Reba McEntire to perform in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Oklahoma native and country music star Reba McEntire will perform during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday in New York City, according to CMT.com.
McEntire will be part of diverse lineup of performers at the parade; others include fellow country star Billy Currington, Italian crooner Andrea Bocelli, “You’re So Vain” songbird Carly Simon, “American Idol” finalist Katharine McPhee, rock band Boys Like Girls, “I Will Survive” singer Gloria Gaynor and Jimmy Fallon and his late-night band The Roots. Naturally, there will be giant balloons of characters such as Buzz Lightyear, Dora the Explorer and Kermit the Frog.
This year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will follow a new route along 7th Avenue, not taking Broadway for the first time in its history. The parade will air at 8 a.m. on NBC.
For more information, go to www.macysparade.com.
-BAM
Video: Jason Segel performs with Swell Season
Jason Segel (Associated Press photo)
Swell Season
Comic actor Jason Segel made a surprise appearance Wednesday at the Swell Season’s Los Angeles show, and not surprisingly, hilarity ensued.
Segal performed an original song at the show, claiming the Swell Season’s Marketa Irglova had given him the songwriting advice to make his song as personal as possible. So, he crooned a little ditty offering his personal phone number to any available ladies in the audience.
The song also referenced his infamous nude scene in the movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and his sweet-natured character on the TV show “Freaks and Geeks.”
Swell Season, the duo of Irglova and Glen Hansard, are best known for starring in and winning a best original song Oscar for the movie “Once.” They are incredibly talented musicians and clearly have an excellent sense of humor.
Check out this YouTube video of the performance; it’s sure to make your evening:
-BAM
Lady Antebellum notches biggest week of sales ever
Lady Antebellum won single of the year for “I Run to You” and vocal group of year at last week’s CMA Awards. (Associated Press photos)
Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum are enjoying their biggest sales week ever – even after an astounding 83 weeks on the Billboard country albums chart.
The group sold 45,228 albums this week (a 130 percent increase from last week) beating their self-titled platinum-selling debut album street week number of 43,384 albums sold.
After the group’s passionate CMA Awards performance of “Need You Now,” their current smash and title track of their forthcoming album, the single shot straight to the top of the all-genre digital charts at iTunes and Amazon Mp3 and is Verizon’s No. 1-selling country ringback and ringtone (No. 3 ringtone and No. 2 ringback overall).
The good news kept rolling in for the country music trio when the RIAA certified their debut single “Love Don’t Live Here” and their current smash “Need You Now” gold this week. In addition, “Need You Now” is sitting at the top of both the Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck charts and is spending its sixth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Billboard Canada chart.
Lady Antebellum is gearing up for the release of their sophomore album “Need You Now” on Jan. 26. They will finish up a few remaining tour dates through the end of the year and then join megastar Tim McGraw on his “Southern Voice” tour at the beginning of next year.
For more information, go to www.ladyantebellum.com.
-BAM
OSU football team playing Colorado tonight; game to air on ESPN
OSU linebacker Patrick Lavine, left, returns an interception for a touchdown in the Cowboys’ win over Texas Tech on Saturday. (Photo by Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)
My Oklahoma State University Cowboys will play the Colorado Buffaloes at 6:30 tonight at Stillwater’s Boone Pickens Stadium. The game will air on ESPN.
It will be Senior Night for the OSU football team, which is ranked No. 12 in both the BCS standings and Associated Press poll. The team includes 22 seniors, including playmakers Zac Robinson, Russell Okung, Andre Sexton, Patrick Lavine, Keith Toston, Andrew Lewis, Perrish Cox and Brady Bond.
It’s a short turnaround for the Cowboys, who are coming off Saturday’s 24-17 home win against Texas Texas.
Of course, the big question going into tonight’s game is whether OSU quarterback Robinson will be ready to play after his teeth-rattling collision with Texas Tech safety Jamar Wall at the end of Saturday’s game.
OSU Coach Mike Gundy said Monday that he expects Robinson will be available to play tonight, reports to The Oklahoman’s Brandon Chatmon. But how many snaps the senior QB actually will take remains to be seen.
-BAM
Lee Ann Womack added to George Strait-Reba McEntire tour, coming to Tulsa in February
Lee Ann Womack
The “King of Country Music” George Strait has added award-wining and platinum-selling country artist Lee Ann Womack to his previously announced arena tour with Oklahoma superstar Reba McEntire. The tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late spring.
“’Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind’? ‘Whoever’s In New England’? ‘The Fireman’? ‘Little Rock’? ‘Wrapped’? ‘The Last To Know’? We’re talking classic country from the source,” says Womack in a news release. “I can’t imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire – and now I’m not imagining!”
