‘Old-Time’ Music Coming To CD

Soon we’ll be able to hear the music people from the Smoky Mountains were playing about 70 years ago. The music was recorded by a graduate student from California in 1939. Proceeds from the sale of “Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music” will help park projects related to history, education and scientific research.

Little Big Town Debuts at No. 1

Little Big Town’s fourth album, “The Reason Why,” has become the quartet’s first chart-topping disc. The group’s latest project sold 42,000 copies in its first week, helped out by the Top 10 success of their current single, “Little White Church,” which is the seventh best-selling digital single this week. The album also scores a Top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, putting them just behind the new release by Usher. Little Big Town have even more reason to celebrate this week as they scored a CMA award nomination for Vocal Group of the Year.

Bon Jovi, Brad Paisley, ‘Reclaiming Our Beaches’

Two of the biggest names in music will use their star power to help bring attention and tourists back to the Alabama Gulf Coast. The two free concerts on the beach are slated for the weekend of October 15-17 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Bon Jovi performing on October 15th and Brad Paisley performing on October 17th. These two shows signify the next installments of Alabama’s “Concerts For The Coast” event series. The shows, which are free to the public, will be ticketed events. Tickets will be available through Gulf Shores and Orange Beach lodging partners starting September 8th. Find out more at http://gulfshores.com/packages-deals and www.concertsforthecoast.com.

The Band Perry Receive First CMA Award Nomination

The Band Perry is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year for the 44th Annual CMA Awards. This is the trio’s first nomination for a national music award, and the first nomination for an artist on the Republic Nashville label. “We are so humbled and just downright excited to be nominated for CMA Vocal Group of the Year,” said Kimberly Perry, speaking on behalf of the trio. “The three of us are huge country music fans and are honored to be in this category with some of our favorite artists. Big love and our deepest thanks to everyone for your rich support.” The trio’s current single, “If I Die Young,” is inside the Top 10 on Billboard and climbing. TBP will be on tour with Alan Jackson this fall.

Jaron Nabs Kristin Cavallari For Video

Jaron and the Long Road to Love teased his Facebook followers with the identity of his co-star in the upcoming music video for his single, “That’s Beautiful to Me.” Now the actress herself confirms her identity via her Twitter page. Kristin Cavallari will play the object of the singer’s affection in the upcoming video that filmed in Los Angeles yesterday. Kristin got her start in reality TV while still a junior in high school, when she was cast in the MTV series, “Laguna Beach.” She has had other roles, but is perhaps best known for her role as the resident troublemaker on “The Hills.”

Sara Evans Is ‘A Little Bit Stronger’

Sara Evans’ new single, “A Little Bit Stronger,” was dropped this week. Evans has also filmed a video for the project. Her next tour dates are September 17th in Kissimmee, Florida, and September 18th in Ocala, Florida, with concerts scheduled throughout mid-December. No release date has been scheduled for her new album.

Miranda Lambert Sets CMA Record

Miranda Lambert scored nine nominations for this year’s CMA Awards, the most ever for a female artist in the show’s decades-long history. “They don’t even make a word to describe how I feel,” Lambert admitted. “I’m still coming to terms with this.” Lady Antebellum earned five nods, while Blake Shelton and Zac Brown Band each received four nominations. The nominees were announced in Nashville Tuesday and during ABC’s “Good Morning America” yesterday. The 44th Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will be broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville November 10th on ABC. The five categories and their nominees announced yesterday were:

 

Entertainer of the Year: Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band.

Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McIntire, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Male Vocalist of the Year: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, George Strait and Keith Urban.

Album of the Year: “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum, “Play On” – Carrie Underwood, “Revolution” – Miranda Lambert, “Twang” – George Strait and “Up on the Ridge” – Dierks Bentley.

Musical Event of the Year: “Bad Angel” – Dierks Bentley f/ Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson, “Can’t You See” – Zac Brown Band f/ Kid Rock, “Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton f/ Trace Adkins, “I’m Alive” – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews, and “Till the End” – Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack.

CMA Nods

Miranda Lambert competes against herself in two categories in the first round of nominees announced yesterday by the Country Music Association. Nominees were announced in seven categories and the remaining five categories will be revealed today on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Lambert’s songs, “The House That Built Me” and “White Liar,” are nominated in the Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year categories. Lambert also is up for Song of the Year for “White Liar,” which she co-wrote with Natalie Hemby. The 44th Annual CMA Awards will air live on ABC from Nashville on November 10th. The categories and nominees announced yesterday:

 

New Artist of the Year: Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young and Zac Brown Band.

Vocal Group of the Year:  Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and Zac Brown Band.

Vocal Duo of the Year:  Brooks & Dunn, Joey + Rory, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia and Sugarland.

Single of the Year:  “A Little More Country Than That” – Easton Corbin, “Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton f/ Trace Adkins, “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum, “The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert, and “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert.

Song of the Year:  “A Little More Country Than That” – Eason Corbin, “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum, “The House That Built Me” Miranda Lambert, “Toes” – Zac Brown Band and “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert.

Music Video of the Year:  “Hillbilly Bone” – Blake Shelton f/ Trace Adkins, “Need You Now” – Lady Antebellum, “The House That Built Me” – Miranda Lambert, “Water” – Brad Paisley and “White Liar” – Miranda Lambert.

Musician of the Year: Paul Franklin, steel guitar; Dann Huff, guitar; Brent Mason, guitar; Mac McAnally, guitar; and Randy Scruggs, guitar.  

