Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Taylor Swift is known for spreading her good fortune around and this time, the Nashville Public Library system is the lucky recipient of her generosity. She has donated 14,000 Scholastic books, the largest donation ever received by NPL, to the library system.

The books will be available for checkout at each of the 21 branches. Some of the books will be donated to low-income children, pre-schools and daycare centers while still others will be used as prizes for completing the summer reading program.

Taylor’s donation will provide incentive to encourage children to read. Each book will have a donation plate on the inside cover that will read:  “A Gift to the Children of Nashville from Taylor Swift and Scholastic Inc.”    

In other Taylor Swift news, Taylor won’t be starring as Eponine in the movie version of Les Miserables after all, reports the LA Times. British actress Samantha Barks has been cast in the role.

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Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

When the Encyclopedia of Country Music was first published in 1998, it became an instant reference and definitive source on country music. Now, the second edition of the book has been released by Oxford University Press and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The new edition, compiled by museum staff, features new entries on artists who have profoundly influenced country music in recent years, including Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more.

More new entries in the book focus on the most important studio musicians, songwriters and music executives in the last decade. It also explores the latest and most critical industry trends, such as the digital revolution, the shifting politics of country music, and the impact of American Idol. The importance of Nashville to country music and even the stage costumes worn by country stars are also featured in the new edition.

“I’ve loved country music all my life, and it still amazes me how much more I can learn about it,” Reba McEntire said. “The Encyclopedia of Country Music will be a reference book for the next generation of country music lovers to learn about the folks I was blessed enough to get to know and work with. I will enjoy reading it and getting reacquainted with our history.”

“The Encyclopedia is not just a dry compendium of names and facts, but a rich archive of our shared history of the most American of art forms: country music,” Rosanne Cash said. “The second edition of the Encyclopedia of Country Music is also a point of great pride for me, as so many of my extended family members are included in these pages.”

Vince Gill wrote the foreword in the second edition. The book includes more than 1,200 entries and a vivid photographic insert featuring classic, provocative and recent country music album art. The Encyclopedia of Country Music is available for order at www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Miranda Lambert thanks fans for their support after Blake Shelton’s father passed away, Jake Owen  keeps fans updated on his broken collarbone from the waiting room, Josh Kelley shares a photo of wife Katherine Heigl that may land him in the doghouse and Taylor Swift puts her TV remote in its place. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/ladyantebellum.

Lady Antebellum – LadyAntebellum: We are all ready and excited! #OwnTheNightWorldTour

Miranda Lambert – Miranda_Lambert: Thank you all for your kindness and prayer. Our family means everything to us. Blake and I appreciate the support so much.

Jake Owen – JakeOwen: In the Dr. waiting on my sentence.. You know it’s not good when he comes in and says “That break is worse than the football teams”. Damn.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/joshkelley.

Josh Kelley – JoshBKelley: My girl getting her hair done for ONE FOR THE MONEY movie press

Storme Warren – StormeWarren: Hard lesson learned. Wear ski pole straps PROPERLY! Lazy = injury. Almost got BOTH thumbs. Close call. Better yet… Don’t use straps!

Charlie Daniels - CharlieDaniels: Went back and snowmobiled the mountain where I had my stroke 2 years ago,had a ball,ain’t God good!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/kelliepickler.

Kellie Pickler – KelliePickler: Found a picture of me & Kyle fishing’ at one of Saddam’s Palaces on a USO tour. #BringingTheRedneckToAPalaceNearYou

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Apparently my only way of dealing with a remote control that isn’t working right is to bang it on the table and scream ‘COME ON!’

Little Big Town – LBTMusic: I wish @mattnathanson would serenade me from the top of my stairs…. sexy devil. jimi

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BradPaisley.

Brad Paisley - BradPaisley: I’ve never been cooler than this…

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 Top 20 Country Countdown is all new tonight as host Nan Kelley counts down the videos you chose from 20 all the way to 1! Last Week, Taylor Swift’s latest video, “Ours,” topped the charts, with videos from Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Chris Young and Luke Bryan and rounding out the Top 5. Does Taylor hang on to the top spot? Tune in tonight at 9/8 CT — the new Top 20 air time — to find out. Check the full schedule of all airtimes »

If you missed a few episodes of Top 20 or want to watch some of your favorite interviews again, head over to our Top 20 section for videos, photos and more! You can also catch a few Top 20 Extras, cast your votes, and take a look at the current Top 20 chart to see where your favorite videos land. Visit Top 20! >>

Remember, GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown is chosen by you, the viewers. Make sure to head over to our voting page and cast your votes daily for your favorite videos!

