Randy Travis photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Randy Travis is celebrating his 25th anniversary in country music with a new tour. The 25th Anniversary Celebration Tour kicks off February 10 in Grand Ronde, Oregon at Spirit Mountain Casino. He will stop in more than 20 cities, including Boise, Denver, and Fort Worth plus Calgary. More shows will be announced at a later date.

“I’m surprised at how fast the first 25 years have gone by,” Randy said. “It feels like only five. There’s no better feeling than being onstage and the connection with a live audience.”

To mark the beginning of his 25th anniversary, Randy released his Anniversary Celebration duets album, which houses a combination of his biggest hits such as “He Walked on Water” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” as well as new music. Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Kris Kristofferson, Carrie Underwood, George Jones, Zac Brown Band, Lorrie Morgan, Jamey Johnson and more are featured on the album. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Tamara Saviano.

To mark the 15th anniversary of Townes Van Zandt’s New Year’s Day death in 1997, the John and Robin Dickson Series will release I’ll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt. The book, written by Brian T. Atkinson, chronicles the impact that Townes’ lyrics had on fellow and future artists.

“I don’t envision a very long life for myself,” Townes once said. “I think my life will run out before my work does. I’ve designed it that way.” Townes penned such classics as “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You,” “Tecumseh Valley,” and “Lungs.”

Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams are among more than 40 songwriters interviewed for the book. They analyze Townes’ lyrics and share stories of Townes’ rise and fall. The book also includes insight from younger artists such as My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, The Avett Brothers’ Scott Avett, Grace Potter, Josh Ritter and Kasey Chambers, who have all been influenced by Townes’ work. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of norahjones.com.

Norah Jones is a GRAMMY-winning jazz/pop artist, but country music has always been one of her biggest influences. Following the success of her debut album, Come Away With Me, she and four friends formed the group The Little Willies. Named after Norah’s childhood hero, Willie Nelson[Norah grew up in Texas], the group started performing unannounced shows of country cover songs at a small venue in New York.

“I think I had to leave home for me to know how much country music meant to me,” she told the New York Times. “I listened to Hank Williams, Dolly Parton and Willie growing up, but I wanted to play jazz. When I listened to Bill Evans, I transcribed the chords. When I listened to ‘Red Headed Stranger,’ I just listened to enjoy it. But it really seeped in more than I could have known.”

Almost six years after The Little willies released their debut album, they’re back with a new album, For the Good Times. The album, which hits stores January 10, includes covers of songs by Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. The New York Times asked Norah to create a five-song playlist of her favorite Texas songwriters. Willie Nelson, of course, came in on top. The Little Willies cover Willie’s “Permanently Lonely” on their new album. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Tuck-Hinton Architects.

The Country Music Association has pledged $10 million to Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here, the capital campaign designated to finance the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s expansion. The donation is the largest philanthropic gift in the organization’s history.

In 1961, the CMA Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Country Music Hall of Fame honor to recognize individuals for their contributions to country music. Three years later, they established the Country Music Foundation to build a museum and archives to preserve country music’s history. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1967. Since then, CMA has contributed nearly $5 million to the Museum.

“CMA and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum are connected by history and our shared interest in preserving the legacy, rewarding excellence, and advancing the future of the format,” Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer, said. “This donation is the latest example of CMA’s longstanding commitment to the Hall of Fame. We are proud to support the growth of the Hall and we look forward to using the CMA Theater in a variety of ways that will shine a spotlight on the Country Music industry and format.”

The Museum’s expansion will include the 800-seat state-of-the-art CMA Theater designed to be flexible and adaptable for a broad range of activities, from concerts and films to lectures and corporate meetings. Continue Reading

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 02: Taylor Swift attends the Billboard's Sixth Annual Women in Music event at the Capitale on December 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Taylor Swift was recently named Billboard’s Woman of the Year and received her award during Billboard’s annual Women In Music event on December 2 in New York City. The ceremony took place just a few weeks after the five-year anniversary of when Taylor’s self-titled debut album hit store shelves when she was 16. Just shy of turning 22, Taylor contemplated where she falls between ‘girl’ and ‘woman’ during an interview with Billboard.

“Growing up in this position, making music, writing songs and having everyone hear what I’m going through since I was about 16 years old, now I’m 21 about to be 22, I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Taylor said. “On a scale of being a girl or teenager or woman, I never tried to be the one to label myself which of those three I was. I’ve just tried to grow up in the most natural and gradual process that I possibly can and make choices I feel are right for me and my fans. Whether I’m a woman now, or whatever, is up to my fans to decide, not for me.”

