www.umgnashville.com RSS Feed

That Lonesome Song | Jamey Johnson | Album

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Download Jamey's single "in Color" at iTunes Click Here!

                                                                               JAMEY JOHNSON
                                                                          THAT LONESOME SONG

He could be basking in his songwriting accolades, but Jamey Johnson remains a restlessly creative maverick.

            Jamey is the co-writer of the CMA and ACM 2007 Song of the Year “Give It Away,” recorded by George Strait. Trace Adkins, George Jones and Joe Nichols have also recorded his songs. But instead of sitting at home counting his royalty checks, Jamey Johnson recorded more than 40 songs during the past year.

            Not content with providing hits for others, the singer-songwriter has a powerful drive to sing, record and perform.

            “Writing is not enough for me,” says this intense artist. “I did not come here to just be a writer. I live to play….I’m not here to take a stab at it. I am going to DO it.”

            Following a deep period of isolation and introspection, Jamey Johnson entered the recording studio in April 2007. Within months, Jamey emerged with That Lonesome Song, a collection of extraordinary compositions that is equally noteworthy for its lyrical craftsmanship and its strikingly original sound.

            The set burns with the emotional heat of songs such as “Sending an Angel to Hell” and “Lonesome Song.” Turn one corner and you’ll find the dark humor of “Mowing Down the Roses” and “Women.” Turn another and you’ll find the soft contemplation of “When the Last Cowboy’s Gone” or “Out on the Ocean.” Jamey’s life sets the tone for the autobiographical “Stars in Alabama” and “Between Jennings and Jones.” And speaking of Waylon Jennings, Jamey pays tribute to his idol by covering “Dreaming My Dreams” and “The Door Is Always Open.”

            At the heart of That Lonesome Song is a trio of great story songs. The frank lyric of “High Cost of Living” paints a dramatic portrait of a man who hits bottom and winds up in prison. “Mary Go Round” is the cautionary tale of a woman who goes through a divorce and loses her moral compass. “In Color,” the collection’s first single, is the moving depiction of a man looking back at his life in black-and-white photographs.

            “The album never stops,” comments Jamey. “The whole album is one lonesome song, and that’s why it’s called That Lonesome Song. Every song is lonesome in its own way, even the funny ones.

            “It’s been a work of love. We just had such a good time pulling it all together.”
            Making music comes as naturally to Jamey Johnson as breathing. He was raised outside Montgomery, Alabama in a family that was poor but highly musical. Like so many country musicians, Jamey first performed gospel music in churches with his father.

            “We would get up and do a song. Somebody would hear it and go, ‘Man, you don’t even know, but that just hit me right where I needed to be hit today.’ I got used to that at an early age. That’s what music is for. It’s to reach people. And I carry that with me today. I honestly don’t care about the money.”

            Jamey is a study in contrasts. He was raised in a devout household, yet he spent part of his youth drinking beer and playing country songs at night on the Montgomery tombstone of Hank Williams. He has a backwoods upbringing, but is a formally trained musician who knew music theory as early as junior high school. He is deadly serious about his music, yet has an outrageous sense of humor. With his piercing pale-blue eyes and biker beard, he looks like a hell raiser, but he has the heart of a poet.

            He seems like a rebel, but Jamey spent eight years as a member of the highly disciplined U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. The week he was discharged, the rest of his unit was ordered to Iraq.

            By then, Jamey Johnson was in Nashville trying to launch a country career. He arrived on Jan. 1, 2000, spending every dime he had to make the move. He took a job as a salesman for a sign company, then worked for an industrial pumping company. In 2001-2004 he ran his own successful construction firm, restoring buildings devastated by fires, hurricanes or tornados.

            Performing in Nashville nightspots led to work singing songwriters’ “demo” tapes on Music Row. Producer Buddy Cannon was impressed with Jamey’s soulful singing, as well as the direct honesty of his songwriting. Song publisher Gary Overton signed Jamey to EMI Music and joined Buddy in the effort to land him a recording contract.

            Those efforts paid off with a label deal and Jamey’s hit single “The Dollar” in 2005. He hit the road – and the honky-tonks – with relish.

            “Think about my life: I got right out of high school. Then it was eight years in the Marine Corps. I never got to go through that college experience where most kids get to go buck wild. Then I opened a construction company. Got married. Had a daughter. I’ve had responsibility galore on me for years, so when I got that record deal, that was my party. Me and my friends would go take over a bar. We were just as wild as hell and having the time of our lives. Everywhere we went, a crowd followed. I don’t mean 20 or 30 people. I mean like a couple of hundred.”

            “We took that same element out on the road with us. Everywhere we went we packed out them bars and did a good job. The bars made money. The crowd had a good time.”

            But as a consequence, Jamey acquired the reputation of being a country-music “bad boy.” Rumors and speculation flew, exaggerating his escapades. He admits he was a little wild, but emphasizes that he always delivered the goods, professionally. During this time, he and his wife separated, then divorced. In addition, his record company’s enthusiasm cooled and he lost his recording contract.

“They thought I was a little too wild,” Jamey reflects. “They thought I was a little too rowdy. They did what they had to do. If I was in their position, I’d have probably done the same thing.”

            “I turned into a recluse for about a year. I wouldn’t talk to anybody. I wouldn’t go out to clubs. I didn’t want to be at any party. I quit drinking for more than a year. In that respect, losing my deal was a good thing. Because I finally had time to come home and get my life back in order. More than anything, I stayed home and just sat there dwelling on things. It takes an awful lot of thinking to get through something like a divorce.”

            “The thing that really carried me through all of that was the writing success. Trace Adkins and George Strait kept money in my bank account and kept my name out there. They pretty much carried me on their shoulders through that period, and didn’t even realize they were doing that. They just liked my songs.”

            When he began to work on That Lonesome Song, Jamey says he felt a renewed sense of purpose and freedom. “Nobody was watching. We didn’t use a lot of the automation gadgetry. We spent so much time on the mix, just making sure you could hear every foot patting the floor, every creak of the chair. If someone turned around to adjust an amp, I wanted to hear their back pop. If their knuckles cracked, I wanted to hear it all.”

            “After we got done, we knew we had something. I guess around summertime, we started bringing people in to listen to it.”

Word began to spread on Music Row. Two record companies approached Jamey. Both wanted him to either record the songs over again or have outsiders’ songs included on the project. Jamey turned both down.

            “From now on, I want it to be my decision whether or not I sing something or I don’t. So just on principle, we turned them down. Luke Lewis at Mercury Records was the first person who understood. He said, ‘Man, I’ve just got one thing to say – don’t mess with that sound. I don’t know what y’all are doing in that studio, but just don’t mess with that sound.’ I said, ‘Hell, I came here to tell you that.’ Ever since then, it’s been a great relationship.”

Tracks
8. In Color

Buy
iTunes

The Tennessean - Feature | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:21:00 GMT

Julianne Hough is dancing to the top

By BEVERLY KEEL • Celebrity Columnist • June 29, 2008

It looks like everything has come easy for Julianne Hough, the two-time champ of ABC's Dancing with the Stars whose album debuted atop the country charts.

But looks, as they often are, are deceiving. If Hough makes success look easy, it's because the sure-footed professional just keeps moving when faced with adversity.

The 19-year-old is competitive and determined, traits that served her well during her parents' divorce; formative years in an environment in which girls weren't valued; and high-school bullying by a pack of "mean girls." After overcoming all that, dancing in front of America was a snap.

Luke Lewis, chairman of Universal Music Group Nashville, said, "Obviously she is really attractive, but she's also been blessed with a voice, and she has an incredible work ethic, which is critical. If anybody has got any more talent than her, she'll outwork them. She's competitive, too."

Competitive enough to pursue what might not seem like the most obvious career path for a championship-winning dancer. (She's the youngest person and only American to ever win the British Junior Latin Championship and International Championship in junior and youth, and she's also the Closed British Junior Champion.)

