Country music CMT News: News in Brief

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Statler Brothers Book Set for Release


Brothers Don and Harold Reid, founding members of the Statler Brothers, will release a book, Random Memories, on Feb. 19. The group achieved its initial success in 1965 with "Flowers on the Wall" and toured extensively with Johnny Cash before becoming one of the most popular vocal groups in country music history. Random Memories, to be issued by Yell Publishers, centers around the Reids' recollections of the Statler Brothers' best-known songs and the many celebrities they encountered during their lengthy career.

 

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1984
Robert Duvall received Academy Award for best actor for his portrayal of a country singer in Tender Mercies

1932
Carl Perkins born near Tiptonville, Tenn.
1939
Margo Smith born in Dayton, Ohio
1941
Singer Kay Adams born in Knox City, Tenn.
1945
Con Hunley born in Fountain City, Tenn.
1953
Hal Ketchum born in Greenwich, N.Y.
1959
David Innis, keyboard player with the group Restless Heart, born

1961
Patsy Cline's No. 1 single, "I Fall to Pieces," charted

1997
Songwriter Mae Axton, who wrote "Heartbreak Hotel" and was mother of Hoyt Axton, died at age 82

1981
The Carl Perkins Museum opened in Jackson, Tenn., on the singer's 59th birthday

1987
The Judds' Heartland album certified gold
1991
Patty Loveless's Honky Tonk Angel album certified gold

1975
Charley Pride recorded the No. 1 single, "Hope You're Feelin' Me (Like I'm Feelin' You)"

 

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20 Questions With Little Big Town
They Talk About Perspective, Personalities and A Place to Land

Little Big Town

More than likely, Little Big Town has been to your town. Over the past two years, the country quartet has toured relentlessly, singing hits like "Boondocks" and "Good as Gone." Following their cross-country jaunt with Sugarland this fall, they'll board the bus again in early 2008, opening George Strait's concert tour. Here, the four members of the group -- Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook -- answer fans' questions about their favorite big city, their musical influences and the lessons they have learned along the way.

1. How did the four of you cross paths?

Karen Fairchild: Kimberly and I went to college together at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. We have been friends ever since and both moved to Nashville to pursue music. We just started dreaming and brainstorming about doing something together that would be different in country music. That was about 10 years ago. Jimi and I knew each other from some mutual friends, but he was still living in Birmingham at the time. I called him on a recommendation from a friend. He had already made up his mind to move to Nashville to pursue music, so the timing was perfect. We reconnected, and I introduced him to Kimberly. Jimi moved to Nashville, and then we started looking for the fourth member to complete the band. After a lot of searching, we met Phillip through a songwriter in town, and that is when Little Big Town came to be.

2. Since you came from small towns, what's your favorite big city?

Fairchild: My favorite big city would have to be Chicago. I lived in Indiana for several years and would always go into the city with my family for Cubs games or to visit the aquarium and museums on field trips. It is one of LBT's favorite places to have a day off. Lots of amazing sites and fantastic food.

3. Your last album, The Road to Here, had a few "heavy-on-the-heart" songs that really evoked some powerful emotions. Are there any songs on your new CD that have similar poignant viewpoints?

Fairchild: Definitely. A Place to Land has some pretty heavy moments, as well. "Lonely Enough" is a heart wrenching song written by Darrell Brown, Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall. Also, "Evangeline" is a story about a girl who allows herself to be emotionally abused. She doesn't value herself enough to get out of the situation. Kimberly really gave a powerful performance on this song.

4. One of my favorite songs on The Road to Here is "Bones." It's such a feature of your live show. Why was it never released as a single?

Fairchild: We love "Bones" and always wanted it to be a single, but you just run out of time on a record. Singles take so long to get up the charts these days. Maybe someday if (fingers crossed) we have a greatest hits CD, we could make "Bones" a single.

5. The song "Stay" was on the first album, re-cut for The Road to Here, and it is a fan favorite in concerts. Why was it never chosen as a single?

Fairchild: Yeah, this is another song that we look back on and wish could have been a single. Ballads are a tricky thing to figure out, timing-wise. We had discussed "Stay" so many times but just never pulled the trigger. Again, we still have hopes for this song. The fans seem to really connect with this one.

6. I heard you sing "Heartache Tonight" in concert and was wondering if the Eagles influenced all of you (or any of you) and your style of music. Do you ever perform any of their other songs?

Jimi Westbrook: Yes, the Eagles are definitely an influence. When you think of great harmony bands, you think of the Eagles. They strive for perfection in a live setting. We would love to hold up that standard of performance. We occasionally have performed "Life in the Fast Lane," as well.

7. Do you consider yourselves to be country or pop or country-rock? Your cover of Fleetwood Mac in your live show is fantastic.

Westbrook: I think we are country. ... OK, maybe country-rock. ... Hmmm ... good question. What do you think?

8. What other artists in different genres of music besides country do you like to listen to?

Westbrook: We all love all kinds of music. I'm a big fan of the Foo Fighters, Ben Harper, Amos Lee, Coldplay, Corinne Bailey Rae and Chris Thile ... to name a few.

9. Some artists get a big head when they get successful. How do you stay so humble?

Westbrook: We have been on the down and up side of the music business. I think that gives you a realistic perspective. That's also the beauty of having four members in the band. If one was to begin to have an inflated view of themselves, the others would quickly bring them back down to earth.

