Carrie Underwood photo by James White, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Last week Carrie Underwood announced she’ll release her new single, “Good Girl,” later this month. With today comes the news that her new CD will be released on Tuesday, May 1.  Produced by Mark Bright, the forthcoming album was featured in Entertainment Weekly’s recent “10 albums we can’t wait for.” This will be the fourth studio album on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville for the five-time Grammy winner.

Carrie’s February schedule is already gearing up with numerous appearances, performances, and events.  Among those are an appearance at the 54^th Grammy Awards, Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, a performance at the Nordstrom Nashville Symphony Fashion Show, and the digital release of her new single, “Good Girl.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

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.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Randy Travis photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Randy Travis is celebrating his 25th anniversary in country music with a new tour. The 25th Anniversary Celebration Tour kicks off February 10 in Grand Ronde, Oregon at Spirit Mountain Casino. He will stop in more than 20 cities, including Boise, Denver, and Fort Worth plus Calgary. More shows will be announced at a later date.

“I’m surprised at how fast the first 25 years have gone by,” Randy said. “It feels like only five. There’s no better feeling than being onstage and the connection with a live audience.”

To mark the beginning of his 25th anniversary, Randy released his Anniversary Celebration duets album, which houses a combination of his biggest hits such as “He Walked on Water” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” as well as new music. Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Kris Kristofferson, Carrie Underwood, George Jones, Zac Brown Band, Lorrie Morgan, Jamey Johnson and more are featured on the album. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Carrie Underwood photo by James White, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Carrie Underwood fans, rejoice! Carrie will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on February 23.  The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later this spring.

Carrie wrote the track with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley, who co-wrote two of her No. 1 hits — “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.” Once again Carrie teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.

Since releasing Some Hearts in 2005, Carrie has sold more than 14 million albums with Some Hearts, 2007’s Carnival Ride, and 2009’s Play On.  She’s amassed 14 No. 1 singles, six of which she co-wrote, and became the first country artist in history and the only American Idol winner ever to achieve 10 No. 1 singles from their first two albums.

Carrie is a current Grammy Award nominee and a five-time Grammy Award winner, a two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, a three-time Country Music Association and ACM Female Vocalist winner, and a proud member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Here’s a message from Carrie about “Good Girl”: Continue Reading

ShareThis

Have you ever watched the stars announce the nominees at an awards show press conference? Sure you have! But now, YOU could be one of the folks doing the announcing! Beginning today, you can visit the ACM YouTube Channel to learn how to post a video announcing the name of the artist or artists YOU would like to see receive an Entertainer of the Year nomination.

On Thursday, January 26, the ACM will host the first-ever ACM digital press conference (also hosted by CBS Television and dick clark productions) via the ACM social media channels, www.facebook.com/AcademyOfCountryMusic and www.twitter.com/ACMAwards.

The press conference will announce the nominees for the 47^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, Country Music’s Party of the Year®, to be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

During the real-time digital press conference, you can watch to see if your video submission was chosen to announce your pick for the Academy’s biggest prize. If your video is selected, you’ll be in good company. Past participants in the ACM nominations press conferences have included Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and many more!

Academy of Country Music Awards co-host Reba will participate in the nominees announcement, with more VIP surprise guests to announce categories via videos posted in real time to fans and media simultaneously.  The press conference will culminate with country music fans announcing the nominees for Entertainer of the Year.

ShareThis

Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Zac Brown Band have been added to the lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during this year’s CMA Music Festival. Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood were previously announced as performers. This year’s CMA Fest will take place June 7-10 in Nashville.

Faith will be returning to the CMA Fest stage for the first time since 2008 after debuting her current single, “Come Home,” on the CMA Awards, while Eric will be making his LP Field debut. Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Continue Reading

ShareThis

Carrie Underwood photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Carrie Underwood is a known animal lover – her dog Ace was a part of her wedding party! While traveling back to Tennessee after spending Christmas in Oklahoma with her family, she saw two dogs injured on the side of the interstate. Carrie didn’t hesitate to pull over, with her own two dogs, Ace and Penny, already in the back of her SUV. Carrie shared the story with her fans via her fan club blog, reports People.com.

When Carrie approached the two dogs, one of them started wagging their tail. Sadly, the other had died. She lifted the living dog, which she described as “limping” and bloody,” into the car.

“My guess is that the dogs were thrown out of their car by their owners on the highway,” Carrie wrote. She took the dog, which she named Stella, to her emergency vet for treatment.

Carrie updated fans on Stella’s progress on New Year’s day, writing that Stella had been groomed, was getting house trained, recovering from road rash and having her teeth cleaned. Carrie was also aiding in the process of finding Stella a permanent home. “She follows me around from room to room,” Carrie wrote. “She’s the best Lab I’ve ever been around!” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Faith Hill Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood are set to team up with Tony Bennett once again for his upcoming PBS special about his chart-topping Duets II album, reports RTT News. Faith will perform “The Way You Look Tonight” with Tony, while Carrie will sing “It Had To Be You,” which also appeared in an episode of Blue Bloods. Here’s the video of Faith and tony singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Other stars appearing in the TV special include Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Sheryl Crow and Norah Jones. The album also includes tracks with Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and the late Amy Winehouse. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Carrie Underwood photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Carrie Underwoodmade wishes come true this holiday season for the schools in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma with donations amounting to $350,000 through her C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation. Each of the four schools – Marshall Elementary, Checotah Intermediate School, Checotah Middle School, and Checotah High School – learned just in time for Christmas that they would receive the necessary funds from C.A.T.S. to fulfill various school needs. The donations will go towards items such as new computer labs for each school, plus playground equipment, physical fitness equipment, as well as new band uniforms, furniture, storage, instruments for their music programs, among other items.

“Late last year each of the schools created a list of their needs and I am so thrilled that the C.A.T.S. Foundation was able to fund it all,” said Carrie. “It gives me great joy knowing we are helping my hometown schools to offer an even better education to the students. They deserve it.”

“We are so proud of Carrie and her accomplishments and we appreciate everything she has done for our students, said Toni Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Checotah Public Schools. Continue Reading

ShareThis

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’” Continue Reading

ShareThis