UPDATED: Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Thompson Square, Vince Gill, Kings of Leon, Charlie Wilson among Oklahomans nominated for 2012 Grammys
Blake Shelton (AP file)
UPDATED at 4 p.m. Thursday: With a new quote from Vince Gill.
UPDATED at 4 p.m. Friday: A few more nominees with Oklahoma ties have been brought to my attention. I try to get them all the first time, but there’s so darn many talented musicians and producers from our fair state, it can be a bit of a challenge!
A version of this story will appear in Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Oklahomans earn Grammy nominations
Country stars Blake Shelton, Thompson Square, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill, rockers Kings of Leon and R&B singer Charlie Wilson are among the artists with state ties who will compete for golden gramophones in 2012.
Country stars Blake Shelton, Thompson Square, Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill, rockers Kings of Leon and R&B singer Charlie Wilson are among the recording artists with Oklahoma ties to earn 2012 Grammy Award nominations.
Producer Ryan Tedder and contemporary Christian group Gungor also will be in the running when the 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live from Los Angeles on Feb. 12 on CBS.
Ada native Blake Shelton is nominated for best country album for “Red River Blue” and best country solo performance for the album’s chart-topping first single “Honey Bee.” The Tishomingo resident’s No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by contemporary Christian singer Dave Barnes, also earned a nod for best country song, an award presented to songwriters.
“It’s one thing to be acknowledged by the Grammy voters for one of your songs, but to have two songs nominated, and the album that their both off of, is an emotional experience. I may never have something like this in my career again and I’m darn well going to enjoy it!” Shelton said in a statement, after colorfully crowing about the nods on his popular Twitter feed.
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
In the best country solo performance category, Shelton will compete against Checotah native Carrie Underwood, who is nominated for her emotional ballad “Mama’s Song.” The Recording Academy this year consolidated many Grammy categories, so solo country artists are longer separated into male and female competitisons.
Underwood also is featured on legendary crooner Tony Bennett’s “Duets II,” nominated for best traditional pop vocal album.
Hot new duo Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, received its first Grammy nod for best country duo/group performance for its breakthrough hit “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not,” which earned songwriters Jim Collins and David Lee Murphy a best country song nomination, too.
“We both could not believe the news of our Grammy nominations,” said Keifer Thompson in a statement. “When our manager told us we really thought he was playing some sort of sick joke on us. We can’t thank the Grammys enough for such a prestigious honor!”
“If I’m asleep please don’t wake me up, ’cause this is a dang good dream!!” added his wife and musical partner, Shawna Thompson.
The best country song competition also includes the latest ballad from Vince Gill, “Threaten Me
Vince Gill (AP file)
with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and Will Owsley. Gill told The Oklahoman earlier this year that his feelings about the love song have morphed since Owsley committed suicide last year.
“We were great friends and palled around together a lot. He was a great guitar player and a great songwriter and a really gifted musician and I learned a lot from him,” Gill told The Oklahoman.
Gill, who already has earned the most Grammys of any male country artist with 20, said in a statement that the nomination will help the song stand as a lasting tribute to Owsley. It is Gill’s 41st Grammy nomination.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled for my late friend Will,” Gill said. “This would have meant the world to him.”
Four-time Grammy winners Kings of Leon, who have ties to Oklahoma City and Talihina, are nominated for best rock album for their fifth studio effort, “Come Around Sundown.” Plus, Stephen C. Mitchell’s rock documentary “Talihina Sky: The Story of Kings of Leon,” which opened this year’s deadCenter Film Festival, will contend for best long-form music video.
Charlie Wilson (AP file)
Tulsa native Charlie Wilson, former frontman of the Gap Band, is nominated for best R&B performance for his hit “You Are,” from his 2010 solo album “Just Charlie.” In addition, Wilson, his wife Mahin Wilson and their fellow songwriters Dennis Bettis, Carl M. Days Jr. and Wirlie Morris share a nomination for best R&B song for “You Are.”
“I am so humbled,” Wilson said on Facebook. “Thank you to all my fans for the support and love and sticking with me. I am so happy right now!”
Best known as the frontman for pop band OneRepublic, Tulsa native Ryan Tedder is nominated for non-classical producer of the year for his work on several records, including Beyonce’s “I Was Here,” Jennifer Hudson’s “I Remember Me” and Adele’s “Rumour Has It.”
Since he produced “Rumour Has It,” Tedder shares in the Adele’s nomination for album of the year for her smash “21,” too. (In addition, Tedder co-wrote “Rumour Has It” and another “21″ track, “Turning the Tables,” with Adele.)
Muskogee native Ester Dean also has a share of an album of the year nomination as one of several producers on Rihanna’s “Loud.”
