2012 ACM Award Nominations Announced

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The 2012 Academy of Country Music Nominees were revealed in an all Facebook press conference this morning, and Kenny Chesney emerged as the leading solo nominee with 9 nominations. Taylor Swift led among solo females with 3 nominations. Lady Antebellum earned the most nomations for a group with 5. Top nominees listed below.

Earning their first-ever ACM nominations are Grace Potter, Aaron Lewis, Thompson Square, and Love and Theft. Show co-host Blake Shelton picked up his first Entertainer of the Year nomination.

Previous winners fared well in many of the categories. Brad Paisley has won the Male Vocalist category five times to date, and Miranda Lambert has won the Female Vocalist category three consecutive times. Kenny Chesney has won four Entertainer of the Year awards, and if he picks up a fifth it will tie him with Alabama.

Top Nominees:
Kenny Chesney — 9
Jason Aldean — 6
Lady Antebellum — 5
Brad Paisley — 4
Taylor Swift — 3
Eli Young Band — 3
Toby Keith — 3
Grace Potter — 3

• • • • • •

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Chris Young

Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year
Love and Theft
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
Thompson Square

New Artist of the Year (Announced Jan. 30)

Album of the Year
[Award to Artist/Producer/Record Company]
Chief — Eric Church (EMI Nashville) [Producer: Jay Joyce, Arturo Bunahora, Jr.]
Four the Record — Miranda Lambert (RCA) [Producer: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell]
Hemingway’s Whiskey — Kenny Chesney (BNA) [Producer: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney)
My Kinda Party — Jason Aldean (Broken Bow) [Producer: Michael Knox]
Own The Night — Lady Antebellum (Capitol Nashville) [Producer: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley]

Song of the Year
[Award to Composer/Publisher/Artist]
“Crazy Girl” — Eli Young Band (Composers: Liz Rose, Lee Brice) [Publishers: Cake Taker Music (BMI), Mike Curb Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Sweet Hysteria Music (BMI)]
“Home” — Dierks Bentley (Composers: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley, Dan Wilson) [Publishers: Big White Tracks (ASCAP), Chestnut Barn Music (BMI), Chrysalis Music/BMG Rights (ASCAP), Chrysalis One Songs (BMI)]
“Just A Kiss” — Lady Antebellum (Composers: Dallas Davidson, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott) [Publishers: Dwhaywood Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), EMI Foray Music (SESAC), Hillary Dawn Songs (SESAC), Radiobulletspublishing (BMI), String Stretcher Music (BMI) Warner-Tamberlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)]
“Threaten Me With Heaven” — Vince Gill (Composers: Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian, Will Owsley) [Publishers: Grant Girls Music (ASCAP), Vinny Mae Music (BMI), Willie-O Music (ASCAP)]
“You and Tequila” — Kenny Chesney (Composers: Matraca Berg, Deana Carter) [Publishers: Deanaling Music (ASCAP), Hannaberg Music (BMI), Songs of Universal Inc., (BMI), WB Music Corp. (ASCAP)]

Single Record of the Year
[Award to Artist/Producer/Record Company]
“Crazy Girl” — Eli Young Band (Republic Nashville) [Producer: Mike Wrucke]
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” — Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow) [Producer: Michael Knox]
“Red Solo Cup” — Toby Keith (Show Dog-Universal) [Producer: Toby Keith]
“Tomorrow” — Chris Young (RCA) [Producer: James Stroud]
“You and Tequila” — Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter (BNA) [Producer: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney]

Vocal Event of the Year
[Award to Artist/Producer/Record Company]
“Country Boy” — Aaron Lewis feat. George Jones and Charlie Daniels (R&J Records) [Producer: Aaron Lewis, James Stroud]
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” — Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson (Broken Bow) [Producer: Michael Knox]
“Old Alabama” — Brad Paisley feat. Alabama (Arista) [Producer: Frank Rogers]
“Remind Me” — Brad Paisley with Carrie Underwood (Arista) [Producer: Frank Rogers]
“You and Tequila” — Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter (BNA) [Producer: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney]

