The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

Most people don’t think of big-star entertainers like  Brooks & Dunn  as shy people, but  Ronnie Dunn  was incredibly shy in his younger years, so much that you might never have expected to see him on a stage. “I was almost paralyzed with shyness and couldn’t really finish a sentence,” he recalls. Ronnie’s certainly come a long way from those days, but music was always his escape, and he says it still is today. “I was almost paralyzed with shyness and couldn’t really finish a sentence; I was just so self-conscious. People would come to visit my parents, and I would leave; I would go to the back and shut the door and go to my room. I’d turn the record player on and listen to music. And that’s…that was always…it was always my escape, and it is today.

Craig Morgan  has another big hit with his current single, “Bonfire,” and while he may like spending time around a big ol’ fire, he also enjoys leisure activities that involve water — but his youngest son…well, not so much. Craig says that a fishing trip with his three boys not long ago wasn’t the most rewarding experience for young  Wyatt , who saw his big brothers pulling up fish while things were a bit quiet on his line. But Craig completely relates to the frustration. He says, “Fishing is not much fun to me if you’re not catchin’ fish.” He laughs, “That’s like ridin’ a stationary bike…why? I want to go somewhere!” Look for “Bonfire” on Craig’s latest album,  That’s Why , which also features “Love Remembers” and “God Must Really Love Me.”   “My youngest was just a little…you know, after him not catchin’ anything for about an hour, he was  so  ready to go back. Now, my 12-year-old, and Kyle, my oldest son, you know, they w...

The French Association of Country Music has announced the winners of the 7th French Country Music Awards! Among the top honors, Best Entertainer of the Year is  Brad Paisley , who also won Best Album of the Year (for  American Saturday Night ), and Best Musician. Best Male Vocalist of the Year went to  Alan Jackson , and  Sara Evans  took home Female Vocalist, while  Kenny Chesney  earned a double win, for Best Duo (for “Down the Road” with  Mac McAnally ) and Best Song (”Out Last Night”).

November is upon us, and with the holiday season right around the corner, it’s perfect timing for a little get-in-the-spirit music from  Sara Evans , whose four-song digital E-P,  I’ll Be Home for Christmas , releases November 3rd! The collection includes the title track, as well as “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and the inspiring “New Again,” a song that Sara wrote with — and sings with —  Brad Paisley . The fourth track in the collection is the classic “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and it’s just the kind of song that Sara says we learn as children, but really come to appreciate as adults. The arrival of  I’ll Be Home for Christmas  will help get you in the mood for Sara’s upcoming Celebrate the Season tour! She’ll be playing a dozen West Coast shows beginning November 27th.  Each show will have one set with all holiday music, and another with Sara singing some of her biggest hits. Check out a complete tour schedule, and all things Sara, a...

One of the year’s most anticipated albums is just days away with the Tuesday, November 3rd arrival of  Play On , the new album from  Carrie Underwood ! And with  Play On ’s first single, “Cowboy Casanova,” already a blockbuster hit, fans are even  more  excited to scoop up Carrie’s first new record since 2007’s  Carnival Ride . Of the 13 songs on  Play On , seven were co-written by Carrie — that’s more than either of her earlier albums — and she’s thrilled to be sharing more of herself with songs that she says are “truly coming from my heart more.” She’s also delighted with the reactions she’s gotten from people who’ve heard the album…in part because they seem to be choosing a variety of songs as their favorites. ”I  love  that,” Carrie says. ”I love it, love it, love it that it is that kind of an album. You’re not listening to the same song. It takes you all over t...

Kellie Pickler To Appear On Tomorrow’s Halloween Episode of  The Ellen DeGeneres Show Pickler Media Also Includes Country Weekly and Upcoming Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Kellie Pickler will show fans her spooky side as the featured guest on tomorrow’s Halloween episode of  The Ellen DeGeneres Show.    On returning to the long-running talk show, Kellie said “Ellen is one of my favorite people, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, so to be able to share it with her will make it extra special this year!”    And Ellen is equally excited to have Kellie on the show, as she posted on her website today, “She has such a fun personality, I could just let her talk the entire time. Sometimes I don't really have a choice -- she just keeps going!” This week also finds Kellie named as  Country Weekly's  Most Beautiful Woman for the second year in a row in the November 2 issue of the magazine, on newsstands now. Fans ca...

Charlie Daniels To Perform on CBS The Early Show Nov. 2 WHO:          Charlie Daniels Band WHAT:        Watch Daniels perform his 1979 classic, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” as part of The Early Show’s year-by-year retrospective series.  Daniels’ performance will be televised during the segment highlighting the year 1979.  WHEN:        7 a.m. CST, Monday, November 2  - (Check local listings for CBS affiliate) WHERE:      CBS The Early Show Charlie Daniels released a CD/DVD Christmas collection,  Joy to the World: A Bluegrass Christmas, on Oct. 13 through E1 Entertainment.  The Charlie Daniels Band is currently touring the U.S. through the end of 2009, including a performance at his annual Christmas For Kids concert at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 23, 2009.  For more information or CDB tour dates, visit  www.ch...

