JO DEE MESSINA

DON'T MISS JO DEE ON OPRAH.COM

Oprah.com sat down with country music superstar Jo Dee Messina to talk about how her family comes first, being the CEO of her own brand, her new single "That's God," and so much more! Visit Oprah.com for the full story! Don't forget to tweet @jodeemessina and let her know what you thought of the story!

By Tamara Conniff - Oprah.com

"BRING ON THE RAIN" VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 50 VIDEOS OF THE DECADE

CMT has announced the fan voted 50 favorite videos of the past decade! Count them down, read about each one and see if you agree with the consensus of CMT viewers of how the most popular music videos fared in the first decade of a new century. Jo Dee's video for Bring On The Rain made the countdown!

LEE BRICE

Lee Brice Opens For Clay Walker and Plays Sold Out Show In San Jose, CA

Last night, Curb Recording artist Lee Brice kicked off his string of dates opening for Country Music superstar Clay Walker with an all out rockin’, sold out show at The Club Rodeo in San Jose, CA. And, the word is already out that tonight’s show at Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, CA is sold out.

“Wow! I can’t even begin to describe what an amazing show we had last night,” remarks Lee. “The energy was incredible. Clay’s fans just blew me away. We rocked out and had a great time!”

KRTY was also blown away by the crowd response. “Great show last night, packed house at the Rodeo Club and the crowd reaction to Love Like Crazy was over the top, at the end of the 45 minutes, the San Jose crowd loved Lee like Crazy!” says KRTY General Manager Nate Deaton.

Lee will be spending the winter months on the road headlining dates and opening select shows for Clay Walker. After staying on the west coast for a week long run, he will then continue on to Texas with additional dates across the country through March. To see a full tour schedule complete with ticket information and show times, visit www.leebrice.com

When Lee Brice first entered the country consciousness with the Top 30 hit “She Ain’t Right” in 2007, his voice carrying over FM radio waves like honey trickling through lines of melody etched in leather, his rugged sound and raw emotion spoke for a new generation of Nashville recording artists. As follow-up singles “Happy Endings,” “Upper Middle Class White Trash,” and current Top 40 hit “Love Like Crazy” have doggedly climbed the charts, Brice has continued to change the landscape of country with images inspired by the Carolina backcountry where he was raised—of a tightly packed car heading from Myrtle Beach into the sunset, of a trailer park full of Cadillacs, of 58 years of marriage lived in a 2-story house on Maple Street.

Not only has Brice established himself as one of the most promising new voices in country, he has proven himself as one of Nashville’s top tunesmiths, with cuts by Jason Aldean, Adam Gregory, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Garth Brooks to his credit. “More Than A Memory,” the Garth Brooks smash that became the first song in Billboard chart history to debut at #1, seems more like a dream to Brice.

And, the dream continues to realize as Brice’s new single “Love Like Crazy” has landed inside the Top 40 on the country singles charts and is climbing. In between tour dates, he is putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming debut album Picture Of Me.

Lee Brice To Spend The Winter On The Road

Tour Dates Announced Nationwide

Curb Records recording artist Lee Brice to spend the winter months on the road headlining dates and opening select shows for country music superstar Clay Walker. Kicking off last night in Mesa, AZ, Lee will stay on the west coast for a week long run and then continue on to Texas with additional dates across the country through March.

Shows announced to date, include the following:

02.02.10 – Mesa, AZ – Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

02.04.10 – San Jose, CA – The Rodeo Club (with Clay Walker)

02.05.10 – Bakersfield, CA – Crystal Palace (with Clay Walker)

02.06.10 – San Miguel, CA – The Ranch

02.11.10 – Tucson, AZ – Cactus Moon

02.12.10 – El Paso, TX – Whiskey Dicks

02.23.10 – Nashville, TN – Wildhorse Saloon - Chords Of Hope Concert

03.04.10 – Wichita, KS – The Cotillion (with Clay Walker)

03.05.10 – Denver, CO – Grizzly Rose (with Clay Walker)

03.11.10 – Knoxville, TN – Cotton Eyed Joe (with Clay Walker)

03.12.10 – Duluth, GA – Wild Bill's (with Clay Walker)

03.13.10 – Plant City, FL – Florida Strawberry Festival

03.17.10 – Indianapolis, IN – 8 Seconds Saloon

03.18.10 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues

03.19.10 – Columbus, OH – Screamin' Willies (with Clay Walker)

03.24.10 – Auburn Hills, MI – Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

03.26.10 – Fargo, ND – The Venue (with Clay Walker)

To see a full tour schedule complete with ticket information and show times, visit www.leebrice.com.

“Having the chance to open for Clay Walker is an incredible honor,” says Lee. “His fans are loyal, supportive and welcoming. I’m excited to share my music with them!”

