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Comstock/ThinkstockCraig Morgan once served in which branch of the U.S. military? ANSWER: Army.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Republic NashvilleThe Eli Young Band is making a point to meet with military families this year while on the road with Kenny Chesney's No Shoes tour. Those meet-and-greet sessions also include an acoustic performance by the band, and front man Mike Eli says it’s the least they can do for those helping defend our country.
Mike tells Gaithersburg, MD's The Gazette, “I have two brothers in the Marines,
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Sony Nashville/AristaCarrie Underwood is giving back to her home state of Oklahoma following the devastation caused there by Monday's tornadoes.
Carrie announced Thursday that she is donating one million dollars in proceeds from her just-concluded Blown Away Tour to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
The singer says in a statement, “I have watched the devastation in my home state of Oklahoma over the past several days with great sadness. With the help of my fans who attended my concerts over the past year, we can offer the Red Cross a little extra help in comforting those affected by the recent tornados.”
In
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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockCraig Morgan, Diamond Rio and Randy Travis will join Alabama on their Alabama & Friends Festival at Sea cruise October 24 through 28. Go to AlabamaFestivalatSea.com for details.
A U.S. postage stamp honoring Johnny Cash will be unveiled at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Wednesday, June 5.
Rapper Snoop Dogg, a.k.a. Snoop Lion, was on the same flight as Reba Wednesday night, and he posted a picture of himself
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Curb RecordsLee Brice grew up listening to his grandfather's stories of serving in World War II, so Memorial Day has always had a special meaning for him. Now that he's topped the country chart with his ode to a fallen soldier, "I Drive Your Truck," Lee is proud his song will serve as the soundtrack for thousands of military families honoring their loved ones this weekend.
He says, "This song is not just for the soldiers. It's like their families and their friends who kind of really understand what they sacrifice on a daily basis. So, Memorial Day, I think, is kind of for all those people too, you know, to me."
"I
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Capitol NashvilleIt goes without saying that the members of Lady Antebellum are huge music fans, and they're sharing some of their favorite songs and albums in the new issue of People.
Group member Hillary Scott is expecting her first baby in July, and music will play a huge role in that child's life. Hillary even plans to rock out to Beyoncé's "If I Were a Boy" in the delivery room. She explains with a laugh, "I wouldn't be going through this if I were a boy."
As for their other picks, Hillary's band mate Dave Haywood says he works out to the Grammy-winning Mumford
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Sony Music NashvilleMiranda Lambert clearly loves her husband, Blake Shelton, but her affection for her animals comes in a close second. Miranda had to put down one of her horses Thursday. The loss hit her hard.
She tweeted, "Animal love is so strong & it can really break your heart. Hope he is the one Jesus comes back on."
Miranda is an outspoken advocate for animals, especially dogs. Find out more about Miranda's work at MuttNationFoundation.com.
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Show Dog/UniversalTrace Adkins won All-Star Celebrity Apprentice and released his new album, Love Will…, all last week, but he's not slowing down anytime soon. Trace is set to serve as the honorary Grand Marshall in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade Monday in Washington, D.C. He's also gracing the cover of Country Weekly's new issue, on stands Friday. As if that weren't enough, Trace has lined up a performance slot on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 12.
Love Will… features Trace's collaboration with Grammy winner Colbie Caillat on "Watch
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Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker isn't sure when he'll stage full-on reunion with his rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, but a short tour with the guys is still on the table. 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of Hootie's debut album, Cracked Rear View, which went on to sell more than 10 million copies, and that could lead Darius to get the old band back together.
Darius tells The Hollywood Reporter, "We might do a month tour next year to commemorate Cracked Rear View, but that one total year
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Capitol NashvilleLittle Big Town has signed on to host the CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock special, airing Monday, August 12 on ABC. The reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year will be running around all over the CMA Music Festival, running June 6 through 9, taping segments and interviewing the stars for the special. The festival features performances from country's hottest stars every night at Nashville's LP Field.
