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.

Fishing Report

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3598.htm

Fishing Report

In summer 2013, about 5,000 catfish will earn release from federal prison in Terre Haute.

That’s right, catfish.

In a partnership between the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates at Terre Haute’s Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) will raise channel catfish for DNR’s new urban fishing program and walleyes for selected northern Indiana lakes.

The cooperative project serves two purposes—increasing fishing opportunities for Indiana anglers and providing education and long-term training for inmates.

Under the program, the fish will be hatched at DNR facilities and then moved to the prison, where they will be grown to stocking size and then released into Indiana waters.

A ceremony to dedicate the partnership will be Thursday, Nov. 15, at 9:30 a.m. EST at the FCC. DNR and prison officials will be on hand for a ribbon cutting and to transfer the 5,000 catfish to the prison. Twelve lakes in Indiana’s urban areas will be stocked with these fish in summer 2013.

In addition to fish, DNR will provide technical assistance and all fish feed. The Bureau of Prisons will provide all labor and infrastructure. The Terre Haute prison dedicated an indoor fish-growing and aquaponics facility in fall 2011 as part of a larger initiative to teach inmates farm science skills.

The first walleye stocking from the prison program will take place in fall 2013.

The DNR and BOP have drafted a two-year implementation plan, with expectations that the partnership will be long-term.

The release of the 5,000 catfish will play a key role in supporting one of DNR’s newest initiatives, the urban fishing program, known as Go FishIN in the City. The goal of the program is to make fishing more available to residents in Indiana cities