TNS Video History- Kenny Rogers & Anne Murray- "If I Ever Fall in Love Again"

Thank You To Our Veterans- A Country Music Military History Lesson

Young Johnny Cash

By K.F. Raizor

Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day in 1938 to honor the "Great War" (what we now call World War I) veterans on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending the first world war.  In 1954 the name of the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" to honor the veterans of both world wars as well as Korea and peacetime veterans.

Many of the greats in country music served in the military before (and in a few cases, during) their career.  So on Veterans Day, here is a list of some of the members of the world of country music who served in the armed forces, and the wars in which they fought (if applicable).

Army:

Jules Verne Allen (World War I)

Jack Anglin (World War II)

Bob Atcher (World War II)

Bobby Bare

Jim Ed Brown

Tom Brumley

Horace "Aytchie" Burns (World War II) 

Kenneth "Jethro" Burns (World War II)

Tommy Cash

Harold "Curly" Chalker

Hank Cochran

Earl Thomas Conley

Tommy Duncan (World War II)

Bob Ferguson (also served in the Marines)

Jack Greene

Tom T. Hall

Henry "Homer" Haynes (World War II)

Fairley Holden (World War II)

Doyle Holly

Harlan Howard

Stonewall Jackson (primarily served in the Navy; briefly in Army but discharged after it was discovered he lied about his age)

Doug Kershaw

Rusty Kershaw

Kris Kristofferson

Charlie Louvin (World War II and Korea)

Ira Louvin (World War II)

Darrell McCall

Del McCoury

Skeets McDonald

Jesse McReynolds (Korea)

Jim McReynolds (Korea)

Roger Miller

George Morgan

Webb Pierce

Elvis Presley

John Prine

Boots Randolph

Jerry Reed

Don Reno (World War II)

Hal Smith (World War II)

Ralph Stanley (World War II)

George Strait

Nat Stuckey (Korea)

Conway Twitty

T. Texas Tyler (real name: David Myrick) (World War II)

Charlie Walker

Doyle Wilburn (Korea)

Teddy Wilburn (Korea)

Faron Young

Navy:

Hoyt Axton

Archie Campbell (World War II)

Cy Coben (World War II)

Larry Cordle

Roy Drusky

Benjamin "Whitey" Ford (Duke of Paducah) (World War I)

Ferlin Husky (Merchant Marines) (World War II)

Harold "Shot" Jackson

Stonewall Jackson (also briefly served in the Army but was discharged after it was discovered he lied about his age to enlist)

Johnny Lee (Vietnam)

Leon McAuliffe (World War II)

Bill Nettles (World War I)

Dale Noe (World War II)

Johnny Paycheck

Don Pierce (World War II)

Ray Pillow

Claude "Curly" Putman

Marty Robbins (World War II)

Carl Smith

Hank Thompson (World War II)

Slim Whitman (World War II)

Air Force/Army Air Corps:

Randy Atcher (World War II)

Gene Autry (World War II)

Rod Brasfield (World War II)

Johnny Cash

Jimmy Dean

Tennessee Ernie Ford (World War II)

Kendall Hayes

Tommy Jackson (World War II)

O.B. McClinton

Willie Nelson

Mike Nesmith

Del Reeves

Charlie Rich

Carter Stanley (World War II)

Mel Tillis

Marines:

Wendy Bagwell (World War II)

Jack Clement

Tommy Collins

Don Everly

Phil Everly

Freddy Fender

Bob Ferguson (Korea) (also served in the Army)

Josh Garcin

Freddie Hart (World War II)

George Jones

Ray Price (World War II)

Charles Whitstein

Robert Whitstein (Vietnam)

Thank you for your service.

Independent scholar and free-lance writer since 1989, K.F. Raizor's work has appeared in "Lefthander" magazine and "Hard Country Beat", and hosted a column from 1994 until the magazine ceased publication in 1998. You can look forward to an upcoming project on Country Music Hall of Famers Homer and Jethro. Check out the country blog at Raizor's Edge. 