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Taylor Swift's Vogue Cover.

Taylor Swift can add another magazine cover to her resume. The superstar is Vogue’s February cover girl. The cover image was leaked by  The Fashion Spot over the weekend. In her in-depth interview with the magazine, Taylor discusses several topics, including when she stopped caring about being the cool kid.

“I think that happened as soon as I left school, when I was sixteen, because then all that mattered was music and this dream that I’d had my whole life,” she said. “It never mattered to me that people in school didn’t think that country music was cool, and they made fun of me for it—though it did matter to me that I was not wearing the clothes that everybody was wearing at that moment. But at some point, I was just like, ‘I like wearing sundresses and cowboy boots.’”

Taylor is frequently asked in interviews when she’s going to have a scandal or breakdown similar to other high-profile celebrities in her age group. She is known for having a cool head and being a positive role model. For her, there is simply too much to lose.

“I think, for me, the bigger pitfall is losing your self-awareness,” she said to the magazine. “Even though I am at a place where my dresses are really pretty and the red carpets have a lot of bright lights and I get to play to thousands of people, you have to take that with a grain of salt. The stakes are really high if you mess up, if you slack off and don’t make a good record, if you make mistakes based on the idea that you are larger than life and you can just coast.”

That’s not saying Taylor never loses her cool. She has had her self-proclaimed bratty moments, but they are short-lived. “If I do I usually spend the next four days apologizing,” she said. “I get post-conversation anxiety. ‘I am so sorry if I said something weird. Did I make that weird? I am sorry if I made that weird!’”

Taylor also talked to Vogue about her relationship with her parents, the heartbreak that is inspiring her fourth album, and what she’s learned are red flags in relationships. You can read the entire interview with Taylor HERE, andsee a full-size photo of the cover HERE.

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Rascal Flatts hangs with the quarterback of the moment, David Nail reflects on his first No. 1 single, John Rich shares the aftermath of his birthday bash, Jo Dee Messina tweets from labor and delivery and Jake Owen posts a hilarious video after his wisdom teeth extraction! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDemarcus: With our buddy Tebow yesterday… Great game!!

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Thank you so much for my People’s Choice Award! Favorite Country Artist! PARTY!!! Seriously- thank you for voting.

David Nail – DavidNail: Wife is in Vegas, so it’s me and the dogs tonight! Finally some time to myself to reflect just how amazing this week has been! Thank u!!!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley – DierksBentley: somehow the #redsolocup disco ball from the video wound up on my table at the studio I work out of. suggestions??!

Martina McBride – MartinaMcBride: I must be hormonal….Tattoos On This Town almost made me cry. Great song.

Jake Owen – JakeOwen: Just got em out.. http://yfrog.com/2map2z

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/edensedge.

Edens Edge – EdensEdge: We were so thrilled to play on the @opry tonight. We got to sing “Christ Alone” around one mic

John Rich – JohnRich: There’s nothing like waking up to a Rooster crowing…IN YOUR HOUSE! Wow! What a throwdown!!!

Jo Dee Messina – JoDeeMessina: OMG! Ice chips never tasted so good. YUMMY

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/thebandperry.

The Band Perry – TheBandPerry: Roll. Tide. (np)

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Jason Aldean photo courtesy of Broken Bow Records.

Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift are among the first artists announced as performers at the 54^th Annual GRAMMY Awards. This will be Jason’s first performance on the show, while Taylor has performed previously. Other artists announced as performers include the Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, and Nicki Minaj.

Jason and Taylor are up for three GRAMMYs each. Jason is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for “Dirt Road Anthem,” Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson, and Best Country Album for My Kinda Party. Taylor is also nominated for Best Country Solo Performance as well as Best Country Song for “Mean,” and Best Country Album for Speak Now.

In other GRAMMY news, MusiCares, the charitable arm of The Recording Academy which provides assistance for music people in times of need, will honor 14-time GRAMMY winner Paul McCartney as their 2012 Person of the Year. Paul and other artists to be announced will perform at a gala two nights prior to the GRAMMY Awards in Paul’s honor. All proceeds from the event, now in its 22nd year, will go to MusiCares.

The GRAMMY Awards will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS on CBS at 8/7 CT. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon. Check out the full list of nominees HERE.

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: Singer Faith Hill performs onstage at the 2012 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

One of the highlights of last night’s People’s Choice Awards was Faith Hill’s performance of her new single, “Come Home,” which she debuted at the CMA Awards last November. Wearing a high-waisted red pants suit and surrounded by floating doors and windows, Faith performed the power ballad with emotion and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her fans when she was done.

