Country Music Tattle Tale » Billy Currington

Lionel Richie Takes You Behind the Scenes of Tuskegee

Country Girl — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:00:38 +0000

This album is AMAZING! I have my review copy and can’t stop listening to it! Check out the behind the scenes footage from the recording of Tuskegee! The new album Tuskegee will be in stores March 27th!

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Track-Listing:
1. “You Are” with Blake Shelton
2. “Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
3. “Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
4. “Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
5. “My Love” with Kenny Chesney
6. “Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
7. “Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
8. “Sail On” with Tim McGraw
9. “Endless Love” with Shania Twain
10. “Just For You” with Billy Currington
11. “Lady” with Kenny Rogers
12. “Easy” with Willie Nelson
13. “All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett

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Lionel Richie’s ‘Tuskegee’ a Star-Studded Attraction

TawnyTucker — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:45:21 +0000

Music icon Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, a collection of 13 of his international hits recorded with some of the biggest names in country music, on March 27th.

His duet partners on Tuskegee include Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington and Little Big Town. On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

In addition, the Academy of Country Music and dick clark productions will tape an all-star concert special, Lionel Richie and Friends “In concert” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 2nd. The show will air at a later date on the CBS Television Network. Some of his greatest hits will be performed by Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Rogers and many more.

“Tuskegee is where it all began, the place where I felt that everything was available and possible,” he says. “It’s where I learned about life and love and the power of music, and the place I built a musical foundation that knows no genres or boundaries.

“Doing this album was coming back to the beginning, back to basics, back to home,” he says. “The part of it I love the most is that the journey has been one of discovering myself. By the time I got back to Nashville, I clearly knew that the roots of my songwriting, my storytelling, were from the South.”

It’s also been a process of rediscovering the hits that have served as the soundtrack of the lives of generations around the world.

“Every Lionel Richie song that I can think of I had a personal experience with – high school homecomings, proms, you name it,” says Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, who duets on “Dancin’ On the Ceiling.” “Lionel was always playing in my house. His music always said what we felt and couldn’t express.”

Once again, Richie is following his songs as they take him back to country, where they have been welcomed for more than two decades. Conway Twitty recorded “Three Times a Lady,” Kenny Rogers famously sang “Lady” and Alabama recorded “Deep River Woman.” Artists such as Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts perform his songs in their shows. He has performed on the Country Music Association Awards three times, and his 2011 performance receive two standing ovations and was recognized as the highlight of the evening.

“When I did the CMAs and the room was singing along with me, it was really more like a family reunion than it was a concert or show,” he says. “It was just great validation to know that the music was accepted like it was.”

These innovative musical interpretations have given new meaning to his songs while serving as a powerful reminder of the timelessness of his impressive body of work. He asked the other singers to select the songs and ignore his original version and instead perform the song as if it were their own. “I wanted it the way they would do it in their show, which means I captured their essence. You make the song a Willie Nelson song. You make the song a Rascal Flatts song.

“It’s special to the point where it sounds new again, so I’m excited just as the writer, as the original parent of this child. I’m excited to see another generation embrace the music.”

Richie says recording Tuskegee was perhaps the most fun he’s ever had in the studio.

“Tuskegee is going to be one of the most special albums I’ve ever done in my life. This is something that’s going to be so special forever because it’s a moment in time when these artists all got together and celebrated some music,” he says. “What started out as a collaboration of a group of very talented, very successful artists ended up growing into brand new, very good friends.”

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Favorite Christmas Presents of Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans and More!

Country Girl — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:00:24 +0000

Ever wonder what some of your favorite country music artists get for Christmas? We have some answers for you!