10. Now that Kimberly has a child, who takes care of little Daisy Pearl while they are on stage performing? Does Kimberly have a nanny?

Westbrook: Kimberly does not have a nanny. Her husband is out on the road with us. Phillip's wife is out on the road, as well, and she helps with the baby, too. We all take turns in one way or the other.

11. I heard that Jimi and Karen wanted to keep their relationship quiet at first. How have things changed since it came out that they are a couple? Do you think it has changed people's perceptions of the band?

Phillip Sweet: Things haven't really changed that much since they came out. It's really nice to see two people in love, and we totally support them in that. If it changes any perceptions about the band, then I hope it's a good one.

12. When putting together new music, how do you decide who sings lead? Do all for of you sing lead on every song then decide whose voice fits that song?

Sweet: That process is different for every song. We just follow our natural inclinations and then experiment from there. We also work hard to make the harmonies sound the best in certain keys, as well as the lead singer on that particular song. There have been times when we have all recorded leads on the same song just to see what worked the best.

13. What is your best advice for a wannabe country singer?

Sweet: Stay true to yourself, yet always be open to learn. Work hard, and never give up on your dreams, even when nobody else believes they can come true but you. These are not clichés but real tools you need no matter what you do in life to stay focused on your path.

14. Having so many people and personalities together all of the time, what do you to ensure that you all remain so close and get along?

Sweet: We just take care of each other. We keep it real, kinda like a family does. Save the drama for your mama!

15. How often do you disagree on something, and what do you disagree about?

Sweet: We rarely disagree, but when we do, it is no big deal. No big blowups in our band. We find it is just easier to talk about things out on the table, like adults.

16. What is your favorite thing about being on the road?

Kimberly Roads: My favorite part of being on the road is "watching the world through the windshield." We get the opportunity to travel all over this gorgeous country and take in the views along the way. I absolutely love watching the cows in the pastures -- no kidding. I love cows.

17. What's been the hardest thing about touring in the past year?

Roads: I think the most difficult thing about being on the road is being away from family. We are blessed to be able to bring our spouses with us on the road, but we do miss our other family members very much. We spend a lot of time on the phone with them and look forward to them coming to our shows and to spending holidays at home with them.

18. After all the huge obstacles and politics in Nashville that you have had to overcome, what is the biggest lesson that you have learned as a group?

Roads: Through all the trials, we learned perseverance. We learned to never give up on a dream and to follow our hearts. And we learned how to love and take care of each other. I think we are very good at that now.

19. What kind of food do you eat on tour? Do you stop at restaurants, cook on the bus or have the food provided at the concert site? Is it hard to eat healthy?

Roads: Mostly we eat together at catering every day of the tour. On the CMT tour, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided for us everyday and are outrageously good. We are quite spoiled now. However, when we hit the fairs and festivals along the way, we always go for the kettle corn and corndogs. ... If you make an effort to eat healthy on the road, with a bit of work, you can make it happen. For the most part, we have decently healthy food on the bus, and catering offers lots of healthy selections. But if you need a good excuse to fall off the wagon, you've got a perfect one.

20. My question is about personalities. Who is the quiet person? The talkative one? Who is the moody one? Who is the brains around the band?

Roads: The four of us have totally different personalities that somehow work amazingly well together. None of us are really quiet unless we're extra tired. We usually all get shut up in interviews for talking too long. We certainly aren't lacking in the talking category. We all have our moody moments. We can read each other like a book, though, so we know when to back off and give someone a bit of space. And we know when one of us may need a little extra love. We call Jimi the jokester, Phillip the consummate dreamer, Karen the brains behind the business -- and me the peacemaker. We mostly stay peaceful, so I don't have a hard job. I try to make up for the low demand by baking.

 

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1927
Autoharp virtuoso Cecil Null born in East War, W.Va.
1933
Johnny Mosby (Johnny & Jonie Mosby) born in Fort Smith, Ark.
1938
Guitarist Duane Eddy born in Corning, N.Y.
1971
Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts is born

1980
Dottie West had her first solo No. 1 single with "A Lesson in Leavin'"

1974
Tim Spencer, a founding member of the Sons of the Pioneers, died at age 65
1990
Wesley Rose, music executive and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, died at age 72 in Nashville
joined_opry


1952
Martha Carson joined the Grand Ole Opry

1947
Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry as host of the Royal Crown Cola Show

1995
Pam Tillis' third Arista album, Sweethearts Dance, certified platinum

1941
Ernest Tubb recorded classic "Walking the Floor Over You" for Decca

 

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NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Lady Antebellum, James Otto Lead New Faces Chart Invasion
And Singer-Songwriter Jamey Johnson Has Bright Prospects
By: Chet Flippo

Nashville Skyline

(NASHVILLE SKYLINE is a column by CMT/CMT.com Editorial Director Chet Flippo.)

There are some intriguing success stories in country music right now, and it's gratifying to see that that tradition continues. Lady Antebellum debuts at No. 1 on the country album chart this week with their first work, James Otto is defying predictions and scoring on the chart and Jamey Johnson returns from record label purgatory with a sterling single. All three are getting by purely on their original music, which is a concept I heartily endorse.

Lady A, if I may be so bold as to assume familiarity with the group, has done it quietly and in a traditional country way. Just hard work and devotion to music. They're not a flashy or gimmicky group, which means they have a chance to stick around for a long time if they choose to work toward that goal. Their self-titled first album is a solid set of down-to-earth music that showcases songwriting and harmony singing -- two things that have never truly gone out of fashion in country.

