While down in Las Vegas at the recent Academy of Country Music Awards, John Rich and Big Kenny of the duo Big & Rich announced a couple upcoming projects that they're working on.
Big Kenny first revealed that the duo have just recorded a song entitled 'Fake I.D.' that will appear in the remake of 'Footloose.'
"Just when you think that that's pretty cool and really good, you find out that Julianne Hough is dancing to your song. And she looks so good and does such a fantastic job," said Big Kenny about the song. "It's hot, hot, hot and on fire. It's Big and Rich. It's edgy and sexy."
The film, which is scheduled to hit theatres on October 14, stars former 'Dancing with the Stars' champ, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid and Andie MacDowell.
The duo is also reportedly heading to the studio to record a new album beginning next month- and have a new single that will be coming to radio soon.
"We're going to start new rehearsals next month," said Big Kenny in an interview on the red carpet with Walker Hayes and Jana Kramer. "We got new music coming out next month."
Zac Brown ("Chicken Fried"), Julianne Hough ("My Hallelujah Song") and Sugarland ("All I Want To Do") were the country artists among the 81 artists from a wide range of musical genres contributing to a brand new recording of "We Are the World" on Monday that is designed to be a fundraiser for the Haiti earthquake relief fund. Sales of the recording will benefit earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. The song is an updated version of the 1985 recording of "We Are the World" written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. During a press conference prior to the recording session in Los Angeles, Quincy Jones, who produced the original record, said he and Richie had resisted calling attention to the 25th anniversary of the all-star recording but changed his mind when the magnitude 7 earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12. "We got a text message saying, 'Coincidence is God's way of staying anonymous,'" Jones said. Others participating in the session included Miley Cyrus, Jeff Bridges, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Celine Dion, the Jonas Brothers, Pink, Brian Wilson, Jamie Foxx, Carlos Santana, T-Pain, Jason Mraz, Gladys Knight, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart.
With a whole crew of country music's top superstars on this ticket, tonight's show on ABC will be a sure-fire entertaining watch. High voltage stage performances, along with revealing special segments about fan favorites, will mark the return of ABC's hottest music event this summer when CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock airs TONIGHT, Monday, August 31st on ABC Television Network. The annual music bash, expanding to three hours for the first time, will air in HD with 5.1-channel surround sound.
Scheduled to perform are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley,Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band and others. In addition, Kid Rock performs his smash hit "Picture" with special surprise guest Martina McBride and Wynonna and The Judds reunite and perform together FOR THE FIRST TIME at the CMA Music Festival in six years.
We can't wait to see show highlights from the CMA Music Festival held June 11-14 in Nashville. On-and off-stage segments and day-in-the-life vignettes showcasing the personalities and lifestyles of fan favorites will be presented:
As one of the main attractions at CMA Music Festival, Jason Aldean's sky rocketing popularity is evident in his legions of female fans. Later, at his nightclub performance Aldean welcomes them--declaring "Ladies Night at the CMA Music Festival" and treats us all to a performance of his hit, "She's Country" that segues to a performance at LP field.
We also encounter Brad Paisley during a quiet moment alone on his tour bus speaking about his fans then encountering hundreds of them as they greet him outside his bus. His personal recollections then segue to Paisley and his band electrifying a standing-room-only crowd at Fuel club with his hit song, "Then" to LP Field where he sings "American Saturday Night."
Kellie Pickler's off-stage persona is captured as she spends the day with fans, charming them with her quick wit and sweet disposition. Pickler's admirers join her for some shopping at famous Nashville stores such as Ernest Tubb's record shop, where she autographs and gives some lucky fans her own CDs and stops by Mike's Soda Shop to taste "Kellie Pickler" ice cream. Later that night we see Pickler perform "Best Days of Your Life."
The special takes a candid look at the hectic and fun day-in-the-life of Julianne Hough from getting ready at home to the convention center to a slew of press interviews such as Good Morning America with All My Children's Cameron Mathison. She then heads to sound check and wardrobe changes all the while meeting fans all along the way.
Throughout the special, Kellie Pickler brings us interviews with some of the Festival's biggest performers in this multi-star segment. Darius Rucker, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Sugarland and Martina McBride offer celebrity insight and share their personal stories from the road, home and tours with viewers. Then Taylor Swift answers submitted questions from her six biggest fans and later she surprises them in a meet-and-greet.
The annual CMA Music Festival is unlike any other, with four days filled with more than one hundred hours of live music, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up and comers, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid fans. This is the fifth time ABC will broadcast this special, which invites all of America to the biggest Country Music bash since the original Fan Fair was launched in 1972. This year an average of 56,000 fans attended each day of CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.
Country music star George Strait will headline the first concert inside the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, the Dallas Cowboys announced Tuesday. Strait’s Web site confirms that he and fellow country legend Reba McEntire will be the first star performers to take the stage inside the stadium on June 6, 2009. Strait will not only be joined by McEntire. He also will share the stage with singer and songwriter Blake Shelton and "Dancing with The Stars" champion and country singer Julianne Hough.
“George Strait is one of the most successful and prolific country music artists of all time,” said Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys. “We wanted one of the greatest entertainers in the world to open what we believe is going to be one of the greatest sports and entertainment venue in the world.”
In conjunction with NBC and Universal Music, Julianne Hough has released a CD of Christmas songs called Sounds of the Season - The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection. It is available only at Target stores. And at the attractive price of only $6.99, this is a great little holiday stocking stuffer music collection addition.
The CD (actually an EP, running a shade over 21 minutes) shares much with her debut album released earlier this year. Producer David Malloy oversees many of the same veteran studio musicians, including the rock-solid rhythm section of Lonnie Wilson (drums) and Spady Brannan (bass), as well as Jerry McPherson (guitar), and Jimmy Nichols (keyboards). Mickey Jack Cones handled the re-mixing (as well as background vocals). And, front and center, is a very fresh, new-to-the-business Julianne Hough, brimming with optimism and bubbly personality.
"Sound of Christmas" is the first track. It is a short instrumental; it sounds like an introduction to a piece that never materializes. Very curious -- but it is a pleasant melody. And it's notable for being co-written by one "J. Hough" making it Julianne’s first songwriting credit.
The second track, "Jingle Bell Rock" is the most up-tempo song on the album, with a driving, powerful beat and heavy bass line unlike anything Julianne has released yet. Her voice is rich and supple, relaxed and playful. The music is lean, almost spare, with no wasted notes -- the vocals keep it from sounding impersonal.
"It Wasn't His Child / Mary Did You Know?" is the centerpiece of the album, and the only track that focuses on the "reason for the season.” It is a duet with Phil Vassar; a medley of two Christmas songs which had some country radio airplay in the 1990's ("It Wasn't His Child" by Trisha Yearwood; "Mary Did You Know" by Wynonna and Kenny Rogers). Julianne starts off with "It Wasn't His Child"- sounding sincere and breathy. When Phil Vassar begins to sing "Mary Did You Know?", his booming baritone and her fluttery voice make it through with soaring harmonies, and by the end of the song, prove to be a dramatic and potent duo.
"Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" is another variation on a popular theme; a nice party song, not particularly memorable but not meant to be, either. They can't all be showstoppers, tearjerkers or tours de force! Plus, it's obviously one of Julianne's favorites!
"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" showcases Julianne's sweet, pure voice in fine style. She never seems to strain, or even break a sweat. And she doesn't try to shake the rafters. She just sings, and sings very well.
The CD is short, sweet and inexpensive- think of it as a candy cane treat for the ears. It’s not, nor is it intended to be a rich dessert, just a quick sampling of more to come from the beautiful blonde down the road.
