Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

Country stars came together in Texas on Monday night to raise money for victims of recent wildfires that have devastated parts of the state. Willie Nelson, George Strait, Dixie Chicks, The Avett Brothers and Asleep At The Wheel were just some of the acts on hand for the concert in Austin which raised more than $500,000 was raised.

“When they called us to do this show, there was zero hesitation,” Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks told the Associated Press. “You can take the girl out of Texas, but you can’t take Texas out of the girl.”

Willie Nelson called the fires ‘tragic’ and knows firsthand how devastating they can be having lost homes to fire. “You never really get over it,” he said. “There’s nothing I can tell them to make it better except some of us have been there and done that and we survived it, and they will too. Be strong.” Continue Reading

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Zac Brown Band photo courtesy of Atlantic Records.

Four-time winner Taylor Swift might have been country music’s most-honored figure at Sunday’s Grammy Awards, but she was hardly the only person in the genre to have a big time. The Zac Brown Band took the Recording Academy’s Best New Artist trophy during the three-and-a-half hour show, and Steve Wariner, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis were among the acts singled out during a streamed pre-telecast ceremony, where the bulk of the 109 victors were announced.

“It’s such a honor to be on stage and to be sharin’ in this big amalgam of music,” Zac told the star-studded Staples Center crowd. “We’re so honored and blessed to be here. We’re looking forward to playing for y’all.”

Play they did. The band whipped through a medley of songs with guest keyboard player Leon Russell, on stage less than three weeks after undergoing surgery to repair the leakage of brain fluid. The set ended with a wicked-paced instrumental after the last verse and chorus of “Chicken Fried.”

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Nearly three weeks after a Jan. 12 earthquake destroyed large swatches of Haiti, the response from country music’s community is heartening. Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Pam Tillis, Big Kenny, Restless Heart and Toby Keith are just some of the artists who found ways to get involved.

They’ve donated their time, their voices and their money, and in one particular instance, one unintended result was a confirmation that the recording industry has crossed a barrier as it continues to evolve in the digital age. Taylor and Keith were both featured on the multi-network special Help For Haiti Now, which was immediately released as a digital-only album. It quickly sold more than 170,000 copies and came in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 all-genre albums chart. It marks the first time in history that the top album in the country could not be purchased in a physical format.

Here’s a summary of the ways country stars have reached out to help:

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#5 on GAC’s Top Stories of 2009 |  View all »

Country fans who listen only to the mainstream commercial outlets in their neck of the woods are missing out on some really great music, and that message was driven home in a big way in 2009. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand album, produced by T Bone Burnett, took home five trophies during the Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for “Please Read The Letter.”

The first single, “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On),” was a favorite GAC video in 2008 with its underplayed vocals and throbbing pulse. It was a unique release, but it called attention to the hip, left-of-country’s-center genre known as Americana music. Once referred to as alt-country, it’s become a sort of catch-all for roots-driven music that’s not easily categorized, blending folk-rock, country-rock, traditional country, western swing and blues music forms into a loose genre that values authenticity — warts and all — over slick perfection.

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Records.

Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap and LeAnn Rimes are all affected by a spate of tough news stories, though none of them are the kind of issue that would make or break a career.

A single recorded by Trace and Ronnie is being hung out to dry in a spat between record companies, while LeAnn had her second minor car accident in a month. In addition, a fire at a long-established Indiana venue leaves a series of artists with cancelled shows. Continue Reading

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Buddy Miller & Justin Townes Earle at the 8th Annual Americana Music Association & Honors Awards Show. Photo by Ray Kennedy.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Buddy Miller dominated the eighth annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards Thursday night in Nashville, taking home trophies in four of the six categories that recognized this year’s musical achievements within the genre.

Buddy and wife Julie Miller shared Duo/Group of the Year and Album of the Year, for Written In Chalk, while the title track “Chalk” — written by Julie and performed by Buddy with Patty Griffin — claimed Song of the Year.

Justin Townes Earle walked off with New & Emerging Artist and producer-musician Gurf Morlix — who played on Written In Chalk — nabbed Instrumentalist of the Year. Continue Reading

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