Today's Country Tidbits

Taylor Swift has been named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people. They asked Stevie Nicks to write something about Taylor for the issue, and Stevie captured in words what Taylor's fans feel when they hear her music. She wrote, "All of us girls want that boy to pick us up and think that we look beautiful even though we're in jeans and clogs. We want it at 14, and we want it at 60. Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her."

People Magazine has included Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift on their list of Most Beautiful People. Look for Julia Roberts on the cover of that issue.

Trace Adkins' final night on the "Shine All Night" tour with Martina McBride featured Martina pranking Trace, and cracking him up onstage.



Toby Keith stopped off in Korea yesterday, visiting troops at Camp Walker. While a lot of performers play a few songs, wave and leave, not Toby. He and Scotty Emerick did a full set, then he shook hands and took photos with every person in the packed gym that wanted to meet him. He's headed to Afghanistan and Iraq at some point in the next two weeks. Details of these trips are kept quiet for security reasons.

Alan Jackson is dedicating his May 22nd show in Charleston, WV to the families of the miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mining disaster. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Montcoal Mining Disaster Fund.

Keith Urban and John Mayer had such a good time playing together when they taped CMT Crossroads in January that they'll team up again on August 28th for a live performance at The Gorge in Washington. Tickets for the event go on sale on each artist's website tomorrow at 10am Pacific time.

Sarah Buxton lost her record deal when Disney shut down their Lyric Street label. So she quickly teamed up with longtime friend Jedd Hughes. The two formed Buxton Hughes, and have their first video on YouTube. You heard Jedd singing harmonies and duets on Sarah's debut cd.

It's been in the works for over two years, but a Broadway version of the movie, "Pure Country," may never see the limelight. The economy put the show on the back burner, and it now appears that Joe Nichols may never get his chance to reprise the role George Strait made famous in the movie. Production has now been pushed back indefinitely.

The Grand Ole Opry turns 85 this year, and Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs will team up for an all-star guitar jam on May 25th.

Kid Rock has been tapped to host the 2010 CMT Music Awards, and he promises to be awesome. Check out the show on June 9th.

Those two Auburn University students who campaigned to get a hug from Taylor Swift have found themselves much in demand this week, after she showed up at their school and gave them hugs, kisses and front row seats to an upcoming concert. Mike and Ryan will be on Fox & Friends tomorrow morning, and will be on the CBS Early Show on Monday.

Rascal Flatts will be performing just before the 136th annual running of the Kentucky Derby tomorrow on NBC.

Happy birthday to Willie Nelson who turns 77 today and to Tim McGraw, who turns 43 tomorrow.