TIM MCGRAW

FRITOS BRAND AND TIM MCGRAW ‘SPICE UP’ AD CAMPAIGN AND

LAUNCH LIMITED EDITION TIM MCGRAW SPICY JALAPEÑO FRITOS CORN CHIPS

One of America’s Classic Favorites Serves as Official Snack of McGraw’s 2008 Live Your Voice Tour

PLANO, Texas (May 9, 2008) – The Fritos brand spiced up snacking today by collaborating with Grammy Award-winning musician Tim McGraw for an integrated partnership to reach fans everywhere – from television to retail to on tour. For a limited-time only Tim McGraw Spicy Jalapeño flavored Fritos corn chips will be available in select stores starting in May and become nationally available in the fall. The special flavor of Fritos corn chips is part of a larger partnership between the brand and Tim McGraw, who will also appear in the brand’s targeted television advertising campaign. The debut of the Fritos brand television commercial starring Tim McGraw will also be accompanied by a regional print campaign, all of which center around good simple fun with family and friends.

“As one of America’s classic snacks for more than 75 years, the Fritos brand is synonymous with good, simple fun, and is a snack that continues to be a favorite across generations of families,” said Ken Partyka, vice president, marketing, Frito-Lay North America. “As a true family man who values the important things in life, Tim McGraw was a natural fit for our new ad campaign. Tim shares our passion for life’s simple pleasures, and has his own fond memories of growing up with Fritos corn chips.”

The Fritos brand will also serve as the official snack of the “Tim McGraw ’08 Live Your Voice Tour” that kicks off in Tampa, FL today, and the presenting sponsor of the “StyleSonic Stage,” which will feature artists chosen by McGraw to perform prior to the start of each concert. As a special promotion, Tim McGraw is making StyleSonic music downloads available for free to everyone who buys a ticket to the tour this year. More details will be available on www.TimMcGraw.com prior to the start of the tour.

“Fritos corn chips bring back memories of growing up in Louisiana,” said Tim McGraw. “We ate a lot of spicy foods and still do and these have a nice kick to them. With the support of the Fritos brand we are looking forward to a great tour; having the opportunity to introduce some of the best up and coming names in country music to fans across the country will make this tour even more exciting.”

The Tim McGraw Spicy Jalapeño flavored Fritos corn chips will be available for $0.99 per 3.875 oz bag and $2.49 per 9.75 oz bag

Frito-Lay North America is the $11 billion convenient foods business unit of PepsiCo, which is headquartered in Purchase, NY. In addition to Frito-Lay, PepsiCo business units include Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Foods, Gatorade and Tropicana.

WYNONNA

WYNONNA GETS EXTREME MAKEOVER

Wynonna will appear on an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition later this month. The episode focuses on a family in Cheyenne, Wyoming, who want to turn their 20 acres into a safe haven for animals. Wynonna pays a visit to the construction site and performs for the volunteers. (CMT Daily Roundup)

ROOM FOR TWO

Room For Two will be the musical guests on Orlando's Magic 107.7 FM Morning Show this Friday, May 9, at 8:00am. The duo will be performing their new single, "Roots Before Branches" live.

RODNEY ATKINS

Rodney Atkins' mother, Margaret, has literally played a vital role in his life. She adopted Rodney as an infant and recalls that he had health problems early on, telling Country Weekly, "After a month or so with us, you could really see a difference in him. We were there for him day in and day out."

Rodney has nothing but praise for his mom: "She never was the kind to really want to draw attention on herself. There's no vanity. She has the patience of an angel. People ask me, 'What's the word that comes to your mind?' Really with my mother, she's angelic. She really is. She doesn’t say much, she's quiet, she's supportive. She's always made me feel like, whether she's voicing her opinion or not, she's always praying for you."

Read what Rodney's mom has to say about her son in the latest issue of Country Weekly, on newsstands now. (Dial Global)

TIM MCGRAW

Tim McGraw's Wal-Mart exclusive set, Greatest Hits Volume 1 And 2, debuts at the top of this week's Billboard Country Albums chart, with sales of over 29 thousand copies. In its first week out, the album also lands at #10 on the Billboard Top 200 pop chart.

TIM MCGRAW

TIM MCGRAW KICKS OFF “LIVE YOUR VOICE TOUR”

Warren Brothers Earn Honorary Doctorates

NASHVILLE - (May 5, 2008) – Tim McGraw will launch his “Live Your Voice Tour” this Friday, May 9 in Tampa, Florida with special guest Jason Aldean and Halfway To Hazard. Also joining the tour are Brett and Brad Warren who have received honorary doctorates from McGraw and his band, the Dancehall Doctors. McGraw announced today that the Warren Brothers will be featured players in his touring band.

For more tour information go to www.timmcgraw.com.

ASHLEY GEARING

The 2nd annual Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler set for June 4th

Neal McCoy set to Host; GAC's Suzanne Alexander set to emcee & runway talent announced

The 2nd annual Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler will take place at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, June 4th at 8 PM. This one-of-a-kind fashion event, where today’s hottest country stars take over the runway, benefits Musicians On Call.

Katie Armiger, Sarah Buxton, Charter’s Chord, Christian Cane, Ashley Gearing, Adam Gregory, Jennifer Hanson, Marcel, CMT’s Can You Duet Joey Martin, Lorrie Morgan, Erika Page-White, Danielle Peck, Mica Roberts, Phil Stacey, Crystal Shawanda, Fisher Stevenson, Trent Tomlinson, GAC Country Music Across America host Storme Warren, Jimmy Wayne, Emily West, Bryan White, Chuck Wicks, Trent Willmon, Blake Wise, NBC’s American Gladiator Hollywood Yates, and Chris Young and are all confirmed to strut their stuff on the runway. Neal McCoy will serve as the evenings host while GAC Nights host Suzanne Alexander will serve as emcee of the event.

