THE WRIGHT STUFF (Items on Michelle Wright, Oak Ridge Boys, Shooter Jennings, Jim Ed Brown)

Even though lives in Nashville these days, Michelle Wright is back in her native Canada doing Christmas tour (along with a few of her country hits). And she's loving it, because she's traveling by bus, instead of old vans "with alternators that would break down in the middle of nowhere in the freezing cold in Canada."
She recently released a Christmas album, and more recently, a new music collection internationally.
Meanwhile, she's working on a new album, another Christmas collection, a European tour next summer and she's blogging, too.

Earth Daze: After working on Shooter Jennings last album, The Oak Ridge Boys snared his producer and came up with "The Boys are Back," what they call a grittier effort than Oak's past efforts.
"It's more earthy stuff. It's not so Nashville formula." ORB Richard Sterban.
"We had been wanting to try something different and Dave thought this was the way to go. At this stage of our career, we have nothing to lose. And, hey, it might get us back on the radio. It's a long shot. But it might happen."

Pop a Top: ...and catch up with Jim Ed Brown.

THE WOMAN WITH YOU (Items on Kenny Chesney, George Jones, Michael Martin Murphey, Marty Stuart, Tracy Byrd)

Is Kenny Chesney dating Miss Tennessee USA 2005 Amy Colley?
SF Gate says that The Star says that friends say the couple have been a couple for the past four months. And Kenny's already been introduced to Amy's parents. And vacationed in one of those tropical locales that Kenny is so fond of singing about.
Meanwhile, Kenny flew in from his tropical Batcave to help his former publicist celebrate the country hit she co-wrote.

Keeping Up with the Joneses: After a "pear scare" threatened George and Nancy Jones' annual Christmas decoration display, Nancy decided she couldn't be a Scrooge and figured out a way to go all Clark Griswold at their Tennessee spread this year.
Not so fortunate though: The spring semester at George Jones University, a victim of the economy.

Talkin' to the Right Man: Michael Martin Murphey has new set ready to go for '09.
"Buckaroo Blue Grass" is due February 10 and will include his son doin' some chores; Ryan Murphey produced the album, wrote all arrangements, sang harmony vocals and played rhythm guitar.
The set includes new music and several MMM classics performed with a guest list that ain't too shabby: Sam Bush, Rob Ickes, Ronnie McCoury, Andy Leftwich, Pat Flynn, Charlie Cushman play and Rhonda Vincent contributes bckground vocals.

Literary Reviewed: Marty Stuart was featured this morning on NPR's "All Things Considered," mostly talking about his book, "Country Music: The Music."
Read a piece on the piece or listen to it here.
Cybergrass also sprouts a view at the book, literally, with video.
Meanwhile, a chap at New West digs back into Tracy Byrd's years-old cookbook and even shares his recipe for butterscotch brownies

HECK OF A JOB, BROWNIE (Review of Zac Brown Band's "The Foundation")

I just spent the better part of an hour enjoying The Zac Brown Band's major label debut, "The Foundation." And while I was expecting 12 "Chicken Fried" tracks, what I got was what you'd expect from an outfit described by Atlantic as "equal parts country, bluegrass, southern rock, pop and reggae:" a truly unique set.
It kicks off with "Toes," a "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" type that smells like a single. "Where the Boat Leaves From" also mines the Buffet-esque waters that Kenny Chesney is forever wading in, but ZBB are straight-on reggae in their attack (and not just because "Marley" gets a shout out).
But the sand and island sets are distinctly the band's as they bypass the Corona bucket for some PBR.
Onward there are several cuts that harken to Diamond Rio (and I loves me some Diamond Rio), notably ""Whatever It Is." And that means there's some yummy harmonizing poured into "The Foundation" throughout.
Elsewhere, along with a few ballads, there's hoedowns, blues, storytellin', jammin', humor, rumination...and some damn fine playing, often in the same ditty.
I can't wait to catch these guys live, they're what a modern day jubilee should sound like.

LITTLE MOMENTS (Items on Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Emerson Drive, Nickel Creek, Rhonda Vincent, Lee Ann Womack, Kenny Rogers, Billy Ray Cyrus)

So, Brad Paisley didn't get to his his old lady's belly at the American Music Awards...because of her condition, "a watermelon strapped around her waist," sez Brad, she decided to stay at home. Except when he called her to celebrate his win, she was at the cinema watching that James Bond "Quantum of Something" movie. But that's okay, she TiVo'd the Awards show.
Meanwhile, Brad's "Play" mate's (Keith Urban) little one, Sunday Rose, will not grow up with that same Australian accent her folks have, mom Nicole Kidman hopes.
Also from the pitter-patter of li'l GGcolumn blurbs: Congrats to Emerson Driver David Pichette and wife Jill who welcomed their first child, Emma Victoria Pichette, into the world last Friday.

Here to There: Nickel Creek's Sarah Watkins will release a solo album in April with an all-star guest list including her Creek mates.

Two Up, Two Down: ...as the lineup of Rhonda Vincent's Rage changes.

Yes, But...Whose Chair is It?: Yes, those really are Lee Ann Womack's legs on the cover of her latest album, "Call Me Crazy."

Have a Joint: Good news...Kenny Rogers' latest surgery involved his knee and not his face.

Some People will Do Anything to Score Miley Tickets: Billy Ray Cyrus has been cast in the new Jackie Chan movie.

DOWN AT THE TWIST AND SHOUT (Items on Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Blake Shelton)

After giving voice to numerous songs, Mary-Chapin Carpenter is speaking out in a new weekly column in The Washington Times newspaper. The columns, which will appear every Friday, began November 21 with a piece on folk rockers Hem.
D.C. is MCC's old, long-time stomping grounds, but these days she resides a stone's throw away in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
"Even though I no longer make my home in the District, I still consider myself a Washingtonian," Mary-Chpin sez. "It will feel good to be back, in words and ink, at The Washington Times."
Meanwhile, MCC's Christmas album, "Come Darkness, Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas," is out now and there are bonus tracks available, depending on which online retailer y'all wanna buy it from.

BS on EW: Entertainment Weekly dubs Blake a many-splendored dude when it comes to pop culture and some of his personal entertainment choices night suprise you.
Like, um, he used to collect California Raisins figures given away at your participating Hardee's back in the day...and his ringtone is AC/DC (They replaced Hall & Oates)...And he and my momma share a love for a certain movie, "Sommersby," a chick-flick starring Jodie Foster and Richard Gere. We also found out what movies made him bawl (Hint: It's not "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" but that one had me in tears).
And there's this from Blake:
"I'll tell you the other thing that bothers me, I don't think people realize the value and the brilliance of 'The Golden Girls.' My favorite bit ever was when Blanche got upset, ran down the hall and slammed the door, and Dorothy and Rose both followed her to the door, and Dorothy's beatin' on the door, "Blanche! Blanche!," and she won't answer, and Rose says, "I know she's in there." And then the episode where Rose can't figure out why if you eat somethin' that's fattening right now, it takes two or three days to show up, and she says, "Where does the fat go for two days?," and Dorothy says, "Connecticut, Rose." Those are awesome lines."

