Sarah Darling tries on a beautiful wedding dress. Is it “the one”? Follow this Great American Country blog series to find out which one she chose for the big day! Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

Sarah Darling and James Muriel tied the knot in a secret spur-of-the-moment ceremony back in April 2013 — but they’re still planning a big Nashville wedding in May 2014 to celebrate with family and friends! Sarah’s sharing her personal wedding diary exclusively with Great American Country. She’ll take us along on the whole journey, from the dress to the flowers to the big day. Check back every other Wednesday for a new post from Sarah!

Designer Wedding:
Welcome back to my blog series! I am getting really excited for the big day. I have come to the most exciting part of planning – designing all the fabulous details for my wedding! From the fabulous farm tables to sweet mason jars with wildflowers, you can’t leave anything out. So I decided to sit down with wedding designer Trina Chaney from The Planning Company to get ideas. They are a successful company based out of Florida and do the most beautiful weddings you’ve ever seen. She met with me and my two BFFs and we talked ideas.

Sarah Darling (center) and friend Jenn Bostic (right) meet with wedding designer Trina Chaney (left). Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

A good designer knows his or her client. Trina had done her research before I arrived. I looked at an iPad full of amazing ideas that were totally me. One of my favorites involved mason jars with daises and lemons. Such a cute idea! Having a great designer will help bring your visions to life.

French macarons. Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

Favors and Flavors:
Some people have already told me that I’m crazy for doing what I’m about to tell you, but I’ve decided to bake French macarons for my wedding favors. I’m also doing my own macaron wedding cake! I guess the extra stress could be interesting, but how great is it to put a personal touch on your wedding?

In related news, I started a business called “Sweet Darling.” Check it out! It’s a little business born from the true love of French baking. I specialize in macarons and other patisserie items and sell them locally at the Nashville Farmer’s Market. In my dreams I’m based in a little cobbled corner of Montmatre in Paris – but during waking hours I’m based in Nashville, Tennessee. Even so, we like to think that every bite of our delicious treats is like a little taste of Paris!

French macaroons by Sweet Darling. Photo by Sara Kauss Photography.

I’m excited to have my guests try the macarons. I’m finding that traditional wedding cake is being overshadowed by all kinds of dessert bars. Have any treat you want! A bar doesn’t have to serve alcohol – you can have a “candy” bar, too. The key is finding favors that are truly a reflection of who you are. James and I had French macarons on our first date so they hold a special place in my heart.

DIY:
We are in the era of DIY! I say spend as much time as possible looking at websites like Pinterest and Etsy. It’s also easy to go to Michaels Stores and buy mason jars, burlap, and ribbon. You can make very sweet decor this way. Watch out for the girl with a glue gun! There are so many things you can do. There is also something called chalkboard paint. Who even knew there was such a thing? The point is, you can create your vision even if you are on a budget. It’s also fun! It’s a time that you and your mom can get together and do arts and crafts. That’s all for now. If you are planning a wedding or you just love the blog, send me a tweet!

xoxo,
Sarah Darling

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Darius Rucker photo by Jim Wright, courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media.

Darius Rucker has announced he will hold his fifth annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert on June 2 in Nashville at the Wildhorse Saloon. The Darius and Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament will take place June 3 with both events benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year the charity concert, auction and celebrity golf tournament raised more than $95,000.

An exclusive pre-sale for last year’s ticketholders will begin on March 19 at 11 a.m. CT with general ticket sales opening at 11 a.m. CT on March 21. A fifth consecutive sell-out is expected and so fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. Tickets will be available through the Wildhorse Saloon box office 615-902-8200 x.1, WildhorseSaloon.com, and DariusRucker.com.    Continue Reading

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Australian Country Music artist Natalie Howard performs at the 2013 CMA Global Artist Party at The Stage during 2013 CMA Music Festival week in Downtown Nashville. In 2014, the CMA Global Artist Party will be called the CMA World GlobaLive concert and held Monday, June 2 on a free, outdoor stage on Broadway. Photo Credit: Karen Hicks / CMA.

The Country Music Association has announced plans to rebrand and expand the annual Global Artist Party held during CMA Music Festival in June. The announcement was made by CMA CEO Sarah Trahern during the Second Annual International Marketing Summit at The O2 in London. “The Summit was the perfect platform and this was the ideal audience to announce the strategic growth of the international showcase from a club gathering to a main-stage event,” she said.

Presented under the “CMA World” global brand, the CMA World GlobaLive concert will take place Monday, June 2 at 6 p.m. on a free, outdoor stage on Broadway in downtown Nashville. The concert will be open to the public and feature performances by country artists from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, and the U.K. The concert began in 2004 as the Global Artist Party. Continue Reading

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Krystal Keith photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal.

