BMI and ASCAP toasted Carrie Underwood’s critically acclaimed chart-topper “Temporary Home” with a lunch at the 1808 Grille in Nashville yesterday (8/3). Written by Underwood, Luke Laird, and Zac Maloy, the song marks the two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year’s twelfth trip to the top of the charts and her fifth co-written No. 1.

(Seated, l-r): Zac Maloy, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Laird; (Standing, l-r): ASCAP’s LeAnn Phelan and Tim DuBois, 19 Entertainment’s Ann Edelblute, Universal Music Publishing’s Pat Higdon, Sony Music Nashville’s Gary Overton, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, producer Mark Bright, BMI’s Jody Williams and Beth Mason, and Sony Music’s Skip Bishop.

Arista Records artist Brad Paisley has amassed more than enough hits for his first official greatest hits package, but with Hits Alive, the singer/songwriter is determined to take a fresh approach, delivering much more for his fans than just the usual greatest hits.

Releasing on November 2, Hits Alive will be a double-disc collection, with one disc packed with studio versions of Paisley favorites, and a companion disc featuring previously unreleased live versions of the hits. A full track listing is pending.

The project will once again team Paisley with producer Frank Rogers, with whom the singer has worked since his Platinum-certified 1999 debut album, Who Needs Pictures.

A single from the collection, “Anything Like Me,” penned by Paisley, Chris DuBois, and Dave Turnbull, is at country radio now.

A three-time Grammy winner and the reigning, four-time ACM and three-time CMA Male Vocalist, Paisley is among country music’s most acclaimed and consistent hitmakers, with 17 No. 1 singles to his credit (including 13 in a row), and career sales now in excess of 11 million albums. He is currently headlining his H2O World Tour. For concert dates and more, visit www.bradpaisley.com.

Loving You: Collecting Elvis Presley, a spotlight exhibit on one of the most beloved and influential cultural figures of the twentieth century, will be unveiled August 6 at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The exhibit, which celebrates Elvis Presley’s seventy-fifth birth year, is located within the Museum’s permanent exhibition and will run through January 2011.

Incorporating documents and artifacts from the Museum’s collection, the exhibit examines Presley’s continuing global appeal and the enduring support of his fans more than thirty years after Presley’s passing. Items to be displayed include a Munsingwear bathrobe and a Lord Nelson wristwatch owned by the King himself. Also featured are collectible items bearing Presley’s likeness, including a bronze bust designed by Armand LaMontagne, a Christmas ornament, a bottle of “Always Elvis” white wine, a porcelain music box and more.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is looking into a expansion which would connect it with the new Nashville convention center currently in the works. The Tennessean reports that there are ongoing discussions about connecting the Hall to the proposed Music City Center, which would allow the museum to display more of its collection and possibly attract more visitors.

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Individual balcony seats for the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s All for the Hall Los Angeles fundraiser, taking place Thursday, September 23, at Club Nokia, will go on sale to the public on Friday, August 6. Tickets to the benefit concert, featuring performances by Country Music Hall of Fame members Emmylou Harris and Kris Kristofferson, superstar Taylor Swift, and a very special fourth chair that must remain anonymous, are available for $250 and $150 (reserved seats in VIP section of the balcony with access to the VIP lounge) and $115 (reserved seats in the balcony). Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, the STAPLES Center Box Office or at the Club Nokia box office. A limited number of VIP tables are still available for purchase at $5,000 and $10,000 levels.

To purchase tickets or tables or for more information, contact Holly Lane at hlane@countrymusichalloffame.org or telephone (615) 416-2035 or (800) 852-6437.

Paramore on the set of their nominated video "Ignorance."

Nashville natives turned pop stars Kesha and Hayley Williams each scored four MTV Video Music Award nominations today (8/3). Taylor Swift also made an appearance on the list with her video “Fifteen” earning a nod for Best Female Video. The show airs Sun., Sept. 12.

Williams’ song “Airplanes” with rapper B.o.B. picked up three nominations and she also received a nod with longtime band Paramore for their video “Ignorance,” which is up for Best Rock Video.

Hip-hop popster Kesha raked in three noms for her debut hit “Tik Tok” and another one for her collaboration with 3OH!3, “My First Kiss.”

Lady Gaga set a record for the most nominations in a single year, bringing in 13 nods, far and away ahead of the second most nominated star Eminem, who will vie for eight trophies.

Fans can go to VMA.MTV.com (or text VMA to 97979 if they are Verizon subscribers) to vote through Sept. 12.

It’s going to be a busy fall for songwriter and author Marshall Chapman, who is releasing a new book, new album and has a part in the upcoming film Country Strong.

Her latest book, They Came To Nashville, includes her remembrances and interviews with 15 musical luminaries, ranging from icons Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, to newer faces like Miranda Lambert. Also included in the discussion about moving to Nashville are interviews with Bobby Braddock, Mary Gauthier, Gary Nicholson, Emmylou Harris, Terri Clark, Rodney Crowell, Don Henry, Beth Nielsen Chapman, John Hiatt, Eddie Angel, Ashley Cleveland, and Bobby Bare. Read an excerpt here.

Coming in October is her new album, Big Lonesome, and her book via Vanderbilt University Press and the Country Music Foundation Press. It is the follow-up to her first book, Goodbye, Little Rock and Roller, which was well received by peers and critics.

Marshall Chapman and Gwyneth Paltrow at the wrap party for "Country Strong."

Among other exciting news on the horizon for Chapman is her role as Gwyneth Paltrow’s character’s road manager in the upcoming film Country Strong. Also, Chapman and fellow hitmaker Matraca Berg composed music for the play Good Ol Girls, which just ended a successful New York run and will be going on the road.

Chapman’s songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Wynonna, Olivia Newton-John and many more.