Big Country Notes for JULY 27

BROOKS AND DUNN RIDING INTO "COWBOY TOWN"

Brooks and Dunn have been writing songs for their new album "Cowboy Town," which will be out on October 2nd. In fact, their new single "Proud of the House We Built" is the first one from the new disc. Both guys are prolific songwriters so they joke that it’s been hard for them to finish the project. They say every time they think it’s finished one of them writes or finds another song that feels like a perfect fit for the album. The duo’s Kix Brooks says, quote, "We really need to get this out, because neither one of us will let ourselves stop [writing], you know, until this thing’s released."

SUGARLAND ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA’S SUMMER CONCERT SERIES" TODAY

Sugarland will be performing for a national audience this morning. The duo will sing "Everyday America" and "Something More" when they make an appearance on ABC's "Good Morning America’s Summer Concert Series" today from New York's Bryant Park this morning. A performance of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush singing "Settlin" will be posted on ABC.com following the show. In other Sugarland news, they'll do "Everyday America" on ABC’s "The View" on Monday.

KENNY CHESNEY AT TOP OF "VENUES TODAY" TOP CONCERT GROSSES

Kenny Chesney remains hot on the concert trail. He had the top grossing concert in halls with more than 15-thousand seats as listed by "Venues Today" this week. His show in Marysville, California brought in over 17-thousand fans for a gross of just over 966-thousand dollars. A second Chesney concert in Scranton, Pennsylvania was in third place. That show brought in just over 16-thousand people for a gross of 841-thousand dollars. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s "Soul2Soul Tour 2007" had the second highest gross in venues between 10-thousand and 15-thousand. Their show in Jacksonville, Florida brought in 75-hundred fans for a gross of 705-thousand dollars.
Tonight Faith and Tim are in Biloxi, Mississippi where their show will benefit organizations and individuals who are still fighting the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The money will be distributed through the artists’ Neighbors Keeper Foundation to support these efforts in Faith’s home state of Mississippi. Tomorrow night they are in Lafayette, Louisiana and Sunday they play in Dallas.
Tomorrow night Chesney takes his "Flip Flop Summer" tour to his next stadium date in Foxboro, Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. Last year his show at Gillette Stadium was one of the largest of his tour and set records for country shows in the Northeast. This year the show sold out in 15 minutes.

BRAD PAISLEY TO PERFORM ON "THE TONIGHT SHOW’S" TOYOTA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

Brad Paisley is taking "Ticks" to New York City. The singer will perform live on NBC’s "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’s" Toyota Summer Concert Series on Wednesday. Paisley is scheduled to perform his hit single "Online" live for the television audience. Then he will sing his chart topper "Ticks" for the live show audience. Both songs along with an interview from his backstage dressing room will stream on http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/Toyota_Concert_Series/.
Fans can see the bonus online footage immediately after "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" airs.

JOSH TURNER’S NEW SINGLE "FIRECRACKER" A CO-WRITE WITH FRIENDS

"Firecracker" is sparking a lot of interest for Josh Turner as his new single. He wrote the tune with friends Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin. Turner says, quote, "They are two great songwriters whom I’ve always respected and always loved their body of work." Josh says he got the idea for the up-tempo number just before he was going onstage to do a show in Michigan. Like any good songwriter, he stopped long enough to write the thought down because he knew he might forget it before he got back to his bus. The song is about fireworks between a man and a woman, not the fourth of July kind. It’s off Turner’s upcoming album which will be out this fall. It is available for fans to download now at iTunes and other similar music sites.

KELLY CLARKSON SAYS SHE'D HAVE RECORDED ANYTHING TO GET TO SING WITH REBA

It's no secret that Kelly Clarkson is a huge Reba McEntire fan. It didn’t take the "American Idol" winner long to say yes when Reba told her she’d like to record Kelly’s song "Because of You" for "Reba Duets." Kelly says, quote, "I would have even sung "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on her record." When the song became the first single release from the album Clarkson was even more thrilled. "Because of You" has become Reba's fastest moving single in a decade and has entered the top ten in just as many weeks.

