Rascal Flatts Tour Runs Through March

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rascalflattsRascal Flatts today announced the final leg of their Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour, sponsored by JCPenney with associate sponsor Hershey’s. The tour will restart on January 15 & 16 in Uncasville, CT at the Mohegan Sun Arena and the band will perform 23 shows through March 13, wrapping in Oklahoma City at the Ford Center. Darius Rucker will continue as opening act.
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The first leg of the Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour sold 550,000 tickets in 39 shows since it began in June 2009. This total also includes the two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Columbus’ Crew Stadium. The band’s 2009 tours have sold over a million concert tickets, bringing their 4 year total to just over 4 million tickets sold.

Sony Preps 2010 Launch of Thompson, Gokey

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Thompson’s debut single, “Beer On The Table,” was the inspiration for his “Whack-A-Beer” game on his new web site. www.joshthompsonofficial.com lets visitors view videos and upload photos, follow Josh on Twitter, check on upcoming events, and interact in the online forums. Fans also have the ability to stream and purchase all four tracks from Thompson’s newly released self-titled digital EP.  

Thompson’s debut single, “Beer On The Table,” was the inspiration for the “Whack-A-Beer” game on his new web site. www.joshthompsonofficial.com

Sony Nashville is building up to the 2010 launches of new artists Josh Thompson and Danny Gokey. Both acts have already released their first singles to radio, and their full-length debut albums will arrive after the first of the year.

Thompson’s debut album Way Out Here is due Feb. 23, 2010 via Columbia Nashville. He has a writing credit on every song of the Michael Knox produced project. Thompson has already released a digital four-track EP, including the single “Beer On The Table,” which is currently at No. 36 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart.

He has spent much of the last year touring, playing over 100 shows and growing his fan base. The Wisconsin native arrived in Nashville in 2005, and eventually scored his first major cut as a songwriter with “Growing Up Is Getting Old,” the title track of Jason Michael Carroll’s current album.

Gokey is a familiar name to followers of the most recent season of American Idol. Signed to 19 Recordings/RCA Nashville, he is busy working on his debut album and making promotional stops on the road, in support of his new single, “My Best Days Are Ahead of Me.” The digital single will be available on Dec. 22, with a full album arriving early next year.

He recently performed on FOX’s Good Day Atlanta, sang the national anthem prior to the Bobcats/Celtics NBA match-up, and followed that with appearances at two Thanksgiving Day parades.

Dierks Hosts Benefits, Heads For TV

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2wqtkbsDierks Bentley will be the first country artist to perform on the late night show Lopez Tonight today (12/8) at 10pm CST on TBS. Bentley will be joined by special guest Patty Griffin for a performance of “Beautiful World,” recently nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award in the “Country Collaboration with Vocals” category.

In related news, Bentley’s Miles & Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and concert series made a stop in Phoenix on Nov. 21 and raised $200,000 for Phoenix Childrens Hospital over the course of the weekend, bringing the 2009 total for both the Nashville and Phoenix events to over $400,000. Bentley was joined by Jessi Colter, Jimmy Wayne, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers and a sold-out crowd of over 3,400 bikers and fans. Also, “Beautiful World” was recently offered as a free download through CMT One Country in support of Miles & Music for Kids.

CMA Exec. Dir. Search Coming In January

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The Country Music Association’s national search to replace former head Tammy Genovese, who resigned from the company Dec. 2, will commence in January 2010 to coincide with the new CMA Board Session.

According to CMA Board Chairman Randy Goodman, a search committee will be named before year end, and its members will hire a national search firm to identify and vet qualified applicants. No applications are currently being accepted, but a process for submitting applicants will be announced at a later time.

Taylor Swift–On Demand

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taylor_swift_13557Taylor Swift is getting her own On Demand channel via Comcast cable. Through an exclusive partnership the cable provider will show her hit music videos, behind-the-scene clips and special programming such as her recent Saturday Night Live episode. Much of the content will be available in high definition for the first time.

Videos included in the collection will be “You Belong With Me,” “Love Story,” “Fifteen,” “Teardrops On My Guitar,” “Picture to Burn” and the number one On Demand country single of 2009 – “Our Song.”

Music is one of On Demand’s most popular categories, with 50-60 million views per month. On Demand is available for viewing at any time. Other artists who have entered similar agreements with Comcast are Green Day and U2.

