Wednesday, December 28, 2011

2012 SEC schedule just our 12/29/11

2012 SEC Football Schedule (Conference Games Only)
Week-by-Week

Aug. 30
South Carolina at Vanderbilt

Sept. 8
Auburn at Mississippi State
Florida at Texas A&M
Georgia at Missouri

Sept. 15
Alabama at Arkansas
Florida at Tennessee

Sept. 22
LSU at Auburn
Kentucky at Florida
Vanderbilt at Georgia
Missouri at South Carolina

Sept. 29
Ole Miss at Alabama
Arkansas vs. Texas A&M
Tennessee at Georgia
South Carolina at Kentucky

Oct. 6
Mississippi State at Kentucky
Arkansas at Auburn
LSU at Florida
Georgia at South Carolina
Texas A&M at Ole Miss
Vanderbilt at Missouri

Oct. 13
Alabama at Missouri
Kentucky at Arkansas
Auburn at Ole Miss
Florida at Vanderbilt
South Carolina at LSU
Tennessee at Mississippi State

Oct. 20
Alabama at Tennessee
Auburn at Vanderbilt
South Carolina at Florida
Georgia at Kentucky
LSU at Texas A&M

Oct. 27
Ole Miss at Arkansas
Texas A&M at Auburn
Florida vs. Georgia (Jacksonville)
Kentucky at Missouri
Tennessee at South Carolina
Mississippi State at Alabama

Nov. 3
Alabama at LSU
Missouri at Florida
Ole Miss at Georgia
Vanderbilt at Kentucky
Texas A&M at Mississippi State

Nov. 10
Texas A&M at Alabama
Arkansas at South Carolina
Georgia at Auburn
Mississippi State at LSU
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss
Missouri at Tennessee

Nov. 17
Arkansas at Mississippi State
Ole Miss at LSU
Tennessee at Vanderbilt

Nov. 24
Auburn at Alabama
LSU at Arkansas
Kentucky at Tennessee
Mississippi State at Ole Miss
Missouri at Texas A&M

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

BILLIE JO SPEARS PASSES ON


Country Singer and Vidor resident Billie Jo Spears has passed away. Her oldest son Tim Pierce says she died at her home in Vidor Wednesday morning. Billie Jo was 73 years old.

Spears, who had her biggest Country hits in the 1970s, was born in Beaumont. She has called Vidor her home for the past 10 years.

She had 5 songs reach the top-10 of the Country music charts between 1969 and 1977. Her her biggest hit, and only song to make #1 on the Country music carts, is "Blanket on the Ground" which she released in 1975.


Arrangements are being handled by R.S. Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee. A memorial service will be planned but the date has not yet been set.


Although Spears had her biggest country hits in the 1970s, she sounded more earthy and more grounded on records than other country music singers during that time. This was because during the height of Spears' career in the 1970s, country's sound moved more pop-sounding. This new type of Country was called countrypolitan, and the popular singers of this genre at the time were Crystal Gayle, Lynn Anderson, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, and Mac Davis. However, Spears, unlike so many of her contemporaries, did not follow the trends of the day, and proved to Nashville that country music can still have a more earthy sound.

Spears was born in 1937 in Beaumont, Texas. She made her professional debut at age 13 at a country music concert in Houston, Texas. She cut her first single while she was still a teenager called "Too Old For Toys, Too Young For Boys". The single was released by the indie label Abbot under the name "Billie Jean Moore". She also performed on the Louisiana Hayride at 13.[1] After graduating high school, she sang in nightclubs and sought a record deal. Spears' early career was orchestrated by famed country/rockabilly songwriter Jack Rhodes. Working out of his makeshift recording studio, Rhodes took it upon himself to provide Spears with material and clout in her early years. Spears moved from Texas to Nashville, Tennessee in 1964. She got her first recording contract with United Artists Records, and worked with producer Kelso Herston. Her first singles brought her little to no success. Soon her producer moved over to Capitol Records and Spears followed. She earned a recording contract there in 1968.

Height of her recording career
Spears' first hit came in 1969, when her "Mr. Walker It's All Over" reached number 4 on the Country chart.[1] It also reached the Pop charts at #80. The song told of a secretary who resigned a job where she was discriminated against. She gained four more top 40 country hits during the next two years and then went four years without a hit.[1] During this time at Capitol, Spears recorded some cover versions of popular Country hits, like "Ode to Billie Joe" (originally by Bobbie Gentry) and "Harper Valley PTA" (originally by Jeannie C. Riley). She also recorded novelty songs, like "Get Behind Me Satan and Push". According to the book Country Music: The Rough Guide, her vocals in that song sounded similar to that of Loretta Lynn. Soon however, she decided she would have more success it she switched record companies.

In 1975, Spears returned to United Artists Records, which was now the home to some of country music's pop-based acts, like Kenny Rogers. She returned to the charts in 1975 with "Blanket on the Ground"[1] The song had been previously turned down by Nashville producers who feared controversy with the chorus line "slipping around", even though the tune was not about adultery.[2] The expected controversy never materialized, and it became her only number-one song. In the United Kingdom the song climbed into the top ten of the UK Singles Chart. An album of the same name was released that year, which was also a success.

Spears' followed up "Blanket on the Ground" with the Top Ten "What I've Got In Mind." The track did even better across the Atlantic, turning out to be a top five British hit. Spears had successes with "Misty Blue" (a song covered by numerous other artists, including Wilma Burgess in the '60s, who made the song a Top ten Country hit), "'57 Chevrolet," "Love Ain't Gonna Wait For Us," "If You Want Me," and others. 1981's cover version of Tammy Wynette's 1960s hit, "Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad," was Spears' last voyage into America's country top 20. Her Greatest Hits album was a Top Ten best seller, and furthered her fan base.

Later career and life today
By the mid 1980s, her success in the United States had tapered off. However, she retained a following in the UK, and remains a popular live performer there. Spears has recorded a number of albums for the British market that had limited or even no release in the US. This level of fame in the UK was summed up by the magazine, Country Music People, during the 1990s when their article described Spears as "The Queen Mother of country music." She continued releasing albums in the United States throughout much of the 1980s. However, by the late '80s, she did not record as much. She recovered from triple bypass surgery in 1993, now makes her home in Vidor, Texas, and continues to tour.
JASON ALDEAN CLOSES OUT BIGGEST YEAR OF HIS CAREER WITH DOUBLE PLATINUM ALBUM, THREE NUMBER ONE SINGLES, INDUSTRY AWARDS AND OVER ONE MILLION CONCERT TICKETS


Nashville, TN – Dec. 14, 2011 – GRAMMY-nominated country rocker Jason Aldean ends the biggest year of his career with his DOUBLE PLATINUM fourth record MY KINDA PARTY as the top-selling country album of 2011. The CMA Album of the Year, MY KINDA PARTY was also named iTunes’ “Country Album of the Year” and came in at No. four on Billboard’s all-genre Year End Top 200 Albums chart.

"When we did our annual holiday party last week, we had more to be thankful for and celebrate than we ever have before. It's really cool to be experiencing some of this stuff with a lot of the same guys who have been with me since I started in 2005. We're definitely a family, and that has made the whole experience even more special," says Aldean. "It's been the most incredible year, and I'm lookin' forward to some quiet time in the woods this Christmas, so I can really just spend some time reflecting on how much we accomplished and how grateful I am for all the support that the fans and my peers in the music business have given me."

With industry awards recognition having eluded him in the past, this year Aldean was showered with nominations, winning two CMA Awards for Album of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” feat. Kelly Clarkson, sweeping the ACA awards with six wins including Artist of the Year and earning the “Breakthrough Award” at the Billboard Touring Awards where he beat out pop sensations Katy Perry and Rihanna with data based on ticket sales and Billboard Boxscore’s top tours of the year. Aldean claimed nearly 20 total award show nominations this year including three for the 2012 GRAMMYs as well as his first Entertainer of the Year nods at both the CMA Awards and ACM Awards.

Additionally, Aldean dominated the radio charts with three consecutive No. one singles this year, bringing his career total to eight No. ones when his most recent release, “Tattoos on This Town,” reached the summit. Aldean also enjoyed pop crossover success with “Don’t You Wanna Stay” feat. Kelly Clarkson reaching No. three on the AC chart and “Dirt Road Anthem” climbing into the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.

This year Aldean‘s MY KINDA PARTY TOUR played to over one million fans and broke several venue attendance records, selling out more than 50 arenas and amphitheaters in advance. The MY KINDA PARTY TOUR was one of only four country outings to make the cut as a Billboard Top 25 Tour of 2011. The 2012 leg will pick up on Jan. 20 in Greenville, SC with Luke Bryan and Lauren Alaina.

For more information and upcoming appearances, please visit www.jasonaldean.com.



Ivanka Trump, John Rich
Ivanka Trump Fine Jewelry Boutique Opening in SoHo==
109 Mercer Street, NYC

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

DARRYL WORLEY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP
AMERICA'S FISH AND WILDLIFE


Text-To-Give Campaign Uses Popular Song to Raise Money for Wildlife Agencies
(Nashville, Tennessee...) -- What started as a simple fishing promotion with one of the world's most recognizable songs, has led Country music star Darryl Worley to become an outdoor ambassador for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and other similar state organizations across the country. Darryl and songwriting pal Wynn Varble recorded "The Fishin' Hole," better known as "The Andy Griffith Show" theme song, and the song is being offered through a text-to-give campaign to raise money for relief efforts caused by wave of natural disasters that impacted numerous states in 2011.

"Everyone knows that melody, and it will stick in your head for days if you're not careful," according to Darryl. "Even though I'm a huge 'Andy Griffith Show' fan, I didn't know the song had lyrics. They are clever and give the song brand new life."

Fans can text the word FISH to 50555, which allows a ten dollar donation to be added to the user's phone bill. As a thank you gift, a link to a free ringtone of the song is sent to the donor's phone. These funds are received by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, and the net proceeds are then used to help restore levees, replace equipment lost or damaged in the disasters and re-stock fish in waters affected by flooding, tornadoes, drought and more. Donations from other parts of the country are distributed back to the state of origin's wildlife agency.

Darryl relates, "The outdoors has always been a big part of my life. I grew up in Tennessee and have always looked forward to my time in the woods and on the water. Whenever I get a little down time, I love to get away from it all and relax. I'm honored to be able to lend a hand to those who take care of our fish and wildlife."

The "Fishin' Hole Song" music video, which features Darryl, Wynn and Bassmaster Elite professional anglers Terry Scroggins, Gerald Swindle, Kota Kiriyama, and Brent Chapman was debuted during the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies meeting held recently in Nashville. Music video outlets will begin airing the video in the coming weeks, and a corresponding public service announcement encourages fans to participate in the texting campaign. Scroggins and Swindle have also recorded a Public Service Announcement touting the campaign.

Darryl and Wynn are no strangers to collaboration. One of their co-written songs is the huge hit recorded by Darryl called "Have You Forgotten."

The music video was produced and directed by Richard Prather for Dalia Entertainment and may be viewed at www.twrf.net. The song is available on iTunes and at Outdoormusic.com.

www.TNwildlife.org www.DarrylWorley.com
DEEPLY PERSONAL “OVER YOU” IS SECOND SINGLE FROM MIRANDA LAMBERT’S FOUR THE RECORD

Miranda & Blake Shelton Co-Write Real-Life Story of Loss

NASHVILLE, TN – In a genre driven by story songs and real life experiences, “Over You,” the second single from Miranda Lambert’s critically acclaimed Four The Record, is one of the most personal lyrics of her career. Written by Miranda and husband Blake Shelton, the song is about Blake’s brother who died in a car accident when Blake was a teenager.

Miranda said, “I’ve never cried writing a song, and I don’t know that I ever will again. After we wrote it, Blake said he couldn’t record this song for himself or sing it on stage every night but he would be honored for me to. ‘Over You’ is one of the most special songs I’ll ever be a part of.”

As 2011 winds down, Miranda looks back at a phenomenal year which included a wedding, a Grammy Award, her second consecutive CMA Award for “Female Vocalist,” 4 ACM Awards, a headlining tour, a # 1 album debut with her trio Pistol Annies, and she made history with the release of her album Four The Record when it debuted atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, making Miranda the first country artist in the 47-year history of the chart to have each of her first four albums debut at # 1.

After a quick holiday respite, Miranda hits the ground running in 2012 with her new headline tour “On Fire,” which kicks off January 12th in Rockford, IL. The tour will include two of country music’s hottest male acts with Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann.

LAUREN ALAINA CELEBRATING THE BIGGEST YEAR OF HER LIFE – 2011

Ringing In The New Year With A Performance
On “American Country New Year’s Eve Live” on FOX

Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings/Interscope artist Lauren Alaina is celebrating what has been the biggest year of her life – 2011. She leaps right in to 2012 with a live performance from Las Vegas on the American Country New Year’s Eve Live special airing Friday, Dec. 31 on FOX (11:00 PM-12:30 AM ET live; CT/MT/PT tape-delayed).

