| SNIPPETS W/C 7th July |
| Keith Urban and wife Nicole Kidman became proud parents of a girl, Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighing 6lb 71/2oz, born on July 7th in Nashville - Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood have bought a house along the Malibu beachfront- |
| SNIPPETS W/C 30th June |
| Kenny Chesney is to have his own channel on XM satellite radio from July 26th until October 25th - A street in Wichita Falls, Texas is to be called Grant Gill Lane after Vince Gill and his wife Amy Grant - The Old Crow Medicine Show's next album "Tennessee Pusher" is due out in September - One of this year's American Idol contest, Kristy Lee Cook has signed a record deal with Arista Nashville Records - Sugarhill's American Master series is to release new compilations of Ricky Skaggs and Doc Watson - Keith Urban has added a further track to his upcoming August release Greatest Hits album - Tom T Hall and the Statler Bros were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on June 28th - George Jones cancelled his Country USA performance due throat problems which left him unable to speak |
| SNIPPETS W/C 23rd June |
| Former members of Waylon Jennings' tour band have formed a tribute band called Waymore's Outlaws - The release of Jo Dee Messina's next album has now been rescheduled for September - Brooks & Dunn will receive a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 4th - Some of Shelby Lynne's UK tour dates in September have been re-arranged and others cancelled see Tour Dates page for details - George Strait is to release his 4th Christmas album in the autumn - John Michael Montgomery has completed his 4 week rehab session - Rissi Palmer has got a modeling contract with IMG Models - Mindy McCready has been freed on $5,000 bond following her arrest for probation violation on June 23rd - Randy Owen (Alabama) is writing his autobiography "Born Country" - Trace Adkins is to serve as the National Honorary Chair of the 2008 Walk For Food Allergy event which is to be held in the autumn - Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, Trisha Yearwood and SHeDaisy are among the country artists appearing on a "Country Sings Disney" project - Sara Evans is to be a celebrity contestant on CBS TV's "Million Dollar Password" programme - Tim McGraw pulled a man on stage after what appeared to be an argument in the front rows at one of his concerts on June 4th and held him until security escorted him off the premises - Taylor Swift has reached another on-line milestone with over 50 million music streams on MySpace - Ricky Skaggs has recorded bluegrass versions of his best known country hits for a forthcoming album "The High Notes" which is to be sold at Crackerbarrel Country stores - A section on Interstate 70 in West Virginia is to be renamed "Doc & Chickie Williams Highway" in recognition of their efforts promoting Wheeling and country music - Previously unreleased George Jones' duets appear on a forthcoming album "Burn Your Playhouse Down" on Bandit Records in August and guests include Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Leon Russell, Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Mark Chesnutt, Shelby Lynne and Jim Lauderdale |
| SNIPPETS W/C 16th June |
| Rascal Flatts' album "Still Feels Good" has been certified 2 Platinum and George Strait's "Troubadour" certified Gold - Lee Ann Womack's next album "Call Me Crazy" is scheduled for an autumn release and includes guest appearances by George Strait and Keith Urban - Loretta Lynn was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame on June 19th in New York - Michelle Branch (ex Wreckers) has formed a partnership with a pastry chef and plans to open a new bakery in Nashville called "The Sugar Bar"- Rascal Flatts are to perform with the Boston Pops on July 4th at a Fireworks Special - Bill Anderson has been presented with the keys to the city of Mesquite - Taylor Swift is one of the nominees in the music category of the Teen Choice 2008 Awards - Michelle Branch, member of the former duo The Wreckers, is planning a solo country debut album "Everything Comes And Goes"- The Bellamy Bros have released their 50th album called "No 1 Hits" - Taylor Swift has donated $11,000 to the National Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, the money was from the sale of merchandise at the CMA Musicfest - Taylor Swift's next release of a cd/dvd package "Beautiful Eyes" will be available in July exclusively from WalMart - A Californian man, Christopher Tanner has filed a petition requesting DNA testing done on the remains of Eddy Arnold claiming he is Eddy Arnold's illegitimate son - The annual Toby Keith and Celebrities Golf Classic has raised $709,000 for Allys House, a non profit organisation that helps children with cancer and their families - Sara Evans married ex Alabama University quarterback, Jay Barker in an outdoor ceremony in Tennessee on June 14th |
| NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME |
On June 19th, the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame named the nominees for this year's nominations into the Hall of Fame. Two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be inducted on October 26th |