You may know Krystal Keith as the singer of the sweet father/daughter wedding dance song, “Daddy Dance With Me,” which she wrote for her own wedding as a surprise for dad Toby Keith. Or maybe you know her from her official debut single, “Get Your Redneck On.” [Get it here!] But did you know she’s also super talented in the kitchen? Krystal’s been creating delicious meals from family recipes for years and featuring them in her blog, The Barnyard Bistro. But now she’s sharing some of them exclusively with Great American Country! Check back with us every Tuesday for a new recipe from Krystal.

“I love this twist on black eyed peas,” says Krystal. “There is so much flavor packed into this dish and the hot sauce adds a subtle tangy kick that catches you pleasantly off-guard. If you are looking for a fresh take on the southern staple, this is definitely one to try.”

Photo by Krystal Keith.

Ingredients:
1 cup dried black-eyed peas
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup finely diced onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp Tapatio hot sauce
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:
Soak the peas in water overnight (I soak my peas – some say it isn’t necessary); drain and rinse. In a medium saucepan, Continue Reading

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Luke Bryan’s 2014 EP, Spring Break 6… Like We Ain’t Ever. Photo courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Luke Bryan returned to Panama City Beach last week for his sixth-annual Spring Break concerts at Spinnaker Beach Club. He performed on both March 11 and March 12, bringing in more than 230,000 fans over the two days.

Great American Country’s Headline Country and host Stacy McCloud were on hand for all the Spring Break action. Tune in on Thursday, March 20 at 3/2c to watch all the fun! The annual Spring Break show was in support of Luke’s new digital EP, Spring Break 6… Like We Ain’t Ever, available now. Continue Reading

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The Academy of Country Music and ZinePak will release the Official 2014 ACM Awards ZinePak on March 18. The limited-edition package will spotlight country’s biggest names and brightest new stars. It includes 120 pages with 21 songs and two CDs as well as a ballot with this year’s ACM Awards nominees and six collectible guitar picks. The ZinePak will be available exclusively at Walmart.

“This year’s ACM Awards ZinePak is better than ever,” said Lisa Lee, the Academy’s senior vice president of Creative & Content Production.“Fans can find out everything they need to know about this year’s ACM Award nominees, immerse themselves in the best music of the year and even play along at home with their own ballot. It’s a must-have for any country fan.” Continue Reading

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Eric Church, Toby Keith and Lady Antebellum with Stevie Nicks have been added to the list of artists scheduled to perform during the 49^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, the ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas on April 6 at 8/7c on CBS.

Previously-announced performers include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, George Strait, Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line and The Band Perry. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert on the Grand Ole Opry House’s 40th Anniversary Show. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry celebrated 40 years of country music at the Grand Ole Opry House Saturday, March 15. The night included performances from Old Crow Medicine Show, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Bill Anderson, Clint Black, Connie Smith, Josh Turner and more. The Opry House’s 40th Anniversary celebration leads into next year’s mark of 90 years since the Opry was founded on November 29, 1925.

The show began the same way as the very first Opry performance at the Opry House did — with video footage of Roy Acuff and his Smoky Mountain Boys from 1940 singing their signature song, “Wabash Cannonball.” That performance transitioned to footage of Roy and the Opry cast singing the song on March 16, 1974, the show’s first night at the Opry House, before transitioning to the curtain going up on Old Crow Medicine Show and the other performers finishing the number.

“It’s good to be here tonight, y’all,” said Miranda Lambert after performing “Automatic,” her latest single. She then introduced her hit “The House That Built Me” which included a video montage of special moments in the history of the Opry House, saying “I thought this next song would be appropriate to sing tonight to celebrate the Opry.” Continue Reading

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Florida Georgia Line photo by Kristin Barlowe, courtesy of BMLG.

Florida Georgia Line has announced they will kick off their headlining This Is How We Roll Summer Series 2014 Tour on May 20 in Springdale, Arizona. The tour will feature special guest Nelly and opening act Chris Lane and stop at select baseball stadiums across the country.

“Last year we played the ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky and it was an epic night,” Brian Kelley said. “We thought how fun would it be to hit several of these and bring the good times to the field!” Continue Reading

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Gary Allan photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Gary Allan teamed up with the Yellow Ribbon Fund and a group of students from Clarksville Academy in Clarksville, Tennessee to sponsor the Little Heroes Ball over the weekend. The event’s goal was to replace a bad memory with a good one while giving wounded warriors and their families a night to remember.

“I’ve met a lot of Wounded Warriors over the years,” Gary said. “But I don’t think people think enough of the impact their injuries have on the whole family, especially their children. I saw an article on this event and it brought that into focus and made me want to help these kids have a night where they could put all the worry behind them.” Continue Reading

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