Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Miranda Lambert and Kellie Pickler show how their dogs are dealing with the heat, Brad Paisley has been a busy man, Taylor Swift’s dad keeps popping up and Frankie Ballard is feeling a little less than special. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/Miranda_Lambert.

Miranda Lambert – Miranda_Lambert: Dog days of summer! Delilah is a coolin her heels!

Brad Paisley – BradPaisley: Busy week. Just got finished negotiatiing the NFL lockout deal, now I’m headed to Washington to work on the debt deal.

Frankie Ballard – FrankieBallard: Im bummed when my friends/fam text me a pic…and then they post it on twitter and Facebook. “I’ll take the large pic minus the special…”

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/taylorswift13.

Taylor Swift – TaylorSwift13: Dear Dad- Just uploaded my pictures. Thanks for making surprise cameos in 75% of them. #parentalphotobombs Continue Reading

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Randy Montana's self-titled 2011 CD. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Randy Montana‘s self-titled debut album is now on store shelves. Randy co-wrote 9 of the 11 songs on the album, which includes his debut single “Ain’t Much Left of Lovin’ You” and his current single, “1,000 Faces.” “I am so excited to finally get this music out there,” Randy told GAC’s Nan Kelley on a recent visit to the GAC studio. “For people to finally hear the full length album is really exciting.”

After working to first write the songs then record and finish the album, Randy was anxious to get it to his fans. While the date was circled on his calendar, he had other career opportunities that made the waiting period go fast, like opening for Taylor Swift and playing shows across the country. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Jake Owen tries his hand at the planking phenomenon, Frankie Ballard offers up a cheeky response to Brett Eldredge’s autocorrect dilemma, Randy Montana and his band step back in time and Kellie Pickler introduces her new lead guitar player. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/jakeowen.

Jake Owen – @jakeowen: Fork lift plank. Thank you. You’re welcome.

Frankie Ballard – @FrankieBallard: “@bretteldredge: dude your name autocorrects to “Grannies” on my phone haha” what if Ballard corrected to panties?! Then we’d be cookin!

Chuck Wicks – @ChuckWicksMusic: Connecting in LA and back to Nashville!! Clay Walker Classic was Amazing! Pebble Beach is the shiznat. Yup…I just said shiznat..

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/RandyMontana.

Randy Montana – @RandyMontana: We weren’t messing around. Continue Reading

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Randy Montana photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Randy Montana is gearing up to release his self-titled debut album on July 26 to all digital retailers. Produced by Jay Joyce, the album will include “Ain’t Much Left Of Loving You” and his current single, “1,000 Faces.”  The album also includes the track “Last Horse,” which features Emmylou Harris on harmonies. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, artists prepped for Saturday’s impending Rapture (Anyone found Charles Kelley yet?), Frankie Ballard, Brad Paisley and Carter’s Chord celebrated album releases and Chris Young let his followers know one of his pet peeves when it comes to the opposite sex. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/SaraEvansMusic.

Sara Evans – SaraEvansMusic: BMI threw me a #1 party! Here we are celebrating! Thank you fans!

Carter’s Chord – CartersChord: Our EP “Wild Together” is out in stores and itunes TODAY!!!! Tell your mom, tell your friends, tell strangers…we are pumped!

Frankie Ballard – FrankieBallard: Dear God, if Jesus is supposed to come back tomorrow…u think u could stall him until after my album comes out on Tuesday??

Chris Young – ChrisYoungMusic: Body glitter needs to die… Seriously ladies. No.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/BrettEldredge.

Brett Eldredge – BrettEldredge: Spent days at sea, Caught some fish, Grew a beard, drank a little rum & said a few cuss words..Ima sailor Continue Reading

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Taylor Swift on stage in Seoul, South Korea on the Asian leg of her 2011 Speak Now World Tour. Photo courtesy of Taylorswift.com.

As the sun starts setting a little later and temperatures heat up, it’s time to start thinking about those wonderful summer days and nights. What better way to spend them than watching your favorite country artists sing your favorite songs? In no particular order, here’s our list of the Top 10 must-see summer music tours:

Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now World Tour”

Taylor Swift continues her “Speak Now World Tour” this summer headlining major stadiums and arenas across North America. Getting things started with two shows at Omaha’s Qwest Center Memorial Day Weekend, Taylor hits more than 50 dates through mid-September as she takes the scenic route through more than 20 states and 4 Canadian provinces. Detroit’s Ford Field, Foxboro’s Gillette Stadium and 4 sold-out appearances at Los Angeles’ Staples Center in late August are all on the itinerary. If you’re reading this and haven’t bought your tickets yet, it’s time to start calling every friend and cousin you have since all but 6 shows are sold out through September 21. Opening acts include NeedToBreathe, Randy Montana, Frankie Ballard and James Wesley. Tickets range from $27.00 – $89.50.

Jason Aldean’s “Summer 2011 My Kinda Party Tour”

Jason Aldean keeps rollin’ this summer and hosting nothing but good times at 18 shows scheduled through July and August. The party starts July 8 with a high profile gig at Milwaukee’s famed Summerfest before performing in 12 states coast to coast as well as Alberta, Canada. Other key dates include July 23 at Wyoming’s Cheyenne Frontier Days and a Saturday night show August 13 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, MO. Chris Young and Thompson Square join on most dates to kick the party into high gear. Tickets range from $23.25-$70.00.

