Taylor's Priorities

When Taylor Swift was attending school in Hendersonville, Tenn., she put her daydreaming to work. She wrote the lyrics to her first hit, "Tim McGraw," during math and sneaked out of class to make a quick recording of the melody for "Teardrops On My Guitar."

What do those two songs have in common? Not surprisingly, boys — a topic many of her female peers understand.

"I'm not going to write songs about what it's like being on the road," she tells The Kansas City Star. "I know 99 percent of my fans can't relate to that. I will write songs about things I can relate to and the people buying my album can relate to. If I have to go back to when I was 13 and had a crush on the basketball player who didn't notice me, that's what I'll do. Those feelings are universal."

Talent is not universal, so Taylor — having demonstrated she possesses it — is now in demand. Her publishing company in Nashville recently renewed her songwriting contract, and she's already written new material for her second album with Kellie Pickler and pop singer Colbie Caillat.

Meanwhile, Taylor's passion for writing about relationships makes it dangerous for any guy to get involved with her romantically.

"I think the coolest thing about being a songwriter is you can call out anyone you want to," she says. "Sometimes I feel bad for the guys I've written songs about. They are permanently branded."

Kellie Pickler - TV Reporter?

Not Smarter than a 5th Grader... but Kellie Pickler knows what it takes to be a recording artist, an American Idol performer and a beauty-pageant contestant. Now she's got a handle on being a TV correspondent as well.

Kellie travelled to Phoenix Tuesday to serve as the media day reporter for "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," according to Country Aircheck. She didn't take the job seriously. She wore dreadlocks while interviewing one player and convinced others to place "I Love Kellie Pickler" strips under their eyes. She also gave a copy of her debut album to New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan with a suggestion that he "picture Tom Brady in some red high heels."

Kellie's spot is slated to air on "The Tonight Show" Friday.

Summertime????

Not "news" by any means, but while we're freeeezing in some of the coldest days of the year --- why not take in some Summertime from Kenny?

And THIS Grammy goes to...

STILL DON'T KNOW!!! But, he's cool online, offline and wants to check you for ticks!

Brad Paisley is nominated in three categories for the 50th annual Grammy® Awards, and he'll have a chance to perform on the show when it airs from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Feb. 10.

In addition to Brad, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences also announced today that Alicia Keys, Feist and the cast of The Beatles Love By Cirque Du Soleil will be featured in the telecast. Carrie Underwood was previously announced as a performer on the show.

Brad and Carrie share a nomination for Best Country Collaboration, for "Oh Love"; and he's up for Best Country Album, 5th Gear; and Best Country Instrumental, "Throttleneck."

Brad will be combining those last two categories when he next goes into the studio. He intends for his next album to be an instrumental project, and he's already gotten a green light from Arista Records.

"It's a chance to finally do an album that I've always wanted to do," he told The Tennessean. "I'll have some collaborations and some guests and do some guitar stuff. We can be as wacky as we want to be without finding those songs that need to be commercial."

Frequent Flyer Flatts

Rascal Flatts Goes Overseas -- saying, "We love to spread country music, the feel of it, the heart of it, to places that haven't experience a story in the way only country music can".

Rascal Flatts is taking its act across the Atlantic for the trio's first–ever tour of the United Kingdom.

The award–winning group—Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney—left Monday, Jan. 28, for a week of live shows in England and Ireland. Tuesday night, Jan. 29, Rascal Flatts performed a private, acoustic show for industry guests and contest winners at the 100 Club, the oldest live music venue in London. The group will remain overseas through the weekend and will resume their Still Feels Good tour Feb. 7 in Toronto.

And this Grammy goes to...

... uh, we don't know, but we do know who will be performing!

Carrie Underwood is set to perform at the Grammys on Sunday, February 10. She’ll be joined by Beyonce, Aretha Franklin and the Foo Fighters, and will perform a special gospel segment with Mary J. Blige, the Clark Sisters, Israel And New Breed, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7.

Carrie has received nominations for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (”Before He Cheats”) and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (”Oh Love” with Brad Paisley).

Officially Miley Cyrus

She plays Hannah Montana, and was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, but now she's officially Miley Ray Cyrus.

Given the nickname "Smiley" when she was growing up, Entertainment Tonight reports that the 15-year-old has legally changed her name to Miley to reflect that. She chose to adopt Ray as her middle name in honor of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus

Sara Set For Super Bowl Party Show

She's ready for some foootbaaaall!

Sara Evans has been selected to perform for VIPs at the NFL Super Bowl XLII Tailgate Party in Glendale, Ariz., on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 3.

After performing a full concert, Sara will join Willie Nelson during his set for a rendition of the classic, "Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys," which will be televised on the FOX–TV pre–game festivities. To make the day even more special, Sara will be attending her first Super Bowl with son Avery. "I'm absolutely thrilled to be performing at the Super Bowl," Sara raves. "It's the first time for me, so I'm taking my son, his friend and my nephew with me and we're going to have the best time."

Platinum Teardrops on Her Guitar

Wow. Expensive. Platinum teardrops?

She's barely 18, and Taylor Swift is already in some elite territory. The Recording Industry Association of America certified her "Teardrops On My Guitar" as a digital platinum single, meaning 1 million people downloaded the song.

Only three other artists have achieved that distinction in the digital era: Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and the Dixie Chicks.

At the same time, "Our Song" became her third release certified gold.

Meanwhile, Taylor is also getting noticed alongside young women from other parts of the entertainment world. Us Weekly magazine named her one of the "10 Most Powerful Girls In Hollywood." Other names on the list include R&B singer Rihanna, Oscar-nominated actress Ellen Page and another star who's currently on the country charts: Miley Cyrus.

The... Queen?

Faith Debuts Online Performance, Jan 30.

Faith Hill is set to premiere her online performance of Elvis Presley’s classic,"That's Alright Mama," Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 10 a.m., exclusively on her website, faithhill.com.

After originally recording "That's Alright Mama" and "Peace in the Valley" for the 2007 ABC–TV special, Viva Las Vegas, Faith began receiving requests to air the video of the performance. "We recorded ‘Mama’ and ‘Peace in the Valley’ last year in a completely empty arena, in the round and stripped down," Faith explains. "It was a blast. We channeled Elvis by setting the stage as if we were back in 1968. These songs and being a part of the special reminded me of who he was, what he stood for. He defined what it was and is to be an entertainer."

George Has a Sore Throat!

... Doesn't everyone?

George Strait was a last-minute scratch Thursday when he was felled by laryngitis.

According to The Florida Times-Union, George's cancellation at a Jacksonville concert came only after many ticket buyers had already shelled out parking fees and taken their seats. Little Big Town still played a one-hour set, and the newspaper's reviewer gave them a thumbs-up for the music — which included covers of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles — and a thumbs-down for not playing longer in light of George's illness.

George also had to bow out of weekend shows in Columbia, S.C., and Baltimore, Md. He will make up the three dates April 4-6.

It's not the first time George has been affected by throat issues. He's had to cancel performances at least three previous times this decade because of vocal problems. In 1998, he bowed out of an appearance on the Grammy Awards because of laryngitis, and in 2005, he cancelled a slot on the Academy of Country Music Awards when he lost his voice.

Miley Speaks Out About Fake Competition Entry

(I still can't get used to that new hair!)

