Artist Updates (3/23/12)

Mercury Nashville/19 Recordings/Interscope artist Lauren Alaina has a busy few days ahead of her, beginning with an opening date on Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party tour in New Jersey on Saturday, March 24. The next day (3/24), she will wake up early for a live interview on Fox & Friends Sunday, which takes place at 8 am CT on Fox News. The following day (3/25), Alaina will make her first solo appearance on Today at 9 am CT to perform her single “Georgia Peaches.”

• • •

Ronnie Dunn has volunteered to fill in for his former duo partner Kix Brooks at WGNE Gator Country’s concert series taking place in Jacksonville, Florida tonight (3/23). Brooks was forced to withdraw from the show with vocal cord troubles, and Dunn stepped in to fill the spot. The show is free, and begins at 8 pm.

• • •

Rock legend Joe Walsh (Eagles, James Gang) has returned with Analog Man (Fantasy/Concord), his first solo album in two decades. The collection, which was co-produced by Walsh with Jeff Lynne, features songwriting contributions from Nashvillian Tommy Lee James (“She’s My Kind of Rain,” “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful,” “Bleed Red”), and an appearance by Walsh’s real life brother-in-law Ringo Starr on drums.

• • •

The Dirt Drifters recently released a new single, “There She Goes,” from the group’s acclaimed album This Is My Blood. The group will also make its Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday, March 24.

• • •

Hazard, KY natives Halfway to Hazard (Chad Warrix and David Tolliver) recently hosted a tornado relief telethon in their hometown for CBS affiliate WYMT. The event raised over $200,000 for storm victims, and was broadcast to 27 counties in eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. Also making appearances were Titans placekicker Rob Bironas, Lonestar’s Dean Sams, Keith Anderson and Congressman Hal Rodgers. Warrix is currently promoting his solo single “Rain on the Roof” to country radio.