| July 30, 2010 | 
» Me And My Machine:  High atop a new Nashville skyscraper, Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney jumped into a new phase of their career Thursday (7/29). The best news for fans? A new single titled "Why Wait" has already been sent to radio and the new album Nothing Like This arrives Nov. 16. And it's all on a new label as the band leaves their 10-year home Lyric Street for Big Machine, which is also Taylor Swift's record company. "I'm just thrilled Taylor let us on the label" DeMarcus joked at the press conference. "What, she's in Europe? Let's get this deal done."  The band lived together in Santa Barbara, CA while recording parts of the album. "We hadn't done that in a long time," LeVox told us after the announcement. "I think you can feel it on those tracks. It wasn't a big, full-blown, ritzy studio – it was just a hole-in-the-wall place." Meanwhile, Disney began closing its Nashville operation earlier this year. "I was actually on my way to the studio when we found out that Lyric Street had shut down," LeVox says. "It kind of took the wind out of us because ... we knew the music that we had created was outstanding. So our biggest fear was that it would never be heard." Rooney doesn't forsee his band's career goals tangling with those of Ms. Swift. "[Big Machine] is a young label, hip label and it just felt like a perfect fit," he says. "We don't have a problem at all thinking we're on the same team as Taylor. I think that just makes us feel even better and more proud." |
» Sportsmanlike Conduct:  The four-minute edit of Kenny Chesney's "The Boys Of Fall" music video will premiere Monday (8/2) on ESPN-TV's SportsCenter just before noon and re-air at 2pm ET. The eight-minute, full-length piece will be available at all outlets Tuesday (8/3). "I have friends in this video ... a lot of my heroes are in this video," Chesney says. "It has been one of the highlights of my life." The video culls footage from Chesney's upcoming football documentary The Boys Of Fall, which features interviews with current and former coaches and players including Sean Payton, Joe Namath, John Madden and Bill Parcells. |
» Couldn't Stand The Weather:  A nearby tornado threatened the production of Reba's upcoming video "Turn On The Radio" earlier this week. Reba and the crew took shelter in the basement of the century-old Nashville warehouse where they were shooting when a twister touched down outside the city. "This is only the second time one of my shoots has been shut down because of a storm," Reba said. "The last time something like this happened was on the set of the 'Does He Love You' video in Long Island. I hope that's a good omen because 'Does He Love You' ended up being a Grammy-winning song and a great music video.'" "Turn On The Radio" will be available at iTunes Aug. 3. |
» You've Been Lady Hazed:  Lady Antebellum are at it again. After parodying Easton Corbin's "A Little More Country Than That," they've turned Lee Brice's "Love Like Crazy" into an ode to Waffle House fare titled "Biscuits And Gravy." Lady A's Charles Kelley sings, "Scattered, covered, smothered, too/I find the pork chop hard to chew/But the one thing I eat like crazy, the biscuits and gravy." Brice is flattered, saying, "I understand that mine is the second song they've spoofed and only two songs in, they've perfected the craft." Watch "Gravy" here. |
» We're All Stars Tonight:  Keith Urban rocked out with six young Grammy Camp students during last Friday's (7/23) sold-out Starry Night concert at UCLA. The group backed Urban on "Days Go By" during the charity concert, which benefited Grammy In Schools and the Southern California Tennis Association's Foundation. "Having those kids onstage with us really serves as a reminder of what is possible when you're lucky enough to find your passion," Urban says. "I was so impressed by their talent and their obvious love for playing." |
» Cap Shunned:  Is Brad Paisley New Yorker funny? Maybe not, but that hasn't stopped the mag from posting Paisley's cartoon caption submissions to its website. Paisley, who will be featured in the Aug. 2 issue, apparently tries to get his funny lines published just like the rest of us. And no, we've never won, either. Of course, as The New Yorker points out, he's got three Grammys. Check it out here. |
» Love Me Tendered:  The original four-page 1955 record contract signing Elvis Presley to RCA, along with his white Knabe grand piano, are among 270 Presley items up for auction Aug. 14 in Memphis. Heritage Auction Galleries describes the piano as an "important musical relic" and calls the RCA document "the most desirable, important and valuable record contract ever signed." The piano is expected to fetch at least $1 million and the RCA contract is expected to go for more than $150,000. Details and complete items list here. |
» Crib Note:  Expectant parents Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts) and Allison DeMarcus found out this week they're expecting a girl in January. "I'm excited about being a father and trying to do as well as these guys have done," Jay joked Thursday (7/29) while sitting next to bandmates Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox. "I know I'll be better than Gary." |
» In Case You Missed It:  Wednesday's (7/28) Late Night With Jimmy Fallon featured Dierks Bentley, who played "Draw Me A Map"; watch here. Tuesday's (7/27) Tonight Show With Jay Leno included a performance from Jaron And The Long Road To Love, who performed "Pray For You"; watch here. |
» Hit List -
 Gary Allan headlined a benefit concert last Wednesday (7/21) that raised more than $225,000 for the Dempster Family Foundation, which supports children with DiGeorge Syndrome. Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster and wife Jenny founded the organization after their 15-month-old daughter Riley, who was born with the condition. Jaron And The Long Road To Love opened. Learn more here. - As of Tuesday (7/27), fans can download the title track to Little Big Town's The Reason Why as part of the iTunes Countdown to the Aug. 24 album release. A new song will be made available each of the next four weeks including "Kiss Goodbye" (8/3), "Why Oh Why" (8/10) and "All The Way Down" (8/17). Single "Little White Church" is also available now. Each track will count toward a "Complete My Album" purchase. Details here.
- Wynonna will be awarded the Cecil Scaife Visionary Award Aug. 24 for her philanthropic work in the country music community. The invitation-only event will include musical tributes and a proclamation from U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
- Darryl Worley will host the Ninth Annual Tennessee River Run Sept. 16-18 near his hometown of Savannah, TN. The three-day charity festival includes An Evening With Darryl Worley & Friends Songwriter Round & Fish Fry, a golf tournament, a 5k run/walk, the Motorcycle Poker Run, a rock concert with the Marshall Tucker Band and an all-star country concert with Worley, Danny Gokey and more artists TBA. All proceeds benefit the Darryl Worley Foundation, which supports regional and national non-profits. Complete schedule and details here.
- Roughly half of 1,300 fans chose Confessions Of A Nice Girl as Katie Armiger's third album title through a GAC online poll. "I think it's incredible that so many fans voted to help pick the title," Armiger says. "Thank you to those fans and GAC for being so supportive and amazing." The 13-track collection will include singles "Kiss Me Now" and "Leaving Home" when it hits stores Oct. 5.
Birthdays Neal McCoy (7/30) On TV Friday (7/30): Carrie Underwood, Today (NBC). Saturday (7/31): Sara Evans, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, Backstory (re-air) (GAC). Sunday (8/1): Heidi Newfield, Pat Green, Top 20 Songs Of Summer Video Countdown (re-air) (GAC). Upcoming Albums Jason Sturgeon That's Me (8/3)
Blake Shelton All About Tonight (8/10) |
 » Pretty Is As Pretty Does: Miranda Lambert gets a little help from some girlfriends for her upcoming video "Only Prettier," which premieres on Vevo.com Tuesday (8/3) and everywhere else Thursday (8/5). The piece follows two rival cliques at a '50s high school sock hop. Pictured (l-r) Laura Bell Bundy, Kellie Pickler, Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott and Lambert. |
 » Sheen & Heard: Dierks Bentley and Tim McGraw hang backstage in Raleigh during a stop of McGraw's Southern Voice tour. Bentley and "Runaway" singers Love And Theft opened the show. | |
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