Hank Williams Jr., Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, and Josh Thompson will all be a part of radio special set to air on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country (Channel 60). Filmed in front of a live audience at the SiriusXM Music City Theatre in Nashville, the special features music from WAYLON: The Music Inside, a three-volume collection dedicated to Waylon Jenning’s music.

Read our review of The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume II >>

Hosted by Outlaw Country’s Hillbilly Jim, the artists share stories and songs from the stage, accompanied by guitar legend Reggie Young and his wife Jenny on cello. Audience members include Billy Joe Shaver, Cowboy Jack Clement, and Waylon’s longtime drummer/producer, Richie Albright.

Watch a preview of Hank Jr. performing “Waymore’s Blues.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume II, is set to release on February 7. The second of the three part series, the album features some of country’s biggest stars performing the songs Waylon made famous. Dierks Bentley, Justin Moore, Hank Williams Jr., Jessi Colter, Montgomery Gentry, Jewel, Jack Ingram, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, Pat Green and Wyatt McCubbin are all included on the project.

The SiriusXM special premieres on February 4 at 4/5 CT and will re-air on Outlaw Country throughout the week.

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Relativity Music Group will release the Act of Valor soundtrack on February 21, featuring original songs written and inspired by the Navy SEAL action-thriller. It will include “For You,” a song written by Keith Urban that is featured in the film’s end credits, as well as music from Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Trace Adkins, Wynonna Judd, Montgomery Gentry, and more. In theaters February 24, Act of Valor stars a group of active-duty Navy Seals along with actors Roselyn Sanchez, Alex Veadov, Jason Cottle and Nestor Serrano.

Produced and directed by Mike “Mouse” McCoy and Scott Waugh and written by Kurt Johnstad, Act of Valor takes audiences into the secretive world of the most elite, highly-trained force in the modern world as the rescue of a kidnapped CIA operative leads to the discovery of a deadly terrorist plot against the U.S. Inspired by true events, the film combines combat sequences, battlefield technology and heart-pounding emotion.

The track listing for the soundtrack includes Keith’s “For You,” “Guide You Home” (Sugarland), “I Was Here” (Lady Antebellum), “If the Sun Comes Up” (Trace Adkins), “Two Soldiers Coming Home” (Lori McKenna), “The Best I Can” (Jake Owen), “What It Takes”(Montgomery Gentry), “The Best of Me” (Josh Kelley), “Where We Left Off” (Hunter Hayes) and “Whatever Brings You Back” (Wynonna Judd).

The Act of Valor soundtrack is available for pre-order on iTunes now.

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“It’s an honor to receive so much love from the Academy of Country Music after all they’ve done to support my music over the years,” Kenny said. “I can’t wait to get back on the road with my good friend Tim and throw one big spring break party all summer long.”

Blake Shelton is nominated for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He learned of his ACM nominations a week after losing his father, Dick Shelton. “The support I have felt this week is overwhelming,” Blake said. “Thank you everyone for this honor.”

Jason Aldean took to video to thank his fans for all of their support after learning he’s nominated for six ACMs, including Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.


Jason Aldean on WhoSay

SEE THE FULL LIST OF ACM AWARDS ARTIST NOMINEES HERE >>

Reigning ACM Top New Solo Vocalist Eric Church is nominated for Video of the Year for “Homeboy” and his latest album, Chief, is up for Album of the Year. He sees the Album of the Year nod as an especially high honor.

“I’ve never minced words about the fact that my passion is making great records for the sake of the music,” he said. “The fact that the ACMs have nominated us for the album category is quite the honor and frankly the one I revere the most. “Homeboy,” both musically and visually, is a song that tells a compelling story. I have a very special place in my heart for the video, and I’m very grateful that it is getting recognized. It’s been one hell of a year!”

Chris Young woke up on a tour bus en route to his next show on Miranda Lambert’s On Fire Tour to learn he’s nominated for both Single Record of the Year for his No. 1 hit “Tomorrow” and Male Vocalist Of The Year. He also recorded a video message to share his excitement with his fans.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Montgomery Gentry received their 14th ACM nomination when their name was included in the Duo of the Year category. With a year that has brought a lot of change for the duo, they are thrilled to be recognized.

