Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Today's Country Tidbits

Last night in Los Angeles, dozens of stars teamed up to re-record We Are the World, this time as a benefit for Haitian relief and rebuilding. The finished product will be world-premiered as part of the Olympic opening ceremonies on the 22nd of this month. Taylor Swift was invited to be part of it, but couldn’t – she left the Grammy awards, went to a celebratory dinner with her family, friends and record label staff, then boarded a plane to Australia for her tour. Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown and Sugarland represented country music, and apparently represented very well.

When the fashionistas picked apart the outfits worn on the Grammys, they had nothing bad to say about Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. Matter of fact, the E! Fashion Police called them the best-dressed ladies there. TV Guide's nod for best-dressed woman went to Carrie Underwood, They weren't very nice to Miranda and her ruffly blue dress, but then again, what did THEY wear onstage at the Grammy's? Yeah...not invited, were they? So sad...!

You know awards season never ends, right? When one's done, another's on the horizon. The Academy of Country Music Awards nominees will be announced February 22nd, and the show will air live from Las Vegas on April 18th.

Friday night's MusiCares benefit concert featured some of the world's best musicians covering Neil Young's music. Parts of the show are captured in a video collage, which features Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Keith Urban and more.

It's Superbowl week, and in Indianapolis, a country radio station helped the city get into the spirit. One of the morning hosts re-wrote "Small Town USA" by Justin Moore, making it "Colts Town USA." Then they got Justin Moore to show up and sing at a Colts rally.

Tim McGraw hits the stage on Saturday, taking his Dancehall Doctors to the San Antonio Rodeo. It's his first full-fledged tour in several years, and his fans are snapping up the tickets.

How hot is Brad Paisley? Tickets for his Boston show, being held at Gillette Stadium, sold out the day they went on sale. 50,000 people will see Brad, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Darius Rucker and Easton Corbin on August 21st.

Alabama's BamaJam just got bigger, with the announcement of a few more of the people who'll play. In addition to Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen and Hank Williams Jr, Dierks Bentley, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Matt Kennon and Houston County will also perform. Tickets for the June festival are on sale now, with Premium Preferred seating being offered for the first time in the fest's three-year history.

Josh Turner is the featured artist on SoundCheck, a Wal Mart production.

The very moment that Lady Antebellum found out that they'd won a Grammy has been captured on video. Catch Lady Antebellum on Jimmy Kimmel Live today.

Happy 24th birthday to Blaine Larsen today.