2010 was a good year for The Grascals. The group’s latest album, The Famous Lefty Flynn’s, topped the Bluegrass Unlimited chart for four months. Their current single, “Last Train To Clarksville,” claimed the No. 1 spot on the singles chart this month as well.

This banner year was ushered in with several significant changes; the band parted ways with their label of six years, Rounder Records, and started their own imprint, BluGrascal Records. Additionally, The Grascals celebrated a successful first year with New Frontier Touring, playing over 150 shows in 2010, including high-profile sets with Hank Williams Jr.’s Rowdy Friends Tour, the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, the CMA Music Festival, the IBMA Fan Fest and multiple Opry appearances.
“We worked hard, we reaped a good bit of what we’ve sown, and we are continually blessed,”  remarks Jamie Johnson, vocalist and guitar player for the group.

The Grascals formed in Nashville in 2004 and have received multiple IBMA Awards, including Emerging Artist of the Year (2005), Song of the Year (2005), and Entertainer of the Year (2006 and 2007).

The Grascals Receive No. 1 plaques for The Famous Lefty Flynn’s at NorthStar Studios in Nashville. Pictured Standing, L-R: Jeremy Westby (Entertainment Evolution), Mary Matthews (New Frontier Touring), Terry Smith, Jeremy Abshire, Kristin Scott Benson, Jon Bell (New Frontier Touring), Jamie Johnson, Danny Roberts, Kirt Webster (Entertainment Evolution) and Terry Eldredge. Kneeling, L-R: Logan Bosemer (New Frontier Touring), Paul Lohr (New Frontier Touring), Martha Moore (So Much Moore Media) and Aaron Summer (New Frontier Touring).

Exclusive Strait Album at Wrangler Retailers

George Strait’s exclusive album release with Wrangler is now available at select Wrangler Specialty Apparel retailers nationwide. The collector’s album, which is free with a $50 purchase of Wrangler apparel, is entitled George Strait Cowboy Love Songs and features hits such as “Check Yes Or No” and “You Look So Good in Love.”

The full track listing is as follows:

“You Look So Good In Love”
“The Chair”
“I Cross My Heart”
“You’re Something Special To Me”
“Carrying Your Love With Me”
“Run”
“Check Yes or No”
“If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)”

George Strait Cowboy Love Songs is available until December 31st. To find a retailer or for more information, visit www.wrangler.com or call 888.784.8671.

A Teaser From Kelley

MCA artist Josh Kelley released a three-song EP this week, piquing interest for his spring 2011 release Georgia Clay. The EP includes his current single and title track from the upcoming album, building on the buzz that Kelley has created in anticipation of releasing the album he’s been working on for the past two years.

“I am super excited about these songs,” Josh says. “These are the perfect three songs for a three-song EP to give people a little taste of what’s to come.”

Kelley wrote the song “Georgia Clay” with his brother, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, and was inspired as the two reminisced about high school. “I asked Charles whatever happened to that old truck Dad used to let us drive,” Josh says. “He said it was in a junkyard somewhere. I said, ‘Man, if there’s still some Georgia clay underneath it, if that Georgia clay could speak what would it say?’ It would have seen our childhood and seen Charles and I experiencing our first everythings.”

Kelley, who made his Opry debut on November 12th, is currently on tour with Miranda Lambert and Eric Church.

Billboard is expanding its chart offerings to include a new chart, the Social 50. Presented by ZYNC from American Express, the Social 50 chart will track and rank the most active artists on the world’s leading social networking sites including MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and iLike. Data from these sites will be tracked by Next Big Sound, a provider of online music analytics and insights.

The Social 50 will rank each artist’s popularity through a formula that blends artist page views, song plays, and additions of friends/fans/followers on a weekly basis. It will emphasize friends and fan behavior above other metrics and will include a unique metric which measures the ratio of page views to fans. The inaugural chart slates Rihanna as the top artist, followed by Justin Bieber, Eminem, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj, respectively, in the top five.

“The Social 50 provides a weekly snapshot of the artists that music fans engage with the most in the social arena, which in today’s world is a significant validation of their investment in an act,” says Silvio Pietroluongo, Billboard Chart Director.

“We continue to adapt the way we chart the changing landscape of music,” adds Bill Werde, Billboard Editorial Director.  “The Social 50 is yet another step in the evolution of Billboard and an important response to our changing times.”

The Social 50 will be updated on Billboard.com and Billboard.biz every Thursday and in each issue of Billboard magazine.

Martina McBride To Perform at NASCAR Ceremony

Multi-platinum and award-winning artist Martina McBride will perform “America the Beautiful” at NASCAR’s 2010 Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony. McBride joins a lineup that includes Rascal Flatts, Colbie Caillat, comedian Frank Caliendo and a special performance by Cirque du Soleil’s “Viva Elvis.”

“I’m looking forward to singing for the NASCAR drivers and teams at this year’s awards ceremony,” said McBride. “NASCAR and country music go hand-in-hand and have one very important thing in common—the fans. They are the most loyal of any I’ve ever known and it’s always a thrill to perform live for such an enthusiastic and supportive audience.”

The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, December 3, at the Wynn Las Vegas. This event culminates NASCAR’s Champion’s Week, a postseason celebration offering fan-friendly activities in Las Vegas.

More information is available at www.nascar.com.

Urban for St. Jude

For the ninth year, Keith Urban has teamed up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to produce a 2011 calendar. This calendar features photos of Urban, taken by members of his fan club, and is part of the Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids fundraising program.

This program unites country music fans and fan clubs from across the world to raise money for the life-saving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Through the program, donations to St. Jude are made in honor of the donor’s favorite celebrity, allowing fans to show support for their favorite entertainer while helping the kids of St. Jude at the same time.

To date, Urban’s calendars have raised over $500,000 for the kids of St. Jude, as 100 percent of the net proceeds benefit the hospital.

The calendar is available for purchase for $15 here.