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

Aside from being out on the road this fall making special appearances on Reba’s “All The Women I Am” tour, country soul powerhouse James Otto is spending a lot of time at home with his daughter Ava who celebrated her first birthday in August. Although he’s known for his larger-than-life stature and tough-man military attitude, Otto has a soft spot in his heart when it comes to his little girl. Shamelessly, for Halloween on Monday, he dressed up as the farmer in Ava’s favorite nursery rhyme “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” and took Ava on a “hayride” around their neighborhood trick-or-treating in Nashville.

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

With Joshua Scott Jones in rehab, James Otto is filling in as the male voice of Steel Magnolia. Meghan Linsey posted a photo of her singing with Otto.

James tells GAC-TV his and Linsey’s “musical tastes are very similar.” Since Steel Magnolia is one of Reba McEntire’s opening acts this fall Otto says “Man, who wouldn’t want to be out on tour with Reba McEntire? That was one of those things that’s a no-brainer.”

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

“For several months since my USO Tour in April, I’ve been thinking about what we can do as a community to show our gratitude to our military and civil personnel who sacrifice their lives for us every day… therefore my vision is for this [website] to be a place for your heroes to be publicly honored and shown proper gratitude for their self-sacrifice. Thanks in advance to everyone who takes part – can’t wait to read your stories.”

In addition, James has volunteered to randomly select one fan’s story from each market where he has a scheduled show in September, and give them two tickets to his show where he’ll personally dedicate his song “Soldiers and Jesus” to the hero and their family chosen on stage.

“I know it’s not much,” he said. “But I feel it’s the least I can do to show my sincere thanks to those who make the ultimate sacrifice, in memory of the Sept. 11th victims.”

To submit a special story about a loved one, visit www.jamesotto.net.

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