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Dolly Parton Unleashing Symphonic Experience Next Month

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Dolly Parton does not take a break. She announced yesterday the seven vocalists that will be performing in her upcoming symphonic concert, “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony.” The world premiere performance takes place in Nashville on March 20 with the Nashville Symphony. Providing vocals for the shows: Katelyn Drye, Hollie Hammel, Julie Williams, Blair Lamb, Denitia, Ally Jackson and Katie Basden. The multimedia symphonic experience will feature interpretations of Dolly’s hits, taking audiences on a journey through Dolly’s music and life as she shares personal stories and guides the evening from the big screen. Check out the first ten dates below and hit up Dolly’s website for more info. 

  • March 20, 2025 – Nashville Symphony Orchestra
  • May 17, 2025 – Fort Wayne Philharmonic
  • June 18, 2025 – Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
  • June 29, 2025 – San Diego Symphony Orchestra
  • July 12, 2025 – Columbus Symphony
  • September 7, 2025 – The Cleveland Orchestra
  • September 19-20, 2025 – Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
  • October 17-18, 2025 – Charlotte Symphony

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1967, “Don’t Come Home A’Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” got Loretta Lynn her first #1 Billboard single.
  • Today in 1975, Alabama’s Randy Owen married his wife, Kelly.
  • Today in 1982, “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson was released.
  • Today in 1984, Vince Gill debuted on the charts with “Victim of Life’s Circumstances.”
  • Today in 1984, a federal grand jury in Memphis indicted Jerry Lee Lewis on tax evasion charges. He was acquitted the following October.
  • Today in 1992, new releases included Reba McEntire’s video “For My Broken Heart” and John Anderson’s album “Seminole Wind.”
  • Today in 1994, George Strait hit number one with “I’d Like To Have That One Back.”
  • Today in 1999, tornadoes earlier in the week forced a CD manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, Illinois, to shut down production, causing a possible delay for Steve Wariner’s single “Two Teardrops.” But his record label persuaded two manufacturing plants to press 400 copies of the single while volunteers addressed and stuffed envelopes to get the single shipped to radio stations on time.
  • Today in 2002, “The Essential Johnny Cash” album arrived in stores.
  • Today in 2003, Terri Clark’s single “I Just Wanna Be Mad” hit number one on the “Radio & Records” Country Top 50 chart. It also marked a milestone — it was the first time in 46 weeks that a solo female artist grabbed the top spot on the “Radio & Records” chart.
  • Today in 2003, new album releases included Vince Gill’s “Next Big Thing,” George Strait’s live effort “For The Last Time – Live from the Astrodome,” and the Dixie Chicks’ DVD/video “Home.”
  • Today in 2004, Kenny Chesney’s album “When The Sun Goes Down” debuted at the top of the “Billboard” album charts.
  • Today in 2006, Trisha Yearwood sang with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra at the Grand Ole Opry house. Raul Malo was the host.
  • Today in 2006, weeks after the departure of Kristen Hall, Sugarland performed their first concert as a duo.
  • Today in 2007, the Dixie Chicks won five trophies at the GRAMMYs: Record and Song of the Year for “Not Ready to Make Nice,” Best Country Performance by a Duo of Group, and Album of the Year and Best Country Album for “Taking The Long Way.” Other country winners included Carrie Underwood, who was named Best New Artist, as well as Vince Gill, Randy Travis, Bryan Sutton and Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, who got the nod for her collaboration with Bon Jovi on the group’s hit “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” Bob Wills was acknowledged as a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
  • Today in 2007, Trent Willmon and Lorrie Morgan were among the judges for The Corner Pub’s 3rd Annual Chili Cookoff in Nashville.
  • Today is 2008, on a new episode of “CMT Crossroads,” Alison Krauss and Robert Plant performed a list which included “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On),” “Black Dog,” and When the Levee Breaks.”
  • Today in 2009, Brad Paisley led the pack of nominees for the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. Other multiple nominees included George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert, and Heidi Newfield. LeAnn Rimes was tapped to receive the ACM/Home Depot Humanitarian Award.
  • Today in 2009, Dierks Bentley’s “Feel That Fire” debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, ending Taylor Swift’s 12-week run in the top spot with “Fearless.” In addition, the title track to Bentley’s CD was at number one on the Country Singles chart.
  • Today in 2009, Pat Green and Clay Walker were among those taking part in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am charity golf tournament.
  • Today in 2009, the Trace Adkins-voiced ad campaign promoting the Grand Ole Opry began its media run.
  • Today in 2010, Justin Moore became a dad with the birth of his first child, Ella Kole.
  • Today in 2010, Carrie Underwood’s “Sesame Street” character made her debut on the long-running PBS children’s series. “Carrie Underworm” is an orange worm with long blonde hair who sings. On the show, Carrie’s invertebrate alter-ego performed “The Worm Anthem.”
  • Today in 2011, Kenny Chesney was officially honored as the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame’s “Tennessean of the Year” at an event in Nashville.
  • Today in 2011, LeAnn Rimes was among the performers at the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute honoring Barbra Streisand.
  • Today in 2011, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley recorded “Remind Me.”
  • Today in 2012, Dierks Bentley served as the Honorary Chairman of the Arizona Centennial Motorcycle Ride, which took place in his hometown of Phoenix as part of the state’s 100th anniversary celebration. Bentley’s hit “Home” was the official song of the event.
  • Today in 2014, Trick Pony announced their reunion.
  • Today is 2014, Eric Church’s album, “The Outsiders,” was released.
  • Today in 2016, Darius Rucker received the Award of Merit from the National Golf Course Owners Association during a conference in San Diego.
  • Today in 2016, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley and his wife, Cassie, welcomed their son, Ward Charles Kelley, in Nashville.
  • Today in 2016, the “Columbia Daily Herald” reports Jason Aldean has purchased a 120-acre property with a 4,500-square-foot home in Columbia, Tennessee for $5.35-million.
  • Today in 2017, Little Big Town’s “Better Man” – which was written by Taylor Swift – hit #1 on the Billboard country singles chart.
  • Today in 2019, Trace Adkins, Charles Esten, Cassadee Pope, Jimmie Allen, Deana Carter and Morgan Evans performed at Fred Kavli Theatre in Thousand Oaks, California, to raise money for victims of a mass shooting three months prior at the Borderline country club.
  • Today in 2019, Garth Brooks practiced fielding at third base and in the outfield as he begins a week of spring training with the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Florida.
  • Today in 2019, Kacey Musgraves single, “Rainbow,” hit the airwaves.

