Apr
27
Reba McEntire photo courtesy of The Valory Music Co.
Reba McEntire was honored and humbled when she received an invitation to be one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this year, along with Bobby Braddock and Jean Shepard. Reba already has many special memories of the Hall of Fame and Museum, but seeing her name as a permanent fixture on one of the gold plaques immortalizing Hall of Fame members is a moment she has wished for, for years.
“Coming to Nashville when I was a litty bitty girl – that was the only vacation we ever took, because Daddy always took us rodeoing and although he was working, we were still kind of sightseeing,” Reba said. “He said we stayed on vacation anyway, all the time. But coming down here and seeing those bronze plaques on the walls and I remember seeing Dolly’s and Porter’s, and I remember thinking, ‘Man, Dolly Parton. That’d be so cool to have one of those one of these days.’” Continue Reading
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Apr
12
Reba McEntire photo by Russ Harrington, courtesy of the Valory Music Co.
Yesterday, Reba McEntire celebrated her 60th hit single, “Turn On The Radio.” She’s been topping the charts since 1982′s “Can’t Even Get The Blues.” Pretty impressive!
Reba feted the accomplishment at her offices, Starstruck Entertainment.
“It’s just so much fun to perform,” Reba told Nashville’s NewsChannel5.com, “and when that note hits, and that drum, that thing at the beginning, I mean the audience is on their feet going whoa-up with me and it’s just too much fun.” Continue Reading
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Mar
17
Ferlin Husky, fourth from left, at his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year. Photo courtesy of CMA.
Country Music Hall of Famer Ferlin Husky has passed away at his daughter’s home, reports The Tennessean. He was 85 and suffered from congestive heart failure. Ferlin was known as a pioneer of the pop-leaning Nashville Sound Era. His classic singles “Gone” and “Wings Of A Dove” both topped country charts for 10 weeks and were also Top 20 pop hits, marking some of the first country-pop crossover hits. He also starred in movies and entertained with his comedic alter ego, “Simon Crum.”
Born on a farm in Cantwell, Mo., on December 3, 1925, Ferlin dreamed of being a music star from a young age. He spent five years in the U.S. Merchant Marines during World War II and then worked at a Missouri radio station before moving to California to pursue his music aspirations. In Bakersfield, he worked as a disc jockey and sang in clubs, releasing his first songs in 1950 under the name Terry Preston. Continue Reading
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Mar
14
Josh Turner visits host Nan Kelley on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown.
The Colon Cancer Alliance announces the 3rd Annual “Stars Go Blue” benefit concert for colon cancer at the Country Music Hall of Fame this Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The event benefits the Blue Note Fund, which provides financial support for colon cancer patients in need of financial assistance.
The theme of this year’s show is “Couples in Country Music.” GAC host Storme Warren and his wife, Allison, will host the benefit, which will feature multi-platinum MCA recording artist and Grand Ole Opry member Josh Turner and his wife and band member, Jennifer, along with Grammy winning singer Linda Davis and her husband singer/songwriter, Lang Scott. Continue Reading
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Mar
8
Ferlin Husky, fourth from left, at his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame last year. Photo courtesy of CMA.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Ferlin Husky has been admitted to the critical cardiac care unit at the Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville, Tenn. Ferlin has been hospitalized before for heart and respiratory problems. Continue Reading
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Mar
4
Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Blake Shelton gets serious and congratulates his former producer, Bobby Braddock, and fellow Okies Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard on their Country Music Hall of Fame inductions. Several artists weigh in on Charlie Sheen’s public meltdown; Rascal Flatts has a moment with Lionel Richie (who’s making a country record with the Flatts and other stars as special guests); and Colt Ford announces that his new label mates are Montgomery Gentry! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.
Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.
Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus: @JayDeMarcus The Flatts and Lionel!!!
Blake Shelton: @blakeshelton Big BIG day for me personally… @Reba and Bobby Braddock are both going to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame!!! This calls for a drink!!! Also congrats to fellow Stratford, Oklahoman Jean Shepard for her induction also!!!
LeAnn Rimes: @leannrimes Favorite quote of the week…”I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars!!!”- Charlie Sheen
Jack Ingram: @JackIngram I’m always conflicted- is watching some1′s life fall apart LIVE on tv good entertainment, criminal or, at the very least, just sad? U tell me.
Martina McBride: @martinamcbride Anyone wonder why those two little kids are allowed to be in the house with charlie sheen right now?
Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/steelmagnolia11.
Steel Magnolia: @steelmagnolia11 Finally got to hang out with mama Judd again! Love her sooo much! Xo Meg Continue Reading
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Mar
1
Jean Shepard, Reba McEntire & Bobby Braddock are the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Photos courtesy of the CMA.
Kix Brooks and the Country Music Association announced today that Bobby Braddock, Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard will become the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
“We are inducting royalty this year,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Jean and Reba are two of Country Music’s most revered queens, and Bobby Braddock is a king of songwriting. All three of them refused to follow the crowd; instead, creating their own unique paths. I cannot imagine what Country Music would be like today without these three talented individuals and all of their accomplishments. They each continue to inspire me with their latest performances, albums, compositions, and productions.”
Bobby Braddock was inducted under the Songwriter Category which was created in 2009. Bobby is known for such hit songs as Tammy Wynette’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” and what is regarded as one of the best country music songs of all time, George Jones’ “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He has also written more recent hints such as Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy” and Toby Keith’s “I Wanna Talk About Me” Continue Reading
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Jan
26
Emmylou Harris with Charlie Louvin. Photo courtesy of charlielouvin.net.
Following a battle with pancreatic cancer, Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin died early this morning.
Born Charlie Elzer Loudermilk in Section, Alabama on July 7, 1927, Charlie formed a duo with his brother Ira. As the Louvin Brothers, they were pioneers in country music — and their soaring trademark harmonies influenced many generations of artists that followed, including Emmylou Harris, whose 1975 version of the Louvin Brothers’ “If I Could Only Win Your Love” was her first Top 10 hit.
The Louvin Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1955. Charlie remained on show even after the brother act split in 1963. He was also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Continue Reading
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Oct
25
New Country Music Hall of Fame Members Jimmy Dean (l) and Don Williams.
Don Williams and Jimmy Dean, two vocalists who approached their public presence from very different angles, were officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday night in front of family, friends and a rather elite set of peers.
A singer, comic and television pioneer, Jimmy built his career as a multi-faceted entertainer. Don worked several detail-oriented jobs before his breakthrough — he was a co-partner in a furniture store and an office administrator — and he made his public mark in a workman-like manner, eschewing the party circuit and putting his efforts into finding and delivering well-constructed songs.
Neither singer was able to claim his medallion in person. Jimmy died in June, just a few months after he was told in a phone call that he would have a bronze plaque enshrined with his likeness in the Hall of Fame’s Rotunda alongside such fellow performers as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Jimmy’s childhood idol, Gene Autry.
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Oct
6
Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.
The building that houses country music’s family treasures just got a big infusion of cash.
Keith Urban and Vince Gill played hosts Tuesday night at All For The Hall, a multi-artist concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Country Music Hall of Fame. The arena and the hall share an intersection in Music City, and the artists who paraded across the Bridgestone stage shared a love for the district’s best-known genre.
Billy Currington threw judicious moments of vocal ferocity into his version of Kenny Rogers’ “Sweet Music Man,” Martina McBride emulated Reba McEntire well with a few well-placed trills at the close of “Is There Life Out There,” and Dolly Parton resurrected George Jones’ funereal “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
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