BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 12: Singer Whitney Houston (L) and Bobbi Kristina Brown arrives at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Whitney Houston wasn’t a country artist, but she inspired and touched the lives of many country stars all the same. As news of her death on Saturday in Beverly Hills spread, artists took to Twitter and Facebook to express their sympathy and offer their condolences. Dolly Parton had the privilege of having Whitney record her song, “I Will Always Love You,” for The Bodyguardsoundtrack in 1992. The song went on to become one of Whitney’s signature hits.

“Mine is only one of the millions of hearts broken over the death of Whitney Houston,” Dolly said in a statement on her website. “I will always be grateful and in awe of the wonderful performance she did on my song, and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart, ‘Whitney, I will always love you. You will be missed.’”

As her co-star in The Bodyguard, Kevin Costner, who performs with his band Modern West, urged Whitney to record “I Will Always Love You.” Watch this video from 2009 as Kevin talks about starring with Whitney in the movie and urging her to record a ‘little country song’ her camp wasn’t so sure about.

LeAnn Rimes took the news of Whitney’s death hard, tweeting “Whitney Houston was the first cd I ever bought. She had a God given gift. Hopefully, she’s singing with angels now.” Later, as LeAnn was preparing to go onstage, she tweeted again, sharing how Whitney inspired her:

“I can’t stop crying. I have a show to do soon. Wow, I learned how to do what I do because of 3 great women, one being Whitney. She was always so kind to me. This is not gonna be an easy show for sure. I’m doing what she taught me to do by listening to her records over & over as a little girl. Her death is very surreal.”

Many more country stars tweeted their shock, grief and condolences:

Martina McBride - @martinamcbride: So sad about Whitney. She was one of my singing idols. Prayers going up for her family, especially her daughter.

Jewel - @jeweljk: What a shame, not just because a great voice is silent, but a great LIFE is ended way too early. My thoughts are with her family

Sugarland – @Sugarlandmusic: A beautiful voice and a talent beyond compare. You will be missed. –K

Luke Bryan – @LukeBryanOnline: On the bus listening to Whitney. Very heartbreaking to lose someone that defined my generation. Voice of an angel. A very sad day.

Jason Aldean – @Jason_Aldean: Very sad to hear about the death of Whitney Houston…. What an amazing talent she was.

The Band Perry – @thebandperry: RIP Whitney Houston. #heartache Continue Reading

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MusicRow.com reports the Ryman Auditorium will be replacing its stage for the first time since 1951. Plans for the new stage include an 18-inch section cut from the existing stage running across the front to honor the historical significance of past performances, similar to the famous circle of the same Ryman stage wood that resides center-stage at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Around-the-clock security will be present as the current stage is dismantled and the oak planks are moved to an off-site location. An announcement on future plans for the historic planks will be made at a later date.

The last performance on the current stage will take place on Friday, Feb. 3 when the Grand Ole Opry closes its annual winter run at the Ryman. That night, Keith Urban will perform for the first time since his vocal surgery.

The project will close the stage for two weeks beginning Saturday, Feb. 4, but self-guided daytime tours will remain open throughout the project at a $10.00 special rate.

The Band Perry will be the first public performance exhibiting the new stage for their sold-out headlining Ryman debut on Feb. 20.

“To play the Ryman is to step into country music’s rich history and we are honored to perform there,” said The Band Perry. “Now, as the venue makes plans for its future, we promise to inaugurate the new stage with all the respect and reverence it deserves.”

The current oak plank stage will be replaced with Continue Reading

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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Actress/singer Dolly Parton attends the Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Joyful Noise' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Gaylord Entertainment and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company are entering a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, reports MusicRow.com. The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner of the as-yet-unnamed outfit.

Phase one of the project is an approximately $50 million water and snow park, the first of its kind in the United States. A late 2012/early 2013 groundbreaking date is expected, with the park opening slated for summer 2014.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined Dolly and Gaylord Entertainment Chairman and CEO Colin V. Reed at today’s announcement at the Grand Ole Opry House at Gaylord Opryland.

The water and snow park will anchor the project, which will include 35-acres set aside for future expansion. The park will provide a mix of high energy water activities for the summer season and designated snow activities for winter play. Once open, first year attendance is projected at 500,000, a large portion of which will come from out of state, bringing in substantial tourism revenue to Tennessee and Nashville. Dollywood expects to employ 450 full- and part-time employees.

