Last night's "We're All For the Hall" benefit concert in Nashville was action-packed and star-studded. Miranda Lambert and Randy Houser hit the stage together for a rocking song, Martina McBride, Keith Urban and Vince Gill worked up a trio version of "Broken Wing" that blew the roof off, Alan Jackson kicked it up with "Chattahoochee." Country Music Hall of Famers Charley Pride and Dolly Parton got standing ovations when they were introduced, and again when they performed. Last year's benefit raised nearly half a million dollars. It'll be a couple of weeks before the final tally for last night's show is known.
More performers are being added to the CMA Awards show on November 10th. Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Reba and George Strait join the previously announced Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Lady A, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson. Expect more performers to be announced before the show airs.
CMT is handing out new awards this year. The CMT Artists of the Year awards will be given out on December 3rd during a tv special. Being honored that night are Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band. The criteria for the awards is music sales, country radio airplay, concert gross as headliner or co-headliner, video streams, searches and page views on CMT.com.
The top 10 most-played songs on jukeboxes so far this year was just released, and the top spots were filled by country songs.
1. Lady Antebellum "Need You Now"
2. Zac Brown Band "Toes"
3. Zac Brown Band "Chicken Fried"
4. Toby Keith "I Love This Bar"
At #7, fourty years after its release, was Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" and the rest of the slots were filled by Nickelback, Rhianna, Journey, Kings of Leon and Usher.
Blake Shelton will put out a greatest hits cd on November 9th. Called "LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton," it will include his newest song, "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking."
On November 30th, Tim McGraw will celebrate his twenty-year career with a double-disc greatest hits package. Cleverly called "Number One Hits," the package includes his #1 songs and bonus tracks, including a dance remix of "Indian Outlaw" and his current single, "Felt Good On My Lips."
Watch Toby Keith on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The tweet of the day is from Blake Shelton: "blakeshelton: Seriously just yelled out "Leave me alone!!!" in the voice of Gilbert Goddfried... I hate black flies and skeeters!!!!"