| SNIPPETS W/C 9th June |
| Josh Gracin and his wife, Ann Marie, are expecting their fourth child later this year - Fender Musical Instruments are introducing a Terri Clark Signature Acoustic Guitar and it will feature a traditional design with her initials inlaid in abalone and pearl on the headstock - Danny Davis, who led Danny Davis & the Nashville Brass and also prod cued records, died on June 12th - Elmer Alley, who created Fan Fair and co-created of Opryland died on June 9th. He also had a career in radio, television and the record industry- Taylor Swift is to make a cameo appearance in the film "Hannah Montana The Movie - Miranda Lambert's album "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" has been certified Gold - The CMA Music Festival set a new record for attendance this year with an average daily attendance over the four days of 52,000 people - Alan Jackson wants to make a bluegrass album - Taylor Swift is to sing harmony vocals on a new Kellie Pickler single "Best Days of Our Life" about a relationship gone sour - The American Music Association is to honour Jason and the Scorchers with the Lifetime Achievement Performance Award at the annual awards on September 18th at the Ryman Auditorium - Dan Seals is undergoing radiation treatment, at a cancer centre in Houston Texas, for lymphoma and is to receive a stem cell transplant after the treatment - On June 6th, Sarah Evans was presented with the National Crystal Cross Award by the American Red Cross for her work with the organisation - May 31st was named "Eve Selis Day" in San Diego, California |
| AMERICANA MUSIC AWARD NOMINNES |
| The nominees for the AMA Awards which are to be held on September 18th are:- ALBUM OF THE YEAR Raising Sand - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant Trouble in Mind - Hayes Carll Just Us Kids - James McMurtry Dirt Farmer - Levon Helm ARTIST OF THE YEAR Steve Earle - Levon Helm - Jim Lauderdale - James McMurtry INSTUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR Buddy Miller - Chris Thile - Gurf Morlix - Sam Bush NEW EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR Justin Townes Earle - Mike Farris - Ryan Bingham - The Steeldrivers SONG OF THE YEAR “Broken” - Tift Merritt “Cheney’s Toy” - James McMurtry “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)”- Alison Krauss & Robert Plant (co-written by Phil Everly and Don Everly) “Poor Old Dirt Farmer” - Levon Helm (traditional) “She Left Me for Jesus” - Hayes Carll (co-written with Brian Keane) DUO/GROUP OF THE YEAR Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Drive By Truckers - Kane Welch Kaplin - The Avett Brothers |
| SNIPPETS W/C 2nd June |
| The drummer for the group, Alabama, is being sued by his fellow band members who claim he was overpaid by $202, 570. The lawsuit was filed on May 9th in the circuit court of DeKalb County, Alabama claiming in 2003 Mark Herndon was paid for his share of net merchandise sales during the band's "America Farewell Tour" before the final accounting was complete - On her web site, Shania Twain has thanked her fans for their support during the split from her husband - Jo Dee Messina is set to have a new album released in August - Sugarland's forthcoming album "Love On The Inside" is to have 2 versions - Rascal Flatts are appearing and singing in an upcoming Hannah Montana film "Hannah Montana The Movie" due for release next year - Joe Don Rooney (Rascal Flatts) and his wife Tiffany Fallon became proud parents of their first child, a son called Jagger Donovan born on May 31st in Nashville - Heidi Newfield (ex Trick Pony) releases her solo debut "What Am I Waitin' For" in August - On June 3rd, Steve Wariner received the Hope Award from Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital for his work on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and this is the first time this award has been presented to anyone outside the medical field - Jewel has released her first Country album, "Perfectly Clear" which she co-produced with John Rich (Big & Rich) and written/co-written 10 of the 11 tracks - Jessica Simpson's single "Come On Over" has made the record books as the highest charting debut single by a solo artist in the history of Billboard's Country Single Chart debuting at No 41 - A guitar which was stolen from George Jones in 1962 has been returned to him by a man who said he bought it in Texas for $10 and has tried repeatedly to give it back |
| SNIPPETS W/C 26th May |