HOT COUNTRY STAR JASON MICHAEL CARROLL TO PERFORM NASHVILLE CONCERT AT THE EXIT/IN ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10   Nashville, TN - October 29, 2009 ...One of country music's brightest new stars,  Jason Michael Carroll  will bring his high energy concert to  Nashville's  Exit/In  on Thursday, December 10 .  Doors open at  8:00 pm  and Carroll takes the stage at  9:00 pm .  Tickets are priced at $15.00 and go on sale beginning  Friday, October 30.   To purchase tickets online,  visit  www.ExitIn.com  or  www.aeglive.com .  Tickets will also be available at the door on night of show.     In 2007 Carroll's debut album,  Waitin' in the Country , shot straight to #1 on Billboard's top country albums chart and produced two Top 5 singles - "Alyssa Lies" and "Livin' Our Love Song."  Country music fans and music peers alike sat up and too...

LATEST INSTALLMENT OF ‘INVITATION ONLY’ FEATURING CARRIE UNDERWOOD PREMIERES DECEMBER 1 ON CMT Underwood Performs Greatest Hits As Well As Songs From New Album  Play On NASHVILLE – October 29, 2009 – Superstar  Carrie Underwood  visits the INVITATION ONLY stage to perform her chart-toppers as well as music from her new album,  Play On , on  Tuesday, December 1  at 9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.    Taped in  Nashville , INVITATION ONLY: CARRIE UNDERWOOD features the country sweetheart performing before a small studio audience, taking questions from fans and giving revealing and candid answers. In this one-hour special, Underwood performs her biggest hits including “Before He Cheats,” “Last Name” and “So Small,” in addition to new, lively and energetic songs “Cowboy Casanova” and “Undo It” from  Play On . During a casual question and answer segment with the audience, Underwood discusses how life has changed since “American ...

BRAD  PAISLEY  TO THE  LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN Tuesday, November 3 NASHVILLE ,  Tenn.    (Oct. 28, 2009)  Reigning CMA and ACM male vocalist Brad Paisley will be making an appearance on the  Late Show With David Letterman  on Tuesday, Nov. 3.   Paisley  will be performing “American Saturday Night”   from his album by the same title, which is nominated for CMA Album of the Year.  As previously announced, Paisley will also be performing on ABC’s  Good Morning America  on Tuesday, Nov. 10 live from Nashville.  He, along with Carrie Underwood, will co-host  The 43rd Annual CMA Awards  on Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) live from the  Sommet   Center  in Nashville  and on ABC.   Paisley  is the most nominated artist for the CMA Awards with seven nominations, and he will also perform on the show. Paisley  just wrapped his 2009  Ameri...

REBA VISITS  LIVE W/ REGIS & KELLY  AND  LATE NIGHT W/ JIMMY FALLON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3RD NASHVILLE, TN –   Superstar Reba has a busy day planned in the Big Apple next Tuesday. The multiple CMA Award Nominee will drop by  Live w/ Regis & Kelly  for a chat as well as a live full band performance of the fan favorite, “Pink Guitar,” from her #1 album  KEEP ON LOVING YOU. Later that evening, Reba and her nine-piece powerhouse band will perform the club favorite “I Want A Cowboy” for her debut appearance on  Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.   In the meantime, Reba’s hit single, “Consider Me Gone,” jumped to #13 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and to #12 on the USA Today/ Country Aircheck chart (powered by Mediabase) this week. Reba is nominated for two 2009 Country Music Association Awards for Female Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year (the latter for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” with Brooks & Dunn).  Reba will perform liv...

‘LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU’ PREMIERES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20 ON CMT 90-minute Special Features Performances by Billy Currington and the Zac Brown Band NASHVILLE  – October 28, 2009 – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas when  LARRY THE CABLE GUY'S HULA-PALOOZA CHRISTMAS LUAU  holiday special premieres  Friday, November 20  at 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT.   This 90-minute variety show features Larry along with friends, including  Kenan Thompson  (“Saturday Night Live”),  Caroline Rhea ,  George Lindsey  (“ The Andy Griffith Show”),   comedians  Reno Collier  and  Jon Reep ,  Peter Oldring ,  Sara Erikson ,   the MuzikMafia’s  Two Foot Fred,  and returning favorites  Tony Orlando  and  Angela Little MacKenzie  (“Reno 911”). In addition to holiday-themed comedy and sketches set on the fictional  island  of  Hula-...

