JOSH TURNER CELEBRATES BIRTH OF SECOND SON
Josh Turner and his wife Jennifer welcomed their second son, Colby Lynch Turner, to the family on Friday, June 26. The Turner’s are also parents to two-year-old Hampton. “I’m just a proud daddy right now,” says Turner. “Jennifer gave birth to another healthy baby boy. Hampton loves being a big brother and we’re just one big happy family.”
MONTGOMERY GENTRY BECOME THE NEWEST OPRY MEMBERS
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are now officially members of the Grand Ole Opry. Marty Stuart and Darryl Worley were among the performers on hand to share in their big moment. Other artists who took the stage included Opry great Little Jimmy Dickens, Connie Smith, and the Del McCoury Band. Montgomery Gentry were tapped to join the Opry in May. It was an emotional moment for the duo when Charlie Daniels extended the offer, which they enthusiastically accepted. Click HERE to see their backstage press conference.
TAYLOR SWIFT, BRAD PAISLEY WIN BIG AT CMT AWARDS
The TV show featured rock stars like Def Leppard, Sheryl Crow, and T-Pain, but the country stars won big when it came to the awards. Taylor Swift repeated as winner of Female Video and the overall Video of the Year. Brad Paisley won three, including Male Video of the Year. Other winners included Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown Band, and Kid Rock.
KEITH URBAN WALKS TO THE CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Most stars attending the CMT Music Awards arrived at the Red Carpet in limos. But not Keith Urban. He simply parked his car in the lot across the street from the arena, and walked to the Red Carpet! Until some eagle-eyed fans lining the street spotted him, and shouted his name. He quickly obliged and signed autographs for fans before heading back to the Red Carpet.
TAYLOR SWIFT HITS THE ROAD WITH HER DAD
Taylor Swift is a daddy's girl. The singer is gushing about her father on her MySpace page telling fans that her dad is along for the ride as she tours in support of her album "Fearless." Swift says, "He's a social butterfly and loves being on tour. He loves it so much, he thinks it's absolutely hilarious to embarrass me as much as possible." Despite the odd embarrassing dad moment, Swift says it's "priceless" having her old man along with her. In her song "The Best Day," Swift sings, "I have an excellent father/his strength is making me stronger." When speaking of the song during an interview earlier this year, Swift said the song also referred to her mother whom she also adores.
NEW CARRIE UNDERWOOD EXHIBIT IN NASHVILLE
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is set to honor Carrie Underwood. The exhibit "Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl" will open Thursday, June 11th and feature the merlot silk taffeta gown that she wore at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards on April 5th. Miami-based designer Rafael Cennamo created the dress which Underwood wore while performing her single "I Told You So." During the ceremony, Underwood also claimed the awards for Entertainer of the Year and Top Female Vocalist. "Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl" will run through December 31st.
KEITH URBAN PERFORMS WITH NEW AMERICAN IDOL
During the star-filled finale of American Idol, Keith Urban performed his current hit, "Kiss a Girl," with finalist Kris Allen. Then less than an hour later, Kris was named the 2009 American Idol. Keith Urban was looking forward to his appearance on the talent show because he's been a fan all year.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD GETS A GIFT FROM REBA
When Carrie Underwood won the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award, standing a few feet away was Reba McEntire. She hosted the ACM telecast, and won the same award 15 years ago. Carrie told Lon Helton of Country Countdown USA that she received a gift from Reba. " She sent me a vase from Tiffany’s. It’s beautiful. I have no idea what I’m gonna do with it. Nothing in my house is nice enough to put this near. So it was really nice.”
BRAD & KIM PAISLEY WELCOME THEIR SECOND SON
Huck Paisley has a little brother! The baby boy was born Friday April 17th in a Nashville area hospital. Brad & Kim have named him Jasper Warren Paisley. The new baby arrived almost 2 weeks late, but is described as "healthy," and everyone is now resting comfortably.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD WINS ACM ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
The fans elected her American Idol, and now the fans helped make Carrie Underwood the ACM's Entertainer of the Year. Moments after winning the top country honor, Carrie gave full credit to her fans: "I'm very grateful, my fans came through, they put me in this business in the first place, and it's great to know I still have that support." Taylor Swift picked up Album of the Year honors for her top-selling CD, "Fearless." When asked what she thought about Carrie's win for Entertainer, Taylor said, "I just hope they keep it fan voted!"
DIERKS, KENNY, BLAKE CELEBRATE #1 SONGS
It's a Nashville tradition. When an artist gets a #1 song, the artist, his record label, the songwriters, publishers, and radio all get together and celebrate the accomplishment. There were several all star parties recently, as Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, and Blake Shelton each held parties in Nashville.
COUNTRY COUNTDOWN USA WINS ACM AWARD
Lon Helton was named ACM National On-Air Personality of the Year. He got the news from Little Big Town member Kimberly Shrappman. Lon has already won 4 CMA Awards in that category, and is a member of the Country DJ Hall of Fame.
GEORGE STRAIT WINS HIS FIRST GRAMMY AWARD
In a recording career that spanned 27 years, George Strait won every award imaginable, and was even inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. But he had never won a Grammy...until now. George Strait's current CD, "Troubadour," won the Best Country Album Grammy. It also the reigning CMA Album of the Year.
PAISLEY, UNDERWOOD, SUGARLAND ARE GRAMMY WINNERS
Brad Paisley picked up two Grammy Awards: Best Male Performance for "Letter To Me," and his second straight Grammy for Country Instrumental. Carrie Underwood received the Country Female Grammy for "Last Name." Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles won Best Country Song for her composition, "Stay." Sugarland also won Best Country Performance for Duo or Group, also for "Stay."
THREE NEW MEMBERS IN COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME
A Nashville press conference presented the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame: Roy Clark, best known as co-host of Hee Haw, Barbara Mandrell, who was "Country When Country Wasn't Cool," and harmonica virtuoso Charlie McCoy, who played with Loretta Lynn, Bob Dylan, and George Jones. The three will be inducted at a ceremony in May.
SUMMER 2009 WILL BE BIG FOR COUNTRY CONCERTS
The year has just begun, and we already know that Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, George Strait, and Taylor Swift will headline major tours this summer.
JAMES OTTO ENDS THE YEAR WITH THE #1 Song of 2008
One year ago, James Otto's song, "Just Got Started Lovin' You," entered the Top 30. As the year ended, that song received enough radio airplay to become the #1 song of 2008. CCUSA host Lon Helton called James with the good news, who said, "It's been a crazy year. Having the #1 song is just unbelievable to me." He says he's learned the power of a hit song, as many people tell him they play it at their wedding. In addition, the song is nominated for a Grammy. Hear Lon's interview with James Otto HERE.
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