Nicole's Birth Mixtape

Nicole Kidman has created a music compilation for when she gives birth.

The Oscar-winning actress - who is due to have her baby within the next two weeks - has chosen a selection of her favorite songs to help her during the delivery.

The tracks she has chosen include many by her husband, Keith Urban, and Irish flautist Sir James Galway.

A source said: "Nicole has been putting together CDs of music to listen to during labor. She has always loved James Galway, particularly his classical albums.

"Whenever you go to her house, she has Galway on. There is one Prokofiev sonata that is her favourite."

Galway, 68 - who is considered the finest flautist of his generation - has recorded more than 60 albums, with his most famous song being instrumental version of John Denver's hit 'Annie's Song' in 1978.

Nicole - who already has two adopted children, Isabella, 15, and 13-year-old Connor, with ex-husband Tom Cruise - has also reserved a private room at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee as she wants the finest medical care and is hoping to have a natural delivery.

Smiley Miley

It's hard NOT to be all smiles when you're a teenage millionaire. Earlier this year, Miley Cyrus found her way into country music’s Top 10 by joining father Billy Ray Cyrus on "Ready, Set, Don’t Go," but the family came under some heat in the interim because of a now-famous photo session with Annie Leibovitz.

Miley is "embarrassed" about the primary picture from that session, in which she’s wrapped in a sheet with part of her back and one shoulder exposed. The picture appeared in Vanity Fair and created huge controversy — some parents felt she exposed too much, and Billy Ray came under fire for leaving the shoot before it was complete. Miley seems to shrug it off as a mistake she’s not likely to repeat.

"I was embarrassed, but also it’s like every career thing that I do can’t be perfect, and sometimes my decisions are wrong," she told Billboard. "I think that just makes me even more relatable. I don’t think people will look at me any differently because they’re like, ‘You know what? I’m going to do stupid stuff, too, and I’m going to make mistakes, and that’s fine.’ It still hurts when I think about it, but you know what? It doesn’t mean that you can’t move on."

Miley is indeed moving forward. She has a new album, titled Breakout, set for release July 22. She wrote all but two of the songs, and it’s a sign of the direction she’d like to see her career take.

"No matter how long what I’m doing here lasts, I want to be a songwriter for the rest of my life," she said. "I love it, and it’s my escape. I just hope that this record showcases that, more than anything, I’m a writer."

Miley and her dad have started work on the third season of the hit Disney cable show Hannah Montana. Meanwhile, Billy Ray wrote the theme song to a Hannah Montana movie that, according to IMDB.com, will be released May 1, 2009 and is currently shooting outside the Nashville area. Also expected to appear at varying points in the picture are Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Bucky Covington and Dolly Parton.

Julianne Keeps Her Feet On The Ground

... Because if she didn't... she'd be... flying?

Julianne Hough has said repeatedly that singing country music was always her biggest ambition, though a role on "Dancing With The Stars" came along first.

As it turned out, the ABC show became a great vehicle for exposure, particularly after she shared first place in the Spring 2007 competition with skater Apolo Ohno.

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

In fact, she’d be willing to expand from dancing and singing into acting as well, if that should present itself.

"I would love to get my feet wet in that world," she said. "But I don't want to look too far ahead."

Indeed, Julianne’s biggest concern these days is Brad Paisley’s Paisley Party Tour, co-sponsored by GAC. The bill also features Jewel and Chuck Wicks.

Tim the ... Bouncer?

Tim McGraw doesn't just dress and talk the cowboy part, he backs it up with action. Just ask a rowdy concert-goer, who found out first hand when McGraw personally booted him from his show Tuesday night.

McGraw was singing "Indian Outlaw" in Auburn, Wash., when he noticed a large man causing a ruckus in the front row, allegedly striking a woman. McGraw said, "Get rid of this guy! Security!" and then stooped down and dragged the man onstage, where security guards took him away.

At one point, the man and McGraw seemed ready to get into a full-fledged fracas, with McGraw cocking his fist back as if to throw a punch.