The Georgia native has been on a non-stop life-changing year after winning runner-up on Season 10 of American Idol in May of this year and signing her record deal when she was just 16 years old. After spending only very few days at home this entire year, Alaina is looking forward to getting back to her home in Rossville, GA, for several days to spend Christmas and enjoy some quality time with her family and friends. “Christmas for me is always about spending time with friends and family,” says Alaina. “We eat, laugh, eat and eat! Being away so much over the past year has made me even more thankful for the time I do have with them.

“That is the one thing I most want for Christmas is that time with my family and friends,” she says. “However, if Santa wants to bring me some makeup I would be extra happy!” She smiles and adds, “I am looking forward to giving good presents this year too!”

Alaina, known for her sweet dedication and gratitude to her fans, also adds, “I want my fans to enjoy the holidays season with the people that mean the most to them.”

Reflecting on the past year, the rising young star is constantly amazed at some of the wonderful life and career-changing events that have happened to her.

“I have had a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments over the past year,” says the now 17-year-old singer/songwriter. “I would have to say singing at the Grand Ole Opry is still something that I am taken aback by. I have dreamed of being on that stage for as long as I can remember.” Alaina made her Grand Ole Opry debut on June 9, shortly after American Idol.

She was recently invited to be part of her first official country tour, joining Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan for Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” Arena Tour kicking off in January 2012. “I am really looking forward to being part of this tour,” beams Alaina. “I can’t wait to perform my album in a live setting and hopefully gain some new listeners in the process.”

Another highlight of Alaina’s year, outside of releasing her debut album Wildflower, was being invited to perform at the White House for the PBS special Country Music: In Performance At the White House. “Performing for the President and First Lady at the White House was such an honor and something I will always remember. The highlight was standing on the stage with all of those country legends and seeing the President and First Lady in the front row.”
Her debut album Wildflower was released in October, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard’s Top Country Album chart and an impressive No. 5 on the Billboard Top 200. She became the youngest female artist to debut this high on the Billboard charts since LeAnn Rimes' debut 15 years ago and is the best-selling country female debut since 1996.
And since her album released in October, Alaina has appeared on the PBS special Country Music: In Performance At The White House, and she was part of the stellar A-list roster of artists on ABC Television’s CMA Country Christmas, the nationally-televised “45th CMA Awards” as well as Good Morning America, Live! With Regis & Kelly, the Ellen Degeneres Show, E! News and ET’s The Insider.
# # #

Blue Angel's 2012 show schedule...

2012 SHOW SCHEDULE for the Blue Angels..



Dates Location
MAR 10
NAF EL CENTRO ANNUAL AIR SHOW
NAF El Centro, CA
MAR 17-18
THUNDER OVER UTAH AIR SHOW
St. George, UT
MAR 24-25
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW
Punta Gorda, FL
MAR 31- APR 1
TUSCALOOSA AIR SHOW
Tuscaloosa, AL
APR 14-15
WINGS OVER SOUTH TEXAS AIR SHOW
NAS Kingsville, TX
APR 21-22
NAS NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans, LA
APR 28-29
WARNER ROBINS AFB
Warner Robins AFB, GA
MAY 5-6
MCAS CHERRY POINT
MCAS Cherry Point, NC
MAY 12-13
THE GREAT TENNESSEE AIR SHOW
Smyrna, TN
MAY 19-20
ANDREWS AFB
Andrews AFB, MD
MAY 21-23
HUDSON RIVER
Hudson River, NY
MAY 26-27
JONES BEACH
Jones Beach, NY
MAY 29
USNA GRADUATION FLYOVER
US Naval Academy, MD
JUN 2-3
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach, VA
JUN 9-10
MANKATO
Mankato, MN
JUN 16-17
BALTIMORE
Baltimore, MD
JUN 23-24
LATROBE
Latrobe, PA
JUN 30- JUL 1
BOSTON PORTSMOUTH AIR SHOW
Portsmouth, NH
JUL 4
BOSTON HARBOR FLY-OVER
Boston Harbor, MA
JUL 7-8
DAYTON AIR SHOW
Dayton, OH
JUL 14
PENSACOLA BEACH AIRSHOW
Pensacola Beach, FL
JUL 21-22
SIOUX FALLS AIR SHOW
Sioux Falls, SD
JUL 28-29
TWIN FALLS AIR SHOW
Twin Falls, ID
AUG 4-5
SEAFAIR AIR SHOW
Seattle, WA
AUG 18-19
CHICAGO AIR AND WATER SHOW
Chicago, IL
AUG 25-26
ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW
Prince Edward Island, PE
SEP 1-3
CLEVELAND NATIONAL AIR SHOW
Cleveland, OH
SEP 8-9
THUNDER OVER THE ROCK
Little Rock AFB, AR
SEP 15-16
NAS OCEANA
Oceana, VA
SEP 22-23
GRAND JUNCTION AIR SHOW
Grand Junction, CO
SEP 29-30
KANEOHE BAY AIRSHOW
MCAS Kane'ohe Bay, HI
OCT 6-7
FLEET WEEK - SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco, CA
OCT 12-14
MCAS MIRAMAR AIR SHOW
Miramar, CA
OCT 20-21
JACKSONVILLE BEACH
Jacksonville, FL
OCT 27-28
WINGS OVER HOUSTON AIRSHOW
Houston, TX
NOV 2-3
NAS PENSACOLA AIRSHOW
Pensacola, FL

Thunderbirds release 2012 show schedule






by Tech. Sgt. Jake Richmond
U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs

12/12/2011 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds have announced their 2012 show schedule. The team is set to perform more than 60 demonstrations in 33 locations, including two shows in Canada.

The team, officially known as the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, will again kick-off their season by performing a flyover for the 54th running of NASCAR's Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. The remainder of the schedule is as follows:

March 17: Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.
March 31 & April 1: Lakeland, Fla.
April 14-15: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.
April 21-22: Barksdale AFB, La.
April 28-29: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
May 5-6: Shaw AFB, S.C.
May 12-13: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
May 19-20: March Air Reserve Base, Calif.
May 23: Colorado Springs, Colo. - U.S. Air Force Academy graduation flyover
May 26-27: Hill Air Force Base, Utah
June 2-3: Rockford, Ill.
June 9-10: Ocean City, Md.
June 16-17: North Kingstown, R.I.
June 23-24: Indianapolis, Ind.
June 30 & July 1: Battle Creek, Mich.
July 7-8: Gary, Ind.
July 21-22: Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
July 25: Cheyenne, Wyo.
July 28-29: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska
Aug. 4-5: Hillsboro, Ore.
Aug. 11-12: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Aug. 17: Atlantic City, N.J.
Aug. 25-26: Brunswick, Maine
Sept. 1-2: Davenport, Iowa
Sept. 8-9: Sacramento, Calif.
Sept. 15-16: Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
Sept. 22-23: Salinas, Calif.
Sept. 29-30: McConnell Air Force Base, Kan.
Oct. 6-7: Fort Worth, Texas
Oct. 13-14: Daytona Beach, Fla.
Oct. 20-21: El Paso, Texas
Oct. 27-28: Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
Nov. 3-4: Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
Nov. 10-11: Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

"We are excited about the upcoming season and representing our fellow American Airmen," said Lt. Col. Greg Moseley, who will command and lead the team in the 2012 show season. "We feel honored to tell the story of U.S. Air Force Airmen serving on the front lines of freedom around the world. We will proudly represent each Airmen with the same pride, precision and professionalism in which they perform their duties each and every day".

The coming year will mark the 59th of the Thunderbirds existence, dating back to 1953 when the team flew the straight-winged F-84G Thunderjets. This season will mark the 30th season the squadron has performed in the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Air Force's premier multi-role fighter aircraft.

The Thunderbirds team is an Air Combat Command unit composed of eight pilots (including six demonstration pilots), four support officers, four civilians and more than 100 enlisted people serving in about 30 Air Force job specialties.

A Thunderbirds aerial demonstration is a mix of formation flying and solo routines. The pilots perform approximately 40 maneuvers in a demonstration. The entire show, including the beginning ground ceremony, lasts about one hour. The air show season lasts roughly from March to November, with the winter months primarily used to train new team members.

To learn more about the Thunderbirds, visit the USAF Demonstration Team Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

Monday, December 12, 2011

ALAN JACKSON AND CAPITOL RECORDS NASHVILLE NOMINATED FOR MASHABLE’S VIRAL CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Nashville, TN – Country superstar Alan Jackson, Capitol Records Nashville and Eventful are nominated for Viral Campaign of the Year at the fifth annual Mashable Awards for a campaign that gave music fans the opportunity to vote for a free Alan Jackson concert in their city. Other nominated campaigns include Coca-Cola, Diesel, Kraft, NoH8, Occupy Wallstreet and Old Spice. Final voting closes on December 16 and the winners will be announced on December 19 (http://on.mash.to/vBrI6j).

Mineral, VA, a small town with a population of 490 won the free Alan Jackson concert with over 31,000 votes during the campaign that was designed and executed by Eventful’s Demand it!™ service. Voting brought the small town, which was the epicenter of a rare East Coast earthquake on August 23, together as they continue to repair and rebuild. The concert will take place in 2012 and details will be announced once a date is set.

Alan Jackson is one of the most successful and respected singer-songwriters in music. He’s sold nearly 60-million albums worldwide, topped the country singles charts 35 times, and scored more than 50 Top-10 hits. He’s a 17-time ACM Award winner, a 16-time CMA Award recipient, and a two-time Grammy-honored artist whose songwriting has earned him the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as a 2011 Songwriter/Artist inductee. Jackson has written or co-written 24 of his 35 #1 hit singles, placing him in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts.
Mashable is the largest independent news source dedicated to covering digital culture, social media and technology. Mashable’s 20 million monthly unique visitors and 4 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Numerous studies and leading publications have declared Mashable the most influential online news outlet and a must-read site. Mashable syndicates its content to top publications including ABC News, CNN, Forbes, Metro, USA Today and Yahoo! News.

Eventful’s Demand it!™ service is used by over 100,000 performers who engage with millions of their fans to find out where they are in demand, and then utilize this essential data to optimize future tour routing and make informed decisions about where to appear. Demand it!™ empowers music fans to influence the location and content of local entertainment and events and helps artists fill the house in target markets, bridging the gap between social media and commerce.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Willie Nelson's Longtime Bassist Dies Unexpectedly
Dan 'Bee' Spears slipped and fell outside his Nashville home
Photo: http://tinyurl.com/7zltwqb
FROM: The Rolling Stone ~
By Patrick Doyle
Dan "Bee" Spears, who played bass on the road with Willie Nelson for more
than 40 years and appeared on many of his classic albums, died unexpectedly
late Thursday. Austin, Texas television station KXAN reports Spears slipped
and fell after stepping out of his motor home in Nashville Thursday night,
according to his friend Dee Pearce. He was found dead, due to exposure. He
was 62.
Spears grew up in a musical family outside San Antonio, Texas. Nelson hired
Spears in 1968 when he was only 19 years old after Nelson's previous bassist
David Zetter was drafted. "I happened to be there when the guys were talking
about finding a replacement," Spears once said. "One of the guys said,
'Hell, let's hire Bee. He doesn't play worth a crap, but we can teach him
what to play, and he won't come in with any preconceived bullshit!''"
Spears played on key Nelson albums including The Troublemaker, Shotgun
Willie, and Phases and Stages, The Red Headed Stranger and Stardust and
provided a solid backbone to Nelson's offbeat phrasing and guitar acrobatics
during live shows. "Willie is all over the place with his vocal phrasing,"
Spears said. "He'll take you up a creek and dump you in a minute. My main
role in the band is to make sure he knows where the 'one' is, so he can come
back to it."
Spears also toured with country artists including Waylon Jennings and Guy
Clark.
A statement on Nelson's Web site reads: "We are deeply saddened by the death
of Family member Dan 'Bee' Spears, long time friend and bassist for Willie
Nelson and Family. We are still in shock and gathering details as the day
continues. He apparently died of accidental exposure at his property near
Nashville, Tenn."
Nelson's next concerts are scheduled for December 30 and December 31 in
Austin, Texas.
Here's a video of Spears singing "Okie From Muskogee" with Nelson on a
classic episode of Austin City Limits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s978g97TcM

Friday, December 9, 2011

ERIC CHURCH NAMED 2011 iTUNES COUNTRY BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

NPR Music, Amazon and Rolling Stone Magazine Recognize CHIEF as one of Top Albums of 2011

Nashville, Tenn. (Friday, December 9, 2011) – EMI Records Nashville’s Eric Church celebrates new accolades this week as iTunes names him their 2011 Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year, and his latest album CHIEF is featured in iTunes’ Best of 2011 section. In addition, NPR Music hails CHIEF as one of their Top 50 Albums of the Year noting, “On his third album, Church hits his stride, chronicling wild nights and epic hangovers with just the right amount of critical distance." The album also landed an impressive spot at No. 19 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2011 and it sits at No. 9 on Amazon's Best Country Albums of 2011.

