Grammy Quick Hits!

Last night's Grammys alternated between paying tribute to WHITNEY HOUSTON and celebrating ADELE, who had a HUGE year in 2011, before undergoing vocal cord surgery last November. Adele took home six awards. However, Country Music had it's time in the spotlight as well. From an outstanding tribute to Country Music Legend Glen Campbell. Paying musical tribute were The Band Perry, Blake Shelton and the man himself, Glen Campbell. Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson performing their monster hit Don't You Wanna Stay even though Jasons mic had some difficulty toward the end of the song. I would be remiss if I didn't mention NY Giants Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz on hand to present and give the audience a little bit of Salsa! Way to go! Here were last night's Country winners! Congratualtions to all!

Best Country Song: "Mean", Taylor Swift
Best Country Album: "Own the Night", Lady Antebellum
Best Country Solo Performance: "Mean", Taylor Swift
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group: "Barton Hollow", The Civil Wars

Blake Shelton - Gold & Platinum!

Blake Shelton has racked up some heavy metal for his latest projects. Both his recent albums, Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton and Red River Blue, have been certified gold. His single, "God Gave Me You," has also gone platinum. His record label staff surprised him with plaques to commemorate these milestones at his concert in Georgia on Friday. Blake's Well Lit & Amplified tour continues February 9 in Erie, PA.

Blake returns to TV with the season premiere of NBC's The Voice this Sunday following the Super Bowl. He's also expected to sing "America the Beautiful" with wife Miranda Lambert prior to kickoff.

ACM Awards Nominations Announced This Morning!

The nominees for the 47th Annual ACM Awards will be announced this morning. ACM Awards co-host Reba will take part in the announcement along with a few other surprise guests at 9:30 a.m. ET at facebook.com/AcademyofCountryMusic and Twitter.com/ACMAwards.

Real-life country fans will also announce the nominees for the ACM's top prize, Entertainer of the Year. The Academy of Country Music will launch its newly-designed website at ACMCountry.com today as well. Videos of artists reacting to their nominations will be posted on the site throughout the day. Blake Shelton and Reba will co-host the 47th Annual ACM Awards, live from Las Vegas on CBS Sunday, April 1. The show is staying put on CBS for the long run. The ACM announced a deal this week that will keep its awards shows on the network through 2021. That agreement includes the ACM's annual two-hour special broadcasts as well. It will tape on April 2 and air at a later date.

Keith Urban Celebrates #1 Hit and Renewed Friendship with Richard Marx.

Keith Urban celebrated his #1 hit "Long Hot Summer" with his co-writer, pop star Richard Marx, Wednesday in Nashville, but it wasn't your typical music industry event. After accepting their trophies from different organizations, Keith and Richard invited two young artists they found on YouTube to perform the song with them. Teenage guitarist Leslie Strong from Kentucky and singer Patrick Woolam of Kansas City had uploaded videos of themselves performing "Long Hot Summer" online, and Keith contacted them and brought them to Nashville for the event.
The inspiration didn't stop there. It turns out Keith and Richard had some kind of issue between them after writing Keith's hits "Better Life" and "Everybody" in the past few years. They wouldn't go into detail, but Keith said Richard really taught him a lot about friendship through this experience. "I wanted to really make it up to Richard and show him that our friendship really means something to me," Keith explains. That's when they arranged to get together again and write a song. Keith says of "Long Hot Summer," "It wasn't born of a quota to write a song. It was born of a want for us to reconnect. The song was just a byproduct of that desire."
For those of you wondering, Keith's voice sounded great Wednesday following his vocal cord surgery last month. Keith's first official performance after his surgery is coming up February 3 at the Grand Ole Opry.

The Volkswagen Darth Vader Ad Was Named Commercial of the Year.

Remember that Super Bowl commercial where the little kid dressed as Darth Vader thinks he can start the family Volkswagen with The Force. . . when really it's just his dad using the remote ignition? Well, "Adweek" just released their annual list of the ten best commercials that aired around the world and the Volkswagen Darth Vader commercial was number one! I laugh every time I see it.

