http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news.asp The latest country music news from CountryStandardTime.com Copyright 2007, Country Standard Time 11 Mar 2010 11:22:40 GMT 11 Mar 2010 11:22:40 GMT 60 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3897 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3897 Billy Currington and Lady Antebellum claimed the top spots on the Billboard country songs and album chart for the week ending March 20 with That's How Country Boys Roll and "Need You Now" respectively. On the song chart, Currington took over the number one spot from Josh Turner's Why Don't We Just Dance, which slipped to second.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3896 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3896 Traditional country singer Elizabeth Cook will release "Welder" on May 11 on 31 Tigers. Produced by Don Was (Rolling Stones, Kris Kristofferson), the disc features guest appearances by Dwight Yoakam, Rodney Crowell and Buddy Miller. "Welder" is the follow up to Cook's 2007's Rodney Crowell produced and critically acclaimed, "Balls." Musicians... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3895 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3895 Miranda Lambert embarks on her "Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars" headlining tour next week in West Virginia. The tour is slated to end in Texas in June. James Otto, David Nail, Randy Houser, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Eric Church, Jake Owen, Wade Bowen, Luke Bryan and Chris Young will open shows during the tour.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3894 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3894 Rascal Flatts wrapped the final leg of their "Rascal Flatts American Living Unstoppable Tour" last night in Houston. The tour played 57 shows during its run of June 2009 to March with a fan attendance near 800,000. This includes the two sold-out stadium concerts at Chicago's Wrigley Field and Columbus' Crew Stadium last summer.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3890 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3890 Rosanne Cash and NPR will team for a night of music and conversation in a special one-off concert in Seattle in May. NPR On Location with Rosanne Cash will be held at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle on Saturday, May 1. NPR's Michele Norris of All Things Considered will host the event. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 12. Reserved seats (priced from $35-45) will be available for purchase at The Paramount Theatre box office: www.stgpresents.org... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3889 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3889 The Drive-By Truckers will appear on "Late Show with David Letterman" on Friday, March 12 and "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" on Wednesday, March 31 in support of their new CD "The Big To-Do," out next Tuesday on ATO. They've also added additional dates to their tour including nine with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3891 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3891 Jamey Johnson, Mac Davis and Mac McAnally won awards Wednesday from the Alabama Music Hall. They will be inducted with four others during the 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, March 25. Johnson will receive the Alabama's Rising Star Award category. Johnson, who was born in Enterprise and grew up in... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3892 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3892 Lady Antebellum will return to number 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart as the top selling disc in the country when the charts are out Thursday. "Need You Now" takes over for Sade's "Soldier of Love," which will be second. Lady A had been in second for three weeks. The disc sold 126,000 units, up 6 percent. The disc totaled 481,000 units sold... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3893 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3893 Nashville was picked to host the National Folk Festival for 3 years starting in 2011. The fest will incorporate many types of music, including country. The festival is the oldest and longest-running multi-ethnic traditional arts festival in the nation. This moveable exposition of traditional music and culture will be presented in downtown... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3888 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3888 Blake Shelton may celebrate with a six pack today as his new album, "Hillbilly Bone," debuts at number 3 on Billboard's Top 200 chart, making it this week's highest charting debut album and his highest debut of his career on the all-genre chart. The new six-song disc also came in second on the Top Country Albums Chart, selling 71,009. "Hillbilly Bone" was released on March 2 and includes the title track, the fastest rising single of his career, featuring friend Trace Adkins.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3883 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3883 Alan Jackson's 18th album, "Freight Train," releases on March 30, and a new track from the album will be available for purchase exclusively on the iTunes Store every week for 3 weeks heading into the album release. The exclusive iTunes Countdown pre-release tracks begin today with Hard Hat and a Hammer. Each will count toward the purchase... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3886 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3886 Gary Allan has release day today to himself. The singer put out the 10-song "Get Off on the Pain." The first single was Today a song penned by Brice Long and Tommy Lee James. the disc features Allan's vocals way upfront on a collection country songs with edge. Allan produced the disc with Greg Droman and Mark Bright. He had a hand in... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3882 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3882 Laura Bell Bundy's major label debut album, "Achin' And Shakin'," is slated for release April 13 on Mercury Nashville. The lead single Giddy On Up has received almost 1 million streams in a month and has sold more than 30,000 digital singles. The album is a concept broken into two styles. "Achin'" is a collection of slow and sultry country songs, and "Shakin'" is a group of sassy songs that are equal parts humor, confidence and attitude.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3885 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3885 Rascal Flatts guitarist and vocalist Joe Don Rooney and his wife Tiffany Fallon announced today they are anticipating the birth of their second child in September. "We are so excited to bring another child into our lives," said Rooney. "Our son Jagger has been the biggest blessing." Rooney and Fallon were married on April 23, 2006 and are the... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3887 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3887 Darius Rucker will host the "Darius and Friends" concert in Nashville at The Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville on June 7 to benefit the research and care of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. The concert, being held during CMA Music Week, will include performances by Rucker with additional performers announced at a later date. Tickets to the event will go on sale Saturday, March 13. To purchase tickets, visit www.wildhorsesaloon.com or call 615-902-8200.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3884 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3884 Carrie Underwood's "Play On Tour," will kick off this Thursday, March 11 in Reading, Pa. with special guests Craig Morgan and Sons of Sylvia. The "Play On Tour," is currently slated to run through June 20 in Saskatoon, Canada. The tour apparently plans to bring Underwood to the back of the crowd at one point. Underwood's previous tour, 2008's highly successful "Carnival Ride Tour," wrapped after 137 shows with more than 1.2 million fans in attendance.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3878 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3878 Dierks Bentley is following through on his threat to go bluegrass. The country singer will release "Up On The Ridge " this summer. Bentley will work with the Del McCoury Band and Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers on the release. The disc also features vocal and instrumental contributions ranging from Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert to Tim O'Brien and Sam Bush.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3881 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3881 Billy Currington garners his fifth number one single with That's How Country Boys Roll this week, according to his record label. Currington will take over the top spot from Josh Turner's Why Don't We Just Dance . The new number one song, written by Currington, Brett Jones and Dallas Davidson, is from his third album "Little Bit Of Everything." This also marks Currington's third consecutive number one single and the first time he's been a writer on a chart-topping song.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3880 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3880 Little Big Town continues to get bigger. This time, Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook had their first child on Friday. Elijah Dylan Westbrook is the boy's name. "We've been waiting for this for a long time and can't tell you how thrilled and blessed we both feel," People.com quoted Fairchild. The web site said Elijah weighed 7 lbs., 14 oz. and was 19 and ¾ inches long.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3879 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3879 Dwight Yoakam allegedly owes the IRS $458,000, it was reported on several web sites Monday. The IRS filed a lien against Yoakam at the Los Angeles County Records of Deeds on Jan. 10. No further information was available about the country singer and his tax... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3875 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3875 Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett won the Oscar for Best Original Song for The Weary Kind from the picture "Crazy Heart." Bingham thanked the cast and crew of the movie about a down-and-out country singer before walking off the stage. Other nominees were: Almost There from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman Down in New Orleans from The Princess and the Frog Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3876 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3876 Jeff Bridges won the Oscar for best actor Sunday for his depiction of a down-and-out country singer Bsd Blake in "Crazy Heart." This was Bridges' first Oscar after being nominated five time. Thrusting the Oscar statue aloft, Bridges said, "Thanks Mom and Dad for introducing me to a groovy profession," he said. Bridges thanked those involved... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3874 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3874 Brad Paisley was hospitalized Saturday following a fall on stage, but suffered only a bad bruise, according to his publicist. Paisley's American Saturday Night Tour made its final stop on the tour at the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, S.C. last night. On the final note of the encore finale ( Alcohol ), Paisley fell on stage - he bounced back up, finished the show and thanked the audience and said good-bye.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3877 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3877 The lead singer of alt.-country band Sparklehorse, Mark Linkous, committed suicide on Saturday in Knoxville at 47. The New York Times reported that his manager Shelby Meade said Linkous shot himself in the heart in an alley outside a friend's home. Sparklehorse released four adults between 1995 and 2006. While never getting mainstream success, the band earned good reviews with a merging of alt.-country and Beatles flavored songs.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3873 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3873 An inspirational compilation disc including songs by George Strait and Keith Urban is being put out by the Country Music Hall of Fame and New Haven Records. "Sunday in the Country: 12 Inspiring Hits From Today's Top Country Artists" will be out this month, although no firm date was given. Artists featured include Trace Adkins, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Vince Gill, Tracy Lawrence, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Josh Turner, Steve Wariner and Lee Ann Womack.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3872 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3872 Justin Townes Earle will head back into the studio in May to record his third full-length disc, he said Thursday. Earle's stature has grown through steady touring and excellent reviews for his last album, "Midnight at the Movies," which came out in March 2009 on Bloodshot. Earle said he would continue recording for Bloodshot."It's all good," said Earle after a gig in Allston, Mass. "Very nice people."... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3871 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3871 Martina McBride and the Court Yard Hounds, the Dixie Chicks offshoot group, were added to the Lilith Fair, which is returning this year after an 11-year hiatus. They join Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Sugarland and Miranda Lambert who were already announced as participating in the tour. Other acts announced Thursday were Kelly Clarkson, The... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3867 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3867 Faith Hill and Chris Isaak will be among the guest performers at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 25th annual induction ceremony Monday, March 15 in New York City, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Others slated to perform include Peter Wolf, Pat Monahan of Train, Ronnie Spector, Fefe Dobson, Eric Burdon and Maroon 5 members Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, which oversees the inductions, made the announcement Wednesday.