The Official Video For Dean Brody's Brothers

Dean Brody’s Brothers video tells about how to brothers get separated because the older brother gets called to war and how they write letters to each other until the older brother comes home in a wheelchair. It’s a great tune that’s nearing the Top 20 in the charts. During a concert with WKMK in Neptune, New Jersey last month, The United States Army Freedom Team surprised the Broken Bow label artist with a letter saluting him for his touching debut single. Watch it here…

Happy Birthday To Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry Today

That Nashville Sound would like to wish a happy 42nd birthday to Troy Gentry of the duo Montgomery Gentry today. Signed in 1999 to Columbia Records, the duo released its platinum-certified debut album Tattoos & Scars that year. They have since recorded five more studio albums: Carrying On (2001), My Town (2002), You Do Your Thing (2004), Some People Change (2006), and Back When I Knew It All (2008) as well as a Greatest Hits package. These albums have produced more than twenty chart singles for the duo on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One hits "If You Ever Stop Loving Me", "Something to Be Proud Of", "Lucky Man", "Back When I Knew It All" and "Roll with Me" as well as ten more Top Ten hits.

Celebrate his big day with a watch of his video for "Something To Be Proud Of" here...

Listen To The New Single From Mac McAnally

Music artist Mac McAnally is singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts. His ninth chart entry came in late 2008-early 2009 as a guest vocalist on Kenny Chesney's cover of his 1990 single "Down the Road". He has also produced for Sawyer Brown and Restless Heart, written several singles for other artists, and has performed in the Coral Reefer Band, which is Jimmy Buffett's backing band.

Now this CMA award-winning musician has a new contract with Toby Keith's label, ShowDog Records, and his first single "You First" has been released. You can listen to it here...

Watch The New Billy Ray Cyrus Music Video- Back To Tennessee

Billy Ray Cyrus will be releasing his album “Back to Tennessee” on April 7th. The video for the first single is here...

Watch Special Rolling Stone Video Of The Zac Brown Band Playing Devil Went Down To Georgia

Rolling Stone had the Zac Brown Band swing by the Smoking Section to play a tune or two (or five), but the highlight of their trip in was this great video of them playing Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down To Georgia.

New David Allan Coe Documentary Unveiled

Following a brief question and answer session, Shambhavi Kaul introduced her documentary, “Field of Stone,” an hour-long presentation that described the life of country music star David Allan Coe at Davidson College in North Carolina last week. Kaul noted the difficulty involved in depicting an accurate description of David Allan Coe in an interview with Independent Weekly.

“When I started making this film, the biggest realization was that I was trying to make an intimate portrait of a very complex person,” said Kaul. Insisting that the inclination to label the true outsider of the outlaw country movement as a racist or misogynist simply doesn’t work.

“But, on some level, this was going to be a film about not knowing, a film about not getting the answers. I still don’t know what he is,” she said.

Anyone who is familiar with David Allan Coe’s career knows that it has been a checkered one. A tattoo-covered ex-felon who is known to kick-off a live concert by riding on-stage on a Harley and screaming obscenities, Coe has collaborated and recorded with stars such as Willie Nelson and Tammy Wynette.

Kaul’s cinematic presentation of Coe followed him on tours and shed light on his personal life. The film also offered a critical look at Coe’s on-stage personage and the blue-collars fans who support his racist, rebellious behavior. Coe achieved his greatest popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career. As a songwriter, his best-known compositions are "Would You Lay with Me (in a Field of Stone)," originally recorded by Tanya Tucker, and "Take this Job and Shove It." The latter was a #1 hit for Johnny Paycheck, and it was later turned into a hit movie (both Coe and Paycheck had minor parts in the film).

Gretchen Wilson Readies New Single

And you only thought movies had a trailer...

Happy Birthday To Emmylou Harris & Billy Dean Today

That Nashville Sound wishes a big hearty birthday wish to two of country music's long-standing country stars- Country Music Hall of Famer Emmylou Harris and Billy Dean.

