The latest from Jimmy Carter in Nashville

Big Machine Records announced today the signing of country music superstar Tim McGraw to a worldwide recording deal. The powerhouse label and McGraw will release new music which will be distributed globally by Universal Music Group. With over 40 million albums sold and 32 No. 1 singles over the course of his remarkable career, this new era of McGraw's career will be driven by a dream team of the most successful and dynamic thinkers in the music industry. “Many people know that I came to Nashville 23 years ago on a Greyhound bus with nothing but a guitar,” said McGraw. “And 23 years to the day, on May 9, I went back to the bus station and officially signed this deal. It was a significant way for me to mark this new beginning. Scott Borchetta has developed a powerhouse at Big Machine, and I’m happy to be a part of what he has built and to call Big Machine Records my new label home. Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling about working on a new album for this next chap...

COUNTRY MEETS HOLLYWOOD WHEN TOBY KEITH AND KRISTEN BELL HOST THE ‘2012 CMT MUSIC AWARDS’ NASHVILLE – May 21, 2012 – The 2012 CMT MUSIC AWARDS just got a little rowdier and funnier as country music superstar Toby Keith and actress Kristen Bell have been tapped to host this year’s show. Now in its 11th year, the 2012 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. “Toby Keith and Kristen Bell are a terrific one-two knockout punch for the 2012 CMT Music Awards,” said John Hamlin, SVP, Music Events and Talent, CMT. “Toby has been involved with our show every year since its inception and Kristen is as entertaining and witty as any young actor working today. We're thrilled to have them both as hosts for this year’s show.” Country music’s first fan-voted awards show will include performances from Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie ...

TAYLOR SWIFT HONORED AS “WOMAN OF THE YEAR” AT BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS Las Vegas, NV – May 21, 2012 – Taylor Swift was awarded the coveted Woman of The Year Award at last night’s Billboard Music Awards. The top award honors “the achievements of a trailblazing female artist over the past 12 months, and acknowledges her overall success in the music business and her leadership in embracing the changing industry.” At 22 years old, Taylor is the youngest Woman of the Year winner in history. Taylor Swift is the only woman in music history to release three #1 albums in a row, each selling more than 5 million copies, putting her in the company of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson. With the release of her most recent album, Speak Now, on which every song was written solely by Taylor, she made history on the Billboard Hot 100, charting a record-breaking 11 songs from one album in a single week. In addition, Taylor also currently holds the Billboard Hot 100 record for the most...

that's Robert Nix in the middle

This was Indy in the wee hours of Sunday morning...the whole bunch....all the Paisley tour singers... Avengers 3D BRAD PAISLEY’S VIRTUAL REALITY WORLD TOUR PLAYS TO OVER 65,000 FIRST WEEK-END BACK OUT ALL THREE SHOWS SOLD-OUT PAISLEY TREATS ALL ARTISTS, BANDS AND CREW TO PRIVATE VIEWING OF “THE AVENGERS” 3D Special Guests The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery And “Virtual Opry” Stage Guests Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 21, 2012) This past weekend Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality World Tour hit the road again playing three sold-out shows in St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Special guests on the tour are The Band Perry and Scotty McCreery with Easton Corbin joining the tour on select dates. “The Escape” plaza area was well received with thousands of fans arriving early afternoon to enjoy games, contests, photo ops and performances on the “Virtual Opry” Stage by Kristen Kelly, Jana Kramer and Love and Theft. More information on “The ...

GRAMMY Winning Hip Hop Artist Ludacris Joins Aldean on “Dirt Road Anthem” Nashville, Tenn. – May 19, 2012 – MULTI-PLATINUM Georgia native Jason Aldean played a two-night stand of sold out shows at Atlanta, GA’s Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Fri. and Sat. Aldean kicked off the summer leg of the record-breaking 2012 MY KINDA PARTY TOUR on Thurs. night in Birmingham, AL and will continue on to the nation’s biggest amphitheatres this summer. “I’ve never felt the kind of energy that the fans from the ATL brought this weekend,” said Aldean. “I didn’t think it could get any wilder, and then when Luda came out, the place came totally unglued. We’ve gotten to perform together several times, but man, he’s the Mayor of Atlanta, so this one was beyond cool.” Aldean is currently celebrating his fifth consecutive No. one song with “Fly Over States” from CMA’s “Album of the Year” MY KINDA PARTY. For a full list of tour dates, visit www.jasonaldean.com. ###

New Center Will Include Classroom Spaces and a Children’s Gallery; It Will Be the Home of the Museum’s Flagship Education Program, Words & Music, and Much More NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 17, 2012 – Six-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift has pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The more than 7,500-square foot space, which will encompass parts of two floors and feature three classrooms and a state-of-the-art children’s exhibit gallery, is scheduled to open in early 2014. Swift’s gift is the largest capital contribution by an individual artist in the museum’s 45-year history, prompting the museum to name the new space the Taylor Swift Education Center. The gift was made in conjunction with Working on a Building: Country Music Lives Here, the capital campaign that will finance the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s expansion from 140,000 square feet to more than 350,000 square feet. ...