TAYLORAMA (Items on American Music Awards, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley)

Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Brad (or Brian) Paisley each took home an American Music Award last night in pageantry telecast on ABC. Taylor was selected as the Favorite Female Artist (and most "resplendent"), Country, while The Flatts took the Favorite Country Band, Duo or Group and Brad got the Fave Country Male award. Carrie's "Carnival Ride" won for Favorite Country Album.
"I honestly didn't think I was going to win this award. I can't believe that I did. I can't believe that the fans did that for me," Taylor said, crediting a higher power. "Everybody on MySpace, they're the reason I am holding this award right now."
Brad, meanwhile, eschewed belly-kissin' for Award appraisin': "I have always wanted to win an American Music Award. It certainly is a real," he said has he examined the bottom of the trophy, "Made in China? Anyway, thank you so much for this."

Remote Patrol: Leno repeats Thursday with Darius Rucker's recent appearance. Conan also dittos on Thursday with a Jewel slot. Regis and Kelly and Jewel are all along the re-run train on Thursday as well and Kevin Costner hops aboard...Faith Hill guests on "The View" Tuesday and performs on Letterman Friday night...Ellen has Dolly Friday..."A Colbert Christmas" with guests that include Toby Keith and Willie Nelson repeats every night this week on Comedy Central.

POSSUM PROJECTS (Items on George Jones, Clint Black, Lorrie Morgan, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Danielle Peck, Tracy Lawrence, Kathy Mattea)

George Jones is among the artists contributing to "We are Enterprise," a compilation album due December 16 benefiting the rebuilding of Enterprise High School in Alabama. The school, you may recall, was serverely damaged by a tornado in 2007.
In addition to George's "Amazing Grace," the album will include cuts by Deborah Allen, John Anderson, Clint Black, Shelley Fairchild, Richie McDonald, Aaron Tippin and Darryl Worley. Lorrie Morgan will offer up a cover of "You've Got a Friend" and Joe Diffie gives his take on "You are So Beautiful."
Enterprise is located a short distance from the planned country music mecca Country Crossing in which a number of the artists contributing to "We are Enterprise."

George, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Ray Price, along with Bobby Bare Jr. and Sr. are among the artists participating in a tribute disc saluting the late Shel Silverstein. Shel, for the uninformed, was a many-splendored dude whose artistic output included Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue,' Loretta Lynn's "One's on the Way" and a whole shelf of classic books, like "The Giving Tree."
The Silverstein disc is due midway through 2009.

More Good Deeds: If you're hanging in Music City Monday night you can catch Danielle Peck, Cyndi Thomson, Julie Roberts and more performing at The Listening Room Cafe for the first annual Pancreatic Cancer Awareness benefit show...Tracy Lawrence will be among the volunteers Tuesday deep-frying 400 turkeys to feed 6,500 folks served by Nashville's Rescue Mission...Kathy Mattea was part of the annual Santa Train trek through Appalachia distributing gifts to young ones...How's Nicole Kidman (Urban) greeting her new Tennessee neighbors? By volunteering with Meals on Wheels.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS (Items on Jo Dee Messina, Kid Rock, Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill)

Jo Dee Messina's taking a new new style to the road rod show has planned for the spring. The flame-haired (and expecting) vixen will present "The Music Room Series," which sounds a lot like VH1's "Storytellers."
In the shows, slated for stops in the northeast, will an intimate, "exclusive glimpse inside of Jo Dee's world where she will be telling the stories behind her unmistakable hits and even taking requests and questions from the audience."
Before that (January, expectantly), Jo Dee will deliver her first child, a boy, with her hubby.
Before that, Jo Dee will do a three-night stand in Vegas.
Before that, Jo Dee will do a series of charity shows in Ohio and Kentucky, including this one and this one.
Before that, Thanksgiving Day, Jo Dee will be participating in a five mile run, which I reckon will be this one.
Somewhere amid all of that, Jo Dee's much-delayed album, "Unmistakable," is scheduled to finally see the light of day.

Speaking of Storytellers: Kid Rock's edition of the show premieres Thanksgiving night on VH1 and they've got beaucoup clips at their website, including "All Summer Long."

Paradise Sitting: Carrie Underwood has lot on her plate, but what's she most looking forward to? Um, the new Guns N'Roses album.

If You Catch a Vince Gill Show...: Bring your requests; If he knows it, he'll play it.

DOWN THE ROAD (Items on Kenny Chensey, Julianne Hough, Chuck Wicks, Jessica Simpson)

Thursday night, Kenny Chesney picked up his fourth Top Package award in Billboard's Touring Awards...he also received the first Eventful Fans' Choice Award, voted, of course, by the fans, eventfully.
Meanwhile, might Kenny be extending his road schedule across the globe? Appropriately enough, Chesney World tells us...maybe.
The author of Kenny's latest hit, CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally, chats up the folks back home in 'Bama.

That Opening in My Sched: Julianne Hough, who got the boot (along with partner Cody Linley) this week on "Dancing with the Stars," will not appear on the upcoming (spring) season of ABC's smash.
"I won't be on 'Dancing' this spring season. I don't know about the fall," she sez (In case you don't believe me, check her out on Ryan Seacrest's radio show confirming the news below).
The hoof-stress will instead dive full time into her country music career.
Meanwhile, Julianne and Chuck Wicks remain closerthanthis. In fact, they got a doggie.



Lips, Inc.?: Did Jessica Simpson just have her lips, um, plumped up? Maybe. Meanwhile, there's this.

"CHICKEN FRIED" STAKES (Items on Zac Brown Band, Taylor Swift, Sarah Buxton, Dolly Parton)

There's lots and lots of The Zac Brown Band to go around as the group's debut album, "The Foundation" landed this week.
The lads will appear on CMT's "At 330 Sessions" showcase starting on December 9 and on the cabler's "Southern Fried Flicks" on December 14. And look for Zac to hook up with one of my favorite ladies, Paula Deen, on her "Paula's Best Dishes" show on the Food Network after the new year. If y'all just can wait to mix it up in the kitchen with Zac, then head on over to eatdrinkordie.com, where he's preparing five dishes for your best wishes. Here's his take on roasted potatoes...

See more recipes and videos at Eat Drink or Die

Meanwhile, Zac and the band are stalled at the penultimate position on the country singles chart behind Taylor Swift: “We’re waiting,” Zac sez. “It’s tough battling that gal for the No. 1 spot!”

"Space" -ing Out: Sarah Buxton is still working on her second album, despite having the first single out now. So who does she hope to collaborate with on it? Randy Owen.
And while he's one busy hombre these days with his own solo album and autobiography out, he's interested in writing with her. But she wants him to co-produce the platter.

Dolly in Des Moines: While Dolly unleashed potent quoteables, along with the hits onstage, "fans snapped up T-shirts, marked down for the end of the tour, and one very happy man took home a pink cowboy hat with a built-in tiara.
“'It’s for my sister,' he said. The clerk didn’t believe him."

TAYLOR NATION SPEAKS (Items on Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood)

There's more on the smash first week out for Taylor Swift's second album, "Fearless."
In addition to being country's top opening-seller in a year, it's also the big week-one seller by a female artist of any genre in 2008 (and the fourth biggest overall when you figure the fellas in).
The "Fearless" take also includes a mere 129,046 copies sold digitally, making it the biggest country didgital debut ever.
Meanwhile, amid all her gussied-up chart success, there's this, sez Billboard Chart Beat-meister Fred Bronson: Taylor has tied the Jonas Brothers at five for the most top 20 debuts on Billboard's Hot 100 in a calendar year and each are just two behind the all-time record of seven entries inside the top 20, a record shared by Janet Jackson and Madonna...BUT WAIT! Taylor's "White Horse" just popped in at #13 this week and gives her the record, over the Joanases, which must be especially sweet for her.
Meanwhile, all but two of the 13 tracks on "Fearless" have found their way onto the Hot 100.
And while Carrie graduated from high school this year, next year she'll graduate to headlining status in arenas across the world.

