Here is your B93 Country Music News from Vanessa Ryan.

Page 1 of 121 Date: 11/17/2009 Vanessa's Country Music News for November 17, 2009 *After TAYLOR SWIFT won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards last Wednesday, hosts CARRIE UNDERWOOD and BRAD PAISLEY signed off and said good night. Media reports surfaced the next day claiming Carrie tried to cut Brad off while he was congratulating Taylor on her big win, but Carrie says, quote, "That was really hurtful. My brain would never operate that way at all...It was really, really hurtful to see such a great night and such a great moment be turned into trash." Carrie and Taylor have been very supportive of each other's accomplishments throughout their careers, and Carrie hates to think these stories took anything away from Taylor's big night. Carrie says, quote, "That's turning somebody's great moment into a tabloid headline, and it's sad." It seems there's more Carrie gossip to clear up. Over the weekend, OK magazine reported that Carrie was planning to move in with her boyfriend MIKE FISHER. Carrie's rep says that rumor isn't true either. *LADY ANTEBELLUM has scored their second straight number-one hit with "Need You Now" on Billboard's Country Songs chart, and the tune has also made the top spot on iTunes overall songs chart. After winning two CMA Awards last week, Lady A's HILLARY SCOTT says, quote, "We feel so much love from the country music community and other artists and country radio and the fans. I get emotional even talking about it now." "Need You Now" is also the title cut from Lady Antebellum's sophomore album, due out January 26th, 2010. Band member CHARLES KELLEY tells us, quote, "We definitely feel like [the new album is] as step up...I'd rather let the listeners make that decision, but we feel like it is." *CARRIE UNDERWOOD is set to perform at the third annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute gala, honoring everyday citizens who are making a difference in the lives of others. The program will air on Thanksgiving  Thursday, November 26th at 9:00 PM ET on CNN. ANDERSON COOPER will host.  There are quite a few impressive stars appearing on the show, including NICOLE KIDMAN, KATE HUDSON, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS and DWAYNE JOHNSON. Carrie's American Idol pal RANDY JACKSON will also be on the program. In other Carrie news, her fans in the Los Angeles area have the opportunity to see her perform a free mini-concert on Thursday. It's part of the outdoor music series on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live. Head over to CarrieUnderwoodOfficial.com to learn hot to get your free tickets. *JIMMY WAYNE will be the first to tell you it takes a lot of hard work to launch a country career. In fact, he recently took his first vacation in 15 years, to St. Thomas, but it wasn't easy for Jimmy to relax. He says, quote, "It took me two days to really wind down [to] where I could sit still for longer than 10 minutes. I was miserable." Jimmy finally got relaxed enough to enjoy two days on the beach, but he's not going to travel so far on vacation in the future. Jimmy says, quote, "They have palm trees in America and they have sand...It would be easier and cheaper if we just go to our own beaches." Jimmy won't be taking a vacation any time soon. He's busy getting the word out about his new album, Sara Smile, due in stores and online next Monday. *BRAD PAISLEY is set to launch his own record label soon in partnership with his colleagues FRANK ROGERS and CHRIS DuBOIS. Sea Gayle Records will have an operating relationship with Brad's record label, Sony Music. The first artist signed to Sea Gayle Music is JERROD NEIMANN, who's written songs for the likes of GARTH BROOKS and JAMEY JOHNSON. *BRAD PAISLEY and MARTINA McBRIDE were surprise guests at classic rock group REO SPEEDWAGON's concert in Nashville Sunday night. According to CMT.com, Brad and Martina joined the group for a performance of their song "Roll with the Changes." *The stars will be out at the Grand Ole Opry in the next few weeks. JASON MICHAEL CARROLL and LITTLE BIG TOWN are up first this Friday night at the Opry continues its run at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. JUSTIN MOORE and CHUCK WICKS are lined up for November 24th and DIERKS BENTLEY is stopping by on December 1st. TRISHA YEARWOOD, JOSH TURNER, CHARLEY PRIDE, TRACE ADKINS and EMMYLOU HARRIS are among the stars appearing in December. Head over to Opry.com for further details. *Got a headache? TRACE ADKINS can help. He's signed on as the new spokesman for BC Headache Powder.  