| LeAnn Rimes has had to cancel 2 shows on her tour with Kenny Chesney due to an inflamed vocal cord - Rodney Crowell's album "Sex & Gasoline" is set for a September release - Kenny Rogers' home in Atlanta is for sale at $7.95 million - Faith Hill is to release her first Christmas album "Joy To The World" this year - Sugarland's "All I Want To Do" has become their highest debut single at No 27 on the charts - Julianne Hough's self titled debut album has 67,000 copies during the first 7 days of its release and has gained the No 1 spot on the Country Album Charts and No 3 on the Top 200 Album Chart (all genres) - Chris Cagle and his girlfriend were being held in a Nashville jail, following their arrest in the early hours of May 27th, on misdemeanour domestic assault charges. Bond was set at $1500 each - The sister trio Carters Chord have their debut released digitally in June with the cd version due later in the year - Kenny Chesney appears in a new Corona advertisement for beer in the USA - Autumn sees a dvd release from Keith Urban chronically his Love Pain And The Whole World tour - Mac Wiseman has been honoured by the National Endowment For Arts as a 2008 National Heritage Award winner - Alabama's lead singer Randy Owen has signed with Broken Bow Records and his first single will be released in June with an album in November - Jim Lauderdale has cancelled some concert dates because of vocal problems - Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Dolly Parton and the Carter Family are among the inductees to the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame on June 13th - Bronze statues of the members of Alabama are to be dedicated in Fort Payne, Alabama |
| SNIPPETS W/C 19th May |
| According to Forbes Magazine the Top Ten Country earners for 2007 are: 1) Toby Keith($48m)- 2) Rascal Flatts ($40m) - 3) Tim McGraw($23m) - 4) Kenny Chesney - 5) Brooks & Dunn - 6) Brad Paisley - 7) Faith Hill -8) Keith Urban - 9) George Strait - 10) Alan Jackson - A massive 143 tracks of previously unreleased Hank Williams' songs are to be released over a period of 3 years by Time Life with the first set being in the autumn - Merle Haggard had to pull out of four shows at the Arkansas Riverfest in Little Rock, due to illness - Bear Family Records are a unique 6 cd mini box set paying tribute to Jimmie Rodgers to mark the 75th anniversary of his death - - Kenny Chesney has criticised the ACM for the changes in which fans voted for the ACM Entertainer Award for the first time.He emphasised he was not aiming this criticism at the fans or other artists just the organisation - Dierks Bentley and his wife are expecting a child in the autumn - According to a poll by AOL TV Carrie Underwood is the all time most popular American Idol winner - Apparently Rod Stewart wants to record a country inspired album but his record label have refused - Former international model Amanda Henkel has released her debut self titled country album - June sees the release of a hits album for Neal McCoy "The Very Best Of" |
| ACM WINNERS |
| The winners at the Academy of Country Music Award Show on May 18th were:- ENTERTAINER- Kenny Chesney SINGLE (award goes to artist,producer, record company): "Stay" - Sugarland, produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles (Mercury) SONG (award goes to artist, composer, publisher) "Stay" - Sugarland, Writer: Jennifer Nettles, Publishers: Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP) MALE ARTIST :- Brad Paisley FEMALE ARTIST:- Carrie Underwood TOP VOCAL GROUP :- Rascal Flatts TOP VOCAL DUO :- Brooks & Dunn TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST:- Jack Ingram TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST :- Taylor Swift TOP NEW DUO/GROUP :- Lady Antebellum ALBUM (award goes to artist, producer, label) "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" - Miranda Lambert, produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke (Columbia) VOCAL EVENT "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" - Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney VIDEO OF THE YEAR:- [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] "Online" - Brad Paisley, Producer: Frames Per Second, Director: Jason Alexander |
| SNIPPETS W/C 12th May |
| Shania Twain and her husband Robert John 'Mutt' Lange are separating after 14 years of marriage - Mark Chesnutt's next album "Rollin' With The Flow" and is scheduled for a June release - Anne Murray is to receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award (the award recognises performers who have had a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time) from the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 19th in New York City - Carrie Underwood is to appear in US TV advertisements for Nintendo DS starting on May 19th - Sugarland are to release their 3rd album "Love On The Inside" in July - Garth Brooks has donated several items of clothing including his black stetson cowboy hat and the guitar he smashed at on stage at a Dallas concert in 1991 to the Smithsonian Institute for "The Treasures Of American History" exhibition - Gretchen Wilson received her General Education Development certificate from Charlie Daniels at a graduation ceremony on May 15th at First Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee - Billy Ray Cyrus has a new album "Back To Tennessee" scheduled for an October release - Dolly Parton has blasted American 'shock jock' Howard Stern for electronically manipulating her voice to create racist and sexually vulgar comments. She is threatening legal action and said "I've never been so shocked, hurt and humiliated in all my life. I cannot believe what he has done to