Emmylou Harris photo by Rocky Schenck, courtesy of Nonesuch Records.

Emmylou Harris is teaming up with Rodney Crowell, her famed Hot Band’s original guitarist, for a duet album, reports Billboard.com. They are working with producer Brian Ahern, who first worked with Emmylou on her major label solo debut, Pieces of the Sky, in 1975.

“At one point before the Hot Band, the Hot Band was me and Rodney sitting around with two acoustic guitars learning Don Gibson songs,” Emmylou said. “It’s kind of a thing we always said, ‘We’ve got to do a duet record,’ and he’s been busy and I’ve been busy. But earlier this year I just decided that I wanted to do a record with him, and if we didn’t book it and plan it and set aside some time, it would be something we’d get to the end of our lives and regret we’d never done it.”

The album will feature mainly cover songs, but they have considered songs Rodney wrote for others but never recorded himself. They are pretty far along in the recording process, but have been battling sickness and hope to finish the project soon. They are hoping to play a few shows together as well.  “I’m sure we’ll do something, but he’s got his career and I’ve got mine, so I don’t know what we’ll be able to do for sure,” Emmylou said.

This year is also the 25^th anniversary of Emmylou’s first Trio album with Linda Ronstadt and Dolly Parton. To celebrate, the GRAMMY-winning collaboration will be re-released alongside 1999’s Trio 2 (as well as session outtakes), in a boxed set. Emmylou will also keep touring in support of 2011’s Hard Bargain. Emmylou wrote 11 of that album’s 13 tracks. Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Tamara Saviano.

To mark the 15th anniversary of Townes Van Zandt’s New Year’s Day death in 1997, the John and Robin Dickson Series will release I’ll Be Here in the Morning: The Songwriting Legacy of Townes Van Zandt. The book, written by Brian T. Atkinson, chronicles the impact that Townes’ lyrics had on fellow and future artists.

“I don’t envision a very long life for myself,” Townes once said. “I think my life will run out before my work does. I’ve designed it that way.” Townes penned such classics as “Pancho and Lefty,” “If I Needed You,” “Tecumseh Valley,” and “Lungs.”

Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams are among more than 40 songwriters interviewed for the book. They analyze Townes’ lyrics and share stories of Townes’ rise and fall. The book also includes insight from younger artists such as My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, The Avett Brothers’ Scott Avett, Grace Potter, Josh Ritter and Kasey Chambers, who have all been influenced by Townes’ work. Continue Reading

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Emmylou Harris photo courtesy of Schmidt Public Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate Emmylou Harris’ 20^th anniversary as an Opry member on January 21, 2012 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Emmylou was inducted into the Opry on January 25, 1992. Emmylou will perform and will be honored by Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin — who will be making her Opry debut that evening — and more.

“Emmylou is treasured not just by all of us at the Grand Ole Opry, but also by fans around the world,” Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager, said. “She’s shared so many great musical moments with us over the past 20 years, singing with and introducing us to some of her favorite musical collaborators. We’re excited to celebrate her Opry anniversary at the Ryman, a stage on which she’s displayed such incredible artistry through the years.”

Emmylou has erased the boundaries between country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll. She began performing folk music while in college in the ’60s. In  the late ’60s, she met Gram Parsons, formerly of The Byrds, and he became her mentor and singing partner, drawing her into the ’70s country-rock movement. She worked with him until his death in 1973. Continue Reading

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The 2011 album, This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark. Photo courtesy of Ellis Creative.

The Center for Texas Music History will host the benefit concert ‘Wish I Was In Austin: A 70 Birthday Tribute to Guy Clark’ on November 2 at the Long Center in Austin. The live show also celebrates the release of the double CD This One’s For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark which is slated to be released on November 8. Guy was born in Monahans, Texas on November 6, 1941.

Several artists who recorded tracks for the tribute CD will perform at the concert.  Terry Allen, Shawn Colvin, Rodney Crowell, Joe Ely, Rosie Flores, Radney Foster, Terri Hendrix, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jack Ingram, James McMurtry, The Trishas, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kevin Welch and more are scheduled to perform.  Guy will also perform a set. Continue Reading

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Hank Williams photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present a special program honoring Hank Williams on April 16. Titled “I Saw the Light: Songwriters Salute Hank,” the program will feature Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe, The Secret Sisters and Steve Young. I Saw the Light, which is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy, Presented by SunTrust, will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Museum’s Ford Theater; it is included with Museum admission and is free to Museum members.

