Faith Hill Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood are set to team up with Tony Bennett once again for his upcoming PBS special about his chart-topping Duets II album, reports RTT News. Faith will perform “The Way You Look Tonight” with Tony, while Carrie will sing “It Had To Be You,” which also appeared in an episode of Blue Bloods. Here’s the video of Faith and tony singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Other stars appearing in the TV special include Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Sheryl Crow and Norah Jones. The album also includes tracks with Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and the late Amy Winehouse. Continue Reading

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Josh Gracin's 2011 CD, Redemption. Photo courtesy of Essential Broadcast Media.

The art of the country power ballad was not lost on Josh Gracin. On his first album in roughly three and a half years, and his third overall, the 31-year-old Michigan native sings of burning love over dramatic arrangements full of acoustic/electric interplay, big synthesizers and a soaring voice.

A lot has changed since Josh’s most recent album, We Weren’t Crazy, was released in 2008. For starters, Josh found a new label home with up and coming Average Joe’s Entertainment after parting ways with now-defunct Lyric Street Records. His first project with Average Joe’s Entertainment, the 16-song collection Redemption, hits stores next week with a polished sound similar to the pop leaning epics of groups like Rascal Flatts.

Josh handles most of the songwriting himself on Redemption, which is also a shift from his first two records. After writing or co-writing only three songs total on those albums, Josh writes/co-writes 15 out of the 16 songs here. A Top 5-finishing contestant on the second season of FOX’s American Idol (2003) singing competition, Josh’s talent for performance is evident early and often throughout the record as his songwriting displays a knack for building dramatic love songs.

“Over Me,” a rising power ballad realizing that a lover has moved on, features vocal runs reminiscent of Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox as Josh sings, What I didn’t know, that it still hurts this bad since I let you go, over piano, strings and soft acoustic picking. Strong piano tones hold many songs on the album together. “Enough” and “Lie To Me” both feature piano-based foundations before erupting in the chorus. On the latter, Josh shows off the ability to maneuver complicated production elements through a sea of electric guitars, drums, piano and synthesizer, remaining steady and passionate with lines, Baby, just lie to me/ let’s make this easy. On the standout and creatively produced track, “Let You Go,” soft echoes and effected vocals support Josh’s bittersweet message as he admits, I had to ask myself the hardest question/ Am I the best she’s ever gonna know?/ The answer’s the reason I’ve got to let her go.

Josh’s willingness to bring a fresh approach to Redemption even extends to his methods finding duet partners. Continue Reading

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Taylor Swift photo by Joseph Anthony Baker, courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Taylor Swift has dated – and written songs about – some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Joe Jonas, John Mayer, and Taylor Lautner are all former flames and the rumored inspiration behind some of Taylor’s songs. Now, it seems Taylor has a new beau – fellow Nashvillian and Glee star Chord Overstreet – reports US Weekly.

Taylor and Chord were spotted together at a LA Kings hockey game Thursday night and then grabbed dinner afterwards. Chord reportedly called Taylor for a co-writing session the day before and the pair went out the next night. They have met a few times previously. Chord is no stranger to the songwriting process. His father, Paul Overstreet, has written and/or co-written 27 Top 10 country hits, including The Judds’ “Love Can Build A Bridge,” Kenny Chesney’s “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” and “When You Say Nothing At All,” which was a hit for both Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss. Continue Reading

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Lady Antebellum poses in the press room with the award for Best Country Album for 'Need You Now' at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center, February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kristian Dowling/PictureGroup)

– Written by Shannon Heim

Country’s own Lady Antebellum was the big winner at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY® Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night, taking home the trophy in five of the six categories in which they were nominated. The group’s crossover hit “Need You Now” won Song and Record of the Year as well as best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Lady A members Dave Hayward, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott were clearly stunned by the Recording Academy’s accolades. “We just cried our eyes out backstage and I can’t believe we’re up here once again,” Charles said while accepting for Record of the Year.

