Billy Ray Cyrus photo courtesy of Walt Disney Records.

Billy Ray Cyrus is planning to release his memoir, reports Music Row. Hillbilly Heart will be available in hardback and ebook editions in the spring of 2013 through Amazon Publishing. Billy Ray will open up about his career, his family, and being a parent to superstar daughter Miley Cyrus.

“This is my chance to set the record straight,” Billy Ray said. “I realized that over the years that there have been untruths and misconceptions about me, my music, my life, my family and our dreams. I’m going to lay out the facts starting from August 25th, 1961 and work my way to the present, even if it stings a little.” Continue Reading

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Tom T Hall

Tom T. Hall, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Country Music Highway committee members, and TourSEKY announced two new initiatives surrounding famed highway U.S. Route 23. Known as the ‘Country Music Highway,’ the stretch of road winding along the eastern corridor of Kentucky, has given rise to several country stars including The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, Patty Loveless, Crystal Gayle, Loretta Lynn, Rebecca Lynn Howard and more.

The new initiatives will include a talent competition to discover the next generation of artists from the area, as well as the development of a charitable organization, the ‘Country Music Highway Arts Education Fund,’ which will support music programs in Kentucky schools and aid children in discovering their passion for music. The initiatives are aimed to bring awareness of the highway’s significance to the next generation.

“I am certain that Governor Beshear will agree with me when I say how proud we are to honor the rich musical heritage springing from the State of Kentucky,” Jeff Crowe, President and CEO of Tour SEKY, said. “Our youth is teeming with musical talent and I am excited to see the impact the program will have upon them.”

The Country Music Highway Road to Fame competition will begin in mid-March. The winner will receive a scholarship to participate in career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville, an acoustic guitar, and a plaque recognizing their achievement. The contest is open to artists 13-35 years old from the 15 counties that border the highway. More information can be found at www.cmhroadtofame.com.

“I’m really excited about the competition because it will show that some of the best talent can be found in the hills of Eastern Kentucky,” Tom T. Hall, a native of the area, said. Continue Reading

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Billy Ray Cyrus photo courtesy of Walt Disney Records; BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 20: Actress Brenda Song (L) and musician Trace Cyrus attend the launch party for the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G at a Private Lot on April 20, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images for T-Mobile)

Congratulations to Billy Ray Cyrus, who is going to be a grandfather! The website Celebuzz reports Billy Ray’s son, Trace (from the band Metro Station), and his girlfriend, actress Brenda Song (best known from the Disney show The Suite Life of Zack And Cody), announced they’re expecting their first child together.

Best wishes to everyone in the Cyrus family! You can catch Billy Ray tonight at 10:30/9:30 p.m. Central on GAC in Billy Ray Cyrus: I’m American.

Watch a sneak peek >> Continue Reading

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GAC asked you, the fans, to help us pick the Top 50 Videos of the ’90s and all this week host Neal McCoy counted  them down! Here’s the final list — we hope each song title brings back lots of good memories! See the re-air times for the series HERE.  Check out the list below and leave us a comment to tell us about your favorite video from the ’90s.

GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the ’90s: Continue Reading

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As FM radio expanded in the early ’90s, Americans who only knew cowboy hats and a couple of Willie Nelson songs were introduced to stars like Garth Brooks, George Strait and Reba McEntire. It was a great time for country music; the genre was booming and the rest of America was taking notice. Here’s our list of the Top 10 artists who defined country music in a decade when the format reached new frontiers. As with any list, we know there are many more than 10 who impacted the genre. If you don’t see your favorite here, leave us a comment at the end and let us know which artists helped define the ’90s for you! And, don’t forget to cast your vote for GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the ’90s! Vote now »

Garth Brooks photo by Mark Tucker, courtesy of Pearl Records.

Garth Brooks

Garth charted more number one hits (19 in the 1990s) and sold more albums (current tally 128 million, making him the second best-selling American solo artist of all-time behind Elvis) than any other country artist. He is the recipient of 18 ACM awards, 11 CMA awards and 2 Grammys, as well as 16 American Music Awards. However, these staggering facts and figures only tell part of the story of how he defined country music throughout the ’90s; Garth was a one-man country music marketing machine. Through incorporating elements of rock music into his songs and amping up his live shows with an endless supply of energy (remember the music videos of Garth running around stage with a wireless headset mic and joyfully smashing guitars?), Garth brought country music to the mainstream masses. Even people who “don’t like country music” have his Greatest Hits album featuring songs like the classic and universally known “Friends in Low Places,” which, be assured, someone will be singing in a New York City karaoke bar tonight. And not only did Garth headline major concerts in the US, including his free Central Park performance for 980,000 fans in 1997, he was a worldwide phenomenon touring such locales as Brazil, Europe and the Far East as the symbol of American country music. Continue Reading

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Billy Ray Cyrus's 2011 CD, I'm American. Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Records.

The idea started on a USO tour to Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009. It started when Billy Ray Cyrus was performing to troops on a mission to give back to those who serve our country. It started as performances of songs like the patriotic title track from his debut album, “Some Gave All,” were being interrupted by the sound of bombs in the distance.

Since that time spent overseas, what started as a short tour bringing a semblance of home to the battlefield evolved into an 8-song concept album honoring our men in uniform. Billy Ray Cyrus’ latest project, I’m American, is an impressive collection of patriotic country/roots-rock songs dealing with the truths, hopes and issues soldiers and their families face both overseas and at home. To Billy Ray, this collection is his “way of giving back and saying thank you to them for the gift of freedom.” Tonight on GAC at 8:30 p.m. Eastern, you can see our special with BRC called Billy Ray Cyrus: I’m American. Check out photos from the special HERE.