me. I'd never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth, they have done editing or some sort of trickery to make this horrible horrible thing" - Kitty Wells' song "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" has been added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress which recognises recordings that are culturally, historically or aesthetically significant - Kenny Chesney's entry into the Top Ten of Billboard's Country Chart with "Better As A Memory" marks his 24th straight Top Ten making it the longest consecutive run of Top Ten hits since 2000 - Taylor Swift is to be featured in a variety of jeans and tops in a back to school advertising campaign for L.e.i clothing line - In the May/June issue of American Songwriter magazine includes a compilation country cd and also features Hayes Carll, Sarah Buxton, Rivers Rutherford, Eric Church, Tift Merritt with Alan Jackson on the cover- Radney Foster's father died on May 9th after a battle with ling cancer - Dwight Yoakam made his 24th appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" breaking the record for the most musical performances by any artist - Earl Scruggs is to be inducted into the Blue Ridge Music of Fame on June 13th - Carrie Underwood was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on May 10th by Garth Brooks |
| SNIPPETS W/C 5th May |
On May 9th, John Michael Montgomery voluntarily entered a rehab treatment centre for substance abuse due to severe anxiety attacks and sleep disorder - Country legend Eddy Arnold, who had over 140 chart singles including 28 No 1 singles, died around 4.30am on May 8th at Williamson County Nursing Home, he was 89 - Jerry Wallace, who had numerous chart entries in the 1960's and 1970's including a No 1 in 1972 with "If You Leave Me Tonight I'll Cry" died on May 5th - Brenda Lee, Oak Ridge Boys, Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner have been named as this year's recipients of the ACM's Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award - Dick Clark will receive the Jim Reeves International Award meanwhile Bill Anderson and Fred Rose will receive the ACM's newest honour the Poets Award - Garth Brooks is to receive the ACM's Crystal Milestone Award recognising the singer's top selling solo artist in history in American Music - Guitarist, George "Leo" Jackson, who appeared on many recordings including those of Jim Reeves, George Strait and Tom T Hall, died on May 4th - Gretchen Wilson has started work on her fourth album - Bill Anderson has been named as a Charter Member of the Grady Fellowship by the board of trust at his alma mater at the University of Georgia in Athens - The latest George Jones' album called "Burn Your Playhouse Down, Unreleased Duets" includes previously unreleased duets with Tammy Wynette, Keith Richards, Leon Russell, Mark Knopfler, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Jim Lauderdale and Shelby Lynne - - Nashville songwriter Richard William Fagan, who charged with criminal homicide (see last week's snippets) has been released from jail on $20,000 bond and ordered to attend an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment centre in Tennessee |
| SNIPPETS W/C 28th Apr |
| Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Barbara Mandrell are included in "People Magazine's" list of the 100 Most Beautiful People" - Country comedian, Jim Hager (Hager Twins) died on May 1st - Glen Campbell has a new album due for a summer release and is a cover of songs by such artists as Tom Petty, Greenday, U2, Velvet Underground and Jackson Browne - Taylor Swift's self titled debut album "Taylor Swift" has been certified 3 Platinum - Alan Jackson and his wife, Denise, received the Richard Brooks Visionary Award for Artistic Achievement on April 30th - Trisha Yearwood's book "Georgia Cooking In An Oklahoma Kitchen" is at No 3 on New York Times' Best Selling List - Tim McGraw is to launch his fragrance for man "McGraw By Tim McGraw" in August through Coty - Emmylou Harris and Ernest V Pop Stoneman were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on April 27th - Justin Townes Earle makes his Opry debut on May 2nd - Nashville songwriter Richard William Fagan, who wrote hits such "Sold, The Grundy Country Auction Incident" and "Be My Baby Tonight", was charged with criminal homicide on April 28th relating to the death of Gaetano Thomas "Tommy" Oteri - At the start of a performance in Columbia, S. Carolina on April 26th, Kenny Chesney injured his foot when it became stuck between a stage lift mechanical platform and the stage during an equipment malfunction and it took him about 30 seconds to free himself - An album to pay tribute to those who died in the September 11th attack in 2001 called "Never Forget" is to be released in August includes tracks by George Jones, Charlie Daniels, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Tanya Tucker, Aaron Tippin, Tracy Lawrence, Michael Peterson and Pam Tillis |
| SNIPPETS W/C 21st Apr |
