Personalities

Dolly Parton loves her '9 to 5' gig
[Sep. 19, 2008] With her theatrical flair and big songs, it's a wonder the Backwoods Barbie hasn't promenaded down the Great White Way. For Dolly Parton, the wait's almost over

Operation Homefront's Ride & Rock For the Troops - September 27th
[Sep. 19, 2008] The 2008 Ride & Rock for the Troops will be held on Saturday, September 27th. This annual motorcycle ride will begin at 2:00 pm at Appleton Harley Davidson in Clarksville and wind through the beautiful Tennessee countryside. The ride will have several stops and will end at a 140 acre farm site in Adams, Tennessee. There will be music throughout the afternoon and evening with LoneStar as the headlining act.

Marty Stuart Throws 50th Birthday Bash at the Grand Ole Opry
[Sep. 19, 2008] Country music icon Marty Stuart will celebrate his 50th birthday with an hour-long bash airing nationally on GAC's OPRY LIVE on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8:00 pm CT. Friends joining Stuart to honor the milestone year include fellow guitar slinger Keith Urban, Stuart's wife and "country queen" Connie Smith, the much buzzed-about N.C. string band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and as always, his Fabulous Superlatives with other surprise guests. By Mary Hilliard Harrington, The Greenroom

Hank Williams Jr. Is a BMI Icon - And an American Icon
[Sep. 17, 2008] BMI will be honoring Hank Williams Jr. as an icon on Nov. 11 at the 56th annual Country Awards.

Country Trio Lady Antebellum's Fame On the Rise
[Sep. 16, 2008] One of Nashville's most promising new Country acts is Lady Antebellum. During the past year, the trio has had a Number One album, a Top 5 single, and also won its first major industry award. VOA's Mary Morningstar has this report on Lady Antebellum's self-titled debut album.

Country Chart-Topping Emerson Drive Joins The Valory Music Co.
[Sep. 10, 2008] The Valory Music Co. is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with Midas Records and Emerson Drive.

What Do You Think of Jessica Simpson's Country Album?
[Sep. 9, 2008] After months of advance publicity, Jessica Simpson's first country album, Do You Know, was finally released Tuesday (Sept. 9), and you can preview the entire album — for free — at CMT.com. It was produced by two pros — John Shanks and Brett James — and the songs were composed by some of Nashville

's finest songwriters, including Hillary Lindsey, Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, Troy Verges, Shanks and James, among others. Simpson co-wrote some of the songs, too. And the title track is a duet with Dolly Parton, who wrote the song.

From military life to country music star
[Sep. 4, 2008] You can probably count the number of country singers on one finger who've parachuted into a jungle to help overthrow a Panamanian dictator...That same finger would probabaccommodate the sum total of country singers who've worn a sheriff's deputy badge before they ever donned a body mike...Craig Morgan

Vince Gill leaves the band behind
[Aug. 28, 2008] On a magical night in Cohasset some 25 years ago, a young bluegrass singer and songwriter took the stage of the South Shore Music Circus as the unbilled opening act for headliner Barbara Mandrell. Armed with only his guitar and a pure and powerful voice, Vince Gill made it clear, without ever having to say so, that he was a star on the rise. Gill – whose latest release, the four-CD set of new music “These Days,” earned him his 19th Grammy Award earlier this year, this one for Best Country Album – returns to the Music Circus on Saturday with an acoustic show that just may remind some of that earlier summer night under the tent.

Alan Jackson doesn't draw the crowd he should
[Aug. 15, 2008] A reported 5,100 people showed up at the HP Pavilion, an impressive number if the Stealth are playing lacrosse, but a pretty pitiful turnout for one of the most consistent country hitmakers of the past 20 years, joined on this night by the talented Lee Ann Womack. Even with the upper level of the arena blocked off, it felt awfully sparse in there.

Jimmy Lehoux Debuts New Web Portal
[Aug. 15, 2008] Singer Announces Contest To Celebrate Launch Of Redesigned Website By Megan Burns, Thompson Entertainment

Only 18, Taylor Swift is breaking one country music record after another
[Aug. 14, 2008] A little over a year ago, Taylor Swift seemingly came out of nowhere. All of 18, she's become country music's "It" girl.

DeAnne Moore Ships New Single To Radio
[Aug. 14, 2008] How You Say Goodbye, the second single release from American Muse recording artist DeAnne Moore arrives at radio beginning Monday, August 18. By Megan Burns, Thompson Entertainment Group

'Singer of simple songs' sells 50 million albums
[Aug. 12, 2008] Alan Jackson stays true to traditional country music -

When Alan Jackson learned his album sales had reached 50 million, his thoughts turned not to the moments when he had received the industry's highest awards, but to all the years he struggled, wondering if he'd ever be able to make a living in music.