THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE -- 7UP Finale Part 2: Sweet Victory -- Pictured: (l-r) Donald Trump, John Rich -- Photo by: Heidi Gutman/NBC.

Country stars were well-represented in reality TV in 2011. From The Voice and American Idol  to Celebrity Apprentice and The Biggest Loser, stars were giving up their guitars and putting on their game faces or else signing for their chance to be music’s next big thing.

Perhaps the biggest reality star from the country music realm ended up being Blake Shelton. Blake took on the role as a coach on NBC’s The Voice alongside artists Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera and Maroon 5‘s Adam Levine. Blake coached team member Dia Frampton all the way to a second place finish, winning over America in the process. Blake will take Dia on tour with him in 2012 and he’ll return to the coach’s chair when the second season of The Voice premieres on NBC January 5.

American Idol has been known to springboard the careers of several country artists — and season 10 proved no different. It was an all-country Top 2 with Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina being voted into the finale by fans across America. Scotty went on to win, but both artists released highly-successful debut albums and singles in 2011 and will hit the road on major tours in early 2012.

“This is pretty wild, I gotta say,” Scotty told Billboard after winning. “It’s a whole lot more than I bargained for coming into this. I never would have expected it. But I’m handling it well — this is what I asked for, and it’s my new life, so this is a really crazy ride so far.”

American Idol Finale Photo Gallery >>

John Rich continued the country tradition of doing well on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice. John won the competition over Marlee Matlin in what Trump’s daughter Ivanka said was the closest finale in the show’s history. John was awarded $250,000 for his charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, bringing his total for the hospital to over one million dollars. Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! In this week’s edition of Top 10 Tweets, Brad Paisley extends a peace offering, Laura Bell Bundy pays off some travel karma debt, Scotty McCreery reveals his role in a Brad Paisley prank and Miranda Lambert is embarassed by her parents while watching them on Tom’s Wild Life. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley – DierksBentley: just got some funny pics from tonight in Minnesota. first up…girl overboard!

Brad Paisley – BradPaisley: Gave @edensedge a new Razorback floormat tonight. So there.

Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts – JayDeMarcus: I am beside myself. We were asked to be members of the Grand Ole Opry tonight!!! The greatest honor ever!!! Can’t believe it, am I dreaming?

Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/whitneyduncan.

Whitney Duncan – WhitneyDuncan: It’s crazy to think that I lived here for awhile…I miss it… Continue Reading

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The 2011 soundtrack to Footloose. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

It’s almost bred into the idea of a film soundtrack that there’s always a possibility of something fun, artistic and uniquely different around every corner. This is because most often a third party was the one picking music specifically to fit a film. Sometimes a soundtrack is like the Director’s mix tape, and other times it can be a mixture of genres and styles picked to match a film’s visual impact.

Footloose Director Craig Brewer, whose remake of the 1984 classic will hit theaters in October, has a history of making music-intensive films. Hustle & Flow (2005) focused on Memphis hip hop (winning the Oscar for Best Original Song), and Black Snake Moan (2007) was knee-deep in Mississippi blues. Brewer, originally from Virginia, told Entertainment Weekly in 2010, “I can promise Footloose fans that I will be true to the spirit of the film. But I still gotta put my own Southern grit into it and kick it into 2011.” After previously focusing on Southern hip hop and blues for his musical choices, Brewer turns his attention to country, rock and Americana to compliment Footloose.

The Footloose soundtrack features new versions of four songs used in the original film. Blake Shelton adds some serious twang to his crisp remake of the legendary title-track originally by Kenny Loggins. The excitement in Blake’s voice is contagious, sounding like he’s having a fantastic time singing, Whoa, Milo, come on-come on let’s go!, while the band rips through the song. Here’s a 30-second preview of Blake’s version:

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On the power ballad “Almost Paradise,” Victoria Justice, of Nickelodeon fame, and Hunter Hayes share sweet harmonies over an acoustic/electric arrangement. Newcomer Jana Kramer, known from acting roles on shows like “Entourage,” belts out a faithful version of “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” over a funky bass line and upbeat drums. The most strikingly different take is on “Holding Out For A Hero,” originally cut as a disco/pop song. Here, 15-year-old South Carolina native Ella Mae Bowen sings well beyond her years with a touch of Tori Amos in her tender voice, accompanied by only an acoustic guitar and accordion on her slow, wishful version.