Taylor submits to a three-click interview with Rolling Stone in which she says, along other things, that her musical idols are LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain, Faith Hill and The Dixie Chicks...But she loves Loretta's "Fist City." She has sez no qualms about "naming names" when writing songs about busted relationships.
She's also interviewed in Women's Health magazine, which she's also on the cover of the December issue. And y'all can watch her cover shoot interview here.

Carrie, Fair and Balanced: FOX news hung out with Carrie Underwood at the recent BMI Awards are here are the results...

YOU'RE THE (CARROT) TOP (Items on Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Brooks & Dunn, The Eagles)

Reba McEntire may be headed back to Broadway.
The perky redhead wowed The Great White Way a few years back in "Annie, Get Your Gun." Now she's rumored to be eyeballing the lead in a revival of the Cole Porter musical "Anything Goes" (which features the ditty punned in the title of this post) in the role (originated by Ethel Merman) of an evangelist-turned-nightclub singer.
Reba's "Annie" experience led to spectulation that she'd be back on Broadway, but her long-running sitcom kept her away. But she's said that, eventually, she'd be running the boards again.
Reba's curent stage buddy Kelly Clarkson has a new single ready to go, but it won't be country, as some thought. Their tour continues tonight in Columbus, Friday in Charlotte and wraps up Saturday in Baltimore and tickets are still available for all three shows.
And last week's stage-buddying with Brooks & Dunn on "Cowgirls Don't Cry" at the CMA Awards wasn't a one off. A studio version of the three-way action was already in the can and shipped to radio right after the Awards show.

Life's Been Good?: A buncha people sure do love The Eagles, but have they taken it to the limit one too many times?

IT'S YOUR CASH (Items on Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Diana DeGarmo, John Rich)

Forbes magazine's latest list of the rich and famous involves Hollywood's Top-Earning Couples and some our favorite domestic hookups figure into the ka-ching-a-ling mix.
Beyond the top dollar couple, Jay Z and Beyonce, you'll find Tim McGraw and Faith Hill at #4 on the paycheck parade.
The pair brought in $35 million in the 12 months covered. That haul includes coin from their joint Soul2Soul tour (wasn't that ages ago?). Tim's take home check is tabulated at $23 million from sources that include touring and album sales (Is it any wonder Curb wants to whore his music out?).
Faith's $12 million in moola includes record sales and being the voice of NBC's Sunday Night Football theme. As Forbes sez, "every time NBC plays the catchy tune, Hill sees a check." (I would reckon Joan Jett and current Nashville tunesmith Desmond Child also get a payday from the pigskin ditty, since they co-wrote the original).
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman are at #8 on the list with a take of #25 million. Keith's bring-home was $12 on album and tour receipts, while the Mrs. made up the rest through movie salary and endorsements.
You can see the whole list of cash couples counted down (and up) on a special on E! that premieres November 28.

BTW: Y'all can add Tim and Brad Paisley to Blake Shelton on People magazine's list of the Sexiest Men Alive. The issue lands Friday on finer news stands and checkout lines.

Including a Duet with Julio, Jr.?: Former "Gone Country" contestant Diana DeGarmo is shopping around four country ditties she's recorded with John Rich, hoping to attract label interest.

Mao Tse Yeah!: Bringing country music to China, via Alabama.

"FEARLESS" RULES (Items on Taylor Swift, The Eagles, Blake Shelton, Julianne Hough, CMA Awards)

How big is Taylor Swift? How's about 592,000 copies big?
That's the first week haul for her "Fearless" set, easily good enough to top the Billboard Top 200 Albums (and Country Albums) chart. And the sophomore disc's out-of-the-gate numbers are country's best first week performance since The Eagles moved 711,000 copies of "Long Road Out of Eden" a year ago, Billboard tells us.
Meanwhile, Taylor won't just be performing at that Grammy Awards nominations deal-hickey in December on CBS, she'll be co-hosting the doggone thing...and The Village Voice reviews "Fearless" finds "actual wisdom."
Also, did ya know that Taylor's peers in school found her to be "annoying" and "weird?" Yeppers, she recounts via One India, via US magazine, via Women's Health.

Did Miranda Have a Vote?: Blake Shelton, whose "Startin' Fires" disc just arrived Tuesday, has been named one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive. Here, have a look-see.

Remote Patrol: Recapping last night's "Dancing with the Stars" in three words, "Farewell, Sweet Julianne."...CMT will rebroadcast the CMA Awards on November 29.

SINGERS TUNED (Items on Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Robert Plant, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, George Jones, Patsy Cline, Dolly, Merle, Willie)

Rolling Stone commissioned a polling of The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time this summer and the results are in...and country crooners take a backseat, sort of. Ray Charles is #2 and Elvis Presley is #3, just behind #1, Aretha Franklin. In the layout in print at the mag's website, artists take turns lauding the voices. Billy Joel mention that Ray's "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music" was his introduction to his genius. CMA winner Robert Plant, meanwhile, takes on The King and recounts a Led Zep meeting with Elvis. In that meeting, Zepster Jimmy Page told Elvis that Plant channeled Presley in their soundchecks and his favorite Elvis style to ape from his country moods.
Elsewhere on the list, you'll find Roy Orbison at #13 and Plant himself at #15..."His voice is picturesque," current partner in crime Alison Krauss sez. "It sounds so new and so old at the same time, with this crazy European mystery to it."
Country (proper) arrives at #21 in the form of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams (Sr.) is at #27. "At first listen, Hank may not sound like a real good singer," Merle Haggard chimes in, "but he had a unique method of sincerity. I never heard anything Hank sang that I didn't believe."
James Taylor (#74) says of #43, George Jones, "(He) doesn't sound like he was influenced by any other singer: He sounds like a steel guitar."
And if you were wondering where in the heck Patsy Cline was, it's at #46.
Elsewhere on the list, Jerry Lee Lewis is ranked #67. At #70, Gregg Allman is rendered by Dwight Yoakam and Sheryl Crow.
At #73, Dolly Parton says her own voice sounds like "a cross between Tiny Tim and a nanny goat."
Dwight says of the man at #77, "The only thing that vies with (Merle) Haggard's poetic genius is the gift he has as a singer who delivers those songs with one of the most pure and profoundly powerful voices in music."
Willie Nelson stands at #88 and his partner on a recent jazz album and now DVD, Wynton Marsalis, says Willie's voice stands out because of his unconventional phrasing- "very unpredictable, but it comes out poetic and very logical."

Famous in Milwaukee: Dolly's "trademark image often threatens to overshadow her songwriting talent. However, both her musical chops and the Smoky Mountain-bred, homespun personality" win out in the city of suds.

Who Says You Can't Go Home: Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora, that's who. The BJ axeman/chick magnet sez that new music that'll be tacked onto an upcoming hits set will stray from their recent Nashvillian material.

COMIN' TO YOUR CITY (Items on Big & Rich, Randy Owen, Alabama, Jeffrey Steele, Miley Cyrus)

WKRN's Music City TV reports that 2008 stunted concert slate for Big & Rich doesn't mean the lads won't be piling on the miles in 2009.
But a next-year road show doesn't necessarily mean Kenny and John have a B&R album in the works.
Indeed, B&R have some dates already slated for next summer.
Among John's eight-million projects is a solo album, while Big Kenny plans four (!) albums...
“John’s making a record. I’m making three different records, actually, four, ’cause I decided this week I wanna make a reggae record too,” Kenny tells MCTV. “And then I’ve got my musicals! I’ve been working on them for forever! But it’s just so much work. It takes a long time.”
Meanwhile, the concert finale for the upcoming season of John's "Gone Country" (JR project 8,000,001) was held at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon last Friday. So who'll join Julio Iglesias, Jr. and Sebastian Bach as potential Opry legends? Dunno...

