Def Leppard apparently only whetted its appetite for country music by singing with Tim McGraw on the new 'Songs From the Sparkle Lounge.' Now, the British group will appear with 18-year-old Taylor Swift -- who once sang about Tim McGraw -- on a 'CMT Crossroads' episode set to tape in Nashville in October.

"Every time I've seen Crossroads on CMT I've always thought, 'If I ever get to do one of those, it has to be with Def Leppard!' So this is really a dream come true for me," says Swift. "I have been screaming the words to Def Leppard songs for years."

How many years? Could be all of them, as Swift was born two years after the arena rockers released 'Hysteria.'

Sugarland will hit the road with two very special guests on their upcoming Love on the Inside tour: Kellie Pickler and Ashton Shepherd. The tour will begin September 13 in Asheville, N.C. and stop in 25 cities before wrapping up November 15 in Bossier City, La.

Fans can expect a revved up show from Sugarland. Given the duo's recent performance stunts -- backwards stage diving at the ACM Awards and romping around inside giant bubbles at CMA Music Fest -- they are promising more concert surprises.

"We want to make a t-shirt that says 'Sugarland: We Do Our Own Stunts'," lead singer Jennifer Nettles told the Boot. "We now have the luxury of being able to explore how to highlight the emotion of a song through other art forms, be it through the video content that we have behind us, the lighting, or through some sort of gag or stunt that allows for a complete emotional ride throughout the show. So when it's over, you've been up, you've been down, you've been shocked and surprised, you've laughed, you've cried -- it's better than CATS!"

Come back to The Boot July 22 for our full interview with Nettles, as she talks about everything from concert stunts to celebrity crushes. See a full list of Sugarland concert dates, after the jump.

Marcus Nirschl, the man who was kicked out of a Tim McGraw concert last week in Auburn, Wash., has been making the media rounds to tell his side of the story. The 30-year-old fan was pulled up on stage and shoved by the country star after an apparent ruckus in the front row of the concert. While Nirschl claims he was being pushed and never intentionally hurt anyone, McGraw's camp insists the singer witnessed Nirschl attack a woman on the front row. Now it's that woman's turn to tell her side.

"He pounded his way through the crowd like a linebacker," concert-goer Tonia Hohagen said of Nirschl during an interview with Tacoma's News Tribune.

"The next thing I know, my hair is being pulled," said Hohagen's sister, Rae Lynn Doughty, adding that Nirschl also punched her in the thigh. "His face was just totally stoic . . . Even when he reached up and punched me, he was just stoic."

Marcus Nirschl says he's still a Tim McGraw fan, even though he was shoved by the country star and kicked out of his concert Tuesday night. The 30-year-old from Kent, Wash., was pulled on stage after McGraw spotted him allegedly attacking a woman on the front row. McGraw and Nirschl then went after one another with clinched fists, but McGraw's crew prevented them from throwing punches. The entire incident was caught on tape.

McGraw's rep insists the singer's actions were out of concern for the female fan's safety. But Nirschl denies any wrongdoing.

"I had a third row seat I paid $120 for," Nirschl told CMT.com. "And I was just making my way up to my seat because I wanted to be up there when he started 'Indian Outlaw.' I was getting shoved up against some empty seats, and I may have pushed some people when I was trying to get my balance. But I didn't grab nobody's hair, and I didn't hit nobody. I'm the nicest guy you'll ever meet."

It was Tim McGraw versus an unruly fan right in the middle of 'Indian Outlaw' Tuesday night at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Wash. During McGraw's performance of his 1994 hit, he spotted a man in the audience getting reckless. So, with a little help from his crew, he pulled the man on stage and then shoved him. The man went after McGraw with a clinched fist, and both threatened to throw punches. McGraw's rep says the country star was only trying to protect a lady in the front row.

"While Tim was performing . . . he watched a man rush to the front of the stage," the rep told TMZ. "This overly aggressive fan attacked a female fan and Tim witnessed this incident. Tim called for security, but when they could not respond quick enough, Tim and several crew members removed the fan from the audience, then turned over to the local authorities."

Watch video footage of the incident after the jump.

