Danny Gokey photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Danny Gokey will help Gildan Activewear break the Guinness World Record for Largest T-Shirt on Saturday, June 11 during CMA Music Festival in Nashville. The t-shirt, nearly the size of a football field, is 170 feet wide and 262 feet long, weighs nearly three tons, and took six weeks to make. It will be used to create 12,000 shirts, which Gildan will donate to Keep the Music Playing, an organization that supports music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

“We’re excited to not only break the Guinness World Record but also, more importantly, to align with Keep the Music Playing through our donation,” said Randy Brown, vice president retail sales for Gildan. “Music education is so important to today’s youth and we’re thrilled to support the cause.”

The fabric for the t-shirt was produced at Gildan’s textile facility with yarn from spinning plants in North Carolina. Final construction of the t-shirt took place in Utah over more than four weeks and used sewing machines on a large track that sewed the rolls of fabric into larger panels for assembly. A flatbed trailer was used to bring the t-shirt 1,700 miles to Nashville. It will be unveiled at Centennial Park at 11:30 AM with help from more than 100 volunteers. A Guinness representative will be on hand to confirm the record has been broken. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/Miranda_Lambert.

Congratulations to country’s “Royal Couple,” Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, who tied the knot in a Texas ceremony today! Us Weekly reported that the wedding took place at the Don Strange Ranch.

The 27-year-old beautiful bride wore her mother’s wedding dress as she walked down the aisle in front of 550 family members and friends. The couple’s famous friends attending included Reba McEntire, Cee Lo Green, MartinaMcBride , Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum‘s Charles Kelly and the Bellamy Brothers.

After the ceremony, Miranda told Us, “I’m married to my best friend! Looking forward to a lifetime of laughter.”

Blake, 34, added “I wanted to be married to Miranda the day I proposed. Finally, it’s official!”

Browse photos from some of Blake and Miranda’s most memorable moments »

The night of the wedding, tweets came in from many of the “royal couple”‘s well-known pals: Continue Reading

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A quiet Sunday night took a wild turn as reports of Osama bin Laden’s death spread like wildfire.   Then, a little bit after 11 p.m. ET, President Barack Obama addressed the nation to confirm the report.  President Obama outlined that U.S. Special Forces had killed bin Laden early Sunday morning at a compound located in a small town in Northern Pakistan.  The President described a successful, targeted operation that ended with bin Laden’s body in the possession of the troops that executed the mission. Bin Laden’s death comes just months before the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that he claimed responsibility for.

As the news of bin Laden’s death spread, country stars reacted with a flood of messages on Twitter.  Here are just a few:

reba: So proud of our President and our military!

DierksBentley: God Bless our troops and their families… thank you for the sacrifices you all make for our freedoms and our Country. what a great moment.

BradPaisley: If you see someone in a military uniform tomorrow, for heaven’s sake give them a hug. Or a drink. Or a new car.

saraevansmusic: So proud of our American soldiers for the incredible job they did in taking out Bin Laden! Praise the Lord! Thank you!

darrylworley: Thank God! I knew this day would come. I have never been so happy to hear the news of someones death.

blakeshelton: Sorry if this seems disrespectful but I’m so glad that piece absolute #### Osama is dead..

johnrich: Ya’ll wanna know who got fired? OSAMA.

leannrimes: Omg, Bin Laden!!! Blessings to our troops and a bit of peace for our country and those who lost loved one’s in 9/11.

joebonsall: Now Osama knows what it is like to get fried alive… God bless our military… I hope it hurt like HELL!! Keyword being HELL!!

billycurrington: this news is awesome !

juliannehough: Justice has been done

thompsonsquare: GOD BLESS AMERICA! This is a great day.

sarahbuxton: God BLESS those soldiers who carried out this mission successfully! What a bunch of bad asses. America, America, God shed his grace on thee!

TheJoshThompson: God Bless the U.S.A! I hope the news is true.

billyraycyrus: Just saw the news! OSAMA BIN LADEN is dead !!! How crazy is that ! Only in my life could i be at FT Hood on the night this happened …

steelmagnolia11: Osama Bin Laden is dead! Wow.. Watching news now.

joshgracin: Great Night for the USA…. Great Night for the families of 9/11…. Big step toward the preservation of humanity.

jamesotto: I wondered if this day would ever come. Did y’all think we’d ever here this amazing news?

Leave us a comment and let us know how you felt when you heard the news.

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Gary Allan photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Gary Allan will kick off the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during this year’s CMA Music Festival with a 10:00 a.m. CT show on June 9. Reflecting 40 years of country music, the stage’s daily lineup will feature past, current, and future superstar artists. The Riverfront Stage concerts are free and open to the public.

“Gary Allan will provide a dynamic start to 2011 CMA Music Festival at the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage is packed with great hit-makers from the ’70s through today, spotlighting all the decades of CMA Music Festival’s existence. And it’s free! We invite everyone to come and enjoy the great music on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage.”

