Vince Gill, Kip Moore, Pam Tillis and The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach to guest star Wednesday on TV show “Nashville”
Vince Gill
Oklahoma native and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, fellow country singers Kip Moore and Pam Tillis and rocker Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys will guest star on this week’s episode of the TV series “Nashville.”
“Nashville” airs at 9 p.m. Wednesday on ABC.
In the episode, titled “Dear Brother,” Juliette (Hayden Panettiere) plans a surprise birthday party for Deacon (Charles Esten), with the real-life music stars in attendance. During the celebration, Rayna (Connie Britton) sings, backed up by Tillis and singer-songwriter Kate York as themselves, plus Watty White (JD Souther) and Adria (Erin McCarley), but Juliette’s performance is scuttled by her mother.
Here is the full episode description and a preview, from ABC:
“Dear Brother” – Juliette plans a surprise birthday party for Deacon, which is attended by real-life country stars Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), Vince Gill, Pam Tillis, Kate York and Kip Moore. During the celebration, Rayna sings, backed up by Pam Tillis and Kate York as themselves, Watty White (JD Souther) and Adria (Erin McCarley). However, Juliette’s own performance is derailed by her mother. As Rayna and Teddy’s divorce moves forward, the tabloids move in, speculating about Rayna’s cheating and thrusting her children into the spotlight; Teddy decides to bring Peggy into his mayoral fold and holds a press conference to make it look like it’s all business; and Gunnar’s brother charms Scarlett with his singing, on “Nashville,” Wednesday, Feb. 27 on ABC.
-BAM
Vince Gill talks news duet album and future solo and bluegrass projects
Oklahoma native Vince Gill already has 20 Grammy Awards and a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, but the 55-year-old is hardly resting on his laurels.
“There’s a little bit of everything going on,” Gill recently told Billboard. “Next month, I’m starting a new record on me. I’ve also just recorded a duet album with Paul Franklin that is a real traditional country record. We did five Buck Owens songs and five Merle Haggard songs that really feature the steel guitar, my telecaster playing, and me singing, so it’s turning out so good. I’m having so much fun re-discovering these old songs. I’ll probably also do a bluegrass record this year, as well. I’ve just got the bug to be creative in a bunch of different places.”
In addition, he is delving into production, most recently producing Pistol Annie Ashley Monroe’s solo album “Like A Rose,” set for March 5 release on Warner. In the past he has produced projects for Sonya Issacs and LeAnn Rimes.
The singer/songwriter/musician told Billboard he thinks there’s not a lot of difference between being the artist or a producer: you just have to know your role.
“I think it’s the same. All you’re really doing is trusting your ears. And trying your hardest to not get in the way of a great song and a great vocal performance. You just pick your spots where you try to nip and tuck things. I think they should call it a ‘reducer’ rather than a producer, because the object is to edit things, get what is the most necessary, and discard the rest,” he told the trade publication.
As previously reported, Gill also had a busy 2011, contributing to Rodney Crowell and Jamey Johnson’s star-studded albums and embarking on a bluegrass tour. As a member of the Western swing supergroup The Time Jumpers, he was instrumental in the band’s Grammy-nominated self-titled studio album, released in September.
Gill’s Billboard interview just affirms what he told me in a phone interview last fall:
“You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if I don’t make two or three records next year. Different things. I really got a million ideas of things I want to do,” he told me then.
“I’ve got the studio at the house and I’m probably at the height of creativity that I’ve ever been and more driven to be creative just because of my age and just realizing I don’t know how long my fingers will stay nimble and how long my voice with stay strong and all that. You know, if I have a brain, if it’s able to make up songs,” Gill added, laughing good-humoredly.
“So, I’m at the best place I’ve ever been.”
-BAM
Listen: Ashley Monroe’s “You Ain’t Dolly (And You Ain’t Porter),” featuring Blake Shelton
Ashley Monroe, one of Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert’s bandmates in the all-girl trio Pistol Annies, will release her first Warner Nashville solo album, “Like A Rose,” on March 5.
Oklahoma native and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill produced the album along with Justin Niebank. The album features a terrific old-school duet with Lambert’s husband, Blake Shelton, playfully titled “You Ain’t Dolly (And You Ain’t Porter).”
