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The Best Country Songs of 2010

Let's start with five songs you may have never heard because they weren't released as singles (but should have been) or never made it very high up the charts.

5. "Blossom in the Dust" Mallary Hope

This is a song Dolly Parton would have made a hit from during the '70s. A beautifully told story about love and the human spirit, with simple, swelling music and Hope's clear, strong voice, it's just a shame country radio has lost its taste for this kind of song. More people should here and be touched by its power and promise.

4. "Ain't Much Left of Lovin' You" Randy Montana

I love the story of heartbreak that is so visually painted with these lyrics: "That old porch swing, those songs we sang and the cold and bitter truth... the heaven we had, the hell that I'm going through, other than that, there ain't much left of lovin' you." Great guitar and drums drive the song along like a man falling head-first into a bottle.

3. "Tell Me" Jake Owen

This little-noticed single (it peaked at 35) shows Owen is a vocal powerhouse and I have no idea why it wasn't embraced by radio. Too cowboy-sounding? I loved the old Western sound of it. Is Owen's country hottie/bad boy image coming back to haunt him? Did the video's '70s porn vibe turn people off? Possibly. Let's hope the new CD promised in 2011 will get Owen the attention his singing and songwriting deserves, and the bad boy persona is laid to rest. With his talent, he doesn't need it. Don't believe me? See him live and you'll be a believer.

2. "Delilah" and "Draggin' the River" Blake Shelton

A sad and beautiful little cut from the otherwise goofy fun "Hillbilly Bone" CD -- I mean six-pack (let's leave that idea behind in 2010!) -- "Delilah" highlights Shelton's vocal and songwriting prowess. This song really should have been a single.

I'm hoping there still might be a chance we'll get "Draggin' the River" -- Blake's upbeat, twangy, funny duet with finance Miranda Lambert on the radio. I've heard that it won't be released because Blake and Miranda are on different labels. Come on, country radio -- you got Brad Paisley to release "This is Country Music" early. Why not use your muscle to get "Draggin' the River" released. Think of it as a wedding present!

1. "Strangers on a Train" David Nail

Probably my favorite song on the excellent "I'm About to Come Alive" CD, the bluesy music, fascinating storyline and outstanding vocals (with help from Miranda Lambert) leave me feeling like I just watched a great old movie that I want to see again and again. Every note, perfection! Why wasn't this a single in 2010?! Can we hope for it in 2011?

And now the songs you did hear...

5. "The Boys of Fall" Kenny Chesney

This song sounds beautiful, tells a compelling story and touches the heart with its earnestness and passion. I knew it would be a hit the first time I heard it, and I never change the station when it's on. (I'll leave others to speculate as to why one of they year's most heart-felt love songs is about football players.)

4. "She Won't Be Lonely Long" Clay Walker and "Love Like Crazy" Lee Brice (tie)

I put these two together because they remind me of the classic country of my youth. Simple stories, strong (but not show-stopping or overwhelming) vocals, and charming music that just lets the story play out. Refreshing, both of them. I'm not surprised neither made it to number one because they're kind of old fashioned. But I do love them both.

2. "Highway 20 Ride" Zac Brown Band

This song is so sad, sweet and beautiful, it makes me cry every damn time I hear it. Awesome songwriting, understated music, great harmonies. It tells a story that touches the heart. ("As She's Walking Away" is also great.)

1. "The Truth" Jason Aldean

Go away, you haters. Say what you will about Jason Aldean's brand of rockin' country (which I happen to love), you can't deny that this haunting ballad of a broken man is pure country worthy of Waylon or Cash. Or at least Crazy Heart's Bad Blake.

Other songs I loved in 2010: "Suffocating" by Blake Shelton; "From a Table Away" by Sunny Sweeney; "Hell on the Heart" and "Smoke a Little "Smoke" by Eric Church; "Way Out Here" and "Won't Be Lonely Long" by Josh Thompson; "The Call" by Matt Kennon; "Little White Church" by Little Big Town, "Mine" by Taylor Swift; "Lies" by Martina McBride; "Up on the Ridge" and "Draw Me a Map" by Dierks Bentley; "Hello World" by Lady Antebellum; "The Man I Want to Be" and "Rainy Night in Georgia" by Chris Young.

Jake Owen Rocks the State Fair of Virginia (and Helps a Fan in Distress)

I’ve never been disappointed by a Jake Owen show (except maybe when the set is too short). If you’re looking for traditional country, rock, pop, or a mixture of all of the above, you’ll find it when Jake takes the stage.

The packed concert Friday night at the State Fair of Virginia left the crowd wanting more even after the two-plus hour set. From the screaming teen-aged girls crowding the front of the stage, the cruising “cougars” close behind, middle-aged grandmas, little kids scattered about and good-old-boys young and old lined up near the beer tent and filling in the middle and spilling out the sides, everyone got what they came for – and more.

You can’t find a much better song than “Yee-Haw” to open a state fair in the South on a Friday night, and Jake’s party anthem got the crowd going from the first note. The crowd was singing along by the first chorus and pretty much kept singing for the length of the show. Everyone seemed to know Jake’s hits and he sprinkled in enough country classics to please even those who didn’t.

Jake could sing the phone book and sound great, of course. He showed his versatility and creativity by mixing and matching covers within his own songs, including a great mash-up of Alabama’s “Tennessee River” and “Mountain Music” with his own “8 Second Ride.” You have to hear it to understand just how perfectly those songs work together!

His covers of Randy Travis’s “Deeper Than the Holler” and John Anderson's "Money in the Bank" show his country roots are deep and strong, and demonstrate the skill of his steel guitar player – a new and outstanding addition to his band since I last saw Jake in June.

The crowd also got to hear a few new songs the Jake said may be on his next CD, including “Setting the World on Fire” and my favorite (at least so far) “Help Me Help You Get Him Off of Your Mind” (I think that’s the title – sorry if I’m wrong!). He did the latter as a solo acoustic encore, which he described as "Just me, a guitar and the audience -- the way it all started."

 
(Not the best sound quality but not bad considering it came from my phone!)

Jake really does everything he can to get as up close and personal with the audience, climbing rigging and speakers, walking along stage gear clearly not meant to be trod upon and generally doing everything he can to get that much closer to the fans. In fact, I’ve only seen one other artist pay as close attention to the crowd as Jake does -- the other being the equally acrobatic and enthusiastic Dierks Bentley.

Jake didn’t actually jump into the crowd at this show (yes, I have seen him do that!) but he was paying close attention, which is a good thing for one fan Friday night, who somehow became ill or injured during the set. Jake noticed the problem and immediately called for help, even stopping the music to get the packed-in crowd to open up and allow medical personnel get through. It really says something about an artist who looks out for his fans that much. What a class act! 

  If Jake Owen comes to a fair or other small venue in your area, make sure you don’t miss him. You may not get many more opportunities to see this rising star in a small venue. With this kind of talent and stage persona, he’ll be headlining soon and you’ll have missed your chance!

Vicky Dobbin is a country music lover in Falls Church, Virginia. Follow her at http://Twitter.com/lmycountrymusic. Read her country music blog at www.LoveMyCountryMusic.com.

 

Is Brantley Gilbert Jason Aldean's Favorite Songwriter?

Brantley Gilbert must be one of Jason Aldean's favorite songwriters. When Jason announced the track listings for his new CD Monday, Brantley fans also got a special treat: The CD will include two of Brantley's songs.

Jason's first single and the CD's title track, "My Kind of Party," appears of Brantley's CD "Halfway to Heaven."

Brantley announced that Jason was releasing "My Kinda Party" earlier this month via his blog. "It's an honor that someone like Jason would want to record one of my songs. I'm proud to see my name attached to Jason's version and hope you guys feel the same.

"This is a big step for me as a songwriter and I couldn't have asked for a better artist to perform the song. After all, he is a Georgia boy! I love how passionate you all are about this song and my music, I just want you to know that this is a good thing," he assured his fans.

"Let's show support as Jason runs 'My Kinda Party' up the charts! This is a great thing for all of us, including you. Thanks again for all your support! Can I get a hell yeah?!!!!" Brantley asks his fans.

Hell yeah!

Brantley's "Dirt Road Anthem" (originally recorded by Brantley's good friend Colt Ford) will also be on Jason's new CD. Brantley's "The Best of Me" was an iTunes exclusive track on Jason's platinum "Wide Open" and appears on Brantley's "Modernday Prodigal Son" CD.

While Brantley has yet to find success as a singer (despite having one of the best voices I've ever heard!), having Jason Aldean record three of his songs could help him get the attention he so deserves.

Jason's new CD is due November 2 and will include 15 tracks, including a duet with Kelly Clarkson. “The album is named MY KINDA PARTY because it’s totally representative of what I like and what my fans have come to expect on my records and at the ‘party’ we throw at our shows,” Jason said. “I think the key is knowing who you are as an artist and taking it to an extreme without ripping anybody else off...it’s all about knowing what it is that sets you apart.”

A preview of Jason Aldean's "My Kind of Party" CD cover was just posted on his Facebook page. Watch the video at www.facebook.com/jasonaldean. 

Check out Brantley Gilbert on at www.brantleygilbert.com and www.Twitter.com/brantleygilbert. If you don't know his music, you're really missing a major talent!

More About Brantley Gilbert

• Brantley Gilbert’s “Halfway to Heaven” Impresses With Powerful Songwriting, Vocals
• Brantley Gilbert Gets Set to Go “Halfway to Heaven” With New CD
• Brantley Gilbert Finds His Music Video Star on YouTube
• Brantley Gilbert is Looking For a Few Real Girls

Dierks Gets to Share "My Last Name" Again

Congratulations to Dierks and Cassidy Bentley, whose household will be growing again this Christmas. Dierks and Cassidy are expecting a baby around the holiday, Dierks tells PEOPLE magazine.

"We're so excited that our daughter Evie is going to get a baby sister or brother for Christmas," says Dierks in the PEOPLE exclusive posted online today.

Dierks said their toddler Evie is looking forward to having a new baby brother or sister. "She's pretty obsessed with a baby doll she carries around now ... We'll see how she does with the real thing!" Bentley says.

No word on how Jake and George, the Bentley family dogs, feel about the new family member. He told talk show host Bonnie Hunt that the boys are very protective of Evie.

"They were very patient," Dierks says of his beloved dogs, adding that they have been very accepting of Evie despite understandable concerns from him and his wife, Cassidy. "Jake thinks his job is to protect me from squirrels," the proud dad explains. "And he thought kids were big squirrels."

It didn't take Jake long to understand that Evie was a member of the family and also someone to be protected, The Boot reported last year. "He's been great, ever since she came along," Bentley praised his pet. "I brought the blanket home [from the hospital] and [let him] sniff it before she arrived. He's funny, we'll go to check on Evie and we'll look into the crib and there's Jake, right there with us. He wants to check on her, too."

Looks Like Jake Owen Got Some New Ink

Country singers Tyler Reeve and Jake Owen got into a little mischief this week. According to Tyler's Facebook page, Jake got some new ink, and Tyler posted the pictures to share it.

"Jake Owen getting his new tattoo... On a whim- after a few beers - on our way to dibber," Tyler wrote. (Not sure, but we think dibber is probably dinner?")

Neither Tyler or Jake posted a picture of the finished tattoo, but the caption on the last picture calls it "The Tennessee stars." We can't wait to see the finished art!

Jake has at least two other tattoos (that we know of!): The name "Pearl" on his left wrist and a Waylon Jennings-inspired "W" on his right forearm.

These pictures are under Wall Photos on Tyler's Facebook page, where a Jake fan spotted them and posted them in the Forum on Jake's Fan Club site.

Want a Sneak Peek at the Next Jake Owen Single?

Jake Owen told the crowd at his concert Saturday night in South Carolina that he's decided on the next single: "Trip to Heaven." And even better news, he said it will be released in the fall (hopefully with a new CD following soon!).

The tune was recorded in June with Sarah Buxton helping out on vocals.

The above video is from Jake's Fan Club Party June 11 in Nashville, and Jake's Fan Tweet www.Twitter.com/JakeOwenFans shared the single news and this video link this morning.

