By CAITLIN R. KING, Associated Press 2:59 p.m., Jan. 19, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 10th season of "American Idol" kicks off Wednesday night, and some people's lives will be changed forever.
Former "Idol" finalist Mandisa (man-DEE'-sah) Hundley knows the feeling. The two-time Grammy nominee finished in the top 10 the year Taylor Hicks won and is now planning to release her third gospel album April 5, called "What If We Were Real."
But as it turns out, her biggest life change came after the show.
She embarked on an emotional weight loss journey two years ago and has since lost 90 pounds.
Mandisa's struggles fueled her new music.
"Where I was at the beginning of this album and where I ended up are two very different places," she told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "It's been a process. I will always struggle with my weight. It's the thorn in my flesh."
Standing on a scale one morning and seeing a disappointing number prompted Mandisa to finally get real with herself and her fans.
"I had gained weight and was so frustrated at that moment that I said so on Twitter."
She tweeted: "I'm fed-up and over it."
"I was feeling embarrassed and ashamed. I realized that I had only talked about how great things were. I never let people in when they were not. It was then that I decided I'd talk about the bad things too," she said.
The result is what Mandisa calls her most honest record to date.
She began recording "in a very dark place." The title track and the song "Just Cry" came out of those early sessions. However, by the end of the process, she said she was back to a place of peace and joy, with the song "Lifeline," about unwavering trust in God, the last track she recorded.
Mandisa is on her way to losing 100 pounds but said she doesn't have a goal weight.
By CAITLIN R. KING Associated Press | February 5, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The biggest clash of fans might just happen the night before the Super Bowl, when the Pretenders and Faith Hill perform together live.
But unlike the big game, both sides are sure to leave happy.
The "CMT Crossroads" concert will be televised live from Grand Prairie, Texas, just outside of Dallas, on CMT Saturday night as part of the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam festivities. The "Crossroads" TV series pairs country music stars with popular artists in other genres, and this is only the second time ever it's been done live.
"I'm crazy, I guess," said Hill in a recent phone interview. "By doing it live, it just brings another whole element to the show."
Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde expects a bit of "chaos," but playing live is what she loves.
"To me, a gig's a gig, and you have to burn through it," she said in a separate phone interview. "If you (mess) it up, then just live with it. ... You don't remember watching a CD, do you?"
Hill and Hynde will do eight songs together, four from each of their repertoires, and they'll share in the singing, exchanging verses and choruses. The catalog of the Pretenders, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, includes hits like "Brass in Pocket," ''Back on the Chain Gang" and "I'll Stand by You." Hill, a multiplatinum Grammy-winner, has charted 13 No. 1 country singles, including "Wild One," ''Piece of My Heart" and "This Kiss."
Until Thursday, the two had never met in person, but over they phone, they immediately hit it off.
"We had to make ourselves stop talking so we could save some spontaneity for the show," said Hill. "We talked about music for a while, and it just went on to other things."
Hynde said she's excited about working with a country artist — something she's never done — and she thinks their styles will blend nicely. The last Pretenders' album, 2008's "Break Up The Concrete," had a rockabilly flavor to it, and they have a pedal steel guitar player in the band.
The Super Bowl hype itself does nothing for Hynde. She grew up in Akron, Ohio, but she's lived in England for almost 40 years and would rather watch snooker than American football. Hill, on the other hand, has been NBC's voice for Sunday Night Football for the past three years and has sung "America The Beautiful" and the national anthem at past Super Bowls. She knows what to expect from Saturday night's crowd.
"There's no other time that you have this type of energy in a city," said Hill. "There's such a level of excitement and anticipation and an element of celebration and whenever you have those things in the same place, you want to hear music. You want to go to parties. There's festivities all the time."
The Pittsburgh Steelers play the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV on Sunday.
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Paramore Heads to Grammys More 'Unified' Than Ever
By CAITLIN R. KING Associated Press | January 31, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ The members of Paramore are hoping to close out what's been a particularly challenging chapter in the band's history on a high note — as Grammy winners.
They are nominated for best pop performance by a duo or group with vocals for the hit "The Only Exception." The nomination comes after two of Paramore's founding members quit the band late last year.
Lead singer Hayley Williams said the rest of the Tennessee-based band is staying positive.
"Losing members is not a fun thing to go through, but I think that now we really feel unified," she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "We feel strong, and we're going to be stoked to represent Nashville and represent our band and our fans at the Grammys."
The split was less than amicable. The band's official statement said that brothers Josh and Zac Farro had been planning to leave for a couple months and had seemed unhappy with the band for the past year. But ultimately, it wished them well and expressed hope that they would find happiness elsewhere.
The brothers responded to the statement with a scathing blog post, largely blaming Williams for dividing the band.
FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2010 file photo, the band Paramore, from left, Zac Farro, Josh Farro, Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Close
Despite the downsizing, Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis and guitarist Taylor York have big plans for the band's future. They're touring South America starting Feb. 16. in Brazil.
"We've only been one other time, but it was crazy," said Davis. "The venues are growing, and it's pretty exciting."
After that, they have cleared their schedules and will concentrating on making new music.