Having Willie Nelson play the evening set on Day Two of Bonnaroo is a no-brainer. It was a seamless transition from Nashville's Raconteurs, with the crowd singing along to classics like 'Mama's Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys.'

Although it was counter-intuitive for certain types of folk, Bonnaroo can be a family affair. Nelson brought out all his kin for the occasion, letting son Luke lead guitar and vocals for the blues number 'Flooding in Texas.' Son Michael handled drums. Afterwards, Nelson's sister Bobby performed a song on piano before he launched back into hits like 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' and 'Me and Bobbie McGee' -- a tune the large hippie contingency in the audience certainly appreciated.

The annual love fest between country artists and their fans wound to a close Sunday night, as this year's CMA Music Festival concluded with a star-studded show. Randy Travis, James Otto, Bucky Covington, Sara Evans, Billy Ray Cyrus, Phil Stacey, Chuck Wicks and Dwight Yoakam were among the performers at Nashville's LP Field.

The evening's highlights were many. Randy Travis held the crowd in the palm of his hand, serving up songs from his new album, as well as old favorites like 'DIggin' Up Bones,' 'Deeper Than the Holler,' 'Three Wooden Crosses' and 'Forever and Ever Amen.'

Wicks got the evening off to a great start with his current single 'All I Ever Wanted,' before introducing his breakthrough hit, 'Stealing Cinderella.' "I wrote this song two years ago and it has changed my life," said Wicks, as he thanked fans for calling radio stations to request it. He then pointed to the top of the stadium and told the crowd that last year, he was seated way up there. "Thanks for bringing me down here!" he said, before launching into his third number, 'She's Gonna Hurt Somebody.'

It seemed like Boys Night Out at the CMA Music Festival Saturday night, as Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, Rodney Atkins and Kenny Rogers were among the performers on the male-dominated line up at Nashville's LP Field.

Craig Morgan delivered a rousing set that got the crowd pumped up early in the evening, as he sang such audience favorites as 'International Havester' and 'Little Bit of Life.' Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman beautifully represented the fairer sex during the extravaganza, taking the stage with fellow LBT members Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet to preview their upcoming single, 'Fine Line.' The foursome also served up a blast from the past when they performed the Fleetwood Mac classic 'Go Your Own Way.' Jamey Johnson, Jason Michael Carroll and Darryl Worley shared special acoustic performances during the evening. Worley provided one of the night's emotional highlights with a riveting performance of his 9/11 inspired song, 'Have You Forgotten?'

"No other genre of music has a party like this," proclaimed Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, the surprise performers during Thursday night's CMA Music Festival show at Nashville's LP Field. "This is our way of saying 'thank you.' Without you, we wouldn't have jobs."

The Flatts boys weren't alone in thanking fans for their support during the first of four big stadium shows at the annual fan-friendly event. "You are the reason I get to sing on this stage tonight and I love you so much for that," gushed Taylor Swift, who rocked her biggest hits in the steamy Music City heat.

'American Idol' alum Phil Stacey helped get the show underway by delivering an impressive performance of the National Anthem, which was followed by four jets roaring over the stadium. Fellow newcomers Luke Bryan and Jennifer Hanson both delivered special acoustic sets. Hanson was accompanied by her husband, hit songwriter Mark Nesler. She introduced a brand-new song, 'Love Will Find a Way Around,' and also played the Wreckers' big hit, 'Leave the Pieces,' which she co-wrote.

Marty Stuart brought together a few eclectic friends Wednesday night for his annual Late Night Jam. The famed singer-songwriter and his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, set the stage for the four-hour show by opening with 'Hey Bo Diddley,' in tribute to the rock icon who passed away on Monday. Stuart re-wrote a few lines of the song to fit the occasion – "here we are at the late night jam/and the Grand Ole Opry/with my friends in Nashville, Tennessee " -- much to the delight of the sold-out crowd at the Ryman Auditorium.

Calling the Ryman "ground zero" for country music, Marty welcomed a cross-section of musicians and singers to the stage. Charlie Daniels brought the house down with 'The Devil Went Down To Georgia' and 'The South's Gonna Do It Again,' receiving several standing ovations throughout his set. Daniels was joined by Stuart onstage for a jam session of 'Long Haired Country Boy.'

