Friday, December 30, 2011
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
# # #
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
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.
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.
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
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
Saturday, December 10, 2011
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.
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
-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.
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.
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
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
Friday, December 2, 2011
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.
"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.
“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.
