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.’”

Martina is currently out on the road with George Strait. She will headline her own more intimate theater tour beginning in April. Her latest single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” is in the Top 10.

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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

Brad Paisley – BradPaisley: Denver is such a cool city. And thanks for singing with me @TimTebow . But don’t quit your day job pal.

Martina McBride – MartinaMcBride: If there was ever a house that needed someone to go to the grocery store…this would be it. #cupboardsarebare #pleasestopraining

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/LukeBryanOnline.

Luke Bryan – LukeBryanOnline: Luke recently stopped by SeaWorld Orlando to meet one of his biggest fans Clyde the sea lion.

The Band Perry – The BandPerry: On our way to The Land of Potatoes.

Sarah Darling – _SarahDarling: Crazy night in Nashville as I took shelter in my Shower! Not a fan of tornados!! Glad we are all safe. #tired

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/joeyandrory.

Joey + Rory – JoeyandRory: my wife, the singer/cow-whisperer… helping a new born calf this morning. Another reason I love her so much

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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.”

On the album, Lionel asked his duet partners to choose the song they wanted to record and ignore his original version. He encouraged them to make it their own. “I wanted it the way they would do it in their show, which means I captured their essence,” he said. “You make the song a Willie Nelson song. You make the song a Rascal Flatts song.

The recording of Tuskegee was some of the most fun Lionel has ever had in the studio. “Tuskegee is going to be one of the most special albums I’ve ever done in my life,” he said. “This is something that’s going to be so special forever because it’s a moment in time when these artists all got together and celebrated some music.”

Fans can catch Lionel talking about his new album right here on GAC. He will be a special guest on Top 20 Country Countdown on March 23 and sit down for an episode of On The Streets on March 27.

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Track List:

1. “You Are” with Blake Shelton
2. “Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
3. “Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
4. “Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
5. “My Love” with Kenny Chesney
6. “Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
7. “Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
8. “Sail On” with Tim McGraw
9. “Endless Love” with Shania Twain
10. “Just For You” with Billy Currington
11. “Lady” with Kenny Rogers
12. “Easy” with Willie Nelson
13. “All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett

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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. On the acoustic, traditional-leaning “Better Than I Used To Be,” Tim shows off his veteran ability to phrase lines and melodies to squeeze out every ounce of emotion. Standing in the rain so long has left me with a little rust, he sings with pure cowboy poetry of his own path to redemption.

Drawing from an array of influences, Emotional Traffic features a little bit of R&B. Though most clearly seen on “Only Human,” a duet with hit R&B artist Ne-Yo, tracks like “The One” and “Hey Now” feature a few funky guitar riffs. “Hey Now” is the most successful example of the album’s country/R&B twist with an ultra-accessible hook. Hey now, it don’t seem that late now, Tim sings through the upbeat chorus before calling to, break the Tanqueray out, in order to keep the good times rollin’.

And Emotional Traffic features plenty of good times. Despite its somewhat serious name, the album is much more lighthearted. Though it may draw a close to one period in Tim’s musical career, Emotional Traffic is a celebration of his rich history to date and an optimistic step toward the future.

Key tracks – “Touchdown Jesus,” “I Will Not Fall Down,” “Better Than I Used To Be,” “Hey Now”

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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.

More than 25 artists were on hand to participate in Country Cares including Lauren Alaina, Kix Brooks, Martina McBride, Brent Anderson, Katie Armiger, Lee Brice, Edens Edge, Eli Young Band, Randy Houser, Kip Moore, Josh Thompson and James Wesley. Nearly 800 radio and music industry professionals were also present to work together on executing the annual radiothon fundraisers for St. Jude. To learn more about Country Cares for St. Jude Kids visit www.countrycares.org.

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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.”

“For me, St. Jude has always been very inspiring,” Kix Brooks said. “These kids have no concept of not making it. That inspires me and, it makes you realize, ‘I’ve got a responsibility to make sure it happens, that these kids make it.’ This is the thing people have to remember. This is not a desperate, sad place. If anything, these kids are so strong and they have hope.

