Today's Country Tidbits

We think that stars lead charmed lives, but Carrie Underwood can clearly remember her worst date ever. She was 16, he was 18, and her Dad decided to clean his shotguns just before the boy arrived to pick Carrie up. The date was a bust...they couldn't get in to the R rated movie because of Carrie's age, so they saw a movie that she remembers as "horrible." They left halfway through and her date took her home. No word on if they ever went out again.

Tim McGraw's tour kicks off tonight, and opening act Lady Antebellum couldn't be more excited or honored by the opportunity to be part of it. They'll do 60 shows this year, and are huge fans of Tim. And it's official..."Need You Now" is the number 1 cd in America for the second week in a row. Not just the number 1 country cd...number one over everyone!

Reba's already pulling together her wardrobe for the ACM Awards, which aren't until April 18th. She says reading a teleprompter is a piece of cake compared to deciding what she'll wear to the event. The nominations will be announced on February 22nd.

Miranda Lambert has a soft spot in her heart for animals, especially unwanted ones. Her 3rd annual Cause for Paws benefit concert will be Saturday, May 15th in Tyler Texas, and is a fund-raiser for the Humane Society of East Texas. Last year, she raised over a quarter of a million dollars for her favorite charity.

And speaking of Miranda, she'll be kicking off a tour in March, headlining. Along for the ride on the "Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars" tour are David Nail, James Otto, Randy Houser and Wade Bowen.

Toby Keith and Trace Adkins had such fun on America's Toughest Tour last year that they'll do it again this summer. The American Ride Tour kicks off in June and runs through September.

Elsewhere on the tour circuit, Rascal Flatts' Jay Demarcus is saying that their American Living Unstoppable tour which kicks off in a couple of weeks is going to be more like a Broadway show this year, as it works through the group's 10 year musical history. Darius Rucker is on the bill, and it's rumored that Kellie Pickler will be, too.

Told you yesterday about Rascal Flatts' song "Unstoppable" being used as an Olympic song, and today you can see the video and hear the new lyrics, courtesy of People.com.

Josh Turner is celebrating Valentine's Day and the release of "Haywire" with a big box of chocolates for you. Guaranteed non-fattening, and every one of them is great!

Gretchen Wilson is singing the National Anthem before the NBA All Star Game on Sunday, live from Cowboy's Stadium in Texas. It'll air on TNT.

Trisha Yearwood's new cookbook, "Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood," is in bookstores now, just in time to fix a country-style romantic dinner for Valentine's Day.

Taylor Swift has donated an autographed 12-string Taylor acoustic guitar to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the auction to own it begins Saturday. It's the guitar she played during the All for the Hall benefit concert in October. Check it out and bid online.

The new Kenny Chesney song, "Ain't Back Yet," along with the re-issued Greatest Hits II, will be available on iTunes March 5th. He's working on a new cd, which will be released some time this fall.