Martina McBride photo courtesy of Republic Nashville.

Martina McBride’s life as a country music star might have its glamorous perks, but when it comes to being a mother to her two teenage daughters and her six-year-old daughter, she faces the same challenges as any other parent.

“There’s always drama,” she said. “I mean in a good way. But it’s the same kind of drama that’s been playing out forever. I would imagine that whether you’re in Hoboken or Venice, Italy, it’s all the same thing. So it’s just a universal experience really.”

Watch Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” video! >>

Martina was a teenager once too and she is sure she gave her mom some of that same ‘drama’ she sees from her daughters. “We all remember what it was like to be a teenager, even if you don’t have teenage daughters, you’re like… But I was one.’” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Hank Williams Jr. shares one of his favorite photos, Blake Shelton reveals a bittersweet lesson he learned, Chris Young celebrates his ACM nominations, Martina McBride resists a household chore and Sarah Darling takes cover. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/hankjr.

Hank Williams Jr. – HankJr: Just came across this pic, such an honor to be on stage with these ol’ boys

Blake Shelton – BlakeShelton: There’s one thing I’ve learned this week… The only thing that’s stronger than a broken heart is opening your heart. I love you dad…

Chris Young – ChrisYoungMusic: Holy crap!!!!! 2 ACM nom’s?!?! Are you freaking kidding me!! #thisisagreatmorning

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/kelliepickler.

Kellie Pickler – KelliePickler: Me & my gang! #NYwillneverbethesame Continue Reading

ShareThis

Lionel Richie sings “Endless Love” with Shania Twain on his new CD, Tuskegee. Photo by Alan Silfen, courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his hit songs recorded as duets with some of the biggest names in country music, on March 27. Duet partners include Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and more.

In addition to the album, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas on April 2. The special will air at a later date on CBS. Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Kenny Rogers are among the artists scheduled to perform.

On Tuskegee, Lionel returns to his roots, paying tribute to his hometown of Tuskegee, Alabama where he was shaped as a man and a musician. He grew up listening to country, gospel, R&B and classical music and it was in Tuskegee that he helped form the Commodores and wrote some of his earliest hits.

“Tuskegee is where it all began, the place where I felt that everything was available and possible,” he said. “It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.”

The artists who worked with Lionel have their own connections to the legend’s songs. “Every Lionel Richie song that I can think of I had a personal experience with – high school homecomings, proms, you name it,” Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts said. “Lionel was always playing in my house. His music always said what we felt and couldn’t express.”

Says Darius Rucker, who joins Richie on “Stuck On You,” “I wanted to work with Lionel because he is one of my idols. Lionel’s more a part of my DNA really than an idol. It was an absolute honor to work with him.” Adds Jason Aldean, who selected “Say You, Say Me,” “I’ve always been a huge fan. He is probably one of the best singer/songwriters of this generation.”

This isn’t Lionel’s first venture into country music. His songs have been recorded by Conway Twitty, Kenny Rogers and Alabama, while other artists have covered his songs in their sets. He’s performed on the CMA Awards three times and his 2011 performance received two standing ovations.

“When I did the CMAs and the room was singing along with me, it was really more like a family reunion than it was a concert or show,” Lionel said. “It was just great validation to know that the music was accepted like it was.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Tim McGraw's 2012 CD, Emotional Traffic. Photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

After a court ruled in November that Tim McGraw had fulfilled his contract with Curb Records, his final album for the label, Emotional Traffic, is set for release next week on January 24. The record that Tim calls one of his ‘best ever’ is a tight collection of 12 songs that brings a close to one of the most successful Music Row partnerships of the last two decades.

The album’s lead single, the multi-week No. 1 hit “Felt Good On My Lips,” serves as a solid representation of Emotional Traffic’s overall sound. The polished work of Tim’s longtime Producer Byron Gallimore (Martina McBride, Faith Hill) is heard in the song’s crisp mix and pop-laden structure. Driven by a melodic bass line and a crunchy, sing-along chorus, Tim lightheartedly sings, I want to go crazy with you over a hook more suited for a dance floor than a bar stool. Much of the record makes a move to combine this modern, adult-contemporary feel with subtle country twang. Album-opener “Halo” works to achieve this by layering mid-tempo, ringing guitars underneath the lower range of Tim’s smooth drawl before breaking into a powerful chorus.

“I Will Not Fall Down” (written by Tim, Martina McBride, Brad Warren and Brett Warren) follows a similar path. Palm-muted guitar chords work methodically through a verse with the lines, I should probably just go out quietly / But I still got something left to say, before a dramatic chorus with lyrics that speak of thriving in someone’s love and gaining the strength to carry on in the face of adversity. While songs like these illustrate Tim’s mainstream appeal, he really is at his best in more traditional surroundings.

Possibly the album’s best song, “Touchdown Jesus” is a fresh description of divine intervention. With a similar feel to 2009’s No. 1 hit “Southern Voice,” Tim sings, I raised my hands above my head and said ‘Touchdown Jesus’, when witnessing the miracles made by recovering addicts and those who are sick. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Randy Owen and John Rich. Photo courtesy of St. Jude.

Randy Owen presented John Rich with the first-ever Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award during the annual songwriter’s dinner at the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids seminar over the weekend. The award recognizes a member of the country music industry who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to kids battling cancer and other deadly diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year, John won NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice, where he competed on behalf of St. Jude and raised more an $1.4 million for the organization.

