Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Reba pokes fun at a hoax claiming she’d died in Austria, Sarah Buxton comes up with a clever invention, Jake Owen  deals with a tired pup, Little Big Town teases their whereabouts, and proud dad Rhett Akins hears his son, Thomas Rhett, on the radio for the first time. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/reba.

Reba – Reba: The rumors of my Austrian death are greatly exaggerated!

Little Big Town – LBTMusic: Yep, we’re in the studio with Vince Gill right now.

Sarah Buxton – SarahBuxton: Invention: The Crack Flap. Comes up over the back of your pants & covers the inevitable plumbers crack caused by today’s low rise pants.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/thebandperry.

The Band Perry - TheBandPerry: Thx Las Vegas for an amazing night!!! Fake Brad Paisley has left the building. (np) Continue Reading

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David Nail's 2011 CD, The Sound of a Million Dreams. Photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

You could almost make the argument that the current trend of infusing R&B and soul into mainstream country has a little bit to do with the success of David Nail. Singles like the Top 10 hit “Red Light” or the Grammy-nominated “Turning Home” from 2009’s I’m About To Come Alive felt like they had more than a little in common with the classic southern blues sound of artists like Joe Cocker or the Allman Brothers Band, and yet they succeeded in connecting with the country audience.

On The Sound of a Million Dreams, David’s second studio album that’s due in stores next week, the Missouri native expands on the bluesy, soulful country of his previous efforts with tender songs full of young love, nostalgia and heartache.

Themes like these are found throughout contemporary country, and David settles right in with them on the album opener “Grandpa’s Farm.” Summer dresses, honeysuckle and bare feet all make an appearance as David sings about the city girl who visits her family’s farm when school’s out and it’s too hot to do anything but find a swimming hole. However, what sets David apart is the concept and delivery. Humidity practically steams out of the speakers with swampy slide guitar and B-3 organ over a loose rhythm section while David’s engaging drawl is at once soulful and complex.

David’s ability to study a specific moment and convey all the feelings involved is compelling. The first single off the album, “Let It Rain”(written by David and hit-maker Jonathan Singleton, and featuring Sarah Buxton on backing vocals), is a meditation on regret. Building off the steady syncopation of organ and percussion, David sings, No seven years of good can’t hide the one night I forgot to wear that ring, before begging for the punishment due with a ringing chorus of, Let it rain down on me. On the epic “That’s How I’ll Remember You,” David takes a seemingly opposite approach that reaches a similar result. Continue Reading

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Katie Amiger photo courtesy of Cold River Records.

Katie Armiger is serving up a treat for her fans on Halloween. She will release her new single, “Scream,” to radio on October 31. Katie co-wrote the song with Sarag Buxton and Blair Daly. The track can be found on Katie’s third studio album, Confessions of a Nice Girl, as well as the deluxe album, Confessions of a Nice Girl (The True Confessional).

Watch Katie Armiger’s Fan Q&A >>

“Everyone has had a relationship where nothing seems to go right and it seems like the only way to feel better or get some kind of release is to scream,” Katie said. “That’s what this song stemmed from so lots of people can relate. I am really excited to have it out there as a single.” Continue Reading

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A quiet Sunday night took a wild turn as reports of Osama bin Laden’s death spread like wildfire.   Then, a little bit after 11 p.m. ET, President Barack Obama addressed the nation to confirm the report.  President Obama outlined that U.S. Special Forces had killed bin Laden early Sunday morning at a compound located in a small town in Northern Pakistan.  The President described a successful, targeted operation that ended with bin Laden’s body in the possession of the troops that executed the mission. Bin Laden’s death comes just months before the 10-year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that he claimed responsibility for.

As the news of bin Laden’s death spread, country stars reacted with a flood of messages on Twitter.  Here are just a few:

reba: So proud of our President and our military!

DierksBentley: God Bless our troops and their families… thank you for the sacrifices you all make for our freedoms and our Country. what a great moment.

BradPaisley: If you see someone in a military uniform tomorrow, for heaven’s sake give them a hug. Or a drink. Or a new car.

saraevansmusic: So proud of our American soldiers for the incredible job they did in taking out Bin Laden! Praise the Lord! Thank you!

darrylworley: Thank God! I knew this day would come. I have never been so happy to hear the news of someones death.

blakeshelton: Sorry if this seems disrespectful but I’m so glad that piece absolute #### Osama is dead..

johnrich: Ya’ll wanna know who got fired? OSAMA.

leannrimes: Omg, Bin Laden!!! Blessings to our troops and a bit of peace for our country and those who lost loved one’s in 9/11.

joebonsall: Now Osama knows what it is like to get fried alive… God bless our military… I hope it hurt like HELL!! Keyword being HELL!!

billycurrington: this news is awesome !

juliannehough: Justice has been done

thompsonsquare: GOD BLESS AMERICA! This is a great day.

sarahbuxton: God BLESS those soldiers who carried out this mission successfully! What a bunch of bad asses. America, America, God shed his grace on thee!

TheJoshThompson: God Bless the U.S.A! I hope the news is true.

billyraycyrus: Just saw the news! OSAMA BIN LADEN is dead !!! How crazy is that ! Only in my life could i be at FT Hood on the night this happened …

steelmagnolia11: Osama Bin Laden is dead! Wow.. Watching news now.

joshgracin: Great Night for the USA…. Great Night for the families of 9/11…. Big step toward the preservation of humanity.

jamesotto: I wondered if this day would ever come. Did y’all think we’d ever here this amazing news?

Leave us a comment and let us know how you felt when you heard the news.

