|
SONY NASHVILLE SHOW HIGH POINT AFTER HIGH WATER SHIFT
 After high river levels forced CRS Radio revelers to be bussed to the Opry Mills landing to board the General Jackson, the 25th Sony dinner and show and CRS event favorite, was able to set sail.
Show-stopping performers included surprise guest, TIM McGRAW singing with GWYNETH PALTROW on their recently released duet "Me and Tennessee" that went for adds this week.
JERROD NIEMAN WAS JOINED BY CARRIE UNDERWOOD after Jerrod had performed "Lover, Lover". Carrie then sang with Jerrod on his new singe "What Do You Want."
Carrie also performed "Jesus Take the Wheel" and "Undo It."
Other highlights of the evening included JAKE OWEN singing two new songs including his upcoming single "Barefoot Blue Jean Night."
Casey James sang "Drive" and Sara Evans performed "A Little Bit Stronger."
JOSH THOMPSON and CHRIS YOUNG each appeared and sang a couple of songs each. And, three baby acts were introduced, The Lunabelles, Bradley Gaskin and Brent Anderson.
And, in what has to rank as one of the best finales of the Boat Show legacy was turned in by BRAD PAISLEY and ALABAMA.
Brad was the closer with "This Is Country Music," and "Old Alabama" which was Randy, Teddy and Jeff's cue to join Brad on stage and close the night with "Tennessee River" Alabama's first #1 hit from 1980.
BILLY CURRINGTON’S “LET ME DOWN EASY” BREAKS TOP 5 ON BOTH THE BILLBOARD AND MEDIABASE COUNTRY SINGLES CHARTS; SONG MARKS HIS 8TH TOP 5 HIT
 cf.com
“Having another Top 5 is a pretty cool thing,” said Billy. “I've really been lucky to get to work with some of the best songwriters in Nashville whose songs seem to have an amazing way of connecting with our fans. I can’t wait to see that connection while out on the road with Kenny.”
Billy will join Kenny Chesney on his 2011 ‘Goin’ Coastal’ Tour beginning March 17th in West Palm Beach, FL. He will open for Kenny during the over 50 dates at arenas, amphitheatres, and stadiums across the country along with Uncle Kracker. Billy has earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, had six #1 singles, been nominated for multiple Grammy, CMA and ACM Awards, and has sold over 11 million units.
McGRAW-PALTROW DUET GOING FOR ADDS
The Tim McGraw-Gweneth Paltrow duet, "Me and Tennessee" is at radio now and is going for adds.
http://www.timmcgraw.com
BILLY RAY CYRUS COMES FULL CIRCLE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW ENTERTAINMENT TEAM
Billy Ray Cyrus announced yesterday that he has come “full circle” by setting up a new entertainment team. Reuniting with his original public relations firm Rogers & Cowan, who launched his musical career in 1992, Cyrus has also signed with Sanctuary Artist Management and Mick Adkins of MicnE Productions. Simultaneously, he will be represented by WME for motion pictures and television; and by Buddy Lee Attractions for his live concert performances.
“Billy Ray Cyrus is one of America’s true entertainers in music, film and television. We are thrilled to represent such a remarkable talent,” says Stuart Dill, President of Sanctuary-Nashville.
Adds Cyrus, “Full circle....that's where I'm at in my life right now. When I spoke with Rogers & Cowan on the phone it was like talking
with old friends -- people from the past whom I trust and who whole-heartedly know who I am, where I come from, and who understands my goals and dreams. I’m very excited about my new management and agency teams, and look forward to our partnerships."
Coming soon...Cyrus’ upcoming projects in television and music are to be announced.
“FOOTLOOSE” STAR JULIANNE HOUGH TO RECEIVE CINEMACON RISING STAR OF 2011 AWARD
PARAMOUNT PICTURES TO RELEASE “FOOTLOOSE” ON OCTOBER 14, 2011
Julianne Hough will receive a “CinemaCon Rising Star of 2011 Award,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of CinemaCon, which will be held March 28-31, 2011, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hough will be presented with this special honor at the inaugural “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Award” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, March 31st in The Colosseum of Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, Official Presenting Sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.
“Already a star in the world of music, television and dance, Julianne Hough is sure to thrill audiences with her portrayal of Ariel in Paramount Pictures fall release ‘Footloose’,” noted Neuhauser. “We are excited to be able to present her with a CinemaCon Rising Star of 2011 Award and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this born entertainer.”
Hough will next be seen starring as Ariel in the Paramount Pictures release “Footloose” on October 14, 2011.
