Lionel Richie's 2012 CD, Tuskegee. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee is the best-selling album in the nation this week. The country duets project, pairing Lionel with some of country’s biggest stars on 13 of his greatest hits, took over the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart and is also at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the second week. Tuskegee is approaching gold certification.

“I love the feeling!” Lionel said. “You cannot beat the feeling of sitting on top of the charts. I had almost forgotten what it feels like, but now that I am there, I know exactly what it feels like. It feels great! It is really a very exciting time and I am enjoying the ride.”

Read our review of Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee >>

Lionel made sure to thank the 13 artists who joined him on the album. “With a record like this, you can’t take the bow alone,” he said. “You take it with the wonderful talent that came on board and believed in this project. It is just amazing to have all of the very talented artists, producers and musicians who participated in this. This was one big family reunion, as far as I am concerned. We take the bow together because it was an outstanding group effort.”

An iconic figure on the music scene, Lionel also issued thank yous to the staff at Mercury Nashville for their support. Most importantly, he expressed his gratitude to his fans, both old and new.

“They are the ones who made this possible,” he said. “This unbelievable result could not have happened without them. They are the ones who have stuck around forever with me. For the new ones and the old ones, it’s great to have them on board. To the fans, thank you for allowing me to enjoy what I do for all of these years, and for enjoying what I do. I thank you for being a part of my story.” Continue Reading

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Lauren Alaina photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Lauren Alaina had to miss her junior prom this past Saturday night because she was in Louisville, Kentucky opening for Sugarland on their In Your Hands Tour, reports MusicRow. To make up for it, Lauren pulled a fan onstage for a makeshift prom night dance while she sang the Lady Antebellum song, “Dancing Away With My Heart.”

Prom night didn’t end there for Lauren though. After her set, she learned Lanesville High School, located just six blocks away from the concert venue, was having their prom that night. With the permission of the school’s principle, she and fellow tour opener Canaan Smith made a surprise appearance at the Lanesville prom. The two hit the dance floor for about twenty minutes before heading back to the concert venue.

Watch Lauren’s onstage prom dance!

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Glen Campbell photo courtesy of Big Hassle PR

CMA Music Festival has included a legendary element to this year’s concert lineup. Glen Campbell, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers and The Mavericks have been added to the Nightly Concerts held at LP Field during the festival, which takes place June 7-10 in downtown Nashville.

Glen Campbell will open the performances at LP Field on Thursday, June 7. Ronnie Milsap will open on Friday, June 8, Kenny Rogers on Saturday, June 9 and The Mavericks on Sunday, June 10. The Night Concerts will once again be filmed for an ABC concert special to air in late summer.

The current lineups for the Nightly Concerts are as follows in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 7: Jason Aldean, Glen Campbell, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band

Friday, June 8: The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Ronnie Milsap, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood Continue Reading

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Nan Kelley & Keith Urban backstage at the We're All For The Hall benefit concert, Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

This week on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, Nan Kelley joined Keith Urban at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena for his annual We’re All For The Hall benefit concert and learned about the importance of preserving country music’s history straight from Keith! Some of the special guests invited by Keith to perform also stopped by to discuss their involvement in the event, which raises money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Besides chatting with Keith and his famous friends, Nan also counted down this week’s Top 20 videos! Miss Friday night’s premiere? Check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend! Check the full schedule »

On the charts this week, Hunter Hayes’ latest video, “Wanted,” debuts on the countdown at No. 1 while Carrie Underwood’s “Good Girl” falls to No. 2 after spend the past couple of weeks in the top spot. Jason Aldean’s new video, “Fly Over States,” also debuts on the countdown this week at No. 18.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Hunter Hayes – “Wanted”
2. Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”
3. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
4. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
5. Miranda Lambert – “Over You”
6. Keith Urban – “For You”
7. Josh Turner – “Time Is Love”
8. Luke Bryan – “Drunk On You
9. Lady Antebellum – “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
10. Thompson Square – “Glass” Continue Reading

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Kenny Chesney (L) and Lionel Richie perform onstage during Lionel Richie and Friends in Concert presented by ACM held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 2, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Country music superstars like Kenny Chesney,  Tim McGraw and Martina McBride will pay tribute to the legendary Lionel Richie in ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends – In Concert. The concert special airs Friday, April 13 at 9/8 p.m. Central on CBS. During the show, country stars will perform some of Lionel’s biggest hits as well as duets featured on Lionel’s new album, Tuskegee.

Artists performing include Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, The Band Perry, Big & Rich, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers, Blake Shelton and Marc Anthony. Lionel’s daughter, Nicole Richie, also makes a special appearance.

See photos from Lionel Richie & Friends Concert! >>

Duets with Lionel during the show include “My Love” with Kenny Chesney, “Sail On” with  Tim McGraw, “Hello” with Jennifer Nettles, “Lady” with Kenny Rogers, “Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker, “Dancin’ On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts, along with surprises.

Watch exclusive backstage videos from the Lionel Richie & Friends Concert! >>

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Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Luke Bryan and Willie Nelson will take part in the Billboard Country Summit, reports Billboard. Held June 4-5 the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville as the unofficial kickoff of CMA Music Festival, the third annual Country Summit will look at several segments of the country music industry including radio, touring, publishing and digital technologies.

On June 4, Luke will take part in the Artist Development Case Study. Key members of Luke’s team, including his manager Kerri Edwards at Red Light Management and agent Jay Williams of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, will discuss the strategic moves that have taken Luke to headliner status. They will also talk about what comes next for Luke as his career continues to grow.

