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

On her 12^th studio album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes offers a collection of classic country songs by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones and Merle Haggard. Notice the absence of any female names on that list? Well, LeAnn did that on purpose, choosing to add a female voice to golden favorites originally performed by male country singers.

“This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country music,” says the 29-year-old Grammy-winner. “And in reflecting, I realized that almost all of my favorite country songs from back then were sung by men.” LeAnn, along with Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill and producer/songwriter Darrell Brown, serves as co-producer on the 14-song project (two of which are bonus tracks including the current single “Give”).

Lady & Gentlemen opens by cranking up the tempo on John Anderson’s number-one hit “Swingin’,” which he originally released in 1983. Working the title literally to produce a 1940s-swing vibe on the song, LeAnn’s vocal delivery shows off a lot of soul while also revealing a certain urgency underneath the quick melodies. LeAnn’s voice is bright and shines throughout the entire record, but this underlying fire is intriguing and can be heard on several songs, including her interpretation of “Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line.” With a little shake and a lot of twang, LeAnn covers the Waylon Jennings classic with attitude. Switching up the chorus to fit a woman’s perspective, she sings Continue Reading

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Brad Paisley photo courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Brad Paisley will publish his first major book, titled Diary of a Player, with Howard Books, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The new book will be released Nov. 1 and is a salute to the guitar gods of country, blues, and rock & roll who have shaped his life.  The book is co-written with David Wild, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and an Emmy-nominated television writer and producer.

Brad was given his first guitar as a gift from his grandfather when he was eight years old—a gift that would change the whole direction of his life.  By12, Brad had written his first song and at 13 he began opening public performances for country giants including The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, and George Jones. Now in his thirties, Brad is a critically acclaimed music megastar. Diary Of A Player is the very personal story of Continue Reading

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Lee Ann Womack photo courtesy of MCA Nashville. Photo credit Danny Clinch.

Lee Ann Womack is heading into the studio to begin work on a new album and will kick off the process by honoring George Jones at the Grand Ole Opry tonight as the Opry celebrates George’s 80^th birthday. Then on September 19, she will participate in the Academy of Country Music’s ACM Honors event at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville where she will honor Tom T. Hall.

“What a great way to start work on a new record,” Lee Ann said. “When you want to get your horizon line, any time you can start with someone as great as George Jones – or be part of this year’s ACM Honors, singing for Tom T. Hall, it reminds you what it takes to make music that lasts.

“There are so few true country singers out there like Jones… not that anyone will ever sing like George Jones. But when you’re listening to Alan [Jackson], like when you’re listening to George Strait, that’s pure country. No matter what kind of song they’re singing. And the same thing goes when you’re singing a Tom T. Hall song: that’s country!”

Watch Lee Ann’s Fan Q&A! >>

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Randy Travis photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

The GRAMMY Museum will host “An Evening With Randy Travis” on September 21. The event will honor Randy’s 25-year career with Randy on hand for a special discussion and acoustic performance. Randy recently released Anniversary Celebration, a duets CD featuring artists such as Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood among others as well as new songs from Randy.

5 Things You Don’t Know About Randy Travis >>

Over the span of his career, Randy has sold more than 20 million albums. He has had 18 No. 1 singles, won 7 GRAMMY Awards, 10 ACM Awards, 5 CMA Awards and has a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, among other honors. He will sit down with GRAMMY Foundation Vice President Scott Goldman to discuss his career and new album before participating in an audience Q&A and performing two songs acoustically. Continue Reading

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