The Boot

Rascal Flatts Claim They 'Paved the Way' for Taylor Swift

Gayle Richardson — 2010-02-09T18:00:00+00:00

Rascal Flatts have not only been one of country music's most successful acts, but their tight harmonies and well-crafted lyrics have worked their way into the pop world, well ahead of the recent crossover success of artists such as Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum. But the trio aren't surprised by their influence. They're just surprised it went unnoticed for so long.

"It's kind of amazing that people are just now finding out about it," Flatts guitarist/pianist Jay DeMarcus admits to The Boot. "Not to sound boastful ... but I think there was a movement that was started with us and Keith Urban, that paved the way for country to cross over a little more easily, with the pop-flavored country music that we know today."

Lady Antebellum's Emotional Rollercoaster Pays Off

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2010-02-09T17:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Lady Antebellum's chart-topping album, 'Need You Now,' looks at love from both sides of the spectrum ... And if the subject matter seems to range from romantic ecstasy to downright heartbreak and pain, that's exactly what the trio was going for, according to Charles Kelley.

Charles says that while he was in newly-wedded bliss, the group's Hillary Scott was experiencing the opposite end of the emotional scale, which added a lot to the album. "I just got married ... I was definitely feeling in that romantic place. But people don't want to hear a whole record about that. We don't either," Charles tells the Toronto Sun. "And at the same time, Hillary was going through a lot of stuff. That's where 'Ready to Love Again' and some of the other songs about having to pick yourself back up came from. So we ended up with a balanced record."

Cross Canadian Ragweed to Play Bonnaroo

Stephen L. Betts — 2010-02-09T16:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Alt-Country, Concert News, Country News

One of the most eclectic and popular summer music festivals, Bonnaroo, is unveiling the lineup for the event which will take place from June 10-13 in Manchester, Tenn.

Among the acts announced for the festival is the Oklahoma-based country-rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed. The group, whose latest album, 'Happiness and All the Other Things, was released last year, are perhaps best known to mainstream country fans for the 2004 single, 'Sick and Tired,' which featured Lee Ann Womack.

Other acts appearing at Bonnaroo this year include Jay-Z, Dave Matthews Band, Norah Jones, Weezer and dozens more. In past years, the festival has incorporated bluegrass acts into the lineup, including the Del McCoury Band and Cherryholmes. Comedian and banjo picker Steve Martin is on the schedule this year.

Luke Bryan's New Single 'Rains' Over His Fans

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2010-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: New Tunes, Songs

Luke Bryan's new single and video for 'Rain Is a Good Thing' took the Georgia farm kid right back to his rain-soaked roots. As the son of a farmer who was dependent on the stuff, Luke tells the Boot he definitely wanted to write a positive song about precipitation.

"Rain is very important, and kind of kicks off the whole process of life," Luke tells The Boot. "We worked in agriculture, so we were always looking up at the sky, checking if it was raining or if rain was in the forecast. That always kind of set the tone for the mood in my household, whether we had rain coming in or not. Or if it had rained, we knew the crops would be good and it was going to be a good week around the Bryan household."

Brad Paisley Sees Signs of Love Now and 'Then'

Donna Hughes — 2010-02-09T15:35:00+00:00

While Brad Paisley is nearing the top of the country charts with his single 'American Saturday Night,' his thoughts turn toward another of his hits, 'Then,' just in time for the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day.

Brad says his fans have let him know how much the song means to them, and how much they love the romantic sentiment of it. As one of the song's writers, Brad teasingly takes all of the credit for it, saying, "I don't remember what [the other songwriters'] contribution was, but ... they agreed when I came up with the lines."

Blake Shelton Opens Six Funny Valentines

Stephen L. Betts — 2010-02-09T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Country News

Funny man Blake Shelton is at it again! Country music's answer to David Letterman unleashes another "Take 6 Tuesday" list to tickle your funny (hillbilly) bone. And this one's just in time for the most romantic day of the year. (That's Valentine's Day for those of you planning on wearing black this Sunday).

In this special edition of Take 6 Tuesday (and you know it's special because someone named Kelli, who was apparently not wearing pants, presented Blake with the cards to read) the singer/comedian reveals the top six Valentine's Day cards you should never give somebody.

