Here's what some of your favorite country music stars had to say about their CMA Music Festival experience:
Quotebook: Heard behind-the-scenes during the 2011 CMA Music Festival:
"You're asking me to do math, which is dangerous. My first Fan Fair was in 1992." -Martina McBride
"It's such an amazing experience being surrounded by 50,000 people who are all singing the same thing. You look out and it's this never ending sea of people for as far as you can see." — Taylor Swift
"Can you sign this for me?" — Clay Walker to Dierks Bentley, who signed a notebook for Walker's daughter.
"My house burned down. I've felt like Rain Man for the last few weeks every time someone asks me a question, 'Trace, what do you want to eat?' 'My house burned down.'" — Trace Adkins
"I have a little video of my daughter's reaction when I sent Jay the picture of me with Justin Bieber. I made a complete fool of myself going up to meet him, but it was so worth it." — Sara Evans who showed press cell phone video of her daughter's reaction.
"The thing that really amazes me is not only the loyalty of the fan but the loyalty of country music back to the fan. You couldn't pull this together in rock n' roll, not so much because of the bands, but the egos of their managers. They'd go, 'Oh, my guy's too big to play that.' But you don't have that here." — Darius Rucker
"Happy birthday to you." — Media singing to Chris Young backstage for his 26th birthday, which was Sunday (6/12)
"These die-hard country fans come from all over the world. It's not just here in the US. It's the least we could do. We love going and signing and seeing familiar faces and being able to look them in the eyes and say thank you." — Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott
Courtesy of Country Aircheck
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Zac Brown Band, Kingsford Charcoal Team up for Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Zac Brown Band and Kingsford Charcoal have partnered to host pre-concert Southern Ground 'Supper Clubs' at select dates during the 2011 tour! Supper Club passes will be available for purchase and through Kingsford contests online.
Beginning May 12, Kingsford will also offer a chance to win a Zac Brown Band concert trip package including a VIP 'eat-and-greet' experience with the band. Southern Ground Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin will prepare the recipes from the Southern Ground cookbook including the Boursin-Stuffed Filet, Your Mama's Collard Greens, Pocketknife Coleslaw and Revival Peach Cobbler. Find out more here: http://www.grilling.com/home/article/2621/
Beginning May 12, Kingsford will also offer a chance to win a Zac Brown Band concert trip package including a VIP 'eat-and-greet' experience with the band. Southern Ground Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin will prepare the recipes from the Southern Ground cookbook including the Boursin-Stuffed Filet, Your Mama's Collard Greens, Pocketknife Coleslaw and Revival Peach Cobbler. Find out more here: http://www.grilling.com/home/article/2621/
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Mark Wills Announces 'Crazy Being Home' Campaign
Mark Wills has partnered with USA Cares (a non-profit military assistance charity that supports post 9/11 military families in emotional health and recovery) to launch the Warrior Treatment Today ‘Crazy Being Home’ awareness campaign. The campaign will bring awareness and support to the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mark will serve as spokesman and his song “Crazy Being Home” will serve as its anthem. He has worked with USA Cares since partnering with them in 2009 for the Warrior Treatment Today program.
To kick off the campaign, Mark will perform at the 6th Annual MiBlog Conference, presented by Military.com. “We’re honored that Mark would take time out of his busy schedule to perform,” said Andi Hurley, founder of The Annual MilBlog Conference. “Mark’s tireless support of the military community makes him a perfect fit for the MilBlog Conference.” Former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld will also appear at the conference as a special guest.
Mark has traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan seven times to entertain troops, getting a unique look into the lives of our service men and women. A young man on active duty was the inspiration behind his choice to record “Crazy Being Home.”
“I was moved to record this song and put it out there by a young man who is on active duty with the special forces,“ Mark said. “His story and reaction inspired me in such a way that we hope it serves as a message to speak to all of our veterans to say ‘you are not alone.’ Suffering with PTSD is an injury of war and the Warrior Treatment Today ‘Crazy Being Home’ efforts are to open the door to make emotional and physical therapy available to anyone and everyone who suffers.”
