You Da One

Even though "We Found Love" is still ruling the charts, Rihanna is gearing up for the release of her second Talk That Talk single, "You Da One," by releasing a behind-the-scenes teaser for the Melina Matsoukas-directed clip.

In the two-minute montage, the RihannaNavy get several glimpses at a blond-bobbed Rih with a fitted gold grill and a slew of outfit changes. For one of her ensembles, the pop titan dons a gold chain necklace and midriff-baring two-piece as she grinds up against a checkered wall with life-size playing cards nearby. Another scene finds the singer in a white tank top and tattered jean shorts, swinging a cane in between two brick buildings.

"We're in London town!" the chart-topper tells the cameraman while the Dr. Luke-produced track plays in the background. "We tried to shoot our first setup outside, but it started to rain really, really hard. Then it stopped after we had to switch setups. ... I'm running on one hour of sleep. I'm not even going to remember this tomorrow. My eyes are burning a little bit."

Rihanna has been dropping teasers for the "You Da One" visual for some time now. Two weeks ago, she released a clip of herself getting fitted for her grill. And just a few days ago, the singer took to Twitter to share another still, which depicted the star topless, leaning back and blowing smoke into the air. "#YOUDAONEVIDEO you know im already in trouble 4 this but, i like to keep yall in the loop," she wrote.

Fans can also expect to be kept in the loop about the video for "Take Care," Rihanna's collabo with Drake. MTV News recently caught up with Drizzy, who shared his expectations for the video for the Jamie xx-produced song, saying, "I want to make it perfect — the best video I've done to date — so I'm just taking my time."

Ke$ha's Version Of Dylan's Song Is A Slow-burning

Ke$ha

It's hard to associate Ke$ha with songs about anything other than hot guys, body glitter and partying. But she's defying her usual topics of interest for human rights organization Amnesty International. The singer is one of the many musicians on the org's Chimes of Freedom compilation of Bob Dylan's music, out January 24.

When MTV News spoke with K-Dollar Sign last week about her all-star remix of "Sleazy,"she also opened up about switching gears vocally and emotionally for her version of Dylan's classic "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right."

"I mean, I think it's pretty well known that he's one of, if not my most, favorite artists of all time and ... one of the most amazing lyricists as well — the original storyteller," she explained. "So I love Bob Dylan and this was just, like, a dream. When they asked me to do a cover, I was just, like, salivating and going through all my records. It was so fun. It was the best homework assignment you could possibly have."

K's version of Dylan's song is a slow-burning, heartbreaking ode to the already heartbreaking classic, where she channels Dylan through lyrics like "Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say/ To try and make me change my mind and stay/ We never did too much talkin' anyway/ So don't think twice, it's all right."

Ke$ha had originally intended to record another Dylan track, but when she heard that someone else had their sights set on it, she settled on "Don't Think Twice," prompting a catharsis she could never have imagined.

"This song was kind of an accident. I sat down and this is the first take that I ever sang," she recalled. "I just sat down on my bed for the first time after months of being on tour and I just started crying, and it was kind of like an emotional purging, and you can hear it on the record."

In addition to Ke$ha and her contribution, the album will feature 75 other Dylan classics recorded by nearly 80 artists including Adele, Miley Cyrus, "Glee" star Darren Criss, My Chemical Romance, Evan Rachel Wood and Sugarland. The album pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International.

Better Days

In the eight years between Catching up to the Future and Fonda's new EP, Better Days, the band's principal songwriting duo, Emily Cook and David Klotz, have devoted their energies to some truly questionable projects: Cook contributed to the screenplay of the execrable Gnomeo & Juliet, while Klotz is the music editor for the ongoing pop-culture nightmare that is Glee. Egregious and eyebrow-raising though those credits may be, Cook and Klotz's work here is characterized by relatively good taste. Thanks to their dead-on instincts for engaging melodies and their heavy My Bloody Valentine influences, Better Days is a focused set of lush, dreamy pop.

The massive power chords and thundering percussion line of the title track open the EP on something of a Coldplay note, but a heavily distorted lead guitar line quickly kicks in and the song's melody takes a minor-key turn, recasting the song as an effective and on-point homage to early-'90s shoegaze. Cook and Klotz sing lead in unison on "A Love That Won't Let You Go," and they use off-kilter, slightly discordant harmonies to bring a real sense of tension to the track. While that approach to arrangements might not be novel (Fonda is hardly the first act to draw heavily from the Jesus and Mary Chain), it's something they make effective use of over the course of Better Days, allowing their deliberate aesthetic choices to play as big a role as their lyrics and performances in creating the EP's tone.

To that end, Fonda absolutely makes the most of Better Days's scant running time. Even with the new track, "Some Things Aren't Worth Knowing," added to the set for this new rerelease, the EP doesn't even scratch a full 20 minutes. None of the songs ever threaten to overstay their welcome ("In the Coach Station Light" is an unabashedly lovely two minutes), and there's something to be said for the degree of precision Fonda brings to their songwriting, especially on the riotous, punk-inflected standout "My Heart Is Dancing." That said, even in a market that's increasingly singles-driven, the sheer brevity of Better Days casts the EP as more of a teaser for a bigger project than as a standalone release.

Top 10 Worst Christmas Songs of All Time

10. Jimmy Boyd, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." This Saks Fifth Avenue potboiler from 1952 about a child catching his mother being sexually assaulted by an elderly home invader only becomes even creepier when you realize the kid's mom isn't cheating on his dad, but that Mommy and Daddy have a Santa fetish. Also, what 13-year-old still believes in St. Nick anyway?

9. Lou Monte, "Dominick the Donkey." With Italy in the midst of an economic crisis, Lou Monte's 1960 holiday jingle about Saint Nicola outsourcing his Christmas present deliveries in the Italian mountainside to a retarded donkey suddenly feels more prescient than ever. But that doesn't make it any less irritating.

8.Fogelberg, "Same Old Lang Syne." The concept is touching enough: Fogelberg runs into an old flame at the grocery store on Christmas Eve and they grab a drink and reminisce. But melodramatic lyrics ("She went to hug me and she spilled her purse/And we laughed until we cried") and gratutious details ("We took her groceries to the checkout stand/The food was totalled up and bagged") make "Same Old Lang Syne" a cloying annual annoyance.

7. Neil Diamond, "Cherry Cherry Christmas." In this new addition to the schmaltzy, nonsensical holiday song canon, Neil Diamond wishes you "a very, merry, cherry, cherry, holly-holy, rockin'-rolly Christmas," before idiotically exclaiming, "Cherry Christmas, everyone!" at song's end.

6. Cyndi Lauper, "Christmas Conga." Holiday cheer has always been all-inclusive. Hell, even the Jewish Neil Diamond has released three Christmas albums. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say a Latin house anthem with lyrics like "Bonga, bonga, bonga, do the Christmas conga!" probably wasn't necessary. But we still love you, Cyn.

5. New Kids on the Block, "Funky, Funky Xmas." This timeless boy-band classic features inexplicable British accents, inexplicable rapping, inexplicable lyrics like "It's snowing outside, but we ho-ho-hoing," and—less inexplicably, obviously—Santa Claus burning his butt.

4. The Cheeky Girls, "Boys and Girls (Xmas Time Love)." Best known for their hit "Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum)," this Transylvanian duo cracked the U.K. charts in 2004 with a yuletide song based on Sabrina's "Boys (Summertime Love)." The song doesn't have a whole lot to do with Christmas, but there are some synthesized sleigh bells and the video features the bikini-clad twins frollicking in front of a Christmas tree at a festive pool party, so I guess that counts in England.

3. Clay Aiken, "Merry Christmas with Love." This inspirational carol about a lonely widow featuring lyrics like "This year there's no one to open the gifts/No reason for trimming the tree" was originally sung by Sandi Patti in the early '80s, but Clay Aiken resurrected it for his 2004 album of the same name, instantly catapulting it onto nearly every Worst Christmas Song list.

2. John Denver, "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)." Almost everyone can relate to the sentiment behind "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)," but a grown man singing "Now I'm almost eight, as you can see" is profoundly unsettling (not to mention absurd), even if that man is the eternally youthful John Denver.

1. NewSong, "The Christmas Shoes." For over a decade now, NewSong's contribution to Christmas music has ruined the holiday season for millions of people around the world. In the song, the narrator (played by Rob Lowe in the video below) meets a little boy who's "dirty from head to toe" and who asks him to buy a pair of shoes for his dying mother so she looks beautiful in case she "meets Jesus tonight." Half-step key changes and a children's choir are added insurance in case you haven't felt cheaply manipulated enough. Putting "The Christmas Shoes" at #1 on this list doesn't do justice to how horrendous it is. The enormous gulf in quality between our #2 pick, "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)," and this song is the equivalent of a 3.0 and a 10.0 earthquake on the Richter scale. It's not just the worst Christmas song ever, it's one of the worst songs ever recorded.

What Do You Think Of Karmin's New Video?

The Internet has launched dozens of stars in 2011 for the wrong reasons (see: Courtney Stodden, Rebecca Black), and then there's Karmin, a scary-talented couple whose infectious and clever covers of hip-hop songs blew up your inbox back in April.

