Jim Halsey Releases “Starmaker”

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After building powerhouse country music booking agency The Jim Halsey Company and selling it to the William Morris Agency, Jim Halsey founded the Jim Halsey Institute, which focuses on helping others pursue their dreams in the music industry. This month, the veteran booking agent will release Starmaker, a book that shares the secrets he learned while shepherding the careers of entertainment giants.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, Starmaker digs deep into the fundamentals: how to develop an act, how to get an agent, how to use the press to build your audience, how to play the biggest and best forums. His advice is designed to help readers find their place on the team—the position that provides the most successful and most fulfilling career.

Halsey has worked with The Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, Hank Thompson, Reba McEntire, Wanda Jackson, Tammy Wynette, Rick Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dwight Yoakam, Clint Black, the Judds, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Lee Greenwood, and a host of others. Since 1990, The Jim Halsey Institute has been helping artists’ dreams come true everyday. Halsey, who makes his home near Tulsa, Oklahoma, continues to manage The Oak Ridge Boys.

Shaw and Friends Benefit Abintra

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Hit songwriter/producer/performer Victoria Shaw will appear with a cast of acclaimed musician friends in a concert to benefit the arts program at Nashville’s Abintra Montessori School. Headliners will include Shaw, along with country artists Bryan White, and Ty Herndon.

Also joining Shaw at the benefit, scheduled for Saturday March 27 at 7 p.m. at Limelight, will be award-winning songwriters Desmond Child, Gary Burr, Chuck Jones, Alex Call and more. In addition, the show will feature national syndicated radio personality Blair Garner (After MidNite with Blair Garner) and CNN Headline News anchor Robin Meade, who will perform.

“This is one of those rare Nashville moments when you can hear all these award-winning writers and artists under one roof,” says Shaw. “Limelight is a wonderful venue to see live music with a great sound system.”

Shaw’s recent successes include co-producing Grammy-winning, Platinum-selling trio Lady Antebellum. She is especially committed to the arts program at Abintra Montessori School, where she and some of the other performers are parents. This is the second year Shaw has organized a benefit for the school. Proceeds from the concert will support the Integrated Arts program at Abintra. The event will also feature a silent auction with works by local artists, signed celebrity musician memorabilia, and items donated by local retailers.

“I’m excited to be doing this again and bringing my talented friends to a cause I care so much about. It’s important to me to use my talents and resources in supporting Abintra’s unique arts program,” says Shaw.

Tickets for “Victoria Shaw and Friends” are $15. To purchase, click here.

People.com Hosts Exclusive Preview of Bucky’s New Single

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Lyric Street recording artist Bucky Covington has released his newest single, “A Father’s Love (The Only Way He Knew How),” and fans can hear it only on People.com. Written by Liz Hengber, Thom Shepherd and Steve Williams, “A Father’s Love” tells the story of a father who shows his children how much he loves them by taking care of all the little things in life. The track is from Covington’s upcoming sophomore album, I’m Alright, releasing fall 2010.

“We were basically done with the new CD when this song came across the desk … the minute I heard it I knew that I had to cut it,” said Bucky. “It reminds me of my dad when I was growing up and I think many people will relate to it too!”

The single will be available beginning Monday at 2pm central via PlayMPE for airplay on country radio.

Covington’s self-titled debut album has gone on to sell nearly 500,000 copies and produced a string of top 10 hits including “A Different World,” “It’s Good To Be Us” and “I’ll Walk.”

Bentley, Tillis and Lauderdale Host WSM Radio Shows

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Iconic radio station 650 AM WSM is gearing up to kick off a new series of midday shows hosted by award-winning artists on March 15. The three weekly one-hour shows hosted by Dierks Bentley, Pam Tillis and Jim Lauderdale will air Monday through Wednesday at 2 p.m. CT. The shows can also be heard online at www.wsmonline.com or as podcasts via iTunes.

The shows will feature the artists’ favorite songs in a mix of Country, Bluegrass and Americana genres, and will also include in-studio guests. Bentley leads off on Mondays with his show The Thread, followed on Tuesdays by Tillis and her Lettin’ My Roots Show, and Lauderdale on Wednesday with The Jim Lauderdale Show.

A variety of guest artists and WSM favorites will take the mic on Thursdays. Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor will guest host the first Thursday show March 18, while Diamond Rio’s Dana Williams follows March 25.