Article via Great American Country (www.gac.tv)
To kick off the campaign, Mark will perform at the 6th Annual MiBlog Conference, presented by Military.com. “We’re honored that Mark would take time out of his busy schedule to perform,” said Andi Hurley, founder of The Annual MilBlog Conference. “Mark’s tireless support of the military community makes him a perfect fit for the MilBlog Conference.” Former Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld will also appear at the conference as a special guest.
Mark has traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan seven times to entertain troops, getting a unique look into the lives of our service men and women. A young man on active duty was the inspiration behind his choice to record “Crazy Being Home.”
“I was moved to record this song and put it out there by a young man who is on active duty with the special forces,“ Mark said. “His story and reaction inspired me in such a way that we hope it serves as a message to speak to all of our veterans to say ‘you are not alone.’ Suffering with PTSD is an injury of war and the Warrior Treatment Today ‘Crazy Being Home’ efforts are to open the door to make emotional and physical therapy available to anyone and everyone who suffers.”
Article via Great American Country (www.gac.tv)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan Talk Number 1 Parties
There's only one No. 1 song each week, but Nashville's seen more than its share of parties this week honoring chart-topping songs. A houseful of Luke Bryan's relatives came to town for Monday's bash (3/21) honoring "Someone Else Calling You Baby." "They have been in town since Thursday (3/17)," Bryan explained at the invite-only event. "It's been fun. It's been a zoo. Beau [Bryan's son] and my little nephew have been beating the fool out of one another all week, but other than that, all's well."
A week into the "Goin' Coastal" tour, Kenny Chesney flew to Nashville to thank songwriters JT Harding and Shane McAnally during Wednesday's (3/23) celebration honoring "Somewhere With You." "I hope you guys get to see what it's like when 50,000 people hear the intro of this song," Chesney told the songwriters. "Just to see the groundswell is a pretty amazing thing ... you created it."
Chris Young celebrated the history-making chart-topper "Voices," which was the first re-released hit to go No. 1 since Randy Travis' "On The Other Hand" in 1986. "I bought [Travis'] whole anthology collection as a kid and was listening to all his records," Young told media Monday (3/21). "It's pretty cool to be in the record books next to someone who's really a huge musical influence."
(courtesy of country aircheck)
A week into the "Goin' Coastal" tour, Kenny Chesney flew to Nashville to thank songwriters JT Harding and Shane McAnally during Wednesday's (3/23) celebration honoring "Somewhere With You." "I hope you guys get to see what it's like when 50,000 people hear the intro of this song," Chesney told the songwriters. "Just to see the groundswell is a pretty amazing thing ... you created it."
Chris Young celebrated the history-making chart-topper "Voices," which was the first re-released hit to go No. 1 since Randy Travis' "On The Other Hand" in 1986. "I bought [Travis'] whole anthology collection as a kid and was listening to all his records," Young told media Monday (3/21). "It's pretty cool to be in the record books next to someone who's really a huge musical influence."
(courtesy of country aircheck)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Alan Jackson: Down Under
Alan Jackson felt right at home in the land Down Under during his sold-out, six-date run that closed Saturday (3/12) in Brisbane. "I've flown over parts of the country that looked like Texas, Tennessee and the Northwest," Jackson says, comparing Melbourne to the Lone Star State and areas near Sydney to California wine country. He's obviously taken a shine to the continent and its people, and the feeling seems to be mutual.
"I've always heard great things about it, and everybody was right – it's a beautiful country and the people are really nice. The fans really love the kind of music I make." According to his camp, Aussie fans' love of Jackson's music showed on the overall Australian chart, on which his 34 Number Ones jumped 25 spots to No. 7 during his tour. AJ picks his tour back up stateside Friday (3/18) at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, where he'll be inducted into the Star Trail Of Fame for attracting more than one million fans to the event since his 1992 debut.