For the second straight year, Christian worship group Gungor, which is fronted by former Tulsan Michael Gungor, is celebrating a nomination for its new album. The group’s 2011 album “Ghosts Upon the Earth” earned a nod in the new best contemporary Christian music album category; Gungor’s 2010 release “Beautiful Things” was nominated last year in the now-eliminated best rock or rap gospel album division.
The 40th anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Derek and the Dominos well-loved 1970 album “Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs” earned a nomination in the best surround sound album category. The late Carl Radle, a Tulsa native, was the bassist for Derek and the Dominos.
And, Oklahoma City kindie rock duo Sugar Free Allstars are among the various artists featured on “All About Bullies … Big and Small,” nominated for best children’s album. The Allstars collaborated with fellow kindie rocker Secret Agent 23 Skidoo collaborated on the compilation track, “Cooperate.”
Rapper Kanye West garnered a leading seven nominations for the 2012 Grammys.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Behind the scenes of “CMA Country Christmas” with Miss Piggy
In this video, Miss Piggy takes viewers behind the scenes of the “CMA Country Christmas,” airing at 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC.
The Muppet diva will perform a special duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Oklahoma-born and bred singer/songwriter/musician Vince Gill during the Country Music Association’s concert special.
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from “American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Sugarland and Keith Urban.
I got the chance to talk to Miss Piggy during the recent junket for her new movie “The Muppets” in Los Angeles. To read my feature on her, click here.
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Miss Piggy makes her comeback with “The Muppets”; performs with Vince Gill on Thursday’s “CMA Country Christmas”
Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog appear in a scene from their new movie "The Muppets."
A version of this story appears in Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Miss Piggy makes her comeback with “The Muppets”
The porcine prima donna not only stars in the new movie, she also has been busily promoting the film on “Saturday Night Live,” in InStyle Magazine and on Thursday’s “CMA Country Christmas” concert special, during which she will do a duet with Vince Gill.
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — An invitation to spend the holidays with three-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams is nothing at which to turn up one’s nose, even if one’s nose happens to be a rather prominent snout.
But Miss Piggy graciously declined her co-star’s invite, citing her inhumanly busy schedule.
“Oh, I would, dear, but I have to work. I have to keep promoting this thing. I’m sure I’m gonna be on a plane eating plane food,” Miss Piggy said during a recent press conference in the famed ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The porcine prima donna, her beau Kermit the Frog and the rest of their comically inclined felt friends are making their comeback with their new movie “The Muppets,” their first cinematic outing since 1999’s “Muppets from Space.” Co-starring Adams and Jason Segel, “The Muppets” earned stellar reviews and $42 million over the five-day Thanksgiving holiday. making it No. 2 on the domestic box-office charts behind only the supernatural juggernaut “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1.”
For a diva whom many undoubtedly believed was in the twilight of her long career, Miss Piggy indeed has become a promotional force, during the past few weeks, singing on “Saturday Night Live” with Segel and the rest of the Muppets, gabbing with Checotah native Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley during the 45th Annual Country Music Association Awards and appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” alongside a rather grabby Mickey Rourke.
“Yeah, I think he was a little friendly, I understand,” said Kermit the Frog, who appeared at the press conference alongside Miss Piggy, Segel, Adams and new Muppet Walter.
Miss Piggy and Vince Gill perform "Baby, It's Cold Outside" during taping of the "CMA Country Christmas" concert special Nov. 10 at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, Tenn. "CMA Country Christmas" will air at 8 p.m. Thursday on ABC. (Photo by Donn Jones, Country Music Association)
On Thursday, Miss Piggy and Oklahoma-born and bred country music superstar Vince Gill will perform a duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” during the “CMA Country Christmas” concert special, airing at 8 p.m. on ABC.
The superstar swine also did a special photo shoot for November’s InStyle Magazine that featured her wearing custom pieces by six designers, including Prabal Gurung, Jason Wu and Brian Atwood.
“Well, I just want to say I am sorry. “I am sorry about that spread in InStyle. I’m sorry to all the ladies who’ve lost their beaus, their husbands, to moi because people just instantly fall in love with moi when they see me in that spread,” And I just want to apologize,” Miss Piggy said.
The chic spread suits Miss Piggy’s role in “The Muppets.” In the new film, the Muppets reunite — with the help of their devoted fans Gary (Segel), Mary (Adams) and Walter — to raise $10 million to save their old Muppets Studios from the nefarious schemes of evil oil baron Tex Richman (Oscar winner Chris Cooper), who wants to raze the theater and drill for oil under it.
Recruiting Miss Piggy for their fundraising show proves the trickiest task, not only because she and Kermit have such a complicated history but also because she has a tony job as plus-size editor of Vogue Paris, complete with haute couture wardrobe and Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”) as her personal secretary.
