Country Music Duo Meets Poet: Montgomery Gentry and Maya Angelou

Country music superstar duo MONTGOMERY GENTRY offered up a special performance of their hit song "Some People Change for AN EVENING WITH DR. ANGELOU at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center's Jackson Hall in Nashville last Monday.

The Frisk Jubilee Singers joined MONTGOMERY GENTRY on stage for the song, a special request by Dr. Maya Angelou, the Pulitzer prize winning poet and author.

Dr. Angelou is a fan of MONTGOMERY GENTRY. She met the duo when she interviewed them for "Oprah and Friends" on XM Satellite Radio.

"When I listen to Montgomery Gentry they are young men I can claim as my sons--they don't know that, but it's alright," said Dr. Angelou, who says she owns all of their CDs.

The admiration is mutual.

"To meet someone as inspiring as Dr. Angelou and to hear her in this kind of setting has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life," said Troy Gentry.

"She is absolutely an amazing lady said Eddie Montgomery.

Gentry went to to add that he found Dr. Angelou to be an inspiration and that he was honored to have been a part of the Nashville stop of her Unique Lives tour.

Faith Hill & Tim McGraw Talk About Family Life and Touring

This morning I heard a wonderful interview about family and touring with FAITH HILL and TIM McGRAW on WIRK by JD (of JD & The Crew).

The dynamic country music duo is slated to play South Florida this summer when their Soul2Soul Tour 2007 hits the Bank Atlantic Center stage on Tuesday, July 24.

Thirty-three performances are slated for the nine week tour. The two and a half hour show will include several first time musical performances by Tim and Faith, as well as the #1’s such as “Live Like You Were Dying,” “Breathe,” “Don’t Take The Girl,” “Cry,” “I Like It, I Love It,” “It’s Your Love,” “This Kiss,” as well as Tim’s new single with Faith titled, “I Need You.”

In spite of a hectic schedule, the couple always makes time for family. Tim talked about coaching his daughter's softball team to an undefeated season, with Faith in the stands cheering each game.

When on the road the couple likes to get out and see local sights but seldom has time to really enjoy a visit when on tour. It is work.

You can listen to clips online at www.wirk.com

South Florida fans will want to check out Faith and Tim's respective fan clubs for information about joining, as well as how to get backstage passes for this upcoming show. The website for faith is www.faithhill.com and for Tim it is www.timmcgraw.com. Both website have free music clips and photos.

Country Music Award Winner Fan Clubs

There were no big surprises in Tuesday night's 42 Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, and all of the winners are on the Black Book Guide to Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100 list.

• Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
• Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Top Vocal Duo: Brooks & Dun
• Top Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Top New female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert
• Top New Male Vocalist: Rodney Atkins
• Top New Duo or Group: Little Big Town
• Single of the Year: "Give It Away," George Strait
• Album of the Year: Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood
• Video of the Year: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood
• Vocal Event of the Year: "Building Bridges," Brooks & Dun, with Cheryl Crow and Vince Gill

Featuring 100 fan clubs in a black book, the Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100 gives you complete information about how to join your favorite fan clubs and how to get free stuff like photos, music downloads and autographs. The cost is $7.95. The Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fan Clubs is available at http://www.blackbookpress.com/ and amazon.com

Live From Las Vegas - The 42nd Annual American Country Music Awards

Live From Las Vegas - It is the 42nd Annual American Country Music Awards.

Festivities started on Sunday with the annual ACM Motorcycle Ride for charity, hosted by MONTGOMERY GENTRY.

After the ride, country superstars took to the stage at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas for a free concert to kick-off the ACM Awards.

Performers included Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson, Little Texas, Emerson Drive, Craig Morgan, Trick Pony, James Otto, Big Kenny, Carolina Rain, Ray Scott, Heidi Newfield, Halfway to Hazard, Whiskey Falls, Rowdy and Memarie, among others.

Gretchen played a set with special guests Big and Rich and Heart's Nancy Wilson.

The 42nd Annual Country Music Awards airs tonight t 8 p.m. on CBS live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with REBA hosting.

Nominee milestones include:

• George Strait leads with 8 nominations.
• Brooks & Dunn receive 7 nominations.
• Rascal Flatts receives 6 nominations.
• American Idol Carrie Underwood receives 5 nominations.
• Big & Rich receives 4 nominations.
• Vince Gill, Josh Turner and Gretchen Wilson all receive 3 nominations.

And the nominees are:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
• Kenny Chesney
• Tim McGraw
• Rascal Flatts
• George Strait

TOP MALE VOCALIST
• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
• Sara Evans
• Faith Hill
• Miranda Lambert
• Martina McBride
• Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP
• Diamond Rio
• Emerson Drive
• Little Big Town
• Lonestar
• Rascal Flatts

TOP VOCAL DUO
• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Montgomery Gentry
• Sugarland
• The Wreckers

TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
• Rodney Atkins
• Craig Morgan
• Chris Young

TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
• Miranda Lambert
• Kellie Pickler
• Taylor Swift

TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
• Heartland
• Little Big Town
• The Wreckers

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Hillbilly Deluxe - Brooks & Dunn (Arista Nashville)
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
#3 Produced by Mark Wright, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks
# 6 Original demo produced by Kix Brooks, Tom Shapiro, Bob DiPiero
• It Just Comes Natural - George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Produced by Tony Brown, George Strait
• Me and My Gang - Rascal Flatts (Lyric Street Records)
Produced by Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts
• Some Hearts - Carrie Underwood (19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records)
#1, 2, 4, 7, 10 & 13 Produced by Mark Bright
#3, 6, 8, 9, 11 & 12 Produced by Dann Huff
• These Days - Vince Gill (MCA Nashville)
Produced by Vince Gill, John Hobbs, Justin Niebank

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood, Produced by Mark Bright
19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records
• Give It Away
George Strait, Produced by Tony Brown, George Strait
MCA Nashville
• I Loved Her First
Heartland, Produced by Walt Aldridge
Lofton Creek Records
• What Hurts the Most
Rascal Flatts, Produced by Dann Huff, Rascal Flatts
Lyric Street Records
• Would You Go With Me
Josh Turner, Produced by Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
• Amarillo Sky
Jason Aldean
Writers: John Rich, Big Kenny, Rodney Clawson, Bart Pursley
Publishers: © 2005 Rich Texan Music (ASCAP), Bound For Sound Music (ASCAP) All
rights admin. By WB Music Corp. (ASCAP) Big Love Music (BMI) Admin. By Carol
Vincent and Associates. Grinnin’ Girl Music (BMI) Bar Two Beat One Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
• Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood
Writers: Chris Tompkins, Josh Kear
Publishers: That Little House Music (ASCAP)/ Mighty Underdog Music/Sony/ATV Cross
Keys Publishing (ASCAP)
• Give It Away
George Strait
Writers: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson
Publishers: © 2006 Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Mr. Bubba Music, Inc., admin. by Sony/ATV
Music Publishing (BMI); Run Slow Music, admin. By ICG (ASCAP); EMI Blackwood
Music Inc. (BMI)

• If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)
Rodney Atkins
Writers: Sam and Annie Tate, Dave Berg
Publishers: Gravitron Music, SESAC, Whaddayadef Music, Cal IV Songs, Bergbrain Music,
ASCAP
• Would You Go With Me
Josh Turner
Writers: Shawn Camp, John Scott Sherrill
Publishers: © 2005 Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog Music/Travelin' Arkansawyer
Music, admin. By Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Sony/ATV Songs LLC/All Mighty Dog
Music/City Wolf Music, admin. By Sony/ATV Music Publishing (BMI)
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
• 8th of November - Big & Rich
Producer: Steve Lamar
Director: George Flanigen, Robert Deaton, Marc Oswald
• Amarillo Sky - Jason Aldean
Producer: Brittany Hailes
Director: Wes Edwards
• Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White
• Hillbilly Deluxe - Brooks & Dunn
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld
Director: Michael Salomon
• The Seashores of Old Mexico - George Strait
Producer: Shelli Jury
Director: Trey Fanjoy