While Church's current Top 10 single "Drink In My Hand" climbs the Country Billboard chart, his song "Springsteen," from CHIEF was named No. 30 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 50 Best Singles of 2011.

These latest acknowledgements cap off a year full of impressive accomplishments for Church including his first GRAMMY nomination in the Best Country Album category for his third studio album and chart-topping release, CHIEF. The album hit stores on July 26, 2011 and held the No. 1 position on both the Billboard Top 200 and the Country Albums Chart, selling over 145,000 in its first week and reaching RIAA Gold-certification in merely 10 weeks.

Church’s most recent accolades are in addition to the 2011 ACM Award for New Solo Vocalist of the Year and combined, have laid the groundwork for his recently announced headlining tour, The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour, which is scheduled to hit 50 markets in 2012 beginning with Fort Smith, Arkansas on January 19.

“I am so grateful for the many ways CHIEF has changed my life,” shares Church. “There is no cooler thing as a recording artist than when people tell you that your music matters to them. Every single day the momentum for this record gets bigger and stronger, and I can’t wait for next year to share this music with the people who truly made this happen. It’s gonna be one hell of a tour!”

For more information on Eric Church, visit www.ericchurch.com.
JASON ALDEAN, BIG & RICH, TOBY KEITH, AND BLAKE SHELTON ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINERS FOR THE 20TH ANNUAL WISCONSIN COUNTRY THUNDER FESTIVAL!

-4-DAY FESTIVAL PASSES ARE STILL ONLY $99 UNTIL JANUARY 1ST, 2012-


Twin Lakes, WI (December 9, 2011) – When Country Thunder rolls around on July 19-22, 2012, it will mark the 20th anniversary of the premiere camping, music and entertainment festival, and now … the long anticipated line-up announcement has arrived!

Headlining Thursday night is multi-platinum duo Big & Rich who’s raucous-raising performance will be the perfect way to kick off the 4-day festival extravaganza. Comprised of Kenny Alphin and The Celebrity Apprentice winner John Rich, the duo has garnered multiple GRAMMY, ACM, CMA and CMT Music Award nominations. Their hits include their infectious smash-hit singles, “Fake ID,” "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" as well as "Comin' to Your City," "8th of November" and "Lost in this Moment." Joining Big & Rich on Thursday, is hot new All In/Elektra Nashville/ New Revolution country act, THE FARM, whose debut single “Home Sweet Home” is currently building at radio.

Georgia native Jason Aldean will headline Friday night, with Steve Holy and Wade Bowen in the opening slots. Aldean recently earned two CMA Awards, six ACA Awards and three nominations for the upcoming GRAMMYs, and was chosen as a CMT Artists of the Year honoree for the second consecutive year. Also joining Friday’s line-up is Aldean's tourmate Luke Bryan, who has performed numerous hits including "All My Friends Say," "Country Man," "Do I," and the chart-topping singles “Rain is a Good Thing,” and “Someone Else Calling You Baby.”

Blake Shelton, reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year for the second consecutive year, will perform at the festival in Wisconsin on Saturday. Shelton continues to be the "most versatile of contemporary country singers" (The New York Times") and recently received three GRAMMY nominations for “Best Country Solo Performance” for “Honey Bee,” “Best Country Song” for “God Gave Me You” (written by Dave Barnes) and “Best Country Album” for Red River Blue. This is Shelton's first award nomination for "God Gave Me You," a three-week No. 1 and his fastest rising single to date, and his second award nomination for "Honey Bee." "Honey Bee" is his first ever digital Platinum single and holds the record for the fastest-selling digital Platinum single for a male country solo artist. The single held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Country chart for four weeks in a row with over 40 million in audience. No country artist has held this record in almost six years. Both nominated songs, "God Gave Me You" and "Honey Bee" are off his current release and GRAMMY nominated album, Red River Blue.

For the final day of the event, the one and only Toby Keith will take over the stage making sure the 20th annual Wisconsin Country Thunder Festival is a party until the very end. From his first single and No. 1 smash "Should've Been A Cowboy" to his latest album and Billboard Top Country Album chart-topper Clancy's Tavern, Toby Keith has been one of the most consistent self-directed hit makers of his era. He's now in his 18th consecutive year having had a #1 single every year since his first release. Toby's new single, "Red Solo Cup," has become the most remarkable and commercially successful new country single in recent memory, with a viral video earning millions of views online, and the song becoming one of the most downloaded country songs. In the history of recorded music, artists exhibiting that kind of consistency and longevity are in an exclusive club. Keith, however, may be in a class by himself. Joining Keith on Sunday's line-up will be returning Country Thunder favorite and two-time Entertainer of the Year, Neal McCoy, Atlantic Nashville’s Hunter Hayes, and Brantley Gilbert, who has recently earned his first No. 1 song in the country with the aptly titled single “Country Must Be Country Wide”.

Taking place July 19-22, 2012, country fans from across the nation will travel to Twin Lakes, WI for four full days of non-stop entertainment. For only $99 (price good until January 1,2012) you can purchase a 4-day pass gaining access to the entire weekend of music and entertainment! For the total festival experience, a campsite may be purchased, with prices beginning as low as $100 for the entire weekend. Country Thunder offers five different camping options, from the primitive General campgrounds to the Big Rig campsites which come with amenities including hook-ups for water and electricity.

Tickets, camping, and amenity add-ons can all be purchased online at www.countrythunder.com or by phone at (866) 802-6418. Additional artists will be announced soon, so for all things Country Thunder please visit www.countrythunder.com or www.facebook.com/countrythunderusa to stay up-to-date on one of the nation’s premier outdoor camping, music, and entertainment festivals!


Current Announced Line-Up

Thursday
5:30-6:30pm The Farm
9:00-10:30pm Big & Rich

Friday
4:00-5:00pm Wade Bowen
5:30-6:30pm Steve Holy
7:00-8:30pm Luke Bryan
9:00-10:30pm Jason Aldean

Saturday
9:00-10:30pm Blake Shelton

Sunday
4:00-5:00pm Hunter Hayes
5:30-6:30pm Neal McCoy
7:00-8:00pm Brantley Gilbert
8:30-10:00pm Toby Keith

Thursday, December 8, 2011

“CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS” RE-AIRS SATURDAY, DEC. 17 ON ABC

Two-Hour Special, Hosted for the Second Year by Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Features Interviews with Artists and their Families and Performances of Holiday Classics by
Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with Special Guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill with Miss Piggy!

NASHVILLE – “CMA Country Christmas,” hosted for the second year by Jennifer Nettles, of reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland, re-airs Saturday, Dec. 17 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Viewers now have a second opportunity to experience the music, memories, and stories of the season with some of our format’s biggest stars and their families,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. “Fans have been calling since the original airing asking for more, and we are glad to give them a second helping.”

Artists who perform in the special and share their favorite holiday traditions include Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Vince Gill with Miss Piggy.

The performances are outstanding, but some of the most insightful and fun moments of the program are interviews with several of the artists and their children including Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts and his wife, Allison, and infant daughter, Madeline (11 months), talking about Madeline’s first “interview” op; and McBride and her daughters Ava, 6, Emma, 13, and Delaney, 16, sharing their favorite family recipe.

Pulling heartstrings on the homefront, Pickler, who was joined by new hubby Kyle Jacobs for her fireside interview, talked about the sacrifice of American service men and women overseas and the personal impact of their selfless dedication to freedom and country. On a lighter note, during the special Pickler performed “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” with dancing elves.

Other highlights include Paisley adding blistering guitar grooves to Setzer’s take on “Sleigh Ride” and “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus”; Hill’s breathtaking a capella version of “Little Drummer Boy” surrounded by a choir; and several performances by Gill, who performed “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” with wife Grant, a solo rendition of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” and then cozied up to a bawdy Miss Piggy for a hilarious take on “Baby It’s Cold Outside.”

Outstanding vocal harmonies are a hallmark of the program with breathtaking performances from Little Big Town on “Santa Claus is Back in Town” (with Urban providing guitar licks) and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; and Rascal Flatts, who performed “White Christmas” and “Mary Did You Know.”

American Idol runner-up Alaina and reigning winner McCreery made their first appearances on the special with Alaina performing “Grown Up Christmas List” and McCreery lending his trademark baritone to “The First Noel.” Urban also made his first appearance on the special in 2011 performing “The Christmas Song” (days before undergoing vocal cord surgery).

Returning in 2011 were two crowd favorites: Rucker, who performed “Winter Wonderland” and McBride, who added her soaring vocals on a jazz-influenced “Please Come Home for Christmas.”

In addition to her hosting duties, Nettles opened the special with a rocking version of “All I Want for Christmas” and then, joined by Sugarland partner Kristian Bush, turned poignant for a stripped down and powerful performance of the holiday classic “Silent Night.” Capping the special is a full cast performance of “Jingle Bells.”

“CMA Country Christmas” is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the executive producer, Paul Miller is the director and David Wild is the writer. The special was shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound. The special has a PG-TV audience rating.

BRAD PAISLEY TO BE FEATURED ON CBS SUNDAY MORNING – DECEMBER 11



NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 8, 2011) Country music superstar Brad Paisley will be featured this Sunday on CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood. Bob Schieffer, Face the Nation host, joined Paisley on tour earlier this year for a behind the scenes look and then spent the day with him in his hometown of Franklin, Tenn visiting The Castle recording studio and had lunch at one of Paisley’s favorite restaurants, “Barbara’s Homecookin’.”

CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood
Sunday, Dec. 11th on CBS – 9:00am – 10:30am EST.

Photo Courtesy of CBS Sunday Morning

JASON ALDEAN AND THOMPSON SQUARE CELEBRATE 9 TOTAL AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS



(Las Vegas, NV – December 8, 2011) -- Broken Bow Records and its sister imprint label Stoney Creek Records earned a total of 9 American Country Awards Monday night.

The label group’s big winners included Broken Bow’s Jason Aldean, who took the crown for the most ACAs (6 total) including top awards Artist of they Year Touring Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Single By a Male Artist, Single By a Vocal Collaboration and Music Video By a Vocal Collaboration.

Stoney Creek Records husband/wife duo Thompson Square earned three fan-voted awards including Single of the Year by a Group, Music Video of the Year by a New Artist and Single of the Year by a New Artist for their #1 smash, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”

With a roster of talented artists that now include Jason Aldean, Kristy Lee Cook, James Wesley, Blake Wise and Dustin Lynch, Broken Bow Records continues to make a name for itself in the Country music industry. The success of multi-platinum selling and Grammy nominated BBR artist Jason Aldean in particular has launched the label to the top of the charts. Jason Aldean began his success at the label in 2005, when his self-titled debut album ("Hicktown" "Why" "Amarillo Sky") was certified Gold in 12 weeks and shortly thereafter was certified Platinum. In rapid succession, another Gold and Platinum album followed giving birth to the hit singles, “Johnny Cash,” “She’s Country,” “Big Green Tractor,” “The Truth” and “Crazy Town.” “Big Green Tractor” was also a #1 ringtone in all genres- the first Country ringtone to hold that distinction. Aldean, whose Double Platinum #1 album MY KINDA PARTY is the top-selling Country album of 2011, earned three 2011 CMA Awards including Album of the Year. 

www.brokenbowrecords.com

Stoney Creek Records was founded in March of 2009 by CEO/President Benny Brown as a continuation of the passion and determination that spawned the success of sister imprint, Broken Bow Records. The current artist roster includes Thompson Square, Randy Houser, Parmalee, Ash Bowers and Crossin’ Dixon. Thompson Square’s Grammy nominated #1 single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” is the Most Played Song on Country Radio in 2011 (Mediabase) and has sold 1.5 million downloads to-date. Thompson Square’s breakout year also garnered the husband/wife duo three 2011 American Country Awards, two CMA Award nominations for Best New Artist and Duo of the Year, an American Music Award Nomination for New Artist of the year and two CMT Music Award nominations. 
Both Broken Bow and Stoney Creek Records are headquartered in Nashville, TN and are distributed by Sony RED.


 
 www.stoneycreekrecords.com

First Look At Justin Moore’s New Family Of Four



The Valory Music Co.’s Justin Moore and wife Kate pose for their first professional picture as a family of four. Kennedy Faye Moore joined big sister Ella Kole (21 months) on November 21.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

WINNERS OF SECOND ANNUAL “AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS” ANNOUNCED

Jason Aldean Earns Six Awards;
Carrie Underwood and Thompson Square Each Win Three Awards

Toby Keith Honored with Artist of the Decade Award

Two-Hour Special Featured Performances by Co-Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, Alabama, Toby Keith, Eli Young Band, The Band Perry, Scotty McCreery, Pistol Annies, Blake Shelton, Thompson Square and Chris Young

NASHVILLE, TN -- (December 5, 2011) -- The following performers were honored today at the second annual AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS broadcast live on FOX from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Fans logged on to www.theacas.com to cast votes in support of their favorite country music artists. The awards include traditional categories, as well as previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.

