Rascal Flatts To Host Holiday Special

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Rascal Flatts will host the 14th annual telecast to promote adoptions, titled A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts, on Dec. 19 at 8pm ET on CBS.

The special will include performances by the country trio in addition to Melissa Etheridge, Matchbox Twenty, Phillip Phillips and X Factor’s Rachel Crow, whose performance accompanies her personal story about foster care adoption.

Additional appearances are scheduled from Wayne Brady, Kevin Frazier and Jillian Michaels.

Previous hosts of the program include Faith Hill, Jimmy Wayne and Martina McBride.

Rascal Flatts will also host CMT’s Artists of the Year special, airing this Saturday, Dec. 8 at 11:00 p.m., ET.

Songwriters Perform Holiday Benefit for Crime Advocacy Group

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Claudia Nygaard, Bill Lloyd, Bob Regan, Karen Staley, Wood Newton, and Joe Pagetta will be among the performers scheduled for You Have the Power’s holiday benefit.

Conceived and hosted by Claudia Nygaard, Powerfully Original Christmas Songs will feature special self-penned holiday tunes and auction to benefit the crime advocacy group.

Tickets are $35 for the Douglas Corner event, taking place 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. Pre-sold drink tickets are available for $10.

For more information, click here.

Kimberly Schlapman’s Brother-in-Law Passes

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Allen Schlapman

MusicRow extends sincere condolences to Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman and her family on the passing of her brother-in-law Allen Schlapman. She shared this note with fans recently on her Facebook page:

Last Wednesday, Nov 21, my brother-in-law was killed by a drunk driver. He had come to Nashville from Virginia to visit us for Thanksgiving, which is our long-standing family tradition. He is married & has a 9 year old little girl. This is a part of life that one never imagines or plans for. It has been very difficult to accept. Allen Schlapman was an amazing father, husband, brother & son. We will miss him so much. I have been deeply touched by all your well-wishes & prayers. Thank you. God has proven himself faithful to us & has given us great peace amidst this horrible tragedy.

Allen Schlapman of Lynchburg, VA is survived by his wife Linda Witt Schlapman, and beloved daughter Rachel Allyn Schlapman. Born in Franklin, Ohio, June 19, 1967, he was a Fiscal Analyst with VDOT. He attended Blue Ridge Community Church and was a volunteer with Rush Homes. Funeral services were held Tues., Nov. 27 in Lynchburg. Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Rush Lifetime Homes, P.O. Box 879, Lynchburg, VA 24505.

According to The Tennessean, Gregory Powers, 46 of Franklin, TN has been charged with vehicular homicide following the crash on Franklin Road after he crossed the center line and struck head-on the motorcycle Schlapman was driving. Powers was out on bond from previous DUI and vehicular assault charges from hitting an employee in the parking lot of The Pond bar on Hillsboro Road and fleeing the scene.

Franklin Police urge anyone who may have witnessed the crash that resulted in Schlapman’s death, or the events leading up to it, to call 615-794-2513.

As previously reported, Little Big Town postponed two concerts in California and cancelled an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno due to the death. The group’s Nov. 29 show at the Wiltern in Los Angeles will take place on Feb. 8, 2013. Little Big Town will also reschedule its Nov. 28 concert in Riverside, Calif. at a later date.

Phil Vassar, The Band Perry, Toby Keith Release Videos

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No more freezing winters for Santa Claus in Phil Vassar‘s latest video, “Santa’s Gone Hollywood.” Old Saint Nick wins the lottery and takes Mrs. Claus (played by Debbe Dunning, best known for portraying Heidi the “Tool Time” girl in the ’90s sitcom Home Improvement) to Hollywood. The clip, directed by Steve Condon, can be viewed at PhilVassar.com.

Other guests in the video include Philadelphia actor Juri Muller, popular personality Ashlie Kolb and Fantasy Football talk show host Pilar Lastra. The clip is from Vassar’s Christmas album, Noel, which releases this week. The 10-song set offers five holiday classics, including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “What Child Is This,” along with five original tunes.