"Honestly, I don't think I would be here (doing music) without my family and their support," Hough said. "I've had a lot of people say, 'What are you doing? You are ruining your life, because your career is set over here in London as a dancer and you're going to make tons of money.'

"I was like, 'I don't want to do that. That is not true to who I am. I want to do what I love.' Regardless of what people say, I have always believed in myself."

From fairs to arts school

Hough began performing country songs when she was 3 at fairs and festivals in Utah. She performed with her four siblings as White Lightning, a group that became known as the "blond Osmonds." She also played bongos and studied dance.

"I've always been the most independent and stubborn and driven in the family," she said. "Being the youngest, I was always trying to be like my older sisters and fit in with them and be as talented as they were and have the lead vocal in our group.

"I knew what I wanted at a really young age. When I was 6 or 7, I said, 'I want to be a singer by the time I'm 19.' I was determined to get there."

When she was 10, in the midst of her parents' divorce, Hough moved to London, along with her brother, to attend the Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts. What began as a three-month stint turned into a five-year learning experience. "I knew what I had," she said. "This was an amazing opportunity where I was going to grow up and go through things early on, so that later on, I'll feel like I have a more stable head on my shoulders."

While she enjoyed her school experiences, she had difficulties with the London family with whom she and her brother lived. "It was really hard, because the family that I lived with wasn't accepting of girls," she said.

"They didn't know how to raise a little girl, so they tried to keep me away from everything and didn't let me have lessons. I would ask for guitar lessons every single day, and they wouldn't let me have them. I would be doing the dishes while my brother and Mark (Ballas) were having his band practice. It was hard for me, because I was always the one underneath, which then pushed me more."

She returned to Utah at age 15, only to realize that her female high school classmates weren't exactly going to roll out the welcome wagon. "It was definitely like those teenage movies you see where you eat lunch in the bathroom for three months, girls invite you to parties and it's an abandoned house, or you get asked to prom and get ditched."

Bigger and better things

After graduation, with just $2,000 in her pocket, Hough moved to Los Angeles instead of Nashville, because she knew she could support herself by dancing. She accepted a gig on the Dancing With the Stars tour because she needed money to make her rent. There, manager Irving Azoff discovered her and helped launch her country career.

Even though her self-titled album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country albums chart, Hough believes she's still got a lot to prove.

"I think that you will try to prove yourself until the day you die with whatever you do," she said. "You always want to be the best you can be.

Celebrity columnist Beverly Keel can be reached at 259-8073 or beverly@tennessean.com.

Sugarland is GAC's Artist of the Month! | Sugarland | News

MelissaMc — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:14:00 GMT

Sugarland has been named GAC's Artist of the Month! Check it out HERE.

Julianne Hough TV Interview – Watch It Now! | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:54:00 GMT

Julianne Hough was recently interviewed on her tour bus by Take Five, a news program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During the interview, Julianne discusses growing up singing country music, explains her female country influences, and talks about the challenges of transitioning her focus from professional dancing to a country music career. We also get some insight about her experiences so far on Brad Paisley’s Paisley Party Tour.

Click HERE to watch the interview.

Gary Allan Ecard | Gary Allan | eCard

Kaplan — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:50:00 GMT

NPR.ORG – Album Review | Ashton Shepherd | News

MelissaMc — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:45:00 GMT

CLICK HERE to read this stellar review from rock critic Ken Tucker on NPR.org.

Ashton to join Sugarland on tour | Ashton Shepherd | News

JenWay — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:12:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 1, 2008

THE SUPERSTARS OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE CRITICAL PRESS ARE DRAWN TO THE AUTHENTICITY OF ASHTON SHEPHERD AND SOUNDS SO GOOD

SHEPHERD IS ANNOUNCED AS THE OPENING ACT
ON SUGARLAND’S LOVE ON THE INSIDE TOUR

(Nashville, TN) Many artists in the music community are gravitating to the authenticity of Ashton Shepherd and her music. Here is what they are saying:

Keith Urban - “I heard ‘Sounds So Good’ and went out and bought the album. I must have played this song eight times consecutively and I knew I was listening to a piece of classic, country perfection.”

Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush) - “Ashton's natural talent as a songwriter, a singer, and as a performer is about to come crashing down on country music. We believe she just raised the bar for every new country artist on the planet.”

Miranda Lambert - “The first time I heard Ashton Shepherd’s voice, it's like she reached out of the radio and grabbed me. Within the first 10 seconds of the song you know it’s her. I think that is what sets her apart as an artist and will make for a long, strong career. I love that in her music you hear her life and the down home feel of her lyrics. She is perfectly unpolished. The fact that she is a redneck, beer drinkin' chick from Alabama, I mean what’s not to love? I'm a huge fan!”

“Receiving such amazing comments from other artists is the biggest compliment I could ever receive as a singer/songwriter,” says Ashton. “I started singing as soon as I could talk and I’ve been writing songs as long as I can remember. I can’t even tell you how much it means to me when these huge superstars tell me they like my music. It’s just unbelievable! I keep having to pinch myself.”

Ashton co-wrote 10 of the 11 tracks on Sounds So Good, produced by award-winning songwriter Buddy Cannon. “The simplicity of her songs communicates sincerity,” says Cannon, “and other artists recognize that and appreciate it.”

The critical press recognizes Ashton’s raw talent as well. Here is what they are saying:

USA Today – “Shepherd balances a fondness for music, motherhood and alcohol with a deep drawl and a straight-forwardness learned from the likes of Loretta Lynn.”

Entertainment Weekly – “Shepherd’s CD is the best mainstream country debut since Taylor Swift’s in 06.”

Blender – “Sounds So Good sounds so familiar that it comes to feel utterly distinctive – which is the genius of Ashton Shepherd’s debut.

Billboard – “There are debut albums and then there are debut albums that serve notice that the landscape has changed.”

American Songwriter – “She sings with a distinctly rich, lower-Alabama drawl that will grip you from the outset and make you proud to be a country music fan.”

Just announced yesterday, fans will be able to see Ashton performing her self-penned songs all across the country as the opening act for Sugarland’s LOVE ON THE INSIDE tour, which begins on September 13 in Asheville, NC. “What a dream come true to be on such a great tour with superstars like Sugarland. Jennifer and Kristian are incredible entertainers and I’m honored to be given this chance. I am just thrilled!”

Ashton will be joining Sugarland on their 25 city nationwide LOVE ON THE INSIDE tour. The tour will kick off in Asheville, NC on September 13. Catch Ashton live on tour in a city near you to hear her perform some of the songs from her critically acclaimed debut album, Sounds So Good

TOUR DATES
9/13 Asheville, NC Asheville Civic Center
9/14 Wilmington, NC Trask Colesium
9/19 Mashantucket, CT MGM Foxwoods
9/20 Atlantic City, NJ Mark G. Etess Arena
*9/21 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
*9/26 Bloomsburg, PA Bloomsburg Fair
*9/27 W. Springfield, MA Eastern States Exposition
9/28 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook
10/2 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum @ IA State Center
10/3 Stillwater, OK Oklahoma State University
*10/10 Columbia, SC South Carolina State Fair
10/11 Roanoke Rapids, NC Carolina Crossroads Outdoor Amphitheatre
*10/12 Perry, GA Reaves Arena
10/16 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort & Casino
10/17 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena
10/18 Erie, PA Erie Civic Center Complex
10/23 Tupelo, MS BancorpSouth Arena
10/24 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium
10/25 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena
11/6 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
11/7 Kissimmee, FL Silver Spurs Arena @ Osceola Heritage Park
11/8 Fort Myers, FL Lakes Regional Park
11/14 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
11/15 Beaumont, TX Ford Arena
11/16 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center

SUGARLAND TO HEADLINE LOVE ON THE INSIDE TOUR | Sugarland | News

UMGNashMod — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:24:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 30, 2008

SUGARLAND TO HEADLINE LOVE ON THE INSIDE TOUR

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS KELLIE PICKLER AND ASHTON SHEPHERD

NASHVILLE, TN – In support of their July 22 album release, Sugarland will kick off the 25 city nationwide LOVE ON THE INSIDE tour beginning in Asheville, NC on September 13. The tour will feature special guests Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd.

