Britney Spears -- GOING COUNTRY?!?!?!?!

Woah boy, so Jessica Simpson and Jewel have apparently started a trend. Everyone's favorite news and gossip maker, Britney Spears, is working on a country album. The first single, Better to Say Goodbye, is surprising fans and critics nationwide as she, "Actually pulls it off and does country music proud, maybe she's finally found her place", says country giant, Carrie Underwood.

Is Britney dropping off the pop charts, "No, no, no, no way", says her reps. "She's just testing the waters, with her recent appearance on 'How I Met Your Mother' and with the country album, she's just showing that she's still out there and she's still got it".

Listen for the new Britney release now playing on BOB!

Major League Keith

Before he became a country artist, Keith Anderson considered the idea of a career in Major League Baseball, and he was good enough that he caught the attention of the Kansas City Royals. However, Keith suffered a shoulder injury that derailed those dreams, but he still is a big fan of the game, even while it endures controversy over steroid use.

"Unfortunately, baseball's taken a hit lately, just because there's so much going on," Keith says. "I have no doubt it's gonna come back and they'll get through these things right now. But I think it's just such a great, relaxing thing. You can go there and hang out all day, especially in the summertime — the great weather, get a cold beer or a soft drink or whatever, a hot dog, and not only watch the game, but there's so much going on. The people-watching, the things going on between [innings] — it's just a great time to take a friend, take whatever and hang out and just catch up on life. It's a great, relaxing thing to do."

Garth -- Missing the Honky Tonks

Garth Brooks premiered his latest video, "Midnight Sun," on GAC last Friday, and it includes some concert footage shot at a club called the Country Bumpkin.

Garth used to be a bouncer at a club in Oklahoma, so he's quite familiar with the Honky Tonk scene, but he's also concerned that there are fewer of those kinds of venues, which could have a negative effect on country music in the long run.

"One of the sad things that I feel bad [for] the artists today is they don't have those places to grow up in, to go out and see these people at 20 at a time, 30 at a time," he says. "They're forced into these 17,000-seat arenas with five other names, or they're forced at these free radio shows that have 60,000 people out there on blankets. That's tough. You go to the Honky Tonks and one at a time you shake those hands, you hug those people and they have you sign their tapes that they taped the record off of because they couldn't afford it, and you're realizing that these people love what you do... I don't see how you replace that, and I sure as hell don't see how you replace it in the school of learning, of coming up."

Trace Gets FIRED!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Nice guys, suggests an old adage, finish last. Not so for Trace Adkins on "The Celebrity Apprentice," but he didn't finish first either, as British TV personality Piers Morgan, who Donald Trump described as "ruthless," won the series finale last night on NBC.

Trace had plenty of support. Ronnie Milsap, Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery and Lonestar's Dean Sams all showed up at the Backstreet Boys charity concert that represented the final task. Dean presented a $10,000 check for charity to Trace, and Ronnie handed over a $5,000 check from the Grand Ole Opry. Trump's daughter, Ivanka, also chipped in $6,000 at auction for dinner with Trace.

Trace had to have his arm twisted a bit to commit to doing "Apprentice," but in the end, he enjoyed the experience.

"I'm not gonna miss the boardroom," he says, "but Donald Trump is kinda cool. I found it refreshing that that persona that you've seen on television is — that's who he is. That's not an act. There's something about that that I found kind of refreshing. He'd blow his hair to show us that it's real. He does have a lighter side to him. He does have a sense of humor."

Trace performed his current single, "You're Gonna Miss This," on the show. And it did so much for his image and recognizability that it's likely other country artists are already lining up to participate for next season's "Celebrity Apprentice," which has already gotten a green light from NBC.

Carrie & Chance Crawford -- OVER!

Carrie Underwood and Chace Crawford have split!

The American Idol winner, 25, and the Gossip Girl star, 22, had been dating since last July, but did not go public with their romance until October.

Underwood had spent Thanksgiving at his parents' home in Dallas and part of her Christmas break with his relatives.

An insider told Us Weekly in December, "His parents are fond of her... they believe 'Carrie Crawford' would be a great addition to the family!"



