For the first time in three years, the top three selling albums in the U.S. are all country efforts.
Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" holds at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for a second week, Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" starts at No. 2 and Sugarland's former No. 1 "The Incredible Machine" slips one rung to No. 3.
Country albums last monopolized the top three rungs on the chart November 10, 2007, when Carrie Underwood's "Carnival Ride" debuted at No. 1, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss' "Raising Sand" started at No. 2 and Gary Allan's "Living Hard" bowed at No. 3.
Last week, Swift's "Speak Now" made a historic 1,047,000 bow. This is just the 16th time (since SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991) where an album sold at least 1 million copies in a week.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
CMA: CMA Awards 2010 Winners and Review for the 44th Annual Show
Top CMA Awards nominee Miranda Lambert, who entered "Country Music's Biggest Night™" with a record nine nominations, walked away with an armful of CMA Awards. The Texas bombshell took home three trophies, including Female Vocalist, Album for Revolution (produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke) and Music Video of the Year for "The House That Built Me" (directed by Trey Fanjoy, who picked up her second consecutive Award in that category). The three Awards were the first she has won in her career.
"Revolution has certainly caused a revolution in my life this year thanks to the Country Music industry," Lambert expressed after winning Album. "It's what I love, it's what I do, it's what I live for, so thank you for loving it too."
After wowing the crowd with his tribute to the music he loves, "This Is Country Music," Awards co-host Brad Paisley won the big one, Entertainer of the Year, which was his first win in the category.
An emotional Paisley quoted his hero Little Jimmy Dickens: "'If you see a turtle on a fence post it had help getting there.' I feel just like a turtle on a fence post right now."
Paisley went on to thank all fans of Country Music. "It sounds like a cliche when you say thanks to the fans, but the great thing about Country fans is that when you say 'fans,' I don't even mean mine. You guys are loyal to everyone in this room."
"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" was hosted for the third time by Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Winning was definitely a family affair as Lambert's fiance Blake Shelton picked up his first career CMA Awards, winning Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for "Hillbilly Bone," his duet with Trace Adkins, who also snagged his first CMA Award. A normally outspoken Shelton was almost at a loss for words after his Male Vocalist win.
"This is about 34 years worth of steps for me, so it would take me forever to thank everyone," Shelton said. "It's a really big deal for me. This is unbelievable." Shelton performed his latest hit, "All About Tonight."
Lady Antebellum won their second consecutive Single of the Year Award for the smash crossover hit "Need You Now," becoming the only artist in CMA Awards history to capture the Single honor in consecutive years. After winning their second Vocal Group of the Year Award, the trio marveled at the huge year they've had.
"Thank you so much to my bandmates Charles [Kelley] and Dave [Haywood]," Hillary Scott summed up while accepting their Award. "This year has been unbelievable and I can't imagine two better people to enjoy the ride with."
Zac Brown Band was another first-time winner, picking up the New Artist of the Year Award. "Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and supported us," said band front man Brown. "It's an honor to get to do what we do." Alan Jackson joined Zac Brown Band to perform "As She's Walking Away" from the band's sophomore album, You Get What You Give.
Song of the Year went to the songwriters who penned Lambert's hit "The House That Built Me," Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin. Backstage, Shamblin grew nostalgic when talking about his childhood home and the inspiration for the song. "For years I have wondered what it would be like to go knock on the door and go back in and see where I used to sneak out the back window and see where I learned to play my guitar," he recalled. "This song is about wondering what it would be like to go back to where I grew up."
Gunning for fellow nominee Brooks & Dunn's record of 14, Sugarland picked up their fourth Vocal Duo of the Year Award after performing their latest No. 1 hit "Stuck Like Glue."
"To be able to win this Award tonight," mused Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles backstage, "I think is really validating in the sense that it's also your peers and they're saying, 'Yep, it's good!' I like it."
Guitarist Mac McAnally picked up his third consecutive Musician of the Year Award in the pre-broadcast ceremony.
In one of the more memorable performances of the evening, Lambert and Sheryl Crow offered a rendition of "Coal Miner's Daughter" in honor of Loretta Lynn's 50th anniversary as a Country Music recording artist.
