Strait’s ’50 Number Ones’ Goes To Top
George Strait’s new MCA release, 50 Number Ones, has landed him in the #1 position on Billboard’s Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts, beating out R&B sensation Usher by over 7,000 units. With sales of 342,969 units this week, it marks the highest debut of Strait’s 22-year recording career. Strait’s “I Hate Everything,” the current single and the only new song off his two-CD set, jumps to #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles and Tracks Chart this week, marking his 51st #1. More...
Rounder to release Alison Krauss + Union Station's "Lonely Runs Both Ways
On November 23, Rounder Records will release Lonely Runs Both Ways, the first studio album in three years from Alison Krauss and Union Station.
Lonely continues the band's long-time collaboration with engineer Gary Paczosa. Krauss shares lead vocals with Dan Tyminski, who sings on three tracks, and Ron Block, who sings on one.
Alison Krauss and Union Station will make a release-week appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and a December performance is confirmed for Good Morning America. Krauss is also scheduled to perform at the 38th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9 in Nashville, where she is nominated in five categories including Female Vocalist, Video, Vocal Event and Single of the Year, the latter for "Whiskey Lullaby," her duet with Brad Paisley.
Updated list of performers at the CMA Awards
It's always a party when Shania Twain performs during "Country Music's Biggest Night(tm)." This year, it's a "Party For Two" with the announcement today that Billy Currington will join Twain to perform their hit duet when "The 38th Annual CMA Awards" airs at 8:00 PM/EST, Tuesday, Nov. 9 on the CBS Television Network live from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Joining Currington and Twain on the list of performers will be Sara Evans; Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley; Reba McEntire; Rascal Flatts; and Keith Urban. More...
Capitol Nashville Releases ‘Kids’ Country Hits 2’
Following the success of the first Kids' Country album that spent 44 weeks on the Children's music charts, Capitol Nashville will release Kids’ Country Hits 2 on October 19. The second CD in the series, features a whole new collection of country songs sung by kids, for kids, including hits like Sara Evans' "Born To Fly," Rascal Flatts' "Mayberry," and Shania Twain's "You’re Still The One." More...
Tim McGraw To Headline Largest Italian American Gala
Grammy Award-winning country music star Tim McGraw and legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti are among the honorees at National Italian American Foundation's (NIAF) 29th Anniversary Awards Gala on October 16 at the Hilton Washington & Towers in Washington, D.C.
McGraw, whose mother's maiden name is D'Agostino, will receive the NIAF Special Achievement Award in Music, and Pavarotti will be inducted into NIAF's "Italian American Hall of Fame" for his work in music. His wife, singer Faith Hill and mother, Betty Trimble, will accompany McGraw.
Tony Danza is the master of ceremonies. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, singer Jo Dee Messina, NFL legend Franco Harris, actors Danny Aiello and Giancarlo Giannini will be joined by comedian Fred Travalena at the NIAF gala.
Great Music: That's What It's All About as Superstar Duo Brooks & Dunn Release The Greatest Hits Collection II on October 19
Country's dynamic duo, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, mark yet another career milestone as the 27-million-selling superstars release The Greatest Hits Collection II on Tuesday, October 19. Highlighting the past seven years of Brooks & Dunn's musical journey, the 17-track Arista Nashville collection includes 14 favorites and three brand-new cuts, kicked-off by the debut single and current Top 5 smash, "That's What It's All About."
The album release comes just as Brooks & Dunn prepare to host The 38th Annual CMA Awards, airing Tuesday, November 9, on CBS, from 8-11 p.m. Eastern/Pacific. In addition to hosting and performing, the 13-time CMA winners are also three-time nominees this year, scoring nods for Entertainer and Duo of the Year, as well as Album of the Year for their Platinum-certified Red Dirt Road. More...