The Boot

Jimmy Wayne Brings Lively Show to Oklahoma

Alanna Conaway — 2009-11-06T17:30:00+00:00

The sound of sirens rang through the McSwain Theatre in Ada, Okla., as Jimmy Wayne took the stage Saturday singing 'Cowboys and Engines,' with his fist punching the air. He immediately launched into another new song, 'Shot Cowboy,' which is slated to appear on another album down the road, after 'Sara Smile' hits stores later this month. With the final beat of the song, Jimmy drew imaginary pistols off each of his hips and shot the air as the lights faded.

But this concert wasn't all music, as the charismatic singer also added a little humor. Turning his back to the crowd, he picked up a small red sound box off the drum rise. With a twinkle in his eye, Jimmy brought the red box close to his microphone, pushing a button and bringing the crowd to laughter as he played various comical sound effects.

Blake Shelton, 'Hillbilly Bone' (Featuring Trace Adkins) - Video of the Week

The Boot Staff — 2009-11-06T16:45:00+00:00

Filed under: New Video

Artist: Blake Shelton
Video: 'Hillbilly Bone'
Why We Dig It: Talk about friends in low places. Blake and Trace bring their hillbilly bones to an uppity restaurant in this hilarious new video.

Kellie Pickler Is Red Hot

Donna Hughes — 2009-11-06T16:15:00+00:00

Kellie Pickler is no longer a blonde, but she's still a bombshell, nonetheless. The 'Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You' singer is now a redhead. Actually, auburn would be a more appropriate term to describe the new shade of her shoulder length tresses. Kellie gave her fans a head's up a few weeks ago via her Twitter page, stating "Incognito with my red hair. On Broadway in Nashville." And her fans have certainly responded ... some of them not so fondly.

"It's just hair! Some people don't even have hair," Kellie laments to The Boot. "So, while I have my hair, I'm going to play with it and experiment with it. When you get people that are just like, 'Oh my gosh, you're so much better as a blonde,' it's like where are your priorities?"

Jo Dee Messina Fields Random Requests

Gayle Richardson — 2009-11-06T15:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Jo Dee Messina is back on the road again. But instead of performing to packed arenas and stadiums, she created the Music Room Series tour to give fans a more informal and intimate experience. But, the singer admits, it's become an experience she never expected.

"It's a show that started out as a storyteller kind of series," Jo Dee tells the Daily Breeze. "I would talk to the audience about the songs and the circumstances behind them and what they meant to me. But it quickly evolved into being more about the audience. When they would make requests, they would tell me stories about how they related to my songs and what personal meanings the songs had taken on for them."

Frugal Friday: Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw + More

The Boot Staff — 2009-11-06T15:00:00+00:00

The Boot helps fans find wallet-friendly deals on music.

Walmart has an invitation for you to the "Soundcheck" of some of today's hottest artists! Country fans will want to check out exclusive performances, interview segments and free downloads from Carrie Underwood here and Miranda Lambert here.

Tim McGraw's 'Southern Voice' is available to download at Amazon for just $5! Click here.

Amazon also has Lady Antebellum's debut album on sale for only $7.99 here.

George Jones Remembers His First Time

Pat Gallagher — 2009-11-06T14:30:00+00:00

George Jones who's been making country music for 55 years, is often called the greatest living singer in country music. But he recalls the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio, thinking he was listening to someone -- or something -- else!

"My first record [was] in February 1954. I was in Houston, Texas. I put the first single I had in my hand, got out of the car and took it in to [the radio station] to Pete Hunter, who was the disc jockey. The song was 'There Ain't No Money in This Deal,' and there wasn't!

"I went back in my car and just couldn't wait to hear it. Really, it didn't sound like me to me. I had a horsey-type voice which I learned to live with later on.

Dolly Parton Joins Tony Blair, Desmond Tutu for BBC Series

Gayle Richardson — 2009-11-06T14:00:00+00:00

Dolly Parton's music and acting career has already paired her with some of the world's biggest stars, including Jane Fonda, Kenny Rogers and Sally Field, but now she's about to collaborate with two of the world's most renowned figures: former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on a new series for the BBC.

'Fern Britton Meets' focuses on the role faith plays in the lives of several famous people, the Associated Press reports. And while the series will tackle some heavy subjects, including the Prime Minister's conversion to Catholicism and the Archbishop's role in fighting injustice in South Africa, Dolly will take a much more light-hearted approach.

Dierks Bentley Hails 'Tough' Fort Hood Hero

Stephen L. Betts — 2009-11-06T13:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Country musicians are well-known for saluting their heroes, many of whom, naturally, are other musicians. But earlier this year, Dierks Bentley came face-to-face with someone who would just this week, go above and beyond the call of duty, and is now being as the hero who helped end the shooting rampage at Fort Hood yesterday (Nov. 5). On his Twitter page, Dierks has a photo of himself with civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley, taken on July 4. The photo has made the rounds of media outlets in the past 24 hours.

