TNS Video History- Johnny Cash & Marty Stuart- "Rusty Cage"

26 New Country Music Videos & Live Performances You Want To See

Yep. You read that headline right. Below are links to that many new music videos and in a couple of cases, some cool live performances that are worth a watching. A couple of them are a week or two old, but I’m pretty sure you missed them when they came out. What’s your favorite?

·        Edens Edge — “Blue Moon of Kentucky”

·        Keith Urban and Jake Owen — “Jack and Diane”

·        Raintown — “Picture of Us”

·        Marlee Scott — “Beautiful Maybe”

·        Emerson Drive — “Sleep It Off”

·        Jason Eady — “Paid My Dues”

·        Jason White — “April”

·        Josh Kelley — “Gone Like That”

·        Gord Bamford — “Hank Williams Lonesome”

·        Chris August — “Not Over You” (a cappella cover of Gavin DeGraw song)

·        Donny and Marie –- “The Good Life”

·        Darren Warren — “Cowboy Up and Party Down”

·        Shelley Rann –- “I’m All Over That”

·        David Bradley — “Hard Time Movin’ On”

·        Kira Isabella — “Love Me Like That”

·        Brett Eldredge — “Signs”

·        Jason Jones — “Ferris Wheel”

·        The Heartbroken — “Seventeen”

·        Victoria Banks — “I’m Gone”

·        Chad Brownlee — “Carried Away”

·        Jason McCoy — “I’d Still Have Everything”

·        Vanessa Carlton — Mumford & Sons’ “The Cave” (live cover for Billboard)

·        Tiffany — “Feel The Music” (live performance for ABC)

·        Sugarland and Sara Bareilles — “Come On Eileen”

·        Billy Ray Cyrus — “Runway Lights”

·        JT Hodges — “Hunt You Down”

George Strait, Steve Holy, Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash & Indigo Girls All Announce Upcoming Albums

Five easily recognizable acts all announced upcoming albums this week including George Strait, Steve Holy, The Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Cash and Indigo Girls.

The King of Country Music is releasing his 39th studio album, Here For A Good Time, on September 6th and there is one thing that’s perfectly clear – George Strait is having a really good time doing what he does best – making music. The Country Music Hall of Famer co-wrote seven of the album’s 11 tracks with his son Bubba and legendary songwriter Dean Dillon. Strait co-produced the album with his long-time friend and legendary producer Tony Brown. It was recorded at Shrimpboat Sound Studio in Key West, FL – the same studio where Strait recorded his last three award-winning albums.

Steve Holy’s third studio album, Love Don’t Run, is set to be released September 13, 2011.  Produced by Lee Miller, the new album includes and is aptly named for “Love Don’t Run,” the hit single written by Joe Leathers, Rachael Thibodeau and Ben Glover. "I'm very proud of where Steve is as an artist,” states producer Lee Miller.  “He is singing better on this album than he ever has and he stretches his boundaries this time around.  I think there's a little something for everybody on this project."“Love Don’t Run” is currently at #22 on the radio charts making it Steve’s fastest climbing song to date.  The video for “Love Don’t Run” was just released last week and is now playing on CMT and GAC.

 

The Oak Ridge Boys, known best for their iconic “Elvira” will release their new It’s Only Natural CD through the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store exclusive music program on September 19, 2011.  The CD celebrates the thirtieth year of “Elvira” with a rerecording of that signature hit along with six other hits plus five new songs.  In addition to the CD, the group will celebrate another history-making milestone on August 6 when they’re officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, the revered home of country music.


The Indigo Girls have set an October 4th release date for their fourteenth studio album, Beauty Queen Sister.
The new album is a 13-song collection featuring the signature storytelling that fans have grown to love, touching on modern-world worries and romanticizing the simplicity of days gone by. Recorded in Nashville, the duo reunited with producer Peter Collins, with whom the Indigo Girls worked on 1992's Rites of Passage and 1994's Swamp Ophelia. Beauty Queen Sister will be the fourth album released on their own IG Recordings/ Vanguard Records.

Johnny Cash Bootleg lll: LIVE Around the World will be released on September 27th and is a collection of rare and unreleased LIVE recordings it is a travelogue from his earliest days on the road at the Big D Jamboree in Dallas Texas in the 1950's - through to his becoming an International Superstar and a great statesman ambassador at the White House in Washington, D.C. in the 1970's.