“Runway Lights,” the album’s opening track and first single, erupts to life with Continue Reading

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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 02: Singers Scotty McCreery (L) and Lauren Alaina and perform on NBC's 'Today' at Rockefeller Center on June 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

Not only have American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina gained fame and record deals – next week they’ll enjoy icing on the cake of their already-successful country careers by making their Grand Ole Opry debuts during CMA Music Festival week.

On Friday, June 10, Scotty and Alaina will perform on the Opry stage alongside Randy Travis and Billy Ray Cyrus. They’ll also join the celebrity line-up of players at the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on Saturday, June 11 at Nashville’s Greer Stadium. Continue Reading

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A quiet Sunday night took a wild turn as reports of Osama bin Laden’s death spread like wildfire.   Then, a little bit after 11 p.m. ET, President Barack Obama addressed the nation to confirm the report.  President Obama outlined that U.S. Special Forces had killed bin Laden early Sunday morning at a compound located in a small town in Northern Pakistan.  The President described a successful, targeted operation that ended with bin Laden’s body in the possession of the troops that executed the mission. Bin Laden’s death comes just months before the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that he claimed responsibility for.

As the news of bin Laden’s death spread, country stars reacted with a flood of messages on Twitter.  Here are just a few:

reba: So proud of our President and our military!

DierksBentley: God Bless our troops and their families… thank you for the sacrifices you all make for our freedoms and our Country. what a great moment.

BradPaisley: If you see someone in a military uniform tomorrow, for heaven’s sake give them a hug. Or a drink. Or a new car.

saraevansmusic: So proud of our American soldiers for the incredible job they did in taking out Bin Laden! Praise the Lord! Thank you!

darrylworley: Thank God! I knew this day would come. I have never been so happy to hear the news of someones death.

blakeshelton: Sorry if this seems disrespectful but I’m so glad that piece absolute #### Osama is dead..

johnrich: Ya’ll wanna know who got fired? OSAMA.

leannrimes: Omg, Bin Laden!!! Blessings to our troops and a bit of peace for our country and those who lost loved one’s in 9/11.

joebonsall: Now Osama knows what it is like to get fried alive… God bless our military… I hope it hurt like HELL!! Keyword being HELL!!

billycurrington: this news is awesome !

juliannehough: Justice has been done

thompsonsquare: GOD BLESS AMERICA! This is a great day.

sarahbuxton: God BLESS those soldiers who carried out this mission successfully! What a bunch of bad asses. America, America, God shed his grace on thee!

TheJoshThompson: God Bless the U.S.A! I hope the news is true.

billyraycyrus: Just saw the news! OSAMA BIN LADEN is dead !!! How crazy is that ! Only in my life could i be at FT Hood on the night this happened …

steelmagnolia11: Osama Bin Laden is dead! Wow.. Watching news now.

joshgracin: Great Night for the USA…. Great Night for the families of 9/11…. Big step toward the preservation of humanity.

jamesotto: I wondered if this day would ever come. Did y’all think we’d ever here this amazing news?

Leave us a comment and let us know how you felt when you heard the news.

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Gary Allan photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Gary Allan will kick off the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during this year’s CMA Music Festival with a 10:00 a.m. CT show on June 9. Reflecting 40 years of country music, the stage’s daily lineup will feature past, current, and future superstar artists. The Riverfront Stage concerts are free and open to the public.

“Gary Allan will provide a dynamic start to 2011 CMA Music Festival at the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage is packed with great hit-makers from the ’70s through today, spotlighting all the decades of CMA Music Festival’s existence. And it’s free! We invite everyone to come and enjoy the great music on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage.”

Darryl Worley will close the Daily Concerts on Friday, June 10, Billy Ray Cyrus on Saturday, June 11 and Terri Clark on Sunday, June 12. Terri last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2007, Billy Ray in 2008 and Darryl in 2010.

The current daily artist lineups in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 9: Gary Allan, Emerson Drive, Colt Ford, Jack Ingram, Sammy Kershaw, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Jake Owen, Randy Rogers Band, and Steel Magnolia.

Friday, June 10: Frankie Ballard, Bucky Covington, Brett Eldredge, Jo Dee Messina, Randy Montana, Heidi Newfield, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, James Wesley, and  Darryl Worley.

Saturday, June 11: Crystal Bowersox, Jason Michael Carroll, Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Holy, Lonestar, David Nail, Corey Smith,  Mel Tillis, and Chuck Wicks.

Sunday, June 12: The Bellamy Brothers, Terri Clark, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Josh Kelley, LoCash Cowboys, Jerrod Niemann, Troy Olsen, and Sunny Sweeney.

Performance order will be listed on CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, closer to the event. Additional artists will be announced. Artists and dates subject to change.

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Gwyneth Paltrow & Tim McGraw from the upcoming movie, Country Strong, in theaters January 7, 2011. Photo by Scott Garfield, courtesy of Sony Pictures USA & Monarch Publicity.

From Crazy Heart to Country Strong, Hollywood and Nashville were tightly linked in 2010.

Tim McGraw, Julianne Hough, Trace Adkins and Carrie Underwood all went in front of the cameras. And artists as diverse as Ryan Bingham, Billy Currington, Taylor Swift and Kenny Chesney got their music on the big screen in one way or another.

Country’s role in a large number of movies ranks No. 7 in GAC’s countdown of the dozen top stories of 2010.

Continue Reading

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