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3868 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3868 Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson will participate in the CMA Music Festival in June in Nashville, the Country Music Association announced Thursday. Billy Currington and Kellie Pickler also were added to the line-up for the festival being held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13 in Nashville. Previously announced artists include Jason Aldean, Lady... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3869 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3869 Lady Antebellum is keeping their Ryman dates in the family. The trio announced today that Universal Music's Josh Kelley, brother of Lady A's Charles, and Randy Montana will join their back-to-back sold out concerts on March 10 and 11. Kelley and Montana will debut a selection of new music with short acoustic sets prior to Lady A's headlining debut at the Ryman.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3870 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3870 Josh Turner and Lady Antebellum continued atop the Billboard country song and album charts respectively for the week ending March 13 with Why Don't We Just Dance and "Need You Now" respectively. The last album from Johnny Cash, "American VI: Ain't No Grave," debuted at second on the country chart.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3863 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3863 Johnny Cash had the third biggest selling disc in the U.S. this past week with "American VI: Ain't No Grave," but it wasn't enough to be the top selling country disc. That honor once again belongs to Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," which was second behind Sade. Lady A sold 118,000 units, down 18 percent from the previous week. Sade sold... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3860 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3860 After treating a standing room only crowd at the Ryman Auditorium to almost two hours of music, Kenny Chesney and Steve Miller decided to celebrate their "Crossroads" taping by deciding to do an impromptu jam at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Lower Broadway. The pair walked down the ally between the Ryman and the bar, went in the back door and made their way to the front stage and straight into Miller's classic Fly Like An Eagle. ... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3866 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3866 The Claire Lynch Band has undergone a change with guitarist Jim Hurst leaving and Matt Wingate coming aboard. Winning Merlefest's Doc Watson Guitar Championship in 1997 at the age of 15, at a time when he was performing with his family band, Wingate later honed his bluegrass chops performing across the U.S. and in Europe as Valerie Smith's lead guitar player.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3861 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3861 Jessica Harp is quitting her recording career to focus on songwriting. Harp, who was one-half of The Wreckers, posted the news on her web site Tuesday. Her delayed solo disc, "A Woman Needs," finally will be available as a digital download on March 16. Harp wrote on her web site, "If someone had told me a couple years ago that I'd be sitting... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3859 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3859 Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, led by the founder of Traditional Grass two decades ago, is back with a new album on Rebel Records, the label announced today. The band's first project for the label, "Rambler's Call," will be out March 30 with a mix of old and new songs done in traditional bluegrass style.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3862 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3862 Keith Urban will be a guest on the fifth consecutive "Jimmy Kimmel Live: After The Academy Awards" Sunday, March 7 immediately following the late local news. Actor Robert Downey Jr. will introduce the world premiere of the new Iron Man 2 trailer right before Urban performs his new hit single 'Til Summer Comes Around from his 2009 album... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3865 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3865 Following his tour last year in support of "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo" CD, Steve Martin, once again joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers, will embark on a 2010 music tour beginning in April and expected to continue into October. Martin, better known as a comedian and actor, is touring behind his first ever CD, which won a Grammy for best bluegrass album.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3864 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3864 The Grascals will release their fourth CD, "The Famous Lefty Flynn's," on Rounder Records March 30, just a few days before the band hits the road as a part of Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Friends Tour. As a guest on the CD, Williams also joins the band for a country/bluegrass version of I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome, written by his dad, Hank Williams, and the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3854 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3854 Dierks Bentley, Jim Lauderdale and Pam Tillis will be on air hosts on WSM Nashville. The three artists will air Monday - Wednesday at 2 p.m. Central. The shows can also be heard online at www.wsmonline.com or as podcasts via iTunes. Bentley will host and program his first-ever radio show, "The Thread," every Monday at 2 p.m. Central. The show will debut on March 15 and will also air online at wsmonline.com and be available through iTunes as a podcast.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3852 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3852 Not only did Blake Shelton release new music today, but he also hosted the nomination announcement for the Academy of Country Music Awards with Reba McEntire and also received a nomination. Shelton was garnered an Academy Of Country Music Award nomination in the Vocal Event Of The Year category for his fastest rising single of his career, Hillbilly Bone, featuring Trace Adkins. The single is the title track off the sixth release from Shelton, a six-song EP out today.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3849 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3849 Lady Antebellum led the nominations for the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards announced Tuesday with seven, including album of the year for their self-titled debut and top vocal group. Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood received five nominations, Taylor Swift five and Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band four apiece. Zac Brown received two nominations himself. Nominations were: Entertainer of the year: Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Brad Paisley George Strait... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3857 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3857 Miranda Lambert had a big day Tuesday, scoring six Academy of Country Music nominations including Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for "Revolution" and Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year (awarded to composer/artist/publisher) and Video of the Year for White Liar. "It's always a great surprise and thrill to get... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3851 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3851 Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn are among the artists slated to participate in events surrounding the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in April. Friday and Saturday, April 16-17: ACM Concerts at Fremont Street Experience - For the fourth year in a row, the ACM presents concerts at... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3850 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3850 While most of the attention goes to Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley about who received Academy of Country Music nominations Tuesday, a slew of others in the country music field ranging from drummers to DJs also received nominations. Producer Buddy Cannon Nathan Chapman Dann Huff Frank Liddell Frank Rogers Audio Engineer Ben Fowler Steve Marcantonio Justin Niebank Ed Seay Clarke Schleicher Top Bass Player Dennis Crouch... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3853 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3853 Randy Houser's Boots On video continues to have legs. The video was nominated for best video by the Academy of Country music. "This is pretty cool to be acknowledged by the ACM's like this. Boots On was a big song for me, and the video was a big part of it. That video could have stood on its own as a YouTube phenomenon and it would... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3855 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3855 Darius Rucker attended the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2007 as a presenter and now, three years and three number one hits later, Rucker will return to the show as a nominee in the Top Male Vocalist of the Year category. "My management called and told me to turn on the TV to The Early Show, and I couldn't believe they read my name," he... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3856 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3856 Blake Shelton, an ex-Idol and a country newcomer with a top 10 hit are among the releases out today. Shelton may be blazing new trials with "Hillbilly Bone," a six-song EP. The release is part of a marketing plan to release new music more frequently with another six-song EP out later this year. The title track is Shelton's latest hit and features Trace Adkins.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3858 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3858 Lee Ann Womack picked up her 11th nomination with the Academy of Country Music Tuesday for Top Female Vocalist. "I got up on the good side of the bed even before I got out of bed," she said. "You know, I just keep making my kind of country, finding the best songs I can and singing them with every bit of feeling I can draw on... To know that... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3846 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3846 Bucky Covington returns with a new single today, A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How). Covington will give people.com an exclusive first listen to the song about a father who shows his children his love for them by "taking care of all the little things in life," according to his publicist. Written by Liz Hengber, Thom Shepherd and Steve Williams, the track is from his upcoming sophomore album, "I'm Alright," due this fall.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3847 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3847 Eric Clapton got help from a guitar friend of his Saturday night in Nashville. Vince Gill came out to support Clapton at his Sommet Center show. Gill and Clapton traded licks and smiles during an acoustic set. Clapton introduced his "very good friend, Mr. Vince Gill" to the stage to play on four songs including the Bessie Smith blues standard... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3845 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3845 Luke Bryan will release his second Spring Break EP - "Spring Break 2...Hangover Edition" exclusively on the iTunes Store tomorrow, March 2. The EP includes three never-before released, self-penned tracks Wild Weekend, Cold Beer Drinker and I'm Hungover. Bryant will hit the beaches of Florida that weekend at the Swamp in Ft. Walton... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3848 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3848 Taylor Swift's guitar went for $16,250 in a charity auction to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The on-line auction ended Friday. Swift donated the autographed guitar from her performance at the We're All for the Hall concert in Nashville in October. That concert, organized by Keith Urban, also raised money for the hall.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3843 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3843 Total country fan spending on CDs, legal music downloads and concerts declined an estimated 28 percent since 2008, according to a study done for the Country Music Association released released Thursday. Fans fell slightly in 2009 from 2008: 37 percent versus 39 percent of adults 18-54. On the positive side, two in five fans feel better about... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3842 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3842 Alison Krauss, Steve Martin and Mary Chapin Carpenter will be among the acts included in Rounder Records 40th Anniversary Concert, a celebration of the label's 40 years in the music industry, out May 4 on DVD. Filmed in October 2009 at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, the concert will also be presented as a PBS television special that will begin airing on the network in March. The companion CD will be released on March 2.... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3841 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3841 Trace Adkins received the 2010 Artist Humanitarian Award on Wednesday at the Country Radio Seminar, an annual conference of country radio in Nashville. Adkins said he was worthy of the award because "I've never killed anybody," CMT reported. "I've thought about it. Maybe some of you." On the serious side, Adkins said, "I do what I can. It's miniscule, it seems. We just try to help out when we see needs. I'm not deserving of this."... Country Music News http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3840 http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem2.asp?xid=3840 Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan will return to Nashville's Greer Stadium to bat for City of Hope at the 20th Anniversary Nashville Celebrity Softball Challenge Monday, June 7, 2010. Rival teams Grand Ole Opry Live and After MidNite with Blair Garner will challenge each other in an evening of softball stunts and pranks. Tickets are available now... Country Music News