TNS Video History- Mary Chapin Carpenter- "This Shirt"

Michelle Branch Walks Away From Current Album Project

Michelle Branch- formerly of the Wreckers- has taken to her website to explain that she has walked away from the solo project that she had been working on for Warner Music Nashville tentatively called Everything Comes and Goes. It had been discussed as a December 2010 release originally. Below is the unedited open letter to her fans explaining the situtation:

A lot of changes have happened in the last few months. Perhaps the biggest (and the one that directly involves you) is that I’ve decided it’s time to move on. I went into the studio and started recording Everything Comes and Goes in the fall of 2007 with high hopes of it being released that following summer. Three years later, a majority of that album still sits on the proverbial shelf. It has not been the easiest ride emotionally or creatively. It seemed like every time I had a leg up and the light at the end of the tunnel was drawing nearer, something would happen and dramatically alter the course. I am so proud of this album and I so desperately wanted to share it with you. So many people crossed my path and gave their two cents about who I was and what I should sound like, that by the end of the day my original vision had been lost and buried. For the first time ever I found myself in a position where I was trying to appease someone else. I’m heartbroken that you might never hear the original version of this album as I had intended. I’ve had my moment of grief and I think the only way I can get through it is by moving forward.

I have recently started a new album from scratch and I couldn’t be more excited.

I can’t thank you enough for being there for me throughout the making of Everything Comes and Goes. You guys truly are the greatest. Your unwavering support is remarkable and humbling.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there when I’ve needed you the most and for being so very patient.

I have a lot of fantastic things in store for you all:

On Thursday, December 9th at 5:00pm PST, I will be doing a Live Online chat where I will be answering questions & playing a few old songs and maybe some new ones too! More details to come, so please check my website for additional information.

Also, 'Broken Bracelet' is now available at iTunes, Amazon, Emusic, Rhapsody, etc and at my brand new on-line Merchandise store! I am extremely excited about this. For those of you who don't know, Broken Bracelet was my independent record I made when I was 14 years old to sell at shows and shop to record labels. It ultimately got me my record deal with Maverick Records. Some songs that were on The Spirit Room are on Broken Bracelet in a very rough demo form. I'm so happy we've figured out a way to share it with you.

Stay tuned!

Much love,

M

George Strait Teams Up With Wrangler On New Cowboy Love Songs Album

ACM Artist of the Decade George Strait has teamed up with Wrangler to release George Strait's Cowboy Love Songs, available exclusively at select Wrangler Specialty Apparel retailers nationwide. With the purchase of $50 worth of Wrangler apparel, music lovers will receive this collector’s CD FREE in November and December.
George Strait Cowboy Love Songs track listing:

You Look So Good In Love
The Chair
I Cross My Heart
You’re Something Special To Me
Carrying Your Love With Me
Run
Check Yes or No
If You Ain’t Lovin’ (You Ain’t Livin’)

For more information on where to find retailers for this new album, visit http://www.wranglerwestern.com/.

New Music Video From Josh Turner- "I Wouldn't Be A Man"

2010 Year In Review Video For Lady Antebellum

New Music Video From Katie Armiger- "Best Song Ever"

“This song is one of my favorite tracks on the album.” said Katie. “Like when your boyfriend cheats on you with your best friend you’re not going to be okay right away, everything isn’t going to be dandy right after. We wanted it to be these darker lyrics with a really fun and happy melody. And if you don’t listen to the lyrics, you’re going to think it’s a really funny song but if you do listen you’re going to realize it has a fairly deep message.”

Entertainment Weekly Names Taylor Swift Their Youngest-Ever Entertainer of the Year

Taylor Swift kicked off 2010 with a No. 2 single debut (“Today Was a Fairytale”), a hit movie (Valentine’s Day), and four Grammy wins, including Album of the Year. She then spent months headlining arena concerts and big-ticket awards shows. But there was one achievement — the Oct. 25 release of her third record, Speak Now — that topped everything. Buoyed by strong reviews and the radio-friendly hit “Mine,” Speak amassed a jaw-dropping 1,047,000 units in first-week sales, the highest tally for any release in five years. For all that, the confidently sweet 20-year-old who was only 2 months old when Entertainment Weekly launched in 1990 is now the magazine's youngest-ever Entertainer of the Year.

Staind Frontman Aaron Lewis Releases New Solo Music Video- "Country Boy"

Aaron Lewis, a member of the rocker group Staind, just released a new country single and video featuring George Jones and Charlie Daniels. Check it out below and let us know what you think.

GRAMMY Award Nominations Come Out- Miranda Lambert & Lady Antebellum Lead Way

The GRAMMY Award nominations came out last night and both Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were nominated in the all-genre categories. Below is a list of all of the nominations including country artists:

Best Country Song:
"The Breath You Take" — Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (George Strait)
"Free" — Zac Brown, songwriter (Zac Brown Band)
"The House That Built Me" — Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"I'd Love To Be Your Last" — Rivers Rutherford, Annie Tate & Sam Tate, songwriters (Gretchen Wilson)
"If I Die Young" — Kimberly Perry, songwriter (The Band Perry)
"Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

Best Country Album:
Up On The Ridge — Dierks Bentley
You Get What You Give — Zac Brown Band
The Guitar Song — Jamey Johnson
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
Revolution — Miranda Lambert

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
"Satisfied" - Jewel
"The House That Built Me" - Miranda Lambert
"Swingin'" - LeAnn Rimes
"Temporary Home" - Carrie Underwood
"I'd Love To Be Your Last" - Gretchen Wilson

