Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo officials announced changes to the 2013 Show schedule today, with a surprising twist. The upcoming Show will be one day longer, running for 21 days — Monday, Feb. 25th, through Sunday, March 17th — with a special concert-only performance on the final day by George Strait.

The performance, held in Reliant Stadium at 7 p.m. (tentative), will be a full-length concert, with opening performances by the Randy Rogers Band and Martina McBride. The carnival, shopping areas, livestock and horse show, food booths, and other exhibits throughout the grounds will be open on this day.

“George has had a lot of special moments in the 30 years since he first appeared at the Show,” said Leroy Shafer, chief operating officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. “I remember the day we flew him in as a replacement act an hour before his performance. He took the stage and quickly stole the hearts of our Rodeo fans. And, George has been here for all of the Show’s major milestones since that first performance in 1983. We are extremely excited that he is going to close our 2013 Show with this special concert,” he added.

In 1983, when scheduled Rodeo entertainer Eddie Rabbitt became ill, a newcomer to the music scene named George Strait filled in for him at the last minute, debuting to a crowd of 34,599 Rodeo fans. Since that first performance 30 years ago, Strait has become a household name among Houston country music fans. He has played to more than 1 million RodeoHouston fans and was inducted into the Show’s Star Trail of Fame in 1996.

On March 3, 2002, Strait closed the Show with the last Rodeo concert in Reliant Astrodome, with a record attendance of 68,266 in the Astrodome, a record that will never be broken. In 2003, he opened the Show as the first performer in Reliant Stadium.

This performance at the 2013 Show will mark Strait’s 21st appearance at RodeoHouston.

Individual tickets for this special concert and the other 20 RodeoHouston performances will go on sale in January. With no Rodeo performance on the final day of the Show, stadium floor seating will be an option for this concert. Season Ticket holders will have the option of retaining their seats and adding this concert as the 21st performance.

Ticket prices for Sunday, March 17, are:

· Stadium Floor: $150

· Club Level: $135, $145

· Field and Action Seats: $125

· Loge Level: $50

· Upper Level: $25

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed approximately $283 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit www.rodeohouston.com.

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George Strait does it again! His current single “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” off his latest CD Here for a Good Time lands the Number One spot this week on mediabase radio chart. This feat ironically marks his 59th career number one hit for the 59 year old country music superstar – one per year of his life! “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” written by Al Anderson and Chris Stapleton is one of the few Strait did not write with son Bubba and longtime pal Dean Dillon for this album .

“You know, I’ve always thought that whether I’m writing or not, I’ve gotta pick the best songs, whether or not they’re mine,” says Strait. “I’m not gonna sing ‘em just because I wrote ‘em. I’ve gotta find the best songs to make the best record I can. I think all of these songs deserve to be on the record.”

George Strait is the only artist who has had 85 out of 90 radio singles make it to Top 10 and 24 albums at the number one position on Billboard’s Country Music Album Chart – George Strait.

For more information, visit: www.georgestrait.com

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

Last night, George Strait postponed his Kansas City tour stop due to illness. The real kicker, he didn’t do it until he was three songs in. Just like any other gig on George Strait’s tour, Martina McBride opened the show with an hour set of all her biggest hits. Then, shortly before 9pm, George took the stage and performed “Here for a Good Time” and “I Gotta Get to You.”

After the second song, George apologized the the sold-out crowd of 18,000 fans, “I just can’t do it.” His voice was hoarse and obviously that of an ill man.

George instructed everyone to hang on to their tickets and come back on March 3rd.

I give the man credit for trying, but as a fan who sometimes travels far and wide for concerts, I would’ve preferred the show gotten cancelled ahead of time.

Feel Better George!

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

It was an exciting moment on the Ryman Auditorium stage during the UMG/Nashville CRS lunch event Wednesday in Nashville (2/22).

UMG/Nashville’s Royce Risser and Luke Lewis present George Strait with a plaque commemorating his first No. 1 as a songwriter, “Here For A Good Time,” Strait’s surprise appearance to open the show drew multiple standing ovations.  The King performed “I’ll Always Remember You” and “Troubadour,” both of which featured backing guitarists Mac McAnally and Steve Gibson.

Other performers at the luncheon included Lee Ann Womack, who sang “Same Kind Of Different As Me.” The audience stomped to the rhythm of Drake White’s “What You Can’t Have” when he went mic-less mid-song. Randy Rogers Band (“If I Had Another Heart”), Randy Montana (“Little Rock And The Rain”), Josh Kelley (“It’s Your Move”) and Mallary Hope (“Black Widow Spider”) each premiered new music.

Laura Bell Bundy (“That’s What Angels Do”), Canaan Smith (“We Got Us”), Kip Moore (“Somethin’ ‘Bout A Truck”), David Nail (“Sound Of A Million Dreams”), Easton Corbin (“Lovin’ You Is Fun”) and Josh Turner (“Time Is Love”) also performed new(ish) singles. “Your Man” songwriter and new UMGN artist Chris Stapleton preceded Turner with “Sometimes I Cry.”

Scotty McCreery made his Ryman debut with “You Make That Look Good,” while Lauren Alaina returned to the venerable stage for the first time since her American Idol audition with “Dirt Road Prayer.”   The concert’s second standing ovation went to Kacey Musgraves, who put her spin on small town living in “Merry Go ‘Round.”

Before singing “Red Words,” Vince Gill revealed that his appearance was a “thank you” to radio as he is no longer a UMG artist.

“For the first time in 30 years, I don’t have a record deal,” he said. “Don’t know that I want one. I’m just grateful for where I’ve been, and you’ve been a big part of where I’ve been and where I’m going. To my MCA family, it was really a sweet ride the last 23 years, and I appreciate everything you do.”

