Country Music Herald

Nashville Star will be back this summer and better than ever. The reality style competition show will return to NBC this summer (moving on up from the USA Network) and will have Billy Ray Cyrus as host. No word yet on the panel of judges, but I am expecting at least Anastasia Brown to return to her seat. It seems the other two spots rotate every season, so it is unknown if Blake Shelton and Randy Owen will be back for season six.

Do you think you have what it takes to be a country music superstar? Well, I’ve got the Nashville Star casting information for you, right after the jump.

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I know I’m always complaining about the lack of new music releases almost every week right here in this blog. I’m a bit relieved to find out that spring will bring some new releases from some big artists. One of those artists is Clint Black and this new album is going to be a bit off the beaten path for the country music legend.

It seems that Clint’s new album will be him doing covers of pop songs. Now, don’t expect Black to bust out with some Justin Timberlake covers, but they will be mainly late 60s and 70s hits from groups such as The Hollies and Harry Nilsson. His first single off the album, “Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)” will debut soon on country music radio across the country. The full length album will be released in May and will include a duet with his wife Lisa Hartman Black.

country music, Clint Black, Clint Black new album

Have you ever wondered how much money today’s top female country music artists are making? Well, never fear, because Forbes Magazine has at least some of today’s hottest female country music stars on their annual highest paid female musical artist list for the year between June 2006 and June 2007. They were ranked, along with other female music artists of various genres in the magazine according to their income from album sales, concert tickets, merchandise, and “ancillary businesses”.

The highest ranking country music female was Faith Hill coming in at number eight on the list with $19 million. Right behind her at number nine were the Dixie Chicks with a total net worth of $18 million. Martina McBride showed up at number 13 with $12 million and Carrie Underwood was 15th, making $7 million. The number one female of all genres was Madonna with a whopping $72 million payday for that year.

So what do you think of these numbers? Do they seem about right? Which female country artists should make the list that weren’t included? Next year, do you foresee any changes? Let me know in the comments section below.

country music, country music highest paid females

Well, Nashville has be buzzing with all kinds of news lately as the new year finally gets rolling and off to a fast start. There is plenty of news to pass along, so let’s get started, shall we?

Keith Urban to Be a Daddy

Keith Urban’s lovely and talented actress wife Nicole Kidman has confirmed that she is indeed pregnant. The pretty couple are expecting their first baby together sometime in the summer, although a due date has not been given. This will be the first biological child for each of them (Nicole has two adopted children with former husband Tom Cruise). Hopefully it will be an uneventful and safe pregnancy for Nicole and Keith. Nicole has interviewed about having miscarriages in the past, so let’s hope this one produces a healthy and happy baby for the superstar couple.

Tim McGraw’s New Movie

After receiving critical acclaim for his role in the movie Friday Night Lights and the family friendly movie My Friend Flicka, Tim McGraw is taking another turn on the big screen. The new movie is a holiday offering starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon called Four Christmases. Tim will play Vince Vaughn’s brother in the movie. Dwight Yoakam also has a small role in the film.

Upcoming CMT Crossroads

The worlds of country and pop meet at the CMT Crossroads stage and a new season of shows is set to be filmed and aired within the next couple of months. Of course, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant will film an episode in support of their hit album Raising Sand. In addition to songs off of that collaboration, they will sing Led Zeppelin and Union Station songs as well, and the show will air February 11. Also just announced is a show to air January 29th featuring Sara Evans and Maroon 5.

Faith Hill has Surgery

Those crazy high school sports injuries keep coming back to haunt these country music stars. First, Kenny Chesney had to get surgery on his shoulder due to an old football injury, now Faith Hill just had some knee surgery from her days in high school softball. It was a routine surgery to repair the wear and tear on her joints, as well as realigning her kneecap. She’s now undergoing some rehab to get back on her feet and performing.

country music, country music news, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Alison Krauss, Maroon 5, Robert Plant, Sara Evans, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, CMT Crossroads

Well, it’s no wonder that country music album sales were down at the end of 2007 since it seems like it’s been weeks since there have been any new releases beyond karaoke CDs and re-releases of legendary country music artists’ rehashed classic hits or live performances. However, CMT is reporting country music album sales were REALLY down all of 2007.

