Country Stars Flock To “Birdhouse Thing” 

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The 9th annual Birdhouse Thing, a live and silent auction of birdhouses decorated and signed by recording artists, fine artists and local celebrities, will be held Thursday, March 11 at Nashville’s W. O. Smith Music School. Proceeds will benefit the school, which has been providing 50-cent music lessons to Nashville’s underserved children for more than 25 years.

Country stars who have contributed decorated and signed birdhouses include Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Wynonna, Josh Turner, Vince Gill, Kellie Pickler, Sara Evans, Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Danny Gokey, Keith Anderson, LeAnn Rimes, Gretchen Wilson, Ray Price, Clint Black and others. Celebrities including Billy Bob Thornton, golfer John Daly, the Nashville Predators along with artisans Paul Harmon, Diana Johnson Wiles, Delia Seigenthaler and Bob McGill have also donated houses.

In addition to birdhouses, paintings, sculpture and other pieces of fine art by artists including Cindy Wunsch, Joanna Carter, Charlie Dyer, Toni Hooper and others will be auctioned and a silent auction will include hotel stays, golf outings and other gift packages. Food will be provided by more than a dozen of Nashville’s top caterers and restaurants along with wine, martinis, margaritas and other adult beverages.

Tickets for the Birdhouse Thing are $40 and are available here or by calling 615-255-8355.

Faith Hill Judges “Project Runway”

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Five-time Grammy winner Faith Hill recently took a break from recording her upcoming album in Nashville to fly to New York City and participate as a guest judge on the season finale of Lifetime’s hit reality series, Project Runway. Hill flew into New York City on Wednesday, February 10, just in time for the massive snowstorm that had just dumped more than a foot of snow on the city to film the Project Runway finale.

Hill attended the finale fashion show on Friday, February 12, along with Project Runway host Heidi Klum and judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. 

After seeing ten Runway designers’ collections, Hill, Klum, Garcia and Kors went to an undisclosed location in the city, where the judges’ deliberations were filmed and a winner for season 7 was chosen.

“What I saw was truly extraordinary and it made judging very difficult,” Hill says. “Designers, by trade, are always capable of sewing their own clothing, but the tailoring that I saw was extremely impressive; a few in particular knocked me out. The passion that these individuals showed, and their eagerness to learn from feedback and criticism, should prove an inspiration for those that follow them.“

“Faith Hill stepped into the toughest Project Runway guest judging seat of the season — the finale, which made her a deciding voice in naming the winner,” said Runway Executive Producer Sara Rea. “She took on the task with flying colors.”

Cub Scouts Visit Lofton Creek 

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Lofton Creek Records opened the doors of their Mt. Juliet offices on Saturday, February 13 to Cub Scout Pack 913 from nearby Lakeview Elementary School. The scouts were able to use the visit to earn their Music Badges.

Members of the Cub Scout pack toured the facility, learned the ropes of a record label and had the opportunity to meet Lofton Creek artist Adam Fisher. Fisher sang a few songs and signed photos and CD’s for the kids.

“I was very honored that Mike Borchetta, the President of Lofton Creek, asked me to attend this event,” said Fisher. “It was a great experience and I think the troop learned a lot. I sure had a lot of fun singing and eating breakfast with these kids!”

Fisher’s current single, “Cotton Town,” which was produced by Stella Parton, is currently impacting radio.

Lady A To Perform On “Oprah”

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With Grammys in hand and their sophomore album, Need You Now, already attaining Platinum certification, Capitol Nashville’s Lady Antebellum will make their debut on The Oprah Winfrey Show live this Friday (2/19). The trio will be part of this week’s “Oprah Fridays Live” show, where the popular talk show host discusses the latest news and headlines. Lady Antebellum will perform a medley of their award-winning, record-setting No. 1 hits “I Run To You” and “Need You Now.”

Following their live performance on Oprah, Lady A will head off to Roanoke, Virginia, where they will perform that same night at the Roanoke Civic Center along with headliner Tim McGraw.

Following Lady A’s performance on the Grammy Awards in January,  Need You Now shot straight to No. 1 on the all-genre iTunes chart where it remained for over a week. The album is still in the top 5 on the iTunes chart.

Starbucks, Soundstage Get Willie’s “Country Music”

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Willie Nelson’s latest release, a collection of classic country songs aptly titled Country Music, will have a prominent promotional profile thanks in part to Starbucks and PBS‘ Soundstage. Produced by T Bone Burnett and released on Rounder Records, Country Music is set for release on April 20.

Starting on the album’s street date, the CD will be available for sale at all Starbucks stores for four weeks.

As part of the lineup of its eighth season, popular PBS live-music series Soundstage will also celebrate Country Music when it begins airing an episode featuring Nelson and his-eight piece band in an intimate setting with fans gathered around the stage. Soundstage featuring Nelson will begin airing nationally on Feburary 25. Check local listings for air times. Country Music’s deceptively simple concept is reminiscent of Nelson’s 1978 release, Stardust, a critical and commercial triumph which found the singer interpreting classics  from The Great American Songbook.

ole Publishing Gets “Cat In The Hat”

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Under a new deal with Random House Children’s Entertainment, ole music publishing will co-own all compositions in the new series The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That starring Dr. Seuss’ famous character from the classic children’s book, The Cat in the Hat. Developed as a co-production by Canada’s Portfolio Entertainment and the U.K.’s Collingwood O’Hare Entertainment, the series will air on PBS KIDS and will star the voice of actor/comedian, Martin Short.

