The star power on the 2012 CMT Music Awards stage is getting hotter with the addition of Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and Hank Williams, Jr. as performers on this year’s show. The 2012 CMT Music Awards will air live on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

Toby Keith, who was previously announced as host of this year’s show with actress Kristen Bell, will return to the stage as the only artist to have performed at every CMT Music Awards since its 2002 launch. Also added to the lineup this year are Eric Church and Pistol Annies, both first-time mainstage performers; Group Video of the Year nominees and fan favorites Rascal Flatts and The Band Perry; and country legends Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, Jr.

Additionally, Luke Bryan is slated to perform on this year’s show and will also host the 2012 CMT Music Awards Video of the Year Special  premiering Saturday, June 2 at 2:00 p.m., ET/PT. Bryan will present the nominees for the coveted Video of the Year category in the one-hour special.

Previously announced performers include Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band. Fans can vote online at CMT.com, and on their mobile device at CMT Mobile or the CMT Insider app available on iPhone, iPad and Android now through June 4 to determine the winners. The five finalists for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile, on the CMT Insider app and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

CMTT wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email Jessica 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!

Making changes up until the last note was played, Kenny Chesney closed out his final Nashville rehearsal for the ‘Brother’s of the Sun’ Tour, with Chesney and Tim McGraw. Kicking off in Tampa, Florida on June 2, Chesney shares the stage with longtime friend Tim McGraw.

“We hadn’t even finished last year’s tour when we started working on this year, and what we visualized nine months ago is a reality today,” Chesney enthused.

In front of a small crowd of friends and members of the music industry, Chesney used every moment of the working rehearsal to put final touches on his show, tweaking everything from the timing of video clips and color saturation to sound mix and instrumentation. Chesney also chatted informally with the crowd, sharing stories behind the songs and past tours.

With dazzling, state of the art video, lighting and sound, the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour, with Chesney and McGraw, is set to be an astonishing audio/visual display. But the focus of the show is the music. Whether it’s showcasing new music from his forthcoming ‘Welcome To The Fishbowl’ (6.19), or going deep into his catalog of hits, the show glides with a bend towards uptempo songs balanced by the occasional ballad, plus a few surprises.

“It’s the fans that make this all happen and we’re ready to let this show loose on you,” said Chesney. “We’re rehearsed and our bags are packed, so get your tailgating ready and we’ll see you in the parking lots and in the stadiums all summer long.”

Keep up with tour dates and details about Kenny on his website at http://kennychesney.com

CMTT wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email Jessica 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!

Kenny Chesney covers Men’s Health magazine this month. Of course, they eventually talk about his intense tour-season diet and training regiment, however, Kenny also lets readers get inside his head.

“It is a big misconception that all I do is sing and write songs and sit on the beach,” Chesney says. “It’s really not true.”

In fact, its only after wrapping one of his massive summer stadium tours that Kenny allows himself to “chill.”

“I’m gonna have a couple of cold Coronas and listen to music and watch the sun move across the sky. And I’ll try to relax and turn my brain off. If I could find the light switch to turn that off . . .” he trails off a bit, recalibrating. “But I’m glad it’s not off. I wouldn’t know what to do. I’m like a shark. I’ve got to be constantly moving.”

Before Kenny was a “Rockstar” or country star rather, he was enjoying the lazy lull of Luttrell, TN. Then moved to East Tennessee State for Marketing, which I imagine comes in handy now. But eventually, Kenny realized that music was consuming more of his efforts and heart than his education ever would. So, he decided to step it up.

“I remember lying in bed one night, going, ‘You have to step it up. You have to make yourself better,’” he said. “‘There’s somebody some-where you don’t know—and you may never meet them—but they’re kicking your livin’ ass.’ And I don’t want to let somebody have that on me.”

Well, it’s obvious Kenny has. His last show of this tour will be his 70th stadium show, and Kenny show’s no signs of stopping anytime soon.

You can read more here.

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!

The 2012 CMT Music Awards is guaranteed to be the hottest ticket in town this summer with performers including Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band during this year’s live show. Country music’s first fan-voted awards show, now in its 11th year, will broadcast from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6th at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. Additional performers, along with host and presenters will be announced soon.

Thanks to our friends at CMT we have 1 pair of tickets to give away to one lucky winner!
Click the Enter to Win button below and follow the directions to enter to win.  HURRY contest ends Monday, May 28th!

Note: The winner will receive 1 pair of tickets to the 2012 CMT Music Awards.  It does not include airfare or hotel accommodations.  Please make sure you are able to get yourself to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, June 6.

Only one entry per person is allowed.

CMTT wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email Jessica 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!

Forbes has released it’s newest list of The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities, and some country names made the cut. After No. 1 Jennifer Lopez and No. 2 Oprah; Taylor Swift takes the 11th spot with a small fortune of $57 Million. Also making the cut is Toby Keith at No. 49 with $55 Million, Kenny Chesney at No. 53 with $44 Million, and Brad Paisley at No. 68 with $32 Million.

I honestly don’t know how people can survive off so little money. I mean, Oprah only brought home $165 Million.

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!

The 2012 CMT Music Awards is guaranteed to be the hottest ticket in town this summer with performers including Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band during this year’s live show. Country music’s first fan-voted awards show, now in its 11th year, will broadcast from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6th at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. Additional performers, along with host and presenters will be announced soon.

Tickets for the show will go on sale Monday, May 21st at 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

Fans can vote online at CMT.com, and on their mobile device at CMT Mobile or the CMT Insider app available on iPhone, iPad and Android now through June 4th to determine the winners. The five finalists for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show and fans can then vote at CMT.com, CMT mobile, on the CMT Insider app and via text message throughout the live telecast (ET/CT only) to determine the night’s big winner.

For more information as it becomes available, follow CMT on Twitter (@FollowCMT), hashtag #CMTawards and become a fan of the CMT Music Awards on Facebook.

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!

Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw are hard at work and started their first joint rehearsal Thursday (May 10) for their upcoming tour, “Brothers of the Sun.”  According to MSN.com the rehearsal lasted more than three hours.

“Yesterday’s rehearsal with Tim and I and our bands was as electric and exciting as we anticipated,” said Chesney in a press release accompanying the photo. “It’s been a long time since we’ve played on stage together and the chemistry and excitement is just so natural. It’s going to be a dream come true to have our years of friendship come together on stage for what will be one unpredictable, loud, hell of a summer, and I can’t wait.”

“Brothers of the Sun”  will play more than 20 stadiums across the country, and more than 700,000 tickets have already been sold. Opening acts include Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen.

CMTT wants you to be a Tattle Tale! We want to hear what you have to say about country music and your favorite artists. Email Jessica 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!