Video of the Year
[Award to Producer/Director/Artist]
“Tattoos On This Town” — Jason Aldean [Producer: John Burke; Director: Wes Edwards]
“Homeboy” — Eric Church [Producer: Brandon Arolfo; Director: Peter Zavadil]
“Red Solo Cup” — Toby Keith [Producer: Mark Kalbfeld; Director: Michael Salomon]
“Just a Kiss” — Lady Antebellum [Producer: Don Lepore; Director: Shaun Silva]
“Mean” — Taylor Swift [Producer: Oualid Mouaness; Director: Declan Whitebloom]

Songwriter of the Year
Rhett Akins
Dallas Davidson
Ben Hayslip
Luke Laird
David Lee Murphy

Promoter of the Year
Ben Ferrell ‐ Varnell Enterprises, Inc.
Brad Garrett ‐ Police Productions
Brian O’Connell ‐ Live Nation
Glenn Smith ‐ Glenn & Linda Present
Ed Warm ‐ Joe’s Bar

Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year
Ethan Hirsch ‐ Wilson Events
Jimmy Jay ‐ Jayson Promotions, Inc.
R.J. Kaltenbach ‐ Klein’s Attractions
Gary Osier ‐ Gary Osier Presents
Huston Powell ‐ C3 Presents

Venue of the Year
BOK Center ‐ Tulsa, OK
Bridgestone Arena ‐ Nashville, TN
First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre ‐ Chicago, IL
Jiffy Lube Live ‐ Bristow, VA
Sprint Center ‐ Kansas City, MO

Nightclub of the Year
Billy Bob’s Texas ‐ Ft. Worth, TX
Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace ‐ Bakersfield, CA
Grizzly Rose ‐ Denver, CO
Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill ‐ Minneapolis, MN
Wormy Dog ‐ Oklahoma City, OK

Casino of the Year
Agua Caliente Casino ‐ Rancho Mirage, CA
IP Casino ‐ Biloxi, MS
Island Resort Casino ‐ Harris, MI
Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino ‐ Las Vegas, NV
WinStar World Casino ‐ Thackerville, OK

Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year
Eric Darken
Aubrey Haynie
Ilya Toshinsky
John Willis
Jonathan Yudkin

Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year
Tony Harrell
John Hobbs
John Jarvis
Charlie Judge
Michael Rojas

Fiddle Player of the Year
Glen Duncan
Stuart Duncan
Larry Franklin
Joe Spivey
Jonathan Yudkin

Steel Guitar Player of the Year
Paul Franklin
Mike Johnson
Greg Leisz
Russ Pahl
Scotty Sanders

Guitarist of the Year
J.T. Corenflos
Kenny Greenberg
Jay Joyce
Brent Mason
Adam Shoenfeld

Percussionist/Drummer of the Year
Matt Chamberlain
Chad Cromwell
Shannon Forrest
Chris McHugh
Greg Morrow

Bass Player of the Year
Mike Brignardello
Kevin “Swine” Grantt
Mark Hill
Michael Rhodes
Jimmy Lee Sloas

Audio Engineer of the Year
Jeff Balding
Derek Bason
John Kelton
Mills Logan
Justin Niebank

Producer of the Year
Mark Bright
Buddy Cannon
Nathan Chapman
Jay Joyce
Frank Liddell

ACM 2012 Broadcast Nominees

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Radio Station of the Year – Major Market
KUPL-FM, Portland, OR
KYGO-FM, Denver, CO
WQYK-FM, St. Petersburg, FL
WXTU-FM, Philadelphia, PA
WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI

Radio Station of the Year – Large Market
KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX
WLHK-FM, Indianapolis, IN
WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH

Radio Station of the Year – Medium Market
KATM-FM, Stockton, CA
KUZZ-AM/FM, Bakersfield, CA
WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY
WYRK-FM, Buffalo, NY

Radio Station of the Year – Small Market
KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
KUAD-FM, Windsor, CO
WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
WXFL-FM, Florence, AL

On-Air Personality of the Year – National
Cody Alan, CMT Radio Live with Cody Alan
Kix Brooks, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks
Crook and Chase, Crook and Chase Countdown
Lon Helton, CMT Country Countdown USA
Lia, The Lia Show

