Top 20 Country Countdown host Nan Kelley chats with Martina McBride at the 2011 Country Thunder Festival in Florence, Arizona. Photo courtesy of GAC staff.

Nan Kelley takes you to the Country Thunder Festival in Florence, Ariz. on this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown. See interviews with Martina McBride, Little Big Town, Rodney Atkins, Neal McCoy and The Bellamy Brothers! If you missed Friday night’s premiere, check out the schedule for re-air times.

This Week’s Chart:

1. Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson – “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
2. Josh Turner — “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
3. Mark Wills – “Looking For America”
4. Keith Urban – “Without You”
5. Brett Eldredge — “Raymond”
6. Carrie Underwood — “Mama’s Song”
7. Blake Shelton — “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
8. Thompson Square – “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
9. Sara Evans – “A Little Bit Stronger”
10. Reba McEntire – “If I Were A Boy” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Nan and Reba on the set of Top 20. Photo courtesy of GAC staff.

Nan Kelley is talking ACMs on this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown.  As Las Vegas goes country, Nan has all the details – who’s performing, who’s nominated and everything in between. If you missed Friday night’s premiere, check out the schedule for re-air times and be sure to tune in to either GAC or GACTV.com on Sunday at 7/6 CT as Nan and Suzanne Alexander host the ACM Red Carpet Live with interviews from the red carpet of some of your favorite country stars!

In between all the awards show talk, Nan is also counting down this week’s Top 20 videos. Jason Aldean’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” featuring Kelly Clarkson remains on top for the second week in a row while Carrie Underwood’s “Mama’s Song” climbs back up to the No. 2 position. Josh Turner’s “I Wouldn’t Be A Man” rounds out the top three spots. Rascal Flatts debuts on our countdown with “I Won’t Let Go” while Mark Wills‘ “Looking For America” surges back onto the charts in the No. 4 spot. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Sugarland with Suzanne Alexander on Top 20. Photo courtesy of GAC staff.

GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown traveled down to Charleston to join Sugarland on their Incredible Machine Tour and got an exclusive look both backstage and at the steampunk-inspired set! Little Big Town also sat down to chat with host Suzanne Alexander about their experiences on the tour. If you missed last night’s premiere, check our schedule to catch a re-air!

Last week, Katie Armiger regained the top spot, but she couldn’t make it last. Josh Turner is back on top, leapfrogging Carrie Underwood’s “Mama’s Song” which remains in the No. 2 position while Katie’s “Best Song Ever” slides down to third. Reba’s “If I Were A Boy” debuted on the countdown at No. 13 last week and jumped seven spots to land at No 6 this week. The Band Perry’s “You Lie” makes its first appearance on our countdown this week, while we say goodbye to Chris Young’s “Voices” after it spent months in our Top 20. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Sara Evans on the Top 20 set with host Nan Kelley. Photo courtesy of GAC staff.

Sara Evans took some time off the music scene to get married and spend time with her newly blended family, but she’s back with a new album and single. Tonight, she’s  stopping by our Top 20 Country Countdown to chat with Nan Kelley about the CD Stronger, hitting stores on Tuesday, and her second novel, Softly & Tenderly. The new single, “A Little Bit Stronger,” is sitting at No. 10 on the countdown!

Carrie Underwood reclaimed the top spot last week, but it looks like we’ve got a new No. 1 this week and a debut on the countdown from Mark Wills. Tune in tonight at 8/7 CT to catch Nan and Sara as Nan counts down the videos you chose from 20 all the way to No. 1! Continue Reading

ShareThis

Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

A new year is around the corner, and so are new administrations in many of the nation’s states. Not to mention a few new folks occupying seats in Congress.

That means parties, and that also means an opportunity for country stars to show off their wares. Jo Dee Messina, Luke Bryan, John Michael Montgomery and LeAnn Rimes have all been enlisted to help usher the politicians into their new positions in four different locales.

