Jackson, Lambert Schedule Tour Down Under

Alan Jackson and Miranda Lambert will travel overseas next year for their first concerts in Australia. The brief tour will include performances in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Jackson’s current tour with Chris Young and The Band Perry will conclude November 20th in Cincinnati. Lambert will headline this year’s “CMT on Tour” kicking off today in New York City. Lambert’s shows will also feature Eric Church and Josh Kelley.

Paltrow, McGraw Record Chris Martin Song

Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw have recorded a song written by her husband – Coldplay’s Chris Martin – for the upcoming film “Country Strong.” Paltrow and McGraw, who star in the film, perform a duet of “Me and Tennessee,” the closing song on the soundtrack. She is featured on three other songs, including the title track. The soundtrack also includes performances by two other stars of the film – Garrett Hedlund and Leighton Meester – and McGraw’s wife, Faith Hill. Ronnie Dunn, Chris Young, Patty Loveless, Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Hank Williams Jr. and Lee Ann Womack also contributed songs. “Country Strong” will be released in Los Angeles and Nashville on December 22nd. It comes out January 7th. The soundtrack arrives October 26th.

Ronnie Dunn Working On Solo Album

Now that Brooks & Dunn are done, Ronnie Dunn is working on a solo album that may be out early next year. He is also producing the project. Dunn has also recorded a solo track for “Country Strong,” the upcoming film starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. He provides a cover of “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles),” a Wayne Carson Thompson song that was a No. 1 hit for Gary Stewart in 1975. Brooks & Dunn performed their final show in Nashville on September 2nd.

Travis Tritt Hitting The Big Screen

Travis Tritt is on location in Georgia, shooting scenes for the upcoming movie “Fishers of Men.” Tritt will play the role of Eddie Waters in the Christian-based tale of twin brothers who lead two very different lives. The movie is set in the 1950s. Before Travis was chosen for the film, the production staff had at first considered actor Sam Elliot and Alan Jackson.

Kenny Chesney Makes a Surprise Visit To High School Pep Rally

Kenny Chesney shocked a gymnasium full of high school students in Texas last week, making a surprise appearance at Celina High School’s pep rally on Friday to talk about high school football and how it inspired him. The East Tennessee native was a wide receiver for Gibbs High School, near Knoxville. He said playing football every Friday night impacted him in a way that he never thought possible. So much so that he decided to make a documentary about it, “The Boys of Fall.”

Steve Wariner Issuing ‘Guitar Christmas’

Steve Wariner will issue a new album, “Guitar Christmas,” on October 12th on his own SelecTone Records. The set was inspired by Chet Atkins’ holiday gatherings in his office. “The initial idea came about as I was thinking of the wonderful gatherings that Chet Atkins would host in his office around the holidays,” Steve says, “Everyone would sing and play and remember those beautiful melodies from our childhood.” Originally released in 2003, the instrumental collection of Christmas standards arranged, recorded, and produced by Steve, was previously available only through his website. This year, however, Allegro Media Group will handle distribution.

James Wesley Released Video For ‘Real’

James Wesley has unleashed the new video for his song “Real,” which will be featured on his upcoming second studio album. The video begins with Wesley fishing with a young boy, riding a four-wheeler, pushing a young girl on a swing and working on his car. Throughout the video he is shot through the frame of a television set as he sings about reality television shows and how they aren’t all that realistic. “Real” debuted at No. 54 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Love And Theft’s Brian Bandas Marries

Love and Theft’s Brian Bandas married his girlfriend, Kelly Barons, in a private ceremony Sunday at Nashville’s Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Brian is the second member of the trio to walk down the aisle. Earlier this year, member Eric Gunderson and his girlfriend, Emily Hagar, married just outside of Nashville, leaving Stephen Barker Liles the last remaining bachelor of the band.

Kenny Chesney Scores 20th No. 1

Kenny Chesney’s current single, “The Boys of Fall,” marks his 20th No. 1 single. The single sits atop both the Mediabase and BDS charts. The song captures the heart of something Chesney loves so much – the moments and life lessons that high school football represents. Though it’s been 14 years since Chesney achieved his first No. 1, he admits that the excitement of a having a hit single never goes away. “The Boys of Fall” is the first single from his new album, “Hemingway’s Whiskey,” which is in stores today. Chesney will make numerous promotional appearances this week in support of the CD.