On-Air Personality of the Year – Major Market
Kelly Ford & Rider, KYGO-FM, Denver, CO
Cledus T. Judd, Dave McKay, Veronica, WQYK-FM, St. Petersburg, FL
Lisa Dent and Ramblin’ Ray, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Trish Biondo, WUSN-FM, Chicago, IL
Edwards & Lee (Chuck Edwards & Linda Lee), WYCD-FM, Detroit, MI

On-Air Personality of the Year – Large Market
Randy Carroll & Jamie Martin, KAJA-FM, San Antonio, TX
Dave O’Brien, WLHK-FM, Indianapolis, IN
Mike, Marty and Janie, WQDR-FM, Raleigh, NC
Bill Cody, WSM-AM, Nashville, TN
Big Dave and Chelsie, WUBE-FM, Cincinnati, OH

On-Air Personality of the Year – Medium Market
Steve & Geoff in the Morning, KUZZ AM/FM, Bakersfield, CA
Cash and Carey (Natalie Cash and Jim Carey), KWEN-FM, Tulsa, OK
Tom & Becky, WBBS-FM, Syracuse, NY
Roger, Tom & Melissa, WPCV-FM, Lakeland, FL
Scott Wynn & Sue Wilson (Wynn and Wilson in the Morning), WQMX-FM, Akron, OH

On-Air Personality of the Year – Small Market
Scotty & Carissa in the Morning, KCLR-FM, Columbia, MO
Bill Barrett, Tim Fox and Tracy Berry, KKNU-FM, Eugene, OR
Philip Gibbons, WGSQ-FM, Cookeville, TN
Bearman and Ken in the Morning, WUSY-FM, Chattanooga, TN
Brent Lane, WYCT-FM, Pensacola, FL

Industry Ink Wednesday (1/25/12)

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"Next GAC Star" winners One Night Rodeo performed an industry showcase Jan. 19 at The Rutledge, hosted by Fox Hill Records. The band’s current single is "We Could Go To Jail." (L-R): The Consortium's Al Schiltz, Jennifer Blair of Jennifer Blair Promotions, ONR's Cory Hildreth, ONR Manager Ed Ciofani, ONR's Duane Allison, The Consortium's Mike Martinovich and Splash! PR's Vanessa Davis. Photo: Misty Hurt/Splash! PR

(L-R): Steve Freeman and Rick Monroe

• • • •

Rick Monroe has inked an exclusive recording deal with Nashville based Render Records. The label’s creative and ownership team is comprised of hit songwriters and award winning producers Steve Freeman, Rich Redmond, Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison, David Fanning, and entrepreneur Randy Adams (Yahoo, FunnyOrDie.com). Richmond, Allison, Kennedy and artist/producer David Fanning make up New Voice Entertainment, the production team behind Thompson Square.

Monroe’s first single for the label “Crazy Not To” will be shipped to country radio in late February. His most recent single “Get Ur Country On” resulted in a Jagermeister club tour of the same name in 2011. He has opened for Dierks Bentley, Josh Thompson, Eric Church and Randy Houser and had success with the singles “Honky-Tonk Road Trip” and “Midnight Rider.”

• • • •

Tomorrow night (1/26) The Producer’s Chair presents an interview with Byron Hill. The session is at 6 p.m. at Douglas Corner. Read Hill’s recent exclusive interview with MusicRow here.

• • • •

Heading into its 15th year, SOLID is reaching out to its alumni. The organization needs photos from all 15 years and updated alumni contact information. Email both to Sarah McGrady at smcgrady@cmaworld.com.

• • • •

The 39th annual Music City Tennis Invitational will be April 21-22 at Vanderbilt University, with a kick-off party on April 20 at BMI. The tournament benefits the Center for Child Development at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Register at www.MusicCityTennis.com or call Luann Mayer at (615) 322-7733.

• • • •

Nashvillian Jessica Ridley won the Bud United Presents: The Big Time, a new series on ABC-TV, and will perform at the massive iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. She competed against fellow Nashvillian Justin Nault and Laura Jeanne of St. Albans, England. The three finalists were picked from thousands who auditioned via Budweiser’s online casting call.

• • • •

Lori Bumgarner of paNASH Style image consulting and media coaching has a new office phone number. Reach her at (615) 37-LORIB.