To celebrate the tour, Lee has given BIG JAMES a mission. He will be walking around each club (after the doors open) with 8 passes and will hide 2 more inside the club. Find the passes and Lee will sing you a couple of songs acoustic backstage. To win, find BIG JAMES and tell him the code word. Codes will be reveled the day of show on Lee’s facebook fan site - www.facebook.com/leebricemusic.

When Lee Brice first entered the country consciousness with the Top 30 hit “She Ain’t Right” in 2007, his voice carrying over FM radio waves like honey trickling through lines of melody etched in leather, his rugged sound and raw emotion spoke for a new generation of Nashville recording artists. As follow-up singles “Happy Endings,” “Upper Middle Class White Trash,” and current Top 40 hit “Love Like Crazy” have doggedly climbed the charts, Brice has continued to change the landscape of country with images inspired by the Carolina backcountry where he was raised—of a tightly packed car heading from Myrtle Beach into the sunset, of a trailer park full of Cadillacs, of 58 years of marriage lived in a 2-story house on Maple Street.

Not only has Brice established himself as one of the most promising new voices in country, he has proven himself as one of Nashville’s top tunesmiths, with cuts by Jason Aldean, Adam Gregory, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Garth Brooks to his credit. “More Than A Memory,” the Garth Brooks smash that became the first song in Billboard chart history to debut at #1, seems more like a dream to Brice.

And, the dream continues to realize as Brice’s new single “Love Like Crazy” has landed inside the Top 40 on the country singles charts and is climbing. Currently, he is putting the finishing touches on his forthcoming debut album Picture Of Me.

MIKESCHAIR

Curb Record’s Recording Artists MIKESCHAIR Involved In Accident

Nashville, TN – January 30, 2010–The winter storm that gripped the mid-state area with icy roads proved too much early this morning for Curb Records, MIKESCHAIR. The group was on their way to perform at a Disciple Now Weekend, for a Christian youth ministry event in Petal, Mississippi, when their van and trailer hit a patch of ice heading south on I-65 causing it to spin and roll on to its side into the median. The four members of the band which include, Mike Grayson (lead singer, guitar), Sam Tinnesz, (lead guitar) Jesse Hale (violin, keyboards), and Jon Haire (bass guitar) were able to crawl out and walk away unhurt. Mike Grayson says they were very lucky, “We're all a little shook up but most thankful that everyone is OK. This accident is a challenge and reminder to hold fast to what we believe with what we sing about from stage night after night; that in the midst of a raging sea, or bad circumstances, we’re confident that God is faithful and in control. We’re disappointed that we won’t be able to make our event tonight in Petal, but we're looking forward to getting everything fixed and back up and running as soon as we can.

The band’s second single; “Let The Waters Rise” is currently top ten on the Christian AC charts and continues to gain momentum. The popularity of the “Let The Waters Rise” has helped their album see an 84% sales increase in the past week.

MIKESCHAIR released their self-titled debut album in July of 2009. Almost simultaneously the band garnered their first top 5 CHR radio hit with “Can’t Take Away” the lead single off the same album. Having met and formed on the campus of Belmont University in a dorm room, more precisely Pembroke Hall 106 their freshman year, the now alumnae, Mike Grayson, Sam Tinnesz, Jesse Hale and Jon Haire are choosing to focus their music and platform to helping those in need. The band has developed “mikestable” as the humanitarian arm of their ministry. It is the band's hope for people to be aware of what's going on in the world in terms of need, to give them empowerment, while also give options. Audiences at each MIKESCHAIR show are welcomed to visit their table that is dedicated to offering information for various partners such as Food for the Hungry, IJM, Love 146 and much more.

WYNONNA

WYNONNA, THE OAK RIDGE BOYS, LEE GREENWOOD, and RESTLESS HEART JOIN MICHAEL W. SMITH AND A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS TO RECORD “COME TOGETHER NOW” TO BENEFIT HAITI RELIEF EFFORTS

A Children’s Choir of More than 250 Elementary School Students – Including 14 from Haiti - Joined Artists Wynonna, Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, The Oak Ridge Boys, Mandisa, Matt Maher, Lee Greenwood, Phil Stacey, TobyMac, Travis Cottrell, Darwin Hobbs, Restless Heart, Point of Grace, Brandon Heath, Margaret Becker, Michael Tait, Kevin Max, The Newsboys, Ashley Cleveland, The Katinas, Kirk Sullivan, Meredith Andrews, Matthew West, Francesca Battistelli, Everlife and More NASHVILLE, TENN. – Yesterday at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Studios, multi-platinum, GRAMMY and Dove Award winning artist, gathered a who’s-who list from the music community to record “Come Together Now.”

The song, penned by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan – and produced by Bryan Lenox – was written to remind people of the need to help those in Haiti.

