Cracker Barrel and Alan Jackson

If you've ever ate or stopped at a Cracker Barrel you know they love the Country Artists.

Starting November 2nd when you stop at one you will find The Alan Jackson Collection. It's a line of more than 40 things like mens and womenswear, food items (prolly not bologna sammys thou), and collectibles. You'll also find the CD "Songs of Love and Heartache" which features unreleased tracks "That's What I'd Be Like Without You" and "Nothing Sure Looked Good On You" (Whoa! ::fans self::), and ten hits.

Regarding this new venture Alan said, "I was really flattered when they came to me with the idea of working together to create a collection for their country store, and I've been very impressed with the variety and quality of the items that we have put together."

Garth in Vegas Baby!

You've heard that Garth is going to be doing Weekend shows in Vegas at the Encore Theater and if you're excited tickets go on sale this Saturday.

And Garth is being his old cool self. Even thou Steve Wynn (chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts) wanted to charge for seats using a tier system, Garth said no. He wanted seats to all be priced the same, so they are first come first serve. So front row seats and balcony seats cost the same. How much? $125. (well, a $5 service charge and $13 tax = $143/ticket)

You might recall that this is the same way he handled tickets for his concerts back in his touring days (and Steve Wynn says they have taken measures so scalpers won't be able to rip you off!) Garth says, “We've always been a one-ticket-price person. If your'e in the rafters, if you're down in the front seat, and it's all about just the draw. And I feel lucky for people to show up.”

Garth will be doing four shows a week - 15 weekends a year - one concert Friday, two Saturday, and one Sunday. The first five weekends have been booked - one weekend in December, two in January, and two in February.

The first show is December 12th - and tickets go on sale this Saturday.

Where's Lezli?

Wednesday My Show is live from My Guest Room in Columbus from 2-5pm.

It's the final stop on our Pair-A-Dice Roll promotion - before the final, final roll at the Pack Attack Party Sunday at Tower Lanes in Beaver Dam.

Come down, roll the dice, and check out this very neat shop.

I am very excited to see what I can find for my new house. (as if I need an excuse - but that's a good one, right?)

ASCAP COUNTRY AWARD WINNERS

The 47th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards were held Monday night at the Ryman Auditorium.

Alan Jackson was named the ASCAP Songwriter/Artist of the Year for his songs "Good Time" and "Country Boy."

Trace Adkins' hit "You're Gonna Miss This," won the ASCAP Country Song of the Year - the songs writer, Ashley Gorley, received the ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award.

Alan and Ashley received a special, limited edition Gibson Les Paul guitar along with their titles. (AWESOME!)

There were lots of great performances too. Alan sang "Good Time" and Ahsley sang Trace's big hit.

Also honored were the Top Five Most Performed Songs.
"Good Time" - Alan Jackson
"You're Gonna Miss This" - Trace Adkins
"Waitin' On a Woman" - Brad Paisley
"Don't Think I Don't Think About It" - Darius Rucker (cool!)
"Roll With Me" - Montgomery Gentry

Singer-songwriter J.D. Souther earned the ASCAP Golden Note Award acknowledging his career achievements. Performing a musical salute for J.D. were Lee Ann Womack, Rodney Crowell, and Love And Theft.

Making appearances that night Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Darryl Worley, Chuck Wicks, Jason Michael Carroll, Heidi Newfield, Keith Anderson, Billy Currington and others.

Another New Country Baby is On the Way!

Congrats John Rich and his wife Joan!

They're going to have their first baby!

No other details were released - John is notorious about his privacy. Why we didn't even know they were an official couple until they tied the knot. (I say good for them for keeping things private!)

Do You Look Like Any of these Characters?

Or know someone who does?

Oh, I am totally serious. And so is Garth Brooks?

WTF?

Garth and wife Trisha Yearwood are two of the celebrity judges for the "Peanuts" 60th Anniversary Photo Look-a-Like Contest. Also judging will be "Supernanny" Jo Frost (love her!), and Jill Schulz, the daughter of "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz. Info on the contest, including entering, can be found at www.peanutsphotcontest.com.

YAY Country Music!

On October 8th the U.S. House of Representatives passed Resolution 650, which, quote, "declares country music to be a uniquely American art form" and "recognizes that country music should be honored for its contributions to American life and culture."

Florida Representative Clifford Stearns sponsored the legislation.

COOL!!