Otto, as far as I know, is the first ever major label country artist with that last name. He languished on one record label before getting off that dead horse and starting over. He long labored in the shadows of his better-known MuzikMafia compadres, but word of his talent spread around town over the past few years. Now he's getting the chance to show what he can do on a larger scale. He's a nice-looking guy, but he's never going to be accused of being one of the constant crop of ever-more-photogenic, gleaming, styled, Chiclet-toothed, magazine cover dudes we get now and then. He just writes 'em and sings 'em.

His second CD, Sunset Man, is deep with good songs and debuted at No. 2 on the country album chart and is still in the Top 5. He co-wrote nine of the 11 songs and co-produced with John Rich. The songs are rocking country with some heft and substance to them and more than a touch of soul.

Jamey Johnson, like Otto, knows it's time to get off your horse when it dies. He put out what I feel is a damned good first album a couple of years ago, but he and the label didn't see eye to eye and he finally became free. He's long been known as one of the best songwriters around but has been determined to try to make it as a solo artist as well. God speed to him.

The one time I sat and talked with Johnson for a while, I found him to be extremely knowledgeable about country music. He knows the history and appreciates the heritage of country music, and he honors the pioneers who have come before. He knows their roles in building the music traditions that he's continuing and extending and trying to improve upon. But, importantly, Johnson is not emulating them. He's been working at carving out his own identity. Like Otto, he doesn't look like he'll ever grace the cover of GQ. He looks ... interesting, which I guess is a way to say his face looks lived in. He's certainly done some living, not all of it easy. But therein often lies the path of great songwriting.

And Jamey Johnson has written some very good ones and will be a great songwriter one day. He also co-wrote "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," which I hope earned him a load of FU money. But way beyond that, he's writing or co-writing some songs that'll be around for a long time, such as George Strait's "Give It Away," Joe Nichols' "Another Side of You" and Trace Adkins' "I Got My Game On," as well as some of his own album cuts.

Johnson's first album, The Dollar, had an Outlaw feel and a lot of good songs. It got off to an encouraging start with the release of the title song. Then things stalled. The label dropped him. Last year, he wrote and recorded, on his own, the album That Lonesome Song and posted it online as a download. It was a huge song progression from The Dollar. Songs such as "That Lonesome Song" and "Stars in Alabama" show a maturing writer. And vocally he's invoking the gravitas of the great honky-tonk singers, like Waylon and Haggard. That first album reflected the preoccupations of the honky-tonk troubadour and reveler. The second takes a look at the larger world and is much more reflective and introspective. This is one serious dude.

The online album invited a second album deal with a major Nashville label. So I'm awaiting his third album release. His current single (which is also on his That Lonesome Song is one of the best country songs I have heard in a long time. "In Color" should not be a country hit, if we went by what the industry experts say audiences want in country songs right now. They want, experts say, fun and escapism, bright songs about sex and romance and cars and youth and good times. Instead, with "In Color," Johnson has painted an incredibly evocative and indescribably moving tale of young love, of living through the Great Depression and World War II. It's told by a grandfather showing old black-and-white snapshots to his grandson:

This one here was taken overseas
In the middle of hell in 1943, it was winter time
You can almost see my breath
That was my tailgunner, Ol' Johnny McGee
A high school teacher from New Orleans
And he had my back, right through the day we left
And if it looks like we were scared to death
Like a couple of kids trying to save each other
You should've seen it in color.
​

 

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Rodney Atkins' No. 1 Parties Are a Family Affair
"Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)" Celebrated with Family, Friends and Barbecue
By: Whitney Self

Rodney Atkins celebrates with family.
Photo Credit: Marilu White

Had the location been anywhere but the heart of Nashville's Music Row, one could easily have mistaken Rodney Atkins' No. 1 parties Wednesday (April 23) for a family gathering as he celebrated with his wife, children, close friends, music industry executives and, of course, plenty of barbecue and coleslaw.

In honor of Atkins' fourth No. 1 hit, "Cleaning This Gun (Come On In Boy)," performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI held individual parties on behalf of the song's co-writers Marla Cannon-Goodman and Casey Beathard. Though the two seemed somewhat bashful in the spotlight, this wasn't the first time they'd shared a No. 1 success. Both songwriters collaborated in 2002 for Tracy Byrd's fun-loving honky-tonk hit, "Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo," and each expressed their admiration and respect for the other. On numerous occasions, Goodman referred to her co-writer as more than just a writing partner, but as "brother," and Beathard in turn said she was his "best friend" and "the reason this song happened."

"We were just blessed Rodney heard it," Goodman said of the tongue-in-cheek tune that Atkins recently took to the top of the charts. The song depicts a father warning his daughter's date to treat her nicely -- or else he'll face him later. He instills fear in the boy by informing him he'll be up all night cleaning his gun when the two return home. "It's when 'Butterfly Kisses' meets 'A Country Boy Can Survive'," joked Atkins.

Despite the song's chart victory, "Cleaning This Gun" wasn't an overnight success. The two co-writers explained the song actually was in the works several years prior.

"I was writing with Casey, and he had just had a little girl," Goodman explained. "My husband and I had been through some struggles trying to have a family, and I was finally pregnant. Casey came in with this idea and it just seemed like the right thing to do. I mean, I was a daughter, and I know how hard it was trying to bring somebody home."

