CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: COUNTRY'S NIGHT TO ROCK - TONIGHT!

(from countrymusicfever.com)

Kimberly Perry, of The Band Perry, and Luke Bryan will be cohosting the show that begins at 7pm on ABC.

Lots of great performances from CMA Music Fest that happened in Nashville June 7-10th, plus behind the scenes fun, interviews and late-night jam sessions.

Performances from:

• Jason Aldean
• Dierks Bentley
• Kix Brooks
• Luke Bryan
• Eric Church
• Brantley Gilbert
• Hunter Hayes
• Faith Hill
• Alan Jackson
• Lady Antebellum
• Miranda Lambert
• Little Big Town
• Martina McBride
• Scotty McCreery
• Jake Owen
• Brad Paisley
• Rascal Flatts
• Blake Shelton
• The Band Perry
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban
• Hank Williams Jr.
• Zac Brown Band

A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

(from blog.gactv.com)

I can't believe it's been 25 years since I bought the very first A Very Special Christmas cassette.  (Yes, I bought the cassette!)  I can remember exactly when I bought it.  I was with my Grandma P at the Wisconsin Rapids Mall.  The Eurythmics "Winter Wonderland" is still one of my all-time fav Christmas songs.

The 25th Anniversary CD comes out October 16th and includes music from Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Vince Gill, Christina Aguilera, Francesca Battistelli, Michael Buble, Cheap Trick, Amy Grant, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, One Republic and Wonder Girls.

There will also be a Contemporary Christian Version called A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth released the same day.

The albums will benefit the Special Olympics (as always).

CHRISTMAS MUSIC FROM LADY A

(from gactv.com)

Very excited to have Christmas music coming out from Blake Shelton, Scotty McCreery, and now Lady Antebellum!!!

On This Winter's Night comes out October 22nd.

Here's the Track Listing

1. A Holly Jolly Christmas
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home
3. All I Want For Christmas Is You
4. I'll Be Home For Christmas
5. This Christmas
6. The First Noel
7. On This Winter's Night
8. Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
10. Silent Night (Lord Of My Life)
11. Blue Christmas
12. Silver Bells

CONGRATULATIONS

to the winner of the $15,000 Home & Yard Give-a-way TOM STOFFLET!

Enjoy all the fabulous prizes Tom!

Thanks to our fabulous partners for making this happen!

CHEERS, IT'S CHRISTMAS

(photo from tasteofcountry.com)

Blake Shelton's first Christmas CD comes out the day before my birthday (thank you Blake!), October 2nd.

The CD features plenty of great duets, with the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Reba, his wife Miranda, and his mom, Dorothy Shackleford.

You can pre-order right now.

Here's the track listing for Cheers, It's Christmas:

1. Jingle Bell Rock - featuring Miranda Lambert
2. White Christmas 
3. Oklahoma Christmas - featuring Reba
4. Let It Snow
5. There's a New Kid In Town - featuring Kelly Clarkson
6. Santa's Got a Choo Choo Train
7. Home - featuring Michael Buble
8. Winter Wonderland
9. The Christmas Song
10. Blue Christmas - featuring the Pistol Annies
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas
12. Silver Bells - featuring Xenia Martinex (one of his Voice contestants)
13. Time For Me To Come Home - featuring Dorothy Shackleford
14. The Very Best Time of Year - featuring Trypta-Phunk

What a great list of songs and duet partners.  Would anyone mind if I played these songs on October 2nd?  LOL

CMA NOMINATIONS

(photo from www.cmaworld.com)

The Country Music Association Awards will be hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.  Watch them on ABC November 1st.

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

Album of the Year 
Chief - Eric Church
Four the Record - Miranda Lambert
Home - Dierks Bentley
Own the Night - Lady Antebellum
Tailgates and Tanlines - Luke Bryan

Male Vocalist of the Year 
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year 
Kelly Clarkson
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Vocal Group of the Year 
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

  

Vocal Duo of the Year
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
Thompson Square

New Artist of the Year
Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
Hunter Hayes
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

Music Video of the Year
"Come Over" - Kenny Chesney
"Over You" - Miranda Lambert
"Pontoon" - Little Big Town
"Red Solo Cup" - Toby Keith
"Springsteen" - Eric Church

Single of the Year
"Dirt Road Anthem" - Jason Aldean
"God Gave Me You" - Blake Shelton
"Home" - Dierks Bentley
"Pontoon" - Little Big Town
"Springsteen" - Eric Church

Song of the Year (songwriters award, artist in parentheses)
"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" - Will Hoge, Eric Paslay (Eli Young Band)
"God Gave Me You" - Dave Barnes (Blake Shelton)
"Home" - Dan Wilson, Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley (Dierks Bentley)
"Over You" - Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton (Miranda Lambert)
"Springsteen" - Eric Church, Ryan Tindell, Jeff Hyde (Eric Church)

Musical Event of the Year
"Dixie Highway" - Alan Jackson featuring Zac Brown
"Feel Like a Rock Star" - Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
"Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die" - Willie Nelson, Snoop Dogg, Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson
"Safe and Sound" - Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars
"Stuck on You" - Lionel Richie with Darius Rucker

Musician of the Year
Sam Bush
Paul Franklin
Dan Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally

KELLIE PICKLER HELPS FIGHT HUNGER

She's partnered with the Hunger-Free Summer Campaign and ConAgra Foods Foundation.  As part of the campaign you can download a free activity booklet, "The Hunger Avengers," that gives you an opportunity to donate a meal to Feeding America, and it teaches kids about hunger. 

You can downlaod the booklet from the ConAgra Foods, Inc. Facebook Page.  For every booklet downloaded from now until September 3rd, the ConAgra Foods Foundation will donate the monetary equivalent of one meal to Feeding America, up to 500,000 meals.  If you share the link to your own Facebook news feed the foundation matches that with an additional meal for a child.