The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

REBA AND BLAKE SHELTON TO HOST “TORNADO RELIEF CONCERT” IN DURANT, OKLAHOMA ON MAY 26 In Light of the Recent Tornado Disaster in Atoka County, the Country Superstars Will Host a Benefit Concert at the Choctaw Event Center All Proceeds From the Concert Will Aid in the Area’s Relief Efforts Nashville, Tennessee  (April 28, 2011) –   For country superstars like  Reba  and  Blake Shelton , home is definitely where the heart is. Both hailing from Oklahoma, the news of Atoka County’s recent tornado disaster prompted the stars to reach out to the affected area. Reba was born just outside of Kiowa, which is approximately 30 miles away from the greatest devastation. Shelton was born in Ada and currently resides in Tishomingo, less than 50 miles from the Atoka County border. Reba and Shelton made a decision to host the  “Tornado Relief Concert”  on  May 26   in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Choctaw Casino Resort as a way ...

BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP SCORES 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARD NOMINATION TRIFECTA Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and The Band Perry All Score Three Nods Online Voting Underway at  CMT.com Nashville, Tennessee  (Thursday, April 28, 2011) – The  Big Machine Label Group  scored  big  during yesterday’s 2011 CMT Music Award Nominations with a collective 13 nods – at least one in every category.  Rascal Flatts ,  Taylor Swift ,  The Band Perry  each earned a 3 and  Reba  garnered 2, while  Martina McBride  and  Steel Magnolia  received 1. The 10 th  Anniversary 2011 CMT Music Awards will air LIVE from Nashville on  Wednesday, June 8  on CMT and  CMT.com . Online voting runs through  Tuesday, June 7  at  CMT.com . Rascal Flatts’ “Why Wait,” Taylor Swift’s “Mine” and The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young” provide some stiff competition for  Video of The Year ,   which is award to the ...

TWCBreaking Video that is going viral of the Tuscaloosa, AL tornado. http://www.twitvid.com/4W6PU from Clay Hasenfuss. #severe 4/27/11 5:49 PM WeatherBugMedia @justinweather reports at least 25 dead from Tuscaloosa tornado. 4/27/11 8:21 PM wai1twit RT @RES911CUE: RT @BrianWright PLEASE RT ABC 33/40 "Police want people to know that none of the tornado sirens are now working in the Tuscaloosa 4/27/11 8:20 PM sarah_rourke RT @HeyChason: Already seen quite a bit of tweets from Auburn fans joking about the tornado in Tuscaloosa. Not cool at all. 4/27/11 8:20 PM ashmeca RT @NeptunesCrewman: At least 32 dead in Tuscaloosa... mayor describes the destruction as 'catastrophic'... #tornado breakout in 9 different states #TWC 4/27/11 8:20 PM ThomRainer Small child ripped from dad's arms by tornado in Tuscaloosa. Found later walking down a street uninjured. 4/27/11 7:07 PM

Luke Bryan’s New Single Becomes Biggest Digital Sales Debut of His Career “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” Is #1 Country Digital Single with 105,498 in US Digital Sales Its First Week Nashville ,  TN  – Capitol Records Nashville artist Luke Bryan continues to shake things up as his latest song “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” debuts as the #1 country digital single, achieving a career-high for Luke with 105,498 in  U.S.  digital single sales. This also marks the second highest digital sales debut for a country artist this year.  In additional chart news, the song broke into the Top 20 in just four weeks and has become his fastest rising single to date. “Country Girl (Shake It For Me),” co-written with Dallas Davidson, is the first single off a highly anticipated album due out later this summer and the follow up to his recent three back-to-back #1 singles "Do I," "Rain Is A Good Thing” and "Someone Else Calling You Baby," all from his GOLD-certified album...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WILLIE NELSON’S COUNTRY THROWDOWN TOUR 2011 TO CONCLUDE WITH WILLIE NELSON'S 4 th  OF JULY PICNIC & THROWDOWN AT BILLY BOB’S IN FORT WORTH Drake White Joins Tour and Country Weekly Signs on as Additional Sponsor Nashville, Tenn.  – April 27, 2011 – Billy Bob’s Texas and 4Fini announce the return of Willie Nelson's 4 th  of July Picnic to Fort Worth.  The Fort Worth Stockyards hosted the iconic “Willie's Picnic” in 2004, 2005 and 2006.   Willie is currently on the Country Throwdown Tour 2011 which will wrap up with the always-anticipated Willie Nelson’s annual 4 th  of July Picnic. The long-standing Texas tradition will break new ground as it will be held outside and inside of the famed Billy Bob's Texas. Headliners at Willie Nelson’s 4 th  of July Picnic & Throwdown  will perform on the venue's main stage outside with many artists taking the stage indoors for a full complement of multi-talented entertainers. W...

Jerrod Niemann Scores First CMT Music Award Nomination For “Lover, Lover” Music Video! Voted One of Country’s Top 10 Hottest Bachelors in New Issue of  Country Weekly ! Will Perform May 10 at The GRAMMY Block Party! Nashville ,  TN  – Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville chart-topper Jerrod Niemann earned his first CMT Music Award nomination this week for USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for his hit video “Lover, Lover.” The exciting news comes only days after his current Top 4-and-climbing single, “What Do You Want,” was certified GOLD by the RIAA. Fans can check Jerrod out in the pages of the new issue of  Country Weekly  as one of the Top 10 Country’s Hottest Bachelors, which is voted on by the fans. About the nomination, Niemann remarked, “How exciting! Potsy Ponciroli is an amazing director and it was a great learning experience. I may never give away my ex-girlfriend's things like in the video, but I can guarantee that Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser w...