Rascal Flatts Offering Tickets To Fundraiser

Rascal Flatts is offering a limited number of tickets to a private concert to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. The November 4th event, hosted by comic Ron White, will take place in the Nashville area. Rascal Flatts has hosted concerts for the past four years. Through those efforts and other concerts at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, they’ve raised almost $3 million for the hospital. The 100 tickets will be made available to fans on a first-come, first-serve basis and go on sale tomorrow at www.rascalflatts.com.

Sara Evans’ ‘A Little Bit Stronger’ Already a Hot Seller

As Sara Evans officially hit the airwaves this week with her inspiring new single “A Little Bit Stronger,” fans are already reacting to the song in a big way. The digital single for “A Little Bit Stronger,” released on September 14th, earned a Top 10 debut on Billboard’s Country Digital Songs chart and now, in its second week, the song has already amassed total sales approaching 30,000 downloads. “A Little Bit Stronger” is the first single from Sara’s upcoming album, set for release early next year, and will also be featured on the October 26th release of the original soundtrack album for the upcoming feature film “Country Strong.”

Kenny Chesney Scores A Perfect 10

Kenny Chesney tops Billboard’s Country Songs with “The Boys of Fall.” The football-themed tale marks Chesney’s 18th No. 1 and means he has had a No. 1 country song for a 10th consecutive year. Kenny has had a No. 1 in each year from 2001 through 2005, two in 2006, 2008 and 2009, and three in 2007. Chesney’s 10-year streak of reaching the Country Songs summit is the longest since Tim McGraw sent at least one title to the top each year from 1994 through 2004. In the chart’s 66-year history, just six artists have strung together longer runs of annual No. 1s than Chesney: George Strait (18 years, 1983-2000), Ronnie Milsap (16 years, 1974-89), Alabama (14 years, 1980-93), Loretta Lynn (12 years, 1967-78), Tim McGraw (11 years, 1994-2004), and Dolly Parton (11 years, 1977-87).

The Judds Boarding The Santa Train

Wynonna and Naomi Judd will be this year’s celebrity guests on the Santa Train, an annual project that brings holiday gifts to children at 14 stops in the mountains of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. The November 20th excursion is supported by volunteers from the CSX rail line, Food City, the Kids Wish Network and the Kingsport, Tennessee, Chamber of Commerce. An estimated 15 tons of toys – valued at more than $300,000 – will be distributed to thousands of residents who live along the rail route. The Judds’ “Last Encore” tour begins November 26th in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

 

Second Harvest Concert

While musicians Tuesday night were celebrating the Grand Ole Opry’s return from the Ryman Auditorium back to the Opry House, music also was coming from the Ryman stage. It was the 6th Annual “Stars For Second Harvest” benefit concert to help food banks. Songwriter Craig Wiseman hosted. It featured unplugged acoustic performances from Josh Thompson, Chris Young, Uncle Kracker, songwriters Mac McAnally and Tony Mullins.

Grand Ole Opry Returns Home

“Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” was the first song performed Tuesday night as the Opry House reopened. All the stars who performed first gathered together on the Grand Ole Opry stage to kick off the concert. Then the evening got underway with Blake Shelton, who became a member of the Opry Tuesday night, singing “All About Tonight.” He was followed by Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Connie Smith, Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley, Josh Turner, Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Charlie Daniels and many others. Even President Obama took part. A video was played with the president sending his well-wishes for the Grand Ole Opry and again thanking fire, police, medical personnel and others for their work during and after the May flood.

Sugarland Starts ‘The Incredible Machine’ Countdown

Sugarland has started the countdown to the release of their new album, “The Incredible Machine.” The record hits stores on October 19th, but in the meantime the group will release a new song through iTunes every Tuesday. “Wide Open” will drop October 5th and “Little Miss” comes out October 12th.

 

Lady Antebellum Says ‘Hello World’

Lady Antebellum’s next single will be “Hello World,” a power ballad written by Tom Douglas, Tony Lane and David Lee. The song drops October 4th. Lady Antebellum’s three previous singles from their double-platinum “Need You Now” album have all reached No. 1 on Billboard’s country chart, including “American Honey,” “Our Kind of Love” and the title track.

McBride Joins Nashville Symphony

Martina McBride will headline the Nashville Symphony’s annual “Home for the Holidays” concert on December 10th. Due to ongoing repairs at Schermerhorn Symphony Center from the May flood, the concert will be held at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena. McBride will feature a mix of holiday standards along with new seasonal favorites.

Loretta Lynn Honored

Loretta Lynn was showered with an assortment of industry awards and heartfelt praise at her invitation-only 50th anniversary celebration, held at Lynn’s Hurricane Mills ranch on Friday. The Academy of Country Music, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. and BMI each made presentations during the evening’s event. Billed as “A Tribute to an American Icon,” the celebration honored Lynn’s 50 years in the country music industry. Ronnie McDowell presented Lynn with a hand-painted portrait of the legendary performer, and noted Nashville arranger and composer Bill Walker gave Lynn an arrangement of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” originally penned for the TV special, “Loretta Lynn on Broadway.” Selected media and industry, as well as Lynn’s close friends and family, attended the packed ceremony.

Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall Releases New Book

Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall is more than a singer – he is also a notable author, with eight published books, including a new book released this month. “From My Perspective” is a collection of commentaries and stories about life, music, faith, and America, all told in Joe’s energetic and engaging style. Joe shares moments with celebrity friends, like the late Johnny Cash and Dottie Rambo; relates stories from 35 years on the road with The Oak Ridge Boys; and draws on disparate experiences in his life, from working the political trail to walking through wooded trails on his 400-acre farm near the Tennessee-Kentucky border.

 

Eric Church Working On New Album

Ever since the success of his 2009 album, “Carolina,” Eric Church has been a road warrior, touring as a headliner and joining major country tours. But he recently holed up in the North Carolina woods with a few songwriters to work on what will be songs for his next studio album. “I spent a month up in the woods,” Eric told The Boot. “I was totally disconnected from everything. It was a little weird. I had to socially re-adapt myself – but it made all the difference in the world to just relax and write.” But Eric cautions fans shouldn’t expect a new album before next year or even early 2012. In the meantime, Eric has plenty of shows planned, including a tour with Miranda Lambert.

Reba Covers Beyoncé Hit

While Reba McEntire’s upcoming album is titled “All the Women I Am,” she’s been tackling the opposite sex’s perspective with a cover of Beyoncé’s “If I Were a Boy.” Reba’s countrified version of the hit song will appear on her new CD, due out November 9th.

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.