"While Tim was performing at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Washington, last night, he watched a man rush to the front of the stage," McGraw's rep told PEOPLE. "This overly aggressive fan attacked a female fan and Tim witnessed this incident. Tim called for security, but when they could not respond quick enough, Tim and several crew members removed the fan from the audience where he was then turned over to the local authorities."

Newlyweds 2 -- Who knows?

On The View Wednesday, Jessica Simpson declared she and Tony Romo are still going strong.

"We're still together ... we've been together for about seven months — almost eight," she said on the live show from Las Vegas. "I don't know about wedding bells ... but I'm still with him, so that's a good sign."

After her appearance Simpson (who was accompanied by her father Joe and hairstylist Ken Paves) greeted fans and posed for photos as she walked out of Caesars Palace.

As Us previously reported, Romo and Simpson had cooled things off after Joe began interfering in the relationship (he wanted to take over Romo's NFL career). A source said Romo gave Jessica an ultimatum: Tell dad to back off!

Simpson also performed her new country single "Come on Over."

Disney Goes Country!

Well... I guess Billy Ray and Miley Ray are already the stars of the Disney Channel, so it makes sense. Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss are among the artists contributing to a 15-track collection that celebrates the Disney Music Group’s connection to Nashville.

Country Sings Disney mostly features songs that originated in soundtracks for such Disney films as The Lion King, Bambi II and The Little Mermaid, bookended by a pair of tracks featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, currently signed to Walt Disney Records. The collection leads with "Ready, Set, Don’t Go," Billy Ray’s duet with daughter Miley Cyrus; and closes with "Real Gone," his version of a song Sheryl Crow introduced in the Cars soundtrack.

The complete track list for Country Sings Disney —

• Billy Ray Cyrus featuring Miley Cyrus, "Ready, Set, Don’t Go"
• Rascal Flatts, "Life Is A Highway" (Cars)
• Tim McGraw, "Wherever The Trail May Lead" (Home On The Range)
• Martina McBride, "Through Your Eyes," (Bambi II)
• Trisha Yearwood, "Blue Beyond" (Fox And The Hound 2)
• Bucky Covington, "You’ll Be In My Heart" (Tarzan)
• Phil Stacey, "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" (The Lion King)
• Bonnie Raitt, "Will The Sun Ever Shine Again" (Home On The Range)
• Alison Krauss, "There Is Life" (Bambi II)
• Josh Gracin, "When I See An Elephant Fly" (Dumbo)
• SHeDAISY, "Baby Mine" (Dumbo)
• Little Big Town, "We Go Together" (Fox And The Hound 2)
• Faith Hill, "Part Of Your World" (The Little Mermaid)
• Brad Paisley, "Find Yourself" (Cars)
• Billy Ray Cyrus, "Real Gone" (Cars)

50 Million Fans Can't Be Wrong!!!

People kinda like Taylor... and by "kinda", we mean, THEY REALLY REALLY REAAAALLLY LIKE HER!

Taylor Swift is consistently ranked at No. 1 on the MySpace social network, and she’s now topped an extraordinary mark: Her music has been streamed more than 50 million times from her MySpace page, demonstrating how avid her fans are at finding her songs.

That comes at a time when she continues to rack up major milestones. Her self-titled debut album was certified triple-platinum last month, meaning her label has shipped more than 3 million copies. In addition, the ringtone for "Our Song" went gold after being downloaded as a signature sound for 500,000 cell phones. To top it off, the Taylor Swift album has now spent a total of 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart. The only other female acts who’ve spent that many weeks at the top of that chart this decade are the Dixie Chicks and Carrie Underwood.

Taylor’s already the winner of new-artist trophies from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music, a Grammy nominee and one of People magazine’s Most Beautiful People in the World. She’s in the process of recording her sophomore album, which will likely be released before the end of the year.

Tim Announces NEW ALBUM

Tim McGraw has announced he’ll be releasing his next album this fall! At least, that’s what he told concert-goers this past Saturday at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. There has been no official word from anyone else but I guess he would know, right?

A "Slice" of Life?

... Um, how about "Living the Good Slice". No. Well, we'll work on the punchlines later, but lets face it -- you know it is a slow news day when the papparazzi resort to snapping picks of the McGraw-Hill clan having some pizza pie during a family day on the town.

