Ricky Skaggs photo courtesy of Skaggs Family Records.

The Grand Ole Opry_® presented by Humana_® will honor one of the most awarded artists in country and bluegrass music, Ricky Skaggs, on his 30^th anniversary as an Opry member during the Tuesday Night Opry May 15, 2012.

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Bonnie Raitt photo by Marina Chavez, courtesy of the Americana Music Association.

The  Americana Music Association recently announced the selection of  Bonnie Raitt to receive its coveted Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance at the Association’s 11th Annual Honors and Awards ceremony, slated for Wednesday, September 12 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.  As this year’s honoree, Bonnie joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, which includes Gregg Allman, Wanda Jackson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jason & the Scorchers, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo, Chris Hillman, Levon Helm and Emmylou Harris.

Bonnie will also participate in the Artist Keynote Interview during the Americana Music Festival & Conference. The in-depth interview, hosted by NPR Music’s Ann Powers, is slated for Wednesday, Sept. 12 and is open to conference attendees.

Throughout her career, Bonnie Raitt has celebrated and shaped American roots music. More than just a best-selling artist, respected guitarist, expressive singer and accomplished songwriter, Raitt has become an institution in American music. A nine-time GRAMMY winner, Raitt was named one of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” by Rolling Stone and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Throughout her career, she’s combined old-school, country-blues grounding with a contemporary outlook and a willingness to experiment.  Bonnie Raitt has left an indelible mark Americana Music as we know it today.

After decades of major label releases, Bonnie launched her own label, Redwing Records, in 2012 as a platform for creating and releasing her first album in seven years, the acclaimed and Top Ten Billboard charting Slipstream.  The album’s title is one of significance for Bonnie; “I’m in the slipstream of all these styles of music,” she says. “I’m in the slipstream of those who came before me, and I’m leaving one for those behind me.  I’m holding up the traditions of the music that I love.”

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Carrie Underwood's 2012 CD Blown Away. Photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Today is the release date of Carrie Underwood‘s new CD, Blown Away (read our review of it HERE and buy a copy of it HERE). In addition to the new album, Carrie also announced her new headlining North American arena tour this fall, “The Blown Away Tour.” The tour will also include an international run of shows this summer sponsored by Olay, including her first-ever United Kingdom concert taking place at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London on June 21, which sold-out in 90 minutes.  Additional international concert dates will be announced soon.

The North American tour dates will be presented and hydrated by vitaminwater®, sponsored by Olay, and promoted by AEG Live. Special guest Hunter Hayes will open. Tickets will be available for “The Blown Away Tour” beginning Friday, May 11. Please go to www.carrieunderwood.fm for additional on sale information.

“I can’t wait to get back out on the road and perform new music from my new album for my fans,” says Carrie.  “We have a lot of exciting things planned!”

In preparation for the album release, Carrie filmed a video cut-by-cut. Watch our exclusive interview with Carrie below, as she talks about one of the songs on Blown Away called “See You Again”: Continue Reading

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Josh Kelley & Katherine Heigl with oldest daughter Naleigh. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Congrats to Josh Kelley and his wife, actress Katherine Heigl! The couple adopted a second daughter, reports People magazine. While no further details are available at this time, the little girl no doubt has a proud big sister in 3-year-old Naleigh Moon, whom Josh and Katherine adopted from South Korea in 2009.

Perhaps the new little one will inspire songs like this one, which Josh wrote about Naleigh:

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Kip Moore photo by Stephen Shepherd, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

MCA Nashville singer-songwriter Kip Moore is celebrating the gold certification of his single, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” as he releases his debut album, Up All Night, today.

“I can’t quite wrap my head around what that means,” Moore says of his first gold record. “I had hopes, but I had no expectations, and those are two different things.

Read our review of Up All Night >>

“It caught me off guard because a lot of people have mentioned to me how different the song is as far as its format, having four verses before the chorus. I’m so grateful to my friends at country radio for taking a chance on this song. To see this happening is just a humbling, humbling feeling.”

Read the stories behind the songs on Up All Night >>

“Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” which has sold more than 536,000 units, sits at Continue Reading

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Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw photo courtesy of Shore Fire Media.

The wait is over! Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw have released the video for their new single, “Feel Like A Rock Star.” It’s just a taste of what you can expect from their upcoming Brothers of the Sun Tour. Watch the video below and tell us what you think! Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Trace Adkins is the perfect host for Great American Heroes, a new GAC series debuting later this year. The multi-platinum-selling artist has several overseas military visits under his belt and has worked tirelessly to raise money for a variety of nonprofits. For this new series, camera crews will follow Trace in six pre-selected cities on his Songs and Stories Tour – Easton, PA; Bakersfield, CA; Hyannis, MA; Grand Rapids, MI; Philadephia, MS; and Knoxville, TN – as he celebrates three hometown heroes in each city.