• • • •

Universal Music Publishing Group has entered into an agreement to administer songwriter Irving Berlin’s music publishing catalogue for the world outside of North America. Among his beloved standards are “White Christmas,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Puttin’ On The Ritz,” “Blue Skies,” and “God Bless America.”

• • • •

Nashville-based entertainment business management firm Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy has promoted Chris Hughes to associate business manager in the firm’s New York office. He was previously a member of the Island/Def Jam recording group Autopilot Off and according to FBMM, “drove his business managers crazy with questions because of his adeptness in reading a financial statement.” After his recording career ran its course, the firm offered Hughes a position.

• • • •

Johnny Cash’s 1970 Rolls Royce Silver Show Long Wheel Base Limousine, and Cornelius Vanderbilt’s 1913 Rolls Royce silver Ghost Town Car are among the cars hitting the auction block. The event will be Sat., March 3 in Rosansky, Texas at the Central Texas Museum of Automotive History. Details at www.dankruseclassics.com.

• • • •

Congrats to Fitzgerald-Hartley’s Terry Elam and wife Donna on the birth of grandson George Oliver Elam. He was born Jan. 15 in Nashville to parents of Matthew and Jordan Elam, weighing 7 lbs and 20″ long.

• • • •

As previously reported, Artist Growth held an official launch party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Jan. 17. (L-R): Joe Glaser, Harry Jacobson, Jonathan Sexton (CAO, Artist Growth), Karl Dean, Matt Urmy (CEO, Artist Growth), Joe Galante and Mark Montgomery. Click for details.

David Nail, Josh Thompson Plot Solo Tours

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Country music tour managers have a busy winter and spring ahead of them, with numerous artists plotting their musical journeys across the country. The latest announcements come from RCA’s Josh Thompson and MCA’s David Nail.

Nail’s series of solo dates begins today (Jan. 25) in Oxford, OH and runs through February 18 in Las Vegas, Nev. Also included is a West Coast run through Arizona then on to Bakersfield, Los Angeles and San Miguel. Nail will join up with Billy Currington’s 2012 tour at the end of March. Scheduled solo dates for Nail are below, and full dates with Currington are here.

Josh Thompson will embark on his Change Is Comin’ tour Feb. 3 from Coyote Joe’s in Charlotte, NC. He currently has 22 club dates scheduled to share new music from his upcoming sophomore album Change. Scheduled dates appear below Nail’s, or here.

David Nail tour dates:
1/25 Oxford, OH — Brick Street Bar
1/26 Chicago, IL — Joe’s Bar
1/27 Bloomington, IN — Bluebird Nightclub
1/28 Columbus, OH — The Bluestone
2/3 Tampa, FL — Dallas Bull
2/4 Everglades City, FL — Everglades City Seafood Fest
2/8 El Paso, TX — Whiskey Dick’s
2/9 Flagstaff, AZ — The Museum Club
2/10 Mesa, AZ — Toby Keith’s
2/11 Bakersfield, CA  — Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace
2/15 Los Angeles, CA — The Troubadour
2/16 San Miguel, CA — The Ranch
2/17 Davis, CA — The Graduate
2/18 Las Vegas, NV — Santa Fe Station Casino

Josh Thompson’s Change Is Comin’ tour dates:
2/3 Charlotte, NC – Coyote Joe’s
2/4 Greenville, SC – Blind Horse Saloon
2/8 Foxborough, MA – Showcase Live
2/9 Uncasville, CT – Wolf Den
2/10 Bethleham, PA – Musikfest Café
2/11 Portland, ME – Asylum
2/16 Columbia, SC – Jillian’s
2/17 Milledgeville, GA – Cowboy Bills
2/18 Sebring, FL — Highlands
3/10 West Palm Beach, FL – Cruzan Amphitheatre
3/16 Jacksonville, FL — Landing
3/17 Lakeland, FL – Boots N Buckles Saloon
3/24 Quincy, IL – Morrison Theatre
3/29 Flagstaff, AZ – Museum Club
3/30 Mesa, AZ – Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
3/31 San Miguel, CA – The Ranch

DISClaimer Single Reviews (1/25/12)

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There is life after major labels.

