Tim McGraw got the outcome he wanted in court yesterday - he's free to sign with and record for another record label. He's been with Curb Records for over two decades, but planned to leave them once his contractual obligations had been met. He feels they've been met, Curb feels he's in breach of their contract, and in the hearing yesterday, Davidson County Chancery Court Chancellor Russell Perkins ruled against Curb Records' request to keep Tim from recording for anyone but them. The full breach of contract trial will go forward in July of 2012, but in the meanwhile, Curb released a brand new single yesterday afternoon - "Better Than I Used to Be."
The Grammy nominations are out, and the country categories are stuffed with new talent. Here's the list - the awards will be handed out February 12th.
54th Annual Grammy Awards – Country Categories
Best Country Solo Performance
“Dirt Road Anthem” – Jason Aldean
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” – Martina McBride
“Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton
“Mean” – Taylor Swift
“Mama’s Song” – Carrie Underwood
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson
“You and Tequila” – Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter
“Barton Hollow” – The Civil Wars
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – Thompson Square
Best Country Song
“Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
“God Gave Me You” – Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
“Just Fishin’” – Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
“Mean” – Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
“Threaten Me With Heaven” – Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O’Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
“You and Tequila” – Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter)
Best Country Album
My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean
Chief – Eric Church
Own the Night – Lady Antebellum
Red River Blue – Blake Shelton
Here For A Good Time – George Strait
Speak Now – Taylor Swift
It was rumored, and now it's official - the man with no voice will be a mentor and judge on "The Voice - Australia." Keith Urban is on vocal rest for another two weeks, but his publicist announced the good news - the Australian version of the show that Blake Shelton is on here in the States will feature one of America's favorite Australians. Keith had no comment, of course, but he's no doubt thrilled.
Lee Brice's new song, "A Woman Like You," is racing up the charts. Check out his video for it...
Lady Antebellum having too much fun backstage with Charles' brother Josh Kelley, and the guys making "bus music"...
Jo Dee Messina, about 7 months pregnant with her second child, decided to start a blog. Check out The Fumbling Mom to follow along.
The drama around troubled country one-hit-wonder Mindy McCreedy continues. Yesterday she announced she's pregnant with twins and won't return her son Zander to his legal guardian by 5pm today.
Congratulations to Lady Antebelum for double-platinum certification for the album "Need You Now" and triple-platinum certification for the single of the same name. Luke Bryan's "Tailgates and Tanlines" cd has achieved gold certification, and Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood's "Remind Me" is platinum.
Tonight, catch many of your favorite country stars on CMA Country Christmas on ABC. The show was taped the day after the CMA Awards, and Jennifer Nettles hosts it again this year. “To come back this year, I feel a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more excited and able to be in the moment, and it’s fun and I think it’s something that harkens to the old variety shows which were super special so I think it’s appropriate for the season as well.”
The tweet of the day is from Blake Shelton: "Just found that I'm the first EVER person laying in bed (drunk) in Tishomingo Oklahoma with 3 Grammy nominations!!!"
