Articles tagged with country
Wed, May 23, 2012
"American Idol" Finale to Include Rock, R&B and Country Legends, Former Contestants, Pop Stars & Tributes
American Idol's big finale Wednesday night will feature the usual mix of legendary artists and current pop stars, as well as several tributes ...
Wed, May 23, 2012
Country Music Hall of Fame to Host Autograph Sessions During CMA Music Festival
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host several autograph sessions during the CMA Music Festival next month. Josh Thompson is set ...
Thu, May 17, 2012
Taylor Swift Donates $4 Million for Country Music Hall of Fame's New Education Center
Taylor Swift has pledged $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Working on a Building campaign. The money will ...
Wed, May 16, 2012
Taylor Swift Is the Top Country Artist on Forbes Most Powerful List
You can think of Taylor Swift as the country music J-Lo. While Jennifer Lopez sits at number one on Forbes ’ list of The Worlds ...
Wed, May 16, 2012
VIDEO: Country station holds ribbon-cutting for new studios in Battle Creek
BATTLE CREEK (WKZO) -- Although they've been moved in for almost a year, WIN Country 98.5 FM held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to ...
Wed, May 16, 2012
ABC Bets on Country with Reba's Sitcom "Malibu Country" and New Drama "Nashville"
ABC is betting on country music big time in its fall lineup. Reba 's new sitcom Malibu Country is set to air on Friday ...
Mon, May 14, 2012
Josh Turner Is a Living Country Music Encyclopedia
Josh Turner is used to hearing his own songs on country radio, but he also listens closely to everyone else's songs on the ...
Mon, May 14, 2012
Reba's Sitcom "Malibu Country" Gets Picked Up for a Season on ABC
Reba 's new sitcom, Malibu Country , has been ordered for a season this fall on ABC. The show will feature Reba playing a mother ...
Fri, May 11, 2012
David Nail Kicking Off Country Music Hall of Fame's Hot Nights at the Hall Concerts
David Nail will kick off the Country Music Hall of Fame's Hot Nights at the Hall concert series in Nashville on June 5 ...
Fri, May 11, 2012
Country Stars Honor Their Moms and Their Baby Mamas This Mother's Day
Whether they're honoring their actual moms or their wives raising their kids, country artists are taking time to recognize Mother's Day this ...
Tue, May 08, 2012
Country Singer Jake Owen Is a Married Man
By Lindsey DiMattina, Hollywood.com Staff
Sorry, girls: Jake Owen ""can't love you"" now. The 30-year-old country singer and his model fiancée ...
Mon, May 07, 2012
Country Singer Jake Owen Is a Married Man
By Lindsey DiMattina, Hollywood.com Staff
Sorry, girls: Jake Owen ""can't love you"" now. The 30-year-old country singer and his model fiancée ...
Mon, May 07, 2012
"American Idol" Castoff Skylar Laine Plans to Make "Real Country Music" in Nashville
Skylar Laine got the boot on American Idol Thursday, but she's already certain of her next career move. After she wraps up her ...
Thu, May 03, 2012
'The Voice' Sparks Country Feud Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert Respond
By Margaret Hartmann, Hollywood.com Staff
A feud broke out today regarding The Voice, and for once it had little to do with the ...
Wed, May 02, 2012
'The Voice' Sparks Country Feud Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert Respond
By Margaret Hartmann, Hollywood.com Staff
A feud broke out today regarding The Voice, and for once it had little to do with the ...
Wed, May 02, 2012
David Nail Gets Twitter Love from Country Radio with "The Sound of a Million Dreams"
David Nail recently scored his first #1 hit with "Let It Rain," and now he's climbing the charts again with the new single ...
Wed, May 02, 2012
Rodney Atkins Selected as NRA Country Artist of the Month
Rodney Atkins has been selected as the NRA Country Artist of the Month for May. He's teamed up with the initiative to celebrate ...
Wed, May 02, 2012
China's Chen appeals to U.S. congress, Clinton treads carefully
By Chris Buckley and Paul Eckert
BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng made a dramatic plea for U.S. protection in a ...
Mon, April 30, 2012
Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton Sing "Home" at Stagecoach Country Music Festival
Miranda Lambert welcomed her husband Blake Shelton onstage Saturday night at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, CA. According to the Contra Costa ...
Thu, April 26, 2012
Ailing country star George Jones cancels more shows
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music veteran George Jones has again canceled upcoming tour dates after doctors ordered more recovery time from his recent bout ...
Thu, April 26, 2012
Lily Tomlin Talks Playing Reba's Mom in "Malibu Country"
Reba recently filmed the pilot for her new ABC sitcom Malibu Country with Lily Tomlin playing her mother, Lillie Mae. Tomlin actually named her ...
Wed, April 25, 2012
Jennie Garth's country life helping heal heartache
The couple announced it was divorcing in March (12) after 11 years of marriage.
The break-up has hit Garth hard, and she admits she ...
Tue, April 24, 2012
Trace Adkins Helping Maxwell House Revitalize Community Centers Across the Country
Trace Adkins has signed on as the spokesperson for Maxwell House's Drops of Good campaign to help revitalize local community centers. The program ...