"Trip to Heaven" was the only new song Jake shared at the Fan Club Party. He did several new song (and old songs that haven't been on a CD yet) for the standing-room-only crowd at 12th and Porter, and fans got some great video. I can't wait to see which ones make it on the next CD!

• I Ain't the One Who Said Goodbye
• Nobody Feelin' No Pain
• Love Ya Love Ya Love Ya
• Keeping It Country

There is also an official Jake Owen Fan Club Video (but the fan ones are more fun!).

Jimmy Wayne Steals a Man's Identity--and the Victim is "Cool with it"!

There's a great story in the Phoenix New Times about Jimmy Wayne's inadvertent foray into identity theft -- of an Arizona Corporate Commission candidate!

Jimmy, who's finishing his walk from Nashville to Phoenix to raise awareness of teen homelessness and Project Meet Me Halfway, took a little break at an Arizona karaoke bar last week, going on stage with a secret identity.

"Ok every1, I'm letting you N on a secret: I'm going to enter a Karaoke contest tonite in Show Low AZ (undercover as Berry Wong)!stay tuned: Barry Wong," he tweeted to his fans.

Jimmy donned a pink tank top and sang "Neon Moon" for the unsuspecting crowd. News of the joke made it to local politician Barry Wong, who said he's cool with the country star stealing his identity.

"I'm flattered he would associate my name with his famous country music star name and reputation, even if in jest," Barry Wong told the New Times.

Read the article at http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2010/07/barry_wong_candidate_for_corpo.php

Find out more about Jimmy Wayne's Project Meet Me Halfway

Follow Jimmy Wayne on Twitter

Side Stage Acts Whet Your Appetite on Brad Paisley’s H20 Tour

Brad Paisley launched his 2010 H20 Tour this weekend with stops in Virginia Beach and Bristow, Virginia, and it was a wet and wild show. The music started at 5 p.m. and only stopped for quick set changes and a move to the main stage at 7:30, then kept on going until after 11, giving fans 6 bands and 6 hours of music for the price of admission – a great deal!

And of course it was also a great show. The rain drizzled, fell and often poured throughout the Bristow show (just outside Washington, DC), which did make many of the water-themed “Water World” attractions less appealing. But who needs to cool off in a rain tent or waterslide when you’re already soaking wet from the ongoing downpours? The crowd didn’t care – we were there for the music, and a little water and mud was just part of the deal. (Want proof? Watch the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAUwmxsjLQM )

The Water World Plaza Stage acts did a great job putting the crowd in the mood. Steel Magnolia opened the show with their catchy, pop-flavored tunes and really impressed with their top-10 single “Keep On Lovin’ You” and their version of the Tom Petty/Stevie Nick duo “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”

But the soaked and shivering crowd really got going when Josh Thompson took the stage. Everyone seemed to know every word to the working man’s anthem’s “Beer on the Table” and “Way Out Here,” singing along on the top of their lungs.

Josh’s stage confidence is really growing. While he was a bit subdued when I saw him earlier this year opening for Eric Church, he now seems at ease, having fun and even a touch cocky just a few month later. I haven't seen a performer flirt the girls/women in audience this much since I saw a male stripper at a girlfriend’s bachelorette party! Not that there's anything wrong with that. The “ladies” he called to 20 or 30 times throughout his 30-minute set sure loved it (including me).

Easton Corbin finished the side stage performances with his laid-back tunes, including the crowd-pleasing No. 1 hit “I’m a Little More Country Than That” and the new single Easton wrote for George Strait, “Gotta Get to You.” Easton didn’t have Josh Thompson’s stage presence or anthems, and the crowd was a bit quieter during his set, but it could have just been hypothermia setting in after two hours in the rain.

Definitely get to the H20 Tour early enough to catch the side stage acts. While I thought Josh Thompson was by far the best of the three, both Steel Magnolia and Easton Corbin did not disappoint and definitely made some new fans with their performances.

The main stage and lawn areas opened up at 6:30 and the crowd quickly moved on, happy with the musical appetizer but more than ready to feast on the main course of Justin Moore, Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley. And what a meal it was!

Opening acts Justin Moore and Darius Rucker started the main stage show off with their own great performances. Justin’s “Small Town USA” and “Backwoods” were sing-alongs, and his redneck and proud attitude was sincere and endearing.

And of course who doesn’t just love Darius? He may not be a showman, but his nice-guy persona and that brilliant, amazing voice singing those songs we all know and love always makes for an enjoyable set.

But the real star, of course, was Brad.

See also "Brad Paisley Sure Knows How to Throw a Pool Party!}

Vicky Dobbin is a writer, blogger and country music lover in Falls Church, Virginia. Follow her at www.Twitter.com/LMyCountryMusic and read her blog at www.LoveMyCountryMusic.com

Brad Paisley Sure Knows How to Throw a Pool Party!

It’s hard not to think about the recent Nashville flood when you see the Water World set-up at Brad Paisley’s H20 Tour, but when you see him rising from the water as he opens his show, it’s not sadness or mourning, but joy and the spirit of that community rising above that takes over.

With the exception of a few missing video screens and a little microphone trouble during the opening  song (both of which could have been the result of something non-flood related), you would have never known the entire set was under water less than three weeks ago.

Brad credits his team to getting everything cleaned-up and ready for the tour, which started this past weekend with stops in Virginia Beach and Bristow, Virginia (just outside Washington, DC). He tweeted his thanks to the crew before the Virginia Beach show: “These are the people that made this happen tonight. I broke down trying to thank them today. They are the best.” (See the photo at http://twitpic.com/1ptw8c)

Night two of the tour in Bristow show took the water theme a bit too seriously and was soaked from open to close, but the fans weren’t bothered at all, singing in the rain and dancing in the mud. Why? Because Brad Paisley sure knows how to throw a pool party!

First, invite the coolest people – in this case, Justin Moore and Darius Rucker for your main stage openers; and Steel Magnolia, Josh Thompson and Easton Corbin for the side stage. Next, add some great music, provided by his friends and himself, of course. Then add lots of water and you have the H20 Tour. I highly recommend you dive in.

Even if you saw Brad on last summer’s American Saturday Night Tour, you’ll enjoy this new version. He performs the hits and lots of material from his current CD,  but the songs just don’t get old. Whether the humorous “Online” and “I’m Still a Guy”; the romantic “Waiting on a Woman” and “Then”; or the feel-good anthem “Welcome to the Future,” Brad knows how to deliver a great song.

He does pull our few songs missed on the last tour, including the tear-jerker “Whiskey Lullaby,” which he sings with Allison Krause despite her not actually being there – I think. (You have to see it to understand my confusion.)

You know all the songs by heart and sing along. Add Brad’s fun stage presence, friendly banter and some hysterical home movies, and you really feel like you’re a welcomed guest at his party. (If only the beer and hot dogs were free, it would be a perfect evening!)

Like any good host, Brad made sure everyone was having a good time. So guitar in hand, he went through the audience in the covered pavilion, then kept going, to get close to the loyal and rain-soaked fans on the amphitheater’s lawn. (See http://twitpic.com/1q7b97)

He performed the so-appropriate “Mud on the Tires” and two other songs on a small platform at the back edge of the pavilion, to the delight of fans who expected the best view they’d get of him was on the theater’s giant video screens. I’ve been going to shows at this venue for more than a decade and have never seen any artist do that before. Way to go, Brad!

By the time he finishes off the evening with an encore performance of “Alcohol,” you can’t wait to tell your friends about the great party you went to.

Brad takes his H20 Tour to Kansas City and St. Louis next weekend, May 28 and 29, with more shows across the country throughout the summer. If you get a chance, take a swim!

Brad Paisley’s H20 Tour is raising money the for Water=Hope Campaign. Text H2O to 25383 to give $10 from your mobile phone.

See also "Side Stage Acts Whet Your Appetite on Brad Paisley’s H20 Tour"

Vicky Dobbin is a writer, blogger and country music lover in Falls Church, Virginia. Follow her at www.Twitter.com/LMyCountryMusic and read her blog at www.LoveMyCountryMusic.com

Country Music Food for the Soul Benefit Concert June 11

Country Music Tattle Tale is excited to announce the Country Music Food for the Soul Concert benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. This intimate, acoustic concert featuring Matt Gary, TelluRide, Ash Bowers, Fast Ryde, The Harters and the Carter Twins will be held at The Rutledge in downtown Nashville on Friday, June 11th at 2pm. Tickets are $15 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Tickets are on sale now at www.therutledgelmv.com

 Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has been hard at work to meet the needs of our community throughout the crisis from the recent floods. The widespread damage caused by the flooding throughout Tennessee resulted in 31 of the 46 counties in their service area to be classified as federal disaster areas. The flooding throughout Tennessee has affected our communities both personally and professionally, with many losing homes and belongings along with their jobs, businesses and income. Keeping the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse stocked for the ongoing needs of victims in our community is a necessity. Your support is more vital than ever to help them fulfill their mission to feed our neighbors in need throughout the long-term recovery and rebuilding process. If you are unable to make it to the show you can still help! Starting Tuesday, May 25th Country Music Tattle Tale will be launching our online eBay auctions that will include autographed memorabilia from your favorite country music artists. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN.

Visit www.countrymusictattletale.com/benefit-concert for more information.

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee: Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee opened its doors in 1978 with commitment from several community leaders. The purpose of the organization was to provide a central distribution center for companies, groups, and individuals who wished to help provide food for Middle Tennessee's hungry. Second Harvest's mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community. http://www.secondharvestmidtn.org

About Country Music Tattle Tale: Country Music Tattle Tale is a unique country music website that brings country music fans from the entire world together to discuss and interact with each other. The website thrives on fan interaction, and it is our goal to reach out to fans across the world and get their feedback on music, artists and current events that make country music such an eclectic and fantastic genre of music.

www.countrymusictattletale.com

Artist Information:

Matt Gary: www.mattgarymusic.com/

TelluRide: www.myspace.com/tellurideband

Ash Bowers: www.ashbowers.com/

The Harters: www.theharters.tv/

Carter Twins: www.cartertwins.com

Determined Jake Owen Fan Chronicles Her "Shhh ... It Happens" Day on You Tube

Country music lover Kelly Jean was determined to see Jake Owen last weekend and didn't let a broken-down car, faulty GPS, bad directions or a scary neighborhood keep her from her man.

She scored front row seats for the Sugarland/Jake Owen concert and had been looking forward to the show for months. So we her day started to go very, very wrong, she kept her sense of humor and refused to give up. Not only did she get to the concert, she also got a little extra love from country hottie Jake.

Kelly chronicled her journey from Long Island to Camden, New Jersey -- a trip that should have take two hours but ended up taking 11! -- in a very funny video on YouTube. You can watch it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGdG7cQb9UA

Update: Comparing Josh Gracin vs Jake Owen Fitness Challenges

Josh Gracin and Jake Owen have both issued a “fitness challenge” via Twitter to their fans. The hunky country singers want to get people in shape for the summer and are offering up some nice prizes. But who has the better plan to slim down their fans?

	Josh Gracin	Jake Owen	Advantage
Start Date	March 30	April 1	Team Jake –  2 extra days of prep
Finish Date	May 2	June 15	Team Jake –  6 extra weeks of working out
Plan	Diet, exercise, a half-gallon of water a day	P90X, an $118.95 DVD workout plan that also recommends $119.95 a month protein shakes, or “Just 90 days 2 be better!!!”	Team Josh – Sensible plan, affordable
Expertise	Former Marine, Current Hottie	Former athlete (does golf count?), Current Hottie	Tie
Prize	Be in a Josh Gracin photo shoot	Trip to Nashville for July 4th Weekend with Jake	Team Jake – It’s a vacation with Jake on a houseboat!
Humiliating Requirement	Send Josh your height, weight and waist measurements via Twitter direct message (private)	Email pictures of yourself to jakeowen@groundctrl.com	Team Josh (just seems more private)
Short-term reward	Josh will follow everyone who participates.	Free access to the JakeOwen.net website for 90 days	Tie
Quote	“I do not have a personal trainer :-) u guys are my personal trainers:) we will do this together.”	“I'm so proud to see people taking this 90 day health challenge. I promise it will be worth it. Think about how sexy you'll be by July 4th!”	Team Josh
Diet tips via Twitter	“breakfest I'm eating 9 eggs. 7 egg whites and 2 whole eggs followed by a bowl of oatmeal. Also speed walking or stair climbers burn more fat”	“Chicken, biscuits, sweet tea.... = Sunday” “On my way to Jack Daniels distillery “ “Free beers are always good. “ This must be pre-diet plan! It's Day 2 and still no advice from Jake. Hmmm.	Team Josh
How to win	“The one who has changed their physical appearence the most”	(a) the amount of physical improvement in terms of weight loss and overall image (50%); and (b) how well the diet and exercise plan conforms with the essence of the Jake Owen Fitness Challenge (50%).	Tie
Advice/Daily Motivation	No dairy, not fruit after lunch; regular encouragement and updates (but he's going on vacation so these may slow down or stop)	None.	Team Josh (some advice is better than none)

Neither Josh nor Jake are doctors, personal trainers, nutritionists, etc., but hey, they’re both hotties and their intentions are good, so why not?

