CARRIE UNDERWOOD fans probably know about this . . . but I didn't. Way before "American Idol" . . . when she was around 13 or 14 . . . Carrie had a budding music career. She recorded a bunch of songs and almost signed a Nashville record deal. The whole thing fizzled out and she went back to Oklahoma to finish high school and, eventually, college. Anyway, there is an entire album of songs from back then. It's called "Broken Wings" . . . and it's all cover songs from artists like the Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride and Jo Dee Messina. It's for sale on a website called SoundsBox.com, and it'll cost you $1.76. No joke. If that's too rich for your blood, individual songs are 14-cents apiece. Or if you're super cheap, you can listen to samples for free! :)
Scotty McCreery reunited with his pal Tim McGraw on stage in Charlotte, NC, Sunday night. Tim brought the former American Idol champ out to sing "I Like It, I Love It" during his set on the Brothers of the Sun tour stop with Kenny Chesney. Scotty tweeted to Tim, "It was awesome! You're the man!" 
GARY ALLAN admits that his last two albums were pretty heavy, mostly because that's just where his head was. But his next one will have a more positive tone. He tells "Billboard", quote, "It's super rock, super up. "It seems like a lot of the stuff I was writing this year was just up and hopeful stuff. I'm usually the sad writer, but I think I was able to step away from that this time. "(But) I'm just in a really good place, mentally, and this just reflects that. Every album I do is just about where I'm at, at the time." Gary says the new album is almost done . . . but there's no word when it will be out.
Last week, John Gross of Indianapolis, Indiana was leaving Orlando, Florida with his late grandfather's ashes. The ashes were in a sealed jar that was marked "Human Remains." At the Orlando airport, a TSA agent was searching his bag, and John asked her to be careful. She wasn't. She opened the jar . . . then accidentally spilled John's grandfather's ashes on the floor. He says, quote, "She didn't apologize. She started laughing. I was on my hands and knees picking up bone fragments. I couldn't pick it all up. I mean, there was a long line behind me." He's asking for an apology from the TSA. The TSA website says crematory containers have to pass an X-ray . . . but they shouldn't be opened under any circumstances. A spokesman says they're investigating the incident.
This song has been stuck in my head lately. I took it as a sign it needed to be on the blog. So I hope you like "Keep Me In Mind" by the Zac Brown Band. Zac Brown Band is an American country music band based in Atlanta, Georgia. They have recorded four studio albums, and charted eight Number One singles on the Billboard country charts: "Chicken Fried", "Toes", "Highway 20 Ride", "Free", "As She's Walking Away", "Colder Weather", "Knee Deep" and "Keep Me In Mind", in addition to the single "Whatever It Is," which peaked at number 2 on the same chart.(Source)
Easton Corbin has seen quite a bit of success since he signed to Mercury Records in 2009. In March of 2012 he released his self titled debut album, which features two #1 hits, "A Little More Country Than That" and "Roll With It". This song "Loving' You Is Fun peaked at 34 on the US Country Charts. (Source) He is currently on tour. You see tour date please visit this site http://www.eastoncorbin.com/events/default.aspx
Brantley Gilbert has recently hit the country music scene. He is an American country rock music singer-songwriter. Songs he has written have been record by Jason Aldean and Colt Ford. The album Halfway To Heaven which was released on March 16, 2010 peaked at #2 on the US Country Charts and is certified US Gold. This single, "You Don't Know Her Like I DO" peaked at #13 on the US Country Charts. This single was released in 2011. I have heard it on the radio more and more lately. I hope you like this single from Brantley Gilbert. (Source)
Happy Birthday Ronnie Dunn! As a birthday present Feature Friday includes "Cost of Livin'". Ronnie Dunn is an American country music singer-songwriter, known for being one half of the duo Brooks & Dunn. In 2011, Dunn began working as a solo artist following the breakup of Brooks & Dunn. He released his self-titled debut album for Arista Nashville on June 7, 2011, reaching top 10 with its lead-off single "Bleed Red". Cost of Livin' peaked at 19 on the US Country Charts. (Source)
Eric Church is an American country music singer-songwriter. He signed to Capitol Records in 2006 and his debut album Sinners Like Me produced four singles on the Billboard country chart, including the Top 20 hits "How 'Bout You", "Two Pink Lines", and "Guys Like Me". His second album, 2009's Carolina, produced three more singles: "Smoke a Little Smoke" and his first Top 10 hits, "Love Your Love the Most" and "Hell on the Heart". 2011's Chief, his first #1 album, includes the singles "Homeboy" and "Drink in My Hand", which became his first #1 single in January 2012. (Source) “Springsteen” is a gorgeous, bittersweet anthem-to-be that will likely leave even some more hardened hearts simultaneously smile and cry listening. As Church’s best single to date, it will all but certainly take his career to the next level, even as he’s already selling out venues left and right at the dawn of his “Blood, Sweat & Beers” tour as we speak. (Source)
"Forever and Ever, Amen" is a single released in 1987 by country music artist Randy Travis, written by Paul Overstreet and Don Schlitz. It was Travis's third No. 1 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. In 1987, "Forever and Ever, Amen" won a Grammy for Best Country & Western Song and a Academy of Country Music award for Song of the Year. (Source) 
