Country News

Carrie Underwood donates $1 million to Red Cross from tour
As Carrie Underwood prepares to wrap her 2012-2013 "Blown Away Tour" in Abbottsford, Canada,
a $1 million dollar donation is being made to the Red Cross for disaster relief.
The charitable contribution to the Red Cross derives from the tour's concert proceeds and was established when it launched in spring 2012.
"I have watched the devastation in my home state of Oklahoma over the past several days with great sadness," Underwood said. "With the help of my fans who attended my concerts over the past year, we can offer the Red Cross a little extra help in comforting those affected by the recent tornados."

Trace Adkins Serving As Grand Marshall In Memorial Day Parade
Trace Adkins is set to serve as the honorary Grand Marshall in the 2013 National Memorial Day Parade Monday in Washington, D.C.
He's also gracing the cover of Country Weekly's new issue.
Trace has lined up a performance slot on NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 12.

Craig Morgan To Co-Host Memorial Day Edition Of GAC Top 20 Country Countdown
Craig Morgan co-hosts a special Memorial Day edition GAC Top 20 Country Countdown with Nan Kelley tonight at 8 ET.
The episode was taped at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, TN and features a tour of the Don F. Pratt Museum, which covers the history of the 101st Airborne Division.
Nan and Craig also get in a little rappelling at the Sabalauski Air Assault School.

Aaron Lewis plans Opry debut, releases new single
Aaron Lewis will make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday May 28 along Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner, Dustin Lynch, Craig Campbell and Sam Palladio from the ABC hit show "Nashville."
Lewis' new single Granddaddy's Gun, from "The Road," ships to country radio next week.
The song focuses on the nostalgic experience of passing down a family heirloom. The song was written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Bobby Pinson.

George Strait, FGL lead charts
George Strait topped the Country Albums chart for the week ending June 1 with "Love Is Everything."
Florida Georgia Line yet again led the Hot Country Songs chart with Cruise.

Rosanne Cash, turns 58

Bob Dylan, turns 72

Country News

George Strait scores another chart topper
George Strait will have the second biggest selling album in the U.S.
Strait's "Love is Everything" is second to Vampire Weekend's "Modern Vampires of the City," which sold 134,000 units in its debut week.
The disc is Strait's 18th top 10 album, tying him with Paul McCartney for fourth place among male artists in chart history.
Frank Sinatra was first with 33. Strait, of course, topped the country charts for the 25th time

Tim McGraw releases live tour tracks
Tim McGraw will be releasing live tracks from his Two Lanes of Freedom Tour 2013 for the first time ever this summer as part of his new program "McGraw Overdrive Series Live."
The first track, Southern Girl, will be available starting this Friday, May 24 exclusively at timmcgraw.com with four other live songs to be released on June 7, June 21, July 12 and July 26.
Fans will be able to purchase tracks individually or all five together.
All of the songs featured will be from McGraw's Big Machine Records debut, "Two Lanes of Freedom."

Kellie Pickler dances to victory
Kellie Pickler became the first-ever country artist to win Dancing With The Stars.
Pickler joined with partner Derek Hough (sister of Juliane Hough, who put out a country disc in 2008 and won DWTS in 2004 and 2005), gave a shout out to Pickler's grandfather before the season 16 champ was hoisted into the air, onto the shoulders of Baltimore Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones.
Pickler and Hough took the title over over Disney star Zendaya and Jones, who took second and third place respectively.

Chris Young Enlists The Fan To Help Him Announce Details On His Fourth Album
Chris Young will release his fourth album this year, and he wants you to help him announce all the details. Between now and Friday, May 31, fans can go to ChrisYoungCountry.com to take part in the announcement. He says, "I feel like this new record really captures my live show for the fans and so I want them to be part of revealing info about this new album."

Shelly West The daughter of Dottie West turns 55
Jewel turns 39

Country News

Blake Shelton planning Oklahoma tornado benefit show
Blake Shelton is working on a benefit concert to help the victims of Monday's tornado in his home state of Oklahoma that has killed 24 people and leveled Moore, Oklahoma.
Shelton is working with NBC to organize a benefit concert. "We'll know more about it in the next 24 hours,"
Shelton told Billboard at the end of Tuesday edition of "The Voice." "I'm hoping it will raise a lot of money. Obviously it will be televised and will happen really quickly."

2013 CMT Music Awards June 5th
The 2013 CMT Music Awards lineup just got a lot hotter with the addition to the performers lineup of Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Florida Georgia Line and Darius Rucker also join the bill, along with previously-announced performers Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift. Presenters will be announced soon.
You can vote online now to determine the winners at CMT.com and through CMT's mobile apps.
The 2013 CMT Music Awards broadcast live Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT and CMT.com.
Jason Aldean and actress Kristen Bell have the hosting duties.