Their reinterpretation of Chris Brown's "Look at Me Now" got them on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and, more importantly, snatched up by L.A. Reid as he took over Epic Records this summer.

On the set of Karmin's brand-new music video for debut single "Crash Your Party,"longtime lovebirds Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan were still trying to wrap their heads around their up-and-up career trajectory.

"We feel a lot different than we used to with [us] making the videos at home in the living room," Heidemann told MTV News. "We were joking about it earlier, how we used to run over to the camera and push record and run [back] and be like, 'OK, ready?' "

"And then we had to turn the air off so it was always, like, 106 degrees in there," Noonan recalled. "This is a little bit different."

"A little bit different" is putting it mildly. The set was packed with a massive crew, multiple sets, child actors and stage parents and wardrobe changes, and the air conditioning was keeping it all at a bearable temperature. No wonder Heidemann used the word "overwhelmed" to describe their feelings in the midst of a 21-hour shoot.

The just-premiered clip, directed by Syndrome, features Heidemann and Noonan rocking out on YouTube before the pair climb into a magical suitcase that transports them to strangers' kitchens, children's birthday parties, karaoke bars and, ultimately, a massive stage where they are performing for adoring fans.

JLS 'Do You Feel What I Feel'

No sooner than JLS have released the very succesful “Take A Chance On Me” they are now following up with another new number called “Do You Feel What I Feel” and the official video was released yesterday. Is it as good?

The Video:

This is a clubby number, very pop and mainstream and needs an energetic clubby style video to go with it and this video does the job. The usual latest trend to have a film style intro with a bit of chit chat before the music starts with “bruv” muttered on the mobile once the parents have gone quite rightly starting the proceedings. Apparently Volvo’s are in now are they?…………..seems to be that way? It’s an OK vid but nothing exceptional.

The Song:

R n B and dance is the style of this number and pop is it’s focus. Vocals are typical JLS, decent and polished and fresh and the harmonies are also classic JLS and very good indeed. We liked “Take A Chance on Me” and quite a few other people did as well judging by how well it did in the charts.

This number in our opinion is in the OK category, it’s just not pushing any originality buttons here, it’s very poppy sounding and catchy and the technicals are OK as well, but there’s nothing here to make it stand out from the music crowd out there at present. It’s safe rather than edgy, it washes over you in a pleasant manner rather than throwing you back in your chair, it has a message but it’s hardly a passionate or strong one.. In summary it’s “nice” but lacks “bite”.

‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ Is Somewhat Generic Melodically

The follow-up to Brantley Gilbert‘s chart-topping single ‘Country Must Be Country Wide’ allows the singer to show a dark vulnerability that is sure to make him a more appealing artist to country music fans who may be turned off by his brand of country rock. ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ is sentimental without being sissy.

Gilbert wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on his ‘Halfway to Heaven’ album, often drawing from personal experience. This mid-tempo cut about heartbreak feels genuine, though a little rushed. More time was needed to turn his pain into artistry.

"Cause you don’t know her like I do / You’ll never understand / You don’t know what we’ve been through / That girl’s my best friend / And there’s no way you’re gonna help me / She’s the only one who can / No, you don’t know how much I’ve got to lose / You don’t know her like I do,” Gilbert sings during the chorus. He’s talking to a friend that’s trying to move him past the hurt.

"I can’t forget, I’m drowning in these memories / It fills my soul with all the little things / And I can’t cope, it’s like a death inside the family / It’s like she stole my way to breathe / So don’t try to tell me I’ll stop hurting / And don’t try to tell me she ain’t worth it,” he adds during the second verse.

While Gilbert continues to bring a unique sound and perspective to country music, ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ is somewhat generic melodically. His passion and raw emotion overcome this flaw but not as well as some of the other songs on ‘Halfway to Heaven.’

Justin Bieber's Next Album to Focus on 'Transition'

Justin Bieber's growing up, but vocal producer Kuk Harrell says he's not ready for "the adult game" just yet.

"The only conversation we've had about Justin's album that we're about to do is it's really important that it's the proper transition because we've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up," he told MTV News. "There's a record in between."

However, he said the 17-year-old star's current release -- the Christmas album "Under the Mistletoe," which bowed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 -- is an "important" preview of what fans can expect from the next album.

"It gave everybody the opportunity to hear him, see him and get used to his voice changing," Harrell said. "That was a huge thing going into this album. We were able to get a running start on where he's at vocally 'cause it's a natural thing. When his proper album comes out, everybody's going to really be looking at that."
Bieber's next album, dubbed "Believe," is expected next summer. His manager, Scooter Braun, told the Hollywood Reporter last month that the teen star would be taking a hands-on approach to his new material.

"He's pretty adamant about writing a lot of [the album]," Braun said. "And he played me some stuff that he's been doing on his own. He wrote this amazing song that sounds like a Jodeci record. I'm really excited for him. This kid can sing his ass off. He's coming into his own."

Nickelback Released New Song "Here and Now"

Nickelback is one of the most commercially successful Canadian groups, having sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. The band also ranks as the 11th best selling music act of the 2000s, and is the second best selling foreign act in the U.S. behind The Beatles for the 2000s. In December 2009, Nickelback were ranked seventh on Billboard Magazine's list of "Artists of the Decade" - both the highest-ranked band and the highest-ranked rock artist in the list.

Nickelback will release its seventh studio album, “Here And Now” on Nov. 21.
Produced by the band, the set is the follow-up to 2008’s “Dark Horse,” which sold more than 3 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Nickelback recorded the album in Mountain View Studios in Vancouver. Frontman Chad Kroeger said in a statement, “We entered the studio this year with a vision, and it all came together. We’re extremely happy with the results.”

He doesn’t share what that vision is, but fans will get some glimpse on Sept. 26, when the rock group will take the unusual step of releasing two singles simultaneously: “When We Stand Together” will go to pop radio and “Bottoms Up” will ship to rock radio. They will be available on iTunes the next day.

This year also also marks the 10th anniversary of the band’s breakthrough song “How You Remind Me,” from its debut Road Runner album “All The Right Reasons.” Since then, the group has sold close to 50 million albums worldwide.

Nickelback will launch a world tour in early 2012.

Sing A Song - Your Love Is My Drug

Maybe I need some rehab

Or maybe just need some sleep

I got a sick obsession

I'm seeing it in my dreams

I'm looking down every alley

I'm making us desperate 'cause

I'm staying up all night hoping

Hitting my head against the wall

What you got boy is hard to find

I think about it all the time

I'm all strung out, my heart is fried

I just can't get you off my mind

Because your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

I said your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

Won't listen to any advice

Momma's telling me I should think twice

But love to my own devices

I'm addicted, it's a crisis

My friends think I've gone crazy

My judgments getting kinda hazy

My esteem is gonna be affected

If I keep it up like a lovesick crackhead

What you got boy is hard to find

I think about it all the time

I'm all strung out, my heart is fried

I just can't get you off my mind

Because your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

I said your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

I don't care what people say

The rush is worth the price I pay

I get so high when you're with me

But crash and crave you when you leave

Hey, so I gotta question

Do you wanna have a slumber party in my basement?

Do I make your heart beat like an 808 drum?

Is my love with your drug?

Your drug, uh your drug

Uh your drug is my love, your drug

Because your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

I said your love your love your love is my drug

Your love your love your love

Hey...Hey...

So?

Your love your love your love, is my drug

(spoken) "I like your beard"

I Like Phoenix Legend's Song

In bad state of the music industry, many in this blossoming singers on the stage are another way out. Transferred to got talent judging Huang, Shu chun in the world of today, referring to the hair without issue, his answer is quite intriguing, "I write well but has not been issued of the pieces baishou on also has dozens of, but the crux of the problem instead of singers wanted out, but does age need. If your environment needs, these songs will come out naturally. If the environment does not need, in fact, singer song ever did not use any more. "Huang, Shu chun nail on the road out of the decline of the pop music hit home. It's not music environment is good or bad, but the public could not buy it. Popular singer if there are insufficient strength they had to take the initiative to expand the tertiary industry. Applauded and popular singer in the market, they are whether the new song album or a concert, whenever you are "expected" and "is required".

Although the Faye Wong, Jane Zhang's style is different, but the legend of the Phoenix with the Moon of the fly, the love of "national popular trilogy" confirms their number-combination class Blaster status in the Mainland. Phoenix legend has even attracted Warner boss Chen Zeshan, also becomes a study of the music business and follow the object. Phoenix's success is because men and women mix? So in Phoenix after a legendary beauty and the geek, combined displeasure of men and women such as sacred trees and pupil, seven in July. Their success is based on Westernized Rap+ folk music? But then the love of the sale of the mistake would clone-proof of the success of Phoenix legend mode.

South of May day, North Phoenix legend, two major music styles cannot erase the differences of Chinese market share day. And May day of campus surrounding the city different, Phoenix legend has been based in China, it also became their inexhaustible source of unlimited music. New album debut single is this surprising trip to the South, people even more curious, next stop of the day, and where do sth?