Northern Star: Randy Owen (a former "Nashville Star" judge- which is a theme in this post) stopped by FOX News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" Monday night to chat up his new solo album (produced by John Rich...project 8,000,002) and autobiography.
You can see what happened below (and then click for part two of the interview here).
Meanwhile, let's drop in on a Randy book-signing in Michigan, where he said a future Alabama reunion ain't happening.

Steeler Touchdown: John's "Nashville Star" judging amigo Jeffrey Steele is really slackin' compared to Big Kenny's prolific-platter plans. The dude has a measly three albums just out to retail and online sales sites.
One is a set of Steele compositions most folks haven't heard as opposed to "Gold, Platinum, No Chrome, More Steele: Greatest Hits Vol. II" in which he sounds off on hits he wrote for others. On the third piece, "Countrypolitan," the Jeffster tackles a few country classics.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey wrote a song with Miley Cyrus for that "Bolt" movie Disney's been hitting us in the head with in anticipation of its release Friday.

THE TEN MAN (Items on Trace Adkins, Nan Kelley, Lee Roy Parnell, James Otto, Trisha Yearwood)

There's plenty of Trace Adkins to go around a week before his "X" album marks the spot one week from today. On Thursday night, Trace will join Emeril Lagasse over on the Fine Living network. Friday night, Nan Kelley hosts Trace on the GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown.
I'm sure they'll be talking up Trace's "X (TEN) Days" special on the cabler, which premieres November 25. The show documents a recent USO tour stop Trace took to entertain our troops. Here's a sneak peek:

On Saturday, y'all can catch Trace on FOX's "Talk Show with Spike Ferestein" and earlier the same day, he's on the TV Guide Channel's "Sexy Stars of Country Music" special.
On Trace's Thanksgiving menu, he (and Darius Rucker and James Taylor and others) will be part of NBC's broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
With so much on Trace's plate, it's no wonder Reuters has a two-click piece on the fella, the master of many medias.

BUMMER'S COMIN' (Items on Clint Black, Little Big Town, Hank Williams, Jr., Jewel, Josh Gracin, Joe Nichols)

Clint Black is suing his manager and Little Big Town figures into the mix.
The suit against Charles Sussman and Sussman's firm boils down to royalty issues and publishing rights. Meanwhile, the Equity Records label, which Clint essentially figureheaded (and in which Clint- and Sussman- have minority stakes), received half a million dollars from the singer's royalties (among other Clint ka-chinging to Equity), allegedly at Sussman's request, according to the lawsuit. Clint says that amounted to an interest-free loan to the label.
And when Little Big Town packed their bags and headed to Capitol Records, it was news to Clint, he sez. Clint alleges he was unaware terms of the LBT contract allowed such an exodus.
BTW: It's kind of interesting that, at Equity's website, the label is described as Clint's "brainchild."

Hanging Chad Dept.: CMT.com's Hazel Smith is dishing that Hank Williams, Jr. is gunning for the U.S. Senate, from Tennessee, in the next election...Post-election, Alaska-native Jewel sez that Sarah Palin is a stronger woman...and, as the singer promised on the CMA red carpet, her "Perfectly Clear" album will be on sale for (at least, plus shipping and handling) a buck the day after Thanksgiving at her website with proceeds going to the Country Hall.

Belatedly: Congrats to Josh Gracin and his Mrs., who welcomed daughter Isabella Sophia into the world last Wednesday.

Brokenvoiceville: Joe Nichols was among the Arkansans inducted into the state's Entertainers Hall of Fame over the weekend. Unfortunately, throat problems kept Joe, the youngest-ever inductee, from attending the ceremonies.

GOTTA HAVE FAITH (Items on Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Jessica Simpson, Alan Jackson, Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt)

'Tis the season to be Faith Hill...or to catch her...
Faith will be in NYC on November 24 at noon to sign copies of her new Christmas album...That same day, she'll perform a Christmas set on the "Today Show."
The next day, she'll set down with (and perform for, I reckon) the ladies of "The View."
On Thanksgiving weekend, Faith has a big holiday concert premiering on PBS' "SoundStage." The show, from Chicago, features Mrs. McGraw and an orchestra getting all yuletidy in front of an intimate crowd of 3,000. The PBS website has more, including a clip. CMT will run the concert on November 30 several times.
On November 28, you can find Faith on David Letterman.
On December 3, Faith (and Rascal Flatts) are on the bill for the lighting of the Christmas tree at Peacock HQ in The apple on "Christmas in Rockefeller Center."
Meanwhile, Amazon.com is promising am exclusive video of Faith singing "Joy to the World," but, by gummy, every time I click on the link it brings me back to the same page I started at.

Lest you think the ol' man isn't pulling his weight, tube-wise, rest assured. Tim McGraw, as mentioned, will be hosting "Saturday Night Live" this weekend (was Tim a replacement for Justin Timberlake?).
On November 26, you can catch him on a repeat of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" on CMT. That's the same day his new movie, "Four Christmases," lands in theaters.
(FYI: Kenny Chesney to "Christmases" star Reese Witherspoon: I'm a big fan!").
And Tim'll be guesting on Faith's "A Home for the Holidays" CBS special on December 23 over at CBS.

Elsewhere on the Remote Patrol, Letterman is presenting a week of tribute bands this week on the "Late Show" and Tuesday night pseudo-Johnnys "Cold Hard Cash" drop by...Ellen welcomes Jessica Simpson on Wednesday...You can catch Sugarland floating along on CBS' "Thanksgving Day Parade" on Turkey Day.

Works for Me: What are Alan Jackson's future plans? "More of the same."

Now, That's Country: Marty Stuart talks touring with Travis and his new photo book...and from stools to computer screen, here's a Marty/Travis revue review...and a look inside Marty's busy world.

Bottom of the World: There's an Australian Dixie Chicks?

VOLUNTEER JAMMING (Items on Charlie Daniels, Keith Whitley, Martina McBride, Jeff Bates)

Charlie Daniels will appear at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Wednesday afternoon to sign copies of the DVD he released last week, "Preachin', Prayin', Singin' with Charlie Daniels & Friends: Live From Nashville."
The set is culled from a show at Nashville's Ford Theatre in which Charlie was joined by a number of his bluegrass heroes, including Mac Wiseman, Earl, Gary and Randy Scruggs, Del, Ronnie and Rob McCoury and Sharon, Cheryl and Buck White. The show featured Charlie debuting songs from his bluegrass gospel release, "Songs from the Long Leaf Pines." Meanwhile, on November 24, Charlie & friends (Rodney Atkins, Heidi Newfield, Montgomery Gentry and Phil Vassar, along others) will perform the Christmas for Kids show at The Ryman.

A Hard Act to Follow: Y'all remember actor David Keith? The dude who swallowed booze, and then an engagement ring, in "An Officer and a Gentlemen" (he also appears in Ricky Skaggs "Country Boy" video) is embrolled in a lawsuit involving a Keith Whitley biopic.
Keith was prepping the story of the singer who passed away at age 34 in 1989, when he alleges his money ($10 million) man backed out. So David has filed a suit against Alabama businessman Davis Lee and his company, Alatrade Foods LLC.
Keith had been working for three years to bring the Whitley story to the big screen, including, he says securing the rights to tell the story and the music from RCA.