Trace says, quote, "I still remember when my grandfather gave me my first BC. I even remember the product advertising jingle from the '70s." BC Headache Powder will also sponsor Trace's upcoming Shine All Night tour with MARTINA McBRIDE. That trek launches this Saturday in St. Paul, Minnesota. *Maxim magazine has revealed their list of the Hottest Ladies in Country Music. TAYLOR SWIFT, JENNIFER NETTLES, CARRIE UNDERWOOD and FAITH HILL made the cut, along with SHANIA TWAIN, LADY ANTEBELLUM's HILLARY SCOTT and KELLIE PICKLER. LITTLE BIG TOWN's KAREN FAIRCHILD and KIMBERLY SCHLAPMAN, MARTINA McBRIDE and MIRANDA LAMBERT were also mentioned in Maxim's countdown. The country beauties were listed in no particular order. *BUCKY COVINGTON recently went back to his hometown of Rockingham, North Carolina for a special concert, and now he's releasing a five-song EP from the show. Bucky Covington: Live from Rockingham will be released today through all digital outlets, featuring one new tune titled "Mexicoma." That song will also be included on Bucky's upcoming sophomore album, I'm Alright, due out this spring. Bonus is Bucky. Date: 11/16/2009 Vanessa's Country Music News for November 16, 2009 *CARRIE UNDERWOOD has drawn on both her good and bad experiences in the dating world for song material, but she insists her latest number-one hit "Cowboy Casanova" isn't directed at any one person. Carrie says, quote, "That was more of a vibe that came around first...Certain words just kind of came out... [like] "record machine" [and] "candy-coated misery...then we filled in the rest and kind of created this mystery guy." "Cowboy Casanova" is included on Carrie's latest number-one album Play On. Look for her to perform a song from that project on NBC's Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien this evening. *TIM McGRAW and FAITH HILL presented TAYLOR SWIFT with the CMA Entertainer of the Year trophy at last week's awards show, and they both think the 19-year-old star is worthy of that top prize. Faith tells People magazine, quote, "I think she worked her tail off the last couple [of years] and she deserves to win." Tim agrees with his wife, saying, quote, "I've been doing this a long time, and [Taylor's] got a better head on her shoulders than I do." Tim won CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2001. Faith was last nominated for Entertainer in 2000. *Before the CMA Awards got started Wednesday night, WYNONNA told USA Today that TAYLOR SWIFT's Entertainer of the Year nomination was, quote, "Too much too soon." She went on to compare Taylor's ascent to superstardom with her own back in the mid-'80s as one-half of THE JUDDS, saying, quote, "Mom and I rode in a car for the first year of our career to visit radio stations. There was a making of the star, there was a rising up, and the fans went with us. Now it's over coffee breaks, the success, almost." Wy's comment raised a few eyebrows, especially after Taylor won Entertainer of the Year. Wynonna clarified her statement in a post on Wynonna.com on Thursday saying, quote, "My intent was not to take anything away from [Taylor's] talent and contributions to the country music industry...all of which are truly unprecedented for an artist of any age." Wynonna called Taylor a "beautiful, hard working woman" in the statement and offer her support to the 19-year-old star as an artist and as a woman in the [music] business. Taylor Swift became the youngest person to ever win Entertainer of the Year at last Wednesday's CMA Awards. Wynonna herself was nominated for that top CMA prize with THE JUDDS at age 22, making her the youngest-ever nominee in that category, prior to Taylor. *LITTLE BIG TOWN will soon have a third baby on board their tour bus. Following in the steps of their bandmates PHILLIP SWEET and KIMBERLY SCHLAPMAN, married group members KAREN FAIRCHILD and JIMI WESTBROOK will welcome their first child soon. Karen says, quote, "We wanted to hear mom and dad, not just Aunt Karen and Uncle Jimi." Both Phillip and Kimberly think the couple will do well as parents. Phillip's daughter PENELOPE and Kimberly's daughter DAISY even have a nickname for Karen and Jimi's unborn child -- "Cupcake." Little Big Town is also set to deliver a new album in 2010. *It's been a record-setting and record-breaking year for TAYLOR SWIFT, so the news that she's set yet another Billboard chart record is no surprise.  But the record she's set now is pretty monumental: most top-40 hits from a single album.  When Taylor's song "Fifteen" broke into the top 40 this past week, it became the 13th top-40 hit from her CD Fearless, including the original album and the re-released edition.  The previous record was seven top-40 hits from a single album -- a record held by both MICHAEL JACKSON and JANET JACKSON as well as BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Michael spun off seven top-40 hits from his albums Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, while Janet did the same with Rhythm Nation and Bruce did it with Born In The U.S.A. The reason Taylor was able to accomplish that feat was because she made all the songs from Fearless and the re-release available for individual download.  