TNS Video History- Rebecca Lynn Howard- "No One'll Ever Love Me"

New Music Videos From Sara Evans, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Jaron & The Long Road To Love, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton & Jerrod Niemann

Fresh Music Friday

2010 International Bluegrass Music Awards Handed Out Last Night at Ryman

Dailey & Vincent won its third straight entertainer of the year and top vocal group prizes and notched a top album win at Thursday night’s International Bluegrass Music Awards show, held at the Ryman Auditorium.

The show featured performances from Earl Scruggs, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Dailey & Vincent with Fortune, the Del McCoury Band, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Claire Lynch Band, Blue Highway with Darrell Scott, Dierks Bentley, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, The Sam Bush Band, Alison Brown and many others.

BLUEGRASS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
John Hartford
Louise Scruggs

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent

INSTRUMENTAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Russell Moore

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Claire Lynch

SONG OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Dailey &Vincent (artists & producers); Cracker Barrel/Rounder

RECORDED EVENT OF THE YEAR
"Give This Message To Your Heart", Larry Stephenson featuring Dailey & Vincent (artists), Ben Surratt & Larry Stephenson (producers), Whysper Dream

INSTRUMENTAL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Durang's Hornpipe" by Adam Steffey (artist), Barry Bales & Gary Paczosa (producers)

GOSPEL RECORDED PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
"Ring The Bell", The Gibson Brothers (artists & producers), Chet O'Keefe (songwriter), Compass Records

EMERGING ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Josh Williams Band

INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMERS OF THE YEAR
BANJO - Kristin Scott Benson
BASS - Marshall Wilborn
FIDDLE - Michael Cleveland
DOBRO - Rob Ickes
GUITAR - Josh Williams
MANDOLIN - Adam Steffey

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
Benjamin "Tex" Logan
Sherry Boyd
Lynn Morris
Richard Weize
Pete Wernick

BLUEGRASS BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR:
Kyle Cantrell; Sirius XM Satellite Radio

PRINT MEDIA PERSON OF THE YEAR:
Eddie Dean & Dr. Ralph Stanley, authors of Man of Constant Sorrow: My Life and Times (Gotham Books)

BEST LINER NOTES FOR A RECORDED PROJECT:
Dr. Ted Olson (writer), Appalachia Music from Home, Various Artists, Lonesome Records (label)

BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR A RECORDED PROJECT:
Julie Craig, Cracker Barrel (designer); Dailey & Vincent; Dailey & Vincent Sing The Statler Brothers; Cracker Barrel/Rounder (label)

BLUEGRASS EVENT OF THE YEAR:
14th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival; East Hartford, CT

New Music Video From Elizabeth Cook- "All The Time"

Ray Charles Has New Album, Library and Documentary All Being Released

On what would have been his 80th birthday, Ray Charles has joined the likes of past presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan with his own namesake library in Southern California. The Ray Charles Memorial Library officially opened its doors this last week. Housed in the studio and office building Charles built in South Los Angeles in the early 1960s, the library features interactive exhibits about the musician's life and career.

Charles' friends and colleagues — including Quincy Jones, B.B. King, producer Jimmy Jam and filmmaker Taylor Hackford — welcome visitors via video to each section of the library, which is more like an interactive museum. Touch screens invite guests to explore Charles' most memorable recordings, while exhibits feature some of his Grammy awards, stage costumes, old contracts and ever–present sunglasses.

Charles' fans can see his personal piano and saxophone, his collection of microphones and letters he received from Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Johnny Cash. The library also includes a mixing station, where visitors can compose their own mixes of Charles' classic rhythms and melodies, and a karaoke room, where they can sing along with Charles and the Raelettes.

"Ray spent more time in this building than any other in the world," said Tony Gumina, head of the Ray Charles Marketing Group. "In this building, Ray Charles had 20–20 vision."

His recording studio and a closet full of his clothes remain on the second floor of the building, which was declared a cultural and historic landmark by the city in 2004. When Charles lost his sight as a child, his ears became his eyes, he said, and he dedicated himself to music, eventually blending genres and breaking down barriers both social and musical.

Willie Nelson said Charles "caused country music to leap ahead — maybe 50 years — because he'd done the impossible: He'd crossed over the other way."

A collection of previously unreleased Charles recordings called Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, including a country collaboration with Johnny Cash, is due out next month.

The library opens just before Charles is to be profiled for BIO Channel’s feature on the singer. “Ray Charles America” is a fresh look at the life, impact and influence of the unconventional American icon who transcended every musical genre on Tuesday, October 12 at 9 PM ET. The two-hour special, narrated by David Duchovny, commemorates the 80th anniversary of Ray Charles’ birth and explores the life and music of the man behind such hit songs as “What’d I Say,” “Georgia On My Mind,” “Hit The Road Jack,” “America, the Beautiful” and “I’ve Got A Woman.”