Underwood's rep was not available for comment; Crawford's declined to comment.

Billy Ray digs the "Hannah" Script

And if he didn't, wouldn't that break your heart, you're achey breaky... nevermind.

Billy Ray Cyrus was thrilled when Disney decided to shoot the upcoming "Hannah Montana" movie in Tennessee, meaning he'd be able to work in his home state. Now he's even more excited about the picture, because he's seen an updated version of the script and thinks it's a winner.

"Immediately after the writers' strike ended, Disney put their A-team on finishing this script and taking it to the next level," he told The Tennessean. "They '10-folded' the script that was there. It's 10 times better than it was, and it started off great. I just love the direction of it. The people are getting into place. The infrastructure to make this movie is now in town."

Shooting for the picture begins in May, which has been a creative inspiration for Billy Ray. When he found out it was set for the Volunteer State, he wrote a new song, "Back To Tennessee," and it's now slated to appear in the movie and become the theme for the TV competition "Nashville Star," which he'll be hosting beginning in June.

Meanwhile, daughter Miley Cyrus has also got some additional TV time of her own plotted out for the summer. She'll appear in New York during NBC's "Today" show concert series on July 25. Also pegged for "Today" are Kenny Chesney on June 13 and Rascal Flatts on July 11.

Underwood, Gill, Vassar Participate in Softball Challenge

Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, and Phil Vassar, as well Jake Owen, Chuck Wicks, James Otto and Danielle Peck, will take to the playing field this June to participate in the 18th Annual City of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge on June 4 in Nashville. Tennessee Titans’ cornerback Cortland Finnegan also will play.

City of Hope is a research and treatment institution for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Sara Evans Engaged!

People magazine is reporting that Sara Evans has gotten engaged to former University of Alabama football player Jay Barker.

“The couple are enjoying their engagement and look forward to their upcoming nuptials,” Evans’ rep, Lori Genes, told People.

Evans and Craig Schelske divorced in September of last year after 13 years of marriage. Evans and Barker began dating around Thanksgiving of last year

Kenny is looking for a BIG STAR!

Oddly enough, he has yet to check Bannana Joe's.

Kenny Chesney might pack stadiums these days, but there was a time on his way up when he had trouble even getting bar patrons to pay attention when he sang at tiny clubs like Chucky's Trading Post in East Tennessee and The Turf on Lower Broadway in Nashville. With that in mind, he's rolling out a Big Star Contest - named for one of his hits - allowing local artists a chance to open some of his shows.

"I've been thinking about how to do this for a couple years now," Kenny says. "People told me I was crazy, and logistically, it's taken a whole lot of people to sort out just how to do it — to be fair and to find local bands all over America who deserve the shot."

Ultimately, it's a really big shot. In addition to getting an opening slot in their hometown, the winning artists get a chance at a grand prize that includes hitting the road for Kenny's final three shows this fall, a $25,000 jackpot and an audition for executives with Sony BMG, the company that owns Kenny's label, BNA Records. Several artists who've gone through public auditions have done well with Sony BMG, including "American Idol"'s Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler.

The Nervous Apprentice

Trace Adkins did not expect to fare particularly well when he joined the cast of Donald Trump's NBC show "The Celebrity Apprentice," but now he finds himself one of the two finalists for this Thursday's conclusion, and he has no idea how it will turn out.

The bulk of the series was taped last fall in New York City, but this week's two-hour finale is live, and that means it's anyone's guess whether Trace or his opponent, Piers Morgan, will come up the victor.

"I really don't know how it's gonna play out," Trace says. "I think most of the cast is coming back, so it'll be cool to see all those folks again. But I don't really know much more than that. I think we're gonna watch some of the show, some of the stuff that's on tape, and maybe we'll comment on it in the boardroom. So I'm just as anxious about that as everybody else is, just ready to get it on, get it done."

The winner will receive $250,000 for a charity; Trace's is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network. He's scheduled to perform his current single, "You're Gonna Miss This," on "Apprentice," and he hinted in last week's episode that there may be appearances by several other country stars, including Lonestar's Dean Sams, Ronnie Milsap and Montgomery Gentry.

