Rascal Flatts Honored by Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

From the press release:

The Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt honored country music group Rascal Flatts in the naming of its Pediatric Surgery Center. The Rascal Flatts Surgery Center features a new specialized radiology suite, offering patients expanded services, and will house all of Children’s Hospital’s existing and new surgical programs, including more than 12,700 general and specialized pediatric surgeries performed each year at the hospital.

Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney were honored today during a ceremony at Children’s Hospital, commemorating the band’s sixth consecutive year in visiting the hospital. The superstar group also visited children room-to-room to deliver Halloween treats and hosted a Halloween party for patients and their families, including an intimate live performance. Additionally, a sign that bears the group’s name was unveiled, marking the entrance to the Rascal Flatts Surgery Center on the third floor of Children’s Hospital.

“We became involved with the work at Children’s Hospital so that children will continue to have a wonderful place to get better and to help their families move on with their lives,” said LeVox. “We have built some long-lasting relationships, not only with the staff, but with some of the kids and their parents as well.
“We are honored by the extraordinary philanthropic commitment of Rascal Flatts to our patients and families at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” said Jonathan Gitlin, M.D., James C. Overall Professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics. “The clinical work done in this new radiology suite permits us for the first time through the generosity of Rascal Flatts to make discoveries in the science of patient care that will bring new hope to children in Nashville, Middle Tennessee and across America.”

Taylor Swift Announces 2011 World Tour

Taylor Swift has announced a 17-city world tour that will kick off in Singapore on February 9.

She will hit South Korea, Japan, Belgium, Holland, Hong Kong, Norway, Germany, France and Spain before wrapping up in London March 30. The tour is in support of her third album, Speak Now.

Taylor Swift world tour dates include:

February 9 Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Indoor Stadium
February 11 Seoul, South Korea, Gymnastic Gymnasium
February 13 Osaka, Japan, Osaka-Jo Hall
February 16 Tokyo, Japan, Budokan Hall
February 17 Tokyo, Japan, Budokan Hall
March 6 Brussels, Belgium, Forest National
March 7 Rotterdam, Holland, Ahoy
March 9 Oslo, Norway, Oslo Spektrum
March 12 Oberhausen, Germany, Oberhausen Arena
March 14 Munich, Germany, Olympiahalle
March 17 Paris, France, Zenith
March 19 Madrid, Spain, Palacio De Deportes
March 22 Birmingham, United Kingdom, LG Arena
March 29 Manchester, United Kingdom, Manchester Evening News Arena
March 30 London, United Kingdom, O2 Arena

Listening Party - My Kinda Party (Jason Aldean)

Jason Aldean - "My Kinda Party" (NOV 02)

[LISTEN] 1. "Tattoos On This Town"

[LISTEN] 2. "Dirt Road Anthem" 

[LISTEN] 3. "Church Pew Or Bar Stool" 

[LISTEN] 4. "My Kinda Party" 

[LISTEN] 5. "Just Passing Through"

[LISTEN] 6. "Fly Over States"

[LISTEN] 7. "Don't You Wanna Stay (with Kelly Clarkson)"

[LISTEN] 8. "See You When I See You"

[LISTEN] 9. "It Ain't Easy"

[LISTEN] 10. "Texas Was You"

[LISTEN] 11. "Country Boy's World"

[LISTEN] 12. "I Ain't Ready To Quit"

[LISTEN] 13. "Heartache That Don't Stop Hurting"

[LISTEN] 14. "Days Like These"

[LISTEN] 15. "If She Could See Me Now"

Source: Mediabase

Listening Party - Country Strong OST

Various Artists -"Country Strong: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (OCT 26)

[LISTEN] 1. "Gwyneth Paltrow – 'Country Strong'"

[LISTEN] 2. "Chris Young & Patty Loveless – 'Love Don't Let Me Down'" 

[LISTEN] 3. "Sara Evans – 'A Little Bit Stronger'" 

[LISTEN] 4. "Garrett Hedlund – 'Chances Are'" 

[LISTEN] 5. "Lee Ann Womack – 'Liars Lie'"

[LISTEN] 6. "Ronnie Dunn – 'She's Actin' Single (I'm Drinkin'Double)'"

[LISTEN] 7. " Gwyneth Paltrow – 'Shake That Thing'"

[LISTEN] 8. "Hank Williams, Jr. – 'Thirsty'"

[LISTEN] 9. "Faith Hill – "Give in to Me""

[LISTEN] 10. "Trace Adkins – 'Timing Is Everything'"

[LISTEN] 11. "Leighton Meester – 'Words I Couldn't Say'"

[LISTEN] 12. "Gwyneth Paltrow – 'Coming Home'"

[LISTEN] 13. "Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow – 'Me and Tennessee'"

Source: Mediabase

Happy Halloween!

