The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

There he was, cowboy hat and all, in the State Capitol  in Nashville. Garth Brooks, the most honored and best selling artist in Country music history. Mr Brooks had the Governor,2 US Senators,2 Congressman and a Mayor for his support cast. Trisha Yearwood on the front row. Impressive to say the least. He will raise millions for flood relief. A series of musical events in the planning since days after the disaster. Garth wanted to come in as the closer…and he has. Always brilliant and on course. He seemed really excited about the opportunity to raise money and do his big show again. Garth doesn’t need the money. He does want to remain in the position he earned. Or it would seem that he does. The senior superstar in residence. Let the others do their thing then he will do this..It’s why he sold more music and tickets than anyone around here. He just knows how to play the game. Brilliant as always. In case you don’t know: December 17,2010 concert at Bridgestone Arena Nashville. ...

NASHVILLE, TN – (October 29, 2010)  -  In a special event today, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named its Pediatric Surgery Center after the superstar country music group Rascal Flatts. Through their hard work and generosity the band has combined to donate more than $3 million to Children’s Hospital.  The group’s contributions will allow the “ Rascal Flatts   Surgery   Center ” to include a new specialized radiology suite, which will further expand services offered to patients.                 Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, who were honored today during a ceremony at Children’s Hospital, also hosted a Halloween party with an intimate performance for patients and their families.  The group also visited children room-to-room to deliver Halloween treats and prizes.  Today’s special event marks the sixth consecutive ye...

  High res pic of Charlie Louvin  here  Alison Krauss Added to Charlie Louvin Benefit Full Line-Up Announced  BELL BUCKLE, TENN. --  Valerie Smith  is proud to announce that  Alison Krauss  has joined the line-up for Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin 's Benefit on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Bell Buckle Banquet Hall in historic Bell Buckle, TN from noon to 9:00 pm. Krauss will take the stage around 7:00 pm performing five Louvin Brother songs. Tickets are $10 and good for the entire day. They can be purchased at the world-famous Bell Buckle Cafe in Bell Buckle, Tenn., or by calling (931) 389-9693. The benefit schedule has been announced as follows: 12:00 pm - Charlie's Living Room (see below) 2:00 pm - Valerie Smith & Becky Buller 3:00 pm - Ed Bruce 3:30 pm - Patsy & Donna Stoneman 4:00 pm - Wildwood Valley Boys 4:45 pm - Charlie's Living Room 5:30 pm - Valerie Smith & Becky Bull...

FAITH HILL, MARTINA MCBRIDE 'ROCK THE CRADLE' TO BENEFIT BABIES BORN AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL More than $225,000 Raised at Baptist Hospital Foundation Event NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Oct. 28, 2010 - A crowd of more than 450 people, including music industry, business and community leaders, attended the Baptist Hospital Foundation's Rock the Cradle fundraiser featuring Faith Hill and Martina McBride. It was the first time that Hill and McBride had ever performed together. They joined each other on stage at the same time for the performance, singing several of their hit songs, including several songs as duets. The fundraiser took place in the intimate setting of the Loveless Café Barn, where Hill and McBride shared personal stories and interacted with the audience. The casual, music-focused event also included a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction and performances from comedian Kevin King and songwriters Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman. Nan Kelley, GAC Host for Top 20 Country Co...

ABC GOES COUNTRY IN NOVEMBER! THE NETWORK HOME OF "THE 44TH ANNUAL CMA AWARDS" WELCOMES COUNTRY MUSIC'S BIGGEST STARS TO ITS PRIMETIME SCHEDULE AND NEWS SHOWS In November, many of Country Music's biggest talents are appearing on the ABC television network, home to "The 44 th  Annual CMA Awards" airing on  Wednesday, November 10 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET). In chronological order: ONGOING, OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 10, "ROAD TO THE CMA AWARDS" (Check local listings for exacts airdates/times in your city) - "Road to the CMA Awards" is a half hour special airing on local ABC affiliates. It provides a fascinating sneak peek at "Country Music's Biggest Night(tm)." Packed with artist interviews and highlights from past CMA Awards it features Trace Adkins, Danny Gokey, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Reba, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood , and Keith Urban.  "Road to the CMA Awards" offers fans an opportun...

