Songwriters on the Road

NASHVILLE - The wildly popular CMA Songwriters Series, which has played to sell- out crowds in New York City for the past five years, will be hitting the road this Fall with a show in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 15 (9:30 PM/PT) at the House of Blues, and two shows in Chicago, Friday, Oct. 2 (8:30 PM/CT) at Joe's Bar, and Saturday, Oct. 3 (4:00 PM/CT) at the Chicago Country Music Festival.

Each show will be hosted by Bob DiPiero, writer of hits such as "Take Me As I Am" recorded by Faith Hill, "You Can't Take the Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" recorded by Brooks & Dunn, "Blue Clear Sky" recorded by George Strait, and "Gone" recorded by Montgomery Gentry, and will feature some of Nashville's most talented writers as well as artist/songwriters.

BNA recording artist Kellie Pickler will be the featured artist/songwriter for the September 15 Los Angeles show. Pickler, a two-time CMA Award nominee, is enjoying a Top 10 hit with "Best Days of Your Life," which she wrote with friend and tour mate Taylor Swift. The single has also been certified Gold. Pickler also co-wrote the Top 15 hits "Red High Heels" and "I Wonder" from her gold certified debut album, Small Town Girl.

Joining Pickler will be songwriters Chris Lindsey("Amazed" recorded by Lonestar and "Let's Make Love" recorded by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill), andAimee Mayo ("This One's For the Girls" recorded by Martina McBride and "Red High Heels" recorded by Pickler).

"The songwriter is the beginning of everything that makes Country Music so great," said Charlie Cook, Senior Manager Country Programming for Go Country. "Go Country is excited to be part of this great songwriter showcase at one of Los Angeles' premier venues. We're sure that our listeners and sponsors will enjoy this evening and we will all leave with an even greater appreciation of the music."

Tickets for the Sept. 15 Los Angeles show are $12.50 each and will go on sale August 7. Tickets will be available at www.ticketmaster.com or at the House of Blues Sunset Strip office at (323) 848-5100.

Universal Music Nashville recording artist Lee Ann Womack will be the featured artist/songwriter for both Chicago shows. A six-time CMA Award winner, Womack has sold over five million albums. Her hits include "I Hope You Dance," "A Little Past Little Rock," "The Fool," and "I May Hate Myself in the Morning." Womack's current release, Call Me Crazy, contains the top 20 hit "Last Call" as well as her current single, "Solitary Thinkin'." Womack is also an accomplished songwriter having penned her own single "Twenty Years and Two Husbands Ago." She also wrote "Good News, Bad News," her duet with George Strait that won the CMA Musical Event of the Year Award in 2005.

Joining Womack in Chicago will be Dean Dillon ("The Chair," "Unwound," "Ocean Front Property," and "Marina Del Rey" recorded by George Strait; and "A Lot of Things Different" recorded by Kenny Chesney), and Scotty Emerick , ("I Love This Bar," and "Good As I Once Was" recorded by Toby Keith and "Beer For My Horses" recorded by Keith and Willie Nelson).

"Joe's Bar is honored to be hosting the CMA Songwriters Series here in Chicago," said Edward Warm, co-owner of Joe's Bar. "Chicago is one of the largest Country Music markets in the nation, and we are excited to bring the Country fans of Chicago an intimate show that's going to offer a unique look into how the hit songs of Country are created."

Tickets to the Oct. 2 event at Joe's Bar are $20.00 each and will go on sale August 7. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster or at Joe's (cash only-no service charge). Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet or by phone at (312) 559-1212or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/32917. Fans can avoid service fees by purchasing tickets at Joe's any weekday beginning at 10:30 AM. Tickets at the Joe's box office can only be purchased with cash. There is a $1 fee added for Chicago's city tax. All tickets are General Admission, standing room only unless otherwise noted. You must be 21 or older to attend a show or event at Joe's.

"We are so excited to be hosting some of the most respected songwriters out of Nashville during the CMA Songwriters Series at the Chicago Country Music Festival this year," said Erin Bauer, Festival Manager from the Mayor's Office of Special Events. "Country Music fans will be able to hear the stories behind some of the biggest Country Music songs they hear on the radio. It is really a tremendous addition to our festival lineup."

The Chicago Country Music Festival takes place October 3 and 4 in Grant Park. The event is free and open to the public.