“This last year has been just unbelievable,” Eddie Montgomery said. “We have a new album that T and I are so proud of, a new label that is rockin’ and the support we’ve had from our friends at radio and on the road is just awesome.”

“We are really proud to be nominated and blessed to be living our dream for as long as we have been,” Troy Gentry added. “As always, we are truly humbled to be included in this category once again.”

Lee Brice is nominated for Song of the Year as a co-writer alongside Liz Rose for Eli Young Band’s No. 1 hit “Crazy Girl.” “Liz Rose and I were just fortunate enough to be in the same room that magical day and wrote a magical song,” Lee said. “Within a few hours, the song came together. I’m so honored to be acknowledged along with these other amazing writers.”

The ACM Awards, hosted once again by Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire, will air live from Las Vegas on April 1 at 8/7 CT on CBS .

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It’s like Montgomery Gentry’s Eddie Montgomery sings toward the end of the duo’s spirited cover of the classic “Good ‘Ol Boys (Dukes of Hazzard Theme Song).” Just havin’ fun, mama, he muses over a thick rhythm section, honky tonk piano and pedal steel. On this song, and really everywhere on the record, that fun-loving sentiment is easily heard.

Be it Dierks Bentley, Hank Jr. or Justin Moore, the performances here are ignited by a love for Waylon’s enduring legacy and free spirit. Dierks opens the record with a swampy, thumping version of “Lonesome, Onry and Mean,” calling out the anthem with a smoldering intensity as the band’s obvious joy is heard through their own instrumental voices filling out the rest of the track. Hank Jr. couldn’t be more in his element than on the chuggin’ “Waymore’s Blues,” letting loose with the lines, Well, I woke up this mornin’ it was drizzlin’ rain / around the curb came a passenger train, over the song’s infectious shake. And Texan Pat Green, whose raspy voice gives the beautiful “Rainy Day Woman” a rugged edge, deftly navigates multiple tempo shifts before an around-the-horn solo handoff from pedal steel to fiddle and later electric guitar.

The majority of The Music Inside is uptempo, bordering on anthem. However, artists like country/hip-hop-infused Colt Ford and folk-inspired Jewel offer their takes on Waylon classics that serve to slow things down just a bit. On “Only Daddy That Will Walk The Line,” Colt dials down the original tempo, rhythmically speaking the verses before a searing slide guitar solo. Jewel, the only other woman on the album besides Jessi Colter, adds a bittersweet touch to the wistful waltz “Dreaming My Dreams With You.” With a classic country ache and a quivering vibrato, Jewel beautifully renders the lines, Someday I’ll get over you / I’ll live to see it all through/ But I’ll always miss dreaming my dreams with you, over piano and reverb-washed guitars. Jessi lends her own voice to the haunting traditional heart breaker “Mama,” channeling her late husband through, ironically, a song she actually wrote herself.

The album’s overall sound is dynamic and spatially well-constructed, with a foundation of sturdy deep bass and full percussion. Credit is due to Producer Witt Stewart, as well as the mastering crew at Sterling Sound, for unifying such a diverse group of artists while simultaneously allowing each one to add their own unique voice. Fitting, really, considering The Music Inside is a celebration of one man’s unique voice and its lasting effect on a broad musical landscape.

Key tracks – “Lonesome, Onry and Mean,” “Waymore’s Blues,” “Bob Wills is Still the King,” “Rainy Day Woman”

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“Partnering with Billboard on this special country edition has allowed us to offer a great value proposition to the consumer,” Tony Bruno, ‘stache media’s SVP of Marketing, said. “Because of the brand’s prominence and the credibility of the magazine, we are able to expose the country music scene to an even wider audience.”

“From ‘The 615,’ Billboard.com’s new country music blog, to the Country charts, Billboard has a deep connection with the country music community, and we’re excited to partner with ‘stache media to expand the brand’s coverage of this genre through this new mini-magazine,” Lisa Ryan Howard, Publisher of Billboard, said.

The magazine features more than 48 pages of artist interviews and reviews, a fold out 2012 calendar, and a 20-track bonus CD with music from Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Aaron Lewis, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Thompson Square, and more. Fans can preview the bonus CD here on Spotify.