Actress Sissy Spacek, who portrayed Lynn in the 1980 biopic "Coal Miner's Daughter," made a surprise appearance to celebrate the Country Music Hall of Fame member. "Loretta didn't need any actress to turn her into a great character," Spacek proclaimed. "She was born one."
Lynn joined Lambert and Crow onstage for the last verse of the song she made famous before presenting the Female Vocalist of the Year Award with Spacek.
Awards co-host Underwood opened "Country Music's Biggest Night" with instrumental accompaniment by Keith Urban and fellow co-host Paisley on "Songs Like This." Later, Underwood brought down the house with the powerful "Mama's Song."
Female Vocalist nominee and 2009's Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift wowed the crowd at the Bridgestone Arena with "Back to December," the new single from her latest release Speak Now, which sold more than 1 million copies in its first week and continues its dominance of Country and pop charts.
Fellow Female Vocalist nominee Reba McEntire performed a cover of Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy," from her newest album that was released this week, All the Women I Am.
Male Vocalist and Album of the Year nominee George Strait, the top all-time CMA Awards winner, performed "The Breath You Take." Dierks Bentley, who was also nominated for Male Vocalist and Album, performed the bluegrass-infused "Up on the Ridge." Fellow Male Vocalist nominee Urban, who was also up for Entertainer of the Year, rocked the house with "Put You in a Song."
Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow made her Country singing debut on the Awards, performing "Country Strong," the title track from the upcoming film in which she portrays a Country singer on a comeback tour. The film, which co-stars Tim McGraw is set to open nationwide in January. Paltrow closed the show, accompanied by Vince Gill.
One of the many performance highlights included the Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" from Aldean's latest album My Kinda Party. Genre-blurring Country rocker Kid Rock offered his anthem "Born Free," the title track from his new album due Nov. 16. Kenny Chesney offered his latest hit, the football-themed "Boys of Fall."
Vocal Group nominees Rascal Flatts performed their latest hit "Why Wait" in front of a Vegas-themed backdrop. Fellow Vocal Group nominees The Band Perry offered the poignant "If I Die Young."
Presenters for the night included New Artist nominees Luke Bryan, Jerrod Niemann and Chris Young; ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" host Ty Pennington and "Better With You" star Joanna Garcia; NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon; nominees Easton Corbin, Little Big Town and Martina McBride; and Country stars Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Darius Rucker.
The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005 before moving to ABC in 2006.
Winners of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" were determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the County Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
The Winners of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" are:
Entertainer of the Year
Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
New Artist of the Year
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Revolution
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
"Need You Now"
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
"The House That Built Me"
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
"Hillbilly Bone"
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Reprise Records
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"The House That Built Me"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2010 CMA Awards. Chevrolet, Proud Sponsor of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music.
www.CMAawards.com
"Revolution has certainly caused a revolution in my life this year thanks to the Country Music industry," Lambert expressed after winning Album. "It's what I love, it's what I do, it's what I live for, so thank you for loving it too."
After wowing the crowd with his tribute to the music he loves, "This Is Country Music," Awards co-host Brad Paisley won the big one, Entertainer of the Year, which was his first win in the category.
An emotional Paisley quoted his hero Little Jimmy Dickens: "'If you see a turtle on a fence post it had help getting there.' I feel just like a turtle on a fence post right now."
Paisley went on to thank all fans of Country Music. "It sounds like a cliche when you say thanks to the fans, but the great thing about Country fans is that when you say 'fans,' I don't even mean mine. You guys are loyal to everyone in this room."
"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" was hosted for the third time by Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on the ABC Television Network.
Winning was definitely a family affair as Lambert's fiance Blake Shelton picked up his first career CMA Awards, winning Male Vocalist and Musical Event of the Year for "Hillbilly Bone," his duet with Trace Adkins, who also snagged his first CMA Award. A normally outspoken Shelton was almost at a loss for words after his Male Vocalist win.
"This is about 34 years worth of steps for me, so it would take me forever to thank everyone," Shelton said. "It's a really big deal for me. This is unbelievable." Shelton performed his latest hit, "All About Tonight."
