The American Country Awards are Monday Night, live from Las Vegas with Trace Akdins hosting. Krstin Chenoweth is the co-host, and it'll be a pretty extreme "Mutt & Jeff" look when both are on stage together, as she is tiny and he is not. Toby Keith will perform "Red Solo Cup" during the show, which happens at 8pm ET on FOX. The top 10 country artists based on airplay will be counted down during the show. Voting for Artist of the Year continues til the end of the day today, so hurry!
Now that Tim McGraw is free to record new music, he's gearing up to release something by the time he and Faith Hill tour Australia in March of 2012. Meanwhile, Tim's also working up a tour with Kenny Chesney. According to Kenny, “This started out, I think Tim and I were just gonna do one show together, and then, you know, we talked about it and decided, why not? You know? Let’s go and give the fans the best possible show that we can give them.”
The Band Perry is the only country act to receive an all-genre nomination for a Grammy Award this year. How do they feel about it? “You know, the first thing that we said actually when the nominations were read, ‘It’s just such a diverse group of artists!’ I’m so excited! And, The Band Perry of course, we’re representing country music in the category, but I’m just so amazed at the variety. We’re so excited to be a part of it!” They celebrated their success by going out for Indian food.
If you have a favorite country artist, chances are they have a Christmas giveaway going on. Here are the ones I've run across so far... Lady Antebellum ... Keith Urban ... Jo Dee Messina
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway...Taylor Swift? Maybe - she's in the running for the part of Eponine in the musical Les Miserables. She's auditioned for the part, as have actresses Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood. No word on when the casting decision will be made or when the film version of the classic musical will be in theatres. Oh, and Taylor Swift has a new, more mature hairdo for the holidays...what do you think?
Miranda Lambert dished some secrets to Shape Magazine about how she keeps her weight in check. She says she doesn't have a planned diet, but focuses on healthy, nutritious choices in restaurants and fast food places. About her body, she told the magazine, “I don’t mind having a big butt – they’re back in style. But, I do a lot of squats to make sure my booty’s not dragging on the ground.”
What do Dierks Bentley and his band do in their time off on the road? Play with the local attractions and a video camera - classic western movie, anyone?
If you missed Sugarland and Lady GaGa on the Grammy Nominations Revealed special this week, here you go...
Kellie Pickler is readying a new cd, "100 Proof," for release January 24th. She says it harkens back to the country music she grew up loving, with influences like Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette.
Reba and Ella Mae Bowen are on the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cut Series special on the Speed channel tonight. Reba's honored to be hosting the show, saying, “We’ve been in Racing 101 all year long. Shelby’s totally enjoying it. We’re lovin’ it. All the folks have been so sweet, kind and helping. They’ve just taken us under their wings and helped us to learn about the race and what we should do next. So many folks have been so sweet to help us. So it is an honor for me to get to be at the NASCAR awards.”
The tweet of the day is from Miranda Lambert: "Got a pig in the smoker, the beer on ice, all my Pistol Annies are coming over tonight!"
