New Music Video From Caroline Jones - "Gulf Coast Girl" - (ft. Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Lukas Nelson & Mac McAnally)

Ned LeDoux Follows Father's Footsteps With His Own Debut LP

Artist: Ned LeDoux
Album: Sagebrush
Label: Powder River Records
Release date: November 3, 2017

Ned LeDoux blazes his own trail forward ‪on November 3 with the release of his first full-length album Sagebrush which carries on the traditions, music and cowboy way of life passed down to him by his Mom and Dad, Peggy and Chris LeDoux.

Produced by award-winning Mac McAnally, Sagebrush completes and follows on the heels of his debut EP Forever A Cowboy released last year. Ned wrote or co-wrote eight of the 12 songs included on Sagebrush, and each song leaves no doubt as to what the LeDoux name stands for in country music.

Sagebrush is a labor of love and a year in the making for Ned LeDoux. The Kaycee, Wyoming native wrote his first song with his songwriting and producer mentor Mac McAnally. After that Ned continued to write about his own life experiences, all the while maintaining his western style and staying true to the cowboy way of life he has always known, as in the song “Forever A Cowboy.” Ned continued to write of his time spent on the road reflected in “Brother Highway,” and about one of the most important things in his life in the love song  “By My Side,” about his love and devotion for his wife and growing family.

Ned’s mom, Peggy, gave him a shoebox full of what seemed to be song ideas his Dad had written down years ago. Ned prefers to call them his Dad’s “thoughts.” No one will ever know what his dad intended, but Ned took them and, with McAnally, turned them in to a variety of songs including his Dad as a co-writer. Four of those songs appear on Sagebrush including “Never Change,” “Cowboy Life,” “Forever A Cowboy” and “We Ain’t Got It All. ”

Sagebrush Track Listing:

1) “Never Change”                                                
 2) “Cowboy Life”                                                 
 3)  “We Ain’t Got It All”                                        
 4) “Some People Do”                                         
 5)  “Brother Highway”                                         
 6) “Better Part of Living”                                  
 7)  “Forever a Cowboy”                                        
 8) “By My Side”                                                   
 9) “Another Horse To Ride”                             
 10)  “Johnson County War”                            
 11)  “The Hawk”                                                 
 12) “This Cowboy’s Hat” (Feat. Chase Rice)      

Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas Features Collaborations With Vince Gill & Mac McAnally

Artist: Amy Grant
Album: Tennessee Christmas
Label: Amy Grant Music
Release date: Oct. 21, 2016

Amy Grant will unveil her first all-new Christmas album in nearly 20 years on Oct. 21, just in time for the holiday season. A collection of 13 new recordings offers a blend of originals and Grant's own spin on popular yuletide classics.

Tennessee Christmas features an updated recording of the Amy Grant Christmas standard, "Tennessee Christmas," 6 new songs and traditional Christmas favorites "Baby, It's Cold Outside"(featuring Vince Gill), "O Come All Ye Faithful" & "Joy To The World."

Recorded in her home studio in Nashville, Grant collaborated with producers Mac McAnally (Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride), Marshall Altman (Marc Broussard, Frankie Ballard) and Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band) to bring this project to life.

"I've loved traveling the world with my guitar, but my favorite musical memories have happened right here at home around Christmastime with family and friends," she said. "I hope we've captured some of that magic to share with all of you this holiday season!" 

With over 6 million Christmas records sold, all of Grant's holiday projects have been honored with RIAA platinum or gold certification. This holiday season, she will tour extensively across the country sharing music from "Tennessee Christmas," as well as her most popular Christmas hits.

Grant's career spans more than 30 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into becoming an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. With three multiplatinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, her total career album sales have exceeded 30 million. Grant's chart success has been consistent throughout her career, with six No. 1 hits, 10 Top 40 pop singles, 17 Top 40 adult contemporary tracks and multiple contemporary Christian chart-toppers.

Tennessee Christmas Track Listing:

1. Tennessee Christmas
2. To Be Together
3. Christmas For You And Me
4. Melancholy Christmas
5. December
6. White Christmas
7. Joy To The World
8. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
9. Baby, It's Cold Outside
10. Christmas Don't Be Late
11. Still Can t Sleep
12. Another Merry Christmas
13. O Come, All Ye Faithful

New Live Performance Music Video From Mac McAnally- "All These Years"

Mac McAnally Readies New Album For September Release

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame member Mac McAnally will release his self-produced, performed and sung A.K.A. Nobody album on September 18 on Mailboat Records.

