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."

Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott

With heavy cross-country promotion, an upcoming headlining tour and the No. 1 album in the U.S., it's hard to imagine Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott having much time to plan a wedding. Luckily for the recently-engaged singer, her fiancee, drummer Chris Tyrell, has been on-hand to help his busy bride.
"He's actually talking to the planner more than I am right now," Hillary confesses to E!Online about the wedding planning. "I am very, very thankful. I am a lucky girl."
Although planning is still in the early stages, the singer does admit that one decision has been made. "We did ask him [Chris] what kind of groom's cake he wants," says Hillary. "He goes, 'I want a cheeseburger.' I think we are going to do sliders or something for the groom's cake. He's not much of a sweets person."
No other details were divulged, but band member Charlies Kelley hinted at the possibility of a celebrity deejay. "I used to deejay middle school dances back in the day," shares Charles. As to which songs he would included in his playlist, he says, "Boyz II Men would always do it ... 'End of the Road,' and also Tim McGraw's 'Don't Take the Girl' always was a tearjerker ... And when I needed them to rock a little bit, 'Baby Got Back."
The superstar trio are in the midst of a whirlwind promotional tour in support of their latest album, 'Own the Night,' which debuted at No. 1 this week on Billboard's all-genre Top 200 chart with more than 347,000 copies sold. Lady Antebellum will resume their rigorous tour schedule on Nov. 11 as they kick off their 'Own the Night' headlining tour. Click here for tour dates and ticket information.

Kellie Pickler released a new album

It's been three years since Kellie Pickler released a new album, but the North Carolina native says there's a good reason for the delay. After rising to fame by appearing on the fifth season of 'American Idol,' where the songbird came in sixth place, she spent the following few years churning out music and keeping a whirlwind schedule that left her little time to focus on the music she wanted to make. But that's all about to change. Getting ready to release a new album later this year, Kellie says she finally is doing her music, her way -- and she couldn't be more pleased with the final product.
"When you first start out, there's a lot of paying your dues kind of thing. The more I do this, the more freedom I get with it," Kellie tells The Boot. "There's a whole different team of people that I'm working with now, for this record. There's been a lot of changes. I've really been able to go in the studio and just play, and really find myself as a songwriter. I've been writing since 'Idol,' but I've found more of who Kellie, artist Kellie is."
Spending her time working on her upcoming project has been a sharp contrast to the way she started out, and she says she has no interest in reverting back to her former ways. "The first record, I don't even remember cutting the record," she acknowledges. "We had the 'American Idol' tour, and we had 60 shows in less than 90 days, and my producer at the time, Blake Chancey, was just flying to wherever we were on tour. I never met the musicians that played on the first record. Some of the musicians that played on this record, the new record, I'm just now getting to know -- and they played on my first record. I've been able to take the time to develop as an artist. With recording 'Small Town Girl,' I didn't think about any decision. It was just like, 'We gotta go, we gotta go. We have a deadline. We have to strike while the iron's hot, because in a couple months, it was out with the old and there was a whole new top 24.'"
Instead of having input into the creative direction of her freshman CD, 'Small Town Girl,' the entire album was created without her -- including using another singer for the tracks. Kellie would then go into the studio after one of her shows, in whatever city she was in, to lay down her vocals. It was an exhausting process for the new star. "I didn't know there was any other way, because this was my first time making an album," she acknowledges. "It wasn't a pleasant experience, but it was better than [working as a waitress at] Sonic, so I wasn't going to complain. Now, with this third record, and really being able to go in the studio, and figure out which buttons do what, how this machine is put together, how it runs, has been really, really good for me, and it's really helped me develop as an artist. I think, with this album, I hope that it shows that side of me, and it shows the growth that's happened since I was 19."
If the debut single, 'Tough,' from her upcoming CD is any indication, it seems like the highly-anticipated album will be worth the wait. 'Tough' is in the Top 30 and climbing. The video, which promises to show a new side of Kellie, is expected to be released in the near future. Keep track of the album's progress here.

