The Grand Ole Opry_® presented by Humana_® will honor one of the most awarded artists in country and bluegrass music, Ricky Skaggs, on his 30^th anniversary as an Opry member during the Tuesday Night Opry May 15, 2012.

The 14-time Grammy_® winner was inducted into the Opry on May 15, 1982.  His milestone anniversary will be celebrated with performances by the honoree, fellow Opry members Alison Krauss, Josh Turner, and The Whites, plus special guests two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year Dailey & Vincent.

“Not unlike Ricky’s music, the list of artists lined up to honor him on May 15 is eclectic and award-winning,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher. “It’s going to be a night of great musicianship as we celebrate all that Ricky means to the Opry family.”

From Skaggs’ beginnings in bluegrass, he has gone on to put his own stamp on the mainstream country format, resulting in twelve #1 hits, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and eight Country Music Association Awards, including CMA Entertainer of the Year in 1985.  Skaggs started his own record label, Skaggs Family Records, in 1997 and has since released 12 consecutive Grammy-nominated albums.  His latest project, Country Hits Bluegrass Style, is exactly what its title suggests:  Skaggs’ classic country hits offered up in fresh, new bluegrass form.  With a career spanning over 50 years in music, he is currently working on an autobiography, has been selected as a 2012 recipient of the ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award and is to be inducted into the Gospel Music Association’s Hall of Fame later this year, all while continuing to record and tour with his band Kentucky Thunder as one of music’s most sought after live performers.

The Grand Ole Opry_® is presented by Humana_®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year.  To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or log on to www.opry.com.

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The 54th Annual Grammy Awards Winners Are…

• Best Country Album- Lady Antebellum ‘Own the Night’

• Best Country Song- Taylor Swift “Mean”

• Best Country Solo Performance- Taylor Swift “Mean

• Best Bluegrass Album- Alison Krauss & Union Station ‘Paper Airplanes’

• Best country duo/group performance- The Civil Wars “Barton Hollow”

• Best Folk Album- The Civil Wars ‘Barton Hollow’

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

Photo Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards may have just begun, but a few awards were given out pre-broadcast and Taylor Swift and Alison Krauss and Union Station took home a few golden statues. Taylor Swift’s “Mean” won for Best Country Song.

“There’s no feeling like writing a song about someone who hates you and is mean to you and makes your life miserable — and then win the Grammy for it,” Taylor said while accepting her award.

Taylor and the Civil Wars received best country duo/group performance award for “Barton Hollow,” while the duo’s Barton Hollow album claimed the best folk album prize.

Alison Krauss and Union Station took home the trophy for Best Bluegrass Album for Paper Airplane.

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

The White House goes country later today as a part of a special concert that tops off a day of student workshops about the history and cultural significance of country music. The performers include Lauren Alaina, The Band Perry, Dierks Bentley, Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker and James Taylor. The concert will stream live from the White House website, www.whitehouse.gov/live starting at 7 tonight, Eastern time.  It will also air Wednesday on PBS.

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

Keith Urban and an all-star lineup of friends will return to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, January 18th, for a concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Reserved seating tickets, which are priced at a family friendly $25 and $35 (does not include Ticketmaster surcharge), will go on sale December 2nd at 10:00 a.m., rather than November 4th as originally announced. A limited number of VIP ticket packages will also go on sale on December 2nd at Ticketmaster.com. (Complete ticket purchase information is below.)

The show-which will feature performances from an all-star line-up including Urban, Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Little Big Town, the Oak Ridge Boys and additional artists to be announced later-again promises to be a one-of-a-kind, once-in-a-lifetime evening of music, friendship and camaraderie.

“The support that this event has received over the past couple of years, I think, really speaks to the commitment to and the importance of preserving the past and protecting the future of country music,” Urban said. “We’ll have some great bands performing-part of our ‘All Together Now’ theme for the night-an especially fitting concept that we hope will capture the spirit of the evening.”

