The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

THE LOST TRAILERS TO WORK ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS WILL FINISH OUT TOURING COMMITMENTS THROUGH END OF YEAR NASHVILLE, TN– After tens of thousands of miles, songs that were heard all over America on country radio, and years on the road together, members of The Lost Trailers will pursue their own projects by the end of the year. The band will continue to tour this year which includes the Country Throwdown tour. "I'm thrilled to finish playing out the shows on the calendar for our fans; we've been blessed to have their unending support over the years," said lead singer Ryder Lee.    "I'm very much looking forward to the next phase of my career," he continued. Songwriter and founding Lost Trailers member Stokes Nielson continues, “We started this band as a bunch of high school friends with a dream of making music, and we’ve taken that dream to incredible places that have opened a lot of doors for us. I look forward to thanking the fans on our tour dates t...

Cities and Towns Seeking Funds to Save 4th of July Events Can Win BRING BACK THE 4TH TM  Grants Totaling $100,000 Online Contest to Complement “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular” Nationally Televised on July 4 on the CBS-TV Network Facing stretched budgets, cities and towns across America are viewing local Fourth of July events with growing uncertainty, as many municipalities make the tough choice to curtail or cancel fireworks shows and parades. BRING BACK THE 4TH TM  is a web-based contest through which U.S. cities and towns can compete for one of ten $10,000 grants to continue cherished local traditions such as July 4th fireworks   shows, parades, town cookouts, and ceremonies honoring veterans.     Residents from municipalities across America can visit   http://www.BringBackThe4th.com  to help earn $10,000 grants for their communities.  On the site, visitors are prompted to take a brief quiz on  Responsible Moments in U.S. ...

COUNTRY THROWDOWN TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT The  COUNTRY THROWDOWN TOUR  is announcing the cancellation of four upcoming shows: Houston (6/9), Dallas (6/10), San Diego (6/17) and Phoenix (6/18). In addition, the Bakersfield date (originally set for 6/16) has now moved to Friday, 6/18. Tickets from the Houston, Dallas, San Diego and Phoenix shows will be honored at all other COUNTRY THROWDOWN tour dates (see full dates below) and refunds are also available at the point of purchase.  Tour Producer, Kevin Lyman, says, “After many attempts to keep these shows, we’re regretfully unable to bring Throwdown to these four markets.” Lyman is citing the following reasons for the cancelations of shows: “Low tickets sales and too many shows competing with one another. We are trying to bring a festival style tour with 21 artists, at a reasonable and fair ticket price (average ticket cost $31), but because most markets are currently flooded with shows, we end up cannibalizing one another and...

CHRIS   LEDOUX   PARK  TO BE DEDICATED IN  KAYCEE ,  WYOMING  JUNE 19 Life Size and a Half Bronze Statue of LeDoux To Be Unveiled NASHVILLE, TN – May 26, 2010 – A life size and a half bronze statue celebrating the life and legacy of the American music and rodeo legend  Chris  LeDoux, titled "Good Ride Cowboy," by sculptor D. Michael Thomas, will be unveiled on June 19th during the dedication of  Chris  LeDoux Park in Kaycee, WY. The statue, which sits atop a guitar shaped base, is of LeDoux riding the horse Stormy Weather, which earned the former rodeo cowboy a world championship. The event and activities surrounding the dedication is free and open to the public.

MINDY McCREADY UPDATE :   NASHVILLE,  Tenn.  (May 26, 2010)--As of this morning, our offices do not have official verification of the medical diagnosis surrounding Mindy McCready's hospitalization.  Her attorney has asked to review the medical records.   We have not been given information to confirm the reports of an overdose or attempted suicide.   It should be noted that the relationship between Mindy and her mother, Gayle, is volatile and unhealthy.  They are currently in the midst of a custody battle for the guardianship of Mindy's son.   We will release accurate information as it becomes available to us.   ###

  LADY ANTEBELLUM WILL LIVE STREAM JUNE 10 FAN CLUB PARTY TO BENEFIT NASHVILLE FLOOD RELIEF Nashville, TN – May 26, 2010 - ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum and their fans are joining together to help out Nashville flood recovery efforts.  The trio announced today that all proceeds from their sold out fan club event on June 10 will benefit Nashville flood relief.  In addition, a live stream of the intimate concert will be available on their web site for a minimum $5 donation.   The live stream of the show will be hosted on  www.ladyantebellum.com  and www.livestream.com .  After participating in GAC’s Music City Keep on Playin’ benefit at the Ryman, the trio is eager to keep the Nashville flood in the spotlight. “It was great to be a part of the benefit at the Ryman…to see how everyone is coming together for Nashville and the surrounding areas is really inspiring,” says Dave Haywood.  “We want to keep doing our part beca...