The pizza-devouring daddy and his FAITHful wife (haha, get it), took the kids out for shopping and dinner in West Hollywood on a beautiful summer day... wait, pizza? Why aren't you eating your Tim Mcgraw FRITOS!!!?!?!?!?!?!

Toby's DOLLAR MENU Album

Yeah.. uh, can I get "She's a Hottie" with a small fry and value shake?

Toby Keith has total control over his music now that he owns his own record company, Show Dog Nashville. Unfortunately, he has much less control over how people find the music, and that has left him a bit confused.

"I don’t even know what to do with the [next] album," he says. "We don’t know what’s gonna happen with the recording industry."

Currently, Toby’s cut 10 songs, and four of them are completed tracks. The other six still need to have some instruments and/or background vocals added in overdubbing, and Toby wants to give his lead vocals another run before he considers them finished.

But he still faces the same problem the major labels do, in that having music digitized and available one track at a time has hurt recording income.

"It’s pretty much a 99-cent world," he says.

As a result, he’s not sure whether to release an entire album at one time after he puts out the first single or wait until perhaps three or four tracks have made the radio before he makes the CD available. Toby’s always been a businessman as well as a musician, so he’s certainly willing to roll up his sleeves on the issue. No matter how the business part of his career pans out, he doesn’t plan to give up on his passion.

"It won’t keep me from making music," he promises.

Eric Church Goes To Business School...

.... Well, his MUSIC is going to business school, not him.

Eric Church has a new album coming this fall, and it appears that he’s decided to take the Donald Trump road to success: Like the Trump show "The Celebrity Apprentice," Eric’s turning his project over to students in a Vanderbilt University summer business management program to get the students some experience and to get Eric some fresh viewpoints.

The album, titled Carolina, is just one of the projects being thrown up to students through Vandy’s Owen Graduate School of Business. They’ll also tackle initiatives for American Airlines, Bridgestone and Caterpillar Financial.

"The consulting project for Eric Church is a big wow-factor for our students," said Vanderbilt professor Kimberly Pace. "They are used to solving business problems for big companies, but this is more personal. Using the business tools they have been taught will help them create a solid marketing campaign. The secret ‘x’ factor is getting to know the artist."

To that end, the students were given a crash course in Eric’s life and music Monday in a concert/interview staged at the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Ford Theatre, where country music historian Robert K. Oermann helped connect the dots. In addition, 150 members of Eric’s fan club, the Church Choir, were on hand to underscore the rapport he’s established with his most passionate consumers.

"I've always said that if you want to know who I am, listen to my music," Eric observed. "In order to understand my career, you have to meet my fans. They are my career; they're the reason I'm here. Having members of the fan club at this Accelerator presentation wasn't an option — it was essential. I'm glad that the students got a close-up view of what I get to see every time I take the stage, because it's truly a powerful thing."

Jessica .... Starting Trouble???

Did Jessica Simpson try to start a food fight with Tony Romo's ex Carrie Underwood?

The singer, 27, wore a "Real Girls Eat Meat" T-shirt (which she got for free from steakhouse Primehouse New York) during a weekend outing with Romo, who dated Underwood in 2007.

Underwood was named PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian in 2005.

PETA quickly jumped to Underwood's defense.

"Jessica Simpson's meaty wardrobe malfunction makes us thankful that no one is looking to her for food advice. Chicken-of-the-Sea, anyone?" a PETA rep tells Usmagazine.com. "The woman who thought that Buffalo 'Wings' came from buffalos would benefit from some good veggie brain food."

Adds the rep: "We're rushing Jessica one of our Vegetarian Starter Kits."

Baaaaaybaaaaay update!

Nicole Kidman is opening up in July's Vogue about expecting her first child with husband Keith Urban.

After suffering two miscarriages with ex Tom Cruise, the 40-year-old actress (who is due in July) said she cried when she saw the ultrasound.

"I didn't think I'd get to experience that in my lifetime," she admits. "I like the unpredictable nature of it. To feel life growing with you is something very, very special, and I'm going to embrace that completely."

