The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

Kenny blew his top on this one...see page left...the exclusive photos....from a July 4th party...they did talk and KC says thats it.....Got on the phone to People Magazine FAST: Jessica was just being sweet and there was nothing else to it. It's not funny. There were no problems. Everybody got along great. After the party, everybody went their own way and nobody thought anything more about it. Period. End of story."

The cast of the Broadway play 9 to 5 was told today 7/29/09 that the show is closing down after Labor day weekend... from the NY papers: The Times: The producers of the Broadway musical “9 to 5” informed the cast on Wednesday that it would close on Sept. 6, according to a statement from its publicists. No reason was provided for the closing of the show, at the Marquis Theater. Based on the 1980 movie starring Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton , it opened on April 30 and stars, above from left, Stephanie J. Block , Allison Janney and Megan Hilty . The show’s initial budget capitalization exceeded $10 million, and its weekly costs — to pay for the large cast and crew, and other expenses — were in the high six figures, according to people involved with the production. Yet the musical sometimes could not cover even its weekly nut; for the eight performances July 20 through 26, “9 to 5” grossed $694,650 and played to houses about 70 percent full. Variety: Goodbye, Dolly. The Broadway tuner ver...

Nashville, TN – July 29, 2009 – The momentum of Taylor Swift continues to grow exponentially, with her triple-platinum-plus FEARLESS CD notching its 20 th week as the #1 selling album in country music. FEARLESS is the top-selling album in all genres of music so far this year. Taylor joins Garth Brooks and Shania Twain as the only country artists in the Billboard SoundScan era to have TWO albums spend 20 weeks at #1 on the Top Country Albums sales chart. FEARLESS , released on Big Machine Records, returned last week to the #1 spot atop Billboard ’s Top Country Albums sales chart, 36 weeks after its initial release, and holds firm this week, marking the collection’s 20 th week at #1. Her self-titled debut CD, released 143 weeks ago (in 2006), also remains one of country’s top sellers, claiming the #11 spot on the sales chart this week. Taylor is the only artist this decade to have two albums spend 20 weeks at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Taylor’s career CD sales to date...

NASHVILLE , Tenn.-- July 27, 2009 --On the heels of her induction to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Barbara Mandrell will make a television appearance to support her latest project, the Nashville Music Garden . Located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Demonbreun (in the Hall of Fame Park just across the street from the Schermerhorn Symphony Center ), the 2,700-square-foot public garden honors those that have made a positive impact on Nashville's entertainment industry. Tune in to " Volunteer Gardener " on Nashville Public Television (NPT-Channel 8) on Thursday, July 30 at 7:30 p.m. and watch both gardening and music create their own kind of harmony in this special episode featuring Mandrell and host Troy Marden. The show re-airs on Sunday, August 2 at 9:30 a.m. "Volunteer Gardener" also airs across Tennessee on select PBS stations including Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Martin and Cookeville (check local listings for show times). "I f...

Well not really dodging..the papparazzi seem to be able to find Ms Rimes when they want to...She's in LA now doing we are not sure what. Her country music career is well I'm not sure where that is....She played a tour recently...not sure where her radio play is....Her tabloid fame is high right now though.and maybe that gets you another TV movie...In fact I am sure it does...so stay tuned...

Hey everybody, Here we are in Chipping-Campden, England. We started our vacation in NYC after the Today Show. I have never really had any time in NY where I don't have to work or keep some kind of schedule! Took the girls to Dylan's Candy Bar...got big points for that. Went to see Shrek on Broadway. Really fun. Did a little shopping. Ate at Angelo's on Mulberry Street in Little Italy (a favorite of ours). But the highlight for us was going to see Paul McCartney at CitiField, which used to be Shea Stadium. We found our seats and were blown away to find out the were 6th row, dead center! Perfect seats. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins were sitting RIGHT BESIDE US. She is one of my VERY favorite actresses, but I didn't want to bother her, so I didn't say anything. Should have, but oh well.... Needless to say we were excited to see Sir Paul, and he did not disappoint. Opened the show with Drive My Car. It just kept getting better from there. It started to rain, but it did...