Westlife - What Makes A Man

This isn't goodbye, even as I watch you leave, this isn't goodbye
I swear I won't cry, even as tears fill my eyes, I swear I won't cry

Any other girl, I'd let you walk away
Any other girl, I'm sure I'd be ok

Tell me what makes a man
Wanna give you all his heart
Smile when you're around
And cry when you're apart
If you know what makes a man
Wanna love you the way I do
Girl you gotta let me know
So I can get over you

What makes her so right?
Is it the sound of her laugh?
That look in her eyes
When do you decide?
She is the dream that you seek
That force in your life

When you apologize, no matter who was wrong
When you get on your knees if that would bring her home

Tell me what makes a man
Wanna give you all his heart
Smile when you're around
And cry when you're apart
If you know what makes a man
Wanna love you the way I do
Girl you gotta let me know

So that I can get over you

Other girls will come along, they always do
But what's the point when all I ever want is you, tell me

Tell me what makes a man
Wanna give you all his heart
Smile when you're around
And cry when you're apart
If you know what makes a man
Wanna love you the way I do
Girl you gotta let me know..... (let me know)
Girl you gotta let me know..... (wooo)
So I can get over you

Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Could Sell 1 Million In A Week

The results are in and Billboard reports that Lady Gaga‘s pop juggernaut ‘Born This Way’ has sold 1,108,000 million copies its first week in stores, landing at the lofty No. 1 post on the Top 200 sales chart. Given the amount of promotion that Lady Gaga put into the album — countless TV appearances on both costs in the span of hours, constant interaction with fans, a Google Chrome commercial, and much, much more — it’s fitting first week for a fabulous album.

Here’s a break down of the numbers: ‘Born This Way’ is only the 17th album to sell a million in a week since SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991, and it’s the highest sales week since 2005. Her labelmate, rapper 50 Cent, sold 1,141,000 copies of ‘The Massacre’ in 2005. The last album to sell a million in a week was Taylor Swift‘s ‘Speak Now,’ which moved 1,047,000 copies in November of last year.
And the hits just keep on coming with ‘Born This Way,’ as Gaga is only the fifth woman in history to sell 1 million-plus copies in a week. She joins Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Norah Jones and the aforementioned Swift in that illustrious category.
While most industry insiders believed that ‘Born This Way’ would bow at No. 1 its first week, the amount of records it would move was the variable. Just a month ago, Interscope execs predicted that ‘Born This Way’ would move only 400,000 copies. It was a low estimate, and some felt Gaga had overpromoted the album. Even Katy Perry‘s ‘Teenage Dream,’ which was on the radio ad naseum last summer, had a disappointing first week, barely moving 200,000 copies while debuting at No. 1 with loads of ubiquitous airplay behind it.
Last Monday, Gaga’s label changed their tune and their estimate ballooned to 650,000-700,000 expected sales. By Wednesday, the million-plus figure began to seem plausible. By Thursday, it was possible and probable. Today, it’s actual.
The album was bolstered by Amazon.com selling a download of the album for 99 cents; it is estimated to have sold north of 440,000 copies. The album also sold 662,000 digital copies, which is the biggest week for a digital album in the SoundScan era.
We hope Lady Gaga is tossing back a glass of whiskey in celebration. It is her very first No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200.

Gym Class Heroes Featuring Ryan Tedder, 'The Fighter'

Gym Class Heroes haven't even released their forthcoming The Papercut Chronicles II album, but their first single “Stereo Hearts" has already sold 1 million copies! Not too shabby for an album that DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET!
GCH's new song "The Fighter" features OneRepublic frontman and consummate songwriter-producer Ryan Tedder. The song begins with bright synths, and its sweeping uplifting vibe kind of makes you think that you're about to hear a Coldplay or David Guetta song. Instead of hot chicks and partying, Travie McCoy rhymes about hardship and how you gotta keep your head up no matter what: "Every time you fall/It's only making your chin strong.../If you fall, pick yourself up off the floor/And when your bones can’t take no more/Just remember what you’re here for." I'm super into that mantra right now, guys.
Ryan Tedder sings the hook and supports Travie's crusade to carpe diem: "Give 'em hell/Turn their heads/Gonna live life till we're dead/Give me scars/Give me pain.../There goes the fighter!/Here comes the fighter!" I'm really hoping they decide to make a video for this song -- the way I see it, Travie and Ryan end up in a boxing ring wearing those shiny satin boxing outfits. They're dripping sweat, and fake blood is flying everywhere as each dude retreats to their corner to have water spritzed in their mouth and their cuts sewn up. This might only work for my own personal fantasy, not sure.

Belfast braced for Bieber-mania at MTV awards

Teen stars Justin Bieber​ and girlfriend Selena Gomez​ perform at the MTV Europe Music Awards on Sunday in Belfast, guaranteeing plenty of screaming fans and close media attention to what they say and do.

Canadian heartthrob Bieber hit the headlines this week after a young woman alleged that the chart-topper had fathered her child when he was 16. He appeared on the U.S. Today show on Friday and denied the claims.
"I'd just like to say basically that none of those allegations are true," said Bieber, now 17. "I know that I'm going to be a target, but I'm never going to be a victim."
Gomez, who is hosting the event and performing her new single, has had problems of her own recently.

On Thursday an Illinois man pleaded not guilty to stalking the American actress best known for her role in Disney television show "Wizards of Waverly Place," but was ordered to stay away from her for three years.
Thomas Brodnicki told a psychiatrist that he travelled to Los Angeles to see the star and had conversations with God about killing her, according to court documents.
In Belfast, the celebrity couple are expected to be joined by Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers​, Bruno Mars​ and Lady Gaga​ at what is billed as one of the biggest nights in music outside the United States.

Northern Irish rockers Snow Patrol​, whose 2006 album "Eyes Open​" sold over five million copies worldwide, also make an appearance as do the surviving members of Queen, who will pick up the Global Icon accolade.
U.S. DOMINATION
The annual awards tend to be dominated by U.S. acts even though they are held in Europe each year and are mostly decided by fans from the region.

Gomez said regional differences mattered less in the internet age.
"I think that it's not necessarily about America dominating anything," she told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"I think music is worldwide. Wherever people come from, whether they are from America or not, I think it's all definitely about creating great music.
"So I'm glad that a lot of European artists will also be attending."
Last year it was the flamboyant Gaga who dominated the MTV EMAs, picking up prizes for best female, best pop act and best song for "Bad Romance."
Due to prior commitments the 25-year-old New Yorker could not make the MTV event held in Madrid, but she is in the lineup on Sunday at the Belfast Odyssey Arena and also leads the nominations with six.

In four categories -- best song ("Born This Way​"), best pop and live act and best female artist -- she is up against compatriot and rival chart-topping diva Katy Perry​.
Lady Gaga's other two nominations are best video (Born This Way) and biggest fans, a new category introduced this year.
Bruno Mars joins Perry with four nominations -- best new, best male, best "push" act and best song for "Grenade."
Adele, Britain's best-selling chart sensation, is shortlisted three times -- best female act and best song and best video for "Rolling in the Deep."
Bieber competes for best pop, best male and biggest fans, while Thirty Seconds to Mars​ is up for best alternative, best world stage and biggest fans.
Bieber, who launched his new album "Under the Mistletoe" this week, has already been named the inaugural winner of the MTV Voices award in recognition of his charity work.

Country music stars gear up for big night of awards

Country music's biggest stars from Taylor Swift to Glen Campbell are set to shine this Wednesday at the County Music Association awards where many will vie for the program's top prizes.
Nominated for entertainer of the year are Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Swift. Fans will see performances from Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Eric Church, Luke Bryan and "American Idol" TV singing contest winner Scotty McCreery.
The 45th annual CMA Awards from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena will be co-hosted for the fourth consecutive year by Paisley and Carrie Underwood, a nominee for top female vocalist. The pair will perform their hit single, "Remind Me."
"I will lose a lot of sleep before next Wednesday" preparing for the show, Paisley told Reuters. "I really do get involved, and so does Carrie, in getting this right. The day after the awards I want people to go, 'I can't believe they did that,' about something, and then say, 'but I'm glad they did.' That's the fun part of the awards show.
"It's amazing how strong our format is this year and how amazing the music is. I think there are a lot of great things happening in country music," he added.
Campbell, who is on the final tour of his career after announcing in June he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, will be honored with performances by three of country music's finest guitarists -- Vince Gill, Paisley and Urban.
Other collaborations will feature Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter performing their hit "You and Tequila;" Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield doing their single "Easy;" Lionel Richie singing duets with Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Darius Rucker; and Shelton performing a duet on "Footloose" with the song's original singer, Kenny Loggins.
Miranda Lambert, one of last year's big winners, is nominated in two categories, female vocalist and musical event -- the latter with two of her idols, Loretta Lynn and Sheryl Crow. The three collaborated on Lynn's hit "Coal Miner's Daughter" for "Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute to Loretta Lynn" and on a video.
"Getting to spend that day at Loretta's house with her and Sheryl, visiting with two of my heroes, was a life changing day for me," Lambert told Reuters in a recent interview.
Lambert's husband Blake Shelton is up for seven awards.
Aldean, who is nominated in five categories, told Reuters he was hopeful of having a big night and would be pleased to get the album of the year prize as a reflection of his collaboration with his bandmates and producer.
Awards will be handed out in a dozen categories including male and female vocalist, group, duo, album, video and new artist. Among the award presenters will be Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, Reba McEntire and LeAnn Rimes.
The show airs live Wednesday night, starting at 8 p.m. EST on the ABC television network.