How I Feel: Martina McBride blogs on CMA week, which included being placed on the Music City Walk of Fame and partying at Ronnie Dunn's...Meanwhile, take a look at (and find out how they made) Martina and Elvis' new video for "Blue Christmas."

Long, Slow Mrs(es).: Jeff Bates has several gigs lined up in Arkansas this month, where he feels right at home. "I lived in Little Rock for seven years and I even married a couple of Arkansas girls."

MISSISSIPPI BOY (Items on Randy Houser, Tammy Cochran, Phil Vassar, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Faith, Garth, Chesney, Alan Jackson)

When David Letterman heard Randy Houser's "Anything Goes" on the radio, he went after his bookers to grab Randy for "Late Show" (take a look at Randy's photos from the visit here). While Dave sez "Goes" is "the story of my life," it's one of the few ditties that veteran song-scribe Houser didn't write on his new album, which arrives Tuesday.
Randy told the Clarion Ledger, "When (music director) Paul Shaffer started telling me how Letterman heard the song, I just shook my head. You really can't plan things like that. There are a lot of major artists who have tried for years to get on Letterman and have not been able to. And he doesn't have a lot of country artists on his show. I was just really blessed - and I think it's a lot cooler that I got on there because he wanted me, not because my record label was begging him to take me."
Meanwhile, while it was Tammy Cochran who brought Randy from Mississippi to Tennessee, it's Phil Vassar bringing Randy to the northeast for three shows this week.
Here's Randy before his Letterman gig from August...



I Guess that's Why She Likes "Grey's Anatomy": If the whole music thing doesn't work out, Taylor Swift wouldn't mind being a surgeon.

Start a Survey: Who's the 16th-sexiest bloke in the world? Keith Urban.

Q&A: With Blake Shelton from Texas' Star-Telegram.

Know Lion: There's not much nice to write at the Detriot Lions this season, but at least one of their players likes a little bit of country, including Faith, Garth and "the one that was married to Renee Zellweger."...Meanwhile, Alan Jackson's "Good Time" may be the lucky charm for the Tennessee Titans' unbeaten season.

POST CMA POST (Items on Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland, George Strait, Rascal Flatts)

Entertainer of the Year:
Kenny Chesney
Before handing out the "Thank Yous," Kenny (like most of the fellas- and some of the ladies) took note of Shania's still-hotness.
Despite handing him four EOY awards in the last half-decade, does the CMA really respect Kenny? He was nominated seven times, after all, and only took home the big prize.
Meanwhile, Kenny was Wailing Wednesday and is already moving on...to his 2009 tour.

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Carrie Underwood
Who needs the CMA's top distaff kudo when film.com anoints you the fashion winner of the evening?...And Carrie has advice for Shania (re: Mutt Lange): Revenge is a dish not served.

Male Vocalist of the Year:
Brad Paisley
Brad talks about the baby bump kiss to the people who covered the CMA's for People.

New Artist of the Year:
Lady Antebellum
"It's very humbling," said Lady A lady Hilary Scott backstage with partners Haywood and Kelley, about the award. "We do not take this lightly at all. We have so much yet to prove."

Vocal Group of the Year:
Rascal Flatts
"We tied the Statler Brothers for consecutive wins (in the category)," Flatt Gary LeVox sez. "You can't dream that."

Vocal Duo of the Year:
Sugarland
Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch cites Sugarland as the best thing about the show, which was "comprised largely of soul-killing mediocrity."

Single of the Year:
"I Saw God Today," George Strait
George propped the writers for “letting me sing such a beautiful song.” It's not the first time Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby and Rodney Clawson's song has been honored.

Song of the Year:
“Stay,” Sugarland
"Stay" stuck around for two years before winning.

Album of the Year:
Troubadour, George Strait
Everyone says they've got the greatest fans," Strait said in his acceptance speech. "Well, I really got the greatest fans."...George's awards (numbers 19, 20, 21 and 22...he also got two extras for producing) add to his CMA career best.

Musical Event of the Year:
"Gone Gone Gone," Alison Krauss/Robert Plant
Who'd a-ever thunk Robert Plant would win a CMA Award? Meanwhile, it's Alison's eighth.

Music Video of the Year:
“Waitin’ On A Woman,” Brad Paisley
Step aside, Sheriff Andy, Brad's teaming up with Keith Urban, again, as they start a tour, maybe.

Musician of the Year:
Mac McAnally
You can find Mac on Kenny and George's latest.

More CMA: The 42nd running of the CMA's pulled boffo ratings in its first ABC airing...Chet Flippo's "Nashville Skyline" sez the Awards lacked "substance. And style. And personality. And grit." Except for Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock and Lady A....Were last night's real winners the Tennessee Titans?...The LA Times 16-click CMA feature is plenty opinionated...Ditto the (Minneapolis) Star-Tribune, which annoints Bob Ritchie as the new king of Nashville...'Glad I wasn't the only one noticing some sound problems right around the time Taylor Swift starting singing in her tower.

CMA PREDICTIONS

Entertainer of the Year:
Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year:
Brad Paisley

New Artist of the Year:
Rodney Atkins

Vocal Group of the Year:
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year:
Sugarland

Single of the Year:
"Stay," Sugarland

Song of the Year:
“Stay,” Sugarland

Album of the Year:
Troubadour, George Strait

Musical Event of the Year:
Kenny Chesney/George Strait, “Shiftwork”

Musician of the Year:
Jerry Douglas

Music Video of the Year:
“Waitin’ On A Woman,” Brad Paisley

STARTING OVER (Items on Reba McEntire, Toby Keith, Kellie Pickler, George Jones, Jimmy Wayne, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Kristy Lee Cook)

Here's some big news: After several decades with MCA Records, Reba McEntire is going indy.
The singer has inked a deal with The Valory Music Company, the home of Jewel, Jimmy Wayne and Emerson Drive. Valory (and sister label Big Machine) is headed by prexy Scott Borchetta, a former senior promotion veep at MCA.
“It is as if a day hasn’t even passed,” Borchetta says. “The toughest thing about leaving MCA Nashville again was leaving behind this relationship that I value so much. It is with great honor that I announce today that Reba McEntire will now exclusively record for The Valory Music Co.”
The redhead adds, “I am thrilled to be joining the Valory team. Scott and I worked together on some of the biggest singles of my career, and I am excited to renew our partnership."
Expect a new Reba single early next year with an album to follow in the summer. In between, Reba's hosting the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Phillips Headed Memory: Toby Keith to the People magazine: The CMA "Screwed Me."

Post-Op-Ed Notes: The Washington Post, blogging from CMA week in Nashville, sez half of Music City "is a country-music souvenir shop/theme park," Kellie Pickler is a "dingbat," meeting George Jones "Was. Awe. Some." and chats up Jimmy Wayne.

Yours for $2 Million: 5,478 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half bathrooms near Nashville, placed on the market by Tanya Tucker.

Erin Go Bra-less!: A couple of Irish DJ's are hoping to get their hands on one of Dolly Parton's bras...hey, stop that!...it's all for a good cause.

Fifteen More Minutes of Shame: Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch on Kristy Lee Cook's single: "Kristy Lee's vocal gives the track the personality of a soggy bowl of store-brand corn flakes."