Tickets for the Country Weekly Fashion Show presented by Wrangler will be available at all TicketMaster locations starting Friday, May 2nd at 10 am or at www.ticketmaster.com

About Musicians On Call: Musicians on Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Musicians On Call continues its mission through room-to-room hospital performances by both local musicians and national celebrities, and its CD Pharmacy and Project Playback programs.

MOC opened its first national chapter in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2007. In less than a year, we have played for over 3,000 people at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We have three weekly programs where volunteer guides and musicians visit adults in the Transplant, Dialysis, General Surgery, and Cardiac Units. For more information, please visit our website at www.musiciansoncall.org.

About Wrangler: Wrangler Western Wear, a VF Company, is available at over 2,500 western specialty, mid-tier and workwear stores nationwide that provide quality men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. For more information regarding the Wrangler family of products or to locate the Wrangler retailer nearest you, visit www.wrangler.com or call 1.888.784.8571.

VF Corporation is a leader in branded lifestyle apparel including jeanswear, outdoor products, image apparel and sportswear. Its principal brands include Wrangler, Lee, Riders, Rustler, The North Face, Vans, Reef, Napapijri, Kipling, Nautica, John Varvatos, JanSport, Eastpak, Eagle Creek, Lee Sport and Red Kap.

About Country Weekly: As America’s premier country entertainment magazine, over 3.5 million readers turn to Country Weekly for the latest news and exclusive stories about the lives, lifestyles, families, homes, favorite foods, fashion and music of country celebrities. Country Weekly is published 26 times a year by parent company American Media, Inc. www.countryweekly.com

2008 FANFEST

Check back for your favorite Curb artist updates!

Thursday, June 5, 2008 – River Stages:

10:00 AM - 6:15 PM Performances Keith Anderson, The Bellamy Brothers, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Tracy Byrd, Carter's Chord, Mark Chesnutt, Emerson Drive, Adam Gregory, Richie McDonald, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, Danielle Peck, Crystal Shawanda, Phil Stacey, Aaron Tippin, and Chuck Wicks. Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park

Friday, June 6, 2008 – River Stages:

10:00 AM - 6:30 PM Performances Eric Church, Crossin Dixon, Ashley Gearing, Jennifer Hanson, Heartland, Sarah Johns, Jypsi, Lonestar, The Lost Trailers, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, Megan Mullins, Jake Owen, The Road Hammers, Ashton Shepherd, Fisher Stevenson, Emily West, and Chris Young. Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park

Saturday, June 7, 2008 – River Stages…no one scheduled on Saturday

8:00 PM Nightly Concert at LP Field 2009 CMA Music Festival 4-Day advance tickets on sale at box office. Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Craig Morgan, and Kenny Rogers. VAULT™ Concert Stages at LP Field

Sunday, June 8, 2008 – River Stages:

10:30 AM - 6:15 PM Performances T. Graham Brown, Laura Bryna, Carolina Rain, Drew Davis Band, Whitney Duncan, Jimmy Fortune, Ty Herndon, LoCash Cowboys, Raul Malo, Mel McDaniel, Jamie O'Neal, Rissi Palmer, Rio Grand, Sunny Sweeney, Bryan White, Billy Yates, Charlie Allen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rockie Lynne, and Cowboy Crush. Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages at Riverfront Park

ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC

The Academy of Country Music announced today that more than 25 all- star country artists will participate in the Academy of Country Music 5th Annual Charity Motorcycle Ride benefiting the Academy of Country Music Charitable Fund on Saturday, May 17, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For the fifth time in the Motorcycle Ride’s history, country duo Montgomery Gentry will host the event.

Artists participating in this year’s event are Keith Anderson, Bluefield, Sarah Buxton, Carolina Rain, Stephen Cochran, Ira Dean, 2 Foot Fred, Randy Houser, Emma Mae Jacob, Jamey Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Cody McCarver, Jeremy McComb, Richie McDonald, Craig Morgan, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, The Road Hammers, The Roys, Rhonda Townes, Whiskey Falls Tommy Lee Wilson, and Wolf/ Hollywood Yates.

The Academy of Country Music Charity Motorcycle Ride will kick-off from the Las Vegas Harley-Davidson, which is the largest Harley- Davidson dealership in the nation. Riders will cruise through the Nevada desert and along the mountains, circling back until they reach Fremont Street, where the ride culminates in a live concert—free and open to the public—featuring past and present Academy of Country Music Award nominees and some of country’s best new artists.

To register for this year’s Academy of Country Music Charity Motorcycle Ride please visit http://www.acmcountry.com/ride2008/.

Registration fees start for as little as $35, with proceeds benefiting the Academy of Country Music® Charitable Fund.

The 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ceremony honoring country music’s top artists and the industry’s hottest emerging talent, will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. (Neil Haislop/Nashville IQ)

NATALIE GRANT

If you didn’t catch the Dove Awards on April 23rd…you’ll have a second chance. The Gospel Music Channel will re-air the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards on May 1st.

Thursday 5/1/08 – 8pm EST

Thursday 5/1/08 – 11pm EST

Congratulations to Natalie Grant. For the third straight year, she took home the Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her husband Bernie Herms also took home an award last night for Best Song (Casting Crowns “East To West”).

Clay Aiken has covered Natalie Grant’s “The Real Me” for his new album On My Way Here in stores 5/6.

TIM MCGRAW

Tim McGraw has his own flavor of Fritos. The official sponsor of McGraw’s upcoming “Live Your Voice” tour has given his chips the name of Spicy Jalapeno. They will be a limited edition flavor available at Wal-Mart.

