Country Music Newsletter 11/12/2010

November 12, 2010   » This Is Country Music: "That's about 34 years' worth of steps right there for me, y'all," Blake Shelton said after pounding up the 44th Annual CMA Awards steps to accept Male Vocalist of the Year Wednesday night in Nashville (11/10). In a show that seemed to hit all the designated notes, Shelton's win was a gratifyingly unexpected turn that had radio and music industry schmoozers buzzing into the early morning post-party hours. "I've used up all the stupid things I always have to say ... the smart-ass things that most of y'all have known me for," Shelton told backstage media as he began to assimilate the gravity of the moment. "I don't have those tonight."   If Shelton's win was a pleasant surprise, Brad Paisley's Entertainer of the Year ascension was a satisfying validation of not only his career, but a remarkable response to adversity after May's flood destroyed his tour set. "I owe this award to my crew that put the show on and put as much pride into it as I do," Paisley said in the press room. "If there was ever a year I wanted to win this award, it's this one." And as validations go, Miranda Lambert's three wins and Song of the Year recognition for her "The House That Built Me" were also quite expected after she was nominated nine times in seven categories. "I hope it's a beginning," she said after the show about the Female Vocalist honor. "I hope I'm here 40 years from now handing out an award like Loretta [Lynn] handed it to me." Lady Antebellum were named Vocal Group, Sugarland took Duo and Zac Brown Band earned the New Artist trophy. Full list of winners here. (Click the links for video clips.)   » 18 Squeals & Three Dozen Roses: What could possibly sweeten the mix for an artist who celebrated her 27th birthday by enjoying her greatest professional breakthrough and watching her fiancé do the same? How about a surprise phone call from hero Merle Haggard. Miranda Lambert answered her phone prior to the awards show Wednesday (11/10) and, not recognizing the caller, asked who it was. "This is Merle Haggard," came the reply. Lambert responded, "The Merle? This is Miranda Lambert!" Surely chuckling, Haggard said, "I know, I called you!" Beyond his verbal best wishes, Haggard also sent Lambert 37 roses: 27 pink roses in honor of her birthday, nine yellow flowers signifying each of her CMA nominations and one red rose expressly for her. » CMA Quote Book: Seen and heard backstage and onstage at the 44th Annual CMA Awards:   "My hero little Jimmy Dickens has a saying ... if you see a turtle on a fencepost, it had help getting up there. I feel just like a turtle on a fencepost at this point." - Brad Paisley accepting Entertainer of the Year. "That's how I like to start the night right there. I can relax and get drunk now." - Blake Shelton during the pre-show after winning Musical Event with Trace Adkins for "Hillbilly Bone." "Are you guys going to wear your meat suits tonight, at least?" - Paisley, apparently confusing Lady Antebellum with Lady Gaga. "I'm her evil twin." - Actress Sissy Spacek on her bond with Loretta Lynn. "You mean I'm the good one?" - Lynn in response. "Shake it up, CMA!" - Jennifer Nettles interrupting Sugarland's press room Q&A as she saw Blake Shelton win Male Vocalist. "When the water reaches Little Jimmy Dickens' neck, he'll scream like a banshee." - Paisley announcing Nashville's new flood warning system. "I told him its time for them to get married and have a kid and see how good that thing sings." - Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley on Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. "What?!" - Taylor Swift responding to a standing ovation following her performance. "I've been working out, but geez." - Miranda Lambert on lugging three trophies around for backstage photos. "God bless us, every one." - Paisley closing his performance of "This Is Country Music."   » Taylor Universally: "It's been a really emotional week for me," Taylor Swift said during Tuesday night's (11/9) 58th Annual BMI Country Awards. She accepted two remarkable honors to pile atop her already astounding accomplishments: Songwriter of the Year (youngest ever) and Song of the Year for "You Belong With Me" (first to earn the distinction three years running). "As always, [thanks to] all the creative minds in this room who inspire me every day," she said. Her Songwriter honor at the age of 20 puts her in good company with previous recipients Bill Anderson (23) and Johnny Cash (24).   » Pre-Party People: Leading up to Wednesday's (11/10) CMA Awards, Country Strong actors, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Josh Kelley, Jason Aldean and Hank Williams, Jr. were among those who got their pre-party on around Music City. Stars swarmed Monday's (11/9) Country Strong red carpet premiere to support Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw and Leighton Meester (photos here). Urban played "Put You In A Song" and "You Gonna Fly" and rubbed elbows with industry insiders at the Get Closer preview party. McBride announced she's moved to a new label - Republic Nashville - during a press conference at the Country Music Hall Of Fame (see picture below). Knocked Up's Katherine Heigl was spotted supporting husband Josh Kelley at his Georgia Clay preview soirée. Bentley hobnobbed outdoors on his property outside Nashville during Tuesday's (11/9) Up On The Ridge party. CMT.com webcast Jason Aldean's invitation-only My Kinda Party concert Tuesday (11/9). And all Hank, Jr.'s rowdy friends (including Kid Rock, Jamey Johnson and Zac Brown) were on hand as he launched Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey Tuesday (11/9).   » Winners At A Choosing Game: Final nominees for the People's Choice Awards 2011 include Tim McGraw, who scored an all-genre Favorite Male Artist nod, while Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood represent country in the Favorite Female Artist category. Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Swift and Underwood make-up the Favorite Country Artist category. Vote and see a complete nominees list here. The PCAs air live Jan. 5 on CBS-TV. » Swift Justice: Taylor Swift and Judge Judy Sheindlin tie at No. 9 on Forbes' "Hollywood's Highest-Earning Women" list with $45 million in earnings. "She's one of the few artists who can still convince millions of fans to legally buy music," the article says about Swift. "Her Fearless album topped the 2009 sales charts, moving 3.2 million units, while fans downloaded another 12 million tracks from iTunes and Amazon. Major endorsement deals with Sony and CoverGirl helped her bottom line, too." The top five are Oprah Winfrey ($315m), Beyoncé ($87m), Britney Spears ($64m), Lady Gaga ($62m) and Madonna ($58m), respectively. Complete ranking here.   » Why Wait? Rascal Flatts will be back for round two of the Nothing Like This Tour in 2011. The second leg will kick off Jan. 14 in Sioux Falls, SD with Luke Bryan and Chris Young on the bill. Complete itinerary here.   » More Buck For Your Garth: The next set of Garth Brooks dates at the Wynn Las Vegas' Encore Theater will be Dec. 3-5, Jan. 21-23 and Feb. 11-13 and 25-27. Ticket prices have been raised from the original $125 to $225 (plus tax and fees) and go on sale Saturday (11/13) at 10am PT. Regarding the price increase, Steve Wynn notes, "The most important thing for our company is to give people value for their entertainment dollar. The contact with Garth in the Encore is the equivalent of being in his living room ... In terms of value, I believe that Garth is still underpriced and represents the greatest entertainment value in modern Las Vegas." Brooks notes, "I am flattered Steve Wynn believes in me as an entertainer ... My only concern is the audience. Right now, the Vegas audiences are some of the best I have ever played for, and I'd hate to see that change, for whatever reason." Passes are available through Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-65-GARTH (42784). In other Garth news, the Lifetime movie Unanswered Prayers will premiere on the network Nov. 29.   » In Case You Missed It: Good Morning America hosted Reba Tuesday (11/9) in New York and Dierks Bentley and Brad Paisley in Nashville Wednesday (11/10) to plug the CMA Awards. Bentley performed "Draw Me A Map," "Fiddlin' Around" and "Free And Easy (Down The Road I Go)." Paisley and NASCAR's Jeff Gordon presented America's Heroes contest winner 1st Sgt. Matthew Baker a new Chevy (watch here). Reba plugged Tuesday's (11/9) All The Women I Am and performed "Consider Me Gone." Blake Shelton played "Kiss My Country Ass" on Wednesday's (11/10) Jimmy Kimmel Live. Follow the links for the footage.     Hit List Keith Urban is offering Facebook streams of one track per day from Get Closer. "Put You In A Song," "You Gonna Fly," "All For You" and "Long Hot Summer" are available now through Urban and Target's respective Facebook pages. Tracks from Target's exclusive deluxe edition will be posted on the Nov. 16 release date. Urban Facebook fans will also be able to share the content with other friends. The Target commercial promoting the release premieres Sunday (11/14). Gloriana kicked off a six-date Navy Entertainment tour of the Middle East and Europe last week. "This is just a small way for us to say, 'Thank you,' to the men and women in the military and to see first-hand what they do for us on a daily basis," the band's Mike Gossin says. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us, and we are so grateful." View USS Abraham Lincoln concert footage here. Carrie Underwood premiered her first Olay commercial during Wednesday's (11/10) 44th Annual CMA Awards telecast. Watch the video here. She'll also perform during CBS-TV's the Thanksgiving Day Parade telecast (11/25). In observance of Veterans Day (11/11), Toby Keith performed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD Wednesday (11/10) and at West Point's Eisenhower Hall Thursday (11/11). Birthdays Rockie Lynne (11/14) Jack Ingram (11/15) On TV Friday (11/12): Reba, Late Show With David Letterman (CBS). Saturday (11/13): Various Artists, CMT Insider: CMA Recap; Little Big Town, Weekend Today (NBC). Sunday (11/14): Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC). Monday (11/15): Rascal Flatts, Invitation Only: Rascal Flatts (CMT) and Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated) and Late Show With David Letterman (CBS); Lyle Lovett, Castle (ABC); Jason Aldean, Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC). Upcoming Albums Burns & Poe Burns & Poe (11/16) Rascal Flatts Nothing Like This (11/16) Keith Urban Get Closer (11/16)   » Strong Enough: Leighton Meester, Gwyneth Paltrow, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw cut up at the Country Strong launch party.     » Rows Of Sharin': Reba, Kelly Clarkson and industry execs show their support for Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton. Pictured (back, l-r) are Reba's husband/manager Narvel Blackstock, Reba, Clarkson, producer and Warner Music Nashville's Scott Hendricks, WMN's John Esposito and Shelton's manager Brandon Blackstock. Pictured (front, l-r) are WMN's Bob Reeves and Shelton.     » Blondes On Black: Carrie Underwood (l) and Kellie Pickler work the Black Carpet at Wednesday's (11/10) 44th Annual CMA Awards.     » Hail To The Chief: The artists of Capitol/Nashville surround label president Mike Dungan at the company's private CMA Awards post-party. Pictured (back row, l-r) are Lady Antebellum's Dave Haywood, Luke Bryan, Lady A's Charles Kelley, Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban and Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet. Pictured (front row, l-r) are Eric Church, newcomer Walker Hayes, Lady A's Hillary Scott, Dungan and LBT's Kimberly Schlapman, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook.     » The Republic Of Martina: Martina McBride fields questions from the press during Monday's (11/9) announcement about joining Republic Nashville's artist roster after 18 years with RCA.   © 2010 LH Publications, LLC

 

 Click here to unsubscribe to the email.