Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records. Photo credit Chapman Baehler.

Rascal Flatts will receive the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award during Country Radio Seminar on Wednesday, February 22 in Nashville following the event’s keynote address. The band was chosen to receive the honor based on their charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout their career.

Some of the band’s charitable work includes a donation of $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center in 2010; and currently serving as celebrity spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization and The Jason Foundation. They have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the last seven years.

“The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Flatts with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award,” CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne said. “They join a long, distinguished list of celebrities who have received this prestigious award since it was instated in 1990.” Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Miranda Lambert thanks fans for their support after Blake Shelton’s father passed away, Jake Owen  keeps fans updated on his broken collarbone from the waiting room, Josh Kelley shares a photo of wife Katherine Heigl that may land him in the doghouse and Taylor Swift puts her TV remote in its place. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/ladyantebellum.

Lady Antebellum – LadyAntebellum: We are all ready and excited! #OwnTheNightWorldTour

Miranda Lambert – Miranda_Lambert: Thank you all for your kindness and prayer. Our family means everything to us. Blake and I appreciate the support so much.

Jake Owen – JakeOwen: In the Dr. waiting on my sentence.. You know it’s not good when he comes in and says “That break is worse than the football teams”. Damn.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/joshkelley.

Josh Kelley – JoshBKelley: My girl getting her hair done for ONE FOR THE MONEY movie press Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Christmas was a popular topic as Danny Gokey negotiates with Santa, Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood fails to go incognito, Chris Young finds himself locked out on Christmas Eve, and Kellie Pickler questions the intentions behind her grandfather’s gift. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BradPaisley.

Brad Paisley – BradPaisley: Here it is, your moment of zen:

Danny Gokey - DannyGokey: Dear Santa: I have been good for the past week or so. Lets just focus on that.

Lady Antebellum – LadyAntebellum: Home for the holidays, riding around in moms car with license plate that reads “LADY A”. #notsoincognito Merry Christmas guys! -Dave

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/CharlieDaniels.

Charlie Daniels – CharlieDaniels: Neither one of them has a drivers license. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Chris Young proves the bromance is still alive, Taylor Swift bakes, Blake Shelton and Thompson Square react to GRAMMY nominations and Sara Evans and Eli Young Band give thanks to their fans. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/ChrisYoungMusic.

Chris Young – ChrisYoungMusic: The bromance is still alive!! Proof that @blakeshelton loves me haha!

Blake Shelton – BlakeShelton: Just found that I’m the first EVER person laying in bed (drunk) in Tishomingo Oklahoma with 3 Grammy nominations!!!

Thompson Square – ThompsonSquare: Ok, manager just called said we got 2 Grammy nominations. All I could say was “huhwhat” over and over again. I sound like Lil Jon. Shawna

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/taylorswift13.

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Winter = baking season. It’s on.

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Charlie Daniels photo courtesy of Webster PR.

The Grand Ole Opry is returning to its most famous former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Opry began its three month winter run at the Ryman on Tuesday night with a show featuring Rascal Flatts, Rodney Atkins and more. Artists scheduled to appear at the Opry at the Ryman include Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, The Civil Wars, Marshall Tucker Band, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Charlie Daniels and more.

Over the weekend, the Opry helped Charlie Daniels celebrate his 75th birthday with a cake before his performance. Check out the photo HERE.

During the show, Tennessee National Guard Major General Max Haston promoted Charlie to the Guard’s rank of Brigadier General. Charlie was inducted into the Opry family in 2008.  Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! In this week’s edition, Joey + Rory are getting into the Christmas spirit a little early, Charlie Daniels mourns the loss of a close friend, Julianne Hough returns to the Dancing With The Stars stage, and Tom McMillan of Tom’s Wild Life learns something new. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JoeyandRory.

Joey + Rory – JoeyandRory: Someone’s excited that our new Christmas album is now up and available on iTunes!

Charlie Daniels: CharlieDaniels: Last night I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends when Taz DiGregorio was killed in a car wreck. It’s a sad, sad time for me.

