to get this award from the Red Cross. “I started giving blood when I was in college.” He adds, quote, “Anything I can do to help the Red Cross promote blood donations—especially during the summer—is on the top of my ‘to do’ list. Giving blood is giving the gift of life.” Pat is a member of the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. He helps promote the importance of blood donations at his various concert stops across the country. Pat has also recorded Red Cross radio public service announcements to promote the importance of blood donation.

QUICK BITES

Emerson Drive will be celebrating twice in the next week. Two parties are planned for the group’s number-one single “Moments” and for its writers – Sam and Annie Tate and Dave Berg. The next week Tracy Lawrence will party with writers Ed Hill & Casey Beathard for his number one tune “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” There’s also a number one party that week for Bruce Robison, who penned George Strait’s number one song “Wrapped.”

Billy Joe Shaver and his son Eddy are featured on an upcoming release, “Storyteller: Live from the Bluebird” on Rounder Records. Included on the disc are Shaver versions of hit songs including Waylon Jennings’ “Honky Tonk Heroes” and John Anderson’s “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal.”

Mindy McCready’s arrest this past weekend stems from a domestic dispute she had at her mother’s home in North Fort Myers, Florida. According to CMT.com, sheriff's investigators claim McCready's mother, Melody Inge, was scratched in the face after coming home from a restaurant late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Mindy claims she and her mother were playing Scrabble when an argument broke out and that deputies tackled her when they came into her mother's home. She is scheduled for an August 14th court date.

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will donate a portion of every ticket sold from their upcoming September 13th show at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum Education Programs. The band was inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006. One half of the country duo Van Zant, Johnny, is a part of the Skynyrd band.