People have called Tim McGraw and Faith Hill the Barbie and Ken of country music, and soon they'll be the country version of Barbie and Ken. Barbie Collector Editions is releasing a Tim and Faith collector edition of dolls to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. The dolls are on back-order until September first, but you can place your order now if you've got about $70 to spare.
Garth Brooks will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on October 16th, along with Alan Jackson, in the Songwriter/Artist category. Songwriter honorees are John Bettis, Thom Schuyler and Allen Shamblin.
Alan Jackson will be part of the Washington National Cathedral three-day commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. "A Call to Compassion" will feature Alan as part of "A Concert for Hope" on Sunday night, September 11th. The Washington National Cathedral was the national gathering place for mourning, reflection and prayer in the wake of the tragedy, so it's only fitting that it serve as the place to honor the dead, address the need for more healing and raise awareness for the need to create a more hopeful world. "A Concert for Hope" will be broadcast live on ABC from 8-9pm Eastern time.
More details on why Alan Jackson will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this October. He's either written or co-written 24 of his 35 #1 songs, plus other artists have taken songs he wrote or co-wrote to #1, too. Randy Travis owes "A Better Class of Losers" to Alan, and Clay Walker's "If I Could Make a Living" came from his fertile mind, too. His music is honest, straightforward and back-to-basics, which resonates with country music fans. It also resonates with those who give out awards - he's won Song of the Year honors from the CMA, ACM and Grammys, plus he was ASCAP's Country Songwriter of the Year in 1993, 1994 and 1998. ASCAP recognized Alan as the Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year in 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2009, and in 2010 that organization gave him the prestigous ASCAP Founders Award. The Nashville Songwriters Association recognized Alan as their Songwriter/Artist of the year in 1991, 1992, 2002, 2007 and 2008. From the award shows, he's garnered a total of two Grammys, 16 CMA awards and 17 ACM awards. But going into the Hall of Fame doesn't mean he's ready to retire - his new single, "Long Way to Go," is climbing the charts, and he says he feels energized now that he's working with EMI Records and releasing his albums on his own label, ACR, or Alan's Country Records.
Little Big Town lend their soaring harmonies to an oldie but a goodie - the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" - in this week's Scattered, Smothered and Covered.
Have you seen the video to Sara Evans' new song, "My Heart Can't Tell You No?" It's a remake of the Rod Stewart hit, and Sara knew as she recorded it that it would be a single, as it's a song she believes is deserving of being widely heard.
Condolences to the family of Meagan Toothman, who was scheduled to be removed from life support yesterday afternoon after her organs were harvested. Meagan is the seventh victim of the stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair during Sugarland's tour stop there. Sugarland posted this video of the tribute they did last Thursday night...
Congratulations to Dierks Bentley, who lands the #1 spot on the country charts with "Am I The Only One." It's his 8th #1 song.
New music in stores today is by Pistol Annies. "Hell on Heels" is the debut cd of the trio, featuring Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley.
Happy birthday to Ira Dean and to Becky Robertson of Carter's Chord.
Martina McBride is on the Today Show this morning.
The tweet of the day is from Jaron and the Long Road to Love: "when life gives me lemons I put em in my cervezas."