Kidman — who has two adopted children, Connor, 13, and Isabella, 15, from her marriage to Cruise — also sounded off on:

Being happy and pregnant:
"My sister has had four kids, and she says that when you're pregnant you draw people to you who are genuinely happy. She's right. It taps into that thing in human nature that is universal and collective and beautiful."

Life in Tennessee:
"I've been in Tennessee, just sitting. We have a farm there, and I have an organic vegetable garden. This is a path I'd not taken before. My mum's always gardened. My sister gardens. And I've now conformed to the Kidman women's hobby of gardening. And it is just a hobby. I'm not feeding the troops. There's a softness to the Tennessee landscape that I just love. It's very beautiful out there. We have deer and wild turkeys."

Keith Urban's battle with addiction:
"I'm so committed to this relationship, and so is he. I don't have addiction problems, but love is a very powerful force in my life. It's my fatal flaw and my virtue."

New appreciation of life:
"You can fight life. You can wriggle and squirm and say, 'This isn't right.' But I'm glad I've learned to let things flow. I'm now so much more capable of receiving love and giving it in a far different way. So to be given the blessing of a child at this stage of my life, you just say, 'Wow, this was meant to be.' "

Feel the sparks between you?

**Kenny Chesney Celebrates 4th Of July On NBC Special
Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Extravaganza **

NBC is planning a huge 232nd Birthday Party for the United States Of America with an extravaganza that includes Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks Spectacular.

Kenny Chesney is scheduled to perform along with American Idol's Katherine McPhee and Jordan Sparks.

Hosting the televised event with be NBC's Natalie Morales and Tiki Barber. And oh yes, it will be presented in High Definition. ... Do you think in HD, that his tractor will still be sexy?

Kellie Golfs For A Good Cause

FOOOOOOOOOOOOOORE! (And then I imagine Kellie going, "Hey why are we counting to four everytime I hit the ball"?)

Kellie Pickler's gone green – at Nashville's 21st Annual Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament & Tupperware Party.

Taking time from recording her second album, the former Idol star, 21, went "clubbing" at Monday's outdoor fund-raiser on behalf of United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee.

"I am the queen of putt-putt," said Pickler, who quickly got into the swing of things – and proved herself no novice with a golf club and dimpled ball.

"I'm always the one who sinks the ball on the 18th hole and wins a free game," she tells PEOPLE.

Still, she wasn't counting on sheer luck to pull her through. "I got a new HD-TV installed Sunday, and the guys just happened to turn on the U.S. Open," she said. "My new TV is so incredible I could see every blade of grass. I watched the whole thing 'cause it was just too pretty to change the channel."

While captivated by the sharp picture, she also learned to sharpen her golf skills, noting, "I picked up some tips on my swing from Tiger [Woods] and Rocco [Mediate]." ... I guess if you're gonna learn from anyone, that's not a bad start.

Taylor Swift To Show Her Beautiful Eyes At Wal-Mart

Yet another Wal - Mart exclusive...

On July 15th, Wal-Mart will release an exclusive Taylor Swift CD/DVD release entitled Beautiful Eyes. The collection will be featured on a custom Taylor/LEI Jeans corrugate featured in the apparel section. The apparel display will also include copies of Taylor’s self-titled triple platinum debut CD while the Beautiful Eyes collection will also be spotlighted in the music section.

Featured on Beautiful Eyes:
CD: “Beautiful Eyes” (exclusive)
“Should’ve Said No” (alternate version)
“Teardrops On My Guitar” (acoustic version)
“Picture To Burn” (radio edit)
“I’m Only Me When I’m With You”
“I Heart ?” (exclusive)

DVD:

“Beautiful Eyes” (new)
“Picture To Burn” (video)
“I’m Only Me When I’m With You” (video)
“Tim McGraw” (video)
“Teardrops On My Guitar” (video; pop version)
“Our Song” (video)
“The Making of Picture To Burn”
“
GAC New Artist Interview”
“Should’ve Said No” (video from ACM 2008 performance)

Merry Christmas???