Throughout the day, Atkins continually thanked the songwriters and reminded those in attendance he enjoyed singing songs that felt genuine and from the heart. Atkins said he thoroughly related to his latest single, being father of three himself, two of which are teenage stepdaughters.

"For all you teenage boys out there," he cautioned, "if you are some daddy's nightmare, as I was at one point, in some way or another, you will grow up and you will have daughters. Karma will come after you."

Atkins not only spoke like a family man, but he also looked the part. Son Elijah and his two step-daughters, Morgan and Lindsey, remained at his side throughout most of the day's celebrations. Atkins wore his usual attire consisting of a plaid shirt, ball cap and jeans, but as the day progressed and temperatures increased, he quickly discarded his long sleeves for a "Sun of a Guns" T-shirt. Elijah soon adopted a more casual attitude, too, by kicking off his shoes and splashing his feet in the decorative fountains outside BMI. When Atkins was told of his son's whereabouts, he didn't seem surprised or concerned, instead rather pleased. "He needed to," he smiled. "His feet were filthy."

This same sense of humor is what Atkins said his latest single and reason for celebration were all about.

"What I loved about it was, yeah, it's kind of a redneck-humored, funny song, but they wrote it intelligently." He said he thought fans could relate to what he termed a "politically incorrect," fatherly anthem. "The country listener is not a bunch of dumb rednecks," he said. "Intelligent rednecks are who I think I'm singing to."

As a result of the continued sales of If You're Going Through Hell, an album released over two and a-half years ago, "Cleaning This Gun" is now his fourth No. 1 hit from the CD. His continuing popularity has grown so much, he's recently been added to the list of performers at this year's Academy of Country Music Awards and has nabbed multiple nominations at next month's awards show.

Asked about any apprehensions regarding the ACM Awards, Atkins said, "It makes me more nervous having to dress up." He later informed reporters of plans regarding his upcoming album and noted his new music will be much like what fans come to expect from him. "No, it's not a departure, and I'm not going to make a statement of another piece of my life," he chuckled. "It's most of the same stuff, and hopefully people relate to it."

Wrapping up his second party and closing the day of celebration, Atkins remarked that previous No. 1 song, "Watching You" was related to his young son Elijah and that "Cleaning This Gun" was for his two stepdaughters. He then surprised his stepdaughters with separate plaques and asked them to join him on stage.

 

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John Hiatt Being Honored by Americana Music Association
John Hiatt will receive the lifetime achievement award for songwriting from the Americana Music Association on Sept. 18 during the organization's annual awards show. His songwriting credits include Rosanne Cash's "The Way We Make a Broken Heart" and Bonnie Raitt's "Thing Called Love." Hiatt will release a new album, Same Old Man, on May 27. Past recipients of the lifetime achievement award include Willie Nelson, Rodney Crowell, Guy Clark, Cowboy Jack Clement, John Prine and Billy Joe Shaver. In addition, Jim Lauderdale will return as host of the ceremony, and Buddy Miller will lead the house band. ​

 

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Ricky Skaggs, The Whites Win Dove Award
Ricky Skaggs and the Whites picked up a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association on Wednesday night (April 23) in Nashville. They won in the bluegrass album category for their collaborative project, Salt of the Earth, released on Skaggs Family Records. Other winners include the Isaacs' Big Sky for country album, Austins Bridge's "He's in Control" for bluegrass recorded song and Point of Grace's "How You Live (Turn Up the Music)" for country recorded song.​

 

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John Michael Montgomery Enters Substance Abuse Rehab
May 9, 2008
John Michael Montgomery has voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation treatment center for substance abuse, due to severe anxiety attacks and sleep disorder, his management company said Friday (May 9). Montgomery has canceled all concert dates and personal appearances for the next 30 days. After being arrested in 2006 on alcohol, drugs and weapons charges, he entered an Alford plea to the DUI charge, acknowledging there was sufficient evidence for a conviction. The other charges were dismissed as part of the plea bargain. In a statement, Montgomery said, "I will be disappearing for a while to try and defeat the demons that have stripped me of my energy of life and good health for so many years now. I assure you that however long it may take, I'm gonna fight to the end and come out stronger." Montgomery is scheduled to release an album on his own label in September, and he has a new single at country radio titled, "If You Ever Went Away."

 

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Vince Gill, Rhonda Vincent Join Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman
May 9, 2008
Vince Gill, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley and Rhonda Vincent will all take part in the Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman series this summer at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Scruggs will open the series on June 26 with the Infamous Stringdusters. Other concerts include Gill and the Steeldrivers (July 3), Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, IIIrd Tyme Out and Dailey & Vincent (July 10), Cherryholmes and Jim Lauderdale (July 17), Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and the Whites (July 24) and Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys and the Grascals on July 31.

 

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Trace Adkins Creates Theme Song for New TV Series
May 9, 2008
Trace Adkins has written and recorded a theme song for the new TV series, Black Gold, which will premiere on truTV on June 18. The reality series follows the dangerous work of oil rig workers in West Texas. Adkins once worked as a roughneck and derrickman on offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The series is produced by Thom Beers (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers).

 

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Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles Gives Credit to Eddie's Attic
John Mayer, Shawn Mullins Also Got Their Start at Small Songwriter Venue
May 9, 2008; Written by Craig Shelburne

DECATUR, Ga. -- As one of the breakout country bands of the last few years, Sugarland can easily draw thousands of people to their high-energy concerts. But back in the day, Jennifer Nettles would finesse her singer-songwriter skills at a very laidback bar in Decatur, Ga., called Eddie's Attic.

