BIG FROG 104'S HOT NEWZ FROM NASHVILLE

August 27, 2010 » Circle. Un. Broken. Grand Ole Opry members Brad Paisley and Little Jimmy Dickens helped return the pine circle cutout from the original Ryman Auditorium stage to the restored Grand Ole Opry House this week. The stage and symbolic circle of wood were under almost four feet of water during May's flood, but Wednesday's (8/25) emotional press conference announced the venue will reopen Sept. 28. Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels Band, Diamond Rio, Del McCoury Band, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Mel Tillis and Josh Turner will join Paisley and Dickens for the Opry performance. The venerable show has been staged in several other venues including the Ryman since the Opry House was damaged. "This is indeed an iconic music institution that is extremely important to our city's tourism, our history and our identity," Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said at the event. "One of the great stories that came out of the floods is the fact that the Grand Ole Opry never stopped ... that is an incredible statement and message to the rest of the country about the resilience of the country music industry, of Gaylord [Entertainment], of this institution and of our entire city." Paisley and Dickens closed the ceremony by placing the flooring back in its home and performed the anthem "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." "I thought last night, 'I should bring a guitar,'" Paisley said. "This [venue] shouldn't sit there silent for the next month." The Opry House opening is the first of several Opry events including the Spirit Of Nashville Day (10/2), the 85th Birthday Bash (10/8-9), Opry Goes Pink (10/15) and others. Details here. » Pretty Good At Being Here: While recording his upcoming album Enjoy Yourself, Billy Currington sought some changes in latitudes to make the title more authentic. He was well into recording in Nashville when Jimmy Buffett's Key West, FL Shrimpboat Sound studios became available. Yes, the same studio complex where George Strait, Alan Jackson and Buffett have made records. Currington didn't need much convincing. "It was a blessing," he says of moving album production to the Keys. "The tropics work for me personally. It lays me back [and] when I get in that spot, it's really the best time to work. I would go from the beach straight to the studio and the back to the beach. It was something I've never done before. I was late all the time. [Well], not all the time, but it's definitely hard to get me off the beach." Enjoy Yourself features his single "Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer" and hits stores Sept. 21. » Threepeat: The 44th Annual CMA Awards will be thrice as nice for Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, who will host for the third consecutive year. "The CMAs are different from any other awards night," Paisley says. "You're looking at a roomful of people who love each other. And any new viewer will be pleasantly surprised at what they relate to on the Awards and what they like that they had no idea they would like. For that reason alone, this is the most important night of the year for country music." Underwood agrees, "It's all about country music. This is our community .... It's great to come here and celebrate that every year." The CMAs air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena Nov. 10 at 8pm ET on ABC-TV. Nominees for the top categories will be revealed during next Wednesday's (9/1) Good Morning America on ABC-TV, with all other categories being revealed Tuesday (8/31). » Homeboy Of Fall: Kenny Chesney surprised his alma mater's football team Wednesday (8/25) in Corryton, TN with an early screening of his football documentary Boys Of Fall. "You all grew up just like us," Chesney told the Gibbs High School Eagles. "You drive the same road we drove. You obviously played on the same football field we played on and walked through the same halls. So, it's really a special time for me to come here and play you guys this." Watch the WVLT-TV clip here. The 60-minute Boys Of Fall doc features interviews with football greats Sean Payton, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, John Madden, Tony Dungy, Bill Parcells, Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Jim Tressel and Bobby Bowden. BOF premieres on ESPN-TV Sunday (8/29) at 2pm ET. » Faith, Hope & Loads: As Tide's Loads Of Hope ambassador, Faith Hill unloaded a night of free music Tuesday (8/24) in New Orleans to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. "This city inspires great music, and sometimes when I get together with my band, I never know what will happen," Hill told the crowd. "We want you to just sit back and forget about it all and just have a great time." Roughly 2,200 tickets were given out in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, LA, and Biloxi, MS. Read the Associated Press review here. » In Case You Missed It: Blake Shelton, Martina McBride, John Rich and Trisha Yearwood anchored some saucy segments this week as Today show guest co-hosts. Shelton, McBride, Rich and Yearwood filled in for a vacationing Kathie Lee Gifford and dished about current events over their favorite cocktails (Shelton — Bacardi and Coke; McBride — Tequila; Rich — Crown Royal and Coke; Yearwood — white wine). Wednesday's (8/25) Good