DREW LANDRY PERFORMS AT GULF COAST RELIEF BENEFIT CONCERT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 Nashville, TN  – Lafayette musician  Drew Landry  will perform at a benefit concert in support of Gulf Coast relief efforts this  Saturday, October 30 th  at 9:00 PM at Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge, LA . Landry will join Abe Manuel Jr. (Merle Haggard’s former fiddle player) and other special guests for the benefit concert as part of the Gulf Change Rally – a one-day rally and forum for Gulf Coast citizens to voice their questions and concerns about the recent oil spill disaster. Landry’s single,  “BP Blues , ”  received national attention after he performed the song during his testimony at July’s Presidential Commission meeting.   A $10 contribution to attend the concert will help send local coastal citizens to Washington D.C. For further information regarding the Gulf Change Rally and benefit concert, contact Brandi Gascon at gulfchange@gmail.com .   Warner Br...

BRETT ELDREDGE – COUNTRY MUSIC’S “NEXT BIG THING” – DEBUTS AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY ON OCTOBER 29 Nashville, TN  –Atlantic Records’ rising star  Brett Eldredge , who was recently named by CMT as their “Next Big Thing,” will make his Grand Ole Opry debut this  Friday, October 29 . Eldredge will be introduced to the Opry stage by renowned country music singer and songwriter, Bill Anderson.   "I have one goal -- to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry," said Eldredge. "To me, that is the highest honor you can be awarded as a country music singer. So, given the opportunity to perform for the first time ever on the Grand Ole Opry stage is truly a dream come true. And then to have Bill introduce me....words can't express how cool that is for me. Bill and I have written together and I feel blessed that my friend and Opry legend,  Bill Anderson will be there to share this moment...it's just an amazing feeling. I am sure I will be nervous and freaki...

  LADY ANTEBELLUM MAKES NETWORK TELEVISION APPERARANCES THIS WEEK Nashville, Tenn. – Oct. 27, 2010 – Fans can catch superstar trio Lady Antebellum on television this week beginning Thursday on FOX at 6:30pm CT/7:30pm ET when they sing the National Anthem at Game Two of the Major League Baseball  World Series  as the San Francisco Giants take on the Texas Rangers in San Francisco.  On Friday, they will perform their No. one hit “I Run To You” on NBC’s  School Pride  at 7pm CT/ 8pm ET.  The new show tells stories of communities coming together to renovate their aging and broken public schools.  Lady A was on hand to perform for the students of Kingston Springs Elementary School as volunteers repaired the devastation caused by Nashville’s May flooding. The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year is currently on the road for their headlining Need You Now 2010 tour and will head back to Nashville for the CMA Awards on Nov. 10, where they are nominated ...

SUGARLAND’S  THE INCREDIBLE MACHINE  BOWS AT #1 ON BILLBOARD’S  TOP 200 & COUNTRY ALBUMS CHARTS TUNE IN TO  CHELSEA LATELY  OCTOBER 27,  ELLEN  OCTOBER 28 & VH1  TOP 20  OCTOBER 30 NASHVILLE, TN –  Mercury Nashville duo Sugarland and their fourth album  The Incredible Machine  debuts at #1 this week on both  Billboard’s  Top 200 all-genre chart and the current country chart with sales of more than 202K, besting releases by Kings of Leon, Elton John and Leon Russell’s collaboration, Rod Stewart and Lil Wayne, which round out the Top 5 of the Top 200 respectively. This marks the third time leads Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have taken new albums straight to the top of the charts. Previous highs include ‘08’s  Love On The Inside  and ‘09’s  Live On the Inside . “We are thrilled to be #1 this week,” said Nettles. “We are grateful for all the fans that bought the album. This is an incredib...

Pre-sale Tickets for Kenny Chesney 2011 Tour available November 3 at  KENNYCHESNEY.COM KENNY CHESNEY, TIM McGRAW, SUGARLAND, ZAC BROWN BAND, TRACE ADKINS, BILLY CURRINGTON, LUKE BRYAN AND MORE SET TO ROCK THE 2ND ANNUAL BAYOU COUNTRY SUPERFEST AT LSU'S TIGER STADIUM IN BATON ROUGE, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND (MAY 28 & 29) Tickets on sale to the public on November 10th. Fan Club Members have access to pre-sale tickets starting November 3rd at NOON CST at  KENNYCHESNEY.com October 27, 2010 (Baton Rouge, LA)-The talent lineup for the 2nd annual Bayou Country Superfest was announced today as superstar Kenny Chesney returns to the 2011 event, along with a Louisiana homecoming for Tim McGraw and Trace Adkins, plus Sugarland, Zac Brown Band, Billy Currington, Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Josh Thompson and Lee Brice. Scheduled over Memorial Day Weekend 2011 (Saturday, May 28 & Sunday, May 29), Bayou Country Superfest brings together the biggest names in country music on...