Willie will visit the Country Summit on June 5 to be interviewed by Billboard executive director Ray Waddell. In town for a show that night at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Willie will talk about – whatever he wants. With a catalog that includes some of country music’s greatest song, his work with Farm Aid, and having played thousands of shows, he will have plenty to discuss with the panel, including his new album, Heroes, which will be released May 15. Continue Reading

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Martina McBride photo courtesy of Republic Nashville.

Individual tickets to the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during CMA Music Festival will go on sale Saturday, April 14 at 11/10 AM CT. Tickets will be $40 for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1 (800) 745-3000 or through CMAfest.com or 1 (800) CMA-FEST (262-3378).

Four-day ticket packages are still available and start at $125 per person. They include admission to all four Nightly Concerts as well as all daytime festival activities, including the Fan Fair Fall where artist autograph signing sessions are held. Children three years and younger are admitted free.

Additionally, Martina McBride, Jake Owen and Hunter Hayes have been added to the Nightly Concerts. This will mark Hunter’s first performance at LP Field during CMA Music Festival. CMA will announce more artists joining the lineup soon. The Nightly Concerts will once again be filmed for a concert special airing on ABC later in the year.

The current lineups for the Nightly Concerts are as follows in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 7:  Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band

Friday, June 8:  The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Jake Owen, Blake Shelton, and Carrie Underwood   Continue Reading

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Suzanne Alexander & Toby Keith backstage at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 1, 2012.

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown hit the red carpet at the ACM Award with hosts Nan Kelley and Suzanne Alexander. They caught up with some of your favorite country stars both on the carpet and backstage. Between chatting with the stars, they counted down this week’s Top 20 videos!

Miss Friday night’s premiere? Check the schedule for re-airs throughout the weekend to catch interviews with Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Check the full schedule »

On the charts this week, the Top 5 remain unchanged with Carrie Underwood still in the top spot. Luke Bryan’s latest video, “Drunk On You,” makes its countdown premiere in the No. 13 spot with Lionel Richie and Shania Twain’s “Endless Love” debuting at No. 19.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”
2. Alan Jackson – “So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore”
3. Lauren Alaina – “Georgia Peaches”
4. Miranda Lambert – “Over You””
5. Katie Armiger – “Scream
6. Keith Urban – “For You”
7. Taylor Swift – “Ours”
8. Lady Antebellum – “Dancin’ Away With My Heart”
9. Josh Turner – “Time Is Love”
10. Thompson Square – “Glass”
11. Keith Urban – “You Gonna Fly”
12. Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars – “Safe & Sound”
13. Luke Bryan – “Drunk On You”
14. Gloriana – “(Kissed You) Good Night”
15. Lee Brice – “Woman Like You”
16. Jake Owen – “Alone With You”
17. Craig Morgan – “This Ole Boy
18. Dierks Bentley – “Home”
19. Lionel Richie with Shania Twain – “Endless Love”
20. Rascal Flatts – “Banjo”

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown premieres every Friday night at 9/8c with re-airs throughout the weekend. Click here for a complete schedule.

Vote daily for GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown »

Browse GAC’s All-Star Top 20 Photo Gallery »

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Suzanne Alexander & Toby Keith backstage at the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 1, 2012.

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown went to Vegas this week! Nan Kelley and Suzanne Alexander hit the red carpet and hung out backstage at Sunday’s ACM Awards to bring you all the glitz and glam straight from the stars themselves. See photos from the red carpet >>

Tune in tonight at 9/8 CT to countdown this week’s Top 20 videos and catch interviews from the red carpet and backstage at the ACMs with Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Scotty McCreery, Chris Young, Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton. Check the full schedule »

See photos, videos and more from the ACM Awards >>

If you missed the last few episodes of Top 20 or want to re-watch some of your favorite interviews, head over to our Top 20 section for videos, photos and more! You can also catch Top 20 Extras, cast your votes, and take a look at the current chart to see where your favorite videos land. Visit Top 20 » 

Remember, GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown is chosen by you, the viewers. Be sure to head over to our voting page and vote daily for your favorite videos!

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Lionel Richie's 2012 CD, Tuskegee. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Lionel Richie’s new album, Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his biggest hits performed as duets with country stars, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart this week. This marks Lionel’s highest-charting album since 1986 and is the best-selling debut by a country artist so far this year. Tuskegee debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, coming in behind Madonna.

“I am ecstatic!” Lionel said. “These songs are like my children, so I am overwhelmed that they are being embraced by several generations of music lovers. I am so grateful to all of my duet partners for bringing their own distinctive styles and personalities to this album and interpreting these songs in fresh new ways.”

Read our review of Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee >>

Lionel is already looking forward to more days in Music City. “I have loved my time in Nashville and can’t wait to spend more time there writing songs and collaborating in the studio,” he said. “It inspires me creatively and being there just makes my heart feel good.”

Tuskegee is a hit outside of the United States as well. The album debuted at No. 1 on Canada’s Top Albums chart and is in the Top 10 in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Holland and Sweden. Tuskegee is Lionel’s first No. 1 album in Canada in the SoundScan era and his first No. 1 album in Canada since his Can’t Slow Down album in 1983.

“What makes this so special is that I am able to experience all of this with my children,” Lionel said. “They are too young to know about the Commodores or anything that I did in the eighties. They just know me as the dad who drives them to school. I’m glad they finally get to see what I do for a living!”

Besides sharing the album with his children, Lionel appreciates the chance to share the record with those who influenced and supported him from the beginning. He named his album Tuskegee after his hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama as a way to pay tribute to his roots. Continue Reading

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