Bucky Covington Releases Debut CD Tue. April 17.2007 5:00 PM EDT Bucky Covington, a finalist on the 2006 season of American Idol, released his self-titled debut album Tuesday (April 17) on Lyric Street Records. Currently on the country music charts with "A Different World," the North Carolina native will attend a taping of American Idol on Wednesday (April 18) in Los Angeles. His album was co-produced by Mark Miller (of Sawyer Brown) and Dale Oliver. Other new releases this week include include Pam Tillis' Rhinestoned (Stellar Cat) and Clay Walker's Fall (Curb).
Foxworthy's Big Night Out Released on DVD Tue. April 17.2007 5:00 PM EDT The complete CMT series, Foxworthy's Big Night Out, was released on a two-DVD set on Tuesday (April 17) by Paramount and CMT. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the sketch comedy series includes appearances from numerous country stars, including Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, Sara Evans, Pat Green, Jack Ingram, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Kenny Rogers, Blake Shelton, the Warren Brothers, Hank Williams Jr. and the Wreckers. Special features include bloopers, the best of Foxworthy's monologues from the show and behind-the-scenes footage. Foxworthy Didn't Plan to Offer a Serious Speech Tue. April 17.2007 1:08 PM EDT Jeff Foxworthy's impassioned monologue at the 2007 CMT Music Awards about being a country fan was written when he couldn't think of anything funny to say, he told reporters backstage following Monday's (April 16) awards show in Nashville. Although he was hosting the event for the third year, Foxworthy said he didn't expect to present the speech during the show because his wife told him it was too serious. However, the television producers considered it an ideal introduction to Martina McBride's new ballad, "Anyway," which closed the telecast. "As a comic, people don't expect you to be serious about something, but I have a serious side," he said. "I have a really serious side." Watch Jeff Foxworthy's Monologue. Gibb to Preserve Foundation of Cash Home Mon. April 16.2007 6:55 PM EDT Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees plans to retain the foundation of Johnny and June Carter Cash's former home in Hendersonville, Tenn., while building a new home on the 4.6-acre lot on Old Hickory Lake. Gibb and his wife Linda were having the home renovated when it burned down Tuesday (April 10). In a statement issued Monday (April 16) by his publicist, Gibb said. "Linda and I have decided to build our own home on the higher ground surrounding the Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash home, and the original foundations shall be kept intact and preserved for the people of Hendersonville and the people of Nashville. This land is sacred land to all of us here and must be protected forever. To the [Cash and Carter] families, we owe the highest respect and the deepest regret that our dream could not be realized. Now there is a new dream for us and a new beginning." The Gibbs own another home in Miami. McGraw-Hill Tour Dates Feature Lori McKenna Mon. April 16.2007 6:55 PM EDT Singer-songwriter Lori McKenna will be featured on selected dates of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul Tour 2007. A plumber's wife and stay-at-home mother of five from Stoughton, Mass., McKenna gained recognition after Hill recorded "Stealing Kisses" and two other songs for her most recent album, Fireflies. Hill noted, "I don't remember ever being impacted by a songwriter the way I was with her." McKenna will be on the bill when McGraw and Hill launch their tour with shows June 5-6 in Omaha, Neb., and will continue on the road with the couple through concerts July 5-6 in Boston. McGraw and Hill have other tour dates booked through August. McGraw and veteran producer Byron Gallimore co-produced McKenna's upcoming album, Unglamorous. It will be released Aug. 14 as a co-branded CD on Warner Bros. Nashville and McGraw and Gallimore's new label, StyleSonic Records. Morgan, Holy and McCoy Scheduled for Shelton's Charity Event Mon. April 16.2007 6:55 PM EDT Craig Morgan, Steve Holy and Neal McCoy will be Blake Shelton's special guests at his second annual Raindance charity event taking place April 22-24 in his hometown of Ada, Okla. In addition to an April 24 concert featuring the four singers, the event will include an archery tournament and a team roping competition. Last year's event raised more than $133,000 for the victims of Oklahoma's drought and subsequent wildfires that destroyed family farms, livestock and equipment in 2005 and 2006. Raindance has partnered with the Oklahoma Lumbermen's Association and their relief program, Project Rebuild, to distribute aid throughout the 28 counties of Oklahoma. Vince Gill Serenaded for 50th Birthday Fri. April 13.2007 6:16 PM EDT Some of Nashville's finest songwriters sang their classics at Vince Gill's 50th birthday party Thursday (April 12) at his home in Nashville. Performing on a backyard stage sheltered by a large tent, Thom Schuyler kicked off the event with his affectionate homage to Music City composers, "16th Avenue." Don Schlitz reprised his mythic "The Gambler." Janis Ian rolled back the calendar to 1975 with "At Seventeen." Rodney Crowell sang "'Til I Gain Control Again." The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Jeff Hanna favored the crowd with his rendition of Jerry Jeff Walker's "Mr. Bojangles." Others who took their turns at the microphone included wife Amy Grant, daughter Jenny Gill, Leslie Satcher, Al Anderson, Fred Knobloch, Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gill himself. Also spotted in the crowd were Bill Anderson, Del McCoury, songwriter Matraca Berg, guitarist Pete Huttlinger and music executives Bruce Hinton, Tony Brown and James Stroud. CMT.com Marks 10th Anniversary Fri. April 13.2007 6:16 PM EDT CMT.com is marking its 10th anniversary as the digital authority on country music and its artists. Launched as Country.com on April 14, 1997, CMT.com now provides online visitors with constantly updated music news, features, artist interviews, radio stations, fan message boards, a mobile platform and the multi-genre URGE downloads. Two major features added in recent years are Studio 330 Sessions and CMT Loaded. The Studio 330 Sessions performance series, taped at CMT's Nashville studio, has included intimate performances by Jason Aldean, Dwight Yoakam, Jack Ingram, Ricky Skaggs, Nickel Creek, Josh Turner, Jewel, the Del McCoury Band and many others. CMT Loaded, CMT.com's broadband channel, offers exclusive content from CMT's television programs, music news and free music videos on demand. Now beginning its second decade, CMT.com is visited by viewers from every state in the U.S. and throughout the world. Chesney, Strait, Sugarland Among ACM Performers Fri. April 13.2007 6:16 PM EDT Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, George Strait and Sugarland have been announced as performers for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards in Las Vegas on May 15. McEntire and Clarkson will perform a duet they recorded for McEntire's upcoming album, due late this year. McEntire will also return as host. With eight nominations, Strait is this year's leading nominee. The show will air live from the MGM Grand on CBS. Big & Rich Hosting ACM Poker Tournament Fri. April 13.2007 6:16 PM EDT Big & Rich will host a charity poker tournament at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 14, one day prior to the Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards. Registration is limited to 100 players, and a portion of the $375 entry fee benefits the ACM Charitable Fund. "We are here for the party, and the ACMs sure know how to throw one," said John Rich. "And having us host the inaugural tournament is both an honor and privilege to rack up some chips for charity. Watch out. We are here to make some big bucks." Kay --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Access the Recipes And More list archives at: http://www.mail-archive.com/recipesandmore%40googlegroups.com/ Visit the group home page at: http://groups.google.com/group/RecipesAndMore -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
