Radio Country: BIG FROG 104'S HOT NEWZ FROM NASHVILLE

August 10, 2010

» Gearless? Not Taylor:

Looks like Taylor Swift could use surf lessons, gridiron gear and possibly a New Year's Eve dress for her accelerating multimedia blitz. Back stateside Monday (8/9) after performing Japan's Summer Sonic Festival, Swift racked up four surfboard trophies at Sunday's (8/8) Teen Choice Awards: Favorite Country Artist, Country Song for "Fifteen," Country Album for Fearless and Female Breakout star for her role in Valentine's Day (Lady Antebellum took Favorite Country Group and Keith Urban landed Favorite Male Country Artist). A helmet and shoulder pads may come in handy Sept. 9 when she joins the Dave Matthews Band at NFL Kickoff in New Orleans. Taylor will "play" prior to the league's season-opening game between the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings; coverage starts at 6:30pm CT on NFL Network and continues at 7pm CT on NBC-TV. Finally, a party dress may be in order, as word around the Web (E!, New York magazine and Cinema Blend) is that Swift might be the only original cast member slated for the Valentine's Day sequel titled New Year's Eve. According to E!, the people behind the project are thinking about having Swift star in the ensemble cast as a New York University student. In her spare time, she'll release her third studio album Speak Now Oct. 25.

» He Had A Barbecue Stain On His White T-Shirt:

Headliner Tim McGraw didn't go "full monty," but he came pretty close to it during a prank for Lady Antebellum's last performance on his tour Saturday (8/7) in Toronto. Shirtless and in gym shorts, McGraw and his Dancehall Doctors stormed the stage during "Love Don't Live Here." The antics didn't end there, as Brett Warren (the Warren Brothers) took over the drums in his boxers and bunny ears during the cover "Free Falling." Lady A are now (hopefully) streaker-free in London, where they've sold out Wednsday's show (8/11) at Shepherd's Bush Empire. "We've been looking forward to going to the UK all summer," Lady A's Hillary Scott says. "I wish we were able to stay a little longer and travel around, but this will at least be a great introduction for us to the new fans and friends we are making over there." Complete list of dates here.

» Rough And Ready: Toby Keith may be the latest People Country cover-dude, but to 13-year-old boys in one corner of Oklahoma, he's just another coach. "Kids do better with that than adults do," Keith says of the players on his son Stelen's football team. "They are just, 'Hey, coach! Can I go in?'" Also inside the Sept. issue are the details on Carrie Underwood's fairytale wedding and access to a free nine-track iTunes country playlist featuring Justin Moore, Chuck Wicks, Bo Bice, Sunny Sweeney and others. Details here.

» Worth The Wait:

When Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus heard their current single "Why Wait," he knew right away that there was something special about it. "We were listening down through literally hundreds of songs," bassist DeMarcus says. "I kept going back to that one because it's such a unique melody and such a unique feel for us ... I remember I had a phone conversation with [singer] Gary [LeVox] and I said, 'Man, the second song on this [CD], is really different for us ... I think it could showcase our harmonies really well.' When we went into the studio, we knew instantly ... that it was going to be a showcase piece on the album." The song is the first shuffle the band has ever recorded for a major release, in this case their Nov. 16 album Nothing Like This.

» Male Pattern Boldness:

Although Kenny Chesney's sporting his signature cowboy hat on Sunday's (8/8) Parade magazine cover, he says he has no problem going without it. Chesney shares, "When I was 17 or 18, I'd take my helmet off on the field, and I'd see hair in it and go, 'Good God! What's going on?' It did bother me in college a little bit ... but it doesn't at all now. What's ironic about it is that friends ... in their 30s and 40s are just starting to lose their hair and are freaking out. I went through all that in high school." Chesney also dished about taking a year off the road, reconnecting with family and his upcoming football documentary The Boys Of Fall, which premieres on ESPN-TV this fall. Read more and see pictures from the photo shoot here. Chesney also recently released details about his 11-track Sept. 28 release Hemingway's Whiskey. Along with the lead single "The Boys Of Fall," the album boasts a George Jones duet on "Small Ya'll," while "You And Tequila" features rocker Grace Potter. Other titles include "Live A Little," "Coastal," "Seven Days" and "Where I Grew Up." Details here.

