Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Tonight we’re giving you a special GRAMMY version of Top 10 Tweets of the Week. And yes, there are way more than 10 — but there were so many good ones we didn’t want to stop! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week , GRAMMY style, starting with a cool photo of multi-GRAMMY winners Lady Antebellum on the red carpet. Here’s a little bit of what the stars tweeted during the GRAMMYS. Don’t forget to check out our GRAMMY wrap-up HERE!

Lady Antebellum on the red carpet at the 2011 GRAMMY Awards. Photo courtesy of Lady Antebellum/Twitter.com/ladyantebellum.

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    And @blakeshelton that was the sweetest intro I’ve ever seen. Those are gonna be talented and pretty babies!

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy   @Miranda_Lambert that’s my girl!!! So raw, emotional and beautiful

The Band Perry:  @thebandperry    Beautiful @Miranda_Lambert , as always.

Emily West:  @emilywestmusic    Miranda. You are a beautiful flower tonight. Sing that song, girl…. It’s gonna win.

Little Big Town:  @LBTmusic    @martinamcbride you just looked and sounded amazing. So proud of you girl! KF

Jewel:  @jeweljk    Wow- loved the Aretha tribute- u guys?

Terri Clark:  @TerriClarkMusic    Ga ga has gone from a meat dress to a chicken getting ready to hatch – i want some of whatever she’s on…

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    Holy Fashion police! I have seen some doozy’s tonight! #grammy’s Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Keith Urban posts a photo from his recent video shoot, Sugarland tweets from the U.K. and Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus shares a moment from backstage. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Keith Urban photo courtesy of Twitter.com/KeithUrban.

Keith Urban:  @KeithUrban    Shooting for the new music video… here’s a sneak peak [sic].

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    My Grandma just told me it was their ‘SEXtieth’ Wedding Anniversary! Grandpa replied ‘Laura, She’s Dreaming’ .. Haha!

Clint Black:  @Clint_Black    Word from insiders is; They played eeny meeny miny mo in Egypt and Mubarak lost.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/Sugarlandmusic.

Sugarland:  @Sugarlandmusic    We’ll post plenty of #Sugarpics from our trip — for example, here’s Jennifer getting ready for today’s taping.

Emily West:  @emilywestmusic    Just took a nyquil & now I’m drunk. So this is how fitty cent feels when he be rapping. Thank u all 4 the sweet shout outs for my ACM nom! Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn at the nominations announcement for the 46th Annual ACM Awards, Feb. 1, 2011 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Country’s brightest stars are reacting to this morning’s nominations for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn read the list this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, live during CBS’ The Early Show.

After her name was read seven times — or 35 times, as Ronnie joked, Miranda was in shock.

“Thirty-five is a lot,” she deadpanned, before getting serious. “I haven’t even had time to process it,” she said. ”It’s awesome, absolutely awesome. All of 2010 and so far, 2011, have been really great. It’s one of those years where you can really feel a push in your career and your life. All of the hard work’s paying off. It’s been a record-breaking year for me, personally and professionally. I’m so thankful.”

And what of the lighthearted professional rivalry between Miranda and her fiance, Blake Shelton? “There’s always some friendly competition between us,” she told The Early Show, “and sometimes not so friendly. But yeah, I’m really proud of him and he’s well-deserving of the nominations. He’s a great vocalist. He deserves to be in that category, definitely.” [Blake earned 2 nominations -- Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year (for "Hillbilly Bone") and he's also co-hosting the show with Reba McEntire.]

Ronnie had some high praise for Miranda. “I think her authenticity…what she’s doing right now is, the key to everything,” he said. “She’s definitely very real. I love what she’s doing. I love the energy that she has.”

The JaneDear girls, already nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group, learned this morning – the same day their debut album hit stores – that they are nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year.

“I am speechless – I can’t believe we have been nominated for ‘Top Vocal Duo of the Year!’” one half of the JaneDear girls duo, Danelle Leverett, said. “I remember playing out acoustically with Susie in backyards and colleges, living on taco soup, like it was yesterday. This doesn’t seem real.” Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn at the nominations announcement for the 46th Annual ACM Awards, Feb. 1, 2011 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Last year Miranda Lambert said 2010 was “her best year yet.” She might have to amend that statement, if Feb. 1, 2011 is any indication.

