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DOLLY PARTON ANNOUNCES NEW BOOK

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton has announced a new book, “Star of the Show: My Life on Stage.” The book is the final installment in her photographic trilogy, offering a comprehensive look at her legendary performance career. The book chronicles her journey from performing with Porter Wagoner to becoming a solo star with hits like “Here You Come Again.” It covers milestones like her acting debut in “9 to 5,” global tours, and her 2023 Dallas Cowboys halftime show viewed by 42-million people. “I’m so proud that I’ve been able to spend the last 70-plus-years doing what I feel I was born to do,” Dolly shares. Readers will also see her collaborations with artists like Kenny Rogers and Linda Ronstadt. The deluxe edition includes 350 images, special design features, and collectible prints. It’ll drops on November 11th.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • mond Rio was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. The band opened their performance with their first #1 hit “Meet in the Middle.”
  • Today in 2000, the “D’lectrified” album by Clint Black was certified gold.
  • Today in 2000, George Strait’s “Latest Greatest Straitest Hits” collection was certified gold and platinum simultaneously.
  • Today in 2000, Eric Heatherly’s debut album, “Swimming in Champagne,” was released.
  • Today in 2002, it was revealed that the Tammy Wynette’s four daughters dropped their suit against Dr. Wallis Marsh, the Pennsylvania physician who had prescribed large quantities of painkillers for Tammy. Pittsburgh attorney, Wilbur McCoy Otto, who represented Dr. Marsh, said, quote, “Both parties are quite happy that it’s over and done with.” Both sides in the lawsuit have also agreed to keep the terms of their settlement quiet. Tammy’s daughters had asked for $50 million in damages from Dr. Marsh, whom they accused of mismanaging her medical problems.
  • Today in 2003, Dierks Bentley made his Grand Ole Opry debut.
  • Today in 2006, the Charlie Daniels Band performed at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, Iraq, the final stop on a Stars For Stripes tour in which the band played for U.S. soldiers in the Middle East.
  • Today in 2010, Lady Antebellum won in three categories – Top Vocal Group and Single Record and Song of the Year, for “Need You Now” – during the 45th Academy of Country Music Awards from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
  • Today in 2013, although it’s actually on April 29th, Willie Nelson’s 80th birthday was celebrated with a “CMT Crossroads” taping. On hand were Sheryl Crow, Jack White, Neil Young, Leon Russell, Norah Jones, Ashley Monroe and Jamey Johnson.
  • Today in 2014, Glen Campbell’s documentary “Glen Campbell…I’ll Be Me” about his battle with Alzheimer’s disease debuted during the Nashville Film Festival.
  • Today in 2015, Klaussner Home Furnishings unveiled the Trisha Yearwood Home Collection in High Point, North Carolina.
  • Today in 2015, Darius Rucker hit #1 on the Billboard country albums chart with “Southern Style.”
  • Today in 2016, Chris Stapleton’s single, “Parachute,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2017, Jimmy Webb’s autobiography, “The Cake And The Rain,” was released.
  • Today in 2017, Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus and former NFL player Kevin Carter hosted the 16th Waiting For Wishes charity event at The Palm in Nashville, raising $125,000. Servers included John Rich, Hunter Hayes, Charles Esten, Cassadee Pope, Eric Paslay, Vince Neil and Kellie Pickler.

H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: NADO

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Nado”, a sweet 1 and a half year old Pitbull mix who gets along great with everyone, other dogs and even cats! Nado loves to hang and chill, and is looking for his “fur-ever” home.