“Like A Rose” is available for pre-order today by clicking here. Fans who pre-order the album via iTunes will receive “You Ain’t Dolly (And You Ain’t Porter)” as an instant download.
Monroe’s duet with the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year is also USA Today’s “Song of the Week,” with the newspaper declaring that “the new track from Ashley Monroe and Blake Shelton follows the tradition of classic country duets like Johnny Cash and June Carter’s ‘Jackson’ or Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s ‘You’re the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly.’”
Monroe’s highly-anticipated studio album features songs she co-wrote with Gill, legendary songwriter Guy Clark and many of Nashville’s A-list songwriters.
Here’s the “Like a Rose” track listing:
Like A Rose – Written by Ashley Monroe, Jon Randall and Guy Clark
Two Weeks Late – Written by Ashley Monroe and Shane McAnally
Used – Written by Ashley Monroe and Sally Barris
Weed Instead of Roses – Written by Ashley Monroe, Sally Barris and Jon McElroy
You Got Me – Written by Ashley Monroe and Karen Fairchild
The Morning After – Written by Ashley Monroe, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose
Monroe Suede – Written by Ashley Monroe and Vince Gill
She’s Driving Me Out Of Your Mind – Written by Ashley Monroe and Jon Randall
You Ain’t Dolly (And You Ain’t Porter) [Duet with Blake Shelton] – Written by Ashley Monroe and Vince Gill
-BAM
Interview: Country up-and-comer Brett Eldredge channels inspirations from Sinantra to Brooks & Dunn, opens tonight for Eli Young Band in Shawnee
A version of this story appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Brett Eldredge channels inspirations from Frank Sinatra to Ronnie Dunn
The up-and-coming country singer-songwriter is opening for the Eli Young Band Saturday at Shawnee’s Grand Casino.
He was a teenager when he first heard former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn’s soaring tenor coming through the radio and decided right then he wanted to be a country singer-songwriter.
“The first time I heard Brooks & Dunn was when I really knew I wanted to do country music because I was just such a fan of soulful singers. And I lived in Paris, Illinois, a little country town, and all the lyrics that they were singing and the songs that he (Dunn) and Kix (Brooks) were writing felt like where I was from,” Eldredge said in a recent phone interview from Nashville, Tenn.
Dunn’s voice, he added, “just grabbed a hold of me and just how big his voice was, I was like ‘That’s something that I want to do. That right there is something that’s my home.’ And that’s when I knew and I never really looked back.”
The country up-and-comer has opened for superstars like Tishomingo residents Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert as well as Brad Paisley. On Friday, he will warm the crowd for the Eli Young Band at Shawnee’s Grand Casino.
“You can learn a lot from somebody’s live show,” he said. “When Paisley was playing, I would go in the very top of these amphitheaters … where Brad Paisley looks like an ant up on stage he’s so far away. I love looking at what other fans are doing around me just watching the show because I remember being that kid.”
With his big, soulful voice, Eldredge, 26, was a popular performer at various functions in and around his hometown. He began attending Elmhurst College in Chicago but got back on course for a country music career when he visited Nashville, Tenn. He saw his cousin Terry Eldredge, a veteran of Dolly Parton’s band and a member of the Grascals, play at the Station Inn, “which is one of the coolest places in the world, I think,” and decided to swap the Windy City for Music City.
He eventually met producer and publisher Byron Gallimore, who signed Eldredge to his publishing company and encouraged him to continue writing songs. The Illinois native later inked a deal with Atlantic Records, which is set to release his debut album sometime this year.
“If you’re working on your first album, I guess I’ve been working on it since the day I was born. Whenever I decided to start making music, I was always playing for my first album. But I’ve been writing for this for, gosh, I mean, six years now,” said Eldredge, who was just coming out of the studio after recording some vocals.
“I’m ready to get it out there for people to hear. I can’t wait.”
In 2010, he released his first single, the tearjerking story song “Raymond,” about a dementia patient in a care center who mistakes the janitor for her deceased son.
