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

ShareThis

Kristin Chenoweth photo courtesy of Facebook.com/KristinChenoweth.

Kristin Chenoweth is going back to her country roots with the release of her new album, Some Lessons Learned, on September 13. The album will include her current single, “I Want Somebody (Bitch About),” which is a tongue-and-cheek song about finding love. The songs on Kristin’s album explore her experiences as a woman.

Some Lessons Learned was produced by Bib Ezrin, known for his work with KISS and Pink Floyd. It features songs written by top songwriters including Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum, Dolly Parton, Diane Warren and Victoria Shaw among others. Kristin wrote two songs, “What Would Dolly Do?” and “Mine To Love.” This is Kristin’s fourth album on Sony.

“Look at my recording career and it’s kind of funny,” Kristin said. “It’s all so different! This album is more along the lines of what I grew up singing, like the music I sang in church in Oklahoma. When I was hired at nineteen to sing at Opryland in Nashville, that’s what I wanted to do. I never anticipated my career going in all these great directions – which I’m grateful for! I’m finally getting to do what I want.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Darius Rucker’s recent performance at the Grand Ole Opry, featuring an appearance by Abbey Umali, MDA 2011 Goodwill Ambassador, will air as part of the MDA Labor Day Telethon, set to air September 4 from 6 PM/ET until midnight. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Grand Ole Opry performances by Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride and Darius Rucker will air during the MDA Labor Day Telethon on Sunday, September 4. The telethon will be carried on approximately 160 stations around the country from 6 PM/ET until midnight.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases. The organization funds worldwide research, provides comprehensive health care and support services, as well as advocacy and education. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Trace Adkins & Kristin Chenoweth

Trace Adkins will return as host of the second annual American Country Awards, this time joined by Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth. The ACAs will air live from Las Vegas on Monday, December 5 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox and are the only country music awards show that is fan voted in both traditional categories and previously unrecognized areas such as touring.

Last year’s inaugural ACAs last year featured performances by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Blake Shelton, Steel Magnolia, Josh Turner, The Band Perry and Uncle Kracker. Laura Bell Bundy, Rodney Carrington, Jeff Dunham, Travis Pastrana, Jaron and The Long Road to Love, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Jennette McCurdy, Bret Michaels, Ty Murray, Jerrod Niemann, Michael Waltrip and Lee Ann Womack also appeared.

Nominees, performers and presenters for this year’s show will be announced at a later date. Browse photos from last  year’s show >>

Trace just released his latest album, Proud to Be Here. Read our review >>

ShareThis

Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Dolly Records.

Dolly Parton is returning to the CMA Music Festival for the first time since the mid 1970s. She will sign autographs on Saturday, June 11, at noon for a limited number of winners in the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall. Her return to country music’s biggest festival is her way of celebrating the 40^th anniversary of Fan Fair. She will also appear at Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at 10 p.m. on June 8 at the Ryman Auditorium.

CMA Music Festival isn’t the only thing Dolly is returning to after a long absence. She is set to make her first trip to Australia in more than 30 years in November, reports Pedestrian TV. Her visit Down Under will be one of the highlights of the summer concerts scheduled to trek through the country.

Dolly has fans all over the world, including the UK. The UK’s music magazine The Q recently asked Dolly who she thought should play her in a biopic. She had an answer – but she also had a couple of exceptions. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kristin Chenoweth photo courtesy of Facebook.com/KristinChenoweth.

Actress Kristin Chenoweth will go back to her country roots when she releases a country album, Some Lessons Learned, in September, according to All Headline News. The debut single, “I Want Somebody (B***ch About),” will be available for purchase on May 31 with the video, starring Kristin performing in a retro hair salon, following the next week. The album will feature original songs, including a Dolly Parton tribute tune called “What Would Dolly Do?” as well as a cover of Dolly’s “Change” and songs written by Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum, Diane Warren, and Desmond Child, among others.

“This album is more along the lines of what I grew up singing, like the music I sang in church in Oklahoma,” Kristin said. “When I was hired at nineteen to sing at Opryland in Nashville, that’s what I wanted to do. I never anticipated my career going in all these great directions — which I’m grateful for! I’m finally getting to do what I want.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Randy Travis photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Country music icon Randy Travis will celebrate his 25-year career with the help of some of country music’s biggest names. On June 7, Randy will release Anniversary Celebration, an album of duets that will include both new songs and re-makes of Randy’s hits. Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Don Henley, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, George Jones, Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson are just some of the stars who will sing alongside Randy.

“Randy Travis changed the landscape of country music when he arrived on the scene 25 years ago,” said John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville President & CEO. “It is a testament to Randy’s impact in country music that his friends have joined him to celebrate his legacy and his future on Anniversary Celebration. We are incredibly proud that Warner Bros. Records has been his home since the beginning of his career.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Carrie Underwood performs "Cowboy Casanova" 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

Thanks to the meteoric rise that comes with winning “American Idol,” Carrie Underwood wasn’t entirely prepared for the volume of interest in her personal life that’s accompanied her fame. She’s been particularly reserved about her love life — so much so that she ducked toward the floor when an arena scoreboard showed her at an Ottawa Senators hockey game in which her current beau, Mike Fisher, was playing.

Carrie’s still careful about how many details she wants to give away about her life, but she is becoming a little more forward. She actually paid a nod to Mike in the liner notes of her Play On CD, an album that represents her taking a more personal stance with her music.

Continue Reading

ShareThis