Big Country Notes for JULY 10
BIG & RICH HAVE FIRST NUMBER ONE ON COUNTRY CHARTS THIS WEEK
Big & Rich have their first number one single. “Lost in this Moment” is at the top of both the Mediabase and R&R charts this week. John Rich of the duo says, quote, “What an incredible honor … to write and record a song that resonates with fans in such a special way is an amazing feeling.” His duet partner Big Kenny adds, quote, “the fans support of this song and radio playing it just proves that our dream of ‘music without prejudice’ is real and possible.” The song was written several years ago by John, Keith Anderson and Rodney Clawson. John says, quote, “It’s been sitting around in a catalog for five or six years now. We didn’t think in the beginning it was something we would sound good doing.” Rich and Big Kenny were listening to songs on the bus and when they heard “Lost in the Moment” he told Kenny, quote, “I always thought this was a pretty good song.” Big Kenny responded with, quote, “I’ve always loved this song.” The two decided to cut it and see how it turned out. Apparently it turned out just fine!
RASCAL FLATTS HAVE HIGHEST “RADIO AND RECORDS’ COUNTRY CHART ENTRY THIS YEAR
Rascal Flatts’ has the highest “Radio & Records” country chart entry this year with their new single “Take Me There.” The tune debuted at number 24 this week, entering the charts higher than their previous debuts for “Stand” and “Me and My Gang,” which hit the chart at number 26. The single is from the group’s fifth album “Still Feels Good,” which is due for a September 25th release. The group has been busy in the studio but will begin their new “Still Feels Good Tour” Friday in Uncasville, Connecticut. In 2006, the group performed to over one million fans in concert.
MONTGOMERY GENTRY TO HEADLINE FIVE FREEDOM CONCERTS
Montgomery Gentry continues to support their fans in the military by headlining “Sean Hannity presents Freedom Concerts…an evening of patriotism and inspiration” which begins tonight in Atlanta. Lee Greenwood will appear on all shows and LeAnn Rimes will be on shows in Ohio and New Jersey. Duo member Troy Gentry says, quote, “Every year we tour and invite military friends to the shows, and now we get to help raise college money for the kids of those military parents.” Conservative commentator Hannity has picked locations across the U.S. so everyone across America can support and help raise money for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund for the Children of America’s Fallen Heroes. Eddie Montgomery of the duo adds, quote, “T-Roy and I love the military. These shows are not about red or blue or right or left, they are about helping those families that are in our military. I hope everyone will join us in this effort.”
Concerts are set for the following:
July 10– The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Atlanta, Georgia
July 26 – Coors Amphitheater in San Diego, California
*August 9 – Kings Island in Cincinnati, Ohio
August 14 – Nokia Center in Dallas, Texas
*September 11 – Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey
* with LeAnn Rimes
KELLIE PICKLER SET TO PERFORM ON “GOOD MORNING AMERICA”
Kellie Pickler says she better get out her waterproof mascara. She is set to perform her hit song “I Wonder” on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on July 23rd. The song is very personal to her and Kellie says, quote, “I cry almost every time I sing it.” She adds, “I better make sure I’m wearing the waterproof mascara that day.” Kellie will also give viewers a preview of “CM Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” which will air the following evening on ABC. Pickler will be featured on the special, which was taped at the CMA Music Fest in June. The singer takes a budding music executive, Kellie McFarland, on a tour of her record label and then has her hang out with Pickler with an all-access pass to the festival.
SARAH BUXTON RELEASES DIGITAL EP TODAY
Sarah Buxton is releasing a five-song digital EP “Almost My Record” today. The disc will include the Keith Urban hit “Stupid Boy,” which Buxton wrote, as well as fan favorites “Innocence” and “That Kind Of Day.” Also included will be “American Daughters” and “Love Is A Trip,” both of which can be heard in promos for ABC-TV’s “Men In Trees.” The EP will be available for download at all online music stores. The singer co-wrote four of the five tracks. During this year’s Country Radio Seminar singer/songwriter Mac Davis praised Sarah for her songwriting when the two performed on the same stage during one of the event’s showcases.
COLE DIGGS & THE LONESOME RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM TODAY
The influences of Texas artists run deep on the newcomers out of that state. Cole Deggs & the Lonesome are no exception so don’t be surprised if there’s a little bit of ZZ Top, Rodney Crowell or Waylon Jennings in the band’s self-titled album which is in stores today. Cole says, quote, “You name it, they’ve influenced us. There are a lot of artists from Texas who have influenced us in different ways.” Deggs says the there isn’t a specific theme to the album. He explains, quote, “We never set out to do a theme -- the continuity is our harmonies and my vocal.” He says the criteria they used for choosing songs was would the tune make the world want to sing it. Cole says, quote, “We’re all songwriters. When you go in to record you have to separate yourself as a songwriter and artist. You have to choose a song that will really reach out there and grab them.”