To Tweet or Not To Tweet

That is the question faced by all of us now isn't it? Afterall, we have to have all the details in everyone's life 'cuz we are so busy in our own we might miss something, right?

Many stars love to Twitter. Reba has even named her followers Tweebas! Brad Paisley Twittered after he won an award recently - from the podium as he accepted.

But don't look for Tim McGraw or Carrie Underwood to follow suit.

Tim told the Wall Street Journal, "As far as I'm concerned, there's a two-mile no-Twitter zone around me. The reason the music experience works is it's a vicarious thing. You go to a movie and you picture yourself on screen. You go to a concert and you picture yourself on stage. If you're too involved, all the magic's gone."

Love that!

BUT...how do you establish that "No Twitter Zone?"

That seems to be one of the reasons Carrie doesn't like it - she finds it a bit frightening, telling Billboard, "It just sounds like organized stalking to me. I'll be in a restaurant and I'll get home, and somebody Tweeted and talked about what I ordered and what I was wearing. In some cases that could be dangerous because you don't want everybody to know where you are in every second of every day."

Sounds like Carrie has a very valid point!

Hot New Country Downloads

Here's the latest from Country Airchecks downloads chart.

1. Randy Houser - "Whistlin' Dixie"
2. Rodney Atkins - "Chasin' Girls"
3. Trent Tomlinson's - "Angels Like Her"
4. Lou Bradley's - "Uluru"
5. Joe Nichols - "Gimme That Girl"

WXRO has all except Lou Bradley's song (I'm lookin' for it) so feel free to request them during Lunchtime with Lezli.

Can You Yodel?

Yahoo is looking for the world's Best Yodels! If you can yodel you will compete to be part of Yahoo's new global campaign featuring their signature Yodel.

When you think of yodelers who comes to mind? No not the little Price Is Right guy! How about Jewel and LeAnn Rimes? They are judging as are Randy Jackson (Yo dawg, that Yodel was just a'ight. A little pitchy for me), Pete Wentz, Kimberly Caldwell, and Rob Cavallo.

The Casting Call continues until Nov. 8th.

Details are available at YodelStudio.Yahoo.com

YOUR DOGS TRICKS COULD BE WORTH A GRAND

So your pooch can do some pretty cool tricks. Well, Steve Martin wants to see them!

There is one catch.

Your doggie video must go along with the fast banjo picking on his song "Wally on the Run." Wally is Steve's dog. The creator of the winning video could get $1000.

"Wally on the Run" is on his Bluegrass album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo.

Check out www.SteveMartin.com for the details.

Julianne Hough's new movie

Yes she is in the blasphemous remake of Footloose (I am soooooooooooo not on board with that remake! :(

But she is going to be in the new movie Burlesque with pop singer Christina Aguilera (girl can sing!) and Cher (oh yeah, that girl can sing too!).

The movie focuses on Christina's character who is a small town girl who finds love, family, and success in a Los Angeles cabaret-type club. Cher plays the club owner. Julianne will be a...dancer! She started rehearsals last week. Also showing up in the movie - Stanley Tucci (who I remember as an ER chief before Angela Basset held down the job - he slept with Abby - to her shame!) and YAY!! ::happy dance:: Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars herself!!) and from Twilight, Cam Gigandet.

Look for the film November 2010.

The Footloose (expletive) is suppose to be out in June (and a POX on that film!).

TOBY KEITH - Artist/Songwriter of the DECADE

Congrats to Toby who is ::clears throat:: the Nashville Songwriters Association International 2000 - 2009 Artist Songwriter of the Decade.

Sunday night Toby accepted the honor at the 39th anniversary Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony.

Toby called it "the most presitgious thing that I've ever been given." He said "We've had a big ten years and I've worked my butt off writing songs. I take a lot of pride in knowing that only about four things have ever been released in 16 years that were singles that I didn't write. So, you know, 99% of the stuff I write, and it's just, to have your peers who are the lifeblood of this industry - songwriters - recognize you is unbelievable. It's very humbling, but it's tremendous gratification, too."
Toby's current number one - "American Ride" would be one of the four songs that he didn't write that he has released.