“The crisis in Haiti has left us all trying to figure out how we can help,” shares Smith. “We wanted to create something that the community could support, for the greater good of those in Haiti. Everyone gave of their time: the studio was donated, the musicians donated their time and all proceeds from this song will go to designated charity/relief work through The American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse. It’s incredible to be part of something that is going to help so many people.”

In addition to lending their voices in song, several artists also recorded PSA’s for The American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse for use in upcoming months. Contributing artists include:

Aaron Shust, Alathea, Amber Hezlep, Anthony Moreino, Anthony Skinner, Ashley Cleveland, Austins Bridge, B. Reith, Brady Toops, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Byron Chambers, Calvin Nowell, Charmaine, Chris McClarney, Chris Sligh, Chuck Girard, Dana Jorgensen, Darwin Hobbs, David Mullen, Don Poythress, Donovan Tea, Dorothy Savage, Duane Allen, Echoing Angels, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, Greg Jennings, Hillary McBride, Jaime Jamgochian, Jared Anderson, Jasmine Sagginario, Jason Baird, Jason Dunn, Jimmie Allen, Jody Davis, John Ford Coley, John Schlitt, Joseph Martino, Julia Ross, Justin Rivers, Kate Lazar, Kate Schettler, The Katinas, Kevin Max, Kirk Sullivan, Lara Landon, Lanae Hale, Lannie Anderson, Lee Greenwood, Mandisa, Manic Drive, Margaret Becker, Mark Hall and Megan Garrett of Casting Crowns, Matt Dowley, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Melinda Doolittle, Meredith Andrews, Michael Cavallo, Michael Olson, Michael Tait, Michael Tash, MIKESCHAIR, Mike Weaver, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Paige Armstrong, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Rachel B. James, Reco Hight, Restless Heart, Ruben Mundo, Russ Mohr, Sarah Ross, Sarah Sadler, Selah, Shannon Cochran, Shawn Cavallo, Stephanie Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Terrence James, TobyMac, Tommy Coomes, Travis Cottrell, Trey Heffinger, Wynonna, and Yellow Cavalier. (Artist list subject to change.)

The song will be made available for sale soon, with all proceeds going to benefit relief efforts to Haiti. More details on the song’s release date are forthcoming.

WYNONNA & WYCLEF JEAN TO PERFORM ON CBS NEWS' “THE EARLY SHOW", SATURDAY EDITION SUPER BOWL STAGE

Music Superstars come together for the first time for monumental performance

Nashville, TN – “Are You Ready For Some Wynonna!” -- The country soul diva will take THE EARLY SHOW, Saturday edition Super Bowl stage on Saturday morning, February 6th to continue CBS News’ coverage of Super Bowl activities. THE EARLY SHOW, Saturday edition will broadcast from Lummus Park in South Beach, Florida, anchored by Chris Wragge and Erica Hill, with Weather anchor Lonnie Quinn. Fans looking for ticket information to this one-time performance can resource: http://www.1iota.com/shows,CBS---The-Early-Show,149.html

Wynonna will be making a special announcement on this ‘live’ broadcast while Wyclef Jean will talk about the recent earthquake in Haiti and the Nation’s recovery efforts.

About Wynonna 5-time GRAMMY Award winning artist, Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 25-year career. In addition to her countless musical achievements, Wynonna became a New York Times best-selling author in 2005 with the release of her long-awaited autobiography, Coming Home to Myself, released in conjunction with her live CD and DVD Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime.

Wynonna recently released her critically acclaimed seventh solo studio album, Sing: Chapter 1, an eclectic assortment of standards paying homage to all the different genres and songs that have formed the soundtrack to her life.

Visit www.wynonna.com to learn more!

BOMSHEL

ACM Award Nomination for Bomshel!

The ACM has just announced that Bomshel is nominated for ACM’s Top New Vocal Duo.

Beginning February 26th, vote for Bomshel at www.voteACM.com

JO DEE MESSINA

JO DEE ADDED TO HAITI RELIEF BENEFIT

Nashville-based Brent Gambrell Ministries will host a Haiti Relief Benefit Concert at the People's Church in Franklin, TN on Thur. Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Come hear a first-person account from earthquake survivor Katie Erie, an MTSU student who was working at the New Life Link orphanage when the magnitude 7.0 quake hit on Jan 12. Also hear from Mike Wilson, the Williamson county father who flew into Haiti the morning after to rescue Katie and his daughter Santia (Tia), who resided at the same orphanage, and Brent Gambrell, who accompanied him, and whose ministry has been working in Haiti for almost eight years.

The evening will include performances by Jaci Velasquez, Jo Dee Messina, Melissa Greene (formerly of Avalon), Nic Gonzales, new country band Thompson Square, and others. Praise & Worship leader Jared Anderson will also premiere "Carry Me," the song he wrote for the people of Haiti, and dedicated to Katie.

