Keepin' it Country Media & Radio » Reba

Preview: Kelly Clarkson to Appear on CBS Sitcom “The Crazy Ones”

Nicole Piering — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:47:12 +0000

Kelly Clarkson: Pop star. Crossover country star. Reality shows mentor. Honorary McEntire. Sitcom star?

Although that last role may seem a bit far-fetched for the crossover country star, Clarkson will be adding yet another role to her already impressive resume. This fall, she will appear alongside of Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar in the pilot for a new CBS show, The Crazy Ones. Although she’s appeared on the small screen as a guest on Reba and a mentor on Duets, this may be Clarkson’s most risque role since grinding against Justin Guarini in From Justin to Kelly.

In the pilot, Clarkson plays a hilariously exaggerated and oversexed version of herself, while Williams and Gellar play a father-daughter advertising team. So you’ve got Mrs. Doubtfire, Buffy and the original American Idol in one place? We’ll be tuning in to CBS on Thursdays this fall at 9pm!

See the hilarious trailer here:

Reba’s Malibu Country cancelled

Lydia Picknell — Sat, 11 May 2013 19:53:36 +0000

Sad news this weekend for Reba McEntire and “Malibu Country” fans. ABC has announced that they will not air a second season of the comedy, and has cancelled what was once named their highest-rated freshman comedy series of 2012. The series aired 18 episodes on its one and only season on ABC. The show followed the story of Reba’s character, a country singer, who had uprooted her family following her divorce from Nashville to Malibu, California. She was trying to keep her career going while raising two kids.

“Malibu Country” was Reba’s return to television after her show “Reba” had run from 2001 to 2007. “Reba” still gets airtime today on multiple stations, including CMT Canada. The show had guest appearances from stars like Blake Shelton, Laura Bell Bundy, and more. Martina McBride and Kelly Clarkson had both previously expressed their interest in wanting to guest star on the sitcom as well.

ABC will be renewing Nashville, which has become a mega-hit for the station, so country music won’t be completely gone.

Are you sad to see the loss of “Malibu Country”? Did you get the chance to watch it while it was on-air?

Country stars react to George Jones’ passing

Lydia Picknell — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:56:05 +0000

It’s been a tragic few days for country music stars and country fans. The legendary George Jones passed away in a Nashville hospital, and country stars have reacted in shock and sadness over the loss of an icon. See what some of your favorite stars have said about the great George Jones:

Brad Paisley:

“George Jones’ life is an example of so many wonderful things. How someone’s God-given gifts can make this a richer, better place. How one human being can overcome adversity, addiction, and life threatening obstacles time and time again. That it is not the stumble or fall that counts, but the willingness to stand again. How a keen sense of humor and a twinkle in a person’s eye can still prevail even after all of life’s hard knocks. How mistakes, missteps, and bad choices are not the end of the world if a person chooses to turn them into something good. And George’s life is above all the strongest example of how the love of a great woman can get a man through anything. All of this made its way beautifully into every note of the greatest voice country music will ever know. And one of the greatest friends you could ever have.

We miss you already, George.

Brad”

Dolly Parton:

“My heart is absolutely broken. George Jones was my all time favorite singer and one of my favorite people in the world. My heart goes out to Nancy and all his family and friends.”

Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts:

“He was the greatest country vocalist that ever lived! Through the years we have all tried to emulate the passion in his voice, but no one can fill his shoes.”

Merle Haggard:

“The world has lost the greatest country singer of all time. Amen.”

Easton Corbin:

“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of one of my all time heroes, George Jones. Georges’ music was real and he was able to touch thousands through his songs. Not only was he a great singer, but he also had the ability to make you relate to every one of his songs, no matter who you are. He and his music will remain timeless in the world of country music. My thoughts and prayers are with his family through this difficult time.”

Blake Shelton (via Twitter):

Just landed in LA. Listened to “The King Is Gone” and “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” over and over again just like always. Can’t accept it. Really REALLY bad news. We’ve lost a country music legend. And I’ve lost a hero and a friend. Goodbye George Jones…

Kelly Clarkson (via Twitter):

Sad to hear about George Jones passing. That man touched a lot of lives with his music. Thanks for setting the bar for the rest of us. #RIPGeorgeJones

Couples and Collaborations: A Look at ACM Fashion History

Jennifer Swirsky — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 02:34:43 +0000

The 48th annual Academy of Country Music Awards are taking place this Sunday, April 7th, in Las Vegas. As we all know, the red carpet and stage fashion choices are some of the most talked about items when it comes to award shows. Back, due to popular demand, is our very own pre-award show fashion reminiscent feature! This time, we take a look at the couples and collaborations of ACMs past … and, boy, have there been some questionably horrific and unquestionably sensational choices in ACM history!