“Tourism is the second largest industry in Tennessee, generating more than a billion dollars in tax revenue annually and employing more than 170,000 Tennesseans,” Haslam said. “This project will be a welcome addition to the wide variety of attractions and destinations across our great state, and I applaud the collaboration and spirit that has led to this announcement.” Continue Reading

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Kellie Pickler's 2012 CD, 100 Proof. Photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

A quick glance at the song titles on 100 Proof and it’s apparent that Kellie Pickler is reaching back to her country roots on her first record since 2008’s self-titled release. 100 Proof, due in stores next week, is the 25-year old American Idol alum’s third studio album and first with producers Frank Liddell (Miranda Lambert) and Luke Wooten.

“Where’s Tammy Wynette,” “Unlock That Honky Tonk,” and “Stop Cheatin’ On Me” are an album-opening trifecta effectively serving notice that Kellie is dishing up a collection of songs with a traditional slant. Tell me how you fry a skillet of chicken in high heels and a skirt, she sings smartly with syrupy Southern twang on the shuffling “Where’s Tammy Wynette,” before launching into stories about protecting her man from that hussy over there and sitting alone at the kitchen table with a bottle of wine.

Kellie’s undeniable country voice is an easy match for such traditional ingredients, but her ability to develop melodies shows an ever-growing musical maturity. Kellie co-wrote six of the album’s eleven songs including the Dolly-esque “Rockaway (The Rockin’ Chair Song).” Descriptions such as, The night’s like an ocean off of our back porch/ We’re movin’ like waves swayin’ back and forth, flow easily to match the open country/rock groove. On “Long As I Never See You Again,” an acoustic number pulling on those honky tonk heartstrings, Kellie skillfully descends to aching depths through the line, It’s never easy when love comes to an end with a classic vocal touch that sounds like the soundtrack to a lonely barroom.

The album’s first single, “Tough,” is the record’s most aggressive song. Featuring locked-in acoustic rhythms and a snapping snare drum, Kellie holds the tension through the first verse before opening up in the chorus. There ain’t nothing wrong with a woman that has a little back bone, she sings self-assuredly while proclaiming the virtues of her rough edges. Though several songs on 100 Proof have an element of that attitude, it’s the loving title-track that leaves the strongest impression. Continue Reading

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Emmylou Harris photo by Rocky Schenck, courtesy of Nonesuch Records.

Emmylou Harris is teaming up with Rodney Crowell, her famed Hot Band’s original guitarist, for a duet album, reports Billboard.com. They are working with producer Brian Ahern, who first worked with Emmylou on her major label solo debut, Pieces of the Sky, in 1975.

“At one point before the Hot Band, the Hot Band was me and Rodney sitting around with two acoustic guitars learning Don Gibson songs,” Emmylou said. “It’s kind of a thing we always said, ‘We’ve got to do a duet record,’ and he’s been busy and I’ve been busy. But earlier this year I just decided that I wanted to do a record with him, and if we didn’t book it and plan it and set aside some time, it would be something we’d get to the end of our lives and regret we’d never done it.”

The album will feature mainly cover songs, but they have considered songs Rodney wrote for others but never recorded himself. They are pretty far along in the recording process, but have been battling sickness and hope to finish the project soon. They are hoping to play a few shows together as well.  “I’m sure we’ll do something, but he’s got his career and I’ve got mine, so I don’t know what we’ll be able to do for sure,” Emmylou said.

This year is also the 25^th anniversary of Emmylou’s first Trio album with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. To celebrate, the GRAMMY-winning collaboration will be re-released alongside 1999’s Trio 2 (as well as session outtakes), in a boxed set. Emmylou will also keep touring in support of 2011’s Hard Bargain. Emmylou wrote 11 of that album’s 13 tracks. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of norahjones.com.

Norah Jones is a GRAMMY-winning jazz/pop artist, but country music has always been one of her biggest influences. Following the success of her debut album, Come Away With Me, she and four friends formed the group The Little Willies. Named after Norah’s childhood hero, Willie Nelson[Norah grew up in Texas], the group started performing unannounced shows of country cover songs at a small venue in New York.

“I think I had to leave home for me to know how much country music meant to me,” she told the New York Times. “I listened to Hank Williams, Dolly Parton and Willie growing up, but I wanted to play jazz. When I listened to Bill Evans, I transcribed the chords. When I listened to ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ I just listened to enjoy it. But it really seeped in more than I could have known.”

