BIG FROG 104'S HOT NEWZ FROM NASHVILLE

September 24, 2010 » No Tour, No Phones, No Problems: Yes, Kenny Chesney stayed busy making two movies during 2010's break from the road. But he says the past year's "stage-cation" allowed more time to focus on Tuesday's (9/28) highly anticipated Hemingway's Whiskey. "The last four or five albums that I've done felt like I [recorded them] in the middle of other things," Chesney says. "I would get off the road on a Sunday night, then I would go in the studio on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and try to make a record. The whole time I was on my BlackBerry thinking about what time we had to leave Thursday, talking to my road manager, doing this or doing that. In the meantime, I was sitting there with the guitar players telling them what I'm hearing in my head." "I felt it was time for me to make a record and just focus on that and not have to [worry] about where I have to be or what I have to do for the first time since probably The Road And The Radio or When The Sun Goes Down. And it was a lot better for me mentally." Chesney will hit the media circuit next week to promote his latest effort, which boasts cameos from George Jones ("Small Y'all") and rocker Grace Potter ("You And Tequila"). Appearances include CMT's Invitation Only Monday (9/27), ABC-TV's Good Morning America Tuesday (9/28) and NBC-TV's Tonight Show With Jay Leno Friday (10/1). » We're Just Lookin' For A Good Ride: A sold-out Hard Rock Live crowd in Orlando witnessed Lady Antebellum's first-ever headlining tour launch Monday (9/20). "This is absolutely one of the most memorable moments in our lives," the group's Charles Kelley said in opening the 90-minute set. "We will remember this day forever." In honor of the occasion, this week's Webisode Wednesday also chronicled Lady A's succession of touring vehicles: Jeep, van, van with trailer, Winnebago, a "crappy" tour bus, a decent tour bus and, now, three blinged-out tour buses. Read the full Orlando Sentinel review here and watch the Webisode here. » It Only Hurts When I'm Reading: Eilleen's early life was marked by hardship, and tragedy almost forestalled her music career. But after raising her siblings and honing her craft, she changed her name to Shania, which means "on my way" ... and she was. Sounds like a good book, eh? Well, her publisher sure thinks so. Shania Twain's autobiography will be released next spring. "There have been moments in my life I was concerned by the reality that tomorrow would never come," Twain says. "Recently I experienced one of those moments to an intensity that brought on a sudden urgency to document my life before I ran out of time — before I had the opportunity to share an honest and complete account of my life, in my own words." In other Shania news, her docu-series on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network will also premiere in the spring. Details here. » Rain Makes Peaches: The No. 1 party for Luke Bryan's "Rain Is A Good Thing" turned into a family reunion for Bryan and co-writer/college buddy Dallas Davidson. "I think half the state of Georgia is here," one industry exec observed during Tuesday's (9/21) packed Music Row event. Several of Bryan and Davidson's friends and colleagues shared personal anecdotes of the duo, and the celebration included a surprise plaque presentation recognizing sales of 500,000 copies of Bryan's album Doin' My Thing. "To experience this with one of my best friends in the world ... it's just such an amazing ride," Bryan said. "We grew up saying 'Rain makes corn, corn makes whiskey.' I can remember daddy ... if it was dry he would call off vacation. It was our life – watching the sky, so to be able to ... tell that story [of] 100% how we lived [makes] this even more special." » Outlandish Hats? What do Lady Gaga and Randy Houser have in common? If you answered, "They both wear dresses made of meat," you're, um, way wrong. But they are both in hot rotation on Reba's personal playlist, at least according to a magazine article Houser recently read. "I still blush when I realize that she dug what I did because she's someone I grew up listening to," Houser says. And with his new album They Call Me Cadillac out now, Randy's hoping her affinity for his music will continue. "I'm going to write her a letter and send her a copy," he says, admitting he's nervous about her reaction. He shouldn't be. "Can't wait to hear the new music!!!" Reba recently tweeted. "I'm a huge fan!!!" Houser premiered his current single "A Man Like Me" on Tuesday's (9/21) Good Morning America. Watch here. » Celebrate Good Rhymes Come On: Open to the general public for the first time, Monday night's 4th Annual ACM Honors at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium (9/20) was short on surprises (winners were announced in April) but long on heartfelt appreciation for music and the people who make it happen. "My dad had a love for American everything," Jim Reeves International Award recipient Keith Urban explained during his thoughtful acceptance. "He loved American music — primarily country, [and] the first concert my parents took me to see was Johnny Cash when I was five years old. I remember sitting there