Tue, April 24, 2012
Jennie Garth's country life helping heal heartache
The couple announced it was divorcing in March (12) after 11 years of marriage.
The break-up has hit Garth hard, and she admits she ...
Mon, April 23, 2012
Kelly Clarkson Says Releasing Country Version of "Mr. Know It All" Feels Natural
Kelly Clarkson 's new country version of "Mr. Know It All" is gaining steam at country radio, but the pop star is no stranger ...
Mon, April 23, 2012
Mulligan and Mumford marry in country ceremony
The An Education actress exchanged vows with the Mumford & Sons star in a converted barn in Somerset, England and the groom's father John ...
Fri, April 20, 2012
Carrie Underwood Set to Perform as Country Acts Vie for Top Prizes at Billboard Music Awards
Carrie Underwood is the first country artist set to perform at next month's Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
She joins pop acts ...
Fri, April 20, 2012
Iraqi al Qaeda claims country-wide bombing attacks
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq on Friday claimed responsibility for more than 20 bombings that hit cities and towns across the ...
Tue, April 17, 2012
Trio of Country Legends to Kick Off Nightly Concerts at CMA Music Festival
This year, CMA Music Festival honors a trio of country legends, by having them kick off the nightly concerts at Nashville's LP Field ...
Tue, April 17, 2012
Rockers & Hollywood Stars Turn Out for a Taste of Dierks Bentley's Country & Cold Cans
Dierks Bentley got a star-studded welcome to Tinseltown as he kicked off the spring run of his Country & Cold Cans tour Friday in Los ...
Mon, April 16, 2012
Fast-food salt content varies by country: study
By Amy Norton
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Fast food may often be high in salt, but the exact levels seem to vary based on ...
Wed, April 11, 2012
Rascal Flatts Scores Seventh #1 Country Album with "Changed"
Rascal Flatts has scored their seventh #1 hit on Billboard 's Country Albums chart with Changed. The new project sold 130,000 copies in ...
Tue, April 10, 2012
Keith Urban Salutes Country's Biggest Duos and Groups at Tuesday's All for the Hall Concert
Keit h Urban 's annual All for the Hall concert takes place Tuesday night in Nashville and benefits the Country Music Hall of Fame ...
Sat, April 07, 2012
Brad Paisley Reveals What He Looks for in a Country Song
Brad Paisley is a fan of many genres of music, but he always comes back to country. So, what does love Brad look for ...
Fri, April 06, 2012
Justin Moore Challenges Ashton Kutcher to Prove He Loves Country Music
Justin Moore is one of the country stars who wasn't quite sure how to take Ashton Kutcher 's appearance on the ACM Awards ...
Wed, April 04, 2012
Lionel Richie Debuts at #1 on Country Albums Chart with "Tuskegee"
Lionel Richie 's album of country duets, Tuskegee , bows at #1 on Billboard 's Country Albums chart this week, moving 199,000 copies. That ...
Tue, April 03, 2012
The Best of the Academy of Country Music Awards
It may seem a little crazy that country music has two awards shows (the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music ...
Tue, April 03, 2012
John Fogerty Re-Records His Biggest Hits with Country’s Biggest Stars
Keith Urban , Brad Paisley , Miranda Lambert and Alan Jackson will all team up with John Fogerty to remake his biggest hits on the upcoming ...
Tue, April 03, 2012
Rascal Flatts Steers Back to Their Country Roots on "Changed"
Rascal Flatts ' new album, Changed , marks a return to the country sound that defined them when they started out playing honky tonks in Nashville ...
Mon, April 02, 2012
The Best of the Academy of Country Music Awards
It may seem a little crazy that country music has two awards shows (the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music ...
Mon, April 02, 2012
Craig Morgan's Team Wins 2nd Annual NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot
Craig Morgan 's team took the top prize at the 2nd Annual NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot Saturday in Las Vegas. Blake Shelton hosted ...
Sun, April 01, 2012
Lambert, Shelton big winners at country awards
By Vernell Hackett
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - It was a night for married couples at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday as husband ...
Sun, April 01, 2012
The Best of the Academy of Country Music Awards
It may seem a little crazy that country music has two awards shows (the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music ...
Fri, March 30, 2012
Kenny Rogers Selected as Country Music Hall of Fame's 2012 Artist in Residence
Kenny Rogers is the 2012 Artist in Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. He's set to play ...
Thu, March 29, 2012
Kim Zolciak Releases 'Love Me First' Country Single
2012 is turning out to be a busy year for Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak. Not only does she have a new ...
Wed, March 28, 2012
Country Music Hall of Fame Member and Bluegrass Pioneer Earl Scruggs Dies
Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs , best known as one-half of the seminal bluegrass duo Flatt & Scruggs died Wednesday morning in Nashville ...
Wed, March 28, 2012
"People Country" Names Blake Shelton Country's Hottest Guy
We're sure Miranda Lambert would agree with People Country 's choice for Country's Hottest Guy. It's her husband, Blake Shelton .
Miranda ...