Darryl Worley will close the Daily Concerts on Friday, June 10, Billy Ray Cyrus on Saturday, June 11 and Terri Clark on Sunday, June 12. Terri last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2007, Billy Ray in 2008 and Darryl in 2010.

The current daily artist lineups in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 9: Gary Allan, Emerson Drive, Colt Ford, Jack Ingram, Sammy Kershaw, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Jake Owen, Randy Rogers Band, and Steel Magnolia.

Friday, June 10: Frankie Ballard, Bucky Covington, Brett Eldredge, Jo Dee Messina, Randy Montana, Heidi Newfield, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, James Wesley, and  Darryl Worley.

Saturday, June 11: Crystal Bowersox, Jason Michael Carroll, Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Holy, Lonestar, David Nail, Corey Smith,  Mel Tillis, and Chuck Wicks.

Sunday, June 12: The Bellamy Brothers, Terri Clark, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Josh Kelley, LoCash Cowboys, Jerrod Niemann, Troy Olsen, and Sunny Sweeney.

Performance order will be listed on CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, closer to the event. Additional artists will be announced. Artists and dates subject to change.

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Randy Travis photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Country music icon Randy Travis will celebrate his 25-year career with the help of some of country music’s biggest names. On June 7, Randy will release Anniversary Celebration, an album of duets that will include both new songs and re-makes of Randy’s hits. Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, George Jones, Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson are just some of the stars who will sing alongside Randy.

“Randy Travis changed the landscape of country music when he arrived on the scene 25 years ago,” said John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville President & CEO. “It is a testament to Randy’s impact in country music that his friends have joined him to celebrate his legacy and his future on Anniversary Celebration. We are incredibly proud that Warner Bros. Records has been his home since the beginning of his career.” Continue Reading

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James Otto photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

James Otto and Warner Bros. Nashville have mutually parted ways. James announced the split through his Twitter account on Monday. “Hey y’all Warner Brothers Records & I have mutually agreed it’s time to part ways. More news to come shortly,” James tweeted. He followed it with a statement regarding his departure.

“I have truly enjoyed the time I have spent working with Warner Brothers Records,” James said. “The staff is comprised of many talented individuals that I am proud to also call my friends. I know there will be many exciting years ahead for WB, especially with John Esposito at the helm.” 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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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Here are our (mostly holiday-themed) picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week! We’re posting the list today, since GAC offices are closed on Friday, Dec. 31. Happy New Year, everyone!

Miranda Lamber photo courtesy of twitter.com/MirandaLambert.

Miranda Lambert:  @Miranda_Lambert   Merry Christmas to me from Stag Arms!!! Yea baby!!!!

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    So I got a Kitchenaid mixer, a shark sweeper, & a steamer for Xmas. I think my parents are trying to domesticate me. : )… Oh, and about 10 thongs from mom…so not THAT domestic.. (she works at Victoria’s Secret.. Always a plus)

James Otto photo courtesy of twitter.com/jamesotto.

James Otto:  @jamesotto    Pic of Jay Demarcus & I. As you can see by our hand gestures all we wanted for Christmas was Peace on earth

Danny Gokey:  @dannygokey    People worry bout what they eat between Christmas & New Years-but they really should worry bout what they eat between the New Year & Christmas Continue Reading

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Martina McBride photo by Kristin Barlowe, courtesy of Front Page Publicity.

Brad Paisley poked fun at reality-TV stars in his hit “Celebrity” and used “Online” to make fun of a guy who posed as a studly, all-American guy, masking the nerd that he really was.

In 2010, the themes of those two songs collided weirdly in the latest Internet phenomenon: the Twitter fake star. Plenty of people assumed deliberately phony names — Not Kenny Chesney, Drunk Swifty, Rascal Fats, Bobblehead Brad — and used their online mask as a shield while they poked fun at the stars and the music business in general.

One of those fakes put down Jimmy Wayne’s cross-country charity walk from Phoenix to Nashville, and Jimmy got hopping mad about it. Then Jimmy started looking at the faux versions of the stars a little more closely and changed his tune a bit.

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! And yes, this week we gave Brad Paisley two spots on the list because he was so darn funny!

Kellie Pickler:  @kelliepickler I love the fact that I can go ANYWHERE in NC and order sweet tea, grits, and fried okra and they won’t look at me like I’m crazy.

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/jamesotto.

James Otto:  @jamesotto I know I’m completely biased cause I’m her dad but have you ever seen a cuter baby?

Lady Antebellum:  @ladyantebellum My new favorite song, Brad Paisley’s “this is country music”. made me swell up with pride to be a country performer and fan. – charles

Jimmy Wayne:  @JimmyWayne For the 1st time in my life I was asked “huh? What did you say, I couldn’t understand YOU” (due to my southern dialect) “I said I like BRUT”

Blake Shelton @blakeshelton Did I drink at my show last night you ask? Continue Reading

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