A.K.A Nobody is McAnally's latest solo album, sung, performed and produced by the much beloved session ace. All but one of its songs were written by McAnally, either on his own or with co-writers including Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown, Sonny Landreth, Chris Stapleton, Al Anderson, and others. His expressive range is on full display -- swampy blues on "Place Where You Belong," some exotic Parisian-style swing on "Zanzibar," a saucy Cajun swagger on "Loser Gumbo" with McAnally rocking the piano as Sonny Landreth wails on slide guitar, complex but catchy pop reminiscent of Steely Dan's best on "Someday," straight-ahead, steel-sweetened country with Southern rock seasoning on "Coast of Carolina."

Perhaps the album's biggest surprise, "With a Straight Face," a sensitive portrayal of two gay children raised by parents who can't understand their kids are "something God made." "I have a heart for the underdog and for the oppressed and persecuted," McAnally says, addressing "With a Straight Face." "And I have close friends who have suffered for no good reason I can see. This song is for all the above."

With a track record that includes writing No. 1 hits on his own for Kenny Chesney ("Down the Road") and Alabama ("Old Flame") as well as penning chart-toppers for Sawyer Brown ("All These Years") and Shenandoah ("Two Dozen Roses"), it's no wonder that he has been voted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

"This selection of music made me stay up late and get up early, filled up my fairly big heart and historically large head for the last several years in between also working on musical projects with other artists, which I also love to do," Mac says. "Because of the long process in recording this album I had the chance to give some long attention to the songs that demanded it, and the ones I thought would benefit from a spontaneous joyfest in the studio with a great band were saved for last. I'm very proud of both the work and that my fans continue to follow my little career. Small though it may be it's one of the biggest blessings ever. I'm grateful... and to borrow one of the song titles 'Proud To Be Alive.'"

A.K.A. Nobody track listing:

 1. A Little Bit Better (Chris Stapleton/Mac McAnally)
 2. Last But Not Least (Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Jimmy De Martini/Coy Bowles/McAnally)
 3. Mississippi, You’re On My Mind (Jesse Winchester)
 4. With A Straight Face (McAnally)
 5. Don’t Remember Leaving (McAnally)
 6. Zanzibar (McAnally)
 7. Place Where You Belong (Al Anderson/McAnally)
 8. Proud To Be Alive (McAnally)
 9. Better Get Your Story Straight (McAnally)
 10. Everything (Ain’t Too High a Price) (McAnally)
 11. Loser Gumbo (Sonny Landreth/McAnally)
 12. Coast of Carolina (Jimmy Buffett/McAnally)
 13. Someday (McAnally)
 14. Island Rain (Kenny Chesney/McAnally)
 15. Working Prayer (McAnally)

Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town Are Big CMA Winners (with video)

It was the coming out party for wise-cracking Blake Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert last night at the 46th Annual Country Music Association Awards Ceremony. The married couple hauled in trophies for four different awards. Little Big Town was the other big winner with two trophies. What were your favorite highlights and lowlights?

Here is a list of the winners:
◦Entertainer of the year- Blake Shelton
◦Female vocalist- Miranda Lambert
◦Male vocalist- Blake Shelton
◦New artist- Hunter Hayes
◦Vocal group- Little Big Town
◦Vocal duo- Thompson Square
◦Single- “Pontoon” – Little Big Town
◦Album- Chief – Eric Church
◦Song- “Over You” – performed by Miranda Lambert- written by Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton
◦Musical event- “Feel Like a Rock Star” – Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
◦Music video- “Red Solo Cup” – Toby Keith
◦Musician- Mac McAnally

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

Longtime Country Veteran John Berry Releases Made In America

As the calendar turns the page into 2011, John Berry has released a brand new independent album titled Made In America that he is selling on his website and at tour stops around the country. There are four brand new John Berry penned songs including "Give Me Back My America", "I Know That You Know", "Longing For Home", and "Lonely Heart".

Active as a recording artist since 1979, Berry has recorded more than fifteen studio albums, including one platinum album and two gold albums. In his career, Berry has also charted nineteen songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the Number One single "Your Love Amazes Me" from 1994 and six additional Top Ten hits: "What's In It for Me," "You and Only You," "Standing on the Edge of Goodbye," "I Think About It All the Time," "Change My Mind," and "She's Taken a Shine."

The new album was recorded in Mac McAnally’s studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

“Alan Schulman (did) engineering and we’re going to do it in his studio so it’s… great. The studio is actually owned by Alan Schulman and Mac McAnally. I’m a huge fan’s of Mac’s and have enjoyed his music over the years. He’s written so many wonderful songs, so it’s really exciting being able to go there and work with some guys whom I’ve really looked up to all these years and record and do some work there. My music has a little bit of soul to it and they’ve got a whole lot more soul in Muscle Shoals. It’s kind of a cool environment to be able to go do this in. It’ll be different for me as well.”

