Today's country tidbits...

Lots of weekend doins' involving country artists:

Tim McGraw's new film, "The Blind Side" releases nationwide tonight. Tim said he wouldn't do another football movie, until he read the script and found out that in addition to the great story, his leading lady would be Sandra Bullock. The rest is history, and Oscars are being mentioned in the same breath as this movie.

If you're in West Virginia, you might want to check out Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution food festival in Huntington. Rascal Flatts will be doing an acoustic set at about 2:30 tomorrow afternoon, and the whole event is being taped for a special to air early next year. Tickets to the show are free, and were handed out yesterday. Apparently, attendees of the food festival have a chance to win more during tomorrow's festivities.

Tomorrow, Wynonna will ride the 67th Annual Santa Train as it delivers 15 tons of toys to children in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. CSX, Food City & the Kingsport Chamber of Commerce sponsor the train's 14 stops. The ride begins in Shelby, KY and concludes in Kingsport, TN with Santa, Wynonna and her two children aboard as they return to the Appalachian area where she grew up near the train’s route in Ashland, KY.

Dierks Bentley’s Miles and Music for Kids charity motorcycle ride and jam session makes it’s move to Phoenix, AZ tomorrow.

And on Sunday night, The American Music Awards air on ABC, with Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban performing. Taylor Swift is up for 6 awards, and since these are fan-voted awards, expect her to take home her share. Rascal Flatts is up for 2 awards, and Darius Rucker, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Zac Brown Band and Gloriana are each up for one award.

Now the tale is told - when Kenny Chesney hugged Taylor Swift and congratulated her on her CMA Entertainer of the Year award, what did he say? "You have to earn being in that spot, and I know how hard she's worked, and I was very proud of her. I wanted her to know I was proud of her."

For the fourth year running, The Academy of Country Music and Wrangler are providing the entertainment for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, December 3rd through 12th. Entertaining the cowboys & their fans are Joe Nichols, David Nail, Heidi Newfield and many more. By the way, that's the same time that Garth Brooks will be opening at the Wynn Hotel.

Oh, to be in Nashville when the Parrotheads flock there. The next CMT Crossroads will tape in December, to air in March of 2010. The pairing? Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett. Can't buy tickets...it's invitation-only to be part of the studio audience.

Josh Kelly, brother of Lady A's Charles Kelly, could be Nashville's next big thing. He's got a record deal with Universal/Nashville, with his first project due out in the middle of next year.

On tv tonight, Lyle Lovett will be on the Late Show with David Letterman, and Billy Currington and the Zac Brown Band will be on Larry the Cable Guy's Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau on CMT.

Happy birthday today to Dierks Bentley and Josh Turner.