Blake Shelton’s “Ten Times Crazier” tour sells out first two weekends (from the mailbag)

Blake Shelton in Virginia
The "Ten Times Crazier" party started well before doors opened this weekend for
Blake Shelton's sold-out shows. Tailgaters arrived first thing in the morning;
lining up to block real estate in the parking lot and set up camp for what
became an ode to their favorite reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Blake
Shelton. Even Blake was blown away by the response of his fans saying, "I heard
music playing and just figured it was beach goers but then I went outside and
realized my fans had arrived earlier in the morning to tailgate. Here we are in
New York and there are pickup trucks and cowboy hats filling out the parking lot
at Jones Beach. That was beyond anything I had anticipated."

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Continue ReadingBlake Shelton’s “Ten Times Crazier” tour sells out first two weekends (from the mailbag)

Craig Morgan announces new album details for “The Journey (Livin’ Hits), out Sept. 3 (from the mailbag)

The_Journey_Cover
Craig Morgan is well known for his music, his outdoor adventures on his hit TV show, and for being great to his fans! He put his personal touch on announcing details for his upcoming album, THE JOURNEY (LIVIN' HITS), set for release on September 3rd, revealing information about the project during a live Facebook digital fan press conference late last week. Fans joining him on his page were the first to see the new album cover and got the exclusive chance to participate in a live Q&A with Morgan.

The Journey (Livin' Hits), co-produced with his longtime creative partner, Phil O'Donnell, contains four emotional new tracks including his powerful new single, "Wake Up Lovin' You." The project also contains eight of his biggest hits, including the six-week #1 single, "That's What I Love About Sunday."

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How Country Music Influenced Bob Dylan

Dylan and cashBob Dylan and Johnny Cash

Disclaimer: All posts written by guest writers on this website are solely that writer's opinion and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other writers and site owner. I respect their opinions and so should you, even if you don't agree with it.

Guest writer post: 

From the protest folk of Woody Guthrie to the Delta Blues of Robert Johnson, the early output of Bob Dylan was inspired by a number of traditions in American song. But while it might not have always been apparent, the country sounds of the 40s/50s was just as instrumental in shaping his career.

While growing up as Robert Zimmerman in the Minnesota cities of Duluth and then Hibbing, a young Dylan spent much of his youth listening to country stations broadcasting from Shreveport, Louisiana and also The Grand Ole Opry, a WSM Nashville live radio show which he would later appear on with Johnny Cash in 1969, a fact which was alluded to in a New York interview in 1965:

“All the music I heard up until I left Minnesota was… I didn’t hear any folk music… I just heard Country and Western, rock and roll and polka music.”


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Toby Keith would rather have skipped that Forbes cover

Toby Keith forbes
Remember not too long ago when Forbes put Toby Keith on the cover of their Celebrity 100 issue and declared him country's $500 million dollar man?

Yeah, he really didn't want to do that cover. 

Toby recently spoke with NewsOK and told them that he was basically forced into it by his publicist. 

“My publicist, this is one of the things she demanded. She was like, ‘They want to put you on the cover of Forbes. They’re requiring a photo shoot and interviews and follow you around for a couple of days out on the road.’ And I was like ‘Man …’"

“First of all, it’s like pulling teeth to get me to do photo shoots. And I don’t mind doing interviews if they’re by phone, but I hate to go sit down and have to meet somebody somewhere, you know what I mean. I’m getting lazy is what’s happening. No, there’s just so many people that want 20 or 30 minutes of your time that if I’m on the road like I am today, I ain’t got nothing to do but lay around on the bus all day and wait on the show. But if I’m at home, I’m running around and I’ve got stuff to do … so I try to cut back on stuff. And she was like, ‘You have to do the Forbes deal.’”

So Toby did it. How they got him to smile on the cover remains a mystery though.

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ALABAMA & Friends album arrives in stores Tuesday, August 27 (from the mailbag)

Alabama and friendsPreorder Alabama & Friends on Amazon now

One of country music's most successful and influential groups of all time,
ALABAMA, will release their highly anticipated new album, ALABAMA &
Friends, on Tuesday, August 27 through Show Dog-Universal Music. The
project is a tribute album, honoring the legendary group that helped change the
face of country music. 

ALABAMA & Friends will feature some of country
music's hottest stars — all delivering their own unique versions of the
multi-platinum-selling band's biggest hits, including Jason Aldean
("Tennessee River"), Luke Bryan ("Love in the First Degree"), Kenny
Chesney ("Lady Down on Love"), Eli Young Band ("The Closer You
Get"), Florida Georgia Line ("I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)"),
Jamey Johnson ("My Home's in Alabama"), Toby Keith ("She and
I"), Rascal Flatts ("Old Flame") and Trisha Yearwood
("Forever's As Far As I'll Go").

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Continue ReadingALABAMA & Friends album arrives in stores Tuesday, August 27 (from the mailbag)