Almost six years after The Little willies released their debut album, they’re back with a new album, For the Good Times. The album, which hits stores January 10, includes covers of songs by Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. The New York Times asked Norah to create a five-song playlist of her favorite Texas songwriters. Willie Nelson, of course, came in on top. The Little Willies cover Willie’s “Permanently Lonely” on their new album. Continue Reading

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Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Dolly Records.

Dolly Parton is looking to return to Broadway in the near future, reports Broadwayworld.com. She’s working on creating a musical autobiography made for the big stage. But don’t look for her to star in it. “I’m writing my life story as a musical for Broadway,” Dolly said. “I probably won’t be in it but I’ll find a way to introduce it somehow, maybe the older me.”

Dolly wrote the music and lyrics to the musical adaptation of 9 to 5 in 2009. While the musical only played 148 performances, opening in April 2009 and closing in September of the same year, Dolly isn’t bitter. “9 to 5 didn’t make it on Broadway but it didn’t sour me,” she said. “I learned all this stuff from it.”

Fans don’t have to wait long to see Dolly on the big screen again, however. She stars alongside Queen Latifah in Joyful Noise, which hits theaters January 13.

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Frankie Ballard photo courtesy of Reprise Records.

Frankie Ballard and his dad have a ‘must do’ when it comes to Christmas traditions. There is a movie the father and son have to watch together to make sure it feels like the holidays. “My dad and I always watch Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase,” Frankie said. “It wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t do that every year.”

Before he was a guitar slinger, Frankie was into sports. He played baseball in college, but also played hockey growing up. One of his favorite Christmas presents is a hockey-related item he coveted as a kid.

“Back when I played hockey there was a hockey jacket you would get, a red corduroy jacket, all the kids would get it and put patches on it when they got a hat trick or won a championship,” he said. “I remember finally getting one and freaking out.”

Frankie’s labelmate, Jana Kramer, counts family time among her favorite Christmas memories. “My favorite Christmas memory is probably always having euchre tournaments with my family and just hanging out laughing!” she said.

It turns out, Frankie isn’t the only one whose favorite gift was a jacket. “My favorite gift was a fringe jacket,” Jana said. “I thought I was Pocahontas when I was a little girl!” As for her favorite food? That’s an easy question for Jana. “My grandpa’s stuffing! It’s the best!”

Christmas is a time for giving and good will, but that didn’t stop Brett Eldredge and his brother from deciding to play a prank on their mother for Christmas. She asked them for a new robe, but they decided to have a little fun with the present instead. “Being the jokesters that we are, we got the idea to get a really old gross robe and smeared brown shoe polish on it to make it look gross because we wanted to see how she would react,” Brett said. “She opened it and tried to act like she liked it but I couldn’t keep from laughing my butt off! I was laughing so hard I was crying! Eventually she figured out it was a prank and we went to the other room and brought her a brand new soft, clean robe!”

Brett didn’t let the gag gift go to waste, however. He found it useful when another holiday rolled around. “I kept the robe for Halloween and dressed up like ‘Cousin Eddy’ from Christmas Vacation!” he said.

One of Dolly Parton’s favorite Christmas memories involves helping her mother pick out a wedding band for Christmas! You can watch Dolly share the memory as well as see artists like Miranda Lambert, David Nail and more in our Holiday Memories channel. Check it out! >>

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The last day of October is more than just an excuse to put on a funny costume. As it turns out, the date has been quite an important one for country music. Here’s a list of some notable events that happened on Halloween, courtesy of RolandNote.com, the ultimate country music database! For more country music and Halloween, check out our Halloween section with pumpkin carving templates, fright night memories from the stars and more!

Oct 31, 1912 – Dale Evans born in Uvalde, Texas. In December 1947, she marries Roy Rogers, with whom she stars on radio and TV. She also writes their classic closing theme “Happy Trails”

Oct 31, 1921—Malissa Monroe dies at the family home near Rosine, Kentucky. No one bothers to tell her son, 10-year-old Bill Monroe, that she’s dead until after she’s already been buried

Oct 31, 1931 – Lester Flatt marries Gladys Stacy at the courthouse in Cookeville, Tennessee

Oct 31, 1934 – At a Halloween party in Halifax, Hank Snow meets his future wife, Minnie Aalders

Oct 31, 1947 — Promoter Connie B. Gay books Eddy Arnold for the first-ever country show at Washington, D.C.’s Constitution Hall. Also on the bill are comedians Minnie Pearl and Rod Brasfield