The Trouble With Girls

　　Chris Tompkins is an award-winning songwriter whose lengthy list of credits include tunes recorded by Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Jimmy Buffett and Bucky Covington, among others. Earlier this summer, the Alabama native had his eye on one project he specifically wanted to write for -- 'American Idol' winner Scotty McCreery's upcoming debut CD, 'Clear as Day.' Chris ended up landing a song on the album -- news made even sweeter with its release to country radio as the 17-year-old's second single. The Boot sat down with Chris to find out how he wrote 'The Trouble With Girls' and who gets the real credit for the tune's rapid success.
My co-writer, Phillip White, and I have known each other for a long time. He's from my hometown in Alabama. We ran into each other this summer and got together to write. I usually always write at my studio at [publishing company] Big Loud Shirt, so I can use my Pro Tools, but Phillip proposed that we do it at Universal. I thought, "That's a good idea. It will be old-school -- two writers with a guitar and a piano -- with no toys to play with and interrupt the creative process." It was a good change from my everyday norm.
The song actually started with Phillip having the title, 'The Trouble With Girls,' and the first verse, and the spin at the end of the chorus. I sat down at the grand piano and worked out the melody for the verse. At that point, we didn't really have a chorus, and it felt like we needed to get somewhere big, musically, very quickly. Then out of nowhere, I started singing the line, "they smile that smile," and a second later Phillip chimed in with "bat those eyes," and after that we knew we were on to something.
Phillip stayed on me to go over to my spot to do a work tape. I feel like I owe a lot to Phillip for making me get off my lazy butt to demo it quickly. Phillip's a great guy and a great songwriter and friend. He knows how to reach in and pinch off a piece of your heart, and we've always been a good pairing.
The best thing about getting this cut -- and the same thing happened before Carrie cut 'Before He Cheats' -- I knew that if I were lucky enough to get an 'American Idol' cut, this was an album I'd love to be on. I always thought Scotty was a frontrunner and I'm proud to be a part of this.

Sugarland Fans Have Their Sights Set On The Super Bowl

Alli Harvey, Getty ImagesWe're only two weeks into the NFL's regular season and already fans have their sights set on the Super Bowl. Sugarland fans, that is.
Some "Sugarfanatics" have created a Facebook page called 'We Want Sugarland for Super Bowl 2012,' petitioning NFL officials to tap the superstar duo to perform at halftime. As of this posting, the page has more than 800 'likes.' ('Like' it here.)
"Anyone who has seen Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush perform live will tell you, 'There ain't no party like a Sugarland party!' Their songs are infectious. Their talent is breath-taking. Their energy is unmatched," write the page's creators. "On August 13, 2011, the tragedy at the Indiana State Fair changed Indianapolis and Sugarland forever. Bringing Sugarland back to Indianapolis in this way would send such a great message of love and hope to all those grieving and adjusting to life after the tragedy. And we believe everyone across the country could use a little love and hope -- Sugarland Style."
Seven people died following the treacherous gusts of wind that sent the Indiana State Fair stage and rigging tumbling down, just before Sugarland were set to perform. The duo plan to hold a private memorial service for the victims.
"Until that time we are holding vigil for them," Jennifer and Kristian report. "We join them on their mourning benches. And we stand in the gap asking God to offer them peace and healing. For those suffering from injury, we hold you up with prayers for complete healing of your own."