That’s today’s message, coming to us loud and clear from Deborah Allen, Neal McCoy, Jonathan Edwards and Suzy Bogguss. All of them have excellent indie albums, with Suzy and Deborah owning their own labels. For shining a spotlight on our folk-music legacy, Suzy Bogguss wins our Disc of the Day.

From the Broken Bow label comes a young Tullahoma, Tennessee native named Dustin Lynch. Give his “Cowboys and Angels” single a spin. I think you’ll agree with me that he’s a worthy DisCovery Award recipient.

KENNY VAUGHAN/Country Music Got a Hold on Me
Writer: none listed; Producer: Brandon Bell, Carmella Ramsey & Kenny Vaughn; Publisher: Veltal, BMI; Sugar Hill (track) (www.kennyvaughan.net)
—With Marty Stuart and the rest of The Fabulous Superlatives along for the rollicking ride, Kenny’s current solo CD kicks off with this neo-rockabilly romp that comes with built-in smiles as well as his trademark, deliciously stinging guitar licks.

SUZY BOGGUSS/Red River Valley
Writer: anonymous; Producer: Suzy Bogguss; Publisher: public domain; Loyal Duchess (track) (www.suzybogguss.com)
—Suzy’s American Folk Songbook CD is precisely what its title says it is, a collection of simply arranged gems of our nation’s musical heritage. Not only does she still sing with immense warmth and luster, she is surrounded by some of Music City’s top instrumentalists plus vocal harmonies courtesy of Matraca Berg, Harry Stinson and Gretchen Peters. I am told this is doing quite well overseas. It is a thorough delight.

TRENT JEFFCOAT/When I Find Me That Mountain
Writer: Trent Jeffcoat/Brandy Clark; Producer: Paul Sikes; Publisher: none listed; Deer in the Headlights (track) (www.trentjeffcoat.com)
—This singer-songwriter has a seven-song CD as a calling card. Its title tune is a meditative ballad with a deeply stirring lyric made even more potent because of his resonant, emotional baritone vocal. Trent Jeffcoat has the goods, people.

DEBORAH ALLEN/It Better Be Big
Writer: Deborah Allen/Callie Champion; Producer: Deborah Allen; Publisher: none listed; Delta Rock (track) (www.deborahallen.com)
—The second single from Deborah’s new Hear Me Now CD is a hoot. After a bluesy intro, she sizzles into a rapid-fire, rocking delivery. “If you’re gonna give it to me, baby, it better be big,” she sings. Get your mind out of the gutter: She means a wedding ring. Stay tuned for her personality-packed asides during the finale.

ALAN RHODY/Somebody to Care
Writer: Alan Rhody/Bill Caswell; Producer: Alan Rhody; Publisher: Sony-ATV, BMI; Ashwood (track) (www.alanrhody.com)
—If you’ve never seen this Nashville singer-songwriter perform, you’re missing out on one of our most entertaining and amusing acoustic troubadours. Alan’s new Led By Love collection begins with this ear catching story song about a would-be liquor store robber who finds romance and redemption en route. The supporting cast of this sterling set includes Sam Bush, Gordie Trapp, Mike Henderson, Jay Patten, Mike Bub, Vickie Carrico, Billy Thomas and Jonell Mosser. Are the tracks cool? You bet.

NEAL McCOY/Sentimental Journey
Writer: Les Brown/Bud Green/Benjamin Homer; Producer: Les Brown Jr. & Keith Olsen; Publisher: Morley/Holliday/Songwriters Guild of America/MPL, no performance rights listed; Encore/DPTV (track) (www.dptvmedia.org)
—Country star McCoy teams up with Les Brown’s Band of Renown on a new, in-concert CD that’s a definite change of pace. Singing the swing band’s signature song, he seems relaxed and at ease with the massed brass section wailing behind him. Charley Pride and Janie Fricke also make guest appearances on the set, which was originally recorded for a PBS special.

RANDY THOMPSON/One Guitar
Writer: Randy Thompson; Producer: Randy Thompson; Publisher: Twang This, ASCAP; Jackpot (track) (www.randythompson.net)
—Thompson’s Collected CD compiles tunes he has recorded over the past decade for various albums and singles. This is one of its two newly recorded selections. It is a country rocker with a “spaghetti western” vibe. The band rushes the tempo, and there’s too much echo on his vocal.