Faith Hill's Christmas Album Releases September 16th
Two Years In The Making

The much rumored, highly anticipated Christmas album from 5-time Grammy Award winner Faith Hill will bring Joy To The World on Tuesday, September 16th.

The 11-song CD, which was 2 years in the making, features The Nashville Orchestra as well as the London-based choirs Metro Voices and The London Oratory School Boys Choir.

Grammy Award winner David Campbell (Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, Beyonce) provides a newly composed full orchestration for Joy, which gives such classics as Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Little Drummer Boy, Winter Wonderland and Holly Jolly Christmas a fresh, unique and, at times, big band groove.

"I had a very clear vision for the type of Christmas album that I wanted to make,” said Faith. “Indicative of the big band orchestras of the 40s and 50s, with a full compliment of horns, stings, woodwinds, percussion and chorales. David's orchestrations were a gift. They embodied everything that I could have imaged; unique and beautiful, and yet they seem as though they were always intended for these songs."

... Weird, finally get some sunshine, and we're already talking Christmas?

SARA EVANS MARRIED

After a very public break-up with ex-husband Craig Schelske last year, Sara Evans quietly married Alabama football player and radio host Jay Barker in an outdoor ceremony in Franklin, Tennessee on Saturday.

This was speculated to happen back in March and it looks like they pulled it off! The couple now have seven children between them!

Sara’s eight year-old son walked her down the aisle, and she is said to have worn an ivory silk taffeta Vera Wang gown with a halter neck.

Congrats to Sara and Jay!

ANOTHER Country Baby!

Take THAT Keith and Nicole ---- Josh Gracin & Wife Ann Marie Expecting Their 4th Child !!! -- Due Later This Year!!

Josh Gracin has let us know that he and wife Ann Marie are expecting a new addition to their family. The couple looks forward to welcoming the new baby later this year.

“We’re all excited about the new addition to the Gracin clan,” said Josh. “And Briana, Landon and Gabriella can’t wait to meet their new brother or sister.”

Josh and Ann Marie were married in January 2001. This will be the fourth child for the couple.

Money-Money-MOOOONEY!

For someone who had shied away from the music business because she thought it was impractical, Carrie Underwood is making out just fine.

Not only does she have her seventh straight No. 1 country single, she’s also listed at No. 79 on the new Forbes list of the 100 Most Powerful Celebrities. The magazine estimates she brought in a cool $9 million during the last 12 months, which is actually 88th among the famous people on the list. But she ranked much higher in web hits, press coverage and TV/radio presence, all of which helped determine the overall rankings.

Oprah Winfrey came in at No. 1. Among other music acts on the Forbes list are Beyonce Knowles, No. 4; The Police, No. 8; Justin Timberlake, No. 12; Madonna, No. 21; Celine Dion, No. 28; Miley Cyrus, No. 35; Spice Girls, No. 50; Bon Jovi, No. 53; Gwen Stefani, No. 63; and Alicia Keys, No. 65.

Jewel's #1

Jewel’s newest album and her first official foray into country music, “Perfectly Clear,” has the #1 spot on today’s Billboard charts!

The album has sold over 48,000 units and has finally bumped Taylor Swift from her long standing reign. The disc was also the eighth best-selling CD in the US this week.

The album contains the following tracks:

1. Stronger Woman
2. I Do
3. Love Is A Garden
4. Rosey and Mick
5. Anyone But You
6. Thump Thump
7. Two Become One
8. ‘Til It Feels Like Cheating
9. Everything Reminds Me Of You
10. Love By You (Cowboy Waltz)
11. Perfectly Clear

Jessica's Country Pledge

"I pledge allegiance to the country of BOB 95 FM".

Jessica Simpson wants to sing country music for "the rest" of her life.

The 27-year-old singer - whose career rocketed after she appeared on MTV reality show 'Newlyweds' with now ex-husband Nick Lachey - loved making her debut country record so much she never intends to return to pop music.

She said: "I'm planning on making country music for the rest of my life, and I don't want to go back to that other world."

Jessica also revealed she has heard mixed reviews for the first single 'Come On Over', from the as-yet-untitled LP, but is determined not to give up.

