News And Notes

All posts tagged "Taylor Swift"

Feb 8

Carrie Underwood to Perform with Tony Bennett on the GRAMMYs

Carrie Underwood photo by James White, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Carrie Underwood and Lady Antebellum have been added to the list of country stars who will be a part of the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Carrie will join Tony Bennett for a performance while Lady A will serve as presenters. A tribute to the late Etta James by Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt has also been added. The GRAMMYs will air on CBS on Sunday, February 12th at 8/7 CT.

Other country artists scheduled to perform include Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Glen Campbell, with Blake Shelton and The Band Perry, Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift. Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Gwyneth Paltrow will be among GRAMMY presenters. Continue Reading

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Posted at 11:12 am | Permalink
Feb 2

Taylor Swift Makes Big Donation to Nashville Public Library

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Taylor Swift is known for spreading her good fortune around and this time, the Nashville Public Library system is the lucky recipient of her generosity. She has donated 14,000 Scholastic books, the largest donation ever received by NPL, to the library system.

The books will be available for checkout at each of the 21 branches. Some of the books will be donated to low-income children, pre-schools and daycare centers while still others will be used as prizes for completing the summer reading program.

Taylor’s donation will provide incentive to encourage children to read. Each book will have a donation plate on the inside cover that will read:  “A Gift to the Children of Nashville from Taylor Swift and Scholastic Inc.”     Continue Reading

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Posted at 3:02 pm | Permalink
Feb 2

Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert Added as GRAMMY Presenters

Miranda Lambert photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Gwyneth Paltrow have been announced as presenters at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards. They are just the latest country stars to be added to the awards. Lifetime Achievement Recipient Glen Campbell will perform with special guests Blake Shelton and The Band Perry. Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, and Taylor Swift are also slated to perform.

Other performers on the GRAMMYs include Katy Perry, Adele, Coldplay and Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney and Nicki Minaj. LL Cool J will act as host of the GRAMMYs for the first time. Continue Reading

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Posted at 11:17 am | Permalink
Feb 2

Second Edition of Encyclopedia of Country Music Released

Photo courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

When the Encyclopedia of Country Music was first published in 1998, it became an instant reference and definitive source on country music. Now, the second edition of the book has been released by Oxford University Press and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The new edition, compiled by museum staff, features new entries on artists who have profoundly influenced country music in recent years, including Kenny Chesney, Dixie Chicks, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more.

More new entries in the book focus on the most important studio musicians, songwriters and music executives in the last decade. It also explores the latest and most critical industry trends, such as the digital revolution, the shifting politics of country music, and the impact of American Idol. The importance of Nashville to country music and even the stage costumes worn by country stars are also featured in the new edition.

“I’ve loved country music all my life, and it still amazes me how much more I can learn about it,” Reba McEntire said. “The Encyclopedia of Country Music will be a reference book for the next generation of country music lovers to learn about the folks I was blessed enough to get to know and work with. I will enjoy reading it and getting reacquainted with our history.” Continue Reading

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Posted at 11:13 am | Permalink
Jan 27

Glen Campbell to Perform with Blake Shelton & The Band Perry on GRAMMY Awards

Glen Campbell photo courtesy of Big Hassle PR

Glen Campbell, who is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, will perform on the GRAMMY Awards with Blake Shelton and The Band Perry. Glen has won five GRAMMYs over his career and is currently on the road for his Goodbye Tour after announcing last year that he has Alzheimer’s.

Blake Shelton is nominated for two GRAMMYs, including Best Country Solo Performance for “Honey Bee” and Best Country Album for Red River Blue. The Band Perry is up for Best New Artist. The 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place on Sunday, February 12. The show will air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on CBS at 8/7 CT. Continue Reading

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Posted at 10:55 am | Permalink
Jan 20

Top 10 Country Tweets of the Week

Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Miranda Lambert thanks fans for their support after Blake Shelton’s father passed away, Jake Owen  keeps fans updated on his broken collarbone from the waiting room, Josh Kelley shares a photo of wife Katherine Heigl that may land him in the doghouse and Taylor Swift puts her TV remote in its place. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Lady Antebellum

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/ladyantebellum.

Lady AntebellumLadyAntebellum: We are all ready and excited! #OwnTheNightWorldTour

Miranda Lambert – Miranda_Lambert: Thank you all for your kindness and prayer. Our family means everything to us. Blake and I appreciate the support so much.

Jake Owen – JakeOwen: In the Dr. waiting on my sentence.. You know it’s not good when he comes in and says “That break is worse than the football teams”. Damn.

Katherine Heigl

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/joshkelley.