Bad Meets Evil's Favorite Halloween-Inspired Hip-Hop Songs

Bad Meets Evil's Favorite Halloween-Inspired Hip-Hop Songs
It’s safe to say that neither member of Bad Meets Evil (that’s Eminem and Royce Da 5’9'') will attempt to pursue a career in radio broadcast anytime soon. That’s not to say that the duo—who were also accompanied by Yelawolf—weren’t terribly entertaining during their Shade 45 interview on Monday night (October 31). While celebrating the channel’s “Unlucky 7th” anniversary, the rappers did a very candid and informal countdown of their “Unlucky 13” favorite Halloween-influenced hip-hop songs. If you were too busy to tune in last night, don’t fret, we’ve got the list right here, from #13 through #1.
13. Big L –“Devils son”
12. D12 – “Devils Night”
11. Dana Dane- “nightmares”
10. Will Smith​ –“There’s a nightmare on my street”
9. DMX –“Damon”
8. Ice Cube​ and Dr. Dre​ – “Natural Born Killers”
7. Eminem – “3 AM in the Morning”
6. Ghetto Boys – “My Mind is Playing Tricks on Me”
5. Gravediggers – “Dairy of a Mad Man”
4. Kayne West​ – “Monster”
3. 3 6 Mafia​ – “Late Night Tip”
2. Tech N9ne​ – “Trapped in a Psychos Body”
1. Bad Meets Evil​ – “Scary Movie​”

After Bieber, an influx of young singers

New York • The kids are all right — at least in the music industry.
Take Justin Bieber: He’s 17, has released three platinum efforts, earned Grammy nominations, released a top-selling movie and has sold out arenas around the world, putting him in the elite echelon of pop superstars.
But Bieber isn’t the only young singer blazing the charts and outdoing his elders. Scotty McCreery was crowned “American Idol” champion this year and last month, the now 18-year-old became the youngest male to have his debut album open at No. 1 on Billboard’s 200 albums chart.
Eleven-year-old Jackie Evancho​ has sold more than 1.5 million copies of her Christmas EP and her debut album, and has another Christmas project on the way; Willow Smith​ had grown people dancing in the clubs with her song “Whip My Hair”; and even 14-year-old Rebecca Black, though heavily ridiculed, had a viral hit with her song and music video “Friday.”
Taylor Swift​ was only 16 when she released her 2006 self-titled, now multiplatinum debut. The country star believes young performers shouldn’t be boxed into a “kids” category.
“I think an artist represents a certain thing that is all their own, and their age doesn’t really have too much to do with it, in my opinion,” the 21-year-old said.
Bieber, who came on the scene in 2009, knows fame can be fleeting, so he advises newcomers to “make sure you hold on to it and make sure you remember why you’re in this position and not get lost in yourself.”
Here’s a look at three emerging acts poised to follow in Bieber and Swift’s footsteps.

Gene Watson Performs at Unconventional 'Funeral'

Shanachie Records 　　
Sunday's show (Oct. 30) in Marthaville, La. was without a doubt the weirdest gig that Gene Watson has ever played. Billed as the Final Fling, it was a funeral party for well-known local businessman Robert Gentry ... who is very much alive and well.

"I've done a lot of shows in my day, but this may be the craziest thing I've ever played," Gene tells The Boot. "It was like a real funeral, with the pall bearers in tuxes. They had everything but the casket! I couldn't believe it."
Some 500 people attended Gentry's 'Roast Before He's Toast' party, with Gene and his Farewell Party band providing the main entertainment for the festivities. The event was held on All Saint's Eve in the heart of Cajun Country at the Rebel State Historic Site, which Gentry helped found.
The invitation to the gathering read, "Robert Gentry. Birth: January 5, 1940. Death: God Only Knows." It further stated that "the eulogy, insults and other fitting remarks will be lead by former Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards," who served four terms as Governor and eight years in federal prison on a corruption conviction. A full pardon has been requested by the Governor's friends. Rebel Park was taken into the state parks system under Edwards' administration, and most of the buildings and improvements to the park happened while he was in office.
Gentry invited Gene and his band to perform, requesting them to end with the singer's signature song, 'Farewell Party,' which Gene graciously agreed to do. He and the band performed a full set that also included 'Should I Come Home (Or Should I Go Crazy),' 'Paper Rosie' and 'Love in the Hot Afternoon.'
Gene reports that Mrs. Gentry, dressed in black, sang two of her husband's favorite songs with the New Orleans Jazz Band. He noted that most of the people in attendance dressed as if they were attending a funeral. Many of the people who spoke talked about Gentry's long service to his community, but others chose to roast the businessman during the event.
"It was without a doubt the strangest show I've ever played, despite the fact that we were given a standing ovation when we ended with 'Farewell Party'," Gene said. His send-off gave credence to newspaper columnist and playwright George Ade's famous quote, "In the city, a funeral is a somber affair; in the country, it is a form of popular entertainment."
Gene will find himself playing more traditional gigs this week. Friday (Nov. 4) he performs at Club 30 in Enid, Okla., and Saturday (Nov. 5) he'll be at the Corydon (Ind.) Jamboree.

Sarah Darling Premieres 'Blackbird'

　　
Black River Entertainment 　　Sarah Darling is one of several country stars lending her voice to the fight against cancer. She'll cover Paul McCartney's 'Blackbird,' both in concert and on a tribute album, as part of 'Let Us In Nashville,' a campaign benefiting the Women and Cancer Fund. The charity was established in memory of the legendary Beatle's late wife, Linda McCartney, who died of breast cancer in 1998.
"I'm very honored to be a part of the 'Let Us In' project, and it's always been a dream of mine to record one of my all-time favorite songs, 'Blackbird,'" Sarah tells The Boot. "I love what the song is about, and not to mention it's written by Sir Paul McCartney​. I pray that this project touches many lives and continues to grow bringing awareness for women and children fighting cancer."
Listen to the world premiere of Sarah's 'Blackbird' below.

Peter Max 　　'Blackbird' will be included on the compilation album, 'Let Us In Nashville -- A Tribute to Linda McCartney,' set to hit stores Nov. 21. Other artists covering McCartney songs on the project include Ricky Skaggs, Phil Vassar, Steel Magnolia, SHeDaisy and Chuck Wicks, among a long list of others from the country and pop worlds. See a full track list below, and pre-order the album here.
Sarah will join several of those artists at a special Let Us In show, November 7 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Hosted by actor/musician Jeff Daniels, who also contributes to the album, the concert will feature each artist performing one of their own songs and one McCartney tune. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here, with all proceeds going to the Women and Cancer Fund.
'Let Us In Nashville -- A Tribute to Linda McCartney' Track List:
Blue Sky Riders (Kenny Loggins​, Georgia Middleman​ and Gary Burr​) - 'Junk'
Juliana Cole - 'Bluebird'
Jeff Daniels - 'Heart Of The Country'
Sarah Darling - 'Blackbird'
Tommy Emmanuel - 'She's a Woman'
Nikki Shannon Fernandez - 'I Saw Her Standing There'
Cheyenne Kimball - 'Mull Of Kintyre'
Samantha Landrum - 'Pipes of Peace​'
Timothy B. Schmit, Mark Hudson, Laurence Juber​, Denny Seiwell - 'Every Night'
Ricky Skaggs - 'Listen to What the Man Said'
SHeDAISY - 'With A Little Luck'
Jordyn Shellhart - 'I Will'
Nancy Siranni - 'Calico Skies'
Steel Magnolia - 'Maybe I'm Amazed'
Phil Vassar - 'Lady Madonna'
Chuck Wicks - 'No More Lonely Nights'

David Nail's story behind the song

　　
Getty Images 　　It's all come down to this! The 2011 world champions of Major League Baseball will be crowned tonight (Oct. 28) following game seven of the World Series. But before the game is over, country music gets another turn in the spotlight. David Nail will perform 'God Bless America' during the seventh-inning stretch at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Missouri native is certainly an appropriate -- and excited -- participant.
"I'm truly honored to be asked to sing 'God Bless America' tonight," says the singer. "Obviously being from Missouri and a Cardinal fan, just to be able to watch game seven in person is a once in a lifetime experience in itself."
Game seven was forced Thursday night by the Cards 10-9 victory over the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the 11th inning. This will be the first game seven of the World Series since 2002.
David isn't the only baseball-loving country star to have participated in the 2011 World Series. High school ball player Scotty McCreery led the charge with the national anthem during game one, in spite of a microphone malfunction. Game two featured Trace Adkins version of the 'Star-Spangled Banner,' while Ronnie Dunn sang the tune before the start of game four.
Last year, David, who grew up three hours south of St. Louis got a chance to try out for his favorite team.
"In my family there was no beach or Disney World for vacation -- just baseball," David told ESPN. "We'd get a cheap room as close to the stadium as we could, catch a game watching my faves like Willie McGee and Vince Coleman, and then go for a swim in the Holiday Inn indoor pool. It was great!"
Game 7 airs tonight on FOX beginning at 8:00 PM ET.