Little Big Town's Strait Line

... Stait line... haha, that's a pun.

Little Big Town has had a chance this year to hit the road as an opening act for George Strait, and it's a spot they've particularly enjoyed. After all, they're fans.

"How can you not be?" group member Jimi Westbrook says. "He is the king of country, and it's just amazing. You sit there, and it's unbelievable that you can play a couple of hours a night and every song is a No. 1 hit. That's just crazy."

While it might appear from the seats in the audience that it's one big party backstage, that's not quite the story on the road with George.

"We've hung out with him a little bit," Jimi says, "but he's pretty much in and out when he rolls in. He stays with his wife on the bus a lot, but he's a super-nice guy, really good to us."

Little Big Town opens three shows for George over the next two weeks: Friday in Oakland, Saturday in Anaheim, and April 4 in Baltimore. In the midst of those dates, George's new album, Troubadour, comes out April 1.

Blake Gets The Hint

Blake Shelton's current single is a remake of "Home" by pop singer Michael Buble, but it wasn't Blake's idea to record the song. His girlfriend, Miranda Lambert, was the one who suggested it, and Blake trusted her judgment enough to take her advice.

So he gave the song a lot of consideration, and came up with a plan he thought would make the song really work.

"I finally decided that it would be really cool to have a female part there that would be prominent and featured," he told the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville.

Blake and Miranda had a longstanding agreement that they wouldn't mix music and their personal life, and he thought the person who was best suited for the female part was Carolyn Dawn Johnson. But whenever he broached the topic with Miranda, she found another way to give him a little more advice.

"I remember distinctly the look of death," Blake laughed. "And she loves Carolyn Dawn Johnson; she just doesn't love CDJ to be singing with me on a song that she found for me. And so I could tell by the look on her face who was gonna be singing that part with me on 'Home.'"

And then there were two....

With last night's episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice" now complete, only one more installment remains for the NBC show, with Trace Adkins squaring off against TV personality Piers Morgan for the victory.

Trace's quiet demeanor led some of the other players to think he was a bit of a pushover at first, but they soon discovered he had a lot of leadership qualities.

"I got to work with him a couple times, and he was great," Marilu Henner says. "He really played to everybody's strengths. We'd get the tasks, and he'd say, 'OK, I was thinkin' that I'd do this. Can you handle that?' 'Yeah, I can do that.' 'So you're gonna do that.' He was very good at delegating, very good at letting each of us come up to our best efforts, and really inspirational as a leader. And when we worked together, it was some of the most special moments that I experienced on 'The Apprentice.' You always felt like you could play your best, and it wasn't like you were looking to trip each other up."

For the final task, Trace chose Marilu and boxer Lennox Lewis to join him as they prepare a charity concert in New York featuring the Backstreet Boys. If last night's storyline holds true, Montgomery Gentry, Ronnie Milsap and Lonestar's Dean Sams might all be seen at the event — an event which was already testing Trace's patience in last night's episode.

Trace needed to negotiate some changes in the accommodations for the pop band, and he was frustrated by some of the things they requested, including wheatgrass, which Trace had never heard of.

"Talkin' to the Backstreet Boys," he said, "is time out of my life that I'll never get back."

NBC closed the show by painting next week's challenge as "the arrogant Brit vs. the American cowboy." And the winner is...

Blake Shelton Makes The Cover Of Country Weekly

Opens Up About His Relationship With Miranda Lambert ... WWWWOOOOoooOOOOOooOOO!

Blake Shelton is on the cover of the April 7 issue of Country Weekly, on-stands March 24. Shelton gives Country Weekly an inside look – not just of his house on his 1,200 acre farm in Tishomingo, OK, but also of himself.

Shelton shares how he likes to spend his down time, what it means to live close to family, his relationship with Miranda Lambert and what a big night in Tishomingo involves.