Here it is! Enjoy!

Country Music is Hot!!! All Three Major Networks Are Battling For Rights to Air the "CMA Music Awards"!

Next time someone gives you a hard time about your love of country music, tell them to suck on this. All three major TV networks are negotiating their little Brooks Brothers suits off to win the rights to air the "CMA Music Awards"! The reasons are, as always, all about the numbers. The CMAs average around 17-million viewers. That's similar to the Golden Globes . . . but HIGHER than the "American Music Awards".
The CMAs also do well with the younger viewers, and that's the real prize. According to NewYorkMagazine.com, ABC, which has aired the show for the past five years, was all set to renew their commitment, but then CBS, who had the show for 34 years before that, decided they wanted it back. THEN both of them were blindsided when NBC came out of nowhere with an open checkbook. CMA officials are supposedly weighing all the offers and will sign a long-term deal, with someone, later this month. This year's CMAs are scheduled to air November 9th on ABC. I can't imagine the results of this deal will change that. BUT...I'll keep an eye on this one anyway! Lets see what goes down...

Taylor Swift and Shania Twain Taped a "Thelma & Louise" Parody for Tonight's "CMT Music Awards"

Tonight's "CMT Music Awards" will open with a "Thelma & Louise" video parody starring SHANIA TWAIN and TAYLOR SWIFT. I'm guessing Taylor is playing the GEENA DAVIS part, while Shania will try to fill out the SUSAN SARANDON role. There's also a special cameo from "Glee" stud CHORD OVERSTREET *(most likely revisiting BRAD PITT'S breakout role.) Side note: Chord is the son of country legend TOMMY OVERSTREET. But you already knew that. :) The video was shot Monday in Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, which is near Nashville.

Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum Are Up for Seven Billboard Music Awards

The "2011 Billboard Music Awards" nominees have been announced. TAYLOR SWIFT and LADY ANTEBELLUM are both up for SEVEN awards. The other country nominees are: Keith Urban, Sugarland, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, and The Band Perry. Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum will also be performing. The show airs May 22nd on ABC.

Music Video Of The Day - Miranda Lambert "The House That Built Me"

Miranda Lambert CLEANED UP at the ACM's last night with this song! As well as winning the title of Female Vocalist Of The Year! Congrats Miranda!

"Twilight" Stud Robert Pattinson Will Be a Presenter at the ACMs!

This may keep your teenage daughter from rolling her eyes when you ask her to watch the ACMs with you. ROBERT PATTINSON, who plays the tortured but dreamy vampire Edward in the "Twilight" movies, will be one of the presenters. Robert and the often effervescent REESE WITHERSPOON will be presenting an award together and will surely sneak in a plug of their new movie, "Water for Elephants", which opens April 22nd.

(--The ACMs air April 3rd.)

Craig Morgan Was Formally Honored for Pulling Those Two Young Boys from a Burning House!

One of my favorite stories of the year happened last month when CRAIG MORGAN risked his life to rescue a couple of boys who were trapped inside a burning house. Craig didn't make a big deal out of it, because, as he said, "That's what you do." But it IS a big deal . . . so he was rightly honored for his efforts last Saturday night. Four members of the Tennessee City Volunteer Fire Department joined Craig backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. He was given an honorary lifetime membership to the Tennessee City Fire Department. That gives him full rights and privileges as a member, including his own helmet and department identification number, #565. Again, Craig tried to push the spotlight away from himself. He said, quote, "I'm humbled by this kind recognition from the Tennessee City Volunteer Fire Department and the National Volunteer Fire Council. They are the real hometown heroes."

Reba McEntire selected for Country Music Hall of Fame!

Reba McEntire heads the 2011 list of inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The versatile singer-actress-all-around-likable-lady will be inducted into modern artist category

Look At The Full List Of Inductees Here!