There is a $10.00 suggested donation at the door, with other opportunities to give during the night. For more information on the benefit concert or ways to support the Haiti Relief efforts, contact the BGM office at 615-331-4600

Country Weekly sat down with Jo Dee Messina in the Febuary first issue of Country Weekly to talk about her upcoming album and new single "That's God." Jo Dee shared with them how God, marriage, and a baby changed her. Make sure to tweet @jodeemessina when you get your copy!

JO DEE MESSINA TO PERFORM FIVE-NIGHT, SEVEN-SHOW RESIDENCY IN NEW YORK CITY MARCH 16-20

A few weeks before the release of UNMISTAKABLE--her first album in five years--multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter JO DEE MESSINA will perform a very special five-night, seven-show residency at New York City’s intimate Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel Tuesday, March 16 through Saturday, March 20 (with two shows 3/19 & 3/20). JO DEE will take to the stage with a few shows next month before her tour gets fully underway March 11 in Missouri, with dates booked through October (the dates announced so far are listed here).

Follow up:

At Feinstein’s, JO DEE will perform in the interactive format of her recent “Music Room” tour--which is modeled after the music room in her home--including a simple stage with piano and four backing musicians. She takes requests and chats with fans, fielding questions and being her freewheeling self. On the most recent leg of the tour, she told Las Vegas Weekly, “This tour is whatever the audience wants. We do a couple songs then we flip it over to the audience and they make requests, so no two shows are the same. Sometimes the audience just wants to hear the hits; sometimes people want to hear stuff from the new record...It’s whatever they want. That’s the magic of this show, there’s no set list (11/6/09).”

JO DEE will release her single “That’s God,” off her UNMISTAKABLE album (Curb), on January 25. She wrote the song--which highlights her signature soaring voice--with keyboardist Brent Rader after she had an epiphany while taking her son on a walk at a majestic tour stop in Canada. “That song really is my soul on a page,” says JO DEE. “My son Noah was five months old at the time, and we were walking down this path and could see this snow-capped mountain that was enormous, but you felt like you could just reach out and touch it. I looked at my son and that mountain and said, ‘That’s God.’” That night on stage, she told the story to the audience and afterwards, Rader suggested they put that moment and feeling to song. To hear “That’s God” and JO DEE tell the story behind it, click here: http://www.jodeemessina.com/index.splash.php?file=JDMTG-Radio.

Since breaking onto the music scene in 1996, JO DEE has scored nine #1 country singles, sold over five million records, received two Grammy nominations and received various CMA and ACM awards. Her many hits include “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Stand Beside Me,” “That’s The Way” and “Bring On The Rain” (a duet with Tim McGraw). The new UNMISTAKABLE CD shows that JO DEE has fully come into her own as a songwriter and producer--she co-produced the whole album--and isn’t afraid to show her true colors.

For more information, check out JO DEE online: http://www.jodeemessina.com/ http://www.myspace.com/jodeemessina http://www.facebook.com/jodeemessina http://twitter.com/jodeemessina

LEE BRICE BREAKS THE COUNTRY TOP 40

Curb Records recording artist Lee Brice recently delivered to radio his brand new single “Love Like Crazy” which landed in the Top 40 on the Billboard and Country Aircheck country singles charts this week and is still climbing.

Written by Doug Johnson (Mike Curb Music/Sweet Radical) and Tim James (Warner/ Chappell Music) and produced by Doug Johnson, this inspiring mid-tempo song tenderly captures sage advice on how to make young love and a career last a lifetime. The record is from his forthcoming debut album Picture Of Me to be released in 2010.

“When I first heard ‘Love Like Crazy,’ it made me think of my grandparents,” said Brice. “My grandparents lived this song and I knew immediately that I had to record it.”

TIM MCGRAW

Tim McGraw will star opposite Gwyneth Paltrow, Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester and will reunite with Friday Night Lights' Garrett Hedlund in the country music drama Love Don't Let Me Down.

The plot follows a rising singer-songwriter (Hedlund), a fallen artist (Paltrow), her husband-manager (McGraw) and a pageant queen-turned-singer (Meester). Actor Tobey Maguire is a producer.

Filming begins January 2010 in Nashville.

WYNONNA

Wynonna Music to be Featured in RuPaul's Drag Race on 2/15 at 9pm on LOGO

Join RuPaul, the most famous drag queen in the world, as the host, mentor and inspiration on Logo's second season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the ultimate drag queen competition. Playing a dual role, RuPaul reigns supreme in all judging and eliminations, while RuPaul, the man, helps guide the contestants as they prepare for each challenge. Contestants include the nation's most outrageous, cutting-edge, talented and stunningly gorgeous drag queens all fighting for the title (and tiara) as top drag queen of the land. Each week, through the trials and tribulations of glam, glitter and show-stopping performances, one drag queen is eliminated until finding America's next drag superstar.