LIFE GOES ON (Items on Terri Clark, Merle Haggard, Craig Morgan, Randy Travis)

Nashville Narc caught the news that Terri Clark has revealed to her fan club members: She's splitting from BNA Records and heading north.
The native Canadian says she plans to concentrate more to the home (and other international) markets. However her tour plans for 2009 include U.S. and Canadian dates, which are still pending.
The new year will also bring new music from Terri,...sorta. She's planning on releasing a live album early in the year, which would be her first. Several new studio cuts, meanwhile should be sprinkled onto the disc as well.

Cheers: Merle Haggard's recent surgery has this blogger at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution musing on The Hag, who "is like sipping on a good bourbon-- mellow with a bite to it."

That's Why: Craig Morgan chats up his new album in a Q&A.

He Told You So: The 9513's Pierce Greenberg sat down for Randy Travis' Country Hall of Fame Q&A session and reports.

TIM (AND FAITH) TV (Items on Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift)

Who's the musical guest slated for Tim McGraw hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live" a week from Saturday? Nah, not Faith Hill, Ludacris and T-Pain...BTW: It took five years of trying for Tim to hook up with the SNL gig...now he wants the Super Bowl halftime show.
Mrs. McGraw has her own hosting gig coming up.
"The 10th Annual A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill" premieres December 23 on CBS. Faith welcomes her old man, Melissa Etheridge, and Jamie Foxx (who Tim co-starred with in "The Kingdom") for musical performances.
The annual special features celebrities sharing inspirational stories of adoption and foster care. Faith's folks adopted her as an infant.

Meanwhile, while Tim acts (again) in the upcoming "Four Christmases," Yahoo!'s GetBack blog says "Sing, Don't Act!" to Dolly Parton and Jessica Simpson, among others.
And then there's those that sing and act...Canada.com sez those who manage to do both well include Dwight Yoakam and Billy Bob Thornton (I guess the critic enjoyed "Sling Blade," in which both appear).

Choice Cuts: Tim was country's lone dude in the Favorite Male Artist category at the last go-round of the People's Choice Awards (he lost to Justin Timberlake). Now he's gone.
In just-announced nods for the next handout (January 7 on CBS), Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley are up in the category, as is Chris Brown.
Carrie Underwood represents y'all in the Fave Female list and Rascal Flatts will look to repeat as Favorite Group.
Carrie's "Last Name" is up for Fave Country Song against Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and the Flatts' "Take Me There."
You can vote here.

KA-CHING! (Items on Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Dixie Chicks, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Roy Clark, Aaron Tippin, Mac Davis)

Paul Grein at Yahoo! Chart Watch eyeballs several interesting country music lists ahead of the CMA Awards.
The ranking of the top-selling country albums since 1991 (the dawn of the Nielsen/SoundScan era) is especially muse-worthy: nine of the 15 discs (and the seven top-selling) belong to Garth Brooks (with five of the 15), The Dixie Chicks (three) and Shania Twain (a pair).
Shania's third album, "Come On Over," is country's (and all genres of music's) top-seller overall with 15,469,000 served. Garth's "Ropin' the Wind" is second with 9,571,000 scans and The Chicks' topper is their debut, "Wide Open Spaces," at #4. Right behind at #5 is their sophomore "Fly" disc. Both of The Chicks' discs have sold north of eight million copies.
Beyond that trio of country's mega-platinum sellers, you'll find Billy Ray Cyrus' "Some Gave All" and the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, each of which are approaching seven-and-a-half million copies sold.
The newest platter is the sweepstakes in Carrie Underwood's "Some Hearts," which has been tallied well over six million times through registers.

Carrie, meanwhile, has the top selling country download ever as her "Before He Cheats," has been legally downloaded 2,512,000 times. Her "Jesus, Take the Wheel" is also one of the top ten country downloads. Two of Taylor Swift's ditties are also in the top ten.
The Rascal Flatts dudes have three- the most- of the top ten downloads and their best-seller is "Life is a Highway," which didn't even hit the country top ten. Ditto Big & Rich's "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy," which is top ten in sales but peaked at #11 on the country singles chart.

Yesterday, When I was Young: What's Roy Clark's secret to entertaining at age 75 with a new hip? "Mostly the medications,” he quips.
Meanwhile, the legend, who had a jumbo hit with a French cabaret song, says he honed his style way back when by learning to please all musical tastes.

Elizabeth!...This is the Big One!: “Aaron Tippin is the Fred Sanford of country music,” sez Aaron, third-personally speaking.

Cheaper to Keep Her: Country stars seem to be a in property selling mood, except for Mac Davis, who just plunked down almost $5 million for new California digs.

"FEARLESS" WEEK (Items on Taylor Swift, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, CMA Awards, Rodney Crowell, Little Richard, Trace Adkins)

Ahead of her super dooper busy "Fearless" release week, Taylor Swift talks with The New York Times for a three-click feature.
The piece, punctuated by Taylor's comments from her "Zen-like tour bus," takes a look at the big machine that engineered Taylor's rise. That journey has seen Taylor move Swiftly into pop music circles, but she'll remain true to country; “I’m not about to snub the people who brought me to the party,” she sez.
The Boston Globe also takes a look at Taylor and sez "Fearless" "sounds like a page torn from 'The Dixie Chicks: The High School Years'."
Meanwhile, The Kansas City Star says that Taylor is just one of a slew of "Golden hair and golden throats (that) are feminizing the country music scene."

Merle Update: Merle Haggard went home this weekend after last week's surgery to remove the upper lobe of his right lung. His publicist said that after he awoke from the surgery, The Hag "opened his eyes, yodeled and smiled."
Merle says he's feeling better, mostly because of "the surgeon, the Tylenol pushers (at the) hospital, and most of all, my wife Theresa."

...Or "Rhinestone" at the Box Office: Dolly Parton says she will never retire..."I'll be doing this til the day I die. I'd like to be on stage hopefully singing one of the songs I wrote and just keel over right there on stage, like one of those fainting goats."

Country Music's Retro Night: This year's CMA Awards, The LA Times reckons, should be last year's CMA Awards...Meanwhile, The Tennessean sez the Awards couldn't come at a better time because of the economy.

I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried: Rodney Crowell loves him some Houston...and he's been back home as he works on a memoir.

Little Richard's Almanac: Little Richard, who just joined the Music City Hall of Fame, loves country music. Why? "Because that’s the truth.”

You're Gonna Miss This?: Trace Adkins on his live show: "We're not going to blow anything up or have an awesome laser light show. If you need that to be entertained, then you are out of luck. I do the stuff you hear on the radio and I won't play a bunch of new songs that nobody knows."

WEEKEND UPDATE (Items on Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Julianne Hough, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson)

Tim McGraw is set to host "Saturday Night Live" on November 22, becoming the first country artist in ages to take the reins of the series. Other country artists who've hosted SNL include Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks.
Tim's spot falls four days before his "Four Christmases" flick lands in theaters. “I’m looking forward to hosting the show,” sez Tim. “I’m not exactly known for my comedy but then again if you’ve been to one of my shows you might feel differently. Hopefully hanging around Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon and Jon Favreau (his co-stars in the film) is good training.”

Elsewhere on the Remote Patrol:
Brad Paisley, gearing up to promote his co-hosting gig on the CMA Awards Wednesday, will tune-up the night before by performing a pair of ditties on the "Dancing With the Stars" results show.
So, um, that must mean that Julianne Hough's musical performance piece has been bumped...again. Yeppers, you can can the dancer/singer doing the latter on November 18's results edition of "DWTS."
Sooner than that, Julianne will be the musical guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" after the CMA Awards Wednesday night (capping a busy day in which she'll hand out a CMA Award and co-host the red carpet preamble).
On Thursday night, Darius Rucker submits himself to "Chelsea Lately" on E!.
Mark your calendars for November 21, Blake Shelton fans, and set your TV recording devices for NBC's "Today" (10am eastern hour) to catch your boy.