A unique partnership between the Grammy-nominated producers of the BIO documentary “Johnny Cash’s America,” and The Ray Charles Foundation, the film features unprecedented access to the Ray Charles archives including a wealth of rare and never-before-seen footage and photos and more than 25 of Charles’ recordings.

The special includes: A yet to be released recording of “It Hurts to Be In Love;” a never-before seen interview at his studio not long before his passing; live video from his recording sessions for “Genius Loves Company” including his duet with Willie Nelson for “It Was a Very Good Year” and his duet with Elton John for “Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word; an amazing performance of “Ring of Fire” on the Johnny Cash Show; and a tour of his private recording studio in LA including his wardrobe, chessboard and personal Braille address book and magazines. The many interviewees in the program include Willie Nelson, Clint Eastwood, Bill Cosby, Fran Drescher, Elton John, James Taylor, Quincy Jones, Ben Harper, Common, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, B.B. King, Taylor Hackford, Glen Campbell, Tom Waits and Norman Lear.

Ever Wondered What A Song With Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Survivor & Britney Spears Would Sound Like?

This creative song takes the term “mash up” to a whole nother level. Who would have ever thought Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Survivor (“Eye Of The Tiger!”), Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, and many more would all be on the same track together? Well thanks to Norwegian Recycling they are. This song isnt country, but very creatively done.



Here’s a list of the songs used:

Bruno Mars, “Just The Way You Are”
B.O.B. feat. Bruno Mars, “Nothing On You”
Gnarls Barkley, “Crazy”
Britney Spears, “Hit Me, Baby, One More Time”
Jason Derulo, “In My Head”
Justin Timberlake, “My Love”
Lady Gaga, “Just Dance”
Leona Lewis, “Bleeding Love”
Ne-Yo, “So Sick”
Michael Jackson, “Black Or White”
Snoop Dogg, “Sexual Eruption”
Survivor, “Eye Of The Tiger”
Taylor Swift, “Fifteen”
Taylor Swift, “Fearless”
Savage Garden, “The Animal Song”
Snoop Dogg feat. Justin Timberlake, “Signs”

New Music Video From Bridgette Tatum- "Loud"

Nashville Music Row's latest newcomer Bridgette Tatum has partnered with ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) Football. On any given Saturday this year throughout the ACC Football campuses, you will hear her performing the 2010 ACC Football Anthem "Loud".

Bridgette releases her first self-titled digital EP this Tuesday September 28. Be the first at your ACC tailgate party to have the new Bridgette Tatum EP. The Bridgette Tatum EP features her current radio hit single, "Thats Love Y'all," "I Like My Cowboys Dirty," "Funky In The Country," "Loud" and more.

New Music Video From Brantley Gilbert- "My Kind Of Crazy"

New Music Video From Uncle Kracker & Kid Rock- "Good To Be Me"

Blake Shelton Invited To Become A Member Of The Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry invited another artist into their fold last night when they invited Blake Shelton to become a member live on television.

Shelton, after performing “Hillbilly Bone” with Trace Adkins, was told he’d just received an important message via Twitter. A screen at the back of the stage displayed the note from @opry: “@blakeshelton, you’re invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. See you on 10/23/2010!”

Shelton became the first new member added to the cast since Montgomery Gentry joined the Opry family 15 months ago. He gave a man-hug to Trace, then a figurative tip of the hat to the crowd.

“Man, it takes a long time!” he exclaimed. “I know a lot of guys that want this just as bad as I wanted it and, uh, forget them!”

Blake’s invitation came near the end of GAC’s two-hour telecast, Country Comes Home: An Opry Live Celebration. It represented the Opry’s return to the Grand Ole Opry House five months after the Cumberland River flooded the legendary venue. The Opry was forced to hop around to numerous Music City sites while its home was renovated.

The evening included appearances by many of the Opry cast, including Brad Paisley, Little Jimmy Dickens, Martina McBride, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Lorrie Morgan, Josh Turner and Del McCoury. What was a big evening for all the Opry members was clearly a big moment for Blake.

“I don’t know what I ever did in the last year or so to turn Nashville’s head a little bit, but whatever I did, man, I love this,” Blake said. “This right here is hands down the highlight of my career. Thank you so much.”

Blake wasn’t the only person happy about it. Miranda Lambert sent out a celebratory note.

“I am engaged to a member of the Grand Ole’ Opry!!!! That rocks:).”

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Sneak Peak At Katie Armiger's Upcoming October Album

Katie Armiger's new album Confessions of a Nice Girl featuring the current single "Leaving Home" is due in stores October 5th. For a limited time, Rhapsody and CMT have teamed up to give a sneak peak at the album. Click the banner headline to have a listen.