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
"Macon" - Jamey Johnson
"Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)" - Toby Keith
"Turning Home" - David Nail
"Til Summer Comes Around" - Keith Urban
"Gettin' You Home" - Chris Young

Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group:
"Free" - Zac Brown Band
"Elizabeth" - Daily & Vincent
"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
"Little White Church" - Little Big Town
"Where Rainbows Never Die" - The SteelDrivers

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
"Bad Angel" — Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert & Jamey Johnson
"Pride (In The Name Of Love)" — Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
"As She's Walking Away" — Zac Brown Band & Alan Jackson
"Hillbilly Bone" — Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
"I Run To You" — Marty Stuart & Connie Smith

Album Of The Year:
The Suburbs — Arcade Fire
Recovery — Eminem
Need You Now — Lady Antebellum
The Fame Monster — Lady Gaga
Teenage Dream — Katy Perry

Record Of The Year:
"Nothin' On You" — B.o.B Featuring Bruno Mars
"Love The Way You Lie" — Eminem Featuring Rihanna
"F*** You" — Cee Lo Green
"Empire State Of Mind" — Jay-Z & Alicia Keys
"Need You Now" — Lady Antebellum

Song Of The Year:
"Beg Steal Or Borrow" — Ray LaMontagne, songwriter (Ray LaMontagne And The Pariah Dogs)
"F*** You" — Cee Lo Green, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Cee Lo Green)
"The House That Built Me" —Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
"Love The Way You Lie" — Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers, songwriters
(Eminem Featuring Rihanna)
"Need You Now" — Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)

New Music Video From Charlie Louvin- "Weapon of Prayer"

Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin recently filmed his first music video, and recruited bluegrass legend Del McCoury to appear in it. The song “Weapon Of Prayer” is from Louvin’s True North Records debut album The Battles Rage On.

New Music Video From Little Big Town- "Kiss Goodbye"

Josh Kelley Releases Georgia Clay EP

MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Kelley released a three-song EP called Georgia Clay on Tuesday that includes his current single, “Georgia Clay,” as well as “A Real Good Try” and “Ain’t Letting Go.”

Josh’s long album, Georgia Clay, is set for a spring 2011 release, so MCA is releasing the EP now to meet the demands from the industry and his fans to hear the new music that he’s spent the last two years creating. A tremendous buzz about this project has been building as Josh continues to tour with Miranda Lambert. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut earlier this month.

“I am super excited about these songs,” Josh says. “These are the perfect three songs for a three-song EP to give people a little taste of what’s to come.

“Everybody that knows me has said it’s by far the best album I’ve ever made. Everything I’ve learned over the last seven years has led up to this point.”

He singlehandedly wrote “A Real Good Try,” which contains a poignant message to his loved ones. “‘A Real Good Try’ is about letting my family and my friends and my wife know, “‘Bear with me. I have a goal in mind here.’ It’s going to take a lot of work. It’s about never giving up.”

He co-wrote “Georgia Clay” and “Ain’t Letting Go” with his brother Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum. “Georgia Clay” was created when Josh was at Charles’ house with his producer, Clint Lagerberg, and they began reminiscing about high school.

“I asked Charles whatever happened to that old truck Dad used to let us drive,” Josh says. “He said it was in a junkyard somewhere. I said, ‘Man, if there’s still some Georgia clay underneath it, if that Georgia clay could speak what would it say?’ It would have seen our childhood and seen Charles and I experiencing our first everythings.”

Josh and Charles wrote “Ain’t Letting Go” with Patrick Davis. “It’s about this guy who isn’t desperate, but he knows he has made a lot of mistakes,” Josh says. “He’s having a hard time trying to let her go, so he wants to give her a hard time as well. The whole song is basically a phone conversation that he’s having with her answering machine. He’s going, ‘I want you back. I ain’t going to let you go.’”

He’s unveiled several of the new songs while touring with Miranda Lambert and Eric Church. “They have been really nice about taking me under their wings and showing me a lot of the ropes about the business,” he says. “I’ve also learned a lot from watching their songs.”

Josh performed “Georgia Clay” and “Naleigh Moon” during his Grand Ole Opry debut on the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium on November 12. “That was amazing,” he says. “The Opry debut was the most nervous I’ve been in front of a crowd in a long time, and I’ve been playing for some really big crowds here with Miranda. I think it was the history that made me so nervous.”

“I wanted to be at my best that day. I quickly shrugged off the nerves after the first few lines of ‘Georgia Clay.’ From there on out, it felt unbelievable to be on that stage. It felt like a dream.”

Jessica Simpson Releases Happy Christmas Featuring Duet With Willie Nelson

Somewhat under the radar is the new holiday album from pop/country songstress Jessica Simpson titled Happy Christmas. It was released on November 22. It features a duet with Willie Nelson on "Merry Christmas, Baby."

From the label:

With the release of her second Christmas album, 'Happy Christmas', she lends her unforgettable vocal talent to the most beloved Christmas classics creating versions that will warm the heart and home during the cold winter season.

Below is a preview of the album:

New Music Video From Canadian Newcomer Melissa Rae Barrie- "Passenger Window"

New Alison Krauss Album Gets February Release Date

Alison Krauss will be releasing a yet-to-be-titled album from Rounder Records on February 8, 2011. Amazon.com has a listing for the new album HERE on their website with very little details- although it is telling that there is no mention of Union Station backing her on the album this time around. This jumps to the list of albums I'm looking most forward to in 2011.

Ronnie Milsap & James Otto Duet on the Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Show

Forward to the 36 minute mark of Jimmy Fallon's show this last week to catch James Otto & Ronnie Milsap duet on "Good Things Gone Bad."

TNS Video History- Julie Roberts- "Men and Mascara"