Today's Country Tidbits

The Keith Urban and John Mayer episode of CMT Crossroads debuts tonight, and Keith says the connection he feels when playing with John is something he's rarely felt with other musicians. “It’s a guitar-player thing, I think, really, at the end of the day, ya know. I feel that same connection with Brad Paisley and Vince Gill. Whenever I play with anybody—it’s just speaking another language, ultimately, that’s communicated purely through playing.” Catch a tiny bit of them practicing together on this video.



Craig Morgan is about to become a tv star. He's getting his own show, called "All Access Outdoors," that will air Saturday mornings on the Outdoor Channel. The first episode airs on July 3rd, and each week will find Craig somewhere in America, hunting and riding motorcycles. There'll be special guests, including other country singers, celebrities and athletes. You know Blake and Miranda will pop up on an episode at some point.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have sold their Beverly Hills home. The original asking price was $14.8 million, but it sold for only $9.5 million. Before you feel too sorry for them, they bought the house for $6.2 million in 2003, so they did ok on it.

Kenny Chesney has been quietly visiting football coaches, working on a documentary about how football coaches influence their players. Yesterday, he visited with Georgia State football coach Bill Curry. The project began in January, and there's not a set release date yet.

Congratulations to Rascal Flatts - they're getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011.

And congratulations to Ronnie Milsap, who's "Smoky Mountain Rain" is the new state song for Tennessee.

And even more congratulations to an actor we know as Dr. Albert Robbins on CSI who is about to make his Grand Ole Opry debut. Robert David Hall has wanted to be a guitar player and musician since he was 7 years old, and has finally made his hobby a reality. His first country album, "Things They Don't Teach You In School," is out and he'll perform on the Opry stage at tomorrow night's show.

Great news...Tracy Lawrence's Bulldog, Tank, is back home, safe and sound.

Randy Owen, lead singer for the legendary group Alabama, is being treated for prostate cancer. He was diagnosed earlier this year and in May, was treated with high intensity focused ultrasound, and his doctor has called the procedure a complete success.

Wanna see the video for Lady Antebellum's "Our Kind of Love?"

Did you see Jewel's cover shot for Shape magazine? (if not, scroll down to yesterday's post) Want to get her at-home ab workout and her rules for a rockin' body? Here you go.

Tweet of the day is from Blake Shelton: "Son of a b!#@^!!!!! It's so hot I opened the oven door to just cool off the house!!!"

Happy birthday to Blake Shelton, who turns 34 today.