“I mean it – I’m in my favorite spot that I’ve been in in my life. It’s real easy to lose yourself and lose focus in this music industry thing. I just feel like, all of a sudden, bein’ back in Oklahoma and four albums into this thing … I just love how my life is at the moment,” shares Shelton.

John Rich To Appear On VH1 Classic

Their Coverage Of Station Family Fund Benefit Concert
Tune-In to VH-1 Classic starting this Sunday (3/23) for the broadcast airing of the Station Family Fund Concert benefit, which was originally recorded on February 25, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island.

John Rich and other musical artists performed at the benefit to help raise funds to benefit the victims of the Station Nightclub fire, which was the fourth largest nightclub fire in U.S. history. One hundred lives were lost, 200 others were seriously injured and 65 children lost one or both parents in the accident.


In addition to Rich, Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson, Tom Scholz, Aaron Lewis (Staind), Twisted Sister, Tesla, Kevin Max, Stryper and others performed at the benefit.

Luke Bryan is a daddy!

Luke Bryan, 31, and his wife, Caroline, 28, welcomed their first child, Thomas Boyer Bryan at 11:34 a.m. on Tuesday at a Nashville area hospital.

Bryan said he was "over the moon" to meet his new son, who weighed 6 lbs., 14 oz., and added: "Everyone is doing great! My fishing buddy is finally here!"

"I thought being on stage was an amazing feeling, but there is nothing that can top watching my wife bring our son in to this world," the singer tells PEOPLE. "There is no way I would have missed this for anything."

The baby gets his name from his father, whose formal first name is Thomas. Boyer is mother Caroline's maiden name. But his parents will call the boy "Bo," Bryan said.

Bryan and his wife met in 1998, when the two were students at Georgia Southern. They married on Dec. 6, 2006.

Already, Baby Bo has scored some great country swag from the likes of singer Josh Turner, who sent a onesie with a guitar on it, and country video director Shaun Silva, who gave the little guy an "I Crawl the Line" onesie.

Jewel - STRONGER WOMAN Video

Newly "Country-Ized" star, Jewel, has released her very first video!!

OUR SONG Goes Platinum

Even being "Ours"... we aren't the ones that get the award.

Taylor Swift's single "Our Song" was certified platinum last week by the Recording Industry Association of America, making it the second song from her debut album to achieve that recognition. It's a great accomplishment for an artist who just turned 18, but it comes as little surprise that her interest in country music was keyed by another singer who made her debut as a teen.

LeAnn Rimes was just 13 when she released "Blue," and when her mom brought home an album by LeAnn, young Taylor — who was six at the time — was hooked permanently on country music.

"I started listening to female country artists non-stop: Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks," Taylor told Blender magazine. "And they led me back to Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette. I think it was the storytelling that grabbed me."

Taylor's own stories have grabbed another generation. "Our Song" follows on the heels of "Teardrops On My Guitar" in going platinum, while "Tim McGraw" was certified gold. Her self-titled debut album is also double-platinum.

Dolly Parton Calls Miley Cyrus a 'Little Elvis'

Miley says... "Thank you, thank you very much"... hahahahahaha.

It's not just the tweens who love Miley Cyrus: The Disney channel star has a fan in Dolly Parton. "That little Miley Cyrus ... she's like a little Elvis," the country luminary says in a new interview with AOL Music. "The kids love her because she's Hannah Montana, but what people don't realize about her is she is such a fantastic singer and songwriter. She writes songs like she's 40 years old! She's really deep.

Garth Brooks New CD Now 5X Platinum

The Ultimate Hits has been certified 5X platinum!!!

Garth says about the newest single, MIDNIGHT SUN, “This [song] is my college days. This is haulin’ hay during the daytime, then goin’ out to the Tumbleweed and dancin’ at the honky tonk at night. And that’s what this [song] is. If you think you hear the line ‘dance ‘til you’re sweatin’ like a rented mule’, yes, you are!” Garth says with a grin.

What Brad Thinks of Taylor

In Brad Paisley's "Letter To Me," he cleverly wrote some words of wisdom to an earlier version of himself: the 17-year-old high-schooler in West Virginia. Now he's got some words of praise for an artist who was 17 years old when she hit the road with him last year as part of the Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour. That artist, of course, is Taylor Swift, who's since turned 18.