Country music Tim McGraw and Faith Hill

Country music Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have plenty to look forward to in the new year. The superstar husband and wife both have new albums in the works -- which they say may be the best they've ever done.
Faith, whose last studio album, 'Fireflies,' hit shelves in 2005, is working on a new set of tunes that recall her formative years. "I'm a lover of soul music," she tells Australian newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald. "I was brought up in the church and that was the first music I ever heard and ever performed. I've tried to infuse that into my albums over the years but I haven't been able to do that until this one. I feel like I've dug a little deeper than previously. I fought for that space within myself and I found it."
Her spouse, who has been embroiled in a bitter legal dispute with his label, Curb Records, over his recording contract, says he also feels optimistic about his future in country music. "I really feel like there's a lot more ahead of me than behind me," he acknowledges. "I'm really just starting to figure out what I want to do and the music I want to make. I'm only about 30 percent into my career. It's been foothills until now."
The couple, who have been married for 15 years, will reunite on stage next year, when they perform a series of shows in Australia. The 2012 dates mark Tim's second tour Down Under, but the first for his superstar wife.
"Honestly, I didn't know what to expect in advance," he recalls of his tour through the country last year. "I wasn't sure if anyone knew who I was in Australia, so to come down there and sell out shows and get the reaction we did from the crowd just made it a no-brainer in terms of coming back."

Lionel Richie will perform live

A quarter-century after his last CMA Awards appearance, Lionel Richie will perform live at this year's ceremony, sharing the stage on Nov. 9 with Little Big Town, Darius Rucker and Rascal Flatts.
All three acts appear on Lionel's forthcoming 'Tuskegee' album, a collection of the superstar's greatest pop hits recast as country duets. The disc will also feature collaborations with Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson and Shania Twain, among others.
"Twenty-five years is too long to wait and we are thrilled to have Lionel back on the CMA Awards stage performing alongside our superstar acts," Steve Moore, chief executive officer for the CMA, said in a statement. "This is what the CMA Awards are known for. Those one-of-a-kind collaborations you don't want to miss because everyone will be talking about it the next day."
Explaining his decision to make a country record, Lionel -- who's sold more than 100 million albums and scored numerous hits as both a solo artist and member of the funk group the Commodores -- said he and the genre go back a long way.
"I was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama," the 'Dancing on the Ceiling' singer said in a press release. "I am a country boy and proud of it. To do this project just felt natural."
"Growing up with country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer," added Lionel, who previously appeared on the 1984 and 1986 CMA Awards telecasts, "and the title, 'Tuskegee,' is a validation of my growing up there-the place I call home."
The CMA Awards air at 8:00 PM ET on Nov. 9 on ABC.

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles will once again host 'CMA Country Christmas.' The televised event returns to ABC on Dec. 1 for a second annual holiday celebration spotlighting festive country music.
"I love holiday traditions and am so excited to add hosting CMA Country Christmas to my new list of traditions now," Jennifer gushes. "I'm gonna have to up my game this second time around, so I'm putting [CMA Awards co-hosts] Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood on speed dial for hosting emergency consulting."
The two-hour special will feature many of today's top country artists performing traditional holiday favorites. The show will be taped in front of a live audience on Nov. 10 at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. Ticket prices begin at $25 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster or by calling (800)-745-3000.
"The recurring themes you find in country music are the foundation of what makes the holidays so meaningful -- the comfort of home, family and friends," says CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore. "'CMA Country Christmas' will be wrapped in those traditions."
Performers are expected to be announced shortly. Set your DVRs for Dec. 1, 9:00 PM ET on ABC.

'Wanna Make You Love Me'

Let's face it, you could watch Andy Gibson's 'Wanna Make You Love Me' video on mute and it would still make you swoon! But pump up the volume, and you have an infectious love song to go with the country heartthrob's romantic clip.
"I've been so excited about the positive reaction people have had," Andy tells The Boot of his latest single. "It's been cool to hear how everyone finds different things to connect with in the lyric. There is something in that song for everyone. I know the first time I heard 'Wanna Make You Love Me,' I felt like there was magic all through it."
Andy wanted to stray from glitz and glamour for the video, instead choosing a relaxed, realistic setting. It's not his own home you see in the clip, but he wanted the set to really look like he lives there. "That's why I put so many personal items into the set design," he explains. "I've got my own guitars laying around the house, records from my collection ... Everything from my old tape machine to my vintage thermos are in the shots. It felt like home."
'Wanna Make You Love Me' was penned by famed Nashville songwriters Bobby Pinson and Jim Collins. It's one of the few songs on Andy's upcoming album that he didn't write himself. The Washington native has been playing guitar since he was nine and writing songs since the age of 12. John Rich discovered him singing in a Mexican restaurant (in Spanish!) and signed him to a publishing deal. Andy returned the favor by co-writing one of the biggest songs of the year, 'Don't You Wanna Stay,' recorded by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson.

'Music of Your Life'

Fans anxious to hear new Neal McCoy music won't need to wait until next year after all! The iconic country singer, who announced earlier this year that in January 2012 he'd be releasing a new album produced by Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, will also release an album in November.
The 'Wink' singer will release a concert CD and DVD package of big band music, with both Neal and his band and Les Brown Jr. and His Band of Renown performing together. Charley Pride and Janie Fricke also appear on the new set of tunes, which includes several of Neal's biggest hits along with iconic tunes from the Great American Songbook.
'Music of Your Life, With Les Brown and His Band of Renown, Starring Neal McCoy, and Special Guests Charley Pride and Janie Fricke,' which was filmed as part of a PBS special, will be released on Nov. 8, just two months before 'XII,' his CD produced by Blake and Miranda, will hit shelves. After waiting seven years to release any studio albums, the 53-year-old is optimistic about the future.
"[The big band] project with Les Brown gave me the opportunity to do something I always wanted to do, sing with horns and a big band. I'd like to do more of that,' he notes. "Having Miranda and Blake involved in 'XII', the first project at my new label, Blaster Records, is huge for me. Not only do they have great vision, but they know when to have fun and when to get serious along with being fantastic musicians. I'm so excited about everything that's coming up."

Jason Aldean's 'Learning Year'

Jason Aldean has found that his fans will follow him just about anywhere when it comes to his live shows. When the singer decided to headline his My Kinda Party tour this year, he took a chance and booked amphitheaters throughout the summer and fall months. The results have been incredible for the Georgia native and his entourage.
"We've never tried to headline amphitheaters before, so this year we decided to jump in there with Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Toby Keith and go for it," Jason tells The Boot. "We figured it would be a learning year for us, going in and seeing maybe only 12,000 of the 25,000 seats filled. But to go in and sell them out weeks in advance, that has far surpassed what we thought it would do."
As an example, Jason points to last year's show at Chicago's House of Blues where an audience of 2,500 attended. "This time we played to a sold-out crowd of 28,000 at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater with Chris Young and Thompson Square. It's unbelievable to see how far it's come in the last year or so. It's incredible."
Jason's audiences are loud and appreciative as the superstar entertainer treats them to fan favorites including 'Dirt Road Anthem,' 'She's Country' and 'Big Green Tractor.'
"I've been waiting for this kind of thing to happen since I was 14," he confesses. "This is the tour I've been waiting to have and hoping it would be successful. You can't help but get a little jacked up when you go out there and see 22,000 people screaming and hollering for you."
One of Jason's more memorable recent shows was in Cincinnati, a date which had been postponed because of flooding.
"The fans waited two months longer to see us and when we walked out, they were ready!" he says enthusiastically. "When you walk onstage and the crowds are insane, then you as an entertainer feed of them. You know it's gonna be a good night. We want the people who pay for the tickets to come to the show and be entertained and exhausted when they leave. We hope they have fun and then get on the phone or computer to figure out when our show will be close by the next time so they can do it again."
While the stage is exciting, travel time can be a little less so. Jason says it seems like something is always happening to keep everyone on their toes. "Thompson Square didn't have a drummer because he broke his foot playing basketball, so my drummer was having to fill in for him. Then one day we were all waiting on the show and an ambulance comes screaming up because Chris Young's bus driver busted his head open on one of the bus mirrors."
It hasn't all been grueling, however. "One of the best times we had was when my drummer had his birthday while we were in San Jose, Calif.," the singer recalls. "We took him out and basically just took over this karaoke bar. We looked at pictures the next day and they looked like they were from the movie 'The Hangover.' We had a blast!"
Jason is on a short break right now, but resumes his My Kinda Party tour on Oct. 21 in Denver, Colo. He then heads for Salt Lake City, Utah, the next night and Reno, Nev. on Oct. 23.

