Today's Country Tidbits

Brad Paisley is working on his next album between stops on his “Virtual Reality” tour. He’s recording in the studio he built on his property, and says that’s a major player in the increased creativity he’s feeling: “As of like this week, I’m busting at the seams for people to hear it. I finally am at that point. And I cannot believe what I’ve come up with already.” No word on a release date yet.

Looks like David Nail will be taking some time off from playing the guitar. During the City of Hope celebrity softball tournament last week, he fractured his right ring finger and detached a tendon trying to catch a low line drive. David tweeted, “This is a lesson to not play like you're 18 when you're 33.” He’ll see a specialist this week to see about getting that finger fixed up.

Blake Shelton was able to make it to Nashville last week, in spite of a crazybusy schedule. According to Blake, “This is the first time I’ve been to Nashville in I don’t know when. In fact, Miranda and I combined #1 parties last week to get that celebration in we wanted to do. I’m working on the next studio album and I’ve been in the studio all this week workin’ on a Christmas record.”

Jake Owen is so busy that he hasn’t even had time to honeymoon with his new wife Lacey. When they were talking about getting married, he told her his schedule was crazy all through 2013, and she insisted they “just do it now.” They were married in May, but since Jake’s on the “Brothers of the Sun” tour with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, it doesn’t look like a honeymoon will happen any time soon.

Rascal Flatts is loving the crowd reaction to “Banjo:” “It’s one of those tunes that’s so infectious that when we do it live it’s an immediate crowd pleaser, so we’re really, really thrilled with its success.” They’re also loving working with Little Big Town, a group that both Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox were in, at separate times, before Rascal Flatts was born. Little Big Town is opening for them on tour and the two vocal groups got together to record a song. As Gary says, "We’re all splitting verses and there’s a lot of voices. We thought it was a great idea at the beginning until we got the catering bill!" The “Changed 2012 Tour” kicks off this weekend.