Lady Antebellum won their second consecutive Single of the Year Award for the smash crossover hit "Need You Now," becoming the only artist in CMA Awards history to capture the Single honor in consecutive years. After winning their second Vocal Group of the Year Award, the trio marveled at the huge year they've had.
"Thank you so much to my bandmates Charles [Kelley] and Dave [Haywood]," Hillary Scott summed up while accepting their Award. "This year has been unbelievable and I can't imagine two better people to enjoy the ride with."
Zac Brown Band was another first-time winner, picking up the New Artist of the Year Award. "Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and supported us," said band front man Brown. "It's an honor to get to do what we do." Alan Jackson joined Zac Brown Band to perform "As She's Walking Away" from the band's sophomore album, You Get What You Give.
Song of the Year went to the songwriters who penned Lambert's hit "The House That Built Me," Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin. Backstage, Shamblin grew nostalgic when talking about his childhood home and the inspiration for the song. "For years I have wondered what it would be like to go knock on the door and go back in and see where I used to sneak out the back window and see where I learned to play my guitar," he recalled. "This song is about wondering what it would be like to go back to where I grew up."
Gunning for fellow nominee Brooks & Dunn's record of 14, Sugarland picked up their fourth Vocal Duo of the Year Award after performing their latest No. 1 hit "Stuck Like Glue."
"To be able to win this Award tonight," mused Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles backstage, "I think is really validating in the sense that it's also your peers and they're saying, 'Yep, it's good!' I like it."
Guitarist Mac McAnally picked up his third consecutive Musician of the Year Award in the pre-broadcast ceremony.
In one of the more memorable performances of the evening, Lambert and Sheryl Crow offered a rendition of "Coal Miner's Daughter" in honor of Loretta Lynn's 50th anniversary as a Country Music recording artist.
Actress Sissy Spacek, who portrayed Lynn in the 1980 biopic "Coal Miner's Daughter," made a surprise appearance to celebrate the Country Music Hall of Fame member. "Loretta didn't need any actress to turn her into a great character," Spacek proclaimed. "She was born one."
Lynn joined Lambert and Crow onstage for the last verse of the song she made famous before presenting the Female Vocalist of the Year Award with Spacek.
Awards co-host Underwood opened "Country Music's Biggest Night" with instrumental accompaniment by Keith Urban and fellow co-host Paisley on "Songs Like This." Later, Underwood brought down the house with the powerful "Mama's Song."
Female Vocalist nominee and 2009's Entertainer of the Year Taylor Swift wowed the crowd at the Bridgestone Arena with "Back to December," the new single from her latest release Speak Now, which sold more than 1 million copies in its first week and continues its dominance of Country and pop charts.
Fellow Female Vocalist nominee Reba McEntire performed a cover of Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy," from her newest album that was released this week, All the Women I Am.
Male Vocalist and Album of the Year nominee George Strait, the top all-time CMA Awards winner, performed "The Breath You Take." Dierks Bentley, who was also nominated for Male Vocalist and Album, performed the bluegrass-infused "Up on the Ridge." Fellow Male Vocalist nominee Urban, who was also up for Entertainer of the Year, rocked the house with "Put You in a Song."
Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow made her Country singing debut on the Awards, performing "Country Strong," the title track from the upcoming film in which she portrays a Country singer on a comeback tour. The film, which co-stars Tim McGraw is set to open nationwide in January. Paltrow closed the show, accompanied by Vince Gill.
One of the many performance highlights included the Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" from Aldean's latest album My Kinda Party. Genre-blurring Country rocker Kid Rock offered his anthem "Born Free," the title track from his new album due Nov. 16. Kenny Chesney offered his latest hit, the football-themed "Boys of Fall."
Vocal Group nominees Rascal Flatts performed their latest hit "Why Wait" in front of a Vegas-themed backdrop. Fellow Vocal Group nominees The Band Perry offered the poignant "If I Die Young."
Presenters for the night included New Artist nominees Luke Bryan, Jerrod Niemann and Chris Young; ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" host Ty Pennington and "Better With You" star Joanna Garcia; NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon; nominees Easton Corbin, Little Big Town and Martina McBride; and Country stars Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes and Darius Rucker.