Carrie Underwood, one of country's most glamorous stars

Carrie Underwood is one of country's most glamorous stars, but she's not afraid to get her hands dirty -- especially when it's for a good cause.
On Friday (Oct. 14), the 'Before He Cheats' hitmaker partnered with more than 200 volunteers to build a playground in her hometown of Checotah, Okla., CMT reports. Among Carrie's helpers was her mother, Carole, a former teacher in the school system.
The project was a collaboration between the singer's C.A.T.S. (Checotah Animal, Town, and School) Foundation, which she founded in 2009, and playground builders KaBoom!
"We had the most amazing day putting together something truly special for the kids and the community," Carrie said. "I'm so proud that so many volunteered their time to be here today."
The blonde bombshell reportedly got involved with planting, painting and assembling the pieces of the playground, and the whole thing came together in less than eight hours. Here's hoping she used the remainder of the day to work on her forthcoming fourth album, which she recently revealed is about halfway finished.

Kid Rock's shows

Kid Rock sold out several shows on his recently-wrapped Born Free tour with his good friend Sheryl Crow, and now the Detroit native is planning on hitting the road bound for several smaller venues, with the proceeds benefiting local charities in each city he visits.
The idea for his charity tour came from the fifth single, 'Care,' off the musician's 2010 album, 'Born Free.' "The song says 'the least that I can do is care' -- and I want to put my money where my mouth is," Kid tells Billboard. "Everyone knows that Detroit is hurting. But I want to show that even though we don't have a lot on our own plate, it doesn't mean the people of my hometown don't have compassion to share with others all over the country. At the end of the day we're all Detroit, we're one country, one family."
The singer-songwriter will use his own charity, the Kid Rock Foundation, to support his endeavor. Radio stations in each city will help determine which charity will receive the funds.
Kid Rock's tour, which includes Ty Stone as the opening act, will kick off on Nov. 10 in Atlanta, Ga. See the latest list of cities and dates on the trek below.
Nov. 10, Atlanta, Ga., Center Stage*
Nov. 11, Orange Beach, Al., The Amphitheater at the Wharf*
Nov. 13, Orlando, Fla., Citrus Bowl, Orlando Calling Festival*
Nov. 16, Silver Spring, Md., Fillmore
Nov. 19, New York, N.Y., Beacon Theatre
Nov. 20, Buffalo, N.Y., Town Ballroom
Nov. 22, Indianapolis, Ind., Egyptian Room
Nov. 23, Nashville, Tenn., Ryman Theatre
Nov. 26, Chicago, Ill., House of Blues
Nov. 29, Kansas City, Mo., Midland Theatre
Dec. 01, Denver, Co., Fillmore Auditorium
Dec. 03, Magna, Utah, The Great Saltair
Dec. 04, Boise, Idaho, Knitting Factory
Dec. 09, Indio, CA, Fantasy Springs Special Events Center*

Hank Williams, Jr. on 'Monday Night Football'

Following ESPN's decision to fire (depending on who you believe) Hank Williams, Jr. over derogatory comments the singer made last week about President Obama on Fox News, 'Monday Night Football' fans have been wondering who might replace Bocephus as the broadcast's lead-in musical performer.
For this week, ESPN has revealed, the slot will belong to former Detroit Lions running back Barry Sanders, Motor City soul singer Jimmy Scott and the Selected of God gospel choir.
According to CMT, Sanders will preface the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears by narrating a performance that will include Scott and Selected of God collaborating on 'Aint No Love in the Hart of the City,' a '70s soul hit for Bobby "Blue" Bland.
No word yet on who might open subsequent 'Monday Night Football' telecasts, but an ESPN rep told the Detroit Free Press that Barry and company will not become regulars.
"The spot will look different every week," the rep said.

Christian artist Matthew West

Christian artist Matthew West has recorded seven albums since he first hit the airwaves more than 14 years ago, but this week marked a first for the Illinois native as he released his first-ever holiday album, 'The Heart of Christmas.' 'The Heart of Christmas,' which hit stores this week, spotlights several voices alongside Matthew's that you'll probably recognize.
"Since the beginning of my career, I've dreamed of making a Christmas album," the singer explains. "I'm so excited to finally get that chance this year! 'The Heart of Christmas' is a collection of original songs I've written, and some of my favorite classics. I was honored to have iconic artists like Amy Grant, Vince Gill and Mandisa from 'American Idol' join me on a few of the songs, and those are personal highlights for me."
The 12-song CD coincides with a made-for-TV movie of the same name. The film details the poignant story of 2-year-old Dax Locke, whose brave battle with cancer inspired Matthew's emotionally-charged song, 'One Last Christmas.' The film, which stars Candace Cameron Bure, George Newbern and Jeanne Neilson, will premiere on gmc (Gospel Music Channel) on December 4 at 7:00 PM ET.
In addition to promoting his new Christmas album, the married father of two girls is also crossing the country on his Story of Your Life tour, which is named after his new book that shares fan stories, detailing everything from drug-addiction to divorce.
"Through all this I have learned to never underestimate your audience," Matthew tells The Boot. "You never know who you are singing to or what can happen from your music. These stories made me look at my audience in a different way, but they also told me I'm exactly where I need to be."

The CMT Artists of the Year special

For the second year in a row, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean will be honored during the CMT Artists of the Year special. Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley will also be spotlighted during this year's 90-minute show, airing on CMT Dec. 13.
The glamorous, invitation-only event will include dinner and a series of show-stopping live performances that will bring the honorees and their country music peers together for what promises to be a fun-filled evening.
The chosen artists of the year were selected based on sales, country radio airplay and concert grosses as a headliner or co-headliner. According to CMT, the five artists have cumulatively sold over 20 million single downloads and have garnered over 10.2 million video streams on CMT.com.
The special is scheduled to tape in Nashville and will feature cuisine prepared by season four 'Top Chef' winner Stephanie Lizard.

Highest-earning women

Forbes has released its list of the Top 10 highest-earning women in the entertainment industry, with country superstar Taylor Swift caught in a four-way tie for fourth place, earning a cool $45 million between May 2010 and May 2011. Taylor has the distinction of being one of music's richest women, coming in second only to pop phenomenon Lady Gaga, who raked in a whopping $90 million during the same time period.
The 'Sparks Fly' singer's self-made millions were earned through her music endeavors, most notably her wildly successful Speak Now world tour and the 2010 multi-platinum album of the same name. Although the singer-songwriter co-penned many of her past hits with other Nashville tunesmiths, Taylor solely wrote every song that appears on the standard and deluxe versions of her latest album, 'Speak Now,' including the huge crossover hits 'Mean,' 'Back to December' and 'Mine.'
Once again, talk show pioneer Oprah Winfrey tops the list of leading ladies, earning $290 million. According to Forbes' estimation, the talk show host and OWN Network founder is worth $2.7 billion.
Top 10 Highest-Earning Women in Entertainment:
Oprah Winfrey -$290 million
Lady Gaga - $90 million
Bethenny Frankel - $55 million
Gisele Bundchen - $45 million
Ellen DeGeneres - $45 million
Judge Judy Sheindlin - $45 million
Taylor Swift - $45 million
Katy Perry - $44 million
Beyonce - $35 million
Danielle Steel - $35 million
The latest millionaire countdown comes on the heels of Forbes' list of highest-paid country singers, with Taylor placing second behind country heavyweight Toby Keith. Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood and Sugarland round out the list.

Scotty McCreery to Chat LIVE

We'd like to cordially invite you to sit in on our live interview with Scotty McCreery! In fact, we'd love for you to help us. What do you want to know about the 'American Idol' winner? Head over to The Boot's Facebook page and leave a question for Scotty on our wall. And be sure to click the 'Like' button at the top of the page to get updates on our chat with the 'I Love You This Big' singer. (If you're not a Facebook user, just leave us a question for Scotty in the 'Add a Comment' section below this post.)
Our live chat with Scotty begins Monday, Oct. 3 at 1:00 PM ET. You can watch here right on The Boot's homepage, or over on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thebootcountry). We'll be taking questions live via Facebook, or you can pre-submit questions here. Just let us know your first name and what town you live in, so Scotty knows whose question he's answering and can address you personally!

