Country Music Online

Music City Music Group Releases Joey Glenn's Debut Single To Radio

Nashville, TN — Joey Glenn and producer Graham Bland have spent the last year selecting and recording a 10 song CD "Driven By Emotion" to be released to stores in the fall of 2008. Joey was first discovered by producer Graham Bland when she was presented to him by managers Rick Brady and Judy Ingerson of Artist International Nashville. First single to radio this week is "I Need A Man" which has already received acclaim by radio programmers throughout the U.S.

"Joey's sweet and firry with unbelievable talent. She has her influences, but sounds and performs like herself which is refreshing. I see her as a rising star in the country music industry" states Bland

"Joey is an artist to keep an eye on for the next round of major label signings. With her vocal, performance skills and image. ..get in line. Big things to happen with her!" say Paul Loggins (Publisher, New Music Weekly magazine)

Joey Glenn grew up in Jarbalo KS., a small rural town outside of Leavenworth. Without a doubt she cherishes her roots and can relate to growing up in a rural setting. She is currently a spokesperson for both the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving) programs. She performs in front of thousands of children each year traveling to various schools in addition to her demanding performanace schedule across the nation. She is very excited with her new CD "Driven By Emotion" impending release.

"Driven By Emotion" can be purchased before it's official release by visiting www.myspace.com/joeycountry

Country Weekly Fast Facts

Issue Date: April 21 On Newsstands: April 7

GEORGE STRAIT: COME HOME WITH THE KING

In this exclusive cover story, George Strait invites Country Weekly to share his passions of roping, music and helping children––and you can come along for the ride! Country Weekly was on hand as George competed in his 26th annual George Strait Team Roping Classic in San Antonio. George also shared his thoughts on his favorite area of the Lone Star State, his ranch in South Texas. “It’s so relaxing to get down on the ranch,” George says. “It gets a little hot. And, yeah, there’s thorns on everything down there. But that’s my favorite part of Texas.” Find out how you can attend the 2009 George Strait Team Roping Classic in San Antonio, Texas, in this special section.

COUNTRY WEEKLY

Issue Date: April 21 On Newsstands: April 7

TIM HITS THE ROAD SOLO

For the first time since 2005, Tim McGraw is hitting the road without wife Faith Hill by his side. Faith will be at home in Nashville with the couple’s three daughters while Tim headlines his ’08 Live Your Voice Tour, joined by opening acts Jason Aldean and Halfway to Hazard. “They are among the best live performers out there,” says Tim, “and I think it’s a great combination that the fans will enjoy.” Plus, check out the list of Tim’s tour dates from May through July 6.

PLUS!

Carrie Underwood says “Yes” to the Grand Ole Opry . . . the 10 best summer travel spots in Tennessee . . . and 6 Questions with Rodney Atkins.

More To Come Soon!

34th Annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast with Governor Phil Bredesen and Michael W. Smith set for April 24th

NASHVILLE, TN — The Citizens’ Committee will host the 34th Annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast with the Honorable Phil Bredesen, Governor of the State of Tennessee, along with other federal, state and local governmental leaders at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in downtown Nashville on Thursday, April 24th. The Citizens' Committee is a group of Tennesseans that coordinates the annual Tennessee Prayer Breakfast, to encourage and support the Governor, General Assembly, the Judiciary and other state leaders through prayer. “In the great State of Tennessee we have so much for which to be thankful,” states Governor Bredesen. “The Tennessee Prayer Breakfast affords an opportunity for our state's elected officials and lay people to unite in thanksgiving and prayer.”

This year’s special guest speaker is Christian recording artist Michael W. Smith, who will also perform along with The Nashville Choir and Crusader's Chorus (Nashville Inner City Ministry Choir). One of the genre’s most successful artists of our time, Smith has authored 12 books in addition to releasing 18 albums, which have earned him 3 Grammy Awards and 40 Dove Awards over his 25 years in the music industry.

Prayer breakfasts have been held on many occasions in the history of Tennessee. Since 1980, a Tennessee Prayer Breakfast has occurred annually with such speakers as Tom Landry, Chuck Colson, Elizabeth Dole, Zig Ziglar, Ann Graham Lotz, Franklin Graham and Chuck Swindoll. Past musical guests have included CeCe Winans, The Gaither Vocal Band, Amy Grant, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Josh Turner, Charlie Daniels and Nicole C. Mullen.