Being in the spotlight, Taylor is aware of her status of a role model for young girls all over the world. As an artist, she listed Faith Hill, Shawn Colvin, Kris Kristofferson and actress Reese Witherspoon as people she looks up to. On the business side of things, she named Kenny Chesney as her role model.

“Seeing a live Kenny Chesney show, you know what you’re going to get,” Taylor told Billboard. “You know it’s going to be an all-day party. He loves to sing about things he’s passionate about, and he’s made a brand without seeming like it’s a brand. I love that he’s gotten to a place where he can play such huge stadiums, and even when he’s supposedly taking downtime, he’s playing stadiums. He’s always been a huge hero of mine.” Continue Reading

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Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

The Obamas are going country, reports the Associated Press. President and Michelle Obama will hold their seventh ‘In Performance at the White House’ program on November 21 featuring several country music artists. Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Mickey, Darius Rucker and James Taylor are all scheduled to perform.

Several artists will also take part in an afternoon workshop at the White House before the night’s concert. The workshop for 120 local Washington D.C. students will teach them about the history and cultural significance of country music.

Both the workshop and the concert will stream live on www.whitehouse.gov/live. The workshop begins at 2:00 p.m. ET and the concert will start at 7:00 p.m. ET. The concert also will be broadcast on PBS on November 23.

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Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway Records.

Willie Nelson will release Remember Me, Vol. 1 on November 21. The album is a collection of Willie performing some of country music’s most definitive songs, hand picked by Willie himself. Songs included on the album span 70 years of Billboard hits. Remember Me, Vol. 2 is scheduled to be released next year.

Ernest Tubb, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Rosemary Clooney, Porter Wagoner and Ray Price are just some of the artists and songwriters Willie chose to cover on volume 1. The first volume comes from Willie’s sessions with longtime friend and producer James Stroud, which yielded more than 30 songs. Continue Reading

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Carrie Underwood helps Randy Travis celebrate 25 years as a Grand Ole Opry member. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Legendary country icon Randy Travis recently released his new album, Anniversary Celebration, which features duets with country music’s hottest stars.  Beginning today, fans can log on to GAC’s Facebook page for the Randy Travis Duets App. Fans can record and share their duet with Randy himself with available sing-alongs from Anniversary Celebration duets: “Is It Still Over?”, “A Few Ole Country Boys” and “Forever and Ever, Amen”.  Try it out and record your duet here »

Our very own Nan Kelley, host of GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown, couldn’t resist the temptation to try it out.  Watch this clip and see what happened: Continue Reading

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BMI will honor Bobby Braddock as a BMI songwriting Icon during its 59th annual Country Awards. The private ceremony is slated for Tuesday, November 8 at BMI’s Music Row offices in Nashville.

The Icon award is given to BMI songwriters who have had a “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” Braddock, who will be celebrated with an all-star musical tribute that evening, joins a list of past honorees that includes Billy Sherrill, John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Merle Haggard, Brian Wilson, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, the Bee Gees, Ray Davies, James Brown and more.

At first glance, there seem to be two Bobby Braddocks. One writes heart-wrenching songs, such as “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” the sadness of which famously made George Jones wary; the other Braddock deals in wry hilarity, like his13th career No. 1, Billy Currington’s “People Are Crazy.” Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes' 2011 CD, Lady & Gentlemen. Photo courtesy of Curb Records.

On her 12^th studio album, Lady & Gentlemen, LeAnn Rimes offers a collection of classic country songs by the likes of Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, George Jones and Merle Haggard. Notice the absence of any female names on that list? Well, LeAnn did that on purpose, choosing to add a female voice to golden favorites originally performed by male country singers.

“This album was born out of the memories of when I first fell in love with country music,” says the 29-year-old Grammy-winner. “And in reflecting, I realized that almost all of my favorite country songs from back then were sung by men.” LeAnn, along with Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill and producer/songwriter Darrell Brown, serves as co-producer on the 14-song project (two of which are bonus tracks including the current single “Give”).

Lady & Gentlemen opens by cranking up the tempo on John Anderson’s number-one hit “Swingin’,” which he originally released in 1983. Working the title literally to produce a 1940s-swing vibe on the song, LeAnn’s vocal delivery shows off a lot of soul while also revealing a certain urgency underneath the quick melodies. LeAnn’s voice is bright and shines throughout the entire record, but this underlying fire is intriguing and can be heard on several songs, including her interpretation of “Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line.” With a little shake and a lot of twang, LeAnn covers the Waylon Jennings classic with attitude. Switching up the chorus to fit a woman’s perspective, she sings Continue Reading

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