Miley Cyrus was "upset" to learn a mother of a Hannah Montana fan faked a competition to win tickets to a sold-out show by pretending the girl's father had been killed in Iraq.

The 15-year-old pop sensation was shocked to hear that Texan Priscilla Ceballos had submitted the fictional, contest-winning essay earlier this month.

Competition organizers withdrew the prizes which were awarded to Ceballos' daughter Alexis, including a Hannah Montana make-over and an all-expenses paid trip to a concert in Albany, New York when the untruth came to light.

The opening line of Alexis' essay read, "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

But Priscilla confessed, "We did the essay and that's what we did to win. We did whatever we could do to win."

In an interview set to air on Good Morning America on Monday, January 28, Cyrus says, "I was really kind of upset. I mean, that's just not a cool scenario.

"But it just shows what people will do for a ticket."

Garth's Concert Marathon

People still want more!

The much-heralded Garth Brooks TV special came and went in 60 minutes Friday night, but Garth himself played on for much of the next 36 hours.

Garth performed five sold-out concerts before Saturday ended at Los Angeles' Staples Center. A reporter for The Los Angeles Times attended all five shows, noting that each of them lasted two hours.

"This," he told viewers at home, "is your chance to be a neighbor." The TV screen periodically displayed a phone number where people could call in donations to help victims of last fall's California wildfires, 1-800-713-2065, and the production included news footage of the rubble left from the October disaster.

Garth was dressed entirely in black, fitting nine songs into the hour, opening with "The Thunder Rolls" and closing with "Friends in Low Places." At many points, the audience was nearly as loud as Garth as he ran through "The Beaches of Cheyenne," "More Than a Memory" and "We Shall Be Free." The latter song was particularly fitting, since it was inspired by the 1992 Rodney King riots in L.A. on a night Garth was in town.

Garth also brought on a couple of guests: His wife, Trisha Yearwood, joined him for "In Another's Eyes," and Huey Lewis provided duet vocals and harmonica on "Workin' For A Livin'." Both artists stuck around and did two songs each during the second show Friday night. Garth, who is officially retired from touring, has not announced any more concerts for 2008.

A Dixie Chick - Let?! Mmm... bubble gum!

Dixie Chick Martie Maguire (on the right in the picture above) has told People magazine she’s expecting again:

“I’m very excited,” Maguire, 38, says, adding, “We know what it is – it’s a girl.”

Maguire, 38, is married to Gareth Maguire, a professor. Their first children together were twin daughters Eva Ruth and Kathleen Emilie, who were born in April 2004. “I’m feeling good now, although I wasn’t!” Maguire jokes. “Carrying one instead of two will be much easier.”

The JOHN RICH Solo Project

John Rich Will Release Solo Project This Year

"I would only do this with Kenny’s blessing"

“If anyone knows me, they know I’m always writing music,” said Rich. “When we decided to take this year off so Kenny could focus on rehabilitation for a pre-existing injury, I asked Kenny if he was cool with me recording a solo project. I would only do this with Kenny’s blessing. So, this year you can expect a solo record from me, but Big & Rich will be back in 2009!”

Troy Gentry Gets 'Shaved' For T.J. Martell Foundation

(His facial hair) "...For The Right Price...$20,000."

Music fans and industry insiders alike have noticed the beard Troy Gentry of the duo Montgomery Gentryhas been sporting during recent appearances. Last night, the beard disappeared.

“I enjoyed the beard through the winter, especially here in the snow, but I was willing to part with it for the right price to help the T.J. Martell Foundation.” said Troy Gentry. “We raised $20,000 for a very worthwhile cause.”


The T.J. Martell Foundation supports innovative research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. In Nashville, the Foundation supports cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Labs at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Nash Street Wins Colgate Country Showdown

Hosted By LeAnn Rimes Last Night At The Ryman --- And we have a winner! The Finals of The 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown concluded at Nashville's Ryman Auditoriam last night (1/24), hosted by LeAnn Rimes.

Winning the whole thing, including a $100,000 grand prize was Nash Street.

The group, consists of Daniel Hare, Hannah Melby, Caroline Melby and Jason Graham.

A one-hour special will air nationwide over syndicated television in APRIL, with a second airing to follow in May on GAC-TV.

In addition to the winners, the other finalists were Carrie Joy, Trevor Panczak, Eldon Johnson (OF FARGO!) and Christy Suggett.

Bye Bye Jessica

Tony Romo apparently believes the rumors that Jessica Simpson distracted him and decided the two should “just be friends,”:

A few days after the Giants bounced the Cowboys from the playoffs, Romo called the "Dukes of Hazzard" star to tell her their romance was over.
"He said he thought it was better if they went back to being friends," a pal of hers said.

Poor Jessica Simpson... on the bright side, she can keep whatever she bought him for Valentine's day for herself!

Update: Jessica denies all of this! She has called up her lawyers and says that US Magazine is just spreading rumors. We'll see...

Miley & Taylor... Hollywood's New Power Girls

As young Hollywood continues to tread on a downward spiral — both actors Heath Ledger and Brad Renfro died tragically within the same week — a new generation of power girls are pledging not to wind up with the same sad fate.

In the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now, Us interviews the top 10 stars — from Hannah Montana’s Miley Cyrus to Gossip Girl’s Blake Lively — you need to know about. In addition to raking in the big bucks — Miley Cyrus earned $3.5 million last year — these young ladies tell Us they keep their heads on straight.

High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale, 22: “I don’t drink, and I don’t smoke. It’s a personal preference. My mom has never drunk or smoked. I look up to my mom.”

She tells Us she doesn’t get how her Hollywood counterparts can find time for clubbing.

“I don’t understand how people do it —I work non-stop! Then when I’m done working, I’m just so tired I just want to be home,” she says.

“Clubs are just not where I want to be photographed,” adds country singer Taylor Swift, 18.

She also says she realizes the impact her actions could have on her younger fans.

“For everything I do, I think about a 6-year-old girl and her mom that I saw at my concert last night,” she tells Us. “I think about what those two individuals would think if I were at a club last night.

“I never want to be arrested, and I never want to get a DUI,” Swift says. “Those are my moral values. I am an over-achiever, and I want to be known for the good things in my life.”

Miley Cyrus, 15 — Hollywood's No. 1. power girl — offered this tip to today’s troubled young stars.

“The most important thing is really staying true to yourself,” she tells Us. “That’s what my mom taught me. She’s the most beautiful girl, not only on the outside but on the inside. She’s teaching me how to be a good person.”

Dancing With The Stars Ain't Got Nothing on PAT GREEN!

Pat Green likes to dance... further evidence that he and Kevin Bacon should make a sequal to Footloose together.

Pat Green will release a book about Texas dance halls on Feb. 13. Published by University of Texas Press, Pat Green's Dance Halls & Dreamers will feature photos of the state's most famous dance halls, as well as stories about the venues told by popular Texas musicians, including Willie Nelson, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Robert Earl Keen, Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Randy Rogers Band, Jack Ingram and Kevin Fowler. Photographer Guy Rogers and writer Luke Gillam also contributed to the book.

Miranda's Famous!

In a small town... well, a few, and some middle sized ones... and several large ones!

Miranda Lambert hit the top of the charts today by taking the Scene-ic route. She nabbed four honors in the eighth annual country music critics poll, published the Nashville Scene.