"I love it. I started out there," she says. "I started doing open mikes. They have an open mike competition, and anybody can come and be a part of that. I started out doing that, and got a gig there and started developing a fan base between there and Athens, Ga. I definitely credit it with much of how I became the performer and musician that I am."

Chasing a dream that would later surface in the band's debut single, "Baby Girl," Nettles slowly moved up in the local music world, fronting Soul Miner's Daughter and the Jennifer Nettles Band. But after eight years, her band was drawing to a close. One night, she was sipping martinis and swapping stories with fellow Atlanta singer-songwriter Kristen Hall. They decided to meet at Starbucks with another local musician, Kristian Bush, to talk about starting a country band. That next morning, Sugarland was born. After writing some songs together, they booked a few gigs at Eddie's Attic.

"Eddie's Attic is a wonderful venue," Nettles says. "It's a listening room, and it has always been a listening room. You can go and hear the artist. The singer-songwriter is the important element in it. It's not necessarily that you're there to pick up a date or whatever you might do in another sort of bar or music venue. It's definitely about the music there."

When you come into the club, posters are tacked along the walls of a long staircase. At the top, you have two options -- check out the show in the listening room or hang out on the deck and watch on a closed-circuit TV. Even a small club like Eddie's Attic can get rowdy people sometimes. However, the club tends to draw the fans of a specific artist, rather than just somebody in town who's craving some live music.

There is no green room in Eddie's Attic, so if you want to meet the artist, you just walk right up. Pop star John Mayer, who paid his dues building his audience at the club, occasionally comes back for a small show. Songwriters like Will Hoge, Josh Joplin and Lori McKenna also draw substantial crowds, but in the words of Sugarland, "There's gotta be somethin' more."

"It's really fundamentally hard with a 200-seat club to make your financial nut anymore," says owner Bob Ephlin. "Rent, utilities, insurance, it's just stupid. I'd love to tell you we are financially successful. I'd be lying, but we're better and better at it every month. And we will get there, and I hope I'm standing when we do."

Ephlin, who bought the club from Nettles and her then-husband in 2005, is striving to rebuild its reputation as a listening room, rather than just a drinking spot with high-quality music, whether it's Celtic, bluegrass, blues, rock or country. He's partnered with local art galleries to freshen up the walls, and he's completely renovated the kitchen and refinished all the wood floors. The sound system is topnotch, too. He's also brought back Eddie Owen, whose name adorns the place, to book the talent.

Surprisingly, Ephlin doesn't ask for a cut of the artists' merchandise, understanding that they need that money to get to the next tour date. Plus, he says, the club takes only "a very small percentage" from the ticket receipts at the door. Most of the revenue comes from food and beverage sales from the renovated kitchen and bar. He says the menu is good enough that he eats there almost every night, and as a courtesy, he feeds the performers, too.

"Even if they are amazingly talented, you know these guys aren't really wealthy if they're playing a 200-seat club," he says. "We give them a free meal, [along with] everyone in their band when they come here. We give them a couple of drinks. We know most clubs aren't doing that anymore, but this may be their only chance to have a good meal that day, and so that feels like the right thing to do."

In addition to the running the club, Ephlin and his team are shopping a TV pilot, launching a statewide radio program and figuring out how to post their extensive archives on their Web site -- without screwing over the artists, of course. He started a writing space with Bush for area musicians to help develop their career. He's also been visiting similar clubs across the country to pick up tips on how to run Eddie's Attic efficiently.

"I suppose we could be better businessmen," he says. "I'm sure my accountant and banker would agree, but there's gotta be a way to do this and be respectable to the artist."

Singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, who lives in Decatur, says, "The main thing that makes Eddie's Attic stand out above other venues is its intimate setting and the fact that people come there to listen and not chat. So many listening rooms around the country model themselves after what Eddie Owen has built for the performer and the fan."

With his breakout success of "Lullaby" in 1998, Mullins acquired a large, loyal fan base across the nation and spends nearly the whole year on the road. Thanks to that loyalty, he scored a big hit at adult alternative radio in 2006 with "Beautiful Wreck." For his new album, Honeydew, he chose Eddie's Attic to host his record release party.

"Imagine a friendly neighborhood pub with excellent food and service that caters to the music fan and the performing songwriter," says Mullins. "People come to Eddie's to listen to great music, and that environment is the reason that songwriters make Eddie's a stop on the tour. It's the best venue in the South for the performing songwriter."

 

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2005
Gretchen Wilson earns a gold single with "Here For The Party" and a platinum one with "Redneck Woman"
2004
Columbia releases Montgomery Gentry's "You Do Your Thing" album
2004
Loretta Lynn shoots a video with rocker Jack White, of The White Stripes, for her song "Portland, Oregon." The location: a barn in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee
2003
A wheelchair-bound Johnny Cash sits in the front row at the funeral for June Carter, at the First Baptist Church, in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Emmylou Harris, Larry Gatlin, The Oak Ridge Boys and Sheryl Crow all perform at the memorial
1996
Brooks & Dunn begins a three-week stay at #1 on the Billboard country chart with their remake of "My Maria"
1986
Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings appear in a CBS-TV re-make of the western movie "Stagecoach," along with June Carter, John Schneider, John Carter Cash, Jessi Colter, David Allan Coe and Billy Swan
1985
In his first appearance in England, Ricky Skaggs begins two nights of recordings at the Dominion Theatre, resulting in the album "Live In London." In the audience for one of the shows: Elvis Costello
1959
A history lesson makes history as Johnny Horton's recording of "The Battle Of New Orleans" goes to #1 on the Billboard country singles chart
1952
George Strait born in Poteet, Texas. The authentic cowboy becomes a voice for traditional country beginning in 1981, accruing more than 25 gold albums and membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame
1948
Joe Bonsall born in Philadelphia. The one-time gang member becomes tenor singer in 1973 for the gospel quartet The Oak Ridge Boys, which soon shifts into country music, using him as a lead voice on such hits as "Elvira," "Bobbie Sue" and "Love Song"