For the film, Miss Piggy donned a Zac Posen-designed lavender gown, glittery platform stiletto heels from Christian Louboutin and a jacket made of cashmere that cost $300 a yard.
But she didn’t get to strut her stuff in Paris.
“I would’ve loved to have lived in Paris for awhile while shooting this movie, but unfortunately we shot everything on a Hollywood back lot. Except for the car shots; I think they actually took a car to Paris, but they did not take moi,” she said, referring to the film’s hilarious travel-by-map road-trip sequences.
Segel, who also co-wrote and executive produced the film, said Miss Piggy didn’t put away her diva ways on the new project.
“As for Piggy’s part, she wanted it bigger, I’m not gonna lie to you. She wanted a very strange credit sequence where we all would be introduced, and then it would say, ‘And Miss
Hosts Carrie Underwood, who hails from Checotah, and Brad Paisley appear onstage with Miss Piggy during the 45th annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 9. (AP file photo)
Piggy,’ but then that would just stay on throughout the entire movie,” Segel said.
“I saw nothing wrong with that. I did not demand any rewrites. I want to go on the record for that. But that’s probably just because I didn’t really read the script,” she said, as Kermit did a froggy face palm.
“She just said what she wanted,” Segel confirmed.
“What I do, I just show up to set and, you know, people say their lines and I say whatever comes into my head,” Piggy added.
“The rewrites were basically around Piggy’s improvisation,” Kermit added.
“I thought it turned out good, though,” she said.
All’s well that ends well in the case of Piggy and her Kermie, too, who confirmed they are together.
“We are together,” Kermit said.
“We are together. You can’t get back together if you’re already together,” Miss Piggy added.
“Well, you can but we’d have to separate and then come back again. And it’s too hard to get out of the room,” the frog replied.
Although she won’t be spending them with Adams, Miss Piggy made it clear to Kermie that she would like to spend the holidays in much the same fashion as her co-star, who has an 18-month-old daughter, Aviana.
“Children — a wonderful idea,” Piggy said.
“That sounds wonderful,” Kermit said after she kept dropping hints. “We’ll work on that.”
“I hope so,” she replied.
Along with having children together, Piggy had some savvy advice on how to keep a good guy.
“Implanting one of those GPS chips under the skin, that’s a really good way of keeping track of them,” she said.
“In a place that the guy can’t find — or reach!” Kermit added.
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Rascal Flatts performs 2 classics for “CMA Country Christmas” special, airing Dec. 1
Rascal Flatts (AP file)
Country group Rascal Flatts, which includes guitarist Joe Don Rooney of Picher, performs two Christmas classics — “White Christmas” and “Mary Did You Know” — during “CMA Country Christmas,” airing from 8 to 10 p.m. next Thursday, Dec. 1 on the ABC Television Network.
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from “American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Oklahoma Vince Gill in a special duet with Miss Piggy.
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“CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill” debuts tonight
Sting and Vince Gill (AP file)
World-renowned musician Sting and Oklahoma country legend Vince Gill will be making music history in the newest episode of “CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill,” premiering at 7 tonight on Country Music Television.
Together they have earned more than 35 Grammys, sold more than 125 million albums, and performed in front of as many, if not more, music lovers all over the world.
After a five-year absence, CMT took its critically acclaimed series “CMT Crossroads” back to New York City for an invitation-only taping featuring two of music’s biggest superstars. Sting and Gill will perform their classic hits and selections from both of their highly anticipated new releases out this fall.
Check out Gill and Sting’s recent AP interview by clicking here.
To see previews of tonight’s show, click here.
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Wednesday Video Spotlight: Previewing “CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill,” debuting Thursday
Together they have earned more than 35 Grammys, sold more than 125 million albums, and performed in front of as many, if not more, music lovers all over the world. Now world-renowned musician Sting and Oklahoma country legend Vince Gill will be making music history in the newest episode of “CMT Crossroads: Sting and Vince Gill,” premiering at 7 p.m. Thursday on Country Music Television.
After a five-year absence, CMT took its critically acclaimed series “CMT Crossroads” back to New York City for an invitation-only taping featuring two of music’s biggest superstars. Sting and Gill will perform their classic hits and selections from both of their highly anticipated new releases out this fall.
Check out Gill and Sting’s recent AP interview by clicking here.
And check out these videos for a preview of what’s to come with the show’s Thanksgiving debut:
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Vince Gill performing 3 songs on “CMA Country Christmas” special airing Dec. 1
Oklahoma native Vince Gill will be pulling triple duty during the “CMA Country Christmas” concert special, airing 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 on the ABC Television Network.
Gill will perform the upbeat Christmas classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and later join Miss Piggy in a special duet of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” The Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist also contributes background vocals to his wife Amy Grant for “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song).”