The sheer download sales of those songs is what caused them to enter the top 40, rather than officially releasing them as singles to radio. *MIRANDA LAMBERT is known for the fiery attitude heard in her hit songs like "Gunpowder and Lead," and now she's got the hair to match. Miranda showed up at the CMA Awards with red streaks in her blonde hair.  She says newly-minted redhead KELLIE PICKLER actually had something to do with it. A few months ago at a music industry event, Kellie and Miranda talked about going red, and Kellie actually followed through with it. Miranda says, quote, "I just chickened out at the last minute...I'm a poser, I guess." Miranda does think red hair would suit her, saying, quote, "I feel like I have a redhead personality...We'll see if I ever go all the way." Fans in Worcester, Massachusetts will get to see Miranda's red streaks when she plays there Thursday night.  *WYNONNA will release a novel this coming April titled The Restless Heart. Aimed at children, the story will revolve around a fictional character based on Wy herself. She tells Billboard, quote, "I'm just trying to find a way to connect with that [younger] generation...because it's a really major, formative time in their lives, and I want to teach them." Wynonna is also planning a reunion of sorts with her mother NAOMI JUDD as THE JUDDS for the new year, though details on that are still being worked out. Bonus is Wynonna. *Less than a week after CHUCK WICKS said on the CMA red carpet that he and JULIANNE HOUGH would address rumors of their break-up together, Julianne has confirmed it herself.  She tells People magazine, quote, "We're both just really, really busy with our careers, and we spend a lot of time apart from each other -- so, we're just taking a little break right now." Even though they're no longer dating, Chuck and Julianne are still friends. She says, quote, "We still hang out all the time, and we're still writing together." Both Chuck and Julianne are working on their respective sophomore albums. Date: 11/13/2009 Vanessa's Country Music News for November 13, 2009 *LADY ANTEBELLUM partied until dawn Thursday after winning two CMA Awards Wednesday night. Following their record label's after party, Lady A's HILLARY SCOTT and DAVE HAYWOOD headed over to bandmate CHARLES KELLEY's house for an all-out dance party. The music was pumping from Hillary's dance mix playlist on her iPod, and the catering was quite interesting, too. Charles actually stopped on the way home and picked up 150 White Castle mini-hamburgers. He says, quote, "We called early. It's just classy. That's what we do in country music." Charles also stopped by the gas station to pick up three or four bags of ice for the gig, and the folks in line congratulated him on the CMA wins. One person who wasn't so happy with Lady A's Hillary Scott Wednesday night is her pal MIRANDA LAMBERT. Hillary actually let Miranda borrow a pair of shoes to wear on the red carpet, and Hillary says, quote, "She was cussing me...She was like, 'Those things were not comfortable!'" Miranda and Hillary became close friends while on tour with KENNY CHESNEY over the summer. Lady A is playing a show in Dallas on Saturday night. *TAYLOR SWIFT's sweep at the CMA Awards help lead the ABC broadcast to its best ratings since 2005. An estimated 16.8 million viewers tuned in for Wednesday night's CMA Awards, which also featured high-energy performance from show hosts BRAD PAISLEY and CARRIE UNDERWOOD and multiple winners LADY ANTEBELLUM. Those numbers were good enough to put the CMA Awards and ABC at number one for Wednesday night. *Despite reports that they've gone their separate ways, CHUCK WICKS and JULIANNE HOUGH attended the CMA Awards together Wednesday night. Chuck, who was reporting on the red carpet for Entertainment Tonight, told them before the show, quote, "We will address [the breakup] together, but right now we're going to have a lot of fun." Julianne began filming a few scenes for the upcoming movie Burlesque last week. She'll resume work on that movie in January and was spotted at the Nashville premiere of TIM McGRAW's new movie The Blind Side last night.  Chuck is currently recording his sophomore album. *TIM McGRAW attended the Nashville premiere of his new film The Blind Side Wednesday night. The movie co-stars SANDRA BULLOCK and tells the story of NFL star MICHAEL OHER, who rose from an impoverished childhood to his current position with the Baltimore Ravens. Tim says, quote, "When I read the script, I just couldn't believe how great it was...and I was going to get to work with...SANDRA BULLOCK...It was just hard to say no." Tim's wife FAITH HILL was on his arm last night, and a few of his fellow country stars, including KIX BROOKS, were there to offer support. Kix says, quote, "I'm real proud of [Tim]. I think he's made Nashville proud." JULIANNE HOUGH walked the red carpet as well.  