Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Today's Country Tidbits

Good-natured ribbing is what happened when Tim McGraw discovered that his children's book co-author and also co-writer on "I Run to You," Tom Douglas, had given a song to Lady Antebellum that he might have wanted to record. “(Tim) You know I never heard it until they cut a record on it. (Tom) (laughs) But just imagine the hit it could have been if Tim would’ve cut it. (Tim) If only! (Tom) Lady Antebellum, they just can’t get any radio airplay. (Tim) I know, I feel sorry for them. (Tom) And then they can’t get an opening slot on any big tour. (Tim) I’m sure I had the demo. I’m sure it’s in my truck somewhere. (Tom) (laughs).” All kidding aside, Tim's delighted for Lady A's success, and is also delighted to have them as part of his "Southern Voice" tour.

Voting just started for the ACM Awards, but already Keith Urban has won. He's been named the recipient of the ACM Jim Reeves International Award for his outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

They're having so much fun they decided to stay out on the road even more. The George Strait-Reba-Lee Ann Womack tour has added fall dates, and the April 28 Nashville show has been moved to September 11th. Tickets for the original date will be honored, so no worries there.

Kenny Chesney has teamed up with the National Parks Conservation Association and Nature Valley to raise a million dollars to preserve America's parks. Through May 9th, Kenny will give $1 from each ticket purchased for "Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D" to the campaign. If that raises half a million, then Nature Valley will kick in the other half. Kenny says, "There's nothing better than being outside enjoying the parks, the lakes and the oceans, and that’s what makes protecting our national parks so important."

The seventh annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic will be held May 21st and 22nd in Norman, Oklahoma. The night before the tournament, there'll be a concert, silent auction and live auction, with prizes like a cruise, country star autographed memorabilia, a Food Network experience and much more. The tournament raises funds for the OK Kids Korral, a lodge to house pediatric cancer patients at the Oklahoma University Medical Center.

Taylor Swift is up for the 2010 Time 100, a list of what Time Magazine calls the 100 most influential people in the world. The list will be published April 29th, and there's still time for you to vote.

Alan Jackson's Freight Train tour hits the tracks this weekend, and rehearsals are going on for him and his opening acts, Josh Turner and Chris Young.

Have you traveled to see Jason Aldean? There's a new YouTube contest custom-made for you, and you could win some pretty cool stuff, including a new Flip camera.

And Jake Owen has a contest of his own going on, sort of like an on-line Biggest Loser. He and fans are embroiled in a fitness challenge, where they have to check in with their weight each Monday, and submit photos to show their progress. The contest is over June 14th, and the one with the biggest body change gets to hang with Jake on a boat on the 4th of July.

In the "oh, how sweet" vein, Reba met her oldest fan last weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia. He's 95, and told her he'd been waiting 95 years to meet her. He also confessed that the show was his very first country concert ever.

Tim McGraw has been warming up to throw out the first pitch at the sold-out Tulsa Driller's opening game tomorrow at ONEOK Field.