Rascal Flatts are set to appear in what is destined to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2009. The trio has signed on to film a performance that will be featured in the upcoming 'Hannah Montana' movie. The film, starring Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus, is currently being shot in the Nashville area. It's scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2009.

In the meantime, Rascal Flatts are gearing up for their big 'Bob That Head' tour. With Taylor Swift as their opening act, they'll kick off their summer shows June 13 in St. Louis, Mo. Click here for a full list of tour dates.

Talk about being at the right place at the right time! The Lost Trailers were in Grand Rapids, Mich. last week, doing a photo shoot just down the road from where Kenny Chesney was playing. The guys were in the middle of the shoot when they got a frantic call from Chesney's tour manager.

"Hey, Kenny's trying to find you guys," guitarist Stokes Neilson recalls. But Neilson knew that Chesney was in the middle of his concert, so he was a bit confused until the voice on the other end of the phone said, "He wants you guys to join him!"

The five Lost Trailers sprinted out the door and ran a half mile to the arena where Chesney was performing. They made it just in time to join Chesney onstage for a cover of Steve Miller's 'The Joker.'

The opening act on Rascal Flatts' highly-anticipated summer tour will be Taylor Swift, the band announced this week. The 'Bob That Head' tour launches June 13 in St. Louis and hits more than 30 cities before wrapping up September 26 in Louisiana.

"We hope our fans look forward to our shows as much as we do," says lead singer Gary LeVox. "We want to give them an evening of entertainment that can take their minds off of life's pressures and lift their spirits, if just for a few hours."

Also on the 'Bob That Head' bill are Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley, two celebrated singer-songwriters who co-wrote the Rascal Flatts' hits 'Take Me There, 'Melt' and 'Fast Cars and Freedom.' For a full list of tour dates, click here.

The Eagles continued their successful migration into the country world this past weekend, headlining day-one of the second annual Stagecoach Festival. While classic Eagles fare such as 'Tequila Sunrise' and especially 'Desperado' have always been somewhat rooted in country, Don Henley tells The Boot the group's acceptance into the Nashville world "is a whole new universe for us."

The crossover actually began in earnest last year when the group headlined the opening of L.A.'s new Nokia Theater with the Dixie Chicks. Henley admits that the Eagles, who got a standing ovation when they played the Country Music Awards, have been able to speak unfettered while others have not.

"I think people expect us to do what we do, and where other people might not be able to get away with it -- like our friends the Dixie Chicks, bless their hearts -- we get away with it," Henley tells The Boot. "I've said some outrageous things about Bush in the press. Every time I do an interview and they ask me who I would like for President this time I say, 'Any of the front-runners would be fine with me, because frankly a f---ing chimpanzee would be an improvement.' I've said that numerous times in the press and nothing has come of it."

Martina McBride is bringing her live show to your living room with a CD/DVD compilation called 'Martina McBride: Live in Concert.' The eight-song CD and 20-song DVD each include live performances of some of the angelic-voiced country sensation's biggest hits, including 'Independence Day,' 'Concrete Angel' and 'Anyway,' plus a few rock covers that have become audience favorites.

McBride sat down with The Boot for an insightful conversation about her new project, reality TV, cooking and yet another venture in the works that she calls her "best ever."

Is it true that the first concert was an Ozzy Osbourne show?

Yes! I was 15 or 16. I was into all kinds of music as a teen -- country music, because my dad was in a band that played country, and whatever my sister and brother were into. My older brother was into Creedence Clearwater Revival and ZZ Top, and my sister was into pop radio. So somewhere along the line, I got into Ozzy Osbourne, REO Speedwagon, Heart, Pat Benetar, Journey.

Speaking of Journey, when did 'Don't Stop Believing' become a part of your live show?

Last year, we were on the bus talking to the band about songs we could do for an encore. It's always fun to do something a little bit different, and we're big '80s rock music fans. And Journey is just awesome! So we decided to do 'Don't Stop Believing,' and played it live the very next day.