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The Band Perry will debut the clip for their latest single, “Better Dig Two,” on Wednesday (Dec. 4) via CMT and  CMT.com at 6:00 a.m. ET.  The clip was directed by Declan Whitebloom, who has also spearheaded videos for Taylor Swift. The video will re-air every hour during music hours on CMT and every hour on CMT Pure.

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Toby Keith recently released the video for “Hope On The Rocks” to online outlets, including Vevo.com and YouTube.com, on November 30. The video is already in rotation on CMT, GAC and TCN and is directed by Keith’s longtime collaborator Michael Salomon. “Hope On The Rocks” is Keith’s second single from Hope On The Rocks, following “I Like Girls That Drink Beer.”

Lady Antebellum Announces New Charitable Effort LadyAID

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Lady Antebellum announced a new charitable effort, LadyAID, on Monday (Dec. 3) to bring awareness to and generate support for children in need on a local, national and global level.

The organization will benefit children in the state of Tennessee through supporting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Nationally, LadyAID will support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and on a global level, myLIFEspeaks and The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee will provide administrative services for the organization.

“All these organizations are connected,” Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood said during a press conference held at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center. “We recognize we have a platform and we want to speak up and have an organization that can wave the flag for kids. We want to raise our voice for people in need.”

The trio also announced an upcoming event to support LadyAID. The inaugural fundraising event Ping Pong & Songs, inspired by the trio’s love of playing ping pong while on tour, will take place in early 2013.

Radio personality Gerry House (formerly of Nashville radio station WSIX), Nashville mayor Karl Dean and the Country Music Association’s CEO Steve Moore were on hand for the press conference. To honor the trio’s charitable efforts, Moore presented Lady Antebellum with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.

Donations to LadyAID can be made by visiting www.ladyAID.org.

Disney Music Publishing Inks Melissa Peirce

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Disney Music Publishing, Nashville has signed Melissa Peirce to its growing writer roster in a partnership deal between Disney Music Publishing and Pat Higdon’s Patrick Joseph Music.

Peirce says, “Pat and (Disney Music Publishing Vice President) Kos Weaver are two of the most respected song men and publishers in Nashville. Getting to work with them both, along with Barbara VanderLinde, Mio Vukovic, and the rest of Disney is a dream publishing home, and I feel very lucky to be a part of their team.”

Peirce is a native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and has written on albums that have collectively sold over 10,000,000 units. Her songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Joss Stone, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, David Nail, Eli Young Band, Randy Montana and John Paul White (The Civil Wars), among others. Peirce has written two Top 10 singles including David Nail’s “Red Light” and Reba’s “I’m Gonna Take That Mountain,” both earning numerous awards. She also co-penned Eli Young Band’s current chart climbing single, “Say Goodnight.”

(L-R): standing: Pat Higdon, Patrick Joseph Music; Kos Weaver; Austen Adams, Crownover Blevins, PC; seated: Melissa Peirce

 

Shania Embarks on Two-Year Vegas Residency

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Shania Twain performs with background singers Ryan Kowarsky, Dan Kowarsky and sister Carrie-Ann Brown. Photo: Denise Truscello

Caesars Palace welcomed Shania Twain to its Colosseum in Las Vegas over the weekend (12/1-2) for two sold out performances of Shania: Still The One. The weekend engagements begin a two-year residency for the star who will perform dozens of shows at the venue.

Photo: Truscello

A 13-piece band included Twain’s sister, Carrie-Ann Brown, for backup vocals alongside dancing violinists and cellists throughout a selection of the singer’s hits (full set list below). According to reports, highlights included a flying motorcycle, one white and one black horse, confetti, pumped-in fragrances, costumes designed by Marc Bouwer and four male dancers with choreographing by So You Think You Can Dance’s Mandy Moore.

First-run performances are sold out through Dec. 15, however Twain’s March and April dates are currently available for purchase from $55 to $250. Twelve newly announced shows have been added for May and June to go on sale Dec. 14. A complete list of dates include:

Dec. 2012: 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15
Mar. 2013: 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30
Apr. 2013: 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10
May 2013: 14, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31
June 2013: 1

Click here for tickets and more information www.shaniainvegas.com.