Who You'd be Wednesday: He doesn't think the fans should choose, but the Georgia faithful say Kenny Chesney is the CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Meanwhile, the LA Times handicaps the field.

From Reba to Kelly: The duo in Albany New York were "two undeniable voices, heavenly harmonies, (with) strong songs," but "a syrupy snooze,...overwrought. The crowd: Half-full (top curtained off) of maybe two-thirds McEntire fans, one-third Clarkson fans."

A TILLIS FAMILY CHRISTMAS (Items on Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Darius Rucker, Kristy Lee Cook, Toby Keith)

Mel and Pam Tillis, along with Pam's siblings Mel Tillis, Jr. and Carrie April Tillis, will tour this year with "A Tillis Family Christmas." The show will features a mix of Tillis and Tillis hits, plus a healthy splash of holiday cheer culled from Pam's '07 Christmas album and the new holiday disc Mel has out.
I reckon the outing will also include music from Carrie's '08 album and perhaps any number of ditties written by Mel, Jr., which includes Jamie O'Neal's "When I Think About Angels."
12 shows "of fun and poignancy, from the silly to the sacred" begin in Georgia November 29 and wind up in New Mexico five days before Christmas.

CMAPR: You can move Darius Rucker from the presenters list to the performers column for Wednesday's CMA Awards. Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, Jake Owen, John Rich, and Jimmy Wayne have been added as presenters.
"America Idol" pincushion Kristy Lee Cook, meanwhile, can't walk the CMA red carpet unless her debut single makes a big leap on the charts by Wednesday.
Here's more Kristy...



Toby Talk: Toby Keith's "frustrated" by being snubbed by the CMA's this year.
The Tob-ster's "Beer for My Horses" flick (which co-stars Mel Tillis) debuts Sunday night on CMT and hits stores on Tuesday. If you want him to do more movies, buy the DVD, he sez.
And The Harvard Crimson (of all things) reviews Toby's new album: "'That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy,' bears all the signs of an artist aging out of what made him great...Keith should go back to his bread and butter if he’s going to prove that he’s as good as he once was."
Eek!

TAYLOR TIME (Items on Taylor Swift, John Rich, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton)

Next Tuesday's “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” will be dedicated to an album release party for Taylor Swift’s new album, "Fearless." The show will feature Patrick Dempsey of "Grey's Anatomy," which is Taylor's fave TV show and "her musical crush," Justin Timberlake. The show will also feature Taylor's "career and her life, and (she'll) open up about recent media reports." But since the whole deal-hickey has already been taped, I dunno if they'll talk about that whole pregnancy rumor, which Taylor put the kibosh on at her MySpace page.
Meanwhile, Taylor's posted a new video on MySpace in which she discusses how that Jonas Brother dude broke up with her, takes us behind the scenes at the World Series and jumps into the shower, among other things...take a look:



Elsewhere in Taylorville, her "CMT Crossroads" with Def Leppard premieres Friday night...and she stopped by Ryan Seacrest's radio show Thursday to chat that (and all this other business) up.

Lonestar: John Rich's next solo album is set to land in the early part of 2009, The Boot reports. And while Big & Rich are taking a super galactic breather, John promises the duo will also release a new record in the next year as well.
Meanwhile, CMT spills more on the next session of John's "Gone Country," which begin airing in January.

Though "Drive" Would Hit the Spot...: Attention, greater Detriot area! When Alan Jackson palys in your neck of the Great Lakes region this weekend, he might not get around to playing your favorte song...he's just had to many hits to fit into one show...and he's in no hurry to make more.

Startin' Fires: Another Miranda and Blake on the road story...including the story of their campfire song.

JOHN'S RICH PAGEANT (Items on Gone Country, John Rich, CMT, Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley)

John Rich's "Gone Country" will be back for a third go-'round in January on CMT.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the crew that will battle out includes Parliament-Funkadelic-meister George Clinton, "Glamorous Life" singer Sheila E., disco vixen Taylor Dayne, Monkees drummer Mickey Dolenz, ex-Miss USA Tara Connor, "actor" Richard Greico and "American Idol" punchline Justin Guarini.
Meanwhile, ex-"Gone Country" -ette Maureen McCormick is escaping these days...in Minnesota.

Big Dog Daddy: Toby Keith's latest album, "That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy," beat out Rascal Flatts' greatest hits to open on top of the Billbaord Country Albums charts...barely. Toby's platter sold 91,000 copies in its first week to 89,000 for the Rascally trio. Toby's effort entered the Top 200 chart at #5 and the Flatts came in at #6. AC/DC remains on top of the ehap with that new Wal-Mart album of theirs.
Meanwhile, Toby, who doesn't live in Nashville (which must be why he's selling his "crash pad" there), is so out of the Music City loop that he doesn't recognize many of the names on the current country charts (below him). As he told BAM's Blog at The Oklahoman, "I don’t listen to current radio. I listen to old-school stuff on satellite radio most of the time.”

Is Taylor Swift Pregnant?: Actually she's not in the family way...except when you throw photo shop into the mix.

Play Delay: Brad Paisley's appearance on Letterman, set for Wednesday, has been moved to this Friday night....Meanwhile, go here for a taste of his Tuesday appearance on "Good Morning America."

LONGER WOMAN (Items on Jewel, Sara Evans, Marty Stuart, Raul Malo)

Jewel is set to to sparkle in '09 after a mondo-busy 2008. She'll jump into the new year with a solo acoustic tour.
"I really enjoy performing acoustically and have been looking forward to doing these shows," she says. "It gives me the chance to tell the stories behind my songs and connect with the fans in an intimate setting."
The trek kicks off January 23 in Ontario. Before that, you can catch her (at the end of this month) on the "Macy's Great Tree Lighting Special." Y'all check your local listing for that one.

Crimson High Heels: Sara Evans is now married to a former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and she brought along her "buddy" Eva Longoria-Parker of "Desperate Housewives" to the Tide's game last Saturday. She didn't score, but was spotted "dancing in high heels down in the end zone."
And The Tide? They rolled...all the way to #1.

Buzzed: Marty Stuart Q&A from The Modesto Bee.

All that Heaven Will Allow: Former Mavericks front dude Raul Malo will release his first album of original material in ages on March 3. Ahead of that, he'll tour the tunes.

MY NEXT THIRTY POUNDS (Items on Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, John Conlee, Rascal Flatts)

When you see Tim McGraw in the upcoming (Thanksgiving eve) film, "Four Christmases," there will be more McGraw on view. Tim's character is attempting to wrangle in the cage in one of those Ultimate Fighting Championship deal-hickeys and "the funny thing...you see ‘em on TV and they’re all cut and muscular," Tim told GAC Nights radio show. "But I thought this guy is a redneck amateur, so it’s not gonna be guys that look like that that’s back there doing it. So I thought I’ll look like a strong guy, but a little overweight and kinda backyard, (a) having-a-few-beers-and-jump-in-the-cage sort of guy...So I show up and I’m the fat guy on the set."
I dunno how that all worked out while Tim and Faith Hill worked out; my girlfriend told me that Faith told Oprah last week that she and Tim run four miles a day.
Meanwhile, I think Tim'll be eating, not running, Wednesday as he appears on Rachael Ray's show.

