Kenny Chesney & Rascal Flatts are among the stars hitting the road in 2011.
After taking a break from a lengthy tour in 2010, organizers expect this to be Kenny Chesney's biggest outing in five years. The 2011 Corona Presents Kenny Chesney’s "Goin’ Coastal" tour is set for about 60 dates, including at least ten stadium shows. Billy Currington and Uncle Kracker will be on board for the duration, and Zac Brown Band will co-headline the stadiums.
The tour starts on March 17th in West Palm Beach, FL, and has stops booked through the sold-out August 27th show at Gillette Stadium outside Boston. More dates will be announced. Chesney has sold about 8 million tickets since 2000.
Rascal Flatts will launch the second leg of its "Nothing Like This" Tour this Friday, January 14th, in Sioux Falls, SD at the Sioux Falls Arena. Opening acts are Luke Bryan and Chris Young. The tour will wrap in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on March 12.
Warner Bros. Records has set a Feb. 1st release date for the debut album from the JaneDear girls.
The self-titled project includes 11 songs all written by Susie Brown and Danelle Leverett, the duo that makes up JaneDear. They play at least seven instruments between the two of them, including accordion, guitar, bass, fiddle, ganjo, harp and mandolin.
The lead single from the album is Wildflower, and is already a Top 20 hit.
At the end of January, JaneDear will head out on their first major tour, with Jason Aldean on his My Kinda Party tour, which opens Jan. 21 in Little Rock, AR.
Here's the track listing for JaneDear's debut album:
1. Wildflower
2. Shotgun Girl
3. Merry Go Round
4. Sugar
5. Saturdays in September
6. Sing Along
7. Lucky You
8. Pretender
9. Never Gonna Let You Go
10. Free Ride
11. Everyday’s A Holiday
The Roys are launching the release of their new album, Lonesome Whistle, on March 22nd, on Rural Rhythm Records. The CD was produced by the brother/sister duo, Lee & Elaine, as well as Andy Leftwich.
The lead single, Coal Minin’ Man, was written by Lee Roy and his friend Matt Rogers. It is available for digital purchase.
Steve Martin will release his second full length bluegrass album, Rare Bird Alert on March 15th. On this new album, Steve will be joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers, who toured extensively with him over the last year.
The new album includes 13 new tracks written by Steve. Sir Paul McCartney and The Dixie Chicks are included as guest vocalists on the project. This is the follow-up to his Grammy Award winning album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo.
Shania Twain married Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day. Forty friends and family members gathered for the intimate sunset ceremony in Rincon, Puerto Rico.
Twain was escorted down the aisle by her nine-year-old son, Eja.
Nashville, TN – In a rare occasion of combined efforts, Nashville’s music community is gathering is support of “I AM STRONG,” a song drawing awareness to the childhood cancer epidemic.
Two versions of “I AM STRONG” have been recorded. Version 1 includes award-winning, Grammy-nominated group, The Grascals, with special guest Dolly Parton. Version 2 includes The Grascals, Dolly Parton, Randy Owen, Joe Nichols, Darryl Worley, Terri Clark, Charlie Daniels, Tom T. Hall, The Oak Ridge Boys and Steven Seagal.
A music video was directed by cancer survivor David Corlew of d. corlew films and is already gaining much notoriety.
About “I AM STRONG” and its origin:
"I AM STRONG," was written by Grascals’ band member Jamie Johnson and his wife Susanne Mumpower-Johnson along with Jenee Fleenor after The Grascals visited the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® in Memphis and were inspired by the stories and power of the children being treated there. "I Am Strong" is powerful in its message and artistic vision and brings together vocals from all of the artists who also appear separately with The Grascals on other tracks on this CD.
In honor of the children and this song, Cracker Barrel is donating a percentage of the proceeds from this CD to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The album, The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin, has 13 country music songs on it that you have probably heard before, but most likely not like this. The Grascals bring their own bluegrass style to the tunes and bring the different tracks to life with eight of their friends, including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels and Dolly Parton. The Grascals & Friends - Country Classics With A Bluegrass Spin will be available on January 10th, 2011, exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations.