Womack added jokingly, “I’m trying to figure out what to wear … ’cause you can’t out-starch George and you sure can’t out-spangle Reba!”
The tour, which is shaping up to be a huge one for country fans, is coming to Tulsa’s BOK Center on Feb. 20. No word yet from the venue on when tickets might go on sale. (Actually no word yet from the venue about this show at all.)
Womack has sold more than 6 million albums, won two Grammy’s, numerous other milestone awards, and received notoriety for her album “There’s More Where That Came From.” Released February of 2005 on CD and classic vinyl, the album swept CMA Award trophies fall of the same year for Album of the Year and Single of the Year (“I May Hate Myself In The Morning”). She is also recognized for No. 1 singles “The Fool,” “A Little Past Little Rock,” “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” and the mega-smash “I Hope You Dance”.
Womack’s current album, “Call Me Crazy,” has garnered critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard and The New York Times, to name a few. She was nominated for Top Female Vocalist at this year’s ACM Awards and the debut single “Last Call” was nominated for a Grammy earlier this year in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category. Womack was nominated for Musical Event of the Year with Strait for “Everything But Quits” at this year’s CMA Awards. Current single “There Is A God” is currently No. 43 on the charts.
George Strait
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Strait has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in history, including Elvis Presley, with 57 to date. He has sold more than 67 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis .
Strait’s recent release, “Twang,” debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The current single and title track sits at No. 17 on Mediabase charts and No. 19 on Billboard charts.
His platinum-selling “Troubadour” was named Best Country Album at the 51st Grammy Awards and in April, Strait was the fifth artist ever to receive the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade honor. Strait has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards, including the top title, Entertainer of the Year.
Strait, who holds the record for the most CMA wins and a record 17 CMA Entertainer of the Year nominations, is known for giving fans exactly what they want and expect at countless sold out shows across the country. This year will be no exception.
Reba McEntire
One of the most successful female recording artists in music history, McEntire has sold more 55 million albums worldwide, earned 33 No. 1 singles and was recently recognized as the biggest female hit-maker in country music history by Billboard, Mediabase and Country Aircheck. The Chockie native is the winner of 15 American Music Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, 9 People’s Choice Awards, 7 Country Music Awards and 2 Grammy Awards. Once again she is nominated for the American Music Awards’ Favorite Country Female and will appear on the AMAs, which will air at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
McEntire’s new album, “Keep On Loving You,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart – her first solo studio album to do so. With 11 No. 1 albums, Reba holds the record as the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in the history of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. The superstar also recently scored her third consecutive top 10 single of 2009, as her new song “Consider Me Gone” jumped into the top 10. It currently sits at No. 4 on the Billboard Country Singles chart and No. 5 on the Mediabase charts.
In November 2008, McEntire signed with The Valory Music Co. reuniting her with multimedia entertainer and industry leader Scott Borchetta, President & CEO of Big Machine Records and sister label The Valory Music Co.
It’s interesting to note that Strait, McEntire and Womack all were performers at the first event in the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium back in June. Womack replaced Julianne Hough at the last minute after Hough became ill with strep throat. The other performer at that big stadium opening event was Oklahoma singer Blake Shelton. Wouldn’t it be great if Blake was added to this huge tour as well?
See the list of 2010 tour dates after the break.
Wednesday Video Spotlight: “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”
“The Twilight Saga: New Moon” Week continues here on BAM’s Blog, and in this Wednesday Video Spotlight, I’m sharing some trailers, TV spots, featurettes, as well as Taylor Swift’s hilarious “Saturday Night Live” parody “Firelight.”
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that “New Moon” opens in theaters on Friday.
-BAM
New releases for Nov. 17, 2009: “Star Trek,” American Idols and Coolio’s cookbook
J.J. Abrams’ hit reboot “Star Trek” warps onto DVD and Blu-ray today, just in time for Christmas shopping.
In honor of its 70th anniversary, the film classic “Gone with the Wind” gets an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” release on DVD and Blu-ray.
Several recording artists are releasing CDs today, again to coincide with the holiday gift-buying season. Among those releases are the self-titled first album from 2009 “American Idol” winner Kris Allen and an expanded re-release of runner-up Adam Lambert’s pre-”Idol” debut record. (Lambert will put out his new album “For Your Entertainment” on Monday.)
In books, most everyone knows that politician Sarah Palin is releasing this week her memoir “Going Rogue.” But did you know that Coolio has a new cookbook out this week? In “Cookin’ With Coolio,” the rapper guides people through his own brand of cuisine: Ghetto Gourmet.
Here is a list of the new CDs, DVDs and books from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Kris Allen, “Kris Allen.”
Adam Lambert, “Take One.”
John Mayer, “Battle Studies.”
Leona Lewis, “ECHO.”