Tour Dates:

9/13 Asheville, NC Asheville Civic Center

9/14 Wilmington, NC Trask Colesium

9/19 Mashantucket, CT MGM Foxwoods

9/20 Atlantic City, NJ Mark G. Etess Arena

*9/21 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion

*9/26 Bloomsburg, PA Bloomsburg Fair

*9/27 W. Springfield, MA Eastern States Exposition

9/28 Gilford, NH Meadowbrook

10/2 Ames, IA Hilton Coliseum @ IA State Center

10/3 Stillwater, OK Oklahoma State University

*10/10 Columbia, SC South Carolina State Fair

10/11 Roanoke Rapids, NC Carolina Crossroads Outdoor Amphitheatre

*10/12 Perry, GA Reaves Arena

10/16 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort & Casino

10/17 Rochester, NY Blue Cross Arena

10/18 Erie, PA Erie Civic Center Complex

10/23 Tupelo, MS BancorpSouth Arena

10/24 Evansville, IN Roberts Stadium

10/25 Lexington, KY Rupp Arena

11/6 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena

11/7 Kissimmee, FL Silver Spurs Arena @ Osceola Heritage Park

11/8 Fort Myers, FL Lakes Regional Park

11/14 Lafayette, LA Cajundome

11/15 Beaumont, TX Ford Arena

11/16 Bossier City, LA CenturyTel Center

* indicates dates that do not include Kellie Pickler and/or Ashton Shepherd

Log on to www.sugarlandmusic.com Wednesday, July 2 at 1pm CST for a SURPRISE video announcement from the duo. You don’t want to miss this!

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush make up country duo Sugarland who exploded onto the music scene in ‘04 with multi-platinum selling album Twice The Speed Of Life, which gave birth to mega hits “Baby Girl” and “Something More”. Their second album Enjoy the Ride has sold over two million copies and spawned #1 hits with “Want To,” “Settlin’” and “Stay”. Their third studio album, Love On The Inside will be released July 22^nd. Sugarland is credited with co-writing all tracks from all three albums and co-producing the last two with Byron Gallimore. Their debut single from Love On The Inside, “All I Want To Do” is the highest country chart debut of their career. They have received trophies from the American Music Awards for “Breakthrough Favorite New Artist,” the Academy of Country Music for “New Duo/Group of the Year,” Single Record of the Year” (“Stay”), and “Song of the Year” (“Stay”), Country Music Television for “Collaborative Video of the Year” and “Duo Video of the Year,” and the Country Music Association for “Vocal Duo of the Year” and “Duo Video of the Year” (“Stay”). Nettles scored a Grammy in ‘07 for her collaboration with Bon Jovi for their #1 hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”.

Since the release of her gold certified, debut album Small Town Girl in 2006, American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler has been anything but idle. The disc yielded three Top 20 hits, two of them, “Red High Heels” and “I Wonder,” she co-wrote. And earlier this year she won three CMT Awards (the most awarded of the night).

Just one year ago Ashton Shepherd was picking peas in the morning and guitars at night in a small town in southern Alabama. Now, the 21-year-old singer/songwriter, wife and mother is a recording artist for MCA Records and is living her dream of being a country music singer. She will be performing self-penned hit singles “Taking Off This Pain” and “Sounds So Good” from her critically acclaimed debut album, Sounds So Good.

THE BUFFALO NEWS – concert review | Julianne Hough | News

JenWay — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:46:00 GMT

Paisley pleases his party-loving fans

By Stephanie Schomer

DARIEN — Country music fans at Darien Lake Performing Arts Center were lucky enough to bear witness to a wonderfully fun show Friday night as Brad Paisley brought his “Paisley Party” tour to Western New York.

Paisley, who is loved by the country music industry for his smart lyrics as well as his genuine twang, began his set with “Mud on the Tires.” He showcased his band’s talents as well as his superstar status. As he appeared onstage dressed in a black T-shirt and cowboy hat, playing on a cerulean-colored guitar, he wowed the crowd with his talent and charisma.

Moving into “Better Than This,” Paisley’s brightly lit backdrop displayed deer head and fish mounted on a wall, conveying his country spirit to the audience. I’ve always associated Paisley with his clever lyrics and comical songs, but he really showed off his fantastic skill as a guitarist during his set.

Welcoming the crowd, he said: “Being an election year, it doesn’t matter what side of the fence you’re on, we’re all a part of the Paisley Party.” His fans went wild in reaction to his infectious personality.

As he performed “The World,” a fun and upbeat love song, he was so comfortable running from end to end of the stage and displayed such charm when interacting with the crowd that it was hard to not be star struck.

On “She’s Everything,” Paisley performed on a guitar with the West Virginia University emblem on it, further proving that despite his success and fame, he hasn’t forgotten that he comes from Glen Dale, W. Va. Displaying an energy that is rare in live performers, it was clear that his fans don’t just love him, they absolutely adore him. It was five songs before Paisley finally performed one of his more satirical numbers.

Singing “Celebrity,” the song mocking America’s obsession with pop culture and reality shows, his set displayed the words “Guitar Zero: Press Any Button to Twang,” and went on to feature a mock version of the popular video game Guitar Hero.

It is Paisley’s sheer talent, both in writing and performing, mixed with his ability to laugh at himself and the world, that make him such an appealing performer. As fans were on their feet throughout his set, they couldn’t have had a better time.

Opening for Paisley were Julianne Hough (former “Dancing with the Stars” two-time champion), Chuck Wicks and Jewel. The crowd was lucky enough to see a show with opening acts that all proved to be entertaining.

Hough’s fans from “Dancing with the Stars” have obviously followed her into her music career, and she was just adorable as a singer as she was on the celebrity dance show. Similarly, Chuck Wicks was a pleasing surprise; showcasing his singer/ songwriter talents, he really performed a good set.

Had Paisley not been such a superior performer, Jewel would have hands-down stolen the show. Though it’s been more than 10 years since Jewel released “Pieces of You,” the album that really catapulted her to musical greatness, her talent is still unbelievable.

As she performed “Who Will Save Your Soul,” which she introduced as the first song she wrote, she showcased her always perfect, never out of tune vocals.

Even if you think Jewel has only produced one great album during her career, you couldn’t deny the talent she shared with the crowd.

Concert Review

Brad Paisley

With Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough on Friday night in Darien Lake Performing Arts Center.

ASBURY PARK PRESS – feature | Julianne Hough | News

JenWay — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:42:00 GMT

Hough off the hoof

"Dancing" star focuses on her singing

By ED CONDRAN • Correspondent • June 27, 2008

Don't expect Julianne Hough to do the foxtrot when she steps onto to the PNC Bank Arts Center stage in Holmdel, even though she made a national name for herself courtesy of her moves on TV's "Dancing With the Stars" competition.

Hough will be opening the show Saturday for country star Brad Paisley to promote her self-titled debut disc.

"I'm not going to give you the samba when I come in," Hough said while calling from Phoenix. "I will move around the stage, but I'll be singing."

You can't blame fans for expecting a lot from Hough, who is just 19. She's a triple threat who can sing, dance and act.

"I've always wanted to do it all," Hough said. "I love doing different things, but (singing) is my true love."

A choreographer since age 13, Hough said she plans to appear on future seasons of "Dancing With the Stars," where she led Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves to victories.

Since her most recent TV stint, she's been navigating stages with microphone in hand.