Oct 31, 1952 – Hank Williams checks into a Shreveport hospital with acute intoxication

Oct 31, 1954 – When Eddy Arnold plays Memphis’ Ellis Auditorium, a young Elvis Presley finds his way backstage. Presley meets Arnold and The Jordanaires, and spots–though he does not talk to–Colonel Tom Parker

Oct 31, 1960 – Elvis Presley records “Crying In The Chapel” at Nashville’s RCA Studio B. The single goes unreleased, however, for more than four years

Oct 31, 1964 – Darryl Worley born in Savannah, Tennessee. Noted for the strong traditional influence on his music, the lanky singer builds a solid career after his 2000 debut, striking a major chord for patriotism with his 2003 release “Have You Forgotten?”

Oct 31, 1966 – Decca releases Loretta Lynn‘s “Don’t Come Home A’Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)”

Oct 31, 1974 – Emmylou Harris records “If I Could Only Win Your Love” and her first single, “Too Far Gone”

Oct 31, 1983 – Lee Greenwood tapes the syndicated “Solid Gold” in Los Angeles, then visits the home of MCA chairman Irving Azoff to present him a tape of “God Bless The U.S.A.”

Oct 31, 1987 – Dolly Parton opens a restaurant in Honolulu, the Dockside Plantation

Oct 31, 1991 – Randy Travis accepts a unique Halloween treat: a gold album for “High Lonesome”

Oct 31, 1993 – Actor River Phoenix dies of a drug overdose outside the Viper Room in Los Angeles. His final picture was “The Thing Called Love,” based on Nashville’s famed listening room, The Bluebird Café

Oct 31, 1995 – Bryan White, Derek George and John Tirro write “So Much For Pretending” on Halloween, distracted periodically by trick-or-treaters

Oct 31, 1998 – Lari White blows out the speakers when she sings the national anthem before the Miami Hurricanes’ football game against Boston College

Oct 31, 2000 – “I Hope You Dance” becomes Lee Ann Womack‘s second platinum album

Oct 31, 2005 – “Inside TV” lists the Top 10 TV witches of all-time, ranking Lisa Hartman Black at #9 for her portrayal of Samantha Stevens’ grown-up daughter in the late-’70s series “Tabitha”

Oct 31, 2006 – During a Tuesday edition of the Grand Ole Opry, Jeff Bates gets down on one knee at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium to propose to Kelly Vaughn. She nods yes

Oct 31, 2007 – Taylor Swift goes trick-or-treating in Hendersonville, Tennessee, disguised as the hairy “Star Wars” character Chewbacca

Oct 31, 2010 – Trace Adkins performs for U.S. soldiers in Basra, Iraq, near the outset of a USO tour

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Ghosts, graves and tormented souls are found throughout the songs of country music. Through the years, music videos have served as a great compliment to depict some of the stories in these songs. In no particular order, here is our list of the Top 10 Most Haunting Country Videos. When you’re finished watching these videos, check out your favorite stars recalling their most memorable Halloween HERE. And if you’d like to have Brad, Carrie, Kellie, Dolly or Jason sitting on your front porch this weekend, check out our pumpkin carving templates and carve a star HERE!

“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss

The 2005 CMA Song of the Year is a heartbreaking, traditional country ballad that Brad and Alison recorded for Brad’s Mud On The Tires record. The WW II-era video tells the story of a young soldier returning home from the Army to find his wife in bed with another man, starting the downward spiral of alcoholism that eventually kills him. “I’ll love her ‘til I die,” a note reads by his dead body. If the images of empty bottles and a man out of control weren’t enough, his death sends his cheating widow into her own guilt-fueled spiral as she too drinks herself to death. The video comes complete with two separate funerals. Adding to the haunting nature of the clip, their ghosts meet after she is laid to rest.

“Hurt” – Johnny Cash

There are several Johnny Cash videos that could have fit this list, but his breathtaking cover of rock band Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” is the most haunting as it features Johnny, just seven months before his death, reflecting on his life. Noted by many as possibly the single greatest music video of all time, the clip features archival footage of Johnny in his younger days against new images sitting alone on his throne, surrounded by decaying riches, pondering if the decisions he made were the right ones. His voice is weak, detailing exactly where he is at that moment in his life, and the raw emotions conveyed are stunning.

