There seems to be a baby boom in Nashville, with country star babies cropping up everywhere. Keith Urban, Clay Walker, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Jay DeMarcus and Zac Brown have all welcomed babies into their lives in the last few months, and there are more on the way. Blake Shelton, of course, has an explanation for the phenomenon: “Uh, people having sex.” He goes on to explain why Luke Bryan now has two kids and is talking about more: “He married over his head. And he probably figures he’s got a hot wife and she’s funny and cool… The only way he can really keep her is to try to get her pregnant. That’s what’s going on with Luke.” After thinking a bit, he thinks there could be a climate-related explanation, too: “There’s been several ice storms in Nashville lately. And the cable goes out and there’s nothing else to do. I mean, you’re sitting there with your wife or husband. You know if there’s nothing else to do you’re probably gonna end up hookin’ up. Next thing you know Jay DeMarcus actually has a kid. You know, it’s weird.” Blake and Miranda Lambert are set to be wed in May. Bet there's a bookie in Las Vegas who's got action on when they'll have their first child. At least Blake will have an entertaining explanation for it!
Martina McBride will be part of a salute to Aretha Franklin Sunday night at the Grammy Awards. And if she can get out of snowy Texas, Jewel is scheduled to be a presenter, so we get to see her growing baby-bump. She's expecting her first child in early July. The Grammys will air live from LA Sunday night at 8 eastern.
What are you doing on March 16th? If you're a Josh Turner fan, you might want to be in Nashville, as he and his wife Jennifer headline the third annual "Stars Go Blue" benefit concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Ford Theatre. They'll be joined by Linda Davis and her husband Lang Scott, along with Charlie Kelley and his wife, GAC personality Nan Kelley. Charlie is a colon cancer surviver, and this show is a benefit for colon cancer research. Tickets are $100 per person and include not just the concert, but a VIP coctail reception and an auction.
And speaking of benefit concerts, Clay Walker's second annual "Chords of Hope" show will be at the Wildhorse Saloon on March second. It raises money and awareness for Multiple Schlerosis, which Clay suffers from. Call 615-902-8211 for tickets.
Here's how they received Taylor Swift in Singapore for her opening concert in the "Speak Now World Tour 2011." Ten thousand fans camped out for 24 hours outside the Singapore Indoor Stadium to be sure of getting in. The 90-minute show included two stages, huge video screens and lots of set and costume changes. After the show, Taylor tweeted, "That show ruled! Thank you, Singapore. My band and I love you. And your dancing and jumping and singing and screaming! Good times." Tennessean.com has a photo gallery of the show.
Little Big Town was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, and performed a song exclusively for the web. Check out "Shut Up Train."
Andy Griggs is performing as part of the Daytona 500, the first time he's ever been to that race. He has a new song he'll be singing...check it out...
Yes, that IS Lee Brice singing "Love Like Crazy" in your local McDonald's. He's part of the chain's new video entertainment screens, and his music is also about to be featured on all Continental Airline flights. Between March 1 and April 30, several songs from his debut album will play for passengers with headphones.
Congrats to Jason Aldean, who has the #1 country album this week. His "My Kinda Party" knocks Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" out of the spot it has held since being released late last year.
Happy birthday to Lionel Cartwright, who turns 51 today.
The tweet of the day is from Terri Clark: "I did not leave the door open when I left Canada. It was not me. Nashville is a snowy disaster...stay home everyone."