The CMA Awards nominees and winners are determined by the 6,000 industry professional members of CMA, which was the first trade organization formed to promote an individual genre of music in 1958. The first CMA Awards Banquet and Show was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC television for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The show aired on NBC through 1971 and on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005 before moving to ABC in 2006.
Winners of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" were determined in a final round of voting by eligible voting members of the County Music Association. CMA Awards balloting is officiated by the international accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
"The 44th Annual CMA Awards" is a production of the Country Music Association. Robert Deaton is the Executive Producer, Paul Miller is the Director, and David Wild is the writer. The special will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.
The Winners of "The 44th Annual CMA Awards" are:
Entertainer of the Year
Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
New Artist of the Year
Zac Brown Band
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
Revolution
Miranda Lambert
Produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia Nashville
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
"Need You Now"
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
Capitol Records Nashville
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
"The House That Built Me"
Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
"Hillbilly Bone"
Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Reprise Records
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
"The House That Built Me"
Miranda Lambert
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally – Guitar
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio packager of the CMA Awards. American Airlines is the official airline of the 2010 CMA Awards. Chevrolet, Proud Sponsor of the CMA Awards and Official Ride of Country Music.
www.CMAawards.com
Blake Shelton is CMA's Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton won the award for "Male Vocalist of the Year" at the 44th Annual CMA Awards. Shelton takes home his first ever CMA Award with wins in the categories of "Male Vocalist of the Year" and "Musical Event of the Year" (for his song "Hillbilly Bone" with longtime friend Trace Adkins). An elated Shelton received the award for "Male Vocalist of the Year" as the crowd jumped to their feet, giving him a standing ovation for the well-deserved honor.
A surprised Shelton made sure to step on each step on his way to accept the award. "That's about 34 years worth of steps for me," said Shelton as he accepted the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award. "This is unbelievable. Thank you."
For additional information on Blake Shelton, please visit www.blakeshelton.com.
A surprised Shelton made sure to step on each step on his way to accept the award. "That's about 34 years worth of steps for me," said Shelton as he accepted the "Male Vocalist of the Year" award. "This is unbelievable. Thank you."
For additional information on Blake Shelton, please visit www.blakeshelton.com.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Taylor Swift Shatters Sales Records With Million-Selling Debut - Swift sells 1,046,718 copies of "Speak Now"
With 1,046,718 copies sold in the US in the first week of release, Taylor Swift's Speak Now album has scored SoundScan's biggest single-week sales total since 2005 and is the biggest debuting country studio album in history.
Speak Now accounted for 18% of total albums sold this week, setting a new record for percentage of total sales in a single week. One out of every five CDs or download sales this week was Taylor's Speak Now album, which was released on Big Machine Records.
Speak Now is just the 16th album in the SoundScan era to sell over a million copies in one week, and Taylor joins Whitney Houston, Norah Jones and Britney Spears as the only female artists in history to sell more than a million albums in a debut week. With 278,000 digital albums sold, Taylor broke her own record for most country digital albums sold in one week (set by 2008's Fearless album), and Speak Now marked the largest debut album release total (all genres) at Target in the history of the retail chain. Taylor, who earlier this year won four Grammys –including Album of the Year-- for Fearless, wrote the Speak Now album entirely by herself, and co-produced the project with Nathan Chapman.
Speak Now reached the iTunes #1 album position (all genres) within an hour of its release on October 25th, and the album's lead single, "Mine," is now Taylor's sixth #1 hit, jumping from #5 to #1 at Country radio this week. "Mine" has reached #11 at Top 40 radio and is Top 5 at A/C and Top 10 at Hot A/C. The video for "Mine" is in its 10th week at #1 on CMT, and has also reached #1 at GAC, MTV and VH1.
The Speak Now track "Mean" is this week's Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the third straight week Taylor has held Hot Shot Debut honors. Taylor is the only artist in the 52-year history of the Hot 100 to achieve this feat. And just last month, Taylor set a new Billboard record for Most Top 10 debuts on the all-genre Hot 100 in the history of the chart.
Speak Now's sales and chart success is matched by the album's critical acclaim. Rolling Stone awarded the CD 4 stars, writing: "People like to fixate on Taylor Swift's youth, as if to say, yeah, she's pretty good for her age. But that just begs a question: Where are all the older people who are supposedly making better pop records than Taylor Swift? There aren't any."
