Reflecting the wide range of artists who perform at CMA Music Festival, the lineup for the Chevrolet™ Riverfront Stage includes a collection of past, present, and future superstar artists. The 2012 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, in downtown Nashville. The Chevrolet Riverfront Stage is free and open to the public.
The performances on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage will kick-off on Thursday, June 7th at 10:00 AM/CDT with a high energy show from the CMA Award-winning duo Montgomery Gentry. The duo last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2009.

“Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry are the perfect act to launch the 2012 CMA Music Festival on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage because of the excitement they generate with the fans while performing their great repertoire of hit music,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “This stage is packed with great hit-makers for four days, and it’s free! We invite everyone to come and enjoy the great music on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage.”

Chevrolet, a valued partner of CMA Music Festival and the Official Ride of Country Music, will once again host a vehicle display at Riverfront throughout the four-day event.

Other artists performing on the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage include Wade Bowen, Lee Brice, Laura Bell Bundy, Craig Campbell, Edens Edge, Brett Eldredge, THE FARM, Colt Ford, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Gloriana, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Casey James, Jana Kramer, Tracy Lawrence, LoCash Cowboys, Lonestar, Love and Theft, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Jo Dee Messina, Kip Moore, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, Jerrod Niemann, Oak Ridge Boys, James Otto, Randy Rogers Band, Thomas Rhett, Sawyer Brown, Corey Smith, Sunny Sweeney, Josh Thompson, Mel Tillis, Uncle Kracker, Phil Vassar, James Wesley, and Darryl Worley.
The current daily artist lineups are revealed below in alphabetical order:

• Thursday, June 7: Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Tracy Lawrence, Dustin Lynch, Neal McCoy, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Rogers Band, Josh Thompson, and Uncle Kracker.

• Friday, June 8: Craig Campbell, THE FARM, Gloriana, Jo Dee Messina, David Nail, Oak Ridge Boys, Thomas Rhett, Sawyer Brown, Phil Vassar, and James Wesley.

• Saturday, June 9: Laura Bell Bundy, Edens Edge, Casey James, Lonestar, Love and Theft, Kip Moore, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Corey Smith, and Mel Tillis.

• Sunday, June 10: Wade Bowen, Brett Eldredge, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Jana Kramer, LoCash Cowboys, Lorrie Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, and Darryl Worley

Performance order will be listed on CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, closer to the event. Artists and dates subject to change.

Admittance to the Chevrolet Riverfront Stage is free, but four-day ticket holders have an exclusive 45-minute, early-entrance window before the gates open to the general public. The Riverfront concerts are a popular destination for families who want to enjoy great musical performances while relaxing on the sloping bank above the Cumberland River. The concerts are fun in the sun within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, with food vendors, activities, and more.

CMA Music Festival celebrates the unique relationship between Country Music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. The artists participate for free, and on their behalf, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program. To date, more than $6.1 million has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies. The total also includes a $1 million endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program.

For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances and more, visit CMAfest.com, the official Internet home of CMA Music Festival.

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!

James Otto may be singer/songwriter, but he’s inspiring the creativity for a writer of another kind. According to The Boot, Lori Leger is writing a romance novel inspired by James’ tune of the same name Last First Kiss. The song is off James’ delux edition of his 2008 album Sunset Man.

I love to use music as inspiration for my writing, so I download a lot of country music, my favorite genre,” says the author. “The first time I heard Mr. James Otto belting out a song called ‘Last First Kiss’ in his deep, soulful base, I fell in love. In love with the story behind the song, the lyrics, as well as the title. It’s all about finding, failing, or losing the one person you thought you’d spend the rest of your life with, then actually finding that person. You can only have one first kiss with a person, and if you’re lucky … it will be the last first kiss you’ll ever have.”

The novel is second in the ‘La Fleur de Love’ series written by Lori. You can purchase below. For more info on James’ tour dates visit JamesOtto.net.

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!

One of Nashville’s leading make-up and hair stylists, Melissa Schleicher, hosted an opening event party for her new salon and make-up boutique, “Parlour 3,” in Nashville last night.

The party was held at the salon in the Nashville suburb of Brentwood and was attended by friends and family as well as Nashville based clients and celebrities. Among them were Mike Fisher, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts, James Otto, Carrie Underwood and more.