New Music Video From Newcomer James Wesley- "Real"

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas- New Holiday Album From Steve Wariner

Just in time for the holidays, Steve Wariner and SelecTone Records will make his Guitar Christmas album available in stores and through iTunes and Amazon.com beginning October 12. Originally released in 2003, the instrumental collection of Christmas standards arranged, recorded, and produced by Wariner was previously available only through his Web site. Allegro Media Group, one of the largest independent distributors of music in North America, will handle distribution for this project.


“I absolutely loved recording this album,” Wariner says. “The initial idea came about as I was thinking of the wonderful gatherings that Chet Atkins would host in his office around the holidays. Everyone would sing and play and remember those beautiful melodies from our childhood.

“I wanted the album to convey the warmth and intimacy of those picking parties, so the listener will feel as if I’m sitting in their living room playing for them. That’s the reason I left some imperfections in there, because I wanted it to be real.”

Among the holiday standards included on the CD are “White Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “Winter Wonderland” and “The Christmas Song.” Wariner, who was born on Christmas Day, previously released one Christmas album on MCA Records, but this is his first all-instrumental holiday collection.

A Grammy®-winning guitarist, Wariner played several different guitars on the CD, matching certain guitars with particular songs and musical styles to create a broad landscape of aural textures and colors. Among the guitars he used are a handmade Hascal Haile classical guitar, the Gibson Chet Atkins Country Gentleman model (1989), which had belonged to Chet, an Olympia dulcimer, a Tacoma Papoose, and Wariner’s own model Takamine acoustic guitar. The package includes Wariner’s notes on the guitars selected for each track. He also created the CD cover artwork.

New Music Video From Former NFL Tackle Kyle Turley- "Another Whiskey"

Grand Ole Opry Returns Home Tonight- Live On GAC

The Grand Ole Opry returns to its historic home - the Grand Ole Opry House - for the first time since being displaced as a result of May's historic Nashville flood and Great American Country (GAC) will bring it to you live in Country Comes Home: An Opry Celebration, Tuesday, September 28, 8:00 p.m./Central.

Among the stars scheduled to appear are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Dickens, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner and Keith Urban. Viewers will also get an exclusive look at the fully refurbished Opry House and beloved Opry stage where 46 inches of water stood following the May flood. No doubt plenty of attention will be focused on the Opry House's signature element, a six foot circle of oak taken from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's former home. The circle was removed from the Opry House stage, painstakingly refurbished and returned to its rightful spot center stage.

"For the past several years, GAC has been proud to be the television home of the Grand Ole Opry," says GAC President Ed Hardy. "Touring the Opry House two days after the devastating floods was a very emotional experience for me. GAC partnered with the Opry and the Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau to host the Music City Keep On Playin' telethon which raised over $1.8 million for Nashville flood victims. Now, it is with great pride that GAC once again brings America the excitement and emotion of the Opry's return to its beautifully restored home."

The Opry has not missed a single show since the flood, broadcasting from several Nashville venues including former Opry homes the Ryman Auditorium and the War Memorial Auditorium. GAC remains the only place on television where fans can enjoy all the excitement of Grand Ole Opry performances.

New Hank Williams 16-Disc Collector's Box Set Arrives Today

Time Life has released the highly anticipated The Hank Williams Complete Mother Best Recordings….Plus!- hitting shelves today.

The 16-disc collector’s box set contains 72 complete 15-minute shows, featuring 143 performances by Hank Williams together with conversation, and much more. In the music and talk, Williams is revealed like never before. It is the first three-dimensional portrait of an American music legend.

The recordings are from Williams’ Mother’s Best Flour shows, recorded at the pinnacle of his career in 1951. When Williams was planning to be out on tour, he prerecorded his Mother’s Best shows, and 72 of them miraculously survived. Thinking the shows would only reach a small, mostly rural audience in mid-Tennessee, Hank was unguarded in both his conversation and choice of songs. Accordingly, we hear him perform many songs he never performed elsewhere, including some from his childhood. . The original acetate recordings were painstakingly restored after they were salvaged from a trash can by a WSM employee and turned over to the Hank Williams estate. The sound quality of these exceptional radio shows is at least comparable to his studio recordings, and many critics have remarked that the “direct-to-disc” Mother’s Best recordings actually have more presence and clarity.

Hank Williams Complete Mother Best Recordings….Plus! is comprised of fifteen audio discs and a bonus DVD. The shows contain so many priceless moments, including Williams’ first-ever performances of “Cold, Cold Heart” and “I Can’t Help It (If I’m Still in Love with You)” just days after they were written, as well as many songs he never recorded elsewhere such as “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “On Top of Old Smoky.” On the DVD, two of Hank’s original band members reminisce about his brief, incendiary career. Sadly, both of them died shortly afterward. . The project also contains a booklet with an introduction by Hank Williams, Jr. and over one-hundred pages on the history of Williams, written by respected music writer and Hank Williams historian, Colin Escott. This deluxe, limited box set is packaged in an antique working radio where the listener presses the radio dial and selections of Williams will play.