“Midnight In Montgomery” – Alan Jackson

Shot in black and white under a full moon amidst the headstones of an empty cemetery, Alan’s “Midnight in Montgomery” music video reaches beyond the grave to beckon the ghost of Hank Williams, Sr. Kneeling by Hank Sr.’s grave in the dark night, Alan smells “whiskey in the air” before seeing the legendary figure before him. The song’s acoustic arrangement and stirring harmonies only add to the haunting nature of the video that won the 1992 CMA Award for Music Video of the Year.

“Gravedigger” – Willie Nelson

Willie’s 2007 video “Gravedigger” essentially reels off one haunting image after another throughout the black and white clip. The music video details a funeral, where Willie plays multiple characters while the lyrics read through obituaries and ask for a shallow gave so he “can feel the rain.” Willie’s seen behind the wheel of a hearse as the driver, he’s shown as one of the attendees and he also plays a man of the cloth presiding over the burial. While one of the most striking images is Willie as the digger himself, standing three feet down in the grave with a shovel in his hands, make sure to check out the twist at the end for the most haunting image of all. The bluesy acoustic/electric arrangement sets the scene as the music gradually intensifies.

“Barton Hollow” – The Civil Wars

The first video from Nashville’s The Civil Wars, who are nominated for the 2011 CMA Vocal Duo of the Year, leaves a lot to the imagination, as they never reveal the whole story. “Barton Hollow” features quick camera edits and artistic angles, like the momentary glimpse of a swinging axe or the use of reflections in a river, to create the atmosphere. Shot in black and white, it seems as though Joy Williams and John Paul White of The Civil Wars have committed a crime and are trying to escape, but that redemption is far off as the Southern stomp song ends with the line, “can’t no preacher man save my soul.”

“The Thunder Rolls” – Garth Brooks

Recently ranked as Time Magazine’s No. 7 Most Controversial Video of all time, Garth Brooks’ emotionally charged tale of domestic violence burns with intensity. The 1991 CMA Music Video of the Year opens with an abusive husband leaving his mistress at their motel room in the middle of a storm. Lightning flashes reveal details like his wife’s black eye as she waits at home for his return. However, set against thundering acoustic guitars and pounding drums, a fight ensues upon his arrival and the abused wife pulls a gun. The last shot shows Garth standing across the street from the house as a patrol car pulls up.

“Kerosene” – Miranda Lambert

Miranda’s first music video, “Kerosene,” follows her down a path of revenge – pouring out a can of gas along the way. Leaving the house where she lives with her boyfriend, Miranda struts with a don’t-mess-with-me attitude as she creates a trail of gas leading back to their home. Black and white shots of her and the band cranking out the hard-hitting tune are split with scenes of her boyfriend in bed with another woman. “Now I don’t hate the one who left, you can’t hate someone that’s dead,” she snarls just before reaching the cheating couple with a match book in her hand.

“Haunted Heart” – Sammy Kershaw

Sammy’s black and white 1993 music video features dark alleys, industrial elevator shafts and effecting shadows to depict a man haunted by his lover’s memory. Throughout the video, it’s not so much that Sammy is searching for her, but more that her apparition appears to be around every corner. With a traditional country thump and layered harmonies, moody visuals like cigar smoke and puddles transforming into buckets of dark water create an uneasy scene.

“Jolene” – Mindy Smith featuring Dolly Parton

We’re going with the Mindy Smith version here due to the moody official music video created that features Dolly throughout. Mindy’s voice is on one hand desperate and the other seductive as she interprets Dolly’s classic song of confronting the other woman. Shots of Dolly writing the lyrics to the song are interspersed with a storyline detailing Mindy searching through dark woods to find the cheating couple. Is this sequence meant as a flashback for Dolly and the inspiration for the song she’s writing? The viewer is left wondering as the haunting acoustic guitars and touches of reverb echo even after the video is over.

“Sittin’ Up With The Dead” – Ray Stevens

In his humorous 1990 video “Sittin’ Up With The Dead,” Ray tells the story about how where he’s from, because there aren’t mortuaries, the dead would be laid out in their homes for viewings. The thing is, mourners were expected to stay by their side all night because leaving them alone just wasn’t right. Well, when Ray’s Uncle Fred passes away at age 97, a comedy of errors leads to such unnatural events as his lifeless body sitting straight up and Ray falling into an open grave while running through a cemetery. The lyrics are fun, the visuals are campy and the chorus has a sing-along hook.

Country music is full of legends, ghosts and eerie events. This is our list of the Top 10 Most Haunting Country Videos, but there are many more out there. If your favorite isn’t on the list, tell us what it is!

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