The International Entertainment Buyers Association concluded its annual conference with loads of showcases and star power. Dolly Parton presented her former manager and IEBA keynote speaker Jim Morey with the Industry Achievement Award to kick off Monday’s (10/4) activities, following a stand up performance by Gloria Gaynor.

Kevin Costner and Modern West put on a great show prior to an informative and introspective Q&A session with Costner and GAC’s Suzanne Alexander. “I was always afraid to follow my first love, which is music,” said Costner. “My wife was listening to some of my music and really pushed me to reengage in my music and it was a great thing she has done for me,” he continued.

At the evening showcases, CAA hosted Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Tonic and Danny Gokey. BLA (Buddy Lee Attractions) offered Bush Hog, award-winning Australian sister trio The McClymonts, Colt Ford and the crowd stopping Here Come The Mummies.

WME had a crowd lined up down Broadway to get in for Steel Magnolia, Lee Brice, Clay Walker, Chris Young, Jerrod Niemann, James Otto and Randy Houser.

CEG (Conway Entertainment Group) had a late late night slot with Diana DiGarmo, The Cleverlys, and pop rocker Brennin. Other performances included David Bradley, BLA’s Matt Stillwell and Paradise Artist’s Ashley Matte.

Charlie Daniels delivered the conference’s closing keynote address.

The International Entertainment Buyers Association inducted the inaugural class of the IEBA Hall of Fame last night (10/3) at Nashville’s downtown Hilton. Among the new inductees are Ron Baird, Dick Clark, Charlie Daniels, Barbara Hubbard, George Moffett, Dale Morris, Joan Saltel, Erv Woolsey and the Grand Ole Opry. Country stars Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride and Kenny Chesney made surprise appearances to celebrate some of those who have bolstered their successful careers.

Womack inducted longtime manager Erv Woolsey, McBride inducted Ron Baird, formerly of Creative Artists Agency, and Chesney inducted his manager, Dale Morris. Acclaimed trumpeter, Joey Pero, opened the ceremony in front of 500 attendees with a jazz performance. The ceremony was part of IEBA’s 40th anniversary convention, running through tomorrow night (10/5) in Nashville.

Posthumous inductees include Henry Ade, Sonny Anderson, Dick Blake, Paul Buck, Johnny Cash, Danny Davis, Billy Deaton, Dave Douds, Danny Fleenor, John Hitt, Myles Johnson, Bette Kaye, Shorty Lavender, Buddy Lee, Hubert Long, Jack McFadden, Bob Neal, Florine Oler, Wesley Oler, Harry “Hap” Peebles, Don Romeo, Sonny Simmons, E.O. Stacy, Lon Varnell, and Lawrence Welk.

The day ended with late night music from Paradigm Agency at The Stage on Broadway, hosted by Storme Warren, with performances from Roger Creager, Greg Hanna, Walker Hayes, Jars of Clay, Jaron & The Long Road To Love, Brantley Gilbert, Bucky Covington and WAR. Playing into the early morning were SHIROCK, Logan Mize and Stealing Angels. Details on the convention at ieba.org.

19/Arista Records artist Carrie Underwood will kick off the fall leg of her Play On Tour this Saturday (9/25) in Portland, Oregon at the Rose Garden Arena. The tour will play 47 cities before wrapping December 19 in Calgary, Alberta. By the close of this leg, Underwood will have performed over 100 shows throughout the U.S. and Canada on the Play On Tour in 2010. Special guests this fall are Billy Currington and Sons of Sylvia.

Underwood will donate 36 cents of every ticket sold to Save the Children’s United States Programs. This initiative was inspired by the “36 cents” written in the lyrics of her album track “Change,” which addresses how even the smallest bit of spare change that one might have can add up to make a difference and help “change” the world.

The three-month spring leg of the Play On Tour was performed in front of nearly 400,000 fans and nearly sold out all 54 shows throughout North America, bringing along special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia.

Underwood is a five-time Grammy Award winner, a member of the Grand Ole Opry, two-time reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and three-time CMA and ACM Female Vocalist winner. She has amassed more than 12 million in album sales since her debut CD in 2005 and has placed 13 No. 1 singles on the charts.

Fall Play On Tour dates:
September 25               Portland, OR                Rose Garden
September 27               San Jose, CA               HP Pavilion at San Jose
September 28               Stockton, CA               Stockton Arena
September 29               Bakersfield, CA            Rabobank Arena
October 1                    San Diego, CA             San Diego Sports Arena
October 2                    Los Angeles, CA          Hollywood Bowl
October 3                    Glendale, AZ                jobing.com Arena
October 6                    Houston, TX                Toyota Center
October 7                    San Antonio, TX          AT&T Center
October 9                    Dallas, TX                    American Airlines Center
October 10                  Tulsa, OK                    BOK Center
October 12                  N. Little Rock, AR       Verizon Arena
October 13                  Nashville, TN               Bridgestone Arena
October 15                  Moline, IL                    i Wireless Center
October 16                  Kansas City, MO         Sprint Center
October 17                  Omaha, NE                  Qwest Center
October 19                  Wichita, KS                 INTRUST Bank Arena
October 20                  Oklahoma City, OK     Ford Center
October 22                  Memphis, TN               FedExForum
October 23                  Mobile, AL                  Mobile Civic Center
October 25                  Tampa, FL                   St. Pete Times Forum
October 26                  Jacksonville, FL          Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
October 27                  Duluth, GA                   Arena at Gwinnett Center
October 29                  Greensboro, NC          Greensboro Coliseum
October 30                  Charlotte, NC              Time Warner Cable Arena
November 1                 Cleveland, OH             Wolstein Center
November 3                 Toronto, ON                Air Canada Centre
November 5                 Long Island, NY           Nassau Coliseum
November 6                 Manchester, NH           Verizon Wireless Arena
November 12               Roanoke, VA               Roanoke Civic Center
November 13               University Park, PA      Bryce Jordan Center
November 15               Newark, NJ                 Prudential Center
November 16               Baltimore, MD             1st Mariner Arena
November 29               Auburn Hills, MI           The Palace of Auburn Hills
December 1                 St. Louis, MO              Chaifetz Arena
December 2                 Evansville, IN               Roberts Stadium
December 4                 Des Moines, IA            Wells Fargo Arena
December 5                 Sioux Falls, SD             Sioux Falls Arena
December 7                 Rapid City, SD             Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena
December 8                 Casper, WY                 Casper Events Center
December 10*             Bismarck, ND              Bismarck Civic Center
December 12               Bozeman, MT              Brick Breedan Fieldhouse
December 14               Yakima, WA                Yakima Valley SunDome
December 15*             Penticton, BC               South Okanagan Events Centre
December 16               Vancouver, BC            Rogers Arena
December 18               Edmonton, AB             Rexall Place
December 19               Calgary, AB                 Pengrowth Saddledome