Couples:

There is no better way to kick this thing off than by discussing the 48th Annual ACM Awards host, Blake Shelton, and his blonde bombshell of a wife, Miranda Lambert. On their own, each of these two artists (whom we here at Keepin’ It Country just adore!) looks sensational. Blake looks absolutely dapper in his gray jacket, black shirt, and charcoal tie, while Miranda’s dress is just the perfect amount of flash to go with her shining personality. However, we believe each forgot to consider his/her own best accessory on the red carpet — each other! Silver and gold = giant no no, unless we are talking jewelry … We girls always make exceptions for jewelry!

If you have eyes, you know that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are gorgeous and insanely talented. Talk about a couple whose children who hit the DNA lottery! However, natural beauty and undeniable talent does not always equate to great decisions. This particular ACM orange carpet appearance leaves a bit to be desired. Is Tim wearing a blazer or a fleece hoodie from Aeropostale? Is his shirt a collector’s item from “Saturday Night Fever”? And Faith looks like a flapper who found out she was hitting the orange carpet and decided to show her love for the Miami Dolphins (Fins to the left! Fins to the Right!). Questionable choices aside, these two are still smokin’, regardless of what they pull off the hangers on any given awards show Sunday!

It was really nice of Madame Tussaud’s to donate these wax figures of Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. Oh wait, it’s really them! Nashville’s favorite Australian duo hit the red carpet at the ACMs looking fabulous. With their matching hairdos and apparent affinity for all things crushed velvet, Nicole and Keith dazzled…and probably sweated up a storm in the Las Vegas dry heat.

The Collaborations:

Rascal Flatts teamed up with cross-genre sensation, Kelly Clarkson, to sing “What Hurts the Most” at the 2006 ACMs. No question about it, the fashion choices (and stellar performance) by this collaboration surely were not hurting on this night! Ladies first — Kelly always kills it when she wears red, and this night was no exception. The plunging front shows some skin, but leaves plenty to the imagination. Kelly looks classy, comfortable, and chic on the red carpet and on the arms of country music’s popular trio. The men of Rascal Flatts look a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n roll in vests, blazers, and t-shirts, while sporting some chest. Here’s to you, boys! Here’s to you!

Wait, is this a country awards show? Yes, yes it is. And it looks like Jem has returned from the 1980s to investigate whether Janie really does have a gun. Steven Tyler (of Aerosmith … not of American Idol, youngsters) joined Carrie Underwood during the 2011 ACM Awards to entertain country music fans with his unparalleled voice, while Carrie, once again, showed off her incomparable leg muscles. Steven dons an all-white ensemble, including a long coat, that shows off his rocker side without leaving the country folk thinking he had gone “craaaaazy craaaaazy”. Carrie looks like she grabbed her red star earring, asked Synergy to change her into Jem so she and the Holograms could battle The Mizfits. However, because she is Carrie, and because she is a goddess, she somehow pulls off what looks like Black Swan meets Girl Interrupted flawlessly.

No, really. Is this a country awards show? Also in 2011, Rihanna joined Jennifer Nettles on stage at the ACM Awards, proving once again that different genres are becoming more and more accepting of our favorite music. Let’s start with Rihanna. Unlike Steven Tyler, Rihanna doesn’t quite pull off the all-white look. In fact, with that hairdo, she looks like a Q-Tip that was dipped in iodine (likely to soothe the pain of all of us who had to endure the length of her performance). We love Jennifer Nettles. A lot. And her outfit proves one very important thing to us…She is psychic and was foreshadowing her future as a “Duets” coach. Jennifer clearly was already planning the moment she took the stage with J. Rome to perform “You’re the One That I Want” from “Grease”. On the other hand, if she chose to break into some MC Hammer dancing in those pants, that would not be shocking either.

The Co-Host No More:

We will truly miss Reba hosting this year’s awards show. Reba has become a staple on the ACMs and, while we are excited for her that she has huge projects consuming her time, this installment of the awards will be an adjustment. Reba has had some amazing moments throughout the years, but discussing all of Reba’s awards, successes, and seamless performances is no fun; and we want to have fun! As such, here are some of Reba’s not-so-amazing fashion moments in ACM history.

Thumbs up, Reba? We think not. Bad color, bad fit, bad design. Oh, and the carpet DOES, in fact, match the drapes…

Cheeeeeese! Oh Reba, clearly someone just put a mirror in front of you for the first time right when the photographer was clicking the camera because you look like you’ve just seen a ghost. Or you really need to find the ladies’ room. And thank heavens the pixie do is no more!