"This is what I'm happiest doing," Hough said. "This is a passion of mine."

Hough is at her best delivering sentimental, romantic country-pop songs. "I sing them like I mean them," Hough said. "I want to do as well as a singer as possible."

If she can approximate her success as a dancer, Hough will do just fine. The Utah native, who spent much of her childhood focusing on her potential career, has maximized her "Dancing with the Stars" experience. While many of performers on the show have been trying to revitalize fading careers, Hough has accomplished the opposite.

"It's been a great opportunity," Hough said. "People know me because of that show. A year ago nobody knew my name. Now when I go to an airport, I see my face on the covers of all these magazines and I just look away. It's crazy how much has happened in my life but this is what I wanted. When I was 10 to 15, I was away from my family and I trained like an Olympian preparing to be an entertainer. This is something I always wanted and now the opportunity is here and I'm going for it."

Hough hopes to score serious acting opportunities.

"I would love to get my feet wet in that world," Hough said. "But I don't want to look too far ahead. I'm focusing on the music, and I enjoy the dancing side of things when I have the opportunity. But I couldn't ask for a better situation now than going out on tour with Brad Paisley. It's a great way to learn, and that's the thing I've been doing so much over the last two years. I've picked up a lot on "Dancing With The Stars" and on this tour. This is awesome. I get to express myself in so many ways. I've worked so hard for all of this, but I've been incredibly fortunate."

Vote for Sugarland on CMT Power Picks! | Sugarland | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:38:00 GMT

Vote for SUGARLAND during CMT Power Picks on Thursday (7/3) as their video battles Colt Ford for play. Don't miss Friday (7/4) when Sugarland battles Brad Paisley for video play. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Vote for Gary on CMT Power Picks! | Gary Allan | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:28:00 GMT

Vote for GARY ALLAN during CMT Power Picks on Wednesday (7/2) as his video battles LeAnn Rimes for play. Don't miss Thursday (7/3) when Gary battles Miranda Lambert, and Friday (7/4) to see Gary vs. Ashton Shepherd. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Vote for Jamey Johnson on CMT Power Picks! | Jamey Johnson | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:24:00 GMT

Vote for JAMEY JOHNSON during CMT Power Picks on Wednesday (7/2) as his video battles Little Big Town for play. Be sure to vote for Jamey again on Friday (7/4) when his video battles Carried Underwood. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Vote for Julianne on CMT Power Picks! | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:20:00 GMT

Vote for JULIANNE HOUGH during CMT Power Picks on Friday (7/4) as her video battles Montgomery Gentry for play. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Vote for Julianne on CMT Power Picks! | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:17:00 GMT

Vote for JULIANNE HOUGH during CMT Power Picks on Wednesday (7/2) as her video battles Taylor Swift for play. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Big news! | Ashton Shepherd | Diary

Skirkham — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

I have been having such a great time touring throughout the summer. I've
been visiting my friends at radio and have played all different types of shows. I have dreamed allmy life of being on a major tour and whaddaya know...Sugarland comes
forward and offers for me to open up their tour this fall. I jumped up and
down, telling my husband first...then calling the rest of my family, so
excited. I am still excited. To have such an opportunity to open for such
talented people who have worked so hard to get to where they are now is just
amazing.

Can't wait to see the fans out there!! We are going to have a
ball!!!

Vote for Josh on CMT Power Picks! | Josh Turner | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:34:00 GMT

Vote for JOSH TURNER during CMT Power Picks on Tuesday (7/1) as his video battles for play. Be sure to vote for Josh on Thursday (7/3) when his video battles Jewel. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Lee Ann is the Disc of the Day | Lee Ann Womack | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:14:00 GMT

Check out what Robert K. Oermann of Music Row had to say of Lee Ann's new single, "Last Call."

Some days, everything is perfectly clear.

The sun is shining. The sky is blue. And it is completely transparent that Lee Ann Womack’s “Last Call” is the Disc of the Day. If what I heard today is any indication, she and producer Tony Brown have been making audio magic in the studio together.

LEE ANN WOMACK/Last Call
Writer: Shane McAnally/Erin Enderlin; Producer: Tony Brown; Publisher: Crazy Water/Words & Music/Universal/World House of Hits, ASCAP; Mercury (CDX)
—He’s calling from a bar, drunk on Johnny Walker Red and listening to a cheatin’ song. And she won’t pick up the phone because she’s always his “Last Call.” Now THAT’S country. A beautifully haunting song, a platinum vocal performance and a simply gorgeous production.

Vote for Billy on CMT Power Picks! | Billy Currington | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:11:00 GMT

Vote for BILLY CURRINGTON during CMT Power Picks on Monday (6/30) as his video battles for play. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

Vote for Ashton on CMT Power Picks! | Ashton Shepherd | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:07:00 GMT

Vote for ASHTON SHEPHERD during CMT Power Picks on Tuesday (7/1) as her video battles for play. CMT Power Picks airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET. During the show, go to CMT.com to cast your vote.

INDIANAPOLIS STAR - story | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:22:00 GMT

Urban Cowgirls: Country's most handsome women make over the genre

by David Lindquist

Julianne Hough is a poster girl for country music's image makeover.

The 19-year-old first found fame as dance partner to world-class athletes Helio Castroneves and Apolo Anton Ohno on the TV series "Dancing With the Stars" -- where she moved to a soundtrack ranging from '80s rapper Young MC to yesteryear diva Dinah Shore.

Becoming a country singer wasn't a predictable next step for Hough, but Nashville is happy to have her.

Hough's self-titled album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's country chart in May, and she will appear as a supporting act for Brad Paisley June 26 at Verizon Wireless Music Center.

According to Hough (rhymes with "buff"), she's always been more "Hee Haw" than hip.

"What's funny is that everybody does see me as the dancer from 'Dancing With the Stars' who wears glamorous costumes and skimpy little outfits," she says during a telephone interview. "What people don't realize is that I grew up in Utah, where it's normal and laid-back. It's all about being real and wearing jeans and flip-flops."

Hough joins 25-year-old Carrie Underwood and 18-year-old Taylor Swift in a sorority of country starlets saturating pop culture. Jessica Simpson and Jewel, no strangers to mainstream exposure, have likewise turned to twang to revive their careers.

Country has become an easy sell for Indianapolis resident Donny Klotz, who listened to Seattle-spawned grunge in the early '90s. As a teenager, he viewed Nashville as the source of "redneck, Confederate-type stuff."

Klotz now drives to Louisville, Ky., to attend free "Hot Country Nights" concerts presented throughout the summer.

Ed Wenck, on-air personality for radio station WLHK-FM (97.1), says today's country acts capture younger fans who listen without prejudice. It's common, Wenck says, for the White Stripes and Kenny Chesney to carry equal weight on iPod playlists.

"There's no judgment about, 'Oh, you listen to country, you must fit into that segment of the population,' or 'You listen to rock, you must fit into that segment of the population,'." Wenck says. "There are no genre barriers in high schools anymore, and I think that's bleeding upward."

It's also true that sex appeal transcends all demographics. Hough, Underwood (set to appear Aug. 8 at the Indiana State Fair), Swift (who played Verizon earlier this month), Jewel (who's part of the June 26 Paisley show) and Simpson (set to appear Aug. 7 at the Indiana State Fair) don't wear cowboy hats or look like Minnie Pearl.

"There are some more traditional fans (who) have begun griping that it's all about skinny blondes," Wenck says. "I expect there's going to be a pushback. The pendulum will swing in the other direction."

Beyond pretty faces, Nashville's newest angels offer music built upon melody, storytelling and a common experience -- traits listeners may not be hearing in rock and rap.

Not to mention, "People are weary of all that angst and teen pain," says Wenck, who once worked at modern rock outpost WRZX-FM (103.3) with his on-air partner, Dave O'Brien.

