Reba McEntire sings on Andrea Bocelli’s Christmas album
Oklahoma country star Reba McEntire sings with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli on his seasonal album “My Christmas,” due out Nov. 3.
The Oklahoma native and Bocelli perform a duet version of the Elvis Presley favorite “Blue Christmas.”
Other special guests on the album include the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Natalie Cole, Mary J. Blige and The Muppets.
Here is the track list, from Amazon.com:
1. White Christmas
2. Bianco Natale
3. Angels We Have Heard On High
4. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
5. The Christmas Song with Natalie Cole
6. The Lord’s Prayer with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
7. What Child This Is with Mary J. Blige
8. Adeste Fidelis
9. O Tannenbaum
10. Jingle Bells featuring The Muppets
11. Silent Night
12. Blue Christmas with Reba McEntire
13. Cantique De Noel
14. Caro Gesu Bambino
15. I Believe with Katherine Jenkins
16. God Bless Us Everyone
-BAM
First presenters announced for 43rd Annual CMA Awards
Julianne Hough
The first group of presenters has been announced for the 43rd Annual CMA Awards, which will hosted by Brad Paisley and Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood, and air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 11 on ABC.
The first celebrities announced as presenters for the Country Music Association’s award show: NASCAR superstar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.; stars of ABC’s “The Middle” Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton; Julianne Hough; nominee Randy Houser (for both New Artist and Music Video of the Year for “Boots On”); nominee Jake Owen (New Artist of the Year); Kellie Pickler; CMA Award winner LeAnn Rimes; and ABC News’s Robin Roberts, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” and host of the upcoming “Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville” ABC television special (airing Nov. 10).
In addition, hot emerging trio Love And Theft will host the pre-telecast awards, which are given out during the half-hour before the televised event begins. Among the awards presented during this time are the CMA Broadcast Awards, which recognize the Broadcast Personality and Station of the Year in four categories (small, medium, large, and major market) as well as the National Broadcast Personality of the Year.
Performers already announced include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, Vince Gill and Daughtry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band, with more to be named soon.
Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. Lower Level seats are also available.
-BAM
Ardmore band Rush Springs representing Oklahoma in CMT’s “Music City Madness”
The madness begins as CMT.com kicks off voting for its fourth annual Music City Madness. The top 64 finalists for the annual online talent search have been revealed and must now compete for votes in a single-elimination tournament over the next eight weeks. The finalists represent unsigned artists from 28 different states across the U.S., and subjects range from honky tonks and Texas, to loving and leaving.
Representing Oklahoma will be Ardmore-based band Rush Springs with the song “Chasing That Green Light.”
Music City Madness offers up-and-coming artists a chance to showcase their talent and let fans narrow the field in an online battle of the bands. One lucky winner will take home the title and win a chance to audition for label execs at The Valory Music Co., as well as a trip to CMT in Nashville to record Studio 330 Sessions and a backstage experience with The Valory Music Co. recording artist and Oklahoma native Reba McEntire at one of her concerts.
In addition, McEntire serves as an online mentor and will provide exclusive insight for the contestants via CMT.com video blogs offering up tips from how to create a music video, to writing hit songs and building a music career. CMT has also added star participants Jack Ingram, Jewel, Justin Moore and Jimmy Wayne, who will support contestants throughout the competition. Music City Madness is sponsored by Rhapsody.
Visit www.madness.CMT.com to stream each of the top 64 contenders and vote, or to learn more about Music City Madness.
Since I really like “Chasing That Green Light,” I’m encouraging everyone to vote for Rush Springs in the contest.
-BAM
Vince Gill-Daughtry and Kenny Chesney-Dave Matthews duets planned for CMA Awards
Vince Gill (Photo by Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman Archives)
Chris Daughtry of the band Daughtry (Associated Press photo)
Several additional performers have been announced in the past few days for next month’s 43rd Annual CMA Awards, including big cross-genre duets pairing Oklahoma native Vince Gill and rock band Daughtry and Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews.
In addition, Oklahoma resident Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band are recent additions to the Country Music Association’s awards show lineup.
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood, airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on Nov. 11 on ABC.
In their debut CMA Awards performance, Grammy-nominated rock band Daughtry joins Country Music Hall of Fame member Gill for a duet of “Tennessee Line,” which the superstars recorded together for Daughtry’s new album, “Leave This Town.” That album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart in July, becoming the group’s second consecutive album to top the charts. Daughtry’s self-titled first album, released in 2006, was the quickest-selling rock debut album in SoundScan history, selling more than five million copies worldwide.
