Big Country Notes for Feb 8

KEITH URBAN SET FOR CHICAGO CONCERT TONIGHT

It’s not exactly the kick-off of his upcoming “love, pain and he whole crazy World” concert tour, but Keith Urban will play a concert in Chicago tonight. It’s his first performance in the U.S. since he was released from the Betty Ford Clinic in Las Angeles last month. Tonight is a make-up show for Urban, who had been scheduled to perform this charity event for Memphis’ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital this past November. At the time he will still going through rehab. Of his upcoming tour, which kicks off in Phoenix, AZ on June 8th, Urban says, quote, “My goal is to try visually, musically and spiritually and every other way take the audience and myself on a journey each night.”
Urban will be the musical guest when Oscar nominee Forest Whitaker hosts NBC's “Saturday Night Live" Saturday.

RASCAL FLATTS “ME AND MY GANG 2007” KICKS OFF TONIGHT

The gang’s gonna be in Charleston, WV, tonight, because that’s where Rascal Flatts kicks off their “Me and My Gang 2007” tour. Special guest is Jason Aldean, who performed on select dates with the band last year. “There is nothing more rewarding than the time we spend on the road doing shows for our fans,” says Flatts member Jay De Marcus. The band is offering fans a fun thing to do – they will be able to send live text messages to screens on each side of the stage for free. The band will go to 21 cities through April. They’ll take a break at that time to work on their new album.

THE WRECKERS SAY THIS YEAR’S GRAMMY NOMINATION SPECIAL TO THEM

This year’s GRAMMY nomination for The Wreckers is very special to them. The duo is made up of two individuals who were each pursuing their own solo careers. Michelle Branch had a successful solo album and won a GRAMMY when she was still a teen with Carlos Santana for “The Game of Love.” Branch asked Jessica Harp to go on the road with her and the two found out they wrote good songs together. Jessica got an invitation to do a country album and the two had to make a decision. Jessica was on her way to Nashville when Michelle called her and said, quote, “This is our last shot if we ever want to do anything together before we end up on different labels. Are you with me?” Their collaboration resulted in their GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Vocal Performance for a Duo or Group for “Leave the Pieces.” The girls have a concert in Mississippi so they will miss the GRAMMY awards, which air Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

LEE ANN WOMACK SAYS NEW ALBUM COMING ALONG REALLY WELL

Lee Ann Womack has been in the studio working on her new album. She says it’s coming along well but admits it’s scary because, quote, “I set the mark so high with the last one sometimes it become scary because you are afraid you won’t measure up.” Womack says it’s too early too tell if she’ll have any special guests on the album. The singer says, quote, “It’s not something I try to force because it bothers me when people do that.” She adds, quote, “If there’s a reason for me to invite someone then I will do it. I’ll be focusing on the songs over everything else.” The album will be out in late summer or early fall and Womack says, quote, “I just hope people will like it as well as the last one.” Her last album, “There’s More Where That Came From,” went back to her Texas country roots and received much critical acclaim. It won her the 2005 CMA award for Album of the Year.

“HONKY TONK BADONKADONK” HITS HALF A MILLION RINGTONES

Trace Adkins’s “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” can be heard on more than 500-thousand telephones in America – 570-thousand to be exact. The song has been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of ringtones in excess of half-a-million. The song has been a major one for Adkins, sending the album “Songs About Me” to double-platinum status for sales of more than two million. Adkins, who is currently on his “Dangerous Man” tour, plays Cincinnati, OH tonight with Danielle Peck and Rodney Atkins, and Moline, IL tomorrow with Danielle and Craig Morgan. The tour comes to Pikeville on February 23.

QUICK BITES

Marty Stuart will host the ninth annual GRAMMY Foundation Music Preservation Project, "The Soul of Country" on tonight at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles. Stuart will give an unplugged solo mandolin performance. Expected to attend the event are Charley Pride, LeAnn Rimes, Porter Wagoner, Academy Award nominee Terrence Howard and Carrie Underwood.

Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black will be on the Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends," Sunday.

The Dixie Chicks documentary "Shut Up & Sing” will be released on DVD February 20th.

Clay Walker’s fan club, The Crazy4Clay Gang, has made a donation to The Band Against MS Foundation in Clay's honor for the eighth consecutive year. Their donations to the foundation have totaled more than 67-thousand dollars to date.

