Country Music News

Monday, May 12, 2008

NEWS FROM NASHVILLE
FROM WESTWOOD ONE AND T-100

TRACE ADKINS WRITES THEME FOR “BLACK GOLD”

Trace Adkins goes back to his Louisiana roots with a new tune he’s written and recorded for truTV Network's new show “Black Gold.” Adkins composed the title song for the upcoming real life, high stakes series, which focuses on oil rigs and the men who drill in the hopes of striking it rich. The singer, who grew up in Louisiana, wrote the song from his first-hand experience working as a roughneck before he made his mark in music. “Black Gold” will premier June 18th at 10:00 p.m. Eastern on truTV, a channel that specializes in real-life stories.

KENNY CHESNEY POISED FOR FOURTH ACM ENTERTAINER AWARD

Kenny Chesney has eleven nominations for next Sunday’s 43rd annual ACM Awards, including the top prize of Entertainer of the Year. Should Chesney take the category this year, it will put him in an elite group with only two other artists who have won that award at least four times – Alabama and Garth Brooks. Alabama took that trophy five times straight, capturing their first title in 1981. Garth has earned the award six times. Other artists who have three wins as Entertainer are Hank Williams Jr. and Brooks & Dunn. Chesney is also nominated for Album of the Year for “Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates;” and Single, Song, and Video of the Year for “Don’t Blink.” The 43rd annual ACM Awards will air live from Las Vegas Sunday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS. Reba McEntire will host the presentation.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD INDUCTED INTO THE OPRY

Carrie Underwood is now officially a part of the Grand Ole Opry. She became the newest member on Saturday. Underwood was inducted by fellow Oklahoman and Opry member Garth Brooks. In welcoming her, Brooks noted, quote, “Nothing will last as long or be more important than this award right here tonight.” Underwood replied, quote, “This is going to have a very special place in my awards case.” She thanked everyone at the Opry for welcoming her as part of the family, adding, “I am so blessed.” Her next scheduled Opry appearance is on June 3rd.

SUGARLAND PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON NEW ALBUM

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland say their upcoming album is their best yet. The duo is in the process of mixing the new project, which was recorded in Atlanta. Although they're both from the Atlanta area, the two have never recorded there before. This will be the third disc for the duo, following their multi-Platinum debut “Twice the Speed of Light” and their sophomore effort “Enjoy the Ride.” No word yet on a release date for the new album. Sugarland will take a break from working on the disc to perform at the Academy of Country Music’s Fremont Street Experience free show in Las Vegas on Saturday. The concerts are part of the week’s festivities leading up to the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Sunday at 8:00 p.m. live Eastern on CBS.

JOSH TURNER LOOKING TOWARD NEXT DUET

While Josh Turner is having great success with his current duet “Another Try” with Trisha Yearwood, he is not hesitant to talk about another duet he would like to do. Turner says he would be thrilled to record a duet with one of his heroes, Randy Travis. Josh and Randy have actually sung together, most notably on “CMT Cross Country,” where they performed Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever, Amen” along with Turner’s “Your Man” and “Long Black Train.” Their episode was the premier in August of 2006 for the CMT series.

JOHN MICHAEL MONTGOMERY ENTERS REHAB

John Michael Montgomery is in rehab. The singer voluntarily checked himself into an undisclosed treatment center for substance abuse. A statement from his public relations company issued on Friday says he did so, quote, “due to severe anxiety attacks and sleep disorder.” In the statement, Montgomery adds, quote, “I will be disappearing for a while to try and defeat the demons that have stripped me of my energy of life and good health for so many years now. I assure you that however long it may take, I’m gonna fight to the end and come out stronger.” Montgomery has cancelled all concert dates and personal appearances for the next 30 days. John’s label Stringtown Records continues to promote his new single, “If You Ever Went Away.” His new album, “Time Flies,” will be released in September.