This year’s breakfast is sponsored by Adams and Reese LLP, Lee Company, American Constructors, Inc., Enterprise Electric LLC, and Purity Dairies. The event is open to the public, with details as follow:

Where: Renaissance Nashville Hotel (Downtown)

611 Commerce St, Nashville, TN 37203-3742

When: Doors open at 6:30 a.m. and program will begin promptly at 7:00 a.m.

Admissions: Tickets: $35.00 each. Tables of 10 are available for $325.00 ($25.00 Savings).

Visit www.tennesseeprayerbreakfast.com for more information or to register.

Lady Antebellum To Perform On Good Morning America April 21st

NASHVILLE, TN — On Monday, April 21, Good Morning America’s spring concert series sponsored by Royal Carribean will host performances by country music’s “Breakout” artists of 2008, Lady Antebellum and Ashton Shepherd.

Capitol Records Nashville trio Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut album will be released on April 15. The trio’s debut single “Love Don’t Live Here” is currently #14 on R&R and #12 on Mediabase. ITunes chose "Love Don't Live Here" as their high profiled mainpage "Single of the Week" for the week of March 25 - rare for a country artist. They were just recently nominated for the Academy of Country Music’s “Top New Group” – their first major award nomination. This nomination only adds to the trio’s long list of recent accomplishments including being named one of Billboard’s “New Faces to watch in 2008” (the only country artist to make the list ), MSN Music chose them to be in their "Class of 2008" , The Boston Globe named the trio one of the “Eight to Watch in ‘08”, Country Weekly chose the band as “Who’s Hot in 2008”, and Nashville Lifestyles named Lady Antebellum “the next BIG thing.” The band, just coming off Martina McBride's Waking Up Laughing tour, will hit the road again this spring opening for artists such as Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood.

MCA recording artist Ashton Shepherd started singing as soon as she could talk and began writing songs when she was only five years old. Now, at 21 years of age, Ashton’s debut album, SOUNDS SO GOOD, has just been released. Ashton wrote eleven of the twelve tracks on the record, which has received critical acclaim by USA Today, Associated Press, Billboard and Chicago Tribune. In addition, she’s been named one of “Nashville’s Hottest New Stars” by People Magazine and Entertainment Weekly proclaims “Shepherd’s CD is the best mainstream country debut since Taylor Swift’s in 06.” Future plans for Ashton include performing on the Grand Ole Opry April 26 and opening shows for Sugarland, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts.

Adam Gregory Makes U.S. Debut With Single, "Crazy Days"

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Midas/No Strings Attached recording artist Adam Gregory is making his U.S. debut with the release of "Crazy Days." The single was co-written by Adam, Lee Brice, Kyle Jacobs and Joe Leathers and was co-produced by Keith Follese and Brad Allen.

Though he's just 22 years old, Adam Gregory draws on more than a decade's worth of writing and performing experience for his upcoming debut album on Midas Records/No Strings Attached.

Growing up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Adam's musical journey began when he wrote his first composition at age 12 and was signed to a record deal with Sony Canada. After recording his debut album, he launched into life as a road warrior opening shows for the likes of Alan Jackson, Keith Urban and Lonestar. Adam scored several top ten hits on Canada's country charts throughout his teens, gaining a loyal following with the release of three studio albums.

Now in Nashville, Adam looks forward to bringing his music to the U.S. market. He is currently on a series of radio tours promoting the single release and looking forward to continued touring in support of the upcoming album.

An introductory video on Adam Gregory is available at http://www.digitalrodeo.com/adamgregory/videos/631.

To hear the full-length version of "Crazy Days," please visit www.adamgregory.com.

Josh Gracin Hits The Big Apple In Support Of New Album Launch

Nashville, TN — American Idol alum and country music hit-maker Josh Gracin will swing into New York City this week to make the media rounds in support of his newly released album “We Weren’t Crazy.”

Gracin will make stops at Sirius Satellite Radio & Fox Business Channel for a performance and conversation, Entertainment Weekly, OK Magazine, AOL Music as well as taped performances for Fox & Friends, ATT/Blueroom and an appearance on Bloomberg’s Night Talk w/ Mike Schneider and a feature for foxnews.com.

Gracin recently made media stops with CNN Entertainment, TV Guide Channel, American Idol Extra, CMT, Great American Country (GAC) and was on-camera during a recent American Idol show.

Jack Ingram To Sing National Anthem At Houston Astros Opening Game, Tonight!

