Colt Ford photo courtesy of Average Joes Entertainment.

With 2013 arriving in just a matter of days, everybody is starting to think about those pesky resolutions that seem to haunt us soon after wrapping up the Christmas festivities. Some hope to lose weight while others vow to spend more time with friends and family, enjoying the simple things in life.

Country stars are no different. We recently chatted with some of your favorite stars to find out exactly what’s on their list of resolutions as we welcome 2013 with open arms!

Colt Ford: To lose weight … I swear I mean it this year [laughs]!

Love And Theft:
Stephen Barker Liles: I want to spend more time with my mom and my little brother. I don’t get to spend enough time with them. I think that’s the biggest thing. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.

Eric Gunderson: To have as much fun next year as I did this year.

Justin Moore: I usually don’t make resolutions because I usually break them. Anything that I figure I’m going to fail at, I don’t generally do. I’m too prideful. The only thing that I do knowing that I suck at it is golf.

The Bellamy Brothers:
David Bellamy: I think our resolution is to just keep on keeping on. I see people make resolutions, but really if you can just keep on… We still enjoy what we do. I think it’s important to us to keep it up, and sometimes that’s not always easy.

Howard Bellamy: As long as you, your family and your friends are all healthy and happy, that’s really all you can ask for.

Hunter Hayes: I think I’m going to try to Continue Reading

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Chris Young photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Chris Young kicks off his Liquid Neon Tour — his first headlining tour — tonight, November 15, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. He sold out the historic auditorium weeks in advance and while it’s not his first sold-out show, it’s a special one. It’s also another step forward.

“We sold out the Ryman in Nashville which is always a hard thing, coming into Nashville and playing a show and getting people to show up and buy tickets,” he said. “It feels like I’m in a really good spot. I’m just ready for what’s going to be next year and beyond that, and hopefully growing this so somewhere down there road, we get to sell out bigger and better venues.”

Chris has done his time as a special guest on major tours. He used his opening slot to learn from some of the best in the business such as Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and Rascal Flatts. He’s incorporated a lot of what he learned into his first headlining adventure. Continue Reading

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Chris Young photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Chris Young will kick off the first leg of his Liquid Neon Tour with a sold out show at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium. A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., just outside of Nashville, the November 15 date will be Chris’ first headlining show in his hometown. Thomas Rhett and Joanna Smith will join him on the tour.

“Dream come true. You guys rock,” Chris tweeted after receiving the news. He has toured with a diverse range of artists including Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts over the last two years and earned high praises for his show. 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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Joe Nichols photo by Jon Smith, courtesy of Universal Records South.

Joe Nichols and Steel Magnolia are set to headline the Fifth Annual Country Weekly Fashion Show & Concert. The event, which will be emceed by GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, takes place  June 7 at Nashville’s Rocketown and will benefit Musicians On Call, an organization that brings live and recorded music to patients in healthcare facilities.

“The Country Weekly Fashion Show is a fun way to kick off CMA Music Fest,” Joe said. “Music fans can sit back, relax and see their favorite artists doing something a little different. Of course, some have that catwalk fashion show strut down a little better than others! But no matter who struts their stuff better, it’s always a fun evening of music and fashion. Continue Reading

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Joey + Rory enjoy some time with a St. Jude patient at Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar.

Country music stars Randy Owen, Ronnie Dunn, Justin Moore, The Band Perry, Jake Owen, Joey + Rory and Casey James were just a few of the stars to descend on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help officially kick-off the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon season. Country Cares brings together all facets of the music industry with one goal: to support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.

More than 30 artists including Katie Armiger, Frankie Ballard, Craig Campbell, Due West, Margaret Durante, Edens Edge, Ashley Gearing, the JaneDear girls, The Grascals, Walker Hayes,  JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Josh Kelley, Jennette McCurdy, Randy Montana, Troy Olsen, Jessica Ridley, Joanna Smith, Darren Warren, Karli Whetstone and Eli Young toured the hospital to meet with patients and help raise awareness for St. Jude, the nation’s top children’s cancer hospital. Continue Reading

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Justin Moore photo by Kristin Barlowe, courtesy of The Valory Music Co.

Wrapping gifts. Spending time with the kids. Baking cookies. Eating cookies.

If you’re doing any of that today, then you’re spending the holiday season much like some of your favorite stars. Taylor Swift, Blake Shelton, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood — they’ve all got their traditions, just like you. Whether it means breaking open the eggnog or hiding presents, here’s what some of country music’s artists are thinking, planning or remembering at Christmas:

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Joanna Smith photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

“Aaaaaaall my girlfriends are gettin’ married…”

If you’ve heard that line delivered with an amped-up energy and an acerbic little drawl, you’ve been listening to Joanna Smith. And if you haven’t heard it, you need to get her on your radar.

Columbia Records held an eye-opening luncheon showcase for her Friday in the label’s cafeteria, an informal setting that allowed her to deliver an intimate little musical introduction. She sang just a handful of songs and introduced herself to a few Music Row decision-makers, including Grand Ole Opry Vice President Pete Fisher, and in the process, Joanna demonstrated some real potential with a spunky demeanor, forceful right-arm rhythms on her acoustic guitar and a clear, penetrating voice.

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Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Between the Brad Paisley H2O World Tour and May’s Nashville flood, country music has been waterlogged this summer.

But the liquid is still flowing in the genre. Brad’s weekend lake show set a record, Luke Bryan rode a gusher to the top of the chart, and yes, there’s more flood-recovery news, thanks in part to Chuck Wicks and Grand Ole Opry star Jeannie Seely.

Here’s a look at the way water continues to stream into country’s current landscape:

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The Fourth of July might be history, but people who live in Texas have a second straight major weekend ahead of them as Brad Paisley readies AquaPalooza on Lake Travis in Austin.

The free event, now in its fifth year, offers a concert on the water with boaters anchored in the middle of the lake while Brad performs from a stadium-sized stage. Sponsored by Sea Ray, the signature AquaPalooza concert is actually one of more than 100 AquaPalooza programs held annually around the country. The signature event, which featured Alan Jackson last year and twice has been headlined by Taylor Swift, moves to a different lake each summer. This year, it was perfect for Brad, who’s currently at No. 1 with his single “Water” and in the midst of his H2O World Tour.

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