Blair Garner addresses a sea of fans during ACM Concerts on Fremont Street
Country music radio luminaries Blair Garner, Shawn Parr and Storme Warren – along with winners in ACM radio categories and Westwood One – played a key role in the success of the Week Vegas Goes Country® preceding the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The telecast reached more than 13 million viewers and won the night for the CBS Television Network.
Two-time ACM National On-Air Personality of the Year Award winner Blair Garner, of After MidNite with Blair Garner, emceed the Academy’s two days of free, open-to-the-public all-star concerts held on two stages at Fremont Street Experience, a five-block entertainment zone in downtown Las Vegas. On-air talent including from both local Las Vegas country radio stations, KCYE and KWNR also co-emceed on one night each. Rick Kelly and Jason Rooney from KCYE and Bob Bishop from KWNR participated on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Shawn Parr with artist Joe Nichols onstage at the post-Awards ACM All-Star Jam
A record 45,000 fans crowded the stages on Friday and Saturday night, April 16 and 17 to see headliners Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert, and performances by newcomer category winners Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory and Gloriana. The concerts also featured Danny Gokey, David Nail, Emily West, The Band Perry and Randy Rogers Band. ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Shawn Parr, KKGO-FM Go Country 105 Los Angeles’ morning man and host of the nationally syndicated The Country’s Hotlist, was back for the 18th consecutive year as the official voice of the Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition, Parr hosted the ACM All-Star Jam after the live Sunday telecast, which featured performances by Jason Aldean, Ash Bowers, Luke Bryan, Laura Bell Bundy, Eric Church, Billy Currington, Jack Ingram, Jaron and The Long Road To Love, Joey + Rory, Lady Antebellum, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, Joe Nichols, James Otto, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Jordyn Shellhart, Steel Magnolia, Glenn Templeton, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Trailer Choir, Cowboy Troy, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, James Westley, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Young, Eli Young Band and more.
Storme Warren with Montgomery Gentry at the USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives™
Parr also hosted and played in the KKGO-FM listener poker tournament held Saturday, April 17 at the MGM Grand Poker Room. Participants of the tournament were selected in a pre-Awards on-air station promotion, winning a spot to play in the tournament with artist Joe Nichols and tickets to the ACM Awards, with the tournament winner receiving VIP fan pit tickets for the ceremony.
Storme Warren, host of GAC’s Headline Country, SiriusXM Highway Channel’s Music Row Happy Hour and co-host of the recently launched radio show Music City Saturday Night, rode in the ACM Chairman’s Ride and then emceed the USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives™ on Saturday, April 17 at Nellis Air Force Base. The free, private con
cert for the troops and their families featured Dierks Bentley, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Thompson and USO tour veterans Randy Houser, James Otto, Anthony Smith and Montgomery Gentry, who were also honored with the 2010 ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award.
The event was the first-ever partnership for ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, and the USO. It was open to all military ID holders and their families and was attended by approximately 3,000 people.
Radio Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year Winners with Miranda Lambert at the radio winners’ reception.
Radio category winners attended an Academy reception in their honor at the MGM Grand on Saturday, April 17, where Miranda Lambert presented them with their trophies. Attendees included CMT Radio Live’s Cody Alan, KIIM’s Buzz Jackson, KIZN’s Rich Summers, KMPS’ Becky Brenner & Erica Hall, KNIX’s Ben Campbell & Matt McAllister, KSCS’ Chris Huff & Cari Swartzell, KUZZ’s Evan Bridwell, Toni Marie & Mel Owens, WFRE’s Jess Wright, WGSQ’s Gator Harrison, WQDR’s Janie Carothers, Billy Dukes, J.J. Herr, Lisa McKay, Dede Wakefield & Mike Wheless, WSIX’s Keith Kaufman (winner Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Al Voecks, Duncan Stewart and Richard Falken were regretfully unable to attend), and WUSY’s Jay Cruze, Jared Stehney & Brian Stewart.
Reception hosts Bill Mayne, President of the Academy of Country Music, Charlie Cook, Chairman of the ACM Radio Task Force and Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director, in turn encouraged the radio winners to surprise Lambert with her trophy and the news she had won the Video of the Year category for “White Liar.” Video producer Tameron Hedge and director Chris Hicky were regretfully unable to attend but were notified of their win that night via telephone by the Academy.
Westwood One, an Academy corporate partner for almost a decade, brought out 26 radio stations from across the country to participate in radio remotes on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, driving tune-in and consumer awareness of the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Artists who participated include Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and more.
