(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the spotlight.)
While George Strait says his Cowboy Rides Away tour has been one of the most fun tours he's done, it's also pretty sad. "It's a little bittersweet knowing that some of these places I'll never go back to and play again," Strait says in a video interview. "And I've been doing 'em for over 30 years." So it sounds like he's trying to fill up his memory bank with all the good times. "I'm taking it all in. I'm soaking it up, man. And the crowd is giving it to me," he adds. It's great to hear him talk about being onstage from his perspective. I also love hearing how much Strait loves recording, and that now that he's starting songwriting, he doesn't want an album to go by that doesn't have at least one song of his on it. As for his new album Love Is Everything, Strait explains why he chose that to be the title. "The world revolves around love, you know? Love is something that if you lose it, it's gonna hurt.
The party for the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is underway as Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift are set to perform during this year's live show. Hosted by Jason Aldean and Kristen Bell, country music's first fan-voted awards show will broadcast from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 5 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. Additional performers, along with presenters will be announced in coming weeks.
Miranda and her mom photo courtesy MirandaLambert.com
And the beans are that Miranda is most definitely not pregnant.
I know, I know, booo.
I guess everyone's getting tired of hearing Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert say they're not having a baby anytime soon because now RadarOnline has moved onto asking Miranda's mom about the baby bump rumors.
"They are totally not expecting!" Miranda's mom, Beverly Lambert, told Radar. "And I'm fairly certain that I would be the first person to know."
I don't know, my husband found out he was going to be a grandfather on Facebook so you never can be sure these days.
Let me get this straight: This is not a country song. I know these days classifying whether something is 'country' or not is subjective, but I'm laying down the authority on this one. I've never been a huge fan of Keith personally save a couple of songs, because I always found them too country pop in an overwhelmingly peppy way (and no, it's not 'country rock' just because he has an electric guitar). However, when it came to listening to this song, and reading a fan's comment, stating that this was 'more country', I pretty much lost faith in the state of country music today.
I don't know what this fan was comparing 'Little Bit of Everything' to, but suffice to say I fail to align this song to anything remotely country. Apart from that token banjo that keeps popping up in everything laundry-list, the R&B beat, tinge of nasally autotune and technological edits that only serve to annoy simply sound like pop music to me. While the melody is sweet, it is bland; at best, this is cheery elevator or store music. Having said that, I did count my blessings when the bridge arrived, and the perfect conditions for a country rap presented themselves. Keith almost hints at it before dropping back into actual singing (remember that stuff?), and I breathed the biggest sigh of relief since Taylor Swift stopped winning country awards. Speaking of which, the explanation for Keith's 'new sound' is clear: his new producer is Nathan Chapman, longtime producer of Swift. Maybe with his renewed popularity 'with the kidz' on American Idol sparked an interest, either from him or his label or both, in reaching that market with creative output. Because I honestly can't imagine anyone older than the age of 21 taking this seriously as a great song, and frankly this is ridiculous coming from a man in his 40s.
"Bittersweet"
George Strait
(CMT Offstage keeps a 24/7 watch on everything that's happening with country music artists behind the scenes and out of the...
. . . for the '2013 CMT Music Awards'
The party for the 2013 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is underway as Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift are set to perform during this year's live show....
Miranda's mom spills the beans
Miranda and her mom photo courtesy MirandaLambert.com
And the beans are that Miranda is most definitely not pregnant.
I know, I know, booo.
I guess everyone's getting tired...
– The Least Country Song This Year - Review
Let me get this straight: This is not a country song. I know these days classifying whether something is 'country' or not is subjective, but I'm laying down the authority on this...
Brad Paisley has pulled some pretty good pranks over the years. He's also been pranked a few times.
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Tim McGraw, Gary Allan, Brad Paisley and More Have New Music on the Way
Tim McGraw
With the holiday season behind us and all those "Best of 2012" lists thankfully over with,...
Cowboy Jack Clement
Cowboy Jack Clement, a beloved Nashville producer and songwriter, will be the subject of a tribute concert in Nashville on Jan. 30. Bobby Bare, Emmylou Harris,Kris Kristofferson and Charley Pride are among the artists...
