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Trace Adkins is Keepin’ it Country:
Search Results for: Brooks & Dunn
Country Music Radio Comes Back to NYC
It’s about dang time! For the first time in 17 years, country music has officially found a home on the New York City radio dial. Launched Monday, Nash-FM 94.7 (WXRP) is off to a great start, receiving tweets of support from country music’s brightest stars and biggest fans in the Big Apple. The station transitioned to country with a spin of Randy Houser‘s new #1 hit, “How Country Feels.” So far, the station is mixing old country faves, such as Alan Jackson & Brooks & Dunn, with today’s hottest stars, such as Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley and more.
Not in the NYC area or need a country fix at your desk? You can stream NASH-FM here: http://www.nashfm947.com/
Ronnie Dunn defends Kelly Clarkson’s Country Cred
Kelly Clarkson has been one of the topics up for debate this morning after last night’s Country Music Association Awards. While some country fans are confused why the pop superstar earned a nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year, (which was awarded to fellow Texan Miranda Lambert), the industry has come out in support of Kelly. One of the supporters just happens to be the iconic Ronnie Dunn, formerly of Brooks & Dunn. He took to his Facebook page to defend Kelly Clarkson after some of his own fans were vocal about not welcoming her to country music.
Ronnie said:
“Mark E Lemothe writes: ” Friends with Kelly Clarkson yet?”
Kelly is a friend and one of the BEST singers I’ve ever been in a room with. Went to Tahiti with her. Texas girl, down home…as real as they come. I think her heart’s in Country Music. She can sing like an angel.”
Check out Kelly’s performance of her country single “Don’t Rush” below with Vince Gill and let us know what you think – do you want to see her go completely country?
Nominees for ACAs Announced
The nominees were just announced earlier this morning for this year’s American Country Awards. The third edition of the fan-voted award show will once again air live on FOX from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. While the co-hosts remain the same with Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth, there is something new about the award show – the addition of the “Song Of The Year” category which will honor country music’s top songwriters of 2012. The nominees for Song of the Year are determined by the National Songwriters Association International (NSAI). The award show will air live on December 10th on FOX at 8 pm EST.
Artists leading all nominees this year are Luke Bryan with seven, and Lady Antebellum tying for second with Zac Brown Band with six nominations each. Eric Church and Taylor Swift both have five nominations each. Check out the full list of nominees below and let us know who you’ll be voting for. Fans can vote at theacas.com for their favorite artists, and make sure to tune in December 10th to see who wins!
Performers and presenters will be announced shortly, so stay tuned for that announcement too!
EXCLUSIVE: Kix Brooks Album Special
We’ve been pretty excited over Kix Brooks‘ brand new solo album “New To This Town.” The former half of the country icon duo Brooks & Dunn just released his album last week. In the special below, Kix plays songs from his new record and talks about the stories behind choosing them and what they mean to him. It’s an indepth, special interview with Kix, who also shares how he convinced Joe Walsh of the Eagles to join him for the title track.
Have you gotten your copy of his new album yet?
Get The Brooks Look!
Ever wondered what it would be like to get the look like country icon Kix Brooks? To help celebrate the release of his solo album “New To This Town,” fans can get the “Brooks look” by simply interacting with his brand new Facebook application! You can get the iconic mustache without actually having to grow one.
To add the mustache overlay to your picture, visit Kix’s facebook page here, and click the blue “post a reply” button. Follow the steps and you can see what you’d look like as a former half of Brooks & Dunn.
Kix’s “New To This Town” is available everywhere right now, including both digital and physical music retailers. Have you gotten your copy yet? What’s your favorite tracks?
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Kix Brooks – She Knew I Was A Cowboy
We here at Keepin’ it Country have an exclusive video for country fans from Kix’ Brooks upcoming solo record “New To This Town.” The former half of the legendary Brooks & Dunn will be releasing his new album to stores and digitally on September 11th, but he shares with us the story on why he recorded a cowboy song in “She Knew I Was A Cowboy.”
Check out and hear the story from Kix himself and make sure to stop by amazon where the album is currently streaming. Make sure to pick up your copy of Kix’ “New to This Town” on September 11th – it should be one of the best albums released this year. You can preview the album right now in its entirety on amazon.com/kixbrooks, so watch the exclusive cut-by-cut below and make sure to pre-order your copy today!
New Artist: Candi Carpenter Exclusive Interview
Here at Keepin’ it Country we love to introduce our readers to fantastic, undiscovered talent in country music. In Candi Carpenter‘s case, however, she’s been getting attention from all the right people for all the right reasons. The singer-songwriter has received praise from Little Jimmy Dickens, Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers, and even Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers. Candi left her Michigan school at a young age to follow her passion in Music City, opening for legends like Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill, Porter Wagner, Bill Anderson and Little Jimmy Dickens. She’s learned to play guitar, harmonica, and even yodel!