NASHVILLE--- OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network presents all new episodes of “Oprah’s Next Chapter” this summer beginning Sunday, May 20 (9-10 p.m. ET/PT) when Winfrey travels to Nashville, Tennessee for an intimate in-depth interview with country music superstar Carrie Underwood and her husband NHL player Mike Fisher for their first ever television interview together. Sunday, May 20 (9-10 p.m. ET/PT) Oprah’s Next Chapter: Carrie Underwood Oprah Winfrey travels to Nashville, Tennessee where she speaks with country music superstar Carrie Underwood who is joined by her NHL husband Mike Fisher, marking the first time cameras have ever been invited inside their cabin retreat for an intimate, in-depth interview. Underwood reflects on her rise to stardom as she looks back on her journey. For their first television interview together, Underwood and Fisher talk about how they balance their successful and fast-paced careers with their two year marriage. The couple also takes Winfrey to ...

Happened on I 57 around sunrise Sunday morning...Justin Moore played Milwaukee on Friday night...Crew/band bus headed out first...followed a few minutes later by Justin's bus.. Car rams into side of crew bus...several times...everyone stops...no on on bus hurt..the passengers in car are ok..... while getting out of the car a woman comes over the hill and slams into the driver of the car outside his vehicle....it was quite a mess... Justin's bus was caught up in the marathon traffic jam...4 or 5 hours! disturbing for all involved to say the least....havent found any photos...heres the news story... Chicago man killed in accident, traffic re-routed off I-57 at Route 16 Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2012 11:52 am | (0) Comments MATTOON - Traffic on Interstate 57 at Illinois Route 16 was re-routed for several hours Saturday morning because of a fatal accident. After a car hit the back of a bus on the interstate around 6 a.m. Saturday, a man exited the car and was then hit by...

Twitter lit up last night with false posts involving Aaron Tippin....Aaron is FINE! a plane he owned a few years ago crashed in Kansas Friday May 11 killing 3 aboard... here is the crash scene not much to it... Aaron sold this plane a few years ago...but was the one who created this colorful layout... Aaron is fine.....he plays here tonight: Russellville, TN May 12, 2012 8:00 PM CEASE Fundraiser At Nolichucky Vineyard 6600 Fish Hatchery Rd Russellville TN 3786 For more information, please call: (770) 306-9155 A plane that took off from the Jones Riverside Airport Friday afternoon crashed near Chanute, Kansas, killing four people. The Kansas Highway Patrol says the 1991 Cessna 401 took off from the runway about 4:30 in the afternoon. An accident report obtained by KRMG says the aircraft was westbound when it landed in a field, skidding 200 feet before impacting a tree line. The aircraft spun 180 degrees and came to rest facing eastbound. Peter Knudson. a spok...

Goodwill driver injured...no one on Tour Bus....

BNA Records singer and songwriter, Kellie Pickler's bucket list got a little shorter yesterday when she flew with the United States Navy Blue Angels. #7 Pilot LT Mark Tedrow took Kellie from ground level to 2000 feet in 4 seconds as they departed the Smyrna Airport where the Blue Angels will be performing this weekend for the Great Tennessee Air Show (client interest).Back at the airport after more than a 45-minute flight, LT Tedrow presented Kellie with a personalized lithograph to commemorate her flight. www.greattennesseeairshow.com

INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, May 9, 2012 – GRAMMY® winning Country Superstar Martina McBride will sing the national anthem during pre-race ceremonies at the 96th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. A Kansas native, McBride is known for having one of the most spectacular voices in any genre of music. She is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and has sold more than 18 million albums, producing six #1 hit singles. The three-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year was most recently nominated for Female Video of the Year at the upcoming CMT Music Awards on June 6. Fans can vote daily until June 4 at www.CMT.com. "I am extremely excited that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has invited me to this year's Indy 500," said Martina. "It is a huge honor to sing the National Anthem at what is known as the 'Greatest Spectacle in Racing.'" “We welcome Martina McBride to IMS to perform ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ shortly bef...

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Certified Platinum Album Spends Two Weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Four Weeks Atop the Country Albums Chart NASHVILLE, TN—Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee has been certified platinum for reaching sales of 1 million, a feat accomplished in an impressive five weeks. “This album continues to amaze me and I am so grateful for all that it has accomplished,” Richie says. “Just when I think it couldn’t get any bigger, Tuskegee reaches a new level of success. When I came up with the idea for Tuskegee, I didn’t want to be confined by boundaries of age, genre or demographics. I am thrilled with how well this album has been received by people from all walks of life. It is truly living up to the vision we had when we created it.” The country duets album, which held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 for two consecutive weeks, sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart for the fourth week since its March 26 release. Tuskegee is the best-selling...