CMA Music Festival
Tickets for the CMA Music Festival's nightly concerts at LP Field in Nashville are completely sold out, but there are plenty of chances to catch free music at the
event. The Bud Light stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will kick off its performances the morning of June 6 and continue through June 9.
New acts Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Chris Stapleton, Kelleigh Bannen, Randy Montana, Drake White and Joanna Smith are set to perform on the Bud Light Stage along with hit-makers Chuck Wicks, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis.
For a full lineup of artists playing the Bud Light Stage, go to CMAFest.com.

Hank Jr. slates tour
Hank Williams Jr. is gearing to launch a summer tour in celebration of his latest album, "Old School, New Rules."
Stops include Detroit, Orlando, Atlantic City and Biloxi, Miss.
"I always have fun playing shows. I love to get out in front of my loyal fans and making my mark on this great country."

Jimmy Kimmel (ABC) Darius Rucker performs.

Country News

Toby Keith supports hometown devastated by tornado
Toby Keith voiced support on Monday for his hometown of Moore, Okla., which was hit by a monster tornado killing at least 50 people, including 20 children.
Keith issued a statement voicing his support for the town. "This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in. I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere.
God be with you all."
Toby grew up in the Oklahoma City suburb and played football there. He graduated from Moore High School.
Moore is also the hometown of Kellie Coffey, who had a hit in 2001 with When You Lie Next to Me.

Jana Kramer maintains hope for new single
Jana Kramer has a lot of hope for her new single.
I Hope It Rains from her self-titled debut album is impacting radio now.
Kramer shot a video for the song just outside of Nashville to be released next month and is currently on tour with Darius Rucker through June joining Blake Shelton on the Ten Times Crazier Tour this July.

Little Big Town premieres video
Little Big Town will world-premiere its video for current single, Your Side of the Bed, this Thursday on ABC's Good Morning America.
The video, shot last month by Becky Fluke (Pistol Annies/The Civil Wars), takes place at the Tennessee Theater and The Oliver Hotel in Knoxville, Tenn. and captures a look into one night, highlighting the tension and honesty in the song's lyrics.
The song, written by Little Big Town and Lori McKenna, follows up previous number one hits Pontoon and Tornado.

Lady Antebellum Not Disappearing Completely Once Hillary Scott Has Her Baby In July
Lady Antebellum will take some time off the road while band member Hillary Scott has her baby in July, but they won't disappear from the public eye completely. The group's new album, Golden, just came out, and Lady A's Charles Kelley tells Billboard, "We'll kind of keep ourselves out and about enough to stay in front and not let people forget about us too much." Though the band has been working like crazy for the past few years, all three members are now married -- and "part of the next chapter" is to have children, Charles says. "You've got to make time for life," he adds. "That's the only way you're not going to drive yourself crazy."

CD Releases - Darius Rucker "True Believers" 
                       Mindy McCready - Playlist: The Very Best of Mindy McCready

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC)  Thompson Square performs.

Letterman (CBS)  John Fogerty performs

Country News

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles announces solo disc
Sugarland lead singer Jennifer Nettles announced that she will release her first solo album this fall.
She has enlisted the help of producer Rick Rubin on the project.
Rubin, previously co-president of Columbia Records and founder of Def Jam Records, has worked with a variety of artists such as Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Sheryl Crow, The Avett Brothers, Adele,  Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Band Perry.

Wynonna To perform On Dancing With The Stars Finale
Wynonna will return to ABC's Dancing with the Stars for tomorrow night's finale. She'll join the other celebrities from this season's cast on the show, including remaining finalist Kellie Pickler. Wy will perform her cover of Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is." PSY will sing his latest hit, "Gentleman," and Pitbull will perform his new single, "Hands Up."

 Kree Harrison finishes second on Idol
American Idol is done for the season, and country came in second.
Kree Harrison placed second in the annual search for talent to Candice Glover of South Carolina.
Harrison, 23, will play the Grand Ole Opry on June 4, she learned on Friday in a call from Idol judge Keith Urban.

Kacey Musgraves offers vid for new single
Kacey Musgraves debuted the official video for her current single, Blowin' Smoke on her brand new web site.
The video was filmed in Los Angeles last month and was shot by director Honey (Kings of Leon, Ke$ha).
The track comes from her acclaimed debut album, "Same Trailer Different Park."

Alabama Tribute Album
The multi-artist Alabama tribute album Alabama & Friends will hit stores later this year, and a slew of big-name country stars are hitting the studio with the band for the project. The Eli Young Band recorded their version of "The Closer You Get" last week in Nashville. Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney tweeted they have been working on a cover of the Alabama classic, "Old Flame." Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Trisha Yearwood and Toby Keith are also contributing their takes on Alabama hits to the project.

Last night on "All-Star Celebrity Apprentice," Trace Adkins won.