Roy Clark, Diamond Rio & the Wilkinsons will all be a part of the Grand Ole Opry 73rd Birthday Celebration, which will tape on October 17th. This special edition of the Opry will broadcast on October 20th at 8pm EDT on TNN.

You'll soon be hearing some of the NFL's top players singing along with some of your favorite country stars. The album, NFL Country will be released on October 20th and will include country singers, Randy Travis, Bryan White, Michael Peterson, and others, along with NFL stars, Peyton Manning, Brad Johnson, and Scott Galbraith. Proceeds from the album will go to the United Way.

Country trio, the Wilkinsons are going to the 1998 Gold Star Chili Fest on October 10-11th to perform at a show on Sunday, along with Shane Stockton, Chad Brock, Brady Seals and Clint Daniels.

Vince Gill heads up his 9th Annual Celebrity Basketball Game and Concert on November 2nd in Nashville, on the Belmont University campus. Some of the artists expected to compete are: Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, John Berry, Gary Chapman, Paul Brandt, Toby Keith, Marty Roe of Diamond Rio, and of course, Vince. After the game there is a concert.

Country America magazine will be closing after the release of the next issue in late November.

Garth Brooks was honored in Minneapolis at the Target Center where he sold out an incredible nine shows. A star-shaped bronze placque with "Garth Brooks, All-Star Record Breaker," inscribed in it will sit on a pillar near the ticket windows.

Trisha Yearwood has been having an incredible year, with winning the CMA Female Vocalist last year, to winning the Female Vocalist Grammy, and performing some 130 shows with Garth Brooks. When asked to name her favorite moment, she says it would have to be performing "Where Your Road Leads" with Garth from Buffalo, NY on the CMAs this year. "Everything was right: the crowd; the way [camera operators] shot it; Garth and his band. I wasn't nervous; I was excited."

Hard to believe they didn't have one before, but Alabama just got their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last Tuesday.

If there's one thing that Trisha Yearwood hates, it's that some people think that she got to where she was by riding Garth Brooks' coattails. It's true that she did her first tour opening for his concerts, but like she says, You can put me out there in front of the people, but I've got to deliver. They're not going to buy my record just because they like him.

Garth's LIVE CD which will come out on the 17th of November will have a special Canadian first edition with the stamp of a maple leaf on it. This will be on the first 100,000 copies.

Eight year old cancer survivor, Taylor Fisher got to meet her idol, Tim McGraw when he was in her hometown of San Antonio. When Tim heard her story, he told his manager to arrange it. He admits he's a "big softie" when it comes to kids.

Alabama's fans on the Internet will have special access when they watch the band's Pay-Per-View special on October 10th. During the show, viewers will be given a special username and password to access interviews, multimedia clips and 360-degree shots of the venue.

LeAnn Rimes joines Willie Nelson in the campaign to keep Texas litter-free. They are among more than 50 contenders who recorded a spot for the "Don't Mess With Texas" litter prevention ads. People can "Vote Don't Mess With Texas" for their favorite ad, through October 16th, then the winners will be announced on November 3rd.

Last weekend, (Oct 2nd & 3rd) the Opry members paid tribute to the late Gene Autry. Skeeter Davis sang "I'll Fly Away." Several other stars recounted experiences with Gene. On Opry Backstage, guest host Holly Dunn said, "America grew up watching cowboy legend Gene Autry ride the range. I know I did. Somewhere between roping and wrangling, he sang his way into our hearts."

Tracy Byrd's Homecoming Weekend was a success, raising over $50,000 for Buckner County Children And Family Services. The weekend included a Big Bass Fishing Tournament, Celebrity Golf Scramble, and the "Byrdie" golf tournament, along with a concert.

The Dixie Chicks are the spotlight artist of the month at Country105. Even though they seem like an overnight sensation, they've actually been together in one way or another for the past decade. Back in 1991, they opened for George Jones, George Strait, and Alan Jackson. They've even performed at a Presidential Inaugural ball 2 years before lead-singer Natalie joined the group.

Shania Twain brings in the ratings for VH1. She appeared in the Behind the Music show last Sunday (October 4th), and the show got the highest rating of a regular scheduled program on the network.