Track Listing:

1 City of New Orleans
2 Longing for Home
3 Celebrate Me Home
4 Right Behind the Rain
5 Give Me Back My America
6 Heart of Gold
7 I Know That You Know
8 Poncho and Lefty
9 *Poncho and Lefty- Reprise
10 Lonely Heart

Jamey Johnson & Mac McAnally Among Several Inductees To Alabama Music HOF

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame Board has announced the selection of several people to be inducted during the 13th Induction Banquet and Awards Show to be held in the Convention Center in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, March 25, 2010. The inductees will include The Blind Boys of Alabama, Jamey Johnson, Mac McAnally, Mac Davis and several other musicians, songwriters & producers.

David Johnson, executive director of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, said, “We are proud to be returning to Montgomery for this celebrated event honoring our state’s great music achievers and unmatched musical heritage. During this event, the audience will be entertained by some of the most successful and talented Alabamians in the music industry as well as witness seven achievers being awarded with our most prestigious honor – induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.”

Jamey Johnson, who was born in Enterprise and grew up in Montgomery, has been on a hot streak in recent years. He co-wrote the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music 2007 Song of the Year “Give It Away,” recorded by George Strait. The Grammy-nominated artist won the ACM’s and CMA's Song of the Year for his single “In Color.”

New Mac McAnally CD "Down By the River" Set For August 4th

Nashville longtime musician, songwriter, producer and recording artist Mac McAnally will release his latest album Down By The River on August 4th. The 11-song collection of new original material is also his 11th release as a solo artist and his debut for Show Dog Nashville. The self-produced album showcases McAnally, one of music's most respected creators, on acoustic and electric guitars, acoustic and electric piano, harmonica, ukulele and percussion.

McAnally is one of the most respected guitar players in the world. He's played behind or sang harmony for artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and many more. As a producer, he's helmed successful projects by Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat, among others. In addition to the hits he has penned for artists, McAnally received his first No. 1 single as an artist and sixth as a writer on his collaboration with Kenny Chesney, "Down The Road." The song penned by McAnally and recorded by Chesney, who invited the acclaimed music maker to sing on the track with him, also led to an ACM Vocal Event of the Year nod for the collaboration.

Track Listing:

1. Blame it on New Orleans
2. Down by the River
3. If You Hang Around Long Enough
4. On Account of You
5. (Nothing Like A) Sunny Day
6. Over and Out
7. You First
8. Unresolved
9. Bound to Get Down
10. Big Disappointment
11. Until Then

Listen To The New Single From Mac McAnally

Music artist Mac McAnally is singer-songwriter, session musician and record producer. In his career, he has recorded ten studio albums. Two of his singles were hits on the Billboard Hot 100, and six more on the Hot Country Songs charts. His ninth chart entry came in late 2008-early 2009 as a guest vocalist on Kenny Chesney's cover of his 1990 single "Down the Road". He has also produced for Sawyer Brown and Restless Heart, written several singles for other artists, and has performed in the Coral Reefer Band, which is Jimmy Buffett's backing band.

Now this CMA award-winning musician has a new contract with Toby Keith's label, ShowDog Records, and his first single "You First" has been released. You can listen to it here...

Toby Keith Signs Mac McAnally To Record Label

The big personal year of victories from well-regarded singer/songwriter and producer Mac McAnally has just gotten a little bigger. After having a number one single singing with Kenny Chesney on Down the Road and winning 2008's "Musician of the Year" from the Country Music Association for his stellar guitar work – McAnally has signed with Show Dog Nashville, Toby Keith's label.

Keith explains:
"There's nobody more respected, at least when it comes to musicians andpeople who really know this business, than Mac McAnally," says the Show Dog proprietor. "There aren't a lot of guys you put in that category and I've gotten to work with a few. So getting to be a part of whatever Mac wants to do is an honor for me, and for everyone at the label."

McAnally got his start as a Muscle Shoals session musician as a guitarist. He's played behind or sang harmony for many artists including Roy Orbison, Hank Williams, Jr., Amy Grant, Travis Tritt, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Dolly Parton and Jimmy Buffett, who Mac continues to tour with as part of his Coral Reefer band and has produced projects for including the number one album, "License to Chill." He also produced Ricky Skaggs, Sawyer Brown, Chris LeDoux and Little Feat.