» While The Gettin's Good:

The Zac Brown Band are giving fans a little something extra with the Sept. 21 release of You Get What You Give. Not only does the album feature Alan Jackson on lead single "As She's Walking Away" and Jimmy Buffett on "Knee Deep," but ZBB are also offering bonus swag in four pre-order packages. The Album Only edition includes three pre-order options ($10.99-$16.99). The Deluxe Edition includes the CD, two bonus tracks, the single download and an unreleased ZBB tee ($34.99). The Premium Edition includes the Deluxe package plus a ZBB lithograph and a bottle of Brown's spice Southern Ground Grub - Georgia Clay Rub ($49). The Limited Edition includes the Premium package, the band's Southern Ground Cookbook, a trucker hat and a chance to win a free cabin on ZBB's Sailing Southern Ground cruise Sept. 2 ($99). Details here.

» Mother Of All Roles:

The upcoming season of How I Met Your Mother will get a dose of country when Laura Bell Bundy begins her recurring role on the CBS-TV sitcom. According to Entertainment Weekly, Bundy landed the part as the new co-host on Metro News One opposite Cobie Smulders ("Robin Scherbatsky"). Details here.

» Sweet & Wild One: Jewel and husband Ty Murray are taking the term "road-tripping" to the next level. The pair are currently on a cross-country motorcycle ride, which has, so far, led them from their home in Stephenville, TX to Colorado Springs, CO. "We both hit the road at a young age — him to the rodeo ... and me as a musician," Jewel says. "That's all we've done up until now is tour every year ... We just thought if we don't do it now, we're never going to do it. We need to take time off ... and go see the States and have an adventure while we're young enough to really enjoy it." Growing up on the road has also made Jewel a savvy packer. "Sometimes I pack less than Ty does," she claims. "All I brought are a couple pairs of pants, a couple sun dresses and motorcycle gear, and that's it!" Follow Jewel on her journey here.

»Hit List

Catch all the behind-the-scenes action from the 2010 CMA Music Festival online now through Sept. 1 on ABC.com and beginning Friday (8/13) on CMAfest.com. Videos include an inside look at Dierks Bentley's late-night fan club party, an exclusive peek into Jason Aldean's pre-performance "huddle" with the band and Kellie Pickler babysitting Blake Shelton's dogs ... and mother ... before taking the stage. The Tim McGraw-hosted CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock premieres Sept. 1 at 8pm ET on ABC-TV. Follow the link for the footage.
Luke Bryan is getting back to his roots by staging his second Farm Tour Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Georgia. Proceeds from the Valdosta, Statesboro, Carrollton and Macon concerts will benefit his home state charities. "I come from an area just like those we have chosen to perform in," Bryan says. "I grew up working on my father's peanut farm and know how hard these farmers work. We hope to give them a chance to take a break and enjoy themselves with a night of music." Complete schedule here.
Craig Morgan's charity dirt bike ride raised $36,000 for the Craig Morgan Charity Fund. The two-day event was held at his hometown of Dickson, TN, 30 miles west of Nashville.
Randy Houser is offering a sneak preview of his Sept. 21 album They Call Me Cadillac beginning Tuesday (8/10). Select songs will be available to stream on his website with the first being "Lowdown And Lonesome," "Addicted" and the title track. Single "I'm All About It" is available for iTunes download here. Details here.
Chris Young will webcast his invitation-only acoustic performance Tuesday at 6:30pm CT. Learn more and watch the set here.

Birthdays

The late Jimmy Dean (8/10)
Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) (8/10)
John Conlee (8/11)
The late Buck Owens (8/12)
Danny Shirley (Confederate Railroad) (8/12)
The late Porter Wagoner (8/12)
Andy Griggs (8/13)

On TV

Tuesday (8/10): Jason Aldean, Jamie O'Neal, CMT Cribs (re-air).

Wednesday (8/11): Zac Brown Band, Shawn Mullins, Kid Rock, Pass The Jar — Zac Brown Band And Friends Live From The Fabulous Fox Theatre (GAC).

Thursday (8/12): Jamey Johnson, Introducing (re-air) (GAC).

Friday (8/13): Dolly Parton, Late Show With David Letterman (re-air) (CBS).

In Stores Tuesday (8/10)

Charlie Daniels Band Land That I Love
CDB's 15-track patriotic compilation features new recordings "Iraq Blues" and "(What This World Needs Is) A Few More Rednecks 2010." Familiar offerings include "Simple Man," "This Ain't No Rag, It's A Flag," "In America," "Still In Saigon" and others. Daniels co-produced. Buy here.

Blake Shelton All About Tonight
Shelton's second "six pak" features the title single and a duet with fiancée Miranda Lambert on "Draggin' The River." Lambert also co-wrote "Suffocating" with Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, who sings background vocals on the track. Purchase here.