And because Nado is the Pet of the Week, his adoption fee is only $100 this week!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet Nado or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Nado with Shanna from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1970, Johnny Cash performed at the White House at the invitation of President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon asked Cash to perform “Okie From Muskogee,” but Johnny refused since it wasn’t his song. Instead, he sang his hit, “A Boy Named Sue.”
  • Today in 1992, Aaron Tippin scored his first #1 hit single, “There Ain’t Nothin’ Wrong with the Radio.”
  • Today in 1996, Alan Jackson’s “Greatest Hits Collection” CD was certified triple platinum.
  • Today in 1997, Toby Keith and his wife Tricia became parents to their third child, a son named Stelen Keith Covel (He joined big sisters Shelley & Krystal).
  • Today in 1998, Clint Black and Skip Ewing’s song, “Something That We Do,” was selected as Song of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International.
  • Today in 1998, Tim McGraw began a six-week residency at #1 on the Billboard country chart with “Just To See You Smile”
  • Today in 1998, “People” magazine announced that Alabama was chosen by readers as America’s favorite band. In “People’s” poll of 1000 readers, Alabama came in first with 4.1% of the vote. Alabama, who first walked away with the category in 1985, barely edged out another band you might have heard of — the Beatles. In the male vocalist category, Garth came out on top in the category with 8% of the vote. George Strait nearly placed second with 3.9%, but he was one-tenth of a percent behind Elton John. And even though the rumors abound that Elvis Presley has been dead since 1977, he placed fourth — just ahead of Wynonna’s old touring and duet partner, Michael Bolton.
  • Today in 2000, ABC-TV began using Lonestar’s smash-hit single, “Amazed,” in promotional spots for their primetime-hit sitcom, “2 Guys and a Girl.”
  • Today in 2000, Garth Brooks was named Artist of the Decade for the ’90s during the American Music Awards. He also won trophies for Favorite Male Country Artist and Favorite Country Album, for “Sevens.” Shania Twain took home two.
  • Today in 2001,Brooks & Dunn’s album “Steers & Stripes” was released.
  • Today in 2004, The Judds make their Grand Ole Opry debut, performing “Flies On The Butter (You Can’t Go Home Again)” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Old Days).”
  • Today in 2006, Sugarland announced Kristen Hall was leaving the trio to concentrate on songwriting. While it had been suggested that leaving was her choice, the fact that she’s an open lesbian was rumored as the reason she was pushed out. In July 2008, Hall filed a lawsuit for $14-million against Nettles and Bush in the U.S. District Court in Atlanta says she bankrolled much of the group’s debut album on her credit cards. The remaining band members countered that it was in $100,000 debt at her exit. We’ll never know who would’ve won, as the case was settled in November 2010.
  • Today in 2009, Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley welcomed their second son, Jasper Warren Paisley, at a Nashville hospital.
  • Today in 2011, a “colossal collapse of time management”: John Rich evaluated project leader Gary Busey’s leadership on the night’s episode of “The Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Donald Trump on NBC.
  • Today in 2015, Chris Young snagged a gold single from the RIAA for “Lonely Eyes.”
  • Today in 2017, Cassidy Bentley ran the Boston Marathon in three-hours, 26-minutes, with hubby Dierks Bentley and their three kids cheering her on. She raised more than $23-thousand in the process, including donations from Kix Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Nicole Kidman and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
  • Today in 2017, Jon Pardi’s single, “Heartache On The Dance Floor,” hit the airwaves.
  • Today in 2017, Keith Urban scored a platinum album from the RIAA for “Get Closer.”
  • Today in 2019, Taylor Swift was revealed among the “Time” 100 Most Influential people in the world. Also on the list: Donald Trump, Dwayne Johnson, Mark Zuckerberg and Ariana Grande.

LUKE BRYAN KEEPS GETTING MISTAKEN FOR BLAKE SHELTON – EVEN IN HIS OWN HOMETOWN

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Luke Bryan was on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and he told everyone how he keeps getting mistaken for another country superstar...even in his own hometown! “My gas station that I live nearby… one of the attendants that works the cash register [mistook] me for Blake Shelton.” Bryan explained. “He was so convinced. He’s like, ‘You’re Blake Shelton. Tell me about being Blake Shelton.'” Even when he told the guy he wasn’t Shelton, the gas attendant was clueless as to who he actually was. “The guy looked and me, and he’s like, ‘You are Blake Shelton’s doppelgänger… and he goes, ‘Could you imagine what it would be like to have Blake Shelton’s money?'” Pretty sure that wouldn’t take a lot of imagination for Luke. See the clip here.

DIERKS BENTLEY ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ALBUM

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dierks Bentley has announced his upcoming 11th studio album, “Broken Branches,” is on the way. With the announcement, he released the album’s track list, and the news that the project will include several high-profile features. The 11-track collection will feature appearances by John Anderson, Miranda Lambert, Riley Green and Stephen Wilson Jr. The album is due out June 13th. See the track list below: 

1. “Cold Beer Can” (Written by Jon Randall, Luke Dick, Stephen Wilson Jr. and Dierks Bentley)
2. “Jesus Loves Me” (Written by Adam James, Ben Stennis and Allison Veltz Cruz)
3. “She Hates Me” (Written by Ashley Gorley, Chase McGill, Ross Copperman, Jimmy Allen, Wesley Scantlin and Dierks Bentley)
4. “Something Worth Fixing” (Written by Stephen Wilson Jr., Luke Dick and Dierks Bentley)
5. “Standing In The Sun” (Written by Kyle Sturrock)
6. “Well Well Whiskey” (Written by Seth Ennis, Devin Dawson and Jordan Reynolds)
7. “Broken Branches” (Written by Zach Abend, Beau Bailey and Graham Barham)
8. “Off The Map” (Written by Jeremy Bussey, Lauren McLamb and Adam Wood)
9. “Near You” featuring Miranda Lambert (Written by Scooter Carusoe, Ross Copperman and Ben Williams)
10. “For As Long As I Can Remember” (Written by Devin Dawson, Connie Harrington)
11. “Don’t Cry For Me” (Written by Jim Beavers and Dierks Bentley)