Gretchen Wilson's Got Your Club Dates Right Here!

Alanna Conaway — 2010-02-09T14:25:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News, Country News

This week, Gretchen Wilson heads back to her roots when she launches her I Got Your Country Right Here club tour which will hit a total of 18 cities. The performances will be in small venues where fans can "hear it before you buy it" as they get the opportunity to experience music from the 'Redneck Woman''s fourth studio album also titled 'I Got Your Country Right Here.'

"This is where I started," the former bartender turned singer says of the bars and small clubs where she honed her craft before landing her major-label record deal in Nashville. "There's nothing like the immediate feedback you get from the fans when they're just a few feet away."

Allison Moorer Unleashes 'Crows,' Prepares for Motherhood

Vernell Hackett — 2010-02-09T13:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Americana, Albums, Interviews

Allison Moorer was working on her album 'Crows' this past summer while husband Steve Earle was on tour, an unusual circumstance since the two try to travel together as much as possible. The singer recorded the new disc under another new situation in her life -- she was pregnant with the couple's first child, a boy who will be born in March. The singer swears her unborn child is already familiar with all the music on the new CD and that he moves around when he hears it.

While Allison declines to reveal the baby's name, she says the couple are thrilled and excited about his birth. They plan to take off a few months after he's born, leaving New York City for their home in Woodstock, New York, to give the family time to bond. In the meantime, Allison is doing as much as she can to promote 'Crows,' which hits stores today (Feb. 9). She's set to perform on the 'Late Show with David Letterman' on Wednesday (Feb. 10) and is excited about opening for Levon Helm on his Midnight Ramble in Woodstock on Feb. 13. Recorded in Nashville over a four-day period and produced by R.S. Field, 'Crows' is filled with reflective lyrics, tunes that allow Allison to showcase the beauty of her voice against the varied background of piano and guitar with jazz and blues overtones that pair easily with her country roots. Whether recalling her mother's love or imparting hope to the listener, the singer/songwriter presents a beautiful album that is poetry set to the motion of music.

The new project is a far cry from her earlier material, recorded for a major label in Nashville at a time when she had an Academy-Award-nominated song ('A Soft Place to Fall') in the Robert Redford film, 'The Horse Whisperer.' Allison says 'Crows' may be the truest musical statement she's ever recorded. Allison spoke to The Boot about the new album and some of the songs that are dearest to her.

The songs on this album are so descriptive, yet they leave much for the listener to fill in with their own experiences. How do you go about crafting those kind of lines?

There are all kinds of ways to write a song. I purposely wanted to be more abstract than before, more poetic and not literal, with the songs on this album. That is what imagery is about. I tend to communicate in more visual terms. I will use visual reference more than something that anyone can understand. I'm skewed that way; I'm not sure why. It was done on purpose with this album, but at the same time it wasn't. It's just where my head was at the time I wrote the songs. Because I wanted to write the melodies that are more open than I've done previously I wasn't interested in doing anything that was that straight forward.

Jason Aldean Made Luke Bryan His First -- and Only -- Choice

Donna Hughes — 2010-02-09T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

When Jason Aldean was looking at opening acts for his 'Wide Open' tour, he looked no further than Luke Bryan and pretty much wouldn't take no for an answer.

"We've got a lot of stuff in common, and when we first started talking about going out on the road, he was my number one choice to get," says Jason. "And they were asking me, 'If we can't get him, who do you want?' And I didn't really have anybody else in mind. 'I'd like to get Luke, and if we can't get him, then we'll look at other people, but this is who I want.' Luckily it worked out. I think when you're out on the road, you've got to be out there with people you like hanging out with. Not only does it make the time go by a lot quicker, but I've been on tours that weren't that much fun, and I've been on ones that were a lot of fun. When you enjoy the people that are around you, it's a lot of fun."