Country artists such as Zac Brown, Big & Rich and Whitney Duncan lend their talents as the collection skews heavily country. Zac Brown channels 70s Southern rock a la Allman Bros. Band and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on “Where The River Goes,” and Big & Rich reunite on the collection’s first single, “Fake ID,” with a little help from Gretchen Wilson. While over half the songs are provided by country artists, some of the deeper cuts have an edge and grit that fill out the album nicely.

Roots/Americana artist Lissie (named Paste magazine’s No. 1 Best New Solo Artist of 2010) displays a haunting and soulful voice on the delta blues-tinged “Little Lovin’.” Blake’s fellow coach from NBC’s The Voice, Cee Lo Green, Continue Reading

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Whitney Duncan photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Whitney Duncan‘s been in the trenches of the music business for more than 10 years now — so that ought to be good preparation for her next adventure. Whitney will be among the next group of competitors in the long-running reality show, Survivor. Check out Whitney’s Survivor interview below and see how she fares when Survivor: South Pacific premieres on September 14 on CBS. Do you think Whitney could win it? Leave us a comment! And don’t forget to check out our interview with her, “5 Things You Don’t K now About Me” >>

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Blake Shelton photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Nashville.

Blake Shelton will be getting footloose and kicking off his Sunday shoes with the release of the upcoming Footloose soundtrack by Atlantic Records/Warner Music Nashville. Blake has recorded a remake of the iconic song “Footloose” to be featured on the soundtrack and in the Paramount Pictures update of the film. The soundtrack will be released on September 27.

The 12-track album will include eight new songs and remakes of four classics from the original soundtrack. Besides Blake’s rendition of “Footloose,” Victoria Justice and Hunter Hayes’ remake of “Almost Paradise’ is featured along with new music from Big & Rich, Cee Lo Green, David Banner, Whitney Duncan, Lissie and Zac Brown of Zac Brown Band.  Other classic songs featured on the album are “Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen and “Let’s Hear It For The Boy” by Jana Kramer.

In the remake of Footloose, Julianne Hough plays Ariel while newcomer Kenny Wormald takes on the iconic role of Ren MacCormack. Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell also star. The movie premieres October 14 in theaters everywhere. In case you’re too young to remember the totally awesome, 1984 original, check out the movie trailer HERE. And then watch the 2011 trailer below: Continue Reading

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Whitney Duncan made a special appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America this morning to make a plea for the safe return of her cousin, Holly Bobo.  The 20-year old nursing student from Parsons, TN was last seen last Wednesday around 7:30 a.m.   The last person to see her was her brother, Clint Bobo, who told police he saw her walking into the woods behind their house with a man he mistakenly assumed was her boyfriend.

During the exclusive GMA interview, Whitney held back tears when she talked about her cousing saying, “She’s beautiful, she’s sweet, she’s a good Christian gir, kind of a shy, quiet girl until you get to know her.”  Whitney went on to say, “She’s just funny, and sweet – she’s amazing.”

When asked about how her family is coping, Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. For this week’s Top 10 we start out on a somber note with Whitney Duncan asking for help in finding her missing cousin, Chris Young lands in Kuwait, Laura Bell Bundy shares birthday wisdom, newcomer Kip Moore thanks his sleeping pills and we added a bonus tweet this week from NFL star Chad Ochocinco! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/whitneyduncan

Whitney Duncan: @whitneyduncan This is my cousin.

Chris Young: @ChrisYoungMusic: Made it to Kuwait with the band! Longest flight ever. Still haven’t been to sleep. #why

Kip Moore: @KipMooreMusic: Unisom just may have saved my life…on the verge of becoming a nut bag if i didnt sleep

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/jakeowen

Jake Owen: @jakeowen: Who doesn’t enjoy a good ding dong every now and then….

David Nail: @davidnail: Can’t sleep, my nap was too long today! Gotta write tomorrow, gonna be worthless. My wife has TMJ, which stands for too much jabbering! Ha

Laura Bell Bundy: @LauraBellBundy BDayThoughts: Starting this year,w/ every yr older I get,I plan to become 2 yrs younger in state of mind. Eventually that math wont work out

Dierks Bentley: @DierksBentley first thing I saw this morning was a cute blond hair girl in cut offs and boots being led somewhere in handcuffs. welcome to CHILIFEST!!!

Photo courtesy of twitter.com/TheJoshThompson

Josh Thompson: @TheJoshThompson Goin for a swim.