Other honorees last night were Craig Wiseman who won the 2000- 2009 Songwriter of the Decade and Taylor Swift who won the Artist/Songwriter of the Year award (wouldn't be surprised to see her take that Decade award this time ten years from now - OMG - I do NOT want to think about that! heehee). Also Tammy Wynette and songwriters Kye Fleming and Mark D. Sanders were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

15th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards

They'll be handed out tonight. Here's the list - check back tomorrow for the winners

Mainstream Inspirational Country Song
"Believers" - Joe Nichols
"Everything Is Fine" - Josh Turner
"God Must Really Love Me" - Craig Morgan
"I Wish" - Point of Grace
"Man of the House" - Chuck Wicks
"Sissy's Song" - Alan Jackson
"Six Foot Teddy Bear" - Richie McDonald
"Somebody Said A Prayer" - Billy Ray Cyrus
"That's How It Still Outta Be" - Trent Tomlinson
"Up To Him" - Tracy Lawrence - WINNER

Mainstream Country Artist
Collin Raye
Craig Morgan
James Otto
Jeff Bates
Joe Nichols
Josh Turner
Oak Ridge Boys
Richie McDonald
Ricky Scaggs - WINNER - UM...WHAT?
Tracy Lawerence

Video
"Brothers" - Dean Brody: Director Stephen Scott
"Everything Is Fine" - Josh Turner: Director Roman White
"God Must Really Love Me" - Craig Morgan: Director Eric Welch - WINNER
Craig said, "The message that there is somebody looking out for everyone, no matter what, really rang true, especially in these tough times we're having in this country. I wanted to share that inspiration with the fans." Craig said director Eric Welch did "a phenomenal job of interpreting the song."
"It's America" - Rodney Atkins: CURB Director Eric Welch
"Ride" - Martina McBride: Director Kristin Barlowe
"Muddy Water" - Trace Adkins: Director Trey Fanjoy
"My Hallelujah Song!" - Julianne Hough: Director Wayne Isham
"Sissy's Song" - Alan Jackson: Director Scott Scovill
"Up To Him" - Tracy Lawrence: Director Flick Wiltshire
"Waitin On A Woman" - Brad Paisley: Director Jim Shea/Peter Tilden

Other Winners include...
Tommy Brandy - Male Vocalist of the Year
Sandra Dee - Female Vocalist of the Year
Point of Grace - Vocal Group of the Year
Cross Country the Band - Entertainer of the Year (2nd in a row)...and No, this is not our beloved Cross Country Junction! LOL

Little Big Town is Expanding

Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook are going to be parents! They tied the knot in May 2006 and Karen announced, via Twitter Tuesday, "Yep, it's true...excited to finally tell the news...Jimi and I are having a little one." No word on a due date yet.

This will not be the first Little Big Town Baby. Kimberly Schlapman was the first to add to the group - Daisy Pearl was born in July 2007 and five months later Phillip Sweet added to the group with daughter Penelopi Jane.

Little Big Town is working on the follow up to A Place to Land but there's no release date yet.

And Happy Birthday to Kimberly - the BIG 40 Today!!

DUH! Trace Adkins in Sexy!

::wipes drool::
Trace has been named Country's Sexiest Man by the very savy Country Weekly readers. It's his second consecutive win. Last years win came after his appearance on Celebrity Apprentice!

Trace looks good dressed up

And dressed down.

Lord Have Mercy!

::fans self::

Trace ill sing the national anthem at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300 this Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.

Blake & Trace's New Song!

It's great!

It's called "Hillybilly Bone" and you bet WXRO is playing it already.

The only place you can get it is to head over to Blake Shelton's website.

It's there free for two weeks!

Blake said, "When I first heard 'Hillbilly Bone' I knew it was one of those songs that would kick the door down, and who better to kick the door down with me than my buddy Trace?"

He called it "One of those songs you can't get out of your head, and for Trace and I both, it was one of those songs that made sense since we are pretty much both 'Hillbilly' to the core."

This will be the first single from his next CD which is the follow up to 2008's "Startin' Fires."

And to that I say WHAT??? Come on Blake - we haven't had much music from your last two CD's! Sheesh! (I really wish artists would go deeper on their CD's!)

American Music Award Nominees

Those will be coming later this afternoon so check back for the 2009 list.

This morning Paula Abdul, Adam lambert and Snoop Dogg will reveal this year's nominees - and I'll get the list up as soon as I get it.

The 2009 American Music Awards will be live from the Nokia theatre L.A. on November 22nd on ABC from 7 - 10pm.

Here's the list of Nominees - Country & those including country artists.

Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift

Favorite Album
Lady Gaga - The Fame
Michael Jackson - Number-Ones
Taylor Swift - Fearless

Artist of the Year (one from each genre)
Kings of Leon (Alternative)
Taylor Swift (Country)
Lady Gaga (Pop/Rock)
Eminem (Rap/R&B)
Michael Jackson (Soul/R&B)

Breakthrough Artist (fan votes to determine final four nominees)
Pop/Rock Breakthrough Artist - Kings of Leon, Lady Gaga
Country Breakthrough Artist - Gloriana, Zac Brown Band
Soul/R&B Breakthrough Artist - Keri Hilson, Jeremih
Rap/Hip-Hop Breakthrough Artist - Drake, Kid Cudi

COUNTRY
Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Darius Rucker
Keith Urban

Favorite Female Artist
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland (I smell an upset with Sugarland winning this year!)
Zac Brown Band

Favorite Album
Rascal Flatts - Unstoppable
Taylor Swift - Fearless
Zac Brown Band - The Foundation

2008 Country Winners
Country Music Favorite Male - Brad Paisley (1st AMA win)
Country Music Favorite Female - Taylor Swift (1st AMA win)
Country Music Favorite Band, Duo, or Group - Rascal Flatts (3rd consecutive AMA win)
Country Music Favorite Album - Carrie Underwood - "Carnival Ride"

You decide the winner.

http://www.amavote.com/
http://www.mycokerewards.com/

Taylor Swift has 6 nominations and here's what she wrote on her Twitter page: "SIX AMA NOMINATIONS??? WHAT???!!! PARTY!!!!"

Jason Aldean got his first AMA nods (fav Country Male - up against Keith Urban and Darius Rucker). Jason calls it, "one of the coolest award shows of the year. One of my first memories of the show was the year Michael Jackson came out carrying Emmanuel Lewis...crazy! It's great that I'll get to be a part of it this year. I'll be easy to spot since I'm sure I'll be the only guy in the room representin' with a cowboy hat!"
I think he's right about that - I don't think any of the other contenders choose that kind of headwear (ROFLMAO thinking of Keith Urban wearing one!)

Play On - Carrie Underwood

I bet I'm just like you - can't wait for November 3rd to get here so I can get my hands on Carrie's new CD "Play On." The lead off single, "Cowboy Casanova" is fantastic, and is zooming toward number one (she has yet to have a song NOT hit the number one spot!).

Now we can pre-order it and get a limited - edition print featuring new art from the album photo shoot when we do.

Just go to her revamped website CarrieUnderwoodOfficial.com and pre-order right now!

Trace & NASCAR & Extreme Makeover:Home Edition

Trace Adkins will sing the national anthem for the Nationwide Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC Friday.

This Sunday Trace will be featured on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Back in July (ahhh warm July) Trace spent seven days building a house for the family of a disabled police officer in Dallas, TX who was wounded in the line of duty. Trace was the celebrity volunteer, which he says he was honored to do, "I personally feel that they're doing God's work. It's such a noble thing that those folks do and anytime I get a chance to be a part of it and help out in some way, I'm always eager to do it. This experience was very emotional because all of his fellow police officers were there and the emotion on those tough guys faces -- it was heavy. It was a beautiful moment."

Big Kenny's new album

It pays to pre-order Big Kenny's "Glotown, The Quite Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy." If you do you'll receive an instant dowload of his unreleased "One More Time," the Blackfoot Confederacy "Wake Up" chant, and the video for "Long After I'm Gone" (his current super duper awesome song!) And you know his cool top hat? You could win it! And you could win his personal iPhone and an 8GB custom flash drive. All packaging is 100% compostable materials and includes a variety of Big Kenny's fav perennieal wild flowers. Look for the videos that tell you how to plant you "musical garden." That sounds so cool.

Just go to bigkenny.tv/preorder

43rd Annual CMA Performers Announced

The first round anyway - more will be added as we get closer to the show that will be November 11th at the Sommet Center in Nashville live on ABC.





Performers

• Kenny Chesney & Dave Matthews will sing "I'm Alive"
• Brooks & Dunn
• George Strait
• Taylor Swift
• Reba McEntire
• Keith Urban
• Sugarland
• Darius Rucker
• Brad Paisley
• Carrie Underwood
• Tim McGraw - hasn't performed since 2005 (really!! Wow does time ever fly!)
• Jason Aldean
• Billy Currington
• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert
• Zac Brown Band
• Vince Gill & Daughtry - they will perform "Tennessee Line" from Daughtry's new CD "Leave This Town" (can't wait to hear it!!!)

