Nov
13

"I Run to You," performed by Lady Antebellum and produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley, wins Single of the Year and the group wins Vocal Group of the Year at "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: Jim Hagans / CMA.
Taylor Swift might have gotten the most ink, but she wasn’t the only act to win more than one trophy at Wednesday’s CMA Awards. So did double-winners Brad Paisley and Lady Antebellum, and all three of those artists will be among the guests appearing on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown after chatting with host Nan Kelley backstage at the awards.
Lady A had a particularly good night. Their first Vocal Group of the Year win ended a six-year run in that category for Rascal Flatts. And when they picked up the Single of the Year honor for “I Run To You,” Lady A followed in the footsteps of such classic hits as Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee,” Garth Brooks’ “Friends In Low Places,” Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind” and George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
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Nov
11

BMI's President & CEO Del Bryant, BMI Icon Kris Kristoffeson, BMI Song of the Year Honoree Taylor Swift, BMI Songwriter of the Year Bobby Pinson, and BMI's Jody Williams at the 2009 BMI Country Awards. Photo courtesy of BMI.
Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” won Song of the Year Tuesday from the performing rights organization BMI while Bobby Pinson — credited with hits by Sugarland, Toby Keith and Josh Gracin — took home Songwriter of the Year during the 57th annual presentation.
While the event focused primarily on a year’s worth of accomplishments, lifetime honors were given out to two musical acts. Brooks & Dunn received the BMI Presidents Award, coming as the duo prepares its final concert tour. Kris Kristofferson was also named a BMI Icon, recognizing his contributions through such songs as “For The Good Times,” “Why Me” and “Help Me Make It Through The Night.”
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Nov
10

If you answered yes to this question, then GAC’s wants you! GAC wants you to decide the Top 50 Videos of 2009. It’s time to rally your family, friends and fellow fan club members to get the vote out. We have over 140 videos from over 100 unique artists nominated. You can vote for up to 10 of your favorites every day.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re a fan of any of the artists listed below then it’s your duty as a card carrying country music fan to vote today and every day through Nov. 30, 2009 when the ballot closes. Vote Now »
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Nov
6

Jake Owen photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.
Jake Owen’s “Eight Second Ride” uses a rodeo phrase for a sexy come-on that has his latest video at No. 18 on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, but some real rodeo pros join Suzanne Alexander from this week’s CBR (Championship Bull Riding) finale in Kansas City.
Suzanne checks in with a bunch of bull-riding cowboys — including Jarrod Craig, Ardie Maier, retired champ Gary Leffew and the Kansas City winner, Hugo Pedrero — as she works through the biggest videos in country music.
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Nov
4

Toby Keith pays tribute to late friend Wayman Tisdale in his song "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)."
Singer, songwriter and entertainer Toby Keith’s new single may be the most personal and emotionally raw offering of his entire career. “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” and its accompanying video pay tribute to the basketball legend, accomplished jazz bassist and close friend of Keith’s Wayman Tisdale. Continue Reading
Nov
2
Trace Adkins has claimed the top spot for the last three years, Toby Keith was first in 2005 and Keith Urban in 2004. Who will you make No. 1 in this year’s Top 50 Videos of 2009? It’s up to you! You can vote every day for up to 10 of your favorite videos, November 2 through November 30.
Join our special hosts, Martina McBride and Trace, for GAC’s Top 50 Videos of 2009. The countdown kicks off on Monday, December 28 at 8 p.m. ET.
But wait, there’s more! You can also enter our sweepstakes every day for your chance to win $2,500 in cash and a VIP trip for two to see Martina and Trace in concert! Continue Reading
Oct
30

Carrie Underwood chats with host Nan Kelley on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown.
Carrie Underwood’s third album, Play On, hits stores both physical and virtual on Tuesday, and she’ll hit the small screen Friday in an interview with Nan Kelley on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, hosted this weekend by Suzanne Alexander.
It’s great timing. The album’s first video debuts at No. 1 on the show, as “Cowboy Casanova” employs a fair share of Michael Jackson-like group dance shots. Carrie’s also slated to co-host the 43rd Annual Country Music Association Awards with Brad Paisley on Nov. 11, and she’s up for an American Music Award Nov. 22. She’ll host her first network TV special on FOX on Dec. 7.
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Oct
27

Toby Keith photo courtesy of Show Dog Nashville.
Toby Keith will top 1 million ticket sales, Jimmy Wayne had an onstage drop-in from a legendary pop artist, and Kenny Chesney had the summer’s top tour.
In addition to the weekend’s previously reported mass of ticket sales for the new Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift dates, there’s still plenty of country concert news to skim.
What’s up on the road:
When Toby Keith concludes his current America’s Toughest Tour, he will have sold a whopping 1 million concert tickets for the year. It is, he says, the ninth time he’s reached that mark.
When Jimmy Wayne appeared in Baltimore last week on Brad Paisley’s American Saturday Night Tour, he had a surprise guest join him onstage. John Oates, of the pop duo Hall & Oates, helped out on Jimmy’s performance of “Sara Smile,” a 1976 H2O hit that Jimmy’s re-recorded as his current single. Brad’s tour, which also featured Dierks Bentley, came to a close over the weekend. Miranda Lambert and Justin Moore take over Dierks’ and Jimmy’s slots when Brad goes back out in January.
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Oct
23

Tim McGraw photo by Danny Clinch, courtesy of Curb Records.
Tim McGraw releases his new Southern Voice album Tuesday, and in gearing up for the street date, he’ll appear this weekend with host Nan Kelley on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.
The album’s first single, “It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You,” was written in part by Chad Kroeger of the rock band Nickelback, and his current hit, “Southern Voice,” namechecks such rockers as Chuck Berry, Tom Petty, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Allman Brothers. In fact, Gregg Allman will sit in with Tim when he performs “Southern Voice” on “The Jay Leno Show” Oct. 27.
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Oct
20

Alan Jackson photo courtesy of SonyBMG Nashville.
Nashville celebrated its songwriters for two straight nights this week with Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift each earning trophies as Songwriter/Artist of the Year from two different organizations.
Taylor picked up the Songwriter/Artist trophy from the Nashville Songwriters Association International Sunday, the same night Toby Keith earned Songwriter/Artist of the Decade. Wynn Varble claimed the NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year after netting hits with Darryl Worley’s recording of “Sounds Like Life To Me” and Brad Paisley’s rendition of “Waitin’ On A Woman,” named Song of the Year.
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