The CMA Songwriters Series heads west bringing some of Nashville’s best tunesmiths to Los Angeles’ House of Blues on Tuesday, June 26th, and Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum on Wednesday, June 27th. Bill Anderson, Kristian Bush, and Bobby Pinson will join host Bob DiPiero for two nights of music and storytelling.

“Nashville has always known how amazing our songwriters are,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “And now CMA wants to share these treasured tunesmiths with the rest of the country.”

“I have not taken my music to the west coast in a long time, and I’m really looking forward to this opportunity,” said Anderson. “I lived in southern California briefly in the early ‘60s and have many friends there from my game show hosting days in the late ‘70s. It’s been awhile since I’ve performed in Phoenix as well. I’m grateful to the CMA Songwriters Series for giving me the chance to head west again.”

As one half of Country Music duo Sugarland, Bush has garnered five CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Awards, exceeded sales of more than 22 million units, and garnered eight No. 1 singles. An accomplished producer and songwriter, Bush is responsible for hits such as “Baby Girl,” “All I Want To Do,” and “Stuck Like Glue,” all recorded by Sugarland. This is Bush’s first time participating in the CMA Songwriter Series.

“It all starts with a song,” said Bush. “Songwriting has been important to me since I was a kid listening to the radio. I’m always overwhelmed by the joy I feel when I’m writing, and how humbling it is to see people sing my songs back to me when I play. The CMA has always recognized the song as well as the songwriter and the artist, and I am honored and excited to be playing in the CMA Songwriter Series.”

Tickets for the June 26th Los Angeles Show are $40 for General Admission Seating and $25 for General Admission; tickets for the June 26th show in Phoenix are $35 and $27. Tickets for both shows will go on sale Friday, June 1st. For details on purchasing tickets, log on to www.CMAworld.com or www.hob.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!

Sounds like Jennifer Nettles and her duo partner Kristian Bush are busy writing new tunes for their next Sugarland album.

Jennifer tells ABC News Radio they have been doing a lot of their writing apart lately.

“Kristian has been writing with people from Japan. He’s been to Sweden and doing some writing. He’s obviously been doing writing stateside.”

Jennifer has been spending time writing at her piano, and she adds,

“We’ve been doing a lot of different writing, and we’ll see how it pans out when we decide to go to the studio.”

Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles makes her debut as a mentor on ABC’s new music competition Duets this Thursday night at 8:00 E.

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!

Set your DVR for some country on TV this week!

• Tuesday (5/22): Phil Vassar, More at Miday (channel 4, Nashville), Carrie Underwood, Dateline (ABC); Scotty McCreery, American Idol (FOX).

• Wednesday (5/23): Scotty McCreery, American Idol (FOX).

• Thursday (5/24): Jennifer Nettles, Duets (ABC).

• Friday (5/25): Montgomery Gentry, Fox & Friends (FOX News).

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!

For her new role on the ABC music competition series “Duets,” Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles called in a few hometown favors in her quest to find the best undiscovered singing partner.

“My mother sends me a text, ‘Have you heard of John Glosson? Did you get his information because he is very good,’” the singer tells Zap2It about one of her two contestants on the show. “John, I actually found in a couple of outlets. We share a similar history. He lives in my hometown; he’s the musical director at my grandmother’s church. We were both in the same artist troop, though we never met each other until now.”

Nettles discovered her other standout talent, J Rome, via YouTube, while searching for Adele covers.

The Sugarland singer jokes, “Even Ma-Maw over here can get on the YouTube!”

“When I came through the system, it was very much the dues pay,” Nettles says. “I ran up the roads in a 15-passenger van with five smelly guys, and schlepped my own gear, and played smoky bars before smoking bans and laws were around. And I was really able to cut my teeth on the stage in that way, and considered it the best way.”

“But, what I have seen over the years is, there is wonderful talent like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, and like any in-route into the industry, the cream will rise to the top,” she continues. “Those who have what it takes will make it, and those who don’t, won’t.”

“Duets” premieres on May 24 and will air on ABC.

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!

Edens Edge on WhoSay
15. Watch out for a takeover from @EdensEdge this summer.  They are Too Good To Be True! “We’re having a blast at our video shoot today for Too Good To Be True!!!! Can’t wait for you to see it! DB”

14. In lieu of a little reality show drama, newcomer @ChaseRiceMusic made this statement that I find quite fitting “All this hatin goin on between country artists right now. Y’all…chilllll, smile, and have a drink.”