"We just want to take the chance to do anything we've ever wanted to do that we've never had time to do," said Williams. "We've always wanted to do an EP. Our fans want us to do acoustic stuff. We do want to do collaborations, but I guess we're just going to let it unfold itself."
The Grammy nomination marks a turning point for the band in more ways than one.
"This year what makes it so cool is the fact that we're nominated for a pop category," said Williams. "It's really cool, because we've always been that rock or pop-punk band that's kind of a little bit the outcast, not really the outcast, but sort of on the outside of things. So this will be awesome to bridge the gap."
Williams is nominated separately for best pop collaboration with vocals. She sang the hook in the song "Airplanes" with B.o.B. and Eminem.
"I've wanted to be 'that girl' on a hip-hop song for a really long time, and it seems like I sort of landed myself on a track with two of my favorite hip-hop artists," she said. "Bob is such a great new artist, and he's young, and he's fresh. Obviously, (I'm) so obsessed with Eminem. So, if that wins anything, I'm just going to be beaming."
The platinum-selling band has released three albums, with hits including "Misery Business." The Grammys air Feb. 13 on CBS.
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http://www.grammy.com/
The Grammy awards aren't held until February but that didn't stop artists with ties to Nashville getting together to celebrate their nominations. Guests at the party included Lady Antebellum, Paramore and Chris Young. (Jan. 19)
Country star Eric Church is up for new artist of the year against The Band Perry at Sunday's ACM Awards. Fans determine the winner (voteACM.com). He won an ACM for new solo vocalist in early voting. (March 30)
Josh Kelley, Heigl's husband, releases country album
By CAITLIN R. KING
The Associated Press
3/30/2011 10:46:49 AM ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Josh Kelley is out with his first country album —10 years after he set out to make one.
The singer-songwriter says "Georgia Clay," released last week, was worth the wait because what happened after Nashville first turned him down for a record deal prepared him to make the best record of his career.
Kelley, 31, is now married to actress Katherine Heigl, and they've started a family. Both themes play heavily throughout the album.
"It's about me getting married to Katie. It's about us moving three times. It's about us adopting a little baby girl from South Korea who is now 2-years old," he said in a recent interview. "We got her when she was 9 months old and how that completely changed both of our lives."
Kelley wrote or co-wrote all 11 tracks. Songs like "Baby Blue Eyes," "Don't You Go," "Two Cups of Coffee" and "Learning You" reflect his love for Heigl.
The couple married in Park City, Utah, on Dec. 23, 2007 and adopted Nancy Leigh, or Naleigh as they call her, in the fall of 2009. Kelley wrote the song "Naleigh Moon" about the moment where she accepted him as her dad.
"It was very touching and immediately turns you into a much more selfless person," he said. "To be an entertainer, you have to be pretty self-absorbed, to do it successfully. It just comes with the territory. It's what happens. I just remember when she came, I quit obsessing about everywhere I thought I should be. I just sort of let life happen, and once I let life happen, things started falling in place."
Kelley's younger brother Charles of Grammy-winning country group Lady Antebellum has seen him evolve as an artist through the years.
"His songwriting, it's a lot more honest, and I think he's a lot less selfish as a human being. I think we all are when we get married," said Charles in a phone interview. "It kind of calms you down, makes you kind of realize what's important in life. I think a lot of those songs reflect that."
The Augusta, Ga., native attempted to get a country record deal when he was a college student at the University of Mississippi, but when the Nashville labels passed him up, he signed with Hollywood Records and moved to Los Angeles.
"I was trying to be country from the very beginning, but everybody knows you've got to pay the bills," he said. "So I let those bluegrass songs become pop songs for as long as they could."
He's now thankful for those unanswered prayers.
Kelley went on to have two top 10 hits on Billboard's adult top 40 chart — 2003's "Amazing" and 2005's "Only You." He met Heigl on the set of his music video for "Only You" when she was cast as his love interest.
Kelley parted ways with Hollywood Records in 2005 and bought a house in Nashville. He set up a home studio and started his own label, DNK Records. That inspired Charles to move to Nashville with hometown friend Dave Haywood, where they soon met Hillary Scott and formed Lady Antebellum.
The group benefited greatly from Kelley's busy touring schedule and visits to see Heigl in Los Angeles.
"We were able to just kind of have free reign of all these instruments and studio equipment and kind of develop our sound on our own," said Charles.
Kelley released four albums independently to moderate success. The experience of running a label made him a more helpful artist for the label he's on now, MCA Nashville.
"When you run your own label, you're your own manager, you're the treasurer, the CEO, you're the vice president. I don't know. I wore many, many different hats," he said. "I'm having the best time of my life only wearing one hat."
From watching his brother's career unfold, Charles Kelley said he had a very realistic view of how hard it is to make it in the music business.
"He's had to hustle kind of his whole career, and I think it shows how resilient he is as an artist," said Charles. "He never gave up, and there were definitely times that I think I probably would've thrown in the towel and called it quits. Josh just isn't that kind of guy. He stuck with it."