Information via Country Aircheck (3/14)
"I've always heard great things about it, and everybody was right – it's a beautiful country and the people are really nice. The fans really love the kind of music I make." According to his camp, Aussie fans' love of Jackson's music showed on the overall Australian chart, on which his 34 Number Ones jumped 25 spots to No. 7 during his tour. AJ picks his tour back up stateside Friday (3/18) at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, where he'll be inducted into the Star Trail Of Fame for attracting more than one million fans to the event since his 1992 debut.
Information via Country Aircheck (3/14)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Country Music at the Grammys
Country Music had a huge night at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards this past Sunday. Check out some behind-the-scenes quotes from some of your favorite country music artists had to say!
"Oh my gosh, we were so stunned we started walking the wrong direction." — Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum as they accepted the group's third Grammy
"Right before it went to No. 1, he asked if he could have it back, but it was a little too late." — Miranda Lambert on "The House That Built Me," which was originally pitched to fiancé Blake Shelton
"I ate a lot of fried chicken over the holidays. So, I'm cutting back on that a little bit, but man, it's going to be hard to curb the drinking. There's too much celebrating. So, I won't be backing down on that at all." — Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley
"No. 3: Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga form supergroup Lady Antegagum." — from David Letterman's "Top 10 Surprises at the Grammy Awards"
"This is our drummer. He couldn't make it out here for this weekend. It's become a tradition. We won Best New Artist last year and I wasn't eligible to come up on the stage, so they made a stick figure of me when they went up." — Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook explaining the stick figure of ZBB's drummer Chris Fryar he was holding backstage
"Blake doesn't listen to prompters or me or anybody else. He goes with the flow, so they were brave to let him present me." — Miranda Lambert on Shelton introducing her performance
"I was real honored when Zac asked me to be on this record. You know, it's pretty cool when a few of us Georgia boys can end up winning a Grammy out in L.A." — Alan Jackson on winning Country Collaboration with ZBB for "As She's Walking Away"
Via Country Aircheck 2-15-11
"Oh my gosh, we were so stunned we started walking the wrong direction." — Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum as they accepted the group's third Grammy
"Right before it went to No. 1, he asked if he could have it back, but it was a little too late." — Miranda Lambert on "The House That Built Me," which was originally pitched to fiancé Blake Shelton
"I ate a lot of fried chicken over the holidays. So, I'm cutting back on that a little bit, but man, it's going to be hard to curb the drinking. There's too much celebrating. So, I won't be backing down on that at all." — Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley
"No. 3: Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga form supergroup Lady Antegagum." — from David Letterman's "Top 10 Surprises at the Grammy Awards"
"This is our drummer. He couldn't make it out here for this weekend. It's become a tradition. We won Best New Artist last year and I wasn't eligible to come up on the stage, so they made a stick figure of me when they went up." — Zac Brown Band's Clay Cook explaining the stick figure of ZBB's drummer Chris Fryar he was holding backstage
"Blake doesn't listen to prompters or me or anybody else. He goes with the flow, so they were brave to let him present me." — Miranda Lambert on Shelton introducing her performance
"I was real honored when Zac asked me to be on this record. You know, it's pretty cool when a few of us Georgia boys can end up winning a Grammy out in L.A." — Alan Jackson on winning Country Collaboration with ZBB for "As She's Walking Away"
Via Country Aircheck 2-15-11
Friday, February 4, 2011
Artists React to ACM Nominations
Check out what some of your favorite country artists had to say about their 2011 ACM award nominations!
"I wasn't even expecting any ... seven is unbelievable, especially Entertainer of the Year. It's hard for me to grasp that I'm in that category because I haven't done some of the numbers and some of the amazing things that other artists have. I'm just thankful that I have my foot in that door as a nominee." — Miranda Lambert
"In making Hemingway's Whiskey, it was important for me to push myself and my audience while at the same time staying true to who I am as an artist. That's why I'm so proud of this album and even more proud of the nomination for ACM Album of the Year." — Kenny Chesney
"This is something I've wanted all my life. To be able to do this for a living and have people like it, I couldn't ask for anything better. I am so blessed." — Easton Corbin
"I never dreamed I would get a nomination for anything. I just wanted to make a good song with my friend Jamey [Johnson]. I am so humbled to even be mentioned with the amazing artists in this category. I promise no one is more grateful than me!" — Colt Ford on his first ACM nomination for Vocal Event for "Cold Beer" with Johnson.