Tue, March 27, 2012
Lionel Richie goes country on new album 'Tuskegee'
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - If he hadn't known better, Lionel Richie jokes that he might have felt insulted when initially sitting ...
Tue, March 27, 2012
Justin Moore Reveals the Hazards of Tweeting as a Country Star
Justi n Moore isn't afraid to speak his mind on Twitter, just like his pal Blake Shelton . That openness with fans is often ...
Mon, March 26, 2012
Lionel Richie Teams Up with Country's A-List for New Duets Album, "Tuskegee"
Lionel Richie 's new duets album, Tuskegee , finds him recording new versions of his biggest hits with some of country music's biggest stars ...
Sat, March 24, 2012
Rallies held around country for Trayvon Martin
By Mary Wisniewski
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Rallies are being held in cities across the country this weekend to protest the failure of police to arrest ...
Thu, March 22, 2012
Country Takes Over CBS's "The Talk" Leading Up to ACM Awards
CBS's The Talk is going country in the days leading up to the 47th Annual ACM Awards next week. Top Female Vocalist nominee ...
Thu, March 22, 2012
Luke Bryan's "tailgates & tanlines" Hits #1 Again on Country Album Chart
Luke Bryan 's third album, tailgates & tanlines , has hit #1 again on Billboard 's Country Albums chart. That's pretty impressive since it came ...
Wed, March 21, 2012
Kelly Clarkson Releasing Country Version of Her Pop Hit "Mr. Know It All"
Kelly Clarkson has already scored a pop hit with her song "Mr. Know It All," and now she's bringing it to the country ...
Fri, March 16, 2012
Kix Brooks Returns to the Country Charts with Solo Single, "New to This Town"
Kix Brooks returns to the country charts as a solo artist with his new single, "New to This Town." He's recorded more than ...
Tue, March 13, 2012
Hunter Hayes Turns "Bored" Childhood into a Growing Country Career
Newcomer Hunter Hayes shared the stage with country legends like Hank Williams, Jr. and Charlie Daniels long before he scored a country hit with ...
Fri, March 09, 2012
Blake Shelton to Host Second Annual NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot
The second annual NRA Country/ACM Celebrity Shoot is set for Saturday, March 31 with host Blake Shelton . The event takes place in Las ...
Thu, March 08, 2012
Dierks Bentley Takes His Brand of Country Music Down Under
Dierks Bentley is taking his brand of country music Down Under this week. His Australian tour is now underway, and Dierks tells ABC News ...
Tue, March 06, 2012
Garth Brooks Reacts to His Country Music Hall of Fame Induction
Garth Brooks is one of the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. His induction was announced Tuesday morning in Nashville at ...
Tue, March 06, 2012
Garth Brooks headed to Country Music Hall of Fame
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - The Country Music Association on Tuesday named three stars for induction into its Hall of Fame including superstar Garth ...
Tue, March 06, 2012
Garth Brooks to Be Inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame
Garth Brooks ' record-setting achievements though the years are well-documented, but he's just about to add another one to his list: he's being ...
Mon, March 05, 2012
Stella McCartney weds country girl to urban chic
By Alexandria Sage
PARIS (Reuters) - Stella McCartney sent models down the runway in sporty but sophisticated school girl outfits on Monday, as cutesy collars ...
Sun, March 04, 2012
Panettiere set for country TV series
The actress, who played a cheerleader in sci-fi show Heroes, will swap her pom-poms for a microphone for her lead role in the upcoming ...
Thu, March 01, 2012
Country's Craig Morgan finds balance in new album
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - When Craig Morgan found out that actress Angie Harmon of "Rizzoli & Isles" was a fan of his music ...
Tue, February 28, 2012
Eric Church Explains How Getting Fired Led Him to Country Stardom
Eric Church is one of country's hottest acts right now, but there was a time he wasn't a darling of the Nashville ...
Mon, February 27, 2012
Josh Turner and Wife Jennifer Raising Three Boys Out in the Country
Josh Turner lives in the country outside of Nashville with his wife Jennifer and their three sons. The rural area reminds Josh a little ...
Fri, February 24, 2012
Lily Tomlin to Play Reba's Mother in Sitcom Pilot "Malibu Country"
Lily Tomlin has signed on to play Reba 's mother in the ABC comedy pilot Malibu Country . According to The Hollywood Reporter , Reba will ...
Thu, February 23, 2012
Alan Jackson Plays Hit After Hit for Crowd at Country Radio Seminar
Alan Jackson performed at the annual Country Radio Seminar Thursday giving the convention goers a set filled with his biggest hits and his new ...
Thu, February 23, 2012
Hank Jr. Plans Star-Studded Taking Back the Country Tour
Bocephus will be Taking Back the Country with his upcoming tour. Chris Young , Josh Thompson , Jamey Johnson , 38 Special and George Thorogood will each ...
Sun, February 19, 2012
Lionel Richie Promoting Country Duets Album "Tuskegee" with HSN Performance
Lionel Richie is heading to HSN to promote his new album, Tuskegee . On March 16, he'll become the first artist to participate on ...