Miranda earned Best Artist and Best Female Artist, while Crazy Ex-Girlfriend took Best Country Album of the Year and "Famous In A Small Town" laid claim to Best Single.

Nearly 100 critics took part in the poll, representing such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Country Weekly and Billboard.

Among other winners are Brad Paisley, Best Male Vocalist; Sugarland, Best Group; Keith Urban, Best Live Act; Taylor Swift, Best New Act; and Emmylou Harris, Best Reissue.

Mama's Boy -- Jake Owen

Jake Owen's live show is filled with songs that play on the sexual tension between men and women. The music may have a strutting, playboy attitude, but the reality is that Jake's taste in women is a little more traditional.

"I would have never said this earlier on in my teens, but now I'm startin' to see the way my life is going — doin' things like my mom always taught me, manners and things," he tells Dial-Global. "And then even looking at girls that I see myself with for the rest of my life, I start comparing them to my mom. I'm sure a lot of people may do that, but I have a pretty awesome mom. If I could ever find someone like my mom, I'd be pretty lucky."

So much for tradition: Jake is performing tonight in Charlotte, N.C., with Keith Anderson, Trent Tomlinson and Lee Brice, and the stage will feature a portable toilet. An event organizer told the Associated Press he wanted to make sure all four guys remained up front during the benefit concert. The port-a-potty takes away one very obvious excuse to leave.

No crossing the picket line!

NO NO WE WON'T GO... NO NO WE WON'T GO!!!

A bevy of country stars dodged a potential bullet when the Hollywood writers guild decided Tuesday not to set up a picket line at the Grammy awards.

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences had argued that because the show is music-driven, the bulk of the evening is about performances rather than scripted banter, and the writers apparently agreed.

Vince Gill was among the artists who were conflicted about the issue, but this development saves him from having to make a tough decision.

"I'm a writer for a living," Vince explained to The Tennessean. "In my heart of hearts I think they'll get this settled. It was kind of ironic though: You get nominated for a big award, and then you go, 'Dang, I don't know if we're going to get to go to this party.'"

Vince made those comments during a party for Nashville Grammy nominees at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Among the other guests at the event: Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Emerson Drive, The Time Jumpers, "Give It Away" songwriter Buddy Cannon and "Before He Cheats" composers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.

Garth takes parenting seriously

... Good!

Garth Brooks has made a commitment to refrain from touring while his daughters grow up, a sign that his family has a higher priority in his life than his job. He apparently came to that decision the hard way.

"I remember not knowing my children, and I never want to go back there," he tells The Los Angeles Times. "I want my kids to be raised the way I was raised. My parents were at every game, whether I played or not. You'd look over your shoulder and there they were."

While Garth has retired from touring, he admits that are times when he dips his foot over the line. This weekend is one of them. He'll play five shows at L.A.'s Staples Center to raise money for the victims of last year's California wildfires. The first of those shows will be telecast Friday as a special on CBS

TONY ROMO... GOING COUNTRY?!??!?!

No, seriously - the National Enquirer is reporting that Jessica Simpson wants to record a duet with Tony Romo for her upcoming country album!

"Jessica has been schooled in publicity tricks by her manager dad, Joe," an unnamed source told the Enquirer, "and she knows that a duet with Tony will attract major attention."

Well, she's not wrong about that - but it's hard to believe that either Tony or Jessica are craving "major attention" right now!

Jack Ingram's Life

Well, we couldn't fit a whole biography here... but this is his life lately.

Jack Ingram is a high-energy performer on a concert stage, but away from the spotlight, he’s a family man. In fact, he recently concluded a Colorado ski vacation with his three children, plus five nieces and nephews, that will sound familiar to most parents.

"There were tears galore because the kids didn’t want to wear their gloves," he laughs. "And you know, five minutes outside in the snow meant an hour of getting everyone ready. So most of the vacation, it seems, was dressing children and then holding them as they took their soaking-wet snow gear off screaming. Don’t get me wrong: They all had a ball, and I even got to hit the slopes a bit."

Then Jack hit the road on Martina McBride’s Waking Up Laughing Tour, which opened Friday in Evansville, Ind.

Lil' bit country, lil' bit rock n' roll

A lot of bit awesome! Hey look, Donny and Marie Osmond!

Tim McGraw may be a country singer, but he proved a long time ago he has a deep interest in pop and rock, too: He remade the Elton John single "Tiny Dancer," and his own first hit, "Indian Outlaw," featured a reference to the Paul Revere & The Raiders classic "Indian Reservation (The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian)."

Now Tim’s gone a little farther out on rock’s edge by teaming with Def Leppard. He appears on a song called "Nine Lives" that’s included on the hard-rock band’s "Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" album, which will be released March 18. USA Today indicates Tim first hooked up with Leppard when he sang "Pour Some Sugar On Me" with the group at the Hollywood Bowl.

Meanwhile, Tim is slated to perform for participants at the Beyond The Lights Celebrity Golf Tournament in Lost Pines, Texas, March 7. Money from the event goes to two football-related organizations that work with spinal cord injuries, an issue that Tim relates to as both a former high-school player and as a father.

"As a parent," he says, "there’s a camaraderie that you have with other parents when something happens to their children. Your heart goes out to them."

Holy CHUCK!

New Chuck Wicks album out today! And by "new", we mean, the first one EVER!

He may "Steal Cinderella", but you still gotta pay for it!

Gospel Time for Country

"Say amen, everybody!" Ronnie Milsap’s exhortation helped to create a modest church feel at the Grand Ole Opry House Sunday as a bevy of country music’s greatest shot the GAC special How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites From The Grand Ole Opry.

Hosted by Nan Kelley, the evening included Vince Gill’s spare rendition of a black spiritual, "Give Me Jesus"; Charlie Daniels’ animated version of "I’ll Fly Away"; and Trace Adkins’ bluesy take on "Wayfaring Stranger." Carrie Underwood turned in a big-voiced rendition of "How Great Thou Art" in a parade of stars that also featured Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans and Loretta Lynn, who earned three standing ovations.

The special dovetails with an RCA album, likewise titled How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites From The Grand Ole Opry, that also features performances by Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs, the Whites and Mac Powell, of the Christian band Third Day.

The album reaches stores Feb. 5. The special debuts on GAC at 7 p.m. Feb. 9.

Zippo and Bucky Covington Join Forces

Fire!

Zippo, one of the world's leading manufacturers of pocket lighters, is partnering with Bucky Covington as the title sponsor of the artist's tour dates. Zippo's sponsorship will kick off when Bucky joins Dierks Bentley's "Throttle Wide Open" tour, sponsored by Bud Light.

"It's going to be so cool to have Zippo with me on the road as my tour sponsor," says Bucky. "I'm a big fan of their products so it's a great match." Before joining Dierks Bentley on his "Throttle Wide Open" tour in February, Bucky will pay a visit to Zippo headquarters in Bradford, PA to meet and perform for the company's employees and executives.

"It's great to work with a talented new young artist like Bucky who is also a big Zippo fan," says Zippo President Greg Booth. "He should prove to be a great evangelist for our brand." ZIPPO AND BUCKY COVINGTON JOIN FORCES Nashville, TN- Zippo, one of the world's leading manufacturers of pocket lighters, is partnering with Bucky Covington as the title sponsor of the artist's tour dates. Zippo's sponsorship will kick off when Bucky joins Dierks Bentley's "Throttle Wide Open" tour, sponsored by Bud Light.

