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Posted today at 2:28pm
 Warner Music NashvilleBlake Shelton has lined up Miranda Lambert, Reba and Vince Gill to perform at his telethon, Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert, coming up Wednesday, May 29 at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Center. More big names will be announced soon. The concert will be broadcast live on NBC that night at 9 p.m. ET. E!, Bravo and CMT will also air the special either live or on a delayed basis.
Blake grew up in Ada, OK, not far from where the devastating tornado struck Monday, May 20, and he currently lives in Tishomingo, OK.
"Everyone has their way to help, and mine as an entertainer is to perform to help raise money and awareness for this tragedy," Blake says. "This is why I want to do this special and especially hold it in Oklahoma City, which is near ground zero."
Proceeds from the telethon will go to the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund. Tickets to the event go on sale Saturday morning through Ticketmaster.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 2:00pm
 Capitol NashvilleLittle Big Town raised some big money playing a small show recently near Nashville. The group's show at Rolling Hills Farm in Franklin, TN brought in $115,000 for Blood: Water Mission, an organization working against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney were in the audience. This concert was Little Big Town's second fundraiser for Blood: Water Mission.
Little Big Town heads to Virginia Beach, VA for a show Tuesday night.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 11:00am
 Republic NashvilleBefore their touring schedule got out of hand, The Band Perry made it a point to head back to their grandmother's house in Mississippi for her church's annual Memorial Day event. After the service, the church has a huge potluck lunch, and the Perry siblings took that opportunity to interview a few soldiers a few years ago while they were working on their first album.
Reid Perry explains, "We just listened to a lot of the stories that they had to tell because there’s some amazing anecdotes."
His sister Kimberly Perry adds, "Unfortunately, so many of those folks who had told us those stories three short years ago are no longer with us, so it’s really like this moment in time that we’re trying to soak up before it’s gone away for us."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 8:01am
 Comstock/ThinkstockCraig Morgan once served in which branch of the U.S. military? ANSWER: Army.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 8:01am
 Republic NashvilleThe Eli Young Band is making a point to meet with military families this year while on the road with Kenny Chesney's No Shoes tour. Those meet-and-greet sessions also include an acoustic performance by the band, and front man Mike Eli says it’s the least they can do for those helping defend our country.
Mike tells Gaithersburg, MD's The Gazette, “I have two brothers in the Marines, and to see what their families have gone through and to be a part of that has been incredibly eye opening. It’s tough for them. If my band can do something to bring a little joy to the family that has been through hell and back, by God, we’re going to do it."
Check out EliYoungBand.com for a full list of tour dates.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 5:01am
 Sony Nashville/AristaCarrie Underwood is giving back to her home state of Oklahoma following the devastation caused there by Monday's tornadoes.
Carrie announced Thursday that she is donating one million dollars in proceeds from her just-concluded Blown Away Tour to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
The singer says in a statement, “I have watched the devastation in my home state of Oklahoma over the past several days with great sadness. With the help of my fans who attended my concerts over the past year, we can offer the Red Cross a little extra help in comforting those affected by the recent tornados.”
In addition, another Oklahoma native, Blake Shelton, is organizing a benefit concert of his own, which will air on NBC.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 5:00am
 Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockCraig Morgan, Diamond Rio and Randy Travis will join Alabama on their Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea cruise October 24 through 28. Go to AlabamaFestivalatSea.com for details.
A U.S. postage stamp honoring Johnny Cash will be unveiled at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday, June 5.
Rapper Snoop Dogg, a.k.a. Snoop Lion, was on the same flight as Reba Wednesday night, and he posted a picture of himself with her on Instagram. The caption reads, "Was on plane wit a legend Reba !! Cmt style."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted today at 5:00am
 Curb RecordsLee Brice grew up listening to his grandfather's stories of serving in World War II, so Memorial Day has always had a special meaning for him. Now that he's topped the country chart with his ode to a fallen soldier, "I Drive Your Truck," Lee is proud his song will serve as the soundtrack for thousands of military families honoring their loved ones this weekend.
He says, "This song is not just for the soldiers. It's like their families and their friends who kind of really understand what they sacrifice on a daily basis. So, Memorial Day, I think, is kind of for all those people too, you know, to me."
"I Drive Your Truck" is included on Lee's latest album, Hard 2 Love, now in stores.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 8:00pm
 Capitol NashvilleIt goes without saying that the members of Lady Antebellum are huge music fans, and they're sharing some of their favorite songs and albums in the new issue of People.
Group member Hillary Scott is expecting her first baby in July, and music will play a huge role in that child's life. Hillary even plans to rock out to Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy" in the delivery room. She explains with a laugh, "I wouldn't be going through this if I were a boy."
As for their other picks, Hillary's band mate Dave Haywood says he works out to the Grammy-winning Mumford & Sons album, Babel.
Says Dave, "Some of it is fast and frantic, so it gives you that edge."
Lady A's Charles Kelley admits he's a sucker for the Miley Cyrus pop gem, "Party in the U.S.A," as far as guilty pleasures go. He says, "If you tell me that you’re not secretly loving it when they put that on in a club, you’re a liar!"
For more of Lady A's favorites, pick up the latest issue of People, on stands Friday.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 5:40pm
 Sony Music NashvilleMiranda Lambert clearly loves her husband, Blake Shelton, but her affection for her animals comes in a close second. Miranda had to put down one of her horses Thursday. The loss hit her hard.
She tweeted, "Animal love is so strong & it can really break your heart. Hope he is the one Jesus comes back on."