I would like to wish all the readers of Countrify a very Happy Halloween, with the very cute picture above of a puking pumpkin, courtesy of Montgomery Gentry's Troy Gentry. This is probably the most unique pumpkin design I've ever seen. So, enjoy yourselves, guys and girls, and don't forget to check back to Countrify for more updates on the latest news in country music after all the trick-and-treating is  over! :-)

I Won't Let Go - Rascal Flatts (New Song)

Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean ft. Kelly Clarkson (New Song)

I have to admit; this is an excellent collaboration between a pop singer and a country artist. The person who thought of asking Jason Aldean to sing a duet with Kelly Clarkson must be a genius. Taken from his upcoming album My Kinda Party, Don't You Wanna Stay is miles better than the title track. I hope the rest of the album will be like this too. Simply outstanding!

Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean ft. Kelly Clarkson

I really hate to let this moment go
Touching your skin, and your hair falling slow
When a goodbye kiss, feels like this

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
Don’t you wanna hold each other tight
Don’t you wanna fall asleep with me tonight

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
We can make forever feel this way
Don’t you wanna stay

Let’s take it slow, I don’t wanna move too fast
I don’t wanna just make love, I wanna make love last
When you’re on this high, it’s a sad goodbye

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
Don’t you wanna hold each other tight
Don’t you wanna fall asleep with me tonight
Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
We can make forever feel this way
Don’t you wanna stay

Oh yeeah

Oh, you feel so perfect, baby
That it feels so perfect, baby

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while

Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
Don’t you wanna hold each other tight
Don’t you wanna fall asleep with me tonight
Don’t you wanna stay here a little while
We can make forever feel this way
Don’t you wanna stay 

Jennifer Nettles on Chelsea Lately

Sugarland on Ellen

Jamey Johnson on Jay Leno

CMT Crossroads Unites Martina McBride, Train

Martina McBride and rock band Train will partner for a CMT Crossroads episode scheduled to air on Nov. 20. The one-hour show will be taped in Nashville for a private audience. "Performing on CMT Crossroads with Martina McBride is an exciting honor for Train. Martina is an icon in the country music world because her voice is amazing and her songs are timeless. We can't wait to share the Crossroads stage with her and her band," said Train's lead singer, Pat Monahan. Train's pop hits include "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)," "Meet Virginia," "Calling All Angels" and "Hey Soul Sister." McBride formerly appeared on CMT Crossroads with one of her idols, Pat Benatar, in 2003.

Family Man - Craig Campbell (Music Video)

Craig Campbell

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

Garth Brooks To Perform In Nashville For First Time Since 1998

NASHVILLE, October 28, 2010 – For the first time since 1998, Garth Brooks is returning to Nashville to perform Friday, December 17th, 7:00 PM at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, benefiting The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee in support of all those affected by the disastrous flooding this past Spring.

Garth Brooks had this to say, “I have watched with great pride how the Volunteer State has pulled together to rise above the damage suffered by the floods. It was a small church sign in Hendersonville that changed my life decades ago when I read, ‘Character is not created in crisis...it is revealed.’ Tennessee has shown amazing character through all of this and it is an honor to get to be a part of the healing process.”

The tickets will be $25 plus handling with the hope that even those who suffered might be able to attend. 100% of the $25.00 ticket will go to those in need. "There will be only one arena show we'll do this year and it will be in Nashville," said Brooks. Further ticketing and concert information will be released at 12 noon central time, Wednesday, November 3rd.

Garth Brooks added, “Nashville is what young people dream of. As Miss Ellen said: disaster is only a disaster until the next one comes along. If you come to Vegas you'll see Garth Brooks and a guitar. If you come to Nashville you’ll see the band and me as you know us with the lighting and sound that you know. We are following in the footsteps of who already set the example. We are all Tennesseans helping Tennessee.”