RASCAL FLATTS REIGN AS TOP GROUP IN COUNTRY MUSIC Nashville ,  TN  - (October 28, 2009) –  Rascal Flatts continue their reign as the biggest group in country music.  According to Nielsen Soundscan the band’s latest CD,  Unstoppable , is one of only three country albums that have scanned platinum in 2009, including Taylor Swift’s  Fearless  and  Hannah Montana: The Movie  soundtrack, with year-to-date sales of over 1 million albums sold on each title. Of all country titles released this year, Rascal Flatts’s  Unstoppable  holds the record for the biggest first week sales with 351,000 units sold.  Unstoppable also has the fifth highest debut sales numbers across all genres for all new CD releases this year. Included in the first week numbers are more than 58,000 digital albums, giving Rascal Flatts the biggest first week digital album sales for any country title released this year. With 126,000 tracks sold the first week ...

Nashville, TN - Lorrie Morgan   is releases  A Moment In  Time, her collection of new interpretations of fourteen country classics, on October 26 through Country Crossing Records.  The album, produced by Wally Wilson and Chip Voorhis, was recorded live in the studio without overdubs.    A Moment In Time   showcases Morgan’s crystalline vocals and features a stellar cast of studio musicians.  Included are such timeless treasures as “Leavin’ On Your Mind,” “Cry” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”  The album also features duets with Raul Malo (“Easy Lovin’”) and Tracy Lawrence (“After The Fire Is Gone”).   Fans will have numerous opportunities to catch Morgan and learn more about  A Moment In Time .  She’ll appear on numerous outlets on GAC and CMT throughout October and is set to make appearances on nationally syndicated programs Daytime TV on October 29 th  and The Daily Buzz on November 2nd.   Morgan...

STEVE MARTIN TO BRING HIS BANJO TO MERLEFEST 2010 WILKESBORO, N.C. (October 28, 2009)—MerleFest 2010, presented by Lowe’s, is proud to announce that multi-talented Grammy® and Emmy® winning actor/comedian/musician  Steve Martin  will perform on the Watson Stage on  Saturday, May 1. “I’ve heard great things about MerleFest for years,” said Martin.  “As a musician, it’s an event I’m really looking forward to playing.” Martin is currently drawing rave reviews as he tours in support of his Rounder Records release,  The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo,  which spent multiple weeks at the top of the  Billboard Top Bluegrass Albums Chart.  Touring with Martin are the Steep Canyon Rangers, who will perform with him at MerleFest.  Together they have performed at the 20th Annual International Bluegrass Music Awards Show,  The Late Show with David Letterman ,  The View,  the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Carnegie Ha...

009 CMA AWARDS HOSTS BRAD PAISLEY AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD TO PERFORM LIVE ON "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" NOVEMBER 10 FROM NASHVILLE ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK NASHVILLE - Wake up with CMA Awards hosts  Brad Paisley  and Carrie Underwood  when they perform on ABC's "Good Morning America"  Tuesday, Nov. 10  live from Nashville on the ABC Television Network. The "Good Morning America" concert is free and open to the public. The event takes place on the Sommet Center's outside plaza at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue in Nashville and is presented by Chevrolet. ABC's "Good Morning America" will ramp up the excitement leading to "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," airing Wednesday, Nov. 11  (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) live from the Sommet Center. "We can't imagine a better way to jump start the excitement leading up to the CMA Awards than to have our hosts Brad and Carrie perform on 'Good Morning America'," said CM...

FIRST PRESENTERS ANNOUNCED FOR "THE 43rd ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" Love And Theft to Host Pre-Tel Awards NASHVILLE - The excitement is building as the first group of presenters are announced for "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards," hosted by  Brad Paisley  and Carrie Underwood , and airing live from the Sommet Center in Nashville,  Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. The first celebrities announced as Awards presenters during "Country Music's Biggest NightT" are NASCAR superstar driver  Dale Earnhardt Jr. ;   stars of ABC's "The Middle"   Neil Flynn  and  Patricia Heaton ; Julianne Hough ; nominee  Randy Houser  (for both New Artist and Music Video of the Year for "Boots On"); nominee  Jake Owen  (New Artist of the Year); Kellie Pickler ; CMA Award winner  LeAnn Rimes ; and ABC News's  Robin Roberts , co-anchor of "Good Morning America" and host of the upcoming "Robin Roberts: Bright Lig...

Tickets On Sale Friday for Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival Kenny Chesney to appear at June 3-5, 2010 Festival ENTERPRISE, Ala., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 30th for the 3rd annual  Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival,  slated for  Thursday, June 3 through Saturday, June 5, 2010  in Enterprise. (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091027/CL99873  ) The Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music & Arts Festival is one of the world's grandest outdoor entertainment extravaganzas. Fans have come from more than 47 states and 8 countries to enjoy the 3-day festival which includes music and activities for the whole family. At BamaJam, the music never stops and the fun goes on 'til the sun comes up ... and then it starts all over again with food, booths, activities and music, music, music. Tickets are on sale for $99 for a 3-day ticket and $49.00 for a 1-Day Flex Ticket, which may b...