Luke Bryan Scores Big Comedy Points For Ellen DeGeneres Show During CMA Awards Show

One of the funnier parts of the 45th Annual CMA Awards wasn't during the telecast on ABC. It's worth the seven minutes to check out this hilarious video as Luke Bryan takes the microphone to interview stars like Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Lionel Richie, Tim McGraw and Faith HIll on the red carpet for the “Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

CMA Awards Night Video Performances

Blake Shelton & Kenny Loggins- "Footloose"
Miranda Lambert- "Baggage Claim"

Vince Gill, Keith Urban & Brad Paisley- Glen Campbell Tribute
Eric Church- "Drink in my Hand"
The Band Perry- "All Your Life"
Taylor Swift- "Ours"

The Band Perry Has A Very Big Night at 45th Annual CMA Awards

Taylor Swift won her second CMA Entertainer of the Year trophy. Newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton won Female Vocalist and Male Vocalist for the second consecutive year. Jason Aldean won his first two CMA Awards for Musical Event of the Year with Kelly Clarkson, and Album of the Year for My Kinda Party. The Band Perry won their first Awards for Single of the Year for "If I Die Young" and New Artist of the Year. Kimberly Perry claimed an additional trophy for Song of the Year for penning the hit song. Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter won for Music Video of the Year. Lady Antebellum picked up their third trophy for Vocal Group of the Year, and Sugarland won Vocal Duo of the Year for the fifth time.

Swift won the Horizon Award (now New Artist of the Year) in 2007 and was named Entertainer of the Year for the first time in 2009.

"One of my favorite things about this year is all the camaraderie between all these artists that I could call and say, 'Hey, do you want to come sing with me?'" said Swift. "And there were more artists who showed up just out of the goodness of their heart and came out and performed for the fans at my shows."

She then read out all the names of people who had performed with her, written on her hand, and ended by exclaiming, "You have made my year! Thank you so much!"

"The 45th Annual CMA Awards" was hosted for the fourth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.

First nominated in 2010, The Band Perry won their first-ever CMA Awards for Single of the Year for "If I Die Young," along with producer Paul Worley, and New Artist of the Year.

"Oh, first of all, we wanted to say thank you to the beautiful fans of Country Music," said Kimberly Perry. "It is the joy of our whole lives to sing this song for you guys."

After winning New Artist of the Year, she added: "We promise to keep working hard every day out on the road and here in Nashville to earn this Award."

As a songwriter, Kimberly Perry picked up the trophy for Song of the Year for penning "If I Die Young."

"I truly believe that if 'I Die Young' would have been written with or without me, it was a song that was meant to be," she said. "But I was so excited to have pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to earth."

Aldean, who received first-time nominations in five categories in 2011, won Album of the Year for My Kinda Party, along with producer Michael Knox, and for Musical Event of the Year for "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson. This was Clarkson's first win, too. In 2007 she was nominated for Musical Event of the Year with Reba for "Because of You."

Aldean exclaimed "What a year!" before thanking his family and singling out Knox. "He's like my big brother," Aldean said. "This guy found me in a club in Atlanta, Georgia, brought me to Nashville 15 years ago and has made every record I've ever done."

For the second year, Shelton and wife Lambert firmly established themselves as Country's new and reigning power couple. They join Tim McGraw and Faith Hill as the only other married couple to ever win the his-and-hers CMA Awards in the same year. McGraw and Hill won in 2000 (Lambert and Shelton were not married in 2010 when they won their respective Vocalist Awards).

Shelton had one of the memorable performances of the night, joining '80s star Kenny Loggins in a rocking Country version of "Footloose" to open the show.

"'You're spoiling me!'" Shelton said, with a laugh, after accepting his Award for Male Vocalist. "I really didn't prepare anything to say at all. I didn't think y'all would let me get away with this two times."

One of the many highlights of the night was a stirring tribute to Glen Campbell, a Country Music Hall of Fame member and former CMA Entertainer of the Year. The tribute included an emotional three-song medley with three former CMA Entertainer of the Year recipients honoring the legend: Vince Gill performing "By the Time I Get to Phoenix"; Keith Urban singing "Wichita Lineman"; and co-host Paisley performing "Galveston."

