CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS

The show will be back for a second year, with Jennifer Nettles, of Sugarland, once again hosting. Lots of our favorite artists will perform and share their favorite holiday memories. The program airs at 7pm on ABC December 1st (and isn't it shocking to think that is only a little over a month from now?!)

Performers

• Faith Hill
• Martina McBride
• Vince Gill & Amy Grant
• Kellie Pickler
• Darius Rucker
• Little Big Town
• Keith Urban
• Rascal Flatts
• Brad Paisley
• Scotty McCreery
• Lauren Alaina
• Sugarland

LONESTAR IS BACK TOGETHER!!!!

What a way to celebrate their 20th anniversary! Richie McDonald has rejoined the group! There will be a new album and a world tour in 2012! (no release date yet - but I'll let you know!)

Here's the statement Richie made. "Five years has come and gone since I left Lonestar. We've all tried other avenues and the fact remains that some things were just meant to be. With the Lonestar 20-year reunion approaching, Dean, Michael, Keech and I got together and have decided we have some unfinished business to take care of. I miss those crazy nights running around onstage making music with my band of brother."

Dean Sams (keyboardist) said, "We have so much more music to offer the country music fans, and truly feel they want us back on the radio and out on the road performing live for them. After a lot of soul searching and long conversations between all of us involved, we are energized and excited to be writing and recording new music together again!"

Drummer, Keech Rainwater added, "I think fans ultimately wondered if this was ever going to happen again, and it always seemed like the original Lonestar as a whole was better than the sum of its parts. (I wonder what John Rich - who was in the original Lonestar - feels about that statement.) I think that having a break for a while, will have sparked new ideas and great music, both live and in the studio."

Michael Britt says, "I'm proud of everything we've achieved in our career so far, doing things that not many bands have been able to do. But even after all that we've done, I think we still have a powerful drive to keep making music and doing new things."

Lonestar has sold more than 10 million albums since 1995 and have 10 number ones!

So what about the lead singer that took Richie's place? Cody Collins went on tour with Lonestar, and can be heard on their 2010 album Party Heard Around the World (and you can hear him on "Let Me Love You" on WXRO). The four reunited members of Lonestar wish him the best in his future musical endeavors. (I'm curious if/when we'll hear from Cody - who I thought was very talented).

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS

Country artists are up for several awards. This is just the preliminary batch of nominees that will be cut down soon. Vote for your favs at peopleschoice.com

Favorite Country Artist of the Year nominees

• Blake Shelton
• Brad Paisley
• Sugarland
• Jason Aldean
• The Band Perry
• Keith Urban
• Kenny Chesney
• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert
• Rascal Flatts
• Taylor Swift
• Zac Brown Band

Favorite Male Artist of the Year (all-genre - here are the country nominees)

• Keith Urban
• Kenny Chesney
• Blake Shelton

Favorite Female Artist of the Year (all-genre - here are the country nominees)

• Miranda Lambert
• Taylor Swift

Favorite Album of the Year (all-genre - here are the country nominees)

• Eric Church - Chief
• Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
• Blake Shelton - Red River Blue

COUNTRY DANCE 2

The set list for the video game has been released. Lots of good stuff. Like, Blake's "Honey Bee," Dierks "Sideways," Josh Thompson's "Won't Be Lonely Long," Luke Bryan's "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)," and "Better Life" from Keith Urban. You can get the game Nov. 1st.

JO DEE MESSINA IS...

Pregnant! Congrats to Jo Dee and her hubby Chris. They're expecting baby #2 - though no word on a due date. Jo Dee recently tweeted, "Our family is very excited. In a few months, Chris, Noah and I will be welcoming baby number-two."

ACM's BRING BACK SONGWRITERS AWARDS

The Songwriter of the Year category was first awarded to Roger Miller in 1965, but was discontinued. The Song of the Year always went to the Songwriters. Well, now, they are going to bring back the Songwriter award! Not sure if that means the Song of the Year is just getting a name change, or if we're getting one more award, so I'll keep you updated. As a songwriter girl, I'm very excited.

KEITH URBAN

He might be doing The Voice down under! The Daily Telegraph says that he has reportedly signed on for the Australian version of the show. Seal, Joel Madden and Delta Goodrem are also set to be coaches. Filming is expected to start early next year.

CMA PERFORMERS & PRESENTERS - UPDATE

The Award show is November 9th on ABC.

Faith Hill will perform at the CMA's for the first time in 5 years. She'll debut her first single from her next album (out early 2012)! Very excited to hear that!

10/27 UPDATE

Lionel Richie will perform select songs from his country duets album, Tuskegee with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker & Rascal Flatts. (Other duets on the album include Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Shania Twain, Jennifer Nettles, Billy Currington , and Willie Nelson. The album comes out in March.)

So performers signed up include:

• Faith Hill
• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert
• The Band Perry
• Jason Aldean
• Blake Shelton
• Taylor Swift
• Keith Urban
• Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood
• Lionel Richie w/ Little Big Town, Darius Rucker & Rascal Flatts

FORBES HIGHEST PAID - GUESS WHICH COUNTRY STAR IS IN THE TOP 10

No brainer - it's Taylor.

The list looked at money from May 2010 to May 2011.

Forbes' Highest Earning Women in Entertainment

1. Oprah Winfrey - $290 million (Forbes estimates she's worth $2.7 billion)
2. Lady Gaga - $90 million
3. Bethany Frankel - $55 million
4. Gisele Bundchen - $45 million
5. Ellen DeGeneres - $45 million
6. Judge Judy - $45 million
7. Taylor Swift - $45 million
8. Katy Perry - $44 million
9. Beyonce - $35 million
10. Danielle Steel - $35 million

TIM & CURB RECORDS

The latest on their lawsuits finds a November 29th court hearing scheduled to decide whether Tim McGraw can record any new albums during the ongoing legal dispute. A trial date on the contract dispute has been set for July 9, 2012. Court records state that the hearing will "first make a final determination on whether or not Curb is entitled to prevent Mr. McGraw, by injunction or otherwise, from recording for other entities other than Curb."

CMT ARTISTS of the YEAR

The honorees for 2011 are Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, and Taylor Swift. They were chosen from a compilation of their music sales, country radio airplay, their concert grosses, video streams, searches and page views on CMT.com. In the last year these artist have collectively sold more than nine-million albums and more than 20-million downloads of their current singles!

The 90 minute Artists of the Year special will feature the honorees performing as well as celebrities from all over. As soon as I know more I'll pass the info on.

I can tell you it's December 13th on CMT at 8pm.

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS GIFT

Colonial Candle and Big Machine records have teamed up for an exclusive gift set. You'll get a nine-song CD with a "holiday sparkle" candle. Songs? The Band Perry's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," Martina's "Please Come Home for Christmas," Reba's "I'll Be Home for Christmas," Rascal Flatts "Mary Did You Know," and songs by Edens Edge, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Jewel and Steel Magnolia. It's out this month.

TIM'S MOVIE OPENS FRIDAY

You can catch Tim McGraw's latest film "Dirty Girl" this Friday. Tim plays the part of Danny - the estranged dad of the main character. He says he was drawn to this role the moment he read the script. "The part where the daughter finds her father is sorta something I could relate to. It had some similarities to my own life."