“The greatest gift I’ve ever received is a letter from my dad a few years back. He wrote about all of his memories of my life through my ups and downs. He told me he was proud and loved me through it all. His greatest words were in the last paragraph, ‘Be at peace with yourself, be at peace with everyone around you and, most important, be at peace with God.’” — Big & Rich’s Big Kenny
“My favorite Christmas gift is definitely my first Honda 50 motorcycle that I got back in 1984. It was just an amazing gift to have under the tree, and I never will forget seeing that.” — Luke Bryan
“Every Christmas my hometown radio station would always play ‘Christmas In Dixie’ by Alabama. I always remember lovin’ that song.” — Kenny Chesney
“My favorite Christmas songs are all of the old hymns and religious songs because the lyrics are very sacred.” — Sara Evans
“My favorite Christmas food is mom’s homemade brownies. My brothers and I called them ‘reindeer terds.’” — Gloriana’s Mike Gossin
“We put on the classic Christmas songs by Gene Autry, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby. We love those.” — Alan Jackson
“My favorite Christmas present as a kid was a ukulele from my parents, and I loved to carry it with me everywhere!” — the JaneDear girls’ Danelle Leverett
“My favorite Christmas gift was probably my very first guitar from my Grandpa about 15 years ago. And more recently, I got a red Gibson about 5 or 6 years ago. That red one we use onstage was given to me by my Dad for Christmas years ago.” — Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood
“I really enjoyed the go-cart my mom and dad got me and my brother when we were probably 6 or 7 years old. We had more fun on that thing, for just hours and hours on end. It was good times. Just hanging with him was good.”- Billy Currington
“When I was in the third grade, I wanted a puppy real bad. I wanted a miniature dachshund. My parents told me they couldn’t, so I asked for a dirt bike instead. Christmas morning, I heard all this yipping and whining…They had gotten me the puppy I wanted.” - Brantley Gilbert
“I can remember when I was about 6 or 7, I got a Hutch football outfit. You got the helmet, the shoulder pads, the little jersey, and the pants. Randomly, it was the New York Jets…I grew up in Southeast Missouri, so the Jets must have been the only one my parents could afford or get in the JCPenny catalog! I can remember just freaking out. I was a huge sports fan even then. I can remember being way too big to even where the stuff and still trying to put it on. Back then the Jets were horrible, and that was probably the most uncool jersey to wear but I didn’t care. I would have probably tackled you if you made fun of me.” - David Nail

You can read more of your favorite artists favorite presents in the newest issue of Country Weekly.

All quotes from Country Aircheck

Billy Currington Announces First Headlinging Tour

TawnyTucker — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:00:04 +0000

Billy Currington is set to kick off 2012 in a big way with his first headlining tour across the country. Billy, who received rave reviews out on the road on Kenny Chesney’s ‘Goin Coastal’ tour throughout this year, will perform his #1 hits, including “People Are Crazy,” “Pretty Good At Drinkin’ Beer,” “Good Directions,” ‘That’s How Country Boys Roll,” “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” “Don’t,” “Let Me Down Easy,” and his current single climbing the charts, “Like My Dog.” Billy has invited label mates David Nail and Kip Moore to go out on the road with him.

Exact dates for the tour have not been announced, but fans can go to www.billycurrington.com to get more details on the tour as they are confirmed.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

Billy Currington to Perform at ‘Quicken Loans Carrier Classic’ Event on Veterans Day

Country Girl — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:45:48 +0000

Billy Currington will co-headline a special concert presented by State Farm® at the inaugural ‘Quicken Loans Carrier Classic’ basketball game on Veterans Day this Friday November 11th, along with Five For Fighting. The event will take place on the flight deck of the Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, which is stationed in San Diego, CA, for a packed house of 7,000 spectators including President Barack Obama and a large number of men and women of our armed forces. The ‘Quicken Loans Carrier Classic’ is the season-opener college basketball match-up between the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans. ESPN will televise the game and concert beginning at 7pm EST (check local listings).

Billy is set to perform a few of his #1 hits, including “People Are Crazy,” “Let Me Down Easy,” and his current single climbing the charts “Like My Dog,” on Friday at the ‘Quicken Loans Carrier Classic.’ The game and concert will be broadcast live by Westwood One, Sirius XM Radio, and the AFN network. Along with President Obama, several distinguished VIPs are set to attend the event, including Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Read Admiral Denny Moynihan, the Navy’s chief spokesman, as well as several Senators and Congressmen from Michigan, North Carolina and California.

The half-time show, sponsored by State Farm®, will feature a special hoop-shooting contest starring ex-L.A. Lakers and North Carolina alum James Worthy, Extra TV host Mario Lopez, actress Brooklyn Decker, and Michigan State alum Magic Johnson as referee. Also during half-time, State Farm® will present a donation of $111,120.11 to the Scholarships for Military Children Program. The amount commemorates the Veterans Day date of 11/11/2011.

Billy recently wrapped up his supporting slot on Kenny Chesney’s ‘Goin’ Coastal’ Tour across the country. For more information on Billy Currington please go to www.billycurrington.com.

Lionel Richie to Debut Country Duets from Upcoming Album at the 45th Annual CMA Awards

Country Girl — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:30:46 +0000

Lionel Richie will release Tuskegee, his much-anticipated country duets album, in March on Mercury Nashville, after debuting songs on the national broadcast of the 45th Annual Country Music Association Awards, airing live Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network.

During the broadcast Richie will perform select duets of his runaway hits with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts.

Surpassing his creative and personal boundaries, Richie comes full circle with the innovative and personal Tuskegee, performing 13 of his most revered “anthems of our day” with some of the biggest names in country music, including Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Little Big Town and Jason Aldean. On this worldwide, multi-genre album, Richie is also joined by the likes of such superstars as Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson and Jimmy Buffett.

