Shania Twain and her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud, on their January 1, 2011 wedding day. Photo credit: Robert Evans, RobertEvans.com.

Several country stars tied the knot in 2011. Two of them even kicked off the year with New Year’s Day nuptials in tropical places! Shania Twain married husband Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day in front of 40 close friends and family. Shania announced their engagement on her website on December 21, 2010.

Kellie Pickler and husband Kyle Jacobs also tied the knot on New Year’s Day. The pair scraped their plans for a big Nashville wedding and eloped to Antigua where they were married at sunset. “We didn’t have anything but us and God and our minister,” Kellie told People, “and I can’t think of a word that can quite describe how perfect it was.”

LeAnn Rimes married actor Eddie Cibrian on April 22 at a private home in California. The 40 guests invited believed they were attending an engagement party but were surprised with a wedding ceremony. The couple exchanged personalized vows and Eddie’s sons Mason and Jake, from his previous marriage, were in attendance. “I’m looking forward to settling down,” LeAnn told People before her wedding. “Settling into our life.”

Chely Wright, who made headlines in 2010 when she came out, married her partner, Lauren Blitzer, during a ceremony at Lauren’s aunt’s home in Connecticut on August 20. Since Lauren is Jewish and Chely is Christian, both a rabbi and a reverend presided over the wedding. “The freedom of being out and open about who I am allowed me to find and fall in love with Lauren – the most amazing woman I’ve ever known,” Chely told People. Continue Reading

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Toby Keith photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Red Solo cups are the ultimate party accessory and Toby Keith is including an ode to the plastic party beverage receptacle on his new album, Clancy’s Tavern. While Toby writes most of his own material, “Red Solo Cup” came to him courtesy of Brett and Jim Beavers with Brad and Brett Warren.

“It does everybody the same way it did me,” he said. “They’ll say, ‘That’s the stupidest song in the world and I can’t get it out of my head.’ Sometimes it’s good for the world to hear something like that.” Continue Reading

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Becky Robertson of Carter's Chord and her fiance, Jeremiah Scott. Photo courtesy of Alliance Media Relations.

It was a 30th birthday Becky Robertson of Carter’s Chord won’t soon forget. Becky’s boyfriend, producer/musician Jeremiah Scott, asked Becky to marry him – and she said yes! Jeremiah popped the question on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University just outside of Nashville, in the same spot the pair met nine years ago.

5 Things You Don’t Know About Carter’s Chord >>

Becky and Jeremiah are planning a spring 2012 wedding. Congratulations to the happy couple!

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Dolly Parton stops by GAC, David Nail offers up his pick to win the Miss USA pageant, Reba shares some good news about her father and Sara Evans posts a photo of an expensive “oops.” Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/blakeshelton.

Blake Shelton – @BlakeShelton: Ba! Ha! Ha! I forgot to show y’all this… It’s on Christina’s dressing room door on The Voice!!!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/Dolly_Parton.

Dolly Parton – @Dolly_Parton: Hanging out with Nan Kelley and the folks over @gactv talkin’ up the new album and tour!

Reba – @Reba: Just want to let you all know that my Daddy is back home after a long stint in hospitals and rehab. Thanks so much for all your prayers.

Miranda Lambert – @Miranda_Lambert: Law & Order SVU marathon was on sunday. Thank God for TiVo! I can watch em all 100 more times!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/saraevansmusic.

Sara Evans – @saraevansmusic:  The catering truck hit our bus last weekend. It was a pretty expensive oops!

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Laura Bell Bundy photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Laura Bell Bundy will host the Fifth Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert, Tuesday, June 7 at 9 p.m. at Nashville’s Rocketown. She will also perform during the show along with previously announced Joe Nichols and Steel Magnolia. GAC’s own Suzanne Alexander will emcee the show.

“I am thrilled to participate in this awesome event and to share the stage with one of my favorite people, Suzanne Alexander,” Laura Bell said. “I am excited to perform for the fans and can’t wait to watch my friends strut their stuff. And yes, I am going to be pulling out my inner Simon Cowell.” Continue Reading

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Joe Nichols photo by Jon Smith, courtesy of Universal Records South.