The announcement was made Thursday morning from the State Capitol Building, with the attendance and support of Governor Phil Bredesen, Senator Lamar Alexander, Senator Bob Corker, Congressman Jim Cooper, Congressman Marsha Blackburn, Mayor Karl Dean and Ellen Lehman, President of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

"The impact of May's flooding is still being felt in Tennessee as communities continue to rebuild," said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "I'm extremely pleased to see that the great outpouring of support for flood victims that was a hallmark of the early response continues, and I appreciate the leadership of all the members of Nashville's music family who, like Garth, have organized events or established funds to help Tennesseans rebuild their lives."

“Many Tennesseans are still recovering from the biggest natural disaster since the president took office -- floods that left 47 Tennessee counties declared disaster areas. The flooding didn’t get much national attention, in part because Tennesseans started cleaning up and helping each other instead of looting and complaining,” Senator Lamar Alexander said. “I thank Garth for bringing Tennesseans together through his music and I know the proceeds from the concert, which he is generously contributing to the cleanup, will be put to good use helping people put their lives back together.”

"Because of the extraordinary compassion and commitment of our people, six months after the flood, Tennessee has made great progress—but the work is not done. I thank Garth for bringing his talents and energy to this cause. Music can be a powerful tool for good, and I hope the awareness and money this concert raises will help affected Tennesseans continue to recover and rebuild their lives and communities," said U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

“I have been so proud of the way our community has responded to this disaster but we can’t forget that a lot of families are still recovering,” said Congressman Jim Cooper. “Garth Brooks’ dedication to the long term flood recovery continues to show that the volunteer spirit in Music City is stronger than ever.”

"Our salvation from the spring floods was the abundance of talented, resourceful, and compassionate Tennesseans. Garth is certainly one of those talented, compassionate, and generous. I am happy to join the Davidson County delegation in thanking him for his efforts," said Congressman Marsha Blackburn.

"The generous spirit of the music industry has been a tremendous help in Nashville's recovery, not only through direct financial support of telethons and concerts, but also by showing the world that we're still Music City and that we're open for business," Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said. "I appreciate Garth for using his talent and resources to bring attention to the ongoing needs of our community and state as we work hard to recover, and for holding an event that will draw visitors from around the country to come experience all that Nashville has to offer."

“For a few flood victims, the journey to rebuilding their lives is complete. For most, however, the work to rebuild their lives and livelihood, their homes, and their broken hearts continues and will continue for months if not years,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. “We, as The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, remain grateful for and humbled by every gift we’ve received for flood relief. Garth Brooks’ donation of what may well be a once in a lifetime event will have enormous impact on the ongoing work of recovery and we are grateful.”

Hello World - Lady Antebellum (Music Video)

The 2nd Annual Bayou Country Superfest Lineup

KENNY CHESNEY, TIM McGRAW, SUGARLAND, ZAC BROWN BAND, TRACE ADKINS, BILLY CURRINGTON, LUKE BRYAN AND MORE SET TO ROCK THE 2ND ANNUAL BAYOU COUNTRY SUPERFEST AT LSU'S TIGER STADIUM IN BATON ROUGE, MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND (MAY 28 & 29)

Single-Day, Reserved-Seat Tickets and Discounted Two-Day Packages On Sale November 10

Saturday, May 28 Sunday, May 29 Tim McGraw Kenny Chesney Sugarland Zac Brown Band Trace Adkins Billy Currington Luke Bryan Jason Michael Carroll Josh Thompson Lee Brice

Sugarland's The Incredible Machine Debuts at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 and Country Album Charts

From the press release:

Mercury Nashville duo Sugarland and their fourth album The Incredible Machine debuts at #1 this week on both Billboard’s Top 200 all-genre chart and the current country chart with sales of more than 202K, besting releases by Kings of Leon, Elton John and Leon Russell’s collaboration, Rod Stewart and Lil Wayne, which round out the Top 5 of the Top 200 respectively.

This marks the third time leads Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have taken new albums straight to the top of the charts. Previous highs include ‘08’s Love On The Inside and ‘09’s Live On the Inside.

