GAC hosts Suzanne Alexander and Nan Kelley catch up with Trace Adkins at the 2012 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Photo credit GAC staff.

This week’s Top 20 Country Countdown is deep in the heart of Texas. Host Nan Kelley pulled on her boots to talk with the bull riders of GAC’s Xtreme Bulls series and Trace Adkins and Dierks Bentley, on hand to perform, took a break to stop by and chat as well!   Continue Reading

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The Act Of Valor Soundtrack is available in stores now.

The film Act of Valor, currently in theaters, is the fictional story of a Navy SEAL team working to recover a kidnapped CIA operative. Like other Hollywood action films, the movie showcases adrenaline-pumping combat scenes along with other elements like modern battlefield technology. Unlike other Hollywood films, Act of Valor also features true-to-life, active-duty Navy SEALs.

To complement the film, Relativity Media released the official soundtrack, Act of Valor: The Album. Top country artists including Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, Jake Owen and others appear on the record with songs they wrote for the film. Two elements about this project are particularly alluring. First, this soundtrack is less a collection of previously released music picked to match a film, and more a set of songs that were written for and inspired by the movie. Second, the majority of songs on this album were written by the artists that perform them, providing an even deeper look at the feelings and thoughts these artists have about war. Continue Reading

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Just like we always like to do, GAC asked fans to help decide which videos should make one of our special countdowns!  And once again, you came through in a big way.  Thanks to everyone who voted for GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the 2000s earlier this year.  And, a huge thanks to our amazing host, Neal McCoy, for making sure the trip through the countdown was a good time for all!  Congratulations to Carrie Underwood who topped the countdown with her smash hit video “Before He Cheats.”  You can check out the complete list below and be sure to leave us a comment and tells what you think! Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban’s latest video is a thriller. “For You,” written by Keith for the Act of Valor soundtrack, is about the sacrifices our U.S. servicemen and women make to defend our country. The video features Keith and his band in the desert while explosions go off around them, cut between footage from the Act of Valor film.

“I loved the challenge of writing for a film,” Keith said. “I’ve never done that before. After seeing Act Of Valor, my co-writer and I wanted to capture the essence of not only what these men and women do so extraordinarily, but how that relates to all of us.  ‘Valor’ shows us what they are willing to give their all for, which made me wonder, ‘What am I willing to give my life for?’  ‘For You’ is intended to allow the listener to define who that is for them.”

Watch the video now!

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Trace Adkins photo courtesy of Show Dog-Universal Music.

Trace Adkins will be the spokesperson for Pilot Flying J travel centers for the spring launch of their loyalty program, reports the Bradenton Herald. With the amount of time Trace spends on the road, the partnership with Pilot is a perfect fit.

“As much as I travel, my band, crew and I certainly rely on Pilot Flying J travel centers as we tour the country,” Trace said. “I think all the professional drivers, business travelers and motorists on our U.S. highways and interstates would say the same. I’m proud to partner with this driver-driven company as they serve and reward the men and women who are responsible for transporting the products and services of America!”

“Trace relates to the hardworking, American professional driver,” Jimmy Haslam, Pilot Flying J CEO, said. “As the driver-driven company, we strive to serve our customers with passion, convenience, quality products and fast, friendly service. Trace is a natural match; he’s been called the hardest working man in country music, and that aligns well with our work ethic at Pilot Flying J. We’re very proud to have Trace on board to represent Pilot Flying J.” Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins on location at the NASCAR Hall of Fame shooting segments for GAC presentation of The Definitive Earnhardt. Photo courtesy of NASCAR.

Following the success of The Definitive Earnhardt, GAC has once again partnered with NASCAR Media Group to give a rare inside look at the lives of some of NASCAR’s most recognizable drivers. The Definitive, hosted by Trace Adkins and airing Mondays at 9/8 PM CT, will look at defining moments of each driver’s career with archival footage, photos, and interviews from both NASCAR Hall of Famers and current track stars.

The first episode, featuring Jeff Gordon, will air February 20. Jeff, referred to as one part Dale Earnhardt and one part Richard Petty, took NASCAR mainstream in the 1990s and has continued his success into the 2000s. On the track, Jeff has 85 career wins and four NASCAR championships.

Tony Stewart’s episode will air February 27, exploring the 10 qualities that make him a success and includes interviews with Tony, his friends, and his competition. On March 5, The Definitive will focus on racing legend Richard Petty. With 200 wins and seven championships, Richard’s domination in the sport is undeniable. Nicknamed ‘The King,’ viewers will learn Petty’s legacy goes deeper than his accolades on the track. Continue Reading

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Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry and Reid Perry of The Band Perry backstage at The GRAMMY Nominations Concert Live! Countdown to Music's Biggest Night at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 30, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Several country stars are in Los Angeles this weekend for the 54^th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Besides being nominated, several artists will take part in the all-genre show as performers and presenters. The GRAMMYs will air live from the Staples Center on Sunday, February 12 at 8/7 CT on CBS. LL Cool J will serve as host.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Glen Campbell will perform with Blake Shelton and The Band Perry in what is sure to be a highlight of the night. Blake is nominated for two GRAMMY Awards, including Best Country Solo Performance for “Honey Bee” and Best Country Album for Red River Blue. His No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by Dave Barnes, is also up for Best Country Song, given to the songwriter. The Band Perry is nominated for the all-genre New Artist of the Year award.