Paul McCartney, “Good Evening New York City” (CD/DVD set).
Janet Jackson, “Number Ones.”
Casting Crowns, “Until The Whole World Hears.”
The Doors, “Live in New York” (Box set).
Rush, “Working Men” (Live).
DVDs
Andy Barker, P.I.: The Complete Series
Bruno
Dane Cook: Isolated Incident
Franklyn
Gone With The Wind
How to Be
Is Anybody There?
It’s A Very Sunny Christmas
My Sister’s Keeper
The Open Road
Star Trek
Thirst
Wild Child
Books
“Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin.
“Art of Living” by Barbel Miebach.
“Cookin’ with Coolio: 5 Star Meals at a 1 Star Price” by Coolio.
“Crocodile Tears” by Anthony Horowitz.
“How to Be Famous: Our Guide to Looking the Part, Playing the Press, and Becoming a Tabloid Fixture” by Heidi Montag.
“I, Alex Cross” by James Patterson.
“The Original of Laura” by Vladimir Nabokov.
“Shadowland (The Immortals Series No. 3)” by Alyson Noel.
“Too Much Happiness” by Alice Munro.
“The Wrecker” by Clive Cussler.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on Nov. 17, 2009
This undated image provided by the Guthrie Theater shows Melissa Gilbert, left, as Caroline “Ma” Ingalls and Kara Lindsay as Laura Ingalls, in a scene in the world premiere of the musical “Little House On The Prairie,” at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minn. (Associated Press photo)
Today’s featured event:
Watch the musical “Little House on the Prairie,” presented by Celebrity Attractions, at 7:30 tonight at the Civic Center, 201 N Walker.
Melissa Gilbert, who played the role of Laura for 10 years on the beloved TV series, is again portraying part of the Ingalls family, this time appearing as Ma.
“When I played Laura, I was a child myself,” Gilbert recently told The Oklahoman’s Fine Arts Editor Rick Rogers. “Laura was just me in that dress. Coming back to it now is like coming home. It really keys into all of the things that people hold dear: family, love, community and faith. For me, it’s coming full circle.”
Read more of Rick’s feature on the show by clicking here.
Gilbert, 45, missed her Saturday and Sunday performances in Tulsa after being taken to a Tulsa hospital after Friday’s show because of an apparent back problem. According to NewsOn6.com, Gilbert has been released from the hospital, and Celebrity Attractions’ Larry Payton said she plans to go on with the show.
Performances continue at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Oklahoma City’s Civic Center.
For more information, call (800) 869-1451 or go to www.celebrityattractions.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood, Leona Lewis to perform at “CNN Heroes” gala
Carrie Underwood (Associated Press photo)
Oklahoma country music star Carrie Underwood and British singer Leona Lewis will perform at the third annual “CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute,” CNN announced today.
The gala honors everyday citizens who are making a difference in their communities and beyond. Hosted by CNN anchor Anderson Cooper from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, the program will air globally on Thanksgiving, at 8 p.m. Nov. 26 on CNN/U.S., CNN International and CNN en Español.
Celebrities scheduled to present include Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Randy Jackson and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Additional appearances will be announced in days to come.
The Top 10 CNN Heroes, as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel, were unveiled by Cooper on CNN last month. The public will select the CNN Hero of the Year via voting at www.CNN.com/Heroes, which concludes at 5 a.m. Thursday. During the Nov. 26 broadcast, the Top Ten Heroes will each be awarded $25,000, and CNN will reveal the CNN Hero of the Year, who will receive an additional $100,000.
This Year’s Blue Ribbon Panel judges included Sir Elton John, Colin Powell, Mariane Pearl, Shakira, Wallis Annenberg, Tavis Smiley, Ted Turner, Tory Burch, Kirk Cameron, Whoopi Goldberg, Malaak Compton-Rock, Rossana Rosado, and Masi Oka. In its third year, the CNN HEROES initiative garnered a record number of nominations – more than 9,000 – and a record number of online votes for CNN Hero of the Year, surpassing 2 million votes.
For more TV news, check out Penny Soldan’s TV blog at http://blog.newsok.com/television.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood continues TV blitz
Checotah native Carrie Underwood is continuing her huge TV blitz in support of her new album, “Play On,” which is currently sitting at No. 1 on the multi-genre Billboard 200 chart as well as on Billboard’s Country Albums list. The “American Idol” winner also has the No. 1 country song in the land with the album’s lead-off single “Cowboy Casanova.”
Today The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien
Nov 18 The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Nov 19 Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Nov 22 American Music Awards
In addition, the country star’s first-ever “Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special” will air at 7 p.m. Dec. 7 on FOX.
For more TV news, check out Penny Soldan’s information-packed blog at http://blog.newsok.com/television.
-BAM