"I was looking at a lot of artists to come out on tour with us," Brad told Blender magazine, "but as soon as I downloaded her album, I knew we had to have her. I was floored by the songwriting. I love the fact that she doesn't pretend to be 30 years old in her songs. She has a very genuine voice."

Taylor's currently working on her second album, which includes a song she co-wrote with Kellie Pickler, who was also on the Bonfires & Amplifiers itinerary. Taylor has promised that the CD will show some artistic growth, but also says it won't be so different that she alienates her fans. Brad thinks she's showing enough talent — and smarts — that she'll be a force to contend with in the future, as well as the present.

"Taylor will be around a long time," he predicted. "Her audience will grow with her."

Trace... The Sneaky Apprentice

Trace Adkins never thought he'd make it past more than a couple of episodes when he first consented to appear on Donald Trump's NBC series "The Celebrity Apprentice." But after last Thursday's installment, Trace now finds himself among the final four contestants.

Trace was on the losing team as he and Stephen Baldwin's Quiznos sandwich, the Cowboy Club, sold to 60 fewer customers than the Champ Sandwich, pushed by the other team. But Trump fired Stephen, and Trace now finds himself alongside Piers Morgan, Carol Alt and Lennox Lewis among the finalists. The show is down to its last two episodes, and Trump will fire not one, but two of the remaining players this Thursday.

Trace's fellow country stars are backing him strongly to win the contest, and that includes Joe Nichols, who's been watching the show since its January debut.

"I think he's got every bit of what it takes to go the distance, and I'm pullin' for him," Joe told Dial-Global. "I think he's a class individual that has a lot more intelligence than most people would believe, because he doesn't speak all the time. [Session guitarist] Brent Rowan likes to say — and I agree with him about this — that most people that have a lot to say usually have nothin' to say. Most people that don't say very much say it all with a few words. And that's the kind of guy Trace is. They should realize that all the while Trace is not just sittin' back and mindin' his own. He's listenin' to everybody else. He knows what's goin' on."

"Celebrity Apprentice" was shot in New York in October, but the final episode on March 27 will air live. None of the contestants knows who will ultimately be named the winning apprentice.

Taylor Dishes on Exes

Taylor Swift is on the cover of this month's edition of Blender magazine, where she notes quite frankly that her first three hits were all inspired by former boyfriends.

One of them, named Drew, was the guy behind both "Tim McGraw" and "Our Song," and she actually showed the magazine writer the backyard where she took prom pictures with Drew.

"I've totally moved on," she said. "Drew's a great guy, but we're not really in touch. His girlfriend — she's not much of a Taylor Swift fan."

The other ex-boyfriend weirdly showed up in her driveway as she was leaving her house to attend a Nashville Predators hockey game with fellow artists Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler earlier this year. He was the inspiration for "Teardrops On My Guitar," and apparently thought they could rekindle things.

"I haven't talked to this guy in two years," she said. "I was like, 'Um, hi?' It would have been really cool and poetic if he had turned up at my house right after my album came out. But it was two years later. A couple of things have happened in my life since then. I was like, 'It's really great to see you. But you're a little late.'"

John Rich Judging Nashville Star

Big & Rich's John Rich is set to join the panel of judges when NBC begins airing season six of "Nashville Star" on June 9. Billy Ray Cyrus has already signed on to host the talent competition, which aired its previous five seasons on the USA Network.

Big & Rich have been supportive of "Nashville Star" for some time. The duo made an appearance on an episode in April 2005, played "Comin' To Your City" when season four kicked off in March 2006, and returned at least twice in May 2007, when their buddy Cowboy Troy served as a co-host of the show.

John will likely be a vocal proponent for the genre during "Nashville Star"'s summer run. Last week, he got an ovation during a panel at the Country Radio Seminar, saying, "Country music is an art form. It's not something you can do just because you're famous for doing something else."