“I think the main thing for me is I just try to be real with whatever I put out there,” he said. “With ‘Raymond,’ that was something that was really important to me and I got it out there. It was inspired by my grandmother and that was something heavy. I am a big family guy and I’m close to my family, so that hit hard for me. But I’m also a very light-hearted person and just like to have fun 75 percent of the time. I don’t write all sad songs by any means, so I wanted everybody to be able to see another part of me as well.”
His playful new single “Don’t Ya,” for which he recently shot the music video, fits the bill nicely. While he wrote “Raymond” based on his grandmother’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease, he based “Don’t Ya” on a flirtatious fan at one of his shows.
“She kept acting like she didn’t know what she was doing, but she knew what she was doing. She was like playing tricks on me. The whole band and everybody kept looking on her,” he said with a laugh. “It went from that inspiration to writing a fun song … about how girls play tricks on your mind.”
In between, the singer-songwriter got the fun opportunity to watch Gwyneth Paltrow hum along to his rowdy come-on “Ain’t Gotta Be Love” in the 2011 movie “Country Strong.” He also co-wrote the party anthem “Thirsty,” which Hank Williams Jr. recorded for the film.
“I’ve never stayed for the credits for a movie in my life, but I stayed there just to see my name scroll by,” he said with a laugh. “It was a little thing, but it was cool. … I had a fun journey with that.”
As he sorts through the more than 200 songs he’s written and 20 or more he’s recorded to assemble his still-unnamed first album, Eldredge is still inspired by the singers he grew up with, from Norman native Vince Gill to Ol’ Blue Eyes.
“You could just feel what they were singing when they were singing, with such big voices. I think with my new stuff, I’m really able to … get my voice out there and get some of my soulful influence in,” he said.
“It’s a lot of lyrics about life and partying and having a good time but a little heartbreak in there mixed in with it all, too.”
IN CONCERT
Eli Young Band
With: Brett Eldredge.
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Where: Grand Casino Resort, Interstate 40 at Exit 178.
Information: 964-7777 or www.grandcasinoshawnee.com.
-BAM
Eric Church receives leading 7 ACM Awards nominations; Oklahomans Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Thompson Square, Toby Keith, Vince Gill and Rascal Flatts also earn nods
Eric Church
Nominations were announced this morning for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, a star-studded event honoring country music’s best and introducing the industry’s hottest emerging talent. Produced for television by dick clark productions, the ACM Awards will be broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7 on the CBS Television Network.
Oklahomans who earned nominations include Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Thompson Square, Toby Keith, Vince Gill and Rascal Flatts. Look for a full breakdown of the awards the Sooner State stars will contend for later today. Here is the initial news release announcing the nominees:
Nominees were revealed online via the second annual ACM digital press conference this morning on the Academy’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Iconic singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, The Band Perry, “2 Broke Girls” star Beth Behrs, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery, Ryan Seacrest, the ladies of THE TALK, and “Entertainment Tonight” co-anchors Nancy O’Dell and Rob Marciano all announced batches of nominations in video postings during the approximately 35-minute online event, which culminated in music fans announcing the nominees for the Academy’s biggest prize, Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift. For the second year, fans were invited to submit videos naming their favorite artist in this category.
As previously announced, Blake Shelton will join forces with Luke Bryan to host the 48th Annual ACM Awards. This year’s show will mark reigning ACM Male Vocalist of the Year Shelton’s third consecutive turn hosting the Awards and Bryan’s first time hosting a livetelevised event.
For the sixth year, fans will select the winner of the Academy’s most prestigious honor, Entertainer of the Year, and for the fifth year, the New Artist of the Year category will also be opened up to fan voting. Brantley Gilbert, Jana Kramer and Florida Georgia Line have been named nominees for this year’s ACM New Artist of the Year Award Presented by Kohl’s Department Stores. They were chosen by fans as nominees for the New Artist of the Year Award via fan-voting at GACtv.com, as they were previously the nominees for New Male Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year, respectively. Fans elected them winners in those categories as announced today by the Academy of Country Music, since winners of those categories go on to compete for New Artist of the Year. The winners of Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year will be announced live during the awards show.
