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.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

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.

Great Performances features studio sessions with Tony and his collaborators. The special airs Friday, January 27 at 9 p.m. on PBS.

Check out this clip to see what Carrie has to say about working with Tony, as well as hear a snippet of their performance!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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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. For the rolling and emotional “Only When It Rains,” he engineered a video submission contest to find his partner. Winner Shelagh Brown joins Josh on the song to share strong leads and provide tight harmonies. Josh also reaches out of the country comfort zone with a cover of the floating “Edge of Desire,” penned by pop star John Mayer. The slow, atmospheric ¾-time waltz features ringing guitars and cello weaving in between lines like, Maybe this mattress will spin on its axis and find me on yours.

“Can’t Say Goodbye,” a somber song Josh co-wrote with Seana Arrechaga, the widower of Army SFC Ofren Arrechaga, serves to honor her fallen husband’s life and those of other US soldiers killed in battle. Josh, an ex-Marine himself, includes the track as part of Sears’ Heroes at Home.

The title Redemption has obvious connotations, especially when there isn’t a song on the project by the same name. But what’s also obvious is that Josh dedicated himself to developing his songwriting for the project. This devotion comes through on the complex ballads as well as on turns in the road like the bluesy “Catastrophe” or amped up album-opener “Different Kind of Crazy.” Josh elevates his craft on Redemption, a result of the freedom he’s acquired through the support of his new label and a fresh approach.

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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.

Chord has to know he’s setting himself up for a possible appearance on Taylor’s next album, given her well-known habit of writing songs about the boys who break her heart. But if Chord inherited his father’s songwriting chops, perhaps Taylor could be the subject of a future song herself.

In other Taylor news, we added a few pictures of her from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party she attended over the weekend. Check them out – along with photos from the Asian leg of her Speak Now World Tour – in her photo gallery!

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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. Last year, Taylor Swift captured best album among her wins. Taylor was away in Singapore on Sunday, performing on her Speak Now World Tour.

Delivering a heartfelt rendition of her nominated hit “The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert said her performance was dedicated “to the artists who came before us and set the stage for us to be here tonight.” In a sweet touch to the Valentine’s Eve telecast, Miranda’s performance was introduced by Blake Shelton, who professed his love and admiration for his fiancée.

Miranda didn’t go home empty handed, winning the Female Country Vocal award for “The House That Built Me,” her first GRAMMY®. As she picked up the trophy, Miranda said the lyrics of the song “mean the world to me. I love country music .”

In the show’s opening performance, powerhouse Martina McBride held her own alongside Christina Aguilera, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch in a tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Keith Urban joined Norah Jones and John Mayer in a cool version of “Jolene,” honoring Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dolly Parton. Later on the telecast, Keith and wife Nicole Kidman were on their feet dancing as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger took the GRAMMY® stage for the first time in his long career to honor the late Solomon Burke.

One of the most colorful and entertaining performances of the night was Country Strong star and Academy Award® winner Gwyneth Paltrow and Cee Lo Green’s collaboration on his pop hit, “Forget You.”

Miranda Lambert arrives for the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center, February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup)

Earlier on the red carpet, Miranda and fellow nominee LeAnn Rimes stepped out in metallic dresses, a big trend for the evening. Martina and Lady A’s Hillary Scott looked classic in black dresses at the arrivals and donned different black ensembles for their respective performances.

Check out all the Red Carpet looks in our GRAMMY photo gallery »

Also looking dapper as they presented in the female Country category were nominees Dierks Bentley and Zac Brown, as well as living legend Kris Kristofferson, who was on hand to introduce Barbra Streisand’s performance.

Congrats to all the country music winners (including Diamond Rio, whose album The Reason won Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album; and Patty Loveless, whose Mountain Soul II won a GRAMMY® for Best Bluegrass Album)!

What was YOUR favorite moment of the night? Leave a comment below. Also, check out our Top 10 GRAMMY® Tweets!

