Thursday, April 7, 2011

Today's Country Tidbits

It was just 5 years ago that Jason Aldean earned his first gold record for "Hicktown." Jason has the #1 country album again this week with "My Kinda Party." He's had three platinum-selling albums, ten top-10 hits and 5 #1 songs so far, and it looks like he's just getting started. After all this success, what did he and his wife do to celebrate? “’Bout a year ago we went and actually bought us a beach house. So that was like the first time we spent that kinda money on anything, you know. And of course I didn’t sleep for about six months after that. But it’s all good.” Jason is taking a month off the road this summer so he and his family can enjoy that beach house.

Carrie Underwood makes her big-screen debut tomorrow, as the movie "Soul Surfer" opens nationwide. The true-story movie features Carrie as a church youth group leader who counsels competitive surfer Bethany Hamilton, played by AnnaSophia Robb, after a shark bites off her left arm. Carrie told a USA Today reporter, "I thought it was a wonderful project. It was all about the story and getting the opportunity to tell it … people can go see this movie and walk out inspired.” It's gotten wonderful early reviews, so check it out this weekend.

Brad Paisley is polishing up his "This is Country Music" cd, set for release on May 24th, and is proud of the fact that he's got a lot of co-stars on the project. Clint Eastwood guest-whistles, and there are duets with Blake Shelton, Don Henley, Sheryl Crow, Marty Stuart, Alabama and Carrie Underwood. Of Carrie's work, Brad said, “Carrie Underwood, who is the best singer in any format of music, I am convinced—every take. When you hear that song with her, every take that she did sounded exactly as good as what we chose—every time she sang it. I am floored by her and really proud of that moment.” I've had a sneak-listen to it and it's going to be a huge hit. The two of their voices work perfectly together.

The performance of the night at the ACM Awards was Darius Rucker's "Music From the Heart" and here's another look at it.


Want an encore of Reba doing her new song on the ACM Awards? Here it is...


Miranda Lambert's "Heart Like Mine"...


How bout Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road Anthem" encore?


Sara Evans' "A Little Bit Stronger" from the ACM Awards...


And just one more for today...here's Zac Brown Band and James Taylor's duet...


Got an extra $15 million lying around? You might want to check out George and Nancy Jones' estate just outside of Nashville. It's a 9,704 square-foot home situated on 78 acres of land. The home features a fully-functional beauty salon, an oudoor living room complete with kitchen, fireplace and tv. There's an in-ground pool, a horse barn and a nine-car garage.

Carrie Underwood is on the Ellen DeGeneres Show today, and Thompson Square is on Fox & Friends this morning. They will do the "After the Show Show," too. That'll be available on the Fox & Friends page later today.

Happy birthday to Cal Smith, who is 79, Bobby Bare, who turns 76 today and Restless Heart's John Dittrich who is 55 today.

The tweet of the day is from Thompson Square: "4am is way too early to sing!"