TNS Video History- Vince Gill- "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

Country Stars Celebrate The Holidays On CMA Christmas Special

Nobody does Christmas better than our country music friends. Last night, several singer/songwriters shared their favorite holiday traditions and memories including Sugarland, Lauren Alaina, Amy Grant, Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and Kellie Pickler. In case you missed it, here are a handful of the performances. Check back in, we'll continue to post more as they become available.

The Court Yard Hounds Back In Studio Recording New Album

Fans of the Dixie Chicks who hope that the trio will reunite for a new album will have to settle for new music from Emily and Martie's The Court Yard Hounds in 2012. The sisters have reconvened are currently in the studio recording new music for the new year. They even sent this tweet out yesterday as a teaser along with the photo to the right:

Working on a new album can be stressful so sometimes Emily and Martie like to blow off steam at the carnival... :)

The band name is a reference to the novel, City of Thieves. Their original album, released in May 2010, was recorded largely at Maguire's home studio in Austin, Texas. It featured Robison on lead vocals for the first time, with an appearance from the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. All three Dixie Chicks members have emphasized that the Chicks have not formally parted ways.

GRAMMY Nominations Named- Blake Shelton & Taylor Swift Lead Way

Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift lead the country nominees for the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, announced Wednesday night.  Both picked up three nominations, including one each for Best Country Album: Taylor for Speak Now, and Blake for Red River Blue.  Other Best Country Album nominees include Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, and George Strait. The Country Grammy nominees include:

Best Country Solo Performance

"Dirt Road Anthem" - Jason Aldean

"I'm Gonna Love You Through It" - Martina McBride
"Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton
"Mean" - Taylor Swift
"Mama's Song" - Carrie Underwood

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

"Don't You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean With Kelly Clarkson
"You And Tequila" - Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter
"Barton Hollow" - The Civil Wars
"Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" - Thompson Square

Best Country Song

"Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" - Jim Collins & David Lee Murphy, songwriters (Thompson Square)
"God Gave Me You" - Dave Barnes, songwriter (Blake Shelton)
"Just Fishin'" - Casey Beathard, Monty Criswell & Ed Hill, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
"Mean" - Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
"Threaten Me With Heaven" - Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Will Owsley & Dillon O'Brian, songwriters (Vince Gill)
"You And Tequila" - Matraca Berg & Deana Carter, songwriters (Kenny Chesney Featuring Grace Potter)

Best Country Album
 

"My Kinda Party" - Jason Aldean
"Chief" - Eric Church
"Own The Night" - Lady Antebellum
"Red River Blue" - Blake Shelton
"Here's For A Good Time" - George Strait
"Speak Now" - Taylor Swift

The Band Perry is also nominated for Best New Artist OVERALL!

New Music Video From Jake Owen- "Alone With You"

Jimmy Wayne Performs National Anthem For NFL

Here is a close-up of Jimmy Wayne singing the National Anthem at the Saints vs Giants game for Monday Night Football this week. 

Bryan White Releases Brand New Holiday Album A Bryan White Christmas

In conjunction with a brand new Christmas-themed holiday tour, Bryan White has just released a brand new six-song EP titled A Bryan White Christmas. It is White's third holiday album. The album can be purchased HERE.

“Last year was Bryan’s first Christmas tour and it was so successful, we decided to make it an annual event,” says manager Sharon Eaves.

Bryan White is heading home for the holidays and will be kicking off his 2nd annual Christmas tour Friday, December 2nd in Lawton, Oklahoma and will make stops in Stillwater, Durant, Oklahoma City, and more. This show is sure to spice up the season with a special blend of yuletide favorites—plus, a sprinkling of his greatest hits including "Rebecca Lynn," "So Much For Pretending," "Someone Else’s Star," "Sittin’ On Go," among others and songs from his current album, Dustbowl Dreams.  

Track Listing:

1. Run Rudolph Run

2. Finding Christmas

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

4. Linus & Lucy

5. White Christmas

6. The First Noel

Sting and Vince Gill Make Magic Together- Watch CMT Crossroads Videos Here

Two highly-acclaimed musicians, Sting and Vince Gill, were the latest duo to take the stage for an all-new episode of CMT CROSSROADS that premiered last week on CMT.  The performance, taped earlier this year at New York City’s famed Hammerstein Ballroom, resulted in an exceptional night of rocking collaborations and in-depth interviews.

The performance included several of Sting’s hits including “If I Ever Lose My Faith In You,” and “Every Breath You Take,” plus Vince Gill’s “Liza Jane” and “Whenever You Come Around.”  The musical chemistry between these multiple Grammy Award winners (over 35 between them) shines on stage, especially during their chilling cover of the Everly Brothers “Let It Be Me.”

Check out some of the performances below:

Fields of Gold (From CMT Crossroads) - Vince Gill - Vince Gill Videos

Shape of My Heart (From CMT Crossroads) - Vince Gill - Vince Gill Videos

Let It Be Me (From CMT Crossroads) - Vince Gill - Vince Gill Videos

If I Ever Lose My Faith in You (From CMT Crossroads) - Sting - Sting Videos

One Flew South's Eddie Bush Releases New Holiday Album

Those familiar with the country music landscape will certainly remember the trio One Flew South that charted a couple of songs a few years back called "My Kind of Beautiful" and "Life." Singer/songwriter Eddie Bush, a terrific guitarist, has just released a brand new holiday EP called Eddie & The Icicles: Holiday Harmonies. The Icicles are: Ben Bennett on bass guitar, Daniel Crider on drums and Ivory Collins on harmony vocals.

Says Bush, "Holiday Harmonies is a 6-song album with some of my favorite songs that I have long wanted to record! It includes my 2010 single "I C Christmas", a new acoustic "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and a very special "We Shared Time (Christmas Blessings)".

Track listing:
1. This Christmas   
2. I C Christmas   
3. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen   
4. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve   
5. Run Rudolph Run
6. We Shared Time (Christmas Blessings)

The entire album is $6 and can be downloaded HERE. 

Hear It Here: Julie Roberts Shares New Music With "Christmas in Prison"

Julie Roberts made some new music over the last couple of days and decided to share it with her fans. For those that are not aware, Julie has done some incredible work in female prisons volunteering her time for rehabilitation efforts. Consider her a modern-day Johnny Cash in that regard. This was the note on her Facebook page:

"I went into the studio last night to work on music for our next release but this John Prine song called "Christmas In Prison" would not leave my brain! We recorded an acoustic guitar/vocal for you as a gift from me to you!! I hope you enjoy it. Every single time I listen to it I cry because I've been into visit so many inmates. I somewhat feel like I know what they are feeling in there. I love each inmate I have met and wish I could somehow get this song to them. I think music saves them in there. At least that's what they tell me when we visit. I hope y'all like it too! God bless you all!!! Merry Christmas!"