Candi might be recognized from her appearances in Alan Jackson‘s “Too Much Of A Good Thing,” Kid Rock‘s “All Summer Long,” or as the guitar player in Brooks & Dunn‘s “Put A Girl In It” music videos. She’s a rising star and country fans are about to hear a lot about her pretty soon. Get to know Candi here with us at Keepin’ it Country before she hits it big.
“Candi happens to be one of my favorite people in country music. She has it all.” – Little Jimmy Dickens
Read our exclusive interview with Candi below:
Kix Brooks Releasing Solo Debut Album
Kix Brooks, one half of the legendary country music duo Brooks & Dunn, will finally be releasing his debut solo album on Arista Nashville. “New To This Town,” which was co-produced by Jay Demarcus of Rascal Flatts and Kix himself, will be available online and in stores on September 11th. See the full track listing below.
“I made an album that really is close to my heart, and it’s a whole lot of fun,” shares Kix. “For the most part, the music’s just…it’s kind of fun and games and hangin’ it out there and thinkin’ about gettin’ back in a lot of those clubs and festivals and gettin’ to play again. It’s like, you know, people come to enjoy themselves, and I think this album in a lot of ways is about that.”
Check out the full track listing for “New To This Town” below:
Ronnie Dunn Gets Good News
When you’ve been around the business as long as Ronnie Dunn has, there’s not a lot that can surprise you, however, that’s exactly what happened when he got a very special e-mail this week. Ronnie shared some exciting news on Facebook – that he’s been nominated for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame 2012 ballot. He joins former Brooks & Dunn partner Kix Brooks in the nomination. The inductees are voted on by members of the Hall of Fame and Professional Songwriter Members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) as well as the board members of the NaSHOF and NSAI.
Read what Ronnie posted on his Facebook page below and make sure to send a congratulations his way!
Wow…I’m blown away !
Dear Ronnie,
Congratulations! On behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF) Board of Directors, it’s a pleasure for me to notify you that you have been nominated for induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the highest honor that our songwriting community bestows.
Our Nominating Committee, comprised of Hall of Fame members and Music Row historians, met recently to discuss and consider worthy candidates whose first significant works achieved commercial success and/or artistic recognition at least 20 years ago and who have “positively impacted and been closely associated with the Nashville Songwriting Community and deemed to be outstanding and significant.” The final slate of nominees was recommended to, and approved by, the Foundation board.
Very soon, your name will appear on the 2012 ballot along with the names of 11 of your esteemed colleagues. (See below) Three inductees (2 songwriters; 1 songwriter/artist) will be determined by votes cast from Hall of Fame members and Professional Songwriter members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), as well as the boards of NaSHOF and NSAI.
We wish you the best in the voting,
On behalf of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation Board of Directors and the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, let me again extend to you our heartfelt congratulations. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warmest Regards,
Category 1 – Songwriters
Tony Arata
Robert Byrne (1954-2005)
Beth Nielsen Chapman
John Jarrard (1953-2001)
Tony Martin
Gretchen Peters
Victoria Shaw
Kim Williams
Category 2 – Songwriter/ArtistsKix Brooks
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Ronnie Dunn
Larry Gatlin
Kix Brooks To Headline July 4 Summer OilPatch Festival in Drumright, OK
One half of the famous former duo Brooks & Dunn, Kix Brooks, is set to headline the “Summer OilPatch Festival” in Drumright, Oklahoma on Wednesday, July 4, 2012. The festival will take place at the Sellers Ranch and gates will open at 11:00 a.m. The best part? Admission is FREE and is open to the public! Lawn chairs are welcome.
The Summer OilPatch Festival is an annual day-long concert and lifestyle event that has grown into one of the state’s largest and most diverse Independence Day Events. The event will also include special guest star, Country singer/songwriter Shawna Russell (whose latest single “Sounds Like A Party” has been chosen as the official theme song of this year’s show), along with LiveWire, the Flat River Band, Bo Phillips and the Red Dirt Rangers.
In addition to the music, the festival is one of Oklahoma’s most unique entertainment experiences. It includes a special children’s fair area, classic cars and motorcycles, and a variety of entertainers including clowns, stilt walkers, skydivers and jugglers. There will also be helicopter landings and a huge fireworks display. The show is co-sponsored by Keystone Gas Corporation, Pacer Energy Marketing and Budweiser.
Since 2008, Rick Sellers, President of Keystone Gas Corporation, co-sponsor and organizer of the event, has booked nationally recognized recording artists to headline the event, including Pop/Country icon, B.J. Thomas, Classic Rockers, Head East and award-winning Country vocal band, Ricochet. With Brooks being added to this year’s lineup, the attendance at the 2012 Summer OilPatch Festival is expected to skyrocket up from previous years.
For more information about the Summer OilPatch Festival, ‘like’ them on Facebook.
