Today's country tidbits...

Taylor Swift knocked it out of the park Saturday night as host of SNL. From her "Monologue Song" which touched on ex-boyfriends, current maybe boyfriend and of course, Kanye West, to her dark-haired look in the fake movie trailer, to her brace-wearing turn as Samantha Samuels in a fake television commercial, she showed that her acting and comedy skills are as well-developed as her singing and songwriting skills. Country Music Tattle Tale links to all of the show's skits, in case you missed the show or want to see parts of it again.

Nashville's newspaper, The Tennessean, has a very lively on-line presence. They set out to get on-camera interviews with each of the CMA Entertainer of the Year nominees, talking about what it would mean to them to win the award on Wednesday night. See the results here.

George Strait made big-screen history in the 1992 movie, "Pure Country." Next week in Nashville, "A Pure Country Gift" is filming, including a concert scene at the Municipal Auditorium. The movie stars Katrina Elam and features George Strait. If you'll be in Nashville next Wednesday, show up at the auditorium in your best country duds to be part of the concert crowd. Get there before noon...before 9 is probably better advice, if you want to get in.

Dierks Bentley rubbed shoulders - literally - with the hero who's credited with saving so many lives at the horrible massacre at Ft. Hood in Texas. Sgt. Kimberly Munley is a big Dierks Bentley fan and went to his Freedom Fest concert at Ft. Hood on July 4th. Photos of the two of them at his meet & greet have been on the news over the weekend, and he tweeted that he was able to speak with her on the phone and pass along his prayers for her speedy recovery. She's in stable condition.

Keith Urban has just been announced as one of the performers on the American Music Awards, airing on ABC November 22nd. Carrie Underwood is also performing.

Jo Dee Messina will be performing a benefit concert in Nashville on December 5th at the Brentwood United Methodist Church. Tickets are free and you can get them from Jo Dee's website, but the plate will be passed for Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation, an organization taking Nashville's blighted inner-city and refurbishing it, one life at a time.

The flamboyant Hollywood reporter, Perez Hilton, snagged the John Mayer/Taylor Swift duet that's part of John's upcoming cd. Hear Half of My Heart here.

Rascal Flatts loves Wendy's - here's video proof!