Those wishing to nominate a hometown hero from any one of the six cities mentioned can do so from now until Wednesday, May 9, 2012, by logging on to www.traceadkins.com/gah. Whether it is someone doing extraordinary things to enrich their community, those reaching out to help people or animals in need or those stepping in to give a voice to those who aren’t heard, Great American Heroes will celebrate folks representing a variety of causes.

Songs and Stories tour dates for Great American Heroes tapings: Continue Reading

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Joe Nichols, wife Heather and their newborn daughter Dylan River Nichols.

Congratulations to Joe Nichols and his wife, Heather, who are the proud parents of a daughter, Dylan River Nichols, born April 17, 2012! This is the first child for the couple, who married in 2007. Mother and child are doing fine, according to Dad.

“Our prayers have been answered,” said Heather. “We went through years of loss and heartbreak to get to this point and now our little baby girl is here. I want to thank everyone for their well wishes, thoughts and prayers and our doctors and nurses who have walked along side us in this process. I know that we are going to love this little girl, and I am so thankful that she is ours.”

“As Heather said, we have been trying to have a baby together for many years, and this gift is not something we take for granted,” Joe added. “We are going to try to be the best parents possible.”

Dylan entered the world at a healthy 7 lbs 5 oz and 21 ¼ inches long.

For more on Joe and Heather’s emotional journey to becoming parents — and a compelling, candid interview with Joe on his own childhood, don’t miss Backstory: Joe Nichols, premiering on GAC Saturday, May 12 at 11 p.m. Eastern and airing again on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13at 9 p.m. Eastern!

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Lady Antebellum

Congratulations to Lady Antebellum‘s Dave Haywood, who married fiancee Kelli Cashiola on Saturday, April 14 at Front Porch Farms in Ashland City, Tennessee! People magazine reported that Dave’s band mates, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, attended the sunset wedding and that artist Dave Barnes (who wrote the Blake Shelton hit “God Gave Me You”) provided the ceremony music. [Click the photo above to see the full-size version.]

Click here to read about Dave’s romantic proposal to Kelli >>

According to People, Kelli, 30 — a Warner Bros. Records executive in Nashville — wore  Continue Reading

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With the 2012 CMA Music Festival right around the corner, CMA is looking for the best and brightest volunteers to lend a hand during the four-day event, held Thursday through Sunday, June 7-10, in Downtown Nashville.

Anyone interested in volunteering can attend the CMA Volunteer Fair on Thursday, April 12 (from 4:30-7:30 PM/CT) or Saturday, April 14 (from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM/CT) at the CMA office at One Music Circle South, Nashville, TN 37203 to fill out an application and learn more about the volunteer opportunities. Those who cannot attend the Volunteer Fair may also submit an application online at CMAfest.com.

This marks the third consecutive year that the Country Music Association has asked fans from across the nation to support the Nashville and Country Music communities by serving as ambassadors during the Festival.

“CMA Music Festival could not achieve the success it has without the significant contributions from our volunteers,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer.  “Through their generous efforts and hard work, we are able to ‘Keep the Music Playing’ in Metro Nashville Public Schools while also shining a huge international spotlight on Music City and Country Music.”

CMA Music Festival has made huge strides in supporting Nashville’s music education programs with $6.1 million donated to date, but it has also contributed by highlighting the city as a thriving tourist destination. According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, direct visitor spending generated by the Festival in 2011 totaled more than $30 million.

Celebrating its 41^st year since the inaugural Fan Fair® in 1972, the CMA Music Festival is Nashville’s signature music event.  Dubbed by USA Today as “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals,” the four-day event features concerts, autograph signings, contests and games, family activities, and more. In 2011, the Festival drew a daily average of 65,000 fans from all 50 states, as well as 26 foreign territories.

Some volunteer requirements apply: You must be at least 18 years old, in good physical health, and able to work a minimum of two days during the Festival. Many of the jobs require standing for long periods of time, extensive walking, some light lifting, and outside duties in the heat (and possible rain). Jobs range from manning the information booths, to handing out product samples, to keeping the photo lines running smoothly. Some posts require a valid Tennessee driver’s license. Volunteers are needed for CMA Music Festival events beginning Wednesday, June 6 through Sunday, June 10. CMA will provide volunteers with parking, event T-shirts, catering during working hours, and two tickets to one of the nightly shows at LP Field.

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