Competition for the show is already underway. It started Feb. 9 and moves to Washington, D.C., on Saturday and Sunday. Casting continues March 18-19 in Austin and comes to a conclusion March 21-22 in Nashville.

Rodney and Adoption

Rodney Atkins was adopted as a child, and the experience helped steer him from what could have been a disastrous start on life into a very rewarding one. As a result, he's wholeheartedly endorsing a new website, iChooseAdoption.org, set up for the National Council For Adoption's new campaign: "Sometimes choosing adoption is being a good mother."

"Adoption allows a birthmother to make a plan for her child's future and provide a loving family for her baby," says Rodney, who's a spokesperson for the NCFA. "I wouldn't be where I am today if my birthmother hadn't made the decision she felt was best for both of us. I'm so grateful to her — and to all the birthparents who choose adoption."

The iChooseAdoption campaign is part of the NCFA's attempt to increase adoption awareness and boost the number of adoptions. Currently, only 16 babies are adopted for every 1,000 single-mother births. The NCFA intends to promote a celebratory image of adoption, which gets a ringing endorsement from Rodney.

Keith on being a baby daddy

Keith Urban waited until he turned 40 to become a father, and it seems as if he's viewing parenthood with a sensible, mature outlook. While Keith and Nicole Kidman are looking forward to the birth of their first child, he's the first to say that he's not quite certain what changes are in store for him as a daddy.

"I've given it a lot of thought, but at the same time, how can you sort of prepare yourself for that?" Keith said on the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. "I'm just very, very grateful, and I think the timing is just divine."

Keith has the ability to wing it when he launches into a guitar solo, and it appears he may do that just a bit as a father. Even as he gears up for the birth, he recognizes that he can't say with any certainty what experiences he most wants to impart to his child.

"I'll let you know all of that," he said. "I may sit here and say one thing, but reality's a whole different thing. I'm fortunate that I have parents that supported my career and obviously music. I think we just have to wait and see. Everybody wants parents to support their passion."

Keith and Nicole's baby is due in June.

Trace -- Close to "Hired!"

There are only three episodes left for Donald Trump's NBC series "The Celebrity Apprentice," and Trace Adkins is one of the five remaining contestants. He didn't expect to be in this position when the show started shooting last fall, but he soon discovered he was serious about the competition.

"I figured I'd go up there, hang out a couple of weeks and bring some awareness to my charity," Trace says. "But we got halfway through, and I thought, 'You know what? I've come up here, I've got all my clothes up here, so let's go ahead and try to win this thing!'"

This week's episode is a meaty one: Both teams go to work for Quizno’s with an assignment to develop a new sandwich and drum up the biggest sales for their product. The food-related episode has a bit of irony for Trace: His charity for the show is the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, which brings awareness to the three million school-age children who suffer from some version of food allergies.

The final installment of "The Celebrity Apprentice" will air March 27.

Taylor & Faith "Dolled Up"

Taylor Swift and Faith Hill have both signed agreements that use their likeness for a doll, though the deals just a bit different. Taylor is going the more traditional line with a physical doll, while Faith is taking an edgier route, as the model for an online doll that allows young girls to dress her up as they wish.

Taylor's doll, being produced by Jakks Pacific, will feature her best known fashions and appropriate accessories, including a crystal guitar.

"When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a country music star and having my very own fashion doll line," Taylor says. "Now it's come true! I can't wait to see little girls play with my doll and rock out with my crystal guitar."

Faith, according to The Tennessean, is the focus of a figure on Stardoll, a website that targets girls aged 9-17. Her agreement provides for a virtual closet of outfits she's personally chosen, allowing Stardoll visitors to dress her up for all kinds of events.

"Joining Stardoll is exciting for me, especially because my kids are such fans," Faith says. "This is the first time I've explored a virtual world, and I'm amazed at what a creative, kind and eclectic mix of girls belong to the community."

The All-American Girl

Carrie Underwood is enjoying quite the carnival ride through the music charts of late. Her current single, "All-American Girl," became her sixth straight release to hit No. 1 last week.