We saved the best for last. We rarely render ourselves speechless, but we very well may be at a loss for words here. Considering a blog is meant for words, we will leave it at this: A picture is worth a thousand of them!

Who will we fall for and who will fall victim to us on the red carpet? Who will carry home the big awards and who will go home simply holding a flask? Whose performances will shine and who will be outshone? Don’t forget to tune in this Sunday, April 7th, at 8:00 p.m. EST on CBS to find out!

Other things to look forward to during this year’s ACMs:

Tim McGraw will perform “Highway Don’t Care” with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban;

Hunter Hayes will world premiere his new single “I Want Crazy” and then be joined later by legendary music icon Stevie Wonder;

Kelly Clarkson will perform “Don’t Rush”;

Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes will perform together live from ACM Fan Jam;

Country superstar Reba will introduce the George Strait and Garth Brooks performance. As previously announced, Strait and Brooks will perform together for the first time ever to pay tribute to Dick Clark. Each will perform a version of one of their classic hits and then join together for a very special moment;

Jewel will partner with ACM Lifting Lives to perform a live mash-up of her chart-topping hit “Hands” combined with “Fill a Heart,” an original song written by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly. This special musical moment, presented by ConAgra Foods’ Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, will be performed at the 48^thANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS FAN JAM.

A Recap of our ACM Performance Announcements

Lydia Picknell — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:21:40 +0000

Yesterday we were part of a teleconference with CBS and Academy of Country Music producers for the upcoming ACM awards this weekend. We got to know quite a few exciting secrets for the award show this weekend, and of course we couldn’t wait to tell our fans and readers on Twitter! If you’re following us on Twitter (@keepinitblog) you will have already heard these really cool performances, but we are recapping them now so everyone can keep track of what might be the most-fun Academy of Country Music Award show ever.

Unfortunately, we were unable to make it to the ACMs this year because of budgetary reasons, so we’ll be live-tweeting them from home along with you! Make sure you join us Sunday afternoon for our exclusive KEEPIN’ IT COUNTRY PRESENTS… Jason Charles Miller stageit show at 3 pm EST, before the ACMs kick off live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 8 pm EST. Use hashtag #KIC to join in our fun!

The ACMs will kick off with a big opening performance of “Boys ‘Round Here” with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies, Sheryl Crow, and Brad Paisley.

Jewel will perform a special Lifting Lives segment with a mash-up of her hit single “Hands Clean” and “Fill A Heart,” an original song by singer-songwriter Tori Kelly.

Hunter Hayes will get two pretty cool performances – he’ll be debuting his new single “I Want Crazy” with Stevie Wonder, and will mix in one of Stevie’s big hits. Hunter will return later in the show with Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley live from the ACM Fan Jam. How did Stevie and Hunter get together? Turns out Hunter covers Stevie’s songs on tour, and Stevie discovered them and became a fan of Hunter.

Taylor Swift will have country superstars Keith Urban and Tim McGraw joining her for “Highway Don’t Care.”

Luke Bryan will be debuting a brand new single “Crash My Party” during the award show..

Kelly Clarkson will be performing her country single “Don’t Rush” with a special, announced guest. Is it Vince Gill? We don’t know, but we know he was approached along with someone else.

Reba will introduce a very special duet performance from Garth Brooks and George Strait who will be paying tribute to the late Dick Clark. It’s going to be a pretty emotional performance, so make sure you tune in for this one.

Do you have any questions about the ACMs? We’ll answer what we can on Facebook and Twitter!

Country Music Hall of Fame to Honor Reba

Nicole Piering — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 02:47:15 +0000

With a career that has successfully spanned music, movies, television, Broadway and more, Reba is truly one of country music’s most acclaimed and decorated women. Due to this unparalleled career, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will honor Reba with the exhibit Reba: All the Women I Am, which opens in the museum’s East Gallery on August 9, 2013, and runs through June 8, 2014.

According to Museum Director Kyle Young, “Reba is the most successful female country performer of her generation, and a major influence on many of the female recording artists who have followed her. Her achievements and accolades are almost too numerous to mention: She has sold more than 40 million records, charted nearly 60 Top Ten singles and 24 #1 hits, and been honored with nearly 50 major awards, including two Grammy awards, the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year award and the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year award; she is also one of only four entertainers in history to receive the National Artistic Achievement Award from the U.S. Congress. And, of course, she was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2011.”

“It’s impossible to overstate Reba’s impact on country music, and her contributions go well beyond recording,” Young continued. “She heightened production values for country concerts, adding elaborate stages, video screens and multiple costume changes. Such innovations are now de rigueur on the tours of top country artists. Furthermore, through her work on Broadway, in film, and as the star of two television comedies, Reba has helped to heighten and expand the profile of country music, lifting all boats in her magnificent wake. We are looking forward to telling the rich, inspiring and always entertaining story of one of country music’s brightest lights.”