But considering what people will do to meet their favorite country stars, let’s hope no one goes too far and hurts themselves.

Follow the Josh and Jake Fitness Challenges online: Josh Gracin at Twitter.com/joshgracin and Jake Owen at Twitter.com/jakeofficial and JakeOwen.net.

Vicky Dobbin is a music lover and writer in Falls Church, Virginia. Follow her at www.Twitter.com/vdobbin. Read her blog at www.LoveMyCountryMusic.com.

There Was Almost a Jake Owen Song on the New Blake Shelton CD!

There should have been a song written by Jake Owen on Blake Shelton's new CD "Hillbilly Bone," but it seems bad timing got in the way.

Blake recently told Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton about the Jake Owen song that got away. “I do want to talk about Jake because I’m mad at him right now,” Blake said is his usual joking manner. Seems Blake was sent a Jake Owen song to consider, and when he sent word back that he was interested, the song was no longer available.

Jake gave his side of the story on this week’s Countdown, explaining, “I was ready to give it to him … but the guys at the label loved the song and they wanted to record, so I ended up having to call Blake back and say, ‘Man, I’m sorry, I’m going to record it.’”

Blake happily reports that he got back at Jake back for pulling the song. “Three months ago, Jake Owen was calling me going, ‘Hey man, if you still want that song for your album…’ And I said no sir, I don’t need it for my album now. I don’t want it anymore.

“So I think I got even with Jake and that’s not easy to do. That’s what you get, Jake,” Blake said with a chuckle.

Of course Jake also laughed about the song snafu and Blake’s comments. “It was pretty flattering when Blake called me and asked me for that song.,” he told Helton. “To this day he gives me so much crap for that.”

Blake often gives Jake grief on Twitter, even posting a very funny photo and comment about Jake’s new haircut during the CMA Awards show last fall (see http://img121.yfrog.com/i/1g0.jpg/).

Jake is a huge fan and calls Blake “one of my favorite singers out on the radio. He could sing the phone book…”

And apparently Blake is a fan of Jake’s writing skills. Blake is “always asks me for songs. When he’s making a record he always calls me and asks me if I’ve got any songs for him that I’ve written. It means a lot to me because he’s a great songwriter. Just to think that he thinks that much of my songs makes me feel pretty good as a songwriter.”

Hear the full sound clip and more from Lon Helton’s interview with Jake Owen at www.countrycountdownusa.com .

Solos are the Standouts on Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now”

Lady Antebellum’s Number 1 single “Need You Now” is pure country-pop awesomeness from the opening and closing piano, rousing guitar solo and all those haunting vocals in between. It’s just the right track to open the new CD, also called “Need You Now,” itself a tasty blend of country and pop, duets and solos, that is sure to satisfy new and old Lady A fans.

Alternating verses between Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley – a Lady A trademark – work perfectly on the single “Need You Now,” but on the rest of the CD, I think the best songs are those where one or the other takes lead vocals.

For example, on “American Honey,” the latest single, Hillary Scott’s voice is as sweet as the song’s title. It’s also the most traditional country-sounding song on the CD, featuring a lovely mandolin and fiddle combination, great bass and a touch of pedal steel guitar. It nicely balances the first single’s pop sound. “Ready to Love Again,” another Hillary lead, reminds me of something Reba might have recorded back when she had that big hair in the early ’90s, perhaps with Linda Davis (who just happens to be Hillary’s mother).

Charles Kelley gets his chance to take center stage on “If I Knew Then.” His voice is so full of regret and pain, it’s almost heartbreaking to hear, but in a good way, of course. And “Hello World,” my personal favorite, is a sweet song about counting your blessings that avoids clichés and ends with a big finish that gives me chills every time I listen. When he sings “All the empty disappears. I remember why I’m here. Just surrender and believe. I fall down on my knees. Hello world,” the grace and sincerity he conveys with that amazing voice takes my breath away. Musically and vocally, it’s just beautiful.

Another standout is “Something ‘Bout a Woman,” another Charles lead vocal highlighted by great piano and a Memphis blues feel that I just loved.

Of the CD’s other duets, “When You Got a Good Thing” is the best, although a bit odd. It’s surprisingly morose for a song about be finding the right person. I just don’t quite understand why they sound so sad when they’re singing about being happy!

The rest of the CD is fine but it’s easy to skip over to get to the better tracks. “Perfect Day” is a toe-tapper but has way too many country music clichés (musically and lyrically). “Stars Tonight” has a Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” feel that will be a hit on this summer’s tour but is unsubstantial. “Love This Pain” isn’t quite pop, isn’t quite country, and doesn’t quite work for me. And “Our Kind of Love” is just not memorable.

But when a CD with this many great songs, you can certainly excuse a little filler.

“Need You Now” will be released Tuesday. Expect to see it at the top of the country charts the next week, and probably on the top of the pop charts as well. It has plenty to satisfy both audiences.

Jonathan Singleton is Happy in Two His Worlds: Performer and Songwriter

As he watches Josh Turner’s “Why Don’t We Just Dance” — a song he co-wrote — race up the charts, singer/songwriter Jonathan Singleton says he can’t help but feel a little pressure to focus more on the songwriter part of his career than the singer part.

“Every time I get a new cut I’m like, ‘What am I doing? Why am I killing myself and staying up late and getting up early?’” Jonathan said during an interview before a St. Jude’s fundraiser in Virginia. “Especially when it’s not going as good as you think it should be …”

The songwriting is going great. In addition to the top-10 (and climbing) hit for Josh Turner, he wrote the top-10 hits “Red Light” for David Nail and “Don’t” for Billy Currington. His first songwriting success came with Gary Allan’s “Watching Airplanes,” which went to number 2 on the Billboard Country Chart.

Jonathan remembers hearing that song on the radio for the first time. “One day me and a co-writer got in my car and ‘Watching Airplanes’ was on the radio real loud, and I still thought it was me singing. It took a minute. It came on and I thought, ‘Oh, turn me off.’ But no, it was Gary Allen. Turn it back up!’”

He says hearing another artist perform his music is interesting but odd. “It’s a totally different thing than hearing our stuff on the radio, which we hear a lot less than we hear the first,” he says with a chuckle. “And we’re working on that,” he adds, never getting to far away from the performer half of his double life.

“My end game is to write songs and keep writing songs. I love it so much that I want to do it forever,” he explains. But don’t worry, Jonathan Singleton and the Grove fans – he’s not even close to hanging up his guitar and microphone to settle down on 16th Avenue, Nashville’s songwriters’ row.

“There’s a short window to do the artist thing. I’m focused in on that right now,” he explains. “But I’m still taking as much time as I can to write,” he adds, always trying keep his two loves – performing and songwriting – as close to balanced as possible.

He’s also having too much fun with the band of brothers who make up the Grove, some of whom he’s known and played with for 10, even 15 years. Their current single, “Look Who’s Back in Love,” is in the top-50 and they have a three-song EP on iTunes. A new CD should be released this spring on the new Show Dog-Universal South label, headed by Toby Keith.

And Jonathan Singleton and the Grove are gearing up for one of this summer’s hottest tours: Country Throwdown, a gig they got in a rather unusual manner. He was at a party at a friend’s house and their new neighbors happened to be the people organizing the tour. “I met them in a parking lot in Nashville drinking beers,” he says with a laugh. They were invited to join the tour a few weeks later, one of the first acts signed up.

Jonathan doesn’t even try to hide his excitement over Country Throwdown. “I can’t wait for it,” he says, quickly listing several of the bands he’ll be playing with: Montgomery Gentry, Little Big Town, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Jack Ingram – all artists he admires and respects. “I think it’s going to be awesome.”

Jonathan says right now he’s content with being able to combine his love of songwriting with the joy he gets from performing with the Grove, although he admits he does something wonder “when it’s going to finally stop. I hope maybe it won’t? Who knows?”

Learn more about Jonathan Singleton and the Grove and get a free download of their new single “Look Who’s Back in Love” at www.jonathansingletonandthegrove.com.

Watch Jonathan Singleton and the Grove sing “Red Light” with David Nail at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5BCvpqB99E.

If It’s Matt Kennon, You’ll Want to Take “The Call”

I’m a sucker for a good story song. Cut my teeth on Kenny Rogers’s “The Gambler,” “Coward of the County” and, of course, “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town.” That one can still make me cry.

So it should be no surprise how much I love Matt Kennon’s “The Call.” While most songs need a video to tell their story fully, “The Call” paints a vivid picture using just words, music and that interesting voice. Deep and raspy, it sounds wise beyond its years and demands attention. You just know it’s going to share something you really need to hear. And you’d be right.

“The Call” tells two stories about reaching out and making a difference in someone’s life. “What you say may seem so small but who knows, they might be glad you called…” Kennon sings while the music swells. Gives me chills.

A great story, great piano and pedal steel guitar, and happy endings all around. This is the country music I grew up listening to (expect for maybe that happy ending part!) and still love. I’m glad to take “The Call.”

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Josh Thompson’s Honest Tales of Work, Love and Beer Strike a Chord With Fans

“If I got a ‘don’t care’ attitude and long hair and mean every damn word I’m saying, I blame it on Waylon,” Josh Thompson sings in his new video “Blame It On Waylon,” and the lyrics are truth for the singer/songwriter and the increasingly large crowds coming out to see him and sing every word.

Those sing-alongs are particularly loud when he plays “Beer on the Table,” a hit on country radio and top country video. “It’s almost to the point where I don’t have to sing it,” Josh says with a chuckle. “As a songwriter and an artist, that’s the biggest payoff you can get is watching people sing your lyrics back at you. And it’s apparent that it’s striking a chord.”

“It’s about working hard and playing harder,” Josh explains, chatting with TodaysCountryMusicVideos.com as he was driving to his latest show. He wrote the song about working on a concrete crew in his native Wisconsin, and his fans – be they construction workers, high school students, insurance agents or even soccer moms – connect with the simple but honest lyrics and catchy tune.

That honesty also comes through as Josh talks about being able to do what he loves for a living. “I am very proud to play country music,” Josh says. “I grew up on it. I love it. That’s what I write. I don’t think I could sell anything else, really.”

Like many songwriters, Josh easily shares even his most personal thoughts and pain with his fans. The song “Sinner,” for example, “That’s pretty much about me walking that line between good and bad, like I think everyone does,” he explains. “It’s a confessional, really.”

“Sinner” is one of the highlights of Josh’s new CD "Way Out Here," which will be released on February 23. You can listen to “Sinner,” the hit “Beer on the Table” as well as “Blame it on Waylon” and “Won’t Be Lonely Long” at JoshThompsonOfficial.com.

Josh will launch the CD with a release party February 22 in Milwaukee in his home state of Wisconsin. It’s a day off from his new gig opening for Eric Church on the Jagermeister Country Tour, which has more than 3o dates and runs well into the spring.

Life on the road is old hat for Josh and his band. They’re been out playing “Beer on the Table” since fall 2007, playing all across the country in a passenger van they’ve named Van-A-White. You can take a hilarious tour of Van-A-White and meet the slightly creepy little Van Wilder mascot at JoshThompsonOfficial.com.

Being a hot country artist on the road has its perks, of course. Josh says he loves the crowds, which are growing with every show, and he’s been able to play with great country artists, including Eric Church, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson and the legendary Hank Jr. He’s also had some interesting fan encounters, including requests to sign body parts -- “but only the good ones,” he laughs.

