Are you a teacher? Do you want Taylor Swift to show up in your classroom to encourage your students to read? She’s doing a live webcast that’s only available to teachers who register their class in advance of the October 24th event. She’ll talk about how reading and literacy has made her a better songwriter, and will perform at least one song from her upcoming album, “Red.” Register now – this event is only open to teachers and their classes.

Little Big Town is at the top of the Billboard Country Album chart with their new album, “Tornado,” and are #2 on the all-genre Billboard 200. About that success, Jimi and Karen say, “[Jimi] I think they’re gonna have a good time with the record. Music is an escape, and I think that there’s those moments on the record that are that and a good time, but there’s some serious moments and moments that speak to life and the ups and downs of that, and what do we want them to have? [Laughs] [Karen] I hope it’s a record that stays in their collection for years to come. You know, like one of those timeless records? That would be an amazing compliment to know that I was in someone’s playlist.” Next Wednesday they’ll perform the title cut to the album on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Kellie Pickler has the honor of flipping the switch as the Opry goes pink again this year in honor of breast cancer awareness month. The special show will be October 30th, and joining Kellie will be Jana Kramer, The Farm and other performers, both Opry members and non-members. $5 from each ticket sold will be donated to Women Rock For the Cure, an organization that raises money for breast cancer research. No word if Kellie will still be sporting the bald headed look – she shaved her head in support of a childhood friend who’s battling breast cancer. Kellie’s beautiful, hair or not.
 

There’s been some baby-talk among the members of Lady Antebellum, with Charles Kelley saying that he doesn’t want Hillary Scott to have a baby any time soon, because the band will have to stop touring. Meanwhile, Hillary says she thinks Charles and his wife will be the first to have a Lady A baby. Dave Heywood? Neither of the other two is speculating about him and his new bride! The trio head to Australia to kick off their down-under leg of the Own the Night world tour next Tuesday.

We get all caught up in country music and how great it is, but there’s a whole wide world of people who don’t really get it. You might think that rocker Richie Sambora might be one of them, but the Bon Jovi guitarist says of Big and Rich’s new cd, “Their record sounds great and they’re back and firing on all cylinders and you know it’s a lot of fun! My country cousins.” Who else does he like in country music? “Guys like the Jason Aldean guy is really good. Kenny Chesney is always good. Lady Antebellum is good. And even The Band Perry I saw a video I was watching CMT the other day that I really enjoyed.”

Congrats to Scotty McCreery, who is at #4 on Billboard Magazine’s “Hottest Minors in Music” list. It’s their annual list of 21 artists under 21 years of age.