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Dierks Bentley‘s week was red hot, in spite of Nashville’s freezing temperatures. He met Lady Antebellum‘s Charles Kelley for a drink and when he left, he found his car on fire! Also, judging from this week’s tweets, country has gone to the dogs — literally! Several stars tweeted pictures of their incredibly cute pups. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Charles Kelley & Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Dierks Bentley.

Dierks Bentley:   @DierksBentley  met my friend charles kelley at a bar. he wanted to see my new ’67 camero [sic]. we walked back outside. it was on fire. not cool.

Dierks Bentley:   @DierksBentley   some footage from last night. hard to sleep w images of flames coming out from under the engine stuck in head. (Editor’s note:  Click here for a “fire report” from Dierks and Charles.)

Sarah Buxton:  @sarahbuxton    @DierksBentley I was next door @whiskey kitchen w Cassady, some dude told us about your flaming camero! [sic] I thought he was joking! Guess not!

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/juliannehough.

Julianne Hough:  @juliannehough    This is what I wake up to every morning… I’m a lucky girl!! Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week!

Keith Urban & Dolly Parton at the All of the Hall concert on Tuesday, October 5, 2010. Photo courtesy of twitter.com/KeithUrban.

Keith Urban: @KeithUrban  Gearing up for the show tonight with the one and only…  (see photo above)

Martina McBride: @martinamcbride My daughter & friends wanted 2 meet Dolly so I ran after her as she was gettin n2 her car! She was sweet & asked if they wanted a pic. Class.

Sarah Buxton:  @sarahbuxton    Dying laughing…bc in the bathroom of Macaroni Grill the speakers are blasting Italian lessons. Am I supposed to sit on the toilet & learn? Continue Reading

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(l-r) Brad Tursi, Dave Pahanish, Marcel & Jimmy Wayne in Nashville, TN. Photo by Beth Brinker.

Music City is a town that celebrates the songwriter…especially when it comes to a milestone birthday.

Tuesday, September 7, country artists and friends came out to surprise hit songwriter Dave Pahanish (“American Ride” – Toby Keith, “I Will” – Jimmy Wayne) for his 40th birthday at Third & Lindsley Bar & Grill in Nashville. The stage was a revolving door of talent, with performances by duo Buxton Hughes (Sarah Buxton and Jedd Hughes,) Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi, Hugh Mitchell, Eric Paslay, Marcel, Jessica Andrews, Emily West, Jimmy Wayne and more!

Dave’s wife, Kristin Lee Pahanish, had been quietly scheming for weeks while she arranged the superstar guest list of Dave’s friends, fans and artist admirers. One of Dave’s biggest fans is Jimmy, who performed “Sara Smile” and the No. 1 song “Do You Believe Me Now,” also written by Dave.

“He’s so creative and talented and it’s a shame that Dave Pahanish is not out there on the road touring as an amazing superstar,” Jimmy  praised.

Dave and his band, The Rust Belt, rocked the night away. He was humbled by the surprise party-turned-show in his honor.

“I love you all and I’m so honored to call you my friends. Thanks for being a part of one of the best days of my life,” Dave said.

For the play by play of the evening, go to Jimmy Wayne’s Twitter feed. Also, check out Dave’s music on his MySpace page.

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Now that the Country Music Association has wrapped up its annual nominations process, the organization is looking forward to tonight’s broadcast of an ABC special, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock.”

The three-hour show is packed with heavy hitters, including Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker, and it’s hosted for the first time by Tim McGraw, who’s making it just one of several firsts on his agenda.

For starters, he’s set to play Australia for the first time this month, beginning Sept. 16, and he’s already got some extra-curricular plans. Tim and Faith Hill are making a family vacation out of the trip — he’s earned a pilot’s license and plans to fly out over the outback. In addition, one of his daughters has been working at getting certified to take a scuba expedition in a shark cage and see some great white sharks.

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Keith Urban performs at the Nightly Concerts at LP Field on Friday, June 11 in Downtown Nashville during the 2010 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: Donn Jones / CMA.

When fans look back on the 2010 CMA Music Festival, one of the sonic moments they’re likely to remember collectively will be the close of Keith Urban’s Friday-night set at Nashville’s LP Field, where he put together an all-star ensemble for a Beatles cover.

Keith brought out a horn section led by Kenny Chesney sideman Jim Horn, keyboard players Tony Brown and Tim Akers and a group of background vocalists that included Sarah Buxton and Little Big Town members Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman for a version of “With A Little Help From My Friends.” Footage of last month’s Tennessee flood — and of neighbors helping each other through it — ran across the video screen in the back, underscoring the song’s communal theme.

Watch it here:

Keith did the song twice for a film crew that was taping the stadium shows for the Sept. 1 ABC special “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock.” Nashville’s recovery from the disaster is likely to be an undercurrent in the special, in part because it’s an example of a city that pulled together to help itself.

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Chely Wright & SHeDAISY at the 10th Annual Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit concert, held at TPAC’s James Polk Theater in Nashville, Tenn. on June 8, 2010. Photo by Melinda Norris, courtesy of Wortman Works Media & Marketing.

Chely Wright’s 10th Annual Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit concert, held at TPAC’s James Polk Theater in Nashville on June 8, 2010 during the CMA Music Festival, raised thousands of dollars for local Kingston Springs Elementary School, which was devastated by flood waters. The concert also donated over one ton of food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.  

With over 800 in attendance, the star-studded event included performances by Trisha Yearwood, Rodney Crowell, SHeDAISY, Jamey Johnson, Bucky Covington, Justin Moore, Buxton Hughes, Jann Arden, and of course, Reading, Writing & Rhythm’s Founder, Chely.  Items were auctioned off throughout the evening, including a shopping spree with Chely to Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams furniture store and a Fly Away trip to a Keith Urban show. 

Chely signed her last autograph at 4:40 a.m. Continue Reading

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