Kellie Pickler sits in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected simulator during a visit for the USO.
Kellie Pickler returned from her sixth USO tour on Dec. 19. The country entertainer performed for U.S. troops as part of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey’s annual USO holiday tour.
The seven-day, four-country tour of the Middle East also included performances by artists Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen of the Washington Nationals, Matt Hendricks of the Washington Capitals and comedian Lliza Shlesinger.
Stops included Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan; U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart in Germany and a visit with sailors stationed aboard aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, among other locations.
“[During] the holidays, everyone wants to be home with their families and loved ones. And I know it’s just as hard for [your] families back home, so they’re making a sacrifice as well,” Pickler said via a release. “I just want to say thanks so much for all that you do, and thank you to your families as they make a huge sacrifice. This time of year is really hard so I hope that you know that we love you. The USO, all of us, we are praying for a safe return home for you all. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
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Photo (L- R): Lance Corporal Morales; Sergeant Cory Tribble and Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker visited Toys “R” Us in Carle Place, N.Y. on Dec. 17 to donate over $10,000 worth of toys to benefit the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program. The toys will be distributed to children in the Lindenhurst, N.Y. area, which was recently affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Rucker partnered with digital media company Eventful, and over 30,000 music fans in 3,028 cities “Demanded” that Rucker bring his $10,000 worth of donated toys to their city. Fans used Eventful’s social media platform “Demand It!” to spread the word virally on Facebook and Twitter and invited friends to help their city win.
MusicRowPics: JJ Lawhorn Artist Visit
/by Caitlin RantalaAverage Joe’s JJ Lawhorn stopped by the MusicRow headquarters on Dec. 10. The Virginia native, who recently moved to Nashville, was discovered when he was 15 after posting a Justin Moore cover song on YouTube.
Now 19, Lawhorn played a set of four songs during his visit, including “Tanlines,” “She Kissed Me Anyway,” “That’s How The Country Grows Them” and his current single “You Can Tell a Man by His Truck.”
Lawhorn just wrapped filming his new music video for “You Can Tell a Man by His Truck,” as well as a touring stint with Colt Ford. For more information, visit jjlawhorn.com.
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Video Roundup: Lady Antebellum, The Voice
/by Jessica NicholsonLady Antebellum has been entertaining fans with more than just their music. The trio’s “Webisode Wednesdays” series gives fans a peek into life on the road and in the studio. In this week’s episode, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley reprises his character “Lady Aunt B” and welcomes “Euneeda Biscuit” (played by Laura Bell Bundy), along with Dierks Bentley.
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The fourth season of The Voice will launch early next year with two new coaches, Usher and Shakira, joining Blake Shelton and Adam Levine. A promo for the new season has been released. As the foursome ride in Shelton’s pickup truck, it quickly becomes obvious that their musical preferences are diverse–so diverse they begin arguing about what songs should be blaring through Shelton’s truck speakers. Ultimately, it takes a classic power ballad to get all four coaches singing along at the top of their lungs.
Network TV Finales Crown Country Winners
/by Eric T. ParkerTate Stevens
Tate Stevens, a 37-year-old Belton, Mo. native, received a $5 million recording contract from Sony Music/Syco and a music video premiere at the 2013 Grammy Awards for his win on FOX’s X Factor last night (Dec. 20).
Performances earlier this week included Little Big Town’s “Pontoon” with Stevens in addition to 13-year-old runner-up Carly Rose Sonenclar’s head-turning “How Do I Live” duet with LeAnn Rimes. More than 35 million viewers reportedly cast votes for the season finale.
Throughout the program’s second season, Stevens performed country hits including Chris Young‘s “Tomorrow,” Clay Walker‘s “Fall,” Shania Twain‘s “From This Moment On,” Garth Brooks‘ “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” Keith Urban‘s “Somebody Like You,” Lonestar‘s “I’m Already There” and Craig Morgan‘s “Bonfire” and “Tough.”
Cassadee Pope and Avril Lavgine during The Voice live finale. Photo: Tyler Golden/NBC
The X Factor crowning comes on the heels of NBC’s The Voice, which recently named Cassadee Pope the winner from Team Blake. Pope made impressive single sales, as examined in our Weekly Register for her cover of Keith Urban‘s “Stupid Boy,” which scanned 117k units this week. Pope also performed Miranda Lambert‘s “Over You” and Faith Hill‘s “Cry” during the NBC season.
The Guitar: An American Love Story, Ends Dec. 30
/by MichelleAn exhibit at the State Museum featuring a selection of some of the rarest guitars ever created ends December 30. The free exhibition, entitled, The Guitar: An American Love Story, showcases more than 150 world-class guitars gathered from both private and museum collections. This is the only time in which this remarkable, assembled collection has appeared together in one gallery, available to the general public.
Earlier this month at the gallery, City National Bank sponsored an invitation-only members holiday evening for The Douglas Henry State Museum Commission and The Board of the Tennessee State Museum Foundation. Martha Henderson, Exec. VP and Manager of City National’s entertainment division attended while representatives from CNB’s Nashville office included Holly Bell, Sr. VP Team Manager; Lori Badgett, VP Entertainment, Diane Pearson, VP Entertainment/Team Leader and Mandy Gallagher, Relationship Manager. The packed gala celebrated The Guitar exhibit, along with exhibits Elvis at 21: Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer and Tim Nichols: Images from a Songwriter’s Camera. The event provided attendees a great opportunity to mix and mingle while viewing the impressive exhibits in the hall. The reception was followed by a performance by Vince Gill.