With three wins this year, plus six last year, Underwood has earned the most ACA honors of any artist. Aldean’s six awards this year rank him as the male artist with the most honors, and Lady Antebellum’s win as Group of the Year, plus four awards last year, make it the group with the most ACA honors.

Cable channel Great American Country (GAC) will rebroadcast the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS on Saturday, Dec. 17 (10:00 PM-Midnight ET).

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS winners include:

ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean

Artist of the Year: Male
Brad Paisley

Artist of the Year: Female
Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Group
Lady Antebellum

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Chris Young

Artist of the Year: New Artist
Scotty McCreery

Album
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”

SINGLES
Single of the Year
Chris Young, “Voices”

Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”

Single of the Year: Female
Carrie Underwood, “Mama's Song”

Single of the Year: Group
Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”

Single of the Year: New Artist
Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”

Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don't You Wanna Stay”

TOURING
Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean

VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
Blake Shelton, “Who Are You When I'm Not Looking”

Music Video: Male
Blake Shelton, “Who Are You When I'm Not Looking”

Music Video: Female
Carrie Underwood, “Mama's Song”

Music Video: Group or Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”

Music Video: New Artist
Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”

GREATEST HITS AWARD
Alabama

ARTIST OF THE DECADE AWARD
Toby Keith

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS is executive-produced by Bob Bain (TEEN CHOICE AWARDS, “Kids’ Choice Awards”). Fletcher Foster, Paul Flattery and Tisha Fein serve as producers; and Greg Sills is supervising producer. Michael Dempsey directed the special.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

MADONNA TO PERFORM FEBRUARY 5 DURING THE BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW ON NBC






NEW YORK, Dec. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MADONNA, a multi Grammy Award-winning Universal Records recording artist, will perform in the BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW on NBC at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Sunday, February 5, the NFL and NBC announced during tonight's Sunday Night Football game between the New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions. Madonna's performance will be imagined by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL and JAMIE KING.
The Bridgestone Super Bowl halftime show is the most-watched musical event of the year. More than 162 million viewers in the U.S. watched last year's show. The Super Bowl and halftime show will be broadcast worldwide.
Madonna joins an esteemed list of recent halftime acts that includes The Black Eyed Peas, The Who, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and U2.
A world class entertainer, singer, songwriter, producer, director and video visionary, Madonna has sold more than 300 million records in the course of her three decade career as The Material Girl. She is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Her last tour was the most successful tour by a solo artist in history. Madonna is currently in the recording studio working on a new album scheduled to be released next year. Her new film W.E. which she directed, wrote and produced is opening in a limited one week release December 9 in Los Angeles and will open nationally on February 3, two days prior to Super Bowl XLVI.
Madonna has partnered with a creative team from Cirque du Soleil, Jamie King, and multimedia artists from Moment Factory, to create a signature performance for the BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW.
This year marks the fifth time Bridgestone Americas has sponsored the Super Bowl halftime show. The tire company's new brand campaign, fittingly titled "Time to Perform," will debut during the game.
The BRIDGESTONE SUPER BOWL XLVI HALFTIME SHOW is an NFL NETWORK PRODUCTION and will be executive produced by RICKY KIRSHNER and directed by HAMISH HAMILTON.
Bowl schedule: All 35 games on our college football bowl schedule
Uncategorized — posted by brant parsons on December, 4 2011 8:46 PM
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DATE BOWL LOCATION TIME TV THE MATCHUP
Dec. 17 Gildan New Mexico Alburquerque, N.M. 2 p.m. ESPN Temple vs Wyoming
Dec. 17 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Boise, ID 5:30 p.m. ESPN Utah State vs. Ohio
Dec. 17 R+L Carriers New Orleans New Orleans 9 p.m. ESPN La.-Lafayette vs San Diego State
Dec. 20 Beef O’Brady’s St. Petersburg 8 p.m. ESPN Marshall vs. FIU
Dec. 21 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia San Diego, CA 8 p.m. ESPN TCU vs. Louisiana Tech
Dec. 22 MAACO Bowl Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV 8 p.m. ESPN Boise State vs. Arizona State
Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii 8 p.m. ESPN Nevada vs. Southern Miss
Dec. 26 AdvoCare V100 Independence Shreveport, LA 5 p.m. ESPN2 North Carolina vs. Missouri
Dec. 27 Little Caesar’s Pizza Detroit, Michigan 4:30 p.m. ESPN Western Michigan vs. Purdue
Dec. 27 Belk Charlotte, N.C. 8 p.m. ESPN N.C. State vs. Louisville
Dec. 28 Military Northrup Grumman Washington D.C. 4:30 p.m. ESPN Air Force vs. Toledo
Dec. 28 Bridgeport Education Holiday San Diego, CA 8 p.m. ESPN Texas vs. California
Dec. 29 Champs Sports Orlando 5:30 p.m. ESPN Florida State vs. Notre Dame
Dec. 29 Valero Alamo San Antonio 9 p.m. ESPN Baylor vs. Washington
Dec. 30 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Forth Worth, TX Noon ESPN BYU vs. Tulsa
Dec. 30 New Era Pinstripe Bronx, NY 3:30 p.m. ESPN Rutgers vs. Iowa State
Dec. 30 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Nashville, TN 6:40 p.m. ESPN Wake Forest vs. Mississippi State
Dec. 30 Insight Tempe, Ariz. 10 p.m. ESPN Oklahoma vs. Iowa
Dec. 31 Meineke Car Care of Texas Houston, Texas Noon ESPN Texas A&M vs. Northwestern
Dec. 31 Hyundai Sun El Paso, Texas 2 p.m. CBS Utah vs. Georgia Tech
Dec. 31 Kraft Fight Hunger San Francisco, Calif. 3:30 p.m. ESPN UCLA vs. Illinois
Dec. 31 AutoZone Liberty Memphis, Tenn. 3:30 p.m. ABC Cincinnati vs. Vanderbilt
Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Atlanta 7:30 p.m. ESPN Virginia vs. Auburn
Jan. 2 TicketCity Dallas Noon ESPNU Penn State vs. Houston
Jan. 2 Outback Tampa 1 p.m. ABC Michigan State vs. Georgia
Jan. 2 Gator Jacksonville 1 p.m. ESPN2 Ohio State vs. Florida
Jan. 2 Capital One Orlando 1 p.m. ESPN Nebraska vs. South Carolina
Jan. 2 Rose Bowl Pasadena 5 p.m. ESPN Wisconsin vs. Oregon
Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl Glendale 8 p.m. ESPN Oklahoma State vs. Stanford
Jan. 3 Allstate Sugar New Orleans 8 p.m. ESPN Michigan vs. Virginia Tech
Jan. 4 Discover Orange Miami 8 p.m. ESPN Clemson vs. West Virginia
Jan. 6 AT&T Cotton Arlington, Texas 8 p.m. FOX Arkansas vs. Kansas State
Jan. 7 BBVA Compass Birmingham, Ala. 1 p.m. ESPN SMU vs. Pittsburgh
Jan. 8 Go Daddy.com Mobile, Ala. 9 p.m. ESPN N. Illinois vs. Arkansas State
Jan. 9 Allstate BCS National Championship New Orleans 9 p.m. ESPN LSU vs. Alabama

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Child in the Middle of the McCready Custody Case...



zander has been returned to the custody of his legal guardians....he was found with his mother in a closet hiding from police in Arkansas
JASON ALDEAN SCORES FIRST THREE CAREER GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

"Tattoos On This Town" Becomes Fourth No. One Off MY KINDA PARTY and
Eighth Career No One Hit For Aldean

NASHVILLE, TENN – Dec. 1, 2011 – Multi-PLATINUM Country rocker Jason Aldean snagged his first ever GRAMMY nominations last night, and tied for the most nods of any country artist with three in the categories of Best Country Album for MY KINDA PARTY, Best Country Solo Performance for “Dirt Road Anthem” and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Don't You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson.

“I was totally stunned last night, and it all happened so fast. I was feelin' a pretty big adrenaline rush from our performance with Luda, and then to be told we had three nominations was just crazy. We were flying pretty high all night…there was definitely some celebrating on the flight back to Nashville," says Aldean. "That 'Album' nomination is what artists dream of their whole career. And then for both the duet with Kelly and 'Dirt Road' to get some recognition, which were both different kinds of songs for us this year, it's just incredible."

Nominations were announced during the one-hour GRAMMY Nominations Concert LIVE!! special last night, where Aldean got a standing ovation for his performance of the DOUBLE PLATINUM, No. 1 hit “Dirt Road Anthem.” He was joined by fellow Georgia native Ludacris who re-wrote a verse of the fan-favorite song earlier this year.

Additionally, Aldean has the No. one song in the country this week as “Tattoos on This Town” moves into the top spot on the Mediabase chart to become the eighth No. one of his career. The fourth release off the CMA Album of the Year, MY KINDA PARTY, “Tattoos on This Town” marks the album’s fourth consecutive No. one single. Aldean also claims the top selling country album of the year.

Aldean recently wrapped his 2011 MY KINDA PARTY TOUR which sold out more than 50 arenas and amphitheatres across the nation this year and smashed several venue attendance records. The 2012 leg of the MY KINDA PARTY TOUR will pick up Jan. 20 in Greenville, SC with special guest Luke Bryan.
THOMPSON SQUARE’S #1 SMASH
“ARE YOU GONNA KISS ME OR NOT” SCORES 2 GRAMMY NOMS


Breakout Country Duo Perform on FOX’s American Country Awards (12/5) and
GAC’s Christmas in the Black Hills network special (12/12)



(NASHVILLE, TN) -- On the heels of an extraordinary breakout year, Stoney Creek Records’ duo Thompson Square can now add Grammy nominees to its list of accolades.

Last night, Thompson Square scored a Best Country Duo/ Group Performance Grammy nomination for the #1 single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.” The Platinum-selling smash is also nominated for a Best Country Song Grammy.

The husband/wife duo were spending a rare night off in Nashville for some much needed R&R after playing to over one million fans this year when they got the news.

“We both could not believe the news of our Grammy nominations,” said Keifer Thompson. “When our manager told us we really thought he was playing some sort of sick joke on us. We can't thank the Grammys enough for such a prestigious honor!

“If I'm asleep please don't wake me up.... cause this is a dang good dream!!” mused Shawna Thompson.

Thompson Square heads to Las Vegas this weekend for FOX’s 2nd Annual American Country Awards where they are the second-highest most nominated act with 7 nods. The duo will perform the nominated “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” on the live broadcast, airing Monday Dec. 5th at 8 pm ET/ 7 pm CT.

Thompson Square will also perform as part of Great American Country’s (GAC) Christmas in the Black Hills. Hosted by Big & Rich, the holiday concert special was shot at various locations around historic Deadwood, South Dakota. Christmas in the Black Hills premieres on GAC on Monday, Dec. 12 at 8 pm ET/ 7 pm CT.

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 12, 2012, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on CBS from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT)

MORE ABOUT THOMPSON SQUARE
One of Country music’s biggest breakout acts of 2011, Thompson Square’s infectious GRAMMY nominated #1 single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” is the Most Played Song at Country Radio this year (Mediabase). The single spent 5 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Country Digital Soundscan Chart and has sold 1.5 million downloads to-date. The single also reached #1 on the Billboard Heat Seekers Chart and was the #1 Country Ringtone for 12 weeks straight. Additionally, the 2011 American Music Award nominee for New Artist of the Year is also the only duo to reach #1 on CMT’s Top 50 Artist Chart in 2011.

Since releasing their debut album in February, Thompson Square has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Conan, Fox & Friends, NBC’s The Better Show” and Fox’s Summer Concert Series, as well as been featured in USA Weekend’s “Who’s Hot in Hollywood,” Entertainment Weekly, People Country, the Associated Press, MSN Wonderwall, Country Weekly, Southwest Spirit Magazine, USA Today, The Washington Post and Billboard. 2011 also found Thompson Square nominated for multiple CMA, CMT and American Country Awards.