Little Big Town is honored to host the special this year. Band member Karen Fairchild says, "We could not be more excited about the party that's going to break out at LP Field
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Monarch PublicityCraig Morgan co-hosts a special Memorial Day edition GAC Top 20 Country Countdown with Nan Kelley this Friday night at 8 ET. The episode was taped at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, TN and features a tour of the Don F. Pratt Museum, which covers the history of the 101st Airborne Division.
Nan and Craig also get in a little rappelling at the Sabalauski Air Assault School.
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Comstock/ThinkstockWhich music superstar co-wrote Kellie Pickler's hit "Best Days of Your Life?" ANSWER: Taylor Swift.
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Facebook.com/DierksBentleyDierks Bentley fans can look forward to familiar themes on his upcoming album, Riser, including a few lonesome songs and some songs about drinking a nice, cold beer. There are some new elements to the music too due to where Dierks is in his life right now as a husband and father.
He adds, "You know my dad passed away, so that’s all kind of tied into it. Just kind of look at the world around me and making observations on that."
No matter what project he's working on, Dierks always takes care to put some kind of new sound on every album.
"I think 'new' is what is exciting about country
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Vector ManagementTrisha Yearwood was one of several artists invited to the White House Wednesday night to pay tribute to Carole King, who was honored by President Obama and awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Obama remarked, "For an entire decade, behind so many of the songs that touched our hearts and stirred our soul, there was Carole forever joyful and uplifting."
Several artists paid tribute to King by performing her music, including Billy Joel, James Taylor, Gloria Estefan, Emeli Sande and Yearwood.
The
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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockBrett Eldredge is CMT's current Listen Up featured artist, and you can learn more about him at ListenUp.CMT.com.
Keith Urban has released the lyric video for his new single, "Little Bit of Everything."
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"Dancing with the Stars" Champ Kellie Pickler Headed Back to the Recording Studio to Finish Album #4
ABCNow that Kellie Pickler has won this season of Dancing with the Stars, she's ready to get back to her first love -- making music. Kellie just released her new country single, "Someone Somewhere Tonight," to radio.
She tells ABC News Radio, "I'm really excited about getting back in the studio 'cause I started working on my record before we started the show, and I've only been able to get in the studio a couple times since then 'cause we've been so busy in the dance studio."
Kellie expects her new album to be out this fall. She's also on the road this summer with shows coming up in Ohio and
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RCA NashvilleSara Evans will hold her annual fan club party June 6 in Nashville, and you could be singing onstage with her at the event. From now through Saturday, Sara is taking video submissions of fans singing their favorite songs from her catalog. On May 27, five finalists will be announced, after which fans will you can for your favorite at SaraEvans.com.
The grand prize winner will be announced on May 31. The lucky fan and a guest will be flown to Nashville for the event. For all of the details, go to
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Big Machine Label GroupTim McGraw is releasing live tracks recorded on his Two Lanes of Freedom tour all summer long starting with this Friday's release of "Southern Girl." More live tracks will be released June 7, June 21, July 12 and July 26 at TimMcGraw.com as part of the McGraw Overdrive Series Live project. All of the featured songs will come from Tim's latest album, also titled Two Lanes of Freedom.
Tim says, "The sound and energy from a live show gives an entirely new perspective to any song. I'm always looking for ways to give the
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MCA NashvilleGeorge Strait has scored his 25th #1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart with Love Is Everything, extending George's reign as the artist with the most chart-toppers on that tally. Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are tied for distant second place, with 15 #1 albums apiece.
According to Nielsen Soundscan, Love Is Everything moved nearly 120,000 copies in its first week for a #2 debut on the overall Billboard 200 chart. This project is George's 18th top-10 album on the Billboard 200, tying him with Paul McCartney for the fourth-most
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Photo Credit: Sarah BarlowA few country stars are included in the first wave of nominees for the 2013 Teen Choice Awards, including Taylor Swift. She's up for Choice Female Artist and Choice Female Country Artist. Jana Kramer, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves and Carrie Underwood are also nominated in the Female Country Artist category.
