The Boot

Taylor Swift Reflects on Amazing Year

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2009-12-28T17:00:00+00:00

Taylor Swift has reached more milestones in one year of her career than most artists achieve in a lifetime, so does the busy entertainer have any time to just sit and think about all that she's done now that she's so in demand?

"I do a lot of reflecting," the 20-year-old tells Yahoo.com. I'll be driving down the streets I used to drive down in Nashville, and my song will come on the radio or I'll pass my high school and something will remind me of how my life was before all of these crazy dreams started coming true. We wished for this, my parents and I, every single day without actually believing it would come true."

Carrie Underwood Shopping for Something That Sparkles

Gayle Richardson — 2009-12-28T15:45:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News

The newly-engaged Carrie Underwood is sporting what's believed to be a five-carat diamond engagement ring. And now she's out shopping for something else that sparkles!

Getting ready to hit the road for her Play On tour, Carrie says she hopes to emulate two of her musical heroes in the wardrobe department. "When you talk about Reba [McEntire] and Loretta [Lynn], you think of sparkles and somebody who always looks great, sounds great," she tells Ottawa-based radio station Y101. "So hopefully I'd like to bring some of that magic into my show. I think there will be more costume changes than the last tour."

Billy Ray Cyrus Is a Cinematical Chip Off the Old Block

Marianne Horner — 2009-12-28T14:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Movies and TV

While preparing to play the role of a widower raising three children in his Hallmark Channel movie 'Christmas in Canaan,' Billy Ray Cyrus was swamped with tender memories of his own beloved father, former Kentucky legislator Ron Cyrus, who succumbed to lung cancer in 2006.

"I realized I just grew into my dad, to be honest," Billy Ray reflects softly.

The actor/singer took a trip down memory lane to prep for the film, looking through old photographs from his childhood.

Tim MGraw Scores a Little 'Something' Special

Alanna Conaway — 2009-12-28T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

In the past ten years, what was the one song we heard on the radio more than any other song? Those bragging rights belong to a song released just before the start of the decade, Tim McGraw's 'Something Like That.' The song, written by Rick Ferrell and Keith Follese, racked up 487,343 spins from Jan 1, 2000 through Dec. 17, 2009 -- more spins than any song of any genre, according to Neilsen Broadcast Data Systems, a company that tracks radio and cable music channel airplay. 'Something Like That' also spent five weeks at the top of Billboard's country singles chart.

Others songs topping Nielsen's BDS list include Usher's 'Yeah' (CHR/Top 40, 416,267 spins); Train's 'Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)' (hot AC, 338,749); Papa Roach's 'Last Resort' (alternative 221,767); Flo Rida's 'Low,' featuring T-Pain (rhythmic, 206,864); Staind's 'It's Been Awhile' (album rock, 189,195); Snoop Dogg's 'Drop It Like It's Hot,' featuring Pharrell Williams (urban, 169,511); Luther Vandross' 'Think About You' (urban AC, 147,818); Marvin Sapp's 'Never Would Have Made It' (gospel, 92,603 spins); and Nils Lofgren's 'Pacific Coast Highway' (smooth jazz, 29,328).

John Rich, 'Preacher Man' - Story Behind the Lyrics

Beville Darden — 2009-12-28T11:50:00+00:00

Filed under: Story Behind the Song

John Rich talked to The Boot about the song he says is the most personal track on his latest album, 'Son of a Preacher Man.'

Imagine being the most hardcore, rock and roll, honkeytonk singer in Nashville ... the wildest kid in town. But your dad is a fire and brimstone, Bible-banging preacher. That dynamic between me and my dad ... he's never been judgmental, but I've never recorded a song that offended him. I've played him songs that he's said, "Nah, I'd rather you not say that," so I didn't record them. That's how much of an impact my dad has had on me. So for me -- being a guy raised in church, I've got a King James Bible in one hand and Crown Royal and Coca Cola in the other. That's just me. I'm a hell-raising Christian.

Download 'Preacher Man' | Read the Lyrics

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Gloriana Find Out Just How Far Fans Wanna Go!

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2009-12-28T10:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Humor, Country News

Gloriana have been making fans all across the country since opening for Taylor Swift on her Fearless tour this year, but apparently they made such an impression on one super-fan in Seattle that he decided to get on the bus -- well, under the bus -- to go on the road with them!