Other country performers include Carrie Underwood with Tony Bennett, Taylor Swift, and Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson. Carrie’s “Mama’s Song” is nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance. Taylor is up for three GRAMMY Awards. Her hit “Mean” is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song, while her Speak Now album is up for Best Country Album.

Jason is also up for three GRAMMYs. “Dirt Road Anthem” is nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance category. “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” which he will perform with Kelly Clarkson during the show, is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and his My Kinda Party album is in the running for Best Country Album.

Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Gwyneth Paltrow will be among the GRAMMY presenters during the show. A special tribute to the late Etta James by Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt will be featured during the telecast, as well as performances by Katy Perry, Adele, Coldplay and Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Bruno Mars, Paul McCartney and Nicki Minaj.

Here is a complete list of all the country categories as well as a few others featuring country stars as nominees:

Best New Artist (all genres)
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex

Best Country Solo Performance
“Dirt Road Anthem” — Jason Aldean
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” — Martina McBride
“Honey Bee” — Blake Shelton
“Mean” — Taylor Swift
“Mama’s Song” — Carrie Underwood Continue Reading

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Gene Watson photo courtesy of Tamara Saviano.

In celebration of 50 years in country music, Gene Watson has re-recorded 25 of his classic hits to sound like the originals. Best of the Best: 25 Greatest Hits will be released February 14 on Gene’s own record label, Fourteen Carat Music, and features legendary steel guitarist Sonny Garish along with a band of players that re-created the original arrangements.

“I wanted these to sound as close to the originals as could be done,” Gene said. “I had to work so hard to capture them the same way I did them originally. All of these songs are in the same keys. I just thank the good Lord above that He’s let me keep my voice intact. In fact, I can probably hit the notes better now than I could back then. Whenever there was a question when I was re-recording these, we went back and listened to the original recording.”

The Watson family, made up of seven children, grew up moving from shack to shack as their father took logging and crop-picking jobs to make ends meet. Home became a converted school bus and Gene dropped out of school in ninth grade to help his family. He settled in Houston, where he developed a local following on the club circuit. Capitol Records picked up “Love in the Hot Afternoon” for distribution after hearing him perform and it became the first of Gene’s two-dozen Top 10 hits in early 1975.

“Seems like my career just kind of happened accidentally,” Gene says. “It was purely unintentional. Music was just a sideline. I was going to be playing and singing no matter what line of work I was going to do. I never did really have any high expectations out of the music business. Even today, I never know what to expect from one day to the next.”

Gene Watson is a survivor. He quit drinking in 1980 and quit smoking in 1990. He underwent surgery and survived colon cancer in 2000-01. Through it all, he continued to record one critically applauded collection after another. He was inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame in 2002. Continue Reading

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Trace Adkins photo by Russ Harrington, courtesy of Monarch Publicity.

Trace Adkins will headline the second annual NRA Country Jam, present by Bushnell and Folds of Honor. The concert will take place on April 13 at the Ferrara Theatre in St. Louis during the NRA Annual meetings. Over 70,000 NRA members are expected to be in attendance.

Trace, with the NRA Country and Bushnell, have designated a portion of the proceeds from the event to benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation. Founded by Iraq veteran Major Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of U.S. military service members killed or disabled in action.

“I can’t wait to take the stage at the NRA Country Jam 2,” Trace said. “It’s going to be a great show. Folds of Honor is an important cause and I’m happy to help give back to those who give so much for our freedom.” Continue Reading

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Exile photo courtesy of Morris Public Relations.

Exile will perform at the 4th annual The Stars Go Blue benefit concert on March 6 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Trace Adkins will also make a special appearance during the show. All proceeds from the event benefit the Blue Note Fund, a Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) program designed to provide financial assistance to colon cancer patients in need.

The Stars Go Blue Concert was developed by GRAMMY-nominated producer, artist and musician Charlie Kelley (and husband of GAC host Nan Kelley), who was diagnosed with colon cancer after a routine screening at age 40. Just months after undergoing successful surgery and treatment, he began working to raise awareness about  the prevention and treatment of the disease by joining the board of CCA and creating the benefit concert.

“When you’re fighting cancer, the last thing you want to think about is a bill you can’t pay,” he said. “The Blue Note Fund is our way to help others who are going through tough emotional and financial times.”  To date, the fund has awarded $125,000 to 400 patients in need.

Charlie helped create GAC’s Hit Exchange, which paired Trace Adkins with Exile to re-record one of Exile’s signature hits, “Kiss You All Over.” He is looking forward to having them participate in The Stars Go Blue. Check Hit Exchange Airtimes >>

“It’s more than obvious that Trace and Exile have a mutual respect and chemistry and that certainly translates to the stage,” Charlie said. “I’m thrilled that Exile and Trace are generously giving their time and talents to our fourth concert event.”

Tickets for the concert at $100 per person and include the concert, a VIP cocktail reception, and an auction after the concert. For more information, visit www.bluenotefund.org.

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