"It's going to be so cool to have Zippo with me on the road as my tour sponsor," says Bucky. "I'm a big fan of their products so it's a great match."

Before joining Dierks Bentley on his "Throttle Wide Open" tour in February, Bucky will pay a visit to Zippo headquarters in Bradford, PA to meet and perform for the company's employees and executives. "It's great to work with a talented new young artist like Bucky who is also a big Zippo fan," says Zippo President Greg Booth.

Jewel Gone... COUNTRY!

Nashville Star Moves To NBC

Remember Nashville Star? Yeah, nobody does.

The new season of Nashville Star, television's only country music talent search program, will move from the USA Network to NBC-TV.

The new season is expected to premiere in the summer, although no official date has been announced. For the new season, the show will travel the country in search of the best solo acts and groups and give them their shot at becoming the next country music superstars. The first five seasons of Nashville Star helped launch the careers of Miranda Lambert, Chris Young, Buddy Jewell and others. Last year, the series averaged 2.5 million viewers per week, while the season finale was cable's highest ranked telecast for the day. A massive 20-city casting search for this year’s talent will kick off in early February.

Best of SHeDAISY

Superstar sisters Kristyn, Kelsi and Kassidy Osborn will be releasing a greatest hits album titled “The best of SHeDAISY” on Tuesday, February 5.

The album will include 12 of their biggest hits, 11 of which were co-written by Kristyn:

1. Little Good-byes
2. This Woman Needs
3. I Will. But
4. Lucky 4 You (Tonight I’m Just Me)
5. Get Over Yourself
6. Mine All Mine
7. Passenger Seat
8. Come Home Soon
9. Don’t Worry ‘Bout A Thing
10. I’m Taking The Wheel
11. In Terms Of Love
12. God Bless The American Housewife

Miley's New Hair & Britney Spears

Teen queen Miley Cyrus says Britney Spears needs help.

"I think it's so crazy and I think that she [Britney] needs help,” she told Extra. “If I didn't have [my family], I'd probably be in the same position.

"You just got to know who your true friends are, and I think for me, is my mom," she added. "If you have sisters, I mean any girls that are in your family, that can understand and relate to you, I think is the best.”

The Hannah Montana singer, 15, also showed off raven-hued hair at the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert 3D event in Hollywood last night.

"I was just trying to get more into my rock and roll vibe,". "I like rock and roll music, I like rock and roll artists, so I was like, 'That’s what I want to do!'"

Colgate Country Showdown Finalists Announced

The 26th annual Colgate Country Showdown national final will be held on Thursday, January 24th at Nashville’s legendary Ryman Auditorium. Curb/Nashville's LeAnn Rimes will host the event for the second consecutive year.

The five regional winners who will compete for $100,000 and this year's title are: Nash Street
Eldon Johnson - FROM FARGO!!!!
Carrie Joy
Trevor Pancxak
Christy Suggett

FAITH HILL IN REHAB!

Yeah, well, it's not what you're thinking.

Faith Hill is in rehab, but not the kind that makes the paparazzi flip. Faith had knee surgery in Nashville January 7 to correct an old softball injury that had been aggravated by normal use through the years.

As her song suggests, "A Mississippi girl don't change her ways," and Faith isn't letting the injury keep her from her obligations.

"Who has time to slow down?" she asks rhetorically. "Doctors had told me to stay off my feet for a bit, and now I'm following their rehab program. I intend to be back better and stronger."

She's still preparing to take part next month in a Los Angeles tribute to Aretha Franklin, who's been named the MusiCares Person of the Year. And Faith continues work on a Christmas album that she expects to release by the end of this year. If she makes her deadlines, it'll mark the second straight year she's had new holiday material in circulation. She had a duet with Josh Groban on "The First Noel" that appeared on his quadruple-platinum album Noel.

Everyone COUNTS!

One... two... three... four... five... twelve... seven million... uh...

Reba McEntire has never been one to talk politics publicly, but that doesn't mean she has no interest in the issues. In fact, Reba has joined a long list of female celebrities — including Queen Latifah, Halle Berry, Jodie Foster, Mary Hart and Patti LaBelle — taking part in the Lifetime Networks' Every Woman Counts campaign.

The effort doesn't pick sides among the candidates, but it does feature a series of PSAs and short spots in which the stars encourage women to think about issues that are important to them and to act upon their beliefs by voting or becoming politically active.

"This is an unprecedented election in so many ways," Meredith Wagner, Lifetime Public Affairs Vice President, said. "In fact, our recent poll showed that more than 60 percent of women believe that voting in this election is more important than ever before. We hope these PSAs will get more women engaged in the political process by voting, speaking up and running for public office."

Mary J. Blige, Fran Drescher, Daisy Fuentes, Ricki Lake, Alyssa Milano and Molly Shannon are just a few of the many other celebrities who've joined the campaign, which begins this month and runs through the November election.

Eric Church Weds Katherine Blasingame

Last Tuesday In North Carolina
Eric Church married music publisher Katherine Blasingame last Tuesday (1/8), in a private ceremony, attended by immediate family, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the artist’s home state of North Carolina.


The wedding took place at the internationally acclaimed Westglow Spa & Resort in Blowing Rock, NC. “Katherine and I stayed there last year, and we just fell in love with the place,” said Church. “We decided that it would be the ideal spot to get married, up in the North Carolina Mountains, with just family around us. I can’t imagine a more perfect spot.”


The bride’s gown was designed by Melissa Sweet, and the groom wore a black Dolce & Gabbana suit. The newly married couple now sport one-of-a-kind rings designed by famed jewelry designer Margaret Ellis (“Sex In the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada”).


Church surprised Katherine with a new song, written especially for her, that he performed during the ceremony for the bride and assembled guests. “My brother snuck my guitar in for me, so I think I surprised her!” grinned Church.


The entire wedding party stayed at Westglow for most of the week, taking full advantage of the relaxing spa treatments and activities available at the resort.


But no additional post-wedding rest for Church . . . the artist is back in the studio recording music for his next album, the follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut album Sinners Like Me (“Guys Like Me,” “How ‘Bout You”), expected in the summer of 2008. Fans should expect the first single from the album to hit radio in March.

Got... Rascal Flatts?

Milk Rocks — and so will one fan of Rascal Flatts.

The band is launching a contest for the Milk Rocks! nutrition campaign that will provide one fan an opportunity to sing on stage with Rascal Flatts. That's the most visible part of the package, but there's more. The winner will also get to hang with the band at a meet-and-greet backstage and will have a chance to talk with an A&R executive from the group's label, Lyric Street Records. Beginning March 1, contestants are required to visit milkrocks.com and choose one of five Rascal Flatts songs for a karaoke video. As the videos get uploaded, fans will vote on the best ones, and the band will hand-pick the winner from the three top finalists on April 15.

"We have the greatest fans in the world," lead singer Gary LeVox said. "Giving our songs back to them, with the opportunity to join the band for a night, is the least we can do to say thanks. And since drinking milk is a big part of keeping our fans energized for our show, we're happy to help Milk Rocks! get their message out there."

The site for the winner's eventual performance will be determined at a later date. Rascal Flatts' 2008 tour schedule kicks off tomorrow night in Manchester, N.H.