| Miranda Lambert's fundraiser for animals, "Cause For Paws" raised $113,000 for the Humans Society Of East Texas - Wal-Mart stores in the US are to stock a flavour of 'chips' called "Tim McGraw's Spicy Jalapeno Fritos" - Jypsi's debut album originally scheduled for a May release has been put on hold - Joe Diffie's 5 year old daughter, Kylie, has won a trophy for America's "Most Photogenic Baby 2008 - Daron Norwood's wife, Kimberly, has dropped domestic violence charges against him but she still says he cannot go near her or her children - Ricky Skaggs and The Whites won the "Bluegrass Album" award with "Salt Of The Earth", at the Dove Awards - Carrie Underwood is to be inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame on May 10th - Taylor Swift is to receive the Superstar of Tomorrow Award at the 10th annual Young Hollywood Awards - LeAnn Rimes received the Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of The Year Award for "Ready For A Miracle"at the Dove Awards - John Hiatt is to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting from the Americana Music Association on September 18th - Singer Songwriter Paul Davis died on April 22nd from a heart attack - Little Big Town have signed a deal with Capitol Records Nashville - The woman who claimed that Miranda Lambert assaulted her at a club in Tyler Texas has been charged with filing a false report to a police officer - Alabama's Randy Owen is to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honour on May 10th in New York City - Trace Adkins is making a guest appearance on the US TV show "THe Young And The Restless" singing his latest No 1 single "You're Gonna Miss This" - Chris Cagle is to stand trial in Tucson on a misdemeanour assault charge on September 23rd |
| SNIPPETS W/C 14th Apr |
| Carrie Underwood is to endorse Vitamin Water Energy Drink and will be featured in commercials for the product in the USA - Taylor Swift is on the cover the Rolling Stone magazine "Best of Rock 2008" issue - Rascal Flatts are to receive the 2008 ACM/Hone Depot Humanitarian Award at the ACM Awards on May 18th - Daron Norwood was arrested on April 15th in Crestview for allegedly battering his wife - Tim McGraw is teaming up with singer/songwriter, Tom Douglas to write a children's book set for an October release - Jason Aldean is working on a new album - "Willie's Place" (as in Willie Nelson), an alternative fuel truck stop entertainment hub will celebrate its re-opening with a week long series of concerts starting on July 1st in Carls Corner in Texas - Charlie Daniels and his wife are to be honoured,on May 3rd, by Cumberland University with an award for their community service - Forty members of Rascal Flatts' band road crew were ejected from a flight in San Jose early on April 12th after allegedly causing a disturbance on a plane - The film "Pure Country" which originally starred George Strait is to open as a musical on Broadway early next year - Several Shel Silverstein albums are to be re-issued "Hairy Jazz" - "Inside Folksongs" and "A Boy Named Sue And Other Country Songs" |
| CMT VIDEO AWARD WINNERS |
| The winners at the CMT Video Awards held on April 14th were:- VIDEO OF YEAR:- "Our Song" - Taylor Swift MALE VIDEO:- "I Got Mt Game On" - Trace Adkins FEMALE VIDEO:- "Our Song" - Taylor Swift GROUP VIDEO:- "Take Me There" - Rascal Flatts DUO VIDEO:- "Stay" - Sugarland BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO:- "I Wonder" - Kellie Pickler COLLABORATIVE VIDEO:- "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" - Bon Jovi ft LeAnn Rimes PERFORMANCE OF YEAR:- "I Wonder" (from CMA Awards)- Kellie Pickler SUPPORTING CHARACTER:- Rodney Carrington (from Trace Adkins "I Got My Game On") WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO:- "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant TEARJERKER VIDEO:- "I Wonder" - Kellie Pickler COMEDY VIDEO:- "Online" - Brad Paisley VIDEO DIRECTOR:- Michael Salomom (for Toby Keith's "High Maintenance Woman" and Trace Adkins' "I Got My Game On" |
| SNIPPETS W/C 7th Apr |
| The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steve Wariner, Merle Kilgore and Hank Williams Snr are to be inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame on April 20th - On April 14th, Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry) and his wife are to receive the key to the city of Danville, Kentucky - George Jones' album "Burn Your Playhouse Down (Unreleased Duets)" which includes duets with Tammy Wynette, Vince Gill, Jim Lauderdale, Keith Richards, Leon Russell, Ricky Skaggs and Tanya Tucker is to be released in July - George Strait's latest album "Troubadour" has become his 11th album to debut at No 1 on the Top Country Albums chart - Dixie Chick, Natalie Maines duets with Neil Diamond on the track "Another Day (That Time Forgot)" from his forthcoming album "Home Before Dark" - Jewel's country album "Perfectly Clear" is released in June - Trace Adkins appears on a poster to promote food allergy education during the annual food allergy awareness week in May - The US TV show "Secret Talents of The Stars", which featured Clint Black as a standup comic and was to have Jo Dee Messina performing a urban dance blending hip hop and step has been cancelled after the