Thu, February 16, 2012
Country Stars Make VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music List
VH1 has released its list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music in the past 20 years, and a few country divas made the ...
Wed, February 15, 2012
Palisades One Of The Worst In The Country
COVERT, MI (WKZO) -- We told you it might be coming. The Palisades Nuclear plant has now been downgraded to a #3 safety rating, and ...
Sun, February 12, 2012
China paper says country does not want to "buy up" Europe
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has no intention of "buying up" or "controlling" a debt-ridden Europe that it still has confidence in, and any help Beijing ...
Sun, February 12, 2012
Country Stars React to Whitney Houston's Death
Whitney Houston was a true music icon, and her influence reached into country music. Most notably, Houston's signature song, "I Will Always Love ...
Fri, February 10, 2012
Gary Allan Wants This Year's Country Throwdown Tour to Be the Best Yet
More dates have been announced for this year's Country Throwdown tour launching May 18 in Gulfport, MS. Gary Allan is on the bill ...
Fri, February 10, 2012
Country Songs Featured on New Obama Reelection Campaign Playlist
President Barack Obama 's reelection campaign has announced a new official playlist via Twitter , and a few country stars made the cut. Dierks Bentley ...
Fri, February 10, 2012
Country Stars Gearing Up for Sunday Night's Grammy Awards
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards will be handed out Sunday night, and several country stars will be front and center for the broadcast on ...
Wed, February 08, 2012
Dierks Bentley Reveals His Favorite Songs by Other Artists on the Country Charts
Dierks Bentley released his new album, Home , this week featuring the hit title cut and the #1 song "Am I the Only One." Even ...
Tue, February 07, 2012
Trace Adkins to Headline NRA Country Jam 2 Concert April 13 in St. Louis
Trace Adkins has signed on to headline the NRA Country Jam 2 coming up April 13 in St. Louis. The concert will coincide with ...
Tue, February 07, 2012
Dierks Bentley new album brings country fans "Home"
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - If the single "Home" is the cornerstone of Dierks Bentley's latest album of the same name, then ...
Mon, February 06, 2012
Country singer Travis charged with being drunk in public
By Jim Forsyth
SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Grammy award-winning country singer Randy Travis was arrested and charged with public drunkenness on Monday in Sanger, Texas ...
Sun, February 05, 2012
Iran threatens to hit any country used to attack its soil
By Parisa Hafezi
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will target any country used as a launchpad for attacks against its soil, the deputy Revolutionary Guards commander ...
Sun, February 05, 2012
Wen says China has stake in helping Europe
BEIJING (Reuters) - China has a stake in helping euro zone countries get through their debt crisis, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in comments published ...
Sat, February 04, 2012
Rodney Atkins and Gloriana to Perform Country Music Marathon Post-Race Concert in Nashville
Rodney Atkins and Gloriana have signed on for the post-race concert following the 12th Annual St. Jude Country Music Marathon & 1/2 Marathon in ...
Fri, February 03, 2012
Country Stars Share Their Super Bowl Plans and Predictions
Upwards of a billion people will tune in to the Super Bowl this Sunday, and that number includes some of country's hottest starts ...
Thu, February 02, 2012
Gary Allan and Justin Moore Heading Out on Country Throwdown Tour Starting in May
The Country Throwdown tour returns this year with Gary Allan and Justin Moore on the bill. Sunny Sweeney, Eric Paslay and Josh Thompson will ...
Thu, February 02, 2012
Reba's New Sitcom "Malibu Country" Gets Pilot Order from ABC
ABC has officially ordered the pilot episode of Reba 's new sitcom Malibu Country. According to Deadline.com , Reba's show is one of ...
Thu, February 02, 2012
Tim McGraw and Kellie Pickler Debut Big on "Billboard" Country Albums Chart
There are some new titles at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart this week. Tim McGraw 's Emotional Traffic bows at #1 ...
Wed, February 01, 2012
Avatar's Cameron buys up land in NZ hobbit country
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Avatar is moving in next door to the Hobbit.
Successful U.S. film director James Cameron has snapped up more farmland near ...
Mon, January 30, 2012
Dierks Bentley to Relaunch Country & Cold Cans Tour with Eli Young Band April 13 in L.A.
Dierks Bentley is bringing his Country & Cold Cans tour back to the U.S. starting April 13 in Los Angeles. Eli Young Band will ...
Fri, January 27, 2012
Country music star Merle Haggard home from hospital
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Country music singer Merle Haggard was resting at home in Northern California on Friday after a long stint ...
Fri, January 27, 2012
Country star Merle Haggard home from hospital
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country music singer Merle Haggard was resting at home in Northern California on Friday after a long stint ...
Fri, January 27, 2012
Country Star Trivia
Which Sara Evans video features a Wizard of Oz storyline? ANSWER: "Born to Fly."
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio
Fri, January 27, 2012
Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit Brings Awareness to Heart Disease in Women
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is teaming up with the American Heart Association for the new Something in Red spotlight exhibit ...
Thu, January 26, 2012
Country Stars React to Their ACM Nominations
Reaction from artists began pouring in shortly after the ACM Awards nominations were announced Thursday morning. Here's a roundup of what the nominees ...
