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 Pam Tillis will make her Australian debut next month starting on January 11th in Wollongong. She'll play six cities in ten days, in Queensland, New South Wales, and a stop at the Tamworth Country Festival, where she'll also be a presenter on the CMAAA award show on January 23rd.
Update on Johnny Paycheck. The singer remains in critical condition in Atlanta. He has been hospitalized for the past month for a lung infection. While he is in critical condition, he is improving. So much so that last Thursday he even asked for a cup of coffee.
About 15 years ago, Chris LeDoux's son, Ned begged his dad to let him learn to play drums. He was given a drum set, and promptly banged the heck out of them. Well, seems he is alot more adept at them now. When Chris' drummer, K.W. Turnbow was injured in a car accident, the call went out for a replacement drummer. Enter Ned. Chris was worried at first til he heard Ned play. Then he knew he had nothing to worry about. K.W.'s coming back now, and Ned is looking for a gig. Anyone need a drummer?
You can watch for Billy Ray Cyrus on the Love Boat: The Next Wave series the second week of January. Billy Ray filmed an episode where he plays a singer (not himself). He'll do some singing as well, of songs off his new album.
Jo Dee Messina is the latest country star to have a single cross over to the pop charts. Her single "Stand Beside Me" debuted on the pop charts at 75 last week. Jo Dee also has two songs in Billboards Top 5 songs of 1998. The list goes like this:
It's been a wonderful two years, but Reba McEntire and Brooks and Dunn will tour separately next year. Brooks and Dunn's tour will start up in February, and Reba hasn't announced her dates yet.
Shania Twain is the number one request from Canadian troops in Bosnia. Since Shania isn't able to make the trip, the soldiers got the next best thing. Four copies of her 1-hour CBC television special, to be delivered to the bases. What did Shania have to say about her popularity with the troops? "These guys have a lot on their minds and they've got a big task and they're far, far from home. For them to bring my name up as someone who they enjoy watching and listening to, it's pretty flattering."
The Crown Royal Untamed and True 2 tour is set for a 40 date run. The tour will include Mark Chesnutt, Gary Allan, Chely Wright, and Keith Harling. It's scheduled to start at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on January 20th.
Vince Gill's Christmas tour is truly different than his normal concert show. Instead of his guitar, Vince is dressed in a black suit, and sings with a small band of Nashville musicials, 3 backup singers and a 30 piece orchestra. The Christmas tunes even owe more of a feel of Johnny Mathis, rather than Johnny Cash, and Vince even mimiced Mathis on "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "Most Wonderful Time of the Year." But his guitar isn't totally gone. He brings it out and gives a rockin' version of "Santa Claus is Coming To Town."
Tim McGraw and the Dixie Chicks will be joining George Strait on his Country Music Festival Tour this spring. They'll also be touring together starting July 1st in Reno, at the Lawlor Events Center.
Speaking of touring, Dwight Yoakam is planning a summer tour, his first in three years. He'll be playing amphitheaters, arenas, fairs and festivals.
December 5th was another milestone day for Shania Twain. She has now performed for 1 million people on her tour. Shania plans to tour Australia early next year, then return and play more dates in North America.
Country Music has ranked 3 of the top 10 tours this year, per Amusement Business. However the dollars drop off rapidly after these top 3. The list goes like this:
Fans attending Tim McGraw's New Year's Eve Blast at the Nashville Arena will have first dibs on tickets for next year's show. This year, Tim has The Wilkinsons opening, and the Dixie Chicks will also appear. None of the shows have been televised, however concert promoter Steve Moore is working on that for next year's show.
The stork is going to be busy in the spring at Patsy Lynn, one half of the duo, The Lynns, home. She and her hubby, Phillip Russell, are expecting a little one. Her fourth, but their first.
Congrats to Deana Carter. Time Magazine ranked her album #6 on the "Best Music of the Year" list. She's the only country artist on the list. She joins such artists as Lauryn Hill, Aretha Franklin, Jewel, and Hole.
Garth Brooks holds onto the top spot for a fourth week with a total of 451,000 units sold. This is an increase of 30,000 from last week. This also brings the total sales from Double Live to 12 million, and Garth's total sales to 95 million, ever closer to the Beatles.
Shania Twain leads everyone else with nominations for American Music Awards. She has a total of 5, for favorite female artist, favorite album, for Come On Over, favorite female country artist, favorite country album, and favorite adult contemporary music artist. Other country artists receiving more than one nomination are Garth Brooks, George Strait and the Dixie Chicks, each with two. Single nominations went to Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Alabama, Brooks and Dunn, The Kinleys, the Wilkinsons, and Faith Hill. The American Music Awards will air on January 11th on ABC.
Steve Wariner's album, Burnin' the Roadhouse Down has just been certified gold. This is hard to believe, but it's only Steve's second gold album in his career. His first being I Am Ready, which reached that status back in 1994.
Minnie Pearl's memories will go on auction on January 16th at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Proceeds from the auction will go to settle the estate of the late singer and her late husband, Henry Cannon. A complete listing of the items up for auction will be announced on January 10th. |
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