The duo’s follow-up single, "I Got You," is cresting Top 5 at Country Radio. After playing to over one million fans this year on the Jason Aldean “My Kinda Party Tour,” Thompson Square will join Lady Antebellum on the road for their Own The Night World Tour 2012 on January 27 in Tulsa, OK.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

2012 Grammy Nominees

1. Record Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep

Adele
Paul Epworth, producer; Tom Elmhirst & Mark Rankin, engineers/mixers
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Holocene

Bon Iver
Justin Vernon, producer; Brian Joseph & Justin Vernon, engineers/mixers
Track from: Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]
Grenade

Bruno Mars
The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra]
The Cave

Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Francois Chevallier & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Firework

Katy Perry
Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Sandy Vee, producers; Mikkel S. Eriksen, Phil Tan, Sandy Vee & Miles Walker, engineers/mixers
[Capitol]
BACK TO TOP
2. Album Of The Year
21

Adele
Jim Abbiss, Adele, Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin, Fraser T. Smith, Ryan Tedder & Dan Wilson, producers; Jim Abbiss, Philip Allen, Beatriz Artola, Ian Dowling, Tom Elmhirst, Greg Fidelman, Dan Parry, Steve Price, Mark Rankin, Andrew Scheps, Fraser T. Smith & Ryan Tedder, engineers/mixers; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Wasting Light

Foo Fighters
Butch Vig, producer; James Brown & Alan Moulder, engineers/mixers; Joe LaPorta & Emily Lazar, mastering engineers
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Born This Way

Lady Gaga
Paul Blair, DJ Snake, Fernando Garibay, Lady Gaga, Robert John "Mutt" Lange, Jeppe Laursen, RedOne & Clinton Sparks, producers; Fernando Garibay, Bill Malina, Trevor Muzzy, RedOne, Dave Russell, Justin Shirley Smith, Horace Ward & Tom Ware, engineers/mixers; Gene Grimaldi, mastering engineer
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Bruno Mars
B.o.B, Cee Lo Green & Damian Marley, featured artists; Dwayne "Supa Dups" Chin-Quee, Needlz & The Smeezingtons, producers; Ari Levine & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineer
[Elektra]
Loud

Rihanna
Drake, Eminem & Nicki Minaj, featured artists; Ester Dean, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Alex Da Kid, Kuk Harrell, Tor Erik Hermansen, Mel & Mus, Awesome Jones, Makeba Riddick, The Runners, Sham, Soundz, Chris "Tricky" Stewart, Sandy Vee & Willy Will, producers; Ariel Chobaz, Cary Clark, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Alex Da Kid, Josh Gudwin, Kuk Harrell, Jaycen Joshua, Manny Marroquin, Dana Nielsen, Chad "C-Note" Roper, Noah "40" Shebib, Corey Shoemaker, Jay Stevenson, Mike Strange, Phil Tan, Brian "B-Luv" Thomas, Marcos Tovar, Sandy Vee, Jeff "Supa Jeff" Villanueva, Miles Walker & Andrew Wuepper, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]
BACK TO TOP
3. Song Of The Year
All Of The Lights

Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A-Fella; Publishers: Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]
The Cave

Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Grenade

Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra; Publishers: Mars Force Music/Bughouse, Music Famamanem/Toy Plane Music/Art For Arts Sake/Late 80s Music/Westside Ind. Music/Studiobeat Music, Warner Tamerlane, Andrew Wyatt, Downtown DMP Songs]
Holocene

Justin Vernon, songwriter (Bon Iver)
Track from: Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar; Publisher: April Base Publishing]
Rolling In The Deep

Adele Adkins & Paul Epworth, songwriters (Adele)
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records; Publishers: Universal-Songs of Polygram/EMI Music Publishing]
BACK TO TOP
4. Best New Artist
The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

BACK TO TOP
5. Best Pop Solo Performance
Someone Like You

Adele
Track from: 21
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Yoü And I

Lady Gaga
Track from: Born This Way
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Grenade

Bruno Mars
Track from: Doo-Wops & Hooligans
[Elektra]
Firework

Katy Perry
[Capitol]
F***in’ Perfect

Pink
[Jive Records]
BACK TO TOP
6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Body And Soul

Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
Track from: Duets II
[Columbia Records]
Dearest

The Black Keys
Track from: Rave On Buddy Holly
[Fantasy]
Paradise

Coldplay
[Capitol Records]
Pumped Up Kicks

Foster The People
Track from: Torches
[Star Time Intl./Columbia]
Moves Like Jagger

Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera
Track from: Hands All Over
[A&M/Octone Records]
BACK TO TOP
7. Best Pop Instrumental Album
Wish Upon A Star

Jenny Oaks Baker
[Shadow Mountain Records]
E Kahe Malie

Daniel Ho
[Daniel Ho Creations]
The Road From Memphis

Booker T. Jones
[Anti Records]
Hello Tomorrow

Dave Koz
[Concord Records]
Setzer Goes Instru-Mental!

Brian Setzer
[Surfdog Records]
BACK TO TOP
8. Best Pop Vocal Album
21

Adele
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
The Lady Killer

Cee Lo Green
[Radiculture/Elektra]
Born This Way

Lady Gaga
[Streamline/Interscope/Kon Live]
Doo-Wops & Hooligans

Bruno Mars
[Elektra]
Loud

Rihanna
[Def Jam]
BACK TO TOP
9. Best Dance Recording
Raise Your Weapon

Deadmau5 & Greta Svabo Bech
Joel Zimmerman, producer
Track from: 4x4=12
[Ultra Records]
Barbra Streisand

Duck Sauce
Duck Sauce, producers; Duck Sauce, mixers
[Downtown Records]
Sunshine

David Guetta & Avicii
Avicii, David Guetta & Giorgio Tuinfort, producers; Avicii, mixer
Track from: Nothing But The Beat
[Virgin]
Call Your Girlfriend

Robyn
Klas Åhlund & Billboard, producers; Niklas Flyckt, mixer
Track from: Body Talk Pt. 3
[Interscope Records]
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites

Skrillex
Skrillex, producer; Skrillex, mixer
Track from: Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
Save The World

Swedish House Mafia
Steve Angello, Axel Hedfors & Sebastian Ingrosso, producers; Steve Angello, Axel Hedfors & Sebastian Ingrosso, mixers
[Astralwerks]
BACK TO TOP
10. Best Dance/Electronica Album
Zonoscope

Cut/Copy
[Modular Recordings]
4x4=12

Deadmau5
[Ultra Records]
Nothing But The Beat

David Guetta
[Virgin Records]
Body Talk, Pt. 3

Robyn
[Interscope Records]
Scary Monsters And Nice Sprites

Skrillex
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
BACK TO TOP
11. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Duets II

Tony Bennett & Various Artists
[Columbia Records]
The Gift

Susan Boyle
[Syco Music/Columbia Records]
In Concert On Broadway

Harry Connick Jr.
[Columbia Records]
Music Is Better Than Words

Seth MacFarlane
[Universal Republic]
What Matters Most - Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan And Marilyn Bergman

Barbra Streisand
[Columbia Records]
BACK TO TOP
12. Best Rock Performance
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

Coldplay
[Capitol Records/ EMI/ Parlophone]
Down By The Water

The Decemberists
Track from: The King Is Dead
[Capitol]
Walk

Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
The Cave

Mumford & Sons
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Lotus Flower

Radiohead
Track from: The King Of Limbs
[XL/ TBD Recordings]
BACK TO TOP
13. Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
On The Backs Of Angels

Dream Theater
[Roadrunner Records]
White Limo

Foo Fighters
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Curl Of The Burl

Mastodon
[Reprise Records]
Public Enemy No. 1

Megadeth
[Roadrunner Records]
Blood In My Eyes

Sum 41
Track from: Screaming Bloody Murder
[Island]
BACK TO TOP
14. Best Rock Song
The Cave

Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston, songwriters (Mumford & Sons)
Track from: Sigh No More
[Glassnote Records]
Down By The Water

Colin Meloy, songwriter (The Decemberists)
Track from: The King Is Dead
[Capitol; Publisher: Osterozhna Music]
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall

Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay)
[Capitol Records/ EMI/ Parlophone; Publishers: Edition Pink Music/Hanseatic Musikverklag, Opal Music/Upala Music, Universal Music Publishing, Woulnough Music/Irving Music]
Lotus Flower

Colin Greenwood, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Phil Selway & Thom Yorke, songwriters (Radiohead)
Track from: The King Of Limbs
[XL/ TBD Recordings; Publisher: Ticker Tape Ltd.]
Walk

Foo Fighters, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
Track from: Wasting Light
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records; Publishers: M.J.-Twelve Music, I Love The Punk Rock Music, Living Under A Rock Music, Flying Earform Music, Ruthensmear Music]
BACK TO TOP
15. Best Rock Album
Rock 'N' Roll Party Honoring Les Paul

Jeff Beck
[ATCO]
Wasting Light

Foo Fighters
[RCA Records/ Roswell Records]
Come Around Sundown

Kings Of Leon
[RCA Records]
I'm With You

Red Hot Chili Peppers
[WB]
The Whole Love

Wilco
[dBpm Records/ Anti Records]
BACK TO TOP
16. Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver

Bon Iver
[Jagjaguwar]
Codes And Keys

Death Cab For Cutie
[Atlantic/ Barsuk]
Torches

Foster The People
[Star Time Intl./ Columbia]
Circuital

My Morning Jacket
[ATO Records]
The King Of Limbs

Radiohead
[XL/ TBD Records]
BACK TO TOP
17. Best R&B Performance
Far Away

Marsha Ambrosius
Track from: Late Nights & Early Mornings
[J Records]
Pieces Of Me

Ledisi
Track from: Pieces Of Me
[Verve Forecast]
Not My Daddy

Kelly Price & Stokley
Track from: Kelly
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco]
Is This Love

Corinne Bailey Rae
Track from: The Love EP
[Capitol]
You Are

Charlie Wilson
Track from: Just Charlie
[Jive Records]
BACK TO TOP
18. Best Traditional R&B Performance
Sometimes I Cry

Eric Benét
[Reprise]
Fool For You

Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona
[Radiculture/Elektra]
Radio Message

R. Kelly
Track from: Love Letter
[Jive Records]
Good Man

Raphael Saadiq
Track from: Stone Rollin'
[Columbia Records]
Surrender

Betty Wright & The Roots
Track from: Betty Wright: The Movie
[Ms B Records & S-Curve Records]
BACK TO TOP
19. Best R&B Song
Far Away

Marsha Ambrosius, Sterling Simms & Justin Smith, songwriters (Marsha Ambrosius)
Track from: Late Nights & Early Mornings
[J Records; Publishers: Marshmellow Music/SPZ Music/Downtown DMP Songs, N.Q.C. Music/F.O.B. Music, YS Publishing, Stone Agate Music]
Fool For You

Cee Lo Green & Jack Splash, songwriters (Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona)
[Radiculture/Elektra; Publishers: Jacks Love Emporium/Radiculture Publishing/EMI Blackwood Music, Chrysalis Music/God Given Music]
Not My Daddy

Kelly Price, songwriter (Kelly Price & Stokley)
Track from: Kelly
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco; Publishers: For The Write Price/Roynet]
Pieces Of Me

Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly & Ledisi Young, songwriters (Ledisi)
Track from: Pieces Of Me
[Verve Forecast]
You Are

Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days, Jr., Wirlie Morris, Charlie Wilson & Mahin Wilson, songwriters (Charlie Wilson)
Track from: Just Charlie
[Jive Records; Publishers: Nephew Wirlie Music, Pacific Coast Pirate Publishing, P Ty Music, Escribir Publishing, Mammas Pebbly Publishing]
BACK TO TOP
20. Best R&B Album
F.A.M.E.

Chris Brown
[Jive Records]
Second Chance

El DeBarge
[Geffen]
Love Letter

R. Kelly
[Jive Records]
Pieces Of Me

Ledisi
[Verve Forecast]
Kelly

Kelly Price
[My Block/Sang Girl/Malaco]
BACK TO TOP
21. Best Rap Performance
Look At Me Now

Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Track from: F.A.M.E.
[Jive Records]
Otis

Jay-Z & Kanye West
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella Records/Def Jam]
The Show Goes On

Lupe Fiasco
Track from: Lasers
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]
Moment 4 Life

Nicki Minaj & Drake
Track from: Pink Friday
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]
Black And Yellow

Wiz Khalifa
Track from: Rolling Papers
[Rostrum/Atlantic]
BACK TO TOP
22. Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Party

Beyoncé & André 3000
Track from: 4
[Columbia Records]
I'm On One

DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
Track from: We The Best Forever
[Cash Money/Universal Motown]
I Need A Doctor

Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
[Aftermath]
What's My Name?

