Faith Hill - Artist of the day

• Faith Hill’s debut album, “Take Me as I Am,” was released in 1993. Her debut single, “Wild One,” held the No. 1 spot for four consecutive weeks. The title track from 1995’s “It Matters to Me” gave Hill her third chart-topping hit. Faith and husband Tim McGraw’s first duet, “It’s Your Love,” was No. 1 for six weeks and gave Faith her first CMA award, for Vocal Event.
  
• The 1998 album “Faith” produced the hit “This Kiss,” which went to No. 1. Other hit singles included “Let Me Let Go” and “Just To Hear You Say That You Love Me.”
  
• 1999’s “Breathe” debuted at No. 1 and sold more than 8 million copies. The title track stayed at No. 1 for six weeks.
  
• She earned three Grammys in 2000 – Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Album and Country Collaboration with Vocals for the McGraw duet “Let’s Make Love.”
  
• 2002’s “Cry” album sold 2 million copies. The title track won a 2003 Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal - Performance.
  
• Hill released “Fireflies” in 2005. The first single, “Mississippi Girl,” reached No. 1. She and McGraw also scored another hit with “Like We Never Loved at All.”
  
• Hill issued her first Christmas album, “Joy to the World,” in 2008. Her debut fragrance, “Faith Hill,” launched in 2009; she followed up with a second perfume this summer called “True.”
  
• Hill has been ranked the 39th best artist of the 2000-10 decade by Billboard. She is also familiar to football fans as the voice of NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
  
• Hill contributed the new track “Give in to Me” to the “Country Strong” soundtrack. She also collaborated with George Strait for his new album, “Here for a Good Time,” contributing background vocals on “A Showman’s Life.”
  
• Mattel has introduced the Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Barbie dolls. They come together as a gift set for $69.95. Faith and Tim will celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary this October.
  
• Faith is once again performing the opening theme for NBC “Sunday Night Football,” “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night.” She is currently in the studio recording what will be her first release of new music in six years.
  
• Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will tour Australia starting March 14, 2012. Australia will be the only place that she and her husband will perform together next year. The joint tour marks the first time in five years that the couple have done a length run of shows together, the last being their “Soul2Soul II” tour, which grossed more money than any other tour ever.
  
• The Tim McGraw/Faith Hill 2012 Australian tour kicks off at the Burswood Dome in Perth on March 14.
  
• Official Web site: www.faithhill.com

Blake Shelton Sings On ‘Top Chef’ Promo

The 2011 “Top Chef” Season 9 commercial shows host Padma Lakshmi gnawing on rib bone in support of the show’s fall season and features Blake Shelton’s hit “Hillbilly Bone” playing in the background. The hit Bravo show shot the season in San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas, Texas. Season 9 premieres November 2nd, but the ad featuring Shelton’s track is airing now. Shelton’s voice can also be heard in the remake of “Footloose,” which hits theaters on October 14th. Fans can expect a music video for Shelton’s “Footloose” track soon.

Burns & Poe Record Anthem For Jobseekers

Keith Burns and Michelle Poe of the duo Burns & Poe recently recorded “I Need a Job,” a new tune intended to shed comedic light to a serious problem plaguing people all over the country. “The song just kind of wrote itself,” Keith said. “My co-writer, John Ritter, and I knew when we started writing this tune that we were creating a song to voice the frustration, hopelessness and need that many feel. A job means more than just paying the bills; it’s about self-respect, self worth and pride. Working is part of the American way. People don’t want a handout, they want a job.” Burns & Poe released a self-titled two-disc CD set earlier this year, and are currently touring behind the set.

Wilma Lee Cooper Dies

Grand Ole Opry member Wilma Lee Cooper passed away on September 13th at her home in Sweetwater, Tennessee, from natural causes. She was 90. Cooper, who performed with husband Stoney Cooper, became a member of the Opry in 1957. Her last solo performance on the Opry was at the Ryman Auditorium on February 24, 2001. She joined the Opry cast at the grand re-opening of the Opry House on September 28, 2010, for a group sing-along. Born Wilma Leigh Leary, she began working early as a member of West Virginia’s Leary Family. She achieved prominence in the 1940s performing with her late husband, fiddler Stoney Cooper. Cooper continued performing with her group, the Clinch Mountain Clan, after Stoney’s death in March 1977 and was an Opry regular until a stroke suffered onstage in 2001 forced her to stop performing.

Carrie Divulges ‘Simple’ Beauty Secrets In New Olay Video

Carrie Underwood lets fans in on her skin-care sins in a promotional video for Olay. Underwood admits that before working with Olay, she would cleanse “with a washcloth and bar of soap and not think twice about it. What I did not realize is that I was taking off makeup, which was good, but I was leaving behind residue, which is bad.” Carrie says she uses the company’s Pore Minimizing Cleanser + Scrub. “I honestly think people would be surprised to know how simple my beauty routine is,” says Carrie. “It’s all about cleansing, UV protection, a little makeup and I’m out the door.”