The song "Gone Like That" gave Kelley his country music break and led to him signing with MCA in 2009. He wrote and recorded it, intending to pitch it to another artist, but his publisher told him no one else would do it justice. That set the ball rolling for "Georgia Clay."
He is now fully prepared to start from square one as a country artist. Kelley has been touring with Miranda Lambert and will be opening selected shows on the North American leg of Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour this summer.
"There was no ego involved in this at all. ... I love it. I love the road. I like showing people what I'm made of," he said. "There's a hunger for me to be playing in front of bigger crowds and to have bigger success."
Former President George H. W. Bush was honored for promoting service at a star-studded event in Washington in front of 3 living former U.S. presidents: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks performed. (March 22)
Country star Trace Adkins explains why he was both flattered and offended by getting a part in 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' which stars Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Phillippe. (March 18)
Country music pioneer Ferlin Husky has died at age 85. He sold more than 20 million records, mostly in the '50s and early '60s, with hits including "Wings of a Dove" and "gone." (March 17)
Country music heavyweight Kenny Chesney is ready to rock fans again after taking a year off the road. His massive Goin' Coastal tour kicks off Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (March 16)
Keith Urban gives a glimpse of his well-kept private life in a video for his new song "Without You." The black and white video shows personal images from his life, including shots of his wedding to Nicole Kidman and their daughter Sunday Rose. (March 16)
Comedians Ron White and Kathleen Madigan get serious about helping wounded soldiers. The annual benefit show, "Ron White's Comedy Salute to the Troops," airs Saturday, March 12 on CMT. (March 11)
Rascal Flatts want to thank fans and make some new ones with their "Nothing Like This" concert special airing Saturday on ABC. They explain what special guests Justin Bieber and Natasha Bedingfield bring to the mix. (March 11)
Country singer Sara Evans is out with her first studio album in five years, "Stronger," after going through a very public divorce in 2007, changing management, remarrying and moving to Birmingham, Ala. (March 9)
It was a bittersweet moment when Reba McEntire joined Jean Shepard and songwriter Bobby Braddock as the newests member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. McEntire missed the announcement to be with her ill father. (March 2)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)_ The Nashville Ballet is going country as it celebrates its 25th anniversary and honors dance icon Twyla Tharp during its annual fundraising gala this weekend.
Twenty dancers will perform original pieces choreographed by ballet artistic director and CEO Paul Vasterling. Songs will be played live by The Band Perry and Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Pat Alger on Saturday.
The Band Perry, recent winner of The Academy of Country Music's top new duo or group award, will play its breakthrough hit "If I Die Young," and Alger will play his "Lone Star State of Mind."
Former "Dancing with the Stars" champion Julianne Hough will serve as master of ceremonies and will present Tharp with the ballet's Vasterling Award for Artistic Vision and Excellence in Dance.
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By CAITLIN R. KING Associated Press | February 25, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ If you want to see country singer Kellie Pickler on her wedding day, check out her husband's new music video.
Songwriter Kyle Jacobs wrote and recorded a song for her, called "Say I Do," and used their private wedding footage for the music video. Fans can buy it on iTunes for $1.99.
Jacobs, 37, tells The Associated Press the video shows "two people madly in love." It was shot on 8 millimeter film by a Nashville videographer who accompanied them to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where they eloped on New Year's Day.
The video captures their arrival, intimate moments walking on the beach and ultimately the wedding ceremony that took place on a sandbar stretching 200 feet into the ocean. Pickler, 24, wore her flowing Badgley Mischka gown into the ankle-deep water where Jacobs was waiting for her. At one point, she wipes a tear from his face and they kiss.
"It was such a beautiful, spiritual, godly moment," said Jacobs. "It felt like we were baptized out in that beautiful, crystal-blue water."
The couple ditched their plans for a big wedding after an ah-ha moment when they realized the guest list looked more like a typical music industry event.
"It felt like what we were planning was work," he said.
Writing a love song for his wife-to-be, on the other hand, came easy to Jacobs. He has penned an estimated 800 songs since signing a publishing deal with Curb Records six years ago, including the No. 1 Garth Brooks hit "More Than A Memory." He said Pickler has inspired too many to count.
Jacobs credits her for giving him the encouragement and confidence he needed to give singing a shot. "Say I Do" is his first release as an artist on iTunes.
So far, he said, the reaction from family and friends has been overwhelmingly positive.
"It almost feels like God's stamp of approval, just saying, 'Hey, listen to your wife and try this out,'" he said.
Pickler finished in the top six on "American Idol" in 2005. Her songs include the top 10 hit she co-wrote with Taylor Swift, "Best Days of Your Life," as well as "Red High Heels," ''Don't You Know You're Beautiful," and her most recent single, "Makin' Me Fall in Love Again."
In addition to the Garth Brooks song, Jacobs' songwriting credits include Tim McGraw's "Still," Kimberley Locke's top 10 pop hit "8th World Wonder," as well as cuts by Randy Travis, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan and a track on Kelly Clarkson's upcoming album called "The Sun Will Rise."
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By CAITLIN R. KING Associated Press | February 12, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)A Grammy nomination marks the culmination of an artist's hard work. But for many nominees, it also marks the beginning of another important journey — looking fab on Grammy day.
Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum has been on a diet and workout kick since the group found out they were up for six awards, including album of the year.
"Whenever we're not in the studio, I'm doing crunches or something, lunges at my house," she told The Associated Press in a recent interview.
The country trio will also perform on the live Grammy telecast on Sunday, and even though Lady A's Charles Kelley doesn't have to squeeze into a dress, he's watching what he eats, too.
"I ate a lot of fried food, fried chicken over the holidays. So, I'm cutting back on that a little bit, but man, it's going to be hard to curb the drinking," he said. "There's too much celebrating. So, I won't be backing down on that at all."
His drink of choice? Whiskey and water.
"I've got to have my whiskey," he said.
The Grammys are making Karen Fairchild of country group Little Big Town sweat, but for a slightly different reason than Scott.
"We won't even know what we're wearing until the day before," said Fairchild, whose band is nominated for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals for "Little White Church."
"We're going to go out there and just wing it," she said.
Miranda Lambert is nominated for three awards and performing on the show for the first time. She said her trainer has been on the road with her almost daily since November.
"Grammys, it's like go time. We have to get ready," she said. "It's a big deal. So I've been working out, eating right and just getting my head right for being there."
Fiance Blake Shelton will be her date for the big night.
"Hopefully we'll be carrying our Grammys home for Valentine's Day," she said.
The Grammys air live on Sunday.
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By CAITLIN R. KING | February 11, 2011 at 5:29 a.m.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - You may think first-time Grammy nominees Dailey & Vincent are underdogs.
They're bluegrass artists competing for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals against mainstream country juggernauts Lady Antebellum and the Zac Brown Band.
But Jamie Dailey says they've got a leg up on the competition.
"One thing we can do better than Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Steeldrivers and the Zac Brown Band, we can sing faster," he deadpanned about the rest of the nominees.
"If we can't sing faster, we'll go a key higher than they do," added Darrin Vincent, laughing.
The two musicians are kings in the bluegrass world. They've won entertainer of the year at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards for the past three years. However, it was their remake of "Elizabeth," off their Statler Brothers tribute album, that caught the Recording Academy's ear.
Dailey and Vincent said they are truly fans of each of their fellow nominees and feel honored to be nominated with artists who are so vocally talented. It makes them wonder, "Can we sing? Who are we?" said Dailey.
Win or lose, these guys won't walk away empty handed.
"If Lady Antebellum or one of those, Zac Brown, if they get up there and actually win the category, he and I are going to storm the stage," said Vincent.
"And tackle them," added Dailey.
"And then take their award and head out the back. That's what you've got to look forward to," said Vincent.
The Grammys air live on CBS on Sunday from Los Angeles.
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The Ottawa Senators have traded NHL player Mike Fisher to the Nashville Predators hockey team where he'll be able to live full-time with his wife, multi-platinum country star Carrie Underwood. (Feb. 11)
Underwood: Husband's Trade 'Exciting Opportunity' Friday, February 11, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) _ So long, long distance. Newlyweds Carrie Underwood and NHL player Mike Fisher soon will be living together full time in Nashville.
The Ottawa Senators traded Fisher to the Nashville Predators for two draft picks.
Underwood tells The Associated Press in a statement that they will both miss Ottawa.
She says Fisher has been a big part of the community, and she'll never forget how they welcomed her with open arms.
The two have been splitting time between the two cities since they were married last July. Nashville is Underwood's adopted hometown since winning "American Idol" in 2005 and launching her country music career.
She says they consider the trade an exciting opportunity for Fisher and that she supports him wherever he plays.
Humor Sustains Melissa Peterman in 'Working Class'
February 4, 2011, 6:03 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - There are two things that have helped Melissa Peterman get through life: humor and Reba McEntire.
The actress-comedian combines the two in her new sitcom, "Working Class," on CMT (8 p.m. EST). McEntire guest stars on the episode that airs Friday.
"You have to have a sense of humor," Peterman said in a recent interview. "That's sort of how I live my life. So that's why I think I was attracted to the character. I'm like, 'OK, that was awful today, but you know what? The house didn't catch on fire. So, success!'"
Peterman stars as Carli Mitchell, a single mom with three kids, two ex-husbands and a freeloading brother, who is trying to give her family a better life by moving them to an upscale suburb. She works at a high-end grocery store alongside a character played by Emmy winner Ed Asner.
Peterman and her character share the same parenting style. In real life, she is married with a 5-year-old son, Riley.
"When Riley's like, 'Well, that's not fair.' I'm like, 'Well, write a letter to your governor, and tell him about it, and if he tells me it's not fair, we'll talk.'"
The 12-episode series was shot in two months of grueling, 12-hour days. Through it all, Peterman was determined to keep spirits high on set. She threw a margarita-karaoke party once they reached the halfway point. Around Thanksgiving, she brought in pies for the entire cast and crew.
After an episode that involved mud wrestling (it didn't taste like chocolate malt as she was told), she kept the pit open and wrestled anyone interested for $10 a go. They raised $450 for Toys for Tots.
