Carrie Underwood Album Teaser

Well this is what is rumored to be the album cover and title "Play On" set to come out Nov. 3rd courtesy of USA Today. Early this morning we got this news about the much anticipated upcoming third album from Carrie Underwood. She has been pretty much MIA for the better part of the year making very few appearances, while she was busy working on what is expected by many industry insiders to be one of the biggest releases of the year (if not the biggest). Also Carrie herself has stated that she has invested a lot of herself into this one and says she is very pleased with how it is tuning out.

In 2005, this native Checotah, Okla., shot to the top of national spotlight after winning "American Idol." Now, Underwood is an undisputed superstar, many referred to her in beginning "The Princess of Country", as of late that has changed to "The Queen of Country", with her amazing long list of accolades, which include four Grammy awards, five Country Music Association awards, eight Academy of Country Music awards including the much coveted "Entertainer of the Year" award. Not to mention all 10 official released singles have gone straight to #1.

Carrie was very busy last week with it being announced that herself and Brad Paisley will return to Host the Nov. 11th CMA Awards. Announced as well she will help the Grand Ole Opry stage turn pink in honor of breast cancer awareness during two shows on Oct. 2. In addition to performing, Underwood will flip the switch to turn the Opry's signature backdrop pink in support of the groups Women Rock for the Cure and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Beginning Thursday (Aug. 27), when "OPRYPINK" is mentioned while ordering tickets via telephone or online, $5 from the ticket prices to the Oct. 2 shows will be donated to the charitable organizations. Also Underwood revealed her recently-founded nonprofit Checotah Animal, Town and Schools, or CATS, has partnered with the Academy of Country Music's Lifting Lives program to make her dream of music a reality. It was a gift of music totalling $117,000 in musical instruments, that she's donating to the three music programs at three Checotah schools.


This is one very busy gal out there being a superstar and doing all in a days work!

Duo Brooks & "Done", Calling It Quits

The most successful duo in Country Music history has decided to part ways. :( Announced on their Official Website;

To Our Fans:

After 20 years of making music and riding this trail
together, we have agreed as a duo that it's time to call it a day. This ride has
been everything and more than we could ever have dreamed.... We owe it all to
you, the fans. If you hear rumors, don't believe them, it's just time.

read more; http://www.brooks-dunn.com/site.php

Is the success of Sugarland taking its toll on the duo (as their success did to The Judds) or are they truly just done? They will never really be gone, their music will stand the test of time. They have spawned more than forty singles on the country music charts, twenty of which have reached number one (no small feat). Brooks & Dunn also won the CMA Vocal Duo of the Year award every year between 1992 and 2006, except for 2000 when Montgomery Gentry took the honor. In addition, Brooks & Dunn won the Entertainer of the Year award in 1996 among countless other industry awards.

What will become of the two afterwards, well we know they were both singer/songwriters before joining forces, but since then Kix Brooks has been the only one to lend his writing hand to other artists, he also hosts American Country Countdown, a nationally syndicated radio program which counts down the Top 40 country singles in the United States. But what about Ronny Dunn???

They will not be leaving right away, they will be releasing one more album "#1's and then some" on September 8th. Then they will bid the fans goodbye on their "The Last Rodeo Tour", in 2010!
Myself I have seen them twice and they put on one great show, no one is sitting. They have the energy and the chemistry and for sure could keep on truckin'. Well 2010 is a long time away and sharing one more tour could very well change their minds. Micheal Jordan and Brett Favre tried to call it quits and they still came back for more, is all I'm saying!!!

Country Music is Satisifying

Country Music is infectious, it grabs you, pulls you in and takes you along for the ride. It let's you live vicariously through the lyrics, arrangement, interpretation of each song. I often wonder why this is the only genre that can do this, and do it on a regular basis. Granted diffenent songs and artist do this for different people.


Country songs are not only songs that you can't get out of your head, but also songs you can't get out of your thoughts. Some bring you back to a time you love or hate to remember, some help you cope, some give you drive and ambition, some set the mood for a "Good Time".


Discovering Country Music was the best musical revelation I've ever had. It brought me all the way to Nashville this past year for an intimate Carrie Underwood Fan Club gathering, the Grand Ole Opry, and the CMA Festival (although it was only for one night). Four days surrounded by Country Music in Music City gave me the easy decision to already book my trip for a full week next year! I so hope Carrie Underwood has another party as it was the best part of the four days, there will be more of that to come!!!


In short; Country Music is truly A Better Place!!!


http://www.cmafest.com/2009/

http://www.cmafest4less.com/?gclid=CNyIjYH7m5wCFQtN5QodWyDocw