Today, Dierks tweeted, "was able to speak to sgt munley & pass along my prayers for a speedy recovering. she's tough! and couldn't be more nice or humble.real hero."

Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis Form Mutual Admiration Society

Donna Hughes — 2009-11-06T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: CMA Awards, Country News

Carrie Underwood's version of Randy Travis' 'I Told You So' was a big hit, especially after the two re-recorded the song as a duet. The tune, which Randy originally took to the top of the country charts in 1988, is up for two CMA Awards this year -- Musical Event and Song of the Year, and Carrie can't say enough about the country legend.

"Randy is such a nice person. He truly is somebody that's conducted himself in such a wonderful way throughout his entire career," says Carrie. "It's absolutely wonderful that I feel like I've truly gained a friend through the whole me-singing-somebody-else's-song thing. And he's so nice. He's truly deserving, especially for Song of the Year. I hope Randy wins more than I hope I win."

George Strait Returns From Third African Safari

Gayle Richardson — 2009-11-06T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

The King of Country might soon be known by another title: King of the Jungle!

While George Strait spends much of his time on sprawling ranch in San Antonio, Texas, he's also becoming quite the world traveler. The singer recently returned from his third African safari with his wife, Norma, and compares the experience to one of his other favorite activities: camping.

"They make it as nice as they can, and it is very nice, but you are out in a tent," he tells Pa. radio station WIOV. Quite a camping trip, indeed! Their last safari had them roughing it in the wild bush for a month, but even George's wife admits it's worth it, if only for the front-row view of the animals.

Jimmy Wayne Takes Fans on a Photographic Journey

Alanna Conaway — 2009-11-06T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

For the past several years, Jimmy Wayne has been chronicling his travels with a series of photographs on and off the concert stage. Lately he's taken to posting many of the photos on his Twitter page so fans can feel like they're on the road with him.

"Not many people get to do what I do for a living. I want to make sure I can share my experience with the world," Jimmy explains. "For example, someone in small-town USA may have an expectation of what San Francisco looks like until they see a picture that I've taken of a golden field with beautiful green mountains and blue skies. I never expected New York to be so similar to North Carolina or Texas or even Minnesota. America is simply beautiful and different all over, yet the same."

Toby Keith Praises Troops for Working with 'Craziness'

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2009-11-06T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Toby Keith spends two weeks every spring in Afghanistan and Iraq performing for the troops. The tireless entertainer says that as far as he can tell, morale is still high among the military men and women -- when he finds impressive, considering the rules and conditions under which they're forced to work.

Toby tells the Providence Journal, "Our guys literally drive down the streets, protecting and securing, and they are not allowed to shoot under assumptions. They have to be shot at to shoot back. If someone shoots at an American, and the soldiers go looking for their assailants and they go behind the rocks and see six guys and the guys drop their guns and walk off, there isn't one thing you can do about it."

Lorrie Morgan Loses Her Guilt, Discovers Her 'Moment'

Marianne Horner — 2009-11-06T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Years ago, when Lorrie Morgan would go out on the road, she would drag along her very heavy mother's heart. That was when her kids -- daughter, Morgan and son, Jesse Keith -- were youngsters. Today, they're grown -- daughter, Morgan is 28, just starting nursing school. Son, Jesse Keith (with Keith Whitley) is 22, and has just launched a singing career of his own.

"It used to be when I'd go on the road, my heart would just break," Lorrie tells CMT. "I would think, 'Oh, I need to be going to their basketball games ... I need to be doing something with my kids.' Of course, I didn't have a choice. I had to go. That's how I made my living."

Kellie Pickler Makes Dreams Come True

Donna Hughes — 2009-11-06T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Movies and TV

Kellie Pickler appears on this Sunday's episode of ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,' and she says that it was "the most incredible show I've ever been a part of."

Kellie traveled to Beavercreek, Ohio to not only to surprise James Terpenning and his family with news that they're getting a new home, but also to assist in building that home and performing at the reveal at the end of the show. James, who was crippled by polio during infancy, is a computer specialist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and a wheelchair sports athlete, and according to Kellie, his friends and co-workers, a really nice guy. "I got to spend a little time with the father and the mother," Kellie tells The Boot. "They're just beautiful souls. After you talk to them and you get to really see who they are and what they're about, you become so much more attached to them and you just really want to make this home the best that it can be."

Billy Ray Cyrus Draws 'Christmas' Inspiration From Dad

Gayle Richardson — 2009-11-05T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News, Movies and TV

Billy Ray Cyrus has already finished filming his role in the upcoming Hallmark TV movie, 'Christmas in Canaan,' and while he says the part was tailor-made for him, he admits he initially turned the role down before calling Hallmark and begging to have it back.

