TAYLOR SWIFT WINS 5 AMA'S AND CARRIE WOWS THE CROWD!
Just two short weeks after Taylor Swift took home 4 CMA Awards including Entertainer Of The Year she is back to win more trophees. Swift won 5 of her 6 nominations on Sunday nights show including all genre Artist Of The Year against the king, Michael Jackson. The most recent Country star to win Artist Of The Year, was Carrie Underwood back in 2007. Keith Urban & Rascal Flatts were other Country music winners. One of the biggest shocks of the evening was when Country music's new group Gloriana took home Breakout Artist up against Pop hit maker, Lady Gaga. Keith Urban performed his #1 single Kiss A Girl and Carrie Underwood gave one of the best performances of the night with her sassy performance of her latest #1, Cowboy Casanova. For all the AMA Award info visit www.abc.com. Make sure you check out our brand new site December 1st as we unveil the 2009 X-Treme Country Awards where you will cast your vote for the winners all on www.xtremecountry.yolasite.com coming December 1st!
CMT TOP 20 HOST LEAVING IN DECEMBER
Lance Smith, host of CMT's Top 20 Countdown, will be pursuing an acting career and other opportunities when his contract with the network expires in December. He says he reached the decision following several months of analyzing his long-term career goals. Before coming to CMT in 2001, Smith had already spent time in L.A. to concentrate on his acting career. "I'll continue to pursue a place in front of a mike or camera, but it will be under a different set of lights," Smith said of his departure from the network. "Once upon a time, before my decade-long stint as a host, I was an actor, and it's time to wear that hat once again. I will forever be grateful for every chance and opportunity given to me by CMT and country music. There's not a better fan base in the world. But most of all I will miss the crews -- my friends behind the scenes. It's the show behind the curtain that I was most fortunate to see." He is already working on the production of an independent feature film. A search is underway to find a new host for Top 20 Countdown. View photos of Lance Smith.
CARRIE DONATES TO OKLAHOMA MUSIC HALL OF FAME!
Carrie Underwood has donated a plaque with lyrics and sheet music to "I Ain't in Checotah Anymore" to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, which she joined earlier this year. The plaque was unveiled Thursday (Nov. 19) at a ceremony in Muskogee, Okla. The organization also announced plans to expand the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and to create an Oklahoma Music Trail for tourists to learn about the state's historical contributions to all genres of music.
MILEY CYRUS NOT INVOLVED IN BUS ACCIDENT
One person was killed Friday (Nov. 20) when a bus traveling as part of Miley Cyrus' concert tour overturned on Interstate 85 near Dinwiddie, Va., a community located 41 miles south of Richmond, Va. Cyrus, who was traveling separately from the caravan of buses, was not among the 10 people aboard when the accident occurred shortly after 8 a.m. Authorities said the bus driver, William G. Douglas, 53, of Austin, Texas, was killed. Another member of the entourage, Marty Zilio, 48, of Canada, was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of a broken nose. Most of the passengers were believed to be sleeping when the bus overturned. They escaped the wreckage by crawling through the front windshield. In a statement posted on Cyrus' Web site, she and her family said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bill 'Uncle Bill' Douglas. Members of our tour are like members of our family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family in the midst of this tragedy. He will truly be missed." Cyrus appeared Wednesday and Thursday (Nov. 18-19) at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y., and is scheduled to perform her next concert Sunday (Nov. 22) at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
LEE ANN WOMACK JOINS THE KING & QUEEN!
Lee Ann Womack has been added to the 2010 tour with George Strait and Reba McEntire. The 19-city itinerary will begin Jan. 22 in Baltimore, Md., and conclude April 10 in Des Moines, Iowa. "We're talking classic country from the source," Womack said. "I can't imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire -- and now I'm not imagining!" Womack and Strait's latest duet, "Everything but Quits," was nominated for vocal event of the year at this year's CMA Awards. They won the award in 2005 for "Good News, Bad News." Her current single is "There Is a God."
SUGARLAND WILL SING FOR PRESIDENT!