MAC McANALLY HONORED
Mac McAnally was honored last week with two prestigious acknowledgements, both presented by his home state of Mississippi. First during a ceremony in Jackson, and emceed by Marty Stuart, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and the Mississippi Arts Commission presented McAnally with the 2011 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. A bronze cast statue designed by artist Bill Dunlap represents the distinction.
The next day, McAnally became only the sixth artist to be recognized with a marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail. The marker was unveiled at the same city park in Belmont, MS where Mac once played as a child. He joins such music luminaries as Jimmie Rodgers and Marty Stuart.
“This is an amazing honor for me to be acknowledged in such a way by the state I grew up in and was inspired by,” McAnally said. “Music is a vital part of life in Mississippi—from the Delta blues to country to Southern rock. It seeps into your very soul. I am proud to have grown up in a state so rich in culture and with such an amazing and deep musical heritage.”
A CELEBRATION OF A LIVING LEGEND
KENNY ROGERS: THE FIRST 50 YEARS
TELEVISION SPECIAL TO DEBUT ON GAC ON MARCH 8th
Kenny Rogers, is being honored by some of today’s greatest artists on one fantastic television special.
Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years will debut on March 8th at 8:30 p.m. EST on Great American Country (GAC). Taped at the MGM Grand At Foxwoods, Kenny performs along with an eclectic who’s-who of celebrities including: Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Alison Krauss, Smokey Robinson, Chris Issak, Tim McGraw, Wynonna, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, Sheena Easton, The Oak Ridge Boys, and the original First Edition.
Truly a special worthy of his musical legacy – Kenny Rogers: The First 50 Years is must-see TV. The 90-minute multi-artist spectacular is a rollicking celebration filled with music from some of the biggest stars performing with and without the legendary artist on many of his biggest hits. The special showcases unique, once-in-a-lifetime live performances such as “Lady” (Rogers & Richie), “Sweet Music Man” (Parton & Krauss), “Morning Desire” (Robinson), “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town” (Isaak), “She Believes In Me” (McGraw), “(Just Dropped In) To See What Condition My Condition Was In” (Rogers, Wynonna & The First Edition), “Lucille” (Currington), “Coward Of The County” (Rucker), “We’ve Got Tonight” (Rogers & Easton), “Heed The Call/Tell It All Brother” (The Oak Ridge Boys), “You Know I Love You” (Krauss), “Through The Years” (Rogers, Richie & Parton) and many more.
“One of the things I loved the most about doing this special was hearing some of the old songs I had recorded performed in new ways by my talented friends,” Rogers said. “What I think most people don’t understand is, every artist on this show has a pretty heavy performance schedule so to set aside a couple of days for a friend is not as easy as it may sound. I was thrilled to see each and every one of them and to have the chance to ‘catch up’ on our friendships.”
THE BAND PERRY ACCEPTS FAN-VOTED ACM AWARD
The Band Perry accepted their first-ever, fan-voted ACM award for Top New Vocal Duo or Group last night (3/2) at the ACM 2011 Music City Jam. Luke Bryan presented the award, which puts The Band Perry in the running for Top New Artist at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. Voting for ACM Top New Artist will take place at VoteACM.com <http://VoteACM.com/> , powered by CBS.com <http://www.CBS.com/> , beginning March 11 at 12noon PT and will continue until 5pm PST on Sunday, April 3.
Host Blake Shelton invited the sibling trio back to the stage shortly following the awards presentation where they covered Queen’s “Fat Bottom Girls” and their own Grammy-nominated song, “If I Die Young.”
STEVE WARINER BEGINS SERIES OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO CLIPS AT STEVEWARINER.COM
Steve Wariner has launched a series of short instructional video clips at www.stevewariner.com, in which he plays songs from his new Guitar Laboratory CD, demonstrating various licks and showing aspiring guitarists how to capture the same sounds.
This week’s mini-lesson is on the song “Crafty,” and additional clips will be posted in subsequent weeks.
“I had a great time making this record and experimenting with different guitars, tones, amps and styles,” says Wariner. “I thought it would be fun to share some of what I did with other musicians out there.”
Released on February 8, Guitar Laboratory has earned stellar reviews, including this from the Dallas Morning News: “Steve Wariner is the warmest of guitarists. No matter what six-string he's playing or what musical genre he's attempting, the Indiana-born picker coaxes his fingers into producing a clear, soothing and warm guitar tone.”
Wariner was featured in the February 14 issue of Country Weekly, and he is currently featured in Vintage Guitar (April issue), Country Music Profiles (March/April) and Nashville Musician (January - March issue).
|
COUNTRY NEWS FOR FANS 