JOEY+RORY RELEASE FAN FAVORITE “THAT’S IMPORTANT TO ME” OFF  ALBUM NUMBER TWO   NASHVILLE, TN (October 27, 2010) –  CMA nominated husband/wife duo Joey+Rory release fan favorite “That’s Important To Me” to country radio stations countrywide. This emotional song written by the couple and Tim Johnson showcases their strong values and commitment to each other and to their family. As with every aspect of their career, Joey+Rory continue to share their lives, home, community and beliefs with their fans with “That’s Important To Me”.   “Every line of this song is true,” states Rory. “We don’t watch much TV, we don’t buy things on credit, we always hold hands when we pray…all of it.  This is my favorite song on the record and the one I’m most excited about singing for the rest of our lives.”   The corresponding video (airing now on GAC and CMT) was shot at the couple’s farmhouse, Joey’s family restaurant and the road they live on.   “All of this truly is...

  STAGECOACH: CALIFORNIA ’S COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR: SATURDAY, APRIL 30 AND SUNDAY, MAY 1 AT THE EMPIRE POLO CLUB IN INDIO, CA   KENNY CHESNEY,  RASCAL FLATTS AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD TOP A WHO’S-WHO-OF-COUNTRY LINE-UP THAT ALSO INCLUDES LORETTA LYNN, DARIUS RUCKER, JOSH TURNER AND MANY MORE Next year’s  STAGECOACH --set for Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, 2011--not only marks the annual music festival’s  fifth consecutive year , it also features the return of some of  country music’s top charting artists  to the beautiful  Empire Polo Club  in  Indio, CA .   Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts  and  Carrie Underwood   head a musical line-up that celebrates more than five decades of country and will include performances from Darius Rucker, Loretta Lynn, Josh Turner, Leon Russell, Easton Corbin, Gatlin Brothers, Jack Ingram, Mel Tillis, Rodney Crowell, Wanda Jackson ,  Rhon...

Hello, The French Association of Country Music (FACM) is proud to announce the officials results of the 8th French Country Music Awards 2010. The ceremony took place saturday, october 23rd to the Hillbilly Western club of Cahavanod. For more information, please contact us to  info@america-france.com Visit the FACM (French Association of Country Music) website:  http://facm.free.fr     MEILLEUR ARTISTE /  GROUPE /BEST ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR JOSH TURNER   MEILLEUR CHANTEUR /  BEST MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR BRAD PAISLEY   MEILLEURE CHANTEUSE /  BEST FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR CARRIE UNDERWOOD   MEILLEUR ESPOIR /  BEST NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR EASTON CORBIN   MEILLEUR DUO /  BEST DUO OF THE YEAR BLAKE SHELTON + TRACE ADKINS "HILLBILLY BONE"   MEILLEURE CHANSON /  BEST SONG OF THE YEAR LADY ANTEBELLUM "NEED YOU NOW"   MEILLEUR ALBUM /  BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR LUKE BRYAN "DOIN' MY THING"     MEILLEUR...

GRAND OLE OPRY INDUCTS BLAKE SHELTON AS NEWEST MEMBER "The Grand Ole Opry is an artist and I’m really proud to be one of its songs." NASHVILLE, Tenn.  -  (October 23, 2010) -  Reprise Records recording artist Blake Shelton became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight, inducted by Opry member Trace Adkins before a sold-out Opry House audience including family, friends, and fans. Backstage before his induction,  Shelton  said, “tonight for me is the  Nashville  dream. Tonight is the pinnacle. This is what I wanted from the beginning—to make a mark. And tonight is the ultimate one.” Shelton opened the show with his multi-week No. 1 hit “It’s All About Tonight,” then returned later to sing “She Wouldn’t be Gone” followed by a duet with Adkins on “Hillbilly Bone.” Adkins officially inducted him into the Opry, presenting him with the Opry Member Award and saying, “with great reverence and respect, it means the world to me to be the one to hand thi...