"There are bays underneath the bus," Gloriana's Mike Gossin tells The Boot. "This man managed to sneak past security and get under the bus in one of the bays. Tom [Gossin] went to go get some clothes, and he was hiding under the bus! It was so crazy and we have it on video! You should have seen him jump ... it was hilarious!"

George Jones Keeps Up With the 'Whipper-Snappers' in Live Show

Alanna Conaway — 2009-12-28T09:15:00+00:00

Filed under: Concert News, Legends

"We're going to have a good time!" George Jones exclaimed as he took the stage at the Riverwind Casino in Norman, Okla. earlier this month. And what a good time it was.

After rolling through classic songs 'Why Baby Why' and 'Once You've Had The Best,' the country legend asked the crowd if they've noticed a new trend on the "new" country radio stations. "Have you noticed they stopped playing all those drinkin' and cheatin' songs on the radio these days? I'd be without a job today," he added with a laugh. "That'll tell you I have a bunch of them to do tonight -- right after this one!"

A picture slide show played on the JumboTron, as George sang one of the most profound songs he has recorded in recent years, 'Choices.' The video took the audience from his childhood up through recent years, including the now-comical arrest video from his earlier years.

Carrie Underwood's Engagement Ring Is 'Flawless'

Marianne Horner — 2009-12-28T08:00:00+00:00

It was the ring flashed 'round the world. For the past year, the country music world has been holding its collective breath, wondering ... Is Carrie Underwood in love? Will she marry Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher?

The answer came just before the holidays, when Carrie lifted her left hand in an oh, so casual gesture, talking to a friend while sitting on the sidelines, watching her sweetie's hockey game in Canada.

There it was. A diamond ring. Stunning in its brilliance ... and it was huge!

Carrie's jeweler, Johnathon Arndt describes the engagement ring he designed as a flawless yellow diamond. A spokesperson from the Diamond Information Center estimates that the ring looks to be five-plus carats, with a value of around $150,000.

Christmas Is Family to Country Entertainers

Vernell Hackett — 2009-12-25T09:00:00+00:00

When Christmas rolls around, our favorite country stars steer the tour bus home. The Boot gathers some traditions and memories from Craig Morgan, Chris Young, Hank Cochran and the Bellamy Brothers -- all of whom are spending time with family this holiday season.

Having served on active duty in our armed forces, Craig Morgan knows what it's like to be away from family during the holidays. The singer recalls being part of the invasion of Panama 20 years ago, which kept him away from his family.

"In 1989, we invaded Panama, and if you remember the ousting of Manuel Antonio Noriega, I was in Panama for that; I was in the presidential palace. We had just assumed control - my team - of the palace, so it wasn't until probably a week after Christmas that my wife knew I was alive."

This year the singer plans to be home for the holidays! "I'm just gonna spend some time at home for a couple days, and then actually I leave. Two days after Christmas, I head to Missouri for a hunt, and then when I get back, we're going to Texas to visit my wife's family."

Chuck Wicks' Christmas Tradition Takes the Cake

Gayle Richardson — 2009-12-25T08:00:00+00:00

When Chuck Wicks was a kid, he would look forward to more than just presents from Santa on Christmas. Chuck's mouth waters at the memory of his mother Debbie's special vanilla cake that she makes every year.

"It was a birthday cake for Baby Jesus," Debbie explains to PEOPLE magazine. The cake, Chuck says, was more than just a dessert. "Seeing the cakes every year," he says, "it sunk in that Christmas is about Jesus."

It's a tradition the family continues to this day, although now his mother spikes the cake! "This is definitely a grown-up cake," she says. "There's a lot of amaretto, but people love it."

Jimmy Wayne, Zac Brown + More Share Christmas Traditions

Alanna Conaway — 2009-12-24T10:30:00+00:00

At Christmas time, country stars have the rare opportunity to park the tour bus and enjoy time with family. The Boot talked to several of your favorite singers about their yearly traditions.

Jimmy Wayne: Each year, I get involved with the Angel Tree Program. It's about giving back. I encourage everybody to find that Angel Tree somewhere and pick an angel off it and sponsor that kid -- at least one. Buy stuff that they need.