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1969, Johnny Cash taped “Hello…I’m Johnny Cash,” the first of his ABC-TV weekly shows at the Ryman Auditorium, kicking off with “Folsom Prison Blues.” The show, which featured guests Glen Campbell, Jeannie C. Riley and Joe Tex, becomes the fifth episode aired.
  • Today in 1981, Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” arrived in stores.
  • Today in 1982, Alabama’s “Mountain Music” hit #1 on the country charts.
  • Today in 1982, the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Greatest Hits” album was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1993, the single, “Hard Workin’ Man,” by Brooks & Dunn hit #3 on the charts.
  • Today in 1996, Brooks & Dunn released their fourth album, “Borderline,” and Toby Keith released “Blue Moon.”
  • Today in 1999, Billy Ray Cyrus guest starred on “Love Boat.” He played “Lonesome Larry Larson,” a sad country star, who cheers up when he finds romance.
  • Today in 1999, Tim McGraw’s “A Place In The Sun” album was released.
  • Today in 1999, Shania Twain became the first woman to be honored as Songwriter/Artist of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) during the 32nd annual Songwriter Achievement Awards.
  • Today in 2000, Tracy Lawrence kicked off his 6th Annual Celebrity Golf Classic at the Westin Galleria Ballroom in Houston, Texas. That night, he took the stage and performed for the attendees of the amateur-only event, which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Gulf Coast Chapter, every year.
  • Today in 2000, Reba McEntire’s concert performances were named the Best Country Concert at the 17th Dutch Country Music Awards Gala. Winners of the DCMA’s were selected by the readers of Country Gazette and the members of the Dutch Country Music Association.
  • Today in 2002, Steve Azar’s album, “Waitin’ On Joe,” was released.
  • Today in 2002, Alan Jackson had more than the recent double platinum certification of his album, “Drive,” to celebrate as it became the first country project to achieve a 10-week run in the Top 10 of the “Billboard 200” chart since June 2000. The achievement unseated Shania Twain’s “Come On Over” album. This distinction made Alan the only male country artist to achieve this milestone with multiple projects.
  • Today in 2002, Tammy Cochran was in Los Angeles to join over 150 Home Depot employees and the folks from KaBOOM! (a national organization dedicated to building playgrounds in neighborhoods that need them most) to volunteer their time for an old fashioned “barn raising” of sorts. The crew was there to build an outdoor playground for the La Santa Cruz Child Care Center in East Los Angeles.
  • Today in 2007, Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” video swiped three trophies at the CMT Music Awards, held at Belmont University’s Curb Events Center in Nashville. Among other victors are Jack Ingram, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Kenny Chesney.
  • Today in 2010, Alan Jackson was honored with a star at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • Today in 2013, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins and Eric Church join hosted Keith Urban and Vince Gill in “We’re All For The Hall,” a benefit at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Also appearing were Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Brantley Gilbert and Tim McGraw.
  • Today in 2016, Kane Brown got engaged to Katelyn Jae during a show in Philadelphia.
  • Today in 2016, CBS aired “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees” – and featured Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini singing “Islands In The Stream,” while Keith Urban covered “To Love Somebody. Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Pentatonix and John Travolta also turned out.
  • Today in 2015, the two-day ACM Party For A Cause kicked off at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, with Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley, Dwight Yoakam and Miranda Lambert, among others. CBS shoots it for a special, “ACM Presents: Superstar Duets!” Elsewhere Trisha Yearwood sang “She’s In Love Love The Boy” with a band that included Garth Brooks and Keith Urban during a benefit for ACM Lifting Lives at the Omni Dallas Hotel. That bill included Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, The Band Perry and Hunter Hayes, who joins Brooks on “The Dance.”
  • Today in 2017, the autobiography “Let Your Love Flow: The Life And Times Of The Bellamy Brothers” was published.
  • Today in 2017, Dierks Bentley’s wife, Cassidy, ran the Boston Marathon in three hours, 26 minutes, with her hubby and their three kids cheering her on. She raised more than $23,000 in the process, including donations from Kix Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Nicole Kidman and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
  • Today in 2017, Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini covered “Islands In The Stream” and Keith Urban performed “To Love Somebody” as CBS aired “Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute To The Music Of The Bee Gees.” Others taking the stage included Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Pentatonix and John Travolta.
  • Today in 2017, Keith Urban’s “Get Closer” album went platinum.
  • Today in 2019, Kelsea Ballerini performed “Walkaway Joe” with Carrie Underwood as she joined the Grand Ole Opry. Ballerini also offered up a rendition of “Peter Pan” and “Miss Me More.” The evening included a surprise appearance by Keith Urban, singing “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
  • Today in 2019, Little Big Town and Thomas Rhett guested on the ABC special, “The Disney Family Singalong.” Also performing were Donny Osmond, Julianne Hough, Bobby Bones and Michael Bublé.

HARDY ANNOUNCES NEW EP

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Hardy has been splitting his time between the country and rock worlds over the last few years, but his upcoming project seems to be straight country, right down to the name. Next up for the singer/songwriter: the “Country!” EP. Also, to further prove his musical pendulum is swinging back to the country genre, he’s announced he’ll be making his first-ever appearance at the Grand Ole Opry April 29. “Country!” comes out three days later, on May 2.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1953, Hank Williams was on top of the charts with “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”
  • Today in 1978, the “Waylon & Willie” album by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1980, Alabama signed their first record contract.
  • Today in 1981, “You’re The Reason God Made Oklahoma” by David Frizzell and Shelly West hit the top of the charts.
  • Today in 1988, Ricky Van Shelton earned a gold record for his debut album, “Wild-Eyed Dream.”
  • Today in 1992, Lee Greenwood married 1989’s Miss Tennessee, Kimberly Payne.
  • Today in 1992, Wynonna scored her first #1 single as a solo artist with “She Is His Only Need.”
  • Today in 1994, Tim McGraw’s first big hit, “Indian Outlaw,” was certified gold, despite controversy over the song’s lyrics. For example, one Cherokee chief called it “insulting to Indians.”
  • Today in 1996, Patty Loveless’ album, “When Fallen Angels Fly,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1997, Tracy Lawrence’s appearance at the Wal-Mart in North Richland Hills, Texas was billed by some as the “largest outdoor in-store appearance in the history of mankind.” The event drew an estimated 6,000 screaming fans, who showed up to hear him perform and see him autograph his album, “The Coast Is Clear.” Later, Tracy took the stage and performed five songs, including “Stars Over Texas,” “Time Marches On” and “Better Man Better Off.” The audience got so rowdy that they actually stormed the stage, bowling over security officers to get Tracy’s autograph.
  • Today in 2000, Clay Davidson’s debut album, “Unconditional,” was released.
  • Today in 2000, “Manilow Country” premiered on TNN. The two-hour celebration of pop star Barry Manilow’s 25-year career included artists like Deanna Carter, Lila McCann, Neal McCoy, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, Kevin Sharp and Trisha Yearwood covering some of Barry’s biggest hits, from “It’s a Miracle” to “Copacabana.” Barry called his duet of “Could It Be Magic” with Deana Carter his most romantic moment on stage, ever.
  • Today in 2000, Collin Raye was the keynote speaker at the 9th annual “Make a Difference Day Awards.”
  • Today in 2000, Faith Hill appeared on VH1’s “Divas 2000: A Tribute To Diana Ross,” with Mariah Carey and Donna Summer.
  • Today in 2001, Lonestar’s Richie McDonald and his wife, Lorie, welcomed daughter, Maisie Elizabeth McDonald, in Nashville. The girl is noted in the hit “My Front Porch Looking In,” as a “carrot top who can barely walk.”
  • Today in 2006, Toby Keith’s new label, Show Dog Nashville, released its first album, Keith’s “White Trash With Money.”
  • Today in 2013, Taylor Swift’s Diet Coke ad, featuring her song “22,” debuted during the FOX telecast of “American Idol.”
  • Today in 2016, Darius Rucker made a surprise appearance on the South Carolina Gamecocks’ college team, catching a touchdown at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia during the annual Garnet & Black Game. The black team won the contest, 14-13.
  • Today in 2017, Lee Brice headlined a black-tie benefit for cancer patients at the East Ivy Mansion in Nashville, joined by American Young, Paul McDonald and Louis Brice.
  • Today in 2017, Alabama guitarist Jeff Cook revealed in “The Tennessean” that he’s suffering from Parkinson’s disease, forcing him to cut back significantly on concert appearances
  • Today in 2017, the Grand Ole Opry got surprise visits from Blake Shelton, who sang “Honey Bee” and “Ol’ Red,” and from The Oak Ridge Boys, who performed “Elvira” with Home Free. The night’s scheduled guests included Rascal Flatts, Terri Clark and Keith Urban, marking five years since he was asked to join.

H & S FEED & COUNTRY STORE PET OF THE WEEK: ASH

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Ash”, a 1 year old male Great Pyrenees mix. Ash is a big furry ball of friendly affection who loves people, kids, other dogs and even cats! Ash walks pretty well on a leash, and would love to go on walks with you!

And because Ash is the Pet of the Week, his adoption fee is only $100 this week!

If you’d like to set up an appointment to meet or any of the pets at Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, visit https://www.stephenmemorial.org/ and fill out an adoption application.

Check out our visit about Ash with Nicole from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

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