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Trace Adkins is Keepin’ it Country:
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Teen Choice Awards country nominees announced
The 2013 Teen Choice Awards nominees were announced yesterday, and there’s gotta be a few smiling faces in country music. Nominees for the fan-voted award show include Taylor Swift, Kacey Musgraves, The Band Perry, Hunter Hayes, Carrie Underwood, Jana Kramer and MORE! See the full list of country nominees below and let us know what you think – do teen voters have good taste?
The Teen Choice Awards will air live on FOX on Sunday, August 11th. Fans aged 13 to 19 are encouraged to vote at teenchoiceawards.com twice a day for their favorites in music and entertainment. Announcements with more nominees, presenters, and show host(s) will be made shortly.
Choice Male Country Artist:
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Hunter Hayes
Blake Shelton
Choice Female Country Artist:
Jana Kramer
Miranda Lambert
Kacey Musgraves
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Choice Country Group:
Florida Georgia Line
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Thompson Square
Joel Crouse makes Opry debut
Massachusetts-born singer/songwriter Joel Crouse grew up listening to all genres of music, but it wasn’t until years later that he realized his favorites all had one similarity–the stories. It was at that moment, at the ripe age of 14, that Crouse first discovered his passion for country music. He immersed himself with the lyrics with one goal in mind: to be heard on the same country radio he grew up listening to. Little did he know someday one radio program in particular that he loved, Grand Ole Opry on 650 WSM AM, would feature his voice. Fast-forward to Saturday, May 11, 2013–one move to Nashville and a record deal later–the now-20 year old country crooner is well on his way having made his debut on the hallowed Grand Ole Opry stage.
He was overwhelmed playing on the historic stage, he explains:
“I was overwhelmed with emotions that I don’t even know how to describe. There’s something about the moment you step on its stage…for me, it was the first time I’ve truly felt like a part of the country music community. I’ll never forget that moment.”
Crouse was joined by his mother, father, sister, grandmother and friends as he waited side-stage for his name to be called by Opry member Jeannie Seely. Crouse then performed his self-penned “If You Want Some,” his current Top 40 single on Show Dog-Universal Music, and “That’s Why God Made Love Songs.”
He actually got some pretty cool advice from an Opry member before hitting the stage:
“I actually received some great advice from Darius [Rucker]. He said, ‘It’ll be surreal’ and to take it all in cause you won’t get another first time, and I really took that to heart.”
Crouse will step from the Opry stage to a Red stage as he joins Taylor Swift‘s Red Tour beginning May 28 in Glendale, Ariz. at Jobing Arena.
10 songs for Mother’s Day
Us here at Keepin’ it Country want to wish all the moms out there a happy Mother’s Day! Just in case you’re looking for a playlist of songs to help celebrate the weekend with your Mom, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite country songs about moms. Take a listen to our list below and let us know what YOUR picks are for mother’s day.
MAMA’S SONG – CARRIE UNDERWOOD
A personal song written by Carrie herself to her mom is our first pick for our Mother’s Day playlist. The music video features Carrie and her real life mom, as pictured to the side of this post, on her wedding day as she tells her mom that she doesn’t need to worry about her daughter, because she learned from her. “Mama’s Song” was the fourth single from Carrie’s “Play On” album, which was co-written by Carrie with Luke Laird, Kara DioGuardi, and Marti Frederikson. BONUS: The video also features Carrie’s real-life husband, Mike Fisher.
Check out the rest of our picks below:
Tim McGraw’s Superstar night to air May 19th
Next week is a big week for country music icon Tim McGraw. On Sunday, May 19th at 9 pm EST, CBS will air “ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night.” The special was filmed right after the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas earlier this year.
The special will have performances by Dierks Bentley, Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Ne-Yo, Faith Hill, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brantley Gilbert, Florida-Georgia Line, Pitbull, John Fogerty, and, of course, Tim himself.
Will you be tuning in on the 19th? Which performance are you most excited to see?
VIDEO: Tim McGraw – Highway Don’t Care
In case you missed the world premiere yesterday on his Google+ Hangout, Tim McGraw‘s brand new music video for “Highway Don’t Care” is available now!
Check out the video, which features a shirtless Tim, and appearances by Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
CMT Music Awards Nominations Announced
Earlier today, the nominations for the 2013 CMT Music Awards were revealed. With Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert leading with four nominations each, as well as Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line and Rascal Flatts following with three a piece, the show is sure to be a good one! Fan voting is now available at www.cmt.com through Sunday, June 2nd at midnight EST.