Kid Rock to Host CMT Awards
/by contributor“The rumors are true,” Kid Rock says. “I’m hosting the CMT Awards live from Nashville on June 9. All I can promise is I will be awesome.”
The 2010 CMT Music Awards will air live on June 9 at &:00 PM CT from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban are already confirmed to perform on the show.
Kid Rock’s history with CMT including his 2001 appearance on CMT Crossroads with Hank Williams Jr. At last year’s CMT Music Awards, he won in the Wide Open Country Video of the Year category for his song, “All Summer Long.”
Kid Rock is currently hosting his Chillin’ the Most Cruise to the Cayman Islands. Later this summer, he will be performing on Bon Jovi’s tour of stadiums in the U.S., Canada and England.
Jackson To Play For West Virginia Miners
/by contributor“This is a very wonderful donation from Alan and, on behalf of our state, I’m honored for our miners, their families and the rescue workers,” said West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin. “Alan is a world-famous entertainer who has never forgotten his small-town roots and the importance of family.”
“We are thrilled that Alan Jackson, an entertainer who sings about the working family, has committed his upcoming show in Charleston to the families of the fallen miners at the Upper Big Branch mine,” said The Rev. Dennis Sparks, Ex. Dir. WV Council of Churches. “On behalf of the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund, thank you Alan and we look forward to a great concert in West Virginia.”
On April 5th, 2010, 29 miners lost their lives and two were injured in the tragedy at the Upper Big Branch Mine, about 30 miles south of Charleston. It was the country’s worst mining disaster in four decades.
Douglas Corner Hosts Tribute to Norro Wilson
/by contributorAn SRO crowd of Nashville music industry figures came out to Douglas Corner Wednesday night (4-28) to salute famed writer/producer/Grammy winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Norro Wilson. The evening featured music from Wilson backed by retro-country band, 45 RPM.
Wilson, who has produced or co-produced such stars as Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, John Anderson, Sammy Kershaw and George Jones, thrilled the crowd when he got up to sing a few of his self-penned hits – “The Grand Tour,” “A Picture of Me Without You” (both made famous by George Jones) and the No. 1 hit by Charlie Rich, “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” among others.
Wilson teased his former business partner and co-producer, Buddy Cannon, who was in the audience, saying, “There’s no way you’ll tune this!” Also sighted in the crowd were Cannon’s daughter, the bluegrass singer Melonie Cannon, producer Garth Fundis, singer Darryle Singletary and former Music Row executives Chuck and Sandy Neese.
The 45 RPM band is entirely made up of either Nashville session players and/or songwriters. The band’s mission is to play only classic, traditional country music, performing nothing released later than the ‘70s.
Among the evening’s performers were Jimmy Melton, Dirk Johnson, Mark Johnson, Mike Johnson, Joanie Keller Johnson, Gregg Galbraith, Joe Spivey and Eddy Anderson.
Norro Wilson (center at the mic) is pictured performing with the 45 RPM Band
Int’l Country Music Festival Returns to Belmont
/by contributorThis year’s program features over 40 scholars of country music from across the nation presenting a wide variety of topics. The Keynote, Rounder Records at 40: History, Present and Future by Ken Irwin and Marian Levy, co-founders of Rounder, and scholar Dr. Michael Scully, will be on Thursday evening.
On Friday evening, there will be a panel, Backing the Hits: Backup Singers Reflect On Their Role in Making Hits Happen, moderated by Dr. John Rumble, Senior Historian at the Country Music Hall of Fame. This event will be held at Historic RCA Studio B and feature background singers Gordon Stoker, Millie Kirkham, Delores Edgin and Louis Nunley.
At the Friday luncheon, the Belmont Book Award, given annually for the Best Book on Country Music published the preceding year and the Lifetime Achievement award “for linking books with country music” will be given along with the Charlie Lamb Excellence in Country Music Journalism Awards.
Scholars and writers speaking at the conference include Dr. Bill Malone, Dr. Neil Rosenberg, Dr. David Pruett, Dr. Don Cusic, Dr. Ray White, Mr. Packy Smith, Dr. Jocelyn Neal, Dr. Wayne Daniel, and Mr. Tony Russell.
Stage Three Music Signs Dean Alexander
/by contributorStage Three Music, Inc. has announced the signing of writer/artist Dean Alexander to their writer roster. Alexander continues to play various stages across the country opening up for artists such as Josh Turner. Also, he currently performs as part of Laura Bell Bundy’s band and has performed live with her at the ACM’s, Good Morning America and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
(l-r) Tim Hunze, Stage Three Music; Dean Alexander; Missy Roberts, Stage Three Music.
