Country Music News

Thursday, August 28, 2008

NEWS FROM NASHVILLE
FROM WESTWOOD ONE AND T-100

TAYLOR SWIFT, JOE JONAS ARE A COUPLE

Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas are racking up a lot of airline miles these days. A source has confirmed to People.com that Taylor and Joe, of the Jonas Brothers fame, are dating. People reports that the first sighting for the couple was on July 14th, when Taylor attended a Jonas Brothers concert in Anaheim, California. Next she was spotted in Atlanta at the group's shows on August 20th. Meanwhile, Joe attended her show in Wyoming at Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 20th, and made an appearance at Taylor’s concert in West Palm Beach, Florida on August 17th. He's also visited Taylor in Hendersonville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family. Taylor has said she wants a boyfriend who understands her schedule, and Joe certainly seems to fit that bill. He, along with his brothers Kevin and Nick, has a packed performance schedule and other career obligations, and surely can understand the ramifications of dating someone who also has a career in music.

The reported confirmation to People.com comes just days after teen singer and actress Demi Lovato told "Us Magazine" that Jonas was not romantically involved with young country star. Lovato called the rumors about the supposed couple false saying, quote, "They would look good together, but too bad they're not. They just get along." Lovato has appeared with Jonas in the Disney projects "Camp Rock" and "Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream."

KEITH URBAN'S SHOW MUST GO ON

Keith Urban has a slipped disc, but he won’t miss a single performance. The singer’s publicist, Paul Freundlich, says Urban’s schedule will not be affected by his condition. But he declined to tell CMT.com how Keith got hurt, or how severe the injury is. Urban will headline the Country Rocks Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Saturday. Other upcoming dates include the NFL kick-off event on September 4th and the Fashion Rocks concert in New York on September 5th. Highlights from the Fashion Rocks concert, also featuring Kid Rock, Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake and others, will air as a CBS special on September 9th.

TIM MCGRAW TO RELEASE ANOTHER HITS COLLECTION

Tim McGraw is scheduled to release his third greatest hits collection in October. “Greatest Hits Vol. 3” will include “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” “Do You Want Fries With That,” “Suspicions,” and “Real Good Man.” It also includes “Find Out Who Your Friends Are,” his collaborations with Tracy Lawrence, “9 Lives” the song he recorded with rock band Def Leppard. The 12-song CD is scheduled for release on October 7th.

RASCAL FLATTS TO BE FEATURED ON COLLEGE FOOTBALL BROADCASTS

The members of Rascal Flatts have a new gig. They will be featured in the opening segment of each Raycom Sports telecast of ACC and SEC football for the 2008 season. The band’s single “Bob That Head” has been re-written for the intros. Gary LeVox says, quote, “We can’t think of anything more fun and exciting than mixing two of our favorites things - music and football.” LeVox and singing partners Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus have also personalized a greeting for each conference. Rascal Flatts are not the only country artists to be featured in Raycom sports telecasts. They join Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Alison Krauss, and Ricky Skaggs on the sports network's roster. The first syndicated game to air the opening video montage will be the Florida Gators vs. Hawaii Warriors on Saturday.

BROOKS & DUNN REACH FANS THROUGH LIVE PERFORMANCES

Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn acknowledges that a lot of things about music are changing these days. But he says the one constant in the business is live performances. Despite the importance of the Internet and downloading, along with MySpace and YouTube giving fans access to more music, Brooks says he thinks the live show will continue to be one of the major elements in an artist’s career. Kix and singing partner Ronnie Dunn embrace that philosophy as they continue on their “Cowboy Town” tour with ZZ Top and Rodney Atkins. The tour will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina on September 5th and to Raleigh, North Carolina the following night.