Nashville , TN : When Kenny Chesney and a bunch of friends realized they'd survived a night of staggering revelry somewhere in the Caribbean , his boat captain summed the feat up most succinctly with the declaration: “I'm alive…” Bur rather than embracing that utterance with his usual effervescence, the man who makes summer official for most of America considered the basic courage of survival and took the post-party anthem in a whole other direction. Certainly the song, which arrives at country radio this week for an August 17th add date, has already had an amazing life. Originally recorded by Chesney - with his good friend Dave Matthews for the more introspective Lucky Old Sun - their duet was brought over to the 4-consecutive Academy of Country Music and 4-time and current Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year's Greatest Hits II, on sale everywhere. Prior to that, it was a key track on Willie Nelson's critically-acclaimed Moment of Forever. “I...

Unusual picture to say the least ...courtesy TMZ.....simply ODD

From Sony Nashville: Gretchen Wilson and her longtime record label group, Sony Music Nashville, have mutually decided to part ways. The Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and Best Selling author, who exploded on to the country music scene and the national spotlight in 2004 with her smash hit "Redneck Woman,” released three #1 albums with Here For The Party, All Jacked Up , and One Of The Boys. Though Wilson will no longer record with the label as a solo artist, both parties look forward to working together on future catalogue projects.

He's serious about his music and his acting....Loves that banjo and is Ryman bound after a successful trip to the Opry at the New Orpy House a few months ago...

Lake Martin, AL - More than 4,000 boats and 35,000 people attended Alan Jackson's headline performance at Saturday's AquaPalooza Signature Event on Lake Martin, AL, setting a new record for any single event on a lake. Boats were packed bow to stern for over a mile, and many fans donned their inner tubes and water noodles to paddle close to the water-pit at the bottom of the stage. Jackson pulled up to the dock at the Russell Land Marina in his 1923 Hacker Craft and played hit songs from his current platinum GOOD TIME album. During the show, which was taped for CMT’s Labor Day special, ALAN JACKSON AQUAPALOOZA LIVE ON LAKE MARTIN, Jackson spoke movingly about childhood visits to Lake Martin with his family.

Orange Beach , Alabama : When the clock hits high noon on Thursday August 6, look for Kenny Chesney to bring his unique kind of country-reggae-rock and beyond to the universe - with the launch of www.noshoesradio.com . Given the unique cross-pollination that's made Kenny Chesney the man who blurs labels and attracts over a million fans each of the past 7 summers, No Shoes Radio reflects that eclectic take on classic and modern music. With his Greatest Hits II - featuring the 2 week #1 “Out Last night” - Chesney has evolved into the sound of summer in America : exuberant, real, ready to work hard and play harder. Now with www.NoShoesRadio.com , the fans can plug into their main source any time of the day or night - and not just get music, but surprises ranging from who might be stopping by to surprise concertcasts. “People ask me what I do and, obviously, cause of the way I sing and where I come from, I'm a country singer, but really, what I do draws on so much more than that,”...

Call it the 7 year itch...call it the publicist's way of getting past last weeks story that Rimes/Cibrani affair had cost the man his marriage. People/US all reporting that Ms. Rimes and her husband had not lived together for some time and were living seperate lives. Both vaguely talk about difficult times...Nothing legal has been seen. sooooo that's what's in the press and no denial of the stories...

No shortage of pretty girls on the water,in the water and on the shore at Aquapalooza....Lake Martin Alabama will have memories of this weekend for years!

from Brad's Blog: I've been to the White House five or six times over the years, but none of those times did I ever pick up an instrument. It was always for some event. "Hey, there's a reception. Come eat some finger foods, and look around and be in awe like everybody else." But this time, the phone call was essentially, "We would like to know if Brad would be interested in performing at the White House in the East Room." It was as simple as that. It's like, "Yes! More than yes. I'm floored. Why?!" And I could never get the answer why. They just wanted me to play. Ironically, I read this story just last week on CNN about Michelle Obama's great-great grandfather, Jim Robinson, who was a slave in South Carolina. It's insane to think about that. How the world has changed. On November 4th, I felt an emotion like I haven't felt in my entire life. I think whoever you voted for, you had to be moved. My grandfather was in the Phili...

CMT taped it....30-40 thousand lived it....Alan Jackson enjoyed it! Aquapalooza was a huge concert on the water in central Alabama's Lake Martin. Alan even had his beautiful wooden boat brought down...and he went out for a spin...

Get lots of people around lots of boats....you have potential problems...at least 3 hurt in seperate accidents at Aquapalooza......This man lifeflighted to a Birmingham hospital after losing several fingers when hit by a boat propeller.... Considering some 40,000 people and 5000 boats....the medics were not kept that busy! some BUI arrests..one fight..not a bad day...but that was all prior to the concert end...the night is still young....