Though Emmylou is one of the most admired and influential woman in contemporary country music, her scope extends far beyond it. She has recorded with such diverse artists as Ryan Adams, Beck, Elvis Costello, Johnny Cash, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, Tammy Wynette, Neil Young, The Chieftains, Lyle Lovett, Roy Orbison, The Band, Willie Nelson and George Jones. She was inducted to the Hall of Fame this past year. Celebrate her big day with a watch of the song For No One written by the legendary John Lennon & Paul McCartney here...

Active as a recording artist since 1990, Billy Dean has recorded a total of eight studio albums (of which the first three have been certified gold by the RIAA) and a greatest hits package which is also certified gold. His studio albums have accounted for more than twenty hit singles on the Billboard country charts, including eleven Top Ten hits. Celebrate his birthday with a quick watch of his latest chart hit video, "Let Them Be Little" here...

Listen To Tracy Lawrence's Upcoming Album, The Rock

Tracy's new album, The Rock, is due out this summer. In the meantime, he's streaming some samples of the new songs on his website- listen to them here...

1. Dear Lord Listen
2. Every Prayer Listen
3. I'm Done Listen
4. The Book You Never Read Listen
5. The Rock Listen
6. Somebody Who Would Die For You Listen
7. Jesus Come Talk to Your Children Listen
8. I Know Where Heaven Is Listen
9. Up to Him Listen
10. Say a Prayer Listen

Win A Chance To Record A Song With Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band, Bonnaroo Music Festival and Country Music Television (CMT) today announced the “The Bonnaroo Music Festival Flyaway with Zac Brown Band Sweepstakes.” One lucky winner (and their guest) will receive a five day/ four night Bonnaroo getaway, including flights, hotel, two tickets to the Festival AND the opportunity to meet and record a song with Zac Brown Band at a mobile studio backstage. The Sweepstakes opens for entries at 12:00:01 PM (CDT) on April 1, 2009 and closes at 11:59:59 PM (CDT) on May 22, 2009. Full details and eligibility are available HERE.

TNS Question Of The Day

This last week, funky pop star Prince released a three CD collection exclusively through Target stores- similar to Vince Gill's four CD collection These Days from back in 2006. It got me thinking... and a question I'll pose to my readers... what country artist would you like to see release a multiple CD collection of all new material?

Behind The Scenes On Tracy Lawrence's New Music Video Shoot

Tracy Lawrence was a man about town last Tuesday (March 24, 2009) as he filmed the music video for his newest single entitled “Up To Him”-- the first song released as an introduction to his forthcoming inspirational country album THE ROCK (June 2009). Touching on the reality of our society's current emotion, "Up To Him" (written by David Kent and Tim Johnson) delivers a positive message to those who may be struggling in these tough times and the corresponding music video is based on that very premise. The video was shot in two Nashville-area locations--Cook's United Methodist Church in Mount Juliet and at Madison Mill in the Sylvan Park neighborhood of Nashville.

Steve Martin To Make Opry Debut May 30

Steve Martin is coming to the Grand Ole Opry, and he's bringing his banjo. The comedian, actor, author, playwright and musician will make his debut on the long-running country music program May 30.

An Opry spokeswoman says Martin will perform songs from his first musical album, "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Performing with him will be friends Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien and John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Martin, who's been playing banjo since he was 17, wrote or co-wrote all the songs on the new album, which features several guests including Gill, Dolly Parton and bluegrass great Earl Scruggs.

Country Music Hall Of Fame Readies New Exhibit

Sprinkled with rhinestones and embroidered with roses, skulls, and other iconic symbols, the one-of-a-kind designs of couturier Manuel—and the stars who wear them—are the subject of Country Couture, an exhibit of portraits taken by award-winning British photographer Cambridge Jones bowing April 10 in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s West Gallery. The exhibit will run through October 31, 2009.

A native of Mexico, Manuel Cuevas has outfitted presidents, movie stars, rock legends, and scores of country artists during his career of more than fifty years. As protégé to Nudie Cohn, the Rodeo Tailor, Manuel Cuevas designed many of the colorful stage costumes that bear Nudie’s label. In 1989, Manuel Cuevas relocated from Hollywood to Nashville, where he continues to fashion distinctive western clothing inspired by the personalities of his clients.