Miranda Lambert – Miranda_Lambert: Yes…my husband just did the moonwalk on national television:)

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BlakeShelton.

Blake Shelton – BlakeShelton: And THIS is why I check inside my boots every morning.. Welcome to southern Oklahoma!!! Continue Reading

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry®. Photo by Chris Hollo.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has announced that Vince Gill will serve as Grand Marshal for the 59^th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade on December 2. The parade officially kicks off the holiday season downtown with the lighting of the city Christmas tree where Vince will be joined by Mayor Dean and executives from Piedmont Natural Gas, which has sponsored the parade since its beginning.

The theme of this year’s parade is ‘Christmas Around the World.’ Following the lighting of the Christmas parade, Vince will lead parade floats through the heart of downtown Nashville. “I wanted to serve as grand marshal because I just like Mayor Dean,” Vince said. “It’s that simple. He has been beyond supportive of the music community.”

“Vince Gill’s community involvement and amazing talent as a singer, songwriter and musician have made a remarkable and lasting mark on Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “I am grateful that he will be taking part in this longtime Nashville tradition.” Continue Reading

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Taz DiGregorio photo courtesy of AristoMedia.

GAC sends condolences to the family and friends of Joel ‘Taz’ DiGregorio. Taz, longtime keyboard player and vocalist for The Charlie Daniels Band, has passed away.

DiGregorio died Wednesday night as a result of injuries he sustained in a single car accident in Cheatham County, TN, while driving to meet the CDB tour bus. The accident occurred on I-40 West of Nashville.  The band was scheduled to depart for Cumming, GA, for a concert appearance at the Cumming Country Fair and Festival on Oct. 13^th.

The CDB has cancelled their concerts scheduled for tonight, Oct. 13^th in Cumming, GA. at the Cumming Country Fair and Festival and Saturday, Oct. 15^th in Waterbury, CT. at the Palace Theater.

From Southbridge, Mass., Taz was an original member of the CDB for over 40 years and a co-writer on many CDB songs, including “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

“I am in shock now, Taz was one of my best friends,” says Charlie Daniels. “The CDB family has lost a great friend and musician. We traveled many miles together and shared so many nights on the road. We’re going to miss you buddy. You were one of a kind and will never be forgotten. We send our deepest condolences to the family.”

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

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Charlie Daniels photo courtesy of Webster PR.

The Grand Ole Opry will throw a 75th birthday party for Opry member Charlie Daniels during its two shows on October 29. Besides Charlie, Clint Black, The Grascals, Lee Greenwood, Tanya Tucker and more are on tap to take part in the celebration.

Charlie, whose birthday is October 28, became an Opry member in 2008. During his more than 50-year career, he has had hits on rock, country, pop and Christian charts and received numerous awards, including a GRAMMY. His signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” topped both the country and pop charts and brought him to fame internationally. He is also well known for his dedication to American troops. Continue Reading

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Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Records.

Growing up in Harrogate, Tennessee, Rodney Atkins remembers asking his parents one thing when he was a teenager – what did he have to do to be Charlie Daniels? In Origins: Rodney Atkins, premiering October 12 at 10/9CT on GAC, the story of how Rodney went from playing in a friend’s apartment to chalking up No. 1 hits will be told with the help of family, friends, a favorite teacher and a former boss.

Rodney was adopted by Margaret and Allan Atkins from the Holston Methodist Home, now the Rodney Atkins Youth Home, as a baby, sick with a staph infection and in danger of not surviving. Rodney joined big sister Tammy in a home described as nurturing, loving and religious, which Rodney believes was divine intervention. “You wind up where you’re supposed to be,” he said.

In the small town of Harrogate, Rodney’s childhood consisted of school, baseball and church. His dad was the church choir director but it took him years to convince Rodney to sing a solo. Rodney eventually bought a guitar and taught himself to play. By his freshman year of college, he was playing fairs, festivals and even a wedding in a grocery store.

Read our review of Rodney Atkins’ new album, Take A Back Road >>

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