Ronnie Dunn photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Ronnie Dunn has released Ronnie Dunn – Special Edition through the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store exclusive music program. The album is a collection of 12 songs first released on Ronnie’s solo debut album in 2011 and includes an additional two previously unreleased tracks. A portion of sales from the project will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. The CD is available at all Cracker Barrel locations and online at crackerbarrel.com.

“More than ever before, I feel as though this album gave me a chance to tell my own story through songs that mean a lot to me,” Ronnie said. “And it’s particularly gratifying because, by working with Cracker Barrel, a portion of the CD retail sales will be donated to Wounded Warrior Project. To me, that truly makes this CD a special edition.”

“We’re pleased to work with Ronnie Dunn on a collection of songs we not only think will resonate with our guests, but also will support our nation’s Wounded Warriors,” Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel Marketing Manager, said. “Ronnie shares his heart and his life-learned lessons through music and the result is a very special mix of memorable songs.”

Ronnie Dunn – Special Edition is the latest in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program. Dolly Parton’s An Evening With….Dolly was released through the program in April. Exclusive projects by the Oak Ridge Boys, Jason Michael Carroll, Kenny Rogers, Craig Morgan and more can also be found in stores. Continue Reading

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Julie Roberts photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Game manufacture McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds will host its first annual celebrity charity event during CMA Music Festival. Country stars will sit down to play You’ve been Sentenced! – Country Music Edition on June 7th from 2:00-4:30 PM at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Nashville. Stars will play the game to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospital and Success Won’t Wait.

Artists confirmed to play include Jeff Bates, Ty Brown, Burns & Poe, Jason Michael Carroll, Buddy Jewell, Matt Kennon, Danni Leigh, LoCash Cowboys, Justin McBride, Jaclyn North, Julie Roberts, Doug Stone, Rhonda Vincent, Mark Wills and more. The game will be followed by acoustic performances.

“We’ve always known that the country music industry has tremendous heart,” Don McNeill, McNeill Designs CEO, said. “The interest and support shared by the community as a whole for this charity event has been overwhelming and it’s even more moving in consideration of the number of appearances, concerts and events these artists are juggling as part of their hectic CMA Fest schedules.” Continue Reading

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Frankie Ballard photo courtesy of Warner Music Nashville.

The lineup for the 2012 CMA Music Festival’s Bud Light Stage at the Bridgestone Plaza and the new BIC Soleil Bella Beach Stage have been announced. The two concerts will provide fans with over 40 hours of concerts for free. The CMA Music Festival takes place June 7-10. “Live music is a hallmark of CMA Music Festival and we are excited to be able to add a new stage and even more performances this year,” Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said.

The BIC Soleil Bella Beach Stage is a new addition to this year’s CMA Music Festival with concerts and activities starting at 11:00 AM/CT each day during the Festival. The Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, is a fan favorite and a great place to catch up and coming country artists.

Artists currently scheduled to perform at the Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza include:

Thursday, June 7
11:00 AM – 11:25 AM            Jeff Bates
11:45 AM – 12:10 PM             Greg Bates
12:30 PM – 12:55 PM             Julie Roberts
1:15 PM – 1:40 PM                  Tyler Farr
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM                “Classic Country Show” featuring Moe Bandy, T. Graham Brown, Jane Fricke and Gene Watson, hosted by Moore  & Moore
3:20 PM – 3:45 PM                  Trent Tomlinson
4:05 PM – 4:30 PM                  Miss Willie Brown
4:50 PM – 5:15 PM                  Cledus T. Judd

Friday, June 8
11:00 AM – 11:25 AM             Eric Paslay
11:45 AM – 12:10 PM              Rose Falcon
12:30 PM – 12:55 PM              Katie Armiger
1:15 PM – 1:40 PM                   Exile
2:00 PM – 2:25 PM                  The McClymonts
2:45 PM – 3:10 PM                  Frankie Ballard
3:30 PM – 3:55 PM                  Big Smo
4:15 PM – 4:40 PM                  Drake White
5:00 PM – 5:25 PM                  Blackberry Smoke Continue Reading

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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JANUARY 09: Actress/singer Dolly Parton attends the Premiere Of Warner Bros. Pictures' 'Joyful Noise' at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on January 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Dolly Parton will release a two-disc DVD and CD set, An Evening With… Dolly, exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store on April 2nd. Taped during a sold-out show at London’s O2 arena, the set will give fans a front row seat as Dolly performs some of her most popular songs like “Coat of Many Colors,” “9 to 5” and “Jolene.”

Songs like “Here You Come Again” and “I Will Always Love You” as well as previously unreleased live bonus tracks like “Shattered Image” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home” are featured on the CD. The DVD captures Dolly interacting with her audience, sharing stories and giving a backstage look at the show during a segment called ‘Soundcheck.’ Continue Reading

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Jason Michael Carroll from his video, "Meet Me In The Barn."

After the kids are tucked in for the night, grab their trick-or-treat loot and settle in for an especially haunted edition of GAC’s Late Shift, hosted by Jason Michael Carroll. Jason, who admits Halloween is one of his favorite holidays, has chosen a lineup of some of the spookiest country videos, like Alan Jackson’s “Midnight To Montgomery” and Willie Nelson’s “Gravedigger.”