The hottest rap song of the young summer, meanwhile, is Lil' Wayne's anatomically metaphorical "Lollipop."

"I think country music has a little more self-respect to it than a lot of hip-hop," says Lindsey Garner, 29, of Pendleton. "We don't feel degraded listening to it."

Paisley maintained his masculinity and recently reached No. 1 on the country singles chart with "I'm Still a Guy." Hough's breakthrough hit, "That Song in My Head," intertwines music and love, while Jewel makes a statement of self-affirmation in the lyrics of "Stronger Woman."

"When I was younger, I thought country music was depressing and sad," says Angie Hudson, a 30-year-old resident of Anderson. "Now, I just think country music is expression and what you go through in life."

Plenty of Hoosier lives connect with country music. Radio station WFMS-FM (95.5) has ranked No. 1 among local listeners ages 12 and older for more than nine consecutive years. Rascal Flatts is one of few acts that can sell all 24,000 tickets available for a Verizon show, and Chesney will perform Sept. 13 at Lucas Oil Stadium -- making him the first entertainer to play the new football stadium.

Country is cool enough that John Wade is converting the former Seven nightclub in Broad Ripple to BuckWildz, a joint where you'll find a mechanical bull and female bartenders who dance in the tradition of "Coyote Ugly."

Wade says rock will reign at BuckWildz, but he plans to make room for modern Nashville hits he equates to mainstream rock of the 1980s: "It has a great beat and you can dance to most of it."

He says country will account for roughly one of every four songs heard at the new nightclub.

"Would I do that everywhere? Not necessarily," he says. "In Indianapolis? Yes."

INDIANAPOLIS STAR - feature | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:15:00 GMT

Julianne Hough wins skeptics over

by David Lindquist

Julianne Hough will perform June 26 at Verizon Wireless Music Center. (Provided by Universal Music)

Julianne Hough says she doesn't hold a grudge against anyone in Nashville who doubted her dream of becoming a country singer.

"I would be one of those people thinking, 'Oh, what is this reality star thinking she can do -- go over to music because she has a little bit of fame?'." says the two-time winner on ABC series "Dancing With the Stars."

"People have the right to think that. What's been great is that I think all skepticism has gone aside once people hear the single or the album or hear me live or even hear me talk about how passionate I am about music."

Hough is finding that commercial success and credibility go hand in hand. Her self-titled album debuted at No..1 on Billboard magazine's country chart and No..3 on Billboard's all-genre Top 200 chart in May.

It wasn't the first time the 19-year-old defied expectations.

When studying performing arts in London from ages 10 to 15, Hough relied on her mother to send country CDs by mail.

"Everybody in London calls any American a 'Yankee,'." she says. "But they called me 'the hick.'."

Hough says she adopted a Southern accent for the first song she sang in public: "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" at age 3.

"People asked my mom, 'Where are you guys from?' 'Oh, we're from Utah,'." Hough says.

Squeaky-clean image aside, Hough covers relatively racy ground on the song "Hide Your Matches." The lyrics advise a romantic interest to know his limits. "I'm bound to lose all I am, right here in your arms. And it ain't gonna take much, and it ain't gonna take long," Hough sings.

"I'm kind of known right now as 'the Mormon girl who doesn't do anything wrong,'." she says. "But I'm normal. Stuff like that does happen where, once you get riled up, you don't want to stop."

For the record, Hough says she's currently single and loving it.

Hough and "Dancing With the Stars" partner/two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves repeatedly have batted down speculation they're an item.

But is Castroneves a fan of country music?

"He is, actually," Hough says. "He lives in Miami, and country music is pretty big down there. He has my CD and he's learning the words. He's definitely going to come to some of the shows. I'll probably pull him onstage and make him sing one of my songs."

Ashton and James pick peas | Ashton Shepherd | Photo

KaitMoore — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:20:00 GMT

Ashton and James pick peas | Ashton Shepherd | Photo

KaitMoore — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:19:00 GMT

Ashton and James pick peas | Ashton Shepherd | Photo

KaitMoore — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:19:00 GMT

CHATTANOOGA TIMES FREE-PRESS - Feature | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:25:00 GMT

Julianne Hough is queen of 'Dancing With the Stars,' but it's her debut country CD that has legs

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Julianne Hough was a household name before ever releasing her first country single.

Ms. Hough (pronounced Huff) is the two-time dance champion of ABC’s top-rated “Dancing With the Stars,” partnering with Apolo Ohno then Helio Castroneves for back-to-back wins. Not since Shirley Temple has a petite, dancing, curly-haired blonde won over the hearts of America as she has.

This summer she’s traded in her dancing heels for a pair of boots as she launches her country music singing career. Currently, she is opening The Paisley Party — Brad Paisley’s summer tour with Jewel and Chuck Wicks.

“As much as I love to dance, singing has always been my No. 1 passion,” Ms. Hough said in a phone interview.

Ms. Hough, 19, is in town today to sing at WUSY US101’s High Noon Saloon in The Comedy Catch. The radio station hosts these monthly concerts to introduce new talent to listeners as well as bring in old favorites. The shows aren’t open to the public; tickets may only be won by listening to the station.

According to Jay Cruze, operations manager, today’s show is sold out.

“This is a way we give back to our listeners,” Mr. Cruze said. “Everybody is working hard, and this is our way to give them a little work relief and say thanks for listening.”

After signing with Universal Music Group Nashville in December, Ms. Hough’s self-titled debut CD was released May 20. Its sales of 67,000 made it the highest country debut of an artist since 2006.

Her first single, “That Song in My Head,” is No. 23 on Billboard’s hot country charts, and the CD has received critical acclaim.

In her interview with the Times Free Press, Ms. Hough talked about dancing, dating and brother Derek — and yes, she is every bit as effervescent and bubbly as her television persona.

Q: Usually an opening act is a new star needing stage experience, but you have just as much, or more, than Brad Paisley already. What are you learning from this tour experience?

To be honest, there is a lot to learn. I’ve had a lot of stage experience, but it’s all been for dancing. I don’t have as much experience being the only person onstage, not having a partner. I’m learning to interact with the audience, and interacting with the fans is the best part. Hearing them sing along with your songs is the coolest thing.

Q: Did you find people were skeptical of your talent when you came to Nashville? Did they think you were just trying to capitalize on your dancing fame?

It was a little of both. There were people who were skeptical, especially who had never met me or heard me sing. As soon as I got to Nashville and people starting hearing my music and talking to me, all skepticism went aside. Everybody has been so welcoming, other artists, people in the industry and especially the fans.

Q: There are a lot of young, beautiful, singing blondes in Nashville right now. How do you plan to set yourself apart?

It is kind of a blonde-dominated music genre. Everybody has their qualities that set them apart. I feel like mine is the fact I’ve had a lot of experience dancing, being an all-round entertainer, not just getting up there and singing. Being able to have that natural movement onstage sets me apart. There is a lot of energy in my show.

Q: Your brother, Derek, (also a professional dancer on “Dancing With the Stars”) sings with you on “Dreaming Under the Same Moon.” Does he have musical aspirations?

Yes. Derek and his friend Mark Ballas (another professional dancer on “DWTS”) have been in a band together for 10 years. They are touring this summer. Both my brother and I, and now Mark, all have dreams and aspirations. We wanted to get a foot in the door, and what better way that being on “DWTS?”

Q: Are all your siblings musical?

Yes. There are five and they all sing, dance and act. It’s terrible at family reunions because we’re always fighting for camera time.

Q: When will you learn who your partner is for the next season of “DWTS?”

None of us know until the week before we start training. If they ask me back, I’d love to go. If not, I’ll continue on with my music.

Q: Of the partners you’ve had, who was the best dancer?

The most talented dancer I partnered with was probably Helio, and the one who worked the hardest was Apolo, who ended up being just as good, if not better.