A budding actress herself, she's begun filming her role in the upcoming movie Burlesque. As for watching the roles Tim has chosen, Julianne says, quote, "Every film that he's done has been phenomenal...It's inspirational, really."  After the premiere, Julianne enjoyed dinner with newly-crowned CMA Entertainer of the Year TAYLOR SWIFT, who also attended the premiere. LADY ANTEBELLUM will be hitting the road with Tim next year, and they've been looking forward to seeing The Blind Side for some time now; they were at the premiere last night.  Lady A's HILLARY SCOTT told us earlier this week, quote, "I got choked up watching the previews...I think it'll be good, and I love Sandra Bullock." CLINT BLACK, RANDY TRAVIS, CLAY WALKER, WYNONNA and THE LOST TRAILERS also walked the red carpet last night. The Blind Side opens nationwide Friday, November 20th. *GEORGE STRAIT is appearing in a movie titled A Pure Country Gift. However, George only has a small role in the film, which stars singer KATRINA ELAM. Also, Strait's publicist tells Country Aircheck that contrary to earlier reports, A Pure Country Gift is not a sequel to his 1992 film Pure Country. Scenes for the new movie were shot Wednesday in Nashville. *Now that TAYLOR SWIFT has accomplished nearly everything on her bucket list, what's next for her?  How about a guest spot as a blood-sucking member of the undead?  KEVIN WILLIAMSON, creator of the CW series The Vampire Diaries, tells the New York Post that he's obsessed with getting Taylor to guest-star on his show.  He says, "I'm desperate to have her come play a vampire...oh my God, I cannot tell you how hard I'm trying to get her -- I would kill to have her on the show!"  Williamson added that he tried to get Taylor on the show a while back, but she couldn't because she was on tour.  He says he thinks she'd be, quote, "amazing" as the kind of young female vampire KIRSTEN DUNST played in the film Interview With A Vampire.  Bonus is vampire. In other Taylor news, she graces the cover of InStyle magazine's December issue, but it's not just your typical glossy photo. This cover shot is in 3-D, and fans can hold the magazine up to webcams to see enhanced content. Look for it on newsstands next Friday. *The Grand Ole Opry's upcoming live webcast on MySpace just got a big boost thanks to recent additions of MARTINA McBRIDE and RODNEY ATKINS to the bill. They join previously announced stars CARRIE UNDERWOOD and JAKE OWEN for the MySpace.com webcast, set for Saturday night at 9:00 PM ET. *People magazine's special country issue, People Country, is on newsstands today featuring ALAN and DENISE JACKSON on the cover. They're among the stars revealing what they're thankful for this holiday season. CARRIE UNDERWOOD is also included in the issue paying tribute to her elementary school music teacher, KATHY COOPER. Carrie says, quote, "[She] gave me my first chance to perform onstage. If she hadn't given me that solo, who knows where I'd be." KEITH URBAN, TOBY KEITH, DOLLY PARTON, JOE NICHOLS and ZAC BROWN of the ZAC BROWN BAND are also included in People Country, on stands now. Date: 11/12/2009 Vanessa's Country Music News for November 12, 2009 Part ONE... *TAYLOR SWIFT made country music history last night -- at 19, she's the youngest-ever winner of the CMA's top honor, the Entertainer of the Year Award.  She's also the first solo female performer to win in that category since SHANIA TWAIN did it in 1999.  In addition, Taylor picked up the awards for Female Vocalist, Video of the Year for "Love Story" and Album of the Year, for Fearless. Also making history last night was DARIUS RUCKER, who became the first African American artist ever to win the Best New Artist award, and the first African American artist since CHARLEY PRIDE ever to win a major individual CMA award, period.  His Best New Artist trophy should fit nicely next to the Best New Artist Grammy he won with HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH back in 1996. Here are the rest of last night's CMA Award winners: Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley Female Vocalist of the Year Taylor Swift New Artist of the Year Darius Rucker Album of the Year Fearless -- Taylor Swift Single of the Year "I Run to You" -- Lady Antebellum Song of the Year (Award to Songwriter) "In Color" Video of the Year "Love Story" -- Taylor Swift Group of the Year Lady Antebellum Duo of the Year Sugarland Musician of the Year Mac McAnally Musical Event of the Year "Start a Band" -- Brad Paisley and Keith Urban Date: 11/12/2009 Vanessa's Country Music News for November 12, 2009 Part TWO... *It's TAYLOR SWIFT's world, and we just live in it.  