Listen to Josh talk about touring, what he misses while out on the road, connecting with fans through Twitter, and whether he’d rather play a show with Miranda Lambert or go hunting with Blake Shelton.

Watch “Blame it on Waylon” online at CMT.com.

Visit the Josh Thompson website at JoshThompsonOfficial.com

Jake Owen Mixes Twang and Heartbreak With New Single “Tell Me”

After releasing the bluesy “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and rockin’ “Eight Second Ride,” Jake Owen is showing us more of his country side with the twangy and pedal steel guitar-filled “Tell Me.” The song is the third single from his 2009 CD “Easy Does It.”

A dark, haunting tale of a man who just can’t let go of a cheating lover despite his broken heart, “Tell Me” features one of Jake’s strongest vocal performances and a nice touch of twang.

Jake says “Tell Me” is one of his favorites and calls it his “Bonanza song.”

“The intro to it really sets the mood,” he explains. “It’s got this dark, mysterious kind of sound to it. It starts out with kind of the John Wayne riding in on the open range, then you’ve got like the Bonanza thing in there.”

The song is already getting requests on country radio and has received positive feedback as Seattle radio station KMPS’s test track. You can listen to the track and vote at http://goo.gl/fb/TmVn

Jake headlined the Eagle Winter Blast in Hampton, Virginia, with Steel Magnolia, Love and Theft, Mallary Hope, Danny Gokey and Easton Corbin. This spring with he’ll open several shows for Jason Aldean and then Sugarland, as well as at least one date with Miranda Lambert.

“Tell Me” is the third single from Jake’s second CD, “Easy Does It.” The first single, “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” went to #2 on the Billboard Top Country Chart. The last single, “8 Second Ride,” was a top-10 hit and spend 32 weeks on the Billboard chart.

Josh Thompson's New Video Paints a Portrait of the Weary But Proud 'Way Out Here'

Josh Thompson gives a heartfelt and beautiful acoustic performance of his new single in the video "Way Out Here." The stripped version of the song meshes perfectly with the video's haunting images of a small American town that's been bent but not quite broken by the ravages of time and natural disaster.

Thompson wrote the song with Casey Beathard ("Find out Who Your Friends Are") and David Lee Murphy ("Big Green Tractor"), and the melancholy music and vocals give us insight into a weary but proud hometown.

Veteran director Wes Edwards (Jason Aldean song "Amarillo Sky" and "She's Country"; Danny Gokey's "My Best Days") uses scenes shot in stark black and white or almost colorless color, hues of gray and brown, bits of hazy blue sky and a glimpse of the red, white and blue to paint a portrait of what could almost be a contemporary ghost town. It's lovely in its simplicity.

But what's most appealing about the video is Josh's performance. He's not lip-synching the CD-version of song, but instead the music is as stripped and raw as what we see as we follow him through the deserted town. Just him and his guitar, the performance provides a strong sense of realism to the video and is quite affecting. It's also an outstanding vocal performance in its own right.

"I think I would describe my sound as my life put to music… It’s simple and it’s honest," Josh tells Walmart Soundcheck Risers. (He's a featured artist this month on the site at http://soundcheck.walmart.com/risers/josh-thompson) Simple and honest also describes the "Way Out Here" video. It's a very nice change of pace from big production numbers featured in many of country music videos in heavy rotation right now.

See more of Wes Edwards' videos at www.wesedwards.com

Purchase Josh Thompson's new CD Way Out Here from Amazon.com.

Jake Owen Has An Extra Spring In His Step At Winter Blast

Jake Owen is known for his high-energy and downright fun live shows but his performance Sunday night in Hampton, Virginia, was even more exuberant that usual. The concert, the Eagle97.com Winter Blast, was originally scheduled for January 30 but had to be postponed because of a blizzard. Jake seemed determined to make it up to the crowd and put on one of the best performances I’ve ever seen him give.


Jake ran and danced across the stage throughout his 90-minute set and the crowd roared and squealed, yes squealed – their approval. About half of the attendees seemed to be teen girls and their moms, and clearly the young and older ladies all share a certain admiration for Jake and are not afraid to show it.

The only time Jake stood still for more than a few seconds was to pose for pictures with the groups of girls who periodically rushed up to the stage, or when he jumped into the audience to sing to a handicapped fan in a wheelchair in the front row. And yes, the crowd did go, “Ahhhh.”

I’ve seen Jake a half dozen times over the last year and this show rivaled his star-making performance at the 2009 CMA Music Fest. Blame it on the first full day of spring, the enthusiastic crowd, friends in the audience or the alignment of the stars, but Jake was definitely on his game for this one.

Jake got the crowd going from the first song with “Yee Haw” and danced right into the fun and sexy “Cherry on Top.” The swoons and squeals kept right on going with “Something About a Woman” and “Bad in Me,” and the moms in the crowd didn’t seem to mind their daughters singing along to the sometimes risqué lyrics. My 5-year-old son sings along when Chris Young’s “Getting You Home” (The Black Dress Song) comes on the radio so who am I to judge?

Jake is backed by a great group of musicians who can go from the bluesy to the rockin’ and from the pop to the country with ease. These guys didn’t miss a note.

Jake Owen is more than a sexy performer, of course. He received the 2009 CMA Award for Best New Male Vocalist for his outstanding pipes, not his fun and sexy stage presence, and his live vocals prove that what’s on a CD is definitely not the results of some sound engineer sweetening the vocal track. At this show we were not treated to just Jake and his guitar for a nice acoustic version of anything – always a highlight of one of his performances – but we did of course get “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You.” As always, it’s a vocal showcase for Jake, and, as expected, he hit it out of the park with a soaring performance.

My personal favorite of the evening was “Tell Me,” Jake’s new single. The long instrumental opening, which has been edited from the radio version, was intact here, and it so beautifully sets up the dark, brooding but beautifully sung lyrics about a man who seems haunted by not being able to “just let go” of a bad love.

“Tell Me” is the first track on the CD “Easy Does It” and the steel guitar track and twangy vocals make it the most “country” song on the CD. Love it on the CD and love it even more live. I really think it’s going to be a huge hit.

The night ended with Jake’s recent hit, “Eight Second Ride,” and he brought out two college friends when he introduced the song. Seems they used to tell him to stop playing it all the time when they were all back at Florida State – and he wanted the buddies to hear the crowd singing along. Perhaps showing off for his college buddies is what put that extra spring in Jake’s performance – whatever it was, let’s hope he keeps it up. It was a great show.

Josh Thompson’s “Way Out Here:” Unabashedly Country Music With No Excuses

Like his idol Merle Haggard, Josh Thompson sings tales of life, love and the working man (and woman) with no apologies or pretense. He co-wrote every song on his debut CD “Way Out Here” and that connection to the words and music really adds to the authenticity that permeates the entire CD.

I would never describe Josh’s voice as beautiful (I reserve that for an elite few, including Blake Shelton and King George) and sometimes his vocals aren’t particularly melodic, but they’re just right for these songs. Backed by some excellent musicians and mostly minimal production (no soaring orchestras or drum machines here, thank goodness!), his vocals come across as those of a storyteller who just happens to sing his tales.

When Josh sings about making love to a Haggard cassette, a whiskey-fueled visit to a tattoo parlor, or even just working hard to put “Beer on the Table,” you believe him. The songs all feel personal and relatable, and his vocals have the same straight-forward delivery. He’s speaking from the heart and the road, and, as he sings in “Always Been Me,” “Never gone out of my way or acted fake to impresses anyone, and that’s OK.”

It’s very OK.

There are only a few surprises on “Way Out Here,” and again, that is very OK. If you like the single “Beer on the Table,” you’ll like “Blame it on Waylon,” “A Name in this Town” and the title track. And my favorite song on the CD, “Won’t Be Lonely Long,” is a perfect complement to “Beer on the Table.” It’s also one of the funnest break-up songs in recent memory. With plenty of honky-tonk piano and guitar, it puts you right there in the bar on Friday night. I would love to hear this on the radio.

The surprises are all good and still fit with the CD’s goal of being the soundtrack of the working man. “Back Around” — innocent but very sexy — paints a lovely picture of enduring first love and shows us that there’s a romantic heart under that country boy’s plaid shirt. And the confessional “Sinner” is amazingly raw and honest. The gentle guitar work helps the vocals come across almost as a prayer, and as the music builds, you feel as if you’re walking the road to redemption right next to him. It’s very powerful and reminds us that for every Saturday night there is a Sunday morning.

Not sure if he’s destined for stardom, Josh sings, “If the world out there don’t give a damn about me or this guitar, it won’t matter at all” on “A Name in This Town,” but I predict Nashville and the world will give a damn. This impressive debut should guarantee Josh Thompson a long career and “Way Out Here” will be the soundtrack for many a road trip this summer.

Blake and Miranda: Are They or Aren’t They? Nahhhhh.

According to US Weekly, Blake Shelton wants to propose to Miranda Lambert but can’t afford the ring. "I thought we were getting a little closer until she took me to Tiffany's to show me the ring she wanted. It was a $450,000 pink diamond. I probably need to save a bit longer before I'm ready for that," the magazine quotes Blake.

But Miranda Lambert says the couple have not really discussed getting married. “People put us on the spot all the time about when we're getting engaged, but we're just now becoming a real couple," Miranda tells The Boot. "We've had so many ups and downs and so many things in our careers. And it just seems recently we've really got a real relationship going, and it's great. Whatever that leads to is awesome, but I don't think it has to have a title."

So are they or aren’t they?

It’s hard to imagine Miranda pining for a half-million dollar engagement ring. The down-to-earth Texas girl just doesn’t seem the type. Might clash with the camo on the next hunting trip. (But if anyone could pull it off, Miranda could!) And she could probably buy it for herself if she did want such a fancy bauble. Her latest CD, Revolution, was just certified gold, and she has another gold CD (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) as well as a platinum one (Kerosene ) on her wall.

As for Blake, it’s not hard to imagine him telling nosy reporters who’ve asked the engagement question a hundred times what they wanted to hear – just so he and Miranda could laugh about it later.

We do think Blake and Miranda are perfect for each other and that a ring is in their future, but not really buying the pink diamond story. We’re calling BS on this one!

What do you think?

Vicky Dobbin is a music lover in Falls Church, Virginia. Follow her at http://Twitter.com/vdobbin. Read her blog at www.LoveMyCountryMusic.com.

It's Blake's world, we just live in it....at least for this week

Okay, Blake Shelton's Hillybilly Bone Six Pack comes out tomorrow so he's all over the place today.  Just got finished listening to him on Sirius' The Highway on my TV where he was doing a live Twitter, Facebook thingymcbobber, I've listened to like 14 interviews this morning, I've watched him on Soundcheck, I've read his new and far-between tweets over on Twitter , I've been emailed and emailed back some of Blake's label peeps, AND I've watched a video on Facebook of Blake and Miranda singing at the Opry.  I'm telling you I've had a heckuva busy Blake morning.

via www.nashvillegab.com

Win an autographed Blake Shelton "Hillbilly Bone" CD and poster

Shannon@Nashvillegab.com

via www.nashvillegab.com

Songwriting Women of Nashville Top the Charts

What do Jason Aldean’s “The Truth” and Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar” have in common? Of course they’re both number 1 songs this week (“The Truth” sits on top of the Billboard Hot Country Chart and “White Liar” is on top of the USAToday/MediaBase Chart) but they share something else: Female songwriters.

“White Liar” was penned by Miranda Lambert and Natalie Hemby; “The Truth” by Brett James and Ashley Monroe.

Miranda Lambert, who is celebrating her first chart topper, regularly writes or co-writes most of songs and is well-respected for her work as both a singer and a songwriting.

Jason Aldean is celebrating his third number 1 from his “Wide Open” CD, which includes “She’s Country,” co-written by Bridgette Tatum. He’s also had success with songs written by another woman, Vicky Lynn McGehee, who co-wrote “Why,” “Hicktown,” and “Johnny Cash.”

With Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” which she co-wrote, destined to move up to the top-10, there may be four female songwriters ruling the country charts as soon as next week.

And of course Taylor Swift is another female singer/songwriter burning up the charts, as is Hillary Scott, who co-writes with her Lady Antebellum band mates and had a number 1 smash with "Need You Now." Both women have songs moving up the charts.