Letter to He: What are the home-folks back in West Virginia calling Brad Paisley's new "Play" album, out today? "An honest love letter to the art of musicmaking."...that'll be on display Wednesday night as Brad stops by CBS' "Late Show."

Sweet!: The Sugarlanders say that to succeed, you have to be a fan...and while they're still waiting for props from Steve Earle for "Steve Earle," the dude who wrote "Life in a Northern Town" sez the duo nailed it.

Go, BS: While girlfriend Miranda Lambert prefers Ashlee Simpson, Blake Shelton goes for John Conlee, like when he's dropping $300 a week at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop whenever he's in Nashville.

Feels Like Pay Day: If you're one of few folks with money for Christmas gifts this year, Rascal Flatts wants to help you shop.

THAT'S THE WAY MERLE GOES (Items on Merle Haggard, CMA Awards, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, James Otto, Billy Ray Cyrus, Clint Black)

Back in August, Merle Haggard revealed that a spot had been discovered on lung in May, but because follow-up tests didn't turn anything and the spot hadn't changed, Merle said he was "not gonna do anything" about it.
Not so fast, The Hag's family and doctor said.
At their insistence, Merle had the cancerous growth removed Monday at a California hospital. He's listed in stable condition and resting and is in good spirits, according The Bakersfield Californian, which forwarded this statement from Merle's publicist:
“It was discovered during a biopsy that he had non-small cell lung cancer, which has a far better cure rate than that of the small (oat) cell cancer. The doctors believe they have removed it all, but tests are still ongoing. One pathologist that reviewed the biopsy noted that very often surgery cures this form of the disease.”
Meanwhile, the fate of Merle's voice appears safe, unless there's more cancer than previously thought, according to a Bakerfield oncologist.

Next Spring, Merle will be lauded by the Country Radio Broadcasters at the their Hall of Fame event, along with label executive Shirley Shipley Biddy.

CMAPR: Jason Aldean, Martina McBride and James Otto have been added to the performers list for next week's CMA Awards (11/12). Presenters just added include Heidi Newfield, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Taylor Swift (who's also performing) and Lee Ann Womack.
The Cyruses, Billy Ray and Miley, will present as well and warm up with a musical spot on ABC's "Good Morning America" the morning of the Awards show.

Lassie! Lassie!: Clint Black was asked what kind of dog his wife, Lisa Hartman Black, would be and he said,"A Collie. A good one!"

RED, WHITE, BLUE AND BLACK (Reviews of "Johnny Cash's America," "At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition")

I just finished watching "Johnny Cash's America," the new documentary using a star-spangled juxtaposition to tell of the story of Johnny Cash. And I'm glad I waited to set aside the time to digest the piece for the treat it is.
While the recent discovery of a spoken word recording ("I Am the Nation"), set the wheels in motion toward the making of the film, it's a wonderful film...perhaps the quintessential telling of Johnny's life.
I remember the Elvis Presley documentary, "This is Elvis," and while it was a great doc, the use of a Elvis sound-alikes to narrate the story gave it a false tone. In "Johnny Cash's America," The Man in Black is heard in narration at several points, but it's through the footage woven together that gives you the feeling that Johnny's leading you personally through his story.
The overwhelming meat of the film lays out that story under a number of thematic chapters, concentrated mainly through the lens of the '50's through the '70's. As these segments unfold, we're treated to rare and long-ago seen footage (and did I mention fascinating?), punctuated by commentary by Cash's family, friends, associates and a number of other personalities like Sheryl Crow, Al Gore and Tim Robbins.
While the red, white and blue theme tent-poles within the doc several times, the story is essentially a near two-hour biography of Johnny and a massively entertaining and addictive one at that.
And smart, too: It's totally aware of, and dissects, the cult of Johnny Cash and why we're followers.

Here's a taste:



There are also 20-plus minutes of extras attached to the DVD, the best of which is extended footage of Johnny's sister Joanne leading Cash family members on a tour of the house she and Johnny grew up in in Dyess, Arkansas.

The "Johnny Cash's America" CD, meanwhile, is a nice of collection of hits and tracks with five previously unreleased gems: "Come Along and Ride This Train;" "What is Truth" taken from Cash's White House performance during the Nixon administration (touched on in the documentary); the only Cash take on "This Land is Your Land" pulled from a performance on his ABC-TV show; a live traditional (with June Carter, Carl Perkins and The Statlers joining right in there) and the "I Am the Nation" track that got the whole thing started.

Here's "This Land" from the Cash show:



Also out now, as if you didn't know, is the "At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition." As opposed to the '99 "Folsom" reissue that presented the complete '68 show from the California lock-up, plus a few extra tracks, this edition gives us both of the 1/16/68 shows, including performances by the Cash revue (Perkins and The Statlers), and goodies like Johnny and June on Ray Charles' "I Got a Woman."
The dialogue in hearing the shows just as the inmates did goes a long way in capturing the feeling of being there as a supreme piece of music history was happening.
The set also includes a DVD doc on the shows.

AWARDS SEASONING (Items on ACM Awards, CMA Awards, Reba McEntire, George Strait, Lucinda Williams, Craig Morgan, Alison Krauss, Robert Plant)

As the CMA Awards, pardon, "Country Music's Biggest Night™" descends upon as, the Academy of Country Music has a few P.R. tricks up their sleeve, even though their hand-out ("Country Music’s Party of the Year™") isn't even until next May...er, make that April...
Because the 44th edition of the Academy of Country Music Awards are moving up to April 5 from the usual May presentation. They'll be broadcast on CBS from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
11-time ACM winner Reba McEntire will host the show for the 11th time.
Meanwhile, the Academy will honor George Strait as Artist of the Decade, but not (neccessarily) at the ACM Awards, but rather in a stand alone special to be broadcast over CBS sometime after the Awards, but taped the night after the trophy hand-out at the Grand.
The Academy previously honored Garth Brooks with the Decade designation back in '98. Loretta Lynn took the ten in 1979 and Marty Robbins got the tap on the shoulder in 1969.

Over at CMA World, ABC is decking itself out in country in the week leading up to The Alphabet's first broadcast of the CMA Awards on November 12. In addition to Taylor Swift's spot on "Good Morning America" on the 10th, Julianne Hough's performance of "My Hallelujah Song" will finally it its airing on "Dancing With the Stars" on November 11.
Online, ABC.com has a web series, "The Countdown to Country Music's Biggest Night," that'll run from November 5 through a post-show/party recap on November 13. Jake Owen, Chuck Wicks and 2004 Miss Tennessee Ashley Eicher will host the shows, which will also be on CMAawards.com for your viewing pleasure.
ABC's web site will also include what I like to call a "kudo-cam;" their live backstage "Thank You Camera" will be on so winners some more gratitude than the CMA-cast's producers will allot on air.
Meanwhile, a CMA kickoff concert will be held outside the Sommet Center (site of the Awards) on November 11, starting in the afternoon. Rodney Atkins, the Eli Young Band, Kevin Costner and Modern West, and Heidi Newfield will be musically tailgating at the free show.

Lady has the Blues: "Lucinda Williams is the of alternative music," sez NPR. And her writing well is never empty, especially because "there's still plenty to be miserable about."

QAJC: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution pitches the questions and Craig Morgan hits the answers.

Campaign '08: McCain and Obama might disagree, but we'll remember 2008 as "The Year of 'Raising Sand'," courtesy of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant.