Two-time Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year Toby Keith has received three nominations for the 47th Annual ACM Awards, set for Apr. 1 in Las Vegas. All three are for his explosive new song "Red Solo Cup" – Video of the Year and twice for Single Record of the Year as artist and producer.
The nominations continue the unparalleled success of "Red Solo Cup," which almost instantaneously became the biggest viral sensation in country music history. The videos for the song (holiday version and original flavor) have surpassed the 11 million views mark. In other Toby news, the Chicago Tribune recently named him the No. 1 spokesman for full-size trucks. Keith's tours have been sponsored by Ford F-Series since 2003, and the Tribune notes: "Toby looks like a truck owner, acts like a truck owner and looks comfortable talking with truck owners."
Carrie Underwood’s new CD will be released on May 1. Produced by Mark Bright, this will be the fourth studio album on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville for the five-time Grammy winner. The debut single co-written by Underwood, “Good Girl,” will be released to country radio on Feb. 23. ••• Country supergroup Rascal Flatts has announced they will launch a brand new tour beginning this summer, Farmers Insurance presents “The American Band Tour.” The tour will feature an all band set-up with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge opening. The shows will begin in Hartford, Conn., on June 15. ••• The Americana Music Association will host its 2012 Festival & Conference in Nashville, TN from Sept. 12-15. ••• Darryl Worley has signed a recording contract with Tenacity Records/Crazytown and will release his first single, "You Still Got It," in March. ••• The Nashville Symphony has added two special new performances to Schermerhorn Symphony Center’s calendar, and tickets for both are on sale the Schermerhorn box office. First on the calendar is a fun evening with singer/songwriters Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt on March 13. The artists won’t perform with symphonic accompaniment on this date, but the intimate acoustic evening will feature them trading songs and stories from their years in music. Further down the road is Willie Nelson, with accompaniment by the Nashville Symphony. That takes place on June 5. Willie will perform selections from the many periods of his career, including his recent release American Classic.
Governor Bill Haslam recently unveiled his legislative package on Tennessee’s Capitol Hill. While a number of items deal with economic development and reforming government operations, one bill was specially selected for Rep. Mark White (R - Memphis) to guide through the Legislature. The bill will eliminate the sunset for the Transitioning Youth Act—a program that provides assistance to foster children between the ages of 18-21 once they age out of the foster care system. It has been cited as a critical initiative that helps individuals bridge the gap from their teenage years to adulthood, in both educational and professional terms. The program, and this legislation, has long been a priority of country star Jimmy Wayne, who was a foster child and found himself homeless at the age of 16. To raise awareness about teenage foster children, Wayne founded Project Meet Me Halfway and walked from Nashville to Phoenix in 2010. Jimmy has consistently worked with State legislators and members of Tennessee State government to advocate on behalf of foster youth. On Feb. 8, he will testify in front of the Committee on Children and Family Affairs about HB 2337 at the State Capitol.
Thieves broke into production vehicles and made off with thousands of dollars worth of equipment during a recent video shoot for the Bellamy Brothers. The legendary country duo was filming in the Florida Everglades when the larceny and vandalism took place.
“The police told us that most of the electronics were offered to a local pawn shop right after the theft, but the owner turned the equipment down after suspecting it had been stolen,” David Bellamy says in a statement about the incident. “Fortunately, the video cameras and guitars were not taken, probably due to their size.”
The assailants broke into rental cars and the production truck, stealing a personal iPad, a digital camera and other equipment used to shoot the video. The ‘Let Your Love Flow’ duo was working with Austrian pop artist DJ Otzi at four different sites across Florida.
The incident didn't slow down David and Howard’s touring plans. They have a full schedule of dates through the summer.
Trace Adkins has announced his Songs & Stories Tour which will visit many of America’s most beautiful theaters this Spring. These intimate evenings of powerful performances will incorporate stories, both humorous and meaningful, that pay homage to Adkins’ working-man roots and rich musical heritage. The tour kicks off in Des Moines, IA on March 8.
Inspiration for the Songs & Stories Tour came as Trace released his 10th studio album, Proud To Be Here, last summer with a CMT Invitation Only special. The special featured new hits “Just Fishin’” and “Million Dollar View,” a Q&A session and the most-loved songs from Adkins’ twenty year career. The taping was so fun for Trace and his guests that he began laying plans for a tour.
“I’ve had many narrow escapes and blessings in my life. The right song at the right time has been my saving grace and that’s something I have in common with the audience. Sharing meaningful songs, stories and somelaughs ‘around the campfire’ is the Country music tradition and I’m looking forward to it.”
Average Joes Entertainment, in conjunction with Scatter Records, has announced The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume II will be available at retail on February 7.
The eleven-track album, and the second of a three volume series dedicated to the late Waylon Jennings, features country music artists performing the hit songs that made Jennings a household name. The Music Inside, Volume II boasts a solid lineup of artists each of who were heavily influenced by Jennings’ legacy and includes Dierks Bentley, Justin Moore, Hank Williams Jr., Jessi Colter, Montgomery Gentry, Jewel, Jack Ingram, Colt Ford, Josh Thompson, Pat Green and Wyatt McCubbin.
“I feel like this project could very likely break another sound barrier,” says Jessi Colter. “Waylon was so original. For his songs to be sang by other people and to take me somewhere else is not an easy task.”
The 1st Annual Christmas 4 Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament presented by Prevost is scheduled for April 10, 2012, Co-Hosted by The Roys (2011 ICM Bluegrass Artist of the Year) and Rob Bironas (TN Titans Placekicker).
This one day golf extravaganza will be held at the Pine Creek Golf Course in Mt. Juliet, TN and will feature many stars of the music and sports world competing for a great cause. For more information visit: Christmas4Kids.org
EVENTS Calender 2012:
Many of these events and MORE are listed on our LINKS page!
• Feb 12 - GRAMMY Awards, Los Angeles, CA
• Feb 21 - Country Radio Hall of Fame Awards, Nashville, TN
• Feb 22-24 - CRS 2012, Nashville, TN
• Feb 26 - International Festival Of Country Music, Wembley, U.K.
• Mar 23-24 - Heart of Texas Country Music Assn. Events, Brady, TX
• Mar 30-31 - Heart of Texas Country Music Assn. Events, Brady, TX
• Apr 10 - 1st Annual Christmas4Kids Golf Tournament, Mt. Juliet, TN
• Apr 1 - ACM Awards, Las Vegas, NV
• Apr 12-15 - Country Thunder Festival, Florence, AZ
• Apr 26-29 - MerleFest 25, Wilkesboro, NC
• Jun 7-10 - CMA Music Festival, Nashville, TN
• Jul 13-15 - Craven Country Jamboree, Cravan, Sask., Canada
• Jul 20-29 - Cheyenne Frontier Days, Cheyenne, WY
• Sept. 12-15 - Americana Music Assn. Fest & Conference, Nashville, TN
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This page last updated February 3, 2012
