Randy Travis, Lisa Marie Presley, Taylor Swift and more make this week's country music news
Randy Travis arrested for drunk driving
Randy Travis has found himself in legal trouble again. He was arrested in Texas for allegedly driving drunk and threatening to shoot the state troopers who nabbed him. Travis faces charges of felony retaliation or obstruction and could get up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 if convicted. The district attorney, Joe Brown, told The Associated Press he believes the felony charges could go before a grand jury within about a month. The driving while intoxicated charge could be filed as soon as prosecutors decide whether to proceed. The 53-year-old Travis is out on bond, awaiting the results of a blood test. He had refused to take a breathalyzer. Travis was also arrested in February for public intoxication.
Guitarist in Marshall Tucker Band dies
Stuart Swanlund, the guitarist for the Marshall Tucker Band, died in his sleep on Aug. 4 at age 54. Swanlund had been on a break from the band to deal with unspecified health issues. Fellow band member Doug Gray said in a statement that the band “lost a great friend.” The funeral service will be held on Aug. 11 near Swanlund’s hometown of Spartanburg, S.C.
Indiana State Fair stage collapse victims settle lawsuit
The majority of victims in last summer’s stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair have accepted a settlement. Fifty-one of the 62 eligible claimants have agreed to part of a $13.2 million settlement from the state and two private companies. The band Sugarland was set to perform last August at the fair in Indianapolis when the stage collapsed. Seven people were killed and dozens more were injured.
Lisa Marie Presley to make Grand Ole Opry debut
Thirty-five years after Elvis Presley died, his daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, is set to make her Grand Ole Opry debut. She is scheduled to appear on Aug. 21. Elvis performed there in 1954, singing “Blue Moon of Kentucky.” Lisa will perform songs from her latest album, Storm and Grace.
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are Vegas-bound
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are planning a 10-weekend concert run at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas. The shows start in December. It will be called Soul2Soul – the name the couple toured under in 2000 and 2006. This will be the first time the husband-and-wife team have performed a full concert together onstage in the U.S. in six years. Last week McGraw was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Taylor Swift to make an announcement Aug. 13
Taylor Swift is hosting a live webcast on Monday, Aug. 13. She announced on her website that she will talk to fans from around the world. It’s expected that Swift will reveal plans for a new album. She had released details of her Speak Now disc in a similar web chat forum in 2010.
Country artists schedule October releases of Christmas albums
Blake Shelton is preparing Cheers It’s Christmas for release Oct. 2. Shelton’s first Christmas disc will include a song he wrote with his mother, Dorothy Shackleford, who duets on the song. Reba McEntire and Michael Buble also make guest appearances. Buble will also be involved in a project for the Special Olympics. He joins acts such as the Band Perry, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and others for a couple of albums celebrating the 25th anniversary of A Very Special Christmas. Over the years, the album series has raised more than $100 million for the Special Olympics. Two discs will be released Oct. 16. The first is called A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary and the second is A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth.