Jason Aldean joins American Idol Season One winner Kelly Clarkson tonight on American Idol, where they'll duet on their #1 song, "Don't You Wanna Stay." Jason knew the song was special from the first time he heard it, but he also knew that it needed Kelly Clarkson on it. According to Jason, “I called my producer and I said, ‘Man, this is it.’ You know and he goes, ‘Well who do you want?’ I said, ‘Well I want Kelly Clarkson but I don’t know if we are going to be able to get her. You know, she’s not really in the country world over here.’ And so I… she was who I wanted but I really didn’t… I really kinda felt like it might be a long shot to get her. You know just to my surprise it just worked out. We got her the song, she fell in love with the song, and came in and just, I mean, nailed this thing. I mean just killed it.” The song spent three weeks at #1 on the country charts.
The Billboard Award nominations were announced yesterday, and country gets a nice nod in the noms. Here's hoping that when they hand out the awards on May 22nd in Las Vegas, country artists will take home at least some of the all-genre awards. Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum are the leading country nominees. Here's the list:
Top Artist
Taylor Swift
Justin Bieber
Eminem
Rihanna
Lady Gaga
Top Billboard 200 Album
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Eminem
Susan Boyle
Justin Bieber
Top Duo Group
Lady Antebellum
Black Eyed Peas
Bon Jovi
Linkin Park
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist
Taylor Swift
Lady Antebellum
Eminem
Justin Bieber
Susan Boyle
Top Female Artist
Taylor Swift
Rihanna
Ke$ha
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Top Streaming Song (Audio)
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Taio Cruz – Dynamite
Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are
Nelly – Just A Dream
Eminem feat. Rihanna – Love the Way You Lie
Top Country Album
Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party
Taylor Swift – Speak Now
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Zac Brown Band – The Foundation
Sugarland – Incredible Machine
Top Country Artist
Jason Aldean
Zac Brown Band
Taylor Swift
Lady Antebellum
Kenny Chesney
Top Country Song
The Band Perry – “If I Die Young”
Lady Antebellun – “Need You Now”
Miranda Lambert – “House That Built Me”
Sugarland – “Stuck Like Glue”
Taylor Swift – “Mine”
Darius Rucker is one of five celebrities added to the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. The group promotes Red Cross services by donating time, responding to disasters and lending help to those in need. Darius was part of the fund-raising efforts after last year's Nashville floods, helping to raise over $1.7 million.
Phil Vassar teamed up with Little Big Town to play a benefit concert for the Miller Home, rasing money and awareness for the organization, which provides a safe haven for girls aged four through 18. They played a sold-out concert in Lynchburg, VA and raised over $100,000 for the cause. Phil also sweetened the pot, throwing in two private dinners with him at his Nashville home, and those sold for over $10,000.
Toby Keith will take his "Locked & Loaded" tour to Europe this fall. He's added 12 shows in the UK, Holland, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Told you yesterday about Taylor Swift buying a new home for her parents - $1.4 million for a 1920's mansion that's been recently renovated. But Taylor didn't stop her shopping spree there - she bought herself a home in Los Angeles because she spends a lot of time there and wanted a "home away from home" in southern California.
Congratulations to Kellie Pickler for making People's Most Beautiful People list.
Congratulations to Blake Shelton, who has now sold more digital singles in the first week of availability than any other male country artist. Last week his brand new song, "Honey Bee," sold 138,000 copies. Nice hit!
Keith Burns of Burns & Poe has a daughter, Savannah Leigh, who is battling leukemia. Savannah is hospitalized at Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta and is in dire need of platelets and blood. On April 19th in Gainesville, GA, there'll be a blood drive to help supply her needs, as well as those of other kids in her situation. Call 770-538-0500 to schedule an appointment or to get more information.
Did you miss seeing Sara Evans on the Tonight Show? Here ya go...
The search will continue today for the cousin of Whitney Duncan. Holly Bobo, who lives about 100 miles northeast of Memphis, was abducted from her home yesterday afternoon. Her brother witnessed the kidnapping and is helping police. Holly is 20 years old, 5'3", blonde with hazel eyes and was last seen wearing a pink shirt and light blue jeans. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff's Department at 731-852-3714.
Catch Jason Aldean on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson after watching Jason and Kelly Clarkson on American Idol tonight.
Happy birthday to Miss Loretta Lynn, who turns 79 today.
The tweet of the day is from Brad Paisley: "Tying to think of a funny tweet. Nothin."