​

 

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Country Music Artists Flocking to Vegas for ACM Awards
Music Abounds Even Before Sunday Night's Main Event
May 16, 2008; Written by Calvin Gilbert

Kenny Chesney

LAS VEGAS -- Country music artists, their managers, record label executives and ... well ... just about the entire industry are flocking to Las Vegas in advance of the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards taking place Sunday (May 18) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show airs live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Things appeared to be laid-back backstage Friday (May 16) as production crews prepared for rehearsals with Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and Brooks & Dunn. The performance rehearsals continue Saturday with Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and George Strait. Others performing on the awards show include Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler and LeAnn Rimes. Reba McEntire is hosting the awards show for the 10th time.

A pairing of two country superstars and the introduction of at least two new songs will be among the highlights. Chesney and Strait will provide the first live performance of "Shiftwork," their duet from Chesney's latest album, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates. Chesney and Strait are each nominated for multiple ACM awards, including entertainer of the year. Sugarland will perform "All I Want to Do," the first track from Love on the Inside, their new album that's scheduled for release on July 22. Pickler will debut her new single, "Don't You Know You're Beautiful," a track from her upcoming album.

In addition to his performance, Garth Brooks will be presented the first-ever ACM Crystal Milestone Award in honor of his career achievements. Rascal Flatts will receive The Home Depot Humanitarian Award in recognition of their ongoing community service and contributions to a variety of charities.

Among those appearing or presenting awards Sunday night include Clint Black, Sara Evans, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Randy Owen, John Rich, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker and Trisha Yearwood, along with Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw, magician Criss Angel and actress Kaley Cuoco.

Country music is already taking a high profile here. The ACM Awards show is the cover story of the Las Vegas Review-Journal's weekend entertainment guide. Also featured in the guide is an interview with Trace Adkins, who appears Friday at the Sunset Outdoor Amphitheater in nearby Henderson, Nev. The Las Vegas Hilton ran ads in the newspaper to play up its country music shows scheduled during the National Finals Rodeo in December. The lineup includes Brooks & Dunn, Gretchen Wilson and, as a solo act, John Rich.

Randy Owen and Sugarland are playing free concerts at the Fremont Street Experience as part of a promotion sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Owen, best known as Alabama's longtime lead vocalist, will appear Friday night, followed by Sugarland's performance on Saturday.

Live music will also follow the ACM's fifth annual charity motorcycle ride taking place Saturday. Hosted by Montgomery Gentry, artists participating in the ride include Keith Anderson, Sarah Buxton, Carolina Rain, Jamey Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Richie McDonald, James Otto and the Road Hammers. Also scheduled for Saturday is the ACM Celebrity Golf Classic hosted by Rascal Flatts.

Later Saturday, a selection of country's top newcomers will perform short sets during the ACM's Party for a Cause, a fundraiser for the organization's charitable fund. The event will include top new male vocalist nominees Luke Bryan, Jack Ingram and Jake Owen, top new female vocalist nominees Sarah Buxton, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift and top new vocal group or duo nominees Carolina Rain and Lady Antebellum. The Wreckers, who are also nominated in the latter category, are pursuing other projects and will not appear.

 

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Trace Adkins Honored by San Diego Families With Food Allergies
May 16, 2008
Trace Adkins accepted an award from the San Diego Food Allergy Support Group on Wednesday (May 14) prior to a show in the area. As the spokesman for the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), he met with parents of children with food allergies. His daughter, Brianna, suffers from severe food allergies to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts. Adkins also appeared on this season's Celebrity Apprentice to raise awareness of the issue. Food Allergy Awareness Week concludes on Saturday (May 17).

 

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Sugarland's New Album Due July 22
May 16, 2008
Sugarland will release their third album, Love on the Inside, on July 22 on Mercury Nashville. The duo will perform the album's first single, "All I Want to Do," on the Academy of Country Music awards in Las Vegas on Sunday (May 18). The single will be shipped digitally to country radio stations immediately after their performance. Band members Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush co-wrote all 13 tracks and co-produced the album with Byron Gallimore. The video for "All I Want to Do" will start airing on CMT.com Monday at 12:01 a.m. ET and on CMT at 9 a.m. ET.

 

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Gretchen Wilson Receives GED From Charlie Daniels
May 16, 2008
Gretchen Wilson received her GED certificate, the equivalent to a high school diploma, from Charlie Daniels on Thursday night (May 15) at First Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tenn. Wilson, who dropped out of school in the ninth grade, passed the test in April. She is expected to release her fourth album later this year. Near the beginning of his address, Daniels declared, "Gretchen Wilson, I am so proud of you." Wilson famously referenced Daniels in the lyrics of her breakout debut single, "Redneck Woman."

