January 6th 2009

• Taylor Swift U.S Best Selling Artist 2008

• Carrie Underwood's New Man

• Taylor Swift Is Wanted On Oprah

• Jewel Shares Her Words of Wisdom

• Garth Brooks Does Visits Burns Victim

• Rascal Flatt's Rumoured New Single

• Dierks Bentley Offers Autographed CD

• Jonahs Brothers Storm Nashville

• Jack Black Goes Bluegrass

January 3rd 2009

January 6th 2009

Taylor Swift was America's best selling artist of 2009, across all popular music formats with 4,003,000 copies sold. Sugarland ranked eighth by selling 2,063,000.Sales of physical albums slumped significantly in every format.




According to reports, Carrie Underwood has moved on in lightning speed from her former beau Travis Stork and is now dating Ottawa Senator's hockey player Mike Fisher. Carrie was spied enjoying a game from a private booth alongside Fishers family and was shown hugging Mike's brother Bud on the 'Hug Cam' after the game.



Taylor Swift is wanted on Oprah! A few of Taylors fans have started a petition to get the teenage superstar on The Oprah Show. You can be one of the hundreds of fans who have already signed the petition by following this link.




Jewel has opened up about her marriage to Ty Murray and shared a few words she lives by with People Magazine. "A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it," - Don Fraser. Reba McIntyre also shared her words of wisdom to the U.S mag - "Treat people like you want to be treated."



Garth Brooks gone & done a good deed! Garth visited Karin McKemey and her son in hospital after reading their story online, the pair suffered burns in a fire. Garth brought presents for the family - however the best part is there was no publicity, no cameras, no video, Garth's publicist didn't even return calls until after the story broke.




Rascal Flatts are gearing up for the release of their new single to country radio. Things aren't confirmed as yet - though the single is tipped to be called No Place To Be - remember this is coming from an anonymous tip!
Anyway, it looks like there will finally be some new music from the Flatts!



Dierks Bentley is offering fans an advanced, autographed copy of his latest album. You can also order the album on iTunes and get an instant download of 1 track. You can order you copy of this fine offer here.




The Jonas Brothers have certainly caught the attention of some of Nashvilles biggest stars. Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Amy Grant showed up as “special guests" to their concert at the Ryman last night. Perhaps they're cashing in on the audience of 2000+ screaming teenage girls?

 

Jack Black is going bluegrass? It's official, the comedian helped out on his father-in-law's album, Charlie Haden's Grammy Award nominated bluegrass CD 'Ramblin' Boy.


January 3rd 2009

Robert Plant has been named Commander of the Order of the British Empire as a part of the traditional New Years Honors list issued by Queen Elizabeth II. He is one of several musicians recognised for their service to music. Best known for his work as the lead singer of Led Zepplin, Roberts collaboration with Alison Krauss (Raising Sand) spawned an array of Grammy nominations.



Things haven't been going so well on the home front for pop-turned-country singer Jessica Simpson. The buxom blonde reportedly (People Magazine) jumped a plane to Texas after learning her boyfriend Tony Romo collapsed in the shower after a game on Sunday night.


In other news on Jess, her ex-boyfriend John Mayer is apparently avoiding her at all costs. John is mates with Pete Wentz, Jessica's brother-in-law and attended Petes art show opening in L.A. John conveniently left the event before the V.I.P area opened - and before Jess arrived.



Taylor Swift and her friend Kellie Pickler both featured on Dick Clarke's New Years Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2009 on the ABC (U.S) special. The country pair were on the bill with The Jonas Brothers, Lionel Ritchie, Natasha Bedingfield, Fall Out Boy, Jesse McCartney, Ne-Yo, The Pussycat Dolls and Robin Thicke. Kellie was in New York Times Square as correspondent for the show hosted by Dick and Ryan.



To more on Taylor... The talented teen landed an album and a song on the Rolling Stone magazines list of the best music of 2008. Taylors new album Fearless sat at #46 with her single Fifteen. The list of the Top 100 songs included Kid Rock's All Summer Long, Lee Anne Womack's Last Call, Old Crow Medicines Alabama High Test and Lucinda Williams Real Love.



John Rich's new album Son of a Preacher Man will be released this May. John, whose father is a minister will release the albums first single Another You on January 12th. John recently completed the third season of reality show Gone Country.





U.S Idol contestant turned country singer Kristy Lee Cook was released from Arista Records recently - and she seems a little bitter... "Arista Records released me again... It's because I was on the same label as Carrie Underwood. We're kind of glad that we got released because we weren't getting the attention we needed." Kristy goes on to say that her album is doing very well - despite the lack of promotion. "They promoted it a little bit," the singer said. "They spent so much more on Carrie."

Merle Haggard had a lemon sized cancer removed from his lung last November - however he having trouble giving up the ciggarettes and marijuanna. The country music living legend says he's singing better than ever now he's given up the weed though he is worried about losing his creative and songwriting talents. His upcoming concerts in January will be the first he's performed in his life without smoking either tobacco or marijuanna. "It's going to be interesting as to what kind of show comes out of this body that is used to performing in another way.

December 30th 2008

Rascal Flatts have one more reason to celebrate the New Year - their single Here has climbed into the #1 spot on the U.S Billboard Country Charts. Topping the Billboard Album charts for the sixth week in a row is Taylor Swift's newest collection Fearless.



George Jones is collecting his own memorabilia! The 77 year old country music legend and his wife Nancy are planning to open a museum displaying George's collection of memorabilia spanning his 50 year career.



A 100 unit motel is being planned for construction near Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman's rural home in Australia. The famous pair bought their mansion for $6.5 million in July after initial approval had been given to build the Sutton Forest Inn. Currently there are only two shops and a pub in the town. The motel will be built next to the pub - which already has a view of the mansion.