Wynonna's hit song "I Hear You Knocking" from her recent release, Sing: Chapter 1, is featured on Episode 3, as the drag queens must lip-synch for their lives in a country themed challenge. Tune in Monday February 15th at 9/8c on Logo network.

BOMSHEL

RODNEY ATKINS

Despite success, Rodney Atkins’s ball cap still fits

Country music: Singer thinks fans relate to his commitment to being himself, a ‘very regular guy’

BY BRANDY McDONNELL January 15, 2010

"We try to just celebrate the simple things in life. We obviously try to have just a whole lot of energy and something that everybody can get into. ... It’s an opportunity for that sense of community, for everybody to have fun together,” Atkins said by phone this week from his home outside Nashville, Tenn.

Despite five No. 1 hits, platinum album sales and industry awards, the country star still sees himself as "a very regular guy.” And he considers just being himself one of the secrets to his recent success.

Atkins, 40, notched his first Top 5 hit in 2003 with the title track of his debut album, "Honesty.” But the cover featured an almost unrecognizable Atkins in a cowboy hat and pearl snap shirt.

"The first photo shoot for me, talk about going through hell, they flew me out to somewhere I’d never been before and want you to be completely natural and be yourself. Get out there and they bring a hairstylist — hair dresser, I don’t know what you call ’em, hair person — and they’re gooing you up and doing all this stuff to ya. And they expect you to look comfortable,” he said.

After "Honesty,” Curb Records gave Atkins the freedom to pick songs that fit him, and he changed management. For his breakout 2006 record, "If You’re Going Through Hell,” Atkins penned and looked for "anthems about being human,” recorded the vocals in his home studio and wore his usual outfit of jeans, T-shirt and ball cap for the cover shoot.

Country fans loved the relatable Atkins, sending four straight songs from his sophomore album to No. 1. The title track, about coping with life’s hardships, was recognized by Billboard as the top country song for 2006, while "Watching You,” which he co-wrote from experiences with his son Elijah, was Billboard’s No. 1 country song of 2007.

The title track of his 2009 album, "It’s America,” a tribute to lemonade stands, high school proms and one nation under God, also topped the country charts.

"People ask me what songs I’m drawn to, and they’re songs about real life. It’s hard for me to write a song or be drawn to something that I can’t relate to on some level,” he said. "I think that the stuff that I sing about is for regular folks out there, and I think that’s helped a lot with the songs that we’ve had success with.”

When it comes to songs he believes in, the Tennessee native has demonstrated a willingness to stick to his guns, quite literally. His label was uneasy about releasing the hit "Cleaning This Gun (Come on in Boy),” about a father facing his teen daughter’s suitor, but Atkins championed the single after seeing the response from fans.

"There’s nothing like standing onstage singing ‘Watching You’ and seeing the kids starting singing along and seeing the parents pick up their kids and put ’em on their shoulders, or ‘Cleaning This Gun’ and (seeing) that daddy or that mama with their little girl out there,” he said.

Penning and picking deeply personal songs has enabled Atkins to overcome the intense nerves he felt when he first started singing for crowds. The star has been open about his personal life, from featuring his son in the "Watching You” video to serving as a national adoption spokesman. A sickly child, he was put up for adoption and twice returned by prospective parents before Allan and Margaret Atkins adopted and raised him. " Once I started playing ... the songs that I had written just about personal life, and saw the reaction from people, that was when I was at ease,” he said.

His pursuit of real-life songs continues, since Atkins is halfway through recording his next album, with plans to release the first single in spring. He promised to play new music tonight in Durant.

"I love trying new songs out for folks,” he said. "I love that aspect of playing songs for a real crowd.”

And he will be wearing his cap, since he doesn’t take it off for much, not even awards show red carpets.

"My wife and church, it comes off for that,” he said. "It’s just one of those things.”

CLAY WALKER

2010 is starting out great for Clay Walker, in case you didn’t know: Clay and Jessica welcomed a baby girl on December 27th and named her Mary-Elizabeth. Mary-Elizabeth has an older brother, William, who was born in August of 2008.

Clay Walker will also be hitting the stage in Nashville playing a fund-raiser called Chords of Hope: The Clay Walker MS Benefit Concert on February 23 at the Wildhorse Saloon.

A tour is the works. Look for Lee Brice to hit the road with Clay Walker this spring…details coming soon!

You can also catch him appearing on these upcoming shows:

Jan 28th -- Martha Show, cooking with Martha

Jan 29th -- Fox n Friends, performing two songs:

She Won't Be Lonely Long

If I Could Make a Living Out of Loving You

MIKESCHAIR

MIKESCHAIR will be on the air LIVE next Tuesday morning, Jan 19th at 8am Eastern time live in Indianapolis (while on tour).

Listen live on www.klove.com or stream the show from your iPhone app.