"It means the world to the band and crew. We take this seriously, obviously, and it's our livelihood, so being included in a category that is recognized nationally like that is validating for us, for sure. I am proud to represent all of the hard-working touring bands who are in the trenches playing 200 shows a year that have strong fan bases." — Randy Rogers Band's Randy Rogers on the Vocal Group nod.
"I am speechless. I can't believe we have been nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year! I remember playing out acoustically with Susie in backyards and colleges, living on taco soup, like it was yesterday. This doesn’t seem real.' — the JaneDear girls' Danelle Leverett
"What a way to start the day! I'm out on the West Coast deep in dreamland, and my hotel phone starts ringing at 5:30am and it's my manager screaming, 'Wake Up! We got three ACM nominations!' I grinned from ear to ear."— Lee Brice
"The triumph ... is shared by my family, my friends, bandmates, producers, my staff, my label, my booking agents, my publishers, my management, my publicists, my handlers, my wranglers, my fans, my dog, Willie's braids and that beautiful brunette in Toledo. Thanks all for the hard work and dedication. You all deserve each accolade. And thanks to the Academy voters for the recognition." — Jamey Johnson
"I hold my breath hoping for a nomination every year. It was nice to wake up this morning and hear the great news." — Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman on their Vocal Group nod.
The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.
Via Country Aircheck Artist News
"I wasn't even expecting any ... seven is unbelievable, especially Entertainer of the Year. It's hard for me to grasp that I'm in that category because I haven't done some of the numbers and some of the amazing things that other artists have. I'm just thankful that I have my foot in that door as a nominee." — Miranda Lambert
"In making Hemingway's Whiskey, it was important for me to push myself and my audience while at the same time staying true to who I am as an artist. That's why I'm so proud of this album and even more proud of the nomination for ACM Album of the Year." — Kenny Chesney
"This is something I've wanted all my life. To be able to do this for a living and have people like it, I couldn't ask for anything better. I am so blessed." — Easton Corbin
"I never dreamed I would get a nomination for anything. I just wanted to make a good song with my friend Jamey [Johnson]. I am so humbled to even be mentioned with the amazing artists in this category. I promise no one is more grateful than me!" — Colt Ford on his first ACM nomination for Vocal Event for "Cold Beer" with Johnson.
"It means the world to the band and crew. We take this seriously, obviously, and it's our livelihood, so being included in a category that is recognized nationally like that is validating for us, for sure. I am proud to represent all of the hard-working touring bands who are in the trenches playing 200 shows a year that have strong fan bases." — Randy Rogers Band's Randy Rogers on the Vocal Group nod.
"I am speechless. I can't believe we have been nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year! I remember playing out acoustically with Susie in backyards and colleges, living on taco soup, like it was yesterday. This doesn’t seem real.' — the JaneDear girls' Danelle Leverett
"What a way to start the day! I'm out on the West Coast deep in dreamland, and my hotel phone starts ringing at 5:30am and it's my manager screaming, 'Wake Up! We got three ACM nominations!' I grinned from ear to ear."— Lee Brice
"The triumph ... is shared by my family, my friends, bandmates, producers, my staff, my label, my booking agents, my publishers, my management, my publicists, my handlers, my wranglers, my fans, my dog, Willie's braids and that beautiful brunette in Toledo. Thanks all for the hard work and dedication. You all deserve each accolade. And thanks to the Academy voters for the recognition." — Jamey Johnson
"I hold my breath hoping for a nomination every year. It was nice to wake up this morning and hear the great news." — Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman on their Vocal Group nod.
The 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.
Via Country Aircheck Artist News
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