Nashville, TN — 2008 Academy of Country Music Award Nominee Jack Ingram will sing the National Anthem at the Houston Astros season opener against the St. Louis Cardinals tonight at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Ingram will top off an afternoon of festive “home opener” activities (including a street festival, pep rally and parachute presentation by the US Navy Leap Frogs), with his performance at the 40,000+ capacity baseball park. The game kicks off at 6:05 p.m. CT today.

Ingram is a 2008 Academy of Country Music Award “Top New Male Vocalist” Nominee as well as a 2008 CMT Music Award Nominee for “Wide Open Video of the Year. After a decade of critical acclaim, Ingram’s breakthrough album, This Is It, debuted at #4 on the Billboard Country Album Chart. His four consecutive hit singles from the album made him the most-played new artist of 2006 (Mediabase). His #1 smash single “Wherever You Are” kicked off a clean sweep of hits that was followed by the Top 10 tongue-in-cheek rocker, “Love You;” Jack's rendition of “Lips of an Angel;” the hit, “Measure of a Man,” and his current hit single, the romantic lament, “Maybe She’ll Get Lonely.”

In 2007, Ingram won the CMT Music Award for "Wide Open Video of the Year” and, along with Miranda Lambert, headlined the popular network concert special CMT Cross Country. Ingram's dynamic brand of country rock has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, CNN, The CBS Early Show, Fox & Friends, the NBA Final Four, and praised by USA Today, People, Esquire, the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, and Country Weekly. He recently became the first Country music artist in history to partner with NIKE for the NIKE+ Workout Series.

For more information on Jack Ingram visit: www.jackingram.net

Taylor Swift Wows Critics / Has #1 Video / Tops 45 Million MySpace Streams

NASHVILLE, TN — Taylor Swift joined Rascal Flatts’ 2008 “Still Feels Good Tour” late last month and her hit-packed live show is already drawing praise from top critics in the US and Canada.

“Swift’s talent is akin to her drop dead good looks,” raved the Calgary Sun. “Swift showed off her powerful vocals, and if her performance last night was any indication of what the future has to bring, surely there will be many more Grammy nominations, and eventually wins for the young songstress.”

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer praised the “high-energy performance by dynamic opener Taylor Swift,” and said that she “has grown into a bold, confident performer.” The Tacoma News Tribune called Taylor “poised, polished and spunky,” saying “it was hard to believe that [she] is only 18.” And the Winnipeg Sun lauded Taylor as “a bonafide talent who can hold her own against the headliners.” The tour moves on to California this week.

Over the weekend Taylor surpassed the 45 million mark for music streams on MySpace, where she is consistently ranked Country’s #1 artist. Her self-titled debut CD is now in its 18th week in the #1 position atop Billboard’s Country CD Sales chart, and she currently has singles climbing both the country and pop radio charts.

Taylor is also celebrating her 4th consecutive #1 video. “Picture To Burn” hit #1 on CMT’s Top 20 Countdown last week, just 4 weeks after its release.

Jeff Bates In Stores Tomorrow

NASHVILLE — The new, self-titled CD release from Jeff Bates will be on store shelves tomorrow, April 8. The Black River Music Group recording artist will be on hand for the release in his native Mississippi where he will be hosting an in-store CD signing and performance at the Hattiesburg Wal-mart. Subsequent Wal-mart in-stores will be held on April 9 (Dothan, AL), April 10 (Raleigh, NC) and April 11 (Greensboro, NC).

The new CD features 13 tracks, and features 10 of Bates' own compositions. Bates teamed on the album with such stellar co-writers as Lonnie Wilson, Kim Williams, Ben Hayslip, Brandon Kinney, Jimmy Yeary, Robert Arthur, Kirk Roth, Jim McCormick, Jason Matthews and Kenny Beard. Paul Overstreet, Deborah Allen, Frank Rogers and Casey Beathard also contributed songs.

Sharp Objects' Valerie Tatum Upped to General Manager

NASHVILLE — Steven Sharp, CEO of Sharp Objects, Music City’s premier song plugging and artist/songwriter development company, announced today that Valerie Tatum, Creative Director/Plugger, has been promoted to General Manager of the company.

A graduate of Belmont University (Class of 2006), Valerie came to Sharp Objects with BBA in Music Business. Her new duties will be to oversee and manage the day-to-day operations. In addition to these managerial responsibilities, Valerie will continue to act as song plugger as well as a contributor to the developmental aspects of Sharp Objects' scope of services.

“Valerie is a gift from heaven! She has been instrumental in the success of my company and keeps us all on the same page,” Sharp said. “Val has worked extremely hard and deserves this promotion. She has an amazing knowledge of country music and passion for its artists. I am honored to work with her and call her my friend.”