Eric Church leads with seven nominations, including Male Vocalist of the Year and his second consecutive nods for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. He is twice nominated for Song of the Year for “Springsteen,” as both artist and composer. Church also earned nominations for Single of the Year for “Springsteen” and for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.
Hunter Hayes received six nominations, including New Male Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year for “Wanted.” He is also twice nominated in the Song of the Year category as the artist and composer, as well as in the Single Record of the Year category as the artist and producer for “Wanted.
Miranda Lambert earned five nominations, including her second nomination for Entertainer of the Year and seventh consecutive nod for Female Vocalist of the Year. In addition, Lambert was nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Over You.” Lambert is the reigning ACM Female Vocalist of the Year.
Reigning Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift received five nominations, including her fourth consecutive nod for Entertainer of the Year. If Swift wins Entertainer of the Year, this will be her third consecutive win in that category. Swift is nominated for the sixth time for Female Vocalist of the Year and for the fourth time for Video of the Year for “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” She also received a double nomination for Album of the Year for Red as the artist and producer.
Luke Bryan received four nominations, including his first-ever Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year nominations. He also received nominations for Album of the Year for Tailgates & Tanlines and Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Jason Aldean and Eric Church.
First-time ACM nominee Kacey Musgraves is nominated for four awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year, New Female Vocalist of the Year and twice for Video of the Year for “Merry Go ‘Round” as both artist and producer.
Little Big Town leads group nominations with four nods, including their seventh nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Video of the Year for “Tornado.”
Jason Aldean is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nods for Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. He is nominated for Vocal Event of the Year for “The Only Way I Know” with Luke Bryan and Eric Church.
Reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton is nominated for three awards, including his third consecutive nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year and second nod for Entertainer of the Year. Shelton also received a nomination for Song of the Year as composer for “Over You” with Miranda Lambert.
Eli Young Band earned three nominations, including their second consecutive nomination for Vocal Group of the Year. They also received nominations for “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” in the Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories.
Florida Georgia Line received nominations for three awards, including Duo of the Year, New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year. This is Florida Georgia Line’s first year to be nominated.
The Academy of Country Music’s professional membership select the nominees and winners of the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, and select the final top five nominees of the Entertainer of the Year category. New Artist of the Year final nominees were selected by a combined vote of the fans and professional members. Presenters and performers who will appear at the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
Fan voting for New Artist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year begins on March 25 at 3:00 PM, ET/12:00 PM, PT at www.VoteACM.com. Fan voting for New Artist of the Year will close at 5:00 PM, PT on April 7 (before the live show starts) and fan voting for Entertainer of the Year will close during the third hour of the live broadcast.
After the break is the list of final nominees. Winners in each of the following categories, except where noted, will be presented with an ACM Award during the live television broadcast. The complete list of categories and nominees can be seen at www.ACMcountry.com.
Video: Oklahoma Valentine’s Day playlist
Oklahoma country singers Blake Shelton and his wife, Miranda Lambert, arrive at the Warner Music Group 2013 Grammy Celebration at the Chateau Marmont, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in West Hollywood, Calif. (AP)
My fine colleague Dave Cathey invited me to contribute a list of Oklahoma songs for a Valentine’s Day film and music list that ran in Tuesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. Here’s a version of my Oklahoma Valentine’s Day playlist:
“You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, Larry Collins and Sandy Pinkard; recorded by David Frizzell and Shelly West; covered by Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert: This ballad from the 1981 movie “Any Which Way You Can” is quite possibly the best country song with an Oklahoma reference in the title. When the future Mr. and Mrs. Shelton performed it on a TV special, their chemistry was apparent.
“Mama’s Song” written by Carrie Underwood, Kara DioGuardi, Marti Frederiksen and Luke Laird; sung by Carrie Underwood: The Checotah native co-wrote this autobiographical ballad about a bride on her wedding day assuring her mother that her new husband is a good man.
“When Love Finds You” written by Vince Gill and Michael Omartian; sung by Vince Gill: The Sooner State native may just be one of the best country balladeers ever.
“Somebody” written by Dave Berg, Sam Tate, and Annie Tate; sung by Reba McEntire: The Oklahoma-born and bred songstress is actually better at belting about heartache than romance, but she encourages folks who haven’t found Mr. or Miss Right just yet to keep hope alive in her 2004 hit.