EDDY ARNOLD LEAVES LEGACY OF MUSIC FOR SIX DECADES

The late Eddy Arnold was a major force in country music for six decades. Arnold passed away Thursday morning, just a week before he would have turned 90. The singer says when he first started recording, he had no idea that he was selling as good as he was. Arnold went on to sell more than 85-million records during his career, making him one of RCA Records’ best-selling artists of all time. The singer’s smooth style made him one of Nashville’s major crossover artists. In 1982, Arnold told the magazine “Country News” that when the first time he went to New York City and used strings on a recording session, he was, quote, “almost run out of town” when he returned to Nashville. Services for Arnold are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Fans can pay their last respects to the singer tomorrow from 5:00 p.m. To 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. until noon in the rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville.

GOSPEL GREAT DOTTIE RAMBO DIES IN BUS CRASH

Dottie Rambo, one of gospel music's most prolific singers and songwriters, was killed in a bus accident early Sunday morning in Missouri. She was 74. According to WKRN-TV in Nashville, the accident occurred around 2:20 a.m. on Interstate 44, two miles west of Mt. Vernon, Missouri. Apparently, the 1997 Prevost bus in which Rambo was traveling ran off the roadway, struck a guard rail, and went down an embankment. The singer was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rambo's manager Larry Ferguson was hospitalized with two broken legs and bus driver Ronnie Meadows was also injured. The accident may have been weather related, as there had been heavy rain and storms in the area earlier in the night. Rambo was on her way to a concert in Texas when the accident occurred. During Rambo's 50-year career she wrote numerous gospel music standards including "I Go to the Rock," "We Shall Behold Him," and "Sheltered in the Arms of God." She was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame last year. Among those who recorded her songs were Elvis Presley, Barbara Mandrell, Carol Channing, Whitney Houston, and Dolly Parton. Rambo was set to release a new album, "Sheltered," this summer. Funeral services have not been announced.

ALAN JACKSON FAN WINS TRIP TO LAS VEGAS

Kimberly Johnson is a huge Alan Jackson fan, so she helped her mother win a free trip to see Alan in Las Vegas. Kimberly wrote an essay for "The Good Time Country Contest With Alan Jackson And Six Flags" contest explaining what country music has meant to her and her mom, JoAnne Blakely. JoAnne, a mother of three and grandmother of six, has never seen Alan live in concert nor has she even taken a vacation. Now the mother and daughter will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas to attend The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday. Additionally, they will get an all-expense-paid trip to attend a concert of their choice that is part of either the 2008 Starburst Thursday Night Concert Series or 2008 Sunday Rocks! presented by DanceDanceRevolution at any Six Flags location. Kimberly's mother will also have an exclusive meet-and-greet with Alan Jackson himself.

QUICK BITES

Alan Jackson filmed the video for his hit “Good Time” last week and he line danced all the way through it. Well, maybe Jackson didn’t actually dance, but the storyline for the video calls for a line of dancers stretching from Tennessee into Kentucky, creating the world’s longest line dance. Jackson told WTVF television that the song “Good Time” is, quote, “perfect for the summer and this video with the line dancing will be pretty cool.”

Taylor Swift attended “The Event to Prevent” benefit Wednesday night in New York City. The program raises awareness of the consequences of teen pregnancy.

Kellie Pickler helped deliver a truck full of musical instruments and equipment to the students of Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Nashville last week. The drop-off is part of the CMA and Nashville Alliance for Public Education's “Keep the Music Playing.” The net proceeds from the CMA Music Festival go to this program, which promotes music education for Metro Nashville public schools.

Dierks Bentley fans can register for a chance to be part of the crowd that will watch the singer perform on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” this Friday. Go to www.1iota.com to register to be on hand while Dierks talks about his new album “Greatest Hits/Every Mile a Memory” on the show.

Jewel has launched a “Stronger Woman” social network discussion portal where fans can post blogs and stories about what it means a stronger woman. Fans can check it out at http://strongerwoman.ning.com.

iVideosongs.com has added nine country songs to its growing catalog of high-def music instruction videos. Brad Paisley’s “Celebrity” joins Kenny Chesney’s “I Go Back” and Alan Jackson’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” and “Remember When.” Also featured are three songs from John McEuen, founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -- "Miner's Night Out," "Togary Mountain," and "Return to Dismal Swamp II." John Denver’s "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" is also there, as is Alison Krauss' "Restless."

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