Garth Brooks photo by Mark Tucker, courtesy of Pearl Records.

Garth Brooks turned 50 on Tuesday, but it wasn’t his milestone birthday he and a small group of famous friends and family celebrated on Music Row. Garth helped surprise his longtime producer Allen Reynolds by renaming a recording studio in his honor, reports The Tennessean. Formerly known as Jack’s Tracks, the studio in which Reynolds has produced all but one of Garth’s albums will now be known as Allentown Studios.

“It’s a really emotional day for me,” Garth said. “My wife (Trisha Yearwood) said, ‘It’s your 50th. Dream as big as you want.’ And I couldn’t find anything in my heart that I wanted to do more than to see this guy get a little bit of what’s due.”

Garth bought the studio two years ago from Reynolds, who purchased it from the original owner and namesake, Cowboy Jack Clement, in 1975. Clement was on hand for the renaming, as were Trisha, Kathy Mattea, Emmylou Harris, and Steve Wariner, among others. An engraved ‘Allentown Studios’ sign was unveiled in the studio lounge. Reynolds, now retired, was told he was going to the studio to celebrate Garth’s birthday.

“It feels great,” he said. “It feels better to see all of the people that were here today. It’ll be a hard habit for me to break to stop calling it ‘Jack’s Tracks.’ It’s a joy to me that he bought it and has kept it a musical place, because you never know, it could have been blown down like the place across the street, and turned into apartments or something going up.” Continue Reading

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Trisha Yearwood, mom Gwen (l) and sister Beth (r) from the 2008 GAC special, Trisha Yearwood: From Our Kitchen To Yours. Photo by David Vespie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Trisha Yearwood has signed a deal to star in a six-episode daytime cooking show for the Food Network.

In the as-yet-untitled series, set to air in April, Trisha will share recipes and family traditions from her kitchen, as she cooks her favorite meals and tells stories.

“I’m so grateful to Food Network for the opportunity to share my family’s favorite recipes and precious memories in this show,” Trisha said. “I’m having so much fun, it’s a very special experience.”

“Fans know Trisha best as a music powerhouse, and through her new Food Network show audiences will learn first-hand what her friends and family already know — that Trisha is a talented, passionate rock-star cook too,” Food Network GM and Senior VP of Programming and Production Bob Tuschman said. “We look forward to sharing this side of Trisha with viewers, showcasing an intimate, entertaining look at her personal recipes, family traditions and warm Southern hospitality.”

Ellen Rakieten Entertainment and RelativityREAL will produce the series, which is in now in production in Nashville and set to bow in April.

Fans may remember Trisha’s GAC special, Trisha Yearwood: From Our Kitchen To Yours, which aired in 2008 when her cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen, was released. See photos from the special HERE >>

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Garth Brooks photo by Mark Tucker, courtesy of Pearl Records.

Garth Brooks appeared in an Oklahoma court on Tuesday as jurors were selected to hear his claim that an Oklahoma hospital refused to name a building for his late mother, Colleen Brooks, after he donated $500,000, reports the Associated Press. Garth claims he made the donation to Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon because he believed part of the building would be named after his mother. He is suing to have the money returned.

Integris says the donation was unconditional and they have done nothing wrong by not naming a building after Colleen. “Unfortunately, talks broke down or did not continue or Mr. Brooks was not satisfied with the options we were offering, and that’s when he decided to sue,” hospital spokesman Hardy Watkins said.

Garth and wife Trisha Yearwood were on hand as jurors were selected. With Garth’s superstar status, the jury had to be selected carefully. Integris lawyer Terry Thomas, who said he was a pop music fan, asked potential jurors if they were able to separate Garth from his celebrity status. Continue Reading

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Trisha Yearwood, mom Gwen (l) and sister Beth (r) from the GAC special, Trisha Yearwood: From Our Kitchen To Yours. Photo by David Vespie.

GAC extends condolences to Trisha Yearwood and her family. Trisha’s mother, Gwen Yearwood, died Saturday morning, Oct. 1, at age 73 in Tifton, Ga. after a long fight with cancer, reports the Washington Post. A statement to the Associated Press says Trisha and her sister Beth were by their mother’s side when she died.

“The family is deeply appreciative of the care and concern they’ve received throughout this journey,” the statement said.

Gwen Yearwood, a teacher who lived in Monticello, Ga., for much of her life, wrote two cookbooks with her daughters: “Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen,” released in 2008, followed by “Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood,” issued in 2010. The first book prompted a GAC special of the same name, in which Trisha invited GAC into her kitchen to cook a few dishes with her mom and sister.

Photos from the special >>

During an interview with GAC to promote the cooking show, Trisha described Gwen as a real example to her in many different ways. She said her mother’s independent streak Continue Reading

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GAC asked you, the fans, to help us pick the Top 50 Videos of the ’90s and all this week host Neal McCoy counted  them down! Here’s the final list — we hope each song title brings back lots of good memories! See the re-air times for the series HERE.  Check out the list below and leave us a comment to tell us about your favorite video from the ’90s.

GAC’s Top 50 Videos of the ’90s: Continue Reading

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New Hall of Fame members Jean Shepard, Bobby Braddock and Reba McEntire at the 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony, held on Sunday, May 22 at the Hall of Fame in Nashville. Photo by Donn Jones Photography (Donn Jones, Richard Suter, Terry Wyatt).