Darryl Worley’s Tennessee River Run Raises $200,000

Darryl Worley’s ninth annual Tennessee River Run festival raised $200,000 for local and national charities. Danny Gokey, Joe Diffie, Lee Brice and the Marshall Tucker Band were among the artists who performed during the event that took place September 16-18 in Worley’s hometown of Savannah, Tennessee. In addition to two concerts, the festival included a motorcycle poker run, golf tournament and fish fry. The event benefits the Darryl Worley Foundation, a nonprofit organization assisting in the construction of a cancer treatment center in Savannah.

Taylor Swift Strikes Album Deal With Comcast

Taylor Swift has teamed up for a second time with Comcast, this time giving customers 30-second sneak previews of four songs from her upcoming album, “Speak Now,” due out October 25th. Exclusive interviews with Swift will also be shown exclusively to subscribers. Beginning October 4th, a snippet of the title track will be available, along with a two-minute interview. Each week leading up to the release of Swift’s album, previews of new songs will be released: “Back to December” (October 11th), “Mean” (October 18th) and “Story of Us” (October 22nd). The music will be available on Comcast On Demand and online at www.xfinity.com.

Miranda Lambert’s Fall Tour Begins Tomorrow!

Miranda Lambert’s fall tour begins tomorrow in New York City, the first date of her fall outing, “CMT on Tour.” The show will also feature Eric Church and Josh Kelley. It will cover more than a dozen dates. Miranda says she couldn’t ask for a better group than her band and crew, who’ve become like family.

Katie Armiger Video Gets Play

The video for Katie Armiger’s single “Leaving Home” is close to cracking the top 10 on CMT.com. The song is from her next CD, "Confessions of a Nice Girl," due October 5th.

Olsen Song Is In ‘Good Hands’

Troy Olsen has released his new single, “Good Hands.” The song, written by Olsen and Marv Green, is a song about a man reassuring his woman that he’ll take care of her. The Arizona native just launched his own webisode series, "Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen," on GACTV.com. Olsen talks about how he discovered music, accidentally discovered he could produce, and other stories of his path to making music. Olsen is currently on his headlining "Get Right Tonight Tour" in advance of the October 5th release of his self-titled debut EP.

Bentley Helps Raise $50,000 For Charity

Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music For Kids” event in Seattle on Saturday raised $50,000 for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Despite the heavy rain, over 5,000 fans showed up. You can find out more online at www.dierks.com.

Don Henley Plans Country Project

Eagles drummer Don Henley has been working on an album of country songs with the former drummer of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stan Lynch. “He’s another quasi-redneck who is amazingly gifted and has a killer sense of humor,” Henley says. This is not the first time Henley has worked with country music. In 1993 he helped develop “Common Thread: The Songs Of The Eagles,” which featured remakes of the Eagle’s songs by Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Diamond Rio and Tanya Tucker. “Common Thread” won Album of the Year from the Country Music Association. A release date has yet to be announced for Henley’s country album.

Dolly’s Musical Opens In Nashville

The world premiere of Dolly Parton’s "9 to 5: The Musical" tour is set to debut in Nashville today. "American Idol" finalist Diana DeGarmo was cast in the role of Doralee Rhodes, made famous by Dolly. Parton wrote 16 songs for the Broadway show, earning a Tony nomination. The tour features a new cast, along with new direction, choreography and design. After the Nashville run, the musical is expected to tour for two years across the country.

Craig Morgan Sings For Airmen

Craig Morgan returned to Pope Air Force Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Friday for a free concert. Prior to his music career, Morgan served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division at nearby Fort Bragg. Morgan also served in the 101st Airborne Division.

Zac Brown Sings For Students

Zac Brown and Clay Cook of the Zac Brown Band performed at the Bynum School in Midland, Texas, on Friday after a school volunteer won a sweepstakes co-sponsored by Campbell Soup’s Labels for Education program and the Grammy Foundation. Brown and Cook shared stories about their music career to 37 special needs students, along with their teachers and families. The Zac Brown Band performed in Lubbock, Texas, that night.

Big Kenny And Wife Adopt A Baby Boy

Big & Rich’s Big Kenny and his wife, Christiev, adopted a baby boy named Dakota Jefferson Holiday Alphin back in July, according to People magazine. "When they put Dakota in our arms, he has the most beautiful smile, and the moment Kenny started talking to him, Dakota lunged toward him," Christiev told People. "We both looked at each other and it was like, ‘Of course he is our son.’” The couple said their four-year-old son, Lincoln William, has accepted the big brother role.