Vince Gill's 1942 Martin D-28
Highlights of the exhibit include:
• One of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Elvis Presley’s personal guitars. Courtesy of Graceland, Memphis, TN.
• Standout guitars from Grammy-winning entertainer Vince Gill’s private collection including his cherished 1942 Martin D-28.
• Three-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Eric Clapton’s 1958 Gibson Explorer. On loan from a private collection.
• A historically significant Lloyd Loar quartet featuring a mandola, mandocello, mandolin and guitar. Matched set, circa 1924. On loan from a private collection.
• The 1953 Fender Telecaster played by famed Rolling Stone band guitarist Keith Richards. On loan from a private collection.
• Singer and actor Roy Roger’s OM-45 Deluxe guitar made by C.F. Martin & Co., circa 1930. On loan from a private collection.
• Rickenbacker “Frying Pan,” one of the very first solid body electric guitars.
• 1919 Martin 000-30-, likely the only one ever made. On loan from a private collection.
• c1900 guitar and mandolin made by Orville Gibson, the founder and namesake of Gibson Guitars. On loan from a private collection.
Nashville Scene‘s Jack Silverman offers an in-depth look at this stunning exhibit here.
WMN Hires Topspin Media Exec
/by Eric T. ParkerWayne Leeloy
Warner Music Nashville announced the appointment of Wayne Leeloy as Senior Director of Digital Marketing, in an announcement yesterday (12/20). Leeloy will report to Jeremy Holley, VP, Consumer & Interactive Marketing.
Leeloy previously served as Senior Director, Artist Services at Topspin Media in Nashville, responsible for business development, focusing on relationships with artists, management, labels for Country, Americana and Christian genres.
“His commitment to innovation, extensive experience in the direct-to-fan space, and strong ties to the tech community make him a superb addition to our team,” said Holley. “Wayne will be a valuable resource as we continue to grow and evolve our digital business.”
Prior to his work at Top Spin, Leeloy established the artist development consultancy, Foundation Music Group and launched Ticketmaster’s custom marketing and sales division.
Charlie Cook On Air: Merry Christmas
/by contributorI hope that you’re ready. I hope that you have wrapped up your shopping. Though I suspect with a three-day weekend going into Christmas on Tuesday you may have procrastinated like I have.
Because I am not done with my shopping I thought that I would make a list. I am not going to speak for all of Nashville, just for myself, with an eye to what some people might be hoping for under the tree.
Merry Christmas. May you get what you wish for.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MusicRow.)
Artist Pics: Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker (12/21/2012)
/by Jessica NicholsonKellie Pickler sits in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected simulator during a visit for the USO.
Kellie Pickler returned from her sixth USO tour on Dec. 19. The country entertainer performed for U.S. troops as part of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey’s annual USO holiday tour.
The seven-day, four-country tour of the Middle East also included performances by artists Ross Detwiler and Craig Stammen of the Washington Nationals, Matt Hendricks of the Washington Capitals and comedian Lliza Shlesinger.
Stops included Bagram Air Base and Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan; U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart in Germany and a visit with sailors stationed aboard aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, among other locations.
“[During] the holidays, everyone wants to be home with their families and loved ones. And I know it’s just as hard for [your] families back home, so they’re making a sacrifice as well,” Pickler said via a release. “I just want to say thanks so much for all that you do, and thank you to your families as they make a huge sacrifice. This time of year is really hard so I hope that you know that we love you. The USO, all of us, we are praying for a safe return home for you all. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
• • •
Photo (L- R): Lance Corporal Morales; Sergeant Cory Tribble and Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker visited Toys “R” Us in Carle Place, N.Y. on Dec. 17 to donate over $10,000 worth of toys to benefit the U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program. The toys will be distributed to children in the Lindenhurst, N.Y. area, which was recently affected by Hurricane Sandy.
Rucker partnered with digital media company Eventful, and over 30,000 music fans in 3,028 cities “Demanded” that Rucker bring his $10,000 worth of donated toys to their city. Fans used Eventful’s social media platform “Demand It!” to spread the word virally on Facebook and Twitter and invited friends to help their city win.
Artist Pics (12-20-2012)
/by Jessica NicholsonBig Ride’s Craig Wayne Boyd participated in the annual Christmas 4 Kids tour bus tour held in Hendersonville, Tenn. on Monday (Dec. 17), where he met with Nashville area children. Proceeds from the event benefited more than 400 underprivileged Middle Tennessee children during the holidays.
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Photo (L-R): "Cowboy" Jack Clement and studio manager Juanita Copeland
“Cowboy” Jack Clement dropped by the legendary Sound Emporium Tuesday to visit the studio he founded in 1969. Pictured here are Cowboy and Studio Manager, Juanita Copeland, in the lobby under a gallery of photos from the 70s that feature him. He toured the recently remodeled lobby and saw the recent updates to the world-famous “A room,” which include a much anticipated drum booth.
PLA Publicist Job Opening
/by Jessica NicholsonArtist Updates (12/20/2012)
/by Jessica NicholsonThe first auction, featuring Pickler’s truck, will be held Jan. 22, to benefit the USO. For more information on the auction, visit www.ebay.com/roadtoramjam.
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The couple were married on Nov. 20, 2010. Buxton penned Keith Urban’s “Stupid Boy” and “Put You In A Song.”
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Miranda Lambert is slated to be a guest judge on the upcoming season of Lifetime’s Project Runway.
Other guest judges for the season include Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, John Legend, Emmy Rossum and Kristin Davis. Season 11 of Project Runway premieres Jan. 24 at 8:00 p.m. CT.
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