2025 CMT Music Awards Canceled

Posted on by Bob Ballard

For those that feel there are too many awards shows, we have good news. For the rest of you that love seeing country music celebrated with great live performances, the news is not so good. Friday, a note to the staff of Paramount+ informed them that certain events, including the CMT Music Awards, wouldn’t happen in 2025. The note states that the company is “pausing a few events for 2025 as we look to reimagine and optimize our events slate going forward. These include the MTV EMAs, MTV MIAWs, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards in Mexico, and CMT Music Awards.” Apparently the pause does not impact the VMAs or the Kids’ Choice Awards in the US. No word why the CMT Music Awards was chosen to be paused, or if or when it would return.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1978, Ronnie Milsap’s album, “It Was Almost Like A Song,” was certified gold.
  • Today in 1979, Eddie Rabbitt topped the country singles chart with “Every Which Way But Loose.”
  • Today in 1984, Alabama topped the country charts with “Roll On [18 Wheeler].”
  • Today in 1986, “The Highwayman” album by Waylon, Willie, Johnny, Kris Kristofferson was certified gold.
  • Today in 1986, Reba McEntire’s album, “Whoever’s In New England,” was released.
  • Today in 1987, Randy Travis’ first album, “Storms of Life,” was certified platinum.
  • Today in 1995, Patty Loveless hit #1 with the single, “Here I Am.”
  • Today in 1998, Sammy Kershaw earned a gold certification for his album, “Labor of Love.”
  • Today in 1998, “How Do I Live,” by Diane Warren got an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, as it appeared in the film, “Con Air.” The song had been recorded by both Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes that year – Trisha’s version was the one included in the film (and nominated for the Oscar). And while LeAnn’s version had been more successful in charting, Trisha’s version (which was also successful) was the first of the two to be released – and for the first time in history, the GRAMMY Awards nominated two artists for the same song in the same category. Directly following LeAnn’s performance of the song, Trisha took home GRAMMY Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. What happened with the Oscar nod? It lost out to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” from “Titanic.”
  • Today in 2000, the book, “The Great Canadian Book of Lists,” dubbed Shania Twain as “Canada’s Sexiest Woman.”
  • Today in 2000, Jim Varney, one of America’s most beloved comedic actors, died of lung cancer at his home in White House, Tennessee. He was 50 years old. Starring in nine “Ernest” movies and as Jed Clampett in the movie “Beverly Hillbillies,” he was also the voice of “Slinky Dog.” He also performed in many other film and television productions. His burial was in Lexington, Kentucky with a public memorial service in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Today in 2000, Reba McEntire’s video for “We’re All Alone,” her duet with Jose y Durval, topped the charts on CMT Brazil. The song is from Reba’s album, “So Good Together.”
  • Today in 2002, Joe Diffie hosted his 10th annual Country Steps In For the First Steps concert. The Judds, Trace Adkins, Ricky Skaggs, Cyndi Thomson, and comedian Cledus T. Judd all performed.
  • Today in 2005, the video to “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry premiered on CMT.
  • Today in 2008, at the 50th annual GRAMMYs, “Before He Cheats” won two awards: Best Female Country Vocal Performance for Carrie Underwood, and Best Country Song for Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.
  • Today in 2011, “Crazy Girl,” by The Eli Young Band, was released.
  • Today in 2013, at the 55th annual GRAMMYs, Carrie Underwood and writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins won the same awards again, but this time for “Blown Away.”
  • Today in 2014, Rodney Clawson and Chris Tompkins began writing the future Florida Georgia Line hit, “Dirt,” at the Big Loud Shirt building in Nashville.