She added to The Tennessean newspaper: "A lot of people have listened to 'Come On Over' and told me, 'I really wanted to hate it, but I like it.' It's a backhanded compliment, but I'm glad it's that way and not the other way around!

"I take a lot of pride in my talent and in the record I was able to put together. I'm not giving up."

Taylor's Crush

Long before Taylor Swift was a celebrity herself, she — like many young girls — developed a bit of a crush on a musical act. Unlike most other girls, she’s actually had the chance to meet the object of her affections and talk with him as a musical peer.

"I was in love with all of the members of Hanson," she told Lorianne Crook during a CMA Celebrity Close Up session at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. "I thought I was going to marry the middle one because his name was Taylor, too."

That, of course, was not to be. He got married in 2002 and now has three children.

"I recently met him and his wife a few weeks ago, and they're lovely people," Taylor said. "I was kinda like telling him that [crush] story but trying not to creep him out. It's a fine line."

John Rich Slams Idol

David Cook who?

Country music’s reality singing competition, Nashville Star, premiered on NBC Monday and judge John Rich is setting the record straight.

This show is no American Idol, according to Rich. It’s better than that.

“After the performances, we get back together with those artists one on one and spend time getting down to the nitty-gritty on everything they’re doing,” says Rich, one half of the hit-making duo Big & Rich.

“We would be doing the artists a disservice to just give them a flippant comment and move on down the road. They are not going to get any better if we do that,” says Rich, comparing Star to Idol.

It looks like Rich’s contestants will need all the help they can get. “The winner is going to go from being an amateur singer to performing at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in 10 weeks,” he says. “Think about that!”

Carrie Tells Cosmo That She Ain't Sexy

Carrie Underwood may have won American Idol and a Grammy — but she hasn’t let it go to her head.

"I don't consider myself sexy ... I'm kind of a nervous person in general," Underwood, 25, admits in the July issue of Cosmopolitan.

"I'm socially awkward," she adds. "I'm not tall and sensuous. I usually wear sweats everywhere I go. Oh, and I burp a lot."

Underwood, an Us Weight Winner, has dated her share of good-looking guys, including Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford and current Jessica Simpson beau Tony Romo.

As for their splits?

While she doesn’t name names, she says, "Cheating is a deal breaker — If you cheat, you're gone."

Underwood, who told Extra her April break up with Crawford was over text, doesn't believe in plotting against her exes.

"Getting revenge on a guy is just not worth it to me," she says. "The best revenge I can think of is becoming famous."

Tim McGraw... Shaves or Waxes?

So, hairy chest. But arms and legs looken pretty smooth, having entertainment reporters asking --- does he wax, shave or neither?

Taylor in new "Hannah" Movie

... Billy Ray and Miley, Rascal Flatts, Bucky Covington... the new Hannah Montana movie is set to have more country music stars than... well... I don't know, something with a lot of them.

NOW, it's been announced that Taylor Swift has a brief cameo role for the new Hannah Montana movie set to come out in 2009.

Taylor, who will film her one scene this week, says Miley Cyrus is a wonderful companion.

“Miley Cyrus is awesome. I love her so much. She is so incredibly funny and sweet. It’s fun to get to see her because we both have been on the road constantly, and with us both in Nashville now, it will be cool to get to hang out with her.”

Shania's Letter To Fans

Shania Twain has released a letter to her fans, thanking them for supporting her in wake of the news of her divorce...

She wrote: “As I am sure you have seen or heard; I am going through a rough time personally in my life. I wanted you all to know that I could not be getting through this without you. Your letters, emails and words of encouragement give me strength. Your overwhelming support reminds me to smile, no matter how deep the pain and to always be grateful for all the beautiful blessings in my life.”

“I have so much to say, but I know the best way for me to speak is through my music. This is my therapy, my passion, and my love. I look forward to sharing it with all of you as I begin this new journey.”

“I need some time to heal this broken heart but make no mistake; I will be back and hopefully stronger than ever. Thank you my friends, from the bottom of my heart.”