LARRY GATLIN

LARRY GATLIN & THE GATLIN BROTHERS' NEW ALBUM PILGRIMAGE IS AN INSIDER’S NOSTALGIC JOURNEY OF COUNTRY MUSIC’S PAST

Critics Exclaim Album 17 Years in the Making “Way Overdue”

(Nashville, TN) -In 1992, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers released their final country album, appropriately named Adios and stepped out of the spotlight following a successful farewell tour. It was the end of an era for the countrypolitan sound that landed the group at the top of the charts in two different decades with songs such as “Broken Lady,” “I Just Wish You Were Someone I Loved,” “Houston (Means I’m One Day Closer to You),” and “All the Gold in California.” The GRAMMY award-winning group decided to leave as champions, considering their journey over as a new sound took hold. However, after a 17 year hiatus, the group has released their first major-label album, Pilgrimage on CURB Records. The album is receiving critical acclaim:

“An ambitious, conceptual story album from the Texas siblings... the boys re-emerge with plenty of heart” - Mario Tarradell, The Dallas Morning News (The Dallas Morning News rated Pilgrimage at #7 on their list of Top 10 Albums of 2009 – all genres) “One of the year’s best country albums. It’s a heartfelt, warm, endearing project filled with timeless songs and winning harmonies.” - Howard Cohen, The Miami Herald “Larry is in exceptionally strong voice, the brothers’ harmonies remain warm and distinctive, and producer John Carter Cash wisely keeps the sound uncluttered. Pilgrimage is a history lesson with a heart.” – Chris Neal, Country Weekly “...extremely listenable” - Robert K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine “Pilgrimage shares a very intimate insight as to how the passing and loss of Johnny Cash affected those closest to him as well as giving a back door glimpse of songwriting and storytelling at its finest.” – Jan Duke, About.com “All the songs are top-notch. Pilgrimage offers excellent music and interesting conversation from one of country’s finest.” - Frank Roberts, The Virginian-Pilot “This album is their most genuine, and possibly, the best thing they’ve done since they were a trio of Texas boys with stars in their eyes.” - Rick Allen, Vintage Guitar Magazine The album is a retrospective of Gatlin’s pilgrimage through a three-decade-long career in the music business and a look back at his relationships with many of country’s legendary icons including Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Roger Miller as well as today’s hit tunesmiths Leslie Satcher and Jon Randall. Produced by John Carter Cash, the album is dotted with narrative storytelling segments by Gatlin who explains the story behind the songs.

TIM MCGRAW

Tim McGraw's 'Something Like That' is decade's most-played single

Tim McGraw's "Something Like That" received more stateside radio play than any other single in the past decade, according to Nielsen BDS radio, which monitors radio stations throughout the United States.

"Something Like That" had a bit of a head start, in that it was released in 1999 and was already getting airplay as the decade began.

The song was aired 487,343 times, between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 17, 2009. That's good news not only for McGraw, but for the song's writers, Rick Ferrell and Keith Follese.

Other contenders for the decade's top radio spot included Usher's "Yeah!", Train's "Drops of Jupiter” and Papa Roach's "Last Resort."

PUBLISHED BY PETER COOPER

JO DEE MESSINA

JO DEE MESSINA RAISES OVER $30,000 FOR HARVEST HANDS

Country superstar JO DEE MESSINA helped raise over $30,000 this past Saturday for Harvest Hands in South Nashville.

JO DEE performed two very special shows this past weekend--alongside youth and children’s choirs--at the Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville partnering with Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation (CDC), a non-profit, faith-based organization in South Nashville (http://www.harvesthandscdc.com/). With two shows, JO DEE performed for 3,000 fans, not including the 1,200 which watched the show via UStream online. The show included songs from JO DEE’s Christmas album, A JOYFUL NOISE, such as “Silver Bells,” “The Christmas Song” and “Let It Snow.” The evening performance is available for viewing online--and will be throughout the end of December--at www.JoDeeMessina.com/harvesthands. Fans are still welcome to make donations and t-shirts are available for purchase as well.

LARRY GATLIN

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers "Pilgrimage"

(Curb, 2009) (Produced by Larry Gatlin, John Carter Cash, Terry Choate & Doug Johnson)

Countrypolitan elder Larry Gatlin looks back on his career, and on the help that Johnny Cash, one of his early patrons, gave him, back in the day. Gatlin pays homage to the Cash family with a new song, "Johnny Cash Is Dead (And His House Burned Down)," and records several old songs such as "Sweet Becky Walker" that bring back memories of the old days. He also intersperses some spoken dialogue in among the songs, talking about Cash and their friendship, giving this album a very personal feel. Gatlin's an old-timer now, and his voice is much more rugged than it was in the 1970s, but when his brothers kick in with a chorus, buoying up the robustness and enthusiasm that Larry brings to this project. A nice treat for longtime fans.