Kenny and Willie

Kenny Chesney is getting geared up for this year's Poets & Pirates concert tour, but before that ever comes about, he has something that might be even cooler on the docket for this month. Willie Nelson's next album, Moment Of Forever, comes out January 29 and Kenny produced it.

Even though Kenny's now an accomplished pro, working with a Country Music Hall of Famer was a bit intimidating at first.

"I hadn't been that nervous in a while, especially making a record," Kenny told Billboard magazine. "I had my vision of what I wanted to do with Willie, but I didn't know if that was Willie's vision."

Willie gave Kenny a big hug on the first day in the studio, and that eased the tension. In the end, the album features material from a bunch of different sources. Willie wrote three songs, and it includes titles penned by Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Randy Newman and Dave Matthews, whose "Gravedigger" provided the subject for the album's first video.

"I was the gravedigger, I was the cab driver, I was the limo driver, I was the priest," Willie says. "I played everybody in there."

The video also features Jessica Simpson, Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson.

For your Valentine?

Trisha Yearwood has released a collection of love songs in time for Valentine’s Day! The album is appropriately titled “Love Songs” and features 14 tracks from 9 past albums:

1. That’s What I Like About You
2. She’s In Love With The Boy
3. Down On My Knees
4. I Don’t Fall In Love So Easy
5. If I Ain’t Got You
6. The Nightingale
7. Thinkin’ About You
8. Maybe It’s Love
9. Powerful Thing
10. I’ll Still Love You More
11. One Love
12. Love Alone
13. Baby Don’t You Let Go
14. Sweet Love

Tim McGraw movie NEXT Christmas

Tim McGraw began filming yesterday in Los Angeles for the upcoming movie Four Christmases. The New Line Cinema picture, scheduled for release during the 2008 holiday season, will place him on the screen alongside Sissy Spacek, Dwight Yoakam, Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn.

Tim has played a father or husband in three of his previous four films, Friday Night Lights, Flicka and The Kingdom, and he'll portray a brother to Vince Vaughn in Four Christmases, a romantic comedy in which four siblings have to contend with family issues when they visit the homes of their divorced parents.

The cast includes some heavyweight names, including Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen and Robert Duvall.

GARTH CONCERT ON CBS!!!!!

For a retired guy, Garth Brooks is keeping quite busy. He performed nine concerts in November at the Sprint Center in Kansas City and has five more dates slated in just two days in Los Angeles. Now the first of those shows will become a CBS special, Garth Brooks: Live In LA!.

Airing Friday, Jan. 25, the one-hour special at the Staples Center will raise money for F.I.R.E. (Fire Intervention Relief Effort) to aid victims of the wildfires that plagued Southern California last year. During the show, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to the cause by calling 1-800-713-2065 or logging on to mccormicktribune.org/2008firerelief.

The concerts generated a remarkable response. Garth had 85,000 tickets available for the five shows, and they all sold out in just 59 minutes.

Tim McGraw and... Jimmy Fallon?

Turns out, with the Golden Globes canceled, the Polo Lounge was the place to be on Sunday night, as long as you're a fan of off-key singing and empty bars. Newlywed and former Saturday Night Live star Jimmy Fallon was joined by country music mega-star Tim McGraw in an impromptu, late-night, sing-a-long at the Beverly Hills Hotel bar.

They took over the mostly empty lounge around 1 a.m., and, with a female friend pounding away on the piano, the pair sang their way through such standards as, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," and Willie Nelson's "Always On My Mind." The only audience was a booth of four women, but McGraw and Fallon, standing on opposite sides of the piano, belted out lyrics and laughter flooded into the hotel lobby. When asked about the noise by a curious hotel patron, the desk clerk apologized and said, "Jimmy Fallon and Tim McGraw singing together ... Only at the Beverly Hills Hilton."

Big... Rich... And COLD

Big & Rich got a cold reception in Canada last week — not from fans, but from the winter weather north of the border. The duo had four trucks travelling in a convoy from Prince George to Vancouver on Thursday when one of the semis went out of control on a patch of black ice. The truck fishtailed a bit, then ended up on its side in the ditch.

No one was hurt, and none of the stage and lighting equipment was damaged. Big & Rich still got to the venue and held their scheduled concert the next night.

The accident is being blamed on the weather — and most certainly not on the two singers. As their publicist told The Tennessean, "Neither Big Kenny nor John Rich were driving the truck."

The tour of the Great White North continues for the next week. Tonight, Big & Rich, Terri Clark and Cowboy Troy are at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Taylor -- At the head of her class

A+!!!

When Taylor Swift won the Country Music Association's Horizon Award in November, she said the moment was "definitely the highlight of my senior year!" Taylor, who recently turned 18, certainly appreciates her position. Many of her peers haven't yet picked a career, and she's already winning awards in her industry.

"All my friends here in Tennessee are getting ready to go off to college next year," she tells The Toronto Star. "I feel like I've already gone to college, as far as being away from home, having to learn how to survive, having to learn so many different things about the industry."

Clearly she's earning high marks in her vocational education. She's currently nominated for a Grammy award for Best New Artist against such acts as Feist and Amy Winehouse. In addition, look for her on TV this week. She appears tomorrow on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Wednesday on Ellen.

Josh Gracin to the movies!!!

Josh Gracin has evolved from an American Idol contestant to a successful recording artist, and now the ex-Marine — who was formerly stationed at Camp Pendleton in Southern California — has another entertainment medium in his sites. He's been spending his spare time on the tour bus writing a screenplay.

Josh is the first to admit his script may never make it into circulation, but he says it's helped to stimulate his creativity.

"It's turning out really, really cool," he tells Dial-Global. "I've let some of my guys on the bus read it, and what surprises me is that they actually wanna know when I have more done, which means that I'm doin' the right thing."

Josh is keeping the plot a secret while he continues writing.

MILEY CYRUS IS A LIAR

YES she is also Hannah Montana, YES her real name is DESTINY HOPE CYRUS... but guess what else she is hiding --- HER BODY DOUBLE.

Sound & Speed Revs Up

Country music and NASCAR team up for a star-packed weekend at Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust, Jan. 11 and 12, in Nashville.

Country stars Josh Turner, Taylor Swift, Danielle Peck and others will join NASCAR legends like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Richard Petty for autograph sessions and meet-and-greet events. The big weekend closes with a superstar concert featuring Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Jason Michael Carroll and The Wrights, Saturday night, Jan. 12, at the Sommet Center in downtown Nashville. Proceeds from the event go to the Victory Junction Gang Camp for children with serious illnesses and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Tickets for Sprint Sound & Speed Presented by SunTrust are still available through ticketmaster.com and soundandspeed.org.

Kix Brooks Brings His Own Wine to New York Fundraiser

Brooks & Dunn's Kix Brooks will be in New York City next month to offer wines from his Arrington Vineyards during a party benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation. Brooks is a partner in the winery which is located approximately 30 miles south of Nashville in Arrington, Tenn. Four of the winery's 12 wines will be offered during the Feb. 3 dinner at the Blue Smoke Restaurant and Jazz Standard. Brooks and several Nashville songwriters will perform at the event. Tickets start at $125, with a limited number of VIP seats available for $295.

Trace Adkins Survives Second Week On Celebrity Apprentice

Trace Adkins has survived the first two rounds of tasks on Donald Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice" and is now headed into week three.