Opry Unveils 85th Birthday Plans
/by contributorThe night will signal the start of a celebration that will continue throughout the year as the Opry celebrates its 85th birthday with country music’s most popular artists and biggest fans.
Among the highlights of the celebration launching May 25:
The Opry’s 85th Birthday Bash weekend featuring Opry Birthday Shows and an Opry Plaza Birthday Party is scheduled for Oct. 8–9.
For more information call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com/85.
Joe Nichols Broadway Role Unlikely
/by contributor“The status is, I don’t think it’s gonna happen for me,” said Nichols, who pointed to the economy as a reason for the delay of the production. “When they backed up the show, it put us in a difficult situation because we had blocked off about six to eight months of time just for that show. That’s without touring, no media, no nothing. So now I just don’t see that we could probably take another six-month gap in our schedule, especially with how hot ‘Gimmie That Girl’ is and the album.”
Nichols did say he believes the production will go forward, but added, “If we’re in it, it might be a long shot.”
CMA Music Festival Adds Hough, Announces Riverfront Lineup
/by contributorFormer Dancing with the Stars dancer Julianne Hough has been added to the artist lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field on Friday, June 11. Artists already announced for the Nightly Concerts include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Danny Gokey, Randy Houser, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Justin Moore, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and
.
As previously announced, The Judds will kick off the concerts on the Riverfront Park Stage on Thursday, June 10 at 10:00 AM. The current daily artist lineups are revealed below in alphabetical order:
Thursday, June 10: The Judds, Keith Anderson, Diamond Rio, Colt Ford, Joey + Rory, Love and Theft, Neal McCoy, Jake Owen, Josh Thompson, and Clay Walker.
Friday, June 11: Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Bucky Covington, Eli Young Band, Jack Ingram, Patty Loveless, Craig Morgan, Sawyer Brown, Gretchen Wilson, and Chris Young.
Saturday, June 12: Big Kenny, Lee Brice, Mark Chesnutt, Emerson Drive, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, Lorrie Morgan, David Lee Murphy, Joe Nichols, and Mel Tillis.
Sunday, June 13: The Bellamy Brothers, Sammy Kershaw, Lonestar, Jo Dee Messina, James Otto, Restless Heart, Steel Magnolia, Pam Tillis, Uncle Kracker, and Darryl Worley.
Performance order will be listed on www.CMAfest.com closer to the event. Artists and dates subject to change.
Admittance to the Riverfront Park Stage is free, but four-day ticket holders have an exclusive 45-minute, early-entrance window before the gates open to the general public.
For up-to-the-minute information visit www.CMAfest.com.
Urban and Mayer To Reunite Live Onstage
/by contributorJohn Mayer and Keith Urban on "CMT Crossroads."
Keith Urban and John Mayer have announced that their summer tour plans will intersect on August 28 for a special live performance together at The Gorge in Spokane, Washington. A pre-sale window via CMT.com will run from May 3 at 8:00 AM CT through May 7 at 8:00 PM CT. Tickets will become available to the public on Saturday, May 8th at 8”00 AM CT. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase tickets before the general public exclusively offered by each artists by visiting www.JohnMayer.com and www.KeithUrban.net. Both artist pre-sales begin on Saturday, May 1 at 8:00 AM CT.
Last January, Mayer and Urban met for the first time in Nashville last January for the taping of a CMT Crossroads special. After just hours of rehearsal time, the two Grammy Award-winning musicians took to the stage to collaborate on Urban’s hits “If Ever Could I Love,” “‘Til Summer Comes Around” and “Sweet Thing.” The duo traded off when Urban backed Mayer on his “Perfectly Lonely” and “Gravity.”
“CMT Crossroads was the first time I performed with Keith but the creative rapport was there right away,” said Mayer. “I’m looking forward to performing together again and I hope it’s one of many opportunities to work together in the future.”
“I had the best time playing with John on CMT Crossroads. There’s a certain simpatico between us as guitar players that, I think, comes from sharing the same desire to express the unwritten. Playing together at the Gorge will be like adding a musical score to the most magnificent setting in a film.”
Both musicians are renowned as songwriters, guitar players and vocalists, and their seamless collaborations can be seen when their CMT Crossroads special airs on Friday, June 18 at 8:00 p.m. CT on CMT.
Radio Personalities Play ‘Key Role’ in ACM Success
/by contributorBlair Garner addresses a sea of fans during ACM Concerts on Fremont Street
Country music radio luminaries Blair Garner, Shawn Parr and Storme Warren – along with winners in ACM radio categories and Westwood One – played a key role in the success of the Week Vegas Goes Country® preceding the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The telecast reached more than 13 million viewers and won the night for the CBS Television Network.