Tuskegee is an exciting and transcendent arc in a career that has seen album sales of more than 100 million, 22 Top 10s, five Grammys, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and a host of other awards from virtually every major entertainment organization.

While defying boundaries and breaking barriers throughout his storied career, Richie reveals once again that Tuskegee will join the ranks of his timeless body of work that touches people of all faiths, ages and demographics across the world.

“As my songwriting progressed, I realized that my songs perfectly translated to the country genre,” says the living legend as he taps on the keys of the piano in his state-of-the-art recording studio.

It was when Conway Twitty sang “Three Times a Lady” along with songs such as “Lady” and “Deep River Women” that Richie knew country music was clearly omnipresent in the lyrics he wrote.

“I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. I am a country boy and proud of it. To do this project just felt natural,” says Richie. “Growing up with country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer,” he says, “and the title, Tuskegee, is a validation of my growing up there—the place I call home.” “Tuskegee is a state of mind as it is a place,” he adds, “…a place of possibility, hope, promise, self-empowerment, and where dreams come true.”

Lionel Richie’s Tuskegee Track-Listing:
1. “You Are” with Blake Shelton
2. “Say You, Say Me” with Jason Aldean
3. “Stuck On You” with Darius Rucker
4. “Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town
5. “My Love” with Kenny Chesney
6. “Dancing On The Ceiling” with Rascal Flatts
7. “Hello” with Jennifer Nettles
8. “Sail On” with Tim McGraw
9. “Endless Love” with Shania Twain
10. “Just For You” with Billy Currington
11. “Lady” with Kenny Rogers
12. “Easy” with Willie Nelson
13. “All Night Long” with Jimmy Buffett

EXCLUSIVE: Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, and More Coming to Your Wii for the Holidays!

Country Girl — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:03:46 +0000

CMTT is SUPER excited to tell you about the upcoming release of Country Dance 2 for Nintendo Wii™! We have your first EXCLUSIVE look at the trailer for the game, six brand new songs that have been confirmed and will have a new contest coming very soon!

Get on your feet and shake it country-style to America’s hottest country hits! GameMill Entertainment, an independent publisher of entertaining mass-market video games, announced plans to release Country Dance™ 2, the sequel to America’s favorite country dance video game that lets you dance and sing along to your favorite songs from country’s biggest artists. Country Dance 2 for Nintendo Wii™ is set to hit store shelves this Holiday season.

Country Dance 2 has released six brand new songs that are confirmed to be included in the game. Check out the the new trailer(above):

Brad Paisley – “Old Alabama”
Dierks Bentley – “Sideways”
Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party”
Joanna Smith – “Getting Married”
Keith Urban – “Better Life”
Luke Bryan – “Country Girl”

Country Dance 2 features over 30 of today’s hottest country tracks from chart-topping artists like George Strait, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Easton Corbin, Billy Currington, Eric Church, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, and many, many more. Building upon the simple gameplay loved by fans of Country Dance, Country Dance 2 amplifies the fun with an all new sing-a-long feature, duet dancing, a new calorie-counting exercise mode and more!

As part of the announcement GameMill also revealed the first 15 confirmed tracks in the song set list. Confirmed tracks for Country Dance 2 include:

Ashton Shepherd – “Look It Up”
Billy Currington – “People Are Crazy”
Blake Shelton – “Honey Bee”
Carrie Underwood – “All American Girl”
Easton Corbin – “Roll With It”
Eric Church – “Hell On The Heart”
George Strait – “Here for a Good Time”
Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shake That Thing”
Hayley McLean – “Good Time Bone”
Josh Thompson – “Won’t Be Lonely Long”
Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
Little Big Town – “Little White Church”
Miranda Lambert – “Gun Powder and Lead”
Montgomery Gentry – “What Do Ya Think About That”
Rodney Atkins – “Take a Back Road”

Country Dance 2 is easy to jump in and play; just pick up the Wii Remote™ and replicate the onscreen dance moves to start earning points with hot country routines. Plus, Country Dance 2 now supports up to four players at once for a whole new level of multiplayer fun including the all new duet dancing option that features unique choreography for each player during the same song. Whether you’re cutting the rug on your own, line dancing side-by-side with your partner, or taking on friends and family in a dancing duel, Country Dance 2 will transform your living room into an energetic dance floor with mega hits from Amercia’s best-selling country artists.

Additional songs and features as well as pricing will be announced at a later date. Country Dance 2 for Wii is rated “RP” for Rating Pending by the ESRB and will be available on store shelves this Holiday season. For more information about Country Dance 2 or the Country Dance franchise, please visit: www.game-mill.com.