Brad Paisley’s “H2O II World Tour”

Has Brad Paisley ever taken a break from the road? It seems the current ACM Entertainer of the Year just keeps on giving the fans exactly what they want since he was forced to dry out his road gear after May 2010’s Nashville flood. If you remember, this was just before kicking off the original “H20 World Tour.” Paisley fittingly kicks off the new edition of “H2O II World Tour” at the Virginia Beach Ampitheatre on June 3 with 19 shows through the Midwest and Eastern seaboard before heading to Europe in early August. Tour stops include Country Stampede in Manahattan, KS on June 25 and Maine’s Scarborough Downs on July 17. Special guests include Blake Shelton and Jerrod Niemann. Tickets range from $30.00-$125.00. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Miranda Lambert gives her followers a sneak peek into what she did on her honeymoon, David Nail and Taylor Swift celebrate birthdays, and Jake Owen gives us an acoustic performance from his kitchen. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Miranda Lambert – @Miranda_Lambert: Honeymoon bliss!!!

Miranda Lambert – @Miranda_Lambert: Mrs Shelton here! Winning!!!!!

Josh Kelley – @JoshBKelley: Just leaving miranda and blakes wedding. It was unreal awesome sauce!!! Crazy crazy fun. Cognates to such a radd couple!!!!!

Chris Young – @ChrisYoungMusic: I absolutely butchered some karaoke last night. Oops #reallyiCANsing

Jake Owen – @JakeOwen: http://twitvid.com/HF2HS – my rough lil version of a song thats been stuck in my cranium.. I love music. It makes me feel good

Frankie Ballard – @FrankieBallard: Ya know what, Im not goin to sleep tonight….I’ve “gone to sleep” 10,400 times in my life….i can take one off Continue Reading

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Gary Allan photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Gary Allan will kick off the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage during this year’s CMA Music Festival with a 10:00 a.m. CT show on June 9. Reflecting 40 years of country music, the stage’s daily lineup will feature past, current, and future superstar artists. The Riverfront Stage concerts are free and open to the public.

“Gary Allan will provide a dynamic start to 2011 CMA Music Festival at the Daily Concerts on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage is packed with great hit-makers from the ’70s through today, spotlighting all the decades of CMA Music Festival’s existence. And it’s free! We invite everyone to come and enjoy the great music on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage.”

Darryl Worley will close the Daily Concerts on Friday, June 10, Billy Ray Cyrus on Saturday, June 11 and Terri Clark on Sunday, June 12. Terri last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2007, Billy Ray in 2008 and Darryl in 2010.

The current daily artist lineups in alphabetical order:

Thursday, June 9: Gary Allan, Emerson Drive, Colt Ford, Jack Ingram, Sammy Kershaw, Craig Morgan, James Otto, Jake Owen, Randy Rogers Band, and Steel Magnolia.

Friday, June 10: Frankie Ballard, Bucky Covington, Brett Eldredge, Jo Dee Messina, Randy Montana, Heidi Newfield, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, James Wesley, and  Darryl Worley.

Saturday, June 11: Crystal Bowersox, Jason Michael Carroll, Billy Ray Cyrus, Steve Holy, Lonestar, David Nail, Corey Smith,  Mel Tillis, and Chuck Wicks.

Sunday, June 12: The Bellamy Brothers, Terri Clark, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Josh Kelley, LoCash Cowboys, Jerrod Niemann, Troy Olsen, and Sunny Sweeney.

Performance order will be listed on CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, closer to the event. Additional artists will be announced. Artists and dates subject to change.

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Taylor Swift hearts Norway,  John Rich gives a “Celebrity Apprentice” update, Martina McBride is truly blessed — and Blake Shelton prays for his liver. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/taylorswift13.

Taylor Swift:  @taylorswift13    Norway! Where have you been all my life?!?! It’s freezing and beautiful. Can’t feel my hands.

Jimmy Wayne:  @JimmyWayne    One thing to remember as an adult: don’t share your bday party w/a 5 yr olds. Guess who gets the shaft?

Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus:  @JayDeMarcus    Interviews and more interviews.. Never thought I’d have to talk so much about Bieber’s hair!!! Wow.

Blake Shelton:  @blakeshelton   I now a lay me down to sleep I pray my lord my liver to “act-like-this-night-never-happened”…

Martina McBride:   @martinamcbride    Having a glass of bubbly and watching Frasier with my husband. It’s been a great night. Kids are happy. Lots of laughs. I have been blessed.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/juliannehough.

Julianne Hough:  @juliannehough    So I’m trying new ways to stay in shape… This one is highly unfashionable… But man is it a workout! Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Blake Shelton gets serious and congratulates his former producer, Bobby Braddock, and fellow Okies Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard on their Country Music Hall of Fame inductions. Several artists weigh in on Charlie Sheen’s public meltdown; Rascal Flatts has a moment with Lionel Richie (who’s making a country record with the Flatts and other stars as special guests); and Colt Ford announces that his new label mates are Montgomery Gentry! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus:  @JayDeMarcus    The Flatts and Lionel!!! 

Blake Shelton:  @blakeshelton    Big BIG day for me personally… @Reba and Bobby Braddock are both going to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame!!! This calls for a drink!!!  Also congrats to fellow Stratford, Oklahoman Jean Shepard for her induction also!!!

LeAnn Rimes:  @leannrimes    Favorite quote of the week…”I’m tired of pretending I’m not a total bitchin’ rock star from Mars!!!”- Charlie Sheen

Jack Ingram:  @JackIngram    I’m always conflicted- is watching some1′s life fall apart LIVE on tv good entertainment, criminal or, at the very least, just sad? U tell me.

Martina McBride:  @martinamcbride    Anyone wonder why those two little kids are allowed to be in the house with charlie sheen right now?

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/steelmagnolia11.

Steel Magnolia:  @steelmagnolia11    Finally got to hang out with mama Judd again! Love her sooo much! Xo Meg Continue Reading

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