“We are thrilled to be #1 this week,” said Nettles. “We are grateful for all the fans that bought the album. This is an incredible start on a record that feels big and close to our hearts!”

Bush continued, “We’re excited that so many people bought the album this week. We have been playing many of these songs on tour all year and are happy that fans get to finally have the music in their hands and ears."

Be sure and tune in or set your recorder for Chelsea Lately tonight and their performance on Ellen October 28 alongside guest First Lady Michelle Obama. The video for Sugarland’s Top 5 hit single “Stuck Like Glue” has been added to VH1 and the duo will be dropping by the Top 20 studios October 30, which will air at 9amET and re-air October 31 and November 2 at 7:30amET.

And if you missed their Today Show performance Friday of new single “Little Miss” and #1 hit “Settlin’”, click here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39725810/ns/today-entertainment/.

Sugarland Aim for the Heart on New Album, The Incredible Machine

From CMT.com:


The first full minute of Sugarland's new album, The Incredible Machine, replicates that moment familiar to any concertgoer when house lights dim, guitars swell and anticipation builds to a frenzy just before the big curtain drops. Jennifer Nettles wails with electric imagery -- fire and lightning, burning nights, rising smoke. Moments later, the high-octane engine of The Incredible Machine is in overdrive.

Asked how that suspenseful introduction sets the tone for the project, Kristian Bush replies matter-of-factly, "Well, it sets every tone for the project." Although he and Nettles admit they debated about whether that track should open The Incredible Machine, Bush now calls it a "completely obvious" selection to kick off the record.

"It reintroduces Jennifer's vocal in a way where people go, 'Uh, oh! Mama's coming!' It's long, it's out of time, it's pure emotion and energy," he says. "There's this pause right between the end of the intro bit and before the drums kick in. I still don't know how long that pause is, but it's just long enough to make you really nervous and to make you so excited when you hear that drum go 'crack, crack.'"

"It's big," Nettles notes. "It definitely sets a tone and says, 'Something is different here.' At first, when the drums come in, it may be a bit like, 'Whoa! What the heck is happening?' The next thing you know, there's so much energy with it, you're like, 'I'm in. I'm totally in.'"

The Incredible Machine feels like "an artistic rebirth," Nettles says.

"It feels like a jumping point, a new place, a new bar has been set for us with this record," she explains. "I think people are excited about it. They're curious about it. I think it's inspired a lot of conversation about 'what is country music today?' That makes me feel very proud to be a part of that kind of cultural moment."

So, what exactly is this incredible machine? Specifically, it's the human heart.

"That's the theme that stitches it all together," Bush says.

To back up this notion, Nettles rattles off about a half-dozen lyrics from the album that explicitly mention the heart.

"There's a lot that talks about the human heart and its very diverse and exquisite capacity to love and to process and to feel," she says.

And hey, don't underestimate lust.

"I love that lust is a big part of this record," Bush says with a smile. Indeed, the propulsive title track describes the heart as "made of blood and love and hope and lust and steam."

"That is keeping it real!" Nettles exclaims. "I love that we've mixed all of these different elements -- the actual physical elements with the emotional elements with the ephemeral element of steam coming in there. I love that."

The boisterous duo launched the project with the bouncing, flirtatious "Stuck Like Glue," which surprised many country fans with its reggae breakdown. (Nettles' bright green leotard and lively dance routine in the music video surely raised some eyebrows, too.) Meanwhile, another fun and fast-moving track called "Every Girl Like Me" draws on reggae-inspired genres like dancehall and dub to illustrate a young woman with an awful lot of quirks.

"I love the picture of what this girl is like because I do believe, much like the narrator believes, that there is a person for every person," Bush says. "There might even be more than one, but I do believe in it. I'm a hopeless and helpless romantic. When that song started to unfold, we got to the bridge of it, and I was referencing dancehall, like hyip-dibi-dibi-dibi, hyip-dibi-dibi-dibi."

Nettles admits it's hard to tell the difference between singing and rapping in dub music, but she embraced the chance to write lyrics based on the rhythm of the actual words. Thus, if you're reading along in the liner notes, you'll confirm the girl's fondness for hot French fries, red balloon ties, hoodies hangin' down and so on.