Morning America hosted Little Big Town, who discussed their album The Reason Why and performed the title track and "Little White Church." Julie Roberts was the focus of Thursday's (8/26) GMA piece "Road To Recovery: Nashville," which followed rebuilding efforts after the Middle Tennessee floods. » Arose By Any Other Name: The year's top five biggest and brightest country music stars will get the VIP-treatment courtesy of CMT and the network's inaugural CMT Artists Of The Year special Dec. 3. "Make no mistake: This is not an awards show or a competition, but a year-end party on a grand scale," CMT's John Hamlin says. "CMT Artists Of The Year celebrates the artists what made this year a great one for country music. It's their night because it's been their year, and they deserve to be wined, dined and entertained like no other evening anywhere else." The event will "take place in an elegant, yet relaxed setting that allows attendees to kick back, cut loose and enjoy the show." Performers and host are tba. CMT Artists Of The Year follows the Nov. 10 CMA Awards on ABC-TV and precedes the Dec. 6 American Country Awards on FOX-TV. » Don't Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go: How did country fare in VH1's "Greatest Artists Of All Time" poll? Well, Johnny Cash checks in at No. 35 and ... that's it. Seriously. The network asked "well-known music artists and music experts" to help compile the list, with Carrie Underwood being the only country performer mentioned as a participant. And while few would argue with the top five selections — the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson — what about Hank Williams, Willie, Waylon or Merle? Radiohead (29) over Garth Brooks? Sade (50) over Patsy Cline? Whitney Houston makes the list (60), but Dolly Parton, who wrote her biggest hit "I Will Always Love You," doesn't? Don't the musical accomplishments of Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Alabama or Taylor Swift compare favorably with Justin Timberlake (66), George Michael (87), Outkast (95) or Alicia Keys (100)? The upside of this lack of respect for country: You probably won't care if we don't tell you when the VH1 special airs. » Crib Note: Congrats to new parents James Otto and wife Amy on the birth of their daughter Ava Katherine Otto, who was welcomed to the world Tuesday night (8/24) at a Nashville hospital. "We can't believe Ava is finally here," James says. "She is beautiful like her mama, and I'm already wrapped around her tiny finger." Of course, this also means diaper duty for Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus, who is Ava's uncle. "I'm an uncle," DeMarcus announced over Twitter. "Send my bro James some love!!!" In case you missed the connection, James' wife Amy and Jay's wife Allison (who is also expecting) are sisters. Hit List As of 8pm ET Friday (8/27), the video for Taylor Swift's "Mine" is yours. That's when the clip premieres on CMT. Watch a 30-second sneak peek here. Vince Gill is going coastal for the Gulf economy by hosting a free Back To The Beach outdoor concert Sept. 25 near Destin, FL. Passes to the ticketed event are still available through the Beaches Of South Walton lodging partners. Details here. Martina McBride will perform in an all-star jam during the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) multi-network telethon. Stevie Wonder will lead a performance featuring McBride, Natasha Bedingfield, Queen Latifah, Aaron Neville and Dave Stewart. The charity special will simulcast commercial-free on 17 channels Sept. 10 at 8pm ET. Details here. Lady Antebellum are gearing up to launch their Need You Now fall tour Sept. 20 in Orlando. "We're going to have some really cool bells and whistles that we've never had in any of the past shows," Lady A's Charles Kelley says. Read the full blog here. Zac Brown Band have gone viral for their Letters For Lyrics campaign, which aims to send one million letters to service members overseas. An online application is available through the RamZone blog, the Letters For Lyrics page and ZBB's website. ZBB's Breaking Southern Ground compilation (featuring new artists and three new ZBB songs) is available with each written letter, or the CD can be donated to a soldier. Learn more and watch the sixth installation of For Those Who Serve here. Birthdays Jeff Cook (Alabama) (8/27) Jimmy C. Newman (8/27) Sherrié Austin (8/28) LeAnn Rimes (8/28) Shania Twain (8/28) Dan Truman (Diamond Rio) (8/29) Kitty Wells (8/30) On TV Friday (8/27): Josh Turner, Today (NBC); Lady Antebellum, Good Morning America (ABC); Taylor Swift, CMT Premieres Taylor Swift "Mine." Saturday (8/28): Little Big Town, Marty Stuart, On The Streets (GAC); Gary Allan, Trucks! (Spike TV). Sunday (8/29): Trace Adkins, Backstory (re-air) (GAC); Gary Allan, Trucks! (Spike TV); Taylor Swift, Saturday Night Live (re-air) (NBC). Monday (8/30): Toby Keith, Top 20 Country Countdown (re-air) (GAC). Upcoming Albums Sammy Kershaw Better Than I Used To Be (8/31) Amber Hayes C'mon EP (8/31) » Three Best Friends That Anyone Could Have: Rascal Flatts, actor David Arquette and comedian Ron White channel The Hangover on the set of the band's "Why Wait" music video in Las Vegas. "This video is gonna kill," bassist Jay DeMarcus tweets. "I promise you." Pictured (l-r) Joe Don Rooney, Arquette, White, Gary Levox and DeMarcus. © 2010 LH Publications, LLC