Artists featured in Country Couture include Kix Brooks, Little Jimmy Dickens, the Hager Twins, Merle Haggard, Jim Lauderdale, Loretta Lynn, Ronnie Milsap, Lorrie Morgan, the Oak Ridge Boys, Pam Tillis, Tanya Tucker, Porter Wagoner and Dwight Yoakam.

New Keith Urban Album Hits- Only $3.99 at Amazon Today Only

The brand new Keith Urban album Defying Gravity hits stores today and for today only, Amazon has the MP3 album available for only $3.99. Good deal!

CD Reviews- Eric Church- Carolina

The Background-
Eric Church's sophomore album, Carolina, is the follow-up release to his critically acclaimed 2006 release Sinners Like Me. Comparing the two albums, Church describes Carolina as a much more diverse project, more musical and a little brighter in content. The lead single "Love Your Love The Most" presents Eric's brighter side to country fans with memorable lyrics and a smooth melody. "Carolina is an album. So was Sinners,” says Church. “Most artists make singles and hope they end up with a record. I prefer to make a record and hope I have singles. I love country music, and I am very reverent of the time that I have to make records. That's what we owe the industry, the format, and the fans. We owe them a great record."

The Review-
With one of the stronger mainstream country artist releases this year, Eric Church’s Carolina features some of the more beautiful arrangements you will hear. A little more edgy and bordering on the Gary Allen Bakersfield sound (a compliment), it’s a full layered sound that compliments his everyman’s voice. It leans rock without ever leaving a true country sound. The album features the best song we’ve heard into 2009- “Lotta Boot Left To Fill.” Channeling his inner outlaw Jamey Johnson, Church slams boy bands, challenges Nashville’s music soul, tells us “I don’t think Waylon done it that way” and “You sing about Johnny Cash, the Man in Black would’ve whipped your ass.” Credit Church for laying it on the line as a mainstream artist but writing as an indie. In an interview with the9513.com Church says of the song, “Actually, the president, Mike Dungan, who I love, lets me be me and lets me make records and I couldn’t be luckier. He came to me and picked up the record and said, “First of all, I love the record, I think it’s another great record.” He said, “I played ‘Lotta Boot Left to Fill’ for our label, and I’ve gotta be honest, there were some nervous people in the room.” And I just kinda grinned and said, “That’s wonderful.” If they weren’t nervous, I’d be concerned. So, that song is meant to make a statement.” The cool part is, it is a statement. There’s a legitimacy to every song on the album- evident as each was written or co-written by his pen. Five great rockers, five ballads, and two somewhere in between- each of them feel like they’re legitimately “owned” by Church.

Sounds Like-
A more authentic & countrified Jason Aldean

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Lotta Boot Left To Fill
Where She Told Me To Go
Love Your Love The Most
Carolina

Those I've Loved

The Verdict:
Four and a half stars out of five- a VERY strong effort

Hear New SheDaisy Songs Off Their New Album

Kristyn from SheDaisy posted this on their mySpace page, "I may get in trouble, so perhaps by tomorrow I will have to take the songs down, but here are 3 more new ones. Pass the word along, let us know what you think, and we have 14 more to play you all! But I didn't just say that." Go HERE and you can hear these new songs off of their upcoming A Story To Tell album:

Mr. McLennen

Never Had A You

Unsatisfied

That Nashville Sound Subscriber Contest- Shooter Jennings Bad Magick Best Of Album

All complimentary subscribers to this website between now and April 12th will be entered to win this special prize of one Shooter Jennings Best Of Bad Magick CD. The subscription form is found at the top right of this website just under the masthead. Good luck!

Contest Rules
Enter to WIN a special prize of one Shooter Jennings Best Of Bad Magick CD - No PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER THIS CONTEST

TERMS: This contest ends at 11:59 PM ET on April 12, 2009.