LITTLE BIG TOWN WILL TAKE TIME OFF IN AUGUST TO PREPARE FOR BABY

Little Big Town is getting ready to make the group a quintet. Group members Phillip Sweet, Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild will come off the road in a week to prepare for the arrival of fellow member Kimberly Road’s baby. The group has been on tour with Martina McBride for the last few months but will leave that tour after their show in Marietta, Georgia next Saturday. They return to their road schedule on September 21st in Hazard, Kentucky. Then they will join Sugarland and Jake Owen for "CMT On Tour" in Charleston, South Carolina on September 27th. The tour continues through its final date in Huntsville, Alabama on December 15th.
In other Little Big Town news, fans can catch them on ABC’s "6 Degrees of Martina McBride" Monday night. The two-hour special explores the six degrees of separation theory. In the special the band plays a part in connecting a country music hopeful to McBride. The band is completing work on its highly anticipated second CD which will be released later this year.

QUICK BITES

Talk about a cool call to march. Members of the Ashwaubenon High School Jaguar Marching Band’s Drum Corp will perform with Keith Urban at his back-to-back shows Tuesday and Wednesday in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Students were sent a piece of music to learn and perform at both concerts. The band has participated in parades all around the country, including the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena and the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami.

Blake Shelton is stepping in for Billy Currington at the Douglas County Fair in Yreka, California on August 10th. Currington was sidelined this month due to a severe case of laryngitis. According to the "News Review," he was expected to pick up his concert schedule in August but doctors have advised him to take more time off to allow his voice to rest.

Marty Stuart is producing Kathy Mattea’s new album. "Folkwax" magazine reports that Kathy approached Marty about working with her. Stuart says, quote, "She said she had envisioned a record of coal mining songs, which is absolutely down my pipe." He adds, quote, "I'm a total champion of the coal mining cause and the coal miners, just the hardships and the struggles of the everyday life, the ins and outs of coal mining." Marty says he was very taken with the idea of a West Virginia girl getting back to the very basics of her roots. He describes the album as "just exquisite."

Gene Watson has added Clinton Gregory to his Farewell Party Band. He will play fiddle, acoustic guitar and sing backup vocals. The two were both Step One labelmates back in the 1980’s.
The new Danielle Peck video for her single "Bad For Me" premiered yesterday on CMT.

Porter Wagoner, just back from a big week in New York City and a performance on "The Late Show with David Letterman," will return to the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. Others on the show include Charley Pride, Connie Smith, David Lee Murphy and Bill Anderson.

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.

Big Country Notes for JULY 24

BRAD PAISLEY ADDS FOUR DATES TO TOUR

After playing to 75-thousand people since last Thursday, Brad Paisley has announced the addition of four dates to his “Bonfires and Amplifiers” tour. Fans can see Brad, Taylor Swift and Rodney Atkins on October 4th in Detroit, Michigan, November 29th in Lexington, Kentucky, November 30th in Charleston, West Virginia, and December 1st in Columbus, Ohio.
Paisley set a festival record at his old stomping grounds of Jamboree in the Hills in St. Clairsville, Ohio last Thursday with over 40-thousand attending the outdoor festival that day. Stops in Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina garnered SRO crowds of nearly another 40-thousand. Shows this week are also sold tomorrow in Harrington, Deleware; Friday in Bethel, New York and Saturday in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Special guests on the tour are Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler.

KENNY CHESNEY SINGLE RISES TO THE TOP

Just seven weeks after its official release date Kenny Chesney’s “Never Wanted Nothing More” hit the top of the Country Singles chart this week. Chesney says, quote, “That song is pretty much everything I grew up on. You’ve got your bluegrass running all through it and your Southern rock underneath.” “Never Wanted Nothing More” is also Chesney’s fastest rising single. It is from Kenny’s upcoming September 11th release “Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates,” his first new album in two years. Chesney says fans respond to it as if he’s been playing it for years. The singer says, quote, “I know when we get up on that stage, it’s as much a rock show as anything. But all you gotta do is listen to me sing to know I’m a country artist… and this song goes a long way to make that point.” He adds, quote, “I know my country music… where else could you get laid and saved in the same three minutes?”
Chesney hits Saratoga, New York tomorrow before sliding into Holmdel, New Jersey on Thursday. Saturday finds him at Patriots Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This marks the third year in a row that the man has sold out the New England Patriots’ football stadium in less than 15 minutes. Joining him will be Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Pat Green and Sugarland.