Random House Children’s Books will also publish a full line of books to support the television series launch and will oversee a limited slate of licensing and merchandising efforts.

“ole is now one of the largest publishers of children’s TV music in the world and we’re pleased to be part of the ongoing story of perhaps the greatest and most enduring children’s brand of all time,” says ole CEO, Robert Ott.

“Ringside” Benefit Set For March

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The 6th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids has been set for Friday, March 5 at The Factory’s Liberty Hall in Franklin, Tennessee beginning at 6:30 PM. The event will benefit The Charley Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides support to charitable agencies addressing the critical needs of children. Nashville’s premiere charity boxing event, Ringside will feature a gourmet dinner, surprise musical performances and celebrity guests, a live auction and four professional boxing bouts.

In addition, the evening will include a “Rumble on the Row” match-up pitting Columbia Nashville VP of National Promotion Jimmy Rector against amateur boxer Jon Jayne.

“I love the work the Charley Foundation does on behalf of Nashville’s children,” says Rector.  “If me getting hit in the face a few times can make a child’s’ life better, then I am in.”

Table sponsorships for the event are available, as well as individual tickets at $250.00 each. Online donation can be made here. Contact Carolyn Miller at (615)297-3099 ext. 103 for details.

Last year’s event, The 5th Annual Ringside: A Fight for Kids featured special guest Martina McBride and raised over $100,000 dollars for The Charley Foundation.

Chesney Joins Steve Miller for “CMT Crossroads”

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Kenny Chesney, Steve Miller

In the latest installment of CMT Crossroads, country superstar Kenny Chesney will share the stage with one of his biggest influences, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller. CMT Crossroads: The Steve Miller Band and Kenny Chesney will tape in March and premiere on CMT later in 2010.

This will be Chesney’s second appearance on the Crossroads series, after a 2003 episode with John Mellencamp. Chesney is a longtime friend of Miller’s, whose 40-year career includes more than 25 million records sold, numerous No. 1 hits, and a regular tour schedule even today.

“When Steve called and asked, I was ready to go,” Chesney says. “His songs are so much fun, so much a part of who anyone growing up who’s a rock fan is. He’s so down-to-Earth, so easy-going, you’d never know what a big star he is. Everything he’s done… songs like ‘Take The Money and Run,’ ‘Jet Airliner,’ ‘Fly Like An Eagle,’ ‘Livin’ In The USA’ and ‘The Joker’. He’s been on the road for four decades and he’s just as good now, not to mention the way he can play a guitar! It is truly an honor to get to do this with him.”

David Nail, Laura Bell Bundy Visit ACM

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Rising UMG Nashville artists David Nail and Laura Bell Bundy visited the Academy of Country Music offices during recent trips to Los Angeles.

David Nail visited the Academy of Country Music in Los Angeles recently to perform for ACM staffers. He was in LA taping CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, which aired Feb. 15. Pictured: L-R: David Nail, Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director

Mercury Nashville recording artist Laura Bell Bundy visited the ACM recently to sign up for professional membership. The Tony Award nominee's debut album, "Achin' and Shakin'," will be released in 2010. Pictured (L-R): Stuart Dill, Sanctuary Artist Management, Gayle Holcomb, WME, Laura Bell Bundy, Bob Romeo, ACM

Krauss, Big Kenny Set Haiti Relief Show

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Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will headline a concert at the Ryman to benefit Compassion International’s Haiti disaster relief fund.

Big Kenny is hosting this Nashville edition of “Help Haiti Live” on Feb. 27, while another fundraiser will take place simultaneously in Los Angeles. Kenny will perform at the Ryman show along with Jars of Clay, Mat Kearney, Brandon Heath, Dave Barnes, and Matt Wertz.

On the Los Angeles schedule are Amy Grant, Rebecca St. James, NEEDTOBREATHE, Francis Chan and a yet-to-be announced guest. The concerts are sponsored by Gaylord Entertainment Company and will be streamed live at HelpHaitiLive.com.

Tickets will range in price from $25-$65, and can be purchased via Ticketmaster, as well as through the Ryman box office (800–745-3000) and The Ryman’s web site.

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Another local concert raised money to help Haiti last month. The Haiti Relief Concert at Brentwood United Methodist Church, starring co-hosts Point of Grace and Mark Schultz, raised over $50,000 to benefit the relief efforts of United Methodist Committee on Relief. That amount does not include on-line giving made available during the live webcasts.

Pictured: (L-R) Front Row: David Lee, Sanctuary Artist Mgmt; Stuart Dill, Sanctuary Artist Mgmt; Rev. Cliff Wright, BUMC; Amy Perry, Selah; Shelley Breen, POG; Leigh Cappillino, POG; Denise Jones, POG; Ginny Owens, Jill Tomalty, Word. Back Row: Greg Lucid, Lucid Artist Mgmt; Rev. Rob Huckaby, BUMC; J. Rollins, UMCOR;, Todd Smith, Selah; Mark Schultz, Larry Stewart, Rod Riley, Word; Melissa Hinnen, UMCOR.