“St. Jude holds a very special place in my heart,” John said. “It’s like no other place and I’m just so honored to help raise awareness for this organization and to receive the first-ever Angels Among Us Award from Randy.”

“This past year John really embodied what Country Cares for St. Jude Kids is all about,” Randy said. “It’s really unbelievable to look back over the past 23 years and see what the country music industry has helped us accomplish for St. Jude. This award is a way for us to say thank you to select members of the industry for their continued commitment and support.”

Randy organized Country Cares for St. Jude Kids in 1989 when he appealed to fellow country music artists, radio stations, and country fans to help support St. Jude’s mission. Since it began, Country Cares has raised more than $400 million for St. Jude. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Martina McBride with St. Jude patient Christian. Photo courtesy of St. Jude.

Randy Owen, Martina McBride, Kix Brooks, Lauren Alaina and Edens Edge were among more than 25 country artists who made their way to Memphis over the weekend to tour St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and visit with several patients and their families as part of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Seminar. The seminar kicks off Country Cares for St. Jude Kids’ radiothon season.

Country Cares was started by Randy Owen in 1989 after he appealed to his fellow country artists, radio stations, and loyal fans to help support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. Since it began, Country Cares has raised more than $400 million for St. Jude.

“There’s no way you can walk through the halls at St. Jude and not think of your own children,” Martina McBride said. “I’m going to hug them a little tighter when I get home, I can tell you that. This is such a wonderful place of hope. Anything that we can do to help St. Jude, we should just do it, because they are literally saving lives and finding new cures for cancer that they share with the whole world.” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Rascal Flatts hangs with the quarterback of the moment, David Nail reflects on his first No. 1 single, John Rich shares the aftermath of his birthday bash, Jo Dee Messina tweets from labor and delivery and Jake Owen posts a hilarious video after his wisdom teeth extraction! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDemarcus: With our buddy Tebow yesterday… Great game!!

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Thank you so much for my People’s Choice Award! Favorite Country Artist! PARTY!!! Seriously- thank you for voting.

David Nail – DavidNail: Wife is in Vegas, so it’s me and the dogs tonight! Finally some time to myself to reflect just how amazing this week has been! Thank u!!!

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley – DierksBentley: somehow the #redsolocup disco ball from the video wound up on my table at the studio I work out of. suggestions??! Continue Reading

ShareThis

Reba McEntire & Blake Shelton photo courtesy of the ACM.

Country Music’s Party of the Year®, the 47^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, honoring country music’s best and introducing the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 8 p.m. live Eastern/delayed Pacific on CBS. The show is produced by dick clark productions and will be hosted for the second consecutive year by Reba and Blake Shelton.

The 2^nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Zac Brown Band, will take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Sunday, April 1, 2012. This live remote location gives country music lovers the ultimate fan-pass to be part of the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards!  Throughout the three-hour Awards telecast from the MGM Grand Garden Arena, there will be live ACM Fan Jam performances, via remote, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center by Zac Brown Band and other top-tier music acts, to be announced at a later date.

The ACM Fan Jam includes a profusion of entertainment, prizes and special giveaways only for attendees, including autographed guitars, trip packages to country music events and merchandise.  The ACM Fan Jam continues after the Awards telecasts ends, with performances by Zac Brown and friends. Details will be announced soon. The inaugural ACM Fan Jam, hosted by Sugarland, took place in 2011.

Additionally, the Academy and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Monday, April 2, 2012, to air at a later date on the CBS Television Network.  This country collaboration with the legendary Lionel Richie, featuring duets from his upcoming album Tuskegee along with solo performances, will include some of Richie’s greatest hits performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more. Tickets sales from ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends – A Lifetime of Hits will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music. For more information, log onto www.ACMLiftingLives.org or www.ACMcountry.com. Continue Reading

ShareThis

Blake Shelton photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Each year GAC asks fans to help us choose the best of the best country music videos released during the prior 12 months for our year end Top 50 Videos of the Year countdown. Here are the voting results for 2011 based on videos released and added to the GAC playlist from Nov. 1, 2010 to Oct. 31, 2011.

1. Blake Shelton — “God Gave Me You”
2. Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson — “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
3. Keith Urban — “Without You”
4. Jason Aldean — “Dirt Road Anthem”
5. Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood — “Remind Me”
6. Blake Shelton — “Honey Bee”
7. Lady Antebellum — “Just A Kiss”
8. Alan Jackson — “Long Way To Go”
9. Scotty McCreery — “I Love You This Big”
10. Trace Adkins — “Just Fishin’” Continue Reading

ShareThis

Tim McGraw photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Tim McGraw’s long-awaited Emotional Traffic album will hit stores on January 24. Produced by Byron Gallimore, the album includes the No. 1 hit “Felt Good On My Lips” as well as Tim’s current single, “Better Than I Used To Be.”

One of the album’s tracks, “Only Human,” features a guest appearance by R&B star Ne-Yo and is produced by Darran Smith. Other notable tracks on Emotional Traffic include “Touchdown Jesus,” which was written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, and “I Will Not Fall Down” which Tim co-wrote with Martina McBride and The Warren Brothers. Continue Reading

ShareThis