An Interview With Julie Roberts Over At Engine 145

Julie Roberts grew up singing country music in Lancaster, S.C., spending four summers working in music shows at Carowinds, a theme park in Charlotte, and later at Dollywood in East Tennessee. As an entertainer, she was inspired by Barbara Mandrell, while she looked to Tanya Tucker for vocal influences.

After attending the University of South Carolina in Lancaster for two years, she transferred to Belmont University in Nashville and formed a band that played small clubs such as Harvey Washbangers and Guido's and big events such as the Nashville Predators hockey games.


Roberts' debut CD was released in 2004. Although its first single, "Break Down Here," reached the mid-level of the country charts and was certified gold. Her follow-up, Men & Mascara, was released in 2006 and included four songs she co-wrote. She's released her third independent album, Alive, this year and talked with me about the album, her recovery from the devastating Nashville floods and her recent announcement that she has MS. Read a clip below and then go HERE to read the balance of the interview.

"I’ve said that before, “I think I was born in the wrong decade.” But people always tell me I was born exactly in the time period I was supposed to be born in. But I tell my momma all the time that I was born in the wrong time period because I like this type of music. She just tells me, “Nope, you were born when you were supposed to be born; you just like this type of stuff.” Maybe this is just the path I was supposed to be on, I don’t know. But I know this is the music I’m supposed to make because it moves me. It’s what I’ll keep doing because it’s what I’ve always listened to. I can’t be dishonest and do anything that doesn’t include the steel guitar because that’s what moves me."

Longtime Grand Ole Opry Pioneer Trudy Stamper Passes

Longtime Grand Ole Opry staffer Gertrude "Trudy" Stamper has passed away at the age of 94. From her obituary: Trudy graduated from David Lipscomb College in Nashville, and began her theatrical career on Broadway in New York, where she worked on and off Broadway, and in Winterstock theater workshops. She returned home to Nashville for a visit and while visiting friends at WSM, she was overheard talking about New York Theater by WSM Manager Jack Stamp who offered her a job on the spot. She decided to stay in Nashville rather than returning to New York. She appeared in several theater productions and hosted a radio show on WSM, "Shopping around with Judy Brown". Trudy became one of the first female radio personalities in the United States. Her "Judy Brown" program and other early radio soap operas she starred in at WSM pioneered the way for women in the industry.

She transferred from the radio show to work at WSM in Artist Relations for the Grand 'Ole Opry. Trudy used her New York Theater contacts to arrange for the first booking of the Grande 'Ole Opry at Carnegie Hall in New York on September 18, 1947. Trudy's future husband John Powell Stamper was instrumental in arranging for Nashville Life to become the initial and long term sponsor for the Opry Program where they met. Trudy personally handled artist contacts for Opry bookings. She was promoted to Public Relations Director WSM and the Opry, eventually announcing her retirement at the 39th Birthday Celebration of the Grande 'Ole Opry on November 7, 1964, in Nashville, where her many years of contributions to the Opry and Country Music were recognized in a ceremony by the Career Women of Radio and Television and joined by CMA Director Tex Ritter, and the directors of BMI, ASCAP and SESAC as well as her many friends and stars of the Opry.

Hear It Here- Miranda Lambert's New Single "Baggage Claim"

This new funky country tune serves as the first single from Miranda's upcoming studio album called Four the Record. Miranda Lambert's first single "Baggage Claim" has finally made its way out in its studio version after previously hitting the web via a variety of concert clips. You can listen to the track below. 

 

 

Country Singer Jack Barlow Passes Away

Country music artist Jack Barlow passed away at the age of 87 on July 29th, following a long illness. Barlow became a popular mid-west disc jockey after serving in World War II and during the mid-1960's, he started working as a singer/songwriter and recording artist and released his first song, "I Love Country Music." The song would top the charts at number one. Barlow later moved to Nashville where he continued singing with artists like Johnny Cash, George Jones, Lefty Frizzell, Dottie West, Patsy Cline, Mel Tillis, Porter Waggoner, Chet Atkins Boots Randolph and more.

He went on to record 4 albums and numerous singles including "Catch the Wind.”. He made numerous appearances on the Grand Ole Opry and also appeared in several movies throughout his career.