first show due to poor ratings - Ex Trick Pony lead singer, Heidi Newfield has released her first solo single called "Johnny And June" from her debut solo album which is set for a summer release - In the Canadian Juno Awards the group Blue Rodeo won Group of the Year, Adult Alternative Album of the Year with Small Miracle"and Video of the Year for "C'Mon", Paul Brandt won Country Recording of the Year for his album "Risk" |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 31st Mar - Toby Keith is expanding his "I Love This Bar & Grill" restaurant chain to Mesa , Arizona - Trace Adkins is to appear as the Grim Reaper in a new comedy film called "An American Carol" based on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - Taylor Swift has become the third female Country Artist this decade to have four Top Ten singles off a debut album, Gretchen Wilson was first and Carrie Underwood was second - Three Mel Tillis albums, "Me And Pepper" "Your Body is An Outlaw" and "Southern Rain" originally released on vinyl and cassette are to be re mastered and re-issued at the end of April - Rebecca Lynn Howard has signed with Saguaro Road Records and a new album "No Rules" is expected to be released in June - On April 2nd Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry) broke ground on a new restaurant and development in Harrodsburgh, Kentucky - Jamie O'Neal has signed with the Nashville division of 1720 Entertainment and a new album is due later this year - Country and rockabilly artist Glenn Barber died on March 28th |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 24th Mar - Montgomery Gentry celebrate their fastest rising single to date with "Back When I Knew it All" from their forthcoming album of the same name - According to Mindy McCready's Myspace page she is working on recording a new record and also a reality TV show - Rascal Flatts had to cancel a concert in Canada as lead singer Gary Levox being diagnosed with laryngitis - Darryl Worley and wife Kimberly became proud parenst of a daughter, Savannah Gail, on March 24th -Willie Nelson is joining Asleep At The Wheel on an album covering songs from the 1930's - Sugarland have been in the studio laying down tracks for their next album - Carrie Underwood's "So Small" & "Wasted", Sugarland's "Stay", Big & Rich's "Lost In The Moment" and The Wreckers' "Leave The Pieces" have all scored Gold singles for more than 500,000 digital downloads - Dolly Parton has been asked to perform at the Bestival Festival on the I.O.W. - American Idol finalist from season 6, Phil Stacey makes his Grand Ole Opry debut on March 29th - Sara Evans has got engaged to Jay Barker, a former quarterback at the University of Alabama - There are UK releases for a special 2 cd set from Lee Ann Womack with her Top 5 albums "Something Worth Leaving Behind" & "I Hope You Dance" and also a simultaneous release with the USA of George Strait's new album "Troubadour" on March 31st. |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 17th Mar - On March 17th Sam Bush was honoured with a resolution from the commonwealth of Kentucky as a founder of newgrass music - Charlie Daniels has been honoured for making fifty years of music at a reception at the BMI's Music Row offices - The Robert Plant/Alison Krauss album "Raisin' Sand" has been certified Platinum - Luke Bryan and his wife Caroline became proud parents of their first child born on March 18th at a Nashville hospital - Taylor Swift's single "Our Song" has been certified Platinum - Two ex Dallas police officers accused of holding Steve Holy and a friend at gunpoint have been indicted by a Grand Jury - Dolly Parton has chosen Galloway as the place in Scotland to launch her International Literacy Campaign For Youngsters - Ex Trick Pony member, Heidi Newfield has finished her debut solo album - Brad Paisley has set an attendance record at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 15th with a crowd of 73, 003 - Lee Roy Parnell is to marry Julie Alberston in Nashville in the autumn - The Whites are to be inducted into the Texas Music Hall of Fame on August 16th - Taylor Swift is working on her second album which will include a track co-written with Kellie Pickler |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 10th Mar - Carrie Underwood has been invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and will be inducted on May 10th - Chris Cagle and his bodyguard are being sued by a Tucson man who says he was roughed up by the men at the Cactus Moon Cafe in December - William A "Bill" Bolick (Blue Sky Boys) died on March 13th - One of the leading Bluegrass magazines, "Bluegraas Now" is to close following the May issue - Josh Turner became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on March 8th - Sally Gayhart Arnold, wife of Eddy Arnold died on March 11th in Williamson Country Hospital while Eddy Arnold is recuperating in Davidson Country Hospital after a hip replacement operation - Former Amazing Rhythm Aces guitarist, Barry 'Byrd' Burton died on March 10th - Trent Tomlinson gets married on March 22nd to Jessica Lowman - Miranda Lambert had to cancel a concert