Thu, January 26, 2012
Kenny Chesney leads Academy of Country Music nominees
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Kenny Chesney grabbed the lead with nine award nominations on Thursday from the Academy of Country Music, which ...
Wed, January 25, 2012
Country music great Haggard recovering from pneumonia
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country singer Merle Haggard, who was admitted to a Georgia hospital last week after illness forced him to ...
Wed, January 18, 2012
Country music great Haggard hospitalized with pneumonia
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country music great Merle Haggard has been admitted to a Georgia hospital suffering from pneumonia and postponed the ...
Tue, January 03, 2012
Murder probe after body found on Queen Elizabeth's estate
LONDON (Reuters) - British police have launched a murder investigation after a woman's body was discovered on Queen Elizabeth's Sandringham country estate in ...
Thu, December 29, 2011
Country singer Wynonna Judd goes for marriage No. 3
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music star Wynonna Judd received an early Christmas gift when her boyfriend, Cactus Moser, proposed on Christmas Eve, the singer ...
Fri, December 23, 2011
Country stars reflect on the holidays
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - When it comes to the holidays, country singers often turn their thoughts to home and traditions -- spending time with ...
Thu, December 15, 2011
IMF chief warns no country immune from crisis
By Andrew Quinn
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - No country is immune from an "escalating" euro zone crisis and each one must act to head off the ...
Sat, December 03, 2011
Missing son of country singer Mindy McCready found in Arkansas
By Robert Green
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (Reuters) - The missing five-year-old son of country singer Mindy McCready was found hiding in a closet with his ...
Wed, November 02, 2011
U.S. tries "hip hop" diplomacy in Pakistan
By Chris Allbritton
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Considered by many Pakistanis to be public enemy number one, the United States on Monday turned to the musical ...
Fri, October 14, 2011
Jolie in Libya to witness country's change
The Oscar-winner is visiting Tripoli and Misrata for a two-day trip as part of her role as a United Nations (U.N.) goodwill ambassador ...
Fri, October 14, 2011
Eckhart flew cross country for a blind date
The Dark Knight star is currently enjoying single life as a bachelor but admits he would like to find a partner to settle down ...
Thu, October 13, 2011
Jolie in Libya to witness country's change
The Oscar-winner is visiting Tripoli and Misrata for a two-day trip as part of her role as a United Nations (U.N.) goodwill ambassador ...
Thu, October 13, 2011
Eckhart flew cross country for a blind date
The Dark Knight star is currently enjoying single life as a bachelor but admits he would like to find a partner to settle down ...
Thu, October 06, 2011
Boehner: Obama has given up on country to campaign
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Thursday said President Barack Obama has "given up on the country" to focus on his ...
Fri, September 23, 2011
Country's Burns & Poe tell lawmakers "I Need A Job"
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Country duo Burns & Poe are not taking today's high unemployment and lack of government action sitting down. They are standing tall and belting out a tune to Washington politicians, telling them, "I Need A Job."
"I need a job/not a government plan/all I want to do is work with my two hands," the pair sing in a video posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Cfbl9SUF4).
Keith Burns and Michelle Poe, formerly of the trio Trick Pony, pulled the song and video together in just over a month, something almost unheard of in today's country music industry. Then again, desperate times -- marked by a stubborn 9.1 percent unemployment rate -- call for fast action.
"I just thought that was a great thing to say, straight to the point, I need a job. Don't want welfare or a hand-me-down. You know, a job is more than a paycheck. It is dignity, respect and all those things that come with it. Hopefully we got that out," Burns told Reuters.
He penned the tune with his friend John Ritter on a day when the pair didn't have a topic in mind. Burns said the idea popped into his head as Ritter was telling him about his brother who is one of millions of Americans out of work.
Burns and Poe went into the studio the next day to record "I Need A Job" and one week later shot the video.
Although it hasn't yet gone viral on the Web and the song hasn't officially been released to radio, stations in 30 major markets are already playing "I Need a Job," Burns said.
Early on, the duo has found that people either love it or hate it. "The ones who hate it like the administration the way it is; the ones who love it don't like what's going on in Washington right now ...
Wed, September 07, 2011
House passes developing country trade program
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to renew a long-standing program that allows about 130 developing countries to export thousands of ...
Wed, September 07, 2011
Michigan State And Michigan Will Get Lots Of Exposure Around The Country This Coming Season With A Total Of More Than 20 Of Their Big Ten Games To Be Televised Nationally
The Wolverines and the Spartans Big Ten games this coming season will be receiving plenty of attention nationwide. It was announced on Tuesday that ...
Tue, September 06, 2011
South Carolina could be Rick Perry country in 2012
By John Whitesides
COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Reuters) - Deeply conservative South Carolina, home to an early and often decisive Republican presidential primary, could be Rick ...
Tue, September 06, 2011
Aldean, Shelton, Swift come up big at CMAs
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift led with five nominations each for the Country Music ...
Tue, September 06, 2011
Kristin Chenoweth comes home for country album
By Mike Ayers
NEW YORK (Reuters) - She has played a witch in "Wicked," a lush on "Glee" and a deputy press secretary on "The ...
