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THIRTY MILES WEST

Hear Alan Jackson's New CD Before It Hits Stores!

'Thirty Miles West' Full CD Listening Party
Alan's Country Records/EMI

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

40-Something Never Looked So Sexy

Sexy Country Stars Over 40
Kevin Winter, Getty Images

KENNY'S NEW SONG

Hear His Sexy New Single

Kenny Chesney, "Come Over"
Sony Music Nashville

WORLD PREMIERE

Jerrod's Feel-Good New Video

Jerrod Niemann, 'Shinin' On Me' Video Premiere
Jeremy Cowart

NEIL YOUNG PREMIERE

Old Footage Brings New "Clementine" Video to Life

Neil Young & Crazy Horse, "Clementine" Video Premiere
Julie Gardner

JOANNA LIVE

Country Beauty Performs Powerful New Ballad

Joanna Smith, "We Can't Be Friends" (Live)
RCA Nashville

Dierks Bentley's Father Dies

Donn Jones, AP

Our condolences go out to Dierks Bentley, as he mourns the loss of his father, Leon Bentley.

"My dad died yesterday," the singer-songwriter tweeted Saturday (June 2). "It was an honor to comfort him as he left us. Thank you fans for the time and understanding."

It's not yet known what caused Mr. Bentley's death. A great inspiration to his musical son, he was a second lieutenant in the Army and served in World War II. "I know he really enjoyed his time in the Army," Dierks recalls of his dad. "He grew up in a town of 1200 people and the army was a chance to go overseas and see some of the world. He really enjoyed the men in his company and lost some friends over there. He doesn't talk too much about that aspect of it, but he has nothing but good memories of being able to serve and be part of that."

Continue reading Dierks Bentley's Father Dies

Pat Green Scores Radio Deejay Gig

Sugar Hill

Is Pat Green giving up the troubadour lifestyle and becoming a radio jock? Not exactly. The Texas native has signed on to join Austin radio station, KVET, as temporary morning co-host for the month of June.

He'll join current hosts Chris Mosser and Anne Hudson in the studio when he's home in the Texas capital. However, don't let expect this gig to interfere with his touring schedule. Pat will continue to tour and call in remotely for his "day" job.

Continue reading Pat Green Scores Radio Deejay Gig

Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony to Include Emmylou Harris, Kenny Rogers

Getty Images

The Big Apple will get a touch of country later this month, when Kenny Rogers and Emmylou Harris head to New York City to attend the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner. The event, slated for June 14, will include appearances or performances by Lyle Lovett, Meatloaf, Take 6, Stevie Nicks, Broadway and TV star Cheyenne Jackson and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl.

Don Schlitz, who penned Kenny Rogers' pop-country hit, "The Gambler," is among this year's inductees. He is joined by Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger, Jim Steinman and the writing team of Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones (not to be confused with the Welsh singer).

Continue reading Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony to Include Emmylou Harris, Kenny Rogers

Eric Church Fall Tour Dates Add Justin Moore, Kip Moore

Ed Rode, AP

Fans across the country, from Massachusetts to California, will benefit when Eric Church pours out additional helpings of his Blood, Sweat and Beers tour this fall. The renegade country-rocker has already sold out over 25 dates on his first arena trek as a headlining artist and now he's adding several shows, not to mention special guests, hot country hitmakers Justin Moore and Kip Moore, to the bill.

Tickets for the first of the newly-announced dates will go on sale June 8, with additional on-sale dates to be announced in the coming weeks. (See the full list of new dates below.)

In April, Blood, Sweat and Beers was named No. 11 on Pollstar's Worldwide Ticket Sales Chart for the first quarter of 2012, making it one of the highest-attended tours across all musical genres from January through March.

Continue reading Eric Church Fall Tour Dates Add Justin Moore, Kip Moore

Joe Nichols, 'The View': Singer and Wife Heather Share Baby Joys and Challenges

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Joe Nichols and his wife, Heather, struggled through several years of infertility before they welcomed baby girl Dylan River Nichols on April 17. The couple sat down with the ladies of ABC's "The View" to talk about their unimaginable low points -- and how excited they were to finally have their baby in their arms.

"The first thing I went through in the delivery room when she came out, the first time I saw her, it was just amazing, the joy," the proud dad gushed. "I've heard everyone talk about the delivery room experience is tremendous and overwhelming joy, but that's the first thing I thought of. This is the most exciting moment of my life. I looked at Heather, and she couldn't see past the curtain, but I could see her crying and her face was just exploding with joy. I cried like a little girl, and I made a fool of myself in the delivery room, but they said it wasn't the first time."

Continue reading Joe Nichols, 'The View': Singer and Wife Heather Share Baby Joys and Challenges

This Is Country Music? Singers Weigh In on Endless Debate

Frederick Breedon, Getty Images

"It ain't hip to sing about tractors, trucks, little towns and mama / Yeah, that might be true / But this is country music ... and we do."

If you stop and listen to the words of to the title track of Brad Paisley's 2011 album, This Is Country Music, you'll find that the singer-songwriter isn't coming down on one side or the other of what sound defines our beloved genre. Instead, he focuses on the lyrical content. On the flipside, George Strait and Alan Jackson lament the "drums and rock 'n roll guitars" that disqualify a song as 'country' in their 2000 state-of-the-industry message, "Murder on Music Row."

Country singers, for the most part, agree with the messages in both of those songs. While they're all here to sustain and grow the format that they love, the whole debate about what country music is can wear on them. Most recently, Vince Gill caused a stir when he admitted his embarrassment over some of what broadcasts on the country airwaves.

Continue reading This Is Country Music? Singers Weigh In on Endless Debate

Maya Angelou 'Seriously Affected' by Brooks & Dunn Split

Steve Exum, Getty Images

Maya Angelou may be one of the world's most famous authors, but when she isn't putting pen to paper, she enjoys cooking, reading -- and especially listening to country music.

"I like some young singers," she tells Parade magazine. "I like Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland -- she can sing -- and so can Carrie Underwood. And I love Blake Shelton. I'm also very smitten by a couple of real cowboys, Montgomery Gentry. I went to hear them and they gave me a guitar."

The 84-year-old is still recovering from one of her biggest disappointments from her favorite genre.
"I've been seriously affected by the breakup of Brooks & Dunn," she admits. "They broke up after 20 years and I've been seriously offended by that!"

Continue reading Maya Angelou 'Seriously Affected' by Brooks & Dunn Split