In addition, it's the top country song at iTunes, and it ranks at the top of GAC's weekly Top 20 Countdown. In fact, Carrie's the only artist to ever debut at No. 1 on the Countdown — she first did it with "Before He Cheats" and has repeated that feat with "All-American."

The video "is a true reflection of the many different lifestyles represented by our audience," says Sarah Trahern, GAC Senior Vice President of Programming, "and it lives up to the high creative standards set by all of her videos."

Look for Carrie on GAC's Opry Live! on Saturday and on the April 9 edition of FOX-TV's American Idol: Idol Gives Back.

Trace Begins Week 11

Week 11 begins and Trace Adkins is still sitting pretty on Celebrity Apprentice. See if he'll make it to week 12 this Thursday on NBC.

Trace's Honestly Policy

Trace Adkins surprised a lot of people when he quietly became one of the stars of Donald Trump's NBC series "The Celebrity Apprentice" this season. Trace has come up with the slogans for his team's marketing efforts several times, he was willing to take his shirt off for a photo session despite being uncomfortable with it, he was an able spokesman on QVC and he was the project manager when Trump - for the first time ever - decided not to fire anyone from the losing team during one episode's boardroom scene.

"Trace did something that never happens in the boardroom," contestant Omarosa Manigault Stallworth says. "He actually told the truth! It was shocking! Most of the time, we're cutting each other down and undermining one another and positioning. When he told the truth in one of the episodes, I looked at Donald, Donald looked at me, and we were like, 'What was that?' The truth! So, I mean, that was probably one of the best memories of the boardroom and working with Trace."

Omarosa and three other contestants — Marilu Henner, Nely Galan and Tiffany Fallon — were on hand Wednesday night when Trace performed at Nashville's Global Cafe as an add-on attraction for broadcasting executives attending the Country Radio Seminar.

With last night's episode now out of the way, "The Celebrity Apprentice" has just three more weeks before it comes to a conclusion March 27. All the contestants will return for that live episode, and nobody knows who will win.

Trace's Global Cafe show had one other celebrity guest in the audience. Tiffany Fallon, who's now seven months pregnant, brought along husband Joe Don Rooney, of Rascal Flatts.

Taylor Swift in BLENDER MAGAZINE

Says she hasn't kissed a boy in 2 years.

Just call her the anti-Paris.

Taylor Swift, 18, was nominated for a Grammy Award this year – and is a major country music superstar. But all the success does not translate into lots of partying or dating.

"I just don't have the time," Swift tells Blender in its April issue about her dating life. Swift also says she hasn't kissed a boy is almost two years – since her self-titled album came out.

The same goes for the party circuit, which she skips altogether. "There could be drinking there or whatever," says Swift. "Your career could go up in smoke just like that. It's not worth the risk."

Swift, who lives in Hendersonville, Tenn. with her parents, says she prefers her normal, suburban life, including lunches at Applebee's and thinking about things like her senior prom. So, who's her dream date?

"Perez Hilton!" Swift tells Blender. "Your prom date is supposed to be fun and hilarious, and I think I'd have more fun with Perez than with anyone else."

CMT Awards - Brad, Sugarland, Carrie.... EVERYONE!

Brad Paisley led the field of Country Music Television award nominees, with four nods for his "Online" video, it was announced Thursday.

Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and Trace Adkins each received three nominations.

Earlier this week – from the Academy of Country Music – Paisley received four nominations, including entertainer of the year and album of the year.

In the CMT competition, which is decided by fan votes, Paisley's "Online" is up for video of the year, male video of the year, comedy video and supporting character for actor Jason Alexander, the Associated Press reports.

Also in the running for video of the year is Sugarland's "Stay."

Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus and father Billy Ray Cyrus are scheduled to host the April 14 ceremony in Nashville.

Brad's "Paisley Party"

Brad Paisley has announced his next tour -- the Paisley Party 2008.

The 42-date tour kicks off June 11 in Albuquerque, N.M., with multiple shows on the docket for Southern California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas before winding up in San Antonio Oct. 18.