TRISHA YEARWOOD HAPPY TO HAVE FEET ON THE GROUND

After a 60-mile walk it would seem like an easy task to fly home to Oklahoma. Such was not the case for Trisha Yearwood last week. People.com reports that Trisha was heading home after participating in a benefit walk for the Susan G. Komen Foundation when the airplane she was on had to make an emergency landing in Baltimore, Maryland. Yearwood explains they had been in the air for about an hour when passengers heard a loud pop, almost like a gunshot. The sound turned out to be the front left window of the plane cracking at 30-thousand feet. Trisha notes that she took advantage of the layover to have dinner at Phillips Seafood. Yearwood says, quote, “We toasted to surviving the three-day walk and the emergency landing.”

JESSICA SIMPSON EXCITED ABOUT NEW COUNTRY CAREER

Jessica Simpson says she feels like she’s starting all over again, and is even experiencing butterflies as she launches her new career in country music. But the singer notes that she's feeling pretty good about herself and her music these days. She tells “People” magazine she feels cleansed. Simpson talks to the magazine about being in country music and her boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Simpson will be on the cover of this week’s “People,” which will arrive on newsstands Friday. Her debut country album, “Do You Know,” will be in stores September 9th.

CHARLES KELLEY’S BROTHER BROUGHT HIM TO NASHVILLE

Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum is not the only musical person in his family. It was his older brother, pop singer Josh Kelley, who first moved to Nashville, and invited Charles to come and live with him in Music City. It was during that time that Charles met Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott and formed the trio. Now that both brothers are having successful careers it’s not an easy task to see each other. Josh says that he and Charles talk all the time on the phone, but their paths seldom cross while they are on the road. Josh performed in Nashville on Tuesday night with his band. Charles was on the road with Lady Antebellum.

CRYSTAL SHAWANDA TO PERFORM ON CANADIAN COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Canadian native Crystal Shawanda will join Dierks Bentley, Emerson Drive, Kellie Pickler and others to perform on the Canadian Country Music Awards next month. Crystal is celebrating the release of her new album “Dawn of a New Day” and its entry into the “Billboard” album chart at number 16 this week. The album features her top 20 hit, “You Can Let Go,” which continues move up the country singles charts. Presenters for the Canadian awards event include Jimmy Wayne, Adam Gregory, Lisa Brokop, and Aaron Pritchett. The Canadian Country Music Awards will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 8th. Terri Clark will host the show, which will air in Canada on on CBC. CMT will offer subsequent broadcasts on this side of the border.

BILLY CURRINGTON ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM

Billy Currington will release his third album, “Little Bit Of Everything,” this fall. Currington co-wrote five of the songs on the CD. He says the tunes reflect all his influences, including R&B, pop, country, and rock. Currington’s current single, “Don’t,” is the first release from the album. “Little Bit of Everything” will be released October 14th.

DARRYL WORLEY IN A GOOD PLACE IN HIS LIFE

Darryl Worley says he’s in a good place in his life right now, and he adores his five-month old daughter Savannah and his wife Kimberly. Worley says he's probably the happiest that he’s ever been with his relationships. The singer admits that hasn’t always been the case. Worley says his new album reflects his new outlook on life, and even has a song with the word ‘love’ in it. Another thing Worley loves is the Grand Ole Opry. He'll perform there Friday night before heading to his hometown of Savannah, Tennessee for the first weekend of his annual Tennessee River run.

QUICK BITES

Brad Paisley is releasing a new version of “Waiting On A Woman.” The new single includes vocals by Andy Griffith, who stars in the video of the tune.

There’s another Cyrus family member in front of the cameras. When Billy Ray Cyrus filmed a video for his new single “Somebody Said A Prayer,” son Trace made a guest appearance. Trace is lead guitarist for the band Metro Station.

Trent Willmon, Daryle Singletary, and Mark Wills will perform at “Shoot for a Cure” in Murfreesboro, Tennessee next Wednesday. The event includes an auction and benefits the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Greater Nashville for breast cancer awareness.

Darryl Worley’s seventh annual Tennessee River Run has added an auction to its Bass Fishing Tournament on September 6th. Fans have the opportunity to bid on a one-of-a-kind fishing experience with either Darryl or professional bass angler Ray Brazier.

copyright - Westwood One.

Questions/comments on Country Music News, email t100@wclt.com.