2011 GRAMMY® AWARD WINNERS:

Record of the Year
“Nothin’ On You” – B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars
“Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rhianna
“F*** You” – Cee Lo Green
“Empire State Of Mind” – Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum–WINNER

Song of the Year
“Beg Steal or Borrow” – Ray LaMontagne
“F*** You” – Cee Lo Green
“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert
“Love The Way You Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum–WINNER

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
“Satisfied” – Jewel
“The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert–WINNER
“Swingin’” – LeAnn Rimes
“Temporary Home” – Carrie Underwood
“I’d Love To Be Your Last” – Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

“Macon” – Jamey Johnson
“Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” – Toby Keith
“Turning Home” – David Nail
“Gettin’ You Home” – Chris Young
“’Til Summer Comes Around” – Keith Urban–WINNER

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
“Free” – Zac Brown Band
“Elizabeth” – Dailey & Vincent
“Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum–WINNER
“Little White Church” – Little Big Town
“Where Rainbows Never Die” – The SteelDrivers

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
“Bad Angel” – Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
“Pride (In The Name Of Love)” – Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
“As She’s Walking Away” – Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson–WINNER
“Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
“I Run To You” – Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Best Country Song
“The Breath You Take” – Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
“Free” – Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
“The House That Built Me” – Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“I’d Love To Be Your Last” – Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
“If I Die Young” – Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
“Need You Now” – Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)–WINNER

Best Country Album
Up On The Ridge – Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song – Jamey Johnson
Need You Now – Lady Antebellum–WINNER
Revolution – Miranda Lambert

Best Country Instrumental Performance
“Tattoo Of A Smudge” – Cherryholmes
“Magic #9” – The Infamous Stringdusters
“New Chance Blues” – Punch Brothers
“Willow Creek” – Darrell Scott
“Hummingbyrd” – Marty Stuart–WINNER

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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:

• Keith’s second All For The Hall benefit is slated for Oct. 5 with at least three current members of the Country Hall in the lineup. They include Vince Gill, Dolly Parton and Charley Pride. Also on the bill are Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Billy Currington and pop star John Mayer. Tickets, ranging from $25 for to $1,500 for a top-tier VIP package, go on sale Sept. 17.

• Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn comes out Nov. 9 with 15 different acts all covering material associated with the Kentucky-bred singer. Country stars taking part include Lee Ann Womack, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson. Americana artists Steve Earle, Allison Moorer and Lucinda Williams are on board, too; and pop and rock acts include Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, the White Stripes and Paramore.

• Merle Haggard becomes the latest artist recognized during the Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 5. He’ll join Oprah Winfrey, Broadway composer Jerry Herman and former Beatle Paul McCartney at the event, which will become a Dec. 28 TV special. Among the country artists who’ve earned Kennedy Center tributes in the past are Johnny Cash, Roy Acuff and George Jones.

• Paul McCartney was awarded an honorary membership in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame when he performed in Music City in July. The Hall adds four new members Oct. 17. The inductees include Pat Alger, late singer-songwriter Paul Davis, guitarist Steve Cropper and 19th-century composer Stephen Foster. Pat wrote Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” and Hal Ketchum’s “Small Town Saturday Night,” while Paul followed his pop career by authoring Dan Seals’ “Bop” and Tanya Tucker’s “Down To My Last Teardrop.” Steve created several R&B classics, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” and “In The Midnight Hour”; and Stephen Foster was America’s first fulltime songwriter.

• The Country Hall of Fame plans to host a few special sessions this week during the Americana Music Festival. The guests include Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Wanda Jackson and Jimmy Webb, author of the Glen Campbell hits “Wichita Lineman” and “By The Time I Get To Phoenix.”

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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.

Vince and Sheryl are familiar musical partners. She provided backing vocals on “What You Give Away,” recorded for his Grammy-nominated album These Days. And both of them joined Brooks & Dunn on the 2006 single “Building Bridges,” which won a Vocal Event of the Year trophy from the Academy of Country Music.

Vince has some other collaborations on the way, too. He produced LeAnn Rimes’ upcoming album, and he’s recorded some parts for songs by Clay Aiken and Johnny Mathis. He worked on each of those projects at his home studio, which makes it extremely easy to work with musicians from all over the globe.

“The flexibility of it is really great,” Vince told The Pasadena Star-News. “I think that technology being the way it is today, you don’t really need the giant real estate area to have a studio. You just need a little bit of room.”

You do have to tour, however, to reach people in person, and Vince has a major concert stop on his schedule for the Fourth of July weekend. He begins a three-day run Friday at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. It’ll be the first time he’s ever played that historic stage.