This morning at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards nominations announcement, Miranda heard her name called 35 times…oops, make that 7 times. Miranda and Ronnie Dunn read the list this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, live during CBS’ The Early Show. Ronnie made the joke about Miranda having triple-digit nominations, but clearly, she is at the forefront of possible trophy winners.

For the third year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year and for the third year, the two newcomer categories for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards —Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo or Group— will also be opened up to fan voting. The winner in each of the two newcomer categories will then move on to compete for Top New Artist, which is also a fan voted category. Online voting for all fan voted categories will be available at www.voteACM.com.  The winners of Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist will be announced live during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Miranda led with seven nominations, including Top Female Vocalist and her first-ever nomination for Entertainer of the Year. In addition, she was nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “The House That Built Me” and received two nominations for Video of the Year for “Only Prettier” and “The House That Built Me.” She is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn for “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Miranda is the reigning ACM Top Female Vocalist.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for five awards, including Album of the Year for Hemingway’s Whiskey and Single Record of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall,” both of which he is nominated for as an artist and producer.   He is also nominated for Video of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall.” 

Zac Brown Band is nominated for five awards including Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year.  Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson.

Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band also received four additional individual nominations as the producer for Album of the Year contender You Get What You Give, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” and additionally as a composer for Song of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away.”

The Band Perry is nominated for four awards, including Top Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo or Group.  They are also nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “If I Die Young.” Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry also received an additional individual nomination as a composer for Song of the Year contender “If I Die Young.”

Taylor Swift is nominated for four awards, including her second nod for Entertainer of the Year.  If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her first Entertainer of the Year win. Swift is nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Speak Now and she also received a nomination for Top Female Vocalist. 

Lady Antebellum is nominated for three awards including Top Vocal Group.  They are also nominated for Album of the Year as artists and producers for Need You Now. They are the reigning Top Vocal Group.

Lee Brice is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year and as both an artist and producer for Single Record of the year for “Love Like Crazy.”  This is Brice’s first year to be nominated.

Easton Corbin is nominated for three awards for Top New Solo Vocalist and for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “A Little More Country Than That.” This is Corbin’s first year to be nominated.

Alan Jackson is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away,” with the Zac Brown Band.

Keith Urban is nominated for three awards including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.  Keith is also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Blue Sky” with Emily West.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top six nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category and the top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:

Entertainer of the Year

• Jason Aldean
• Toby Keith
• Miranda Lambert
• Brad Paisley
• Taylor Swift
• Keith Urban Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, country music lost one of its legends, Charlie Louvin, and Dierks Bentley tweeted his respects. Reba McEntire posted a photo from her video shoot for “If I Were a Boy,” and Martina McBride admitted to indulging a little before her upcoming photo shoot. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Charlie Louvin and Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley:  @DierksBentley   an old school pic of me and charlie louvin. I learned a lot listening to louvin brothers records.God bless them.. 

Kellie Pickler:   @kelliepickler    trying to convince my husband that we should get rid of everything, sell our house & live like gypsies in a airstream. travel and dream.

Whitney Duncan:  @whitneyduncan    Taking a bubble bath while being serenaded by my bf & his guitar. This would b super romantic if he wasn’t playing me my own songs. Haha

Martina McBride:  @martinamcbride    Came home from studio and had a Fat Tire, a yummy brownie, glass of milk, and some pistachios. Photo shoot in a month. Me..in total denial.

Jimmy Wayne:  @JimmyWayne    I remember sleeping outside when I was 14 yrs old & going to bed hungry .. now I’m having breakfast w/a Senator. Bea & Russel saved me! Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Dierks Bentley‘s week was red hot, in spite of Nashville’s freezing temperatures. He met Lady Antebellum‘s Charles Kelley for a drink and when he left, he found his car on fire! Also, judging from this week’s tweets, country has gone to the dogs — literally! Several stars tweeted pictures of their incredibly cute pups. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Charles Kelley & Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Dierks Bentley.

Dierks Bentley:   @DierksBentley  met my friend charles kelley at a bar. he wanted to see my new ’67 camero [sic]. we walked back outside. it was on fire. not cool.