In addition to the artists, the seminar hosts nearly 800 radio and music industry professionals who work together to execute the annual radiothon fundraisers for St. Jude. Throughout the weekend, attendees heard inspiring stories from St. Jude patients and shared tips and tricks on how to create successful radiothons.

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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??!

Martina McBride – MartinaMcBride: I must be hormonal….Tattoos On This Town almost made me cry. Great song.

Jake Owen – JakeOwen: Just got em out.. http://yfrog.com/2map2z

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/edensedge.

Edens Edge – EdensEdge: We were so thrilled to play on the @opry tonight. We got to sing “Christ Alone” around one mic

John Rich – JohnRich: There’s nothing like waking up to a Rooster crowing…IN YOUR HOUSE! Wow! What a throwdown!!!

Jo Dee Messina – JoDeeMessina: OMG! Ice chips never tasted so good. YUMMY

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/thebandperry.

The Band Perry – TheBandPerry: Roll. Tide. (np)

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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.

For event updates, ticket on-sale dates and hotel information, please visit www.ACMcountry.com.  Country fans may sign up for the ACM A-List for FREE at www.ACMcountry.com.  ACM A-Listers will receive the ticket purchase pre-sale code and information on discounted room rates at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, based on availability. The Academy will announce its full schedule of The Week Vegas Goes Country® events in the upcoming weeks.

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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’”
11. Brad Paisley w/Alabama — “Old Alabama”
12. Toby Keith — “Made In America”
13. Martina McBride — “I’m Gonna Love You Through It”
14. Chris Young — “Tomorrow”
15. Taylor Swift — “Mean”
16. Brad Paisley — “This Is Country Music”
17. Blake Shelton — “Footloose”
18. Lady Antebellum — “We Owned The Night”
19. Keith Urban — “Long Hot Summer”
20. Kenny Chesney w/Grace Potter — “You And Tequila”
21. Jason Aldean — “Tattoos On This Town”
22. Scotty McCreery — “The Trouble With Girls”
23. Taylor Swift — “Back To December”
24. Tim McGraw — “Felt Good On My Lips”
25. Taylor Swift — “Sparks Fly”
26. Shania Twain — “Today Is Your Day”
27. Kellie Pickler — “Tough”
28. Jake Owen — “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”
29. Billy Currington — “Let Me Down Easy”
30. Lauren Alaina — “Like My Mother Does”
31. Justin Moore — “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away”
32. Loretta Lynn/Sheryl Crow/Miranda Lambert — “Coal Miner’s Daughter”
33. Rascal Flatts — “I Won’t Let Go”
34. Zac Brown Band — “Knee Deep”
35. Zac Brown Band — “Colder Weather”
36. Reba McEntire — “When Love Gets A Hold Of You”
37. Alison Krauss + Union Station — “Paper Airplane”
38. Reba McEntire — “Somebody’s Chelsea”
39. Josh Turner — “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
40. Sugarland — “Tonight”
41. Billy Currington — “Love Done Gone”
42. Martina McBride — “Teenage Daughters”
43. Reba McEntire — “If I Were A Boy”
44. Ashton Shepherd — “Look It Up”
45. Rascal Flatts w/Natasha Bedingfield — “Easy”
46. Pistol Annies — “Hell On Heels”
47. Gloriana — “Wanna Take You Home”
48. Luke Bryan — “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)”
49. Toby Keith — “Red Solo Cup”
50. The Band Perry — “You Lie”

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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.

Two additional digital singles from the new album will be released exclusively to iTunes prior to the release of Emotional Traffic.

The track listing for Emotional Traffic:

1.       Halo
2.       Right Back Atcha Babe
3.       One Part, Two Part
4.       I Will Not Fall Down
5.       The One
6.       Better Than I Used To Be
7.       Touchdown Jesus
8.       The One That Got Away
9.       Felt Good On My Lips
10.     Hey Now
11.     Only Human
12.     Die By My Own Hand

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