Swine flu affects country artists' touring & fans

The influenza that won’t easily lose its initial “swine flu” moniker has made its mark on the country music world already, and in particular, on the Lone Star concert circuit.

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Ga., recently reported that there is one death and 28 confirmed H1N1 flu cases in Texas, country-music performers on tour in the Friendship State have begun altering their tour routes and usual road routines, according to artist Web sites and interviews broadcast on country radio.

The newly launched Kenny Chesney tour, for one, has confirmed that the genre superstar is among those feeling the backlash of the infuenza formerly known as Swine. In turn, the Tennessee performer, who’s touring with Texas-born and based Miranda Lambert throughout the summer, has nixed fan meet ‘n’ greets In San Antonio, Houston and Dallas over the H1N1-induced panic.

To read the full story, as well as comments from the artists swine flu is affecting on the road, please access my latest National Country Music Examiner article.

Joe Nichols to star in 'Pure Country' on Broadway

Country music’s Joe Nichols is about to add Broadway to his professional resume. Yep, the four-time Grammy nominee is heading to the big stage come next year.

Now promoting his latest country single, “Believers,” which was recently released to country radio by the singer’s Universal South label, Nichols was offered, and accepted, the lead role in the Broadway production of Pure Country.

Texan George Strait made the role famous in the Pure Country movie, and according to the stage production’s producer, the Tony Award-winning Randall L. Wreghitt, the musical is in the process of securing the remainder of its financing and casting, with plans to open in early 2010.

"Pure Country is thrilled to welcome Joe Nichols to the family," Wreghitt said. "Not only does Joe bring his incredible talents to the project, but an understanding and authenticity to the role of 'Rusty' (originally 'Dusty' in the movie) that his fans and fans of the movie are going to love. We are very excited and proud to bring Pure Country and Joe Nichols to Broadway."

• To read the full scoop, click here, won't you?
  

The Red Stick Ramblers merge Cajun & country

The Red Stick Ramblers, a young roots band that both embodies and transcends its influences, will release its fifth CD to date come May 19 when they unveil My Suitcase Is Always Packed.

The upcoming disc, which is the band’s second album for the Sugar Hill label, is an 11-song effort that reflects the lineup’s unique hybrid of Cajun, honky-tonk and Western-swing.

Already called the group’s “most visceral, personal album yet,” the disc is set to contain tunes in both English and Cajun French, including a couple Cajun numbers that masterfully demonstrate The Red Stick Ramblers' undeniable affinity for classic Louisiana music.

To learn more about the band and its upcoming CD on Sugar Hill, as well as its latest tour dates, please click here. (There's also a nifty music video on the same site by the band from the players' first CD for Sugar Hill. Check'em out!)

Carrie Underwood's '09 ACM dress causes a buzz!

Although she looks FANTASTIC no matter what she wears, on the eve of the 44th annual ACM contest, which will be delivered live via CBS-TV from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 5, it’s Carrie Underwood’s planned (but still a secret) attire that seems to be taking the spotlight, not so much her Academy of Country Music nods.

Of course, never mind that nobody has yet seen said dress, because, in an AP report, Underwood--a known best-dressed fashionista--described it. OK, well, she kind of described it. Sort of. But not really. Wait, no, she kinda did, but, well. ... Nobody's seen it yet; that's the point, but everyone is all "a Twitter," pun intended, over it.

To view the full write-up on said dress by this blogger, which includes a nifty lil' slideshow (even if I do say so myself) of Underwood's prior dresses in the spotlight, please click here. ... And thanks for taking the time to stop in and ready my ramblings!

Snapshot preview of the 44th ACM Awards April 5

Just a friendly reminder for country music fans that Sunday, April 5, is the day to catch the Academy of Country Music's annual awards show, which will be broadcast live on CBS Television from the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

For the 11th consecutive year, Reba McEntire will serve as host for the annual West Coast-based ACM Awards, which are now in their 44th incarnation.

Some honorees have already been announced by the ACM, including Humanitarian Award-winner LeAnn Rimes, who will receive her prize during the live broadcast, as well as the winner's of the ACM's Radio Awards, the latter of which were handed out Feb. 24.

To help get country fans and viewers readied for the live broadcast, which will begin at 8 p.m. (Eastern/Pacific), I've compiled a few fun, nominee-related ACM-watching facts to keep in mind come viewing time.

To check out the overview of the events contenders, along with said facts, please click here.

Open auditions for 'Can You Duet' on March 7

The popular TV-talent show for country crooners who come in pairs, Can You Duet, will return for a second season, and that said, they’re looking for some top-notch duo talent.

The CMT-broadcast show, which earned the highest-rated series premiere ever for the country audience-targeted network, will conduct an open call audition on Saturday, March 7,Wildhorse Saloon, 120 2nd Ave., in Nashville. for thousands of country star hopefuls at the Wildhorse Saloon on 2nd Avenue in Nashville.