Rihanna & Drake
Track from: Loud
[Def Jam]
Motivation

Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
Track from: Here I am
[Universal Motown]
All Of The Lights

Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Def Jam]
BACK TO TOP
23. Best Rap Song
All Of The Lights

Jeff Bhasker, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie)
Track from: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
[Roc-A Fella; Publishers: Very Good Beats/Hip Hop Since 1978]
Black And Yellow

Mikkel Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen & Cameron Thomaz, songwriters (Wiz Khalifa)
Track from: Rolling Papers
[Rostrum/Atlantic; Publishers: PGH Sound/WB Music/EMI Music]
I Need A Doctor

Andre Young, Marshall Mathers III, Alexander Grant & Skylar Grey, songwriters (Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey)
[Aftermath]
Look At Me Now

Jean Baptiste, Chris Brown, Ryan Buendia, Trevor Smith, Dwayne Carter, Jr. & Wesley Pentz, songwriters (Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes)
Track from: F.A.M.E.
[Jive Records; Publishers: Songs of Universal/Culture Beyond Ur Experience, I Like Turtles Music/Downtown Music, Cherry315 Publishing/The Bad Bad Guys, Meloist Music, Mack Music/Young Money Publishing/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, T'Ziah's Music]
Otis

Shawn Carter & Kanye West, songwriters (James Brown, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, Roy Hammond, J. Roach, Kirk Robinson & Harry Woods, songwriters) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Track from: Watch The Throne
[Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam; Publishers: Hip Hop Since 1978, EMI Robbins, BMG Gold/Hot Buttermilk Music/BMG Platinum/First Priority/Swing Beat Songs, Universal Music, Dynatone Publishing]
The Show Goes On

Dustin William Brower, Jonathon Keith Brown, Daniel Johnson, Kane & Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, songwriters (Isaac Brock, Dann Gallucci & Eric Judy, songwriters) (Lupe Fiasco)
Track from: Lasers
[1st & 15th/Atlantic; Publishers: Hey Lu Chill, Heavy As Heaven/Universal/Artist Pub. Group West, Dustin William Brown Pub. Designee, Jonathan K. Brown Pub. Designee, Sony/ATV, Best Dressed Chicken In Town, Tschudi Music, Ugly Casanova]
BACK TO TOP
24. Best Rap Album
Watch The Throne

Jay-Z & Kanye West
[Def Jam]
Tha Carter IV

Lil Wayne
[Cash Money/Young Money/Universal Republic]
Lasers

Lupe Fiasco
[1st & 15th/Atlantic]
Pink Friday

Nicki Minaj
[Young Money/Cash Money/Universal Motown]
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West
[Def Jam]
BACK TO TOP
25. Best Country Solo Performance
Dirt Road Anthem

Jason Aldean
[Broken Bow Records]
I'm Gonna Love You Through It

Martina McBride
[Republic Nashville]
Honey Bee

Blake Shelton
Track from: Red River Blue
[Warner Bros. Records]
Mean

Taylor Swift
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records]
Mama's Song

Carrie Underwood
Track from: Play On
[Arista Nahville]
BACK TO TOP
26. Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Don't You Wanna Stay

Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
[Broken Bow Records]
You And Tequila

Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
[BNA Records]
Barton Hollow

The Civil Wars
Track from: Barton Hollow
[Sensibility Music LLC]
Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Thompson Square
Track from: Thompson Square
[Stoney Creek Records]
BACK TO TOP
27. Best Country Song
Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
Track from: Thompson Square
[Stoney Creek Records; Publishers: Sexy Tractor Music/Hope-N-Cal Music, Old Desperados/N2D Publishing]
God Gave Me You

Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
[Warner Bros.; Publisher: No Gang Music]
Just Fishin'

Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
[Show Dog-Universal Music; Publishers: Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music/Six Ring Circus Songs; Sony/ATV Tree Publishing; Five Hills Music]
Mean

Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
Track from: Speak Now
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music]
Threaten Me With Heaven

Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O’Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
[MCA Nashville]
You And Tequila

Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter)
[BNA Records]
BACK TO TOP
28. Best Country Album
My Kinda Party

Jason Aldean
[Broken Bow Records]
Chief

Eric Church
[EMI Records Nashville]
Own The Night

Lady Antebellum
[Capitol Records Nashville]
Red River Blue

Blake Shelton
[Warner Bros. Records]
Here For A Good Time

George Strait
[MCA Nashville]
Speak Now

Taylor Swift
[Big Machine Records]
BACK TO TOP
29. Best New Age Album
Northern Seas

Al Conti
[Shadowside Music]
Gaia

Michael Brant DeMaria
[Ontos Music]
Wind, Rock, Sea & Flame

Peter Kater
[Point Of Light Records]
What's It All About

Pat Metheny
[Nonesuch]
Instrumental Oasis, Vol. 6

Zamora
[Z-Records]
BACK TO TOP
30. Best Improvised Jazz Solo
All Or Nothing At All

Randy Brecker, soloist
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
[Half Note]
You Are My Sunshine

Ron Carter, soloist
Track from: This Is Jazz (Donald Harrison, Ron Carter & Billy Cobham)
[Half Note]
500 Miles High

Chick Corea, soloist
Track from: Forever (Corea, Clarke & White)
[Concord Records]
Work

Fred Hersch, soloist
Track from: Alone At The Vanguard
[Palmetto Records]
Sonnymoon For Two

Sonny Rollins, soloist
Track from: Road Shows Vol. 2
[Doxy/Emarcy/Decca]
BACK TO TOP
31. Best Jazz Vocal Album
'Round Midnight

Karrin Allyson
[Concord Jazz]
The Mosaic Project

Terri Lyne Carrington & Various Artists
[Concord Jazz]
The Gate

Kurt Elling
[Concord Jazz]
American Road

Tierney Sutton (Band)
[BFM Jazz]
The Music Of Randy Newman

Roseanna Vitro
[Motéma Music]
BACK TO TOP
32. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Bond: The Paris Sessions

Gerald Clayton
[Emarcy/Decca]
Forever

Corea, Clarke & White
[Concord Records]
Alone At The Vanguard

Fred Hersch
[Palmetto Records]
Bird Songs

Joe Lovano/Us Five
[Blue Note]
Road Shows Vol. 2

Sonny Rollins
[Doxy/Emarcy/Decca]
Timeline

Yellowjackets
[Mack Avenue Records]
BACK TO TOP
33. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
The Jazz Ballad Song Book

Randy Brecker With DR Big Band
[Half Note]
The Good Feeling

Christian McBride Big Band
[Mack Avenue Records]
40 Acres And A Burro

Arturo O'Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
[Zoho]
Legacy

Gerald Wilson Orchestra
[Mack Avenue Records]
Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook

Miguel Zenón
[Marsalis Music]
BACK TO TOP
34. Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
Do Everything

Steven Curtis Chapman
Track from: re:Creation
[Sparrow Records]
Alive (Mary Magdalene)

Natalie Grant
Track from: Music Inspired By The Story
[WOW Joint Venture/EMI CMG]
Your Love

Brandon Heath
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records]
Jesus

Le'Andria Johnson
Track from: The Awakening Of Le'Andria Johnson
[Music World Gospel]
I Lift My Hands

Chris Tomlin
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us...
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]
BACK TO TOP
35. Best Gospel Song
Hello Fear

Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin)
Track from: Hello Fear
[Verity Gospel Music Group/Fo Yo Soul Ent.; Publisher: Aunt Gertrude Music]
Sitting With Me

Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell, Gerald Haddon & Tammi Haddon, songwriters (Mary Mary)
Track from: Something Big
[Columbia Records; Publishers: Precious Baby Music/T Bella Music/EMI April Music, It's Tea Tyme, That's Plum Song]
Spiritual

Donald Lawrence, songwriter (Donald Lawrence & Co. Featuring Blanche McAllister-Dykes)
Track from: YRM (Your Righteous Mind)
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publisher: Quiet Water Entertainment]
Trust Me

Richard Smallwood, songwriter (Richard Smallwood & Vision)
Track from: Promises
[Verity Gospel Music Group; Publishers: Universal-Z Tunes/T.Autumn Music]
Window

Canton Jones, songwriter (Canton Jones)
Track from: Dominionaire
[Cajo Records; Publisher: CAJO Music]
BACK TO TOP
36. Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
Blessings

Laura Story, songwriter (Laura Story)
Track from: Blessings
[Fair Trade Services; Publishers: New Spring/Gleaning Publishing]
Hold Me

Jamie Grace Harper, Toby McKeehan & Christopher Stevens, songwriters (Jamie Grace Featuring Tobymac)
[Gotee Records; Publishers: Universal Music, Brentwood Benson Tunes, Songs of Third Base/Chriscendo Music, Meaux Mercy/Achtober Songs]
I Lift My Hands

Louie Giglio, Matt Maher & Chris Tomlin, songwriters (Chris Tomlin)
Track from: And If Our God Is For Us...
[Sparrow Records/sixstepsrecords; Publishers: sixsteps Music/worshiptogether.com Songs/Vamos Publishing/Thankyou Music/spiritandsong.com Publishing]
Strong Enough

Matthew West, songwriter (Matthew West)
Track from: The Story Of Your Life
[Sparrow Records; Publishers: External Combustion Music/Songs For Delaney/Songs of Southside Independent Music]
Your Love

Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, songwriters (Brandon Heath)
Track from: Leaving Eden
[Reunion Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing/Big Skwawka Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing/Windsor Hill Music]
BACK TO TOP
37. Best Gospel Album
The Love Album

Kim Burrell
[Shanachie Entertainment]
The Journey

Andraé Crouch
[Riverphlo Entertainment]
Hello Fear

Kirk Franklin
[Verity Gospel Music Group/ Fo Yo Soul Ent.]
Something Big

Mary Mary
[Columbia Records]
Angel & Chanelle Deluxe Edition

Trin-I-Tee 5:7
[Music World Gospel]
BACK TO TOP
38. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Ghosts Upon The Earth

Gungor
[Brash Music]
Leaving Eden

Brandon Heath
[Reunion Records]
The Great Awakening

Leeland
[Essential Records]
What If We Were Real

Mandisa
[Sparrow Records]
Black & White

Royal Tailor
[Essential Records]
And If Our God Is For Us...

Chris Tomlin
[Sparrow Records / sixstepsrecords]
BACK TO TOP
39. Best Latin Pop, Rock, Or Urban Album
Entren Los Que Quieran

Calle 13
[Sony Music]
Entre La Ciudad Y El Mar

Gustavo Galindo
[Surco/Universal Music Latino]
Nuestra

La Vida Bohème
[Nacional Records]
Not So Commercial

Los Amigos Invisibles
[Nacional Records]
Drama Y Luz

Maná
[Warner Music Mexico]
BACK TO TOP
40. Best Regional Mexican Or Tejano Album
Bicentenario

Pepe Aguilar
[Venemusic]
Orale

Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
[Shea Records/East Side Records]
Amor A La Musica

Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle
[Los Arrieros]
Eres Un Farsante

Paquita La Del Barrio
[Balboa Records, Co]
Huevos Rancheros

Joan Sebastian
[Fonovisa]
BACK TO TOP
41. Best Banda Or Norteño Album
Estare Mejor

El Güero Y Su Banda Centenario
[A.R.C. Discos]
Intocable 2011

Intocable
[Good I Music]
Los Tigres Del Norte And Friends

Los Tigres Del Norte
[Fonovisa]
El Árbol

Los Tucanes De Tijuana
[Fonovisa]
No Vengo A Ver Si Puedo... Si Por Que Puedo Vengo

Michael Salgado
[Zurdo Records]
BACK TO TOP
42. Best Tropical Latin Album
Homenaje A Los Rumberos

Edwin Bonilla
[Sonic Projects Records]
The Last Mambo

Cachao
[Eventus/Sony Music Latin]
Mongorama

José Rizo's Mongorama
[Saungu Records]
BACK TO TOP
43. Best Americana Album
Emotional Jukebox

Linda Chorney
[Dance More Less War Records]
Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down

Ry Cooder
[Perro Verde Records LLC/Nonesuch]
Hard Bargain

Emmylou Harris
[Nonesuch]
Ramble At The Ryman

Levon Helm
[Vanguard/Dirt Farmer Music]
Blessed

Lucinda Williams
[Lost Highway Records]
BACK TO TOP
44. Best Bluegrass Album
Paper Airplane

Alison Krauss & Union Station
[Rounder]
Reason And Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs By Robert Hunter & Jim Lauderdale

Jim Lauderdale
[Sugar Hill Records]
Rare Bird Alert

Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers
[Rounder]
Old Memories: The Songs Of Bill Monroe

The Del McCoury Band
[McCoury Music]
A Mother's Prayer

Ralph Stanley
[Rebel Records]
Sleep With One Eye Open

Chris Thile & Michael Daves
[Nonesuch]
BACK TO TOP
45. Best Blues Album
Low Country Blues

Gregg Allman
[Rounder]
Roadside Attractions

Marcia Ball
[Alligator]
Man In Motion

Warren Haynes
[Stax Records]
The Reflection

Keb Mo
[Yolabelle International/Ryko Records]
Revelator

Tedeschi Trucks Band
[Masterworks]
BACK TO TOP
46. Best Folk Album
Barton Hollow

The Civil Wars
[Sensibility Music LLC]
I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

Steve Earle
[New West Records]
Helplessness Blues

Fleet Foxes
[Sub Pop]
Ukulele Songs

Eddie Vedder
[Monkeywrench Inc./Universal Republic]
The Harrow & The Harvest

Gillian Welch
[Acony Records]
BACK TO TOP
47. Best Regional Roots Music Album
Can't Sit Down

C.J. Chenier
[World Village]
Wao Akua - The Forest Of The Gods

George Kahumoku, Jr.
[Daniel Ho Creations]
Rebirth Of New Orleans

Rebirth Brass Band
[Basin Street Records]
Grand Isle

Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys
[Mamou Playboy Records]
Not Just Another Polka

Jimmy Sturr & His Orchesta
[Starr Record]
BACK TO TOP
48. Best Reggae Album
Harlem-Kingston Express Live!

