Jo Dee Messina is back on the road again. But instead of performing to packed arenas and stadiums, she created the Music Room Series tour to give fans a more informal and intimate experience. But, the singer admits, it's become an experience she never expected.

"It's a show that started out as a storyteller kind of series," Jo Dee tells the Daily Breeze. "I would talk to the audience about the songs and the circumstances behind them and what they meant to me. But it quickly evolved into being more about the audience. When they would make requests, they would tell me stories about how they related to my songs and what personal meanings the songs had taken on for them."

Dolly Parton's music and acting career has already paired her with some of the world's biggest stars, including Jane Fonda, Kenny Rogers and Sally Field, but now she's about to collaborate with two of the world's most renowned figures: former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, on a new series for the BBC.

'Fern Britton Meets' focuses on the role faith plays in the lives of several famous people, the Associated Press reports. And while the series will tackle some heavy subjects, including the Prime Minister's conversion to Catholicism and the Archbishop's role in fighting injustice in South Africa, Dolly will take a much more light-hearted approach.

The King of Country might soon be known by another title: King of the Jungle!

While George Strait spends much of his time on sprawling ranch in San Antonio, Texas, he's also becoming quite the world traveler. The singer recently returned from his third African safari with his wife, Norma, and compares the experience to one of his other favorite activities: camping.

"They make it as nice as they can, and it is very nice, but you are out in a tent," he tells Pa. radio station WIOV. Quite a camping trip, indeed! Their last safari had them roughing it in the wild bush for a month, but even George's wife admits it's worth it, if only for the front-row view of the animals.

Billy Ray Cyrus has already finished filming his role in the upcoming Hallmark TV movie, 'Christmas in Canaan,' and while he says the part was tailor-made for him, he admits he initially turned the role down before calling Hallmark and begging to have it back.

It was the wisdom of his late father that resonated with him when he decided to revisit the script. His dad, who famously told him to follow in the footsteps of Kenny Rogers, also ultimately became the inspiration Billy Ray needed to embrace his role as Daniel Burton, a father to two troubled boys.

Seacrest out, Swift in! Taylor Swift, actress, 'Saturday Night Live' host, and CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee will soon be adding radio DJ to her resume. According to a recent Twitter update, Ryan Seacrest will be taking some time off as host of his weekly radio show, 'American Top 40' over the Thanksgiving holiday, and will be replaced by frequent chart-topper Taylor on the show.

'American Top 40' recently tweeted, "We want your questions for Taylor Swift! She's guest-DJing the show. Call us! 1-877-AT40-FAN." In addition, the 'American Idol' host said via Twitter, "@taylorswift13 is filling in for me on @AmericanTop40 over Thanksgiving wknd. Call w/ ur ?s for her...she'll answer on show! 1-877-AT40-FAN."

Canada's Craven Country Jamboree will have a hard time topping next year's lineup of artists. With the nation's biggest touring act, Kenny Chesney, already listed as a the festival's closing performer, several more stars were recently added to the roster.

Martina McBride, Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert will join legend Charley Pride and Hollywood A-lister Kevin Costner for the four-day festival, which kicks off on July 15, 2010. They join an impressive list of performers previously announced, which includes Luke Bryan, Crystal Shawanda, Diamond Rio, Collin Raye, Eric Church and David Nail.

Randy Houser is nominated for two CMA Awards -- Best New Artist and Video of the Year, for 'Boots On.' But the Mississippi native says he already knows he'll go home empty handed from the Nov. 11 awards show ... which doesn't seem to bother him!

"I feel like my chances are definitely between slim and none," Randy tells the LA Times. "Of course awards would be nice and all that, but I don't think that's going to become the measure of what our value is."

Randy's 'Boots On' video features amateur footage of an adorable little boy singing the hit song in the backseat of a car. The singer explains that the video's concept didn't come from him. In fact, he was completely against the entire idea at first. "Somebody smarter than I am came up with that," he admits. "It doesn't tell you anything about me or the song, and my first thought was, 'What are we doing here, guys?' But I understand what they were trying to do -- they were trying to open the door. And I guess they did! I love the video. It's like they always say, you can't compete with kids or puppies."