Taylor Swift is so sweet

Ask anyone who's ever met her and they'll tell you, Taylor Swift is sweet. So sweet, in fact, that one of the world's hottest rap stars is crediting a lot of her own success to the generous country cutie.
Nicki Minaj is currently sitting in the Top 10 of Billboard's pop charts with her huge hit, 'Super Bass.' The eccentric artist describes the song as about "taking a playful approach" to pursuing a crush. So it's no surprise, Taylor is a big fan. "Driving back from rehearsals listening to Super Bass by @nickiminaj OVER and OVER. I'm so obsessed with this song!" she once tweeted. The country superstar has also gushed about her love for the track in interviews and even invited Nicki to sing it with her on stage at a sold-out show in Los Angeles. [Watch their performance below.]
"I want to publicly say again that Taylor Swift really launched that single into another stratosphere, with just tweeting about it and rapping it and stuff," Nicki tells Billboard. "I performed it with Taylor, and she's so cute -- she's like a big bowl of ice cream!"
'Super Bass' is from Nicki's latest album, 'Pink Friday.' Taylor is already writing for her own fourth studio album, but in the meantime is celebrating the upcoming release of her 'Speak Now World Tour Live' CD and DVD set. The collection is set for release on Nov. 21, one day before the final show of the trek's U.S. leg -- a sold-out concert at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Grand Ole Opry

Tuesday night's (Sept. 27) Grand Ole Opry show was one the members of Rascal Flatts -- Jay DeMarcus, Joe Don Rooney and Gary LeVox -- will never forget. After the country trio's set, Vince Gill surprised them on stage with a very special invitation: to become the newest members of the legendary country music institution.
"We had absolutely no clue," a still-astonished Jay said backstage. "The only thing that was a little bit weird to me was that I told my wife to stay home tonight. I said, 'We're only doing three songs; it's a short segment.' And she showed up right before we went onstage. She said, 'I put the baby to bed and the nurse was there, so I just came on.' And even when Vince came out, I thought he was just messin' with Joe Don!"
With an 11-year career that's included multi-platinum sales, sold-out tours and scores of CMA, ACM, People's Choice and other awards, the guys were still dreaming of the one honor they'd dreamed of from the start: becoming members of the Grand Ole Opry.
"All I could think about was being a little kid, sitting in the nosebleed section of the Grand Ole Opry," Jay reflects. "The first thought that came into my head was, 'I cannot believe I used to come here on family vacations and watch the Opry with my mom at the very top.' Then to be on the stage, and then asked to be a member of the Opry -- it had all come full circle. It all hit me, a flood of emotions all at once, and it was tough to keep it together."
Rascal Flatts' Opry induction will take place Oct. 8. The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 86th birthday throughout the entire month of October, with a long list of celebrations. An all-star tribute to Randy Travis will take place Oct. 4 on the coveted stage, followed by the Flatts' induction on a weekend that will also see performances by Charley Pride, Mel Tillis and Ronnie Dunn in his solo Opry debut. Read more about the Opry birthday festivities here.

Jason Aldean

Back in 2004, Jason Aldean lost one of his closest friends to breast cancer when she was just 29 years old.
"The day she passed away, my family decided that we would always do something to carry on her memory and to help in the fight," the singer explains of his late friend, Melissa. "Everybody I know has been touched by it; they say a woman dies every 69 seconds from [breast cancer]."
Jason has indeed committed himself to the cause, hosting an annual Concert for the Cure to raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, with his sixth annual show coming up Sept. 30 in Roanoke, Va. It's a ticket for which one lucky (and generous) fan paid $7,500. The country superstar held an eBay auction that included roundtrip airfare for two, hotel accommodations, front row seats and a private meet-and-greet, among other prizes. The week-long auction saw 35 bids and closed at $7,500, with 80% of the money going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
Jason's My Kinda Party tour is a hot ticket in every town. He sold out Nashville's Bridgestone Arena -- more than 15,000 tickets -- in mere minutes last week. Click here for dates and cities on the trek.

Clear as Day

With less than a month away from the Oct. 4 release of his highly-anticipated debut album, Scotty McCreery shares his cut-by-cut description of 'Clear as Day,' which features his current single, 'The Trouble With Girls,' as well as his first Top 20 hit, 'I Love You This Big.' (Read Scotty's song descriptions below.)
"I chose these songs because they mean a lot to me, but I think everybody can relate to these kinds of songs," the most recent 'American Idol' winner tells The Boot. "It has some old country influences and elements, but it also has a contemporary feel with fun uptempo songs."
1. 'Out Of Summertime' (Jonathan Singleton and Tim Nichols)
"'Out Of Summertime' was one of the three potential singles that I heard when I was still on 'American Idol' in the top three. It's a really fun song. It's about a summertime fair and it's a teenage love kind of thing. They could have had something, but they ran out of summertime. It's almost like the movie 'Grease,' with Danny and Sandy."
2. 'I Love You This Big' (Ronnie Jackson, Brett James, Ester Dean and Jay Smith)
"'I Love You This Big' was another one of the singles we heard on 'American Idol' and it became my first Top 15 country single. It has a great feel to it. It was perfect for the 'American Idol' moment onstage because it could relate to my family or it could relate to my fans out there who got me through the whole 'American Idol' journey. We thought it would do pretty good at country radio, too, and we'd give it a shot, and it did just that.
"It will always be special to me because it's my first song. Once I started singing it in front of crowds, it took on a new life. I would look up and their arms would be spread open wide when I'd sing 'I Love You This Big.' It was just a cool thing to see. It always puts a grin on my face when I look out there and see their arms open wide and see a husband and wife looking at each other with their arms opened wide."
3. 'Clear as Day' (Phil O'Donnell, Casey Beathard and Adam Wheeler)
"This one is one of my favorites on the album. It's got a great feel to it and a great message too. It's relatable for me, with the after-football game kind of thing in the parking lot, and then the after-football-game parties at Cook Out Restaurant. We sit on the back of the trucks. Of course, the song takes a twist at the end and gets really serious, talking about how the girl never made it home because of the fog and pouring rain.
>"'Clear as Day' felt like the perfect title for the album. It's not too fancy, but it got the point across. 'Scotty McCreery: Clear as Day,' I like the sound of it and I thought it fit perfectly with what we were trying to accomplish with the album."
4. 'The Trouble With Girls' (Phillip White and Chris Tompkins)
"I told my mom, 'If you were at home doing dishes, this is the kind of song that makes you stop what you are doing and listen to it.' It has a haunting melody. After I listened to the demo once, I found myself singing it in the room and going out to dinner and humming it to myself there. When you hear that kind of song and you can't help but keep singing it, you know you've got a good one.
"On Twitter, when I said my new single coming out tomorrow is 'The Trouble With Girls,' all the girls were like, 'What do you mean, the trouble with girls? We aren't trouble.' But when you hear it, it's really a sweet song that talks about all of the great things about girls, like how pretty they are and how they have wonderful smiles. It's talks about things girls like to hear.
"I told my sister the song title, and she said, 'The trouble with girls?' I said, 'Just listen to it.' When the song finished, she said how sweet it was and how perfect a song it was for me to sing. She said girls will relate to it because they would love to have guys say some of that stuff to them."
5. 'Water Tower Town' (Cole Swindell, Lynn Hutton and Tammi Kidd)
"'Water Tower Town' is my Garner song on the album, my hometown song. It reminds me of Garner, which has a big water tower right across from the baseball fields where I grew up playing ball. It has a lot of elements in there that remind me of Garner. The first lyric in the chorus is, 'Friday night football is king,' and that is true in Garner. Everybody stops what they're doing in Garner to go to the game. It's been tough on me missing the games being out here on the road, but I will be back for a few. The song says, 'Sweet tea goes good with anything,' and that is is all we drink back home. All of the lyrics really relate to my hometown."
6. 'Walk In The Country' (Vernon Rust and Keith Urban)
"This is the song that Keith Urban pitched my way. It was on his first album when he was in a band called the Ranch. It was their big single and did pretty well for them. He thought it would be really cool for me to cut it, and when I heard it, it was a lock. It has a cool message and feel. It's just a cool song. I can picture myself rocking out to in the car driving somewhere."
7. 'Better Than That' (Chris Destefano, Jess Cates and Craig Wiseman)
"It's a fun one, a nice up-tempo with a dancing feel. It has a cool little beat. It talks about all the great things that happen in life -- first kiss, first crush, first time I saw the ocean -- and your love is better than that. It's a cool way of saying I love you and not just in a clichéd way."
8. 'Write My Number On Your Hand' (Jeremy Stover, Jamie Paulin and Thomas Rhett Akins)
"This was another fun one. This one has a little Hawaiian feel to it, with a ukulele. When I hear this song, I have a bunch of pictures going through my mind, like jumping in the lake, stuff I grew up doing. The Hawaiian feel and fun nature is the reason I cut it. It's about a girl and a guy and they are at the lake. They are about to leave and he says, 'Write my number on your hand so I can call you up.' At the end, it takes a twist. She says,' If you want to see me, write my number on your hand.' It has all of the country things in it, like farmer's tans and Coca-Cola."
9. 'Dirty Dishes' (Michael Dulaney, Neil Thrasher and Tony Martin)
"This passed the mama crying test. We would get a bunch of songs in and we would all sit down and listen to them as a family. If Mama heard it and she started crying, I would tell Universal, 'It passed the mama crying test so it must be a good one.' It's about a family sitting down to dinner and mama sits down and she prays and thanks the Lord for things in life that would normally annoy somebody, like slamming doors, dirty dishes and loud kids. But it shows that you should be grateful in life and not take things for granted. It says slamming doors means you live in a warm and loving home and noisy kids just mean they are happy kids. It's a cool and different way of looking at life and reminds you not to take life for granted and to be thankful for things that might otherwise bother you."
10. 'You Make That Look Good' (Rhett Akins and Lee Thomas Miller)
"This was the rocking song we have on the album. This was another fun one for me. It's just about a country boy. It talks about how I might have a dirty truck, but when you are sitting there beside me, you make it look good . At the end it says, I never thought of getting settled down and having a serious relationship, but you make that look good. It talks about some things in life that had never looked too good to this dude, but now that he is with her, she makes them look good and makes him want to do them."
11. 'Back On The Ground' (Neil Thrasher, Casey Beathard and Tony Martin)
"This one speaks to me as far as staying grounded. When I was younger, everybody said, "I can't wait to get out of my hometown and go to college 500 miles away so I don't have to see anybody again.' It talks about getting back home and chatting with Mama and how you would do anything to get back home. It's a fun song about staying grounded and not forgetting where you came from, and no matter where you go, it all comes back around."
"I always loved my hometown, but of course, everybody grows up saying they can't wait to get out of there and go experience life outside of the little bubble they've been in. Now that I have been away for so long and seen what life is like out here, I can't wait to get back and see family and friends that I have missed for so long. What I would give to take another English test in class! Like the song says, I can't wait to get my feet back on the ground in Garner, N.C."
12. 'That Old King James' (Phillip White and Mark Nesler)
"This was another song that passed the mama crying test. It's cool for me because it reminds me of my both of my granddaddys. They both fought in the war. It talks about a Bible being passed down from generations upon generations, from the granddaddy to the mom and then the mom to the kids. It means a lot to me. It reminded me of my family and how I grew up in church and reading the old King James Bible. It speaks wonders about what that book can do for somebody and how important it is to pass it down from generation to generation."