Billy Ray Cyrus and daughter Miley Cyrus made a suprise visit to the Monroe Carrel Jr. Childrens Hospital in Nashville on Tuesday (Dec. 23rd). Billy Ray offered a $60,000 check to the Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Clinic on behalf of the non-profit Fraternal Order of Eagles. The father & daughter stars also signed autographs for the kids and sang Christmas songs with them.



Kelly Clarkson will release a new single My Life Would Suck Without You on Jan 19th. Clarkson is now managed by Reba McIntires husband Narvel Blackstock. Although Clarkson has often indicated she'd like to make a country album one day, the new album which has not yet been named is expected to be marketed to pop radio.

Carrie Underwood has been named the 'Most Heard' country artist of 2008 and was named the #1 Hot Country Songs Artist by Billboard. In 2008 Carrie joined the Grand Ole Opry and co-hosted the CMA Awards. She also headlined the Carnival Ride tour with 137 concerts and a total attendance of almost 1.2 million people. As previously announced Carrie will perform on the People's Choice Awards on Jan 7th. She has three People Choice Award nominations.

December 16th 2008

Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson have topped off a massive 2008 with their sensational debut album Rattlin' Bones securing Platinum status. In September Kasey and Shane blitzed their way across the U.S.A appearing on the Conan O'Brian Show and hitting #1 on the Americana Radio Airplay Chart.

Faith Hill is filled with resounding pleasure about her new Christmas album Joy To The World. Faith says she's just an old fashioned girl who likes watching home movies with her husband Tim McGraw and their daughters.

Kenny Chesney's 2008 Poets & Pirates tour has grossed a whopping $86 million in 2008, putting him sixth in a year end tour chart by Billboard (U.S). Bon Jovi who had a #1 country hit in 2006 earned the top spot with grosses of $210.6 million. Following in 2nd place was Bruce Springsteen and followed by Madonna, The Police and Celine Dion.

R & B sensation Chris Brown has recorded a track with country superstar Tim McGraw titled Human. "It's incredible," he said. "I wanted to do something along the country line. That's a bigger and different audience for me." Brown was recently named Billboards Top Pop Artist Of The Year.

To more on Tim... He's set to headline Canadian music festival Rogers Bayfest alongside Brad Paisley.

Trace Adkins and Lynard Skynards New Years Eve concert in Nashville has been cancelled because of low ticket sales. A spokesperson for the event says there's no denying the shows core audience has been "financially challenged by the hard realities of a flattened economy."

Country rockers Lady Antebellum have been named one of iTunes Best New Artists of 2008. Guitarist Dave Haywood says it fits with the groups M.O because they pretty much live on the internet, putting up videos and blogs as much as they can on their website. Since iTunes is web-based he says its neat to be acknowledged there. Haywood was an accountant in his former life - before Lady Antebellum, and the skills come in handy sort of.

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are planning on giving their new daughter a very special first Christmas. Kidman told People.com that there are "going to be lots of hugs and kisses and Christmas carols." She's already bought Sunday Rose a turtle puppet - because she loves puppets.

Jamey Johnson is planning on lightening up his his follow up album to That Lonesome Song. Johnson wrote the tracks to That Lonesome Song following his divorce and the loss of his recording contract. He told GAC Nights that the next album is "naturally a little brighter toned" but it will still tell stories.

December 18th 2008

Miley Cyrus and Nashville based singer-songwriter Jeffrey Steel picked up a Golden Globe nomination on Thursday (11th) for a song they co-wrote for Disney's animated film Bolt. I Thought I Lost You is nominated for Best Original Song in a Motion Picture. In the film Cyrus also provides the voice for Penny, one of the main characters.

Hank William's stepdaughter Lycrecia Williams Hoover will visit an exhibition about the Williams family at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and will be the subject of a rare public interview at the museum. Hoover is the daughter of Audrey Williams who began dating Hank in the summer of 1943 when Lycrecia was two years old.

Dierks Bentley performed at the 15th Annual Nobel Peace Prize concert. Diana Ross will headline the concert that also features Jason Mraz, swedish singer Robyn and multi-national award winning operatic group Il Divo.

Brad Paisley has invited fans to create a music video for Start A Band using green-screen technology. He has already filmed his portions but users can change the backdrop and add themselves to the video. The prize is a Sony high definition camcorder and autographed copy of Paisleys latest album Play.

December 8th 2009

Clint Black is part of the cast of the new season of The Celebrity Apprentice. The new season begins March 1 on NBC with episodes expanded to two hours. Fellow contestants include Andrew Dice Clay, Annie Duke, Tom Green, LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis, skater Scott Hamilton, Claudia Jordon, Khloe Kardashian, Brian McKnight, Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers, Brande Roderick, Dennis Rodman, and Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins of TLC.

Sound & Speed have enlisted Montgomery Gentry to headline at the fourth annual concert on 9th January in Nashville. The following day country singers Josh Turner and Jason Michael Caroll will sign autographs alongside race car drivers Dale Earnhart Jr. and Michael Waltrip.

Jake Owens new album will be released on the 24th February on RCA Nashville. The project includes his current single Don't Think I Can't Love You . Owen was nominated for a Grammy on Wednesday (Dec. 3rd) in the category of best country collaboration with vocals for his concert recording of Life in a Northern Town.

Aaron Tippin returns from his Thanksgiving visit to Iraq as part of a 10 day tour there. He travelled to the Middle East with Fox News contributor Bill Cowan on behalf of Stars for Stripes a non-profit organisation that provides entertainment for the U.S troops deployed overseas.

Keith Urban has announced he is planning a tour for 2009 though the schedule remains a secret. No dates or cities have been announced though the tour is expected to follow the release of his next album. He's currently charting with single Sweet Thing.