Q: Who’s on your iPod?

Lady Antebellum, James Otto, Chuck Wicks, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler. I kind of listen to the newer artists, but there’s nothing like listening to Reba, Dolly or Martina.

Q: In Shape magazine’s article, you said you work out four hours a day. How do you train while you’re on the road?

I train four hours a day when doing the show. I do regular workouts when I’m not dancing; I work out one hour a day. I have exercises I do on my own, and Brad has weights on the tour. Chuck’s band has bikes, so I went out with my band and we bought mountain bikes and we all go ride.

Q: What’s your guilty pleasure?

Full-on food! I love food! I love bread. When I’m on the show, I eat double what I really should because I’m working out. People think I’m completely the opposite, they’re always surprised by what I eat.

Q: The fan magazines have romantically linked you to every partner you’ve had on “DWTS.” Is there a guy in your life?

No, I’m single and I like it that way. I’m focused on my career.

Q: Was there a Jimmy Ray McGee in your past? (“Jimmy Ray McGee” is a track from her CD about the high school stud who pressures his dates for sex and her choice to wait.)

There definitely was a Jimmy Ray McGee in my past. It wasn’t the same guy that knocked up my best friend, but there was a guy that was like that. She got pregnant and he left.

Making the decision to say no is hard at the time, but you know it’s worth it when you are a little older. My favorite line in the song is “When I was 17 I thought too much about the choices I made, from the clothes I wore to the friends I picked, to the boys I’d date. I guess in the end it was worth all the worry, though it hurts to wait, it can hurt worse to hurry.”

Q: What’s next for you?

After the tour, I’m working on writing, getting songs together for my next album. In September, Kellie (Pickler) and I are hosting a special taped during the CMA Music Festival. It airs Sept. 8.

Julianne Hough Dances Her Way Through AOL Sessions | Julianne Hough | News

JenWay — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:31:00 GMT

Story by Melinda Newman

Julianne Hough knows a thing or two about being on top. After all, the 'Dancing with the Stars' hoofer has snared two trophies on the reality show with partners Apolo Anton Ono and Helio Castroneves. Even though she's temporarily trading in a Pasa Double for a boot-scooting boogie, her winning ways continue: Her self-titled debut CD entered Billboard's country chart at No. 1 in May.

In person, Hough is as charming and unpretentious as she appears on 'Dancing.' The girl next door with the beauty queen looks laughs easily and often at herself. Before her AOL Music Sessions rehearsal starts, a man stops Hough in the hall to tell her how great her long, flowing locks look and asks if that hair is all hers. She laughs and says, "Of course it is," before pausing for a playful beat and adding, "It's connected to it." As the cameras prepare to roll, she admits that even though she was practically born in high heels, her feet are killing her and she is happy to lighten her load during her chat with The Boot.

To read the exclusive AOL Sessions interview in full, CLICK HERE.

- WATCH JULIANNE HOUGH’S SESSIONS PERFORMANCE HERE –

Josh Turner featured on Country Music Across America | Josh Turner | News

JenWay — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:56:00 GMT

Every week on Country Music Across America, Storme Warren has exclusive interviews out on the road with country’s hottest performers. Josh Turner recently filmed a piece for Country Music Across America while at the Riverbend Festival in Chattanooga, TN. Tune in to GAC on the following dates/times to see Josh’s special.

SHOWTIMES:

June 26 – 6pm, 10pm

June 27 – 11:30am

June 28 – 10:30am

June 29 – 1:30 pm

July 3 – 6pm, 10pm

July 4 – 5:30pm

July 5 – 10:30am

July 6 – 1:30pm

Thanks!

Check out Julianne’s new merchandise! | Julianne Hough | News

MelissaMc — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:16:00 GMT

Julianne has some cool new merchandise available for purchase. CLICK HERE to check out all of her great items, including key chains, T-Shirts & more!

Name Julianne's Band Contest | Julianne Hough | News

DBrosius — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:46:00 GMT

Julianne's out on her first tour this summer with the Paisley Party Tour and she needs your help to name her band. Check out this video, think up the best name and enter the contest!

To enter, all you have to do is join Julianne's site and leave your suggestion/comment on this news item at her site by July 3rd!

You can also enter by texting your suggestion. Text "@myband space yoursuggestedname" to 66937. Example : @myband iwanttonamejuliannesband to 66937

We'll pick the 10 best suggestions in July and start the voting. The fan with the top vote wins the Grand Prize - a trip for 2 to see Julianne and her band in concert! One 2nd prize winner will get an autographed guitar and Julianne prize pack and the other 8 contestants will win Julianne prize packs too!

Contest rules

That Lonesome Song | Jamey Johnson | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:22:00 GMT

Reigning CMA Song of the Year winner Jamey Johnson will release That Lonesome Song, his Mercury Nashville debut, on August 5.

Produced by Johnson and the Kent Hardly Playboys, That Lonesome Song is a collection of 13 tracks, 11 of which were written or co-written by Johnson who has paired with co-writers including Buddy Cannon, Teddy Gentry and James Otto.

“In Color,” the debut single and video, was inspired by a conversation with Bill Anderson and tells the very real story of a man looking back at his life through black and white photographs. “In Color” holds the 38* position this week on the Mediabase/Country Aircheck and R&R/Billboard charts. The song continues to inspire listeners with its raw and austere emotion.

The former Marine has penned songs that have appeared on albums representing nearly 6 million units in combined sales. In addition to co-writing “Give It Away,” the George Strait #1 hit that earned both the CMA and ACM Song of the Year prize, Johnson co-wrote “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” and “Ladies Love Country Boys,” both #1 hits for Trace Adkins.

But for Johnson, it’s never been solely about the songwriting. “Writing is not enough for me,” the Alabama native says. “I did not come here to just be a writer. I live to play…I’m not here to take a stab at it, I am going to DO it.”

And on August 5, you can find Johnson’s music in the record stores right where the closing track of the album says it is going to be - “Between Jennings and Jones.” PASTE Magazine proclaims, “Like Waylon he carefully cultivates that outlaw image, and like George he has the voice of a slumming angel. He’s made a superb album. And I’m not just saying that because he looks and sounds like the kind of guy you don’t want to piss off. This will be the best country record released in 2008. Hands down.”

Ashton’s new video “Sounds So Good” | Ashton Shepherd | News

JenWay — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:34:00 GMT

Ashton has been busy filming the music video for her new single "Sounds So Good." Staying true to her roots, Ashton took a trip out to the lake to film. Click HERE to check it out. After you watch the video, don't forget to call your local radio stations and request "Sounds So Good."

CHICAGO TRIBUNE – live show review | Ashton Shepherd | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:38:00 GMT

No twang? No problem

By Alison Bonaguro

Before Jack Ingram took the stage, rookie artist Ashton Shepherd opened the show with her own 45-minute set of self-penned songs that are destined to be the anthems of young motherhood. This Alabama native has a sunny way of singing about laundry, dirt roads, no-good husbands and pints of Crown Royal. And she showed no signs of new-girl nerves or stiffness. She looked so at ease on stage—belting her lyrics so flawlessly—that it was almost as if we'd caught her singing into her bedroom mirror. When performing comes that naturally, the stage is set for a lifetime of great gigs.

Catch Ashton on OPRY LIVE! | Ashton Shepherd | News

JenWay — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Catch Ashton in an encore episode of OPRY LIVE this Tuesday, June 24^th at 7pm or 11pm CST on GAC. The special will also air on June 25^th at 6pm CST. CLICK HERE for more info.

Sounds So Good | Ashton Shepherd | Video

Skirkham — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:14:00 GMT

See Julie on the Opry Stage | Julie Roberts | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:01:00 GMT

Join Julie Roberts on Saturday, June 28 when she performs LIVE on the Grand Ole Opry at the Opry House in Nashville, TN. Call 1-800-SEE-OPRY or click here to get your tickets now! Fans can use coupon code "WEBFAN" or click here to print a coupon to present to any Grand Ole Opry box office to receive $3.00 off of your ticket purchase.