Swift also recently partnered with American Greetings Corp. to create a line of greeting cards, gift packaging, stationery, online photo personalization products and online greetings, which are scheduled to be out by spring 2010.

Rascal Flatts To Appear on “CSI”

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small.b75lxj8w0d5xRascal Flatts will appear on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, slated to shoot in January and air early 2010. The series airs on Thursdays at 8 pm CT on CBS Television. The band will play themselves in a storyline that finds one of the members in harm’s way.

Back in 2006, Rascal Flatts members Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney guest starred on the television series Yes, Dear.

Americana Assc.’s Star Lyric Sheet Auction

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Parton's lyrics to "I Will Always Love You"

Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton and Bon Jovi are among the superstar artists and songwriters who have donated handwritten lyric sheets to an auction to benefit the Americana Music Association.

The auction is the centerpiece of an evening of entertainment called An American Artform, which includes performances by acclaimed singer/songwriter John Hiatt and friends. Tickets also include cocktails and hors d’ouerves from the Clean Plate Club.

An American Artform will take place Monday, Dec. 14 at Tinney Contemporary Gallery in Downtown Nashville from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased only by calling the Americana Music Association 615-386-6936.

Nelson's lyrics to "On The Road Again"

Nelson's lyrics to "On The Road Again"

Artists who have donated the personally handwritten and signed lyrics include: Bon Jovi, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Buddy Miller, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Nanci Griffith, John Oates, Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Cowboy Jack Clement, John Hiatt, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Monty Holmes & Leslie Satcher, John Prine, Rodney Crowell, Jack Ingram, Darrell Scott, Joe Ely, Miranda Lambert, JD Souther, Phil Everly, Jim Lauderdale, Marty Stuart, Jimmy Fadden, Michael McDonald, Chip Taylor, Peter Frampton, James McMurtry, Dan Tyminski, Mary Gauthier, Tift Merritt, and Lucinda Williams.

To view the artwork and bid online go to www.americanamusicauction.com.

Tonight: Carrie’s Christmas Special W/ Paisley, Parton

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carrieCarrie Underwood headlines a two-hour holiday variety special tonight (12/7) on FOX. She will perform Christmas classics, as well as music from her new album Play On and her other monster hits.

Underwood will be joined on stage by special musical guests including fellow Country stars Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley. Also on board to appear are David Cook, Kristin Chenoweth, Christina Applegate and Sons of Sylvia. Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special airs tonight at 7 PM/CT on FOX.

Hit Songwriters Set For Nashville Underground Show

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nuNashville Underground, the record label started by artist/songwriters/husband-and-wife team Lari White and Chuck Cannon to showcase Music City’s elite group of tunesmiths is celebrating its 10th Anniversary this month.

Lari White

Lari White

They’ve lined up an all-star concert of hit writers and put together a new 4-disc retrospective set to mark the occasion. Performing at 3rd & Lindsley on Dec. 10 at 7 PM, will be Bob DiPiero, Chuck Jones, Jill Colucci, Danny Flowers, Gary Burr, Angela Kaset, Victoria Shaw, Pam Rose, Mary Ann Kennedy, and Stephen Allen Davis.

The box set called 10 Years of Nashville Underground – The Complete Sampler Series Vol. I-IV is available for pre-order at www.nashvilleunderground.com for $19.95. Pre-order customers will receive a free autographed copy of Cannon’s Love and Money CD and a Nashville Underground T-shirt.

Chuck Cannon

Chuck Cannon

Tickets to the 10th Anniversary concert are $10 and can be purchased in advance at www.3rdandlindsley.com or at the door. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the NSAI legislative fund.

Jason Aldean Goes Platinum

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jason aldean newOnly eight months after its release, Jason Aldean’s third studio album Wide Open has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for shipments of one million copies. This makes Aldean the first solo country artist in 2009 to release an album that earned Platinum status in the same calendar year. Wide Open sales were spurred by the No. 1 hits “She’s Country” and “Big Green Tractor.”

Aldean’s first live DVD Wide Open Live & More has also been certified Gold as he wraps up the best year of his career. And he shows no signs of slowing down as his single “The Truth” hits No. 15 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart this week.

“Getting my first platinum album back in 2006 was one of the proudest moments in my career so far,” said the Broken Bow Records artist. “Put this one at the top of that list too. 2009 was a really special year for me, and I have so much to be thankful for going into the holidays!”