“The first two We’re All for the Hall concerts have been landmarks for this institution,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “They have been the most successful fundraisers in the museum’s history, together raising roughly $1 million. And they have not only set a new standard for fundraising and event coordination, but also brought together an entire community and helped us to see what can be done by individuals when there is a collective passion for a cause.

“It is beyond gratifying” Young continued, “when the artists we love and chronicle, artists like Vince and Keith, offer us their leadership and financial support. Keith Urban grew up in a home where country music was cherished. He knows the music’s history and its heroes. He is one of country music’s greatest champions and he is one of this museum’s heroes.”

Ticket information after the jump….

Reserved Seating Tickets

Tickets ($25 and $35, plus Ticketmaster surcharge) go on sale December 2 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, the Bridgestone Arena box office or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Phone, internet and outlet orders are subject to a convenience fee.

VIP Packages

VIP packages will go on sale December 2 at Ticketmaster.com. They include:

“Get Closer” Package

$3,500 for one ticket

20 packages available

Invitation for one to an intimate dinner in the Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda the evening of Tuesday, January 17, hosted by some of Keith Urban’s close friends and collaborators
Meet & greet for one with Keith Urban before the concert January 18 (timing TBD), which includes an individual photo
Framed meet & greet picture mailed to your house one week after the concert
One Keith Urban autographed guitar
One premium floor concert seat and commemorative ticket
One signed customized concert seat that you can take home
One invitation to a post-concert party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
One complete Keith Urban catalog per package on CD including: Keith Urban, Golden Road, Be Here, Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing, Greatest Hits: 19 Kids, Defying Gravity and Get Closer
One commemorative Hatch Show Print event poster autographed by Keith Urban
One complimentary parking space for both the January 17 dinner and the January 18 concert within a one-block vicinity of the dinner, concert and post-party venues
One “Friends & Family” membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which includes unlimited free admission for the entire household to the museum and most public programs for one year (valued at $100)

“Put You in a Song” Package

$2,500 for one ticket

10 packages available

Invitation for one to an intimate dinner in the Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda the evening of Tuesday, January 17, hosted by some of Keith Urban’s close friends and collaborators
Meet & greet for one with Keith Urban before the concert on January 18 (timing TBD), which includes a group photo
One premium floor concert seat
One invitation to a post-concert party at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
One complete Keith Urban catalog per package on CD including: Keith Urban, Golden Road, Be Here, Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing, Greatest Hits: 19 Kids, Defying Gravity and Get Closer
One commemorative Hatch Show Print event poster autographed by Keith Urban
One complimentary parking space for both the January 17 dinner and the January 18 concert within a one-block vicinity of the dinner, concert and post-party venues
One “Friends & Family” membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which includes unlimited free admission for the entire household to the museum and most public programs for one year (valued at $100)

“Start a Band” Package

$150 for one ticket

60 packages available

One premium floor concert seat
One complimentary parking spot for the January 18 concert within one-block vicinity of the venue
One “Individual Membership” to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, which includes unlimited free admission for one to the museum and most public programs for one year (valued at $40)

A portion of each VIP package is tax deductible to support the preservation of country music.

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

Brad Paisley is sitting on top of Billboard’s country songs chart with “Old Alabama.” Rascal Flatts has gone from fourth place last week to second with “I Won’t Go.” And Miranda Lambert’s “Heart Like Mine,” drops from first to third.

Not much movement on Billboard’s country albums chart. Just like last week, Jason Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” is in first place and Taylor Swift’s “Speak Now” is in second. The third and fourth place albums have switched places so “You Get What You Give” from the Zac Brown Band now is in third and “Paper Airplane” from Alison Krauss and Union Station is in fourth.

Sara Evans stays in first place on Billboard’s country songs chart with “A Little Bit Stronger.” Miranda Lambert goes into her wedding weekend in second place with “Heart Like Mine.”  And, Brad Paisley’s single, “Old Alabama,” featuring the band, Alabama, moves up from fifth place to third.

It’s first place again on Billboard’s country albums chart for Jason Aldean with “My Kinda Party.” Alison Krauss and Union Station stay in second place with “Paper Airplane.” Colt Ford’s new album, “Every Chance I Get,” debuts in third place

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