TRISHA YEARWOOD COMPLETES DEBUT ALBUM FOR NEW LABEL

Trisha Yearwood has been in and out of the studio working on her first album for Big Machine Records. The singer says she hasn’t recorded an album as quickly as this one since her debut album. She says, quote, “Making this album feels a lot like the first time. There’s all this new energy and excitement and everything’s just falling into place.” Trisha says it’s important to keep things fresh for her fans. The singer says, quote, “After making records for 16 years, you are no longer the new girl on the block, and you have to find new ways to be creative.” As for her new album, Trisha says, quote, “I hope people who hear the album they will see that I really love what I do. Other than being remembered for being a good step-mother and good daughter and giving back, that is very important to me.” Her current single, “Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love,” is also doing well for her. The album of the same title is set for a November 13th release.

TOBY KEITH TO BE PART OF A&E’S “PRIVATE SESSIONS”

Toby Keith is scheduled to be in the new A&E Network series “Private Sessions.” The one-hour, weekly performance and interview series will be filmed in a small, intimate studio in New York City. It will showcase exclusive performances and conversations with top names in entertainment. The Sunday morning show will explore the body of work of a single artist or group and feature current releases and older material. Lynn Hoffman will be the host of the series. Toby will be featured on the August 5th episode at 9 a.m. Eastern.

WAYLON JENNINGS DVD SET FOR RELEASE TODAY

Waylon Jennings’ last concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville is now available on DVD. The three-disc set, “Never Say Die: The Final Concert Film” features his wife Jessie Colter, John Anderson, Montgomery Gentry and Travis Tritt. In addition to the two-hour concert, the package includes rehearsal footage and interviews with Waylon, Jessie, Bobby Bare, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and others. The two audio CDs include the full-length concert as well as eight previously unreleased songs.

Also in stores today, “The Essential Waylon Jennings,” a 42-song collection co-produced by Waylon’s son, Shooter Jennings. The songs span Waylon’s career from 1964 to 1987 and include a dozen number one records and 14 that reached the Top Ten. Among the tunes on the disc are “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin’ Me,” “Only Daddy That’ll Walk the Line,’ “Lonesome, On’ry and Mean” and “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love).” Jennings was 64 and still a viable part of the industry when he passed away in 2002.

KELLIE PICKLER DROPS 20 POUNDS FOR THIS YEAR’S TOUR SEASON

Kellie Pickler says she has lost about 20 pounds. The singer told “People” magazine that after competing on “American Idol” she stopped working out. She says, quote, “I got really lazy and every time I’d walk by the catering table [on the ‘American Idol’ tour] I’d grab a handful of M&Ms or some Twizzlers.” Kellie says she wouldn’t even be hungry – she just ate because the food was there. Then Kellie began reading articles that said she was fat and it hurt her feelings. Pickler resolved to slim down. The first thing she did was remove temptation. Now her dressing room is stocked with fruit and vegetable platters. Then she started working out again. Kellie says, quote, “I’ll run outside or I will play football with the guys in my band. On the bus I’ll lie down and do 100 crunches. I instantly noticed a difference in how I feel.” Her advice to others who want to lose weight is, quote, "If you don’t like your body, quit complaining! Go to the gym."

TAYLOR SWIFT RECEIVES NICE SURPRISE FIRST NIGHT OF “SOUL2SOUL” TOUR

Taylor Swift received a very cool surprise opening night of her stop on the “Soul2Soul 2007” tour with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. After the first show in New Jersey the singer returned to her dressing room to find two gifts waiting for her. One of the boxes was a candle and the other one a Juicy Couture charm bracelet. Taylor says, quote, “I’m never taking the bracelet off for the rest of my life.” She adds, quote, “I can't believe how sweet that was of them. As beautiful as Faith is, she is that nice.” Taylor has wrapped her run of dates with Tim and Faith and is back on the road with Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour. Tomorrow Taylor, Kellie Pickler and Jack Ingram join Brad at the Delaware State Fair in Wilmington.