Last night, the 19-year-old superstar made history by becoming the youngest artist ever to win the CMA's biggest honor, Entertainer of the Year.  She's also the first female to win in that category since SHANIA TWAIN did it in 1999.  Accepting the award, Taylor choked back tears as she told the crowd, "I will never forget this moment, because in this moment, everything that I have ever wanted has just happened to me."  She then called up all  the members of her band and they all shared a giant group hug. Taylor made four trips to the podium in all last night.  She also won Video of the Year for "Love Story," Album of the Year for Fearless, and another biggie, Female Vocalist of the Year.  Accepting that last award, Taylor poked fun at her KANYE WEST moment at the MTV Awards by telling the crowd, "I want to thank every single person in this room tonight for not running up on stage during this speech." Taylor wasn't the only one who made history last night, though.  DARIUS RUCKER became the first African American artist ever to win the CMA's Best New Arist trophy, and the first African American artist since CHARLEY PRIDE to win any major individual CMA award. A thrilled Darius said, "Thank y'all for accepting me!"  He was presented with the award by the JUDDS, who were marking the 25th anniversary of their own Best New Artist win. Taylor Swift's run-in with Kanye inspired a number of jokes during the evening.  Early on in the show, co-hosts BRAD PAISLEY and CARRIE UNDERWOOD sang a brief duet of "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Kanye," which included the line, "Cowboys have manners, they don't interrupt."  Later on, as Carrie complimented Brad on his video for "Welcome To the Future" and he started thanking his director, 88-year-old LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS came onstage, interrupted him and said that while Brad's video was good, Taylor Swift had made "the best video of all time." Co-hosts Brad and Carrie kept things running smoothly, though Brad seemed a bit more comfortable with the comedy material.  They pair sang a few more comedy duets -- one was about BROOKS & DUNN's split and their final performance at last night's show, sung to the TAMMY WYNETTE classic "D-I-V-O-R-C-E."  The lyrics went, "Their D-I-V-O-R-C-E becomes final today/Kix and Little Ronnie will be going away/Everyone one is sad/Except for SUGARLAND/They're home free."  Brad and Carrie also turned LEANN RIMES' "Blue" into "Swine Flu." When Carrie wasn't cracking jokes, she was changing clothes -- we counted at least seven outfits, including a long, tiered yellow dress with a black sash, a strapless short sequined number, a short green dress with a ruffle, a one-shouldered red number, a long blue, purple and yellow dress with flowers, and a more elaborate sequined gown with a complicated neckline -- not to mention the va-va-voom gold overdress and sequined short-short outfit she wore while performing "Cowboy Casanova." Here are few other highlights from last night's show: --When SUGARLAND won for Vocal Duo, they clearly had expected to lose to Brooks & Dunn -- so much so that when she got to the podium, JENNIFER NETTLES asked Kix and Ronnie if they wanted to come up and address the crowd at this, their final CMA Awards appearance as a duo.  When they said no, Jennifer told them, "Thank you what you've done for us, and country music." --When Taylor Swift won for Female Vocalist, she embraced one of the presenters, KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, and then said, "I just got a hug from Kris Kristofferson!  I'm good." --BARBARA MANDRELL accepted her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame by saying, "I may have been country when country wasn't cool, but it was always cool to me." --During their onstage banter, Carrie Underwood stopped and told Brad Paisley, "You smell amazing!"  His response, "Thanks. I'm wearing McGraw."  Carrie responded, "What a coincidence...I'm wearing Faith Hill Parfum."  Tim and Faith, in the front row, laughed along. --While introducing KID ROCK, Brad described him as smelling like, quote, "a pungent yet fragrant blend of whiskey and Waffle House."  Kid was arrested after getting into a fistfight at Waffle House a year ago. --After JAMEY JOHNSON's "In Color" was named Song of the Year, co-writer LEE THOMAS MILLER noted that it was fitting the song won, since it was Veterans Day, and the song was partly inspired by their grandfathers' war experiences.  He added, "Fort Hood, our prayers are with you." Page 1 of 121