Happening Back Then: In honor of Edward Kennedy’s passing, MusicRow’s longtime photographic contributor Alan Mayor sent in this photo yesterday with a note: “I went back in my files and found this shot of Teddy Kennedy visiting the Hall of Fame in 1980 when he was running against Jimmy Carter. That’s Bill Ivey standing next to him under the Grandpa Jones plaque.”

Happening Back Then is a regular feature in the subscriber-only @MusicRow.

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Taylor Swift plays “Maria” in MTV’s recreation of West Side Story, called “VMA Side Story.” Check out the clip below, also featuring pop singer Katy Perry, promoting the 2009 Video Music Awards. The show, where Swift is nominated, airs Sept. 13 at 8 PM/CT.

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Operator Connect Me With A Record Deal: Christy McDonald, the former WB receptionist that also appeared a few years ago on Nashville Star has been signed to Curb Records. Her production team is yet to be announced, but it appears she will be co-produced by Curb A&R head Doug Johnson and former WB Nashville President Jim Ed Norman.

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The 12th Annual Buds N Suds Canoe Float Presented By SOLID, benefiting the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, will take place tomorrow (8/29) at Duck River Canoe Rental in Chapel Hill, TN. It is $30 for an individual or $50 per couple. Registration available on-site with cash or check. There will be a T-shirt, goody bags, a Poker Run, Cornhole Tournament, lunch and more. For more details email Karen Light at [email protected] or Jason Krupek at [email protected]. www.myspace.com/budsnsudsevent

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The major label debut from the Zac Brown Band has been certified Platinum. Read more here.

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Loretta Lynn’s Ranch at Hurricane Mills will host a three-day songwriters and music festival Oct. 2-4. There will be live music, dancing, music business classes, food judging contests and much more. Songwriters of all styles and skill levels will share their songs on multiple outdoor stages. There will be numerous opportunities for anyone who wants to to perform, even an after hours Camp Fire Sing Ring. The family-friendly event will feature games like watermelon seed spitting, and arts and crafts booths. For information visit www.SongWritersFestival.com or call 615-424-1491.

Loretta Lynn’s Dude Ranch, about 65 miles west of Nashville, is a full-service RV park and campsite, with swimming pool, canoeing, paddle boats, nature trails, and the Coal Miners Daughter Museum.

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The Queen of Country Music Kitty Wells will be celebrating her 90th birthday this Sunday at the Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville. David McCormick, owner of the Ernest Tubb Record Shops, is organizing the two-hour tribute which will be broadcast over WSM radio and online at www.wsmonline.com from 2-4 PM CT, featuring special guests paying tribute to Wells. The celebration is an invitation only event.

Live On the Green, Nashville’s new, free outdoor concert series, will take place over six consecutive Thursday nights starting Sept. 3 with performances by rockers the Toadies, American Bang, and the variety of artists featured on this year’s Ten Out of Tenn compilation album and tour.

The series runs through Oct. 8 and will take place each week at 6 p.m. on the Public Square in front of the Metro Courthouse downtown. The fall concert series, hosted by Mayor Karl Dean and Lightning 100, will promote environmental responsibility with on-site recycling, a free bike check, and merchandise made from recyclable and organic materials. Lightning 100’s Team Green will be organizing community events, such as tree plantings and clean-ups, to offset the carbon footprint for the concert series in an effort to make it a carbon-neutral event.

Rabbit Hole Recording, a new company started by Jake Jorgovan and Kevin Fulda, is sponsoring the event by providing audio/video production services.

The complete list of shows and artists is available online at www.liveonthegreen.net.

Jake Owen and his twin brother Jarrod stopped by The Big D and Bubba Show in Nashville this week. Big D and Bubba, along with Jake, have been trying to play matchmaker for weeks and finally got the opportunity to surprise Jarrod in studio with a blind date.

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BMI songwriter and Curb recording artist Lee Brice entertained at the South Carolina Broadcasters Association annual convention held in Columbia. Brice, a native of South Carolina, entertained the crowd with his numerous charting singles and his most current, “Love Like Crazy,” which debuted on radio this week.

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Black River Music Group artists Jeff Bates, Sarah Darling and Emma Jacob were in Fayetteville, NC to perform for WKML’s sold-out songwriter event recently. This is the fifth year for the show and the first time it sold out. While in town, the radio station received a call from local firefighters who wanted to attend the concert but couldn’t since they were on duty. When the artists found out they had fans at the fire company they decided to stop by for a visit.

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Laura Bryna made her L.A. debut Aug. 11 at the House of Blues on Sunset Strip. She performed songs from her debut CD, Trying to be Me, as well as some new material destined for a follow up CD in 2010. The concert event also featured tributes to a number of special American ‘Hometown Heroes,’ including Women of the Air National Guard and five everyday unsung heroes flown to L.A. as part of a national search contest sponsored by Bryna, Southern Beauty magazine, JOICO, It’s A Glam Thing and the Andaz Hotel.