Monty Alexander
[Motéma Music]
Reggae Knights

Israel Vibration
[Mediacom/VPAL]
Revelation Pt 1: The Root Of Life

Stephen Marley
[Tuff Gong/Universal Republic]
Wild And Free

Ziggy Marley
[Tuff Gong Worldwide]
Summer In Kingston

Shaggy
[Ranch Entertainment]
BACK TO TOP
49. Best World Music Album
AfroCubism

AfroCubism
[World Circuit/Nonesuch]
Africa For Africa

Femi Kuti
[Knitting Factory Records]
Songs From A Zulu Farm

Ladysmith Black Mambazo
[Razor & Tie]
Tassili

Tinariwen
[Anti Records]
BACK TO TOP
50. Best Children's Album
All About Bullies... Big And Small

(Various Artists)
James Cravero, Gloria Domina, Kevin Mackie, Steve Pullara & Patrick Robinson, producers
[Cool Beans Music & East Coast Recording Co.]
Are We There Yet?

The Papa Hugs Band
[Indie]
Fitness Rock & Roll

Miss Amy
[Ionian Productions, Inc]
GulfAlive

The Banana Plant
[The Banana Plant]
I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs Of Fox Hollow

(Various Artists)
Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, producers
[Red Beet Records]
BACK TO TOP
51. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling)
Bossypants

Tina Fey
[Hachette Audio]
Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond

(Various Artists)
Nathan Burbank, Bryan Cumming, Dennis Scott & David Toledo, producers
[WannaBeats Records]
Hamlet (William Shakespeare)

Dan Donohue & Various Artists - Oregon Shakespeare Festival
[Blackstone Audio Inc]
If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)

Betty White
[Penguin Audio]
The Mark Of Zorro

Val Kilmer & Cast
[Blackstone Audio Inc.]
BACK TO TOP
52. Best Comedy Album
Alpocalypse

"Weird Al" Yankovic
[Jive Records]
Finest Hour

Patton Oswalt
[Comedy Central Records]
Hilarious

Louis C.K.
[Comedy Central Records]
Kathy Griffin: 50 & Not Pregnant

Kathy Griffin
[Universal Network Television]
Turtleneck & Chain

The Lonely Island
[Universal Republic]
BACK TO TOP
53. Best Musical Theater Album
Anything Goes

Sutton Foster & Joel Grey, principal soloists; Rob Fisher, James Lowe & Joel
Moss, producers (Cole Porter, composer/lyricist) (New Broadway Cast Recording)
[Ghostlight Records]
The Book Of Mormon

Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells, principal soloists; Anne Garefino, Robert Lopez,
Stephen Oremus, Trey Parker, Scott Rudin & Matt Stone, producers; Robert Lopez, Trey Parker & Matt Stone, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
[Ghostlight Records]
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying

John Larroquette & Daniel Radcliffe, principal soloists; Robert Sher, producer
(Frank Loesser, composer/lyricist) (The 2011 Broadway Cast Recording)
[Decca]
BACK TO TOP
54. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Boardwalk Empire: Volume 1

(Various Artists)
[Elektra]
Burlesque

Christina Aguilera
[RCA Records]
Glee: The Music, Volume 4

(Glee Cast)
[Columbia Records]
Tangled

(Various Artists)
[Walt Disney Records]
True Blood: Volume 3

(Various Artists)
[WaterTower Music]
BACK TO TOP
55. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Black Swan

Clint Mansell, composer
[Sony Classical/Fox Music]
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2

Alexandre Desplat, composer
[WaterTower Music]
The King's Speech

Alexandre Desplat, composer
[Decca]
The Shrine

Ryan Shore, composer
[Screamworks]
Tron Legacy

Daft Punk, composers
[Walt Disney Records]
BACK TO TOP
56. Best Song Written For Visual Media
Born To Be Somebody (From Never Say Never)

Diane Warren, songwriter (Justin Bieber)
Track from: Never Say Never The Remixes
[Island/Raymond Braun/School Boy]
Christmastime Is Killing Us (From Family Guy)

Ron Jones, Seth MacFarlane & Danny Smith, songwriters (Danny Smith, Ron Jones & Seth MacFarlane)
[Fox Music]
I See The Light (From Tangled)

Alan Menken & Glenn Slater, songwriters (Mandy Moore & Zachary Levi)
Track from: Tangled
[Walt Disney Records; Publishers: Wonderland Music/Walt Disney Music]
So Long (From Winnie The Pooh)

Zooey Deschanel, songwriter (Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward)
Track from: Winnie The Pooh
[Walt Disney Records; Publisher: Walt Disney Music]
Where The River Goes (From Footloose)

Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Drew Pearson & Anne Preven, songwriters (Zac Brown)
Track from: Footloose
[Atlantic/Warner Music Nashville; Publishers: Weimerhound Publishing,Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, CYP Two Publishing, Lil Dub Music/Angelika Music]
You Haven't Seen The Last Of Me (From Burlesque)

Diane Warren, songwriter (Cher)
Track from: Burlesque
[RCA Records; Publisher: Realsongs]
BACK TO TOP
57. Best Instrumental Composition
Falling Men

John Hollenbeck, composer (John Hollenbeck, Daniel Yvinec & Orchestre National de Jazz (ONJ))
Track from: Shut Up And Dance
[BEE JAZZ / Abeille Musique]
Hunting Wabbits 3 (Get Off My Lawn)

Gordon Goodwin, composer (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
Track from: That's How We Roll
[Telarc International]
I Talk To The Trees

Randy Brecker, composer (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book
[Half Note]
Life In Eleven

Béla Fleck & Howard Levy, composers (Béla Fleck & The Flecktones)
Track from: Rocket Science
[eOne Music]
Timeline

Russell Ferrante, composer (Yellowjackets)
Track from: Timeline
[Mack Avenue Records]
BACK TO TOP
58. Best Instrumental Arrangement
All Or Nothing At All

Peter Jensen, arranger (Randy Brecker With DR Big Band)
Track from: The Jazz Ballad Song Book
[Half Note]
In The Beginning

Clare Fischer, arranger (The Clare Fischer Big Band)
Track from: Continuum
[Clare Fischer Productions/Clavo Records]
Nasty Dance

Bob Brookmeyer, arranger (The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra)
Track from: Forever Lasting - Live In Tokyo
[Planet Arts Recordings]
Rhapsody In Blue

Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band)
Track from: That's How We Roll
[Telarc International]
Song Without Words

Carlos Franzetti, arranger (Carlos Franzetti & Allison Brewster Franzetti)
Track from: Alborada
[Amapola Records]
BACK TO TOP
59. Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Ao Mar

Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza)
Track from: Nights On Earth
[HORIZONTAL]
Moon Over Bourbon Street

Rob Mathes, arranger (Sting & The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra)
Track from: Sting Live In Berlin
[Deutsche Grammophon]
On Broadway

Kevin Axt, Ray Brinker, Trey Henry, Christian Jacob & Tierney Sutton, arrangers (The Tierney Sutton Band)
Track from: American Road
[BFM Jazz]
Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)

Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Queen Latifah)
Track from: Duets II
[RPM/Columbia Records]
The Windmills Of Your Mind

William A. Ross, arranger (Barbra Streisand)
Track from: What Matters Most - Barbra Streisand Sings The Lyrics Of Alan And Marilyn Bergman
[Columbia Records]
BACK TO TOP
60. Best Recording Package
Chickenfoot III

Todd Gallopo, art director (Chickenfoot)
[eOne Music]
Good Luck & True Love

Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)
[No Big Deal Records]
Rivers And Homes

Jonathan Dagan, art director (J.Viewz)
[Jorjia Music]
Scenes From The Suburbs

Vincent Morisset, art director (Arcade Fire)
[Merge Records]
Watch The Throne

Virgil Abloh, art director (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
[Def Jam]
BACK TO TOP
61. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
The King Of Limbs

Donald Twain & Zachariah Wildwood, art directors (Radiohead)
[ATO Records]
The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story

Dave Bett & Michelle Holme, art directors (Bruce Springsteen)
[Columbia Records]
25th Anniversary Music Box

Matt Taylor & Ellen Wakayama, art directors (Danny Elfman & Tim Burton)
[WB]
25 Years

James Spindler, art director (Sting)
[A&M Records/Cherrytree Records/UMe]
Wingless Angels - Deluxe Edition

David Gorman, art director (Wingless Angels)
[Mindless Records, LLC]
BACK TO TOP
62. Best Album Notes
The Bang Years 1966-1968

Neil Diamond, album notes writer (Neil Diamond)
[Columbia/Legacy]
The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang Of Country Music

Ted Olson & Tony Russell, album notes writers (Various Artists)
[Bear Family]
Complete Mythology

Ken Shipley, album notes writer (Syl Johnson)
[The Numero Group]
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s

Adam Machado, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Arhoolie Records]
The Music City Story: Street Corner Doo Wop, Raw R&B And Soulful Sounds From Berkeley, California 1950-75

Alec Palao, album notes writer (Various Artists)
[Ace Records]
BACK TO TOP
63. Best Historical Album
Band On The Run (Paul McCartney Archive Collection - Deluxe Edition)

Paul McCartney, compilation producer; Sam Okell & Steve Rooke, mastering engineers (Paul McCartney & Wings)
[Hear Music]
The Bristol Sessions, 1927-1928: The Big Bang Of Country Music

Christopher C. King & Ted Olson, compilation producers; Christopher C. King & Chris Zwarg, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
[Bear Family]
Complete Mythology

Tom Lunt, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton, mastering engineer (Syl Johnson)
[The Numero Group]
Hear Me Howling!: Blues, Ballads & Beyond As Recorded By The San Francisco Bay By Chris Strachwitz In The 1960s

Chris Strachwitz, compilation producer; Mike Cogan, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
[Arhoolie Records]
Young Man With The Big Beat: The Complete '56 Elvis Presley Masters

Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, compilation producer; Vic Anesini, mastering engineer (Elvis Presley)
[RCA/Legacy]
BACK TO TOP
64. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Follow Me Down

Brandon Bell & Gary Paczosa, engineers; Sangwook "Sunny" Nam & Doug Sax, mastering engineers (Sarah Jarosz)
[Sugar Hill Records]
The Harrow & The Harvest

Matt Andrews, engineer; Stephen Marcussen, mastering engineer (Gillian Welch)
[Acony Records]
Music Is Better Than Words

Rich Breen & Frank Filipetti, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Seth MacFarlane)
[Universal Republic]
The Next Right Thing

Kevin Killen, Brendan Muldowney & John Shyloski, engineers; John Shyloski, mastering engineer (Seth Glier)
[MPress Records]
Paper Airplane

Mike Shipley, engineer; Brad Blackwood, mastering engineer (Alison Krauss & Union Station)
[Rounder]
BACK TO TOP
65. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Danger Mouse

• Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi Present Rome (Gilda Buttá, Luciano Ciccaglioni, Gegé Munari, Dario Rosciglione, Antonello Vannucchi et al) (A)
• Meyrin Fields EP (Broken Bells) (S)
Paul Epworth

• Call It What You Want (Foster The People) (T)
• I Would Do Anything For You (Foster The People) (T) • I'll Be Waiting (Adele) (T) • Life On The Nickel (Foster The People) (T) • No One's Gonna Love You (Cee-Lo Green) (S) • Rolling In The Deep (Adele) (T)
The Smeezingtons

• Doo-Wops & Hooligans (Bruno Mars) (A)
• If I Was You (OMG) (Far East Movement Featuring Snoop Dogg) (T) • Lighters (Bad Meets Evil Featuring Bruno Mars) (T) • Mirror (Lil Wayne Featuring Bruno Mars) (T) • Rocketeer (Far East Movement Featuring Ryan Tedder of One Republic) (T)
Ryan Tedder

• Brighter Than The Sun (Colbie Caillat) (T)
• Favorite Song (Colbie Caillat Featuring Common) (T) • I Remember Me (Jennifer Hudson) (T) • I Was Here (Beyoncé) (T) • Not Over You (Gavin DeGraw) (S) • #1Nite (One Night) (Cobra Starship) (S) • Rumour Has It (Adele) (T) • Sweeter (Gavin DeGraw) (T) • Who's That Boy (Demi Lovato Featuring Dev) (T)
Butch Vig

• Wasting Light (Foo Fighters) (A)
BACK TO TOP
66. Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical
Cinema (Skrillex Remix)

Sonny Moore, remixer (Benny Benassi)
Track from: Electroman
[Ultra Records]
Collide (Afrojack Remix)