The show’s producers—the same folks who bring viewers the North American version of American Idol—are hoping to find the next Johnny Cash and June Carter, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Dailey & Vincent, or even the new Dolly and Porter, they reported in a recent e-mail.

SLATED TO BEGIN airing its second season this summer, the weekly series is designed to find America’s next great country music duo. Unlike other talent competition shows, each contestant will compete as part of a duo. As a result, viewers witness, first-hand, all the on- and off-stage drama that comes with creating a dynamic musical duet.

• To get the full scoop, including news about past contestants' industry success and info on all the details one needs to complete to complete, please click here.

Cupid's top hits: 14 of country's best couples

FROM THE ROLLER-COASTER HIGHS that love can bring to the heartbreaking devastation it leaves in its wake, country-music stars, like the songs they sing, are among the most passion-filled souls around all year, not just on Valentine's Day.

Their romances and break-ups, in fact, inspire some of the most heartfelt artistry our culture has known. And country fans, in turn, revel in happiness when a favorite country-music couple stands the test of time, just as they mourn when their favorite artists endure heartache from a love gone wrong.

• To see Lisa's list of 14 of the top love matches in country music, please access Cupid's arrows aim for the (country) stars, too by clicking here.
  

Free Feb. 12 talk on Nashville's record industry

Music journalist Craig Havighurst will be a featured guest speaker beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Middle Tennessee State University, where he'll present his Music City Remixed series.

Free and open to the public, the six-part series will focus on the recording industry, and in particular, Nashville's Music Row, and the historic changes buffering the music industry, especially in regard to the city's country music industry.

Last fall, Havighurst reported and produced the series for Nashville Public Radio. During his upcoming MTSU visit, Havighurst will present the documentary report, which has a run time of about 30 minutes, and then participate in open discussion, including Q&A, moderated by Michael Fleming, assistant professor of audio production at MTSU.

Havighurst's participation in the community series is sponsored by the MTSU Audio Engineering Society, a group that comprises students enrolled in the Department of Recording Industry at the nearby Murfreesboro university.

Based in Nashville, Havighurst is an independent journalist and producer who has won awards for his work in print, radio and television. He's a regular public radio contributor on Nashville's WPLN and specializes in music documentaries through his company, String Theory Media.

From 2000 and 2004, Havighurst was a staff writer covering music and the music business for The Tennessean, where his feature writing was recognized with the 2004 Charlie Lamb Award for Excellence in Country Music Journalism. Havighurst also is the author of Air Castle of the South: WSM and the Making of Music City, which was published in fall 2007 by the University of Illinois Press.

• To view an overview of the session titles or get more info on the free talk, please click here.
  

Lady Antebellum goes gold on the 'Ellen' TV show

On the eve of the 2009 Grammy Awards, hot-country trio Lady Antebellum learned their self-titled debut album for Capitol Records had secured gold status, signifying sales in excess of 500,000 copies.

Nominated in the two categories in this year's Grammy Awards, Lady Antebellum's members were surprised with a gold plaque during a Feb. 5 taping of the Ellen TV-talk show.

Host DeGeneres hit the trio with the news just after they completed a performance of the act's latest single, "I Run To You," which is contained on the self-dubbed Lady Antebellum CD. (The disc also contains the group's prior hit singles, "Love Don't Live Here" and "Lookin' For A Good Time.")

"Of course, leave it to the girl in the group to cry," laughed Lady Antbellum vocalist Hillary Scott, regarding the on-air "gone gold" announcement.

"We were so caught off guard, but it was such a special place for this to happen since our first national television performance was on Ellen back when our album was released," she continued. "It was a really cool moment for us to be able to stop and reflect on how amazing the last nine months have been," she added.

• To read the full story, including when to watch Lady A on Ellen, please click here.
  

Legendary steel player Tom Brumley dies

Legendary pedal steel guitarist Tom Brumley, 73, who’s best known for his stellar musicianship as a member of the late Buck Owens’ band, has died of a heart attack in a San Antonio, Texas.

A member of Owens' hot-pickin’ Buckaroos band from 1963 to ’69, Brumley suffered a heart attack on Jan. 26 and was taken to Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, where he died Tuesday, according to his wife, Rolene Brumley. He was 73.

Born Nov. 12, 1935, as the third of six children, Brumley played steel guitar with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos from 1963 to 1969 and with Rick Nelson for a decade, including on the late singer’s crossover hit, “Garden Party.”

The son Albert E. Brumley, a legendary gospel songwriter who wrote "I'll Fly Away" and "Turn Your Radio On," a 14-year-old Brumley began his music career as a bassist in his brothers’ band. He went on to become a much-celebrated, award-winning steel guitarist and was inducted into both the Texas Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, which is part of the Texas Steel Guitar Association, and the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame, among other honors. He also was awarded an Academy of Country Music honor for being the genre’s No. 1 steel player.

• To read the full story and view music videos featuring Brumley performing with the Buckaroos, please click here.