Country Music

by: Naomi Lees-Mailberg.

Hey, I forgot to share this picture of my Record Store Day find. I finally made it over to my favorite independent record store, Bart’s CD Shack to pick up my goodies. This year, Sugar Hill Records released a specsial vinyl version of “-Willie Nelson Crazy: The Demo Sessions” It sounds so great. Willie Nelson Crazy: The Demo Sessions DETAILS Format: 12″ Vinyl Label: Sugar Hill Release type: RSD Exclusive Release When Willie first got to Nashville he cut some demos for Ray Price and Hal Smith’s publishing company, Pamper Music. Though these cuts were used to pitch songs to artists (including ‘Crazy’ for Patsy Cline) and producers, many weren’t released. These 1960-1966 tracks are raw, real and really good, clearly the work of an artist/songwriter headed for stardom. And the other featured Record Store Willie Nelson record was a green vinyl album of “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die”; two versions, one with Snoop Dog and Jamey Johnson from the ‘Heroes’ album, and the other a previously unreleased solo version.  I haven’t played it yet, because I don’t have one of those little round things that you need to play 45s.  I don’t even know where to buy one, but I guess that’s what google’s for.

The Teen Choice Awards 2013 will once again break into summer and celebrate the hottest teen icons in television, music, film, sports, fashion, comedy and the web in the choicest, star-studded two-hour event airing live Sunday, August 11th on FOX. Fans ages 13-19 can vote once each day per category for their favorite TEEN CHOICE [...]

Aaron Lewis will make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday May 28 along Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Dustin Lynch, Craig Campbell and Sam Palladio from the ABC hit show "Nashville." "Getting to play the Grand Ole Opry is such an incredible honor," said Lewis. "It's a dream come true to think that I'll get to stand in that same iconic circle where music royalty has stood."...

George Strait topped the Country Albums chart for the week ending June 1 with "Love Is Everything." Florida Georgia Line yet again led the Hot Country Songs chart with Cruise. Strait displaced Lady Antebellum's "Golden," which fell to second. "Annie Up" from Pistol Annies was third. Blake Shelton was fourth with "Based on a True Story..." and Kenny Chesney fifth with "Life on a Rock."...

As Carrie Underwood prepares to wrap her 2012-2013 "Blown Away Tour" tonight in Abbottsford, Canada, a $1 million dollar donation is being made to the Red Cross for disaster relief. The charitable contribution to the Red Cross derives from the tour's concert proceeds and was established when it launched in spring 2012....

Filed under: Country News The story of June Carter Cash comes to life in the Lifetime TV movie 'Ring of Fire,' starring Jewel. The folk singer plays Johnny Cash's wife in a made-for-television movie that's centered around her life and career before and during her marriage to the Man in Black. Jewel filmed the movie in Atlanta last year, tweeting more than one picture of herself dressed as Carter Cash. The resemblance is uncanny. In March, a four-minute scene from the movie was revealed at Rolling Stone. Despite a lack of acting credits, Jewel had no trouble capturing the flirty, feisty and funny charm of the late songstress.

Filed under: Country News George Strait's new album is full of No. 1s for the country legend. One week after the lead single 'Give It All You Got Tonight' became Strait's 60th No. 1 single, 'Love Is Everything' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country album sales charts. Strait's latest project moved just under 120,000 copies in its street week, good for No. 2 across all genres behind rockers Vampire Weekend. Lady Antebellum is the closest country competitor. The trio is at No. 5 on the all-genre chart with 56,000 copies of 'Golden' sold in its second week available.

Filed under: Country News Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are stepping up to help victims of Monday's EF5 tornado that decimated areas of Moore, Okla. The 'Mama's Broken Heart' singer's MuttNation Foundation is one of three animal charities on the scene to help displaced animals and families with nowhere to put their pets while they recover. According to KOTV-TV, Oklahoma's Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese invited MuttNation to assist. Along with Red Star Rescue and North Shore Animal League, Lambert's pet charity have deployed two mobile rescue vehicles. "I'm so proud that MuttNation Foundation can help even a little," Lambert posted on her Facebook page Thursday afternoon.