JACK INGRAM FINDS ANOTHER USE FOR DUCT TAPE

Jack Ingram has a favorite pair of boots that have been on the road with him for years. This weekend the soles of the boots developed two holes in them and Ingram was desperate to get them repaired. He says, quote, “You know, my label has been working me pretty hard the last two years and these boots have seen a lot of miles.” He adds, quote, “I don’t see anytime soon that I will have time to get the boots re-soled, so I just figured I’d grab some duct tape from the production guys and wrap them up. Hey, the tape is black anyway, so most people haven’t noticed!” If fans should happen to notice the duct tape during future meet and greets, Jack has this to say: “I wear a size 14 boot, double-D, with a pointed toe, so if anyone finds any cool boots and wants to bring them to the show, I think I can put them to good use!”

CHELY WRIGHT TO PERFORM AT ANNUAL M.A.D. BENEFIT

Chely Wright will be the celebrity golfer and guest speaker at the second annual M.A.D. 9/11 Event For The Benefit of The Michael Allen Davidson Foundation on August 13th. Chely will be in Princeton Junction, New Jersey for the event, which celebrates the life of Michael Allen Davidson, who lost his life on 9/11. Wright didn’t hesitate to agree to participate in the benefit, saying, quote, “The Davidson’s are my friends. I have heart-felt compassion and sympathy for their loss.” Jeff Davidson and Ellen Davidson established the Michael Allen Davidson Foundation in the name and in memory of his brother and her son, who worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center, North Tower.

DOLLY PARTON HAS READING OF HER SCRIPT IN NEW YORK CITY

Dolly Parton has been working nine to five to prepare her musical for its recent staged reading. According to the “New York Post” there is already a buzz about the reading for “Nine to Five,” a musical based on the 1980 movie starring Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. The Broadway play will continue the saga about three secretaries who stick it to their boss. Parton is writing new songs for the score including the title song. The “Post” reports that the new songs are, quote, “Signature Dolly songs that also work as musical theater songs.” Parton attended the reading, standing at the back of the rehearsal hall and singing along with her songs. Production sources told the “Post” that Dolly has not been a diva when it comes to her songs for the production. When director Joe Mantello lets her know a number doesn't work, she tosses it out and goes right back to the keyboard. The play is based on the book by Parton’s friend Patricia Resnick, who also wrote the movie. It will be produced by Bob Greenblatt and is expected to open on Broadway in the 2008-2009 season. <>

BILLY RAY CYRUS RELEASES NEW ALBUM TODAY

Billy Ray Cyrus will release his new album “Home At Last” today. The CD includes new material for Cyrus as well as covers of three songs -- James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” and Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart.” The 12-song disc includes a bonus track, “Stand.” Cyrus, who recently signed with Buddy Lee Attractions for booking, will have a fall tour that will start in mid-October. His single “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” is the first from the album and was written about his daughter, Miley, who stars in the Disney channel’s “Hannah Montana.” The tune was featured on Saturday night’s show.
According to his website, Billy Ray is working on a project for The History Channel about Appalachia and the folks that live there.

QUICK BITES

Dolly Parton’s “The Kennedy Center Honors” is nominated for an Emmy in the category of Variety, Music or Comedy Special. “Hannah Montana,” which stars Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, is nominated for Children’s Program. “Dancing with the Stars,” which featured Cyrus competing on the show, is nominated for Reality-competition program. The 59th annual Emmy awards will be broadcast on September 16th on Fox.

Richie McDonald of Lonestar will join Jim Brickman on his 2008 Valentine Cruise. The seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera will sail from Los Angeles to the Mexican destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and Cabo San Lucas January 27th through February 3rd.