BOMSHEL

CURB RECORDS DUO BOMSHEL RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM ‘FIGHT LIKE A GIRL’

Curb Records lit the fuse to ignite Bomshel’s debut album release FIGHT LIKE A GIRL,a well-crafted collection of female-empowering themes and edgy undertones; not left without a tender touch.

Bomshel, comprised of Kristy O and Kelley Shepard, spent a lifetime and the last year and a half preparing for the release of Fight Like A Girl. This record is a product of countless hours around a kitchen table, fueled by gallons of coffee and taken from an immeasurable variety of lessons in life learned.

With a studio upstairs in their Nashville-based home, the two had a hand in virtually every aspect of this album start to finish; mixing, recording, co-writing on ten out of the eleven tracks. The exception being a rockin’ countrified version of No Doubt’s ‘Just A Girl,’ featuring a tantalizing yet familiar fiddle intro by Kristy O!

“Every song you hear it’s going to be us,” says Kelley. “You’ll hear our fun side and our sad side. We have some really traditional country on there and some really poppy stuff.” Including Bomshel’s current single “19 & Crazy,” co-written by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Josh Kear, offering an enchanting recollection of the final yet unforgettable phases of adolescence. In writing songs for their record, Kelley and Kristy were looking to share stories—things they’d lived or seen someone else live through. “It has to be something that we’re really organically going through or a conversation that we’ve had with a fan or friend,” says Kristy. Newsday was on the Bomshel trail early on stating, “It looks like Kelley Shepard and Kristy O. may be set to break through, Bomshel is the Avril Lavigne of the South.” Stephen Betts October 20th article on AOL’s The Boot penned the headline“Bomshel Explodes With a Double Dose of Girl Power.”

Country Weekly said, “Bomshel’s ‘Fight Like A Girl’ is powered by perfect-blend harmonies, infectious melodies and two absolutely remarkable voices. This is one crazy good album! “

Call it what you want, Bomshel’s first single and title track, “Fight Like A Girl” engaged country radio and forged a path for Kristy O and Kelley Shepard to blast through glass ceilings and re-define stereotypes placed upon women.

“We really wanted to gear it towards all women,” says Kelley of how they crafted ‘Fight Like A Girl.’ “With our moms, sisters and grandmas…We’ve always really admired their persistence through the tough times. I think women have an amazing ability to endure. It’s a positive thing to fight like a girl because girls are a lot stronger on the inside. We don’t want to put one meaning or even one gender on this song. We all have moms, sisters and grandmas. We want people take it however they want to take it. Whether it is a little girl or a family struggling with something they really can’t control.”

Roughstock.com gave an interesting insight and favorable forecast for Bomshel saying, “Fight Like a Girl is seemingly an appropriate title, consideringthat almost any female not named Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of getting to the top of the charts — indeed, Bomshel's chart history proves that even getting into the Top 40 is quite a task for a female act anymore, especially something as rare as a female duo. Bomshel has the goods, and with any luck, they could be the act that breaks through the glass ceiling that has seemingly been built in country music of late.”

The eleven tracks on Fight Like A Girl hit a common thread on the raw emotion that comes with being a woman and the daring vulnerability of being yourself.

“When you buy a Bomshel record, you are going to be bringing home a piece of the two of us,” Kristy O says. “All I can say is on this record I played as good as I could have possibly played. I sang as good as I could have possibly sung and Kelly sang as good as she could. It’s a scary experience to now be putting it out there because it’s definitely a piece of our soul.”

Bomshel Explodes With a Double Dose of Girl Power

Oct 20th 2009 by Stephen L. Betts

Kristy Osmunson and Kelley Shepard's first meeting, just prior to joining forces as Bomshel, was a memorable one. Even though they were both performing separately on the same stage at an event in Michigan (Kelley's home state), Kristy was immediately drawn to Kelley's powerhouse voice and just had to talk to her -- and talk they did!

"I called Kristy back and we talked to two o'clock in the morning just like best friends do," Kelley says. "I'd never really met somebody who became an instant friend like that. It's real funny because we are so different, complete opposites, night and day, but for some reason, it totally works." Now roommates in Nashville, Kelley and Kristy (who hails from Idaho) have released their first full-length album as Bomshel. With the exception of one track (a rip-roarin' cover of No Doubt's 'Just a Girl'), the duo had a hand in co-writing every track on 'Fight Like a Girl.' And those "complete opposites" shine through on the entire record.

"Every song you hear it's going to be us," says Kelley. "You'll hear our fun side and our sad side. We have some really traditional country on there and some really poppy stuff."

"When you buy a Bomshel record, you are going to be bringing home a piece of the two of us," adds Kristy. "All I can say is on this record I played as good as I could have possibly played. I sang as good as I could have possibly sung and Kelly sang as good as she could. It's a scary experience to now be putting it out there because it's definitely a piece of our soul."

