Today's Country Tidbits

Luke Bryan is celebrating a multi-week #1 with “Drunk On You.” It’s from his platinum album, “Tailgates and Tanlines” and he knew the song was going to be huge from the first time he played it in concert: “We could really see a lot of people participating and doing the ‘boom booms’ and singing along. And so to have it as being a number-one and my fifth number-one song, is so fun gratifying and fun for me.” “Drunk On You” has been at #1 for four straight weeks on the digital download charts and is #1 this week on the airplay and sales charts.

Keith Urban is in the studio working on a new album, but he’s smitten with having been on “The Voice” in Australia and would like to do it again: “I loved that the show is the first one I’d ever seen that basically go on the sound of the voice first, then we run with other things after that. That really struck me as a cool thing.” Just guessing here, but bet he’ll be invited back!

Miranda Lambert was moved to tears at her show in New Orleans. She started singing “The House That Built Me” and stopped after one verse, telling the audience, “I went out to a Walgreens today, and I saw some houses that still had boards on the windows, and...I live in tornado alley in Oklahoma and I know how disaster can affect a community. I’ve prayed for you guys...and I appreciate you rebuilding your community and coming back stronger than ever.” She was referring to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and was sobbing as she finished the song.

Hmmmm…wonder if there’s a little romance going on? Kenny Chesney just donated a baby grand piano to the high school his tour mate, Grace Potter, attended. The donation was in honor of Grace’s music teacher, who is retiring after 40 years. Nice gesture!

Love and Theft are closing in on their first top 10 single with “Angel Eyes.” The song has gotten the attention of country fans, according to Eric Gunderson: “We’re getting new fans and the song’s impacting and reaching a lot of new people, so it’s been really exciting so far.” The song is from their upcoming self-titled album, due out July 24th.

Tim McGraw’s been performing his next single, “Truck Yeah,” on the Brothers of the Sun tour, and the crowd goes wild…



Happy birthday to Kellie Pickler, who turns 26 today.