Sony Scene - November 29, 2004
JESSI ALEXANDER:
Columbia Records newcomer Jessi Alexander will shoot a video for her
latest single "Canyon Prayer" this Friday in Nashville. Kristen Barlowe will direct the clip for Tailight Productions. "My best friend and I were driving cross-country and decided to stop at the Grand Canyon," relates Jessi about writing the song. "We each found our own perch overlooking the beauty, and I started to write in my journal. I wrote at the top of the page 'The Canyon Prayer' and then began to pour out my 19-year-old frustrations. Years later, I found that journal, and remembered the prayer. I called Gary Nicholson, and he helped me shape the words and find the perfect melody. We both felt the power of this song as we were writing it. We knew it was bigger that the two of us. I swear this song evolves and affects me differently every time I sing it." Jessi's debut album,
Honeysuckle Sweet, will release on March 1, 2005.
BRAD COTTER:
Brad Cotter will return from his Thanksgiving Holiday USO Tour with a full schedule, performing dates with Gretchen Wilson, Travis Tritt, Buddy Jewell and Josh Gracin. Catch Cotter on the road on December 2 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with Jewell and Gracin. On December 4, Brad heads to Jacksonville, Florida, to perform at the WQIK Winter Wonder Jam 2 with Gretchen Wilson and Travis Tritt. More news on Shelly Fairchild, Buddy Jewell, Montgomery Gentry, Travis Tritt, Trent Willmon, & Gretchen Wilson
Trisha Yearwood in Woman's Day
Trisha Yearwood appears in the December 7th issue of Woman's Day magazine. Yearwood discusses her new album due out in 2005 and her favorite Christmas story.
Julie Roberts Goes To The Opry
Julie Roberts will appear on the Grand Ole Opry on December 14. Roberts recently kicked off New York's 78th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade atop the lead float on Thursday when the celebration began rolling down Broadway. Roberts performed You Ain't Down Home from her debut disc on the CMA-themed Thanksgiving Turkey float.
2005 George Strait Tour Announces The Return Of Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Dierks Bentley As Tour Opener
The 2004 ACM Top New Artist, Dierks Bentley and new Capitol Nashville recording artist Amber Dotson have been pegged as opening acts on George Strait's 2005 Tour. The 19-city tour will begin on January 13 and run through March 3.
George's audiences will be very familiar with Dierks, he opened all of George's U.S and Canadian dates in 2004 and his successful debut CD has spawned three hit singles “What Was I Thinkin'?” “My Last Name” and “How Am I Doin'?” Between tours with George (and Kenny Chesney), Dierks has continued to perform in venues all over the U.S. playing over 200 dates this year. More
Dierks Bentley BURNS Up the Asphalt As One of the Busiest Touring Acts In Music
Capitol Recording artist Dierks Bentley may just be the hardest working man showbiz. With the close of 2004 nearing, Dierks, whose debut CD spawned three hit singles “What Was I Thinkin'?” “My Last Name” and “How Am I Doin'?” will have played well over 200 dates this year. Add in travel days, award shows and additional career commitments and this year's ACM Top New Artist clocked in fewer than 29 days at “home” in the past 12 months - the majority of that being spent in the studio recording his new album.
The year began with Dierks touring with Kenny Chesney and George Strait and will wrap with what could be the rowdiest, butt-kickin' run of shows yet. The High Times and Hangovers tour pairs Dierks with southern rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed in a U.S tour of rock clubs not normally known for booking country acts. Still, they're packing them, selling out in hours and entertaining fans by the thousands. The tour has, so far, sold out dates in Carbondale, IL; Towson, MD; Falls Church, VA; Bloomington, IN; Tallahassee, FL, Tuscaloosa, AL, Columbia, MS; Cleveland, OH, Greensboro, NC; Athens, GA and Birmingham, AL. More...
Mindy McCready Pleads Guilty
The Tennessean reports Mindy McCready pleaded guilty Monday to prescription drug fraud. The plea agreement gives McCready three years supervised probation, 200 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine.
McCready plans to hold a benefit concert that will count toward her community service. She was arrested in August after obtaining a fraudulent prescription for OxyContin. McCready maintains the pills were not for her. More...