TIM MCGRAW LIVE YOUR VOICE 2008 TOUR - UPDATED

With Special Guest Jason Aldean and Halfway To Hazard

5/9/08 Tampa, FL/Ford Amphitheatre

5/10/08 West Palm Beach, FL/Cruzan Amph

5/11/08 Orlando, FL/Amway Arena

5/15/08 Birmingham, AL/Verizon Wireless Music Ctr

5/16/08 Charlotte, NC/Verizon Wireless Music Ctr

5/17/08 Raleigh, NC/Walnut Creek Amph

5/21/08 Cincinnati, OH/Riverbend Amph

5/22/08 Detroit, MI/DTE Energy Music Theatre

5/23/08 Indianapolis, IN/Verizon Wireless Music Ctr

5/24/08 Chicago, IL/ First Midwest Bank Amph

5/30/08 Oklahoma City, OK/Ford Center

5/31/08 Waxahachie, TX/Country Thunder - FESTIVAL

6/1/08 Houston, TX/The Woodlands

6/3/08 Charlottesville, VA/John Paul Jones Arena

6/5/08 Holmdel, NJ/PNC Bank Arts Center

6/6/08 Darien Center, NY/Darien Lake PAC

6/7/08 Boston, MA/Tweeter Center

6/8/08 Hartford, CT/New England Dodge Music Ctr

6/11/08 Atlanta, GA/Lakewood Amph

6/13/08 Philadelphia, PA/Susquehanna Bank Center

6/14/08 Virginia Beach, VA/Verizon Wireless Amph

6/15/08 Washington, DC/Nissan Pavilion

6/17/08 Kansas City, MO/Sprint Center

6/19/08 Albuquerque, NM/Journal Pavilion

6/20/08 Phoenix, AZ/Cricket Pavilion

6/21/08 Las Vegas, NV/Mandalay Bay

6/24/08 Seattle, WA/White River Amph

6/25/08 Portland, OR/Amphitheater at Clark County

6/27/08 Salt Lake City, UT/USANA Amph

6/28/08 Grand Junction, CO/Country Jam USA - FESTIVAL

6/29/08 Greeley, CO/Greeley Stampede - FESTIVAL

7/2/08 Cleveland, OH/Blossom Music Center

7/3/08 Milwaukee, WI/Summerfest

7/4/08 St. Louis, MO/Verizon Wireless Amph

7/6/08 Pittsburgh, PA/Post Gazette Pavilion

Tomorrow, Tim McGraw will officially announce his first fragrance - McGraw by Tim McGraw. The woody, spicy scent by Coty has hints of nutmeg, lavender, sandalwood and even includes aged whisky. According to Women's Wear Daily, the fragrance, McGraw, will launch this August in about 20 thousand North American chain drugstores, Wal-Mart and mid-tier department stores. Prices will range from 17 dollars for 0.5 ounces to 30 dollars for 1.7 ounces. A marketing rep for Coty shares, "Tim resonates with the American consumer. He is admired not only for being a great musician, but also for being a great husband [to Faith Hill] and father [of three]. We see this as one of the most significant mass market fragrance launches since [Coty launched] Celine Dion five years ago."

Print advertising begins in the September issues of lifestyle and men's magazines. A TV campaign will also begin that month that features Tim caught in a jam session, with an analogy made between creating a song and creating a fragrance. An Internet campaign is also planned. Additionally, Tim - who already has visited the factories producing the scent - will offer a special CD with fragrance samples inside. He has reportedly been very involved in both creating the scent and designing the bottle. The fragrance's rectangular glass bottle has a black leatherlike neck, with a silver cap with embossed rope representing McGraw's country roots in silver and a replica of a guitar pick on the top of the outer box to symbolize Tim's music. This is expected to be the signature fragrance in the McGraw line. (Dial-Global)

Tim McGraw has just scored the 30th #1 single of his career with "Nine Lives," which he co-wrote and performed with rock group Def Leppard for their Songs From The Sparkle Lounge album. The song lands at the top of the Billboard/R&R Classic Rock chart this week. McGraw also becomes the first country artist to appear on the Billboard/R&R Active Rock Singles chart, where the tune is Top 15 and climbing. This is not the first time McGraw has charted songs in other genres of music. His 2005 hit with Nelly, "Over And Over," remained at #1 for twelve weeks on Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 and made him the first country artist to land on the Billboard Hip Hop/Rap Singles chart. (Dial-Global)

RODNEY ATKINS

Rodney Atkins is almost finished with his next CD, the follow-up to his highly successful If You're Going Through Hell album. No release date has been officially set, but the project could possibly come out this summer.

Having already recorded songs for his stepdaughters, his parents and his now-famous son, Elijah, Atkins continues this pattern with his new music: "There's family things in this other album in places. And one thing I kind of never sang about before that is in there – and I never met her, don't want to necessarily – she knows who I am, I'll just say thank you. But there's a song called 'Living Proof' that mentions my birth mother. You just reach a point in your life, you kind of want to reference that, say thank you and move on. So yeah, there is one more."

Atkins tells AOL Music "Living Proof" is the story of him and his wife, adding, "That one is going to be real special." While Rodney's fans anxiously wait to hear the new tracks, his label has decided to release a fifth single, "Invisibly Shaken," from his current CD. (Dial-Global)

LEANN RIMES

Don't look for any dancers to be part of LeAnn Rimes' show this summer while she's opening for Kenny Chesney! According to LeAnn, the routine she performed at the CMT Music Awards earlier this month was "kind of a one off thing," though it may not be her last. Rimes is proud to report that unlike the last time she added dancing to her performance at an awards show, she didn't have to lip sync through this one and actually had the breath support to sing full on. (Dial-Global)

HEIDI NEWFIELD

Heidi Newfield steps out on her own

BY BEVERLY KEEL STAFF WRITER

Although every performance at the historic Ryman Auditorium is significant for country singer Heidi Newfield, tonight's appearance is particularly special. It's her first Nashville show as a solo artist.

Newfield was the lead singer of trio Trick Pony, known for hits such as "On a Mission" and "On a Night Like This." In late 2006, she announced she was leaving the group to launch a solo career.

She'll release her debut solo album, What Am I Waiting For, this summer on Curb Records.

Newfield has performed a few of her new songs acoustically for radio stations and delivered her first show with a full band in Arizona last weekend. She makes tonight's Nashville solo debut as part of the 10th annual Jammin' to Beat the Blues concert.

