Country Music: Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Taylor Swift, Merle Haggard, Big & Rich Contest

KENNY CHESNEY

Attn: KENNY CHESNEY fans! The country music superstar will appear on ABC's Good Morning America Show on Sept. 13. Kenny will sing "Never Wanted Nothing More."

Said Kenny: "It's the same idea as morning drive. When people are starting the day, it just sets the tone for your entire day and if we're going to kick-off a record, you wanna pull all that energy from New York City and put it right back into your music. If we can get that into people's homes, it'll be perfect."

Kenny will end the day in New York on NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

GARTH BROOKS

GARTH BROOKS has a new single out: "More Than a Memory." A new 3-disc set (2 CDs, 1 DVD) titled The Ultimate Hits will go on sale Nov. 6.

MERLE HAGGARD

Also out on Nov. 6, Time Life issues a 3-CD set titled "Legends of American Music: Merle Haggard - The Original Outlaw." (Note: merlehaggard.com is still offline. If anyone has information, please email to amy@blackbookpress.com)

JASON MICHAEL CARROLL

You can hear "Living Our Love Song" on Jason Michael Carroll's My Space page. This follow up to "Alyssa Lies" is a hit.

TAYLOR SWIFT

I would not have thought so unless I saw it myself, but it is worth watching Taylor Swift's "Teardrops on my Guitar" duet with America's Got Talent youngster Julienne Irwin. [Note to NBC: You really should have this stuff accessible on your website. You are missing fan traffic.]

WIN BIG & RICH's NEW BOOK

Send us an email with your favorite Big & Rich story. It can be your best concert memory, why you like a particular song, or why you joined the fan club. The best response will get a free copy of All Access Big & Rich, compliments of Fanscape and Black Book Press. Email amy@blackbookpress.com

Country Music News: Big & Rich Contest, Merle Haggard

BIG & RICH CONTEST

Are you a Big & Rich fan?

Do you want to win a free copy of the new All Access Big & Rich book and DVD?

Here's how: Send us an email with your favorite Big & Rich story. It can be your best concert memory, why you like a particular song, or why you joined the fan club. The best response will get a free copy of All Access Big & Rich, compliments of Fanscape and Black Book Press.

All Access Big & Rich is jam-packed with more than 200 color pages of behind-the-scenes photos and stories about the Muzik Mafia. You learn the stories behind the songs and get to know more about superstar entertainers Big Kenny and John Rich. Plus you get the All Access Big & Rich DVD, too. The book sells for $24.99 and is available online and in book stores.

Include your name and contact info and email your contest entry to: amy@blackbookpress.com

Join the Freak Parade. Become a member of the Big & Rich fan club for only $25 and you'll receive meet and greet opportunities, pre-sale ticket availability, exclusive audio and video online, member only news and photos, free desktop screensavers and buddy icons, and more.

Information about the Freak Parade and all of your favorite country music fan clubs is available in the Black Book Guide to Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100. Click here to order for only $7.95.

MERLE HAGGARD

We received an email that the merlehaggard.com web site is not operational. At present, when you log onto the site it says "Account Suspended." The snail mail address we have for the fan club is: Merle Haggard Fan Club, c/o Libby Roberts, 235 Murrell Meadows Dr. #72, Sevierville, TN 37876. If anyone has additional information, please email amy@blackbookpress.com

Country Music News: Tim McGraw, Bucky Covington, Merle Haggard, Allman Brothers

TIM McGRAW TOPS BILLBOARD CHARTS

Country music superstar Tim McGraw tops both the Billboard album chart and song chart this week. "Let It Go" debuts at #1 with 330,000 sold copies last week. Breakout single "Last Dollar" is the at the top of the song charts.

BUCKY COVINGTON FANS

For all you Bucky Covington fans, check out the Team Covington Blog. The former American Idol's self-titled debut album hits stores April 17.

MERLE HAGGARD WEBCASTS

Who knew Merle Haggard was so technologically advanced? He is selling webcasts now on his website http://www.merlehaggard.com/. Most are $15, but there are two free ones available: a blooper (with Marty Stuart) and a Christmas greeting.


ALLMAN BROTHERS TOUR

The ALLMAN BROTHERS are headed to Live Oak, Florida, for the annual Wanee Festival, April 13 - 14.

Other cites on the Southern rockers' itinerary include:

May 4 - Memphis, TN - Beale Street Music Festival
MAy 5 - New Orleans, LA - Jazz & Heritage Festival
July 31 - Rama, Ontario - Casino Rama
August 3 - Gilford, NH - Meadowbrook Farm
August 4 - Newport, RI - Newport Folk Festival
August 7, 8 - Boston, MA - Bank Boston Pavilion
August 14 - Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion (w/ Ratdog)
August 15 - Burgettstown, PA - Post-Gazette Pavilion (w/ Ratdog)
August 17 - Camden, NJ - Tweeter Center (w/ Ratdog)
August 18 - Bushkill, PA - Mountain Laurel Center (w/ Ratdog)
August 19 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Performing Arts Center (w/ Ratdog)
August 21 - Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater (w/ Ratdog)
August 22 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center (w/ Ratdog)
September 2 - Snowmass Village, CO - Jazz Aspen

Country Muisc Loses Bucky Jones

Country singer BUCKY JONES was killed early Saturday morning when he was struck by a car as he walked along a Texas highway after his vehicle had blown a tire. The Dallas Morning News reported the driver of the car who struck him is being held on a charge of intoxicated manslaughter. Jones released al album titled “Lucky Star” in 2005.

The BILLY DEAN fan club is gathering online greeting for his April 2 birthday. If you want to sign the birthday guestbook, visit the fan club web site at http://www.billydean.com/guestbook.cfm

Country music legend MERLE HAGGARD is selling his latest single online. An MP3 download of “Hilary” is only $1.99 at his website – merlehaggard.com.