Lionel Richie and guest Luke Bryan closed the show with “Easy” and “Oh No.” “I’ve never been intimidated in my life,” Richie said before the set. “But in this case, Luke came to hotel and [he] knows my catalog better than I do.”

You can see all of CMTT’s photo from the luncheon on our Flick page by clicking here.

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

Even after 15 years, the ever-popular NOW records are still going strong, despite a decline in record sales after the emergence of iTunes. The famed NOW franchise is back with a new release, NOW That’s What I Call Country Ballads, featuring 18 monster ballads from hit-makers such as Chris Young and Kenny Chesney to Shania Twain and George Strait.

This is definitely a modern-day collection of country ballads, so if you’re expecting to find “He Stopped Loving Her Today” or “The Dance” on this record, you might be disappointed. Instead, you’ll find Sara Evans’ rendition of Edwin McCain’s “I Could Not Ask For More,” Martina McBride’s latest tear-jerker, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Dierks Bentley’s risque “Come a Little Closer,” and Carrie Underwood’s take on the famous Randy Travis classic, “I Told You So.”

This album is definitely aimed towards a younger audience with songs from crossover artists like Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, and Lady Antebellum, all of whom have had just as much success on pop radio as they have in the country genre. The record also features former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker’s debut single as a country artist, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” which I still say is his strongest single to date.

If you’re not high-tech with all the latest MP3s and gadgets, this would be a great record to buy if you want some of the greatest country ballads released in the last 10 years or so. Or, you could just turn on your radio – I hear these songs multiple times a day, so it’s nothing new or out of the ordinary. But, like I said, it’s a good record to have on hand in the car if you want some good country slow songs. The NOW records are available wherever records are sold, including online via iTunes and Amazon.

Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of NOW That’s What I Call Country Ballads from CMTT.  CLICK HERE to enter.  Hurry!  Contest ends Thursday , February 2nd.

Kristi Olson
CMTT Music Contributor

CLICK READ MORE to see the full track listing of NOW That’s What I Call Country Ballads.

1.  Taylor Swift                                    Forever And Always (Piano Version)
2.  Keith Urban                                    Tonight I Wanna Cry
3.  Rascal Flatts                                  What Hurts The Most
4.  The Band Perry                             If I Die Young
5.  Martina McBride                            I’m Gonna Love You Through It
6.  Luke Bryan                                                Do I
7.  Jake Owen                                                Don’t Think I Can’t Love You
8.  Lady Antebellum                            American Honey
9.  Jason Aldean/Kelly Clarkson         Don’t You Wanna Stay
10.  Shania Twain                               Forever & For Always
11.  Carrie Underwood                       I Told You So
12.  Sara Evans                                  I Could Not Ask For More
13.  Kenny Chesney                           Better As A Memory
14.  Dierks Bentley                             Come A Little Closer
15.  Chris Young                                 The Man I Want To Be
16.  Darius Rucker                              Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It
17.  George Strait                               I Saw God Today
18.  Alan Jackson                               Remember When

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED

County Dance 2™, the sequel to America’s favorite country dance video game, features over 30 of today’s hottest country tacks from the biggest names in the business including Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, The JaneDear Girls, Lady Antebellum, and 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!

Country Dance 2™ is easy to jump in and play; 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 a 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 America’s best-selling country artists.

To Celebrate the release of Country Dance 2 CMTT has your chance to win 1 of 2 copies of the original Country Dance game for Wii.   To enter to win simply click the Enter to Win button below.  Please only 1 entry per email address.  2 winners will be picked at random on November 17th.

Congratulations to our winners:

• Amanda Pile
• Stewart Marsee

Click Read More to see the entire song list for Country Dance 2:

Country Dance 2 Complete Song List:
• Ashton Shepherd – “Look It Up”
• Billy Currington – “People Are Crazy”
• Blake Shelton – “Honey Bee”
• Brad Paisley – “Old Alabama”
• Carrie Underwood – “All American Girl”
• Chad Brownlee – “Carried Away”
• Chris Heers – “Dirt Rich”
• Dierks Bentley – “Sideways”
• Easton Corbin – “Roll With It”
• Eric Church – “Hell On The Heart”
• Frankie Ballard – “A Buncha Girls”
• George Strait – “Here For A Good Time”
• Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shake That Thing”
• Hayley McLean – “Good Time Bone”
• Hunter Hayes – “Storm Warning”
• Jake Owen – “Barefoot Blue Jean Night”
• Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party”
• Joanna Smith – “Gettin’ Married”
• Josh Kelley – “Georgia Clay”
• Josh Thompson – “Won’t Be Lonely Long”
• Katie Armiger – “Best Song Ever”
• Keith Urban – “Better Life”
• Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
• Lady Antebellum – “Lookin For a Good Time”
• Little Big Town – “Little White Church”
• Luke Bryan – “Country Girl”
• Miranda Lambert – “Gunpowder & Lead”
• Montgomery Gentry – “What Do Ya Think About That”
• Rodney Atkins – “Take A Back Road”
• The JaneDear Girls – “Wildflower”
• The Last Ride– “Take You Down”

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

 

Scotty McCreery’s debut album, “Clear As Day,” stays on top of Billboard’s country albums chart for the second week in a row. Fellow “American Idol” contestant, Lauren Alaina,” is right behind. Her first album, “Wildflower,” debuts in second place. Both of them push Lady Antebellum’s album, “Own the Night,” down into third.

“God Gave Me You,” Blake Shelton’s ode to his wife, Miranda Lambert, debuts at the top of Billboard’s country songs chart. George Strait’s “Here for a Good Time” is in second. And, the Eli Young Band has the number-three song, “Crazy Girl.”

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com