"To be doing it at the Ryman is pretty special," Newfield said. "That is a landmark for me. I love playing there. I always get this chill up my spine every time I walk in the door, and I know I always will."

Much of Newfield's new repertoire is intimate and personal — quite a departure from the music of Trick Pony.

"It's not quite as honky-tonking, but it still rocks," she said of her solo sound. "What people can expect is it's a little more dynamic than some of the stuff I've done in the past. It was zero to 80 and we stayed at 80 for most of the show. We would break for a ballad or two here and there. This will have a little more flow and dynamic to it. We'll bring you up and back down."

Joe Guercio, who served as Elvis Presley's musical director, helped design her show.

"It's a real show," she explained. "It's not just one song and then you stop and decide what you are going to play next. One song rolls into another. It's important for me to put together a show where people leave and say, 'OK, I got my money's worth.'"

Newfield's producer, Tony Brown, compares her solo-career launch to that of Wynonna Judd after she left The Judds.

"Everybody's expectations were varied about what music she should do," he said.

Whereas Brown took Judd from an acoustic Judds sound to a tougher, more electric solo sound, he guided Newfield from the honky-tonk arena to a singer/songwriter vein. Newfield helped pen all but two songs on the album; she co-wrote her recently released first single, "Johnny and June," with Stephony Smith and Deanna Bryant.

"People are going to discover how good of a singer she really is," Brown said. "They are going to discover her as a deeper person musically. With the kind of stuff (Trick Pony) were cutting, there was no exploration really of how talented and how cool her voice is. It's very distinctive."

Newfield maintains that she's still very much "a band girl," however.

"I'm very much a champion of being a part of a team," she said. "We all have a role to play, from the guitar tech to me. No matter what you do in the organization or band, your role is just as important."

In addition to working with Brown and Guercio, Newfield is now managed by highly respected artist manager John Grady, a former Sony Music executive.

"All of the amazing people that I've been able to work with to get me to this point has added a little more quiet confidence to my ability to walk out there and feel like I can carry the show by myself," she said. "Obviously, having been with a band for so long, I had a little trepidation. I would look to my right and left, and it was just me.

"If this stinks, it's just me, and if it's great, it's just me. I've got to bring it, but I love the fact that I'm challenging myself. I have all of this experience under my belt and now I'm able to put that to use."

JO DEE MESSINA

COUNTRY GIRLS ROCK CHEVY'S FREEDOM OVER TEXAS

The eyes and ears of Texas will be on Houston this Fourth of July weekend, as the city's official July Fourth event offers unbeatable entertainment, a lively outdoor festival, and the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation. On Friday, July 4, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert and Jo Dee Messina, will ignite the stage at the 2008 Chevy's Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell. The concert will be followed by the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation, presented by Shell Oil Company and produced by the world-renowned fireworks artists form Pyro Spectaculars North by Souza. Both the concert and the fireworks will be televised live statewide from Eleanor Tinsley Park. Check out www.jodeemessina.com for more info!

JOIN JO DEE AND "STRIKE OUT FOR KIDS"

This year’s fourth annual “Lonestar & Friends Strike Out for the Kids” bowling bash will be held on Monday, June 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the Hermitage Lanes in Hermitage, TN just outside of Nashville. Jo Dee Messina will join Lonestar and many other artists raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

NOTHIN’ CAN KEEP MESSINA DOWN

By ROBIN TOEPP

Tribune Correspondent

NaConsider it a gift when an entertainer gives a little something extra during an interview. That’s what it was like when country music singer Jo Dee Messina broke into song during a recent telephone interview from her home in Nashville, Tenn.

Answering a question about vocal exercises, Messina, who performs two shows at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw on Saturday, said the band always gets together before performing to warm up; otherwise, it’s not unusual for her to just sing to herself.

“I sing every day, but I don’t sit in front of a mirror and practice my breathing,” she says. “I just walked in before I called you, from working out, and I was working out with my trainer going, ‘You make me feel like a natural …’ ” — she breaks into Aretha Franklin’s “Natural Woman” — “and I don’t even realize when I am doin’ it.”

Messina was preparing for an appearance at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, as part of a tribute to “soul man” Sam Moore. She’s a great fit for the show, with her rich vocal style that easily handles the grit of soul.

She also brings that grit to country music — her genre of choice. The 5-foot-3-inch Massachusetts-born singer and actress, who has been working the country music scene since she was legal, has gone through a number of highs and lows throughout her professional career, from messy breakups and near bankruptcy to hit singles and platinum-selling albums.

With a new marriage, a new album and a new single, she’s settled but still sassy, and in no way does she back off from blunt talk about her health and her weight.

“How am I gonna walk around in a bikini, sister? I’m gonna hide it under a tarp. People are gonna be like, ‘She’s havin’ a baby.’ I say, ‘No, I just got married, and I happened to marry the most wonderful man in the world,’ ” Messina says. “He’s precious. And I am twice the size I was the day I met him ’cause he’s a fantastic cook.”

Known for a rock-hard, physically fit body and tough work ethic, Messina has relaxed during the last few years, since the success of 2005’s “Delicious Surprise,” which featured “My Give a Damn’s Busted.” Onstage during last year’s CMA Music Festival, Messina was notably larger than fans were used to seeing in such sultry videos as “Burn” and “Bring on the Rain,” a duet with Tim McGraw.

In the pressure cooker of the entertainment business, Messina says she’s ready to get back into shape, but she’s doing it for herself.

“For me, it’s uncomfortable to be over a certain weight,” she says. “I am a size 10, which is not a big size. It is not fat, it is not heavy, but for my lifestyle, I entertain, and it’s uncomfortable, so I just want to be comfortable again.”

She has started a training regimen that she blogs about on her Web site.

She’s also getting back on the road to promote her new single, “I’m Done,” another sassy kiss-off song on her forthcoming album, “Unmistakable.”