“Sound Stage” continues its fourth season with a performance by Lee Ann Womack tonight.
Jewel, who is hosting USA Network’s “Nashville Star,” makes an appearance February 15th and GRAMMY nominees Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris guest on March 1st.

Darius Rucker of Hootie & the Blowfish told Fox News that he’s recording a solo country album. He says, quote, "I've been a country singer forever. I write country songs all the time.”

Big Country Notes for Feb 7

REBA HAS BUSY SCHEDULE IN COMING MONTHS

Reba McEntire is busy filling her calendar with appointments. She will be at the GRAMMYS on Sunday, where she will introduce Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts, who are doing a tribute to country rock. The next week “The Tennessean” reports that McEntire is recording in Los Angeles with Don Henley and Carole King for her upcoming duets album. Plus she also has to find time to do a song with Justin Timberlake for the same project. Reba has already been in the studio with Faith Hill, Ronnie Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill and Kelly Clarkson. Speaking of Kelly, Reba will be back in Nashville on February 22nd to film a segment of “CMT Crossroads” with Clarkson.
Reba’s sitcom “Reba” will air the finale two episodes air back to back on February 18th on the CW Network. The singer has opted to stay in Los Angeles because her son, Shelby, goes to high school there. She told “The Tennessean” that she may remain based in Los Angeles until Shelby, who is a sophomore, graduates.

KEITH URBAN SUING OVER WEBSITE NAME USE

Keith Urban is suing another Keith Urban. Urban, the singer, is suing a New Jersey painter who owns a website that bears their names. Urban the painter, has his own website KeithUrban.com. He uses the site to show off his artwork. Urban the country singer wants the site. The "Smoking Gun" reports that the country singer, who is married to Nicole Kidman, is suing to get the rights to the website. The singer's suit claims Urban the painter is giving the false impression that the art being sold is from the country performer. (Metro Source)

Urban isn’t spending all his time preparing court papers. The first five shows of his Australian tour have been announced. He will be in Brisbane on May 11th, Sydney, May 15th, Melbourne, May 18th, Adelaide, May 20th and Perth, May 22nd. This mean Urban will not be in Las Vegas for the Academy of Country Music Awards show on May 15th.

REBA McENTIRE WILL PERFORM AT CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL IN JUNE

Reba McEntire will perform at the CMA Music Festival this year. It will be Reba’s first time to play at the festival since 1996, when it was known as Fan Fair. Reba says, quote, “It's been eleven years since I've had a chance to be in Nashville for this amazing week, and the CMA has done a great job of growing the event during that time. I'm looking forward to being a part of it all once again." Additional artists participating in the event include Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Sugarland, The Wreckers and Jason Aldean. Other artists scheduled to perform include Eric Church, Heartland, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Blaine Larsen, Neal McCoy, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jamie O'Neal, Jake Owen, Danielle Peck, Pam Tillis and Chris Young. The festival will be held June 7th-10th in downtown Nashville. The four days includes 30 hours of autograph signings, 70 hours of live music and 400 country music artists and celebrities making appearances. Last year’s event drew more than 161-thousand fans.

TOBY KEITH ANNOUNCES JUNE 12TH AS DATE FOR NEW ALBUM RELEASE

Toby Keith is planning something old and something new for his upcoming album release. The singer, who has titled the disc “Big Dog Daddy,” will release the album on June 12th. Keith has written most of the songs for the disc, which isn’t unusual. This time, however, he will be the sole producer of the project. He is also doing a good deal of the background vocals on the songs, including those on his single “High Maintenance Woman.” The album release will be on Toby’s label Show Dog Nashville.

LEE ANN WOMACK SPOKESPERSON FOR CHEERIOS “CIRCLE OF HELPING HEARTS”

Lee Ann Womack has joined the fight against heart disease. The singer has been named spokesperson for Cheerios cereal's "Circle of Helping Hearts" campaign. The goal is to raise 500-thousand-dollars for WomenHeart, a national organization representing eight million American women living with heart disease. Womack says she got involved in the campaign because it’s important for her to set a good example for her daughters to live a healthy lifestyle. She says, quote, “I don’t know a family heart disease has not touched in some way. When I heard how it affects us, I had to get involved.” Womack is urging fans to visit CheeriosHelpingHearts.com. For each code entered on the site from a participating box of Cheerios cereal, one-dollar will be donated to WomenHeart. Although February is American Heart Month, Womack urges women to establish new lifestyle changes that will continue throughout the year.

CLINT BLACK SAYS PROCESS OF PICKING SONGS FOR NEW ALBUM AGONIZING

Clint Black says it’s not easy picking previous hits to re-record. For his new album “The Love Songs” the singer did just that but he says it was an agonizing task. He says, quote, “There were some love songs that they just didn’t fit. I think the process I went through was a little bit agonizing because there were some things I was a little bit afraid to approach again.” He went on to say that he didn’t want fans to buy the new album and find the songs drastically changed. Clint says the only song that really is different is his and his wife Lisa Hartman Black’s “When I Said I Do.” The singer says, quote, “The only difference is Lisa sings a couple more lines in the second verse than she did in the original. Once we started doing it live she had an idea and went with it.”

QUICK BITES

LeAnn Rimes has been added as a presenter for the GRAMMY Awards Show, which airs Sunday on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.

Emerson Drive welcomed representatives from America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food bank Network to their recent Green Bay, WI concert. The band has partnered with the organization to raise awareness to help wipe out hunger in America. They were inspired to do so by the lyrics of “Moments,” their new hit single.

When Jason Michael Carroll stopped by the Academy of Country Music office last week he gave the first performance in the Academy of Country Music’s new office space. Carroll treated the staff to an acoustic performance of songs from his new album, “Waitin’ in the Country,” including the hit single “Alyssa Lies.”

Bucky Covington will appear on Fox News Channel's "Big Story" with John Gibson today. The singer will talk with John about his life following "American Idol," including his debut single "A Different World" and upcoming April 17ath album debut.

Diamond Rio will join Martina McBride on her tour for three dates, June 22nd – 24th. Little Big Town and Rodney Atkins will open on most dates on Martina’s tour, which kicks off March 4th in Plant City, FL.

The DVD, "Fats & Friends," with Fats Domino and friends Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis, will be released by Time Life on March 6th.

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Big Country Notes for Feb 5

DATES OF ADDITIONAL KEITH URBAN SHOWS ANNOUNCED

Keith Urban is letting fans know, city by city, the dates of the concerts on his upcoming “Love, Pain and the whole crazy World” tour. Urban previously announced concert cities but dates are being announced locally before they are posted on his website. Dates now are confirmed in are June 9th, Las Vegas, NV; June 10th, San Diego, CA; July 5th, Houston, TX; July 26th, Milwaukee, WI; July 28th, Omaha, NE; August 11th, Worcester, MA and August !8th, Philadelphia, PA. These are in addition to the previously announced kick-off date of June 8th in Phoenix, AZ. The Wreckers will be the opening act for the tour.

GRETCHEN WILSON SAYS FANS SEEING NEW SIDE OF HER IN “COME TO BED”

Despite her “Red Neck Woman” image, Gretchen Wilson says there is a warmer, tender side to her. Wilson says the images of a fragile and vulnerable woman that are expressed in her single “Come to Bed” are as much a part of her as the headstrong woman depicted in some of her other songs. The singer says she’s as multi-faceted as any of her fans but she rarely shows that softer side in public. Gretchen says, quote, “I’m such a strong person on the outside. If you think about all my other songs…it’s about me and what I want and I’m damn sure of it.”

GARY ALLEN SET TO RELEASE FIRST “GRETEST HITS” COLLECTION

Gary Allan will release his first “Greatest Hits” collection on March 6th. The album will include fan favorites “Right Where I Need to Be,” “Songs About Rain,” “Smoke Rings in the Dark” and “Her Man.” It will also include two new songs – his current single “A Feelin’ Like That” and “As the Crow Flies.” The single, written by Ira Dean of Trick Pony, David Lee Murphy and Kim Tribble, is the first up-tempo rockin’ song that Gary has released in sometime. Dean was thrilled that the song turned out to be a single. He says they just wanted to write a song about a guy who had lost his girl and was trying to do all these crazy things to regain the feeling he had when he was with her.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD ALBUM BACK AT THE TOP OF THE CHARTS

Carrie Underwood can’t seem to stay away from the top of the charts. Her album “Some Hearts,” which is the best-selling country album of 2007 so far, is back on top of the country album chart. It’s been a year since her debut hit, “Jesus Take the Wheel” ended its multi-week run at number-one on the charts. Underwood continues to gain attention outside the country market as well. She is the only country singer on AskMen.com’s annual Top 99 list. She’s ranked number 66 in the list, which is an annual ranking compiled by readers and staff listing famous females who are deemed to be the year’s most-alluring.