VINCE GILL FEATURED IN “GOLFWEEK” MAGAZINE
Vince Gill tells golf professionals all about Nashville in a feature story in the current “GolfWeek” magazine. In the story Vince lists his three favorite golf courses in middle Tennessee and talks about his favorite restaurants. Gill, who is a scratch golfer, heads for the green whenever he can. His annual charity tournament, The Vinny, has raised more than three million dollars for junior golf in Tennessee. Gill says playing in celebrity tournaments can be nerve-racking because, quote, “I’ve been a scratch player almost all of my life, but on the first tee, everybody’s saying, ‘OK, Mr. Coulda-Gone-Pro, let’s see your action.’ It’s always a struggle.” The singer says he’s been encouraging his six-year-old, Corinna, to take an interest in golf. He tells “GolfWeek,” quote, “A day on the golf course with her usually consists of looking for worms and bugs and snakes and building sand castles in the bunkers.” In 2003 Vince was given the Professional Golfer’s Association of America’s Distinguished Service Award, its highest honor. Vince and his family recently taped public-service announcements that will run in July to promote PGA Family Golf Month.
· Vince’s three favorite courses:1) “The Golf Club of Tennessee, where I play mostly, is a Tom Fazio course that’s off-the-charts great.”2) “Belle Meade Country Club, which is an old Donald Ross course. You gotta work the ball like a traditional golf course. It got a redesign by Rees Jones a couple of years ago that made it harder and better.”3) “GreyStone, a Mark McCumber course about 40 minutes from Nashville, just because it’s the lowest round (62) I ever shot and I hold the course record.”
· Best 19th hole: “Hillwood Country Club is kind of fun. It’s a not a real highbrow country club. Everybody plays cards and they watch TV and a lot of tales get spun and there’s good food.”
· Three favorite restaurants:1) “Pancake Pantry for breakfast.”2) “Sportsman’s Grill for lunch. It’s a great combination of great burgers, steaks, catfish, and there’s nothing fancy. Kind of has a bar vibe.”3) “Brown’s Diner. It’s a hole in the wall.”
MERLE HAGGARD RELEASES FIRST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
He’s been a recording artist for 40 years but in October Merle Haggard will do something he’s never done before. Haggard will release “The Bluegrass Sessions,” produced by veteran bluegrass performer Ronnie Reno, who was performed in Haggard’s band. Special guests on the upcoming disc include Alison Krauss, who duets on “Mama’s Hungry Eyes.” Marty Stuart plays guitar and mandolin and writes the liner notes. Marty says of the recording sessions, quote, “Each take became a performance. Merle’s singing was totally inspired.” The album is scheduled for an October 2nd release date.
BUCKY COVINGTON LOSES LUGGAGE BUT WINS WITH “A DIFFERENT WORLD”
It has been an interesting week for Bucky Covington. On the winning side, his single “A Different World” hit the top ten on the country charts. On the downside, he hit a string of travel worries as he went from Nevada to New York. Bucky and his band flew from Las Vegas to the Big Apple to make an appearance on “Fox & Friends.” Unfortunately their luggage didn’t travel with them. The band was quick to improvise, sporting “I LOVE NY” T-shirts on the television show. The saga ended well because two days later the suitcases showed up with them in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they performed before the Charlotte Knights baseball game.
JASON MEADOWS RELEASES “100 % COWBOY” TODAY
Jason Meadows has two loves – music and rodeo. He manages to combine both of them on his debut album “100% Cowboy” which releases today. Meadows was the first runner-up on season three of the USA Network's "Nashville Star." He moved to Nashville and worked construction and sang demos until he landed his recording contract. The ten-song disc includes songs as diverse as “Where Did My Dirt Road Go” and “San Antone Alone.” Jason says, quote, “I’ve been trying to do it for awhile and it’s finally coming around for me.” He adds, quote, “God’s given me talent and a life I’m thankful to have. I’m a hard working guy and I’m not scared of hard work.” Meadows released a video for the single “100 % Cowboy” and he says it is very weird to see himself on television. He says, quote, “It is very cool and it felt to me that I had succeeded in a certain part of my career when I saw it on CMT.” Meadow’s single has been chosen as the theme song for the new CMT series "America's Top Cowboy."
QUICK BITES
Miranda Lambert and Jack Ingram will tape a “CMT Crossroads” on July 24th before an audience of invited guests in Nashville.
Martina McBride is among a group of women who have been named the “40 and Fabulous” women by “In Touch Weekly.” Oscar-winner Halle Berry is at the top of the list. Martina is fifth in line, behind MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, actress Salma Hayek and former “Playboy” Playmate Pamela Anderson. Rounding out the list of ten are actresses Maria Bello, Tia Carrere, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Melina Kanakaredes and Keith Urban’s wife Nicole Kidman.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie will participate in a benefit concert for autism on July 31st in Aspen, Colorado. Johnny Van Zant of the brother duo Van Zant will perform with Skynyrd. The Flutie Brothers will open the show. Flutie, who now is an ESPN and ABC broadcaster, along with his wife, established the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism for his son, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.
Phil Vassar is helping the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau launch the "Music City Songwriting Competition.” Entries will be narrowed to 25, which will be judged by a panel of industry VIPs including Vassar, songwriter Tim Nichols and music publisher Barbara Orbison, widow of the late Roy Orbison. The winning writer will have their song published by The Music Group International and a recording of it will be produced by one of Nashville’s best-known producers, Mark Wright. Entries will be accepted through August 31st. Go to www.visitmusiccity.com/songwriting for additional information.