Brad, who picked up four nominations this week for the Academy of Country Music Awards, also introduced a trio of opening acts for the tour: Jewel; "Dancing With The Stars" participant Julianne Hough; and Chuck Wicks, who participated in the most recent dates on Brad's Bonfires & Amplifiers Tour.

The Paisley Party Tour dates you may be interested in:


Aug. 9 Detroit Lakes, Minn. WE Fest
Aug. 22 St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota State Fair Grandstand
Aug. 23 Chicago, Ill. First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

ACM Nominations Announced

The Academy of Country Music has announced their nominations for this year’s awards show, which airs May 18 on CBS.

Kenny Chesney swept with 11 nominations, followed by Rodney Atkins with six nominations, and Brad Paisley, Big & Rich and Sugarland with four each:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
- Kenny Chesney
- Brad Paisley
- Rascal Flatts
- George Strait
- Keith Urban

TOP MALE VOCALIST
- Rodney Atkins
- Kenny Chesney
- Brad Paisley
- George Strait
- Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
- Miranda Lambert
- Martina McBride
- LeAnn Rimes
- Taylor Swift
- Carrie Underwood

Free Taylor Swift Music

Free music online??? And it's totally legal!

Attention all teens: drink your milk and you may get more than strong bones -- you could get free music from Taylor Swift!

Taylor is the latest star to join bodybymilk.com's free music program, a campaign that offers free music downloads as a way to encourage teens to drink 3 glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk everyday, and eat right to stay lean and healthy.

According to the Milk Processor Education Program, new artists are featured every two weeks, with Taylor debuting in the program on March 18. Also featured in the campaign are pop artists Rihanna, Plain White T's, Enrique Iglesias, Lifehouse, The Smashing Pumpkins and Chris Cornell.

Teens can log onto bodybymilk.com to download music, get exclusive artist wallpapers and IM icons, hear exclusive interviews with the artists, and enter for a chance to win prizes such as autographed memorabilia, from guitars to CDs. In addition, teens can send their friends free wake-up calls directly from the artists and create their own, personalized Milk Mustache ads.

Visitors to the site can also download previous "Got Milk?" ads featuring everyone from Carrie Underwood to baseball player Alex Rodriguez to football star Michael Strahan. Will Taylor soon be sporting her own milk mustache? Stay tuned

DATING JESSICA SIMPSON : "Fun and makes you feel fearless"

Tony Romo thinks he knows the secret to being a fun and fearless guy.

Accepting his Cosmo magazine Fun Fearless Males 2008 award today, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback told the audience that he was repeatedly asked what make a fun, fearless male. Romo noted that other recipients are past flames of his girlfriend Jessica Simpson.

"I was thinking, you have John Mayer, Dane Cook," he said. "If you date Jessica Simpson, I guess you're fun and fearless."

Romo's remarks come after he spent a lowkey weekend with Simpson. On Saturday night, she gave him a provactative dance at club Villa in Hollywood.

A pal of Romo's told Us Weekly last month, "I think they're going to get married.".

Jessica's country album is currently on hold while she performs for US Troops in Kuwait.

Sara Makes Strep Look Good

Sara Evans' cover photo for her "Greatest Hits" CD finds the singer, once named one of the "50 Most Beautiful In The World" by "People" magazine, looking extremely attractive.

That's particularly impressive, because as it turns out, that photo — and all the others in the CD sleeve — were taken on a day when she was suffering from strep throat.

"I was dying," Sara told Dial-Global.

It seems she had taken some vacation time at the beach with her children and their nanny. She didn't feel well, and after the nanny drove everyone home to Tennessee, Sara went into recuperation mode.

"It was probably 95 degrees outside, and I went into my bedroom and put on sweats and a sweatshirt and socks and gloves, and I got into my bed," she recalled.

A neighbor drove Sara to the emergency room, where the doctors told her she'd contracted strep throat. She didn't have to sing, fortunately, but she still had an appointment for the album cover shoot the next day.

"I got a steroid shot and an antibiotic shot," she said, "and the next morning went in and did that photo shoot."

That fact that will likely cause some pangs of jealousy: How can someone be that sick and look that good?