Taylor Swift

Jill Johnson, jpistudios.comWhile most of the surprise momentsassociated with Taylor Swift's two-night stand in Nashville this past weekend happened onstage for the throngs of screaming fans, a few took place backstage before her Saturday night performance and were a shock to the singer herself.
As local media and other industry professionals mingled in the VIP lounge, which was decorated with a few of the celebratory plaques the young singer-songwriter has earned thus far for sales of her singles and albums, Lon Helton, with radio-trade publication Country Aircheck, took the stage to make the first presentation of the night to Taylor.
Noting that there are usually about 30 No. 1 songs per year on the Country Aircheck chart, Helton said that what makes the songs of Taylor's (in particular 'Mean' and 'Back to December,' for which the awards were presented) especially rare is that of the last 100 No. 1 songs, only four others besides Taylor's were written by just one person.
Next up, the head of the Big Machine Label Group, Scott Borchetta took the stage to say, "We do have something else to celebrate this evening. As of this week, 'Speak Now' has sold five million copies worldwide." As the crowd erupted in thunderous applause, Taylor's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Taking the mic, Taylor said, "Wow! I did not know about that. That's so many. This is so amazing to have you guys here. I'm looking out and seeing a sea of faces who are absolutely the pulse of Nashville. You've all been so nice to me over the years, and you're all part of the reason I get to stand on that giant stage out there and play two sold-out shows.
"To get an award, this five-million plaque for this album that meant so much to me and still does," Taylor continued. "I'm so proud of it. The fact that it went out into the world and sold five million copies is kind of unreal. I can't really wrap my mind around it yet. That's so many!"
Just as quickly as she took that small stage, Taylor was whisked away to prepare for the "giant stage." Coincidentally, as of Saturday, Taylor's Speak Now world tour has sold one million tickets. The trek continues until Nov. 22. Click here to keep track of Taylor's upcoming shows.

Taylor Swift Has Scored Two Mentions In The Guinness Book of World Records

Jamie McCarthy, WireImage

We already knew Taylor Swift had a record-breaking career, but now the songbird's epic achievements are being officially immortalized. The 21-year-old has scored two mentions in the Guinness Book of World Records 2012, ranking her among the most notable celebrities of her generation.

The 'Sparks Fly' singer holds the new record for Fastest Selling Digital Album by a Female Artist, for her latest CD, 'Speak Now,' as well as the Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 Hits by a Female Artist, with 11 charting back-to-back singles.
The reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year (and current CMA Award nominee for the same title) admits all her accolades have far exceeded her childhood dreams. "I would think about how lucky I would be if people cared about the words I wrote," Taylor tells The Boot. "I would think about how lucky I would be if one day I was walking through a mall and saw a little girl with my face on her T-shirt. I would think that if one day anyone lined up to ask me to sign something of theirs, that would be a good day!"

Taylor is continuing the United States leg of her Speak Now World tour, which includes two shows in her current hometown of Nashville, Tenn. later this week (Sept. 16 and 17). The tour will extend into 2012 with several newly-added dates in Australia and New Zealand. Keep track of the blond beauty's tour schedule here.

BERSANI SAMUELE

BERSANI SAMUELE is an Italian songwriter born on 1970 and become famous thanks to Lucio Dalla on 1992 with the hit song 'Chicco e Spillo', is a tragic story of two teenagers who steal, run away from police and killed in a car accident.
The story is fantasy but it illustrates a band of Italian teenagers who live in big cities and that, for various reasons, find a way of life in crime.
Samuele Bersani is a songwriter from Bologna, and his accent is easily distinguishable in his songs, with the album 'Freak', which describes the longing for an old way of life is its reputation in the field of Italian music.
This year is having good success with a song out of just talking about a person who takes chances and does not take place.
Samuele Bersani is considered a committed singer, who in addition to the company talks about feelings and personal stories, I really like ...
Here are some of Samuele Bersani best songs.
Have fun:

CARBONI LUCA

CARBONI LUCA is one of most famous Italian author and interpreter of love songs.
Carboni borns in Bologna on '62 become famous thanks to a collaboration Lucio Dalla on 1984, but is only on 1987 with 'Silvia lo sai' (Silvia You know it' has a grat success. In this song Carboni talks about his history, a girl in love with a junkie...
Farfallina (Butterfly) is another hit song, in which Luca Carboni expresses his sweetness, his tenderness, his love for a woman.
The love songs Luca Carboni have this aura of intimacy, warm beds of love, of tenderness and affection, the songs are loved all over Italy Carboni and after years of their publication, are still heard by thousands of Italians maybe love ....
Below, the most beautiful songs by Luca Carboni: