Miranda Lambert photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Front Page Publicity.

The official add date for Miranda Lambert’s new single, “Baggage Claim,” isn’t until August 22 but it is already the highest debuting single of her career, entering the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at No. 33. The song is the lead single from her upcoming album, Four The Record, due out November 1, 2011. The track is now available exclusively on iTunes at http://bit.ly/p6u5i6.

Miranda co-wrote the song with Natalie Hemby and Luke Laird and Josh Kelley contributed background vocals. “It’s the grooviest song I’ve ever recorded,” Miranda said. “It makes you want revenge and want to dance all at the same time!” Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Miranda Lambert has decided to keep the revolution going a little bit longer. She will extend her The Revolution Continues Tour through October with special guests Justin Moore and Randy Rogers Band. Little Big Town, Charlie Worsham and Pat Green will also appear on select dates. The last leg of the tour will kick off September 8 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

“The revolution continues but not for too much longer, this is the last leg of the tour,” Miranda said. “We have had so much fun and have had so many great bands come out to join us and some great artists as well.  Don’t miss your last chance to see us on the road this year. “ 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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GAC hosts Suzanne Alexander (r) and Nan Kelley (l) on the red carpet at the 46th Annual ACM Awards. Photo courtesy of GAC Staff.

Around this time two weeks ago, GAC’s Suzanne Alexander was packing her bags to fly to Las Vegas for the 46th Annual ACM Awards. We asked her to share with you what it’s like to be in the thick of things out in Vegas — so here’s Part 1 of her ACM Awards Diary! Don’t forget to watch Suzanne, Nan Kelley, Storme Warren and all your favorite stars in our exclusive GACTV.com ACM backstage video interviews and browse our ACM Awards gallery, packed with hundreds of photos! Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of Suzanne’s diary — and this Friday for Part 3.

Saturday April 2, 2011: The day before the ACMs
I had a feeling that many industry folks would be on the Nashville Southwest Airlines flight to Las Vegas. I was right – every seat was taken! There were heads of labels, stylists, publicists and some band dudes on the flight out. During the landing, I mapped out what I needed to do once we got to the Vegas airport.

You see, staying at the MGM for the ACMs is great because it’s where the actual award show is held – so you can walk everywhere, no cab rides necessary. BUT the problem is, everyone stays at the MGM and checking in can be an ordeal. Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn at the nominations announcement for the 46th Annual ACM Awards, Feb. 1, 2011 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Country’s brightest stars are reacting to this morning’s nominations for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn read the list this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, live during CBS’ The Early Show.

After her name was read seven times — or 35 times, as Ronnie joked, Miranda was in shock.

“Thirty-five is a lot,” she deadpanned, before getting serious. “I haven’t even had time to process it,” she said. ”It’s awesome, absolutely awesome. All of 2010 and so far, 2011, have been really great. It’s one of those years where you can really feel a push in your career and your life. All of the hard work’s paying off. It’s been a record-breaking year for me, personally and professionally. I’m so thankful.”

And what of the lighthearted professional rivalry between Miranda and her fiance, Blake Shelton? “There’s always some friendly competition between us,” she told The Early Show, “and sometimes not so friendly. But yeah, I’m really proud of him and he’s well-deserving of the nominations. He’s a great vocalist. He deserves to be in that category, definitely.” [Blake earned 2 nominations -- Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year (for "Hillbilly Bone") and he's also co-hosting the show with Reba McEntire.]

Ronnie had some high praise for Miranda. “I think her authenticity…what she’s doing right now is, the key to everything,” he said. “She’s definitely very real. I love what she’s doing. I love the energy that she has.”

The JaneDear girls, already nominated for Top New Vocal Duo or Group, learned this morning – the same day their debut album hit stores – that they are nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year.

“I am speechless – I can’t believe we have been nominated for ‘Top Vocal Duo of the Year!’” one half of the JaneDear girls duo, Danelle Leverett, said. “I remember playing out acoustically with Susie in backyards and colleges, living on taco soup, like it was yesterday. This doesn’t seem real.” Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert and Ronnie Dunn at the nominations announcement for the 46th Annual ACM Awards, Feb. 1, 2011 at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Last year Miranda Lambert said 2010 was “her best year yet.” She might have to amend that statement, if Feb. 1, 2011 is any indication.

This morning at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards nominations announcement, Miranda heard her name called 35 times…oops, make that 7 times. Miranda and Ronnie Dunn read the list this morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, live during CBS’ The Early Show. Ronnie made the joke about Miranda having triple-digit nominations, but clearly, she is at the forefront of possible trophy winners.

For the third year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year and for the third year, the two newcomer categories for the annual Academy of Country Music Awards —Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Duo or Group— will also be opened up to fan voting. The winner in each of the two newcomer categories will then move on to compete for Top New Artist, which is also a fan voted category. Online voting for all fan voted categories will be available at www.voteACM.com.  The winners of Entertainer of the Year and Top New Artist will be announced live during the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS.