 

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Julianne Hough Dances to Top of Country Album Chart

Julianne Hough Dances to Top of Country Album Chart
Brad Paisley Still Singing No. 1 Song
May 31, 2008; Written by Edward Morris

Julianne Hough

The blindingly sunny Julianne Hough, of Dancing With the Stars fame, takes the blue ribbon this week as her self-titled debut CD leaps directly to the top of Billboard's country albums chart. In so doing, it tumbles the previous champ, Toby Keith's 35 Biggest Hits, back to No. 3.

In the song rankings, Brad Paisley's "I'm Still a Guy" continues to occupy the penthouse for the second consecutive week.

By Nielsen SoundScan's tally, Hough sold 67,000 albums her first week out, which is surely something to brag about. Even more impressive, perhaps, is the fact that Taylor Swift's eponymous first album, holder of the No. 2 spot this week, sold almost 33,000 copies during the same period -- and it's been on the market for 83 weeks.

The only other new album hitting the country chart this week is Cory Morrow's Vagrants & Kings, which logs in at No. 45. Jake Owens' Startin' With Me returns at No. 67, and Ronnie Milsap's 16 Biggest Hits at No. 75.

Songs making their first chart appearance are Sugarland's "All I Want to Do" (No. 27), Kellie Pickler's "Don't You Know You're Beautiful" (No. 56) and Chris Young's "Voices" (No. 60).

Rounding out the Top 5 albums are Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride (No. 4) and Sugarland's Enjoy the Ride (No. 5).

Trooping in descending order behind Paisley on the Top 5 songs list are Phil Vassar's "Love Is a Beautiful Thing," James Otto's "Just Got Started Lovin' You," Rascal Flatts' "Every Day" and Lady Antebellum's "Love Don't Live Here."

See you at the CMA Music Festival next week. I'll be the one wiping my forehead and carrying a plastic bag.

 

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NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Jessica Simpson "Goes Country" -- No Big Deal
The Sky Doesn't Fall, Nothing Much Else Seems Changed
May 29, 2008; Written by Chet Flippo

(NASHVILLE SKYLINE is a column by CMT/CMT.com Editorial Director Chet Flippo.)

Heard the new Jessica Simpson single. Later, a friend asked if I was outraged at yet another carpetbagger showing up in town, declaring country music citizenship and ready to partake of country's rewards. No, I said, I wasn't. For a lot of reasons.

I used to be a real purist, about all the forms of music that I love. Folk music -- my God, you had to practically be a card-carrying Trotskyite to qualify for true folkdom. Blues -- only aged black men need apply. Jazz -- inner city, beret, the right shades, the proper lingo, the correct namedropping. Country -- mainly Jimmie R., the Carters, E.T., Hank, Faron, Lefty, Patsy, Loretta, Dolly, George & Tammy, Merle, Kris, Johnny, Willie, Waylon, Emmylou, Randy, Alan, George. Classical -- music by dead, white, European males, if you please. But, you know, after you study society and culture for a while, especially American popular culture, you realize how much of a true mosaic and crazy quilt hodgepodge it is. Conceived by many minds and imaginations and built by many hands, with one basic common goal.

So, yeah, country music has survived a lot and can survive a lot more. A single by another pop refugee is not going to bring down the walls.

Simpson's new single is not bad. But it sounds as if it could be by any current female artist (one with no distinctive voice, that is). "Come on Over" is the title, in case you run across it. I had to look it up. The title somehow hasn't stuck with me. It is not the same "Come on Over" song that Shania Twain recorded in 1997 (which won a Grammy). But you have to wonder if the title of Simpson's song is a total coincidence.

Her song sounds like a utilitarian voice recording a heavily-produced, factory-written generic song, with carefully crafted steel and acoustic guitars, with almost too much of both, as if to point and say, "Listen to me -- I'm country! I could be the next Shania." At least there's no banjo.

Interesting that some radio stations are complaining that Simpson's single sounds too poppy. It actually sounds more country than say Rascal Flatts' or Carrie Underwood's current singles. Perhaps it just sounds as if it's trying too hard to be country with its aggressive instrumental approach.

But in looking at a video of the song, with Simpson all decked out in snug flannel shirt with a new brunette look, I have to agree with Mandi Bierly of Entertainment Weekly, as she suggests in a blog, that Simpson is being pitched as some kind of new Shania Twain, and it fairly well agitates Mandi. She writes, "If Simpson's people try to market her -- suddenly all brunette and fond of form-fitting flannel -- as the next Shania Twain, I will be forced to hurt someone." Watch your blood pressure, Mandi. Country has its own self-correcting process.

Simpson is all about posturing. Look, she almost seems to be saying. "I can portray a country singer. Therefore, I am a country singer." Well, no. I'll tell you some people who have successfully portrayed country singers. Sissy Spacek did a truly credible portrayal of Loretta Lynn. Reese Witherspoon did the same for June Carter Cash. Then they went back to doing what they do well, which is acting.

Carrie, Julianne, Jessica, Bon Jovi, Kid Rock, etc., have been coming to Nashville for years and still they come. Are they illegal immigrants or welcome newcomers? Country accepts some, spits the others out. A lot of people in the industry said it was impossible for James Otto to make it in country. Well, the audience snapped him right up. Country listeners are accepting Julianne Hough. You cannot force them to like someone that they do not like. That's a simple lesson.

Originally, country music was built by immigrants, and it has been populated and maintained ever since by people from all over.