Dierks Bentley:   @DierksBentley   some footage from last night. hard to sleep w images of flames coming out from under the engine stuck in head. (Editor’s note:  Click here for a “fire report” from Dierks and Charles.)

Sarah Buxton:  @sarahbuxton    @DierksBentley I was next door @whiskey kitchen w Cassady, some dude told us about your flaming camero! [sic] I thought he was joking! Guess not!

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/juliannehough.

Julianne Hough:  @juliannehough    This is what I wake up to every morning… I’m a lucky girl!! Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week!

Taylor Swift hangs with Selena Gomez. Photo courtesy of twitter.com/taylorswift13.

Taylor Swift:  @taylorswift13    Thank you SO much for the People’s Choice Award! It’s sitting here all sparkly in my hotel room. I love you guys.  

Kellie Pickler:  @kelliepickler   Private Island. Caribbean. Cigar in one hand, Rum in the other. Someone just called me “Mrs. Jacobs.”….sounds nice

James Otto:  @jamesotto    I know I’m gonna have my man card pulled for this but, while doing chores around the house the Baby Bjorn is indispensable.

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    Really fun night hanging with @billyraycyrus & talking @cootercounty. Okrr!

Clint Black:  @Clint_Black    Bud Adams was behind Fisher in the good times. He should stick with him through the bad. Let’s don’t throw out our champions. Humbly.

Blake Shelton:  @blakeshelton  Worked out with Mirandas trainer today… Is it normal to find blood in your shorts afterward?… Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Kix Brooks, Trace Adkins and Buddy Jewell are among the latest acts taking time from their schedules to honor the soldiers who put their lives on the line for their country.

Kix is in the midst of a Middle East tour, Buddy just headed out with with a package of country singers that will visit four countries, and Trace is set to appear on a TV special with a military theme before his own USO journey.

Not that it’s anything unusual for country acts. Among the artists who’ve lent themselves to the USO in the past are Toby Keith, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler and the Zac Brown Band.

Here’s what some of country’s stars are doing with the USO:

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(l-r) Brad Tursi, Dave Pahanish, Marcel & Jimmy Wayne in Nashville, TN. Photo by Beth Brinker.

Music City is a town that celebrates the songwriter…especially when it comes to a milestone birthday.

Tuesday, September 7, country artists and friends came out to surprise hit songwriter Dave Pahanish (“American Ride” – Toby Keith, “I Will” – Jimmy Wayne) for his 40th birthday at Third & Lindsley Bar & Grill in Nashville. The stage was a revolving door of talent, with performances by duo Buxton Hughes (Sarah Buxton and Jedd Hughes,) Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi, Hugh Mitchell, Eric Paslay, Marcel, Jessica Andrews, Emily West, Jimmy Wayne and more!

Dave’s wife, Kristin Lee Pahanish, had been quietly scheming for weeks while she arranged the superstar guest list of Dave’s friends, fans and artist admirers. One of Dave’s biggest fans is Jimmy, who performed “Sara Smile” and the No. 1 song “Do You Believe Me Now,” also written by Dave.

“He’s so creative and talented and it’s a shame that Dave Pahanish is not out there on the road touring as an amazing superstar,” Jimmy  praised.

Dave and his band, The Rust Belt, rocked the night away. He was humbled by the surprise party-turned-show in his honor.

“I love you all and I’m so honored to call you my friends. Thanks for being a part of one of the best days of my life,” Dave said.

For the play by play of the evening, go to Jimmy Wayne’s Twitter feed. Also, check out Dave’s music on his MySpace page.

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the JaneDear girls photo courtesy of Warner Music Nashville.

They’re experiencing their first-ever single, so they’re certainly green. And they plowed through everything in their way to get to No. 1, so they’ve got all the power of a John Deere tractor. Appropriately, the JaneDear girls are showcased at the top of his weekend’s Nan Kelley-hosted edition of GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.

The JaneDear girls — Danelle Leverett and Susie Brown — met on the Nashville club circuit and hit it off immediately. They scheduled a songwriting session together, and it went so well that they abandoned their solo careers to create a duo. They made some appearances at MuzikMafia shows and got the attention of John Rich, who helped them secure a recording deal with Warner Bros. and is producing the girls’ first album. Something’s clearly working, since “Wildflower” bolted from No. 13 to No. 1 on the Top 20 this week.

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