“I wanted to capture more of a live sound (with this album), something that’s not as polished, something that’s not like a wall of sound, something where you can actually hear each instrument and it’s more a real sound, to simplify the production process.” Messina says. “So we didn’t add 15,000 guitar parts and 500 background parts. We kept it very basic, and it’s great. I mean, it really seems to cut through with what’s on out there on the radio.”

Simplifying production may sound simple, but this project wasn’t so simple, given that there are five producers, including Messina.

“Boy, it’s confusing, but working with each producer was so great,” she says. “Each of them had their own style, (but) I think everybody has the same ear for me, what they wanted me to do, and I definitely had a direction of what kind of sound I wanted to achieve with this record.

“An album reflects what I am going through during the time of making it, so I’ll gravitate towards whatever song I relate to most — meaning, if I am having a bad day or somebody (angers) me, or whatever, like with ‘Give a Damn’s Busted,’ or if I am in need of hope, it’s ‘Bring on the Rain.’ So this album has the kiss of songs like ‘I’m Done,’ and the let’s-have-fun songs or the inspirational songs.”

LEANN RIMES

LeAnn Rimes won a Dove Award at last night’s ceremony for Traditional Gospel Recorded Song (“Ready For A Miracle” from the Evan Almighty soundtrack).

LEE BRICE

Catch Lee Brice out on tour!

Wed, Apr 23 Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Rapid City, SD opening for Dierks Bentley

Thu, Apr 24 Casper Events Center Casper, WY opening for Dierks Bentley

Fri, Apr 25 Pike's Peak Center Colorado Springs, CO opening for Dierks Bentley

Sat, Apr 26 The E Center Of West Valley Salt Lake City, UT opening for Dierks Bentley

Fri, May 2 Blind Horse Saloon Greenville, SC

Sat, May 3 Retrievers Sports Bar & Grill Statesboro, GA

Sun, May 4 Riverfront Marina Augusta, GA

Fri, May 9 Dusty Armadillo Rootstown, OH

Sat, May 10 WYCD Hoedown Detroit, MI

Sat, May 17 KKBQ Radio Show Houston, TX

Sat, May 24 Mabank High School Mabank, TX

Wed, May 28 Winfield Country Roundup Winfield, KS

Thu, May 29 The Stockyard Wayland, IA

Fri, May 30 Joe's Sports Bar Chicago, IL

Sat, May 31 Neon Armadillo Ft Wayne, IN

Thu, Jun 5 CMA Music Festival Nashville, TN

Sat, Jun 7 LAC 2008 KAT Country 103 Turlock, CA Opening for Blake Shelton!!

Thu, Jun 12 Wolfe Dance Dallas, TX

Fri, Jun 13 Beaumont Club Kansas City, MO

Sat, Jun 14 Wild West Arena North Platte, NE opening for Dierks Bentley

Fri, Jun 20 DC's Country Junction Lowell, IN

Sat, Jun 21 Clarence Homecoming Clarence, MO

Thu, Jun 26 Beale Street - WGKX Concert Series Memphis, TN

Fri, Jun 27 Cowboys Dothan, AL

Fri, Jul 11 Foxtown City Limits Pittsburg, KS

Sun, Jul 13 Hodag Festival Rhinelander, WI W/ Reba, Little Big Town, Jake Owen & Whiskey Falls!!

Sun, Jul 27 Fox Theatre Los Angeles, CA W/ Heide Newfield

Thu, Jul 31 Glass Cactus @ Gaylord Texan Resort Grapevine, TX

Fri, Aug 1 Wormy Dog Saloon Oklahoma City, OK

Wed, Aug 6 Mason County Fair Point Pleasant, WV

Fri, Aug 15 Washington County Fair Wyoming, RI

Sat, Aug 30 Haystock Outdoor Festival Centerville, IA

Sat, Sep 20 Riverside Park New Smyrna Beach, FL

Wed, Oct 15 South Point Casino Las Vegas, NV

Thu, Oct 16 South Point Casino Las Vegas, NV

Sat, Oct 18 Downtown Festival Loris, SC

TIM MCGRAW

TIM MCGRAW SETS DATE FOR “SWAMPSTOCK 2008”

September 13, 2008

Tim McGraw will return home to Rayville, Louisiana on Saturday, September 13, 2008 to host “Swampstock 2008.” The event is a presentation of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation and net proceeds from the activities will benefit the Neighbor’s Keeper Foundation’s local initiatives. More details on this year’s event will be made available at a later date.

“Swampstock” began in 1994 in downtown Rayville, Louisiana as a way for McGraw to give back to his hometown community. In previous years, funds were directed towards Rayville Youth Baseball and the Steve Colvin Memorial Scholarship Fund.

RODNEY ATKINS

Rodney Atkins Celebrates One 'Hell' of a Career

It may have taken nearly a decade for Rodney Atkins' career to ignite, but there's no denying he's hot as a firecracker these days. 'Cleaning This Gun' has become Atkins fourth No. 1 single from his breakthrough album, 'If You're Going Through Hell.' It follows the title track, 'Watching You' and 'These Are My People' to the top of the chart. The last artist to take four singles from the same album to No. 1 was Atkins' Curb Records labelmate, Tim McGraw.

"I don't want to sing songs that aren't worth while," Atkins tells AOL Music's Country Corner. "Time is so rare. I just don't want to waste the listener's time and I think that my songs don't do that. That's what I pray for. I want songs that really touch people's hearts."

Atkins won the Academy of Country Music's 2007 Top New Male Vocalist Award and this year is nominated in four categories: Top Male Vocalist, Album of the Year, Song and Video of the Year (for 'Watching You').

"There have been a lot of folks who have stuck with me," says Atkins, who was signed to Curb nearly 10 years before he broke through with 'If You're Going Through Hell.' "The best thing has been giving credibility to all the folks who believed in me from my family to my label to management."

Atkins has been hard at work on music for his next CD. "I think this album is going to do well," he says. "It's different because you also can't do the same thing over and over and over. Is there another 'Going Through Hell' on this album? No, there's nothing like that."

