Artist Updates (5/25/12)

Prior to his 2011 Goin’ Coastal tour, Kenny Chesney partnered with sunglasses maker Costa Del Mar to design a line of signature sunglasses with proceeds benefiting the Coastal Conservation Association. The partnership has continued into 2012, and Chesney is introducing five new signature styles with proceeds again benefiting CCA. Costa has also been announced as a title sponsor for Chesney’s online No Shoes Radio. To date, the partnership has raised over $50,000. Check out the frames here.

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Josh Turner’s new album Punching Bag (MCA) isn’t due to hit stores until June 12, but fans can check him out performing songs from the release today (5/25) in the exclusive concert series HSN LIVE Presents Josh Turner sponsored by Cricket. The show starts at 8 pm/CT and will air on HSN, HSN.com, HSN Mobile and HSN’s Facebook page. Fans will also have the opportunity to pre-order Punching Bag bundled with ICON Series: The Best of Josh Turner for $19.95.

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Our friends over at Her Nashville have a couple of interesting musical articles in the  “Her Music City” issue that hit stands this week. “The Pioneering Ladies of Music Row” by Elizabeth Ulrich discusses Music Row’s early power females Frances W. Preston, Patsy Bradley, Liz Thiels and Denise Stiff. Read it here. Also in the issue is a style spread with local musicians dressed up as iconic artists. Featured in the shoot are Courtney Jaye, Sarah Darling, and Zarna Surti as The Supremes; Ashley Monroe as Nancy Sinatra; Sarah Davidson as Dolly Parton; and Ruby Amanfu as Billie Holiday. Check it out here.

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Keith Urban recently debuted at No. 1 on the ARIA Album Chart in Australia with his album The Story So Far. The Australian release collects the most popular tracks from his US albums Get Closer, Defying Gravity, Love Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing, Be Here, and Golden Road as well as his current US single “For You.”

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Jo Dee Messina is a mother of two and has been chronicling the ups and downs of motherhood in her blog “The Fumbling Mom” since its launch in January 2012. Now content from the blog will be featured in The Tennesean’s Family section going forward, which can be found online here.

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Up-and-coming country artist David Bradley is supporting America’s military with a Memorial Day Weekend special. Starting today (5/25) through Monday (5/28), for anyone who purchases Bradley’s song “Get A Hero Home” from iTunes, he will donate a portion of the proceeds to Healing Heroes Network.

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To celebrate the one year anniversary of her viral sensation “The People of Walmart,” Nashville’s Jessica Frech is hosting a free live U-stream concert for her fans. The show will take place at 8 pm June 7, and can be viewed on her website jessicamusic.com.