Joe Nichols and Steel Magnolia are set to headline the Fifth Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert. The event, which will be emceed by GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, takes place  June 7 at Nashville’s Rocketown and will benefit Musicians On Call, an organization that brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities.

“The Country Weekly Fashion Show is a fun way to kick off CMA Music Fest,” Joe said. “Music fans can sit back, relax and see their favorite artists doing something a little different. Of course, some have that catwalk fashion show strut down a little better than others! But no matter who struts their stuff better, it’s always a fun evening of music and fashion. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, artists prepped for Saturday’s impending Rapture (Anyone found Charles Kelley yet?), Frankie Ballard, Brad Paisley and Carter’s Chord celebrated album releases and Chris Young let his followers know one of his pet peeves when it comes to the opposite sex. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/SaraEvansMusic.

Sara Evans – SaraEvansMusic: BMI threw me a #1 party! Here we are celebrating! Thank you fans!

Carter’s Chord – CartersChord: Our EP “Wild Together” is out in stores and itunes TODAY!!!! Tell your mom, tell your friends, tell strangers…we are pumped!

Frankie Ballard – FrankieBallard: Dear God, if Jesus is supposed to come back tomorrow…u think u could stall him until after my album comes out on Tuesday??

Chris Young – ChrisYoungMusic: Body glitter needs to die… Seriously ladies. No.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BrettEldredge.

Brett Eldredge – BrettEldredge: Spent days at sea, Caught some fish, Grew a beard, drank a little rum & said a few cuss words..Ima sailor Continue Reading

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Carter's Chord photo courtesy of Showdog Universal.

Tuesday was a big day for Carter’s Chord. The sibling trio’s EP, Wild Together, was released to stores and digital retailers. While it isn’t their first release, it was the first time the physical album landed on store shelves. The sisters recorded their trip to a Nashville-area F.Y.E. store to pick up their own copies of the album as well as their night of celebration.

Watch this fun video of their release day antics below as well as the music video for “A Little Less Comfortable” HERE. And if you’re thinking of picking up a copy of the EP, check out GAC’s review of it HERE.

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Carter's Chord's 2011 EP, Wild Together. Photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

For sisters Joanna, Emily and Becky Robertson, country music has always been a way of life – it’s in their blood. In fact, the three sisters that are Carter’s Chord spent their childhood learning from some of country’s greatest heroes as their parents, Barny and Carter, were part of Outlaw legend Waylon Jennings’ recording and touring band. On Wild Together, the trio’s sophomore album for Toby Keith’s Show Dog-Universal Music, vocal harmonies shine as the girls blend their musical upbringing with a contemporary sound.

Co-writing all six songs, the sisters waste no time showcasing their dynamic harmonies, as they launch into the chorus of the uptempo title cut “Wild Together.” With layered textures that only sibling harmonies can create, they sing “We could be wild, wild together/ Just you and me and our crazy dreams,” in controlled chaos while their voices beautifully intertwine. On the album’s first single, the acoustic-based power ballad “A Little Less Comfortable,” deep piano undertones add extra drama while the girls sing of longing for a more unpredictable love. “Don’t wanna go through the motions just because it’s easy,” they sing before repeating in rising harmony, “A little less comfortable” to close the song. [Watch the video HERE.] Continue Reading

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Carter's Chord photo courtesy of Showdog Universal.

The Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum will host a new summer concert series exclusively for its members. Hot Nights at the Hall will take place monthly with live music, food, autograph signings and access to the Museum and Museum Store. The first show in the series takes place June 17 with a Night Train to Nashville reunion concert featuring the Jimmy Church Band and special guests. Stealing Angels will perform on July 8 and Carter’s Chord on August 5.

“Our members are a vital part of our Museum family, and their contributions directly support our mission,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “We created Hot Nights at the Hall as a way to say ‘thank you’ to them; we’re excited to offer them a chance to hear some great music, meet the performers, and enjoy our exhibits after hours.”

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