He's recorded songs for his stepdaughters, his parents and his son, Elijah. Plus this time, there's a special tune for his bride.

"There's a song that I wrote called 'Living Proof' that's [about] me and my wife. It's our story," he says. "That one is going to be real special."

The release date for the new album hasn't been set yet, but will possibly be this summer. In the meantime, Curb has released one of Atkins' personal favorites as the latest single from 'If You're Going Through Hell.'

"I've always loved singing that song," Atkins says of 'Invisibly Shaken,' but says his label didn't want him to put it on his last album. "I turned it in and it got passed on. A&R at the time didn't acknowledge I turned it in, but the reaction we got from the crowds was such that I just forced it on there. We cut it and now it's a single."

Atkins' look has changed drastically from the black cowboy hat he wore on his 2003 album 'Honesty' to the ball cap that he sports on 'If You're Going Through Hell.' He says a friend urged him to be true to himself in his music and his look.

"He said, 'What's wrong with you being you -- just ball cap, jeans and work boots, and finding songs that match that image?'" recalls Atkins, who says he creates music for the "intelligent redneck." "I think the album connected because it connects to me. There's an intelligent redneck in all of us somewhere."

by Deborah Evans-Price

Country star gives Eastern a show - Concert-goers receive two encore performance From The Eastern Progress

When Rodney Atkins took the stage in Alumni Coliseum, the crowd rose to its feet and a roar filled the arena to greet Atkins' first song of the night: These Are My People.

Atkins, the 39-year-old country singer-songwriter and the 2006 Academy of Country Music top new male vocalist, performed at Eastern April 9.

Before the show started, fog billowed across the stage for the light show. Entire families were decked out in cowboy hats and boots while others wore tractor company shirts and hats. Friends embraced and stretched out their arms for cameras to capture the moment. Others danced and laughed as the overhead lights began to fade and the stage lights illuminated the Coliseum.

"It's very crowded and exciting and energetic," said Jessica Stetson, an 18-year-old special education major from Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nineteen hundred tickets were sold by the day of the show and officials said they expected 2,500. Atkins was the first of several concerts this week at Eastern.

"I think it fits in well with our plan to have a major country show, a major rock show and a major rap show all in one week," said Justin Hobbs, concert chair for the Students Activities Council.

Early during the show, Atkins grabbed a spotlight and aimed it at the crowd. The light panned around to reveal hundreds of animated fans standing and cheering. As he scanned the crowd, Atkins showed his appreciation for their support.

"What an honor, look at this," Atkins said.

Atkins had six enthusiastic band members to accompany his high-energy personality. They performed 12 songs, plus an additional two encores after applause summoned them back to the stage.

Between songs, Atkins thanked the audience for its support and also introduced the next song he would perform.

"Country music, that's all we've got for you all tonight. I hope that's okay," Atkins said, tossing guitar picks to fans between songs.

Rodney Atkins, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood To Perform At The 43rd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards

The Academy of Country Music today announced that country music superstars Rodney Atkins, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood will perform as part of the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. The ceremony honoring country music’s top talent and the industry’s hottest emerging talent will be broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18th, 2008 at 8:00 PM LIVE ET/tape delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Last year’s Top New Male Vocalist winner, Rodney Atkins is nominated for six awards including Top Male Vocalist. He is also nominated for Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “Watching You” and Album of the Year for If You’re Going Through Hell. In addition, Atkins received nominations for writing “Watching You” and for producing the accompanying album.

The legendary Dolly Parton will also hit the stage at this year’s show. Throughout her illustrious career, Parton has been nominated for 40 Academy of Country Music Awards and has won 8. She is currently celebrating the release of her latest album, Backwoods Barbie, Parton’s first mainstream country album in 17 years.

Platinum-selling duo and former Top New Vocal Duo winner Sugarland is nominated in four categories including Top Vocal Duo, as well as Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for the #1 single “Stay.” Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush both received nominations for producing the track and video, and Nettles for writing the single. The duo releases a third album in September and will debut a new single in May.

This year Taylor Swift received three nominations, which include both Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist. She also received an Album of the Year nomination for her self-titled album Taylor Swift. Swift is currently on tour in support of that album.

Carrie Underwood is nominated for Top Female Vocalist. Last year, she took home this honor as well as Album of the Year for Some Hearts and Video of the Year for “Before He Cheats.” Underwood has recently announced plans to extend her sold out Carnival Ride tour through June 2008.

The 43rd ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by Dick Clark Productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. R.A. Clark is executive producer, Barry Adelman is producer and Bob Bardo is executive in charge of production.

For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC and the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, please visit www.acmcountry.com. For more information on the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC CHARITABLE FUND, please visit www.acmcf.org.

"If You're Going Through Hell" and "Watching You" Go Gold Digitally Rodney Atkins is springin' forward this April by welcoming not one, but two gold digital downloads. "Watching You" was certified gold on February 10th, and most recently "Going Through Hell" hit the benchmark on April 6th.

Atkins' recently celebrated his fourth consecutive number one off the same album (If You're Going Through Hell) with "Come On In Boy", and the record isn't slowing down. Just recently Rodney's fifth single "Invisibly Shaken" was added to radio and is working its way up the charts.

Rodney is the reigning 2007 ACM Top New Male Vocalist and scored a personal high of six 2008 ACM nominations including Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for If You're Going Through Hell, Song of the Year and Video of the Year for "Watching You." He will be hitting the road this Spring and Summer, joining country legends Brooks and Dunn for a few dates as well as headlining a number of his own. Atkins continues his role as the 2008 National Spokesman for the National Council for Adoption.

HANK WILLIAMS JR.

Announcing the 2008 Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Search for the Rowdiest Frynd Contest!

In celebration of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s current Rowdy Frynds tour, we are looking for the Number 1 Rowdy Frynd!