Sharp Objects represents Britton Cameron, Michael Peterson, Amber Rhodes, Joshua Rush Randy Sharp, Maia Sharp, and the group, TaVeren among others. The office is located at 62 Music Square West, Nashville, TN, Tel. No. 615.320.1030. [www.sharpobject.com]

Montgomery Gentry To Appear On "Secret Talents Of The Stars"

NASHVILLE, TN — Columbia Nashville’s Montgomery Gentry will make an appearance on the premiere episode of “Secret Talents Of The Stars” airing Tuesday, April 8 (10:00-11:00pm ET/tape delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The award-winning duo joins the show to coach former “Star Trek” star, George Takei, as he preps for his country crooning debut.

“Man, how cool to be rockin’ with Mr. Sulu. I’m such a Trekkie,” admits Eddie Montgomery. “Beam us up to the Semi-Finals.”

With 3 Platinum and 2 Gold discs, 11 Top 5 singles, including their smash, “What Do Ya Think About That,” and a legacy of all-out party-atmosphere concerts, Montgomery Gentry has plenty of country wisdom to share. Their latest single, “Back When I Knew It All,” is the fastest rising for the duo to date and already a Top 20 hit. The record is from their new disc, titled Back When I Knew It All, to be released June 10. Montgomery Gentry will be back out on the road this year with tour dates to be announced soon. For additional info, visit www.montgomerygentry.com.

Hosted by John O’Hurley ("Seinfeld," "Dancing With the Stars," "Family Feud"), each week celebrities will compete in a tournament-structured format to determine who has the BEST unknown talent. Each performer of “Secret Talents Of The Stars” will fulfill his/her dream by practicing, and then performing live, many supported by a headline production troupe. Each performance will be critiqued by legendary entertainer Debbie Reynolds, Grammy-nominated singer Brian McKnight, and Emmy-nominated television and film producer Gavin Polone — but it's the viewers who get to vote for the celebrity that impresses them the most. Each week, the "Viewer Vote" will determine which celebrities move on in the competition, and who will go home.

Josh Turner Video Premiere and James Otto Listening Party!

****** JOSH TURNER, 'Another Try' video premiere ******

Have you ever wished your life had a rewind button? Josh laments love lost in this touching video, featuring background vocals from Trisha Yearwood. Watch it here exclusively before you can see it anywhere else.

LINK: http://music.aol.com/countrycorner/2008/04/07/video-premiere-josh-turner-another-try/

****** JAMES OTTO Listening Party ******

This week we're streaming James Otto's new album, 'Sunset Man'

LINK: http://music.aol.com/songs/new_releases_full_cds?defaultTab=5

James Otto Records Theme Song For The Atlanta Braves

NASHVILLE — Warner Bros. Recording Artist James Otto, whose debut album, Sunset Man, hits the streets tomorrow, recently recorded the theme song for the Atlanta Braves, “The Braves Play Here.” The theme song was composed and produced by 615 Music for client Peachtree TV, Turner Broadcasting Inc’s local television platform.

The new song, written by G. Barnhill and Randy Wachtler for 615 Music, has just begun to be featured on TV stations in five states, including Tennessee and will promote the Braves’ upcoming baseball season. Wachtler describes the song as, “An upbeat, fun song that incorporates the famous Braves chant heard at Turner field.” Peachtree TV Senior Vice President/General Manager Jonathan Katz, who said, “We are delighted with the song that 615 Music created to introduce this season’s Braves’ games on Peachtree TV. It capitalizes on the iconic sounds at Turner Field, while also tapping into musical styles that resonate with our viewers.”

Otto, “the biggest voice in country music,” will release his debut album, Sunset Man, on Warner Bros. Records tomorrow. All 11 tracks on the album were produced by Otto, with John Rich co-producing eight of the 11 tracks and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts producing three tracks. The first single off the album, “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” is already a smash hit at radio, charting at No. 4 on the R&R chart and No. 3 on the Mediabase chart. The video for the single is No. 10 on CMT’s “Top 20 Countdown” and No. 9 on GAC’s “Top 20 Country Countdown.” Otto’s combination of country, blues and rock on Sunset Man makes this one of those rare albums to come out of Nashville in years.

To hear “The Braves Play Here” visit http://www.615music.com/core/whats_new.cfm

Pictured (l-r): Otto and The Atlanta Braves Cheerleaders

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