Today's country tidbits...

Yesterday in Nashville, Keith Urban was the center of the songwriters' #1 party for "Only You Can Love Me This Way." He did an acoustic version of the song as part of the festivities. It was one of three songs on "Defying Gravity" that he didn't write or co-write, but he thought it was important to be at the #1 celebration to thank the writers. He flew in from LA before the party, then flew back out after the party.

What happens to the tour buses when artists are home for the holidays? They line up to help kids, that's what. On December 14th in Hendersonville, TN, the Wal-Mart parking lot will be filled with tour buses, some with their stars on board, and for a small donation, you can tour the bus and get autographs. The proceeds benefit Christmas 4 Kids, which gives special kids their own holiday shopping sprees.

Got a Guitar Hero playing Taylor Swift fan on your Christmas list? Here's the perfect gift - "Our Song" will be released by Neversoft as a download for Guitar Hero on December 22nd. It's also on Band Hero, in case your Guitar Hero wants a new game to play.

The end of the year lists are starting to come out, and AOL's country presence, The Boot, has declared that Brad Paisley has the #1 song of the year with "Then" and the #1 album of the year with "American Saturday Night."

Miranda Lambert, on how she's making it in the tough music business: "You really have to go into this business knowing exactly what you want to do and what you have to say and surround yourself with people that uplift that. Otherwise, you'll get lost. I think it's hard to stay true when somebody else may be more successful than you because they compromise a little bit, but you just have to decide if it's worth it."

Yesterday, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton were out hunting, sitting in a tent blind. Miranda tweeted, "It's rainin like crazy. Oh wait, it's sleeting. Brrrrrr"

Kellie Pickler is taking some time to write songs, and eat her favorite food: Velveeta Shells and Cheese. Now, why isn't that a surprise?

James Otto on twitter: "I'm in the studio all week cuttin some new music. I truly love hearing a new song come to life. It's still one of the best parts of my job."

Sugarland will perform and Dwight Yoakam will be a presenter as the Grammy nominations are announced tonight. "Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! — Countdown To Music's Biggest Night" is on CBS tonight.

Catch Jo Dee Messina on tv tonight, as part of Christmas in Rockefeller Square. She'll be part of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony on NBC.