The exhibit, Reba: All the Women I Am, will be accompanied by an ongoing series of programs throughout the exhibit’s duration. For more information, visit

www.countrymusichalloffame.org.

Kelly Clarkson takes on Clive Davis

Lydia Picknell — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:56:52 +0000

Music superstar Kelly Clarkson is standing up for herself in a message posted on her Facebook and Twitter accounts today. Music superpower Clive Davis released a memoir, and which Kelly claims he spreads false information about her and she gives her side of what happened.

Kelly, who has released multiple country singles (“Because Of You” with Reba McEntire, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean, “Mr Know It All” country version, and “Don’t Rush” with Vince Gill), is frustrated at what Clive wrote in his book.

Read Kelly’s statement below:

So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don’t have to cower to anyone – even Clive Davis.

First, he says I burst into “hysterical sobbing” in his office when he demanded Since You Been Gone be on my album. Not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I did want more guitars added to the original demo and Clive did not. Max, Luke and I still fought for the bigger sound and we prevailed and I couldn’t be more proud of the life of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.

But, yes, I did cry in his office once. I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called “Because Of You.” I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a “sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.” He continued on about how the song didn’t rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with.
But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn’t include that in the book.

He also goes on to say My December wasn’t successful because I co-penned the album and it didn’t have “pop hits”. Well, first let me say, I’ve co-penned many of my “pop hits.” Secondly, My December went platinum (It sold 20,000 less than All I Ever Wanted which followed My December.) Hardly a huge failure. Never Again, the ONLY single they released in the US from that record was a Top 10 hit. I am very proud of that and I have my fans to thank. But, again, what’s most interesting about his story is what he leaves out: He doesn’t mention how he stood up in front of his company at a convention and belittled me and my music and completely sabotaged the entire project. It never had a chance to reach it’s full potential. My December was an album I needed to make for myself for many reasons and the fact that I was so completely disregarded and disrespected was so disheartening, there really aren’t words to explain….

Anyway, I love my job. I love my music. I love my fans. I love my label and all of my professional relationships… now. And I am grateful for Clive for teaching me to know the difference.

Cheers to another amazing year! And, as always, thanks for listening!

KC

What do you think about Kelly’s message? Do you support the 2012 Country Music Association’s Female Vocalist of the Year nominee standing up for herself? Read her statement here on Whosay.

Blake Shelton En Route to Malibu Country

Nicole Piering — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:19:33 +0000

Although they may no longer be co-hosting the ACM Awards, Blake Shelton & Reba will be reunited on the small screen very soon. According to HuffPost TV, Shelton is on his way to ABC’s Malibu Country. The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year will appear on the March 1st episode, playing none other than Reba’s brother.

We have to admit we’re excited! How long until Blake gets a sitcom of his own?

Kelly Clarkson Announces Engagement to Brandon Blackstock

Nicole Piering — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:05:34 +0000

Kelly Clarkson finally got her big moment like this on Friday, December 14th, accepting a proposal (and huge rock) from boyfriend/talent manager/country-music-prince, Brandon Blackstock. The overjoyed pop-country star took to Twitter on Saturday afternoon, revealing the big news in a jubilant tweet. She tweeted, “I’M ENGAGED!!!!! I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever :)”

Her excitement continued a little bit later, when she revealed a photo of the huge new piece of bling taking up major real estate on her left hand. She wrote, “Everyone has been asking about my engagement ring, so here it is :) It’s a yellow canary diamond with diamonds around it and Brandon designed it with Johnathon Arndt!”

For those keeping score and playing six degrees of Kelly Clarkson, her ring was designed by the same guy who made Carrie Underwood‘s stunner, while her new fiance manages Blake Shelton, while being the stepson of Reba. Talk about some major country connections!

Congrats to the happy couple. We can’t wait to see wedding pics!

DVR Alert: Blake Shelton on GAC

Lydia Picknell — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 21:00:56 +0000

Blake Shelton fans will be getting a special Thanksgiving surprise this weekend! Not only is he giving fans a free stream of his holiday album “Cheers… it’s Christmas!” on his official site, Blake will also be appearing on GAC for a special look at how the album was created. Fans should expect to see appearances by his duet partners Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Michael Buble, Pistol Annies, and even Kelly Clarkson! The special will air this Saturday at 1:30 pm EST on GAC.

Blake will also appear in a new episode of GAC’s “Backstory” tomorrow evening at 5 pm EST. Will you be tuning in?