Alan Jackson used to come to Lake Martin from his home in Newnan,Georgia. Today he came back as a country music superstar... In the shadow of Kowliga,Hank Sr's wooden indian,Alan rocked the maybe 40,000 folks on the water. a sea of people and boats in the Hot Summer Alabama Sun.

Lake Martin around Kowliga is crazy with boats! 2,000 already with at least another 1000 to go and probably more! Aquapalooza is the event's name and Alan Jackson is the headliner and the show is FREE! FREE is a good price and draw...NO land access and the only way to see the show is from the water....sooooo away we goooo Saturday at 6pm Alan takes the stage and CMT is taping for a September airdate....rumors are flying about a special guest...Could Parrot man be showing up? who knows...rumors are flying....

NASHVILLE, TN - July 24, 2009 - Country music fans swarmed the Knoxville Coliseum in March for a sold-out live concert DVD taping with platinium-selling country rocker Jason Aldean. Fans across the country will soon be able to find the Eagle Vision set titled WIDE OPEN LIVE & MORE in stores on Aug. 25. The 15-song hi-definition special captures Aldean's high-octane stage show and includes his biggest radio hits, as well as fan-favorite album cuts from his first three albums; JASON ALDEAN, RELENTLESS and the already GOLD certified WIDE OPEN. Bonus interview footage with the Georgia-native rounds out the 86-minute collection. "This is the coolest thing we've ever done together as a band," said Aldean from Los Angeles, where he was taping The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien . "The energy in Knoxville was off the charts, and it's just really special for us to have that night recorded. Now, people who might not be able to make it to one of the shows, bu...

Alan Jackson is the headliner when the expected boat armada of fans show up for the free boat only access show on Lake Martin in Central Alabama 7/25/09. Thursday afternoon the stage was under construction and the bouys were in the water for boat tie up..

With their first set of new studio material since 2003’s Vicious Cycle , legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with God & Guns , due out September 29 on Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records . Recorded in Nashville in 2008-2009 with noted rock producer Bob Marlette , input from guitarist John 5 , and a wealth of material written by the band and a cadre of elite Skynyrd-minded songwriters, a remarkable album emerged. With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate Van Zant vocals, and trademark layered guitars, God & Guns manages to maintain the iconic Skynyrd punch while sounding completely contemporary. Sure to attract attention in these politically divided times is the title track, which harbors a sense of menace and unwillingness to back down that hearkens back to Skynyrd’s earliest days. God & Guns , along with the unmistakable Skynyrd bite of the first single “Still Unbroken,” which was shipped to rock radio this July, form thematic songs for an album l...

Country Star Kellie Pickler is adding some extra sizzle to the hot summer months as she appears on the cover of Nashville Lifestyles ' August issue, appropriately titled “The Hot List 2009.” The spunky and sassy Pickler continues to write and perform inspiring songs that, combined with her impeccable taste in shoes, only makes her a natural choice as the lead-in to all that’s hot in Music City . Billed under the title, “Smokin’ Hot,” Pickler smolders on a multi-page spread and opens up about importance of always having good friends, a good book and a smile. And “smokin’ hot” she is. Her current single “Best Days Of Your Life” just cracked the Top 10 this week and continues to scorch the country airwaves and digital outlets as the Gold certified single has crossed the 600,000 downloads threshold. On the continuing success of the song she co-wrote with pal Taylor Swift, Pickler says, “We're both just so excited about it. You know, we wrote this song when we were on tour a...

Nashville , TN – RCA Nashville hitmaker Jake Owen has been added to the all-star line-up for ABC’s August 31 airing of CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock . Filmed live at the 2009 CMA Music Festival in Nashville , the program will include Owen’s performance of his energy-packed current single, “Eight Second Ride.” The song has been a longtime concert favorite among Owen’s fans, and the fun factor in “Eight Second Ride” is what initially inspired him to write what The New York Times calls “a bruiser of a seduction featuring plaintive, muscular, layered guitars.” Owen says, “That song is a song for me that I can turn up loud in my truck with my buddies and go rolling down the road and just feel the air coming through the windows.” Clearly, Owen hit the mark on how “Eight Second Ride” would sound on the airwaves, with KYGO Denver PD Joel Burke exclaiming, “WOW! That’s straight-up country rock, which we need more right now!” Owen is also the lead artist garnering attent...