JONNY CORNDAWG/Shaved Like a Razor
Writer: none listed; Producer: Loney John Hutchins & Jonny Corndawg; Publisher: none listed; Nasty Memories (track) (www.corndawg.com)
—I think it is meant to be funny, but he still can’t sing.

JONATHAN EDWARDS/Surrounded
Writer: Jonathan Edwards; Producer: Jonathan Edwards & Jim Begley; Publisher: Joinatune Earthwords, no performance rights listed; Appleseed (track) (www.jonathanedwards.net)
—Appleseed Records specializes in reviving the careers of “heritage” artists who have long been absent from the recording scene, including Tom Rush (35 years between studio recordings), David Bromberg (17 years), Buffy Sainte-Marie (13 years), Jesse Winchester (10 years), Roger McGuinn (10 years) and Donovan (8 years). Edwards has been m.i.a. for about a dozen years. His comeback My Love Will Keep CD begins with this lilting, pastoral ode with super-soulful harmonies by bluegrass star Claire Lynch. In addition to his own songs, he covers works by Mark D. Sanders & Adrienne Young, Tommy Rocco, John Brannen and Henry Gross, not to mention Lennon & McCartney.

DUSTIN LYNCH/Cowboys and Angels
Writer: Dustin Lynch/Josh Leo/Tim Nichols; Producer: none listed; Publisher: Big Machine/Golden Gears/Super 98/Sony-ATV Tree/Warner-Tamerlane/Contentment/Made For This, BMI; Broken Bow  (www.dustinlynch.com)
—He sings in a clear, confident, smooth baritone with smoky, whiskey aftertones. The moody power ballad has a dusky, romantic vibe that is quite magnetic. This could definitely go places.

Sunny Sweeney Helps Raise $1.3 Million

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Charlie Chase and Sunny Sweeney.

Sunny Sweeney helped raise over $1.3 million on Saturday night (1/21) during the 42nd Annual West Texas Rehabilitation Center telethon.

The five hour event, held at the Abilene Civic Center, was the most successful to date and benefited the Rehabilitation Center’s efforts to see and treat over 500 patients with physical, communication, and hearing disabilities per day.

Longview, Texas native, Sweeney, served as the headliner, performed songs from her debut album, Concrete. Charlie Chase of “Crook and Chase” served as co-host for the 12th year.

Red Steagall, The Boys in the Bunkhouse, Brad Maule (General Hospital) and Susan Hayes (Days of Our Lives) also made appearances at the event.

In 2011, Sweeney reached audiences nationwide by performing on Brad Paisley’s H2O II: Wetter & Wilder World Tour and playing support dates for Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker. Next month, she will perform at the CRS New Faces show.

Underwood to Release New Single

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Carrie Underwood will release her new single, “Good Girl,” to country radio on Feb. 23.  The five-time Grammy winner’s new CD will arrive later in spring.

Underwood wrote “Good Girl” with Chris DeStefano and Ashley Gorley. Gorley also co-wrote two of Underwood’s No. 1 hits “Don’t Forget to Remember Me,” and “All-American Girl.”

Once again Underwood is teamed up with Mark Bright, who produced her two previous albums as well as seven tracks from her debut album Some Hearts.

Underwood is a current Grammy nominee for Best Country Solo Performance for “Mama’s Song.” The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air Feb. 12 on CBS.

CBS, ACM Announce 10-Year Deal

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CBS, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions announced today a new 10-year deal that will keep the annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast on the CBS Television Network through 2021. The new agreement further extends a successful broadcast partnership between the ACM and CBS that has been in place since 1998.

In addition to the annual awards telecast, the new agreement includes the continued broadcast of annual ACM specials.

This news comes before tomorrow morning’s announcement of the ACM Awards nominees for the upcoming show on April 1.

Last year’s ACM Awards broadcast won its time period in households (7.6/12), viewers (13.05 million), and several key demographics.