Perhaps no other cut on the album embodies that spirit than the heart-tugging title track. The empowering theme inspired by Jenny, a friend of Kristy's who was, at 26 years old, diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time she was expecting a baby. While Jenny fought the cancer for years, she lost the battle just after her daughter Grace turned eight.

"[Jenny] said 'you guys inspire me' and I'm sitting there listening and thinking this is so backwards," says Kristy. "I was out running on the river and was really angry about the whole situation and the song title just came to me."

"I really wanted to gear it towards all women," says Kelley of the song they wrote with frequent collaborator Bob Regan. "With our moms, sisters and grandmas and I've always really admired their persistence through the tough times. I think women have an amazing ability to endure. It's a positive thing to fight like a girl because girls are a lot stronger on the inside. We don't want to put one meaning on this song. We want people to take it however they want to take it. Whether they are a little girl or a woman struggling with something they really can't control. We don't want it to just be the cancer song because everyone has their own story."

The duo recorded much of the album at a studio in the house they share. "I love that I can do my own vocals because I'm a real control freak about my vocals," Kelley admits. "The cool thing about it is our record sounds exactly how we wanted it to be."

Fight Like A Girl - Bomshel

By: Ten Pound Hammer

Wow, have I really been waiting three years for this?

I've been watching Bomshel's career since way back in 2006, when "It Was an Absolutely, Finger Lickin', Grits and Chicken, Country Music Love Song" first hit the air. I witnessed four great songs all fail to make the Top 40 on Billboard ("Ain't My Day to Care" got to #39 on Mediabase), followed by the sudden departure of original lead singer Buffy Lawson. While I'm a bit let down that songs such as "Country Music Love Song" and especially "Bomshel Stomp" will never see an album, at least Bomshel finally has an album out.

But is it worth the wait? Definitely.

The album continues in the sound that the early Buffy songs established: brash and ballsy, anchored with well-chosen and often female-empowering themes. The production is edgy and guitar-heavy, peppered with some hot fiddle licks (check out the wah-wah effect on "You" or the accelerando on "Just a Girl"). Kristy Osmunson and Kelley Shepard have a writer's credit on every song, using cleverly-chosen details, unusual hooks and interesting turns of phrase, generally avoiding common songwriting clichés, even if they do manage to rhyme "girl" and "world" in no fewer than three different songs. Even the weakly-written chorus to "Just This Way" is saved by the interesting details of the verses, such as her lover singing into a "wooden spoon microphone."

Kelley has a bold, twangy powerhouse of a voice that sometimes brings to mind a younger LeAnn Rimes. When Kelley belts out "Don't you worry your pretty little head about me, I'll be just fine," you have no doubt in the world that she will be fine without him around. Similarly, "Fight Like a Girl" may have a more commercial sound than some of the other songs on the album, but it aptly turns the title phrase from an insult to a truly motivational hook. This song, which brought the duo to the Billboard Top 40 for the first time, is an appropriate re-introduction to the rebooted Bomshel.

Lead-off track "19 and Crazy," also the third single, jumps out of the speakers. It's a smartly written lyric about two girls who wish that they could stay young and free, but ultimately realize that it isn't possible. It's that realization that adds a depth not usually present in similarly-themed songs. Similarly, "Arizona" may be a fairly typical song about leaving old memories behind, but it sparkles with unusual details, such as leaving a locket hanging on a Joshua tree. "Love Me for Me" is another empowering anthem, clearly outlining who the female narrator is. While such a song might ring hollow with some other voice singing it, but Kelley gives a highly engaging vocal performance that elevates it greatly. "Thank You" is dark and moody at first, but even it turns into a well-sung anthem about walking away from a broken relationship with her pride intact.

"Karma Is a Female Dog" is a cute variation on the "unusual euphemism" trick (think "Love You" by Jack Ingram), where she refers to her former lover as a "donkey hole" who ran off with a "garden tool." (I'll give you a hint: It's the no-good, white-trash variety.) Some of the rapid-fire lyrics may go over your head at first, but a couple more listens should be enough to catch all the lyrical tricks. Closing track "Fiddle" is laden with just that, a breakneck, minor-key bluegrass number about her man playing her like the title instrument. It's easily the countriest song on the album, but its twangy vocals and gutsy lyrics fit nicely with the theme.

Fight Like a Girl is seemingly an appropriate title, considering that almost any female not named Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of getting to the top of the charts — indeed, Bomshel's chart history proves that even getting into the Top 40 is quite a task for a female act anymore, especially something as rare as a female duo. Bomshel has the goods, and with any luck, they could be the act that breaks through the glass ceiling that has seemingly been built in country music of late. At the very least, Kelley and Kristy will fight like girls — the tough Bomshel girls they are, of course.

You can support Bomshel by purchasing this album at iTunes | Amazon.

TIM MCGRAW

KACI BATTAGLIA

JUST JINJER

BOMSHEL

RODNEY ATKINS