See more photos of the stars at the People’s Choice Awards here >>

Taylor Swift‘s fans spoke loud and clear at the PCAs when they named her their Favorite Country Artist. Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts were also nominated in the Favorite Country Artist category. Taylor wasn’t on hand to accept her award, but she thanked fans before the show for their support.

“Thanks for wishing me luck at the People’s Choice Awards tonight! I’m not there, but I’ll be watching on tv from Nashville!” she wrote on Twitter.

Taylor’s good friend Katy Perry turned out to be the night’s big winner. Katy took home the awards for Favorite Tour Headliner and Favorite Female Artist, both categories Taylor was also nominated in, as well as Favorite Song of the Year and Favorite Music Video.

Other notable winners of the night included Bruno Mars in the Favorite Male Artist and American Idol as Favorite TV Competition Show. Ellen DeGeneres was named as Favorite Daytime TV Host.

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Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

The year 2012 is turning into a silver screen kind of year for Taylor Swift. Just days after releasing “Safe & Sound,” her collaboration with The Civil Wars that will be featured on The Hunger Games soundtrack, BroadwayWorld.com is reporting that Taylor has been offered the part of Eponine in the upcoming film adaption of Les Miserables. The website also reports that she is expected to, but has not yet, signed on. Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson, and Evan Rachel Wood were also up for the role.

Cast members already confirmed for the movie include Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Anne Hathaway as Fantine and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier. Amanda Seyfried has reportedly been offered the role of Cosette.

Les Miserables originally opened in London in 1985 and has since become the World’s Longest Running musical. Set in early 19th Century France, the plot follows the stories of several characters looking for redemption and revolution.

The film is set to begin filming in March under the direction of Tom Hooper. The cast will be singing live on film and the release date is currently set for December 7, 2012.

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Blake Shelton photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Each year GAC asks fans to help us choose the best of the best country music videos released during the prior 12 months for our year end Top 50 Videos of the Year countdown. Here are the voting results for 2011 based on videos released and added to the GAC playlist from Nov. 1, 2010 to Oct. 31, 2011.

1. Blake Shelton — “God Gave Me You”
2. Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson — “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
3. Keith Urban — “Without You”
4. Jason Aldean — “Dirt Road Anthem”
5. Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood — “Remind Me”
6. Blake Shelton — “Honey Bee”
7. Lady Antebellum — “Just A Kiss”
8. Alan Jackson — “Long Way To Go”
9. Scotty McCreery — “I Love You This Big”
10. Trace Adkins — “Just Fishin’”
11. Brad Paisley w/Alabama — “Old Alabama”
12. Toby Keith — “Made In America”
13. Martina McBride — “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
14. Chris Young — “Tomorrow”
15. Taylor Swift — “Mean”
16. Brad Paisley — “This Is Country Music”
17. Blake Shelton — “Footloose”
18. Lady Antebellum — “We Owned The Night”
19. Keith Urban — “Long Hot Summer”
20. Kenny Chesney w/Grace Potter — “You And Tequila”
21. Jason Aldean — “Tattoos On This Town”
22. Scotty McCreery — “The Trouble With Girls”
23. Taylor Swift — “Back To December”
24. Tim McGraw — “Felt Good On My Lips”
25. Taylor Swift — “Sparks Fly”
26. Shania Twain — “Today Is Your Day”
27. Kellie Pickler — “Tough”
28. Jake Owen — “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”
29. Billy Currington — “Let Me Down Easy”
30. Lauren Alaina — “Like My Mother Does”
31. Justin Moore — “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”
32. Loretta Lynn/Sheryl Crow/Miranda Lambert — “Coal Miner’s Daughter”
33. Rascal Flatts — “I Won’t Let Go”
34. Zac Brown Band — “Knee Deep”
35. Zac Brown Band — “Colder Weather”
36. Reba McEntire — “When Love Gets A Hold Of You”
37. Alison Krauss + Union Station — “Paper Airplane”
38. Reba McEntire — “Somebody’s Chelsea”
39. Josh Turner — “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
40. Sugarland — “Tonight”
41. Billy Currington — “Love Done Gone”
42. Martina McBride — “Teenage Daughters”
43. Reba McEntire — “If I Were A Boy”
44. Ashton Shepherd — “Look It Up”
45. Rascal Flatts w/Natasha Bedingfield — “Easy”
46. Pistol Annies — “Hell On Heels”
47. Gloriana — “Wanna Take You Home”
48. Luke Bryan — “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”
49. Toby Keith — “Red Solo Cup”
50. The Band Perry — “You Lie”

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