Jake Owen: I get to spend a lot of time with my family and go home. It's a really good time. I don't get to go home a lot, so I really enjoy just going home and seeing my twin brother. Plus, it's a time of giving. We don't really give_thumbnail.gifts or anything. It's more about spending time with each other and doing things for other people.

Trent Willmon: I hang out with my daughter and her family. We cook, eat, snowboard, and watch the kids open more presents in an hour than I got my whole life!

Chris Young: We always get the family together and go out to look at Christmas lights. And we always put our tree up together.

'Convoy' Helps Start Mannheim Steamroller Phenomenon

Vernell Hackett — 2009-12-24T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Legends

The six degrees of separation theory gets a little closer when Chip Davis starts talking about the novelty song 'Convoy' and the phenomenon of Mannheim Steamroller. You see, Davis is the man behind both of these very popular musical happenings.

Back in 1975, Davis co-wrote and co-produced the C.W. McCall hit 'Convoy,' which also became a huge hit movie starring Kris Kristofferson, Ali MacGraw and Ernest Borgnine. The Sam Peckinpah-directed film about a mile-long convoy supporting a trucker's vendetta against a not-so-kind sheriff is history, but Mannheim Steamroller's Christmas CD series is now celebrating its 25th anniversary! Steamroller, however, was created in 1975, the same year of 'Convoy,' releasing a series of 'Fresh Aire' compilations.

Buddy and Julie Miller Top 2009 Americana Chart

Stephen L. Betts — 2009-12-24T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Americana, Charts, Country News

Married musicians Buddy and Julie Miller are sharing the top spot on the year-end chart of the top albums in the Americana music format. The Americana Music Association reports that tracks from Buddy and Julie's 'Written in Chalk' received more than 8,000 spins at Americana radio in 2009. 'Townes,' Steve Earle's tribute to late singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, was the second-most-played album of the year, followed closely by Slaid Cleaves' 'Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away,' the Flatlanders' 'Hills and Valleys' and 'Willie and the Wheel' from Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel.

Interestingly, Justin Townes Earle, the son of Steve Earle whose middle name came from Townes Van Zandt, also placed an album in the Top 10, with his 'Midnight at the Movies' landing at No. 9 for the year.

Jewel Continues Handmade Christmas Traditions

Lorie Hollabaugh — 2009-12-23T18:00:00+00:00

Jewel has enjoyed years of success as an artist and reaped the material rewards that go with such success, but around the holidays she never forgets the lessons she learned from her Christmases as a kid when there weren't many presents under the tree.

On her official blog, Jewel writes that the family would often exchange handmade_thumbnail.gifts, and says she and husband Ty Murray now do the same. "Almost all of my Christmas trees were empty when I was growing up, and for many years after that. But you know what makes it OK? My dad taught us to make things. We would take what we had around us and make gifts. I remember turning the driftwood into windchimes for my dad, or my brother wrote us a poem."

Shania Twain Has 'Perfect' Face, According to Scientists

Stephen L. Betts — 2009-12-23T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

We all know Shania Twain has perfected the art of the pop-country crossover hit, but now scientists believe they've discovered the dimensions of the most attractive female face in the singer's lovely visage.

BBC News reports that the key to the ideal arrangement of a woman's facial features is the measurement between her eyes, mouth and ears. The study was led by the University of Toronto in the songbird's Canadian homeland, with the findings published in the journal Vision Research.

Students rated the attractiveness of color photographs of the same woman's face, laid out side by side. Using photoshop software, the researchers altered the vertical distance between the eyes and mouth, and the horizontal distance between the eyes in each image, but didn't alter the features themselves (no computer-enhanced nose jobs or collagen injections!)

Carrie, Brad, Keith, Trisha + More Share Christmas Traditions

Donna Hughes — 2009-12-23T14:00:00+00:00

Many country artists look to their childhood holidays for traditions they want to keep as they begin having families of their own.

Christmas for Carrie Underwood hasn't changed that much since she was a young girl growing up in Checotah, Okla. She still gets together with her family, which includes her parents and two older sisters. "We're not a huge tradition family," explains Carrie. "I hang out with my sisters, my parents and my sister's husbands and kids. We just get together and do our thing. We actually celebrate all of the Christmas activities on Christmas Eve. I don't if a lot of people do that, but we all open presents and stuff like that on Christmas Eve. Santa comes Christmas morning, and we watch football." Carrie can now add a new fiance to the family gatherings, as she and professional hockey player boyfriend, Mike Fisher, got engaged over the weekend.