This impressive showing may or may not be unprecedented, but at the very least it is noteworthy. Congratulations to the songwriting women of Nashville!

Craig Morgan to Blake Shelton: "Shhhhh! You're Scaring the Deer!"

Craig Morgan and Blake Shelton are avid hunters, so you'd think the long-time friends would enjoy hunting together. But you'd be wrong, at least from Craig's perspective.

"It's a dang nightmare as far as hunting goes because you don't get any hunting done at all," Craig told fans during a recent video chat. "All he does is drink. He's extremely loud and makes obnoxious noises."

"Drinking beer in the stand. Popping tops," added Mike Rogers, Craig's band leader and drummer, with a disapproving shake of his head and beer-opening sound effects.

Craig is a serious hunter, and even bagged a giant bear in Alaska last fall using nothing but a crossbow, but it seems he may have run our of patience for his partying buddy's antics. "I love hanging with him, he's one of my best friends, but to hunt with him is a nightmare," Craig explained.

"Blake does throw a good party," Craig added, but didn't elaborate on any of the partying he, Blake and Miranda Lambert were doing while in Las Vegas this week for the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show and Conference (SHOT Show).

The SHOT Show, according to its website, is the largest and most comprehensive trade show for all professionals involved with the shooting sports and hunting industries. It is the world's premier exposition of combined firearms, ammunition, archery, cutlery, outdoor apparel, optics, camping and related products and services. Sounds like Craig, Blake and Miranda's kind of place!

Craig also attended the 10th Annual Golden Moose Awards Thursday night, where some of his hunting friends, including "The Bone Collector" Michael Waddell, were honored for their shows on the Outdoor Channel.

Craig's own hunting show, "Craig Morgan: All Access Outdoors," airs on the Outdoor Channel starting in July. We'll be watching to see if Blake makes an appearance, perhaps scaring away deer with those loud pop-top cans!

Blake Shelton Talks About the Jake Owen Song That Got Away (and How He Got Even!)

Blake Shelton’s new CD “Hillbilly Bone” will be released March 2, and it seems there were plans to include a song written by Jake Owen on the album. But it seems bad timing got in the way.

 Blake recently told Country Countdown USA host Lon Helton about the Jake Owen song that got away. “I do want to talk about Jake because I’m mad at him right now,” Blake said is his usual joking manner. Seems Blake was sent a Jake Owen song to consider, and when he sent word back that he was interested, the song was no longer available.

Jake gave his side of the story on this week’s Countdown, explaining, “I was ready to give it to him …. but the guys at the label loved the song and they wanted to record, so I ended up having to call Blake back and say, ‘Man, I’m sorry, I’m going to record it.’”

Blake happily reports that he got back at Jake back for pulling the song. “Three months ago, Jake Owen was calling me going, ‘Hey man, if you still want that song for your album…’ And I said no sir, I don’t need it for my album now. I don’t want it anymore.

“So I think I got even with Jake and that’s not easy to do. That’s what you get, Jake,” Blake said with a chuckle.

Of course Jake also laughed about the song snafu and Blake’s comments. “It was pretty flattering when Blake called me and asked me for that song.,” he told Helton. “To this day he gives me so much crap for that.”

Blake often gives Jake grief on Twitter, even posting a very funny photo and comment about Jake’s new haircut during the CMA Awards show last fall (see http://img121.yfrog.com/i/1g0.jpg/).

Jake is a huge fan and calls Blake “one of my favorite singers out on the radio. He could sing the phone book…”

And apparently Blake is a fan of Jake’s writing skills. Blake is “always asks me for songs. When he’s making a record he always calls me and asks me if I’ve got any songs for him that I’ve written. It means a lot to me because he’s a great songwriter. Just to think that that he thinks that much of my songs makes me feel pretty good as a songwriter.”

Hear the full sound clip and more from Lon Helton’s interview with Jake Owen at www.countrycountdownusa.com or listen below.

Jake-Owen-CCUSA

Is David Nail Giving Up on Twitter?

Twitter can be a lot of fun for country music stars and their fans, who use it to chat, promote shows and songs and connect in a level of access and intimacy unknown before the microblogging site exploded into the public consciousness in 2009. But for some artists, it’s not been all fun and games and compliments.

David Nail, for one, seems to be having a tough time. “I obviously can’t please everyone in Twitterland. so from now I will simply be using this for updates! Merry Christmas!” he tweeted early Christmas eve. Fans responded instantly (as they always do on Twitter!), begging him to keep posting his sports commentary, BBQ reviews, puppy updates and thoughts about life on the road.

David has blocked multiple fans — including, I must confess, me — for what he’s called “negative” comments. (I have since been unblocked — let’s hope this article doesn’t put me back on the naughty list!) While most artists would ignore tweets about late shows, not signing autographs, ignoring tweets and the like, David seems determined to defend himself, with posts including “I have other duties besides twitter” and “Yea, sorry guys, I’m down here trying to raise money for kids dying of cancer…”

David isn’t the only country star who gets fed up with his Twitter followers, of course. Blake Shelton — country music’s most prolific and perhaps most famous Twitterer — is known for his “3..2..1… BLOCK!!” tweets when his followers get out of line. Some people seem to follow and tweet Blake just to annoy him, as if a BS block is a badge of honor.

In fact, David has even commented on Blake’s blocking technique: “In regards to the ‘negative’ tweets I saw this morning, please have a sense of humor, if you continue, you will be @blakeshelton ‘BLOCKED!”

Let’s hope David doesn’t give up on Twitter but instead just uses the BS Blocking technique more often to handle the “negative” followers who seems to make him so unhappy. (But not me! Please don’t block me again, David!)

Fans From Far and Near Welcome Jake Owen Home to Florida

Almost three dozen Jake Owen Fan Club members traveled from near (Orlando, Palm Beach) and far (Washington, Oregon and Virginia) to Vero Beach, Florida, last weekend to welcome Jake Owen back to his home town before his annual charity event, Mardy’s Tennis & Jake’s Music Fest.

The unofficial fan gathering was organized by fans for fans through the forum and chat room on Jake’s website, www.JakeOwen.net and the “fan tweet” Twitter account http://twitter.com/JakeOwenFans. I coordinated the successful event.

Fans toured the beautiful beach community, picked up Jake Owen sheet music at the Melody Music store where Jake bought his first guitar, and gathered for a pre-concert happy hour at the Riverside Cafe, the site of many of Jake’s early performances. Happy hour included a signed CD giveaway sponsored by Live at the Longhorn, and a photo exchange where fans swapped their favorite Jake pictures. Wanting to give back to the community that gave them Jake, fans also collected $150 for a local food bank.

The concert-goers at Vero Beach High School were an interesting mix of rabid fans who wanted to dance in their seats and locals who kept telling us to sit down and be quiet. It was an uneasy peace but fans were respectful of the older audience members’ wishes, at least until the last 20 minutes of the show, when many of us went to the front of the stage and refused to be moved. We just couldn’t keep still one moment longer!

Jake put on an amazing performance of old, new and cover songs, and despite having his friends and family sitting in the front row, didn’t turn down the sexy one bit. “Eight Second Ride,” “The Long Way Home” and “Whatever Turns You On” got the crowd going, and his version of “Slow Hand” had even some of the retirees in the audience swooning.

Hearing Jake’s autobiographical songs “Starting With Me” and “Somewhere in the Middle” had a special poignancy performed on the stage of the high school he graduated from in 2000, and as he chatted and joked with friends and fans from the stage, the event couldn’t have been more personal. It was definitely the best Jake Owen performance I’ve seen, and that’s saying a lot because I’ve never seen Jake put on anything less than an great show.

 The highlight for many that evening was meeting Jake after the show, where he Jake gave out autographs and hugs. Fans also chatted with band members and staffers, who were all so appreciative of the fans’ loyalty and enthusiasm.

The actual concert raised thousands of dollars for the Mardy Fish and Jake Owen Foundation, which sponsors after school activities at four local elementary schools. A pre-concert auction raised $15,100, and I seriously considered mortgaging my house to bid on the best item of the evening – the chance to go on tour with Jake, including all access passes, travel on his tour bus and the opportunity to watch a show from anywhere in the house – “except Jake’s lap,” the auctioneers joked.  

The fan trip to Vero Beach, dubbed the unofficial “First Annual Jake Owen Fan Club Fly-In,” was a great success and shows that fans don’t have to wait for labels or fan clubs to arrange events for them – we’re doing it ourselves now via the internet. See everyone next year!

Vicky Dobbin is a country music lover in Falls Church, VA. Read her country music blog at www.lovemycountrymusic.com and follow her at http://twitter.com/vdobbin.

Jake Owen Finally Puts Those Britney Rumors To Rest

So is there any truth to the stories about Jake Owen dating Britney Spears? “No, not at all,” Jake told DJs Scotty and Carissa on Clear 99 Columbia, Missouri, last week.

Chuckling when the subject came up, Jake explains that he was invited to Britney’s show about six months ago, and “I ended up getting a lap dance on stage from her, which was pretty interesting.” A video of the show hit the internet and fueled dating rumors, which are “totally not the case at all.” In fact, “I haven’t talked to her since,” he insists.

Despite the continuing questions – which he laughs off — he says he enjoyed meeting the sexy pop sensation: “She’s a great girl. She’s a nice girl and it was interesting to meet her and be in that whole different world.”

Jake has had his own share of attention for his sex appeal, of course, including being named one of People magazine’s Sexiest Men in Country, a designation he laughs off. “I got into this stuff to play music and sing songs, not to be on the cover of some glamour magazine,” he says.

While he may not enjoy the title, his family members seem to get a kick out of it. “I got a lot of crap for that from my brother,” he explains. “My mom’s always laughing at stuff like that. She gets to show her friends,” he adds.

Photo from http://twitpic.com/sp6kk

Listen to the entire interview at http://clear99.com/scotty-carissa-interview-jake-owen/

Blake Shelton Plays Surprise Acoustic Show at Philly-Area Sports Bar

 Fans got a very special treat on Sunday, November 1, when country superstar Blake Shelton gave a free performance at a sports bar in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, a suburb of Philadelphia.

The show, announced on Twitter on the Blake Shelton fan tweet www.twitter.com/ BSersTweet and then by Blake himself, was sponsored by a local radio station.

Blake tweeted for a few weeks prior to the announcement that he wanted to do a show in Philly where he could just sit on a barstool and "play for beer," and that's just what he did for the standing-room-only crowd that packed Taylor's sports bar. Set up on a small stage/lounge area in front of a big screen TV showing NASCAR highlights, you would have thought it was an open mic event, not a performance be someone with multiple number 1 records.

While a number of bar patrons had no idea the country star would be making an appearance  after the Eagles football game and before the Phillies baseball game, others (OK, me!) drove 150 miles each way for the show and arrived 5 hours early to make sure they got a good spot. Everyone had a great time.

Blake did a great acoustic set with no band. It was just him, his guitar, a barstool and a few beers. He seemed very comfortable in front of the small but lively crowd and based his set list on suggestions shouted from the fans he were packed in front of the small stage. Songs included old and new favorites, "Nobody But Me," "Some Beach," "The More I Drink," "Home," "I'll Just Hold On," 'Don't Make Me," "She Wouldn't Be Gone" and, of course,  "Austin."

And while I think of Blake as a singer more than a musician, this show changed that perception. I was very impressed with his guitar playing on every song, particularly the bluesy "Ol Red" and uptempo "Playboys of the Southwestern World."

I was also impressed with the crowd at Taylor's, who seemed to know every word to every song and weren't at all shy about singing along at the top of their voices!

If you ever get a chance to see Blake Shelton do an acoustic set in a small venue, don't hesitate, even if it is a 300-mile round trip. Believe me, it will be worth it!

More pictures from the show here.

Special Jake Owen Fan Gets a Faraway Call From Her Idol

Australian Jake Owen fan Shelly was expecting a “concert call” from fan club members attending Jake’s show in Akron, Ohio, Tuesday night but got more than she was even hoping for when her friends put the singer on the phone to chat.