Good news for Twain fans though - she’s supposedly working on a new album!... and CERTAINLY has some new material!!!

Kellie and Taylor -- taking friendship to the studio!

Superstars Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift are joining forces to collaborate on a new track for the former American Idol star's upcoming LP.

The pair have penned a track together, entitled Best Days Of Your Life, and will record the song for Pickler's as-yet-unnamed album, which is due to hit record stores later this year.

Swift and Pickler wanted to record a song which hits out at ungrateful ex-boyfriends, with Pickler warning future suitors, "You have to be careful when you date a songwriter. We always get the last word!"... things that never cross and man's mind, huh?

I'll show YOU whose BIG and Tasty!

Here's a nugget for you. Ira Dean of Trick Pony is suing McDonalds's because... he's the guy on the Big 'n' Tasty box... yep.

Kenny Chesney Shoots Down Engagement Rumors

'I Enjoy Being A Bachelor'

Kenny Chesney is busy shooting down more rumors about his personal life. This one comes from People Magazine who's reporting that Kenny has had to shoot down rumors that he is engaged.

The article says that the 40-year old Chesney told People, through a spokesperson, that "In fact, he was surprised by the news and isn't sure how or why anyone would've gotten that idea."

Kenny has been quoted as saying, "I enjoy being a bachelor. I enjoy everything that comes along with it."

TRANSLATION: Don't worry ladies, he's still available!

Rascal Flatts Join Hannah

Rascal Flatts will be joining Miley Cyrus and her dad Billy Ray on the set of Hannah Montana: The Movie!

No further details were given on the band's – Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney – appearance in the 2009 Disney feature – which recently dealt with a freak accident on the Tennessee set.

The film, based on the popular Disney Channel series, will feature Cyrus's character taking a trip to her Tennessee hometown with her father to gain perspective on her double life as a teen and pop star... but if you have a daughter, you already hear about it EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!!

OK - Gimme some Jim Beam

When Montgomery Gentry takes the stage tomorrow night in the first of the nightly stadium shows at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Eddie Montgomery will likely be performing in anguish.

He broke his ribs a few weeks ago in a horse-riding accident, and breathing deeply is a painful experience. But breathing deeply is also a requirement for singers, so Eddie will have to grin and bear it as he and Troy Gentry whip through their set in front of more than 20,000 people.

"When I first [broke] it, I was hurtin’ like a son of a buck," Eddie recalls. "I didn’t move around a whole lot. It’s probably the first time that I could feel it every time really when I take a deep breath. But the doctor told me to do that. He said the more you breath deeper and move around, as long as you don’t get too physical, it’s gonna make it heal quicker. I was like, ‘OK, give me some Jim Beam.’"

Jess NERVOUS

Jessica Simpson is "nervous" about releasing her country album.

The as-yet-untitled record marks a change in musical direction for Jessica, 27, and she is worried about how her fans will react to the new sound.

"I am so nervous. I know this is a part of me that people are going to see that they've been waiting to see and I've been waiting to let out so it's very exciting."

The LP is set to hit shelves in September. The first single from the record, 'Come On Over', hit radio last week.


... She's getting ready the most appropriate way.
** The day after "Come on Over" was released, she was spotted buying 17 pink cowboy hats
** EVERY time she's been seen in public since then, she's been wearing a brown cowboy hat... bringing her grand cowboy hat total to AT LEAST 18... that's dedication.

Chris Cagle DISPUTES Police Report

Chris Cagle, "embarrassed" over last week’s 12-hour jail stay on a domestic-violence charge, accepts responsibility for his incarceration but insists he was not inebriated. (When he allegedly got in a fight with his girlfriend and through a purse at her)

Chris was arrested in the early hours May 28 after a fight with his girlfriend, Jennifer Tant, in which they attacked each other with a purse and umbrella. The two had gone to a local bar prior to the skirmish at his home, and police said the couple was clearly intoxicated.

In his statement, Chris insisted the argument "was not elevated nor induced because of my being intoxicated. I’ve worked too hard and come this far. And to prove this, I asked to take a sobriety test and a Breathalyzer test and was denied the opportunity by the officer on the site."

