The Boot

Blake Shelton's 'Healing in the Heartland' Benefit Show to Include Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert + More

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-24T16:50:00 00:00

Nine days after the deadly tornado that touched down in Moore, Okla., Blake Shelton and friends will be staging a relief concert that will air on NBC. Details of the 'Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert' were announced Friday afternoon. The event will serve as a telethon, with proceeds going to the United Way of Central Oklahoma May Tornadoes Relief Fund.

The concert will take place May 29 at 9PM ET, airing on 'The Voice' coach's home network, as well as on E!, Style, G4, Bravo and CMT. Shelton will headline, and fellow Oklahomans Vince Gill and Reba McEntire will join him and Miranda Lambert as performers. Additional guests will be announced soon.

Darius Rucker Felt Compelled to Expose Racist Tweeter

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-24T15:50:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Darius Rucker says he knew that the person behind the racist tweet sent to him earlier this week was baiting him, but he couldn't resist exposing them. Racism is something the singer says he's dealt with since his Hootie and the Blowfish days, and usually he just brushes it off. But this person took his vitriol to a new level.

"I read a couple of his tweets and was like, 'This guy's a real racist; he ain't kidding,'" Rucker told USA Today. "I was like, 'I have to expose this idiot.'"

Kellie Pickler Gets Puppy Surprise After Moving 'Dancing With the Stars' Performance

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-24T14:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Kellie Pickler was named 'Dancing With the Stars' champion on Tuesday (May 21), with many saying she bagged the win with an emotional freestyle routine on Monday. After that show, when the audience had left and Pickler was relaxing on the dance floor, husband Kyle Jacobs surprised her with a new puppy.

"We were sitting out there on the dance floor after everything was over," she tells Xfinity, "and [Kyle] comes over and he's carrying this little bag and he opens it and there's this little Maltese in there and I was like, 'What's this?' And he's like, 'It's for you.' I was like 'Awww!'"

Carrie Underwood Gives $1 Million to Help Oklahoma Tornado Relief

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-24T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Carrie Underwood opened her purse and made a huge donation to the American Red Cross to aid victims of Monday's deadly tornado in Moore, Okla. The Checotah, Okla. native donated $1 million to aid relief efforts, saying the devastation saddened her.

"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," Underwood said in a statement at her website. Checotah is 120 miles east of Moore.

Pennsylvania Couple End Up Bloody and Jailed After 'American Idol' Dispute

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-24T11:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

The Season 12 'American Idol' performance finale was intense for Kree Harrison and Candice Glover and their millions of fans. The tension boiled over in one Pennsylvania household, where two people ended up in jail after dual stabbings following a Kree vs. Candice argument.

Karen Harrelson and Gregory Stambaugh (48 and 57 years old, respectively) were both charged with two counts of simple assault and one count of aggravated assault after the May 15 incident. Police were called to their residence at about 9:20PM ET, where they found a bloody Harrelson standing outside the home and an argumentative Stambaugh coming out of the house

Jewel Stars as June Carter Cash in 'Ring of Fire' on Lifetime

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-23T18:10:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

The story of June Carter Cash comes to life in the Lifetime TV movie 'Ring of Fire,' starring Jewel. The folk singer plays Johnny Cash's wife in a made-for-television movie that's centered around her life and career before and during her marriage to the Man in Black.

Jewel filmed the movie in Atlanta last year, tweeting more than one picture of herself dressed as Carter Cash. The resemblance is uncanny. In March, a four-minute scene from the movie was revealed at Rolling Stone. Despite a lack of acting credits, Jewel had no trouble capturing the flirty, feisty and funny charm of the late songstress.

George Strait's 'Love Is Everything' Album Tops the Billboard Country Charts

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-23T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

George Strait's new album is full of No. 1s for the country legend. One week after the lead single 'Give It All You Got Tonight' became Strait's 60th No. 1 single, 'Love Is Everything' debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard country album sales charts.

Strait's latest project moved just under 120,000 copies in its street week, good for No. 2 across all genres behind rockers Vampire Weekend. Lady Antebellum is the closest country competitor. The trio is at No. 5 on the all-genre chart with 56,000 copies of 'Golden' sold in its second week available.

Miranda Lambert's MuttNation Foundation to Aid Moore, Oklahoma Animal Rescue Efforts

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-23T16:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are stepping up to help victims of Monday's EF5 tornado that decimated areas of Moore, Okla. The 'Mama's Broken Heart' singer's MuttNation Foundation is one of three animal charities on the scene to help displaced animals and families with nowhere to put their pets while they recover.

According to KOTV-TV, Oklahoma's Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese invited MuttNation to assist. Along with Red Star Rescue and North Shore Animal League, Lambert's pet charity have deployed two mobile rescue vehicles. "I'm so proud that MuttNation Foundation can help even a little," Lambert posted on her Facebook page Thursday afternoon.

Taylor Swift Leads Country Nominees at 2013 Teen Choice Awards

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-23T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Nominees for the 2013 Teen Choice Awards are trickling in, and Taylor Swift is among the stars with the most nods. Her three nominations are the most for acts in country music. No other country singer is nominated for an award outside of the country categories.

While more nominees are expected to be announced, Swift's current honors include nods in the Choice Female Artist, Choice Female Country Artist and Choice Smile categories. She's up against two ex-boyfriends in the latter category: Harry Styles and Taylor Lautner. Best friend Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato round out the smilers.

Little Big Town to Host 'CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock'

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-23T11:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

The four members of Little Big Town will collectively host ABC's 'CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock' broadcast when it airs later this summer. The group made the announcement via YouTube Thursday morning. They will take over after Luke Bryan and the Band Perry's Kimberly Perry co-hosted in 2012.

Little Big Town has been a mainstay at the CMA Music Festival since 1999. It was called Fan Fair back then, and Kimberly Schlapman remembers playing one month after signing a record deal. They knew two songs and had one guitar. Each year they've come back, and so have their most loyal fans. Seeing old friends is part of what makes the annual celebration so special, they said.

Toby Keith Returns to Help Family, Friends in Moore, Oklahoma

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-22T17:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Toby Keith had just flown from Oklahoma to Nashville when Monday's tornado hit, killing 24 in his hometown of Moore. The singer returned to find the streets and businesses he'd known and frequented since he was a kid in tatters, and neighbors beginning the recovery process.

"As bad as it looks right now," Keith told 'TODAY' host Matt Lauer, "these people - they are so prepared for it ... they'll bounce back. Homes will start going up quick and they'll prepare for the next one." He explained how he grew up four blocks away from the worst of it and used to run to a grocery store -- now destroyed -- to buy baseball cards.

Kenny Chesney Joins Music and Memory Program to Help Alzheimer's Patients

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-22T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Kenny Chesney has joined a campaign to supply people suffering from Alzheimer's with portable music players in an effort to tap deep memories and make life more enjoyable. Music and Memory is a non-profit that's working to collect iPods and other digital music players and to distribute them to seniors with dementia.

Blake Shelton Joins NBC in Organizing Oklahoma Tornado Benefit Concert

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-22T13:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

At the end of Tuesday nights episode of 'The Voice,' Blake Shelton revealed that he's working with NBC to organize a benefit concert for the victims of Monday's (May 20) deadly tornado in Moore, Oklahoma. The singer -- who calls the state home -- couldn't offer many details, but said it would be televised and happen soon.

"We'll know more about it in the next 24 hours," Shelton told Billboard. "I'm hoping it will raise a lot of money. Obviously it will be televised and will happen really quickly." The 'Boys 'Round Here' singer grew up in Ada, Okla., 75 miles from Moore.

Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Keith Urban + More Added as CMT Music Awards Performers

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-22T12:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

The 2013 CMT Music Awards will feature performances from Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and more. Seven new artists were announced on Tuesday, one week after Taylor Swift, Hunter Hayes and Pistol Annies were named on the initial list of artists to perform during the June 5 broadcast from Nashville.

Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line and Lady Antebellum will also play, as will Little Big Town and Luke Bryan. CMT made the announcement yesterday, adding the biggest names in country music to a show that unofficially begins the CMA Music Festival.

Kellie Pickler Named 'Dancing With the Stars' Champion

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-22T11:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Kellie Pickler was the last to know she'd won Season 16 of 'Dancing With the Stars.' Host Tom Bergeron announced her as the winner, and partner Derek Hough began to celebrate with the live audience. Pickler didn't hear him, however. After a few brief moments of confusion she was brought in on the secret and began an emotional celebration.

The country singer may have wrapped up the competition on Monday night with a beautiful freestyle dance. Fans picked the routine for Tuesday's encore dance, so Hough and Pickler had a chance to perform the vulnerable and extremely difficult choreography one more time.

Hank Williams Jr. Announces Old School, New Rules Tour

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-21T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Hank Williams Jr. has revealed his summer touring schedule. The country legend will play 18 dates between June and September this year, beginning with a June 8 show in Morton, Minn. The Old School, New Rules Tour is named after his latest album.

'Old School, New Rules' was released in 2012 and features duets with Brad Paisley and Merle Haggard. Williams and Haggard sing the classic 'I Think I'll Just Sit Here and Drink.' The album was the first from Williams Jr.'s new label, Bocephus Records. 'That Ain't Good' was the first single and his first single overall since 'Red, White and Pink Slip Blues' in 2009, but the song failed to chart.

Blake Shelton Will Return for Season 5 of 'The Voice'

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-21T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Blake Shelton will be there when the fifth season of NBC's hit reality singing show 'The Voice' returns this fall. The country singer is one of only two judges to be a part of all five seasons of the show. Adam Levine of Maroon 5 will also return for a fifth season, as well.

Joining the two men will be fan-favorite originals Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera. NBC announced that both will return to their chairs after taking Season 4 off. Usher and Shakira have filled in this season, and Shelton had previously hinted he was thinking of taking a season off. Usher and Shakira will return for Season 6 in early 2014, although it's not clear who they'll replace.

Toby Keith Says His Hometown of Moore, Oklahoma 'Will Perservere' After Deadly Tornado

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-21T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

The F4 tornado that cut a path through Moore, Oklahoma on Monday has left at least 24 dead and many more injured. Families, including the family of country's own Toby Keith, are spending the days following coming to terms with the tragedy and the debris left behind. The singer revealed that his sister's house was among those damaged by the storm.

During an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Keith said the storm passed less than a mile from his mother's house. Plaza Towers Elementary School, where seven students died and more are missing, was just blocks from where he grew up. The damage and death toll would have been worse, he said, had it not been for the work of local meteorologists and media preparing residents for the storm.

Lisa Matassa Working to Put 'Long Island Country' on the Map

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-21T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Country News

Lisa Matassa says it's alright to call her a country newcomer, even though she's been entertaining for over 20 years. The singer began her career with two dance hits before turning to the music she grew up loving. Her new EP, 'Somebody's Baby,' is a mix of all her influences -- a style she's coined as "Long Island country."

Matassa tells Taste of Country that her style is a special blend of rock and modern country music. She spent the first part of her childhood on Long Island and returned as a teenager after a decade in Florida. "There was all open fields and farmland and horse farms and there weren't big shopping malls and stuff like that that you have now," she says of those in-between years, a time that she truly fell in love with southern rock, country music and the country lifestyle.

George Strait Becomes First Artist With 60 No. 1 Hits

The Boot Staff — 2013-05-20T17:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Charts

Mission complete! George Strait's 60 for 60 campaign was a success, with the singer's latest single 'Give It All We Got Tonight' hitting the top of the charts the same week as his 61st birthday. He becomes the first artist in any genre of music to place 60 songs at the top of the charts.

'Give It All We Got Tonight' is Strait's first single from his new 'Love Is Everything' album, released last Tuesday (May 14). It reached the top of the Mediabase charts as the most played song on country radio. The legend received considerable attention from fans and fellow artists during his lengthy 60 for 60 campaign.