PRIZE: One winner will receive one Shooter Jennings Best Of CD, given away by That Nashville Sound

ODDS OF WINNING: Odds of winning will be determined by the number of entries received.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CONTEST: You are automatically entered into the Contest when you complete and transmit the on-screen entry form before 11:59 PM ET April 12th and confirm that subscription in your email. That Nashville Sound is not responsible for transmission and/or computer error. One random selection will be held on or about the following date: April 12, 2009. Limit one entry per email address. That Nashville Sound reserves the right to modify scheduling of the contest without prior notice.

NOTIFICATION: The Prize winner will be notified via e-mail after drawing date. Prize winners do not need to be online at time of notification.

REDEMPTION: The prize will be sent to the winner's home address after confirming eligibility.

ELIGIBILITY: All legal US residents who are 18 years or older may participate in this contest. Employees and their immediate family members (mother, father, sister, brother, son, daughter and spouse) of That Nashville Sound are NOT ELIGIBLE. This contest is void wherever prohibited or restricted by law and is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Limited to one prize per person. That Nashville Sound and participating promotional companies are not in any way liable for damage, loss or injury resulting from computer malfunctions, misdirected or incomplete entries or acceptance and use of the prize. Winners assume liability for injuries caused or claimed to be caused by participation in this Contest, or the use or misuse of any prizes. That Nashville Sound reserves the right in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this contest should virus, bugs or other causes beyond the control of sponsor, corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the contest. Winners may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility and release which must be completed and returned within 21 days of notification or an alternate winner will be selected. Taxes, and additional shipping, handling and delivery fees in excess of the prize amount, if any, are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. By registering to win the prize, the winner grants That Nashville Sound permission for the use of his/her name and likeness for advertising and future promotion purposes without additional compensation (except where prohibited). Un-accepted prizes may not be awarded. By entering the sweepstakes, you agree to join and review our email list. This contest is subject to these complete and official rules.

Up & Coming New Nashville- Ridley Bent (With Exclusive Interview)

On this week’s That Nashville Sound Up & Coming New Nashville artist, we head up north and feature one of Canada’s most up and coming new country stars, Ridley Bent.

On his first release on Open Road Recordings, Buckles and Boots, Ridley Bent serves up tall tales, sweet rhymes, and love songs, with a dash of mayhem and murder on the side. Populated by a cast of modern day desperadoes, lovesick drifters, and small town heroes, Buckles and Boots, is full to the brim with stories you just can't take your ears off.

Whether it's a high school drug sting gone bad, or an aging road racer taking one last shot at glory prompted `a whiff of the glory days comin' from the back seat' Ridley's characters don't compromise. They get what they deserve and take what they can get, straight up, with a shot of whiskey on the side. No matter how wild his characters get, though, Ridley Bent's own life and experiences shine through. "When I first started writing I was singing from my heart, and those songs are always harder to sing for people. So I kinda went completely the other direction and wrote from character's points of view. But no matter what, there's always going to be things that are you."

Shortly after relocating to Whistler, BC in the late 90's, the Halifax born, Alberta bred singer/songwriter ditched his dream of being a pro-skier, picked up a the guitar and taught himself to play. It wasn't until he moved to Vancouver and took a job as a security guard that he really began developing his unique lyrical style. With nothing but his guitar and a pile of books for company, he started spinning his own tales to kill time. Known for spinning wild yarns against a unique blend of roots and urban grooves, Ridley's rekindled a love for an old flame on Buckles and Boots. Born out of early exposure to Hank Williams and Johnny Cash - courtesy of his father, the world's greatest country music lover - there's always been a strong underpinning of alt. Folk and Country to his music. "But with this record," he says, "I really wanted to be clear where it was going."

Where it went was straight up country - no exceptions, and no apologies...

More and more, people can't help but notice; Ridley was nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the 2006 Western Canadian Music Awards. In 2008 he received three Canadian Country Music Award nominations, nine British Columbia Country Music Award nominations and was the winner of the Ray Mcauley Horizon Award as well as the Edmonton Folk Festival's Galaxie Rising Star Award. Ridley has also toured with Corb Lund, Doc Walker, and hit major Canadian Folk Fests like Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Hillside.