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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.”

“Taylor Swift is one of the brightest musical talents to emerge in recent years, and represents the true epitome of the Starlight Award,” Hal says. “She possesses an undeniable talent as a songwriter, expressive singer and performer, and we are proud to present her with this well-deserved honor.”

Slated for June 17 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel, the ceremony will also see the Hall of Fame inductions of Leonard Cohen, Jackie DeShannon, David Foster, Johnny Mandel and five members of Earth, Wind & Fire. All of those writers work primarily outside of country music, though a couple have had some impressive results within the genre. Jackie, best known for her recording of “What The World Needs Now,” earned a country hit in 1994 when Pam Tillis covered “When You Walk In The Room.” David Foster wrote Anne Murray’s 1986 single “Now And Forever (You And Me)” and produced several Kenny Rogers hits, including his 1983 duet with Sheena Easton, “We’ve Got Tonight.”

The all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame has inducted such substantial authors as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Stevie Wonder. Its membership also includes a number of country figures — Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn, among them.

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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.

“It was obviously a very great 2009 for me, and of course that was because of the fans,” Carrie observed. “So thank you guys so muchfor voting. It’s gonna be an even better 2010.”

As she did at the MTV Awards, Taylor beat Beyonce to claim her victory, though Kanye West was not on hand to protest. Pink, Britney Spears and Carrie likewise took a back seat to Taylor as she took her first People’s Choice Award.

“What a beautiful, beautiful way to start out a new decade,” said Taylor, who is a finalist for eight different trophies in the Grammy Awards Jan. 31. “Thank you so much.”

Unlike most awards shows, the People’s Choice is determined by a vote of consumers, and they were understandably a major part of most acceptance speeches.

“I wanna thank the fans,” Taylor gushed. “You’re the ones who choose which songs on the radio you wanna turn up and blast from your car speakers, and you’re the ones who choose which concerts you wanna see.”

In addition to choosing Taylor, fans also tabbed Keith ahead of four males from several genres: John Mayer, Eminem, Jason Mraz and Tim McGraw. Keith kissed wife Nicole Kidman on his way to the stage and recognized her and daughter Sunday Rose Urban in his acceptance speech. He likewise thanked fans for coming out to his 2009 tour and for finding his songs in stores and online.

“I don’t care,” he insisted, “if you downloaded it illegally.”

Rascal Flatts also appeared as presenters on the show, which also saw awards go to Ellen DeGeneres, Ashton Kutcher, Steve Carell, Taylor Lautner and Sandra Bullock, among others.

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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.

In the process, she became a polarizing figure for country fans. It’s practically guaranteed that this article — because it’s about Taylor — will be followed with tons of comments by readers who absolutely adore her and by some who simply can’t take any more of her.

Taylor topped the country field in an unprecedented way, writing about the anxiety of her teen years and attracting a core audience of young girls, even though she works primarily in a genre that’s habitually geared toward adults.

And in the wake of the million-selling certifications and the magazine covers, there’s more to come even after New Year’s Day. Taylor is nominated for eight Grammy awards on Jan. 31. She resumes her Fearless Tour and headlines an NFL park for the first time when she visits Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts in June. And she’s eyeing the release of her next album toward the end of 2010.

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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.

John had this to say in a recent interview with Access Hollywood, “I don’t normally make records to share tracks with people. I’ve never had somebody’s name underneath the title of my song and I couldn’t be happier that she’s on there.”    John said he considers Taylor a friend, noting, “I think she’s a really remarkable person and it’ll be nice to have her name on the record for the rest of my life.”

John went on to say that he thinks it’s “totally sweet” that “Taylor Swift is the last person to know she’s Taylor Swift.”  He elaborates, “It’s almost like Taylor Swift is like a character in a movie about a small town girl who has her dreams come true and what any small town girl would do when their dreams come true is to freak out.  I still like it that she freaks out, but pretty soon she’s gonna have to stop because it’s sort of like, ‘You’re that good. You’re that good. You might have to go to therapy and have someone else tell you you’re that good.’” He adds, “It’s great to have someone who’s hugely talented and still is able to receive the pleasure in all moments.”

The album is currently sitting at #1 in the “Rock” category at Amazon.com and #5 overall.

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