Martina McBride Joins Andre Agassi Foundation Fundraiser

Martina McBride will perform at the Andre Agassi Foundation’s Grand Slam for Children benefit concert on October 29th in Las Vegas. Michael Bublé, Jimmy Kimmel, Smokey Robinson and Train will also take part in the concert at Wynn Las Vegas to raise money for the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, a tuition-free K-12 public charter school in Las Vegas, the tennis legend’s hometown. The evening will also include a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner and live auction. Additional artists will be announced at a later date.

Taylor Swift’s Star-Studded Nashville Shows

Taylor Swift thrilled fans at her Nashville concerts by inviting some big names on stage for duets over the weekend. Swift brought her “Speak Now Tour” to her Tennessee hometown for two sold-out gigs at the Bridgestone Arena. On Friday, Swift introduced her buddy, Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams, to the stage to join her for a version of “That’s What You Get,” and later closed the show by singing “Bleed Red” with Ronnie Dunn. Swift had more surprises in store on Saturday – her guests included Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and Andy Grammer.

Keith Urban - Artist of the Day

• Keith Urban charted four No. 1 singles in Australia before moving to Nashville in 1992 to form a band called The Ranch, which landed a deal with Capitol. The band broke up after one album.
  
• Urban released his double platinum self-titled U.S. debut in 2000. The album featured three Top 5 hits, including his first U.S. No. 1, “But for the Grace of God.”
  
• He released “Golden Road” in 2002. “Somebody Like You” spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the singles chart, remaining No. 1 longer than any other single in 2002. Three other singles were released, two went to No. 1, and the third peaked at No. 3.
  
• Keith’s 2004 album, “Be Here,” marked his third consecutive platinum recording. The “Making Memories of Us” gave Urban his 7th No. 1 single, breaking Air Supply’s record for an Australian artist on the U.S. charts.
  
• Keith’s album “Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing” debuted at No. 1 in 2006. The first single, “Once in a Lifetime,” written for his wife Nicole Kidman, set a record as the highest debuting song in the history of the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart. The album also spawned the hits “I Told You So” “Stupid Boy,” “Everybody” and “You Look Good In My Shirt.”
  
• Urban went No. 1 hit on the all-genre Billboard 200 as well as the Country Chart with “Defying Gravity,” which surfaced in 2009. The first three singles, “Sweet Thing,” “Kiss A Girl” and “Only You Can Love Me This Way,” topped the charts. The fourth single, “Til Summer Comes Around,” peaked at No. 3, while “I’m In” peaked at No. 2.
  
• Urban’s sixth studio CD, “Get Closer,” was released in November. He is currently on his “Get Closer” world tour, which wraps next month (October 2011). The CD holds the hits “Without You” and “Put You In A Song.” He recently released the music video for his current single, “Long Hot Summer.” Written by Urban in collaboration with Richard Marx, the tune is in the top 10.
  
• Urban was inducted into the Music City Walk of Fame in Nashville in May.
  
• Earlier this summer, Keith released his own Phoenix fragrance for men. He’s currently working on one for women.
  
• Official website: www.keithurban.net

Lady A Turned To Mediator To Get Along At First

Lady Antebellum weren’t always buddies. They even had to learn how to argue with each other. Singer Charles Kelley says he’s not ashamed to admit that they had a mediator come in a few times. He says the first two years were “really hard” and the last two years have been “really easy.” Singer Hillary Scott says they didn’t employ a therapist, but a communications specialist. She says they agree on a lot of things but they had to figure out how to “argue respectfully.” That was about the time “Need You Now” came out. They put out a new album this week called “Own The Night.” The first single, “Just a Kiss,” shot up to No. 1.

Justin Moore Records NRA Country Theme Song

Justin Moore has been selected to write the theme song for a new NRA Country campaign. Moore’s song can been heard in a video available at the NRA Country Facebook page. Just “Like” the page to view the video. “I’m proud to be a member of the NRA, and I was honored to write a theme song for NRA Country,” Moore says. “I hope this song helps spread the word about how important it is to protect our freedoms and inspires people to live a good wholesome all-American lifestyle that would make our founding fathers proud.” The song can be downloaded as a bonus track to Moore’s new album. The video is available for the next two weeks. Blake Shelton, Chuck Wicks and Craig Morgan are also involved in the “This is NRA Country” campaign.

Eric Church Shoots Live Video For New Single

Eric Church is climbing up the country singles chart with his new hit, “Drink in My Hand,” the latest single from his newly-released album, “Chief.” Church says inspiration for the song came from seeing his fans holding their long-neck bottles high in the air night after night. The video was shot in Council Bluff, Iowa, recently. Eric says he “went there for the sole purpose of getting live footage and maybe doing a video, but just filming the show. The crowds were so great there that we just kind of decided on the fly that we would shoot the video.” “Drink in My Hand” is the follow-up release to Church’s Top 15 hit, “Homeboy.” Church is currently out on the road with JT Hodges and Toby Keith on the “2011 Locked and Loaded Tour.”