Chris suggested the facts of the case were distorted in public reports but also said he has accepted that "the public has already made their decision based on how it appears in print."

John and John

John Rich has endorsed McCain for President --- Republican presidential candidate John McCain popped into Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium yesterday to do a bit of campaigning, and he enlisted the aid of Big & Rich performer John Rich.

His duo sold a lot of albums by going against the grain with its eclectic, amped-up brand of country. John cast himself as a similarly atypical voter, noting that the general concensus has Democratic Barack Obama commanding ballots among young people.

"Well, guess what," the 34-year-old Rich told the crowd, according to politico.com. "I’m pretty young, and I’m not voting for him. I’m voting for Sen. John McCain."

John met the presumptive nominee at the dedication of the U.S.S. Intrepid museum in New York and was surprised with the reaction he got when he introduced himself to the 71-year-old politician.

"Like I don’t know who in the hell you are," was McCain’s reply.

Indeed, John Rich is likely making himself known fairly well in Republican circles. Last year, John made at least three different appearances on behalf of Fred Thompson during fund-raisers in Nashville and Chattanooga.

John Rich returns to the Ryman on Wednesday as part of Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam. The fund-raiser will also feature Gretchen Wilson and Charlie Daniels, among others.

A lot of students have a graduation party thrown for them by their parents after receiving their high-school diploma. Rarely does someone get a party, a visit from a country act and free food from a major record label.

So Gretchen Wilson’s graduation party Monday at Sony BMG headquarters in Nashville was an unusual event. The staff signed a congratulatory cap-and-gown portrait, Montgomery Gentry made an appearance and she received a locket from Tiffany & Co. with the inscription "Class of ’08."

"I think," Gretchen said, "I was supposed to be the class of ’92."

Gretchen had only finished eighth grade when she left home and quit school on the same day at age 15. Some 93 million Americans over the age of 25 never finished high school, according to Bernadine Nelson, Director of Adult Education for Tennessee’s Wilson County. And that number includes 33 percent of Tennesseans.

Gretchen shoehorned studies for her General Equivalency Degree in between parenting, touring and recording and passed her G.E.D. test in April. The test is difficult enough that 40 percent of current grads would not pass it, and Gretchen reached proficiency level despite the multitude of people and opportunities tugging at her sleeve.

Just in time for father's day!

...They has a LITTLE RASCAL!!! Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney and his wife, Tiffany Fallon, officially expanded their family over the weekend.

The couple’s first child, Jagger Donovan Rooney, was born at 3:50 p.m. Saturday in Nashville. The boy weighed 6.45 pounds and is 20 inches long. Both Tiffany and Jagger are doing well.

"We are absolutely blown away by this little miracle gift that God has given to us," Joe Don and Tiffany said in a joint statement. "We can’t wait to see what the future has in store for baby Jagger and our new family."

It appears the couple’s son is named for two prominent rock artists who got their start in the 1960s, though that had not been confirmed at press time. Mick Jagger is the lead singer for the Rolling Stones, and Donovan — best known for the 1966 hits "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow" — was hailed by many as the next Dylan when he made his debut. Donovan recorded in Nashville in the summer and fall of 1974, just months after Tiffany was born in Florida.

Joe Don will only get a few precious days with his new son before Rascal Flatts kicks off its Bob Your Head Tour in St. Louis, Mo., Friday, June 13. Taylor Swift is the band’s opening act. ... BOB!!! BOB!!! BOB YOUR HEAD!!!!

Jewel's Album Debut!

Jewel’s first country album, “Perfectly Clear”, will be released tomorrow (6/03)--
In lieu of her first new release, Jewel will be pretty booked the next couple of weeks promoting.

She’ll perform on Live with Regis and Kelly and Late Night with Conan O’Brien on June 4, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 17, immediately by Jimmy Kimmel Live on June 18.

If it wasn’t hectic enough, Jewel will also start a 42-date tour on June 11 in Albuquerque, NM, with Brad Paisley’s “Hershey’s Presents The Paisley Party Tour,” that will continue into the fall.

Hopefully this Jewel won't crack.