“Putting this radio show together is the most fun I’ve had in a long long time,” says Bentley. “I named it ‘The Thread” because it’s my chance to go back to all the music that influenced me…it’s the artists and songs that tie us all together as a genre. I get to pick the music, tell stories and do just about whatever I want with that hour…it’s anything goes. 650 AM is a country music institution…I’m proud they agreed to put me on the air!” Get a sneak peak of The Thread.

Shelton Starts Release Day With ACM Nomination

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Blake Shelton invited Miranda Lambert to join him on the Grand Ole Opry stage Fri., Feb. 26 to perform the George Jones classic, “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?” Shelton also wowed the sold-out Opry crowd with his current single, “Hillbilly Bone.” Earlier in the night Lambert had performed “White Liar” and “The House That Built Me."

Blake Shelton started his release day this morning (3/2) by joining Reba McEntire to announce the ACM nominations live on CBS’s The Early Show. He scored a nod in the Vocal Event Of The Year category for “Hillbilly Bone” ft. Trace Adkins. The song is the fastest rising single of his career and the title track to his new Six-Pak album.

“This is the best day of my life,” said Shelton. “I got to read the nominations with the queen of country music, Reba. And, then I find out ‘Hillbilly Bone’ is nominated! I’m glad that my first nomination in years is with one of my great friends, Trace Adkins. The only thing that could make this day better is if Betty White was there to give me the award should I win!”

Also today, Shelton was set to appear on NBC’s Today show, and tomorrow (3/3) he visits Fox News Channel’s FOX & Friends and Hannity’s America. On Thursday he heads to Good Day New York and on the 22nd he stops by E!’s Chelsea Lately.

The new album is Shelton’s sixth studio effort and was produced by Scott Hendricks.

Aubrey Mayhew Memorial; Babies On Way For LBT and Luke Bryan

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A memorial service for songwriter and producer Aubrey Mayhew will be held Sunday, March 14, 2 PM, at Montgomery Bell Academy’s Paschall Theater. Known as founder of Little Darlin’ records, Mayhew passed away March 21, 2009. He was 81. Over the course of his long and storied career Mayhew worked with a wide range of artists that ran from country outlaw Johnny Paycheck to Hollywood leading man Clint Eastwood all the way to jazz legend Charlie Parker. For details contact Parris Mayhew at parrismayhew@mac.com.

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Congrats to these Capitol Nashville artists with babies on the way:

Little Big Town husband and wife Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild are expecting a baby and in lieu of gifts, the band is hosting an online shower to benefit children recovering from the earthquake in Haiti. Details here.

Luke Bryan and wife Caroline are looking forward to the birth of their second child in August. The couple was married in December 2006.  The baby will join two-year-old brother Bo Bryan.

Video: Underwood On “How I Met Your Mother”

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Carrie Underwood made a one-off guest star appearance on the hit CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother last night (3/1). She played “Tiffany,” a charming pharmaceutical sales rep and love interest for Josh Radnor’s character “Ted.” Video below.

Photo credit: Chris Hollo

It’s a busy time for Underwood, who is pictured on the new issue of People, and this morning received six ACM award nominations.

She has also partnered with Pedigree to help feed dogs in need via www.facebook.com/Pedigree. And the company made a $50,000 donation to Underwood’s C.A.T.S Foundation (Checotah, Animal, Town and School Foundation) to help build a local animal shelter in her hometown.

“Ramble At Ryman” Wins Emmy; Tues. Night Opry Returns

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Pictured (L-R) Jed Hilly, Americana Music Association; Edie Hoback, High Five; Dylan Petraitis (accepting for late father Danny Petraitis); and Martin Fischer, High Five.

Levon Helm: Ramble at the Ryman recently garnered two Mid South Emmy Awards. The program, produced by the Americana Music Association, Dirt Farmer Music and High Five Entertainment took home the Entertainment trophy and Nic Dugger took home the Technical Achievement award.

See a video from PBS’s Ramble at the Ryman below.

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The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® kicks off the Tuesday Night Opry tonight (3/2) at the Grand Ole Opry House with Del McCoury Band, Aaron Tippin, and Chris Young. 

Among those slated for Opry appearances later in March are Montgomery Gentry, Danny Gokey, David Nail, Terri Clark, Lee Greenwood, Justin Moore, Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin, John Anderson, Charlie Daniels Band and Eric Church. Gokey and Corbin are also set for autograph sessions. Opry Country Classics will return for its sophomore season On Thurs., March 25 at Ryman Auditorium. 