Gill, who was born in Norman and raised in Oklahoma City, has won 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer (1993, 1994), Male Vocalist (1991-1995), and Album of the Year (1993 for I Still Believe in You; 1994 for Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles). The singer-songwriter, who hosted the CMA Awards for 12 consecutive years (1992-2003), was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007.
Chesney and Matthews will perform “I’m Alive,” which they recorded together for Chesney’s “Lucky Old Sun” album. The song was originally recorded by Willie Nelson. The Matthews/Chesney duet is the current single from Chesney’s “Greatest Hits, Vol. 2.”
Chesney, the four-time and reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year (2004, 2006-08), is tied with Oklahoman Garth Brooks as the top winner in this category. He has received seven CMA Awards, including Album of the Year in 2004 for When the Sun Goes Down, which he co-produced with Buddy Cannon. This year, he has three nominations: Entertainer, Male Vocalist, and Musical Event with Mac McAnally for “Down the Road.” Chesney has sold more than 25 million albums, achieved 19 No. 1 hits, debuted five albums at No. 1 on the all genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, and for the last eight years has sold more than one million concert tickets annually, making him the biggest ticket seller in any genre in this century.
Matthews will be making his debut appearance on the CMA Awards. The singer/songwriter/actor has sold more than 32 million albums as leader of the acclaimed Dave Matthews Band and won three Grammy Awards. Dave Matthews Band’s current album is the platinum-certified “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart in June. This accomplishment ties them with Metallica as the only bands in chart history to debut five consecutive studio albums at No.1. With more than 16 million tickets sold, Dave Matthews Band was named the top-drawing American band in the world by Billboard.
Miranda Lambert
Lambert, a Tishomingo resident, is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. The fiery performer has a career total of seven CMA nominations. Her new album “Revolution” recently debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart. This accomplishment established Lambert as the third artist in the SoundScan era to have their first three albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart.
McGraw last performed on the CMA Awards stage in 2005, when he joined wife Faith Hill on “Like We Never Loved At All.” His last solo performance on the CMA Awards was in 2004, when he opened the show with “How Bad Do You Want It?” The superstar, who has sold more than 40 million albums and dominated the charts with 30 No. 1 singles, has won 11 CMA Awards, including Entertainer (2001); Male Vocalist (1999, 2000); and Album of the Year (1998 for Everywhere; 1999 for A Place in the Sun). McGraw last received a CMA Award in 2007 for Musical Event of the Year on “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” with Tracy Lawrence and Kenny Chesney. McGraw will release his new album, “Southern Voice,” on Tuesday.
Aldean, who has a career total of two CMA nominations, recently celebrated topping the Billboard Top Country Singles chart for four weeks with his hit “Big Green Tractor.” The song, which is from his album “Wide Open,” also topped the Billboard all-genre ringtone chart, a first for a country artist.
Currington earned two nominations this year, Single and Music Video of the Year, both for “People Are Crazy,” from his album “Little Bit of Everything.” He co-produced the single with Carson Chamberlain, while the video was directed by The Brads. Currington has a career total of three CMA nominations, as he was previously nominated in 2005 for Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Shania Twain on “Party for Two.” The writers of “People Are Crazy,” Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones, are currently nominated for Song of the Year.
Reigning New Artist of the Year Lady Antebellum received two nominations in 2009. The trio is up for Vocal Group and Single of the Year for “I Run to You,” produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley, from their platinum-certified self-titled debut album. Lady Antebellum recently released “Need You Now,” the first single from their upcoming new album of the same name, in stores Jan. 2010.
Zac Brown Band received their debut three nominations in 2009 for New Artist, Vocal Group, and Single of the Year for “Chicken Fried,” from their platinum-certified album “The Foundation.” Lead singer Zac Brown also received a fourth nomination as co-writer of “Chicken Fried” (along with Wyatt Durrette) in the Song of the Year category.
Previously announced performers include Oklahomans Brooks & Dunn (which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Chockie-raised Reba McEntire and Checotah native Carrie Underwood, along with Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
-BAM
Kings of Leon, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Reba McEntire nominated for AMAs
Kings of Leon
The American Music Awards nominations were announced today, and country-pop star Taylor Swift gained a leading six nominations.
The late Michael Jackson earned five nominations, while rapper Eminem is nominated for five AMAs.
Swift, Jackson, Eminem, Lady Gaga and Kings of Leon are competing for the top award, artist of the year.
Kings of Leon, who have Oklahoma ties, earned two other nominations, for favorite pop/rock band, duo or group and favorite alternative rock artist.
Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, is nominated for two AMAs, for favorite country band, duo or group and favorite country album for ”Unstoppable.”
Oklahoma natives Reba McEntire and Carrie Underwood will compete with Swift for the favorite female country artist title.
The AMAs will air Nov. 22 on ABC. For more information, go to www.ABC.com.
See the full list of nominees after the break.
Brad Paisley, Oklahoma stars featured on People Country, Country Weekly covers
Brad Paisley (Associated Press photo)
Brad Paisley is being pictured on two magazine covers in two weeks.
The country star is featured in the “Country Stars & Their Families” issue of People Country, on newsstands today through Nov. 9. The feature is titled “What My Father Taught Me” and lists several things that Brad has learned from his father, Doug: Be dedicated, drive them anywhere (and don’t charge for gas!), do your best … and then do better, be of service and it comes back to family.
Along with five pages of text and exclusive photos of Brad, Doug and Huck, Brad’s 2-year-old son, the issue of People Country also will feature Oklahoma stars such as Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney.
The next issue of Country Weekly, on stands Monday, focuses on country artists “Getting Through Tough Times.” In it, Paisley remembers how he handled the death of his Aunt Rita in 2004 and how he came to record “When I Get Where I’m Going” from that experience.
Also featured on the cover, and presumably in the cover story, are Oklahoma stars Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and Toby Keith.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: New videos from Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert
Oklahoma country stars Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert all debuted their new music videos on CMT and CMT.com during the cable network’s big weekend of premieres.
These powerhouse women will face off again at the 43rd Annual Country Music Association Awards Nov. 11 on ABC: All three are nominated for the female vocalist of the year award.
McEntire, who was raised in Chockie, designs a fabulous gown and helps a couple through their problems in the video to “Consider Me Gone,” the second single from her album “Keep on Loving You.”
Checotah native Underwood shows off some sizzling fashions and a few sharp dance moves in her video for “Cowboy Casanova.” The rollicking lead-off single to her upcoming third album “Play On,” “Cowboy Casanova” already is a big hit for the Oklahoma native.
Underwood talked to CMT.com about filming the sexy video against the backdrop of New Orleans:
“Usually we cram everything into one day because, goodness knows, what else I have to do – I’m off flying somewhere else doing something crazy,” she told CMT.com. “But it wasn’t all about me this time. We had dancers. We had a lot of people going on. It was just a lot of fun. You know, changing into one fabulous outfit after another and just going out and having a lot of fun with it. The energy was really good, and it made the day fly by.”
“Play On” is due out Nov. 3.
Tishomingo resident Lambert reveals her fiance’s cheating at their wedding and then drops a bombshell of her own in the video for “White Liar.” The song is the second single off her new album “Revolution,” which has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, according to a news release.
The video features fellow country star Jamey Johnson as the preacher at the dramatic wedding.
It was announced today that Lambert will join Brad Paisley’s extended “American Saturday Night” tour next year. The tour will come to Oklahoma City’s Ford Center Jan. 8.
For more Miranda news, check out my feature on the singer-songwriter Monday here on the blog.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn among first round of CMA Awards performers
Carrie Underwood (Associated Press photo)
The first round of performers for the the 43rd Annual CMA Awards were announced today, and Oklahoma nominees Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn (which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn) will perform at the awards show.
Other nominees who will perform include Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
Underwood, the reigning Female Vocalist for three consecutive years (2006-2008), has two nominations including Female Vocalist and Musical Event for “I Told You So” with Randy Travis. Should Underwood win the Female Vocalist category again this year, she would tie Martina McBride and McEntire as the top winners in the category with four wins each.
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Paisley and Underwood, will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on Nov. 11 on ABC.
Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn (AP photo)
McEntire has two nominations, including Female Vocalist (which she won four consecutive years during 1984-1987) and Musical Event with Brooks & Dunn for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”
Brooks & Dunn are nominated this year for Vocal Duo (which they have won a record 14 times) and Musical Event with McEntire for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” Dunn and Kix Brooks have announced that they are breaking up their musical partnership next year.
Chesney, the reigning Entertainer of the Year (with four total wins in this category), has three nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; and Musical Event with Mac McAnally for “Down the Road.”
Paisley, the reigning Male Vocalist (2007 and 2008), is this year’s top-nominated artist with seven nominations, including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Album for American Saturday Night; Single and Song for “Then” (which he co-wrote with Chris DuBois and Ashley Gorley); and Musical Event and Music Video for “Start a Band” with Urban.