Mon, August 29, 2011
Gaddafi wife and three children in Algeria
By Marie-Louise Gumuchian
ALGIERS (Reuters) - Muammar Gaddafi's wife and three of his children entered Algeria on Monday morning, Algeria's Foreign Ministry said ...
Sun, August 21, 2011
Country singer Chely Wright weds girlfriend
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Chely Wright, the first mainstream country performer to come out as lesbian, married her partner, activist Lauren Blitzer, on Saturday in ...
Thu, August 11, 2011
Country star Billy Grammer dies age 85
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Grand Ole Opry star Billy Grammer, best known for his 1959 hit "Gotta Travel On", has died at the ...
Tue, August 09, 2011
Country's Luke Bryan takes fans home on "Tailgates"
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Country singer Luke Bryan admits he enjoys being a goof and a cut up. Much of his music shows ...
Mon, August 08, 2011
Obama says U.S. is still a AAA country
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday blamed a downgrade in the United States' credit rating on political gridlock in Washington and said he ...
Sun, June 26, 2011
"Probably inevitable" a country will exit euro: Soros
VIENNA (Reuters) - Billionaire investor George Soros thinks a country will eventually exit the euro zone and urged policymakers on Sunday to come up with ...
Fri, June 24, 2011
Welcome to POSCO country: India's fight for investors
By Matthias Williams
DHINKIA, India (Reuters) - For eight-year-old Rakesh Bardhan, it is protest time.
Decked out in a black T-shirt and a matching handkerchief ...
Fri, June 24, 2011
Portage Schools Named One Of The Top 500 In The Country
PORTAGE, MI (WKZO) -- For all the turmoil and unhappiness with the folks running Portage Schools, you would think that there were problems in the ...
Wed, June 15, 2011
Afghanistan is most dangerous country for women
By Lisa Anderson
LONDON, June 15 (TrustLaw) - Violence, dismal healthcare and brutal poverty make Afghanistan the world's most dangerous country for women, with ...
Tue, June 07, 2011
Nashville marks 40 years of country music festival
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - The capital of country music lives up to its nickname beginning on Thursday where some 70,000 fans ...
Sun, June 05, 2011
Fire destroys country singer Trace Adkins' home
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country music star Trace Adkins' home in a Nashville suburb was destroyed by fire on Saturday, but no injuries were reported ...
Sun, June 05, 2011
Portugal PSD wins vote, strong right government seen
By Andrei Khalip
LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's center-right PSD party was expected to work fast on Monday to form a majority coalition government with ...
Fri, May 13, 2011
Meester threatened to quit acting if she failed to land Country Strong role
The Gossip Girl star had her heart set on playing aspiring singer Chiles Stanton in the 2010 country music movie - and she was determined ...
Thu, May 05, 2011
Country music stars to stage tornado fundraiser
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country music stars Hank Williams Jr., Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and the band Lady Antebellum are to hold a concert to ...
Wed, April 06, 2011
Country singer Chely Wright engaged to gay activist
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country singer Chely Wright, who surprised fans by coming out as gay last year, is engaged to a lesbian civil rights ...
Sun, April 03, 2011
Taylor Swift wins top prize at country awards
By Timothy Pratt
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Taylor Swift took the top prize at the Academy of Country Music Awards for the first time on ...
Tue, March 22, 2011
Pennsylvania zoo euthanizes one of country's oldest male lions
PITTSBURGH (Reuters) -- A Pennsylvania zoo has euthanized one of the five oldest male lions in the United States due to age-related ailments, a zoo ...
Thu, March 17, 2011
Country singer Ferlin Husky dies at 85
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Country music great Ferlin Husky, a pioneer in both the hard-twang Bakersfield and lushly produced Nashville sounds who ...
Mon, March 14, 2011
Aniston to play country musician in new film
The actress first signed up for the film in 2009, but other projects left the movie, which chronicles an all-female band made up of ...
Fri, March 04, 2011
Doobie Brothers are takin' it to country's streets
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - When they recorded their new album "World Gone Crazy," the Doobie Brothers remained true to their rock 'n ...
Tue, March 01, 2011
Reba McEntire among Country Hall of Fame inductees
By Christine Kearney
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Singer Reba McEntire, who has had a string of No. 1 hits for the past three decades, is ...
Thu, February 10, 2011
Country trio Lady Antebellum leads Grammy winners
By Dean Goodman
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Country trio Lady Antebellum and Canadian rock band Arcade Fire lit up the Grammy Awards on Sunday, winning ...
Tue, February 01, 2011
Lambert leads Academy of Country Music nominees
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Miranda Lambert, one of country music's hottest entertainers, led the way on Tuesday with seven nominations for the ...
Wed, January 26, 2011
Country music legend Charlie Louvin dies
By Tim Ghianni
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Influential country music great Charlie Louvin, who scored a string of hits with gospel-inspired inflections in his traditional singing ...
Wed, January 19, 2011
Saudi ends Lebanon mediation, says country at risk
By Mariam Karouny
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday it had abandoned mediation efforts in Lebanon between Shi'ite Hezbollah and Sunni leader ...