Inaugural Sandestin Music Festival Slated for August 13 & 14   Steve Cropper, Jeffrey Steele, Delbert McClinton and More to Perform   NASHVILLE, May 25, 2010 -- The weekend of August 13-14, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will be the place to be for music lovers of all ages when the first ever Sandestin Music Festival hits multiple stages throughout the resort. Co-sponsored by BMI, the event will feature legendary BMI musician and songwriter Steve Cropper, BMI contemporary country trendsetters Jeffrey Steele, Bob DiPiero, Marty Dodson and James Slater, ace guitarist and acclaimed singer/songwriter Lee Roy Parnell, Grammy-winning blues icon Delbert McClinton, powerhouse country vocalist and Broadway star Lari White, and promising up-and-comer Kree Harrison.   The weekend festival will begin with acclaimed singer/songwriters at Hammerhead’s Bar & Grill from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., followed by a jam session at Rum Runner’s from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Finally, Graffiti & Th...

Fins Up Pensacola ... Jimmy Buffett's New Margaritaville Beach Hotel Set to Open This Summer in Pensacola Beach, FL. 'IT'S NOT JUST A HOTEL, IT'S A STATE OF MIND.'   pm EDT B PENSACOLA BEACH, Fla. ,  May 25  /PRNewswire/ -- Margaritaville and Little Sabine, Inc. are pleased to announce the world's first Margaritaville Beach Hotel opening this summer on the pristine white sands of Pensacola Beach, Florida .   As President of Little Sabine, Inc.,  Marilyn Hess  was finalizing the details to open a gulf front hotel on Pensacola Beach , when a phone call from a friend led to a meeting with  Jimmy Buffett  that turned her life around.  A few days later, Buffett came to tour the nearly completed hotel and invited Hess along on a road trip to his Margaritaville Cafe in  Panama City Beach  where he planned to stop in for an impromptu performance. After the road trip, Hess, whose ventures include American Fidelity Life Insurance Co....

A MESSAGE FROM THE MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM   * First and foremost, the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum would like to extend our sincerest concern and condolences for the loss of life and property experienced by so many of our fellow Tennesseans from the recent floods.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by this tragic event.   Although there is no way to compare our loss to what others are experiencing, we would like to inform those interested about our current situation.   As a result of the city’s decision to have us vacate the museum property in February 2010, through eminent domain, the museum was forced by Third Circuit Court Judge Barbara Haynes to remove everything including all exhibits with 7 days notice prior to the building being torn down.  Many of our artifacts were temporarily stored in the longtime revered performance and storage space of SoundCheck in Nashville.  Unfortunately, SoundCheck was yet another...

BRAD  PAISLEY ’S  H2O WORLD TOUR PRESENTED BY CHEVY Over 42,000 Fans Attend First Weekend’s Shows NASHVILLE ,  Tenn.    (May 24, 2010)  Brad Paisley’s much anticipated  H2O World Tour  kicked-off this past weekend in  Virginia Beach  and a sold-out show in  Washington ,  DC .  Over 42,000 fans came out to the debut weekend of a tour that promises to continue giving fans more for their entertainment value.  Special guests on the tour are Darius Rucker and Justin Moore. As Paisley took the stage in Virginia Beach on Friday evening it was obvious that it was an emotional time as he looked out to the sea of fans and shouted, “You have no idea what we went through to get here tonight!” as he burst into his current single and show opener, “Water.”  Later in the show, referring to the struggles of the past few weeks after the devastating  Nashville  flood,  Paisley  shared -  “It was emoti...