BAMAJAM 2012 REVEALS FULL LINE-UP—ADDS OVER 35 ACTS TO STAR-FILLED, MULTI-GENRE ROSTER Last Weekend to Get 3-Day Passes for $119 Enterprise, AL (May 9, 2012) – BamaJam 2012 is excited to announce the addition of over 35 acts (listed below) to its superstar-packed line-up. The newly-added acts will join previously announced performers Kid Rock, Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Eric Church, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, NEEDTOBREATHE, Casey James, Gov’t Mule, Uncle Kracker, Yelawolf, Ronnie Milsap, Jamey Johnson, Third Day, Stryper and more. BamaJam 2012 is the premier festival of the South, slated for Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16 in Enterprise, Alabama. Important Announcement: This is the last weekend to purchase 3-day BamaJam 2012 passes for the discounted price of $119, with the price set to increase to $135 Monday, May 14. Buy now to ensure the lowest price! For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.bamajam2012.com, or Ticketfly.com, o...

Obituary for GEORGE LINDSEY Beloved as Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show” and “Hee Haw” NASHVILLE, TENN., May 6, 2012—George Lindsey, the actor best known for his portrayal of dim yet lovable gas station mechanic Goober Pyle on “The Andy Griffith Show,” died at 12:05 a.m. on Sunday, May 6 after a brief illness. He was 83. Born in Fairfield, Ala., on December 17, 1928, George Smith Lindsey was raised in Jasper, Ala., and was the only child of Alice Smith Lindsey and George Ross Lindsey. As a young boy, Lindsey’s best buddies were his dog One Spot and his pal Sappo, a lifelong friend and a popular foil for Lindsey’s stand-up comedy act. Lindsey liked to hang around his Aunt Ethel’s gas station, where the mechanics wore felt caps to keep the grease and oil from dripping into their hair. Those caps would inspire Lindsey’s trademark “beanie” worn by Goober. Gas station notwithstanding, the Lindsey family of George’s youth felt the full weight of the Great Depression. Those ...

Nashville, TN (May 1, 2012) – Justin Timberlake along with his best friend/WilliamRast business partner Trace Ayala were hanging backstage in Mississippi last Friday night with country music legend Hank Williams Jr. Williams was in town doing a concert in Southhaven, Mississippi, where Timberlake along with fiancée Jessica Biel, mother Lynn Timberlake, and buddy Alaya all took in a night of some ‘Rockin Randall’. “What a great guy! Justin is a friend of my rebel son Kid Rock. He sure is a good country boy. We talked about girls, guitars, turkey hunting, going on cruises and how much we hate them, even though Bobby (Kid Rock) is on one right now and loving it, ugh! Hell, Justin and I even talking about recording a blues song sometime.” – Hank Williams Jr.

2012 SHAPING UP TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST YEARS OF KENNY ROGERS’ CAREER FIRST AUTOBIOGRAPHY DUE OUT THIS FALL UPCOMING COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE SHOWS SOLD OUT JOINS THE BONNAROO & CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUPS NEW ZEALAND/AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED WORKING WITH DANN HUFF ON UPCOMING NEW ALBUM NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 30, 2012 – For a universally beloved artist who has sold more than 120 million albums and has been a star of the stage and screen, you’d think Kenny Rogers has already done it all. Yet somehow 2012 is shaping up to be one of the busiest and most rewarding years of his legendary career. Kenny Rogers is currently putting the finishing touches on his first autobiography, scheduled for a fall 2012 release by HarperCollins. Jam-packed with fascinating stories from life on and off the stage, it’s bound to be one of the most talked about books this year. “I have to admit I've had an incredible life,” Rogers commented.“Once I started actually rec...

CARRIE UNDERWOOD ANNOUNCES “THE BLOWN AWAY TOUR” North American Arena Tour Kicks Off In September London Show Sells Out in 90 Minutes – More International Shows To Be Announced Soon Nashville – (May 1, 2012) – Superstar Carrie Underwood announced this morning during her appearance on Good Morning America to promote her new album, Blown Away, in stores today, that she will launch a headline North American arena tour this fall, “The Blown Away Tour.” The tour will also include an international run of shows this summer sponsored by Olay, including her first-ever United Kingdom concert taking place at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London on June 21, which sold-out in 90 minutes. Additional international concert dates will be announced soon. The North American tour dates will be presented and hydrated by vitaminwater®, sponsored by Olay, and promoted by AEG Live. Special guest Hunter Hayes will open. Tickets will be available for “The Blown Away Tour” beginning Frid...