“Unanswered Prayers” written by Pat Alger, Larry Bastian and Garth Brooks; sung by Garth Brooks: The Oklahoma country music megastar co-wrote this smash based on true events. It’s about a man meeting his old high school sweetheart at a hometown football game and introducing her to his wife.
“Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung” by The Flaming Lips: A pair of lovers flee the society that wants to keep them apart and decide to throw themselves into an erupting volcano together, thus preserving their love forever in molten lava. Tragically romantic.
“Heartbreak Hotel,” written by Tommy Durden and Oklahoma-bred songwriter Mae Boren Axton; sung by Elvis Presley: Feel so lonely you could die this Valentine’s Day? Wallow with The King.
“Tennessee Waltz,” written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King; made famous by Patti Page: Page achieved a rare feat when her rendition of this sad slow dance became a No. 1 hit concurrently on the pop, country and R&B charts. As previously reported, the late, great Claremore native was honored last week with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and Kelly Clarkson belted “Tennessee Waltz” in Page’s honor during Sunday night’s Grammy Awards. To watch Clarkson perform “Tennessee Waltz,” click here.
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” written by Jimmy Webb; made famous by singer Glen Campbell: Webb’s most famous ballad definitely conveys the pain and dread of a broken love affair.
“Taylor the Latte Boy,” written by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich; sung by Kristin Chenoweth: The Broken Arrow native is known for her huge voice, but she has a keen sense of humor, too. Plus, I firmly believe, as this song indicates, that the giddiness of potential new love goes best with a nice cup of premium coffee.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood and Woody Guthrie help others win early Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. Songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins won the Best Country Song Grammy for penning the Checotah native’s hit “Blown Away.” (AP)
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are airing from 7 to 10:30 tonight on CBS, and I will be live blogging the be show right here on BAM’s Blog.
The Pre-Telecast Ceremony just closed out, and while no Oklahomans were early Grammy winners, a couple helped others win golden gramophones.
Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins earned the Best Country Song Grammy for penning Checotah native Carrie Underwood’s chart-topping story song “Blown Away.”
Art director Fritz Klaetke won Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for “Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection.” Klaetke thanked the late, great Okemah native for his songwriting, noting his lyrics are even more powerful than they were when he wrote them.
Here is a list of the Oklahomans who had the honor of being nominated but were denied early Grammy wins:
- Former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn and Phillip Coleman got a nod for Best Country Song for penning “Cost of Livin’,”but the award went to Kear and Tompkins for “Blown Away.” Dunn also is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
- The Time Jumpers, which features Norman-born and Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/musician Vince Gill as well as Texas-born and Liberty-bred fiddler/singer Kenny Sears, were nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “On The Outskirts Of Town,” but the prize went to Little Big Town’s “Pontoon.”
- Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, who rocked the Grammy’s Pre-Telecast Ceremony, was nominated for Best Americana Album for “From the Ground Up,” but the award went to Bonnie Raitt for “Slipstream.”
- Four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara, who was born in Elk City and raised in Edmond, shares principal soloist duties with Matthew Broderick on the Broadway cast recording of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. The award went to “Once: A New Musical.”
- Among the Oklahomans who helped others earn Grammy nominations: Gill, Midwest City High School graduate Kevin Welch and Soper native Ray Wylie Hubbard are featured on “This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark,” which was nominated for Best Folk Album. The Grammy went to Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile for “The Goat Rodeo Sessions.”
- Jeff Place and Robert Santelli, compilation producers, and Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer, were nominated for Best Historical Album for “Woody At 100.” The Beach Boys’ “The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set)” won the award.
- Elizabeth Mitchell’s “Little Seed: Songs For Children By Woody Guthrie” was nominated for Best Childen’s Album. The Okee Dokee Brothers won for “Can You Canoe?”
- Art director Noah Wall was nominated for Best Recording Package for “Love This Giant,” the collaborative album for Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/musician St. Vincent and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne. The artists behind Bjork’s “Biophilia” won the prize.