The friends have been rallying around their Down Under sister Shelly since she told fan club members that she’s battling breast cancer. The fans have donated to an Australian Breast Cancer charity, chat with her online and on the phone, and of course send her well wishes and prayers. (See Jake Owen Supporting Special Fan During Breast Cancer Awareness Month for more.)

Fan club member Tiffany wanted to give help her Aussie sister experience a Jake Owen concert live, so she worked with Shelly’s local friends to coordinate a concert call, which came at 7 a.m. local time in Australia. (A “concert call” is when friends call each other from live shows to share the music with those who can’t attend.)

But Tiffany was hoping for more when she drove the 5½ hours from her home in Kentucky to the show at Tangier in Akron, Ohio, a benefit for the local Muffins for Mammograms charity. She handed over her cell phone and its international calling card to fan club member Linda, who had a meet and greet pass for the show, and asked Linda to put Jake on the phone to Shelly.

Thankfully, Tiffany was quickly called backstage to participate in the call. She was the only one who knew what to do when the call was dropped!  She says Jake couldn’t have been more enthusiastic or gracious about reaching out to his special fan. “Jake was so excited. When we asked him he said yes, I want to talk to her,” Tiffany reports.

Shelly apparently didn’t believe she was actually talking to Jake and quizzed him before accepting that it was really him. The fans gathered backstage during the call gave Jake some privacy to chat, but report that Shelly has Jake rolling with laughter, just as they expected she would.

Shelly’s friend Amber posted a thank you to Tiffany on Shelly’s Twitter account. “AMBER here, just spoke to Shell & she just wanted to thank u all for her chance to have a long chat with jake, she is still gobsmacked.”

Tiffany (pictured in the photo on the right, with Jake and fan Kathy) doesn’t want to take any credit for Shelly’s surprise. “Everybody at the concert made it a very special call—the staff at the venue, Jake’s manager, the fans. It wasn’t interrupted, it wasn’t rushed, everyone there made it possible,” she says. “I’m still amazed. I can’t believe we pulled it off.”

Tiffany spoke with Jake after the concert to thank him, and instead, she says, he thanked her for coordinating the call. “It blessed my heart to talk to her,” Tiffany reports Jake told her.

“Jake is just such a special person,” Tiffany adds.

Oh, and Shelly also got her concert call. Tiffany kept her on the phone for the entire show.

Jake Owen Supporting Special Fan During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Members of the Jake Owen fan club have been rallying around one of their own this month as she battles breast cancer, and Jake has joined the effort by turning the opening page of his website pink with a link to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The fan, Shelly from Oz, lives in Australia and has never met her fan club family, nor has she even seem Jake in concert, but she's been a fan for years, since seeing his video "Starting With Me." She opened up about her battle with breast cancer this month when she posted a blog about her battle on the fan club site.

Since her announcement, fans have been working behind the scenes to get the site changed to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October, and to give moral support to their sister Down Under. The pink site went live this week.

Led by fan club members Jaime and Erin, fans are also tweeting requests for good thoughts and prayers, several have called her to check in, and they're also planning a few other surprises to help keep her spirits up.

Fan club members have also organized a Virtual Pink Ribbon Breakfast to raise money for the Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation. You can join at http://www.breastcancerfundraising.org.au/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=40340&LangPref=en-CA

Please keep Shelly from Oz in your thoughts, and congratulations to Jake and his fan club members for their thoughtfulness support!

Eric Church Reinjures His Foot, Postpones Show, But Still Wows the Crowd in Richmond

Eric Church Reinjures His Foot, Postpones Show, But Still Wows the Crowd in Richmond

Eric Church has postponed his Myrtle Beach set for Friday, Oct. 16, after reinjuring his foot Wednesday during a show in Charlotte. Eric did play his Thursday night in Richmond, performing from a chair.

He apologized to fans at the Richmond show for sitting during the performance, and joked that the injury was Jack Daniels-related. He did a full set, hopping on one foot occasionally, and even changed the lyrics in his song “These Boots” to reflect the current injury.

The crowd was appreciative of his efforts and agreed that even from a chair, Eric rocked the house and put on a great performance.

An official statement in on www.ericchurch.com

Eric initially injured his foot in August. See http://findingconor.typepad.com/music/2009/09/ec-cancel.html for more information.

See http://findingconor.typepad.com/photos/eric_richmond/index.html for pictures from the Richmond show.

Fans Take to Twitter to Promote Their Favorite Country Acts

Country music fans are a resourceful and dedicated group and they've taken to Twitter like a fish to water, starting Twitter accounts to help support the music they love. Every #musicmonday (a tag used by Twitter users to promote their favorite music on Mondays) and #followfriday (posts encouraging you to follow specific Twitter accounts on Friday) brings a slew of fan Twitters. Call it democracy in action or a publicist's dream/nightmare, the fans are getting the word out for the musicians they love!

These accounts are not official or affiliated with the artist or the label. Some do get the objects of their affection to follow them and help promote their account. Blake Shelton follows his fan account http://twitter.com/BSersTweet, and every time he mentions it the account gets more followers. Same for http://twitter.com/cartertwinsorg; Zach Carter follows the account and mentions it regularly.

Ronna has run http://twitter.com/DBCongress for two years and does so with blessing of Dierks Bentley, who supports the account with an occasional tweet, provides signed merchandise for give-aways, and often acknowledges her work to other fans.

Jake Owen has yet to follow his fan account, http://twitter.com/JakeOwenFans, but the organizers are hoping for his blessing so the account will take off. Same with the Luke Bryan fan account http://twitter.com/xweloveLB. Getting a "follow" from the artist and the occasional mention is key to spreading the word and getting more followers, who in turn help promote the artist. It's really a win-win for everyone involved.

Luke Bryan fan Gabs says she started her fan Twitter to tell the world about her favorite artist and share her love of country music, something she doesn't get to do very often in Connecticut, which isn't know as a country music Mecca. "I wanted to get in touch with some other Luke fans. And I wanted to show Luke how much I and the followers of http://twitter.com/xweloveLB appreciate him and his music."

The fan Twitter accounts have been known to scoop the artists' official Tweets, fan club sites and label announcements with news, reviews, gossip and tour dates. http://twitter.com/BSersTweet had news about the new Blake Shelton video before anyone -- organizers found a blog post from an actress who worked on the video.

These Fan Twitters also take very seriously their job of reminding fans to vote in online polls, call radio stations, support artists on message boards, watch television appearances, etc.

Right now http://twitter.com/JakeOwenFans is campaigning to get CMT to put Jake Owen's "8 Second Ride" video back on its weekly countdown poll. And http://twitter.com/BSersTweet is promoting the new Blake Shelton single "Hillbilly Bone" by sending messages to radio stations and the country music press, and providing its Twitter followers with information on how to do the same.

Another particularly active fan Twitter account is http://twitter.com/TheChurchChoir, which gives its followers daily instructions on how to promote Eric Church.

New acts also have their Twitter fans. New on Twitter is the Whitney Duncan fan account http://twitter.com/whitduncanfans; and the Mallary Hope fan account http://twitter.com/mallarysfans. Mallary fan Halley said she started the account to spread the word: “She has such an amazing voice that I wanted to help her make it big.”

Fan accounts are just one of the many ways Twitter is changing the way fans and artists interact. Good luck to all the fan Twitters!

Vicky Dobbin is a country music lover in Falls Church, VA. Read her country music blog at www.lovemycountrymusic.com and follow her at http://twitter.com/vdobbin.

Blake Shelton's "Hillbilly Bone" Goes for the Funny Bone

Update: Everyone can now listen to "Hillbilly Bone" online at BlakeShelton.com (No fan club membership required).

You can't help but hollerin' yee-haw! Blake Shelton's new single "Hillbilly Bone" is the perfect complement to the new @BlakeShelton we've all come to know (and maybe/maybe not love?) since he discovered Twitter: Redneck humor and pride with a some Bubba, guns and girls tossed in with a catchy tune on top. There's even a guest star--Trace Adkins.

We all got a hillbilly bone down deep inside
No matter where you're from you just can't hide it ...
Ain't nothing wrong, just getting on your Hillbilly Bone

"Hillbilly Bone" is a funnier, bouncier, funkier version of "Song About Me" and Trace Adkins's vocal support only reinforces that sense. It's certainly honky-tonk friendly and fun, and the video is bound to be a hoot.

But is country radio going to embrace yet another song about hillbilly/redneck/small town pride? They certainly love to talk about Blake and Twitter, so I think they will get the joke and play this song for the sheer fun of it.

BSers -- aka Blake Shelton fan club members -- got a special sneak preview of the song Monday morning when "Hillbilly Bone" was posted on BlakeShelton.com just after midnight. And yes, they were there waiting for it. BSers are one dedicated group!

"Hillbilly Bone" will be released to radio on on Nov. 2 and the video will debut on CMT and GAC on Nov. 3.

Jake Owen Cuts His Hair! And the women are sad ...

It's sad but true. Sexy country singer Jake Owen -- @jakeofficial to his Twitter followers -- has cut his hair. And the women, particularly those in the fan club who regularly discuss his sexy mane, are sad.

Photographic evidence of the scissors attack was posted on Twitter by a fan who snapped the shorn "8 Second Ride" singer performing at a private radio station event in Texas on Thursday.

The consensus of fans: It will grow back. Please say it will grow back.

No word from Jake as to why, and he should probably keep the who to himself, less the fans declare a fatwa on the butcher, I mean barber.

He still has that great smile, though. And, oh yeah, he sure can sing!

A Strong, Warm Voice Gets Blake Wise a Well-Deserved Shot

Don’t let Blake Wise’s Wrangler model good looks (yes, he modeled for Wrangler) fool you—he ain’t just another country pretty boy. One listen to his song “The Stayin’ Kind” is enough to prove that this boy can sing.

The song is a great showcase for his strong, warm voice, particularly the up-tempo chorus and slow, sexy bridge. I could definitely hear “The Stayin’ Kind” on country radio.

Another standout on Wise’s self-titled, independent release is “My Own Questionnaire,” which, lyrically, could be a prequel to that other Blake’s “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.” Wise’s delivery really brings out the clever tale of a man’s realization that he’s not the husband he ought to be.

The fun “I Got No Regrets” could be a Kenny Chesney song with its island feel and bouncy vibe; and the not so fun “Tell Me I’m Right,” an almost stalker-like ballad that conveys paranoia, anger and sadness, is chilling. Together they show that Wise can really handle a diverse set of songs.

Wise’s voice could still use a little seasoning and maybe a great producer to smooth things out, particularly on the tracks “Destination Highway,” a fun road song that is a bit too high and whiny; and “They Don’t Know You,” which sounds like someone trying to sound like Tim McGraw. It’s not a bad impression, but it doesn’t sound genuine.

But overall, listening to the songs at www.blakewise.com, it’s clear that Blake Wise has a great future ahead of him in Nashville and on country radio. And Nashville obviously agrees. Just this week he was signed to a record and publishing deal on Broken Bow Records (home of Jason Aldean and Dean Brody) and Magic Mustang Music.

Does Blake Shelton Have a "Hillbilly Bone" to Pick With Trace Adkins?

The web has been abuzz with speculation over Blake Shelton's next single, and it looks like it won't be a song from his current CD but a new duet with Trace Adkins called "Hillbilly Bone."

Blake added fuel to the fire this week, posting this clue on Twitter: "I'm gonig to kick the ... door down with this next one!!! Oh and I'm bringing a friend to help... And he can damn sure kick one down...."

Last week actor Sean Dennison posted to his Twitter account: "Also booked socialite role in Blake Shelton/Trace Adkins music vid 'Hillbilly Bone' films wed."

And apparently at least on DJ has heard the new track. Blake Shelton fan Pearl posted the following to the Blake Shelton Fan club site: "The DJ on my radio station Twittered some possible Blake news: DJ Tony Thomas: Mega-songwriter Craig Wiseman tweeted he's psyched about a new @blakeshelton cut called Hillbilly Bone!"

Dedicated BSer Pearl kept digging and later posted the following: "So, I went back to look at Craig Wiseman's original tweet: 'Craig Wiseman - MAN! I heard a cut today- Blake Shelton - HILLBILLY BONE!!!! DUDE it makes me proud to be doing this.....'"