Peterman credits McEntire for inspiring her to lead the cast of "Working Class." The two women worked together on the CW sitcom "Reba" from 2001-2007, where Peterman played the new wife of McEntire's ex-husband.
"It was invaluable for me to watch how she was a leader on set, where everyone knew they were appreciated," she said.
Friday's episode sees the two women in a role-reversal. McEntire plays the new "sugar mama" of Peterman's ex-husband.
McEntire said she recognized Peterman's same work ethic and natural charisma from her "Reba" days when she arrived on the "Working Class" set.
"She's always been very talented in knowing her material, very prepared, always there, always ready to go, always ready to help," said McEntire. "I saw how she was a leader, friendly, never lost it, never lost control.
"When she disagreed, she said it firmly, looked them right in the eye. ... She's not a diva. She's a hardworking entertainer who loves what she does."
Peterman relied on McEntire's friendship and advice during the taping of "Working Class." Now she's on tour with McEntire, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack to entertain country music fans with comedy between sets.
When "Working Class" premiered Jan. 28, Peterman warmed up an arena of concertgoers in Jacksonville, Fla., for her mentor and best friend.
"I couldn't think of a more appropriate person to start this next chapter (with) than to be with her that night. That's how much she means to me," said Peterman.
McEntire was "flabbergasted" that Peterman didn't take the night off for the big debut but called it fitting.
"That's the type of person Melissa is," said McEntire. "She's a very loyal friend."
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http://www.cmt.com/show/working_class/series.jhtml
The Grammys' reigning best new artist, the Zac Brown Band, are up for four more Grammys this year. They talk about why it's an honor to be nominated and why big risks pay off for them. (Jan. 13)
Real-life couple Steel Magnolia are out with their debut album. They're proving that a new act can stand out in today's country music industry -- and that it is really possible to fall in love with someone you meet in a bar. (Jan. 12)
Miranda Lambert and tour mate Eric Church both agree that her success is mainly down to the country singer staying true to herself. With countless awards and nominations under her belt, Lambert is thrilled that fans are embracing her music. (Jan. 5)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country Music Hall of Fame member George Jones is hospitalized in Nashville.
A statement from his publicist, Kirt Webster, says Jones went in for an annual checkup on Wednesday, and doctors required him to stay overnight to continue monitoring him.
He is expected to be released Thursday.
The 79-year-old joked in the statement that he didn't want to drive back to his home just outside Nashville in cold weather so he decided to stay at the hospital.
Jones has earned numerous awards and charted more than a dozen No. 1 hits throughout his long career, including the classic song "He Stopped Loving Her Today."
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992.
Nearly 20 years after Garth Brooks struck gold with his No. 1 hit "Unanswered Prayers," he has turned it into a TV movie. The film premieres Monday, Nov. 29 on Lifetime Television. (Nov. 26)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Keith Urban is trying to make his fans and his family happy this summer.
The multi-platinum country star is hitting the road June 16 on a 44-city arena tour in the U.S. with a schedule that gives him time to be with his wife, actress Nicole Kidman, and their 2-year-old daughter, Sunday Rose.
"The thing is with balance, it's never achieved. It's just maintained," Urban said of his family and career demands. "It's maintained based on Nic's and my ability to stay present and make the adjustments as we go."
Urban told The Associated Press that he purposely structures a tour so he's not gone for months at a time. He plays for two or three nights, goes home for a few days, then heads back out again.
Urban said the short breaks make his shows better, too, because he really wants to be there.
"I think we should never be going through the motions up there if we can avoid it," he said.
The "Get Closer" tour kicks off in Mobile, Ala., and will make stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Nashville.
The tour will feature a new stage production and songs from his just-released sixth album "Get Closer," as well as some of his 11 No. 1 hits, including "Somebody Like You," "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me," and "Better Life."
Kidman has had plenty of opportunities to watch her husband perform live, most recently at the CMA Awards earlier this month.
"He very much is about giving back to people," she said. "I see his love, and I see what he gives to the fans, and I love that."
Urban plans to release international tour dates and opening acts later.
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Online: http://www.keithurban.net
Keith Urban started recording his new album, "Get Closer," days after the Nashville flood wiped out all his equipment. He talks about how the songs reflect his marriage and love for wife Nicole Kidman. (Nov. 19)
Originally published Wednesday, November 17, 2010 at 10:16 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As if Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum didn't have enough to celebrate, she's now an official homeowner.
Scott could barely contain her excitement as she gushed about her new purchase.
"I just signed the papers on my house, the first house ever. Like it's finalized today. So I'm celebrating that, too," she said before the CMA Awards on Wednesday in Nashville, beaming.
The responsibility of owning a home was only just beginning to sink in for the 24-year-old.
"I'm like, 'Welcome to being a grown-up, Hillary.' You know? It's like, 'Oh my gosh, now I have a mortgage.' This is scary," she said.
Her bandmate, guitarist Dave Haywood didn't have any advice to give her. He still rents a condo. But her other group member, singer Charles Kelley, owns a home with his wife and provided a dose of reality.
"It's something all the time, I can tell her that right there," he said with a knowing smile.
The group won CMA vocal group of the year and single of the year for their hit "Need You Now."