During Late Shift, Jason will show the video for his new single, “Meet Me in the Barn.” The video is an 11-minute mini movie dedicated to the entertainers who have inspired Jason’s career. The clip is reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s classic “Thriller” video, full of spooky scenes and people who aren’t quite what they seem. Jason, who turns into a vampire thanks to a pretty girl’s charms, even has a dance sequence in the new video.

GAC’s Top 10 Most Haunting Country Videos >>

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Rascal Flatts is invited to join the Opry by member Vince Gill. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating their 86^th birthday the whole month of October  and this weekend will mark the Opry’s official Birthday Bash. If you can’t make it to Nashville, you can catch a lot of the action on GAC during episodes of Opry Live scheduled to air on Saturday, October 8 and Tuesday, October 11.

On Friday, October 7, Jason Michael Carroll, Crystal Bowersox, Mandy Barnett, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith and The Whites are just some of the talents on the Opry’s schedule. Mandy Barnett will sign copies of her CD Sweet Dreams and her new Christmas album, Winter Wonderland, in the Opry Shop from 5:30 to 6:30 prior to the show.

On Saturday, October 8, Jean Shepard, Charley Pride, Craig Morgan, Ronnie Dunn (who will be making his Opry debut as a solo artist) and Rascal Flatts, who will be inducted as the newest members of the Opry family, are on tap, among others. You can catch the show live on GAC during Opry Live at 9/8 CT.

Taking the Opry stage on Tuesday, October 11 will be Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, LeAnn Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery and Trace Adkins. Some performances will be broadcast live on Opry Live at 8/7 CT on GAC. Other performances from the night will be filmed for an episode of Opry Live to air October 29 at 9/8 CT. Continue Reading

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The Oak Ridge Boys Photo Credit: Jarrett Gaza

The Oak Ridge Boys will release their new album, It’s Only Natural, through Cracker Barrel Old Country Store’s exclusive music program on September 19. The album celebrates the 30th year of the band’s hit song “Elvira,” with a re-recording of the song as well as six other hits and five new songs.

“The heart of the CD was inspired by a collection of time-honored songs, but its soul comes from the collaboration we had on this project with talented producers Ron Chancey and Michael Sykes,” said Joe Bonsall.  “Ron originally produced ‘Elvira’ and all of our gold and platinum albums. This is Michael’s ninth project co-producing with Duane.” Continue Reading

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Jason Michael Carroll's 2011 CD, Numbers. Photo courtesy of Webster PR.

As the latest addition to Cracker Barrel’s exclusive CD music program, Jason Michael Carroll returns with Numbers, his first collection of new songs since 2009’s Growing Up Is Getting Old. Anchored by his deep southern drawl, Numbers showcases Jason Michael’s honest songwriting with 12 songs unafraid to face the truth.

Jason Michael wrote or co-wrote eleven of the twelve tracks on Numbers, and along with Patrick Davis and Mark Dearnley, serves as co-producer for the album as well. Being tied so closely to all aspects of the project seems to have carried over into a genuine feeling of honesty throughout the collection. On the mid-tempo, heartsick power ballad “Stray,” (co-written with Radney Foster), Jason Michael clearly acknowledges the intentions of the song’s love interest, singing You’re gonna stray and leave me standing alone/ You’re gonna stray, baby, your love’s already gone/ You don’t want to be here, it’s perfectly clear and you think you got it hidden away/ I know you’re gonna stray. The hard country “Can I Get An Amen” (co-written with Rivers Rutherford and George Teren) puts interesting twists on what would have been a more generic redneck anthem with lyrical jabs like, I believe in loud guitars, smoky bars and muscle cars/ pick-up trucks and gun control, as long as they leave mine alone. Compelling stories and the ability to express complex feelings through just the right words are a highlight here as Jason Michael conveys so much with his delivery.

Jason Michael’s voice is rich and full throughout the album as it twists and turns through clever melodies. Opening with the Western-edged Continue Reading

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Jason Michael Carroll’s new album, Numbers, has been released exclusively in Cracker Barrel stores. A former Cracker Barrel server, Jason Michael is the first artist to both work for the restaurant and release an album through its exclusive music program. The album is a compilation of 12 songs about everyday life and includes his hit “Alyssa Lies” as well as his current single, “Numbers.”

“Most numbers mean absolutely nothing,” Jason said. “But some of them, like the date you meet the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with, mean everything.” Continue Reading

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Randy Travis' 2011 CD, available exclusively at Cracker Barrel.

Randy Travis has released his latest album, Randy Travis, exclusively at Cracker Barrel as part of the restaurant’s exclusive music program. The self-titled album includes hits “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “I Told You So,” and “1982” as well as six other classics and three previously unreleased tracks. Because both Randy and Cracker Barrel support our military, a portion of the proceeds from sales will go to Wounded Warrior Project.

“After touring quite a number of our country’s military bases and performing repeatedly for our troops, I can tell you that there is nothing as rewarding as doing these shows for our service men and women,” Randy said. “The love they have for this country is inspiring and I am glad that Cracker Barrel, where I myself like to eat, is supporting such a worthwhile project.”

“We offer up this newest CD in our exclusive music program in the hopes that Cracker Barrel guests will enjoy some old favorites and discover some new ones,” said Cracker Barrel’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Chris Ciavarra. “Randy Travis is very popular with our guests, and we like to believe that they will find this to be an exciting CD to add to their collections. We’re also pleased to be supporting Wounded Warrior Project by donating a portion of the proceeds from this CD to that organization.” Continue Reading

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