On last night's (1/10) episode, the celebrities were given a TV production crew, a cast of actors and several dogs to create an advertisement promoting Pedigree's Pet Adoption program. Adkins' contribution included writing the script and providing his deep speaking voice for the commercial created by the men's team. Hydra project manager Gene Simmons said that when he heard Adkins' voiceover "it sounded like the voice of God."

"The Donald" also stated that using Adkins' voice was "genius" and was one of the keys to the men dominating the competition once again and winning the challenge. Olympic Gold Medalist Nadia Comaneci became the second celebrity to feel the heat in Trump's boardroom and was fired from the women's team.

George is no stick in the mud!

Or a stick not in the mud.

Kenny Chesney, whose "Shiftwork" duet with George Strait is No.14 on the charts this week, says the famously serious George is no stick in the mud.

"George is dignified, but he's a guy that likes to have a lot of fun,' Kenny tells Dial-Global of his musical hero. "We have a lot of things in common on that end. If I'd ever thought that I was going to do a duet with George Strait, it probably would've been on some song like 'Nobody In His Right Mind Would've Left Her.' And I never did think it would be 'a big ol' pile of shift work.' But I'm glad it is!"

The King Of Country playfully sings that naughty little hook on the "Shiftwork" single. Meanwhile, George is on tour, playing Oklahoma City tonight and North Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday night. Kenny's "Don't Blink" remains in the Top 10 on the charts.

Darryl Worley And Wife Expecting

More celebrity babies!

Darryl Worley and his wife Kimberly have announced that they are expecting their first child.

Darryl and Kimberly were married Dec. 2 in Columbia, Tenn., and an inside source says the couple knows that the bundle of joy is going to be a girl. "We are so excited and ask that you keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we begin this new and exciting chapter in our lives," says Darryl.

Miranda Lambert had a farm

A-E-I-O-U... vowels are fun. E-I-E-I-OOOOOH.

Miranda Lambert's boyfriend, fellow country star Blake Shelton, recently granted her wish for a mini-horse at Christmas.

"I have been wanting a mini-horse for about a year now, and frankly I think everyone was sick of hearing about it," Miranda writes on her website. "So? my sweet boyfriend decided that would be a great Christmas present for me."

There's a mini-horse farm right down from Miranda's new place in Oklahoma. "After the 80th time of me asking if we could stop, Blake finally said 'yes.' I was so excited," she writes.

Within 20 minutes she knew which mini she wanted, but Blake told her they'd have to wait and think on it for a day. "So of course, the next morning at 8 a.m. (Christmas Eve) I was ready to get her. He told me he had a lot to do so I would have to wait. Needless to say, that wasn't what I wanted to hear," Miranda shares.

"I was milling around my house and Blake's mom was there and she said, 'Hey look out the window.' There was big, tall Blake standing there with my new 31-inch mini-horse. It was quite a sight."

Turns out to be a two-fer: Miranda's new horse, Annie, is expecting a colt in March.

Seen... Scene this yet?

Garth's new video for Workin' For a Livin'

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Telling Aretha what it means to her!

Faith Hill will be among the artists performing tributes to Aretha Franklin at the upcoming MusiCares Person of the Year gala. Variety.com reports that this year's event will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 8, just two days before the Grammy Awards.

Other performers include past "American Idol" winner Fantasia, singer-songwriter John Legend, gospel duo Bebe & CeCe Winans and others. Bill Cosby and Blair Underwood will also be on hand. Proceeds raised from the show, which includes live and silent auctions, will be used to give assistance to music industry people in times of need.

People's Choice Awards get around strike

The stars of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" were among the fan favorites at the 34th annual People's Choice Awards on Tuesday, as CBS scrapped its usual live broadcast of the show in favor of a strike-friendly, pre-taped program.

The two-month-old Writers Guild of America strike has taken a toll on Hollywood's awards season, leading to the cancellation of the Golden Globes and the scaling-down of People's Choice. The fate of other shows, including the Oscars, remains in question.

Robin Williams accepted his award for favorite funny male while on tour with the United Service Organizations in Kabul, Afghanistan. Members of Rascal Flatts picked up their prize for favorite group at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and Patrick Dempsey found out he was the favorite male TV star while at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The show couldn't be canceled entirely, host Queen Latifah said Monday.

Garth Brooks Goes NASCAR

Garth Brooks has aligned himself with NASCAR and will appear in print, radio and television ads promoting NASCAR Day. The advertising campaign begins during the 50th running of the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Brooks and NASCAR president Mike Helton made the announcement Tuesday (Jan. 8) during a press conference at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. NASCAR Day, celebrated on the third Friday in May, raises money for the NASCAR Foundation, a nonprofit organization which supports charities that assist children. Brooks established his own charity, Teammates for Kids, a decade ago to fund health, education and inner-city services for children. Although Brooks has not scheduled a performance in conjunction with NASCAR Day, he has not ruled it out. "If we would [perform], it would be something that Mike and I would sit around and talk about," Brooks said. "We tried to do something for Daytona this year, but that didn't work out. ... If we do get to play, it's for charity, which, truthfully, is what the gift was given to me for anyway. We don't have any plans at this time."

Another Country "Idol"

"American Idol" finalist Phil Stacey today debuts his first single, "If You Didn't Love Me," a song full of meaning for his life and his wife, Kendra.

"I'm so excited to have found this song and that it'll be my very first single," Phil says of the track from his debut CD scheduled to be released in April 2008. "The lyrics mean a lot to me because it's a great love song that everyone can relate to and I feel like it tells the story of my marriage."

"I've been blessed with an amazingly supportive wife and with all the things we've been through together — whether it was in college, the military or even on "American Idol"— having her there made everything so much easier and put joy into everything we went through," says Phil. "I don't know where I'd be today without her."

Phil also had some great help on "If You Didn't Love Me." The debut single was produced by Wayne Kirkpatrick (Little Big Town) and written by Wendell Mobley, Jason Sellers and Rascal Flatts' Gary LeVox.

Phil came to national attention when he performed for millions of viewers each week during his competition on the 2007 season of "American Idol." His renditions of the country hits "Where The Blacktop Ends," "The Change" and "I Need You" were among his most praised performances of the season.

After his summer tour with fellow "American Idol" contestants, Phil, Kendra, and their two daughters moved to Nashville to pursue his country music career. Phil's no newcomer to Tennessee. He studied vocal performance at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Is...Isn't...Now Is! Nicole Is Pregnant

Finally, after several vehement denials, Nicole Kidman's rep confirms that Nicole and husband Keith Urban are expecting their first child.

"The couple are thrilled," Catherine Olim says in a statement.

For Kidman, 40, this will be her third child. She and her former husband, Tom Cruise adopted two children during their marriage: Isabella, now 15, and Connor, 12.

As for where Kidman and Urban, 40, who will be a first-time parent, may bring up their impending arrival, the couple, though both from Down Under, purchased a farm near Leipers Fork, a half-hour southwest of Nashville, in 2007.

The couple, who have been married 18 months, wed, after a yearlong courtship, on June 25, 2006, in a candlelit ceremony at Sydney, Australia's Cardinal Cerretti Memorial Chapel on St. Patrick's Estate at Manly. Guests at the black-tie event included Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts and Rupert Murdoch.

Before the couple even started dating, Kidman made her desire for more children clear. In April 2005, she told reporters that her biological clock was ticking. "I have got hormones running through my system," she said. "That is why I sit wriggling, saying I want to have a baby."