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The members of country group Rascal Flatts explain why the title of their new album, "Nothing Like This," sums up the past year, and why they can't wait for fans to hear their duet with British pop singer Natasha Bedingfield. (Nov. 15)
Country music singer, Reba McEntire is back with her 34th album, entitled, 'All The Women I Am.' Still enjoying her work and vibrant career, she thanks the women that came before her and relishes the role she plays for young performers. (Nov. 10)
By CAITLIN R. KING Associated Press Originally published Friday, November 12, 2010 at 9:46 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — What do you get for the girl who has everything? An iPad.
Country singer Miranda Lambert celebrated her 27th birthday at the CMA Awards in Nashville Wednesday night, taking home three awards. Before the show started, her fiance and fellow country singer, Blake Shelton, revealed to The Associated Press what he got her for her birthday.
"She's been after me wanting an iPad lately, or asking me if I've seen one," he said. "She's freaking rich, man. She can get whatever she wants. So, I just have to go buy things like right when they come out so she doesn't have a chance to get them yet."
The couple, who plan to wed in the spring, have been dating for five years.
"We're to the point in our relationship to where it's like, 'Hey, just tell me what you want. Well, give me an iPad.' I said, 'OK.'"
Shelton and Lambert are now the reigning male and female CMA vocalists of the year. In addition, Shelton won CMA musical event of the year for "Hillbilly Bone" with Trace Adkins, and Lambert won album and video of the year.
Country Music Association Award winners Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and more talk backstage about what their awards mean to them. (Nov. 11)
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, the engaged country music couple, were the big winners at the 2010 CMAs Thursday night. Brad Paisley, who co-hosted the show, was named entertainer of the year. (Nov. 11)
Stars including Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Heigl glittered down the Country Music Award's "black carpet." The AP's Caitlin King talks to the biggest names in country and tinsel town. (Nov. 11)
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow learned to play guitar and immersed herself in country music to pull off her latest role.
At the world premiere of "Country Strong" on Monday night in Nashville, Tenn., Paltrow said it was important to get her character right.
"I think any time you do any role you want to be as authentic as possible, but obviously in this case with it being around the world of country music, you have a whole culture to really respect and portray properly. So, it was some pressure," she said.
To prepare for the role of troubled country star Kelly Canter, Paltrow watched a lot of concert DVDs and YouTube clips of country stars. She said she relied on advice from girlfriends who are singers more than from husband Chris Martin, lead singer of Coldplay.
"It was a lot of work, but it was really fun. It was worth it, very challenging," she said.
Paltrow plays a singer fresh out of rehab who's trying to pull her life, her career and her marriage together. Tim McGraw plays her manager/husband, who seems to be more interested in fixing her career than their marriage. McGraw says the key to keeping a marriage healthy is to support each other.
"I'm always her biggest fan," said McGraw of his real life wife, Faith Hill, who also attended the premiere with him. "I think that we totally support each other. I think that's what a marriage is about, supporting each other in whatever you do, and whatever your goals and your dreams and your aspirations are. I think that's what it's all about."
Leighton Meester plays pageant queen-turned-country star character Chiles Stanton. She said it was easy to relate to her character, who looks up to McGraw and Paltrow.
"Tim McGraw, he's so funny and so cool and really just awesome, and of course, he really knows the ins and outs of the business," said Meester. "He showed me the ropes, told me what it was all about and really was like a mentor on and off screen. Gwyneth, of course, you rise to the occasion, and she's so talented and gorgeous and effortless. It was really, really a joy."
Meester filmed the movie while her TV show, "Gossip Girl," was also in production. She said she would fly to Nashville on weekends, shoot, and then go back to New York.
"I fought for this role," she said. "The character is so different from anything I've done. She's so well written, has such a heart, very flawed, but really cool, and of course the music and performing aspect of it was a challenge as well, but it was really great."
McGraw was happy that most of the film was shot in Nashville. That meant he could sleep in his own bed every night.
"It's fantastic. Nashville's a great town. We love this town. We love everything about it. We love the people here. We think it's a great place to shoot movies, especially if we're in them so we can stay home," he said.
Hill quickly added, "But not too many."
McGraw laughed, knowingly: "Not too many. We don't want to overdo it."
"Country Strong" opens nationwide on Jan. 7.
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Online:
http://www.countrystrong-movie.com
Big-time country stars Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean and Sugarland talk about the elusive CMA entertainer of the year category and the frustration that comes with being excluded.
CAITLIN R. KING, Associated Press, Friday, November 5, 2010
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When Tim McGraw was a kid, he didn't always know where he'd get his next meal.
"I remember my mom being a single mom and working," said McGraw in a recent interview. "I also remember not really having enough money for food sometimes."
Those memories are part of the reason he taped public service announcements that begin airing this month to raise awareness of hunger in America.
The charity Feeding America says one in six Americans struggle to find enough food to eat, and approximately 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance from them on any given week.
"It's so heartbreaking to think of children going hungry, especially in a country as wealthy as ours," said McGraw, who taped the campaign for Feeding America as part of Hamburger Helper's Show Your Helping Hand Campaign.