"All I Want to Do" Moving Up | Sugarland | News

MelissaMc — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:22:00 GMT

The debut single from Sugarland's upcoming album, Love on the Inside, is climbing up the charts. After 5 weeks, "All I Want To Do" hits the top 10. Help make it a #1- call your local country station and request it today.

"Sounds So Good" AIM Icon | Ashton Shepherd | Download

mattpf — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:17:00 GMT

Dallas, Kennett, Missouri, Coldplay, and NO MORE SHERATONS | David Nail | Diary

Skirkham — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Dallas, Kennett, Missouri, Coldplay, and NO MORE SHERATONS

So I feel like I've been going 100 miles an hour the last week to 10 days, so I'm extremely excited to be on a Southwest jet headed home via Houston. I'm in the process of moving to a new apartment, so between moving boxes from the old to the new place, and then bussing to a few gigs the past two weekends, I AM WORN OUT!

Moving sucks! There's no real way to sugar coat the concept in any way or fashion. I HATE IT! Despite my hatred for the process, I'm very thrilled to be out of my old building downtown. I suppose it was great to be 26, 27, and 28 living in a loft about 300 yards from the Tin Roof, but something clicked at 29, and I'm ready to be among the civilized young adults again!

So this past Tuesday was an exciting day because the much-hyped new Coldplay record was finally released. I'm a huge Chris Martin (front man) fan and have been eagerly awaiting the release after falling in love with the first two singles. I'm already trying to figure out what song I want to cover in my shows first. I have to say at the moment I'm leaning towards either "Yes" or "Lost?"!

So the three days in Dallas were met with mixed feelings. Anytime I get to hop on a bus that's mine is the most thrilling feeling for me as a recording artist. It's something I dreamed of since I first began this journey, and to roll up to a parking lot starring at a group of buses knowing one is David Nail's leaves my heart pounding. This past weekend was especially cool as Danielle Peck was leaving the same parking lot for her weekend run. I can remember when Danielle was a waiting tables at Virago before the Tin Roof was born and became my spot to hang. Danielle and I are within a few months of the same age, and I'm pretty sure we moved to town about the same time. I hadn't seen her in quite awhile, so it was good to hop on her bus for a short visit before heading to opposite parts of the country. I will say that I did feel a little like I was a PIKE pledge again as she peer pressured me into trying all this Thai food that someone from her band had brought. It was okay, but she was hell bent on me eating a bit of it all before getting off the bus. It was a good way to start the weekend.

My bus was Carolina Blue this weekend!!! Go Tarheels, we need one more against the Bulldogs of Fresno State, and then it's off to defeat the Bulldogs of Georgia next.

"When it started we had high hopes, now my back's on the line, my back's on the ropes" "Yes" – Coldplay – Viva La Vida

So the show at The Glass Cactus in Grapevine was great. My friend Kara brought her parents, who brought some of their friends which made it have a homey kind of feel to the show. We got to hang at the club afterwards on an outside balcony that had an incredible view of Lake Grapevine.

Grapevine Set List:

This Time Around
Again
Follow Me
Clouds
Boys Of Summer
In The Ghetto (acoustic)
Dinosaur (acoustic)
Missouri (acoustic)
I'm About To Come Alive
I Don't Want To Be
Turning Home

There was a moment in "Alive" right before the bridge where the band really hit a groove and I almost got lost and forgot where I was and what words were coming next, but I recovered just in time to spit out "In every frame upon our wall".

I hope Taylor Swift's next record sells a million the first week.

I really, really hope North Carolina wins the CWS.

I have a bit of a sore throat this morning; I think I maybe over sang a bit!

Catherine and I got to go home to Missouri for a few days before I came to Texas. It was good to see Mom, Dad, and my grandparents. I spent some time with one of my oldest friends Matt Bodkins and his family, which is always very rewarding.

I can't recall, though I'm sure there's been a time, when I've been more ready to sleep in my own bed.

I'm heading to Kansas City this week to play in Mike Kennedy's golf tournament for his station there. I'm a St. Louis guy through and through, but KC has such a refreshing vibe, and I absolutely cherish my time there. I have some friends from Kennett who I hope to see while there mid week. KC has been real good to me over my career!!!

TJ, be nice to me now!

I'm kind of digging on this new Adam Hood guy we signed at Carnival!

I had a dream last night about Frisbee, Missouri, which is where my father grew up. It was odd to say the least. I don't know if 20 people even live there these days.

Well I'm about to be home for a few much-needed days off, and hope to get back to running a bit more. I've kind of gotten lazy. Hope to continue to meet off of you out at the shows, thanks again, David

Numbers 5, 6, and 7 are worth the ten bucks alone!!! But get it on Itunes for the bonus tracks

Sounds So Good | Ashton Shepherd | Diary

Skirkham — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

hey everyone. i just shot my video for my new single “Sounds So Good.” The video shoot was so much fun.

Here is a picture of the director Roman and I sharing a laugh. We shot it right outside of my hometown of Coffeyville. It was just like being out on a summer day hanging out, fishing, riding, and playing music with my family. It was a little hot but, hey, when it's summer it always is. We shot so many different wonderful scenes with my little boy and my family. I am so excited for people to get to see another piece of me. And I hope it looks as natural as it felt to shoot. Thanks for checking in! Hope to see you at CMA Fest on Friday!!!

Busy Summer & New video! | Ashton Shepherd | Diary

KaitMoore — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

These last few weeks I've been very busy. I've been touring a good bit. I've been from Alabama to California. I opened for Sugarland last week in Carolina. That was so so fun. I got to bring my little boy with me. That is so great to be able to do. This week I had GAC come down to our little town and film me around home. They even went to my home town where I grew up. I'm looking forward to seeing how it will turn out and I can't wait for people to get to see more about who I am. And last but not least……my new video for my new single "Sounds So Good" is out now. Don't forget to vote for it and request it at radio. I am very excited about the rest of the summer touring I'll be doing, getting to interact with you, the fans. All is going so very well. Thanks for checking in.

New Review for Jamey | Jamey Johnson | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:47:00 GMT

Jamey Johnson looks like an escapee from The Hell's Angels, so you'd be forgiven if you expected some sort of death metal caterwaul to erupt from your stereo speakers.

Instead, Johnson sounds like a good ol' boy from Montgomery, Alabama, which is what he is, and his second album, That Lonesome Song, recaptures everything that was great about those classic Merle Haggard and George Jones honky-tonk singles from the mid-to-late '60s. The pedal steel weeps, the lead guitar rumbles deep in the bass range, and Johnson unleashes one of those voices that is equal parts heavenly soul and red clay dirt.

Good ol' boy is a relative term, by the way. Like another good ol' boy from Montgomery, Hank Williams, Jamey's lived a hard life. After an eight-year stint in the marines, Johnson got off to a belated start, recorded the superb 2005 debut album The Dollar, which was both a critical and commercial smash, and then proceeded to drink and drug himself right out of a career. Erratic gigs, the emotional devastation resulting from a separation and divorce, and general boorish, obnoxious behavior led to him being dropped from his first label in 2007. For the, umm, record, you have to work pretty hard to do this when your first album generates a Top 10 hit. But give the man credit. He screwed it up royally.

So he's back with his second album (out August 5th), and let me just say it now. This will be the best country record released in 2008. Hands down. Chronicling the sordid and sad events of the past three years, That Lonesome Song is both a traditional country music tour de force and a harrowing singer/songwriter confessional album. Imagine Late for the Sky-era Jackson Browne hitchhiking to Redneckville and given a George Jones voice transplant. This is wild, untamed music sung in a wild, untamed voice, and it's brilliant.