Several Oklahomans still will be contending for Grammy glory when the big show begins at 7 tonight:
- Three artists with Sooner State ties are nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance alone: Underwood for her chart-topping story-song “Blown Away,” Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
In addition, Underwood will perform on the show.
- Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, who will perform on the broadcast with tourmate Dierks Bentley, earned a Best Country Album nomination for her fourth effort, “Four the Record.”
- The Time Jumpers also got a Best Country Album nod for its self-titled studio debut.
- Gill, Dunn and Lawton-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell are among the guest stars on Jamey Johnson’s “Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” another of the Best Country Album nominees.
To read my complete Grammy preview, click here, and be here at 7 p.m. for my live blog!
-BAM
Reminder: Grammy Awards live blog begins at 7 tonight!
The 55th Grammy Awards will be handed out tonight, and I will be live blogging it here at BAM’s Blog. (AP file)
Just a reminder: The 55th Annual Grammy Awards are airing from 7 to 10:30 tonight on CBS, and I will be live blogging the be show right here on BAM’s Blog.
Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Mumford & Sons, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Keys, FUN., the Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift and Jack White are just some of the superstars set to perform during the music industry’s premier event.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Grammys without special star-studded musical mash-ups: Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert will perform with tourmate Dierks Bentley; Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Sting will join forces onstage; Elton John and Ed Sheeran will do a duet; and Alicia Keys will team up with Maroon 5.
Stars with Oklahoma ties who are nominated include Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, John Fullbright, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Time Jumpers and Kelli O’Hara. To read my full Grammys preview column, click here.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, John Fullbright, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, Time Jumpers and Kelli O’Hara to represent Oklahoma at Sunday’s Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood performs her latest hit “Two Black Cadillacs” on the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Los Angeles. The Checotah native also will perform Sunday on the 55th Annual Grammy Awards. (AP)
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, left, and Dierks Bentley present an award onstage during the 54th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles. The tourmates will perform together Sunday night on the 2013 Grammys. (AP file)
A version of this column appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. To read my feature on Patti Page’s posthumous Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, click here.
Oklahoma to be well represented at Sunday’s Grammy Awards
Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Ronnie Dunn, The Time Jumpers, John Fullbright and Kelli O’Hara are among the nominees with Sooner State ties.
Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Mumford & Sons, Kelly Clarkson, The Black Keys, FUN., the Lumineers, Frank Ocean, Taylor Swift and Jack White are set to perform during the music industry’s premier event, airing live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the Grammys without special star-studded musical mash-ups: Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert will perform with tourmate Dierks Bentley; Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Sting will join forces onstage; Elton John and Ed Sheeran will do a duet; and Alicia Keys will team up with Maroon 5.
Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, a first-time Grammy nominee, will be among the performers during the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony, which will stream live from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Grammy.com/live and CBS.com.
Also, Bearden singer-songwriter John Fullbright, a first-time nominee, will be among the performers during the Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast Ceremony, which will stream live from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Grammy.com/live and CBS.com.
Not surprisingly, several Oklahomans earned Grammy nominations, particularly in the country music categories. Three artists with Sooner State ties are nominated in the Best Country Solo Performance alone: Underwood for her chart-topping story-song “Blown Away,” Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “Cost of Livin’.”
Dunn and Phillip Coleman also got a nod for Best Country Song for penning “Cost of Livin’,” while Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins are nominated in the category for writing Underwood’s “Blown Away.”
Lambert earned a Best Country Album nomination for her fourth effort, “Four the Record.”
The 11-piece Western swing band The Time Jumpers, which features Norman-born and Oklahoma City-bred singer/songwriter/musician Vince Gill as well as Texas-born and Liberty-bred fiddler/singer Kenny Sears, also got a Best Country Album nod for its self-titled studio debut.
Gill co-wrote and provides the lead vocals on “On The Outskirts Of Town,” which garnered The Time Jumpers a nomination in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Gill’s propensity for musical collaborations is apparent among the nominations: He, Dunn and Lawton-born Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Leon Russell are among the guest stars on Jamey Johnson’s “Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” another of the Best Country Album nominees. Also, Gill, Midwest City High School graduate Kevin Welch and Soper native Ray Wylie Hubbard are featured on “This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark,” which is nominated for Best Folk Album.