Blake has been telling his Twitter followers about trips to Dallas to record but hasn't really shares many details beyond lamenting the fact that he's not allowed to drink while he's recording.

Jessica Harp also mentioned this summer that she had recorded vocals for a Blake Shelton song but no confirmation if she's part of this song.

Of course this could all be Blake BSing us all, so we'll just have to keep checking Twitter for details.

Blake Shelton Keeps the Crowd Warm and Smiling on a Wet September Night

Blake Shelton is a silver-tongued devil! What else can explain why thousands of fans sat in the freezing rain to hear him sing at the Great Frederick Fair in rural Maryland on Sept. 26? His rich, deep voice kept us warm and his charming banter and redneck jokes keep us entertained. It was all an illusion, of course – as my next day’s sniffles can attest -- but we ate it up.

A Blake Shelton concert has its mandatory songs, including “Austin,” “Some Beach” and “Ol’ Red”;  as well as the recent singles “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” and “I’ll Just Hold On”; and the future single “Green” (or is “Country Strong” the next single? That may still be undecided). Blake didn’t disappoint, performing those Shelton standards with heart and a smile. He didn’t mix it up with different versions – didn’t need to, really – just played what we expected to hear and already loved.

He did offer up a few surprises. “Playboys of the Southwestern World” was a crowd pleaser that put a smile on everyone’s face with its story of the misadventures  of two good ol’ boys. And it was fun to hear Blake pay tribute to his country music roots with performances of “Tight Fitting Jeans” and “Goodbye Time.”

But the best surprises showed off the amazing voice that we don’t always appreciate on the less vocally challenging songs that make up his repertoire. The acoustic “Don’t Make Me” squeezed my heart and gave me chills (and no, it wasn’t the weather!). And, of course, “Home,” the song that turned me into a die-hard B.S. fan for life, is one of the best vocal performance I’ve ever heard by a singer in any genre. Performed live, it’s even more proof that Blake is the most under-rated and under-recognized male vocalist in country music. (Being named Mr. Twitter doesn’t count!) Hello, awards panels! Pay attention! Did you HEAR that!

Blake kept the evening rolling with charming chatter about everything from the impending opening of  deer hunting season to the lack of beer sales on the fairgrounds, and never seemed to take himself at all seriously. He also seemed quite sincere in his gratitude to the crowd for coming out and sitting in the rain to hear an ol’ redneck sing a few songs.

You’re welcome, Blake. The pleasure was all ours!

And a little hint to die-hard fans. At an outdoor venue, if you get there early enough, you can probably hear the sound check. Blake played Billy Joel’s “My Life” and “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” during this one and both sounded great. Neither song made it into the show later so I consider these bonus tracks! I’ve also heard him perform most of “She Talks to Angels” during a sound check. How I wish he’d add that to his regular set. It is amazing! (You can see a Stripped version on YouTube and the CD/DVD version of “Pure B.S.” Definitely check it out!)

• See more pictures from this show.
• Read more about Blake Shelton.
• Read another review of this show.

Set list:

1. The More I Drink
2. Nobody But Me
3. Country Strong
4. The Baby
5. I’ll  Just Hold On
6. Goodbye Time
7. Playboys Of The Southwestern World
8. Acoustic: Don’t Make Me
9. Home
10. Tight Fitting Jeans
11. Green
12. Austin
13. She Wouldn’t Be Gone
14. Some Beach
15. Encore: Redneck Girl
16. Ol' Red

Blake Shelton Admits His Twitter Addiction

Is Blake Shelton addicted to Twitter? Yep! And he freely admits it. "Since I started tweeting I don't have as much time on my hands because any time I get a free moment I have all these random thoughts I want to share with the country," Blake Shelton recently explained to Baltimore DJ Laurie DeYoung. 

He didn't mention his hilarious Twitter war with PETA (see Blake vs PETA

, Round 2) but did talk about how much he enjoys sharing his sometimes odd sense of humor with his almost 50,000 followers.

"I love it. I don't mind, I'll sit right here and tell you right now I think it's really fun to get on there on Twitter and write. People are shocked by the things I say on there. Even last night some guy got on and there and said there's no way this can really be the real Blake Shelton."

He often mocks or even insults his followers, all in good ol' boy fun, of course. "I follow a lot of people. That's mostly all I do is respond to people. I normally throw out like one thought first thing in the morning and the rest of the day I spend explaining why I said that."

Twitter is so much a part of this life, he's thinking about incorporating it into a rather unique performance for his upcoming show at the Great Fredrick Fair: "I think just for something different I'm going to walk out on stage without a band or a guitar and just Twitter, just a Twitter performance. As I do I'll say I am now going to write this response and then type it in, and then wait for applause. It if doesn't work in the next 10 minutes or so, then I'll probably have the band come out and I

'll play some songs." We think he's joking--We'll see! You can never tell with Blake.

And because no one can interview Blake without asking about Miranda (and vice versa), we also got this tidbit about wedding talk with his long-time girlfriend: "I think about ways I can avoid that subject … For the most part I think we're miserable enough as it is together so why take it to the next step and really become miserable."

Gotta love that B.S! No wonder he's Mr. Twitter!

    * Listen to the entire interview at http://lauriedeyoung.com/main.html

Thanks to Pearl (pictured with Blake, right) for the great photos!

We Love Our Hugs From Country Music Hunks and Honeys Photo Album

My friends and I have been collecting hug photos with our favorite country music stars. Want to join us? Send your photos to lovemycountrymusic@gmail.com

• See the pictures here.

Will the Next Big Rascal Flatts Single Be a Carter Twins Song?

Carter Twin Zach shared a little secret with fans Saturday night -- the brothers' song "That's a Good Thing" is being considered by Rascal Flatts for the country mega group's next CD. "It would be really cool to be 19 years old and have a song we wrote recorded by Rascal Flatts," Zach told the audience.

• See more photos from the Sept. 19 Carter Twins Show

Josh Carter even gave the sound check audience a little snippet of what he thinks the song will sound like when it's recorded by Rascal Flatts, doing an impression of Flatt's lead singer Gary LeVox. And it sounded great! The up-tempo number would definitely fit right in on a Rascal Flatts CD. Let's hope it all works out.

The brothers' played their hearts out for the small but enthusiastic audience Saturday night. The almost 90-minute set included fan favorites "Photo Booth," "So What" and my newest favorite, "Amy Just Stay." And is it possible that "Heart Like Memphis" is even more beautiful when it's performed live? It's really one of my favorite country songs and Saturday's performance just made me love it more.

The guys also played some interesting covers that made the most of their excellent harmonies. "My Maria" (which, by the way, Zach, is not just a Brooks and Dunn song, but was a hit for B.W. Stevenson before you were born!) worked particularly well. They should put that one on their CD, which has been promised for early next year.

• (Update: Carter Twins part ways with label; bright future ahead! http://bit.ly/ct-future)

Also really good was the Collective Soul cover "Shine," which Zach dedicated to "the parents in the room or those of you who are a little older." Didn't need to be reminded that the boys are young enough to be my sons but I'm sure he didn't mean to make me feel old!

The only misstep of the set was their version of Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," which only sounded good on that famous chorus but just didn't work for any other part of the song. Their other pop/rock covers where great, including Matchbox 20's "3 A.M" and Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."

I do have to ask what the heck these talented brothers were doing playing at this out-of-the-way venue -- Dave-Bob's BBQ in Winchester, Virginia. Inconveniently located just off I-81 on the way from North Carolina to Pennsylvania, not too far from West Virgina and not really close to anywhere, the little BBQ joint draws some interesting national acts. Trent Tomlinson played there in August; Heidi Newfield is next on October 2 and then Emily West and Sarah Buxton are a double bill later in October. I guess this is where you pay your dues on the way up?

I was happy to make the 90-minute trek from my suburban Washington, DC., home to see these talents brothers, who I first met last June in Nashville at a private CMT show during CMA fest. I really believe that the Carter Twins are the future of country music. My 4-year-old son, Conor, who was thrilled to get his photo taken with Zach, agrees, and, like his mommy, will be a Carter Twins fan for life.

"World Wide Open" Doesn't Live Up to Love & Theft's Potential

"Runaway" is one of my favorite songs of Summer 2009 (tied with Jake Owen's "8 Second Ride") and I was so looking forward to Love and Theft's full CD "World Wide Open" that on the day it was released, I made the trek to Target so I could get an autographed copy.

Don't you just hate it when you buy a CD based on one song and then discover that rest sound nothing at all like the single? Yep. If you're looking for another up-tempo, fun, tight, turn-it-up track, you won't find it here.

Sigh. I had such high hopes.

But when I got over that initial let down and gave the CD a few more listens, I started to like (but not love) it for what it is: an amusing mix of boy band music with not quite enough country flair for my tastes.

The opening (and title) track "World Wide Open" features nice harmonies and of course "Runaway" is just a killer cut. It's great lead vocals highlighted with great harmonies, clever lyrics and country-rock guitar and drums make me turn it up every time I hear it.

"Can't Go Back" is pretty great, too. A perfect mix of harmonies with a bluegrass soul, it's probably the most "country" song on the CD. "You to Miss" is a pretty -- almost heart-breaking -- ballad that will make the little girls (and this big girl) swoon -- even if singer/songwriter Brian Bandas does seems to be trying to channel Donnie Wahlberg by the end of the song.

An even better ballad is "Me Without You," which I just can't get enough of lately. More subdued than "You to Miss" and without the dramatic vocals, the songs has really gotten stuck in my head. Love it more every time I hear it.

Love and Theft members say their influences include The Eagles, and I really hear that on "Runaway." But all I hear when I listen to "Slow Down" is a darker version of "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus. And "Dancing in Circles" is another pseudo-spiritual or maybe contemporary Christian lite track. I have nothing against spirituality in music. Craig Morgan's "God Must Really Love Me" and Josh Turner's "Long Black Train" are examples of how songs about God can also be great country music. But "Dancing in Circles" sounds like something you'd heard sung by a kids' Sunday school choir.

Despite my mixed feeling about the CD, I have every intention of seeing Love and Theft the first chance I get. I think these guys have great potential and I bet they're great live. Would love to hear them cover some Eagles tunes. And hopefully a live show will help me get the image I have of them wearing matching clothes and dancing in unison like a bad New Kids on the Block video out of my head.

Vicky Dobbin is a country music lover in Falls Church, VA. Read her country music blog at www.lovemycountrymusic.com and follow her at twitter.com/vdobbin

Label Confirms Eric Church Has Broken Foot But Will Continue Tour

As first reported here last week, Eric Church's label has confirmed that Eric broke his foot but will continue his tour.

Updates:

• Finally, some details! RT @countrystatus Eric Church Staying Young and Wild in Spite of Broken Foot: read more http://url4.eu/RcRm
• Picture of Eric Church in a cast for his broken foot RT @ohmymisha http://twitpic.com/hrfye

Posted Sept. 14 at EricChurch.com

Eric Continues 'Young and Wild(er) Tour' Despite Broken Foot

Capitol Records Nashville recording artist Eric Church fractured his foot during a show on his “Young & Wild(er) Tour” at the Syracuse State Fair on September 4.  No shows have or will be cancelled as a result of Church’s injury as he continues to bring his high-energy performance to fans each night.  Church is on tour supporting his sophomore release, Carolina, which features the Top 15 and climbing single, “Love Your Love The Most.”

“As my fans know, I get pretty excited on stage and stomp my feet,” explains Eric Church.  “The combination of the stomping and the fact that our crowds are crazier than ever led to me breaking my foot.  I refuse to miss a show over this, so for the time being, I'll be doing the rest of the shows from a stool.  I'm still gonna bring it, and I expect our fans to do the same.”

The tour which started on September 3 includes performances along the East Coast and Midwest and is a continuation of the critically acclaimed “Young & Wild Tour” last spring that included 20 sold out shows and record breaking attendance at the Dallas Bull in Tampa, FL.

Carolina debuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and #17 on Billboard’s Top 200.  The album’s first single, “Love Your Love The Most,” is Top 15 and climbing on both the Billboard and Mediabase country charts. The album had received acclaim from Rolling Stone, which praised the “surging guitars bolstering good-ol’-boy narratives,” and the New York Times, which declared, “His music puts rock muscle behind honky-tonk and turns ballads into intimate close-ups.”