Check out his amazing and beautiful video for “Arlington”- his most recent release and then read our brief interview below with this aspiring new artist.



That Nashville Sound- What brought you into country music?

Ridley Bent- Once I started writing country songs I felt I had a knack for it. The lyric and the story has a stronger presence in country songs than it does in other genres and writing lyrics is where I believe my strength as an artist lies. I love rocking live with a tight country band more than anything and the vision I had when recording the album "Buckles and Boots" was a large band that, not only, was entertaining to listen to on a CD, but also to dance to live. In my opinion the players on this record are second to none and I especially like the instrumental solos where I get to step back from the mic and listen to these guys rip tasty licks. Steel guitar, fiddle, piano, lead guitar ... I love 'em all. I love country music and I feel lucky to be a part of the Canadian Country Music Scene.

TNS- Who are some of your influencers in your music?

RB- Lyle Lovett and his large band, Gram Parsons, Dwight Yoakam, and Little Feat are at the top of a long list of influences. In the lyrical arena authors like Cormac McCarthy, John Steinbeck, and Louis L'amour are as influential as some of my favorite songwriters Corb Lund, Jeff Tweedy, and Brad Paisley. In my dreams I sing like George Jones and play like Pete Anderson.

TNS- What are some of the differences between the Canadian countryscene and that of the US?

RB- The American scene is the big ticket. You make it big in the US country scene and the world is your prairie oyster. There are a lot of great people in the Canadian scene, many great acts and lots of support but my dream of dreams is a #1 US Hit and a World tour to support it.

TNS- The graphics for Arlington are spectacular, what was the idea behind this concept music video?

RB- Christopher Mills was the director behind this project and he is just plain brilliant. He told me the graphics were inspired by the "Group of Seven" paintings in the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario) just across the street from his house in Toronto. It was his idea to use animation and a green screen to visually capture the idea behind the song which is life on the road, far away love, and beautiful reunion.

TNS- What's next for Ridley Bent?

RB- I have a summer of festivals to play and a new record to make and I'm looking forward to both. I'm about to escape a blizzard in Winnipeg and play a show with Doc Walker for Juno Week-end in Vancouver. Should be a blast!

Don McLean To Release New Album Next Month

Country-folk-americana-pop legend Don McLean’s new album “Addicted to Black” is currently in production and will be available beginning next month at his tour stops and then available from his online store and other online storefronts later in the year. He is most famous for his 1971 album American Pie, containing the renowned songs "American Pie" and "Vincent". Here is the track listing:

1. Addicted to Black
2. Run, Diana Run
3. Beside Myself
4. Mary Lost a Ring
5. Lovers Love the Spring
6. Promise to Remember
7. The Three of Us
8. Shadowland
9. I was Always Young
10. This is America (Eisenhower)
11. In a Museum

Grand Ole Opry Manager and Announcer Hal Durham Dies

As appeared in the Tennessean in today's newspaper... (Mr. Durham is on the right in photograph- Bill Monroe on left.)

Hal Durham, who helped assure the Grand Ole Opry’s transition into the modern era, died this weekend at his home in Cape Coral, Florida. Mr. Durham, a McMinnville, Tenn., native who also served as a WSM announcer and executive, was 77.

“Our deepest condolences are with his family,” said Jean Shepard, a member of the Opry since 1955. “He was a great manager of the Grand Ole Opry. One of the best.”

Mr. Durham’s contributions to the Opry were substantial and necessary. He served four years as manager and began his 15-year run as general manager when he succeeded E.W. “Bud” Wendell in 1978. By that point, country had evolved well beyond its roots as an acoustic music format, and top country artists were drawing arena-level audiences that necessitated playing lucrative tour dates away from Nashville. The general manager reacted to these factors by altering both the Opry’s stage setup and its membership rules. Under Mr. Durham’s leadership, full drum sets were allowed on the Opry stage. Before, drummers had to appear with only a snare and a cymbal, and when percussion was first allowed on the Opry in the 1950s, drummers such as Buddy Harman had to actually strike a brush against a drum head that was affixed to a standup bass.