Rucker, who released his debut solo Country album in 2008, received his first two CMA nominations this year for New Artist and Male Vocalist.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Strait received four nominations including Entertainer; Male Vocalist; Music Video for “Troubadour” and Musical Event for “Everything But Quits” with Lee Ann Womack (a category they won in 2005 with “Good News, Bad News”). With 79 career nominations, Strait is now tied with Alan Jackson as the most nominated artist in CMA Awards history.
Sugarland, the reigning Vocal Duo (2007 and 2008), has two nominations including Vocal Duo and Album for Love on the Inside. Sugarland members Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles could each receive a second trophy for producing Love on the Inside with Byron Gallimore.
Swift, who won the Horizon Award in 2007, received four nominations this year with Entertainer; Female; Album for Fearless; and Music Video for “Love Story.” She could receive a second trophy for producing Fearless with Nathan Chapman. At age 19, Swift is the youngest artist ever to be nominated for Entertainer. Prior to this nomination, Wynonna was the youngest at age 22 when The Judds were first nominated in that category in 1986. Swift is also the first solo female artist to be nominated for Entertainer since 2000 when Faith Hill was nominated. The last solo female artist to win the category was Shania Twain in 1999.
Urban received five nominations this year, with Entertainer (which he won in 2005); Male Vocalist (which he won three consecutive years in 2004-2006); Album for Defying Gravity; and Musical Event and Music Video for “Start a Band” with Paisley. Urban could receive a second trophy for producing Defying Gravity with Dann Huff.
Tickets for the 2009 CMA Awards can be purchased by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com; calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Sommet Center box office, 501 Broadway (corner of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, in Nashville). Ticket prices begin at $110 for Upper Level. All ticket prices include sales tax but exclude applicable service/handling fees.
-BAM
CMT to premiere new videos from Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert and more over weekend
Reba McEntire
A “Big New Music Weekend” is planned for Friday-Sunday at CMT and CMT.com.
The cable network and its Web site are planning exclusive premieres this weekend of nine new music videos, including ones from Oklahoma stars Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire and Miranda Lambert.
Here are the new videos that will be premiering on the channel this weekend:
Billy Currington – “That’s the Way Country Boys Roll”
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”
Keith Urban – “Hit the Ground Runnin’”
Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews - “I’m Alive”
Michelle Branch – “Sooner or Later”
Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”
Reba McEntire – “Consider Me Gone”
Sugarland – “Keep You”
Tim McGraw – “Southern Voice”
- BAM
BAM Column: Miranda Lambert, Flaming Lips, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith releasing fall CDs
Miranda Lambert
From Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Fall offers must-have new music
For Oklahoma music fans, fall holds the promise of fantastic new offerings.
The year has already seen the release of big-time albums from Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stardeath and White Dwarfs, Samantha Crain, Rodney Carrington and St. Vincent, all artists with state ties. Even the late Woody Guthrie had a four-disc box set, “My Dusty Road,” released last month.
But even more major records from Okies are still to come this autumn, starting today.
If the title is any indication, firebrand Miranda Lambert will keep on rebelling against the country music establishment with her third album, “Revolution,” which drops today. The Tishomingo singer-songwriter already has notched one stunning brokenhearted ballad, “Dead Flowers,” from the new record.
Toby Keith
Norman star Toby Keith has raised eyebrows and raced up the charts with “American Ride,” the title track of his new album, due out Oct. 6. Last week, the single reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Songs chart. Riding the momentum of the politically charged video, the song has become his most buzz-worthy track since the 2001 hit “Courtesy of the Red, White And Blue.”
Also on Oct. 6, country band Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will offer new bonus content on a limited edition re-release of its “Greatest Hits Vol. 1.”
Flaming Lips
Oklahoma City-based psychedelic rockers The Flaming Lips will deliver something new on Oct. 13: their first-ever double-album, “Embryonic.” The Lips performed “Convinced of the Hex” recently on “The Colbert Report” and debuted last week the video for “I Can Be a Frog.” If these tracks are any indication, we can expect many surreal delights from the Lips’ latest project.
Carrie Underwood
And recent Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductee Carrie Underwood is sure to delight her legion fans with the Nov. 3 release of her hotly anticipated third album “Play On.” The Checotah native put out the first single, “Cowboy Casanova,” as a digital track last week, and it took only 24 hours for the sassy cautionary tale to crack iTunes’ top five list.
The fall is still young, so we may see more Oklahoma artists adding to the list of autumn’s must-have albums. Hopefully, state music lovers have been saving their pennies.
-BAM