Joey+Rory Team Up With Southwest Airlines

Joey+Rory are flying high after teaming up with Southwest Airlines for a sweepstakes called “This Trip’s For You.” The contest kicks off this week and runs through September 20th. The title of the contest is a play on their current single, “This Song’s For You.” Southwest Airlines will send one lucky winner and their guest to Houston to see the duo perform. Joey+Rory will join Don Williams for a month of theatre shows beginning September 30th. Meanwhile, the duo was nominated yesterday for Duo of the Year by the CMA. Their next album, “Album Number Two,” drops September 14th.

Jerrod Niemann Nabs First CMA Nod

Jerrod Niemann is one happy camper after he earned his first Country Music Association award nomination yesterday. Niemann is up for New Artist of the Year. His career has exploded this year thanks in large part to his chart-topping album, “Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury,” which debuted at No. 1. He also hit it big with the No. 1 single “Lover, Lover.” Jerrod will be on the road with Gary Allan and Randy House on Allan’s “Get Off On The Pain” tour, which begins September 9th.

Jake Owen’s Concert Moved To Larger Venue

Jake Owen’s annual concert in Vero Beach, Florida, will take place in a bigger venue this year. The show, which has sold out four years in a row, will now be held at the historic Holman Stadium on December 10th. The annual concert is part of the Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest to Benefit the Mardy Fish Foundation. It will take place in the baseball stadium used as the summer home for the Los Angeles Dodgers. General admission tickets run $15.

Currington Sets Record

Billy Currington drew more than 20,000 fans Saturday night to Cardinal Stadium in Louisville to surpass a 20-year Kentucky State Fair attendance record previously set by Charlie Daniels. Currington releases his fourth album, “Enjoy Yourself,” on September 21st.

Tim McGraw Honored For Women’s Shelter Fundraising

Tim McGraw will accept an award in October for his fundraising efforts with his wife, Faith Hill, on behalf of battered women’s shelters in Tennessee. The True Ally Award will be presented to McGraw at the 2010 Men Stopping Violence annual awards dinner in Atlanta on October 2nd. The dinner recognizes men who have dedicated time and resources to fostering safety and justice for women.

Brad Paisley Distributes More Water

Brad Paisley has announced the second leg of his “H2O World Tour.” Thirteen dates have been added to the previously announced 45 stops – extending the tour through November 20th. The tour has played to more than 600,000 fans in just three months with 38 sellouts, including 51,000-plus in Gillette Stadium near Boston. Darius Rucker and Justin Moore will continue to open the shows.

Barbara Mandrell, Sisters Join Charity Event

Barbara Mandrell and her sisters Louise and Irlene will mingle and take photos with guests at the Nashville Palace in Nashville tomorrow for a charity event hosted by Barbara’s daughter, Jaime Dudney. The event raises money for Suba Environmental Education of Kenya, a nonprofit that provides ministries, environmental education, orphan care and HIV relief. Auction items include the sparkling green dress worn by Reba McEntire at the 2010 CMT Music Awards, an autographed dulcimer from Dolly Parton, an autographed guitar from Kenny Chesney, the wardrobe from Little Big Town’s “Little White Church” video, and a Wonder Woman lunchbox autographed by Lynda Carter.

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame

Four songwriters will be honored by the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is October 17th. Stephen Foster is considered America’s first professional songwriter and is remembered for songs like “Oh! Susanna” and “Camptown Races.” The other posthumous award is going to Paul Davis. He wrote Tanya Tucker’s “Love Me Like You Used To” and Lorrie Morgan’s “Back in Your Arms Again.” Pat Alger collaborated with Garth Brooks for “The Thunder Rolls,” “Unanswered Prayers” and others. He also wrote Hal Ketchum’s “Small Town Saturday Night.” Also being honored is Steve Cropper who wrote some non-country classics including “The Dock of the Bay,” “In the Midnight Hour,” “Green Onions” and “Knock on Wood.”

Blake Shelton’s Concert Special

With the No. 1 country song, “All About Tonight,” Blake Shelton’s taking the next step by doing his first TV concert special. “Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight” airs on GAC September 8th. It was shot at Roberts Stadium in Evansville, Indiana. The 90-minute special includes a duet with Miranda Lambert.

Jeff Bridges Ready To Get Back To Music

Jeff Bridges says “Crazy Heart” really fanned his “music flame.” So he’s taking that heat and creating more music. The actor says he’s “put a little band together” to play some gigs. He’s starting by performing tonight and Thursday at Fallsview Casino on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Bridges also says he and T Bone Burnett, who produced the music in “Crazy Heart,” are talking about doing more music together.

Aaron Kelly Going Nashville

Last night was an ending and a beginning for Aaron Kelly. The “American Idol” tour ended with a concert in Indianapolis – which begins what he hopes will be a successful country career. Kelly says he’ll be looking for an apartment in Nashville, a town he’s very familiar with because he’s been going there with his mom since he was 11. Kelly says he’s been writing music so he can “be 100 percent prepared” to show music executives he can be a country idol.

Josh Turner, Wife Expecting A Boy

Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer announced that they are expectants of their third boy. The couple made the announcement on NBC’s “The Today Show” on Friday. Josh Turner seated next to co-host, Hoda Kotb and Jennifer sat at the news desk while they announced the news of their expected boy. Jennifer is in the fifth month of her pregnancy. They already have two sons.