Wed, January 05, 2011
Britney Spears inspires "Country Strong" character
By Tom Roland and Shirley Halperin
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Gwyneth Paltrow's "Country Strong" character Kelly Canter plays out an all-too-common tale in the ...
Tue, December 21, 2010
Gwyneth Paltrow finds "Country Strong" a struggle
By Zorianna Kit
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - There is nothing easy about overcoming an addiction and for Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays an addict in her ...
Tue, December 21, 2010
Country's Christian Kane relishes dual careers
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Christian Kane's dual careers as an actor playing a martial arts expert on TV and a singer ...
Fri, December 17, 2010
Paltrow's Country Strong role based on Spears
The Oscar-winning actress plays a fallen country performer battling personal problems who attempts to resurrect her career in the acclaimed new film from writer ...
Fri, December 10, 2010
Lady Antebellum leads year-end country charts
By Ken Tucker
NASHVILLE (BILLBOARD) - Turns out we were right.
Lady Antebellum, which Billboard tipped as an artist to watch two years ago, closes ...
Fri, December 10, 2010
A 'Gossip Girl' And A 'TRON' Hunk Belt A Country Tune
Despite her missteps on Gossip Girl time and again, it seems that when it comes to on-screen chemistry, B's got it. (She's ...
Wed, November 24, 2010
A 'Gossip Girl' And A 'TRON' Hunk Belt A Country Tune
Despite her missteps on Gossip Girl time and again, it seems that when it comes to on-screen chemistry, B's got it. (She's ...
Wed, November 10, 2010
Taylor Swift is youngest country songwriter winner
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Taylor Swift, 20, has become the youngest person ever to win the BMI country songwriter of the year award, just a ...
Wed, October 27, 2010
Country duo Sugarland tops U.S. pop chart
By Keith Caulfield
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Country duo Sugarland claimed the No. 1 spot on the U.S. pop album chart Wednesday, beating rockers ...
Sun, October 24, 2010
Democrat fights for political life in Bush country
By Ed Stoddard
CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - Deep in the red heart of Texas, a Democrat is fighting for his political life.
Chet Edwards is ...
Wed, October 20, 2010
Gwyneth Paltrow to make country music debut
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is to make her debut as a country music singer next month at the Country Music Awards ...
Wed, October 13, 2010
Country stars turn out for tribute to Loretta Lynn
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - It's a long way from the winding roads of Butcher Holler, Kentucky, to the superhighway of country music ...
Tue, September 07, 2010
Green Bay now Rodgers' neighborhood, not Favre country
By Steve Keating
DETROIT (Reuters) - They name streets after their NFL greats in Green Bay and quarterback Aaron Rodgers could soon be on the ...
Thu, August 26, 2010
Older men's testosterone varies by country, race
By Frederik Joelving
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research shows older men's sex hormone levels depend on both race and geographical location, casting ...
Tue, August 24, 2010
Biden says country on track to double renewable energy capacity
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Government stimulus spending has put the country on track to double renewable energy production capacity by 2012 and halve solar power costs ...
Mon, August 23, 2010
Paltrow studied country queens for new film role
The Shakespeare in Love star admits she stole little things from a host of stars to create her singing role in the new film ...
Tue, July 20, 2010
"Lost" star Matthew Fox saddles up for country life
By Leslie Bruce
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - On the heels of his first-ever Emmy nomination and his much-buzzed-about departure from television after 18 years ...
Fri, July 16, 2010
Teens in Montcalm Country Struck by Lightning at Bible Camp
Thu, July 15, 2010
Country composer, performer Hank Cochran dies
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Hank Cochran, who wrote a cascade of country music hits, died on Thursday at his home near Nashville, according to his ...
Mon, June 14, 2010
Country music legend Jimmy Dean dies
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Country music artist Jimmy Dean, who topped the charts in 1961 with the crossover hit "Big Bad John," and later became a ...
Mon, June 07, 2010
What The Rest of the Country is Saying About President Obama's Kalamazoo Visit
KALAMAZOO -- (WKZO) With so much effort going into the arrival of the 44th President of the United States locally we decided to check on ...
Mon, June 07, 2010
Country of love close hearts to dull France side
By Patrick Vignal
KNYSNA, South Africa (Reuters) - France, proud of their reputation as the country of love, are certainly not living up to it ...
Wed, May 19, 2010
Most Americans say country has negative image-poll
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two-thirds of Americans think their country is viewed negatively elsewhere in the world and almost half believe the global power and ...
Wed, May 19, 2010
Closed GM Plants Across Country To Be Re-Purposed
(Washington, DC) -- The Federal government will invest more than 800-million dollars to speed the cleanup and development of closed General Motors plants in 14-states ...
Mon, May 10, 2010
Opera impresario flits from country house to prison
By Barbara Lewis
LONDON (Reuters) - But for good luck, Wasfi Kani believes that instead of being a high-flyer in the financial markets turned opera ...
Mon, May 03, 2010
Willie Nelson has more country tunes in the works
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Willie Nelson's "Country Music" album just arrived, but he's planning more country music in the very near future.