JOSH TURNER OWES CURRENT DUET WITH RALPH STANLEY TO HIS GRANDMOTHER

Josh Turner can thank his Grandmother for learning the traditions of country music. His current single, “Me and God,” features Dr. Ralph Stanley on vocals. Josh says, quote, “One of the first records I ever heard was one of the Stanley Brothers records, from my Grandmomma's house. I wish my Grandmomma was here to see this, because this would just make her day, knowing that her grandboy and Dr. Ralph were in the same studio together." Josh says “Me and God” is a special song for him. When he went into the studio to record it. His manager suggested getting Diamond Rio and Stanley to sing on it. Josh says, quote, “Adding those vocals to the song made it a work of art.”

MIRANDA LAMBERT SAYS IT’S GREAT BEING FROM A SMALL TOWN

Miranda Lambert may have a new tour bus, be on the road with Toby Keith and a sophomore album release on the horizon but she says knows her roots. The singer says she loves being from the small town of Lindale, TX. Miranda says, quote, “It feels good to come from a small town where people supported me so much through this whole thing.” She adds, quote, “They are still supportive but also they still look at me as just Miranda from Lindale.” Lambert has been busy writing most of the songs for her upcoming album “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” Miranda called in some heavy hitters as co-writers including Patty Griffin and Gillian Welch. The new disc will include a cover of the Emmylou Harris classic “Easy From Now On” co-written by Carlene Carter and Susanna Clark.

QUICK BITES

A collection of 13 rare recordings Ray Price made for the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Service will be released by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as digital downloads on April 3rd. Titled “Invitation to the Blues: Live Recordings, 1957-1963” will be available exclusively at iTunes. Among the songs -- "City Lights," "I'll Sail My Ship Alone" and "Take These Chains From My Heart."

“Blender” magazine’s online site published a Valentine’s Day list of “must have” country songs for a romantic music mix. Number two was Phil Vassar’s “The Woman in My Life” and number three went to Martina McBride’s “Valentine.”

Kellie Pickler treated some grade school students at Pennington Elementary in Donelson, TN, when she stopped by to read Shel Silverstein's classic story “The Giving Tree.” The kids loved her reading but also asked her to sing. Kellie graciously responded with a bit of her hit single “Red High Heels.”

Clint Black says he and his wife, Lisa Hartman Black, will guest on “Dr. Phil” on Valentine’s Day. The two won’t be dishing up marital bliss advice this time. They’ll just be singing their duet “When I Said I Do,” from Clint’s new album “Love Songs.”

Well-known harmonica player Terry McMillan passed away Friday from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. McMillan played on thousands of recording sessions in Nashville including those of Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Ray Charles and Shania Twain.

Taylor Swift has been confirmed to appear on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on February 13th.


"THE MESSENGERS" AMERICA'S NEW #1 MOVIE

The horror movie "The Messengers" is at the top of the box office charts in its debut weekend. The film took in 14-and-a-half-million-dollars this weekend. Diane Keaton's "Because I Said So" was close behind in second place with 13-million-dollars of tickets sold. Last week's top movie, the parody "Epic Movie," fell to third place with a little over eight-million-dollars. "Night at the Museum" is showing serious box office longevity. It fell just one spot to fourth this weekend with nearly seven-million-dollars in tickets sold. "Smokin' Aces" placed fifth with six-point-three-million-dollars.
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. "The Messengers," $14.5 million.
2. "Because I Said So," $13 million.
3. "Epic Movie," $8.2 million.
4. "Night at the Museum," $6.75 million.
5. "Smokin' Aces," $6.3 million.
6. "Stomp the Yard," $4.2 million.
7. "Dreamgirls," $4 million.
8. "Pan's Labyrinth," $3.7 million.
9. "The Pursuit of Happyness," $3.1 million.
10. "The Queen," $2.7 million.