Mr. Durham also significantly relaxed membership requirements with regard to required personal appearances, clearing the way for artists with heavy touring schedules to become Opry members without having to commit to multiple Opry appearances each month. Among the notables Mr. Durham signed as Opry members were Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Riders in the Sky, The Whites and Reba McEntire.

While attending the University of Tennessee, Mr. Durham began working at Knoxville’s WROL radio. He was an announcer at Atlanta’s WSB, then moved back to McMinnville to become a program director beginning in 1960. Four years later, he moved to Nashville’s WSM and worked as an air personality and as a Grand Ole Opry announcer.

“He had a voice that harkened to an earlier era,” said WSM-AM air personality and Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs.

Joe Nichols Readies New Single "Believers" To Radio- Listen To It Here

“Believers,” the new single from Joe Nichols, has shipped to radio and officially goes for song adds mid-April.

“This song is about passion—when people have passion about something, the sky’s the limit,” says Nichols. “It’s also about believing in something bigger than what’s right in front of you. There have been a lot of times in my life, both recently and in the past, that I’ve needed a lot of belief just to move me forward. This song gives me that.”

“Believers” is the lead single from the artist’s new album, which will be released by Universal Records South later this year. The as yet untitled recording is the follow-up to Nichols’ critically acclaimed 2007 release, Real Things.

You can hear the new single by clicking HERE.

Marty Stuart and Autry Museum in Los Angeles Sparkle & Twang

The Autry National Center of the American West in Los Angeles has a brand new exhibit that shares the history and heart of country music. It’s like a temporary Country Music Hall Of Fame “West.” The exhibit takes you on a tour through the life and times of American Music with Sparkle and Twang: Marty Stuart’s American Musical Odyssey. The exhibition tells the story of country music icon Marty Stuart’s personal experiences with some of the most famous stars of American music, highlighting several of the greatest performers on the country, bluegrass, rockabilly, and Southern gospel scenes.

Visitors are invited to join the journey of Stuart’s life and witness the road traveled by the beloved musicians encountered along the way. Discover what life on the road really meant, and learn about the struggles and triumphs these performers experienced in order to succeed. This uniquely American collection underscores the importance of style and sound with performance costumes, handwritten lyrics, personal letters, musical instruments, and unpublished photographs of such legends as Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Cash, and Bob Dylan. The fashion-rich collection includes such items as Elvis Presley’s sweater, Jerry Lee Lewis’s black boots, Johnny Cash’s white tuxedo, a Bob Dylan outfit, and a Patsy Cline dress. The exhibition would not be complete without a life-size dressing room and interactive performance stage. Plus, listening stations, ambient audio, and video documentaries can be found throughout.

“I made it my mission to save the historic relics of country music, not just because they were
things I loved, but to preserve them as cultural artifacts,” says Marty Stuart.

The exhibition features an entire section devoted to the life and career of Johnny Cash, including artifacts from Cash’s early career to the development of his singular style and sound. Several of
Cash’s performance outfits are on display along with his handwritten lyrics, guitars, and artifacts from the infamous gig at Folsom Prison in 1968.

The exhibition’s grand finale is a section called The Masters, featuring a full-spectrum representation of the many pioneers of sound and style. It includes wardrobe, instruments,
and personal belongings of Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Johnny Horton, George Jones, Porter
Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Nudie and Manuel (fashion designers), Hank Williams, Jimmy Newton,
Hank Snow, Marty Stuart, and Connie Smith. These and other objects in the exhibit help carry on the legacy and history of American music.

The Autry National Center of the American West is an intercultural history center that includes the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage), and the Institute for the Study of the American West. Each institution maintains its individual identity; however, the convergence of resources allows the museum to expand our understanding of the diverse peoples of the American West, connecting the past with the present to inform our shared future. The Autry National Center’s executive offices are located in Griffith Park.

Johnny Cash & Oscar The Grouch Flashback

Stumbled across this fun video of Johnny Cash and .... yes... Oscar the Grouch on a guest appearance by Johnny on Sesame Street. Watch it here...