[
Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr. + More Join 2012 CMT Awards Performance Lineup
Last week, the CMT Awards announced the beginnings of a performance lineup for the 2012 show. The original bill was already pretty stellar, as it includes big names like Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney on the roster. But the performance schedule got quite a bit sweeter when a few country icons and future country legends joined the ticket.
[
Carrie Underwood’s Husband Wants Seven Kids
If you’ve been following Carrie Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher’s plans to have children, you know that in a recent interview with Oprah the happy couple had differing opinions on when to start their family. But that seems like a minor glitch compared to the bomb Fisher dropped later: He wants seven children. Is Underwood up for mothering that many kids?
[
Dierks Bentley Puts a Country Spin on Adele’s ‘Set Fire to the Rain’
There’s nothing like seeing one of your favorite artists sit down with an acoustic guitar and take part in an unplugged country music jam. Thanks to the resurrection of CMT’s ‘CMT: Unplugged‘ series, country music fans will soon have the chance to see more talented artists play unplugged sets. When Dierks Bentley took his turn this time around, he put on an unforgettable rendition of Adele‘s ‘Set Fire to the Rain.’
[
Taylor Swift Speak Now Tour Exhibit to Open in Nashville
When country music fanatics pour into Nashville for CMA Fest next week, they’ll have the opportunity to get their fill of Taylor Swift, too. Starting June 6, an exhibit devoted entirely to the award-winning country songstress will be on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
[
George Strait Makes Sexiest Men Over 50 List
Who says you lose your good looks once you hit 50? At 60 (a new 60), George Strait proves that looks can improve with age. AARP Magazine selected the ‘Drinkin’ Man’ hitmaker as one of the 21 sexiest men over age 50. But choosing just a handful of over-the-hill lookers is no easy task. The magazine polled writers and editors to come up with their Men on Fire list.
[
High School Marching Band Surprises Lady Antebellum Onstage
A few weeks ago, Lady Antebellum surprised one of their biggest fans by appearing unexpectedly on the ‘Anderson’ show and singing a few acapella lines of ‘Need You Now.’ But last night (May 22) in Augusta Ga., the tables were turned with the high school marching band from Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley’s alma mater showed up to blow Lady A away.
[
Carrie Underwood Recalls Growing Up With Robin Gibb and the Bee Gees
If you caught Carrie Underwood‘s powerful performance of ‘Blown Away’ during the Billboard Music Awards 2012 on Sunday night, you know that some of her musical influences lie outside of the country genre. Although the ‘American Idol’ winner is a member of team country music, sometimes her powerhouse vocals point to a different era and genre entirely. Last night on the red carpet, Underwood caught up with MTV to talk about the passing of the Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb — and how he impacted her musical tastes.
[
Taylor Swift Sends Flowers, Calls Fallen Marine’s Family
Taylor Swift has been getting so many requests from sick, hurt or just plain down-trodden fans these days that it’s hard to keep up. And while she can’t go to every high school prom or give every devoted fan an autograph, the ‘Safe and Sound’ hitmaker does what she can to give back to her superfans. That’s why she responded to a Marine’s request to contact the family of fallen soldier Sergeant Wade Wilson.
[
Chris Young Launches New Artist Development Company in Nashville
Chris Young must really love music. As if his busy performing schedule (he’s been out on the road with Miranda Lambert and her dogs this year) wasn’t enough to curb his appetite for the music industry, Young is opening a new artist development and production company in Music City. But hey, if a successful country music star doesn’t know how to manage artists, who does?
[
Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus Admits Texting at Dinner Table Gets on His Nerves
If you find yourself lucky enough to share a meal with Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus, make sure to keep your cell phone in the car. In a world where texting at all hours of the day–even during dates and outings with friends–Jay DeMarcus is open about his disdain for texting at the table.