The release of Lauren Alaina debut album

 　　Fresh off her American Idols LIVE! Tour, Lauren Alaina is prepping for the release of her debut album, 'Wildflower,' in stores Oct. 11.
"It has a flavor for everybody," reports the 16-year-old songbird. "It's a mixture of all different songs, so I hope it will appeal to all different kinds of people.
The album includes Lauren's breakthrough debut single, 'Like My Mother Does,' along with a ballad co-penned by fellow 'Idol' alum Carrie Underwood called 'Eighteen Inches.' Our friends at Taste of Country got the detailed scoop on each track from the 12 song release. Read it below.
1. 'Georgia Peaches' (Mallary Hope, Blair Daly and Rachel Proctor)
"First of all, I am a Georgia peach! When I heard the title of the song, I liked it. After I heard the full song, I fell in love with it. It's one of my favorites on the album. It is uptempo and a song that everyone can dance to. It's great because it says there is nothing sweeter than Georgia peaches, and in the bridge it welcomes people in who aren't from Georgia: 'It don't matter where you're from/ Come on in and have some fun.' It's a really cool song that I think people will enjoy."
2. 'Growing Her Wings' (Nicolle Gaylon and Nicole Witt)
"I love this song because it's playful and young girls are going to love it. It talks about how a girl kisses a neighbor and her dad grounds her. The girl is reading Cosmo magazine that her mother doesn't want her to read. She is in her room growing her wings, becoming who she is behind closed doors and she's just about ready to fly away. I feel like that is who I was six months ago. I feel like I've formed my wings and now I'm flying. This song is really playful and fun. I just love it."
3. 'Tupelo' (Hillary Lindsey, Steven McEwan and Gordie Sampson)
"'Tupelo' has been one of my favorites since the very beginning. It has one of the coolest vibes to it. It's not like any other country song out there. It has a summertime feel to it - like the wind is blowing or you're lying in a hammock. It's about taking a trip with this boy that you are in love with, and having fun with him as he does things like picking a wildflower and putting it in your hair. It's a cute story about a boy and a girl taking a trip just to spend time together, driving around and doing nothing."
4. 'The Middle' (Zac Maloy, Rachel Proctor and David Hodges)
"'The Middle' is cool because it has a completely different vibe than all of the other songs. It's almost like it's a sad song, but it's also happy at the same time. It has a great message. It's the kind of song that makes you want to cry. It says don't worry about the small things, things that have happened in the past or what you think might happen tomorrow. All that matters is what happens right now. That message really appealed to me because crazy things have happened to me in the last year. I think it's a song that people can relate to no matter what point you are at in your life. It tells you to take each day and make it last. You have to live day by day and you can't worry about tomorrow. I forget that a lot and I feel like other people do too. It's a good reminder."
5. 'Like My Mother Does' (Nathan Chapman, Liz Rose and Nikki Williams)
"'Like My Mother Does' is my first single, and it means a lot to me because my mama puts up with my stuff when nobody else will. My mama can handle me when no one else can and she knows how to make me feel better and lift me up. I'm lucky to have her, and to have a song about her makes me feel happy to be able to do that for her. When we argue now, I'll sing 'Like My Mother Does,' and she laughs. She doesn't want to laugh, but she does. So this song is my way of getting out of trouble now!"
6. 'She's a Wildflower' (Hillary Lindsey, Steven McEwan and Gordie Sampson)
"I think the title itself explains why I enjoy this song. I'm definitely a wildflower and I feel that there are tons of girls out there that are wildflowers. It talks about this girl who views herself as not all that. She thinks that she is not good enough. She has a crush on this boy, but she thinks she is invisible to him, so she never says anything. As a teenage girl, you are your own worst critic. You think other people are putting you down, but really it's you putting yourself down. You are the one who thinks you don't look good in a certain outfit or that your hair isn't fixed perfectly. You might think a guy doesn't like you because of this or that. But, really deep down we are too shy to approach the people and ask them. That is how we are built. I am one of the most open people in the world, but I wasn't like that until a few years ago. I know how it feels to feel like you aren't good enough. In elementary school, I was a lot different. When I first heard the song, it made me want to cry because I remember being the freckled-face little girl with a big gap in her teeth. The boys all liked this other girl in elementary school, and no one liked me. I was the one who wanted to throw the football with them and play outside. The older I got, I realized that guys like that, but they just don't want to admit it. The song represents how girls always put themselves down when they are really wildflowers and they need to bloom."
7. 'I'm Not One of Them' (Sarah Johns, Tom Shapiro and Tony Martin)
"This song takes the boy who thinks he is 'the stuff' and throws him under the bus. It tells him he's not that great. There are lots of guys out there who think they are just awesome and they hurt girls' feelings and make them feel like they're not good enough for them. This song is a good representation of that girl finally saying, 'Listen pal, you aren't good enough for me.' It's a mid-tempo that has really awesome instrumentation on it. It's a really fun song."
8. 'The Locket' (Mallary Hope)
"'The Locket' will make you cry every time you hear it. The storyline reminds me of 'The Notebook.' It has this beautiful story. You don't know until the end of the song who is telling the story, but it's a granddaughter talking to her grandmother. She is talking about all of these memories her grandmother told her throughout her life. The grandmother has Alzheimer's and she is starting to forget things. The granddaughter is reading out of her diary to her the things that have happened to her throughout her life. It's a beautiful story. I cried like a baby the first time I heard it; I still cry every time I hear it. It's got one of the most beautiful melodies I've ever heard, just the arrangement of the song. The words are so powerful. It's the type of song that is super simple but it really touches your heart. You feel like you are part of the story, even though you are not."
9. 'Eighteen Inches' (Kelley Lovelace, Ashley Gorley and Carrie Underwood)
"'Eighteen Inches' was co-written by Carrie Underwood, and that really stood out to me because I look up to her so much. It's cool to have the opportunity to record a song she wrote. When I listened to it, I thought it had one of the most incredible stories I've ever heard in a song. I feel like there are a lot of people out there who will be able to relate to the words of this song, even if what happens in the song didn't exactly happen to them. I really, really love the song. It's well written and has beautiful melodies. This young girl decides she's going to run away with her boyfriend. The chorus talks about how when you are young and in love, you do things that aren't always seen to be the smartest move. I think that is so true! The 18 inches represents the distance it is from your head to your heart. They end up scraping by and get married. The song talks about them wanting a child but yet they are just kids themselves. They do have a baby, and it makes them grow up and they thank God for the 18 inches, which is also how long their baby was. It is just an incredible song."
10. 'One Of Those Boys' (Anthony Smith, Marla Cannon and Ben Carver)
"I really like this one because it describes this great guy. I am singing about a boy that in my eyes would be perfect. He has all of these flaws that make me love him. It says he's gotta love his mama, shake my daddy's hand and like going to church on Sunday morning. I can relate. I would say that's some pretty crucial stuff in a guy. It was the last song that I got for the whole album and I fell in love with it. I said, 'We have to do this one.'"
11. "Funny Thing About Love" (Lauren Alaina, Luke Laird and Brett James)
" I wrote this song with Brett James and Luke Laird. We had a great connection and I'm really fortunate that I got to write with them. We sat down and I talked about how every time I like a boy, he doesn't like me. Then when I don't like him anymore, all he is doing is blowing up my cell phone and calling me all the time and driving me nuts. I'm thinking, 'You didn't like me when I liked you.' In love, sometimes the timing is never right, and that is basically what the songs says. It talks about how love confuses you and makes you all crazy inside. I love it."
12. "Dirt Road Prayer" (Nicolle Galyon and April Geesbreght)
"This song is basically a young girl's prayer to God, and I think it has a great message. She's praying for her family members and for God to tell her where to take her life. The chorus talks about how she has a place where she always goes to pray when she is in trouble or is confused. It talks about how much of her life has changed, but that it's good to know her place will always be there, and that is always something that she will have. I really relate to this song a lot because my own life has completely changed and sometimes I just need to pray; praying makes me feel better."