“When I heard about the Mother’s Best shows, I couldn’t believe there was more,” exclaims Hank Williams, Jr. “And when I heard that these recordings increased the amount of daddy’s music by fifty percent, man, talk about a grand slam. Hearing him sing songs like The Blind Child’s Prayer and On Top Of Old Smoky, and you realize he was listening to country music, soaking it up, back in the 1930’s. But the most special songs to me are where daddy sings with mother on those old Gospel songs like, Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies. There’s something special about those recordings.”

CD Reviews- Zac Brown Band- You Get What You Give

The Background:
Zac Brown Band's second major label studio album, You Get What You Give (Atlantic/Southern Ground Artists, Inc.), was released this last week and features guest appearances by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. As Zac explained to Associated Press, "It's a defining record...Every step of it's done the right way and I expect people are really going to love this record and see the depth of our musicianship, we're always growing. Not that we've arrived at any grand finale or anything, but the progress from this last record to this one, it's tremendous and I'm proud of it."

The band has received five CMA Awards nominations including "Entertainer of the Year." Previous honors and accolades include their GRAMMY win for "Best New Artist," "Top New Vocal Group" from the Academy of Country Music Awards and "Breakthrough Video of the Year" from CMT and USA Weekend.

The Review:
Once upon a time, 1979 to be exact, there was a group of musicians from the south that hit the country music scene and took the genre in new directions while reaching out to an incredibly diverse fan base. Many of those fans had never before listened to country music. The group was Alabama. With a vibrant stage energy, full group harmony choruses, an everyman appeal and casual, working-class attire, the group presented a new youthful image and changed the country music marketplace forever. Without ever leaving their country roots, Alabama drew in fans of rock, southern rock, pop and classic country. In addition, the group's soulful ballads stirred emotions in women of all ages.

Thirty years later, the Zac Brown Band has embodied the same method of success and taken that same recipe for success and made it their own. While You Get What You Give may only be their sophomore major label album, we are watching history in the making. Another band of gargantuan musicianship skill-set and beautiful harmonies is etching itself permanently on the country landscape.

Georgia native Zac Brown pushes a carefree country mentality. While he’s a proponent of a prominent fiddle throughout the album and hosts pedal steel guitar, he’s not afraid to draw on- and draw on well- from other genres including reggae (such as the breezy singalongs Jimmy Buffett duet “Knee Deep”) or Southern-rock (like the nine minute jam of “Who Knows”).

Perhaps the best song on the album- perhaps the entire year- is the powerful and haunting ballad, "Colder Weather." It begins with an amazing piano melody, tells a story from a hauntingly sorrowful perspective, and captures their trademark harmonies beautifully. The lyrics are deep as hell:

"She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him,
Closes the door before the winter lets the cold in,
And wonders if her love is strong enough to make him stay,
She's answered by the tail lights
Shining through the window pane."

What the listener is left with is a heartbreaking tale that is part love story, part heartbreak and all great storytelling. The ballad “Cold Hearted” is another great emotional turmoil in song- a passionate plea for bad things to happen to an ex.

Escapism is common as a theme throughout the album with three beach themed tracks. It also captures the essence of their live shows as well, however. Musicianship through numerous solos across the entire record are woven in deeply with the albums fabric. ZBB has even included a fantastic track called “Martin,” a dedication to his beloved style of guitar. They’ve added two additional players since The Foundation was recorded and it results in a richer, fuller and more robust sound. Brown stretches himself on vocals as well. On tracks such as “Quiet Your Mind,” his greater vocal range and higher notes give the songs more passion and intensity. And therein lies the paradox that makes the album so unique and special. The music is about not caring about the world while they’re playing their instruments like the world depends on it.

You Get What You Give is the current best album of the year- music at its very best. While it’s country at heart and soul, it borrows the better qualities from several different genres. There are few comparisons to their peers in country music as it’s done in a style that is fresh and unique nearly on every track. You Get What You Give is also the very first album this three year old site has ever given a perfect five out of five to. It’s pure country music bliss.

Sounds Like:
Dave Mathews Band instrumentation with Alabama vocals

Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
I Play The Road
Cold Hearted
Quiet Your Mind
Colder Weather
As She’s Walking Away
Martin

The Verdict:
Five Stars Out Of Five

New Music Video From Toby Keith- "Bullets In The Gun"

TNS Video History- Miranda Lambert- "Kerosene"