The show, which will be hosted by Jason and actress Kristen Bell, will air LIVE from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, June 5th at 8PM EST.
Tim McGraw to debut Highway Don’t Care video on Google+
Country music superstar Tim McGraw will premiere the video for his single, “Highway Don’t Care,” on Monday, May 6th, at 5 pm EST with Google+ Hangout. The single and video feature fellow country mega- stars Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. The music video was directed by Shane Drake.
About the video release, Tim said:
“This video is really more of a short film, and I think it will surprise everyone and hopefully leave a strong impression. Shane brought a lot of passion to the concept we worked on together, and it’s cool that we’ll be able to get an immediate live response from the fans when we introduce it.”
The hangout will be live streamed at YouTube.com/TimMcgraw.
Exclusive Interview: Introducing Brandon Chase
If you’ve visited the Rising Stars of Country section on iTunes, there’s a chance you’ve seen Brandon Chase. His new EP, Country Enough, is featured there alongside the likes of country’s hottest new names, Charlie Worsham, Joel Crouse, Parmalee and more. However, if you haven’t heard his music yet, it’s time we introduce you to this mega-talented Texan singer- songwriter.
KIC: For those readers who may be ‘meeting’ you for the first time in this blog, can you give us a little bit of a back story as to how you began performing?
BC: I started out my musical journey by singing in my church’s youth band when I was about 13/14. They had an audition to join the band, and for some reason, I just knew I had to try out. I went into it having absolutely no music experience other than beating on some drums. After making the band, I started teaching myself piano, which eventually led to guitar as well. I started writing worship songs for our youth band and found that I had a passion it. So I decided to major in songwriting in college which eventually evolved my writing into secular country songs. Now I’m performing all over town and loving every minute of it!
KIC: We read that you graduated high school at 15 and completed a master certificate for songwriting through Berklee at 18. What’s next?
BC: I actually graduated from Berklee at 17 believe it or not! But hopefully the next step in my life/career will be to tour the US and get the opportunity to meet all the amazing fans that I have had the pleasure to connect with through Facebook and Twitter.
Jason Aldean reacts to Billboard Award nominations
Yesterday was a big day for Jason Aldean, who found himself nominated for some pretty big Billboard Music Awards. The Academy of Country Music’s male vocalist of the year is up for the all-genre Top Male Artist against Flo Rida, Justin Bieber, Drake, and Bruno Mars. He also earned a nomination for Top Country Album with “Night Train” and Top Country Artist. He’s up against Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, and Hunter Hayes for Top Country Artist. The other Top Country Album nominees include Lionel Richie with “Tuskegee,” Carrie Underwood “Blown Away,” Taylor Swift “Red,” and Luke Bryan “Tailgates & Tanlines.”
About his nominations, Jason said:
“I’m really proud to be the guy that gets to represent our genre in that ‘Top Male’ category and wave that flag for country music. Our genre is bigger and more diverse than ever, and it’s just cool to be part of this movement that’s happening right now. I’ve been so focused on getting the tour going this year and just making certain our first run of stadiums is everything the fans expect it to be, that this totally caught me be surprise. Thanks to everyone who has bought a ticket or downloaded an album…I’ll do my best to represent and make y’all proud! “
Nominations are based on album and single sales, radio airplay, touring, streaming and social media interactions with data tracked by Billboard, Nielsen and Next Big Sound. The 2013 Billboard Music Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 19 at 7pm CT on ABC.
Jason is currently on the road for his 2013 NIGHT TRAIN TOUR which has sold out every show so far including his Madison Square Garden debut and the first ever show at the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium where he played to 66,000 fans. More stadium dates on the books this year include two nights at Boston’s Fenway Park (July 12 and 13) and Chicago’s Wrigley Field (July 20).
Check out the full list of nominees on Billboard’s site, and try and count how many Taylor Swift is up for.
Kacey Musgraves steals second spot in UK charts
Mercury Records singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves has taken her debut album Same Trailer Different Park to international markets with its release in the UK last Monday. Three days after its release, the album sits in the No. 2 position on the iTunes Country Chart behind Taylor Swift.
The Guardian raved about Musgraves’ Same Trailer Different Park, touting “Not since the emergence of Taylor Swift has there been as much buzz in the genre about a young artist’s crossover potential,” adding “She [Musgraves] sings with an affectless detachment…and uses it to cut sharply through the lies people tell themselves.”
Kacey also announced a Record Store Day show at London’s Slipped Discs on Saturday at 4pm to celebrate the vinyl release of Same Trailer Different Park (available now on Amazon).
For more on Kacey, visit her official site at kaceymusgraves.com.
