Lee Hilliard Wins FameCast Contest

Sarah Skates – 04/10/2008

Lee Hilliard

Lee Hilliard was chosen as FameCast’s Country Fenom [sic]. As the first place winner of the online talent competition, the former 4Runner member will take home a $10,000 prize. It is the fourth season of the fan voted contest, which ran January through April 8. His latest video, “Life Of Me,” is available at at www.myspace.com/leehilliard. Runners-up in the Country category are Shannon Mock, Westerly, Kayla Rummell and Lisa Torres.

Riders In The Sky Honored with Cowboy Spirit Award

04/11/2008

Grammy Award-winning comedy & western team Riders In The Sky were honored with the Cowboy Spirit Award at the 2008 National Festival of the West. The award recognizes those who have set the example of Western heroes with the integrity, strength of spirit, and moral character depicted by the American Cowboy. Legendary actor John Wayne was also a recipient for 2008.

Pictured with Riders In The Sky holding the award is Mary Brown, director and creator of the National Festival of the West. Photo: Lori Faith Merritt

Artist News Thursday (4/10/08)

Clint Black survived the first episode of CBS's Secret Talents Of The Stars, as he performed two minutes of stand-up comedy and was selected to move on to the next round of competition, set...

Celebrities Get It All

Here’s a few of the stellar items celebrities participating in the April 14 CMT Awards will receive in their customized gift bags.

Antik Denim and Taverniti So Jeans offer a choice of jeans valued at...

Striking Out For The Kids

Sarah Skates – 04/08/2008

The fourth annual Lonestar & Friends Strike Out for the Kids bowling bash will be held Mon., June 2 at the Hermitage Lanes outside Nashville. Among the other artists taking to the lanes at 6 PM are Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Jo Dee Messina, Heidi Newfield, Joe Nichols, Jake Owen, Jamie O’Neal, Crystal Shawanda, Trent Tomlinson, Bryan White, Chuck Wicks, Darryl Worley, Chris Young, Ty Herndon, and American Idol’s Bo Bice and Diana DeGarmo. The event, scheduled in time for the CMA Music Festival, has sold out every year since inception, raising more than $70,000 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets include admission, dinner at the Hermitage Lanes and inclusion in the random drawing for a chance to play on one of the celebrity bowling teams. Tickets are $30 and available at www.countrycares.org.

Dierks Sets Overseas Dates

Sarah Skates – 04/08/2008

Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley will tour the world this summer playing festivals in England, Ireland, Norway, France, Canada and Japan. Back in the States he is the only country artist at this year’s Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, sharing the bill with huge rock acts like Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Kanye West. "We played Bonnaroo last year, and honestly, we didn't know if anyone would even show up to see our set," says Bentley. "But we were pleasantly surprised to have a huge crowd who were genuinely into the music. When the Lollapalooza offer came in, it seemed like another opportunity to go out as the underdog and try to win over some new fans."

Bentley is also set for some of the biggest U.S. music festivals, kicking off next week with Country Thunder in Florence, AZ followed by Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA; Country Fair in Atlanta; and Country USA in OshKosh, WI, to name just a few. He plans to produce his own shows including a second run of his "DudeBrahBrew" festivals in Jackson, WY and Missoula, MT with Robert Earl Keen, Reckless Kelly and Mickey and the Motorcars. Additionally, Bentley will host his 2nd Annual "Summer Chill" concert at Denver's Red Rocks Amphitheatre with openers Rodney Atkins and old friends Cross Canadian Ragweed. His Greatest Hits//Every Mile A Memory 2003 - 2008 comes out May 6 on Capitol Records Nashville.

Artist News Tuesday (4/8/08)

The 5th annual Toby Keith & Friends Golf Classic, including a theme party, dinner, and live music to benefit Ally's House, is set for June 6-7. Keith will direct the live auction personally. He established Ally's...

James Otto Records Theme Song for Atlanta Braves

04/07/2008

Warner Bros. recording artist James Otto, whose debut album Sunset Man hits the streets today (4/8), recorded the new theme song for the Atlanta Braves, “The Braves Play Here.” The song was composed and produced by 615 Music for Peachtree TV, Turner Broadcasting Inc.’s local television platform. Written by G. Barnhill and Randy Wachtler, it can be heard on TV stations in five states to promote the upcoming season. Hear it at http://www.615music.com/core/whats_new.cfm

Pictured (L-R): Otto and The Atlanta Braves Cheerleaders

Keith Anderson Celebrates New Release

04/07/2008

ASCAP's John Briggs, Dan Keen and Earle Simmons caught up with Keith Anderson at 3rd & Lindsley for the CD release party for his new album C'MON.

Pictured (L-R): Briggs, Anderson, Keen and Simmons.

Jason Michael Carroll Visits Crook & Chase

04/07/2008

Arista Nashville recording artist Jason Michael Carroll recently performed on RFD-TV’s Crook & Chase. With just-announced tour dates with both Martina McBride and Carrie Underwood, Carroll is moving up the charts now with “I Can Sleep When I’m Dead,” the third single from his debut album Waitin’ In The Country.