Nelson ...
Wed, April 28, 2010
World Cup trophy tour comes to hockey country
By Steve Keating
TORONTO (Reuters) - The World Cup trophy ventured into Stanley Cup territory on Wednesday, providing onlookers a glimpse of the contrasting lifestyles ...
Mon, April 19, 2010
Carrie Underwood wins country music's top award
By Dan Whitcomb
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Carrie Underwood was named country music's top entertainer for the second year in a row on Sunday ...
Sun, March 28, 2010
Kenya sweeps all the titles at world cross country
WARSAW (Reuters) - Joseph Ebuya and Emily Chebet headed a Kenyan sweep of the individual and team medals at the world cross country championships in ...
Mon, March 15, 2010
McKeever wins Paralympic cross country gold
VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Brian McKeever won a gold medal at the Vancouver Paralympics on Monday, less than a month after the legally blind Canadian cross-country ...
Mon, March 15, 2010
Tomlinson charges across country to NY Jets
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Running back LaDainian Tomlinson has signed with the New York Jets, the team said on Sunday on its website (http://www ...
Fri, March 12, 2010
Rates of food sensitivity vary by country: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People in Portland are more likely than those in Iceland to be sensitive to certain foods, but reactions to fish ...
Tue, March 02, 2010
Spanish "botnet" potent enough to attack country: police
By Teresa Larraz
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish criminals who stole bank details from computers around the world did not realize the power of the illegal ...
Sat, February 27, 2010
Cross country-Blind McKeever denied his Vancouver dream
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
WHISTLER (Reuters) - Brian McKeever was in tears on Saturday with his Vancouver Winter Olympics dream in tatters after the blind cross ...
Fri, February 26, 2010
Big hearts may mean trouble in cross-country skiers
By Frederik Joelving NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Like many other top athletes, Harald Sjoelshagen, a 66-year-old Norwegian, has an enlarged heart. When doctors noticed ...
Wed, February 24, 2010
Country stars Ferlin Husky, Jimmy Dean honored
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Ferlin Husky, who first achieved stardom with his 1957 song "Gone," will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame ...
Sat, February 20, 2010
Cross country course cleared on safety grounds
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
WHISTLER (Reuters) - Officials found no grounds for concern following Slovenia's complaint about the "dangerous" condition of the Olympic cross country ...
Tue, January 26, 2010
Russian cross-country skier thrown out of Olympic team
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Alena Sidko, one of Russia's top cross-country skiers, has been thrown out of their team for next month's Vancouver Olympics ...
Mon, January 25, 2010
Randall carries U.S. cross-country hopes
By Frank Pingue
TORONTO (Reuters) - American cross-country skier Kikkan Randall bounced back from a potentially fatal blood clot in her lower leg and is ...
Tue, January 19, 2010
Medal hope Randall heads U.S. cross country ski team
NEW YORK (Reuters) - World championship silver medalist Kikkan Randall, Kris Freeman and Andy Newell will spearhead a group of eight athletes on the U ...
Mon, January 18, 2010
"Country Gentleman" Carl Smith dies, age 82
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - "Country Gentleman" Carl Smith, a top star of country music in the 1950s and 1960s, has died, age 82.
His family ...
Mon, January 11, 2010
Gas Prices on the Rise Throughout Region, Country
UNDATED-Gas prices have gone up here and around the country in the last few weeks, but it hasn’t been because we are driving ...
Fri, December 04, 2009
Berrien Country Traffic Stop Leads to Multi-Million Dollar Drug Bust
SAWYER -- Michigan State Police have made a multi-million dollar drug bust during a traffic stop on I-94 in Berrien County. Sergeant Richard Dragomer, with ...
Thu, December 03, 2009
Country Music Association chief Tammy Genovese resigns
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - The Country Music Association's chief executive, Tammy Genovese, has resigned, the CMA Board of Directors said on Thursday.
Genovese, a ...
Fri, November 20, 2009
Allergy danger prompts Country Crock products recall
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Unilever United States Inc. said on Friday it was voluntarily recalling certain Shedd's Country Crock chilled side-dish products because they ...
Mon, November 16, 2009
Obama to launch cross-country economic tour
By Jeff Mason
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will hold a forum on job creation with U.S. business leaders on December ...
Thu, November 12, 2009
Taylor Swift boosts ratings for country awards
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Taylor Swift's clean sweep of the Country Music Assn. Awards helped the broadcast reach its biggest audience in four years ...
Thu, November 12, 2009
Taylor Swift makes history at Country Music Awards
By Vernell Hackett
NASHVILLE (Reuters) - Teenage singing sensation Taylor Swift claimed a piece of music history on Wednesday when she became the youngest artist ...
Wed, November 11, 2009
Yemen, U.S. sign military deal as country fights rebels
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen has signed an agreement with the United States for cooperation on military intelligence and training, its official news agency reported, as ...
Wed, September 09, 2009
Brad Paisley nominated for six Country Music Awards
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - Brad Paisley led the list of nominees for this year's Country Music Association awards, to be handed out November 11 ...
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