Miranda led with seven nominations, including Top Female Vocalist and her first-ever nomination for Entertainer of the Year. In addition, she was nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “The House That Built Me” and received two nominations for Video of the Year for “Only Prettier” and “The House That Built Me.” She is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn for “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” Miranda is the reigning ACM Top Female Vocalist.

Kenny Chesney is nominated for five awards, including Album of the Year for Hemingway’s Whiskey and Single Record of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall,” both of which he is nominated for as an artist and producer.   He is also nominated for Video of the Year for “The Boys Of Fall.” 

Zac Brown Band is nominated for five awards including Top Vocal Group and Album of the Year.  Zac Brown Band is also nominated for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” featuring Alan Jackson.

Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band also received four additional individual nominations as the producer for Album of the Year contender You Get What You Give, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away” and additionally as a composer for Song of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away.”

The Band Perry is nominated for four awards, including Top Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo or Group.  They are also nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “If I Die Young.” Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry also received an additional individual nomination as a composer for Song of the Year contender “If I Die Young.”

Taylor Swift is nominated for four awards, including her second nod for Entertainer of the Year.  If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her first Entertainer of the Year win. Swift is nominated as an artist and producer for Album of the Year for Speak Now and she also received a nomination for Top Female Vocalist. 

Lady Antebellum is nominated for three awards including Top Vocal Group.  They are also nominated for Album of the Year as artists and producers for Need You Now. They are the reigning Top Vocal Group.

Lee Brice is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year and as both an artist and producer for Single Record of the year for “Love Like Crazy.”  This is Brice’s first year to be nominated.

Easton Corbin is nominated for three awards for Top New Solo Vocalist and for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for “A Little More Country Than That.” This is Corbin’s first year to be nominated.

Alan Jackson is nominated for three awards for Song of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for “As She’s Walking Away,” with the Zac Brown Band.

Keith Urban is nominated for three awards including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.  Keith is also nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “Blue Sky” with Emily West.

Members of the Academy of Country Music select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top six nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category and the top three nominees in newcomer categories, Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.

Following is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD during the live television broadcast:

Entertainer of the Year

• Jason Aldean
• Toby Keith
• Miranda Lambert
• Brad Paisley
• Taylor Swift
• Keith Urban Continue Reading

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Charlie Daniels trades in his cowboy boots. Photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Country stars are trading in their cowboy boots for army boots to show their support for our nation’s troops. George Jones, the Oak Ridge Boys, Charlie Daniels, Randy Houser, Chuck Wicks and more are taking part in the Boot Campaign, which encourages Americans to buy and wear a pair of army combat boots in support of our troops.  Inspired by retired US Navy SEAL and author of the book Lone Survivor, Marcus Luttrell, proceeds from the boot sales are donated to partner charities. Continue Reading

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Willie Nelson photo by David McClister, courtesy of Lost Highway.

Concerts, politics and awards were the order of the day.

Country music kicked off the final quarter of 2010 with some pretty special moments this past weekend, including iconic live dates by Carrie Underwood and Willie Nelson, a public vote involving Sammy Kershaw and an NFL appearance by Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride.

Country’s big moments included:

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Jamey Johnson photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Jamey Johnson is headed to the home of the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, though he won’t be singing the national anthem or “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the final weekend of baseball’s regular season.

Instead, he’s been announced at the last minute as an addition to the lineup for Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid 25: Growing Home For America at Miller Park. Board members John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Neil Young were already set for the concert, of course. And so were Norah Jones, Jeff Tweedy, Jason Mraz and the Randy Rogers Band, among others.

And the event has an interesting connection to the top of the country album charts. Jamey’s new double-disc CD, The Guitar Song, came out Sept. 14 and went to No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Kenny Chesney’s new project, Hemingway’s Whiskey, came out on Tuesday, and it’s already being forecast as the top-selling album in any genre for the week. Since Kenny’s scheduled to be at Miller Park, too, it means artists with No. 1 country albums two of the last three weeks will both appear on the same stage the same day.

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Little Big Town photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

To purposely misquote a Paul McCartney classic, bands are on the run in country music — straight to the top of the charts.

Little Big Town’s new album The Reason Why, bolts out of the chute to No. 1 on this week’s Billboard Country Albums chart, and it’s followed by the Randy Rogers Band’s Burning The Day, checking in at No. 2. In fact, groups occupy four of the Top 5 slots on the chart. Lady Antebellum’s Need You Now checks in at No. 4, and the the Zac Brown Band hanging in at No. 5 with the double-platinum project The Foundation. The only thing blocking bands from a Top 5 sweep is the Trace Adkins album Cowboy’s Back In Town.

Most fans probably don’t think much about it, but being in a band is completely different from working as a solo artist. There are more expenses, more opinions and more egos involved, so decisions require more communication and more time. As a reward for all that extra work, there’s less potential income — the band members have to split up the proceeds in the end.

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