in Austin due to 'flu - George Strait is to get his own XM radio channel called "Strait Country" which launches on April 1st - Clay Walker and his wife Jessica are expecting a baby - Trisha Yearwood has written a cook book called "Georgia Cooking In An Oklahoma Kitchen" and is due to be published in April - There's to be a Taylor Swift retail line of toys including role play toys, fashion dolls, craft and activity sets - Jo Dee Msssina's new single "I'm Done" has been produced by Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 3rd Mar - Montgomery Gentry were stuck in a lift for 45 minutes at the Nashville Renaissance Hotel - Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery Gentry) is to open"Eddie Montgomery's Steak House" in Skylar's Landing - Brad Paisley has started work on his next album - Craig Morgan is to sign with Sony BMG Nashville label - Clay Walker has received the Country Radio Broadcasters' "Artist Humanitarian of the Year" award - Dolly Parton has scored the highest debuting cd of her career with "Backwoods Barbie" selling 27,000 units to take second place in Billboard's Country Album Charts - Steve Earle is producing Joan Baez's next album - Josh Turner was forced to cancel dates due to a chronic sinus infection - A cd/dvd collection celebrating the life of Chris LeDoux is to be released in April - Jason Aldean has left Broken Bow Records - Eddy Arnold is recovering from hip replacement surgery after a fall at his home on 2nd March - Kellie Pickler is working on her second album which is due for release later this year - Children of the late Conway Twitty have filed a lawsuit against Sony/ATV Music Publishing seeking publishing copyrights to their father's music and share the royalties collected by the company |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 25th Feb - Loretta Lynn is to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June19th in New york City - Reba McEntire is to host the ACM Awards again on May 18th - Keith Urban was inducted into the Australian Walk of Fame on February 27th - Mindy McCready goes on trial on March 25th charges with battery on her mother and resisting arrest in 2007 - Sugarland's single "Stay" has been certified digital gold and is their fourth digital gold single - Uncle Earl won the album of the year trophy at the third annual folk alliance awards in Memphis - The Country Music Hall of Fame has opened a renovated shop which will include in-store performances, a record store and shop - Freddy Fender and Kris Krstofferson are among musicians being inducted into the South Texas Music Walk of Fame on June 7th |
| SNIPPETS |
| W/C 18th Feb - Rodney Atkins has become the first act since 2001 to have four No 1 singles off the same album on Billboard's Country Singles Chart, the last person to achieve this was Tim McGraw - Jackie Street, one of Nashville's bass players died on February 17th - Don and Harold Reid of the Statler Bros have released a book about their forty year career called "The Statler Brothers Random Memories" - Brooks & Dunn are to release their first novel in May called "The Adventures of Slim and Dusty" - Grand Ole Opry member and singer/songwriter Bobby Lord died on February 16th aged 84 after a long illness - A part of the highway 65 in Alabama is to be renamed "Curly Putnam Jnr Highway" |
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| W/C 11th Feb - Emmylou Harris, Tom T Hall, Statler Bros and Ernest 'Pop' Stoneman are to be the latest members in the Country Music Hall of Fame - Brad Paisley has bought his own jet plane - A section of road on California is to be renamed "Merle Haggard Drive" - George Strait's latest single "I Saw God Today "is the highest single chart debut of his career - Dolly Parton has been forced to cancel her US tour for 8 weeks due to back problems - Kenny Chesney has a fleet of 55 trucks and 28 buses to take his crew and equipment on tour in the USA - Marty Stuart and Connie Smith have donated items belonging to Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Lester Flatt to the Country Music Hall of Fame - Martina McBride, Hal Ketchum, Jo Dee Messina, LeAnn Rimes, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Bellamy Bros and Alabama are among artists nominated for Dove Awards presented by the Gospel Music Association - The 2 dvd set "Best of Johnny Cash TV Show" has been certified Gold - Craig Morgan has departed from Broken Bow Records - Rascal Flatts' album "Feels Like Today" has been certified 5 Platinum and is only one of three Country groups in the last 25 years to reach this level, the other two being Dixie Chicks and Alabama - Ira Dean, founding member of Trick Pony is leaving the group after more than ten years to focus on songwriting and a solo career |
| GRAMMY WINNERS |
Country winners at the Grammy Awards on February 10th were:- |
