Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Today's Country Tidbits

Taylor Swift has done something that hasn't been done in two years. Her "Speak Now" cd sold over a million copies last week, making it the first album since Lil Wayne's "The Carter III" accomplished that feat in 2008. In the country music world, it's been since Garth Brooks' "Double Live" came out in 1998 that an artist moved a million units in a week. One out of every 5 cds sold last week was Taylor Swift's "Speak Now."

Starting tonight with the ABC-TV special by Robin Roberts and going all through next week, country music will be everywhere on your tv as we close in on the 2010 CMA Awards. Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and NASCAR's Jeff Gordon will kick off the day next Wednesday on Good Morning America, with Dierks performing a free concert on the plaza outside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and Brad and Jeff presenting the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze to the winner of the Chevrolet Salutes America's Heroes service member contest. Tonight's special, "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts: All Access Nashville" features peeks into Carrie Underwood's life and interviews with many of the top CMA Award nominees.

Josh Turner's #1 party for "All Over Me" was yesterday in Nashville. It featured shades, string bikinis and Coppertone 45. Sure hope it was indoors near a pool...no, wait...the "string bikinis" were long t-shirts that the song's three co-writers wore, airbrushed with bodacious womens' bodies wearing teeny bikinis. The shades and sunscreen were real. This is Josh's second #1 song this year - the first was "Why Don't We Just Dance."

Reba gets real about "All The Women I Am" which comes out next Tuesday...


Only 20 more days til this year's Mission Possible turkey fry, hosted by Tracy Lawrence as a benefit for the Nashville Rescue Mission. In its fifth year, the event has become a huge pre-Thanksgiving draw for Nashville celebrities and a major fund-raiser for the Mission. The turkey fry is open to the public, and donations are encouraged.

Carrie Underwood's turn on the silver screen happens on April 15, 2011 when "Soul Surfer" comes out. She plays a youth counselor who works with a surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack.

Keith Urban has declared that he'll spend more time with his family in 2011. He's structuring his tour schedule so he's gone for a few days and then home for a few days. He doesn't want to be on the road for weeks at a time, missing out on watching daughter Sunday grow up.

The tweet of the day is from Martina McBride: "Can't believe nxt 2 wks! Fittings,Crossroads w/Train, Country Strong Premiere, Big Announcements, BMI Awards, CMA's, CMA Christmas taping...