Here’s what’s on tap in 2011’s inaugural month:

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Kix Brooks, Trace Adkins and Buddy Jewell are among the latest acts taking time from their schedules to honor the soldiers who put their lives on the line for their country.

Kix is in the midst of a Middle East tour, Buddy just headed out with with a package of country singers that will visit four countries, and Trace is set to appear on a TV special with a military theme before his own USO journey.

Not that it’s anything unusual for country acts. Among the artists who’ve lent themselves to the USO in the past are Toby Keith, Neal McCoy, Chely Wright, Craig Morgan, Kellie Pickler and the Zac Brown Band.

Here’s what some of country’s stars are doing with the USO:

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic. Photo courtesy of willienelson.com.

Grills will be fired up, flags will be waving and fireworks will be booming across the country this weekend in honor of America’s 234^th birthday, but you can also catch some of your favorite country music artists in concert to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend.

** Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July picnic has become a staple of the holiday and this year, it will be held in Bee Cave, Texas, just outside of Austin. Along with Willie, Jamey Johnson, Jack Ingram, David Allan Coe and Kris Kristofferson are scheduled to perform along with many others.

** Carrie Underwood will close down Summerfest – the 11-day, 11-stage music festival held annually in Milwaukee – with a performance on the main stage. She will be joined by special guest Sons of Sylvia. Danny Gokey will also be in concert at Summerfest that night.

** Trace Adkins will headline Nashville’s Let Freedom Sing! concert along with Julianne Hough with a free show on the Riverfront stage. Julianne will also perform on Saturday and Chuck Wicks on Friday. All shows are free and open to the public. Continue Reading

ShareThis

(l-r): Justin Moore, Chuck Wicks, Darius Rucker & Brad Paisley at the Nightly Concerts at LP Field on Sunday, June 13 in Downtown Nashville during the 2010 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: John Russell / CMA

When Brad Paisley turned up the swaggering chords on “Alcohol” just after midnight, he brought out Darius Rucker, Justin Moore and Chuck Wicks for an early-Monday finale to a CMA Music Festival that set some records for the downtown event.

For the first time in history, the Country Music Association sold out all the single-night tickets and the four-day passes for LP Field, meaning the NFL stadium — configured to seat about 49,000 people — could hold no more.

And while country fans might have wanted more, realistically they got plenty over the course of the festival, with wall-to-wall concerts and intense autograph signings, capped by Taylor Swift’s mammoth 14-1/2 hour scribbling frenzy at the Bridgestone Arena.

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Kellie Pickler on the set of her video, "Makin' Me Fall In Love Again." Photo courtesy of Fitzgerald Hartley Mgt.

“Makin’ Me Fall In Love Again” has made a big impression for Kellie Pickler, skipping its way to the No. 3 position on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.

The video finds Kellie dressed up as a World War II-era woman in a series of outfits, including a red dress with long, elegant gloves; a faux-sailor pants suit; and a tight, canary-yellow costume that shows plenty of leg. It adds a romantic flair to the song, which brought its own upbeat romance to Kellie’s self-titled album.

Continue Reading

ShareThis

Rodney Atkins photo courtesy of Curb Nashville.

Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music will help kick off the 2010 CMA Music Festival on June 9 with “The Sixth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade” at 11:30 a.m. Central through the streets of downtown Nashville.

Brenda Lee will serve as Grand Marshal and other artists participating in the parade include Lynn Anderson, Katie Armiger, Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Bo Bice, Ash Bowers, Carter Twins, Jeff Cook, Diana DeGarmo, Fast Ryde, Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, The Grascals, The Harters, Buddy Jewell, KingBilly, Jesse Lee, LoCash Cowboys, Lonestar, Jerrod Niemann, James Otto, Danielle Peck, Point of Grace, Marty Raybon, Pam Tillis, Trent Tomlinson, and Chuck Wicks. Members of the National Guard will drive artists along the parade route in Chevy vehicles, including the all new 2011 Silverado HD and the Military Specialty Camaro. Continue Reading

ShareThis