Produced by AEG Live and directed by Raj Kapoor, the spectacle is designed to take fans on a journey through the Country superstar’s life and music career with help from production designer Michael Cotton and lighting designer Peter Morse.

Opening night setlist included:
1. I’m Gonna Getcha Good
2. You Win My Love
3. Don’t Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)
4. Up!
5. Ain’t No Quitter
6. No One Needs to Know
7. Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under
8. Any Man of Mine
9. That Don’t Impress Me Much
10. Honey, I’m Home
11. If You’re Not In It For Love (I’m Outta Here)
12. Carrie Anne (Hollies cover with RyanDan)
13. Come On Over
14. Rock This Country
15. Today Is Your Day
16. You’re Still the One
17. From This Moment On
(Encore)
18. Man! I Feel Like a Woman

Watch a video preview below:

Mark Your Calendar–December 2012

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Album Releases

December 4
Florida Georgia Line/Here’s To The Good Times/Republic Nashville
Lisa Matassa/Somebody’s Baby/It Is What It Is Records-Nine North Records
Yarn/Leftovers Volume 2/RPM Entertainment

December 11
Jim Lauderdale & Buddy Miller/Buddy & Jim/New West Records
Various/The Music Of Nashville: Original Soundtrack (Season 1, Volume 1)/Big Machine

Single Releases

December 3
Big & Rich/Party Like Cowboyz/Warner Bros.-W.A.R.
Lee Brice/I Drive Your Truck/Curb
Jillian Kohr/What You’ve Done
Josh Pruno/23rd Psalm/Lawrence Music Group

December 4
Doug Briney/Deja Vu All Over Again/CBM Records

December 17
The Henningsens/American Beautiful/Arista
LeAnn Rimes/Borrowed/Curb
Austin Webb/It’s All Good/Streamsound

Holiday Singles
Tim McGraw/Mary And Joseph/Big Machine Records
Lorrie Morgan/Wrapped Up In Love/Octabrook Records
Craig Morrison/Santa Claus Boogie/Lucky 53s-GMV Nashville
Clinton Gregory/Peace On Earth Again/Melody Roundup Records
Kyle Park/Winter Wonderland
Phil Vassar/Merry Christmas Darling/Rodeowave Entertainment
Tanya Tucker/Merry Christmas Wherever You Are

Industry Events

December 3

  • Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas, on NBC
  • Sixth annual Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum at CMHoF. 6 pm in the Ford Theater
  • JT Hodges Holiday Howler at the Gibson Showroom (1121 Church Street) at 6 pm
  • Lady Antebellum “On This Winter’s Night,” at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

December 4
Tunes for Tots toy drive and benefit show at 6:30 p.m. at Blue Bar/Lucy’s Country Café

December 5
Grammy Nominations Concert at Bridgestone Arena, airing on CBS

December 7
Tim McGraw & Faith Hill open Soul2Soul at the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas

December 8
CMT Artists of the Year special

December 10
American Country Awards, airing on Fox

December 11
Nashville Unlimited Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral downtown

December 13
14th annual A Home for the Holidays with Rascal Flatts. 8pm ET on CBS.

December 15
Miracle on Music Row. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at O.liv Body Bar in Edgehill Village

December 20
CMA Country Christmas. ABC telecast

December 31

  • 4th Annual Music City New Year’s Eve “Bash on Broadway”
  • Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013

Jimmy Ritchey Signs With BMG Chrysalis

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Picture (l-r): Darrell Franklin, Exec. Vice President, BMG Chrysalis; Jimmy Ritchey; and Sara Johnson, Sr. Dir., Creative, BMG Chrysalis

Hit singer-songwriter and producer Jimmy Ritchey recently signed an exclusive agreement with BMG Chrysalis.

Ritchey co-wrote Jake Owen‘s No. 1 hit, “The One That Got Away,” with Owen and Dallas Davidson. Ritchey’s producer credits include newcomer Greg Bates, Owen, Clay Walker and Mark Chesnutt.

Additional writing credits for Ritchey include “Startin’ With Me” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” both hits recorded by Owen, and “I Gotta Get To You,” which was a hit for George Strait.