Kenny Chesney Rocks Saints Super Bowl Victory Party

Marianne Horner — 2010-02-09T12:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

From his own Black & Gold draped suite in Sun Life Stadium, Kenny Chesney cheered his New Orleans Saints on to a wild 31-17 Super Bowl victory on Sunday. Afterward, with his father and college buddies in tow, he attended Coach (and friend) Sean Payton's post-game locker-room speech. And after that -- at Coach Payton's request -- Kenny hit the stage at Miami's Intercontinental Hotel to rock the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints' victory bash along with hundreds of jubilant players, their families and guests.

Sporting a white T-shit and Saints cap, Kenny pulled Coach Payton onstage with the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy, shouting "The Saints just won the Super Bowl!" and then lit into 'Living in Fast Forward.' When the elated coach announced that he intended to drink beer in Mexico, Kenny kicked into a raucous performance of 'Beer in Mexico.'

Reckless Kelly Take 'Time' to Honor Songwriting Hero

Alanna Conaway — 2010-02-09T11:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Americana, Albums, Interviews

Reckless Kelly set the musical bar high for themselves after the release of their sixth album, 'Bulletproof,' in 2008. Soon after its release, the album became the Austin-based band's biggest seller, hitting the Billboard Top 200 chart and reaching the Top 25 of the magazine's Top Country Albums chart. 'Bulletproof' contained their first No. 1 on both the Texas and Americana charts, 'Ragged as the Road.' The success of the song and album also scored Reckless Kelly a nod for Best Band or Duo at last year's American Music Awards.

With the release of their latest project, 'Somewhere in Time' (in stores Feb. 9), the country-rockers stepped out on a limb by trying something brand new -- recording a full album of tunes they had no part in writing. The 12 tracks on 'Somewhere in Time' were all penned by the band's mentor and idol, Pinto Bennett. (Listen to the album track-by-track, here.)

"Usually I do all the songwriting or most of it," Reckless Kelly's lead vocalist and guitar player Willy Braun tells The Boot. "This was a record we've wanted to make for a long time. Pinto is a big hero of ours and an old friend, so it's been an idea we've had for quite a while. We finally just got the timing right to pull it off."

Rascal Flatts 'Unstoppable' at Winter Olympics

Gayle Richardson — 2010-02-09T10:55:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Rascal Flatts are getting into the Olympic spirit this year. Their latest hit, 'Unstoppable,' is being used as the theme song for athletes at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

"AT&T and NBC came to us about the song, and they wanted to change it into more of an anthemic thing before the Olympics -- not just about love but about you being unstoppable ... like an Olympic athlete, for instance," guitarist Joe Don Rooney explains to The Boot. So Jay [DeMarcus] got with the writers, Hillary Lindsey and James Slater, and rewrote the song to fit more of that theme, and it turned out killer."

Taylor Swift Reveals Lofty Dream Date

Pat Gallagher — 2010-02-09T10:10:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor

Dating can be daunting ... especially if you're famous. The gossip rags just love to pair up single celebs ... whether they're actually a couple or not.

Taylor Swift has been linked with a number of suitors, including Joe Jonas, Taylor Lautner, and more recently John Mayer. The 20-year-old country superstar likes to keep her love life in her lyrics ... and out of the press. But one thing she will reveal is her "type."

Taylor's ideal man will be tall (not sure about the dark and handsome part). The 5'11" multi-Grammy winner admits her heart skips a beat when she meets someone taller than her.

Carrie Underwood to Sing at Another 'Bowl'

Marianne Horner — 2010-02-09T09:40:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News

She just performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, is jetting to Hawaii to start filming her first movie role in 'Soul Surfer,' will be launching her next headlining tour in March ... and in June, she'll perform at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

Somewhere in between, Carrie Underwood will also be planning her upcoming wedding. But she'll need to block out Oct. 2, because on that day Carrie will perform her first concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, singing with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

Tickets for the prestigious concert event go on sale on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14.

Tim, Darius, Trace + More Round Up for San Antonio Rodeo

Gayle Richardson — 2010-02-09T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News

The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo boasts a lineup this year almost as star-studded as an awards show.

Featuring a mix of artists of all genres, the event will feature performances by Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Rodney Atkins, Randy Houser, Dierks Bentley, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson and Toby Keith, along with 80's band Foreigner, Christian rock band Third Day and pop singing sensation Selena Gomez.