“The Academy of Country Music represents a highly valued partnership for our company and the awards show is one of the marquee broadcasts on our network,” said Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation. “It is an entertainment event that continues to grow in scope and popularity, and we look forward to working with the ACM and dick clark productions to build on this great momentum over the next decade.”

“The Academy has been home at CBS for 14 years, and we’re thrilled to continue that winning partnership over the next decade,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “With our friends at CBS and our partners at dick clark productions, we’ve grown the Academy’s brand and television properties, consistently delivering hits that country music fans can count on. We look forward to 10 more years of incredible entertainment programming that brings fans the best that country music has to offer.”

“The Academy of Country Music Awards is one of the crown jewels in our collection of storied franchises,” said Mark Shapiro, CEO of dick clark productions. “This new deal recognizes the continuing success of the awards show and creates a platform for expanding our reach with ACM-branded programming. We are delighted to extend our relationship with America’s most-watched television network.”

 

IBMA Announces Leadership Bluegrass Class of 2012

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The International Bluegrass Music Association has announced participants for the 2012 class of Leadership Bluegrass. Joining the leadership group, now in its 13th year, for a three-day intensive program are the following:

Bob Altschuler—Musician/Music Instructor/Writer, Dyer Switch Band, Thirteen Feet of Bluegrass, New York State Retirement System; Albany, N.Y.
Jimmy Bowen—Jimmy Bowen & Santa Fe; Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
Casey Campbell—Belmont University student/Musician; Kingston Springs, Tenn.
H.R. Cook—Weaver of Words Music Group; Tazewell, Va.
Sonya Robles Cotton—The Louisville Bluegrass Music Association, Bluegrass Anonymous; Louisville, Ky.
Martha Stracener Dantzic—Quicksilver Productions; Washington, D.C.
Laurie Dashper—Music City Roots, Bluegrass Underground; Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Denise Hitchcock—BlueHighways TV; Hendersonville, Tenn.
Lisa Jacobi—Steel String Session, Lisa Affordable Websites; Copperhill, Tenn.
Denise Jarvinen—Boston Bluegrass Union, Traditional Music Foundation; Brookline, Mass.
Russell Johnson—Grass Cats, Red Sock Publishing, The Comfort Zone Recording Studio, New Time Records; Four Oaks, N.C.
Gerald Jones—AcousticMusicCamp.com; Garland, Texas
Jamie Katz—PineCone, The Piedmont Council of Traditional Music, Inc.; Raleigh, N.C.
Rick Lang—Haley Anna Music, BMI; Kingston, N.H.
Claire Lynch—The Claire Lynch Band; Hermitage, Tenn.
Michael McLain—Belmont University; Cane Ridge, Tenn.
Ronnie Norton—Lonesome Highway; Dublin, Ireland
Chris Oliver—Infinity Luthiers; Springfield, Ill.
Ross Pomerenk—Acoustic Sound/ Wintergrass; Lopez Island, Wash.
Daniel Routh—Nu-Blu, Top 66 International Bluegrass Airplay Chart; Red Squared Audio; Siler City, N.C.
Gene Skinner—Great Stuff Radio Network; Springfield, Mo.
Jennifer Strickland—Rural Rhythm Records, Jenny Lynn Publishing; Antioch, Tenn.
Chris Teskey—WAMU’s Bluegrass Country; Washington, D.C.
Tony Watt—TheBluegrassUniversity.com, Boston Bluegrass Union; Cambridge, Mass.
Sharon White—The Whites; Hendersonville, Tenn.
Kimberly Williams—East Public Relations, The Expedition Show; Sparta, Tenn.

The 2012 Leadership Bluegrass will be hosted at BMI and Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC in Nashville, March 8-10 and facilitated by Trisha Tubbs. More info here.

Jimmy Rector Joins Show Dog-Universal

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Promotion vet Jimmy Rector has joined forces with Show Dog-Universal as VP/Strategic Planning & Promotion, and is on the job now. The move puts him back under the same roof as Rick Moxley and Mark Wright with whom he worked at Sony Music Nashville in his previous role as Columbia Records VP Promotion. Rector exited the label group in August 2011.

“When I got the chance to reunite with both Rick Moxley and Mark Wright, it was hard to say no,” says Rector. “Then I heard the music and knew it’s where I belong.”

Congratulate him here.