Randy Travis photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Randy Travis is celebrating his 25th anniversary in country music with a new tour. The 25th Anniversary Celebration Tour kicks off February 10 in Grand Ronde, Oregon at Spirit Mountain Casino. He will stop in more than 20 cities, including Boise, Denver, and Fort Worth plus Calgary. More shows will be announced at a later date.

“I’m surprised at how fast the first 25 years have gone by,” Randy said. “It feels like only five. There’s no better feeling than being onstage and the connection with a live audience.”

To mark the beginning of his 25th anniversary, Randy released his Anniversary Celebration duets album, which houses a combination of his biggest hits such as “He Walked on Water” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” as well as new music. Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Kris Kristofferson, Carrie Underwood, George Jones, Zac Brown Band, Lorrie Morgan, Jamey Johnson and more are featured on the album. Continue Reading

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Glen Campbell photo courtesy of Big Hassle PR.

The Allman Brothers Band, Glen Campbell and George Jones are among the artists announced as recipients of The Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards. All three, along with Antonio Carlos Jobim, the Memphis Horns, Diana Ross and Gil Scott-Heron, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Dave Bartholomew, Steve Jobs and Rudy Van Gelder were announced as Trustees Award honorees and Celemony and Roger Nichols were named Technical GRAMMY Award honorees.

“This year’s honorees offer a variety of brilliance, contributions and lasting impressions on our culture,” said President/CEO of The Recording Academy Neil Portnow. “It is an honor to recognize such a diverse group of individuals whose talents and achievements have had an indelible impact on our industry.” Continue Reading

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Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

Willie Nelson will release Remember Me, Vol. 1 on November 21. The album is a collection of Willie performing some of country music’s most definitive songs, hand picked by Willie himself. Songs included on the album span 70 years of Billboard hits. Remember Me, Vol. 2 is scheduled to be released next year.

Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Rosemary Clooney, Porter Wagoner and Ray Price are just some of the artists and songwriters Willie chose to cover on volume 1. The first volume comes from Willie’s sessions with longtime friend and producer James Stroud, which yielded more than 30 songs. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Showboat Records.

GAC extends condolences to the family, friends and fans of songwriter Liz Anderson, mother of “Rose Garden” singer Lynn Anderson. Liz passed away October 31 at the age of 80 from complications of heart and lung disease. Liz and her husband Casey were successful songwriters, with Merle Haggard’s “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers” and “(I’m A Lonesome) Fugitive” among their compositions.

Born in Roseau, Minnesota, Liz played mandolin as a child and sang in her local church choir. At 13, her family moved to Grand Fork, North Dakota and at 16, she married husband Casey. Lynn was born a year later. In 1957, the family moved to Sacramento, California where the limited popularity of country music led Liz to start writing songs. Casey was a member of the Sherriff’s Posse which was going to take part in the National Centennial Pony Express Celebration . He convinced his wife to write a song in honor of the Pony Express, which went on to be named the celebration’s official song.

Liz began publishing songs and made friends with the growing country music community in Bakersfield during the early 60s. Some of her earliest hits were “Be Quiet Mind” recorded by Del Reeves and “Pick of the Week” recorded by Roy Drusky. Many artists in the 1960s recorded at least one of her songs on their albums, including Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Kitty Wells, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson. She went on to publish more than 260 songs during her career and earned five BMI Awards. Continue Reading

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George Jones Photo Courtesy of Bandit Records.

George Jones turned 80 years old on September 12 with a birthday party at Rippy’s, a barbecue restaurant in downtown Nashville, before heading to the Grand Ole Opry for a star-studded birthday bash. George, who has battled addiction, is thankful to reach 80. “I am pretty sure this milestone means to me the same thing it means to anyone who reaches 80,” he told the South Bend Tribune. “Dang glad to be here.”

While he has earned the right to retire, George is still on the road, playing around 60 dates a year. He gives full credit to his fans for keeping him on tour. “I would say the secret for my longevity is the fans,” he said. “Country music fans are the most loyal fans in the world. They stick by you through thick and thin.”

Several of George’s brothers in music, including Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, have passed away. George, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson have been left to carry on the traditional country sound they are known for.

“I have always stayed true to my roots in country music because it is what I love,” George told the paper. “I am sad to have lost so many of my dear friends. We were like family back in the days when we were young and struggling to make a name for ourselves.” Continue Reading

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Vince Gill's 2011 CD, Guitar Slinger. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Vince Gill is getting personal on his new album. Very personal. In some ways, the title Guitar Slinger downplays the heavy themes that Vince confronts on his new twelve-song collection. Songs with names like “If I Die,” “Threaten Me With Heaven” and “When Lonely Comes Around” give an indication that strong feelings will not be ignored. Vince, who wrote or co-wrote every song on this record, took much inspiration from events or people in his own life when writing it and offers a look at the human condition in the process.