In fact, it has been reported that country music album sales were down a total of 16.3% for the year. That’s a lot of albums! To be more specific, that’s roughly 12 million albums under 2006 sales. While that may seem like a bad sign for country music, you can take solace in the fact that all genres of music suffered quite the blow to their album sales in 2007, including a whopping 30% decrease in sales for rap albums. Believe it or not, country music actually had one of the smaller decreases in 2007.

The obvious culprit is the surge of digital music downloads. Most technically savvy people prefer purchasing individual songs or entire albums digitally and downloading them to a computer or an mp3 player. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that total music sales (including albums and digital music amongst other forms) actually went up by 14% over the 2006 totals.

It was a decent year in sales for the Eagles, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts. Never fear, country music fans. Your favorite artists will keep churning out new music for you to enjoy, even if album sales just aren’t what they used to be.

country music, country music album sales down in 2007

Happy New Year’s Eve! In the grand tradition of counting down everything from the past 365 days, I am bringing you my assessment of what I feel should be the top ten country music songs of 2007 based on things like airplay, accolades, and of course, what I like the best. I expect you to disagree with me, so tell me all about it in the comments section! So, without further ado, here are my picks for the top eleven songs of 2007 (I couldn’t pick just 10!).

11. Rodney Atkins–I’ve Been Watching You

I’ll be honest. This song wasn’t even on my radar until I started listening to the countdown shows on the radio this weekend. It ended up being the number one song on both CMT’s Country Countdown USA and the other countdown I heard and can’t recall the name of. I then realized it was on the top of the singles charts for 5 weeks and was played constantly, so there was really no way I could argue that it should be in the top ten somewhere. I put it at number 10 just because it didn’t even cross my mind until someone else told me it should have.

10. Billy Currington–Good Directions

What can I say? I like turnip greens. Okay, so it’s just a catchy little tune and one I knew the words to by the third time I had heard it on the radio. It’s got a nice little story that I think most of us can at least partially relate to (the part about not getting someone’s name you’re attracted to–not the crunching on pork rinds part), and it has a happy ending some of us probably wish our story did, too. It did well on the charts and will stay at number 9 on mine.

9. Big & Rich–Lost In This Moment

How can I deny a song that I heard over and over and over again at the plethora of weddings I attended this year? Although I’m not sure how the Musik Mafia Midget fits into such a sweet love song, it was out of character and a nice change for Big & Rich. They now have a monopoly on wedding music, whether it’s traditional, or not so traditional (Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy makes a great wedding tune, don’t you think?)

8. Taylor Swift–Our Song

This one should actually be higher than number 7, but it’s just too new to move it up my countdown any farther. Taylor Swift has absolutely blown up this year and obviously had to be somewhere on the countdown. Our Song currently sits at the top of the singles chart, so that’s why I picked this one. She has a bright future ahead of her, that’s for sure.

7. Rascal Flatts–My Wish

Need an inspiring country music song? This could be the one for you. I imagine it will prove to be one of those timeless graduation songs or something like that. I know there are scenes of friends and events that flash through my head every time I hear the lyrics. Rascal Flatts keeps churning out the hits and racking up the platinum records.

To see the rest of my list, keep reading after the jump…

country music, country music 2007

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You know, Christmas is less than two weeks away and I have been somewhat naughty. I did not get around to filling out and sending friends and family any Christmas cards. Are you anything like me? Maybe you just don’t have time (I surely don’t) or maybe you couldn’t afford the price of stamps nowadays (can’t blame you there!). Whatever your reason, maybe this post can help you out with an alternative idea to still spread some love this Holiday season while incorporating your friends’ favorite country music star.

Over at CMT.com, they have a great solution and the best part is that it’s free! You can send your loved ones a taped Holiday greeting from various country music artists right to their email. The greetings are sure to please any country music fan.