Josh Kelley – JoshBKelley: My girl getting her hair done for ONE FOR THE MONEY movie press Continue Reading

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Posted at 5:11 pm | Permalink
Jan 20

Top 20 Is All New Tonight with Host Nan Kelley

Top 20 logo

 Top 20 Country Countdown is all new tonight as host Nan Kelley counts down the videos you chose from 20 all the way to 1! Last Week, Taylor Swift’s latest video, “Ours,” topped the charts, with videos from Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Chris Young and Luke Bryan and rounding out the Top 5. Does Taylor hang on to the top spot? Tune in tonight at 9/8 CT — the new Top 20 air time — to find out. Check the full schedule of all airtimes »

If you missed a few episodes of Top 20 or want to watch some of your favorite interviews again, head over to our Top 20 section for videos, photos and more! You can also catch a few Top 20 Extras, cast your votes, and take a look at the current Top 20 chart to see where your favorite videos land. Visit Top 20! >>

Remember, GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown is chosen by you, the viewers. Make sure to head over to our voting page and cast your votes daily for your favorite videos!

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Posted at 4:41 pm | Permalink
Jan 18

Taylor Swift Graces the Cover of Vogue

Taylor Swift's Vogue Cover.

Taylor Swift can add another magazine cover to her resume. The superstar is Vogue’s February cover girl. The cover image was leaked by  The Fashion Spot over the weekend. In her in-depth interview with the magazine, Taylor discusses several topics, including when she stopped caring about being the cool kid.

“I think that happened as soon as I left school, when I was sixteen, because then all that mattered was music and this dream that I’d had my whole life,” she said. “It never mattered to me that people in school didn’t think that country music was cool, and they made fun of me for it—though it did matter to me that I was not wearing the clothes that everybody was wearing at that moment. But at some point, I was just like, ‘I like wearing sundresses and cowboy boots.’”

Taylor is frequently asked in interviews when she’s going to have a scandal or breakdown similar to other high-profile celebrities in her age group. She is known for having a cool head and being a positive role model. For her, there is simply too much to lose.

“I think, for me, the bigger pitfall is losing your self-awareness,” she said to the magazine. “Even though I am at a place where my dresses are really pretty and the red carpets have a lot of bright lights and I get to play to thousands of people, you have to take that with a grain of salt. The stakes are really high if you mess up, if you slack off and don’t make a good record, if you make mistakes based on the idea that you are larger than life and you can just coast.”

That’s not saying Taylor never loses her cool. She has had her self-proclaimed bratty moments, but they are short-lived. “If I do I usually spend the next four days apologizing,” she said. “I get post-conversation anxiety. ‘I am so sorry if I said something weird. Did I make that weird? I am sorry if I made that weird!’”

Taylor also talked to Vogue about her relationship with her parents, the heartbreak that is inspiring her fourth album, and what she’s learned are red flags in relationships. You can read the entire interview with Taylor HERE, andsee a full-size photo of the cover HERE.

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Posted at 11:06 am | Permalink
Jan 17

Watch Kellie Pickler LIVE on GAC Wednesday Night

Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler photo courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

Kellie Pickler – with her quick wit and engaging personality – is the perfect star for live television.  In the first-ever LIVE episode of The Collection, Wednesday, January 18 at 8 p.m. Eastern, Kellie sits down with host Storme Warren to talk about the making of several of the music videos in her catalog.  The platinum singer/songwriter has made videos for many of her top hits including “Best Days of Your Life,” a song she co-wrote with Taylor Swift, “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You,” and “I Wonder.”

Throughout the telecast, members of the TV and viral audience will have the opportunity to submit questions to Kellie via GAC’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GAC (clicking on the ‘Kellie Pickler chat’ tab).  The questions chosen will be sent to Storme’s on-set iPad and he will share them with his guest.

Following the one-hour show, Kellie will continue engaging fans through an online chat on the GAC Facebook page.

“We loved the idea of doing something live and interactive with Kellie, an artist our fans have loved since she released “Red High Heels,” said GAC GM/SVP Sarah Trahern. “She is often at the top of our fan-voted chart and when Kellie and Storme get together for a live hour of television, who knows what will happen?”

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Posted at 5:33 pm | Permalink
Jan 13

Top 10 Country Tweets of the Week

Country music stars sure love Twitter! This week, Rascal Flatts hangs with the quarterback of the moment, David Nail reflects on his first No. 1 single, John Rich shares the aftermath of his birthday bash, Jo Dee Messina tweets from labor and delivery and Jake Owen posts a hilarious video after his wisdom teeth extraction! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Rascal Flatts & Tebow

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/JayDeMarcus.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDemarcus: With our buddy Tebow yesterday… Great game!!

Taylor SwiftTaylorSwift13: Thank you so much for my People’s Choice Award! Favorite Country Artist! PARTY!!! Seriously- thank you for voting.

David Nail – DavidNail: Wife is in Vegas, so it’s me and the dogs tonight! Finally some time to myself to reflect just how amazing this week has been! Thank u!!!

Dierks Bentley

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks BentleyDierksBentley: somehow the #redsolocup disco ball from the video wound up on my table at the studio I work out of. suggestions??! Continue Reading

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Posted at 2:56 pm | Permalink

Headline Country

Take a trip inside the world of country music with host Storme Warren! Watch full episodes of Headline Country now.