Today's Country Tidbits

What do you give a guy who helps you score another #1 song and a pair of Grammy nominations? If you're Alan Jackson, you give Zac Brown a 1966 Cadillac. In a press release, Alan said, “I think Zac is one of the coolest new talents to come along and he’s a Georgia boy like me. It was an honor to be on his record.” Wednesday afternoon, just before Zac Brown Band's sold-out show at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Zac spotted the white convertible El Dorado and admired it. Then Alan told him, "That's your car." According to Alan, “He’s a pretty good fellow, and I just wanted to do something for him.” Typical Alan Jackson understatement and modesty! Here's Alan joining ZBB for "As She's Walkin' Away" on Wednesday night in Nashville.

Blake Shelton will be hanging with farmers & farm equipment on February the 8th. He's been invited to perform at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California. The concert will be a fund-raiser for several organizations associated with California agriculture.

All across the country, people will be ringing in the New Year at country concerts. Here are just a few of the shows going on tonight:

Miranda Lambert – Temecula, CA

Zac Brown Band – Atlanta, GA

Chris Young – Arlington, TX

Easton Corbin – Dallas, TX

Gretchen Wilson – Rosenberg, TX

Randy Rogers Band – Oklahoma City, OK

Phil Vassar, Heidi Newfield, Will Hoge – Bash on Broadway; Nashville, TN

Steel Magnolia – Denver, CO

Tracy Lawrence – Opelousas, LA

The tweet of the day is from Jack Ingram: "NYE- San Antonio, TX, Cowboys. Be there. I will! Let's sing that Auld Lang Syne together. We'll all mumble until that part we know comes!!!!"

Today's Country Tidbits

Pollstar has compiled its annual list of the top-grossing tours in the world, and country artists scored six of the top 50 slots.

#24 Tim McGraw

#25 Brad Paisley

#26 George Strait/Reba/Lee Ann Womack

#27 Taylor Swift

#31 Carrie Underwood

#47 Rascal Flatts

The top-grossing tour of 2010 was Bon Jovi, who raked in over $201 million with 80 shows.

Darius Rucker is going to pour some sugar on New Orleans. He's part of the Allstate Sugar Bowl celebrations, giving a free concert during the two-day Fan Fest this Sunday and Monday, and then performing the National Anthem before the Arkansas/Ohio State game on January 4th. While he's in New Orleans, he's going to pitch in and help clean up areas still trashed by Hurricane Katrina.

All roads lead to Nashville, especially the road bringing other genres of music into the country fold. Better Than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin is moving to Nashville after tasting a little bit of songwriting success there. He wrote "Stuck Like Glue" for Sugarland, whom he met when Better Than Ezra drummer Travis McNabb decided to take a hiatus from the band to tour with them. Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum have cited Kevin's band as a musical influence for their music. And there's a strong rumor going around that Lindsey Lohan is in talks with Big Machine, home of Taylor Swift, to put out a country album. Hey, y'all...it's not as easy as it looks!!

Zac Brown Band played Bridgestone Arena last night. The show was sold out, and the audience got a special treat, as Alan Jackson joined the guys on stage for "As She's Walking Away."

Bridgestone Arena in Nashville just had the best month in it's history. More people went to more events this month than any month ever before, beating the old record by a long shot. Thanks to nine sold-out Garth Brooks shows, seven heavily-attended Predators games and six other big concerts, 334,917 people visited the arena for 22 separate events. The previous record-setting month was March of 2001, when 248,600 people visited the arena as it hosted the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time.

Happy birthday to Suzy Bogguss who turns 54 today.

The tweet of the day is from Jerrod Niemann: "Wow! U know you've had better days when u get cussed by a guy wearing nothing but a speedo & a gold chain. I feel bad for the hotel employee"

Today's Country Tidbits

Carrie Underwood will remember 2010 as a really good year. First, it's the year she and Mike Fisher married, it's the year she became the face of Olay, and it's also the year that her third studio album, "Play On," gave her three consecutive #1 songs for a career total of 13. She won her fifth Grammy award, was the ACM Entertainer of the Year and collected other hardware from other award shows. Because of a song she wrote for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," she's picked up her first ever Golden Globe nomination. And she co-hosted the CMA Award Show for the third straight year with Brad Paisley, to the rave reviews of their peers and viewers. Can she top 2010 in 2011? Don't count her out - Carrie is a dynamo, and her star just keeps getting brighter.

