Jason Aldean stopped by for a guest appearance on GAC's Top 20 County Countdown. Photo credit GAC staff.

After a taking a short holiday break, GAC is back with our first Top 20 Country Countdown of 2011.   And to help get things started in a big way, we asked superstar Jason Aldean to stop by the studio and join host Nan Kelley for the show.  Plus, hot new ACM nominated duo the JaneDear girls drop in to talk about their new music and help count down the videos you voted for at GACTV.com!

This Week’s Chart:

1. Carrie Underwood — “Mama’s Song”
2. Blake Shelton — “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
3. Bo Bice — “You Take Yourself With You”
4. Taylor Swift — “Back To December”
5. Josh Turner — “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
6. Keith Urban — “Put You In A Song”
7. Joey + Rory — “That’s Important To Me”
8. Jason Aldean — “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
9. Sara Evans — “A Little Bit Stronger”
10. Zac Brown Band feat. Alan Jackson — “As She’s Walking Away” Continue Reading

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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 2010 based on videos released and added to the GAC playlist from Nov. 1, 2009 to Oct. 31, 2010.

1. Blake Shelton — “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
2. Miranda Lambert — “The House That Built Me”
3. Blake Shelton — “All About Tonight”
4. Carrie Underwood — “Mama’s Song”
5. Carrie Underwood — “Temporary Home”
6. Taylor Swift — “Mine”
7. Carrie Underwood — “Undo It”
8. Taylor Swift — “Fearless”
9. Sugarland — “Stuck Like Glue”
10. Lady Antebellum — “American Honey” Continue Reading

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Bo Bice on the set of GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown with host Nan Kelley.

Earlier this month he made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Now Bo Bice is also making his first appearance as the guest on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, joining host Nan Kelley on this weekend’s edition.

Bo came to prominence as a contestant on “American Idol,” where he finished as a runner-up to Carrie Underwood. Carrie is a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, and Bo was able to do a pair of songs on the show Dec. 4 during a stint at the Ryman Auditorium.

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Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Kix Brooks, Trace Adkins and Buddy Jewell are among the latest acts taking time from their schedules to honor the soldiers who put their lives on the line for their country.

Kix is in the midst of a Middle East tour, Buddy just headed out with with a package of country singers that will visit four countries, and Trace is set to appear on a TV special with a military theme before his own USO journey.

Not that it’s anything unusual for country acts. Among the artists who’ve lent themselves to the USO in the past are Toby Keith, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler and the Zac Brown Band.

Here’s what some of country’s stars are doing with the USO:

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Tracy Lawrence and friends in Nashville for the 5th Annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry.

Here’s yet another incredible example of how country music artists continue to give back to their community and help those in need…

Tracy Lawrence along with some famous Music City friends, MTSU students, local media and volunteers from the Nashville Rescue Mission joined together on Tuesday, November 23 for the 5th Annual Tracy Lawrence Mission Possible. Held for the benefit of the Nashville Rescue Mission, the philanthropic group—comprised of over 100 volunteers—fried-up turkeys for the meal kitchen’s Thanksgiving dinner and Wilson County’s homeless.

Some of Music City’s biggest and brightest names gathered to cook and visit with volunteers and fans. Joining the Master of Ceremonies, Tracy Lawrence, in the “group fry” were his friends in music and entertainment: Brad Arnold (Three Doors Down,) GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, Bo Bice, Burns & Poe, Chelsea Field, Matt Gary, LoCash Cowboys, Lathan Moore, Lorrie Morgan, Danielle Peck, Matt Kennon, The Roys, radio personalities Big D & Bubba and the Titans Cheerleaders. Continue Reading

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Charley Pride, pictured here second from the left, played for the Memphis Red Sox during the late 1950's. Photo courtesy of CharleyPride.com.

In the years before Charley Pride became a country singer, he proved himself as a talent on the baseball field. He was a player in the Negro Leagues, and he once pitched four innings in an all-star game against a team made of major-league players, including future Hall of Fame members Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.