For Christmas gifts, Brad Paisley usually gets them at the last possible moment, but he says it's just part of his genetic makeup. "I'm pretty last minute. Most guys, I think, are like me. You just don't invest enough, you don't think ahead and plan it," explains Brad. "I really do end up somewhere like the mall or something on the 24th. It's a shame. It's really a waste of what should be a fun day, because here I am scrambling around going, 'Oh, I think they'll like that.' They may have never heard of it, and I don't know what is necessarily, but let's buy it!"

Danny Gokey's Looking Ahead to His 'Best Days'

Deborah Evans-Price — 2009-12-23T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Albums, Country News

It's a chilly December morning, but Danny Gokey is all warmth and smiles as he enters Starstruck Studios, a state-of-the-art facility that is part of Reba McEntire's Music Row complex. The 'American Idol' alum is putting finishing touches on his 19/RCA Records debut album, and he's excited about embarking on a country music career.

"It's all American music," the Milwaukee native tells The Boot. "There's not a person in the United States of America who doesn't love country or have some kind of tie to it. I personally have a tie to it through growing up as a child -- my father introducing us to Wynonna Judd. I think I was 12 or 13 and I just remember being like, 'Wow!' I loved it. She had this soul that went into it and you just felt the music when it played."

Keith Urban Plays Secret Santa

Gayle Richardson — 2009-12-23T10:30:00+00:00

Keith Urban is one sneaky (and very generous) Santa. While in Australia for the holidays -- after playing several shows in his homeland -- the singer spent some time in a music store, where he purchased a new guitar. The International Business Times reports that while Keith was shopping, he noticed a little boy playing with a fuzz pedal, which is used for special musical effects. The child was playing with the pedal for over an hour, clearly enthralled by it. So, Keith decided to buy it for him .... secretly!

Keith asked the store owner, Tym Brennan, to put the $450 fuzz pedal on his credit card but to wait to tell the little boy until the singer left the store. After paying for his purchases, Keith walked over to the boy, wished him "Merry Christmas," and left the store. Tym then gave the surprised child his_thumbnail.gift and 'fessed up that it was indeed from Keith Urban. At that point, Tym says the boy "looked at me several times blankly and sort of turned a bit white" before calling his father to tell him that he'd just received a Christmas present from a country superstar.

Merle Haggard Inspired Surprise Christmas Hit

Gayle Richardson — 2009-12-23T09:30:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer' has been infiltrating radio air waves for 30 Christmases now. And while almost everyone may be familiar with the song, initially recorded by married (and since-divorced) couple Elmo and Patsy Shropshire, the story behind the love-it-or-hate-it tune is finally coming to light. The legendary holiday song was actually inspired by a legendary country singer.

The writers of 'Grandma,' Randy Brooks and Elmo, met while playing in local bands in 1979. Randy, who mostly wrote songs for fun, counted on artists such as Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash for inspiration for his songs. But it was while listening to Merle Haggard's Christmas hit, 'Grandma's Homemade Christmas,' and realizing halfway through the song that the woman in the song passes away, that the idea for the novelty hit was born.

Jimmy Wayne to Make 1700 Mile Hike for Homeless

Donna Hughes — 2009-12-23T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: Country News

Jimmy Wayne will walk halfway across America -- from Nashville to Phoenix, Ariz. -- to help raise awareness, and hopefully funds, for homeless teens and organizations that help those teens. He'll kick off his almost two-month trek on foot -- officially titled Meet Me Halfway -- on Jan. 1 from Nashville's Monroe Harding, a facility helping troubled and at-risk youth.

Jimmy, who as a child was in and out of foster homes and was often homeless sleeping in shelters, abandoned warehouses and trailers, decided to make this nearly 1700-mile journey about a month ago after meeting an 18-year-old boy who was about to leave a teen facility and had nowhere to go. "I've got to do something," Jimmy laments. "The time is right. There's not much going on, perfect timing, the beginning of the year ... and I want to do something like that, because I felt like that was gonna be a statement, not just doing a free show. Not just putting the word out there. I've done that enough. I want to do something grand, like walking across the United States is a big statement."