Guitar Slinger, which was recorded at Vince’s home studio, is a complex work that deals with, and sometimes questions, human nature. Take “Billy Paul” for example, a thumping outlaw country-inspired tune with a reserved vocal trying to work through the actions of a man Vince knew well. Through the second verse, Vince sings, Said they found a woman dead up in your room/ I hit my knees and prayed it wasn’t true/ Man, it killed me when I found out it was you, before wondering, What made you go crazy, Billy Paul?

“Threaten Me With Heaven,” the album’s first single, is an introspective take on the meaning of one’s passing. With a sad, reflective guitar lead and open chords, the song dives into weighty subject matter. What’s the worst thing that could happen if they say my time is through?, Vince sings with a subtle strength before delivering powerful lines like, I hear angels through the window pane calling my name. “Threaten Me With Heaven” is also one of the finest examples of Vince’s beautiful, instinctive guitar work and where the title, Guitar Slinger, really comes alive.

In many places throughout the record, Vince’s soulful lead guitar work is like a fantasy meeting of Eric Clapton and Brad Paisley. “When The Lady Sings The Blues,” a R&B/blues-infused cut with dancing blues riffs and a thick bass line, pays understated tribute to Billie Holiday while dropping song names like “God Bless This Child” in the last verse. The title-cut “Guitar Slinger,” which opens the record, feasts on a twangy lead theme while offering not one, but two fiery guitar solos over a honky-tonk blues. Well I was livin’ the life of a guitar slinger/Womens and wines and whiskey for dinner/ Oh, I knew I was in trouble the first time I seen her/ I went and married that Contemporary Christian singer, he sings with a little chuckle on the song. Continue Reading

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Carrie Underwood helps Randy Travis celebrate 25 years as a Grand Ole Opry member. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Legendary country icon Randy Travis recently released his new album, Anniversary Celebration, which features duets with country music’s hottest stars.  Beginning today, fans can log on to GAC’s Facebook page for the Randy Travis Duets App. Fans can record and share their duet with Randy himself with available sing-alongs from Anniversary Celebration duets: “Is It Still Over?”, “A Few Ole Country Boys” and “Forever and Ever, Amen”.  Try it out and record your duet here »

Our very own Nan Kelley, host of GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, couldn’t resist the temptation to try it out.  Watch this clip and see what happened: Continue Reading

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BMI will honor Bobby Braddock as a BMI songwriting Icon during its 59th annual Country Awards. The private ceremony is slated for Tuesday, November 8 at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville.

The Icon award is given to BMI songwriters who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Braddock, who will be celebrated with an all-star musical tribute that evening, joins a list of past honorees that includes Billy Sherrill, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Ray Davies, James Brown and more.

At first glance, there seem to be two Bobby Braddocks. One writes heart-wrenching songs, such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the sadness of which famously made George Jones wary; the other Braddock deals in wry hilarity, like his13th career No. 1, Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy.” Continue Reading

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Alan Jackson photo courtesy Schmidt Relations.

Alan Jackson is watching his latest single, “Long Way To Go,” climb the charts while putting the finishing touches on his upcoming album, due out early next year. Alan is eager to get his new music in the hands of his fans.

“We’ve about finished it up,” he said. “We’re doing some mixing on it now, but we’re pretty much done. I always just say it’s more of the same. I try to find good songs or write some. I think we got a good bunch of material together, got a good team over there with Mike Dungan and everybody’s excited. So, I think it’s gonna be a fun time. I’m ready to put it out.” Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes' 2011 CD, Lady & Gentlemen. Photo courtesy of Curb Records.

On her new album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes tackles some of the most recognizable country songs ever, all recorded by male artists. “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “When I Call Your Name,” and “Good Hearted Woman” are just some of the classic songs LeAnn features on her new album, songs many artists would leave untouched just because of their significance in music history.

“I wanted to pay homage to the originals, and make these songs my own at the end of the day, without offending the original men,” LeAnn told Billboard. “I never thought that it was a ballsy move. I’m just thanking these men for these great songs that are obviously huge hits, and made an impact back in the day.”

Read our review of Lady & Gentlemen >>

LeAnn sent the album to several of the artists she covered. Produced by Vince Gill, she was anxious to hear what the original voices had to say. “We sent these out to many of the men  – the ‘Gentlemen’ on the record, and to hear Merle Haggard say that I floored him, or to hear that George Jones listened to the album from front to back and was emotionally moved by these songs is humbling,” she said. “I guess it was a ballsy move, but I just thought in my heart that I love singing these songs, so why not do it. This kind of country music isn’t around anymore.” Continue Reading

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