Fullbright earned his first Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album with his debut studio effort, “From the Ground Up,” which he recorded at 115 Studios in Norman and released on his own Blue Dirt Records label.
Four-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O’Hara, who was born in Elk City and raised in Edmond, shares principal soloist duties with Matthew Broderick on the Broadway cast recording of “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” nominated for Best Musical Theater Album.
The lasting legacy of Okemah native Woody Guthrie is represented among the nominations. Elizabeth Mitchell’s “Little Seed: Songs For Children By Woody Guthrie” is nominated for Best Childen’s Album. Art director Fritz Klaetke is competing for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for “Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection.” In addition, Jeff Place and Robert Santelli, compilation producers, and Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer, are nominated for Best Historical Album for “Woody At 100.”
Art director Noah Wall is nominated for Best Recording Package for “Love This Giant,” the collaborative album for Tulsa-born singer/songwriter/musician St. Vincent and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer David Byrne.
As part of the Grammy Week festivities, Claremore native Patti Page, who died Jan. 1 at the age of 85, will posthumously receive The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award at an invitation-only ceremony Saturday. Page and fellow Lifetime Achievement recipients Carole King, Glenn Gould, Charlie Haden, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Ravi Shankar and the Temptations will be acknowledged during Sunday’s Grammys telecast.
GRAMMYS LIVE Blog
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will air live from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
Follow my live blog of the show here at BAM’s Blog, blog.newsok.com/bamsblog.
-BAM
Vince Gill, Restless Heart, Patty Loveless, Kenny Rogers and more booked for first Country Music Cruise
Vince Gill
Oklahoma native Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Milsap and band Restless Heart, which has Oklahoma ties, will be featured on the first Country Music Cruise, which will launch in early 2014 and sail through the Caribbean with television personality Lorraine Crook hosting the entire journey.
Billed as the vacation of a lifetime for country music fans, the cruise will feature intimate concerts every day, exclusive events not available anywhere else, activities, comedians, world class dining, deluxe accommodations, and much more for seven luxurious days aboard Holland America’s MS Eurodam, according to a news release. All concert tickets, activities and meals are included, with further information available at www.CountryMusicCruise.com.
The stars scheduled to perform on the 2014 Country Music Cruise account for an astounding 350 hit singles all together, including nearly 90 No. 1 hits. In addition to the headlining concerts, clubs on the ship will host performances by even more artists such as Oklahoma natives Wade Hayes and Bryan White, as well as Andy Griggs, Ty Herndon, Jamie O’Neal, The Warren Brothers and others. Chuck Mead from BR549 will be playing daily poolside.
Amidst the music, guests will be invited to a beach party on their own private island, line dancing events, cooking exhibitions, wine tasting, songwriter workshops, spirited trivia contests, exclusive screenings of country music films and documentaries, games and more. The ship also will dock in several ports, where guests can explore the beauty and culture of Grand Turk (Turks and Caicos), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Philipsburg (Saint Maarten), and Half Moon Cay (Bahamas).
“Country music fans are in for something really special,” says Vince Gill in the news release. “Not only will they get to experience a luxurious ocean cruise, but they can enjoy exclusive concerts by country music’s iconic superstars. The cruise is destined to become a vacation destination in the years to come.”
“I couldn’t be more excited about performing on the Country Music Cruise and being a part of a vacation that my fans will never forget,” adds Kenny Rogers in the release.
“This will be the Country Music party of a lifetime. Real stars, real music and real friends, both old and new” says Mike Jason, Senior Vice President Retail, StarVista Entertainment/Time Life, in the release. ”We have produced over 35 full ship charter music cruises and ‘Country Music’ is a perfect genre for an exciting and overall cruise experience,” says Michael Lazaroff, Executive Director of Entertainment Cruise Productions, in the release. “The programming and entertainment opportunities for the Country Music Cruise are unparalleled. It will be so much fun.”
Cabins are available now at www.CountryMusicCruise.com. Early reservation Country Music Cruise fan rates start at $1,925 per person and include all meals, concerts, entertainment and on-board activities.
-BAM