Brett Eldredge: @bretteldredge I hear tornado sirens, I probably should go chill in the bath tub.. I kinda wanted to take a bath anyways…

Steel Magnolia: @steelmagnolia11 Just rented a Lincoln towncar and drove straight to cracker barrel… We’re gonna make a great old couple. Ha! Xo Meg

Bonus Tweet of the Week:

He’s not a country star but we thought this post about Ashley Gearing’s latest single “Five More Minutes” was definitely worth sharing…

Chad Ochocinco: @ochochinco In the gym listening to @ashleygearing song entitled 5 more minutes on repeat ,awesome song,something about country music is compelling

Follow GAC on Twitter for the latest headlines and updates from the world of country music »

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. Tonight we’re giving you a special GRAMMY version of Top 10 Tweets of the Week. And yes, there are way more than 10 — but there were so many good ones we didn’t want to stop! Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week , GRAMMY style, starting with a cool photo of multi-GRAMMY winners Lady Antebellum on the red carpet. Here’s a little bit of what the stars tweeted during the GRAMMYS. Don’t forget to check out our GRAMMY wrap-up HERE!

Lady Antebellum on the red carpet at the 2011 GRAMMY Awards. Photo courtesy of Lady Antebellum/Twitter.com/ladyantebellum.

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    And @blakeshelton that was the sweetest intro I’ve ever seen. Those are gonna be talented and pretty babies!

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy   @Miranda_Lambert that’s my girl!!! So raw, emotional and beautiful

The Band Perry:  @thebandperry    Beautiful @Miranda_Lambert , as always.

Emily West:  @emilywestmusic    Miranda. You are a beautiful flower tonight. Sing that song, girl…. It’s gonna win.

Little Big Town:  @LBTmusic    @martinamcbride you just looked and sounded amazing. So proud of you girl! KF

Jewel:  @jeweljk    Wow- loved the Aretha tribute- u guys?

Terri Clark:  @TerriClarkMusic    Ga ga has gone from a meat dress to a chicken getting ready to hatch – i want some of whatever she’s on…

Laura Bell Bundy:  @LauraBellBundy    Holy Fashion police! I have seen some doozy’s tonight! #grammy’s Continue Reading

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Country music stars sure love Twitter! Here at GAC, we follow them too. This week, country music lost one of its legends, Charlie Louvin, and Dierks Bentley tweeted his respects. Reba McEntire posted a photo from her video shoot for “If I Were a Boy,” and Martina McBride admitted to indulging a little before her upcoming photo shoot. Here are our picks for the Top 10 Country Tweets Of The Week.

Charlie Louvin and Dierks Bentley photo courtesy of Twitter.com/DierksBentley.

Dierks Bentley:  @DierksBentley   an old school pic of me and charlie louvin. I learned a lot listening to louvin brothers records.God bless them.. 

Kellie Pickler:   @kelliepickler    trying to convince my husband that we should get rid of everything, sell our house & live like gypsies in a airstream. travel and dream.

Whitney Duncan:  @whitneyduncan    Taking a bubble bath while being serenaded by my bf & his guitar. This would b super romantic if he wasn’t playing me my own songs. Haha

Martina McBride:  @martinamcbride    Came home from studio and had a Fat Tire, a yummy brownie, glass of milk, and some pistachios. Photo shoot in a month. Me..in total denial.

Jimmy Wayne:  @JimmyWayne    I remember sleeping outside when I was 14 yrs old & going to bed hungry .. now I’m having breakfast w/a Senator. Bea & Russel saved me! 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, featuring Kellie Pickler and new husband Kyle Jacobs’ honeymoon in Iraq to honor the troops, Chris Young‘s snowman and Brett Eldredge‘s special shout-out from Maria Shriver!

Kellie Pickler and husband Kyle Jacobs in Iraq during their honeymoon. Photo courtesy of twitter.com/kelliepickler.

Kellie Pickler:  @kelliepickler  This pic was taken in Iraq in one of Saddam’s palaces…did I mention we were sitting in his chair/throne. CrAzy 

Lee Ann Womack:  @LAWSOCIALCLUB   The car in front of me paid for my triple grande skinny vanilla latte this am?? Thank you whoever you are! law

Chris Young photo courtesy of twitter.com/ChrisYoungMusic.

Chris Young:  @ChrisYoungMusic    Happy snow day from Nashville! Right after I took this picture… We tackled the snowman. Continue Reading

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