Two-time ACM National On-Air Personality of the Year Award winner Blair Garner, of After MidNite with Blair Garner, emceed the Academy’s two days of free, open-to-the-public all-star concerts held on two stages at Fremont Street Experience, a five-block entertainment zone in downtown Las Vegas. On-air talent including from both local Las Vegas country radio stations, KCYE and KWNR also co-emceed on one night each. Rick Kelly and Jason Rooney from KCYE and Bob Bishop from KWNR participated on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Shawn Parr with artist Joe Nichols onstage at the post-Awards ACM All-Star Jam
A record 45,000 fans crowded the stages on Friday and Saturday night, April 16 and 17 to see headliners Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert, and performances by newcomer category winners Luke Bryan, Joey + Rory and Gloriana. The concerts also featured Danny Gokey, David Nail, Emily West, The Band Perry and Randy Rogers Band. ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Shawn Parr, KKGO-FM Go Country 105 Los Angeles’ morning man and host of the nationally syndicated The Country’s Hotlist, was back for the 18th consecutive year as the official voice of the Academy of Country Music Awards. In addition, Parr hosted the ACM All-Star Jam after the live Sunday telecast, which featured performances by Jason Aldean, Ash Bowers, Luke Bryan, Laura Bell Bundy, Eric Church, Billy Currington, Jack Ingram, Jaron and The Long Road To Love, Joey + Rory, Lady Antebellum, Montgomery Gentry, Justin Moore, Joe Nichols, James Otto, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Jordyn Shellhart, Steel Magnolia, Glenn Templeton, The Band Perry, Thompson Square, Trailer Choir, Cowboy Troy, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, James Westley, Gretchen Wilson, Chris Young, Eli Young Band and more.
Storme Warren with Montgomery Gentry at the USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives™
Parr also hosted and played in the KKGO-FM listener poker tournament held Saturday, April 17 at the MGM Grand Poker Room. Participants of the tournament were selected in a pre-Awards on-air station promotion, winning a spot to play in the tournament with artist Joe Nichols and tickets to the ACM Awards, with the tournament winner receiving VIP fan pit tickets for the ceremony.
Storme Warren, host of GAC’s Headline Country, SiriusXM Highway Channel’s Music Row Happy Hour and co-host of the recently launched radio show Music City Saturday Night, rode in the ACM Chairman’s Ride and then emceed the USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives™ on Saturday, April 17 at Nellis Air Force Base. The free, private con
cert for the troops and their families featured Dierks Bentley, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Thompson and USO tour veterans Randy Houser, James Otto, Anthony Smith and Montgomery Gentry, who were also honored with the 2010 ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award.
The event was the first-ever partnership for ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy of Country Music, and the USO. It was open to all military ID holders and their families and was attended by approximately 3,000 people.
Radio Station of the Year and On-Air Personality of the Year Winners with Miranda Lambert at the radio winners’ reception.
Radio category winners attended an Academy reception in their honor at the MGM Grand on Saturday, April 17, where Miranda Lambert presented them with their trophies. Attendees included CMT Radio Live’s Cody Alan, KIIM’s Buzz Jackson, KIZN’s Rich Summers, KMPS’ Becky Brenner & Erica Hall, KNIX’s Ben Campbell & Matt McAllister, KSCS’ Chris Huff & Cari Swartzell, KUZZ’s Evan Bridwell, Toni Marie & Mel Owens, WFRE’s Jess Wright, WGSQ’s Gator Harrison, WQDR’s Janie Carothers, Billy Dukes, J.J. Herr, Lisa McKay, Dede Wakefield & Mike Wheless, WSIX’s Keith Kaufman (winner Gerry House, Mike Bohan, Al Voecks, Duncan Stewart and Richard Falken were regretfully unable to attend), and WUSY’s Jay Cruze, Jared Stehney & Brian Stewart.
Reception hosts Bill Mayne, President of the Academy of Country Music, Charlie Cook, Chairman of the ACM Radio Task Force and Bob Romeo, ACM Executive Director, in turn encouraged the radio winners to surprise Lambert with her trophy and the news she had won the Video of the Year category for “White Liar.” Video producer Tameron Hedge and director Chris Hicky were regretfully unable to attend but were notified of their win that night via telephone by the Academy.
Westwood One, an Academy corporate partner for almost a decade, brought out 26 radio stations from across the country to participate in radio remotes on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, driving tune-in and consumer awareness of the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Artists who participated include Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and more.