Fans can find the magazine in the music section of all Target stores and is also available at Target.com/billboardcountry. Fans can also visit Facebook.com/TheDirtRoad where they have a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree at Target among other prizes.

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Mandy Barnett photo courtesy of Suzanne Kessler.

‘Tis the season for parties, presents and eating. Lots of eating, especially sweets! We asked some of your favorite stars to share their most cherished holiday memories of family traditions and recipes. Some of them even shared those recipes with us — and now we’re passing them along to you! Check out our 12 Days of Country Cookies section for stories & recipes from artists including Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Eli Young Band, Randy Owen and more! In fact, we couldn’t stop at just 12 days; we have a few bonus recipes. Here’s one from singer extraordinaire, Mandy Barnett. Watch the video below and then follow the recipe for a yummy holiday treat!

Ingredients for pie:
3 egg yolks (save the whites for the meringue)
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1 cup boiling water
1 oz. chocolate

Directions: Mix cornstarch and sugar, add boiling water. Cook on medium heat until thick. Add chocolate, finely cut, and egg yolks. Cook in double boiler until thick. Pour into baked crust, cover with meringue and brown.

Ingredients for meringue:
Beat egg whites, adding 1 tsp. sugar for each egg white. Put on pie and bake in oven at 350 degrees until brown. Enjoy!

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Montgomery Gentry photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Montgomery Gentry is NRA Country Artist of the Month for November. The month-long promotion will give fans the chance to see a behind the scenes look at the making and launch of their new album, Rebels on the Run. The video can be found at www.NRACountry.com

Read our review of Montgomery Gentry’s Rebels on the Run >>

NRACountry.com features a new artist each month, highlighting what makes them ‘NRA Country.’ NRA Country celebrates country music’s love of family, support of the U.S. military and appreciation for the outdoors through concerts and other events that benefit gun safety programs for kids, youth hunting and education programs, efforts to support our armed services, and other worthy causes.

“Montgomery Gentry and NRA Country see eye-to-eye on many of the same issues, and we’re honored they chose us as their artist of the month,” the duo said in a statement.

Watch Montgomery Gentry’s “Where I Come From” video! >>

In addition to the behind the scenes video, fans can register to win a Montgomery Gentry prize pack that includes an autographed CD, photo, and a limited edition Hatch Show Print from their Grand Ole Opry induction. Fans can also catch Montgomery Gentry on tour and help charity at the same time by purchasing VIP Charity Packages at http://www.ticketsforcharity.com/nracc/ to benefit NRA Country Cares, a part of the NRA that gives back to charities supporting the military, farmers, and other causes that further NRA Country’s mission of celebrating and protecting core American values.

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Montgomery Gentry's 2011 CD, Rebels On The Run.

Divorce…cancer…that’s a lot to deal with since November 2010. Yet Eddie Montgomery, half of the hard country duo Montgomery Gentry, could tell you a few things about having to face those new realities over the past year.  His perseverance (the cancer is now in remission) seems to have translated into a renewed focus on music as Rebels On The Run, the seventh studio album from Eddie and partner Troy Gentry, gets back to the basics and what matters most on their best collection since 2004’s You Do Your Thing.

Produced by Michael Knox (Jason Aldean, Justin Moore), Montgomery Gentry shed some of the sleek production of their most recent efforts in favor of a looser, raw feel on the eleven-song set. The first single “Where I Come From,” a mid-tempo, hometown proclamation, features acoustic/electric guitars and pedal steel as the duo employs their trademark handoff from Eddie singing the verse to Troy taking the chorus. See that door right there, it ain’t never been locked/ and I guarantee it never will, Eddie sings on the verse as the song recalls past hits like “My Town.”

Pride in one’s upbringing and where one is from have always been themes close to Montgomery Gentry. “Damn Right I Am,” the album’s opening track, is an up-tempo country rocker infused with patriotism. Over a thick rhythm section, Troy leans into each line of the chorus, singing, Am I proud that all I see is black and white, wrong or right and there ain’t no changing me?/ Am I proud of where I stand?, before Eddie adds with patient, emphasized timing, You damn right I am.

