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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The JaneDear girls photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s latest spotlight exhibit will be in support of the American Heart Association and Go Red For Women. The Exhibit, Something in Red, will feature red ensembles from several country stars including Sara Evans, Naomi Judd, and Lorrie Morgan. The exhibit opens on February 3, National Wear Red Day, and runs through April 2012.

The red dress symbolizes the fight against heart disease in women. Several country artists have parented with the American Heart Association and the museum to raise awareness for the disease, which is the number one killer in women.

Some of the dresses featured in Something in Red include Sara Evans’ dress from the1999 Academy of Country Music Awards, Naomi Judd’s leather-like jacket and skirt she wore at the 1987 Country Music Association Awards, the dress worn by the JaneDear girls’ Danelle Leverett on the cover of the duo’s debut album (photo above) and Susie Brown’s dress from the 2011 ACM Awards, and gowns worn by Lorrie Morgan and Julie Roberts on the Grand Ole Opry. Continue Reading

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Lorrie Morgan photo by Russ Harrington, courtesy of Webster & Associates, LLC.

Lorrie Morgan has been invited to perform at this year’s ‘Christmas Concert For The Troops.’ The annual holiday concert, in honor of active duty military, will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Washington, DC on December 6. The invitation-only celebration is held in gratitude and recognition of the men and women who serve our country.

During her performance, Lorrie will sing three songs, including the holiday classic “My Favorite Things” as well as  “America The Beautiful” with Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young, a current cast member of The Jersey Boys, and “In My Room” with The Beach Boys. All of the night’s performances will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Actor John Stamos and Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011, will host the event. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Showboat Records.

GAC extends condolences to the family, friends and fans of songwriter Liz Anderson, mother of “Rose Garden” singer Lynn Anderson. Liz passed away October 31 at the age of 80 from complications of heart and lung disease. Liz and her husband Casey were successful songwriters, with Merle Haggard’s “(My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers” and “(I’m A Lonesome) Fugitive” among their compositions.

Born in Roseau, Minnesota, Liz played mandolin as a child and sang in her local church choir. At 13, her family moved to Grand Fork, North Dakota and at 16, she married husband Casey. Lynn was born a year later. In 1957, the family moved to Sacramento, California where the limited popularity of country music led Liz to start writing songs. Casey was a member of the Sherriff’s Posse which was going to take part in the National Centennial Pony Express Celebration . He convinced his wife to write a song in honor of the Pony Express, which went on to be named the celebration’s official song.

Liz began publishing songs and made friends with the growing country music community in Bakersfield during the early 60s. Some of her earliest hits were “Be Quiet Mind” recorded by Del Reeves and “Pick of the Week” recorded by Roy Drusky. Many artists in the 1960s recorded at least one of her songs on their albums, including Charley Pride, Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Kitty Wells, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson. She went on to publish more than 260 songs during her career and earned five BMI Awards. Continue Reading

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Vince Gill photo courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry®. Photo by Chris Hollo.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean has announced that Vince Gill will serve as Grand Marshal for the 59^th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade on December 2. The parade officially kicks off the holiday season downtown with the lighting of the city Christmas tree where Vince will be joined by Mayor Dean and executives from Piedmont Natural Gas, which has sponsored the parade since its beginning.

The theme of this year’s parade is ‘Christmas Around the World.’ Following the lighting of the Christmas parade, Vince will lead parade floats through the heart of downtown Nashville. “I wanted to serve as grand marshal because I just like Mayor Dean,” Vince said. “It’s that simple. He has been beyond supportive of the music community.”

“Vince Gill’s community involvement and amazing talent as a singer, songwriter and musician have made a remarkable and lasting mark on Music City,” Mayor Dean said. “I am grateful that he will be taking part in this longtime Nashville tradition.” Continue Reading

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Martina McBride on the Grand Ole Opry. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 86th birthday the whole month of October with a list of all-star artists and special shows and events, many of which will be aired on GAC during episodes of Opry Live.

The party kicks off October 4 when the Opry honors Randy Travis for 25 years in country music and as an Opry member. Carrie Underwood, Connie Smith and Josh Turner are just a few of the artists scheduled to be on hand to honor Randy. Several performances from the night will be part of an episode of Opry Live to air on GAC October 15 at 9/8 CT.

The Opry’s Official 86th Birthday Bash Weekend will be held October 7 and 8 and feature performances from Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts and the solo Opry debut of Ronnie Dunn. Other events scheduled for the weekend are a Saturday afternoon birthday concert featuring Mel Tillis and a free Opry Plaza Birthday Party. GAC will broadcast the birthday party live on Opry Live at 9/8 CT.

Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, LeAnn Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery and Trace Adkins are all scheduled to appear on the Opry October 11. The night will also include a live broadcast of Opry Live at 8/7 CT. Other performances from the night will be filmed for a an episode of Opry Live to air October 29 at 9/8 CT. Continue Reading

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Opry member Charley Pride photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Opry Country Classics returns to the Ryman Auditorium for a four-week run beginning October 6. Each show will feature a Spotlight Artist performing several of their biggest hits plus more favorite artists. The fall’s season Spotlight Artists together have 100 Top 10 hits, have won more than 100 industry awards and sold millions of albums.

Charley Pride will take the spotlight for the October 6 show. Lorrie Morgan is scheduled as the spotlight artist on October 13, Ray Price on October 20 and Ricky Skaggs on October 27. Of note, the October 13 show will move from the Ryman to the Grand Ole Opry. Continue Reading

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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

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Steel Magnolia photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Wisconsin’s Country Thunder festival has added several more artists to their lineup. Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, Steel Magnolia, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stealing Angels and Jason Jones join a previously announced lineup that includes Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Zac Brown Band, and Easton Corbin.  More artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

The four day festival will take place July 21-24 this year. Four day passes are available now and single day tickets will be made available closer to the event. Country fans are invited to camp out  at the venue and to check out Country Thunder’s brand new website.

The announced lineup includes: Continue Reading

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Tracy Lawrence and friends in Nashville for the 5th Annual Mission Possible Turkey Fry.

Here’s yet another incredible example of how country music artists continue to give back to their community and help those in need…

Tracy Lawrence along with some famous Music City friends, MTSU students, local media and volunteers from the Nashville Rescue Mission joined together on Tuesday, November 23 for the 5th Annual Tracy Lawrence Mission Possible. Held for the benefit of the Nashville Rescue Mission, the philanthropic group—comprised of over 100 volunteers—fried-up turkeys for the meal kitchen’s Thanksgiving dinner and Wilson County’s homeless.

Some of Music City’s biggest and brightest names gathered to cook and visit with volunteers and fans. Joining the Master of Ceremonies, Tracy Lawrence, in the “group fry” were his friends in music and entertainment: Brad Arnold (Three Doors Down,) GAC’s Suzanne Alexander, Bo Bice, Burns & Poe, Chelsea Field, Matt Gary, LoCash Cowboys, Lathan Moore, Lorrie Morgan, Danielle Peck, Matt Kennon, The Roys, radio personalities Big D & Bubba and the Titans Cheerleaders. Continue Reading

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