McGraw feels a personal calling to make a difference in people's lives outside of his music career. He is the honorary chairman of the Tug McGraw Foundation to help people with brain tumors. The foundation is named after his father, the late baseball star, who died of a brain tumor.
He also founded the organization Neighbor's Keeper with wife Faith Hill in 2004 to strengthen communities. In addition, the pair helped raise $2.2 million in June from their Nashville Rising all-star benefit concert for middle Tennessee flood victims.
"The given for us, Faith and I both, is we feel like we've been very blessed and been given many opportunities, and we're singers. That's what we do. There's a little bit of a guilt part that goes along with having so much for just being a singer," he said.
Though McGraw's three daughters with Hill have never known hunger personally, he wants them to know the importance of giving back.
"I think that that's sometimes how kids get lost, especially kids who grow up in an environment like our kids are growing up in. They don't ever see outside the window," he said. "A lot of kids aren't nearly as fortunate as they are, and if you are that fortunate, then it's sort of incumbent upon you to help if you can."
Country star Jason Aldean is out with his fourth album, "My Kinda Party." He reveals why he thinks this is his strongest record yet and explains why Kelly Clarkson is his ideal duet partner. (Nov. 3)
County music stars Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood are holding a benefit concert Dec. 17 in Nashville to help flood victims in middle Tennessee. (Oct. 28)
Costner Calms Nerves to Host 'Artists of the Year'
Kevin Costner's music gives him 'credibility' to host 'CMT Artists of the Year,' airing Dec. 3
By CAITLIN R. KING, The Associated Press, NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Costner isn't what he'd call a "natural-born host."
So when the folks at Country Music Television asked him to emcee their first annual "CMT Artists of the Year" show on Friday, he immediately said no.
"A lot of nerves go with something like this," said Costner in a recent phone interview.
He said no again and again until executive producer John Hamlin sat him down and brought up Costner's country band, Modern West. That's when Costner realized he wasn't being asked to host solely on his star power as an actor.
"To be honest, how this happened, it happened because of the music, not because of my desire to do a show," said Costner.
It turns out Hamlin was a fan, both of his movies ("Dances with Wolves," ''Bull Durham," ''Field of Dreams") and his music, and had been watching Modern West take a respectable path to success that included a hard-nosed focus on touring.
"I had an instinct about him based on my perceptions of him both as a movie actor and then seeing him perform with his band," said Hamlin in a phone interview. "There's a passion in him that permeates his movie roles that felt to me was real in him. Add to that that he's going about his music career in an appropriate manner, given his circumstances as a movie actor, there was credibility that seemed like it was there."
According to CMT, the five "Artists of the Year," Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band, represent this year's top acts in country music based on touring, radio airplay, album sales and Internet buzz.
"It's really nothing but a lot of hard work, getting up early, traveling, doing interviews, and so, in a way, it's not really glitzy," said Costner. "Every artist is going to be surrounded by the network of people that has supported them probably very early in their career. It's very much a familial kind of night that way."
Kevin Costner and Modern West are currently writing and setting up their tour schedule for next year. Their tour will include stops in the United States, Europe and South America. Their debut album, "Untold Truths," debuted on the Billboard country charts in 2008, followed by a sophomore effort, "Turn It On," released last year in Europe.
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Online:
http://kevincostnermodernwest.com/
By Caitlin R. King, Associated Press, Published: Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010 3:00 p.m. MDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Living on the edge is right where you'll find country duo Sugarland.
They are continuing to stretch genre boundaries on their fourth album, "The Incredible Machine," and consider it a "thank you note" to fans for allowing them to grow as artists over the years.
"I don't think we're at the fringe of country music, I think we are the fringe," said lead singer Jennifer Nettles, 36, in a recent interview. "I think we are the fringe on the country western jacket, and what that means is like, it may be a little unconventional, but it is something you remember. I think that's what we do. We shake it up a little bit."
Sugarland's other half, guitarist Kristian Bush, 40, said fans not only have encouraged the duo but rewarded them for taking risks, like with their 2008 hit, "Stay." The nearly five-minute acoustic song went to No. 2 on the country charts and won them a Grammy.
They're doing it again with "The Incredible Machine's" leadoff single, "Stuck Like Glue." It's a top five hit on Billboard's country music chart, despite getting initial push back from some country radio programmers who took issue with the song's reggae-infused section.
"Art in general is provocative," said Nettles, brushing off any criticism. "It is meant to provoke. If it provokes conversation, if it provokes complete and total outrage or if it provokes euphoria, whatever that may be, and I think we've gotten a little provocative on this record."
"Can you imagine that? We just do some beat-boxing, and we get in trouble," added Bush with a chuckle.
The two of them drew inspiration from their teenage years in the 1980s for the album, released last week. Nettles said that brought an element of sheer joy to the creative process.
Artists like Blondie, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds and movies such as "Say Anything," "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty in Pink" all played a role in shaping the young lives of Nettles and Bush.
"It's what defines you at that age, the movies you see and the music you were listening to as you really started to choose things for yourself," said Bush. "So it has an indelible mark on you as a musician. That's when we were also learning to be musicians."