The New York Times calls Speak Now "the most musically diverse [album] of her career…. And it's excellent too, possibly her best," and the Associated Press hailed Taylor as "a country-pop Jane Austen."
"Brilliant," raved the Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly writes, "What Swift does extremely well is tell a story: Speak's 14 tracks are perfectly contained snow globes of romance and catharsis, whole cinematic narratives rendered in four-to six-minute miniatures." Us Weekly dubbed Speak Now "another unrestrained grand-slam," USA Today says, "when Taylor Swift speaks on her new album, you should listen," and People wrote that the "songs play out like journal entries in which the country-pop phenom lets it all out in delicious, narrative-driving detail."
Taylor plans to tour in support of Speak Now, and is currently slated to play 85 shows in 18 countries in 2011. Her 15-month, 107-date Fearless 2009 / 2010 Tour sold out arenas and stadiums in 88 cities in five countries spanning four continents.
Fans can take a look inside Taylor's Speak Now album – from the recording, to performances, to the behind-the-scenes of release week – on Thanksgiving night, when NBC will air the one-hour primetime special "Taylor Swift – Speak Now." The program will follow Taylor on her journey from New York City to Los Angeles through interviews, events, and all the in-the-moment experiences of a four-time Grammy winner releasing brand new music, as well as showcase multiple one-of-a-kind performances.
Speak Now artwork is available for download at: www.taylorswift.com/media-page and a Deluxe Edition of Speak Now, featuring bonus tracks and video content, is available exclusively at Target.
Speak Now accounted for 18% of total albums sold this week, setting a new record for percentage of total sales in a single week. One out of every five CDs or download sales this week was Taylor's Speak Now album, which was released on Big Machine Records.
Speak Now is just the 16th album in the SoundScan era to sell over a million copies in one week, and Taylor joins Whitney Houston, Norah Jones and Britney Spears as the only female artists in history to sell more than a million albums in a debut week. With 278,000 digital albums sold, Taylor broke her own record for most country digital albums sold in one week (set by 2008's Fearless album), and Speak Now marked the largest debut album release total (all genres) at Target in the history of the retail chain. Taylor, who earlier this year won four Grammys –including Album of the Year-- for Fearless, wrote the Speak Now album entirely by herself, and co-produced the project with Nathan Chapman.
Speak Now reached the iTunes #1 album position (all genres) within an hour of its release on October 25th, and the album's lead single, "Mine," is now Taylor's sixth #1 hit, jumping from #5 to #1 at Country radio this week. "Mine" has reached #11 at Top 40 radio and is Top 5 at A/C and Top 10 at Hot A/C. The video for "Mine" is in its 10th week at #1 on CMT, and has also reached #1 at GAC, MTV and VH1.
The Speak Now track "Mean" is this week's Hot Shot Debut on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the third straight week Taylor has held Hot Shot Debut honors. Taylor is the only artist in the 52-year history of the Hot 100 to achieve this feat. And just last month, Taylor set a new Billboard record for Most Top 10 debuts on the all-genre Hot 100 in the history of the chart.
Speak Now's sales and chart success is matched by the album's critical acclaim. Rolling Stone awarded the CD 4 stars, writing: "People like to fixate on Taylor Swift's youth, as if to say, yeah, she's pretty good for her age. But that just begs a question: Where are all the older people who are supposedly making better pop records than Taylor Swift? There aren't any."
The New York Times calls Speak Now "the most musically diverse [album] of her career…. And it's excellent too, possibly her best," and the Associated Press hailed Taylor as "a country-pop Jane Austen."
"Brilliant," raved the Hollywood Reporter, and Entertainment Weekly writes, "What Swift does extremely well is tell a story: Speak's 14 tracks are perfectly contained snow globes of romance and catharsis, whole cinematic narratives rendered in four-to six-minute miniatures." Us Weekly dubbed Speak Now "another unrestrained grand-slam," USA Today says, "when Taylor Swift speaks on her new album, you should listen," and People wrote that the "songs play out like journal entries in which the country-pop phenom lets it all out in delicious, narrative-driving detail."