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles hosts the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from Rascal Flatts (which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney), “American Idol” runner up Lauren Alaina, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland, and Keith Urban.
Gill recently taped with British singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Sting an episode of “CMT Crossroads” that will debut at 7 p.m. Thursday on Country Music Television.
Check out Gill and Sting’s recent AP interview by clicking here.
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Vince Gill hosting America’s Opry Weekend Thanksgiving Special Wednesday-Sunday
Vince Gill (AP file)
Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill will host the America’s Opry Weekend Thanksgiving Special slated to air on radio Wednesday-Sunday.
The radio program will celebrate Thanksgiving and the beginning of a music-filled holiday season, with the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist playing some of the year’s biggest hits about life, home, and thanks.
The America’s Opry Weekend Thanksgiving Special will also contain cuts from Gill’s new release, “Guitar Slinger,” and several of his all-time holiday favorites, including some he’ll be singing with his wife Amy Grant on the couple’s 2011 “Twelve Days of Christmas” tour.
Among the artists and songs included in the Thanksgiving special are Gill’s “Blue Christmas,” Ada native Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You,” Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” Dierks Bentley’s “Home,” Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Trade Adkins’ “Million Dollar View” and Brad Paisley’s “Winter Wonderland.”
In celebration of the radio special, opry.com has added a “Guitar Slinger” section to the site featuring an exclusive interview with Gill about the new album and a Guitar Town Sweepstakes offering guitars autographed by the award-winner and a three-day Nashville getaway.
America’s Opry Weekend presents top artists’ performances from the Opry stage each week. The show is serviced by Dial Global and airs on country radio stations across the country and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
The Grand Ole Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating 85 years of entertainment, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, and opry.com. The syndicated weekly program, America’s Opry Weekend, airs on country radio stations across America and on the Armed Forces Radio Network.
Gill, who also is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, recently taped with British singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Sting an episode of “CMT Crossroads” that will debut at 7 p.m. Thursday on Country Music Television.
Check out Gill and Sting’s recent AP interview by clicking here.
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Vince Gill donates $12,000 to Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame’s children’s music exhibit
Vince Gill (AP photo)
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame has received a $12,000 grant from 1999 inductee Vince Gill, and the funds will help complete the construction of a state-of-the-art children’s music exhibit.
The Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred country music superstar also has challenged other hall of fame honorees and all Oklahoma music lovers to contribute, according to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame announcement.
Gill’s publicist confirmed the donation today.
Work is nearly complete on the new children’s music exhibit, but more donations are needed for the project. The hall of fame has been raising funds for the exhibit for the past year. The music exhibit is being housed in an old railroad caboose that was donated by Muskogee War Memorial Park, and transported to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame site.
“We can’t thank Mr. Gill enough for his generosity and we are honored that he would also step forward to issue a challenge to his fellow inductees to make a contribution, as well,” said Penny Kampf, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame executive director, in the announcement.
“Hundreds of donors have helped to make this project a reality. Now, we need an additional financial boost so that the museum can open by the end of the year.”
Exhibit designers from Nashville, Tenn., completed the installation of much of the exhibits last week. In the next few days, signage will be installed and there will be sound checks and a formal walk through to make sure the exhibit is ready for the public.
The project is intended to benefit children, young and old, and features Jeremiah The Bullfrog (from the Three Dog Night smash “Joy to the World,” penned by Duncan native Hoyt Axton) as the official ‘host’ for participants. The exhibits include a station where children can build a band, listen to the differences in various musical instruments and experience Oklahoma’s rich musical heritage.
“We believe children need to understand that music comes from real people and real musical instruments — not just from electronics. The OMHOF aims to educate children about the rich history of Oklahoma music — what it means, how it moves people, and its broad cultural significance,” said Kampf in the announcement.
Gill, who also is a member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Country Music Hall of Fame, recently released his new album “Guitar Slinger.” In addition, the country singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist recently recorded with British star Sting an episode of “CMT Crossroads” that will debut at 7 p.m. Thursday on Country Music Television.
Check out Gill and Sting’s recent AP interview by clicking here.
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Vince Gill and Amy Grant perform duet on “CMA Country Christmas” TV special
Vince Gill and Amy Grant
Country Music Hall of Famer and Oklahoma native Vince Gill and his wife, best-selling contemporary Christian singer Amy Grant, will be featured giving a lovely performance of “Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song)” during the TV special “CMA Country Christmas,” airing from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 on the ABC Television Network.
It will be Gill’s second duet on the televised concert special: The Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/guitarist also performs a special duet with Miss Piggy of “The Muppets” fame.
Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles will host the two-hour holiday extravaganza with performances from Rascal Flatts (which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney), “American Idol” runner-up Lauren Alaina, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley, Sugarland and Keith Urban.
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