In addition to being one of the most popular rodeo shows in the country, the San Antonio Stock and Rodeo has also committed more than $96 million in various educational endeavors, including scholarships and grants. The rodeo, which kicked off Feb. 4, runs through Feb. 21. Click here for more information.

Zac Brown Band Respond to PETA

Donna Hughes — 2010-02-09T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor

The Zac Brown Band has responded via their Twitter page to the letter they received last week urging them to change the menu at their pre-show 'eat and greets' from meat to an all-vegan spread.

"Dear PETA -- Plants are living creatures too ... Bacon had a mother, but so did Pickle. It takes life to support life -- welcome to the planet," writes the Grammy-winning group, in response to PETA's letter asking for menu replacements such as tofu.

Our guess is the band will stick with what works, and that includes serving big plates of pork and beef at their celebrated eat-and-greets. Besides, 'Tofu Fried' just doesn't have quite the same ring to it that 'Chicken Fried' does.

Reba McEntire Begins Prepping and Primping for the ACMs

Donna Hughes — 2010-02-08T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: ACMs

Reba McEntire returns as the host of this year's Academy of Country Music Awards, and she is already planning her costume changes for the big show.

Not only does the hostess with the mostess have to sound good, but she has to look good, as well. "It takes a lot off hard work and preparation to be ready for a successful hosting job!" she says. So, the first thing Reba will do is prepare the outfits she'll wear during the three hour show. "[My stylist] Terry Gordon and I work together on designing my looks for the evening, which wind up to be five outfits we design," Reba reports. "I will probably only wear four, but that gives us a little wiggle room."

Gary Allan Is 'Poster' Child for Body Art

Alanna Conaway — 2010-02-08T17:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

When Gary Allan first hit the country scene with his debut hit, 'Her Man,' he had the image of a clean-cut California cowboy. These days, Gary's true self has been coming out more and more, as he steps further from the "golden circle" of Nashville and more into who he is as an artist.

"Anytime something starts to feel like a popularity contest or not about the music, I'd rather just not be involved," Gary tells GAC. "I'm not a big high-fiver. That really gets to people around me when we have a No. 1 or something big happen. I'm not a big, 'Let's go have a party about it!' I'm always like, 'What's next?' That's just the way my mind works. I'm a musician and play my songs. That's all I need to do. If everybody else wants to go do the posters and the contests, I'm not coming. I'll be my own poster."

Lisa Stewart Seals Scores Role in Tim McGraw Movie

Marianne Horner — 2010-02-08T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News, Movies and TV

Lisa Stewart Seals -- wife of Brady Seals and former BNA recording artist -- has been added to the cast of 'Love Don't Let Me Down,' starring Tim McGraw and Gwyneth Paltrow. Lisa will play the role of the mother of a 7-year-old son, a leukemia patient who gets to meet Gwyneth's country-singer character through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Lisa's son in the movie is played by Gabe Sipos, a real-life cancer survivor.

"My role is a small one, but I'm so excited to have a few lines and to share a scene with an Academy Award winner, a country music icon and a brave soul like Gabe," Lisa tells Music Row.

Sarah Buxton Dishes Delicious Details of Engagement

Beville Darden — 2010-02-08T16:20:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Sarah Buxton is glowing ... and so is her left hand.

When The Boot caught up with the vivacious songbird last week at a Nashville recording studio, she was bubbling with excitement, celebrating the upcoming release of her long-awaited debut album, due Feb. 23, and also celebrating the brand-new sparkler on her ring finger. Sarah got engaged over the holidays to musician Tom Bukovac, who has played guitar for a who's-who list of country stars, including Faith Hill, Dolly Parton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and, of course, his future bride.

"It was a surprise," Sarah tells The Boot of the day Tom proposed. "I knew he'd gotten the ring, so I just knew if this guy is going to ask me to marry him, I'm going to know like a half hour before ... I'm just going to be able to tell, because he's so transparent. But he totally surprised me! He put it in an Advent calendar, where the candy goes, counting down to Christmas. I was so shocked when I found it, all I could do was just look at it and go, 'Oh my God! Oh my God!' And then I started crying."