Fan Smacks Into Taylor Swift – and Gets an Autograph

A fan recently ran into Taylor Swift. Literally.

Then the fan asked the 18-year-old country musician for her autograph, in a weird place.

"Yeah, somebody hit my car and then asked me to sign a broken piece of my taillight," said Swift, according to the Canadian news Web site, Canoe.ca.

"Then it was crazy," Swift said. "Five minutes later this other woman saw me on the side of the road and decided that she wanted to get an autograph for her daughter. So she pulled over to get my autograph and then somebody hit her car. It was quite the experience."

On the topic of cars, Swift recently donated hers – a pink "jacked-up" Chevy pick-up given her by her label for her birthday last month – to Victory Junction Gang, a children's charity assisting those with terminal diseases.

"They have camps all over the country for kids who are sick," says Swift. "It's one week each some they forget they're sick and just have a blast and hang out with other people who they can relate to. They look forward to it, and I love that cause."

Trace... one hot dog

Country music fans know Trace Adkins can sell albums, and it turns out he's pretty darn good at selling hot dogs, too. His team, headed by actor and author Stephen Baldwin, sold $57,000 worth of hot dogs in the street vendor competition to survive the first week of Donald Trump's "The Celebrity Apprentice."

The competing team was $40,000 behind Trace and company. The hot dog competition was right down Trace's alley, considering he's donating his earnings from his appearance to FANN, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a nonprofit organization promoting food allergy awareness. To?see an exclusive interview with Trace about the FANN charity that inspired him to sign up for the show, go to NBC.com/The_Celebrity_Apprentice.

Trace and the other celebs gave the show a boost. Thursday night's premiere of "The Celebrity Apprentice" garnered the show's highest rating in more than two years, scoring a 4.5 rating among adults 18 to 49 in preliminary Nielsen ratings, winning the night.

"The Celebrity Apprentice" competition continues next week, when Trace and the other celebrity candidates must produce a TV commercial for a pet adoption program. Ivanka Trump and Macy's CEO Terry Lundgren oversee the project.

Ladies DO Love Country Boys

Brad Paisley is from the small town of Glen Dale, West Virginia, while his wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, is from big New York City. Brad says they weren't real sure at first that the country/city thing would work out.

Brad and Kimberly, who stars on the TV series "According to Jim," are quite different in their backgrounds and habits. Brad recently told Good Housekeeping that in spite of their geographical and cultural differences at the time, when they went to dinner for the first time, they both thought something important had happened.

"We just felt like all the events of our lives had come together for us to meet right when we did," says Brad. Things continue to go smoothly for the couple and their 10-month old son William 'Huck' Huckleberry.

Tim and Garth Leaning Rock

Tim McGraw's latest single "Suspicions" is a remake of an old Eddie Rabbit song, while Garth Brooks has released a duet with rock legend Huey Lewis that is a remake of Lewis' 1980s work anthem "Workin' For a Livin'."

Tim says he's wanted to release his version of "Suspicions," which sits in the Top 20 on the country charts this week, for some time now. "I love Eddie Rabbit, always been an Eddie Rabbit fan, and that song reminds me of growing up," Eddie tells Dial-Global. "I've done it for years in clubs. I've always wanted to do it on an album, but for some reason it always kind of drifted away when we were in the middle of a project. And the band and I made a pact that we'd make sure we got it cut this time."

Garth, whose "More Than A Memory" rests in the Top 15 of the country charts, had a memorable experience working with Lewis. "This thing is country as a biscuit and it worked out really, really well for us," Garth tells Dial-Global. "It was a day to remember and an event because this guy shows up, humble, by himself, pulls out his harmonica and when he starts playing, all of a sudden it's a whole new league. They cut it all live going down—no click track, no computers, no nothing, just straight on into the board. And it was a blast."

Getting Schooled by Emerson Drive

Emerson Drive has received a nomination for a Campus Activities Magazine Reader's Choice Award in the category of Best Major Performance.

The band has been playing the college circuit for several years and performed at the National Association for Campus Activities' national convention in 2006 and 2007.

Lead singer Brad Mates tells Dial-Global he believes it's important for the group to take their music to students by playing those venues. "We do have a lot of young fans out there and I think that the college market is very untapped when it comes to country music. In the last four years, we've done a pile of college and university dates where people are just excited to have country music come back into their campus because it doesn't go through campuses very often."

Brad points out that the concerts also introduce new listeners to the genre. "People that don't turn on country radio, that don't listen to country music, that have never seen a country live concert, come to our show, come up to us after and tell us how much they enjoyed listening to the music. So I think that it helps the industry in a way where you're hoping to gain more young fans and more young people listening to country music."

Fans can vote for the Campus Activities Magazine Reader's Choice Awards online by visiting campusactivitiesmagazine.com. Emerson Drive will take a short break from the road as they record a new album set for release in 2008.

Brooks & Dunn -- Still the Same

Despite their success, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn say they're still essentially the same as when they were struggling to get a break.

"You don't change," Ronnie tells The Tennessean. "People think you do. People started telling me that I changed the first hit record that we had. I swear on my grave that I didn't change; their perception of me changed. I don't care how much money I have, I'm always going to be going broke. That is just how I was raised. We didn't have money. I'm still going to be in a car and going, 'I shouldn't be in this car. I don't feel comfortable in this car.' It's in my genes."

Recently, Brooks & Dunn joined several others in a meeting to discuss issues regarding Wal-Mart and iTunes with Joe Galante, chairman of Sony BMG Nashville. "He said, 'It's been years since you walked into a Wal-Mart,' " Ronnie recalls. "That's not really the case. I'm thinking, 'I've been here longer than anybody for the most part, and I'm in there.' "

"You blink and 20 years of your life goes by," Kix said. "From the time I was 16, for 10 or 15 years solid, I was in bars. I can sit down and write a song sitting on a barstool right now and feel like it happened to me yesterday."

These coming-of-age years remain an important part of the duo's lives. "It doesn't matter what you're doing now, what you've accomplished or whatever," Kix says. "That is what you take a hold of. When you turn that corner, that will always be you. You'll look different, but that's where people grasp their personality and person. I'll be the same forever."

Gary Allan goes gold

Gary Allan’s “Greatest Hits” album was certified gold by the RIAA for sales of 500,000 copies!

Released in March, the 15-song collection includes “Smoke Rings in the Dark,” “Man to Man,” “Tough Little Boys,” “Nothing on but the Radio” and “Best I Ever Had.” Allan’s most recent album, “Living Hard,” was released in October.

Little Big Town's Phillip & Rebecca Sweet Have a Daughter

Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet and his wife, Rebecca, welcomed a little girl over the holidays.

Penelopi Jane was born on Dec. 27 at 5:47 p.m. at the Baptist Hospital in Nashville and weighed 6 lbs., 4 oz. She was 19-inches long and was born with a head of curly brown hair, reads a statement from the band's rep.

"We never knew we could love someone so much," Phillip Sweet, 33, said. "We are truly blessed!"

Little Big Town (consisting of Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Sweet) is currently on tour with George Strait, which means Schlapman's 5-month-old daughter, Daisy Pearl, has a new playmate on the road.

Sweet says on their site that watching Daisy Pearl grow up on tour has "given me lots of examples to pull from" in respect to his new daughter.