Members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and some of country’s biggest stars reunited at the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum on Sunday, May 22, 2011 to salute Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Bobby Braddock, Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard. Click HERE to see our star-studded photo gallery from the night!

At the invitation of the Country Music Association, the private Medallion Ceremony became the official rite of induction for new members of the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.  The evening included musical salutes to Braddock, McEntire and Shepard. The new members were inducted and welcomed as peers by members of the Hall of Fame, who also presented keepsake medals:  Bill Anderson inducted Braddock; Dolly Parton inducted Reba; and George Jones inducted Jean.

Artists paying tribute to Braddock included Billy Currington, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, Tracy Lawrence, and George Jones with Jimmy Capps, Charlie McCoy and Millie Kirkham; artists saluting Reba included Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson and Martina McBride, Vince Gill, and Trisha Yearwood; and artists honoring Shepard included Bill Anderson and Elizabeth Cook, Vince Gill, and Ranger Doug Green of Riders in the Sky.  All the performers were backed by John Hobbs and the 2011 Medallion All-Star Band.  With ceremony musical director Hobbs on keyboards, the Medallion All-Stars included Eddie Bayers Jr., drums; Paul Franklin, steel guitar; Steve Gibson, electric guitar; Michael Rhodes, bass guitar; Deanie Richardson, fiddle; Dawn Sears, background vocals; Biff Watson, acoustic guitar; and Jeff White, background vocals. Vince and the McCrary Sisters sang the traditional opening hymn, performing “Down by the Riverside.”

In addition to Anderson, Braddock, Gill, Jones, McCoy, McEntire, Parton and Shepard, other Hall of Fame members who attended included Harold Bradley, Ralph Emery, Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers, Sonny James, Brenda Lee, Barbara Mandrell, Gordon Stoker of the Jordanaires and Jo Walker-Meador.

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Trisha Yearwood photo courtesy of Big Machine Records.

Today we wanted to show you this very sweet clip of Trisha Yearwood visiting our studio and recalling one of her favorite Mother’s Days. Happy Mother’s Day to all moms everywhere! Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Records.

LeAnn Rimes scored her first hit at the young age of 13 and hasn’t left the spotlight since, keeping our attention with a steady stream of hits and headlines.

The singer, songwriter, actress and author opens up about the tumultuous early years, the truth behind the tabloid headlines and how she’s found peace in our 90-minute biodoc, Backstory: LeAnn Rimes,  airing Sunday, April 24 at 8/7c on GAC.

For this week’s GAC Trivia Time*, take a walk down memory lane for the highs and lows of a celebrated career.

Aug 28, 1982 – LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi

Jul 5, 1995 – A Davidson County judge signs an order setting aside 12-year-old LeAnn Rimes’ minority status, allowing her to sign with Curb Records

Jun 4, 1996 – LeAnn Rimes’ debut single, “Blue,” appears in record stores, selling 100,000 copies its first day

Aug 13, 1996 – LeAnn Rimes, at 13, becomes the youngest nominee in CMA history

Feb 26, 1997 – LeAnn Rimes wins two trophies–Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for “Blue”–during the 39th annual Grammy Awards at New York’s Madison Square Garden

Aug 6, 1997 – LeAnn Rimes visits a seven-year-old girl who has been in a Reno, Nevada, hospital with a coma since she was injured in a car accident. Rimes sings “Blue” to the girl, who shows eye movement during the visit and soon returns to health Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, Taylor Swift hearts Norway,  John Rich gives a “Celebrity Apprentice” update, Martina McBride is truly blessed — and Blake Shelton prays for his liver. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/taylorswift13.

Taylor Swift:  @taylorswift13    Norway! Where have you been all my life?!?! It’s freezing and beautiful. Can’t feel my hands.

Jimmy Wayne:  @JimmyWayne    One thing to remember as an adult: don’t share your bday party w/a 5 yr olds. Guess who gets the shaft?

Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus:  @JayDeMarcus    Interviews and more interviews.. Never thought I’d have to talk so much about Bieber’s hair!!! Wow.

Blake Shelton:  @blakeshelton   I now a lay me down to sleep I pray my lord my liver to “act-like-this-night-never-happened”…

Martina McBride:   @martinamcbride    Having a glass of bubbly and watching Frasier with my husband. It’s been a great night. Kids are happy. Lots of laughs. I have been blessed.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/juliannehough.

Julianne Hough:  @juliannehough    So I’m trying new ways to stay in shape… This one is highly unfashionable… But man is it a workout! Continue Reading

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Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of artist.

It rained. And rained. And rained some more.

Nashville took in over 13 inches of water in a 48-hour period in May, and some areas of the region were swamped with as much as 20 inches. It was more than the rivers and streams could handle, and by May 3, the drainage system was overflowing. The stage and much of the floor seating at the Grand Ole Opry House was covered, water seeped into one room at the Country Music Hall of Fame, LP Field — the site of the CMA Music Festival — became a swamp, and an instrument storage unit was drowned, destroying guitars and equipment owned by Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Toby Keith and Vince Gill, among others.

It took a while for people to notice outside of Middle Tennessee. The focus of the major news organizations at the time was on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. So Music City rolled up its sleeves and started digging out on its own.

The Nashville flood is No. 1 on the list as GAC concludes its countdown of the top country news stories of 2010.

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