Taylor Swift earned her second consecutive BDS Spin Award for “Teardrops On My Guitar” with the track surpassing 50-thousand plays. BDS monitors airplay by radio singles.

Danielle Peck will perform on the Grand Ole Opry tonight.

Jack Ingram has been issuing a series of audio diaries from backstage on Brad Paisley’s “Bonfires & Amplifiers” tour for CMT.com. The singer has now upgraded the features to video diaries.

Big Country Notes for JULY 23

ABC’S “COUNTRY’S NIGHT TO ROCK” AIRS TONIGHT

Fans wanting to relive their experiences at the CMA Music Fest can do so tonight. ABC will air a two-hour special, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" featuring Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. In addition to live performances from the main stage, the show will take fans behind the scenes as fans get to meet their favorite stars including Sugarland, Dierks Bentley and George Jones tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Martina McBride presents a new truck to a Kansas family who lost everything after tornadoes went through their town. Others on the show include Alan Jackson, the Wreckers Jason Aldean, Big & Rich, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner and Reba McEntire in a duet with "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson. This is the third year for ABC to do a special from the festival, which will air at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Pickler will give fans an early preview of the show when she visits ABC's "Good Morning America" this morning. She will perform her single "I Wonder" from the singer’s debut Gold album, “Small Town Girl.”

FAITH HILL AND TIM McGRAW SAY THEIR KIDS LOVE TO BE ON TOUR WITH THEM

This is the second year for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw to have their three children on tour with them. The couple say that Gracie, Maggie and Audrey love being out on the “Soul2Soul 2007” tour. Tim told “Redbook,” quote, “They just love it and that’s why we decided to continue the tour one more year.” He admits there were a few moans when he and Faith told the girls so he says this will probably be the last year they are all on the road together. The singer says, quote, “They are starting to make their own friends and get their own lives.” He says that’s why they decided, quote, “We’d go out one more year together because we might never be able to do it again.”
Tim says the girls are old enough to help out on the road. Last year Gracie was climbing up on the rig and helping put up lights. The key to making it work, according to Faith, is organization. Hill says, quote, “As long as you plan everything out ahead of time and it runs smoothly, then it is fun to have everybody out there.” She adds, quote, “This year we were even brave enough to take one of our dogs with us.”

REBA McENTIRE SAYS SHE HAS PUT BEING HOMESICK BEHIND HER

When Reba McEntire first came to Nashville to record she would miss her family. Reba says she can recall many instances of homesickness in those early years. She says, quote, “I can recall many moments of homesickness when I first came to Nashville to record.” Reba’s more recent hours in the studio recording her upcoming “Reba Duets” album was very different for the singer. McEntire’s husband, Narvel Blackstock, is with her and their son Shelby, also tours with her as part of her crew. McEntire says outside of her immediate family she also has a great extended family. The singer says, quote, “The people who work with me are a great team and we have a lot of fun together so they are my second family.” She adds, quote, “Before we go into a grueling schedule we talk about where we’re gonna eat that night. We know at the end of the hard day we’re gonna go out to eat and laugh.”

SARA EVANS HOSTS BABY SHOWER FOR SHERYL CROW

Sara Evans was spotted buying baby things recently but don’t get the wrong idea. Evans hosted a baby shower for new mom Sheryl Crow that was attended by a number of celebrities including Emmylou Harris and “Nashville Star” judge Anastasia Brown. Sheryl recently adopted a son, Wyatt Steven. “The Tennessean” reports that many of the gifts were music themed, causing Crow to comment, quote, “He’s doomed.” Among the presents were a miniature baby blue guitar from Gibson and a onesie that said "I Crawl the Line” Harris told Crow, quote, "I always sort of flew by the seat of my pants. I know I made a lot of mistakes, but I ended up with two great kids."

LeANN RIMES, BRAD PAISLEY SIGN UP FOR CELEBRITY TABLESCAPES EVENT

Country artists are signing on to help create beautiful tables for the annual “T.J. Martell Foundation Celebrity Tablescapes” event on September 24th – 25th. LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley and Jamie O’Neal will all participate with top name designers. Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts and his wife Tiffany will also be a part of the special evening. Major designers including Tiffany & Co. and Baylor Bone Interiors will join with the celebrities to design their presentation. Proceeds from the event will benefit the T.J. Martell Foundation for cancer and leukemia research.