“Parlour 3” is located at 144 Franklin Street in Brentwood, Tenn. Schleicher is a 20-year premiere make-up artist based in Nashville and is currently the leading stylist for performers such as Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, and more.

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com.   Don’t miss a country music beat! Sign up to receive free email updates or subscribe to CMTT via RSS today!

James Otto has a new reason to celebrate.  The song “No Hurry”, which James co-wrote,  will be the new single release off of  Zac Brown Band’s latest album, You Get What You Give. The heartening, ‘slow-down-and-smell-the-roses’ ballad is the fifth single from You Get What You Give and hits radio airwaves this week, joining the race to become the band’s tenth consecutive No. 1 single on country radio.

“When I got the call, my wife and I stopped what we were doing and started dancing around the kitchen of our house, we were so excited,” said James Otto .

“No Hurry” was co-written by Otto, Zac Brown and long-time collaborator Wyatt Durrette, who is responsible for crafting many other ZBB hits including “Chicken Fried” and “Colder Weather.” Reminding listeners that life is too short not to make time for the people and experiences that matter most, the melodic violin-infused track’s chorus recites:

Ain’t in no hurry
Be a fool now to worry
About all those things I can’t change
And the time that I borrow
Can wait till tomorrow
Cause I ain’t in no hurry
Ain’t in no hurry
Ain’t in no hurry today
(Z. Brown, J. Otto, W. Durrette)

They are lyrics Otto has lived over the past year since welcoming new baby girl Ava Katherine into the world in the midst of transitioning from top-charting country star and GRAMMY-nominated singer and songwriter to “Daddy.”

“When she came along, I realized it was time to slow down and focus on what really mattered to me in this life — and that was being there for those unrepeatable moments of her first steps, words and discoveries…and I’m still in ‘no hurry’ to let those little moments go,” he said.

Although Otto will always put family first, he’s planning on resuming his regular touring schedule in 2012 to promote his new music and current album Shake What God Gave Ya; and now, celebrating ZBB’s release of “No Hurry.”

“There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing one of the most successful bands in country music right now is going to release your song,” he said. “I’m simply blown away, and utterly humbled.”

For more information on James Otto, visit www.JamesOtto.net.

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

It’s been a tough few months for Steel Magnolia. Josh Scott Jones was forced to pull out of the Reba tour in September and entered rehab. While Meghan Linsey continued on with James Otto filling in.

Since then we have heard rumors that Mehan and Josh were on the outs and no longer living together.   A source has pointed out to CMTT that if you follow the pair on Twitter the signs point to a personal break up.

Since Josh got out of rehab, he and Meghan have been encouraging fans to follow their individual Twitter accounts. Josh tweeted that his roommate’s yappy dog was driving him crazy. Roommate? I thought him and Meg were engaged and living together? And you know how James Otto filled in for Josh on the Reba tour? Well, Meghan tweeted that she was heading into the recording studio with James!

Although there is no confirmation of the breakup The Boot is reporting that their March 24 Steel Magnolia show at Greeneville, Tennessee’s Niswonger Performing Arts Center has been canceled, with the venue’s director claiming a breakup is to blame.

“It is our understanding that the duo is no longer performing together,” reports NPAC Executive Director Darrell Bryan. “We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause our patrons.”

The Boot has also confirmed Steel Magnolia are no longer with their label Big Machine Records.  Were sorry to hear about all of this Steel Magnolia made great music together!

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

James Otto got some new ink to show his love for daughter Ava Katherine via a tattoo of…well…her name. James tweeted a photo this weekend.

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

James Otto’s daughter is all of 14 months but she might be firming up her career plans now. Otto tells the Associated Press his little Ava is not only singing but “she’s in a little music class she goes to once a week.”

He says “she sits in there and learns about drums and stuff.” He says he “can’t believe that they’re teaching them those things. It’s pretty cool” at 14 months. Otto jokes “if only they’d teach them how to do brain surgery or something like that, instead of being a musician.” Then he gets serious and says “you know what? I love the music business. It’s a great thing. You get to do what you love.” And he says he just wants her “to do whatever she loves in life. If she loves music, then great” because he’ll “support whatever she does.”

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