ARTIST NEWSFLASH ■ JUST IN:  Jimmy Wayne , who kicked off his 1700-mile  Meet Me Halfway  journey on January 1 st , is narrowing in on his destination of Phoenix, AZ.  Jimmy, who is walking to bring awareness to youth homelessness, took a brief break from the road last week to visit Washington DC and speak with lawmakers about his mission, as well as update them on Nashville’s flood relief issues.  Currently, Jimmy is battling extreme heat in the New Mexico desert on Highway 60, approximately 450 miles from his destination.  To track Jimmy’s location status, and for more information on the campaign, click  here . ■ JEWEL KICKS OFF ALBUM LAUNCH CAMPAIGN WITH MAJOR TV & RADIO APPEARANCES THIS WEEK:  Jewel’s  new album  SWEET AND WILD  [featuring both a regular version and a deluxe version with acoustic tracks of every song on the album under the banner of  SWEET AND MILD ], doesn’t land in stores until June 8 th , but to co...

ARTIST NEWSFLASH ■ BIG WEEK FOR TAYLOR SWIFT: WINS BMI POP SONG OF THE YEAR & NARM AWARD; ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY AT COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME:  Taylor Swift  won top honors at this week’s  BMI Pop Awards  in Los Angeles, taking home the prestigious Song of the Year award for her multi-genre international #1 smash “Love Story.”  20-year old Taylor is the youngest songwriter in history to win this honor, and the first country winner in more than a decade. The most recent country songwriters honored with this award were  Stephanie Bentley for “Breathe” in 2000, Shania Twain for “You’re Still The One” in 1998, and Dolly Parton in 1993 for “I Will Always Love You.”   “Love Story,” which Taylor wrote by herself, was honored for receiving more radio airplay in the past year than any other song played on pop radio. “Love Story” earned BMI’s Country Song of the Year honors in 2009, and Taylor also won BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2008, for “Teardrops O...

KRISTY LEE COOK JOINS AARON TIPPIN IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS (IN A COUNTRY KINDA WAY) ON “GOIN’ COUNTRY” Tippin Takes Host On Turkey Hunt And Private Flight Nashville , Tenn. (May 24, 2010)—Country superstar and avid hunter  Aaron Tippin  welcomed  Kristy Lee Cook ( American Idol  alum) to the neighborhood in Tippin-style. Attending to a  CALL OF THE WILD , Tippin showed Kristy Lee the ropes in the woods and in flight.  Shooting an episode for Cook’s new “Goin’ Country” television show, Kristy tagged along with Aaron in a hunt to tag a turkey on his 400+-acre farm and took flight aboard his 1941 Stearman   biplane. The pair headed to the woods decked-out in camouflage and although they returned empty-handed, Aaron taught Cook how to perfect her turkey call. “The conditions weren’t optimum for a successful turkey hunt—we talked too much!”  Tippin  explained. “ I also wanted to introduce her and the audience to another one of my loves—flying. S...

NEW WYNONNA MUSIC AND RETAIL COLLECTION ARRIVES AT CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE ® Purchase of any Cracker Barrel Wynonna product provides donation to Wounded Warrior Project LEBANON, TENN  (May 24, 2010) – As the nation appreciates American service men and women this Memorial Day weekend, Cracker Barrel Old CountryStore is honored to have five-time GRAMMY ®  Award winner Wynonna Judd share in its efforts to support Wounded Warrior Project. Wynonna’s new CD and exclusive line of retail products have arrived at Cracker Barrel, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each item will be donated to Wounded Warrior Project. Additionally, from now until May 31 st ,  Cracker Barrel will  double the portion of proceeds donation  f or every Wynonna and Wounded Warrior Project retail item sold, including the CD. “For several years, Cracker Barrel has supported Wounded Warrior Project and the organization’s efforts to honor and empower injured service men ...

ALAN JACKSON PAYS TRIBUTE TO FALLEN MINERS & RESCUE WORKERS FROM UPPER BIG BRANCH MINING DISASTER WEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY GIVES JACKSON A ROARING WELCOME! Over the weekend, country music superstar Alan Jackson honored the fallen miners and rescue workers from April’s Upper Big Branch mining disaster with a benefit concert performance at the Charleston WV Civic Center.   The 31 families affected and 230 rescue workers who were on site at the nation’s biggest mining disaster in four decades were offered free tickets to the show.  27 families who lost loved ones and the two whose family members survived met with Jackson before the show, including the family of Cory Davis who would have been 21 on Saturday.  His family presented Jackson with a bracelet with David’s birthday on it, and Jackson wore it throughout the show.    Jackson kicked off his FREIGHT TRAIN tour date with the rousing #1 hit “Gone Country”, and told the packed auditorium that, “We're he...