Shania Twain thinks snow as she prepares for Vegas
Shania Twain is getting set to launch her Las Vegas, Nev., show in December, but already Twain is thinking about snow and jingle bells. Twain told Up! Magazine that her next album may be a Christmas disc. Twain has been “dying to do a Christmas album for so long” and believes that now may be the time to do so. Once the Vegas show gets underway in December, Twain will turn her attention towards the Christmas project.
Neil Young praises Pistol Annies in new book
Neil Young’s recent book, Waging Heavy Peace, gives a nod to Pistol Annies. Young talks about listening to the Pistol Annie’s song “Takin’ Pills.” In the memoir, Young writes, “I heard the Pistol Annies sing about reasons why they’re broke and so who would invest in their future? One’s drinkin’, one’s smokin’, one’s taking pills. Well, they are writing their asses off.” Pistol Annie band member Angaleena Presley posted the excerpt on her Twitter feed. She tweeted back to Young, saying she “kindly and humbly” thanks him.
The Oak Ridge Boys celebrate 40th anniversary
The Oak Ridge Boys have announced plans for their upcoming 40th anniversary celebration, kicking off the milestone with a tour next year and a commemorative album release. There will also be a television special to highlight their achievement. The first show of the Oak Ridge Boys’ North American anniversary tour will begin in Galveston, Texas, at the historic opera house on Jan. 19. Fans in Ontario can catch the Oak Ridge Boys performing their Christmas show in Niagara Falls, Ont., on Nov. 26 as part of the Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights.
Billboard magazine revamps method for tracking country hits
Billboard magazine has updated its methodology for computing its weekly Hot Country Songs chart. The magazine wants to include consumer-influenced digital download sales and streaming data, alongside traditional radio airplay to determine the weekly chart. Until this change, only country radio station airplay contributed to the hot country songs chart. These changes have also been implemented on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and the Hot Latin Songs charts. The new updated charts will now apply the same methodology used for the all-genre song ranking for the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Luke Bryan has the most American Country Awards nominations
Luke Bryan is in the lead for the most American Country Awards nominations; he has seven in total. Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band are next in line, with six nominations each. Eric Church and Taylor Swift both have five nominations. The ACAs will air on Dec. 10 on Fox TV. Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins are sharing the hosting duties. Fan voting is open until Nov. 12 at theacas.com.
Lee Brice spoofs political campaign to bring attention to his CMA nomination
Lee Brice has released a series of videos to bring attention to his nomination for best new artist at the upcoming Country Music Association Awards (CMA Awards). The videos play off of the political party election ads that are currently running on American television. In one video, Brice says that he doesn’t understand why President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have to “blast” each other’s records – Brice points out that he has “never heard a record from either of them.”
In another video, Brice notes that his party is open to everyone.
Brice will face competition from Hunter Hayes, Brantley Gilbert, Thompson Square and Love and Theft in the best new artist category. The CMA Awards take place Nov. 1 and will air on ABC TV.