  • Today in 2019, an employee at the Stoney Creek Steakhouse in Nashville called police, reporting that Miranda Lambert was fighting with another customer.
  • Today in 2020, Kelsea Ballerini scored a gold single from the RIAA for “homecoming queen?”
  • Today in 2020, Midland introduced Insolito, its own tequila brand, in Texas.
  • Today in 2020, Thomas Rhett and his wife, Lauren Akins, welcomed their daughter, Lennon Love Akins.
  • Today in 2021, “Variety” reported Jeep has pulled an ad featuring Bruce Springsteen following reports he was arrested for DWI in November. Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” was tabbed among country’s 500 greatest singles in the 2003 Country Music Foundation book “Heartaches By The Number.”
  • Today in 2021, a week after a video surfaced with Morgan Wallen using a racial slur, Jason Isbell pledges to donate all the royalties he receives for Wallen’s version of his song, “Cover Me Up” to the NAACP.

Kenny Chesney Is Now An Author

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Kenny Chesney somehow found time to write his first book. The country superstar, who once vowed to never write a book, is now a first-time author, with “HEART LIFE MUSIC” on the way this fall. The book will chronicle Chesney’s life and musical journey from his hometown of Luttrell, Tennessee, to chasing his dreams in Music City. “This is not my memoir,” Kenny said in a statement. “…far better. It is almost a love letter to people who shaped and inspired me, the fans who’ve been there from tiny bars, radio stations who believed when nobody else did, a team who just kept coming back, legends who gave me wisdom and opportunities and all the friends who’ve been there along the way.” “HEART LIFE MUSIC” hits shelves and Kindles November 4.

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1963, Patsy Cline recorded in a studio for the last time, cutting “He Called Me Baby.” Her last song in the studio was “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone.”
  • Today in 1994, at the American Music Awards, Alan Jackson won two awards including Favorite Country Single for “Chattahoochee,” Whitney Houston won two for “I Will Always Love You,” and Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Alabama, and John Michael Montgomery also won awards.
  • Today in 1995, “The Woman In Me” by Shania Twain, was released.
  • Today in 2004, “Remember When” by Alan Jackson hit the number one spot on the Billboard.
  • Today in 2005, At the Krewe of Orpheus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Toby Keith was the celebrity monarch, Sawyer Brown was the grand marshal, and Josh Gracin also appeared.
  • Today in 2008, the video for Tim McGraw’s song “Suspicious” debuted on CMT.
  • Today in 2009, at a concert in Kentucky, Toby Keith waded into the audience to confront a concertgoer who threw a beer at the stage.
  • Today in 2000, CMT released Taylor Swift’s video, “White Horse.”
  • Today in 2010, Carrie Underwood sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl, with Heidi Newfield, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, and Joe Don Rooney in the crowd. The Saints beat the Colts 31-17.
  • Today in 2015, Luke Bryan spent the first of two weeks at #1 on the Billboard country singles chart with “I See You.”
  • Today in 2015, Garth Brooks was joined by Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger and Brett Keisel as he conducts a Teamates For Kids football camp.
  • Today in 2015, the Louvin Brothers were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award along with George Harrison, Flaco Jimenez and The Bee Gees at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. Trustees Awards are given to producer Richard Perry and “Here You Come Again” songwriters Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
  • Today in 2017, Kane Brown scored a gold single from the RIAA for “Heaven” and a platinum nod for “Used To Love You Sober.” The same day, Tyler Farr’s single, “Whiskey In My Water” also went platinum.