The duo relied on those influences, using Blondie-esque synthesizer sounds on songs like "All We Are" and "Find the Beat Again and writing "Tonight" with "Say Anything's" stereo serenade scene in mind.
Byron Gallimore, the producer who has worked with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Phil Vassar among others, has produced Sugarland's last three studio albums and their Christmas release. He said of the duo: "It really doesn't get any better than what they're doing. They're right at the top."
Gallimore called Bush "a phenomenal guitar player" and praised Nettles for being "one of the fastest vocalists" he has ever worked with.
"She's totally capable of singing any song one time and that being the record. I've seen her do it. She'll do about three vocal takes, and we'll pick one," he said. "(Bush's) acoustic tracks are the same way. We'll play them through one time and that's it."
That talent shines through anytime they perform live, and their audience continues to broaden. They just wrapped the first leg of their 55-city "Incredible Machine" tour and performed a special "Unstaged from American Express" live-stream concert in New York directed by "This Is It" filmmaker Kenny Ortega. They will also take part in this year's "VH1 Divas" show honoring the military.
Nettles said they are excited to show people "that country music is hip and young and fun and accessible," adding, "It's not necessarily about lifestyle, it's about having fun and being human."
When asked what makes them work as a duo, both say it comes down to one thing.
"Our friendship and our creative relationship (are) based off of respect without a doubt," said Nettles. "We each bring different strengths to the table."
Bush agreed: "Any relationship that you have with anyone, it has to be based on respect first. From there, everything else kind of blossoms."
It's been 25 years since Darius Rucker started his music career with Hootie and the Blowfish, and now he's out with his sophomore country album, "Charleston, SC 1966." (Oct. 20)
Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Paramore Lead 'VH1 Divas' Lineup
by Caitlin R. King, Associated Press | October 14, 2010 11:44 EDT
Being a diva is different than it used to be.
Katy Perry, Sugarland, Keri Hilson, Nicki Minaj and Paramore are this year's "VH1 Divas," but they'll be taking some of the focus off themselves, singing for the military through a partnership with the USO.
Perry, Sugarland, Hilson and Minaj will perform for thousands of men and women in uniform at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego. Paramore will visit Marines, soldiers, airmen, sailors, coastguardsmen and reservists at a military base in the Middle East.
Hilson called it an incredible opportunity.
"I get to be among so many other influential women, groundbreaking women, strong, powerful, confident women, not only on that day, but just to be a part of the legacy of 'VH1 Divas,'" she said.
Hilson said she embraces the positive characteristics of being a diva.
"Strong woman, yes I am. Leader, yes I am. Innovative, creative, all those things, yes, I am that," said Hilson.
Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland has a similar definition for the modern day diva.
"All of these women definitely have a larger than life persona, be it on stage or who they are or what they wear," she said. "I think there's something to be said for celebrating that."
Hilson and Nettles love the idea of supporting the troops through the show. Hilson's dad served in the Army before she was born, and Nettles has a brother in the Air Force.
Sugarland is the only country act on the bill, and Nettles is excited to show people "that country music is hip and young and fun and accessible."
She says, "It's not necessarily about lifestyle, it's about having fun and being human."
To make her "Divas" performance memorable, Nettles jokes that she's "hoping to get to wear the Cher outfit," from the infamous 1989 music video aboard a battleship for "If I Could Turn Back Time." Cher, a previous "VH1 Divas" performer, wore a barely there, V-shaped swimsuit with a fishnet body stocking during the video, which was taped with a large group of sailors.
By CAITLIN R. KING, Associated Press Writer, Thu Aug 26, 3:19 pm ET
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carrie Underwood's wedding was one of the most special days of her life, but it will likely become fodder for jokes when she and Brad Paisley host the Country Music Association Awards for the third year in a row.
The two will anchor the Nov. 10 ceremony in Nashville, and Paisley said of Underwood's July union with NHL player Mike Fisher: "We have to bring it up."
"It was big news in country music, so if it is that, it is fair game, as well as Nashville or current events," he said in an interview with Underwood on Thursday. "It's worth talking about anything like that that people will relate to."
The two joked about Paisley's wedding gift to Underwood, a bowl, which Paisley said his wife picked out.
"Is it something you wanted or it's in the pile of re-gift items?" asked Paisley.
"You're going to get it back three Christmases from now," said Underwood.
"I can't wait to get that back," said Paisley.
They also talked about Underwood's wardrobe. She is known to switch up her outfits multiple times throughout the show, changing more than 10 times last year.
"I can't change anymore than I did last year," said Underwood. "I don't think that's a physical possibility, so I'm not going to try to outdo the costumes."
So maybe it's Paisley's turn to change his outfits this year?
"I think that would be awesome," said Underwood. "I'm going to stay in the same thing all night. I'm going to show up in my pajamas, and you're going to do your thing."
As for hosting together, the two have a natural timing and chemistry together that comes across on stage and in-person.
"I do feel like we do have our own roles that we fall into and compliment each other," said Underwood.
"At this point three years later, we have each other pretty well figured out, so I think it will go really smooth," said Paisley.