During the program, which will be hosted by Family Tradition co-curator Michael McCall, each artist will perform one or more of Hank’s classic songs, as well as some of their own compositions that were influenced or inspired by Williams. They will also discuss how Hank influenced their work. Continue Reading

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Josh Turner visits host Nan Kelley on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown.

The Colon Cancer Alliance announces the 3rd Annual “Stars Go Blue” benefit concert for colon cancer at the Country Music Hall of Fame this Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The event benefits the Blue Note Fund, which provides financial support for colon cancer patients in need of financial assistance.

The theme of this year’s show is “Couples in Country Music.” GAC host Storme Warren and his wife, Allison, will host the benefit, which will feature multi-platinum MCA recording artist and Grand Ole Opry member Josh Turner and his wife and band member, Jennifer, along with Grammy winning singer Linda Davis and her husband singer/songwriter, Lang Scott. Continue Reading

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Josh Turner visits host Nan Kelley on the set of Top 20 Country Countdown.

The Colon Cancer Alliance announces the 3rd Annual “Stars Go Blue” benefit concert for colon cancer at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The event benefits the Blue Note Fund, which provides financial support for colon cancer patients in need of financial assistance.

The theme of this year’s show is “Couples in Country Music” featuring multi-platinum MCA recording artist and Grand Ole Opry member Josh Turner and his wife and band member, Jennifer, along with Grammy winning singer Linda Davis and her husband singer/songwriter, Lang Scott. Also performing is “Stars Go Blue” creator and Grammy nominated producer/artist Charlie Kelley with his wife, GAC host Nan Kelley.

Tickets are $100.00 per person and include the intimate concert in the Ford Theater, a VIP cocktail reception, and auction after the concert. For tickets or more information, please visit www.thestarsgoblue.com. Amgen is silver sponsor for the event. Continue Reading

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

The members of Rascal Flatts got the biggest cheers from the thousand or so people on hand, but they did not get the only applause during a Music City Walk of Fame installation event Sunday in downtown Nashville that knitted together several generations of performers.

Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney were joined by Kris Kristofferson, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens and late singers Bobby Hebb and Eddy Arnold in receiving their sidewalk plaques, extending a row of markers that included Michael McDonald, Elvis Presley and Trace Adkins.

Emceed by GAC’s Bill Cody, the class of performers represented a swatch of Nashville music history. Beyond the contemporary Flatts crew, Kris and Mel hit their strides in the 1970s as artists, songwriters and actors. Bobby accrued a landmark 1960s pop hit with the effervescent “Sunny,” and Eddy and Little Jimmy were among the first artists to have hits with songs recorded in Nashville during the 1940s, when the town hadn’t yet earned its Music City moniker.

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Johnny Cash

His voice was haunting and they referred to him as the Man in Black. So maybe it’s appropriate that Johnny Cash Radio is launching during the Halloween season.

A new Internet station, http://www.JohnnyCashRadio.com/index.htm, was founded by Bill Miller, who established the official Johnny Cash website some 14 years ago. Already streaming material 24/7, the site features plenty of Johnny’s music, but also a ton of guest contributions by the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Graham Nash, Rodney Crowell, Merle Haggard and the Oak Ridge Boys, as well as members of the Cash clan.

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Ryan Bingham photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Film makers want very much for the general public to buy in to the magic of movies. You can count Ryan Bingham among those who believe in celluloid’s power.

After sharing a Golden Globe and an Oscar Award for Best Song with T Bone Burnett for writing the “The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart),” Ryan took home two trophies — Song and Artist of the Year — Thursday during the ninth annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards in Nashville.

The Americana nods only add to the lists in which Ryan finds himself. The Song of the Year Oscar put him in the company of such songwriters as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Henry Mancini and Irving Berlin — all of whom have won the Film Academy’s Best Song prize at least once. Ryan’s new album, Junky Star, made its chart debut this week, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums list. And the Americana Artist of the Year trophy put him on yet another list among such previous winners as Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Neil Young and Jim Lauderdale, who hosted Thursday’s show.

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