"The high cost of livin' ain't nothin' like the cost of livin' high," he starts out, and it's one of those classic country turns of phrase that is almost, but not quite, too cute for its own good. But he fleshes out the details with a tale of whores and cocaine and toking on a bong in the Baptist Church parking lot, and by the end it's not too hard to believe that the cost was a steep one indeed. For one, the price included the loss of his marriage, a fact that he documents in mournful detail on "Sending an Angel to Hell" and in pissed-off fashion on "Mowin' Down the Roses," where he fires up the John Deere tractor and smashes right through his ex's beloved garden, disembarking long enough to dump her perfume down the toilet as well. There's repentance here, and some clear-eyed acknowledgement of being a fuck up, but there's plenty of righteous and not-so-righteous indignation as well. What else would you expect from somebody who signs off with a song called "Between Jennings and Jones," which is right where you'll find Jamey's music at the record store? Like Waylon he carefully cultivates that outlaw image, and like George he has the voice of a slumming angel. He's made a superb album. And I'm not just saying that because he looks and sounds like the kind of guy you don't want to piss off.

Josh Live at the Opry | Josh Turner | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:42:00 GMT

Don't miss Josh Turner performing on OPRY LIVE, Saturday, July 19. Tune in to GAC for an unforgettable night of music! CLICK HERE for more info.

From Lee Ann | Lee Ann Womack | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:07:00 GMT

Lee Ann Womack has championed the roots of country music ever since her pristine voice and impeccable phrasing arrived on the scene nearly a decade ago. Since that time she’s watched her songs not only top the country charts, but stretch beyond those boundaries. Yet no matter where the music went, Womack’s artistry never wavered. She always has and always will be one thing—a country singer and songwriter who, happily, left her heart in Texas.

Womack set critics and fans afire with her 2005 CD, There’s More Where That Came From. Its twin fiddles, honest lyrics and stellar singing made Womack the definitive country artist. None were surprised when the album won a 2005 CMA award for “Album of the Year,” and the debut release from that record, “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” won the 2005 CMA “Single of the Year” award.

MCA Nashville will release Womack’s new single “Last Call”, written by Erin Enderlin and Shane McAnally, to radio June 30. Her highly-anticipated seventh album, produced by Tony Brown and titled Call Me Crazy, will debut this fall. Four of the twelve tracks are co-written by Womack and fans will discover two other very well-known male voices accompanying the songstress, including Keith Urban and George Strait. Last time Womack and Strait collaborated was for “Good News, Bad News”, which earned them a Country Music Association award for “Musical Event of the Year.”

Womack has sold over 6 million albums, won two Grammy’s, numerous other milestone awards, and most recently garnered critical acclaim for There’s More Where That Came From. Released February of ’05 on CD and classic vinyl, There’s More swept Country Music Association trophies Fall of the same year for “Album of the Year” and “Single of the Year” (“I May Hate Myself In the Morning”). She is also recognized for #1 singles “The Fool,” “A Little Past Little Rock,” “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” and the mega smash “I Hope You Dance.”

New from Lee Ann | Lee Ann Womack | News

MelissaMc — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:03:00 GMT

MCA Nashville will officially release Lee Ann Womack’s new single “Last Call”, written by Erin Enderlin and Shane McAnally, to radio June 30. Her highly-anticipated seventh album, produced by Tony Brown and titled Call Me Crazy, will debut this Fall.

“I'm so fired up to be back doing what I feel like I was born to do, which is making country music,” said Womack. “The time I spent writing, looking for songs, and meeting with Tony felt so effortless and natural.” “One of my favorite things when making a record is working with some of the best singers and musicians in the world…it was so fun to have some of them work on this project.”

Four of the twelve tracks are co-written by Womack and fans will discover two other very well-known male voices accompanying the songstress, including Keith Urban and George Strait. Last time Womack and Strait collaborated was for “Good News, Bad News”, which earned them a Country Music Association award for “Musical Event of the Year.”

Womack has sold over 6 million albums, won two Grammy’s, numerous other milestone awards, and most recently garnered critical acclaim for There’s More Where That Came From. Released February of ’05 on CD and classic vinyl, There’s More swept Country Music Association trophies fall of the same year for “Album of the Year” and “Single of the Year” (“I May Hate Myself In the Morning”). She is also recognized for #1 singles “The Fool,” “A Little Past Little Rock,” “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” and the mega smash “I Hope You Dance.”

Request Ashton's new single today! | Ashton Shepherd | News

MelissaMc — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:19:00 GMT

Ashton just released her new single to radio, the title track, “Sounds So Good,” from her debut album. Call your local radio stations now to request “Sounds So Good.” CLICK HERE to listen to more songs from SOUNDS SO GOOD.

Exclusive Ashton Interview At Roughstock.com | Ashton Shepherd | News

UMGNashMod — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:04:00 GMT

Ashton recently did an exclusive interview with Roughstock.com - check out that interview here!

Make Jamey Johnson "Your Color" | Jamey Johnson | News

JenWay — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:37:00 GMT

Now YOU can see Jamey Johnson in your favorite color. With the new Jamey Johnson coloring pages let your imaginiation run wild. Click here to start coloring now!

CMA Fest, Charlotte, The Band, Texas We’re A Coming!!! | David Nail | Diary

Skirkham — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT

So I've had the past three days off here in Nashville and haven't known quite what to do with all the free time. I think I'm going to be heading home to Missouri this weekend before going back out on the road next week for a few shows in Texas.

I'm currently listening to the new 3 Doors Down record and I don't know if it's just a change, or that I really dig it, but I'm more than entertained.

So the summer is shaping up with quite a few dates each month with the band. We just played back to back dates with Nashville and Charlotte. Nashville was part of the CMA Music Fest and to say it was hot would be the understatement of the year, however it was good to have my folks in town. I think it'd been 6 years since they'd seen me with a full band.

Let me say how much I love the guys I'm out with now. Thanks Charlie, Colin, Eric, Kyle, Matt, and Patrick...

Charlotte was a blast. To everyone at WSOC, thanks so much for bringing me in for my first headlining gig. DJ, you are the absolute best!!! It was good to have Catherine out on the bus. The guys didn't seem to mind, and it was almost more exciting to watch her as the only female presence on a bus full of guys being guys. She's wonderful with people, so I wasn't surprised to see all the guys take to her so well.

Charlotte Set List :

This Time Around

Again

Follow Me

Clouds

I Don't Want To Be

Missouri (acoustic)

In The Ghetto (acoustic)

I'm About To Come Alive

Boys Of Summer

Turning Home

I can't wait to have more time out on the road to rehearse more songs, both covers and from the record. I don't ever want to have the same set list two shows in a row. I feel like it keeps you relaxed, and I think it's best to have small changes to keep you on your toes.

So this week we're heading to Texas for a show in Grapevine, and then a private gig in Dallas. I've only played in Texas twice, both at the House of Blues in Dallas, and with it not being hockey season, my crowd will certainly be less-famous, but I'm excited to be down there nonetheless. I've never payed much attention to the "Texas music" label thing. Some of my best friends in the business are from Texas, and are very much a part of that scene. I hope to maybe catch a show Friday night somewhere in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. We have Kansas City, Memphis and Knoxville coming up, so I'm completely stoked about all three. Kansas City is kind of like home. Memphis will be a lot of friends and family, and Knoxville is home to the Vols and my dear friend Ashley King Marsh, who's supported me for almost 6 years now.

I'm enjoying the slow building train, and thanks again for all of your messages. This has been an unbelievable right thus far, and one that hope doesn't end anytime soon. Thanks again, DN

P.S. Seems worth the ten bucks, which is rare these days!!!

Message from UMG-Nashville | News

MelissaMc — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:14:00 GMT

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and families affected by the flooding in Iowa and other parts of the Midwest.