The nominees in the Choice Male Country Artist category are Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Hunter Hayes and Blake Shelton. The Choice Country Group
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Warner Music NashvilleBlake Shelton is putting together a benefit concert for the victims of Monday's deadly Oklahoma tornadoes. He tells Billboard the show will air on NBC, and that more details will be announced very soon.
Blake grew up in Ada, OK, which is just 75 miles from the tornado-ravaged town of Moore, OK. He says of the special, "I'm hoping it will raise a lot of money."
Look for Blake to call on some of his fellow coaches on The Voice to appear
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Monarch PublicityChris Young will release his fourth studio album this year, and he wants you to help him announce all the details. Between now and Friday, May 31, fans can go to ChrisYoungCountry.com to take part in the announcement.
He says, "I feel like this new record really captures my live show for the fans and so I want them to be part of revealing info about this new album."
Chris's new album features his latest single, "Aw Naw," which is now available for digital download.
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Comstock/ThinkstockWhich member of The Henningsens recently tied the knot on the family's farm in Illinois? ANSWER: Clara Henningsen.
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Facebook.com/TheVoiceBlake Shelton and Sheryl Crow are taking a break from guiding the singers on The Voice to get behind the microphone themselves next week. Look for Blake to sing his latest hit, "Boys 'Round Here," on the May 27 edition of The Voice. Sheryl will also sing her debut country single, "Easy," that night.
"Boys "Round Here" is the second single from Blake's latest album, Based on a True Story…. It's also his fastest-rising single at radio to date.
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Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockTaylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves were spotted eating together at Nobu Restaurant and Lounge in Las Vegas Sunday night following the Billboard Music Awards according to the Las Vegas Informer.
Darius Rucker stops by ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live Wednesday.
New country trio The Henningsens visited the chorus at PS22 in New York City to perform their debut hit, "American Beautiful," as well as a cover of Justin
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Republic NashvilleFlorida Georgia Line's hit single "Cruise" is now crossing over to the pop world thanks to a remix with rapper Nelly. So, how did they get this unique pairing come about? The country duo's Brian Kelley tells ABC News Radio it was actually Nelly who got the ball rolling.
Brian says, "When we heard that he was interested and that would have been an option, we freaked out and jumped at it. I don't think there could have been anyone better for that song. It just made sense."
Brian and his duo partner, Tyler Hubbard, love how Nelly sounds
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FOXKree Harrison may just be starting out on her country career after scoring the runner-up slot on American Idol this season, but she's not going into the country music world blind. Kree has lived in Nashville for 13 years now and counts country star Kacey Musgraves as one of her best friends.
The two native Texans met through a mutual Nashville songwriter friend, who told them both before meeting, "Y'all are from the same tribe."
Kree tells ABC News Radio, "We went and hung out one night, me and her and our friend Elice and literally have been inseparable
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Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back on top of the country chart with his latest hit, "Wagon Wheel," and he's just released his third country album, True Believers, which appears destined to be another big seller. Though Darius has established himself as one of country's top stars, he still has to deal with some small-minded people as the only black man in the format.
Things got especially heated earlier this week when a Twitter user told Darius to "Leave country to the white folk." Darius shot back, "WOW. Is this
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Show Dog/UniversalWith the devastating images coming from those deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, Trace Adkins wants to remind everyone about the Red Cross relief effort already under way in the affected areas. During his Tuesday appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael, Trace said, "I've got a lot of friends in Oklahoma and yeah, there are Red Cross volunteers on the scene right now. They were there Sunday, as soon as this started happening."
Trace won All-Star Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday, and he donated the $1.5 million he won on the show to the Red Cross. That organization was on the scene when Trace's Nashville home burned
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