CA's Artist News (6-22)

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

Share This:

This is an industry-only version of an email that Country stations in dozens of top markets deliver to their loyal listener databases. For details click here. June 22, 2010 » Cheeseburger In Paradise, Hold The Oil: Country artists answered the bell to help flood-stricken Nashville, and they're doing their part with the Gulf oil spill, too. Zac Brown and Kenny Chesney are joining Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band for a free, all-star concert in Gulf Shores, AL  July 1 aimed at helping local residents relieve their stress. "There are always welcome breaks in every storm, but the unfortunate reality is that this disaster is not going away for a while," Buffett says. "But a few hours of fun — void of the constant reminders of the situation — is a good thing, and that's basically what I do." CMT will air Jimmy Buffett & Friends Live From The Gulf Coast at 8pm ET. Tickets for up to 35,000 concertgoers will be available Wednesday (6/23) at 10am at CMT.com and Ticketmaster outlets. Louisiana natives Trace Adkins and Tim McGraw were among 30 celebrities who participated in Monday's (6/21) two-hour Larry King Live telethon Disaster In The Gulf: How You Can Help on CNN. A former offshore oil rigger himself, Adkins says he supports deep-sea drilling for its many uses other than harvesting gas to fuel cars. "The day we stop using petroleum, you'd better find a way to make plastics, all kinds of medicines, the clothes and shoes we wear [because] all that stuff is made out of petroleum," Adkins tells CNN. "I'm all for weaning ourselves off of oil, don't get me wrong, but until we find another alternative, that's what we got to do." The special benefitted the United Way, The National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy. » American Pride: Toby Keith opened his American Ride Tour in Holmdel, NJ Saturday (6/19) and our insiders were along for the, um, concert. "Everything about the show was more spectacular than anything he's done in the past," says one correspondent, noting an impressive opening video montage that culminates with a (tour sponsor) Ford F-150 rising up, from which Toby takes the stage. "The production was much more elaborate than ever before. He was much more interactive with the audience [and], for the first time, he had a stage extension going right in the center of the floor seats." Another concertgoer says Trace Adkins was in "fine form" and that Toby "performed like he had been out on tour for weeks." She adds, "Toby brought Trace out for the dramatic and patriotic encore of 'American Soldier' and 'Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.' Looking back at the audience from my seat – with the American flag flying in the breeze on a perfect summer night – you couldn't help but get emotional." » Undercover Cover Lover: Speaking of Toby, the Big Dog Daddy revealed himself as the "Incognito Bandito" during a secret show last Thursday (6/17) at the 1,000-seat Fillmore New York in Manhattan. Advance news of the mysterious "Bandito" concert first appeared on Keith's website a week prior: "We can't tell you anything more; just be there! It could be the best $25 you ever spend!" Attendees weren't disappointed when Toby took the stage backed by a six-piece band of seasoned studio musicians. The set list included deep album cuts and covers of Johnny Paycheck, Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Tom T. Hall and Tony Joe White. Read a CMT review here. » Shark Peek: Tim McGraw isn't just going to play Australia for the first time in September – he's going to play in Australia. "We're making a family vacation out of it," McGraw says. "I'm a new pilot so I've already got a plane reserved ... I'm going to go solo over the outback." Also on the McGraw family itinerary: a Great Barrier Reef adventure. "My middle daughter is a real outdoor girl," McGraw says. "Her dream is to go in a shark cage and see some Great Whites." Maggie is getting scuba certification this summer. Maybe the family motto should be "By Band, Air or Sea." » Jury Duty: You could win a free trip to San Francisco and the first-ever copy of "Lover, Lover" singer Jerrod Niemann's debut album Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury. A lucky contest winner will receive two round trip tickets to San Francisco, two-night hotel stay, Niemann concert tickets and meet-and-greet passes. The grand prize package also include a commemorative "First On Earth" CD plaque presentation at the July 31 show. Learn more and enter here. The album hits stores July 13. » Turn The Page: Currently on a two-week concert sabbatical from his