There's a new way to see your favorite stars, and it's much more informal for both you and the artist. The venue is your computer and the portal is Stageit.com. Artists can put on impromptu shows, selling tickets via their Twitter and/or Facebook accounts and performing from almost anywhere. Jake Owen has been using his shows to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In just 35 minutes, from the comfort of his kitchen, he raised $3,000 and is hooked on the concept. His "Mardy's Tennis & Jake's Music Fest," live from Vero Beach on December 10th, will be broadcast on Stageit.com, and again St. Jude is the beneficiary. Follow Jake on Twitter for news of his next shows.
Brad Paisley's life looks charmed. He's got a beautiful wife, two handsome young sons and a legion of adoring fans who snap up cds and concert tickets like locusts on a crop. But Brad rankles a bit when people talk about his success: “I cringe every time I read ‘The Charmed Life of Brad Paisley’ in Country Weekly or People or something you know, where it’s like—cause they do—I do look like I’ve got it made, and I do have it made. But it’s always a cringe because the ‘charmed life’ leaves out sleepless nights in the studio and years and years of work.” That hard work picks back up in January with his 2012 Camobunga World Tour.
Other stars with a great work ethic are the members of The Band Perry. Even though they're off the road until Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, when they'll perform, they're still working. According to Neil and Kimberly, “[Neil] We’re spending a lot of our Christmas break—actually gonna you know—we’ve been collecting ideas our here on the road, and so we’re finally gonna put them down on paper during Christmas break. [Kimberly] Yeah, it will be kind of the first time we’ve had to be still for a little bit. And I feel for us as creators, we kind of have to decompress so that our imaginations can run wild a little bit. We’re so excited about the songs in the storehouse so far.” In the new year, they'll hit the road with Brad Paisley on his tour.
New performers have been announced for the 2012 CMA Music Festival June 7-10 in Nashville. Jason Aldean and The Band Perry join the previously announced Carrie Underwood as confirmed performers. Tickets are on sale now.
Blake Shelton flew home to Oklahoma right after the ACA show Monday night to be with his dad, Richard. He's been hospitalized with pneumonia.
Carrie Underwood is in the studio, working on a new album for release in 2012.
Two and a half years ago at the George Strait Artist of the Decade concert, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton duetted on "It Ain't Cool To Be Crazy About You." So good!
Little Big Town is on The Rosie Show on the OWN network and Trace Adkins is on the Craig Ferguson show tonight.
The tweet of the day is from Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney: "this just in... @garylevox eats skittles to coat his throat before singing those beautiful high notes! No kidding!!!"