MINDY McCREADY ARRESTED ON TWO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES

Mindy McCready was arrested Saturday in Lee County, Florida. According to the “News-Press,” the Ft. Myers native was booked early Saturday morning on two misdemeanor charges – battery and resisting a law enforcement officer. McCready posted a one-thousand-dollar bail that evening and was released. She has been scheduled for an August 14 court appearance. This is not Mindy’s first run in with the law. In May 2005 she charged that her then-boyfriend, Billy McKnight, had tried to kill her. In September of that year she was hospitalized for an overdose of alcohol and prescription drugs.

MARK COLLIE ARRESTED ON DUI CHARGES IN NASHVILLE

Mark Collie was arrested Thursday night and charged with a DUI by Nashville police. According to “Trans World News,” the singer was found by a policeman slumped over in his car. The 51-year-old singer was in his car on the Vanderbilt University campus and police said he smelled like beer and had bloodshot eyes. Collie told police he had one beer but he failed a sobriety test. The singer was released on a 15-hundred dollar bail.

QUICK BITES

Miranda Lambert and Jack Ingram tape “CMT Cross Country” tomorrow night in Nashville.

Riders in the Sky will release “Public Cowboy #1: A Centennial Salute to the Music of Gene Autry” tomorrow. Originally released in 1996, this remastered version marks the celebration of Autry’s 100th birthday. It features four bonus tracks of Autry’s best loved songs. Ranger Doug says, quote, “Gene Autry blazed the trail for Roy and Tex and Rex and eventually us. It’s an honor to tip our huge hats to him every night in our show.”

Crystal Gayle is celebrating the 30-year anniversary of her multi-chart hit “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” To help celebrate Capitol Records is releasing “Crystal Gayle: Greatest Hits” on August 28th. The 25-track collection will include 16 number one hits. Fans will also be able to buy three new Crystal Gayle ringtones that day.

The Dottie West Music Fest will be held October 6th - 7th at the Warren County Fairgrounds in her hometown of McMinnville, TN. Among those performing are her daughter, Shelly West.

During the weekend The Southern Museum & Galleries will present an exhibition of Dottie West including a watercolor portrait and a commemorative book featuring never-before-published photographs of West.

Oak Ridge Boy William Lee Golden has an art exhibit at Nashville International Airport titled “The First of Many to Come.” The six-piece collection will be on display for six months as part of the airport’s “Arts at the Airport” program. An August 28th event that will be open to travelers is set to open the display. A set of commemorative note cards featuring his artwork and autographed by William Lee will be given to the first 500 guests.



"CHUCK AND LARRY" GRAB BOX OFFICE FROM "HARRY POTTER"

There was a warm reception for " I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" at the weekend box office. The fake gay marriage comedy starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Jessica Biel was the top draw with an estimated 34-point-eight-million dollars in box office receipts. That was enough to overtake last week's box office champ, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," on the same weekend that the final book in the "Potter" series arrived in bookstores. "Order of Phoenix" grossed in 32-point-two-million dollars to take the number two spot this weekend. Opening in third place was "Hairspray," the new movie-musical starring a cross-dressing John Travolta and newcomer Nikki Blonsky, which took in 27-point-eight-million in box office receipts. The alien robot movie "Transformers" was fourth with 20-point-five-million. And the computer-animated comedy "Ratatouille" was fifth with eleven-million. (Metro Source)
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. "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry," $34.8 million.
2. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," $32.2 million.
3. "Hairspray," $27.8 million.
4. "Transformers," $20.5 million.
5. "Ratatouille," $11 million.
6. "Live Free or Die Hard," $7.3 million.
7. "License to Wed," $3.8 million.
8. "1408," $2.6 million.
9. "Evan Almighty," $2.5 million.
10. "Knocked Up," $2.3 million.