Taylor plans to tour in support of Speak Now, and is currently slated to play 85 shows in 18 countries in 2011. Her 15-month, 107-date Fearless 2009 / 2010 Tour sold out arenas and stadiums in 88 cities in five countries spanning four continents.
Fans can take a look inside Taylor's Speak Now album – from the recording, to performances, to the behind-the-scenes of release week – on Thanksgiving night, when NBC will air the one-hour primetime special "Taylor Swift – Speak Now." The program will follow Taylor on her journey from New York City to Los Angeles through interviews, events, and all the in-the-moment experiences of a four-time Grammy winner releasing brand new music, as well as showcase multiple one-of-a-kind performances.
Speak Now artwork is available for download at: www.taylorswift.com/media-page and a Deluxe Edition of Speak Now, featuring bonus tracks and video content, is available exclusively at Target.
Kenny Chesney Tour Dates with the Zac Brown Band
Kenny Chesney, who is country music's top touring draw of the decade, announced he will co-headline nine stadium tour dates next year with the Zac Brown Band, pairing two top road acts.
Chesney had sold more than a million tickets a year for eight consecutive years before taking 2010 off. He filled up his time by making two movies and completing his new album, "Hemingway's Whiskey," which debuted at No. 1 in September.
The singer admitted to feeling the lure of the road while away, but the four-time winner of entertainer of the year from both The Country Music Association and The Academy of Country Music thinks the time off will improve the show his fans see next spring and summer.
"What's going to be different for me is the new music," Chesney told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "When we hit the stage this spring we'll be doing a lot of songs from 'Hemingway's Whiskey,' and our show needed that change. It's going to allow me to really make the set different than it's been and make the show more spontaneous."
Spontaneity is something the Zac Brown Band is known for. The six-piece from Atlanta, which won the 2010 Grammy for best new artist and is nominated for both entertainer of the year and best new artist at next week's CMA Awards, has been one of the hardest touring acts since its breakout two years ago and it's live show has drawn rave reviews.
The stadium tour dates kick off March 19 in Tampa, Fla., and runs through the summer. Billy Currington will join Chesney and Brown on those dates and Uncle Kracker will open eight of the stadium shows. Tickets go on sale Nov. 20.
Chesney will announce more arena and amphitheater dates later this year for what he says will be his biggest tour since 2006.
"I really miss certain things about the road, like the first note of every night and the energy that's exchanged between the stage and the crowd," Chesney said. "I'm really fired up to feel that. That moment is what drives me and what I look forward to."
Stay tuned for a complete list of Kenny Chesney Tour Dates and Zac Brown Tour Dates as they are announced.
Chesney had sold more than a million tickets a year for eight consecutive years before taking 2010 off. He filled up his time by making two movies and completing his new album, "Hemingway's Whiskey," which debuted at No. 1 in September.
The singer admitted to feeling the lure of the road while away, but the four-time winner of entertainer of the year from both The Country Music Association and The Academy of Country Music thinks the time off will improve the show his fans see next spring and summer.
"What's going to be different for me is the new music," Chesney told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "When we hit the stage this spring we'll be doing a lot of songs from 'Hemingway's Whiskey,' and our show needed that change. It's going to allow me to really make the set different than it's been and make the show more spontaneous."
Spontaneity is something the Zac Brown Band is known for. The six-piece from Atlanta, which won the 2010 Grammy for best new artist and is nominated for both entertainer of the year and best new artist at next week's CMA Awards, has been one of the hardest touring acts since its breakout two years ago and it's live show has drawn rave reviews.
The stadium tour dates kick off March 19 in Tampa, Fla., and runs through the summer. Billy Currington will join Chesney and Brown on those dates and Uncle Kracker will open eight of the stadium shows. Tickets go on sale Nov. 20.
Chesney will announce more arena and amphitheater dates later this year for what he says will be his biggest tour since 2006.
"I really miss certain things about the road, like the first note of every night and the energy that's exchanged between the stage and the crowd," Chesney said. "I'm really fired up to feel that. That moment is what drives me and what I look forward to."
Stay tuned for a complete list of Kenny Chesney Tour Dates and Zac Brown Tour Dates as they are announced.
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