Also set to return in April is Pickin’ & Grinnin’ With Mike Snider: A Grand Ole Comedy Revue, with Opry member and HEE HAW alum Snider.

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Gill Joins Clapton Onstage; Cash’s Birthday Celebrated in Black

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Pictured APA staffers L-R: Kylen Sharpe, Hannah Garber, Kara Chambers, Bonnie Sugarman, and Ashley Wentz.

Last week marked the release of Johnny Cash’s final album American VI: Ain’t No Grave, as well as what would have been his 78th birthday on Feb. 26.

The Cash family, Rick Rubin/American Recordings and Lost Highway Records wanted to celebrate the Man in Black’s life by encouraging fans to wear black on that day. Among the Nashville offices participating was APA (Agency for the Performing Arts), the agency which represented him for 34 years.

In other Cash news from last week, the iTunes 10 billionth song purchase was his song “Guess Things Happen That Way.”

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Eric Clapton invited surprise guest Vince Gill to join him onstage during his Saturday night concert at the Nashville arena. Gill played four songs including “Layla,” the Bessie Smith blues standard “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” his own “Running on Faith,” the 80’s hit “I’ve Got a Rock and Roll Heart,” and the show’s encore, the Robert Johnson/Cream classic, “Crossroads.”

Gill is currently working on his next studio release and will appear with Clapton and nearly 30 other guitarists including Jeff Beck, Sheryl Crow and Buddy Guy at Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival on June 26 at Chicago’s Toyota Park.

ACM Plans Vegas Events, Honors Montgomery Gentry

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Columbia Nashville duo Montgomery Gentry will be the 2010 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 45th Annual ACM Awards in Las Vegas on Sun., April 18, 2010. Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are strong supporters of the U.S. military and numerous charitable organizations including the TJ Martell Foundation, Camp Horsin’ Around, and Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The duo also works with St. Jude’s Research Hospital, ACM’s Chairman’s Ride benefiting ACM Lifting Lives, USO Tours to the Persian Gulf, Hospice of the Bluegrass and Multiple Myeloma Foundation, David Dickens Melanoma Research Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Patient Advocate Foundation. As recipients of the Humanitarian Award, Montgomery Gentry  will receive a KaBOOM! playground built in their honor by The Home Depot and a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live ACM telecast on CBS.

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Today the Academy of Country Music also announced events celebrating what has come to be called “The Week Vegas Goes Country®”— the week of the ACM Awards.

Friday & Saturday, April 16 & 17, 2010

ACM Concerts at Fremont Street Experience featuring headlining performances by Lady Antebellum on Friday and Miranda Lambert on Saturday. Free and open-to-the-public concerts start at 6:30pm on two stages in downtown Las Vegas. For the second year in a row, winners in each of the newcomer categories Top New Solo Vocalist, Top New Vocal Group and Top New Vocal Duo will have the chance to perform during these concerts.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

ACM Chairman’s Ride: An invitation-only event for artists and industry VIPs to experience a scenic motorcycle ride through the Nevada landscape. Montgomery Gentry will host the ride for the sixth time this year. The event benefits ACM Lifting Lives.

USO Concert in Partnership with ACM Lifting Lives: For the first time ever, ACM Lifting Lives (the Academy’s charitable arm) is partnering with the USO to bring a free, private concert to the service men and women of Nellis Air Force Base just outside of Las Vegas, NV. USO tour veterans Montgomery Gentry and Randy Houser are scheduled to perform.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

45th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS – Hosted by Reba McEntire for a record 12th time and featuring the hottest performances by today’s superstars of country, the Awards will once again take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

ACM All-Star Jam – This no-holds-barred jam features impromptu performances from the artists who participate in the Awards.

Monday, April 19, 2010

ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn – The Last Rodeo: Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, the best-selling duo in the history of country music, will receive the Academy’s Milestone Award in recognition of their 20-year, record-breaking career during this tribute concert special. They will be honored for holding the record for the most wins of any artist in the Academy’s history with 26 awards. Artists already scheduled to perform at the taping include superstars Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Tickets are still available for this show, which benefits ACM Lifting Lives and will air at a later date on CBS Television Network from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. For information on tickets visit Ticketmaster.com.

NOTE: The Annual Academy of Country Music Celebrity Golf Classic is on a hiatus for 2010.