News: News in Brief  

Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Will Meet Fans at Fan Fair
Thu. May 15.2008 2:55 PM EDT

Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood will make personal appearances at the CMA Music Festival's Fan Fair event, where visitors can take photos and receive autographs with country stars. The event takes place June 5-8 at the Nashville Convention Center. Admission is included in the four-day ticket package. Single-day admission is also available on June 7-8. Other performers appearing at the event include Rodney Atkins, Bucky Covington, Emerson Drive, Josh Gracin, Little Big Town, James Otto, Gretchen Wilson and Wynonna. The artists' specific autograph times have not been announced.

Jo Dee Messina, Phil Vassar Open CMA Music Festival
Thu. May 15.2008 2:55 PM EDT

Jo Dee Messina and Phil Vassar will open the CMA Music Festival on the daytime stage on June 5 at 10 a.m. Messina's first two No. 1 hits -- "Bye-Bye" and "I'm Alright," both from 1998 -- were written by Vassar. She is expected to release a new album this year. Vassar's new album was released in April. Other artists who have been added to the daytime stage include Jason Michael Carroll, Josh Gracin, Jack Ingram, Mindy McCready and Joe Nichols.

Anne Murray Honored by Songwriter's Hall of Fame
Thu. May 15.2008 2:55 PM EDT

Anne Murray will receive the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award from the Songwriter's Hall of Fame on June 19 in New York City. The award recognizes performers who have had a substantial number of hit songs for an extended period of time. Murray has sold nearly 50 million albums and notched 10 No. 1 country hits. Her signature songs include "Snowbird," "You Needed Me," "I Just Fall in Love Again," "Could I Have This Dance," "A Little Good News" and "Just Another Woman in Love." She released Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, produced by Phil Ramone, earlier this year.

Dolly Parton Upset Over Howard Stern Audio
Wed. May 14.2008 6:19 PM EDT

Dolly Parton says she's "completed devastated" after her speaking voice was heavily edited and electronically manipulated in a comedy bit featured on Howard Stern's radio show. The segment, which features racist and sexually-explicit language, includes references to Kenny Rogers, Burt Reynolds, Linda Ronstadt and the late Johnny Carson. It first aired May 6 during Stern's show on Sirius Satellite Radio, a service that is available only by paid subscription, but gained a wider audience after the audio appeared on various Web sites. In a written statement issued Wednesday (May 14), Parton said, "I have never been so shocked, hurt and humiliated in all my life. I cannot believe what Howard Stern has done to me. In a blue million years, I would never have such vulgar things come out of my mouth. They have done editing or some sort of trickery to make this horrible, horrible thing. Please accept my apology for them and certainly know I had nothing to do with this. If there was ever going to be a lawsuit, it's going to be over this. Just wanted you to know that I am completely devastated by this."

Taylor Swift, Julianne Hough Make Maxim's Hot 100 List
Wed. May 14.2008 6:19 PM EDT

Julianne Hough, Jessica Simpson and Taylor Swift are among the women featured on Maxim's Hot 100 list for 2008. Hough, who became famous on Dancing With the Stars and then signed a country record deal, shows up at No. 30. Simpson, who is expected to release a country album this year, lands at No. 53, just ahead of Swift at No. 57. Supermodel Marisa Miller appears at the top of the list, trailed by Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, Eva Longoria Parker and Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Trace Adkins Will Sign Autographs at Country Music Hall of Fame
Wed. May 14.2008 6:19 PM EDT

Trace Adkins, Kathy Mattea, Phil Vassar and Trisha Yearwood will sign autographs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's gift shop during the CMA Music Festival, held June 5-8 in Nashville. Yearwood will sign her new album and new cookbook on June 5 at 10 a.m. Mattea will perform and be interviewed at noon, followed by a signing for her new album. Mattea and Yearwood previously worked as tour guides at the Hall of Fame before signing a record deal. Adkins will also sign his new book and various albums on June 5. Jeffrey Buckner Ford will talk about the book he's written about his father, Country Music Hall of Fame member Tennessee Ernie Ford, on June 6 at noon. On June 7, Vassar will perform at noon, followed by a signing at the gift shop.

Kitty Wells, Roy Orbison Recordings Honored by Library of Congress
Wed. May 14.2008 6:19 PM EDT

Kitty Wells' "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels" and Roy Orbison's ''Oh, Pretty Woman" have been added to the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress to recognize recordings that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant." In an announcement made Wednesday (May 14), other artists recognized with the honor include Duke Ellington, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, Charlie Parker and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. "Oh, Pretty Woman" was an international hit for Orbison in 1964. Known as "The Queen of Country Music," Wells recorded the song on May 30, 1952, as an answer to Hank Thompson's "The Wild Side of Life." Released as her debut single, the song spent six weeks at No. 1 in 1952, and she was invited to join the Opry that same year.

Taylor Swift Featured in L.e.i. Clothing Ads
Tue. May 13.2008 5:38 PM EDT

Taylor Swift will be featured in a back-to-school advertising campaign for the L.e.i. clothing line. Swift alluded to the endorsement Monday (May 12) during a press conference in Nashville, but the deal was confirmed Tuesday by Jones Apparel Group Inc., L.e.i.'s parent company. Fashion photographer Peggy Sirota will shoot the images featuring Swift and a variety of jeans and tops. The ads will debut in the August issues of Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Seventeen and other fashion and entertainment magazines. The campaign will also include online and mobile marketing elements and a strong presence within Wal-Mart stores.

American Songwriter Magazine Salutes Country
Tue. May 13.2008 5:38 PM EDT

American Songwriter magazine features Alan Jackson on its current May/June cover and includes a compilation CD with the issue. The issue also features Hayes Carll, Sarah Buxton, Rivers Rutherford, Eric Church and Tift Merritt. The CD includes 22 songs from artists such as Willie Nelson, Gary Allan, James Otto, Ashton Shepherd, John Prine, Dale Watson, Lori McKenna, the Avett Brothers, the SteelDrivers and Justin Townes Earle.

Carter's Chord Will Release Digital Album on June 17
Tue. May 13.2008 5:38 PM EDT

New country band Carter's Chord will release their album digitally on June 17, with the CD version expected to follow later in the year. Carter's Chord is comprised of three sisters, who are the children of two members of Waylon Jennings' touring band. Toby Keith co-produced the album with Barny Robertson, the trio's father. The self-titled debut album will be issued on Show Dog Records, the label founded by Keith. They will also be touring with Keith throughout the summer.