Show us all the reasons why you are the biggest Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Jr. fan by submitting a 30-45 second video clip demonstrating your devotion to two of America's greatest southern rock legends! Singing, dancing, partying tape your pre-show tailgating skills, or after-show rituals. However you decide to capture your prize-winning adoration on tape is fine with us! The fan with the most creative and convincing video clip will be designated the Rowdy Frynd and will win a Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. Prize Pack.

To enter, visit www.rowdyfrynds.com

HEIDI NEWFIELD

10th Annual Jammin' To Beat The Blues!

On April 27th at 7:30, a concert benefiting the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT) will be held at the Ryman Auditorium, and will feature Emerson Drive with Heidi Newfield and Jonathan Singleton.

In effort to raise funds and awareness to support the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee’s (MHAMT) programs and services, the benefit concert, Jammin’ to Beat the Blues, was developed as MHAMT’s signature annual fundraiser in 1999.

It began as a singer/songwriter showcase at the now defunct 328 Performance Hall. In 2002, Jammin’ found a new home at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

TIM MCGRAW

TIM MCGRAW RELEASES GREATEST HITS - LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE COMBO PACK AVAILABLE ONLY AT WAL-MART

Tim McGraw will release a special limited edition combo pack of both his greatest hits CD’s on April 29. The release will be available only at Wal-Mart with a unique price point of $11.88.

The package will contain both Tim McGraw Reflected: Hits Vol 2, originally released in April 2006, as well as Greatest Hits, released in December 2000. Both albums debuted at #1 on the country albums chart. These original releases contain twenty-one #1 hits and have sold 7.5 million copies.

Since his career launched in 1993, McGraw has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and placed a total of 30 singles at #1.

CLAY WALKER

CLAY WALKER SET TO TEE OFF FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CHARITY EVENT IN PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Nashville, TN – Country Music’s nationally acclaimed, multi-platinum recording artist, Clay Walker is preparing for a hole-in-one at the inaugural “Clay Walker Charity Classic” golf tournament benefiting Band Against MS. The tournament will be held June 30th – July 2nd at the famed Pebble Beach Resorts in Pebble Beach, California.

The invitation only event will benefit Walker’s public charity, Band Against MS (BAMS). Walker, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 1996, founded BAMS in 2003 to create awareness and fund research programs for those living with the debilitating disease. Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that affects the central nervous system, plagues 2.5 million people worldwide. All proceeds and contributions received through the auction being held at the Monday evening GALA event will go to BAMS for MS research and outreach.

Recognized around the globe, Pebble Beach has played host to four U.S. Open Championships, the Annual AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM and is consistently rated as one of the world’s top golf destinations. Its courses include Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay, and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

“This is going to be an incredible few days…Pebble Beach is one of the most beautiful places in the country!” said Walker. “I am thrilled and grateful to be able to raise awareness and funding for a disease that affects so many by combining two of my favorite things, golf and music.

Guests will arrive on June 29th with the first round of the tournament taking place on June 30th at The Links at Spanish Bay. That evening, there will be a dinner and live auction with an exclusive concert by Clay Walker and his band. The second round of golf will take place on July 1st at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The final round in the tournament will be held on July 2nd at Spyglass Hill Golf Course with an awards ceremony and dinner that evening. Guests will depart the resort grounds on July 3rd.

“We are extremely excited about this inaugural event to benefit Band Against MS,” says Senior Vice-President of Pebble Beach Golf Operations, RJ Harper. “I couldn’t think of a better partnership to create a vehicle that promotes awareness of MS.”

Clay Walker made his debut in the country music scene in 1993 with his hit “What’s It To You,” which reached #1 on the Billboard charts. He has sold over eight million records, has had eleven #1 hit singles and has had four platinum and three gold albums. For more information about Clay Walker visit www.claywalker.com.

Band Against MS is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing education material for those living with MS as well as funding research that may one day lead to a cure. For more information visit www.bandagainstms.org.

CLAY WALKER EMBRACES HEALTHY OUTLOOK

March 27, 2008 - Clay Walker has lived for a dozen years with multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease that affects people in varying degrees. Clay's MS has been in remission for 11 years, but it forces him nevertheless to be extremely proactive about every health issue that arises.

"I've got an ankle injury right now that I have to have surgery for," he told Country Weekly. "With MS, you have to have moderate exercise, at least. If you don't use it, you lose it. That's the biggest thing for people with MS, and you've got to stay on top of it. I take a daily injection along with moderate exercise, and that sustains me." Clay has become an active spokesman for the cause. He created a program called Band Against MS, which has raised money for hospitals in several different cities. He recently won a humanitarian award from Country Radio Broadcasters for his efforts, and intends to stay active with the program.

"The only thing we're in control of is our attitude," he said. "You can't control whether you get MS, but you can control your attitude, and that's a conscious decision. I've never had anything but a positive attitude about it. The more I understand it, the more peace I get about it. At the same time, that peace has given me the desire to find a cure."

RODNEY ATKINS

2008 Fan Club Party - "Rod's Garage"

The 2008 Fan Club Party is set for Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008. Tickets go on sale 4/1/08! 2008 Rodney Atkins Fan Club Party - "Rod's Garage"

Venue: Carl Black Chevrolet - 600 Murfreesboro Road, Nashville, TN 37210

Date: Tuesday June 3rd, 2008

Time: 6PM

Ticket Price: $25

For more information log on to www.rodneyatkins.com

The first round of performers for the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards includes Rodney Atkins, Dolly Parton, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. The show will air live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena May 18 at 8pm ET/PT on CBS.

Ashley Gearing

NATALIE GRANT

Confirmed WMG performers for the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards include Natalie Grant with Wynonna, Point Of Grace, Group 1 Crew and Chris Sligh. Presenters include Sandi Patty, Mark Schultz, Aaron Shust and Anita Renfroe. Gospel and Christian music's biggest night of the year will take place on Wednesday, April 23, in Nashville, TN, at the Grand Ole Opry House. The show will be broadcast live on the Gospel Music Channel television network from 8-10 p.m. ET/7-9 p.m. CT and on XM Satellite Radio on XM 32 "The Message."