The tribute brought a standing ovation inside the Bridgestone Arena. At the moment's crescendo, composer Jimmy Webb and Campbell embraced on stage, and the cheers got even louder.

Later, after the Awards, Campbell described the tribute medley of his tunes as "Awesome, it really was. The whole thing was wonderful. It's great when they come off nice, isn't it?"

Memorable performances for the night also included co-hosts Paisley and Underwood performing their hit duet "Remind Me." This was their first live performance of the No. 1 hit song on national television. Former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Faith Hill also gave her first performance in five years at the CMA Awards. Hill debuted "Come Home," a single from her forthcoming new album due out in early 2012. Southern rocker Gregg Allman joined Zac Brown Band on a cover "Georgia On My Mind." Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, and Rascal Flatts joined music icon Lionel Richie for a medley of his hits.

Paisley and Underwood warmed up the crowd to start the night with Hank Williams Jr. making a surprise appearance as the hosts performed a re-vamped version of Williams' well-known anthem "Family Tradition" to cheers and applause. Later in the evening, Little Jimmy Dickens, made a cameo appearance with the pair.

Four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year Chesney won his first Award for Music Video of the Year for "You and Tequila" featuring Potter (her first CMA Award) and directed by Shaun Silva. At the backstage media area Chesney said, "Shaun got it right. That's the first thing went through my mind. He got it right."

Referring to his cross-genre performance with Potter as evidence of Country Music's widening appeal, Chesney said, "This just goes to show you the power of music. It reflects the way people listen to music today. I have a very eclectic audience that comes to see us play every summer. The music that I make, and the music that Grace makes reflect that."

Sugarland picked up their fifth Vocal Duo of the Year Award before performing "Run" with Matt Nathanson.

"First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Gregg Allman. That was me on the red carpet that reached out and shook your hand," Jennifer Nettles said with a grin. "I would love to dedicate this to the fans this year. Thank you, guys. Thank you to the good folks in Indiana."

Reigning Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum won Vocal Group of the Year for the third consecutive year. "There is no way we can be singled out among this group (of nominees)," said Dave Haywood. "For all the groups in this category, this is incredible to be in the same list."

Guitarist Mac MacAnally picked up his fourth Musician of the Year Award in the pre-broadcast ceremony.

Presenters for the night included: 2011 "American Idol" runner-up Lauren Alaina; ESPN sportscaster and "Good Morning America" correspondent Erin Andrews; 2005 CMA Horizon Award winner Dierks Bentley; Country star Billy Currington; actor Josh Dallas (star of ABC's "Once Upon a Time"); 2011 World Series MVP and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese; actress Ginnifer Goodwin (star of ABC's "Once Upon a Time"); actor Kellan Lutz (star of the "Twilight" movie series and the upcoming "Immortals"); Muppet icon Miss Piggy; Country stars Jake Owen and Kellie Pickler; six-time CMA Award winner and 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Reba; 1997 CMA Horizon Award winner LeAnn Rimes; Emmy Award-winning actor Eric Stonestreet (star of ABC's "Modern Family"); actress Emily VanCamp (star of ABC's "Revenge"); and Academy Award-winning actress Reese Witherspoon.

Performers included Aldean, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Lambert, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Shelton, Swift, Sugarland, Thompson Square, Urban, Chris Young; plus Chesney and Potter singing their hit collaboration "You and Tequila"; and Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield singing their current hit duet "Easy."

The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,400 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005 before moving to ABC in 2006. The CMA Awards will air on ABC through 2021.