Afrojack, remixer (Leona Lewis)
[RCA/Syco Music]
End Of Line (Photek Remix)

Photek, remixer (Daft Punk)
Track from: Tron: Legacy Reconfigured
[Walt Disney Records]
Only Girl (In The World) (Rosabel Club Mix)

Abel Aguilera & Ralphi Rosario, remixers (Rihanna)
[Island Def Jam]
Rope (Deadmau5 Mix)

Deadmau5, remixer (Foo Fighters)
Track from: Wasting Light: Deluxe
[RCA/Roswell Records]
BACK TO TOP
67. Best Surround Sound Album
An Evening With Dave Grusin

Frank Filipetti & Eric Schilling, surround mix engineers; Frank Filipetti, surround mastering engineer; Phil Ramone, surround producer (Various Artists)
[Telarc]
Grace For Drowning

Steven Wilson, surround mix engineer; Paschal Byrne, surround mastering engineer; Steven Wilson, surround producer (Steven Wilson)
[K-Scope]
Kind

Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Kjetil Almenning, Ensemble 96 & Nidaros String Quartet)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs (Super Deluxe Edition)

Elliot Scheiner, surround mix engineer; Bob Ludwig, surround mastering engineer; Bill Levenson & Elliot Scheiner, surround producers (Derek & The Dominos)
[USM/UMe/Polydor]
Spohr: String Sextet In C Major, Op. 140 & Nonet In F Major, Op. 31

Andreas Spreer, surround mix engineer; Andreas Spreer, surround mastering engineer; Andreas Spreer, surround producer (Camerata Freden)
[Tacet]
BACK TO TOP
68. Best Engineered Album, Classical
Aldridge: Elmer Gantry

Byeong-Joon Hwang & John Newton, engineers; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
[Naxos]
Glazunov: Complete Concertos

Richard King, engineer (José Serebrier, Alexey Serov, Wen-Sinn Yang, Alexander Romanovsky, Rachel Barton Pine, Marc Chisson & Russian National Orchestra)
[Warner Classics]
Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide

Tom Lazarus & Bill Maylone, engineers; Joe Lambert, mastering engineer (Rinde Eckert, Steven Mackey & Eighth Blackbird)
[Cedille Records]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4

Arne Akselberg, engineer (Leif Ove Andsnes, Antonio Pappano & London Symphony Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]
Weinberg: Symphony No. 3 & Suite No. 4 From 'The Golden Key'

Torbjörn Samuelsson, engineer (Thord Svedlund & Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra)
[Chandos]
BACK TO TOP
69. Producer Of The Year, Classical
Blanton Alspaugh

• Aldridge: Elmer Gantry (William Boggs, Keith Phares, Patricia Risley, Vale Rideout, Frank Kelley, Heather Buck, Florentine Opera Chorus & Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra)
• Beethoven: Complete Piano Sonatas (Peter Takács) • Osterfield: Rocky Streams (Paul Osterfield, Todd Waldecker & Various Artists)
Manfred Eicher

• Bach: Concertos & Sinfonias For Oboe; Ich Hatte Viel Bekümmernis (Heinz Holliger, Eric Höbarth & Camerata Bern)
• Hymns & Prayers (Gidon Kremer & Kremerata Baltica) • Manto & Madrigals (Thomas Zehetmair & Ruth Killius) • Songs Of Ascension (Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble, Todd Reynolds Quartet, The M6 & Montclair State University Singers) • Tchaikovsky/Kissine: Piano Trios (Gidon Kremer, Giedre Dirvanauskaite & Khatia Buniatishvili) • A Worcester Ladymass (Trio Mediaeval)
David Frost

• Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Live (Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass)
• Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide (Rinde Eckert, Steven Mackey & Eighth Blackbird) • Prayers & Alleluias (Kenneth Dake) • Sharon Isbin & Friends - Guitar Passions (Sharon Isbin & Various Artists)
Peter Rutenberg

• Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 (Patrick Dupré Quigley, James K. Bass, Seraphic Fire & Professional Choral Institute)
• The Vanishing Nordic Chorale (Philip Spray & Musik Ekklesia)
Judith Sherman

• Adams: Son Of Chamber Symphony; String Quartet (John Adams, St. Lawrence String Quartet & International Contemporary Ensemble)
• Capricho Latino (Rachel Barton Pine) • 85th Birthday Celebration (Claude Frank) • Insects & Paper Airplanes - Chamber Music Of Lawrence Dillon (Daedalus Quartet & Benjamin Hochman) • Midnight Frolic - The Broadway Theater Music Of Louis A. Hirsch (Rick Benjamin & Paragon Ragtime Orchestra) • Notable Women - Trios By Today's Female Composers (Lincoln Trio) • The Soviet Experience, Vol. 1 - String Quartets By Dmitri Shostakovich & His Contemporaries (Pacifica Quartet) • Speak! (Anthony De Mare) • State Of The Art - The American Brass Quintet At 50 (The American Brass Quintet) • Steve Reich: WTC 9/11; Mallet Quartet; Dance Patterns (Kronos Quartet, Steve Reich Musicians & So Percussion) • Winging It - Piano Music Of John Corigliano (Ursula Oppens)
BACK TO TOP
70. Best Orchestral Performance
Bowen: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Andrew Davis, conductor (BBC Philharmonic)
[Chandos]
Brahms: Symphony No. 4

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
[Deutsche Grammaphon]
Haydn: Symphonies 104, 88 & 101

Nicholas McGegan, conductor (Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra)
[Philharmonia Baroque Productions]
Henze: Symphonies Nos. 3-5

Marek Janowski, conductor (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin)
[Wergo]
Martinu: The 6 Symphonies

Jirí Belohlávek, conductor (BBC Symphony Orchestra)
[Onyx Classics]
BACK TO TOP
71. Best Opera Recording
Adams: Doctor Atomic

Alan Gilbert, conductor; Meredith Arwady, Sasha Cooke, Richard Paul Fink, Gerald Finley, Thomas Glenn & Eric Owens; Jay David Saks, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
[Sony Classical]
Britten: Billy Budd

Mark Elder, conductor; John Mark Ainsley, Phillip Ens, Jacques Imbrailo, Darren Jeffery, Iain Paterson & Matthew Rose; James Whitbourn, producer (London Philharmonic Orchestra; Glyndebourne Chorus)
[Opus Arte]
Rautavaara: Kaivos

Hannu Lintu, conductor; Jaakko Kortekangas, Hannu Niemelä, Johanna Rusanen-Kartano & Mati Turi; Seppo Siirala, producer (Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra; Kaivos Chorus)
[Ondine]
Verdi: La Traviata

Antonio Pappano, conductor; Joseph Calleja, Renée Fleming & Thomas Hampson; James Whitbourn, producer (Orchestra of the Royal Opera House; Royal Opera Chorus)
[Opus Arte]
Vivaldi: Ercole Sul Termodonte

Fabio Biondi, conductor; Romina Basso, Patrizia Ciofi, Diana Damrau, Joyce DiDonato, Vivica Genaux, Philippe Jaroussky, Topi Lehtipuu & Rolando Villazón; Daniel Zalay, producer (Europa Galante; Coro Da Camera Santa Cecilia Di Borgo San Lorenzo)
[Virgin Classics]
BACK TO TOP
72. Best Choral Performance
Beyond All Mortal Dreams - American A Cappella

Stephen Layton, conductor (Choir Of Trinity College Cambridge)
[Hyperion Records]
Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor; James K. Bass, chorus master (Justin Blackwell, Scott Allen Jarrett, Paul Max Tipton & Teresa Wakim; Professional Choral Institute & Seraphic Fire)
[Seraphic Fire Media]
Kind

Kjetil Almenning, conductor (Nidaros String Quartet; Ensemble 96)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Light & Gold

Eric Whitacre, conductor (Christopher Glynn & Hila Plitmann; The King's Singers, Laudibus, Pavão Quartet & The Eric Whitacre Singers)
[Decca]
The Natural World Of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

Paul Hillier, conductor (Ars Nova Copenhagen)
[Dacapo Records]
BACK TO TOP
73. Best Small Ensemble Performance
Frank: Hilos

Gabriela Lena Frank; ALIAS Chamber Ensemble
[Naxos]
The Kingdoms Of Castille

Richard Savino, conductor; El Mundo
[Sono Luminus]
Mackey: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide

Rinde Eckert & Steven Mackey; Eighth Blackbird
[Cedille Records]
A Seraphic Fire Christmas

Patrick Dupré Quigley, conductor; Seraphic Fire
[Seraphic Fire Media]
Sound The Bells!

The Bay Brass
[Harmonia Mundi]
BACK TO TOP
74. Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Chinese Recorder Concertos - East Meets West

Lan Shui, conductor; Michala Petri (Copenhagen Philharmonic)
[OUR Recordings]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor, Op. 18; Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini

Yuja Wang (Claudio Abbado; Mahler Chamber Orchestra)
[Deutsche Grammaphon]
Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4

Leif Ove Andsnes (Antonio Pappano; London Symphony Orchestra)
[EMI Classics]
Schwantner: Concerto For Percussion & Orchestra

Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Christopher Lamb (Nashville Symphony)
Track from: Schwantner: Chasing Light…
[Naxos]
Winging It - Piano Music Of John Corigliano

Ursula Oppens
[Cedille Records]
BACK TO TOP
75. Best Classical Vocal Solo
Diva Divo

Joyce DiDonato (Kazushi Ono; Orchestre De L'Opéra National De Lyon; Choeur De L'Opéra National De Lyon)
[Virgin Classics]
Grieg/Thommessen: Veslemøy Synsk

Marianne Beate Kielland (Nils Anders Mortensen)
[2L (Lindberg Lyd)]
Handel: Cleopatra

Natalie Dessay (Emmanuelle Haïm; Le Concert D'Astrée)
[Virgin Classics]
Purcell: O Solitude

Andreas Scholl (Stefano Montanari; Christophe Dumaux; Accademia Bizantina)
[Decca]
Three Baroque Tenors

Ian Bostridge (Bernard Labadie; Mark Bennett, Andrew Clarke, Sophie Daneman, Alberto Grazzi, Jonathan Gunthorpe, Benjamin Hulett & Madeline Shaw; The English Concert)
[EMI Classics]
BACK TO TOP
76. Best Contemporary Classical Composition
Aldridge, Robert: Elmer Gantry

Robert Aldridge & Herschel Garfein
[Naxos]
Crumb, George: The Ghosts Of Alhambra

George Crumb
Track from: Complete Crumb Edition, Vol. 15
[Bridge Records, Inc.]
Friedman, Jefferson: String Quartet No. 3

Jefferson Friedman
Track from: Jefferson Friedman: Quartets
[New Amsterdam Records]
Mackey, Steven: Lonely Motel - Music From Slide

Steven Mackey
[Cedille Records]
Ruders, Poul: Piano Concerto No. 2

Poul Ruders
Track from: Music Of Poul Ruders, Vol. 6
[Bridge Records, Inc.]
BACK TO TOP
77. Best Short Form Music Video
Rolling In The Deep

Adele
Sam Brown, video director; Hannah Chandler, video producer
[XL Recordings/Columbia Records]
Yes I Know

Memory Tapes
Eric Epstein, video director; Eric Epstein, video producer
[Carpark Records]
All Is Not Lost

OK Go
Itamar Kubovy, Damian Kulash Jr & Trish Sie, video directors; Shirley Moyers, video producer
[Paracadute]
Lotus Flower

Radiohead
Garth Jennings, video director; Garth Jennings, video producer
[XL/TBD Records]
First Of The Year (Equinox)

Skrillex
Tony Truand, video director; Noah Klein, video producer
[Big Beat/Atlantic]
Perform This Way

"Weird Al" Yankovic
"Weird Al" Yankovic, video director; Cisco Newman, video producer
[Jive Records]
BACK TO TOP
78. Best Long Form Music Video
I Am...World Tour

Beyoncé
Ed Burke, Frank Gatson Jr. & Beyoncé Knowles, video directors; Beyoncé Knowles & Camille Yorrick, video producers
[Columbia Records/Music World]
Foo Fighters: Back And Forth

Foo Fighters
James Moll, video director; James Moll & Nigel Sinclair, video producers
[Exclusive Media Group/RCA Records/Back & Fort]
Talihina Sky: The Story Of Kings Of Leon

Kings Of Leon
Stephen C. Mitchell, video director; Casey McGrath, video producer
[RCA/Kings of Leon]
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels Of A Tribe Called Quest

A Tribe Called Quest
Michael Rapaport, video director; Robert Benavides, Debra Koffler, Eric Matthies, Frank Mele, Edward Parks & A Tribe Called Quest, video producers
[Jive/Legacy]
Nine Types Of Light

TV On The Radio
Tunde Adebimpe, video director; Michelle An & Braj, video producers
[Interscope/Geffen/A&M]