KIMBERLEY LOCKE

Kimberley Locke will appear on the hit series “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” next Thursday, April 17th. The show airs on Fox at 8/9 Central.

Don't Forget the Lyrics! premiered July 11, 2007 on Fox. Hosted by Wayne Brady, it's a game show in which contestants are started out with lyrics of a song that they have to complete to stay in the game.

Heidi Newfield

ASHLEY GEARING

Ashley Gearing & Robert Turner

Curb Recording artist Ashley Gearing drops off her new single "Out The Window" at WEA.

BELLAMY BROTHERS

RODNEY ATKINS

Rodney Atkins will perform at the National Council For Adoption's 28th Anniversary Awards Celebration April 16th in Alexandria, VA.

NATALIE GRANT

Natalie Grant to Perform at Mercy Ministries

Natalie will be participating in Mercy Ministries 25th Anniversary event on April 18th and 19th in Nashville, TN. Be sure to check out mercyministries.com to learn more about the programs they offer to "provide hope and healing to generations of desperate young women who are seeking freedom from life-controlling problems such as: Drug and Alcohol addiction, Depression, Eating Disorders, Unplanned Pregnancies, Physical and Sexual Abuse and Self Harm."

NATALIE GRANT BRINGS THE ‘RELENTLESS TOUR 2008' TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS SPRING March 1, 2008 Two-Time Gospel Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year—

NATALIE GRANT BRINGS THE ‘RELENTLESS TOUR 2008’ TO AUDIENCES AROUND THE COUNTRY THIS SPRING

NASHVILLE, Tenn.— In support of the February 12 release of her best-selling and critically acclaimed seventh album, Relentless, Curb recording artist and GMA’s reigning Female Vocalist of the Year, Natalie Grant, is set to bring the “Relentless Tour 2008” to audiences across the country this spring. Sponsored by Gospel Music Channel, the Tour will include special guest Inpop recording artist Jimmy Needham, and introduce new Axiom recording artist Ashmont Hill.

Kicking-off March 8 in Woodward, Oklahoma, the “Relentless Tour 2008” will hit Atlanta; Decatur, Illinois; Mobile, Alabama; Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Boca Raton, Florida, among other cities this spring. During the Tour, Grant will perform selections from Relentless, as well as many of her signature songs, including the powerful hit “Held.”

Relentless, Grant’s first studio recording in nearly three years, debuted on Nielsen SoundScan’s Top Christian Albums and Christian Retail charts at #2, as the highest debut and top album by a female artist on both charts. The project’s first single, "In Better Hands," is a multi-format Christian radio hit.

Grant recently earned the Gospel Music Association’s most prestigious Dove Award nomination, Artist of the Year, and has been nominated once again for Female Vocalist of the Year, a distinction she has held since 2006. Grant is among a select few in the genre to have also achieved a formidable foothold at mainstream media and radio. A tireless advocate for victims of human trafficking, she was one of the first Christian artists to raise awareness of this worldwide atrocity. Grant created the Home Foundation in 2005 to support various anti-trafficking efforts around the world.

Houston, Texas-based, singer/songwriter Jimmy Needham first made a name for himself on the independent circuit with his soulful pop sound and passionate evangelical focus. Needham’s Inpop Records debut, Speak, released in 2006 and showcased his down-to-earth lyrics while exposing the rock, pop and gospel-influenced side of his art as well. The album produced a #2 single at Christian Hit Radio with “Lost At Sea,” and its song “Dearly Loved” also broke the Top 10 on CHR. Last fall Needham was featured on tour with NewSong, Echoing Angels and Nate Sallie. His sophomore album, Not Without Love, is due in stores August 19.

Axiom Records group Ashmont Hill is preparing to release their debut self-titled album on May 13. Getting their name from “Ashmont Hill,” an idyllic community near Boston, the group of four (all related by blood or marriage) has made beautiful, spiritual music for years in Jubilee Church, where their father is Bishop. Phil Thompson, sisters April Joy Thompson and Deborah Bullock, along with Deborah’s husband, Will Bullock, heard the call from the Lord to bring their music to a larger community. Ashmont Hill’s album is a true collaborative effort between the band and their producer Sal Oliveri, with vocal arrangements by Calvin Nowell.

LEANN RIMES

LEANN RIMES IS ON THE COVER OF SOUTHERN BEAUTY MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL ISSUE

LeAnn Rimes is on the cover of the March/April 2008 issue of Southern Beauty magazine.

LEANN RIMES FEATURED ON MARCH COVER OF ATLANTA PEACH MAGAZINE

LeAnn Rimes is featured in a six page article in the March issue of Atlanta Peach magazine.

LEANN RIMES WILL PERFORM AT THE 2008 CMT AWARDS

LeAnn Rimes has been slated to perform at the 2008 CMT Awards on Monday, April 14th.

LeAnn has been nominated for three 2008 CMT Music Awards - "Nothin' Better To Do" is up for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year, and "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore" with Bon Jovi is up for Collaborative Video of the Year.

ASHLEY GEARING

Ashley Gearing Stops By GAC Nights

Curb recording artist Ashley Gearing visited with Suzanne Alexander during a recent interview on GAC Nights. During the interview, Ashley spoke about her upcoming single, "Out The Window;" her experience of being the youngest female to ever enter the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart; and co-writing with some of Nashville's most notable writers. Ashley is currently in the studio completing her upcoming album with acclaimed producer Byron Gallimore.

TIM MCGRAW

LEANN RIMES

 

WYNONNA

Wynonna and Naomi Judd will reunite as The Judds in two performances this year. The first at the already announced 2008 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, CA May 3 and the second, announced today, at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival July 12 in Canada. Also scheduled to perform July 12 are Sugarland, Hank Williams, Jr., Sara Evans and Dierks Bentley.

STAR DE AZLAN

TRACY EDMOND

CLAY WALKER

TIM McGRAW

LEANN RIMES

LEE BRICE

RODNEY ATKINS

KIMBERLEY LOCKE