Meet Me Halfway walk, Jimmy Wayne continues to raise awareness for homeless teens by promoting the mission's profile in the current People magazine. "I bought my copy at the airport, sat down on the plane and there were two ladies beside me who had the same People magazine," Wayne told us Monday (6/21). "I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to be weird, but the lady never got to my page. I stopped her at the gate and said, 'I hate to do this and I know this is cheesy but you have to read the article on page 136.'" Wayne says he's all for shameless self-promotion for MMH's sake, especially since he's nearing his Phoenix destination. Wayne's issue of People is on newsstands now. Learn more here. » Curbside Flatt: What do Rascal Flatts have in common with Slash, Melissa Etheridge and the late Buddy Holly? They're among the latest celebrities set to receive stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. "This is the kind of stuff you dream of growing up as a kid," RF's Joe Don Rooney says. "Having our name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has to be one of the coolest things that's ever happened to Rascal Flatts." The Walk Of Fame Committee selected the band among hundreds of nominations sent for the upcoming inductions. The presentation date has not yet been determined. » Getting Carded: Rodney Atkins received an apparent pre-Father's Day surprise while playing the Sangamon, Illinois County Fair Saturday (6/19). After "Watching You," Atkins' son Elijah ran onstage and brought his dad a Father’s Day card. "It was an audio card," our insider tells us, "and Rodney held it up to the mic so we could hear it. The card played 'Watching You.' Rodney seemed genuinely surprised and moved by it. Pretty cool moment." » House Band: Top country artists, a famous cartoonist and a president have collaborated for the upcoming compilation My Country: Smash Hits. The Aug. 24 release features songs from Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Trace Adkins, Darius Rucker, Reba, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins, Jypsi, Randy Houser, Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry. The project benefits the Fisher House Foundation, which provides housing for active and retired military and their families who are being treated at a military medical center. President George W. Bush is featured in a special message included with the collection, and Gary Trudeau created and donated the album's cover art. »Hit List Brooks & Dunn have cancelled Tuesday's (6/22) Nashville Rising benefit concert appearance and postponed Last Rodeo concerts in Virginia Beach, VA and Bristow, VA to July 11 and Aug. 1, respectively because of illness. Details and dates here. The Charlie Daniels Band will release "Iraq Blues" and "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010" on July 4 via online retailers. Both songs are from their Aug. 10 album Land That I Love. Tickets for next year's June 2-4 Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival are available now. Early Bird three-day passes are offered through July 31, and reserved seats are also available now here. Birthdays The late June Carter Cash (6/23) Gretchen Wilson (6/26) Lorrie Morgan (6/27) Kellie Pickler (6/28) On TV Tuesday (6/22): Dierks Bentley, Soundstage (re-air) (GAC). Wednesday (6/23): Taylor Swift, Dateline (re-air) (CMT). Thursday (6/24): George Strait, GAC Nights. Friday (6/25): Reba, Rachael Ray (re-air) (syndicated). In Stores Tuesday (6/22) Mark Chesnutt Outlaw Chesnutt covers outlaw classics Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Comin' Down," Billy Joe Shaver's "Black Rose," Willie Nelson's "Bloody Mary Morning," Waylon Jennings' "Only Daddy That'll Walk The Line," David Allan Coe's "Need A Little Time Off For Bad Behavior," Hank Williams, Jr.'s "Whiskey Bent And Hell Bound" and others for his 14th studio album. Amber Digby guests on the Statler Brothers' "A Couple More Years." Jaron And The Long Road To Love Getting Dressed In The Dark Formerly of the pop duo Evan & Jaron, the "Pray For You" singer documents his journey through previous relationships on his 10-track country debut, which he produced. Upcoming Albums Jerrod Niemann Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury (7/13) » Stars For Stripes: Darryl Worley and a military crew hold up Old Glory on a C-130 transport plane about to embark for Tikrit during Worley's recent Iraq trip. © 2010 LH Publications, LLC 1102 17th Ave. S, Ste. 205 • Nashville, TN 37212 • 615.320.1450

This email was sent to thegblogindy@gmail.com. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove®. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.