13. Hey @BrettEldredge I think my mom could give your mom some competition “Todays the day where everyone tells you why their mom is better than your mom…well my mom is better than your mom! The best!”

12. @LBTmusic spent a little time on a boat last week.  I think Karen forgot her water shoes though “Now here is Karen’s shoes #pontoon”

11. Couldn’t have said this better myself @LauraBellBundy “Bob Marley said ‘complaining is prayers to the devil.’ Today I’m taking account of all the things I HAVE…not the things that I don’t have.”

10. Sometimes we all need to take a step back and appreciate what we have as @JRodFromOz pointed out this week “News just said several soldiers returned home to TN today from overseas. Welcome home & thank for your unbelievable service!!! #hugefan”

9. Following the theme from the last two tweets, here is a little motivation from @BillyCurrington “life is like a tree. love are the leaves. sometimes u cant c the beauty til theyve fallen. look a little deeper into the forest today ! amen”

8. This week Blake Shelton was victorious on The Voice.  @Miranda_Lambert showed her joy in this tweet “Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Team Blake did it!!!!!”

7. Maybe a few CDs from now @KipMooreMusic will be able to fly private “3 types of babies on planes: A. Cute and calm B. investigative C. Pissed ….just said goodbye to C”

6. The Blue Angels had @KelliePickler flying in style this week. Maybe Kip Moore should get their number “Early flight…can’t wait to get home. After flying with the Blue Angels, flying commercial is definitely a downgrade…ha ha.”

5. I think the techie in @KristianBush is taking over – foreign invasion? “So I must have reset my login while in Paris and @iTunesMusic thinks I live there. The romantic in me won’t change it.”

4. @MartinaMcBride could write the story of my life based on this tweet “Couldn’t sleep last night. Too much music in my head…”

3. After a little time in cuffs, @JakeOwen had one of the best days of his life – his wedding “A best friend for life. I now have a wifey my face hurts from smiling. What a wonderful way to start the rest of my life.”

2. @BlakeShelton has a found the only weight loss plan that is guaranteed to get you to the end – don’t try “In order to keep the focus on my music and NOT my image I’ve decided against losing weight…”

1. It looks like @CarrieUnderwood buying her own CD on it’s release day was lucky.  She ended up at Number One on the Billboard Charts. “Just bought “Blown Away!” Glad they finally have a section for us country folk! Ha ha!”

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Scotty B. – cmttreviewer@yahoo.com
Twitter @stupidkid2150

From Lady A to Dolly P, fans can go down the country music alphabet when it comes to meeting their favorite stars for charity! Charitybuzz.com has teamed up with chart-toppers Lady Antebellum, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw, Sugarland, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban and more to give fans a chance to mingle with country’s best while benefiting the PENCIL Foundation, Reach Out And Read, The Motion Picture & Television Fund and PLAN!T NOW.

Some of the unforgettable experiences under the auction hammer include:
 Meet Lady Antebellum with 4 Tickets to A Show of Your Choice
 Meet Dolly Parton During a Dollywood Vacation in Pigeon Forge, TN
 Meet Sugarland with 2 Tickets to an Upcoming 2012 Show
 Meet Trace Atkins During the Week-Long Blake Shelton & Friends Cruise
 Meet Keith Urban at a 2013 Concert of Your Choice
 Meet Kellie Pickler at an Upcoming Concert
 Meet Tim McGraw, Uncle Kracker and Eric Church at BamaJam2012 in Enterprise, AL
 Enjoy a Hearty Southern Meal with Zac Brown Before Attending A Headlining Concert of Your Choice with 2 Tickets
 Meet Kenny Chesney with Exclusive Access to the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Outing at the Atlantis Bahamas

Bidding begins to close on Thursday, May 17 at http://chrty.bz/J9ydnU
Proceeds of these auctions will go towards childhood and college-level education, and health and human services.

Other country items up for auction include signed guitars from Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban, in addition to tickets & party passes to the 2012 CMT Music Awards, and more.

Charitybuzz raises funds for nonprofits around the globe through exclusive online auctions with the world’s top celebrities, athletes and brands.

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 new reality singing show, “Duets” premiers on May 24th on ABC, but “Good Morning America” has a sneak peak to show us what we’re in for. The show stars Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles, Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Robin Thicke. Each celebrity will perform alongside their artist and the winner goes home with a record deal.

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!