Neal McCoy has spilled some of the wedding details for Blake and Miranda's upcoming nuptials - he'll be the star performer there! Blake Shelton is in charge of planning the music, and he and Neal McCoy did a show together in Oregon earlier this year. Miranda was there, too, and she and Blake pulled up chairs next to the stage to watch Neal perform. Neal's a big goof, rather like Blake, and they decided that he would be a good fit for their party. Blake asked what he charged to do a private party, because he intended to pay Neal. Neal's having none of that, saying, "Of course you don’t have to pay me, that’ll be an honor to play it, and I’m sure it will be really fun and a who’s-who kind of thing with all the people attending.” The wedding is in May in the hill country of Texas - that's all we know about date and location so far.

According to the Nashville Business Journal, Garth Brooks' nine sold-out shows may have meant as much as $15 million to the local economy. That's over and above the $3-5 million the shows raised for the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee through ticket and merchandise sales, plus donations. So far, estimates show that a $10 million boost to Nashville businesses happened, but that doesn't include hotel nights booked, which will bring the total way up. Behold, the power of Garth!

From the "who would have thunk it" file, Gwyneth Paltrow and Taylor Swift have become close friends, texting, emailing and talking on the phone often. It was through Gwyneth that Taylor met her current boyfriend, Jake Gyllenhaal, and apparently the two women discuss music, performing, acting and dating. Taylor met Gwyneth through Gwyneth's husband, Chris Martin of the band Coldplay.

Jack Ingram's Acoustic Motel series continues, this week with a live version of his song, "Fool."

The tweet of the day is from Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia: "On the plane back to Nashville and someones phone just went off and it was "keep on lovin you"... Haha xo Meg"

Today's Country Tidbits

What do you do on Christmas vacation if you're Taylor Swift? You and your family head to the islands. Specifically, the Turks and Caicos, near the Bahamas. They spent Christmas playing in the sun before boarding a private jet back to Nashville, where winter white is what they found. Taylor's "Speak Now" world tour begins February 9th in Singapore.

It's official - LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian are engaged. The rumors were flying around Thanksgiving, and yesterday LeAnn confirmed them via Twitter. No word on wedding details.

Two more lists from Billboard Magazine, capping the year in country music:

BILLBOARD’S TOP COUNTRY ALBUMS OF 2010

1) Need You Now – Lady Antebellum

2) Fearless – Taylor Swift

3) Speak Now – Taylor Swift

4) Play On – Carrie Underwood

5) The Foundation – Zac Brown Band

6) Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum

7) Revolution – Miranda Lambert

8) Wide Open – Jason Aldean

9) Southern Voice – Tim McGraw

10) The Incredible Machine – Sugarland

BILLBOARD’S HOT COUNTRY SONGS OF 2010

1) “Love Like Crazy” – Lee Brice

2) “Rain is a Good Thing” – Luke Bryan

3) “Why Don’t We Just Dance” – Josh Turner

4) “All Over Me” – Josh Turner

5) “The Man I Want to Be” – Chris Young

6) “Roll With It” – Easton Corbin

7) “Gimme That Girl” – Joe Nichols

8) “All About Tonight” – Blake Shelton

9) “Come Back Song” – Darius Rucker

10) “She Won’t Be Lonely Long” – Clay Walker

Happy birthday to Marty Roe of Diamond Rio, who turns 50 today, Mike McGuire of Shenandoah who is 52, and Joe Diffie, who turns 52.

The tweet of the day is from Chris Young: "Ok. Who wants to go to the gym for me. Not feeling it today. :)"

Today's Country Tidbits

Dierks Bentley, his wife Cassidy and their two-year-old daughter Evie got a wonderful Christmas gift - baby girl Jordan was born in the wee hours of December 25th. Proud daddy Dierks tweeted, "say what u want about santa’s physique, but no arguing his impeccable timing! evie wanted a little sis for Xmas & JORDAN just arrived!" Mom, baby and proud big sis are all doing well. Dierks is a little worried, tweeting, "she chose the banjo driven part of mumford & sons ‘awake my soul’ as her walk on music… could be a troublesome sign!"

It's the last Monday of 2010, so bring on the lists!

BILLBOARD’S BEST OF 2010: TOP ARTISTS

1) Lady Gaga

2) Taylor Swift

3) Eminem

4) Lady Antebellum

5) Ke$ha

6) Usher

7) The Black Eyed Peas

8) Justin Bieber

9) Rihanna

10) Drake

In alphabetical order, compiled by CMT, here's a list of all of the country music "Greatest Hits" packages that came out in 2010:

Trace Adkins – The Definitive Greatest Hits: ‘Til the Last Shot’s Fired

Chris Cagle – Best of Chris Cagle

Dixie Chicks – The Essential Dixie Chicks

Kevin Fowler – Best Of…So Far

Highwaymen – The Essential Highwaymen

Alan Jackson – 34 Number Ones

Larry the Cable Guy – The Best of Larry the Cable Guy

Tim McGraw – Number One Hits

Brad Paisley – Hits Alive

Gretchen Peters – Circus Girl: The Best of Gretchen Peters

Blake Shelton – Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton

Hank Williams – The Complete Mother’s Best Recordings…Plus!

Gretchen Wilson – Greatest Hits

Various Artists – NOW That’s What I Call Country: Volume 3

Garth Brooks warmed it up for them, and Wednesday night, Zac Brown Band takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. They're promising to keep the show pretty much the same as it is in smaller venues, though, eschewing the flashy screens, moving stages and special effects that many artists employ when they move to bigger venues. “It’s not in my nature,” said Zac. “The worst thing for me as an artist is having to dance for somebody by trying to be anything that I’m not. Sometimes, business people want to give direction, but the fans are reacting to what we do. We’re a legitimate band, and you can’t fake that, and it’s all hard work that lands the result.”

There's a website designed for teens called "DoSomething.org" The idea behind it is to make teens aware of the many ways they can help to improve the earth and easily hook them up with the organization of their choice. DoSomething.org has come out with their Top 20 Celebs Gone Good, and Taylor Swift checks in at #3 for giving half a million to middle Tennessee flood relief and her ongoing work to promote literacy.

Tomorrow night is the airing of the CBS special, "The Kennedy Center Honors." Merle Haggard is one of the honorees, and he is serenaded by Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow. The event actually happened earlier this month, but was taped to air tomorrow night.

The tweet of the day is from Miranda Lambert: "Dear Santa... Next year please send me some little helpers to help me clean up this mess:)"

Today's Country Tidbits

My Christmas Wish

For every dog searching trash cans for breakfast, a full bowl with his name printed in bright letters.

For every dog who slept fitfully last night, chained in a frozen yard, a soft, warm bed with a person snoring gently nearby.

For every shelter dog, spending Christmas morning in a soiled run, a forever home, filled with sounds and smells of family.

For every "Christmas" puppy given today, a tolerant, caring owner who won't abandon you as you grow into a real dog.

For every ailing pet, enough money for your owner to pay the bills to make you well.

For every lost dog, a clear, safe road, and well marked path, to lead you home.

For every old and tired friend, a warm fire, and a soft bed, to ease your aches and pains.

and

For every Heart Dog at the Bridge, a moment when you know that you are remembered today, missed again, and loved forever.

(Author unknown)

Today's Country Tidbits

If you're planning on going to the George Strait, Reba and Lee Ann Womack concert in the new year, and you'll be at a Friday show, George has a message for you: wear red. "Starting this Friday, we are we are going to wear red shirts to every Friday tour date and we encourage fans to do the same. I want to see a building full of red shirts if possible." Through the website redshirtfridays.org, he's asking fans to show support to the troops by wearing red every Friday. George served four years in the Army in the 1970's, and wants the members of the military to know that we remember they're away from home, and in harm's way.

If you missed Jimmy Wayne on the CBS special, "A Home for the Holidays," he's posted his segment on the Project MMH website.

Little Big Town has a holiday message for you...

And Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow are sharing their duet, "Me and Tennessee" before the movie comes out.

Congratulations to Dolly Parton, who is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy. Several will be handed out on February 21st, the night before the Grammy Awards show airs live from Los Angeles. Other recipents include The Ramones, The Kingston Trio and Julie Andrews.

And congrats to Lady Antebellum, whose "Need You Now" cd will be triple platinum before we ring in the new year.

Happy birthday tomorrow to Jimmy Buffett, Babara Mandrell, Steve Wariner and of course, the star of the day.

The tweet of the day is from Zac Brown: "Please don't skimp & get the cheap cookies again this year. Santa's still a bit peeved about last year."