Fred Rose, one of the greatest songwriters and probably the most important single figure in country music history, was a refugee from Tin Pan Alley. There have been others, artists and industry figures, from all walks of life.

No need for licensing potential country music practitioners, as some have suggested, or even building a wall to keep the barbarians out. The public will, as ever, be the final barometer. And poor Jessica, bless her Texas heart, has already been rejected by other formats. Turned away by the pop music audience and the movie-going audience. So where does she have left to go?

Toward the elephants' graveyard. Where pop and rock figures on their last legs go. To country music. If country music won't have them, it's their last stop on their long journey to the true elephants' graveyard itself.

 

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Julianne Hough's Country Music Career Takes a Major Step
Dancing With the Stars Provided National Attention in Advance of Debut Album
May 28, 2008; Written by Chet Flippo

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough, heretofore best known as a Dancing With the Stars stalwart, has embarked on a country music career. Released on May 20, her self-titled CD will debut at No. 1 this week on Billboard's country albums chart. This summer, she'll add to her country credentials by opening shows on Brad Paisley's tour that also features Jewel and Chuck Wicks.

During a recent visit to CMT's Nashville offices to tape a session of Unplugged at Studio 330, the Utah native took time for an interview. Here are excerpts from that conversation.

CMT: What first attracted you to country music?

Hough: I grew up listening to country music. I had a family band when I was about 3 years old all the way up until I was about 8, and we sang country music. The fans, the music, the artists -- they are all so real. It's so attractive to me. I just always loved it and always wanted to sing country music. I lived in London [attending a performing arts school] for five years, and I think I was probably one of very few people still listening to country music over there. I'd have my mom send me CDs.

What was your experience of attending the performing arts school as a child?

I went there to pursue the dancing. I had been winning all of these competitions, but I also had to go to school, so I went to a performing arts school there. I was acting and singing and dancing all styles of dance and all styles of music to opera and musicals. You name it, we did it. So we really had a great training system going on there for a 10-year-old. What was so great about that school was that everyone was trying to do the same thing and really accepting of each other's talents and rooting each other on. It was great. I had such a blast there. ... I love to act and sing and dance, and so I was, like, what do I love the most? It ended up being I love the singing the most.

What led to your move from London to Los Angeles?

When I was living in London, I was there for five years, and I decided I need to move back because my true passion is to sing. So I moved back. I was only 15, so I had to go back to my parents' house and graduate high school. I decided, well, I can go to Nashville straight away and be like every other talented artist in the pack and try to make it, or I can go to L.A. and use my dancing skills and connections that I've had over the years and meet people that way. It worked out that I could go on tour with the Dancing With the Stars live tour. I was just a background company dancer. Nobody knew who I was. A couple of weeks into it, one of the highlighted dancers got injured, and I took her spot. My music manager that I have today saw me on the tour and he was, like, "Who is that girl? She is kind of standing out to me. I wonder if she sings." So he came back with [artist manager] Irving Azoff. ... So I went and sang for him in a back room of one of the venues, and he was like, "OK. Let's do this." About three weeks later, [producers for] the television show, Dancing With the Stars, saw me on the tour as well and asked me to be on the show. So, I've got the music. I have some kind of connection where I can get started. So I did the show [Dancing] and did not expect to do as well as I did, and it all kind of played out from there. We were still continuing on with the music and here I am.

I know you have more or less studied Reba McEntire's performances. What did you learn?

Watching Reba perform or sing a song -- or even just listening to her records -- you can feel the emotion come through the song and the character. You, as a fan, are able to relate and connect to her so well. That is the beauty of music. And, really, getting a fan base is the fact that they can relate, they can connect, and that is so Reba. Just to be in the presence of her is just amazing. ... When I was doing this album, I wanted to use that a little bit. I wanted to make it real and organic and have the imperfections and the character come through.

Have you talked to Reba about how to do all this?

I've never met Reba before! I saw her at the CMT Music Awards. She walked past, and I was like a star-struck little girl. I just watched her as she walked past. I would love to meet her, and any advice she could give me would be amazing.

Do you think you're able to apply the acting techniques you've learned to songs that were written by other people?

Absolutely. I know a lot of songs where people haven't personally written it or experienced that. You can still look at actors and people that are playing a role that definitely is not who they are, but they can make you feel like that is who they are. So it's the same with singing and the songs that you sing. To get the point across, you have to be able to act and have chemistry with the words and bringing your character across.

What will you be five years from now and 10 years from now?

Oh, my goodness! Well, I always set goals for myself. I think when I was 8 years old, I even set the goal that I would be a singer by the time I was 19 -- which is crazy. But I have a lot of ambitions and dreams. As for the next five years, I want to be able to go on tour and accomplish another album and, maybe in the next 10 years, be able to branch out and open up a performing arts school and be able to dabble my feet in a little bit of acting. That's a passion of mine, as well. I kind of take one day at a time. Sometimes if I think about too many things, I get ahead of myself. I always believe in myself, no matter what. I think one of the biggest things I've learned over the years -- and I know I'm only 19, but I have had a lot of experiences -- is that you can't really do anything and give your whole heart and soul to it unless you love yourself and really be able to just feel confident in your own skin. No matter what you do, you're doing it for yourself, and of course for the fans and everything, but obviously if you don't love what you're doing, it won't be real. So that's kind of the biggest thing I've learned. I'll just continue with the music and go on tour and write and do duets and just experience this whole exciting moment going on right now