Chat With Keith Urban

Keith Urban will appear live on his website today at 6 p.m. [ET] to chat with his fans about his current “Summer Lovin’ 2010” tour, his upcoming appearance at CMA Fest, his performance with John Mayer at the CMT Awards, and his new single, “I’m In.” “No question will be off limits,” according to a press release. People can submit their questions in advance at Urban’s website or via Facebook or Twitter. The chat will be streamed live at www.keithurban.net/live.

Where In The Water World Is Brad?

This past weekend Brad Paisley’s “H2O World Tour” played to over 30,000 fans in Kansas City and St. Louis. On Saturday, Paisley took to the Water World Plaza Stage as a surprise and played guitar for Steel Magnolia on the Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks duet “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” With the “H2O World Tour” and Water World Plaza you never know where Paisley might show up. The previous weekend he was spotted driving the Chevy ZR1 Racing simulator and Chevy H2O FLW fishing simulator - as well as checking out the other booths and activities in Water World. The tour continues this weekend with shows on Friday in Toledo; Saturday in Indianapolis; and Sunday in Cincinnati.

Pickler Sets Mini-Acoustic Concert At Opry Originals

Kellie Pickler will be visiting with fans and signing autographs at Opry Originals: The Shop on Broadway located in downtown Nashville’s famed Lower Broadway area at 300 Broadway on June 10th. Pickler will immediately follow the signing with a 30-minute acoustic performance in the store, which will distribute a limited number of autograph vouchers with the purchase of a Pickler CD or Pickler-branded prints and photos created exclusively for the event. Kellie will begin signing at noon. The vouchers will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Meanwhile, Pickler will perform her current single, “Making Me Fall In Love Again,” on Fox & Friends’ “All American Concert Series,” tomorrow morning. Viewers can also visit the www.foxandfriends.com, which will feature post-performance coverage of Kellie’s appearance, including an exclusive performance not included on the televised portion.

Lady Antebellum’s ‘Need You Now’ a Record-Breaker!

Lady Antebellum continues to rule the country album chart with “Need You Now.” The album holds the No. 1 spot on the Billboard chart for the 18th consecutive week. The group has also set a record on the Adult Contemporary chart with the title track, which has become a huge crossover hit. “Need You Now” is the longest-running No. 1 song by a country group since Billboard started the AC radio airplay chart 49 years ago. The single has topped that chart for a record 10 weeks, surpassing Rascal Flatts’ nine-week run at the top in 2006 with “What Hurts the Most.”

Shania Wants To Take Her Music To ‘Desperate’ Parts Of The World

Shania Twain says she wants to give concerts to less fortunate fans around the world. In a recent interview at an event for the Swiss Red Cross, Twain says she could see herself going to impoverished nations for simple, stripped-down performances. “I would like to visit people, perhaps desperate in sensitive areas, and bring them comfort through music,” Shania told the Tribune de Genéve. “I imagine something very simple, acoustical.” Twain has inked a deal with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network for a new reality program titled “Why Not? With Shania Twain.” The show is set to debut in 2011. She’s also reportedly working on her long-awaited follow up to 2002’s “Up!.”

George Strait Reissues Live DVD

George Strait will re-issue “George Strait Live” on DVD exclusively to Walmart on June 15th. Strait, backed by his Ace in the Hole Band, is captured for the first time on video performing greatest hits and all time fan favorites at the Dallas Reunion Arena on New Year’s night 1986-1987. The DVD has been digitally re-mastered and includes five bonus music videos made available for the first time ever on DVD.

Dolly Presents Donation For Nashville Flood Relief

Dolly Parton visited Music City to present a check to the United Way’s “Restore the Dream” fund yesterday. Parton donated $250,000 at a media event with Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “They are actually going out into these areas where people have lost everything and trying to get them back into their homes,” she said. “That was very important to me, that we really work with the people that are trying to get that done.”

Jewel’s Interactive Release Party

Jewel is teaming with Velocity Broadcasting’s First Spin for a launch party for her album “Sweet And Wild.” The release party will take place June 7th, the day before her album is released. The broadcast event will be taped in HD and simulcast at venues nationwide at select Morton’s Steakhouses, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Club Corp private clubs and HD-equipped theaters. It will be broadcast in more than 75 cities across the U.S. and Australia. Steel Magnolia will open the concert. Fans will also be able to request songs and ask Jewel questions via phone, text and e-mail. For more details, visit www.velocityboxoffice.com.

Reba Opens New Home For Families In Need

Reba McEntire recently cut the ribbon a Reba’s Ranch House at the Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas. The facility is designed for families of hospital patients battling a serious illness. The ranch is a “home away from home” for families of critically ill patients who are hospitalized at the Texoma Medical Center. The original house was built 1992 with money raised from five Memorial Day benefit concerts. The new ranch house has 12 rooms for families.

Toby Keith Fundraiser Takes Big Money

The seventh annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic raised close to $600,000. Held May 21-22 in Norman, Oklahoma, the fundraiser was comprised of a dinner/auction/concert and golf tournament. The event has raised almost $3 million since its inception for Oklahoma’s children battling cancer and their families. Larry The Cable Guy served as emcee while Keith jumped on stage to perform with headliner David Allan Coe. Surprise guest Phil Vassar also took the stage. Top draws in the auction included dinner for 20 with Keith. He agreed to do two dinners, one for each of the top bidders at $28,000 a piece. A Super Bowl package went for $16,000 and top silent auction items included a canvas of Keith featuring the lyrics to “Cryin’ For Me (Wayman’s Song)” for $3,900, Vikings and Jets Brett Favre jerseys at $4,100 and a Cal Ripken Jr. package that brought in $3,500.