Now that Charley’s a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he finds himself back in baseball in a big way. On Thursday, an 18-person investment group headed by former pitcher Nolan Ryan placed the highest bid in a Fort Worth auction of the Texas Rangers ballclub, with a bid of $593 million, according to MLB.com. The transaction still has to be approved by Major League Baseball, which has its next quarterly meetings Wednesday and Thursday in Minneapolis.

Charley’s hardly the only country singer who’s ever had a stake in a professional team. Glen Campbell was part of the original investment group in the Arizona Diamondbacks, Roy Clark had a hand in the ownership of the Tulsa Drillers, and several stars — Conway Twitty, Jerry Reed and the Oak Ridge Boys’ Richard Sterban — all had a share when the Nashville Sounds franchise was established in the 1970s. Country’s most-successful owner was Gene Autry, who established the Los Angeles Angels in 1960.

A few other sports notes from country music:

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Trailer Choir & Pam Tillis backstage at the 4th Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert, at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on June 8, 2010. Photo by Kendra Motycka, courtesy of Country Weekly.

They’re always fashionable, but on Monday, June 8, stars including Clay Walker, Pam Tillis and Bucky Covington amped up their style even more at the 4th Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show and Concert, raising more than $20,000 for Musicians On Call.

The event was hosted by Clay and emcee’d by GAC’s own Suzanne Alexander, and also featured Luke Bryan and Joe Nichols along with models including Pam, Bucky, Bo Bice, Aaron and Thea Tippin, Trailer Choir, Katie Armiger, Sarah Darling, Whitney Duncan, Danielle Peck and others. See photos here >>

“Country Weekly is thrilled to be able to support Musicians On Call and the amazing work they do,” said Lisa Konicki, editor in chief. “Our 4th fashion show and concert was a success due to the hard work of many people and we thank the artists, sponsors, staff and crew that brought it all together seamlessly.”

We caught up with the stars backstage just before they strutted the catwalk: Continue Reading

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Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Nashville.

Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music will help kick off the 2010 CMA Music Festival on June 9 with “The Sixth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade” at 11:30 a.m. Central through the streets of downtown Nashville.

Brenda Lee will serve as Grand Marshal and other artists participating in the parade include Lynn Anderson, Katie Armiger, Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Bo Bice, Ash Bowers, Carter Twins, Jeff Cook, Diana DeGarmo, Fast Ryde, Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, The Grascals, The Harters, Buddy Jewell, KingBilly, Jesse Lee, LoCash Cowboys, Lonestar, Jerrod Niemann, James Otto, Danielle Peck, Point of Grace, Marty Raybon, Pam Tillis, Trent Tomlinson, and Chuck Wicks. Members of the National Guard will drive artists along the parade route in Chevy vehicles, including the all new 2011 Silverado HD and the Military Specialty Camaro. Continue Reading

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Clay Walker photo courtesy of Curb Records.

Clay Walker is positioned nicely on the chart with the video for “She Won’t Be Lonely Long,” and he’ll drop in to talk with host Nan Kelley this weekend during GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.

Currently at No. 6 on the countdown, the song is the title track for Clay’s next album, due out June 8. On the day of release, he’ll be spending time with GAC, joining network personality Suzanne Alexander to handle the host/emcee duties during the fourth annual Country Weekly Fashion Show and Concert at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon. The event, which raises money for a hospital-visitation agency called Musicians On Call, will also feature Aaron Tippin, Joe Nichols, Bucky Covington, Love And Theft, Pam Tillis and Bo Bice, among others.

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has estimated the total damages from this week’s flood could top $1 billion, though Music City is still digging out.

Many of country’s stars — including Vince Gill, Darius Rucker and Kenny Chesney — have stepped forward to raise money or put a public face on the tragedy for the nation. Others, including Brad Paisley and LeAnn Rimes, are still waiting to see how much equipment they might have lost when the Cumberland River swelled over its bank.

Among the ongoing flood-related stories:

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