It was the wisdom of his late father that resonated with him when he decided to revisit the script. His dad, who famously told him to follow in the footsteps of Kenny Rogers, also ultimately became the inspiration Billy Ray needed to embrace his role as Daniel Burton, a father to two troubled boys.

Taylor Swift Fills In for Ryan Seacrest

Gayle Richardson — 2009-11-05T17:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Seacrest out, Swift in! Taylor Swift, actress, 'Saturday Night Live' host, and CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee will soon be adding radio DJ to her resume. According to a recent Twitter update, Ryan Seacrest will be taking some time off as host of his weekly radio show, 'American Top 40' over the Thanksgiving holiday, and will be replaced by frequent chart-topper Taylor on the show.

'American Top 40' recently tweeted, "We want your questions for Taylor Swift! She's guest-DJing the show. Call us! 1-877-AT40-FAN." In addition, the 'American Idol' host said via Twitter, "@taylorswift13 is filling in for me on @AmericanTop40 over Thanksgiving wknd. Call w/ ur ?s for her...she'll answer on show! 1-877-AT40-FAN."

Carrie Underwood Glams Onstage, Sweats Offstage

Marianne Horner — 2009-11-05T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Carrie Underwood adores playing dress-up and weaving a magical spell of glitz and glamour around herself. But that's only when she goes onstage. When she comes offstage, it's back to basics, something cute and trendy. And when she's traveling, it's totally chill, all about comfort.

"I feel like I can wear anything when I'm onstage," Carrie tells Lucky. "And I love playing around with makeup. "It's trial and error -- mostly error," she laughs.

The Lucky December cover girl says her fearless sense of stage style is inspired by country music's most famous fashionista, Dolly Parton. "I would never attempt to pull off Dolly's wardrobe, but her confidence is enviable. She always makes it work!"

Jamey Johnson Celebrates 'Epic' Night With Matthew McConaughey

Donna Hughes — 2009-11-05T16:20:00+00:00

Jamey Johnson helped actor Matthew McConaughey ring in his 40th birthday at a surprise party Tuesday night. "My family, closest friends and I celebrated last night with a surprise performance by one of my favorite artists, Jamey Johnson," the actor blogged on his MySpace page. "There were some epic stories told, lot of laughs and definitely some roasting. Somehow, no blood or glass broken."

Jamey must've put on a great show, as the party apparently lasted until 4:30 AM!

Jamey and Matthew met at this year's ACM Awards in Las Vegas. The actor and his girlfriend, Camila Alves, dropped by the tunesmith's dressing room to congratulate him on winning Song of the Year for 'In Color' and to tell him how much they love his album, 'That Lonesome Song.'

Lyle Lovett & His Large Band Seduce New York

Jennifer Kellas — 2009-11-05T15:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News

What is immediately striking about a Lyle Lovett show is not the perfect performances or impeccable production but rather, the lengths Lovett goes to engage and entertain his audience with humorous anecdotes and rehearsed bits with his band. As an audience member, you come away floored by his incredible, yet unassuming, stage presence but also, with a warmth towards Lovett and the 'Large' band of friends he has assembled on stage, whom he insists on introducing multiple times.

Oh, and the music isn't half bad either. Throughout his show Wednesday at New York's Beacon Theater, Lovett introduced many songs from his new album, 'Natural Forces,' all of which integrated beautifully with the rest of his catalogue. The humorous new tune 'Pantry' was the crowd pleaser of the evening, sung in old bluegrass fashion with all the musicians around a single microphone. Lovett informed the audience that the song was written with longtime girlfriend April Kimble and sprouted from their mutual love of food and the Food Network. Another highlight was the Lovett-penned title song off the new album, 'Natural Forces.' The charismatic singer told the tale of how he wrote the song while sitting watching football one Sunday. Amongst the beer commercials were advertisements for the local news and the stories they were about to run on the war in the Middle East. It's a hopeful song in which Lovett thanks the soldiers and says he hopes he's "worth fighting for."

Tim McGraw Gets to the 'Heart' of Latest Film Role

Alanna Conaway — 2009-11-05T15:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

After playing "Dad" in 'Friday Night Lights' and 'Flicka,' singer-turned-actor Tim McGraw admits he was hesitant to take on what could have been a too-familiar part in the upcoming feature, 'The Blind Side.' But the powerful script left him little choice but to accept the role.

"I had a stack of scripts to read," Tim tells GAC. "I was on vacation. I knew I had this window of opportunity to do a movie, so I was looking through all these scripts. I got to this movie, and I knew the story because I knew about the book, but I didn't know all of it. My first reaction after reading the script was 'I have to do it.' It's such a great human story and a story about heart. Once I got past being the dad and it being about football [like 'Lights'], I got to the heart of the story, and I was sold on it."