"The lyrics themselves can just be fun words that sound really 'riki-tiki' to say," Nettles notes. "It doesn't have to always have to make narrative sense but just have fun with having fun words. If you remember the Sugar Hill Gang [a pioneering hip hop group in the '70s], when everybody wanted to learn 'hip-hop-hippa-to-the-hippity-hip-hop.' Everybody wants to learn that. It's fun to say."

"We were saying, 'Oh, you remember as a kid we used to rewind that on the cassette and try to learn it?'" Bush adds. "For some reason, I think we still do that with Eminem songs, and it's a sense of pride when you get them all."

Nettles says she wrote the album's closing song, "Shine the Light," for Bush, whom she knew when they were both aspiring singer-songwriters in the Atlanta club scene. She first played him the sweet piano ballad, drawing upon her loyalty and enduring friendship, backstage at a show.

Bush says, "I couldn't make it through the whole thing without crying, as a listener. It's a very emotional song. Still, to this day, I'm not sure that I can make it all the way through."

Speaking about producing that session, he turns to Nettles during the interview and says, "I heard you hone in on it. I know what it's like to be on the other side of that glass and to be playing very well. It's a state of mind that I'm familiar with. I heard you turn and move to where you wanted to land emotionally and settle on each of those lines. It's like watching art. It's humbling. You can't believe you're watching it. You can't believe you're hearing it. You're really good at that."

Just like at the beginning of The Incredible Machine, Bush pauses for effect. Still looking at Nettles, he concludes, "You're now officially the piano player from here on out."

The very thought causes Nettles to burst into laughter.

"Oh, please!" she protests. "No way! Don't you dare! I'd be a nervous wreck every night. Plus, it's hard to dance behind that thing, man!"

"Invitation Only" Featuring Rascal Flatts Premieres Nov. 15 on CMT

From the press release:

Country super group Rascal Flatts is next to take CMT’s INVITATION ONLY stage when an all-new episode premieres Monday, November 15 at 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m., ET/PT.   Taped before a small studio audience in Nashville, the INVITATION ONLY series features artists performing their biggest hits and new favorites, as well as answering questions from fans during an informal question and answer session.

In this one-hour special, Rascal Flatts performs songs from their first Big Machine Records release Nothing Like This which is in stores November 16, including “I Won’t Let Go” and their latest single “Why Wait.” They also perform fan favorites, including “Summer Nights,” “Fast Cars & Freedom,” “Bless The Broken Road” and more. During a question and answer session, the group remarks on their recent milestone of 10 successful years in country music and reveals what a typical day is like as well as their pre-show rituals.

Rascal Flatts to Appear on Live on Letterman

Details from the press release: 

CBS Interactive Music Group’s flagship music webcast series, LIVE ON LETTERMAN, presented by AT&T, continues hosting the biggest names in music throughout the month of November. Featured acts will include Grammy winning, multi-talented country sensation Brad Paisley on Wednesday, Nov. 3 (8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT), acclaimed Jersey rockers Bon Jovi on Tuesday, Nov. 9 (8:00 PM, ET/5:00 PM, PT), and best-selling country act Rascal Flatts on Monday, Nov. 15 (9:00 PM, ET/6:00 PM, PT). 

LIVE ON LETTERMAN, the celebrated music program broadcast live from the famed Ed Sullivan Theater, home of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, engages with fans and audiences nationwide streaming live online and on-demand at http://www.cbs.com/late_night/liveonletterman/. The artists’ webcasts will follow the taping of their performances on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, which will be broadcast later the same evening from 11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT, on the CBS Television Network. 

New Single from Rascal Flatts

The new single by Rascal Flatts, off their upcoming album Nothing Like This, has been released on iTunes. This is probably the best song on their album, judging from the previews I've heard and I wanna hear the full version so bad. Sadly, the fact that I do not have an iTunes account is against me. Ah, the destruction of my hopes and dreams is so painful! Well, I'll just have to wait for someone to get it to me. Hopefully it won't take long.

Anyway, if you're reading this, you can download the song here on iTunes. And after you've done so, be kind enough to share it with me! :-)

{3 hours later}

OK, I've finally got my hands on a copy of I Won't Let Go and it's amazing! Definitely better than the very short preview I heard before. for those of you who haven't got it, what are you waiting for? It's worth every cent!

(continues listening to I Won't Let Go)

Sugarland Unstaged Performances Part 2