Eddie again shows his knack for timing on “Damn Baby,” an 80s rock-tinged track in which he eases into the first verse with a wink. After a steady bass drum and building guitars, he slyly sings the title words as the music cuts out from underneath his vocal. The result is like being part of a good natured, inside joke when the storyteller immediately grabs the listener’s attention with a friendly jab.

Troy takes the lead on “Missing You,” a slow, acoustic piece featuring one of the album’s finest melodies. Melancholy twists and turns echoed by a lonely fiddle set the tone as Troy sings, It’s just one of those hard days/ Nothin’ in the cards days/ Walkin’ in the dark days/ You gotta push your way through. On “Empty,” one the strongest songs on the album, Eddie’s voice is engaging, intimate and personal when he sings with heartbreaking honesty, I think I’ll take the long way home/ If I’m in a traffic jam, at least I’m not alone to avoid going home to an empty house. The song’s open acoustic guitars, touch of pedal steel and light organ complement his voice tenderly.

In many ways, Rebels On The Run is a return to form for Eddie and Troy. Songs like “Ain’t No Law Against That” and the title-cut “Rebels On The Run” feature some heavy southern rock riffs and stories about living fast. Alabama front man Randy Owen joins on the humorous, easygoing “I Like Those People,” and “So Called Life” is an amped up, hard country anthem about the road. It’s been a tough year for Montgomery Gentry, but with Rebels On The Run roaring, they’ll see you at the finish line.

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Rascal Flatts is invited to join the Opry by member Vince Gill. Photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating their 86^th birthday the whole month of October  and this weekend will mark the Opry’s official Birthday Bash. If you can’t make it to Nashville, you can catch a lot of the action on GAC during episodes of Opry Live scheduled to air on Saturday, October 8 and Tuesday, October 11.

On Friday, October 7, Jason Michael Carroll, Crystal Bowersox, Mandy Barnett, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith and The Whites are just some of the talents on the Opry’s schedule. Mandy Barnett will sign copies of her CD Sweet Dreams and her new Christmas album, Winter Wonderland, in the Opry Shop from 5:30 to 6:30 prior to the show.

On Saturday, October 8, Jean Shepard, Charley Pride, Craig Morgan, Ronnie Dunn (who will be making his Opry debut as a solo artist) and Rascal Flatts, who will be inducted as the newest members of the Opry family, are on tap, among others. You can catch the show live on GAC during Opry Live at 9/8 CT.

Taking the Opry stage on Tuesday, October 11 will be Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, LeAnn Rimes, Montgomery Gentry, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery and Trace Adkins. Some performances will be broadcast live on Opry Live at 8/7 CT on GAC. Other performances from the night will be filmed for an episode of Opry Live to air October 29 at 9/8 CT.

All Opry performances are streamed live on 650 AM WSM and episodes of Opry Live will re-air throughout the week on GAC. Check the schedule for times >>

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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.

The Opry will go pink on October 22 as the Opry teams up with Women Rock For The Cure for the third annual Opry Goes Pink show. Martina McBride will flip the switch on the Opry’s barn backdrop to turn it pink for the night. Edens Edge, Kellie Pickler, Lauren Alaina, Ronnie Milsap and more are scheduled to perform. There will also be activities recognizing breast cancer survivors and the fight against the disease. $5 from each ticket sold for the show will benefit Women Rock For The Cure. The show will broadcast live on GAC at 9/8 CT.

Brad Paisley, Bill Anderson, Charlie Daniels Band, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Lee Greenwood, Little Big Town, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rodney Atkins, Tanya Tucker and more are also on the Opry’s schedule for the month of October. Also in October, Thursday night Opry Country Classics Spotlight Artist performances return with performances by Charley Pride, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Price, and Ricky Skaggs.

Besides the Opry’s birthday, the Country Music Association is celebrating Country Music Month with 45 days of promotions, events, and activities leading up to the 45th Annual CMA Awards which will air live on ABC on November 9. Planned events include CMA Songwriter Series events in New York and Nashville, a “Keep the Music Playing” event celebrating music education in public schools, the launch of CountryMusicMonth.com, a radio and TV PSA campaign and CMA giveaways and sweepstakes.

For more information and ticket information, visit www.opry.com.

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