MORGAN WALLEN SURPRISES FANS WITH PIANO VERSION OF “LOVE SOMEBODY” ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Morgan Wallen still has some surprises up his sleeve. The singer posted a video to Instagram yesterday of him, at a piano, singing a stripped down version of “Love Somebody.” While it sounded great, he was a bit self-deprecating; at the beginning of the clip, he walks up to the piano, saying, “Alright, I’m recording this myself, trying to figure out what we’re gonna play on tour. Probably not gonna play this on tour…not this version, anyway,” he chuckled. “But I like how it sounds. I ain’t practiced it much, but, I think it sounds cool.” Then we get “Love Somebody,” just Morgan and the piano. People like Ernest, George Birge and Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay dropped rave reviews in the comment section, along with thousands of fans. Maybe Morgan should play it like this on tour.

 

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A post shared by Morgan Wallen (@morganwallen)

This day in Country Music History

Posted on by Bob Ballard
  • Today in 1963, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs made their first on-screen appearance on the CBS sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies,” in order to sing their new song, “Pearl Pearl Pearl.” They had already been performing the theme song.
  • Today in 1971, the song “Joshua” got Dolly Parton her first #1 single.
  • Today in 1976, Ronnie Milsap joined the Grand Ole Opry.
  • Today in 1980, George Jones recorded “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” He made a bet with his producer that it wouldn’t go to #1 on the charts.
  • Today in 1989, Patty Loveless married producer Emory Gordy in a quiet ceremony.
  • Today in 2001, Diamond Rio’s album “One More Day” was released.
  • Today in 2011, at the Super Bowl, Keith Urban performed “Who Wouldn’t Wanna Be Me,” as the Packers beat the Steelers 31-25.
  • Today in 2012, Eric Church’s song, “Springsteen,” was released.
  • Today in 2014, an episode of CMT Crossroads featuring Dierks Bentley and OneRepublic was shot. Songs included “Counting Stars,” “Up On The Ridge,” “I Hold On,” and “Pride (In The Name Of Love.)”
  • Today in 2016, just days after cancelling all his February shows, Merle Haggard played a concert in Las Vegas, struggling through six songs before giving the stage to Toby Keith. The last performance of Haggard’s life included “Ramblin’ Fever” and “Sing Me Back Home.”

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

Posted on by Bob Ballard

This week’s H&S Feed and Country Store Pet of the Week is “Fade”, a beautiful and very friendly 5 year old male kitty who gets along with everyone, including other cats and even dogs! Fade loves pets and would love to curl up on the couch with you and cuddle!

Fade is fully vetted, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to go to a loving home. And because Fade is the Pet of the Week, the adoption fee is only $30 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 with Shanna & Nicole from Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter here:

Reba McEntire Left Kelsea Ballerini A Letter And Gift On “The Voice”

Posted on by Bob Ballard

Reba McEntire has a lengthy career’s worth of wisdom to pass along that any younger country artist would love to soak up like a sponge. Kelsea Ballerini was the beneficiary of some of that recently when she took over for the departing country legend as a team leader on “The Voice.” During the season premiere on Monday, Kelsea found a sweet letter from McEntire on her chair. “Dear Kelsea, I heard you would be the new coach this season and I’m just so excited for you. It’s up to you to keep country alive on the show and I know you’ll do a terrific job. Now go out there and show those boys who’s the boss.” She added that she’d left Ballerini a “little good luck charm in case you need it.” When the newest coach turned around in her chair, she saw that Reba had left her the crown she was given when she was dubbed “Queen Reba” on the show. Kelsea placed it on her head, saying, “I feel so fancy!”

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