Swift Schedules 13-Hour Meet-N-Greet

Taylor Swift has scheduled a 13-hour meet-n-greet session on June 13th during the CMA Music Festival. Swift will spend the day at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville and will perform a short acoustic set around 2 p.m. This will be her only performance during the Festival. “My favorite thing about CMA Music Fest has always been getting to spend time with the fans, so this year I wanted to figure out a way to meet as many of them as possible,” Swift said. “Thirteen is my lucky number, and the 13th is during Music Fest, so I think spending 13 hours that day with my fans is going to be amazing!”

CMT Music Awards Lineup Grows

Jamey Johnson, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and John Mayer have been added to the performance lineup of the 2010 CMT Music Awards, airing June 9th on CMT. Johnson will debut “Macon,” from his upcoming fall release, while Rimes will perform a fully choreographed rendition of John Anderson’s “Swingin’,” from her upcoming album “Lady and Gentlemen.” “CMT Crossroads” partners John Mayer and Keith Urban will perform “Hit the Ground Running,” a song featured on Urban’s “Defying Gravity” album, for the first time on TV. Hosted by Kid Rock, the event will also feature previously announced performers Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and The Zac Brown Band.

Opryland Hotel Damage Update

While workers are trying to restore the Opryland Resort from last month’s flood, there’s word that damage could be a lot more than the amount of the insurance policy. A stock market analyst has downgraded stock of Gaylord Entertainment, which owns the hotel and the Grand Ole Opry. He says the Opryland Hotel has a $50 million insurance policy, but it could cost the company at least $100 million beyond that to repair the place.

Historic Nashville Cemetery Vandalized

The Nashville resting place of country icon Minnie Pearl, historically open around the clock, will now close at night due to vandalism, groundskeepers say. Vandals destroyed nearly two dozen grave sites at the 135-year-old Mt. Hope Cemetery, breaking vases and kicking over headstones and a flagpole. The damage was estimated at more than $20,000. Although they came close, the vandals did not destroy the grave of Sarah Cannon, better known as Minnie Pearl. Cemetery manager William Puckett said the grounds, open 24 hours a day since 1875, will now only be available to the public from dawn to dusk.

The End For The Lost Trailers

The Lost Trailers never could ever catch a break. Their band name even comes from a history of stolen instruments and equipment from their trailers. Now they’ve decided to throw in the towel after their current tour ends. Bass player Manny Medina said on his Facebook page: “Ryder [Lee], [Jeff] Potter and I are starting a new project and will continue making music together. I’m very excited for the future. I had an incredible run as a Trailer and all of us will always be friends. It wasn’t an easy decision, but you have to follow your heart.” In 2006, the Trailers released a version of “Chicken Fried,” though the single was eventually withdrawn. The song went on to become the breakthrough release for the Zac Brown Band, who released their version as the Trailers were making waves with “Holler Back,” their only single that reached the Top 10. Their follow-up, “How ‘Bout You Don’t,” peaked in the Top 20.

Hank Williams Honored

Hank Williams has earned a posthumous Special Citation from the Pulitzer Prize. The award was accepted by Hank’s daughter, Jett Williams, at a special luncheon/awards ceremony on May 24th at Columbia University in New York. “Hank Williams has always been in a class all his own as the Shakespeare of ‘the common man,’ whom he touched so deeply and for so long with his lyrical genius,” said Jett.

Zac Brown Band’s ‘Free’ Video A Tribute To Troops

The Zac Brown Band released their new video for “Free” last week. The clip showcases the band playing in front of U.S. troops. The song is featured on their 2008 album, “The Foundation.” For this year’s National Memorial Day Concert, the band joined several other artists to pay tribute to troops. Brad Paisley and Lionel Richie were among the other performers.

‘Country Throwdown’ Cancels Shows

The “Country Throwdown Tour” is canceling four upcoming shows due to low ticket sales. The canceled shows are June 9th in Houston, June 10th in Dallas, June 17th in San Diego and June 18th in Phoenix. Meanwhile, the Bakersfield, California, date, originally set for June 16th, was moved to June 18th. Tickets for the Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Phoenix shows will be honored at all other “Throwdown” tour dates. Refunds are also available. The tour features Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram, among others.

Willie Nelson BLVD

The city council in Austin, Texas, has voted to add “Willie Nelson Boulevard” to a street in town. The city will install a street sign but the formal name still will be Second Street. However, people with homes and businesses along that stretch can get mail with Willie Nelson Boulevard as the address. Meanwhile, a nonprofit group called Capital Area Statues is raising money to put a life-size statue of Nelson on Second Street, in front of the “Austin City Limits” studio. It’s not known if the statue will be with his old braids or his new short ‘do.

Judy Lynn Dies

Country recording artist Judy Lynn has died in Indiana at the age of 74. Kelly, who performed under the name Judy Lynn, died Wednesday at her home in Jeffersonville after suffering congestive heart failure. Lynn got her big break in her teens when she was hired to fill in for Jean Shepard during a touring show of performers from the Grand Ole Opry. In 1952, she was part of a show with Gene Autry. She retired from show business in 1980 and became a minister.