More Awards to be Handed Out

The 2009 Nashville Music Award winners will be revealed at a reception in Nashville tomorrow.

Here are the Top Country Nominees.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon
Alison Krauss
Paramore
Taylor Swift - WINNER
Jack White

BEST NEW ARTIST
Mat Kearney
Lady Antebellum - WINNER
Erin McCarley
SafetySuit
The SteelDrivers

SONG OF THE YEAR
"The Climb" Miley Cyrus - Writers: Jessi Alexander, Jon Mabe
"Decode" Paramore - Writers: Josh Farro, Hayley Williams, Taylor York
"Give Me Your Eyes" Brandon Heath - Writer: Brandon Heath, Jason Ingram
"I Run to You" Lady Antebellum - Writers: Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, Tom Douglas
"In Color" Jamey Johnson - Writers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
"The Motions" Matthew West - Writer: Jason Houser, San Mizell, Matthew West
"Old Enough" The Raconteurs - Writers: Brendan Benson, Jack White III
"Sex on Fire" Kings of Leon - Writers: The Followills (Caleb, Nathan, Jared, Matthew)
"The Time of My Life" David Cook - Writer: Regie Hamm
"White Horse" Taylor Swift - Writers: Taylor Swift, Liz Rose

SONGWRITER-ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kings of Leon, "Only By the Night"
Jamey Johnson, "That Lonesome Song"
Dolly Parton, "Backwoods Barbie"
Taylor Swift, "Fearless" - WINNER
Matthew West, "Something to Say"

MUSIC VIDEO / FILM OF THE YEAR
Jason Aldean, "She's Country" - Directed by Wes Edwards
Justin Townes Earle, "Midnight At The Movies" - Directed by Ryan Newman
Jars Of Clay, "Two Hands" - Directed by Eric Welch
Rascal Flatts, "Here Comes Goodbye" - Directed by Shaun Silva - WINNER
John Rich, "Shuttin' Detroit Down" - Directed by Deaton-Flanigan

BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dale Ann Bradley, "Don't Turn Your Back," Compass Records
Dailey & Vincent, "Brothers from Different Mothers," Rounder Records
The Grascals, "Keep on Walkin'," Rounder Records
The Infamous Stringdusters, "The Infamous Stringdusters," Sugar Hill Records
The SteelDrivers, "The SteelDrivers," Rounder Records - WINNER

COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Eric Church, "Carolina," Capitol Nashville Records
Jamey Johnson, "That Lonesome Song," Mercury Records
Brad Paisley, "American Saturday Night," Arista Records
Taylor Swift, "Fearless," Big Machine Records - WINNER
Lee Ann Womack, "Call Me Crazy," MCA Nashville Records

Christmas in October

Get your Christmas fix tomorrow.

"Now That's What I Call A Country Christmas" comes out on Tuesday. It's 29 songs - 2 CD's.

Here's what's on it.

DISC ONE
Darius Rucker, "Winter Wonderland"
Brad Paisley, "Away in a Manger"
Julianne Hough, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
George Strait, "Joy to the World"
Lady Antebellum, "It's Cold Outside"
Brooks & Dunn, "I'll Be Home for Christmas"
Luke Bryan, "Run Run Rudolph"
Josh Turner, "The First Noel"
Kellie Pickler, "Santa Baby"
Trace Adkins," It's Christmas"
Little Big Town , "Go Tell it on the Mountain"
Lee Ann Womack, "The Man With the Bag"
Taylor Swift, "Christmases When You Were Mine"
Kenny Chesney, "Silver Bells"

DISC TWO
Gene Autry, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
Elvis/Martina McBride, "Blue Christmas"
Merle Haggard , "Jingle Bells"
Vince Gill, "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Alison Krauss, "Shimmy Down the Chimney"
Reba McEntire, "Up On the Housetop "
Glen Campbell, "O Holy Night"
Tanya Tucker, "What Child Is This"
Alabama, "Christmas In Dixie"
Brenda Lee, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"
Kenny Rogers, "Kentucky Home Made Christmas"
Dolly Parton, "Hard Candy Christmas"
Amy Grant, "A Christmas to Remember"
Johnny Cash, "Silent Night"
Burl Ives, "Holly Jolly Christmas"