Brad Paisley Writes Book Honoring Guitar Heroes

Brad Paisley’s new book, “Diary of a Player,” will be published on November 1st. The book is “a salute to the guitar gods of country, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll who have shaped his life.” In addition, the book tells the personal story about how Paisley’s love for his guitar is a constant theme throughout his life. Paisley co-wrote the book with David Wild, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and an Emmy-nominated television writer and producer.

Oak Ridge Boys Added To ACM Honors

Brett Eldredge, Robin Meade and the Oak Ridge Boys have been added to the lineup for the ACM Honors. They join performers Rodney Atkins, the Gatlin Brothers, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, Thompson Square and Lee Ann Womack. This year’s honorees include Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers and Reba McEntire. The ceremony will be held Monday in Nashville.

Sugarland For The Super Bowl

Sugarland fans are trying to get them to be the halftime entertainment at the Super Bowl. Fans have created a Facebook page called “We Want Sugarland for Super Bowl 2012.” They planned to flood the NFL with calls yesterday to ask for Sugarland to play the Super Bowl halftime show. The petition drive was started by two Indianapolis fans.

LeAnn Rimes Bonds With Homeless Kids

LeAnn Rimes will never ignore a homeless kid again. Rimes worked with homeless kids in Chicago for her new video, “Give.” Rimes says one thing the kids all said to her is that no one looks them in the eye, which makes them feel like they don’t exist. Rimes says now she will always look at anyone who’s homeless in the eye and smile. She says, “That smile could make their whole day.” “Give” will appear on her “Lady and Gentlemen” album out September 27th.

Taylor Swift Sings New Song For Target

Taylor Swift, Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, James Taylor, Tony Bennett and Alison Krauss were among the big names that appeared at Target’s semi-annual managers meeting held September 14th at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Taylor, who has long had tie-ins with Target, even performed a song specially written for the meeting, titled “Red Shirt Khaki Pants,” which refers to the standard uniform for Target employees. Singing, “You sell lots of things from food to Spanx,” Taylor also mentioned that that the chain store has sold many of the her own albums. Naturally, Taylor wore red for the performance.

Artist of the Day - Steve Holy

• Steve Holy, the youngest of eight children, wrote his first song when he was 13 for his brother Danny, who passed away at 21.
  
• Holy auditioned for the local Mesquite Opry at age 19, and later earned a spot on Johnny High’s Country Music Revue, eventually winning the revue’s Entertainer of the Year award. This brought the attention of legendary country producer Wilbur Rimes (and his daughter LeAnn), who encouraged Holy to shop himself around Nashville.
  
• Steve launched his Curb debut single, “Don’t Make Me Beg,” in 1999, and soon debuted at the Las Vegas Hilton as the opening act for LeAnn. He topped the charts in 2002 with “Good Morning Beautiful.” The single was also featured in the Jennifer Lopez movie “Angel Eyes.” “Good Morning Beautiful,” from his debut album “Blue Moon,” charted at No. 1 for five straight weeks and was No. 10 on Billboard’s list of top country songs of the decade.
  
• After following “Good Morning Beautiful” and several middle-charting singles, Holy scored another No. 1 hit in 2006 with “Brand New Girlfriend,” followed by an album of the same name on Curb Records. The album also produced the minor hits “Come On Rain” and “Men Buy the Drinks (Girls Call the Shots).”
  
• Steve Holy is back with his first new music in five years. The album “Love Don’t Run” features the title track.
  
• Official Web site: www.steveholy.com

Country Music Pioneer Wade Mainer Dies

Wade Mainer, a country music pioneer who is credited with inventing the two-finger banjo picking style that paved the way for the Bluegrass era, has died. He was 104. Mainer died at his home in Flint Township, Michigan. He was a member of late brother J.E. Mainer’s Mountaineers, one of the most popular sibling duos of the 1930s. He made recordings for all the major labels of the day, including RCA in 1935.

Chesney’s Theme Song For ESPN’s ‘Rise Up’ On iTunes

Kenny Chesney revealed a new song Tuesday night as ESPN began its new series “Rise Up.” The show visits high schools across America and surprises the students and staff with makeovers. Following the series premiere, Chesney announced via Twitter that “Rise Up” was available for download at iTunes. He says he wrote the song in about two hours after watching an episode based in New Orleans.

Heidi Newfield Files For Divorce

Heidi Newfield has announced that she has filed for divorce from her sports agent husband of seven years, Bill Johnson. Newfield and Johnson first met at a corporate fundraiser and were married on June 4, 2006. “I never thought I’d be sitting here on the road, writing out my thoughts and comments regarding the end of my marriage,” Newfield wrote to her fans in a blog. “It is a very difficult and strange place to be. Obviously, I thought I was entering into a life-long partnership with my best friend, that we would celebrate the good times and work to make it through whatever tough times we may face in our future.”