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| W/C 4th Feb - Carrie Underwood's debut album "Some Hearts" has been certified 7 Platinum making her best selling solo female country debut in history - Dwight Yoakam, Crystal Gayle and producer Norro Wilson are to be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on February 21st - Pat Green has a book published about a day in the life of the people on the Texas music scene - Jessica Harp (Wreckers) got married to Jason Mowery, a fellow band member, on February 4th - Carrie Underwood has gone into the record books with her first five week No 1 hit "Before He Cheats" becoming the first Country song to receive certification for 2 Platinum digital single - On January 31st, Bobby Bare's wife escaped serious injuries when a tree crashed through the roof of their home, during high winds, and landed on the couch where she was sitting |
| SPBGMA WINNERS |
Winners at the SPBGMA (Society For The Preservation Of Bluegrass Music) on February 3rd are:- |
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| W/C 28th Jan - Michelle Branch (Wreckers) says the duo has gone for good - Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are having their own line of clothing called "Hank Evie" and will include clothing, bags, shoes and belt buckles - Garth Brooks' Album "Ultimate Hits" has been certified 5 Platinum - Top earning women in music places Faith Hill at No 8, Dixie Chicks at No 9, Martina McBride at No13 and Carrie Underwood at No 15 - Emmylou Harris and Patty Loveless are among the artists appearing on Jim Lauderdale's forthcoming album entitled "Honey Songs" - Dixie Chick, Martie Maguire is expecting her third daughter - Taylor Swift's single "Teardrops On My Guitar" has been certified Digital Platinum and her single "Our Song" has been certified Digital Gold - A musical about Conway Twitty called "It's Only Make Believe" is in the making - Old Time Country artist Tex Williams died on January 22nd - Jack Johnson who was the manager for Charley Pride, Ronnie Milsap, T G Shepherd and others died on January 24th in Nashville |
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| W/C 21st Jan - Garth Brooks is to retire after playing a series of charity concerts in Los Angeles - Carrie Underwood will be performing at the Grammy Awards on February 10th in Los Angeles - Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffet, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss are performing at the New Orleans Jazz Heritage Festival in April and May - Toby Keith is joining Willie Nelson and others in a drive to get the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed into law - John Rich (BIg & Rich) is working on a solo album - A 4 cd set of Willie Nelson is to be released on April 30th to coincide with Willie's 75th birthday - Tim McGraw has co-written Def Leppard's new single called "Nine Lives" - Billy Ray Cyrus is to co-star in the film Hannah Montana with his daughter Miley - Garth Brooks is to return to screen writing - Toby Keith has recorded a duet with Mica Roberts on her debut single "Things A Momma Don't Know" - Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are to perform at a benefit show with the Nashville Symphony on January 30th to raise money for Habitat For Humanity - Songwriter John Stewart who wrote Rosanne Cash's "Runaway Train" died on January 19th - Charlie Daniels became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on January 19th |
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| W/C 14th Jan |
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| W/C 7th Jan - Canadian Country artist George Canyon is to be made a honorary colonel in the Canadian Forces on February 21st - Bill Anderson is to be inducted into the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Hall of Fame on February 2nd - Alabama's lead singer, Randy Owens is recording a solo album - Jessica Harp and Michelle Branch (the Wreckers) are both recording solo albums which will be released by Warner - Blake Shelton bought girlfriend Miranda Lambert a pony for Christmas - Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are expecting their first child together - Ken Nelson, producer of hits for artists such as Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Jean Shepherd and the Louvin Bros, died on January 6th age 96 - The film "Beer For My Horses" starring Toby Keith and Rodney Carrington is to be shot in New Mexico - Charley Pride to to receive the Mississippi Arts Commission Lifetime Achievement Award on February 8th |
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| W/C 31st Dec - Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet's wife, Rebecca gave birth to their first child on December 27th - Mindy McCready was released from prison on Sunday, December 30th but she still has to serve two years probation - Taylor Swift has donated the pink pick-up truck she received for her 18th birthday, from her record label, to a charity for children with chronic mental problems and serious illnesses - Carrie Underwood has been voted the Female Celebrity with the Best Hairstyle in 2007 commissioned by Sally Beauty Supply - Dolly Parton is to receive the Mississippi Arts Commission's Lifetime Achievement Award on February 8th - Dallas police are investigating whether two off duty officers were involved in an alleged assault on December 27th against Steve Holy |