"We're trying to plan as best we can, and also realize that all those plans might go out the window. ...It's going to be something dealing with Penelopi and Daisy out here on the road, I'll tell you what," Sweet says on his bio page. "Look out, world!""

Trace Adkins' 'Celebrity Apprentice' On NBC Tonight

Show Moved Up One Week!
NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice," which was previously scheduled to premiere on Thursday, January 10, will now debut on tonight (1/3) at (9pm).

For its seventh season, "The Celebrity Apprentice" returns to New York City as Donald Trump welcomes an all-star celebrity lineup of candidates who will work to raise over $1 million for various charities.

Trace Adkins and 13 other celebrity candidates go head-to-head on the streets of New York and in the Boardroom with Donald Trump -- all for their favorite charities.

Reba's Valentine

Reba McEntire will be releasing an album this month but it’ll only be available at Hallmark Gold Crown stores!

“Love Revival” will be available through January and February as a Valentine’s Day release and will feature four new songs: “Big Blue Sky,” “Bad For My Own Good,” “With You I Am” and “I’ll Still be Loving You,” as well as six other songs including “Forever Love,” “The Heart Won’t Lie” and the title track, which first appeared on “Room to Breathe”.

“I’m so excited about this album because true love really is the sweetest thing in life,” says Reba. “I hope the music on Love Revival will move others to love those in their lives even more.”

The album will $7.95 with the purchase of three Hallmark cards.

Jason Aldean's Big Year

Jason Aldean says 2007 left him with almost too many blessings to remember, but one in particular stands out.

"We celebrated my first album going platinum, so I think that was a big accomplishment," Jason tells The Tennessean. "The second album came out this year and was already verified gold. Being out with Rascal Flatts all year was fun. We got nominated for a few awards this year, and that was cool. We didn't win any of them, but we were nominated for a lot of stuff."

But he says none of those achievements compare to the birth of his second daughter, Kendyl, who is almost four months old. "That was definitely the biggest highlight of the year," he says. "We're excited. My wife and I both always knew we wanted to have at least two kids, and I think we're done now. So that this year is the first year that the whole family is complete, and we got to spend our first Christmas together, is really cool. It just feels like all the missing pieces are in place now."

Jason says he and his wife, Jessica, count themselves lucky that those pieces have fallen into place as smoothly as they have, especially where their four-year-old daughter, Keeley, is concerned.

"Whenever you have the second child, you're always a little nervous at how the first one is going to accept it just because they've been the center of attention for so long," Jason says. "For us, my four-year-old, she's kind of a free spirit anyway and she just kind of goes with the flow. She's excited and has actually been a big help with her, which is really cool. Right now it's kind of tough because she wants her to get up and play with her but she can't. She loves her to death."

Jason enjoyed some quality time home with his family over the holidays, but he's about to hit the road again, this time on his first headlining tour. "It's not one of the major arena kind of tours, but we're going out and trying to headline some smaller arenas and theaters and start doing that," he says. "So we're a little nervous and a little anxious at the same time."

Miley Cyrus Controversy

Miley Cyrus: Pics with Friend 'Nothing Bad'

Photos of Miley Cyrus, shown frolicking on a hotel floor with a female friend and sharing a piece of candy, have been circulating the Internet this week, but the 15-year-old pop sensation insists that the candid shots and what took place are strictly innocent.

"They're nothing bad!" Cyrus explained on Friday, right before her sold-out Best of Both Worlds concert at Nassau Coliseum.

"At first, I was really upset. It really sucks," said the Hannah Montana star, who at one point exclaimed, "Look at me getting all upset!"

Not that she simply plans to shrug off the controversy, or the fact that the photos were even leaked. "It's not something I'm going to let slide," she said. "I'm really upset about it, 'cause it was, like, not even a big deal."

As for the blonde with her in the shots, Cyrus calls her "a friend of mine that's a normal girl. ... That's one of my best friends. I have all these girls who I hang out with all the time."

While Cyrus says she's used to all the attention, both good and bad – "I have to deal with that anyways," she said – her friend is not. "This girl doesn't even have to deal with that, and it's so hard," said Cyrus. [Now] she has to go to school and deal with this crap."

Concerning the photos themselves, Cyrus said, "It's two girls at a sleepover, and if all of a sudden that's bad, then what is the world coming to?"

Cyrus also says that she's into the tour for the fun of it – and once the fun goes away, so will she.

"What I decided before I came out to L.A. and started working," she told the radio station's Niko, "was the minute I didn't have fun was the minute I go home. I don't want to go home, and I don't want to not do what I do, because I love it, but this ... it's Satan attacking."

Taylor's Charity

Taylor Swift's record company surprised her with a big pink pick-up truck for her 18th birthday, and she has found the perfect use for it.

On her MySpace blog, Taylor writes, "I'm very happy to say that I've decided to give my pink truck to Victory Junction Gang, a camp for really sick kids. That thought just makes me smile. For a few weeks, it's being kept at the Country Music Hall of Fame here in Nashville, in case you want to go check it out."

Taylor's donation goes along with her upcoming appearance at Nashville's Sound & Speed event, the country music and NASCAR celebration to be held Jan. 11-12. The event benefits NASCAR's Victory Junction Gang Camp and Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Taylor and Alan Jackson are headlining a concert Jan. 12 at the Sommet Center as part of the event.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp will use Taylor's pick-up to pick up children wih chronic medical conditions or serious illness from the airport and take them to camp. Taylor will officially present the keys to the truck to NASCAR's Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, at Sound & Speed.

In other news, Taylor's single, "Our Song," is No. 1 for the fourth week.

No Resolutions for Josh Gracin

When Josh Gracin told his wife he would be spending New Year's Eve playing a show in New Mexico, she was not pleased.

But Josh thought he could get away with it this once. "She's had 11 years of me being home for New Year's, so she can suffer for one year without me," he tells Dial Global.

As far as New Year's resolutions go, Josh says he doesn't make them. "I try not to set any goals — more like expectations, what I want to do or where I would like to see myself rather than goals," he says, "because any time you can achieve something you didn't think you were going to, it's so much better when you don't put the pressure of making it happen. So I hope 2008 is going to be my biggest year and it's gonna be the year that I feel like I've finally got a foothold in country music."

Early in 2008, Josh will release his sophomore CD, which includes his latest single, "We Weren't Crazy," which he co-wrote. He also plans to make his upcoming tour more fan-friendly by allowing attendees to videotape his shows and trade the clips online on his website, joshgracin.com.

Blake's Hangover Cure

Blake Shelton is not shy about his drinking, and it's a pretty sure bet that he celebrated a bit after his show in Lexington, Ky., on New Year's Eve.

But Blake tells Dial-Global he's always prepared for the morning after a party as he has a sure cure for a hangover. "I've learned to avoid hangovers — and this is probably the worst thing you can do if you care at all about your image — I'll go and just absolutely eat," he says. "Before I go to sleep that night if I'm headed in the direction of a hangover, I'll go to Waffle House — or Taco Bell is the place to go to avoid a hangover because you can just fill up on those Mexican pizzas and the new crunch wrap with the extra hot sauce on it. Just fill up and get sick that night by eating that way because the next morning, you've already been sick. It's over. You wake up and you're ready to go again."

Joe Nichols On Leno Tomorrow Night

\Nichols will premiere his new single, "It Ain't No Crime," on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno tomorrow (1/3) night.