Winners of "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" were determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the Country Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

"The 45th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special was shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

The Winners of "The 45th Annual CMA Awards" are:

Entertainer of the Year
Taylor Swift

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert

Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton

New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland

Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox
Broken Bow Records

Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
"If I Die Young"
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley
Republic Nashville

Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
"If I Die Young"
Kimberly Perry

Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
"Don't You Wanna Stay"
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Broken Bow Records

Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"You and Tequila"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Directed by Shaun Silva

Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally – Guitar

Hear It Here- Faith Hill's Brand New Single "Come Home"

That Nashville Sound's Fearless 2011 CMA Award Predictions

The 45th Annual CMA Awards air live tonight at 8|7c tonight on ABC. Country superstars Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood preside over the evening, returning as hosts for another year. And as usual, the CMA Awards promises spectacle, accolades and countless special moments of non-country music collaborations.

And since I only correctly predicted half out of twelve winners this past year- up from a measly four the year before- I'm back for more punishment. TNS is fearlessly throwing out its predictions for the big awards show to the world- confident in its pyschic ability to give you an early glimpse to all of the winners. (Heck, I can't do worse, can I?)

2011 CMA AWARDS NOMINEES

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
--->Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
--->Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
--->Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

New Artist
--->The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young

Vocal Group
--->Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
--->Sugarland
Thompson Square

Album of the Year

'All About Tonight'
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks

'My Kinda Party'
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox

'Speak Now'
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift

'This Is Country Music'
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers

--->'You Get What You Give'
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown

Single of the Year

'A Little Bit Stronger'
Sara Evans
Produced by Tony Brown

--->'Colder Weather'
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown

'Don't You Wanna Stay'
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Produced by Michael Knox

'Honey Bee'
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks

'If I Die Young'
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley

Song of the Year

--->'Colder Weather'
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles

'Dirt Road Anthem'
Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford

'If I Die Young'
Kimberly Perry

'Mean'
Taylor Swift

'You and Tequila'
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Musical Event of the Year

--->'As She's Walking Away'
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson

'Coal Miner's Daughter'
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert

'Don't You Wanna Stay'
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

'Old Alabama'
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama

'You and Tequila'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

Music Video

'Honey Bee'
Blake Shelton
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

'If I Die Young'
The Band Perry
Directed by David McClister

--->'Mean'
Taylor Swift
Directed by Declan Whitebloom

'Old Alabama'
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Directed by Jim Shea

'You and Tequila'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Directed by Shaun Silva

Musician
Sam Bush - Mandolin
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Paul Franklin - Steel Guitar
--->Dann Huff - Guitar
Mac McAnally - Guitar

Josh Gracin Shows Redemption Today

The new Josh Gracin album Redemption- his his first from indie label Average Joe’s Entertainment – hits stores today. 

 

“The album is 100 percent my interpretation, 100 percent my idea of what I wanted the record to be,” Gracin explains. “Just in that alone, it’s going to sound different than anything else I’ve done.”

 

Redemption features tracks “Long Way to Go” which reached the Top 20 on the Adult Contemporary charts, “Catastrophe,” where Josh teamed up with another Idol alum and winner of Season 2, Ruben Studdard, and “Can’t Say Goodbye,” an incredibly touching song based on the true story and continuing effort of war widow, Seana Arrechaga, to keep her husband’s memory alive.  “Can’t Say Goodbye” was written for the Sears' Heroes At Home initiative with all proceeds of single sales going to their efforts to support military service members, veterans, and their families.

 

Gracin co-produced Redemption with his long-time drummer, Kevin Murphy.  All tracks, excluding a cover of John Mayer’s “Edge of Desire,” were either written or co-written by Gracin.

 

Redemption track listing:

1. Different Kind Of Crazy  

2. Over Me  

3. Get Back To Us  

4. Enough  

5. I Want To Make You Cry  

6. Let You Go  

7. Edge of Desire  

8. Lie To Me  

9. Love You Right

10. Only When It Rains featuring Shelagh Brown

11. My Life

12. Cover Girl

13. Catastrophe

14. Can’t Say Goodbye (Sears Heroes At Home Song)

15. I Still Love You

16. Long Way To Go

17. Long Way To Go (Remix)

New Music Video From Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit- "Friday Night"

TNS Video History- Wynonna & Clint Black- "Bad Goodbye"