Country Co-hosts on “Today”

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Blake Shelton and Hoda Kotb on the Today show.

Country stars are filling-in as co-hosts on NBC’s Today show this week. Yesterday (8/23) Blake Shelton joined Hoda Kotb while regular co-host Kathie Lee Gifford is out on vacation. Amid jokes about the need for a five-second delay and his notorious Tweets, Shelton serenaded Kotb, showed off his cooking skills, and talked about his fashion sense.

Today (8/24) Martina McBride was the guest, chatting about her favorite cover songs, family life and her ’92 Honda. See the video clip below.

Look for John Rich tomorrow (8/25), Trisha Yearwood on Thursday (8/26) and Josh Turner on Friday (8/27). Turner will perform his current single, “All Over Me.”

See more here.

Trailer Choir

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“It’s nearly Fall. It’s Tailgate time and with this song Trailer Choir delivers a fun, upbeat hit for Country Radio. It’s perfect for the season!”
Tim Roberts, WYCD/WOMC Operations/Program Director.

Trailer Choir has long been known for its energetic live shows, so it’s only appropriate the group’s latest single was ‘born’ at a concert. “Shakin’ That Tailgate” is the result of lead vocalist Butter having a chance meeting backstage with artist/writer Brady Seals.

“We had just arrived backstage for our performance at KBWF’s 2009 Beach Ball Free For All,” Butter recalls. “Brady was just finishing his last song on stage and I was like ‘damn, that’s Brady Seals.’ I’ve loved everything this guy has done. So I bum rushed him like a frantic groupie as he walked offstage, introduced myself and asked him if he had any old songs sitting around the garage that might work for us.

“The very next morning he emailed me 10 songs to check out. I kept coming back to this song called ‘Bonnie’ because of a phrase I kept saying over and over in my head—’shakin’ that tailgate.’ I came up with a rough verse and chorus melody and called him, and after I got over the fact that I was actually talking to Brady Seals on the phone, I proposed my idea to make ‘shakin’ that tailgate’ a song. He said ‘I’m in,’ and two days later we gave birth to a 6 pound 3 ounce little baby song called ‘Shakin’ That Tailgate’.”

“Shakin’ That Tailgate” is the latest single from the trio’s Show Dog-Universal Music debut CD Tailgate which shows off Butter and vocal partners, the lovely Crystal and the 382-pound guy in overalls, Big Vinny.

Connect: @TrailerChoir; www.Trailorchoir.com; Facebook

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Luke Bryan Scores Back-to-Back Gold

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Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Luke Bryan has just scored his second consecutive RIAA certified Gold digital single for “Rain Is A Good Thing.”

In the last nine months, Bryan has been at the top of his career game. He celebrated his first No. 1 with “Do I,” which was Gold® certified. Then he had a two-week run at No. 1 with “Rain Is A Good Thing.”

Bryan was also named the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Artist and Top New Solo Vocalist, both fan-voted, and won a CMT trophy for the fan-voted USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of The Year for “Do I.” The Georgia native also received Teen Choice Award nominations for Male Country Artist and Country Album.

Bryan will hit the road on Jason Aldean’s Wide Open Tour this fall.

Dolly Heads Back To The Big Screen

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Dolly Parton is set for a return to the silver screen. She’ll star alongside Queen Latifah in Joyful Noise, a musically driven feature about an unlikely partnership between two strong-minded women who are forced to work together to save a small town choir from budget cuts. Joyful Noise is expected to include musical contributions from Parton who is writing a few songs for the movie. Parton plays the widow of the late choir director. Latifah plays the person who is in charge of the choir follow the director’s death.

Parton has previously starred in Steel Magnolias, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and the Academy Award-nominated 9-5.

“I’m really happy to be doing a movie with Queen Latifah,” she says. “I really like her and have often thought we would be fun together. Even though we play rivals in the movie, I’m sure we’ll have our fun behind the scenes. I’m so happy to be doing a movie about music—especially happy because it’s Gospel music which I grew up singing and loving.”

Todd Graff (Camp, Bandslam, Used People) wrote the screenplay and will direct. Warner Bros.-based Alcon Entertainment (Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove) will finance and produce along with Farrell Paura Productions and O.N.C. Entertainment.

Marty Stuart’s “Ghost Train” Rides Today

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Marty Stuart has a new album out today (8/24) on Sugar Hill Records. Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions is already garnering praise from outlets like No Depression. He’ll tour in support of the release, kicking off the run tomorrow night (8/25) at Nashville’s Belcourt Theatre.

Tonight at 6:30 PM Stuart will make an appearance at Davis-Kidd Booksellers to unveil The Art of Country Music, an in-store display featuring vintage photographs and country memorabilia from his world-class personal collection, as well as his selection of the best country music books and albums. He’ll also discuss and sign copies of his new project.

For more on Stuart’s Ghost Train, check out this Nashville Scene article.

Walden’s Puddle Palooza Gets Wet

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The 2010 Walden’s Puddle “Puddle-Palooza” benefit concert and festival was held Aug. 21 at Nashville’s Yogi Bear™ Jellystone Park and hosted by the Music Valley Merchants Association. Strong afternoon rains curtailed a portion of the concert. The event raises funds for Walden’s Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. In addition to the concert, other family-friendly activities offered include swimming, hiking, mini-golf, hayrides, volleyball, appearances by Jellystone’s Yogi Bear™ and more. Artists scheduled to perform included John Anderson, Lane Brody, Cerrito, Rodney Crowell and the Notorious Cherry Bombs, Jypsi, HLN news anchor Robin Meade, Victoria Shaw, Keni Thomas, Emily West and additional special guests.