Miranda is an outspoken advocate for animals, especially dogs. Find out more about Miranda's work at MuttNationFoundation.com.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 5:00pm
 Show Dog/UniversalTrace Adkins won All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and released his new album, Love Will…, all last week, but he's not slowing down anytime soon. Trace is set to serve as the honorary Grand Marshall in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade Monday in Washington, D.C. He's also gracing the cover of Country Weekly's new issue, on stands Friday. As if that weren't enough, Trace has lined up a performance slot on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 12.
Love Will… features Trace's collaboration with Grammy winner Colbie Caillat on "Watch the World End." Trace called on his fans to submit their personal videos for a new clip of the song. It's now posted on Vevo.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 2:00pm
 Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker isn't sure when he'll stage full-on reunion with his rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, but a short tour with the guys is still on the table. 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of Hootie's debut album, Cracked Rear View, which went on to sell more than 10 million copies, and that could lead Darius to get the old band back together.
Darius tells The Hollywood Reporter, "We might do a month tour next year to commemorate Cracked Rear View, but that one total year where we decide to do a record and a farewell tour is a couple years away."
For now, Darius is enjoying his solo career at the top of the country charts, and there's just no room for Hootie & the Blowfish in that equation. It turns out the guys in the band missed their chance to go country with Darius before he ever set out on his own.
"At this point in my career, I don't think I would want to do a country record with them," Darius tells reporters in Nashville. "I said in several band meetings, 'Let's be a country band,' and it wasn't what they wanted to do."
Darius promises fans there will be another Hootie album and tour at some point, but he's not going to piggyback that reunion onto his country albums and tours. Says Darius, "You know, we make rock records. That's what we're going to do."
Darius's third country album, True Believers, is now in stores featuring his big hit, "Wagon Wheel."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 11:16am
 Capitol NashvilleLittle Big Town has signed on to host the CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock special, airing Monday, August 12 on ABC. The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year will be running around all over the CMA Music Festival, running June 6 through 9, taping segments and interviewing the stars for the special. The festival features performances from country's hottest stars every night at Nashville's LP Field.
Little Big Town is honored to host the special this year. Band member Karen Fairchild says, "We could not be more excited about the party that's going to break out at LP Field every night!"
Though the list of stars appearing on the special hasn't been announced yet, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood and Florida Georgia Line are just a few of the acts confirmed to appear at LP Field during the CMA Music Festival.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 11:00am
 Monarch PublicityCraig Morgan co-hosts a special Memorial Day edition GAC Top 20 Country Countdown with Nan Kelley this Friday night at 8 ET. The episode was taped at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, TN and features a tour of the Don F. Pratt Museum, which covers the history of the 101st Airborne Division.
Nan and Craig also get in a little rappelling at the Sabalauski Air Assault School.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 8:00am
 Facebook.com/DierksBentleyDierks Bentley fans can look forward to familiar themes on his upcoming album, Riser, including a few lonesome songs and some songs about drinking a nice, cold beer. There are some new elements to the music too due to where Dierks is in his life right now as a husband and father.
He adds, "You know my dad passed away, so that’s all kind of tied into it. Just kind of look at the world around me and making observations on that."
No matter what project he's working on, Dierks always takes care to put some kind of new sound on every album.
"I think 'new' is what is exciting about country music, you know?" Dierks explains. "''New' is what got me into country music. Hearing Hank, Jr. sing when I was 17-years-old was totally new to me. It might’ve been old to somebody else, but for me that was a brand new sound, and it just was…exciting."
The first single from Riser is titled "Bourbon in Kentucky." It will hit the airwaves next week.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 8:00am
 Comstock/ThinkstockWhich music superstar co-wrote Kellie Pickler's hit "Best Days of Your Life?" ANSWER: Taylor Swift.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 5:01am
 Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockBrett Eldredge is CMT's current Listen Up featured artist, and you can learn more about him at ListenUp.CMT.com.
Keith Urban has released the lyric video for his new single, "Little Bit of Everything."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 5:01am
 Vector ManagementTrisha Yearwood was one of several artists invited to the White House Wednesday night to pay tribute to Carole King, who was honored by President Obama and awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Obama remarked, "For an entire decade, behind so many of the songs that touched our hearts and stirred our soul, there was Carole forever joyful and uplifting."
Several artists paid tribute to King by performing her music, including Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sande and Yearwood.
The highlights included Joel performing "Locomotion," Taylor playing "Up on the Roof," and Estefan, Yearwood and Sande teaming up on "Will You Love Me Tomorrow."
Yearwood delivered a solo performance of King's hit "So Far Away."
King herself opened the event with a performance of "Beautiful."
The concert was presented as the latest edition of the “In Performance at the White House” series. It will air on PBS next Tuesday.
The 71-year-old King, the first woman to receive the Gershwin Prize, was also saluted with a concert at the Library of Congress on Tuesday night.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted yesterday at 5:00am
 ABCNow that Kellie Pickler has won this season of Dancing with the Stars, she's ready to get back to her first love -- making music. Kellie just released her new country single, "Someone Somewhere Tonight," to radio.
She tells ABC News Radio, "I'm really excited about getting back in the studio 'cause I started working on my record before we started the show, and I've only been able to get in the studio a couple times since then 'cause we've been so busy in the dance studio."
Kellie expects her new album to be out this fall. She's also on the road this summer with shows coming up in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Posted Wednesday night
 RCA NashvilleSara Evans will hold her annual fan club party June 6 in Nashville, and you could be singing onstage with her at the event. From now through Saturday, Sara is taking video submissions of fans singing their favorite songs from her catalog. On May 27, five finalists will be announced, after which fans will you can for your favorite at SaraEvans.com.
The grand prize winner will be announced on May 31. The lucky fan and a guest will be flown to Nashville for the event. For all of the details, go to Bandpage.com's Sara Evans page.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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