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
• Building Bridges - Brooks & Dunn with Vince Gill & Sheryl Crow
Produced by Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks
Arista Nashville
• I Don't Want To - Ashley Monroe & Ronnie Dunn
Produced by Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville
• Me and God - Josh Turner featuring Dr. Ralph Stanley and Marty Roe, Dana Williams and
Gene Johnson of Diamond Rio
Produced by Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville
• Politically Uncorrect - Gretchen Wilson featuring Merle Haggard
Produced by Gretchen Wilson, John Rich and Mark Wright
Columbia Nashville
• That's How They Do It In Dixie - Hank Williams Jr. with Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich and
Van Zant
Produced by Doug Johnson for Curb Productions
Curb Records

Country Music News, Gossip & Commentary: Bucky Covington, Terri Clark

BUCKY COVINGTON Debut Sales Soaring

News from buckycovington.com

BUCKY COVINGTON SELLS MORE THAN 100,000 CDs IN FIRST THREE WEEKS OF RELEASE

Nashville, TN…(May 9, 2007) – American Idol Season 5 finalist Bucky Covington continues to establish himself as the hottest new artist in country music, having sold in excess of 100,000 copies of his self-titled debut CD in just three weeks.

His debut single “A Different World” is generating strong phone requests as it enters the top 20 and continues to climb the Billboard chart.

Bucky Covington debuted at #1 on Nielsen SoundScan’s Country Top 75 Chart on April 25th with 61,000 units sold.

Covington’s debut CD entered Nielsen SoundScan’s all genre Top 200 chart at #4 and was the only new country act to open inside the top five this year.

Covington has the distinction of having not only 2007’s biggest unit debut from a new country artist, but also the best first week sales and highest Top 200 debut for any new male country artist since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992.

FAN CLUB OF THE WEEK: BUCKY COVINGTON

You can join the BUCKANEERS, Bucky Covington's new fanclub, online. Click here for fan club details.

TERRI CLARK to Perform at at CMA Music Fest

Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/ BNA Records) - Terri Clark, the hardest working showgirl in country music, gets to do what she does best - play for the fans - in her hometown, as the Country Music Association tapped the 4-time CMA nominee to open their annual Fan Festival with a rocking set on the Cumberland River . Hitting the Greased Lightning Stage at 10:00 a.m. sharp on Thursday June 7th, Clark will ring in the 2007 CMA Music Festival with her signature take-no-prisoners performance style and a fistful of hits, that include her first BNA smash 'Dirty Girl.'

Click here to read the rest of the story at top40-charts.com

Justin Timberlake, Big & Rich, Blake Shelton & the Top 10 Country Albums

Country Music News, Gossip and Commentary

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is going back to his Tennessee roots.

He told USA Today: "I've had a good share of the spotlight. I don't feel I need too much of it right now. I want to write country music because I grew up in Tennessee...."

The popular singer says he wants to concentrate on song writing. He wants to express himself through different types of music.

If BON JOVI can do it, why not TIMBERLAKE?

BIG & RICH

BIG and RICH, along with COWBOY TROY, will be soaking up the sunshine in Florida this weekend. The MUZIK MAFIA crew will be performing at SUNFEST in West Palm Beach on Sunday.

According to the Muzikmafia.com website: "It's about putting a bluegrass guy up there with a rock 'n roll gut and seing what happens."

Big & Rich will be happening on the stage at 7:30 p.m. Other music acts start at noon on the closing day of Sunfest. Tickets are available at the gate.

BLAKE SHELTON

Check out news and clips from BLAKE SHELTON's new album on his website at www.blakeshelton.com Pure BS is BLAKE'S fourth album. It was released on Monday. The single "Don't Make Me" is number 17 on the Billboard Country Chart this week.

BILLBOARD TOP 10 COUNTRY ALBUMS
1. Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts
2. Martina McBride - Waking Up Laughing
3. Tim McGraw - Let it Go
4. Alison Krauss - A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
5. Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
6. Rascal Flatts - Me and My Gang
7. Bucky Covington - Bucky Covington
8. Larry the Cable Guy - Morning Constitutions
9. Sugarland - Enjoy the Ride
10. Alan Jackson, George Strait, Jimmy Buffett - Live at Texas Stadium