• See original post: Is Eric Church Ailing? M&Gs Canceled

Craig Morgan's Alaskan Hunt Update: Bear Hunt Photo Posted!

9/14/09 Update: Craig was definitely hunting for bear, and he bagged a big one! Click here to see the photo. Warning: It is an ex-bear and the photo is not for the squeamish.

Craig Morgan got a bit of a scare at the end of his recent week-long vacation in Alaska, and it had nothing to do with the bear he was hunting.

The "God Must Really Love Me" singer was visiting the Wrangell-Petersburg Census Area County, Alaska, with family and friends and posted updates on Twitter about the great time he was having. (See Craig’s video at http://twitvid.com/F07AE)

But the trip home got a little scary.

"Just left Seattle had to turn around and make an emergency landing I'm back," Morgan posted early Friday night.

The singer was scheduled to perform Saturday in Tennessee, so being stuck in Seattle could have left a lot of disappointed fans if he couldn’t get a plane home.

But the crisis was averted and Craig found a very late plane to Dallas that eventually got him to Nashville Saturday morning and in time for the show.

Craig’s Tour Manager updated fans via Twitter Saturday morning: “For the ones who were wondering, Craig made it home this morning. He got a big bear. I'm sure you'll see it soon. :)”

Craig has promised to post video from his bear hunt on his Twitter account: http://twitter.com/cmorganmusic. No word on if he got any video from his scary flight.

• Read the review "Craig Morgan Connects With the Everyman in Fredericksburg, VA"

Is Eric Church Ailing? M&Gs Canceled

• 9/14/09 Update: Label confirms Eric's injury. Read more here.

Chatter on the Eric Church Fan Club site is that he's had to cancel several Meet & Greets because he fractured his foot and is under doctor's orders to limit his movement as much as possible.

There's no official announcement on the EricChurch.com website and we have had no announcement of canceled shows. However, several fan club members say they've received emails letting them know that their previously confirmed Meet & Greets have been canceled because of Eric's injury, and there's plenty of chatter in the Fan Club Forum.

We wish Eric a speedy recovery and hope he's literally back on his feet soon. (And by soon, we mean in time for the Oct. 15 show we're going to in Richmond, VA!)

If anyone gets more info, please let us know!

• See photos from Eric Church at The Grand, Wilmington, DE

Blake vs. PETA, Round 2!

Hold your (exploited New York City carriage pulling) horses! Looks like the Blake Shelton vs. PETA war on Twitter is back on, and PETA may have called in more troops. After announcing Thursday that PETA had blocked him from getting their updates, Blake told his Twitter followers Friday that the war was back on:

blakeshelton: Man who'd of thought a little old drunken country singer could cause such a stir in the tree huggin world... Ha! I love this country.....

And indeed, the barbs began to fly again immediately between Blake and @officialpeta, including the following:

officialpeta: PETA doesn't focus on hunting cuz other orgs already do. (via @officialpeta)
blakeshelton: Not to mention being too chicken shit! I'M BACK!!!......

Someone has also created a Twitter account just to battle Blake on animal rights issues, called PETAagainstBS. The account uses a photo of Blake with a red X over his face as its Twitter profile photo and follows only one person -- Blake, of course.

PETAagainstBS: YOU SHOULD NOT EAT MEAT, but rumore is thats the way you swing
blakeshelton: YOU shouldn't reproduce... Rumor is you probably can't..

Blake's fans are looking forward to the fur flying again -- and with hunting season in Oklahoma starting soon, probably pictures that PETA is definitely not going to approve of. Watch out sea kittens (fish) and Bambi -- Blake is gunning for you!

See previous article Blake Shelton Wins Twitter War vs. PETA

Blake Shelton fan Pearl gave Blake this hat at a recent show:

 

Blake Shelton Wins Twitter War vs PETA

UPDATE: Looks like PETA didn't like being told they blinked! They've unblocked Blake! The battle continues! Read more here.

Blake Shelton fans, who have been enjoying the singer/avid hunter's hilarious Twitter feud with animal rights group PETA for several weeks now, got sad news today: @officialpeta (the group's Twitter account) has blocked Blake, which means he can no longer get their messages to mock. It appears that in the Blake vs. PETA showdown, PETA blinked.

He announced the news Thuesday, on Twitter, of course:

blakeshelton: Well... I think we all knew this day would come.... You may want set down... I've been blocked by PETA!!!!!

Blake started mocking the group's pro-vegan, anti-fur messages in July, with such comments as:

officialpeta: Only animals should wear fur! 
blakeshelton: Yeah, but they hide all the meat under there!!!! Dipshit.....

officialpeta: That's right, there's nothing funny about BBQing cats:
blakeshelton: Ha! Ha! Sorry but when you say it like that it is damn funny! Ha!

officialpeta: Meat is Murder!
blakeshelton: Yes, delicious murder.... 

officialpeta: Victory! Aussie designer Alannah Hill gives bunnies a break
blakeshelton: Awesome! Is she just cutting off the parts she needs?!!!..

And the group even seemed to encourage his interest, at first.

officialpeta: Hey we love your interest!
blakeshelton: Thanks! I do try to take care of animals... I always make sure there cooked just right!!! 

However, it seems they decided to stop beating a dead horse (sorry, I couldn't help the anti-PC idiom!) and give up on trying to convert or at least educate Blake, who proudly displays animal heads on his walls and tweets about lookng forward to hunting season.

But don't worry, Blake rant fans, it appears he has two new targets: peta2 and environmental group Greenpeace. Let the next tweet battle begin!

blakeshelton: Hello peta2 .... Allow me to introduce myself... My name is Blake Shelton.. This could be the begining of a beautiful relationship!!!

Greenpeace: We are all bearing witness to climate change. Climate impacts from around the world
blakeshelton: I think they call it seasons....

Below are a few of Shelton's funnier messages to and about PETA. (Be warned, bad language and rude photos are plentiful!). 

blakeshelton: Anything to save a life, wanna take the 30-day veg-pledge? We dare you! (via @officialpeta) Ok! Only if you try my 30 minute chicken choke!!

blakeshelton: What’s worse than the Double Down Chicken Sandwich? (via @officialpeta) The fact that you're fighting for an animal that eats it's own shit!

blakeshelton: Down with the Double Deadly Carcass Burger! (via @officialpeta) Yes!! And up with the triple stacker!! 

blakeshelton: In the mood for some souper news?(via @officialpeta) Did y'all finally decide to shut the F&CK up?!!!! That IS super!!!! 

blakeshelton: Those poor chickens need someone to speak for them (via @officialpeta) Guess that's where a cock like you comes in...

blakeshelton: Hey #McCruelty, choke on this bird: (via @officialpeta) Hey PETA, choke on this bird... http://yfrog.com/0tg6lj 

blakeshelton: ILUVTOFU, what vegan doesn’t? (via @officialpeta) Got to admit it.. That's pretty funny stuff. Now back to my McNuggets.. 

blakeshelton: ILUVTOFU, what vegan doesn’t? http://ow.ly/kKDE (via @officialpeta) Does this really say "I luv to f u"?

blakeshelton: Animal testing breaks hearts! (via @officialpeta) Yeah! And bow hunting breaks there lungs!!! Goodmorning dipshits.....

blakeshelton: In US military trauma training live pigs r shot, stabbed & burned! (via @officialpeta) Awesome!!! Where do I sign up?!!!!

blakeshelton: Here are our top 10 reasons to keep pork off your fork! (via @officialpeta) 10 reasons I can't stand y'all... Starts and ends with dipshits 

blakeshelton: Fish are our friends not our food. Sea Kittens have feelings too(via @officialpeta) Now I have a craving for fried catfish.... Dipshits.. 

blakeshelton: Thanks for spreading the message! (via @officialpeta) No problem!!! I'll always be proud to tell people what dipshits y'all are......

blakeshelton: Hey #McCruelty, choke on this bird: (via @officialpeta) Hey PETA, choke on this bird... http://yfrog.com/0tg6lj

blakeshelton:  Hey PETA.... I took this picture just for you!!! http://yfrog.com/ekkwhj

blakeshelton: Dear PETA.. Picking on our U.S. Military now? You've reached a new level of dipshitness!.. Go back to fast food and sex with gerbels...

blakeshelton: Hey PETA, I call this picture "adding insult to injury".... Enjoy! http://yfrog.com/9e83bcj 

Rural Town or Big Crowd, For Jake Owen, There's No Such Thing as a Small Show

I have a confession: Before I went to CMA Fest in Nashville in June, I didn't know the difference between Jake Owen and Luke Bryan. Both were playing Friday night at LP Field, but it was headliners Jason Aldean and Rodney Atkins I was most looking forward to seeing.

And then Jake Owen took the stage ... and I was blown away. I've been to a lot of concerts and seen a lot of charismatic performers (Michael Hutchence of INXS and Johnny Cash come to mind as the best) but I have NEVER seen anyone have so much crowd-winning, rip-roaring, contagious fun and enthusiasm as I saw from Jake Owen that night in Nashville. (You can decide for yourself when Jake's performance is part of ABC-TV's CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock, Monday, Aug. 31.)

Fast forward several weeks to August 15, rural Clarke County in my adopted home state of Virginia. Playing to a crowd of hundreds vs. 60,000 at LP Field, and guess what?--Jake had that same enthusiasm and spirit that won me over back in Nashville.

I was so impressed by the Virginia show that I decided to make another Jake road trip, a week later, this time 150 miles north in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Jake once again brought it all to the small crowd (maybe 800-900 people?), just as I'd seen him do for the big one.

He also performed very different sets at the two venues. Both sets opened with "8 Second Ride" and included the expected hits, including "Yee-Haw" and "Don't Think I Can't Love You." But the Virginia audience heard twangy John Anderson covers "Money in the Bank" and "Swinging," as well as an ambitious Kenny Rogers cover of "She Believes in Me." Definitely give Jake that song on the next Kenny tribute CD -- his performance was beautiful and heartfelt. So maybe he did flub the words just a bit and needed help from an audience member to get back on track, that was just part of the performance's charm. And the audience felt so personally connected to the performance, we were happy to help out!

Jake also performed a new song for the Virginia show, "Hurtin' Heart," a haunting, poignant ballad that will certainly be the highlight of his next CD. It's easy to associate Jake with sexy, steamy songs including "Something About a Woman," "Easy Does It" and the recent Top-2 single "Don't Think I Can't Love You." But there's as much love as there is lust, and much heart and soul as there is, well, steamy sexuality in his music. "Hurtin' Heart," performed with just an acoustic guitar, crickets literally chirping in the background on a hot summer night, was so moving, so powerful, it even got the girls dancing at the side of the stage throughout the show to stop and just listen. Great stuff. ("Hurtin' Heart" is available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQBrxJOmi8).

Perhaps knowing that the twang of the Virginia show might be a bit ambitious for the Yankees at the Pennsylvania show, Jake decided to rock it up a notch instead and featured a Tom Petty cover as well as a rockin' showcase for his band, who performed a kick-butt cover of Journey's "Separate Ways" while Jake ran around the stage, head-banging with the audience. 

Well, not a lot of the audience members were exactly head-banging. Many of them where content to sit in their lawn chairs, occasionally tapping their feet but always clapping when appropriate. The Yankees were definitely more subdued than the assorted rednecks, good ol' girls and just small town folk of Virginia. It's amazing what a difference 150 miles north or south can make!

In Virginia, Jake's stage banter was about girls and sex (although he kept it pretty tame), and the crowd ate it up; in Pennsylvania the talk was about homemade whoopie pies and meeting up with old friends and familiar faces, with only a slightly risqué story about his dad borrowing the teen Jake's new CD player and locking the bedroom door for some alone time with mom. (This was a Jake Owen show, for goodness sake: There had to be some talk about sex!) 

Jake knew how to read the very different audiences, and both audiences loved the tailor-made attention. No generic chit-chat here! 

Whether playing for thousands at the CMA Fest stadium or hundreds at a small town fair, Jake Owen knows his audience, and the audience appreciates that they're getting a show made just for them. Catch him now while he still plays these small venues. I think his rising popularity put him in arenas and stadiums soon. But don't worry – you'll still get just as great a show when he hits the big time. He can handle it -- I've seen it myself!