Artist Round-Up (12/2/2011)

Ronnie Dunn’s latest single “Cost of Livin’” reflects on the current economic struggle across the nation, which has generated an overwhelming amount of feedback. To continue the conversation, Dunn recently taped episodes of Dr. Phil and The Doctors, both of which were themed around the “Cost of Livin’.”  The episode of The Doctors will air Monday, Dec. 5, with the Dr. Phil airdate set for Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Co-written by Dunn and Phillip Coleman, “Cost of Livin’” appears on Dunn’s self-titled album which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart this summer.

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Sea Gayle Records/Arista Nashville’s Brent Anderson will make his Grand Ole Opry debut tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 3, at the Ryman Auditorium. Anderson will perform his debut single, “Amy’s Song,” which he co-wrote with Pure Prairie League founder/singer Craig Fuller and Chris DuBois. Fuller and Vince Gill (who also sang in Pure Prairie League) provided background vocals on the recording, which was inspired by PPL’s smash “Amie.”

“I’ve dreamed about playing the Opry since I was a kid,” said Anderson. “To get the chance to play it now, especially while the Opry is back home at The Ryman, is an incredible feeling. I feel so lucky and blessed for the opportunity. I can’t imagine what it will feel like to stand on that stage, but I’m excited to find out.”

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Big & Rich will host Christmas in the Black Hills, a holiday special which premieres Monday, Dec. 12 at 8 PM/ET on GAC. Set against the backdrop of Deadwood, SD, Big & Rich will be joined by Thompson Square, Bradley Gaskin, Tracy Lawrence, Andy Gibson and The Farm.

Performances include: Big & Rich, “Blue Christmas” and “Drunk on Christmas” (an original tune by Jimmy Fallon); Gaskin, “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem”; Thompson Square, “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,”and “Christmas in Dixie”; Lawrence, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”; Gibson, “The Christmas Song” and “Feliz Navidad”; and The Farm, “Oh Holy Night.”

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BigRide Entertainment artist Marlee Scott will perform the national anthem at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship college football game on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Clemson and Virginia Tech are the 2011 ACC Championship participants. Kick off is 8 p.m. ET. Dierks Bentley and David Nail are also set to appear as part of the ACC FanFest presented by AT&T.

Scott currently has a Christmas single out at Country radio titled “Someday At Christmas.” She is releasing her new single “Trainwreck,” in January 2012.

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Lorrie Morgan will perform at Christmas Concert For The Troops, an annual holiday concert in honor of active duty military. Morgan, among others, will entertain an intimate crowd of invitation-only guests at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Washington, DC.

Hosted by Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan and actor John Stamos, Christmas Concert For The Troops is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011. Morgan will perform three song selections: “My Favorite Things,” “America The Beautiful” with Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young and “In My Room” alongside legendary recording artists The Beach Boys.

All performances will be backed by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by American composer Marvin Hamlisch. Christmas Concert For The Troops presented by D.C. residents Suzy and Bob Pence along with the USO of Metropolitan Washington