listening and watching the power of this guy onstage ... I wouldn't say it was life-changing because it had only been five years at that point, but it was very impactful and made a huge impression on me ... This music is global and influences people in little places and towns we can't even pronounce. It crosses all language barriers because we speak, sing and write about the human condition." Lee Ann Womack hosted for the second year, and performers included Buxton Hughes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Martina McBride, John Rich, Kenny Rogers, the Secret Sisters, Marty Stuart, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan and Kix Brooks. » Parole With It: "Roll With It" singer Easton Corbin is a marked man. His run opening for Brad Paisley's H2O World tour is coming to a close and Corbin has yet to be the target of one of Paisley's infamous practical jokes. "We've only got about three more shows with him, and since we haven't seen any [pranks] yet, I'd be very surprised if we didn't see something here in the next week," Corbin recently told us. "Whatever happens, I'll take it like a man." Brad nabbed recent openers Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore — just the latest in a long line of victims. Easton's last day on the tour is Saturday (9/25), and we're betting that even his band won't be standing too close to him. » Coined The Raise: Miranda Lambert surprised students at her alma mater Lindale (TX) High School, as well as other local schools, to thank them for pitching in for Nashville flood relief. The schools raised $3,616.13 through the Nickels For Nashville campaign. Lambert presented each with a framed autographed picture as a thank-you for their support. Full article here.  »Hit List Sugarland get down and funky while closing their hometown Atlanta show with the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive." Watch the performance here. The Grand Ole Opry has added Trace Adkins, Crystal Gayle, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift and CBS Sunday Morning's Charles Osgood to the performance lineup of the two-day 85th Birthday Bash Oct. 8-9 at the reopened Grand Ole Opry House. Osgood will play piano in the Opry house band as part of the I'm With The Band series, which invites celebrities to sit in with the group. Details here. Carrie Underwood appropriately cast her mother Carole in her new music video "Mama's Song." According to People magazine, husband Mike Fisher also has a small role in the piece. "[Mike's] not 'in' it, but you can tell it's him," she says. "He hung out with my mom [on set], and he's great with her." "Mama's Song" premieres exclusively on Vevo Friday (9/24). More here. Jack Ingram continues the Acoustic Motel online series this week by covering Guy Clark's "Stuff That Works." Watch the intimate performance from his motel room here. Taylor Swift has revealed the 14-song track listing to Oct. 25's Speak Now. See it here. Martina McBride has posted a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsing with pop's Natasha Bedingfield for the Stand Up To Cancer telethon. Watch here. Sammy Kershaw will be pressing the flesh and performing during the week-long Real People Of Louisiana Hayride campaign tour beginning Monday (9/27) leading up to the Oct. 2 primary election. Kershaw is running for Lt. Governor. Complete schedule here. A typical Seattle downpour didn't dampen the spirit of Dierks Bentley's Miles & Music For Kids charity ride Saturday (9/18). More than 5,000 weathered the, uh, weather to raise $50,000 for Seattle Children's Hospital. "Motorcycle riders may look big and bad, but they have a heart of gold, and it would take a lot more than a little rain to deter them," Bentley says. CMA has released a 144-page book titled The CMA Awards Vault chronicling the annual show from its 1967 debut. The "scrapbook"-style collection features program replicas, never-before-published pictures and other memorabilia. Kenny Chesney and Barbara Mandrell wrote the foreword and afterword, respectively. Details here. Birthdays Carlene Carter (9/26) Doug Supernaw (9/26) Lynn Anderson (9/26) The late Patrick Bourque (Emerson Drive) (9/27) On TV Friday (9/24): Willie Nelson, Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (CBS); Trailer Choir, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? (CMT). Saturday (9/25): Steel Magnolia, Billy Currington, Top 20 Country Countdown (re-air) (GAC). Sunday (9/26): Toby Keith, Conversations From The Road (re-air) (GAC). Monday (9/27): Kenny Chesney, Invitation Only: Kenny Chesney (CMT) and Boys Of Fall (re-air) (ESPN2); Randy Houser, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC); Zac Brown Band, Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC). Upcoming Albums Shawn Camp 1994 (9/28) Kenny Chesney Hemingway's Whiskey (9/28) Montgomery Gentry Hits And More: Live Beside A Gravel Road (9/28) » Reading Vows With My Boots On: "Cadillac" turned "Reverend" Randy Houser officiates songwriting buddy Rob Hatch's marriage to music industry executive Shannan Neese. Houser tweeted, "Rob and Shannan get hitched! Best picture ever!" Houser was ordained for the Sept. 11 ceremony. © 2010 LH Publications, LLC