Sugarland will perform for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13 for the taping of the Christmas in Washington television special. The one-hour program will air Dec. 20 on TNT. Additional musical guests include Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Rob Thomas and Usher, with host George Lopez. Sugarland released their first Christmas album, Gold and Green, this year.
KEITH URBAN KEEPS GETTING NOMINATED
Keith Urban received four nominations for the Country Music Awards of Australia, which include Male Artist of The Year, Album of The Year for Defying Gravity, Single of The Year for "Kiss a Girl" and Song of the Year for "Why's It Feel So Long". The awards will be held on January 23 in Tamworth, New South Wales.
DARIUS RUCKER IS BACK TO WORK!
Darius Rucker recently told reporters backstage at the CMA Awards that he will begin recording a new album in December, right after releasing another single from this debut album Learn to Live. He said of the new record, "Right after that, there will be a single from the new record, and the record will be out sometime next year. Right after that, there will be a single from the new record, and the record will be out sometime next year." He also won Best New Artist at the CMA Awards.
TIM MCGRAW - THE BLIND SIDE: STARS SHOW UP FOR PREMIERE
As might be expected, Faith Hill gives high marks to husband Tim McGraw and the others involved in the new feature film, The Blind Side, which arrives in theaters on Nov. 20.
The couple's friends turned out in droves Thursday (Nov. 12) for the film's premiere at the Regal Green Hills 16 cinema in Nashville.
"It's glowing," Hill told CMT Radio while walking the red carpet. "A-plus. It's a great film. It really is, and he does a great job."
McGraw and Sandra Bullock portray Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy in the film inspired by the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless black teenager who is befriended by a wealthy family. Oher, an offensive tackle for the University of Mississippi's football team, is considered a top pick in the upcoming NFL draft. The script is based on Michael Lewis' best-selling book, The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game.
Among those attending the Nashville premiere were Martina McBride, Julianne Hough, Barbara Mandrell, Kix Brooks, Lady Antebellum, Rodney Atkins, Randy Travis, Wyonna, Heidi Newfield and Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Also in attendance were Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy and their daughter.
McGraw was grateful for the turnout at the premiere.
"We've always known Nashville was a great town," he told CMT Radio. "We love this town, we love the community and we love the people here. For this many friends -- friends from our kids' school, friends from our neighborhood, everyday friends of ours and all the industry people who are our friends -- to show up to support this is a pretty cool thing."
McGraw said there was an excellent chemistry among the cast while filming The Blind Side.
"The great thing about this movie -- and I think it translates onto the screen -- is we all felt comfortable with each other from the beginning. ... It all felt right, and everybody was very comfortable, so I don't think anybody really -- about each other -- was nervous at all."
While he enjoys acting, he says it doesn't compare to performing concerts.
"I love being onstage," he said. "I think every kid grows up wanting to be onstage, slinging your hair around and sweating and playing music. It doesn't get any better than that."
TRACE ADKINS ENDORSES BC HEADACHE POWDER
Trace Adkins has signed for an endorsement with BC Headache Powder for two years. He is the second country artist to do so, after Faron Young in the middle of the 1970's. Trace said a few words about this deal, ""I'm very particular about attaching my name to products or causes, unless it's something I use or believe in. My relationship with BC Headache Powder is personal and runs deep. I still remember when my grandfather gave me my first BC. I even remember the product advertising jingle from the '70s."
TAYLOR SWIFT SPREADS COUNTRY MUSIC
On Thursday, November 12, it was announced that Taylor Swift was given the CMA International Artist Achievement award. She was presented with the award during the rehearsals of the CMA Awards by Brooks & Dunn who were presented the same award last year. The honor is awarded to artists who recognize the importance of spreading the world of country music out of the U.S. Taylor has fulfilled this requirement to much of its extent, receiving gold and platinum certifications in 5 continents and 14 nations, while her lead single from Fearless, "Love Story" reached the No.1 spot in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. She also performed in Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and parts of Europe during 2008 and this year.
Previous artists who have been awarded with this honor include Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Dwight Yoakam, Dierks Bentley and Shania Twain.
