Artist News: Walker Cares, Daniels Rings, Wilson Rocks and More

Clay Walker, multi-platinum artist and founder of Band Against MS (BAMS), received the Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award during the Fearless Caregiver Conference in Nashville on Wednesday, March 10. Today’s Caregiver magazine awarded Walker with its highest honor after his keynote speech on how to become a fearless caregiver.

This is only the fourth time an individual has received this honor in the organization’s history. He was on hand during the conference to help field questions about multiple sclerosis as well as caring for loved ones with the disease. Walker was featured on the cover of the magazine’s October 2009 Rural Caregiver issue, as well as in a full, four-page spread about his family, his battle with MS and his involvement with BAMS.

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Urban and Jackson Visit GAC
Superstars Keith Urban and Alan Jackson are both featured on GAC’s Top 20 Countdown in the coming week. The artists stopped by GAC’s Music Row studios for a chat with show host Nan Kelley. Urban talked about his ACM Entertainer of the Year nomination as well as life on the road and with his family. Jackson shared info about Freight Train, his soon to be released 18th album and his excitement at getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame later next month. The show will air on Friday, March 26 at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Also airing on GAC several times over the coming week is Alan Jackson: Aquapalooza, the singer’s live lakeside concert special.

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Download Daniels
Charlie Daniels fans can now download a free ringtone of the music heard in the venerable country star’s recent GEICO commercial here or at www.charliedaniels.com. The ringtone features the fiddle solo Daniels plays in the restaurant during the commercial. The ad is one of four spots currently airing as part of GEICO’s “Rhetorical Questions” campaign.

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Rascal Flatts Visit Ellen
ACM Vocal Group of The Year nominee Rascal Flatts will travel to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida this weekend to tape an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, set to air on April 2. The trio will perform their rapidly rising hit single, “Unstoppable,” which is currently #12 and climbing on Billboard.

The band, who recently wrapped up its Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour, is currently in the studio working on a new album and will soon announce a new summer tour.

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Another Gold Cert For Keith
Toby Keith is already two hits into his new album American Ride, but one of the biggest hits from his last album is still making noise. “God Love Her,” Keith’s multi-week No. 1 from That Don’t Make Me A Bad Guy has achieved RIAA Gold certification for sales of more than 500,000 copies. Meanwhile, Keith’s upcoming American Ride Tour is expected to pack venues
this summer. The new tour will echo last year’s America’s Toughest Tour with the inclusion of his new labelmate Trace Adkins.

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Rich Fetes Wilson
The party was on once again this past Thursday (3/25) at Mt. Richmore, John Rich’s hilltop monument in the middle of Nashville. Rich himself hosted the bash dedicated to now-indie artist Gretchen Wilson. The crowd enjoyed drinks from the fully stocked bar and cigars from Rich’s own humidor as Wilson rocked the house with songs from her new release, I Got Your Country Right Here, along with selections from Led Zeppelin, Foreigner and Patsy Cline.