"I Love Country Music":


"Suddenly There's Sunshine":


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First Round Category Nominees For The 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Announced

The ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards first round nominees were today announced in Nashville.  Presentation of awards in 22 key categories for the 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards Show will be held on Friday, October 28, 2011 in Nashville at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

The ballot, voted on by  membership, includes a stellar array of major names in a broad array of categories that include entertainer, artist, new artist, song, songwriter, group, duo,  musician, radio, radio station, film, and television honors.  Major artist nominees for this year’s awards include Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Ronnie Dunn, The Roys, The Band Perry, Josh Turner, Jeff Bates, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, and George Strait.

Top 5 finalists in all categories will be announced on August 30^th culminating in the October awards presentation announcements.

Some of the key category nominations include:


Entertainer

Chuck Day
Jeff Bates
Johnny Lee Cook
Mary James
Point of Grace
Ricky Skaggs
Russ Murphy
Steve Richard
The Roys
Tommy Brandt

Male Vocalist

Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
Guy Penrod
Jayc Harold   
Jeff Bates
Mike Rimmey
Russ Murphy
Steve Richard
Tommy Brandt
Will Peppers

Female Vocalist

Amanda Fessant
Chelley Odle
Kali Rose
Kathy Joy Bell
Laura Dodd
Mary James
Misty Treece
Nicole Hope
Sandra Dee
Sharon Parks

Vocal Duo

Amanda Fessant featuring Tommy Brandt
Austins Bridge
Branded
Bruce & Betsy Mullen
Dailey and Vincent
Franklin Road
Jeff & Sheri Easter
Joe+Rory
Johnny Lee Cook featuring T. Graham Brown
The Roys

Vocal Group or Band

Corey Brooks Band
CrossCountry The Band
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Last Light Band
Point of Grace
Sunday Drive
The Akins
The Amundruds
The Isaacs
The Springs

Mainstream Inspirational Country Song

Bleed Red- Ronnie Dunn
Family Man- Craig Campbell
Hello World- Lady Antebellum
I Won't Let Go- Rascal Flatts
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away- Justin Moore
Mama's Song- Carrie Underwood
Raymond- Brett Eldredge
That’s Important to Me- Joey+Rory
The Breath You Take- George Strait
Voices- Chris Young

Mainstream Country Artist

Buddy Jewell
Carrie Underwood
Craig Campbell
Craig Morgan
Jeff Bates
Joey+Roy
Josh Turner
Rascal Flatts
Ronnie Dunn
The Band Perry

Inspirational Country Song

I Believe- Sunday Drive
I Hope Heaven Has A Dirt Road- Will Peppers
I Wonder What God’s Thinking- The Roys
I’ll Stand Up And Say So- Chuck Day
Loves Gotta Go Somewhere- Steve Richard
On My Knees Again- Amanda Fessant featuring Tommy Brandt               
One Day Closer- Jeff Bates
Someday Soon- Ricky Skaggs
Sweet Forgiveness- Kali Rose
That’s What Freedom Costs- Russ Murphy

Songwriter

Amanda Fessant
Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
James Payne
Jeff Treece
Kris Miller
Mike Rimmey
Paul Staggs
Russ Murphy
Tommy Brandt

Legend/Pioneer Award

Bruce Haynes
Fox Brothers
Fred Bacher
Lisa Daggs
Melanie Walker
Oak Ridge Boys
Randy Travis
Ricky Skaggs
Ron Corneilus
Susie McEntire

Video

Family Man- Craig Campbell: Bigger Picture Group, Director-Shaun Silva
Hello World- Lady Antebellum: Capitol Nashville, Director-Roman White
I Am Strong- The Grascals w/Dolly Parton: BluGrascal Records , Director-David Corlew
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away- Justin Moore: Valory Music Co., Director-Peter Zavadil
If I Die Young- The Band Perry: Republic Nashville, Director-David McClister                
Mama’s Song- Carrie Underwood: Arista Nashville, Director-Shaun Silva
Raymond- Brett Eldredge: Atlantic Records, Director-Shaun Sliva
Real- James Wesley: Broken Bow, Director-Chris Hicky                           
This- Darius Rucker: Capitol Nashville, Director-Trey Fanjoy                    
Voices- Chris Young: Sony Music, Director-David McClister

TNS Video History- Dwight Yoakam- "It Only Hurts Me When I Cry"