Brad Paisley is featured in the soundtrack to "Cars 2" which hits theatres today. The movie's creator and animator, John Lasseter, was taken with Brad's oldest son, Huck, letting him see the first "Cars" movie long before it came out, and making a gift of all of the toy cars from the movie. According to Brad, “John went to the garage where he has all the toys stockpiled and gave him every model of car, which I had to quickly sort of confiscate and make sure that…He…it, was like, a little bit of overload, you know?”
Alan Jackson is working on a new album, and has a duet with Zac Brown on it. The song is called "Dixie Highway."
And Blake Shelton has a duet with Martina McBride on his upcoming "Red River Blue" cd. It's a song called "I'm Sorry," and Blake says it's one he's held on to for a few years, feeling it was very special, but too nervous to ask Martina to duet with him on it. He finally texted Martina's daughter, Delaney, asking her if she thought her mom would sing with him. Thankfully, the answer was yes. The cd comes out July 12th, but you can preorder it now.
Josh Turner is throwing a benefit concert for the middle and high schools in Ringgold, Georgia. "After the Storm: Coming Together Benefit Concert" happens July 14th in northwest Georgia. Tickets go on sale today for the show that will be held July 14th at the Davis Cattle Company.
Meanwhile, the "Bama Rising: A Benefit Concert for Alabama Tornado Recovery" raised $2.1 million. Two musicians made sure that all of the money donated goes to tornado victims: Brad Paisley donated the production and Dave Matthews underwrote the show's expenses. You can still donate if you'd like - text BAMA to 501501.
The annual CMA Music Festival television special, "Country's Night to Rock," will air August 7th on ABC. Performers include Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, Sara Evans, Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery.
By any measure, the CMA Music Festival was a home run for Nashville. It generated a record-smashing $30 million in visitor spending, up from $24 million last year. That figure includes more than 110,000 hotel room nights, ticket sales and restaurant and attraction spending. Tickets go on sale for next year's festival on July 30th.
Congratulations to Keith Urban, who celebrated his latest #1 this week in Nashville. The party included the songwriters Joe West and Dave Pahanish. According to Keith, "I couldn't believe how it captured my life so beautifully. It's rare to hear a song where every lyric is so poignant for me. I didn't have to change anything."
Did you miss Dierks Bentley on the NHL Award Show? Oh, no you dih-uhn!
Tonight, catch Luke Bryan and the Doobie Brothers on CMT Crossroads.
Happy birthday Sunday to Gretchen Wilson, who turns 39.
The tweet of the day is from Brad Paisley: "Now when you go see @Disneypixar cars2 Friday stay through the end credits to hear both songs an see the animation they did to the first one"