. . . After You've Seen Lincoln
Film's Popularity Could Spark Renewed Interest in Music Inspired by American History
The Carter Family
Nominations for the 85th annual...
Aaaand it's... Luke Bryan!
It's rare for co-hosts to consist of two males so I'm quite surprised that this is the outcome. I fully expected (and hoped for) Miranda Lambert to join Blake to present the show, but Luke...
So, as everyone's adjusting to the idea of it being 2013, and the coming events of the new year, I thought I'd take you through some of the new artists and new releases of 2013, and what I'm most looking forward to etc...
I Have A Go At Making Some REAL Predictions...
Well, we had my summary of 2012 in country music, and after querying it on Twitter, apparently people would like my take on what's in store for the bright new year. I'm going to...
Billboard: 2012 End Of Year Country Charts Examined
So it's now 2013, and a brand new year for country music, but I bet you're still thinking about 2012 and wondering who really came out on top in 2012. Billboard have compiled a...
You Don't Want To Miss This
You may have heard of Walk Off The Earth before, as they're pretty famous on YouTube for doing inventive and creative and amazing covers of popular songs, including an awe-inspiring version of Gotye's...
Scary ... Intruder arrested at Taylor Swift's Nashville home
Well this certainly isn't going to put Taylor Swift's mind at ease.
Taylor recently told Cosmopolitan UK that she has a stalker problem but that she...
LeAnn Rimes Wonders 'What Have I Done' In Promotional Single – Review
With a few years of public drama, speculation and tears, 'What Have I Done', is a promotional single from LeAnn Rimes from her 2013 album 'Spitfire', that has been...
Taylor Swift releases her 23rd music video -- Taylor Swift releases her 23rd music video -- "I Knew You Were Trouble" (video)
Taylor Swift released the new video for I Knew You Were Trouble today, the 23rd of her career....
Gary Allan releases album artwork and track listing for "Set You Free"
Gary Allan will be releasing his new album "Set You Free" sometime in early 2013 (I can't hardly wait) and now we have the album artwork and tracklisting...
Tim McGraw reveals "Two Lanes of Freedom" album artwork and tracklisting
Tim McGraw just uploaded the official album artwork for his upcoming new album "Two Lanes of Freedom."
"Two Lanes of Freedom" is set to be...
Your YouTube cover of the day: Kellie Pickler's "I Wonder"
Stumbled on this cover of Kellie Pickler's I Wonder and have to say I wasn't expecting this.
Very sweet. Great job Tyler!
BTW, he also does...
Taylor Swift and Keith Urban both receive Golden Globe Award nominations
Taylor Swift and Keith Urban both managed to snag Golden Globe Award nominations.
Both singers received nominations in the Best Original Song -...
Gary Allan releases new music video for Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)
Gary Allan released the new video video for Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain) exclusively to USA Today this morning.
If you've ever dreamed of...
Kacey Musgraves Becomes One To Watch With 'Merry Go Round'
Kacey Musgraves is fairly new on the scene despite her stint on 2007's Nashville Star, where she initially got her break. She's recorded albums independently before and...
Jo Dee Messina releases the best Christmas song of the season
Photo courtesy Fumbling Mom
Everyone's currently releasing holiday songs to help fans get in the Christmas mood, but Jo Dee Messina has just released the best song...
In 2011 Rodeowave Entertainment recording artist Phil Vassar presented his first ever Christmas album, "Noel" which held an impressive list of tradional and not so traditional songs:
1. Doesn't Feel Like Christmas Without...
Casey James says good-bye to the beard ... shaves on stage
Casey James and his band have been growing their beards out during "No Shave November" to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The boys...
Toby Keith Portrayed "Hope on the Rocks" with Excellence
After all the "sneak peeks" and hype build up to Toby Keith's newest video, "Hope on the Rocks" it finally arrived. I will admit that when I heard the title of this song I...
Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman loses brother-in-law to drunk driver
So, heartbreaking.
Last week Little Big Town posted a message on their Facebook announcing that due to a death in the family they had to cancel...
. . . Full Of Attitude But Is It New? – Review
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win Billboard touring awards
Congrats to Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, and Lady A. who were all awarded with Billboard Touring Awards.
The Billboard Touring Awards honor the concert industry's top artists, venues and...