During their performance, the group slowed down a shortened version of “Need You Now” and sung bits of “American Honey,” and the classic “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” a nod to Teddy Pendergrass, who died last year.

Lady Antebellum was the only country nominee in the Album of the Year category, which ultimately went to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs.

The group’s dominance marked the second straight year a country crossover act was the night’s top story. Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo by Danny Clinch, courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

A year ago, Keith Urban raised $500,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame when he threw an all-star All For The Hall concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

This year, he’s pitching in again, but it’s not the only thing going on in country music with hall of fame overtones. Hall of Famer Loretta Lynn will be celebrated with a tribute album, fellow Hall of Famer Merle Haggard will receive another rare honor, and five composers — including a former Beatle — are being added to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Here’s a rundown of the hall of fame-related events of note:

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Vince Gill made his way to Chicago this weekend to take part in Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, and he was surrounded by some pretty impressive players.

John Mayer, B.B. King, Steve Winwood, Jeff Beck and ZZ Top were all there, and Vince’s set found blended him with some very respected fellow musicians. Acoustic bluesman (and new Nashvillian) Keb’ Mo’ joined Vince along with Earl Klugh, a jazz guitarist who recorded with Chet Atkins; and Albert Lee, who appeared on Brad Paisley’s Grammy-winning “Cluster Pluck.” Vince also got an on-stage visit from former Elvis Presley sideman James Burton, whose collaboration on “Mystery Train” was one of the highlights of the day, according to The Chicago Tribune.

As if that weren’t enough, Sheryl Crow popped out to join Vince on a version of Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally,” Premier Guitar reported.

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Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Taylor Swift is walking through yet another door, becoming the first country songwriter to win the Hal David Starlight Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony in June.

Introduced in 2004 to recognize young composers already working at a substantial creative peak, the award’s previous honorees include pop, rock and R&B singer-songwriters Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, John Legend, John Rzeznik and Jason Mraz. The Starlight Award is named for Songwriters Hall of Fame chief Hal David, who’s a substantial writer himself, known for such titles as Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson’s “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before,” Ronnie Milsap’s “It Was Almost Like A Song,” B.J. Thomas’ “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and Dusty Springfield’s “The Look Of Love.”

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Carrie Underwood wins Female Vocalist of the Year at "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards," on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: Jim Hagans / Provided by Country Music Association.

Carrie Underwood might have tripped on her way to the stage at Wednesday’s People’s Choice Awards, but she succeeded in taking home the trophy once she got to the podium.

“That just shows you,” she said after stumbling, “how excited I am!”

Carrie was one of three country stars to join the winner’s circle during the show, aired live on CBS from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Keith Urban walked off with Favorite Male Artist, and Taylor Swift collected Favorite Female.

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Taylor Swift performs “Forever & Always” at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: John Russell / CMA. Provided by Country Music Association.

#1 on GAC’s Top Stories of 2009 |  View all »

The top news story in country music is unavoidable. Taylor Swift was everywhere, doing everything and reaching everybody in 2009. She appeared in movies with the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus; headlined her first concert tour; showed up on two different episodes of “Saturday Night Live”; won Entertainer of the Year from the Country Music Association; sold more records than anyone else in the year; crossed into the pop charts; contributed to albums by John Mayer and Boys Like Girls; and finally turned 20 in December.

Oh, and she earned lots of unintended sympathy by simply being on an awards-show stage at the same time as some perpetually angry guy named Kanye West.

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It looks like John Mayer’s brand new album Battle Studies, released this past Tuesday, is on the fast track to top the Billboard Top 200 chart.   This would be the second time John will have an album take the top spot week of release.   Of special interest to all you country fans will be the upbeat third track on the album,  “Half of My Heart” which he recorded with Taylor Swift.

John has not historically recorded a lot of collaborations so this record was a bit of an exception for him.  In fact, he has never put a song out with another artist’s name under the title. Continue Reading

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