Search Results for "Ricky Skaggs"

Wanda Jackson in the '50s; Wanda and fellow rockabilly artist, Jerry Lee Lewis in 2009. Photo courtesy of myspace.com/wandajacksonmusic.

Wanda Jackson, the rockabilly queen who’s been enjoying a resurgence in attention, is about to follow in the footsteps of Country Music Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn. Wanda’s enlisted Jack White, the Nashville-based White Stripes rocker, to produce her next album.

He is “one of the biggest stars on the planet I guess right now,” Wanda told The Oklahoman.

Jack has found success not only with the Stripes, but also as a member of the Dead Weather and with the Raconteurs, who were Musical Event of the Year nominees at last week’s CMA awards for a collaboration with Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe.

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Whitney Duncan photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Warner Bros. Records artist and small town, skinny dippin’ sweetheart, Whitney Duncan, will grace the stage this Friday, Oct. 16 for her very first performance at the Grand Ole Opry. Duncan, originally from Scotts Hill, Tenn., joins Keith Anderson and Ricky Skaggs in the line-up for Friday’s show.

“It’s such an unbelievable honor to sing at the Opry,” said Whitney. “I’ve always dreamed of performing at the Grand Ole Opry and it’s just so surreal and exciting to get this opportunity.” Continue Reading

Jason Aldean photo courtesy of Broken Bow Records.

If you got the bucks, you can load up the truck with lots of country music memorabilia. Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood and Montgomery Gentry are among a slew of artists who’ve contributed autographed merchandise to Women Rock For The Cure, a Nashville-based agency that raises money for breast cancer research and awareness.

Jason, Carrie and Montgomery Gentry each put their names on instruments with starting bids that range from $200-$500 at http://myworld.ebay.com/womenrockforthecure. Another guitar bearing signatures from the Oct. 2 Opry Goes Pink night has a $500 minimum. Artists who inked the PRS model include Lorrie Morgan, Terri Clark, Jo Dee Messina, Bill Anderson, Mindy Smith, Connie Smith, Little Jimmy Dickens, The Whites and Caitlin Lynn.

But that’s just a start. Continue Reading

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

The American Music Awards! The Musicians Hall of Fame! The CMA Broadcast Awards! The Inspirational Country Music Awards!

Another wave of awards news rolled in this week. As always (unless Kanye West is involved), that means something good for Taylor Swift. This time around is no exception: Taylor snagged a total of six nominations Tuesday in the American Music Awards, putting her ahead of Michael Jackson, Eminem and a gaggle of pop and rock stars in the all-genre competition.

Taylor entertained her way into the Pop or Rock Music field and the Adult Contemporary category in addition to garnering expected country tabs. The Zac Brown Band snared a pair of country nods plus a nomination for T-Mobile Breakthrough Artist. Rascal Flatts was also a double nominee for the show, which airs on ABC Nov. 22.

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Getting fired from a job is something most of us have experienced at least once in our life, and Keith Urban is no exception. In a “Five Questions” video for the Academy of Country Music, Keith tells the story about a heavy-metal gig gone bad.

“I had about five Ricky Skaggs albums when I was about 15 or 16. Highways and Heartaches had just come out around that time, so I was playing that one repeatedly.”

Urban goes on to admit that his love of country did not sit so well with his bandmates, “I was in the band for about a week. They asked me to join and I said, ‘Well, I’ve never done that, I’ll give that a try.’ So, I’m playing in this heavy metal band and every time a solo came around, I’d bust out these Ricky Skaggs solos. And I got fired! It’s the only thing I’ve ever been fired from.”

Mac McAnally wins the 2008 CMA Musician of the Year Award. Photo credit: John Russell / CMA.

By Bob Doerschuk

© 2009 CMA Close Up® News Service / Country Music Association®, Inc.

What does it take for a musician to earn the respect of their peers? One would think the key lies in what you play. But, truth be told, plenty of players can nail a lick like sharpshooters pinging skeets from the sky.

Sometimes it’s more what you don’t play that counts. And in the case of guitarist extraordinaire Mac McAnally, winner of Musician of the Year at the 2008 CMA Awards, that may have made all the difference.

Make no mistake: McAnally can pick with the best in the business. He’s recorded 11 studio albums, including his upcoming debut on Show Dog Nashville, written multiple No. 1 hits including the recent duet with Kenny Chesney “Down the Road,” produced albums for Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat, Sawyer Brown and Ricky Skaggs among others and is an expressive singer too, on backup or lead. Continue Reading