You can choose a greeting from any of the following stars:

Jason Aldean
Cledus T. Judd
Dierks Bentley
Brent Keith
Big & Rich
Tracy Lawrence
Clint Black
Little Big Town
Luke Bryan
Lori McKenna
Sam Bush
Montgomery Gentry
Sarah Buxton
Joe Nichols
Cadillac Sky
James Otto
Rodney Carrington
Rissi Palmer
Jason Michael Carroll
Dolly Parton
Deana Carter
Rascal Flatts
Carter’s Chord
Sugarland
Bucky Covington
Josh Turner
Cowboy Troy
Van Zant
Crossin Dixon
Mark Wills
Billy Ray Cyrus
Trisha Yearwood
Faith Hill

Have fun and a great Holiday Season and get sending those special country music star greetings to everyone you know!

country music, country music holiday greetings, country music e-cards

I will freely admit it. I watch entirely too much reality television. Not only do I have to watch everything on VH1 for my WatchingVH1.com blog, I also recap Survivor for RealityShack and then the rest I just watch because I love mindless entertainment. One of my favorites just wrapped up this week - Dancing with the Stars. I love sequins and fluid movements and I don’t care who knows!

Dancing with the Stars has had many connections in the past to country music from contestants like Sara Evans and Billy Ray Cyrus to live performances by Martina McBride. However, now Dancing with the Stars has a country connection from the other side. That’s right! Instead of a country music star taking a stab at dancing, we’ve got a professional dancer who’s going to take her chances in Nashville by putting out a country record.

Julianne Hough is definitely a familiar name in the world of competitive ballroom dance, and now she’s a household name thanks to Dancing with the Stars. Julianne was actually the champion for the past two years with Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and her most recent victory came this week with Indy Racing Series driver Helio Castronevez. Now she’s trying to be a champion at country music. Julianne, the 19 year old petite and perky blonde, just signed a recording contract with Mercury Nashville. She will be recording the album in December and will release her first single in the spring.

Is there anything this girl can’t do?

country music, Dancing with the Stars, Julianne Hough

Patrick Bourque, Emerson Drive’s ex-bass player died Tuesday night at his home in Montreal, Canada. Bourque resigned from the band in August. The 29 year old apparently died suddenly, and no cause of death has been released to the press at the writing of this announcement.

Patrick Bourque joined Emerson Drive in 2003, replacing their original bassist. Emerson Drive’s official website has the following announcement posted:

While en route to a show in Nebraska, Emerson Drive band members learned early this morning that their friend and former band member Patrick Bourque died suddenly last night at his home in Canada. His body is at a hospital at this time and no official details have been made available as to the circumstances surrounding his death. The brothers of Emerson Drive are shocked and grieving. Patrick was the band’s bass player until he resigned in August. He had been living and working in Canada since leaving Emerson Drive.

My heart goes out to Patrick’s family and friends and Emerson Drive at this difficult time.

country music, Emerson Drive, Emerson Drive bass player dies, Patrick Bourque

John Michael Montgomery was in court, again today, to file a motion in order to get slander charges dropped against him. Montgomery was accused of making a false claim againstmpolice officer, Joshua Cromer. He was pulled over for drunk driving in early 2006 and during an interview with the investigators claimed Cromer took his hat and threatened to sell it on Ebay. The Cincinnati Post reports:

Attorney Brent Caldwell wrote in motions filed this week that Montgomery cannot be sued because he was cooperating with police, making his statements privileged.
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Cromer was fired in February in part for postings made on his MySpace.com Web page and for his actions in connection with Montgomery’s arrest in February 2006. He is appealing his termination.

John Michael Montgomery was sentenced to pay a fine and an alcohol education course for his drunk driving.

Country Music, Country Music News, John Michael Montgomery, John Michael Montgomery slander case, John Michael Montgomery court date

Sorry, ladies. One of the hottest country stars has tied the knot. Last weekend, Joe Nichols married long-time sweetheart Heather Singleton in Savannah, GA. The traditional candlelit ceremony was held on Sunday night with family and close friends. CMT.com reports:

“Heather and I have known each other since we were 18 years old, and I can honestly say I fell in love with her the first day I saw her,” Nichols said. “The saying ‘timing is everything’ is so true with us. I have never been happier.”

The happy couple will reside, of course, in Nashville. Joe is currently promoting his latest CD “Real Things”, which came out last month and is sitting at #10 on the Billboard Country Album Charts. Best of luck to Joe and Heather for a long and happy marriage!

Country Music, Country Music News, Joe Nichols