(L-R) Lane Brody and John Anderson greet the crowd. Photo: izzynashville.com

Promo Update: Big Machine; Quarterback

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Kris Lamb

Big Machine Label Group has named Mandy McCormack National Director, Radio Marketing, and added Kris Lamb to fill her former West Coast Regional post.

In the newly-created role, McCormack will work with Sr. Director, New Media & National Promotion Strategy John Zarling in managing national promotion campaigns for artists on the Big Machine and Valory rosters. 

McCormack has been on the Big Machine team since 2005 and handled promotion in the Midwest, Southwest and West.

Mandy McCormack

Lamb most recently held the West Coast role at Lyric Street Records where he served for five years. His track record also includes time at KMLE/Phoenix. As the West Coast Regional, Promotion & Marketing, he will report to Big Machine Records VP/Promotion Jack Purcell. “He’s an airplay assassin to the ‘nth degree and rounds out the label group’s west coast airplay trio now known as: Loss, Lamb & Lewis with the motto…’play me or your PPM dies’,” says Purcell.

McCormack will remain based in Los Angeles and can be reached at [email protected] and 615-419-1513. Lamb will be based in Phoenix and begins with the label today (8/23). Contact him at [email protected] and at 615-418-0580.

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Quarterback Records has hired Bill Lubitz as Director of Promotion, West Coast/Southwest, effective today. “When we started talking with Bill we quickly realized he is the perfect addition to Quarterback’s team,” says Quartback head Chris Allums.

Lubitz comes to Quarterback after a stint with Stoney Creek Records, handling the west coast for the launch of that imprint. He is a 10-year radio veteran, most recently serving as Music Director with Clear Channel’s KWNR in Las Vegas. Lubitz is based in Las Vegas and can be reached at [email protected] or 702-580-6886.

Chesney Shares Details of Deluxe Edition

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Kenny Chesney will release a deluxe edition of his upcoming album Hemingway’s Whiskey. The CD-plus-DVD set will be out September 28, just like the regular package.

The expanded set’s CD includes two bonus tracks and an in-depth conversation with Chesney about each of the songs. The DVD’s half-hour of content includes a thank you from Kenny to the fans, and a video cut by cut on each of the 13 tracks on the Deluxe Edition. Quantities of the deluxe edition will be limited.

The album’s lead single, “The Boys of Fall,” is at No. 3 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout Chart and is available at all digital retailers.

Hemingway’s Whiskey – Deluxe Edition
1. The Boys of Fall
2. Live A Little
3. Coastal
4. You And Tequila (featuring Grace Potter)
5. Seven Days
6. Small Y’all (Duet with George Jones)
7. Where I Grew Up
8. Reality
9. Round And Round
10. Somewhere With You
11. Hemingway’s Whiskey
12. Ain’t Ever Going Back Again (Bonus Track)
13. I Didn’t Get Here Alone (Bonus Track)

The Country Network To Air Via Sinclair

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The new music video channel The Country Network (TCN) has been picked up by Sinclair Broadcast Group and will be available in some markets by October. Tammy Genovese joined TCN’s Music Row office as Pres. TCN Nashville in April.

TCN and Sinclair have entered into an agreement to launch TCN’s star-hosted music video programming on the broadcast digital tier in most of Sinclair’s markets. Sinclair is one of the nation’s largest broadcast groups, with 58 stations in 35 markets covering 22% of the U.S. television households. TCN will launch in October in 28 Sinclair markets reaching 17% of the country, with the remaining Sinclair markets expected to come on board by early 2011.

TCN founder and CEO Warren Hansen says several more agreements are in the works, and should be announced in the near future.

TCN is dedicated exclusively to airing country music videos, with the slogan “all Country Music, all the time.” The outlet is already streaming live.

Stars At Christmas 4 Kids and Buds-N-Suds Benefits

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Montgomery Gentry, Jake Owen, and Sawyer Brown will perform at the Charlie Daniels Band’s annual Christmas 4 Kids concert. The show will be Monday, November 22 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The accompanying Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet will take place on Monday, December 13 in Hendersonville, TN. Ticket details at www.christmas4kids.org

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Jerrod Niemann has been added to the star-studded line-up for this year’s Buds-n-Suds Music Festival. Presented by Big 98 Country, the music festival will take place on Wednesday, August 25 at Loser’s Bar and Grill, with proceeds to benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.

Niemann will join previously announced artists Lee Brice, Stoney LaRue, Sixwire with special guest Keith Anderson, Ira Dean, James Wesley, Coldwater Jane, and performance painter Rachel Kice.

Advance concert tickets can be purchased at www.budsnsuds.com at a discounted price of $15, or on the day-of show for $20. VIP tickets are available online for a $60 donation.

Another Buds-n-Suds event is set for Aug. 28. The Charity Canoe Trip at Foggy Bottom Canoe Rentals in Kingston Springs, TN will benefit the MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief Fund. Cost is $30/individual or $55/couple. Price includes canoe, lunch and commemorative T-shirt. Details and reservations by contacting Karen Light at [email protected].