Country Music Month is HERE!!!

Ok, technically, it arrives in a couple of hours. But still....

The programming going on across the XM country neighborhood this month is insane. I almost get afraid to talk about it because I'm going to leave something out. But to the best of my ability, here are some highlights you have to look forward to this week, including encore times when I know them:

MONDAY:
Marty Stuart Artist Confidential -- all day long on XM 2

TUESDAY:
Release Day Rest Stops with Brooks & Dunn - every hour on XM 16
Driver's Ed with Whiskey Falls - hosted by Amy Paige - 3pm ET on XM 16
Bill Anderson Visits with the Legends w/ Kris Kristofferson - Noon ET on XM 10

WEDNESDAY:
Jack Ingram - In Concert at B.B. Kings / NYC - 10am ET on XM 16

THURSDAY:
Clint Black Artist Confidential (Encore) - 6pm ET on XM 17
Driver's Ed with Whiskey Falls - 9am ET on XM 16
Bill Anderson w/ Kris Kristofferson - Noon ET on XM 10
IBMA Awards - Live from the Grand Ole Opry House - 9pm ET on XM 14

FRIDAY:
Marty Stuart's American Odyssey - SERIES DEBUT all day long on XM 10. (First episode focuses on Marty's hometown of Philadelphia, MS)

SATURDAY:
Jack Ingram - In Concert at B.B. Kings / NYC - 10am ET on XM 16

SUNDAY:
We're working on something VERY cool for Sunday, but it's not quite a done deal yet, so watch this space for details!!!

**whew**

It's Duo Night!

On my show tonight (7pm ET on XM 10 America) I've got 2 special guests. Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn is there (thanks to the magic of audio tape, LOL) to talk about his duet with Reba. It's country enough to play on XM 10, and gives me a great chance to cross promote Release Day Rest Stops with Brooks & Dunn - all day Tuesday on Highway 16. That happens in the first hour of the show

Then at 8:30pm ET, Wil Reid of Grandstaff is going to join me on the phone to talk about the upcoming fan cruise they're doing with Jimmy Fortune of the Statler Brothers. I'm also going to get some advice from him on how to go Statler Stalking should I ever make it to Staunton, VA, and we're going to talk about the Statler Brothers going into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. (I've printed out an order form... have not yet ordered a ticket. $125 is a lot of money...but SO worth it... right?)

Back to the cruise... 7 nights sailing the Eastern Carribbean on board the Carnival Valor... leaving out of Miami... hitting the Bahamas... St. Thomas... St. Maarten... private performances and receptions... a great gift for the Statler Brothers fan on your Christmas list! They're booking through October 10th, so not much time left, then they have to start giving back the cabins they have on hold. You can book online through JimmyFortune.com or Grandstaff.net.

Come Sail Away!

And the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry is....

Josh Turner.

Discuss...

T.G.I.F.!!!!!

Good gracious, what a week!

I thought it was going to be a fairly mild week, in advance of the IBMA's next week. Ha! Tried to even make plans to catch up on some overdue lunches, thinking I might actually have time to eat lunch this week. Ha again! That didn't even come close to happening.

However, in spite of computer problems... country music month...excrutiating pain in my left hand... last minute shows to write... 5th grade drama... a subscriber who wants to hold me personally responsible for everything she doesn't like about my company... bookings and rebookings...and not nearly enough hours in the day for me to actually do anything that resembles cleaning...I can't complain.

I could have this guy's job!

Yes, I stopped traffic on Hickory Hollow Parkway to take his photo. The best part you can't tell in the photo... but he was smoking a cigarette!

Remind me tomorrow to tell you about the special guests I have on Sunday night's show!

Multi-media Blogging

Email Shut Down

Sorry gang, I've temporarily shut down the ProducerJ email account. Apparently it's not enough to tell me at work how much I suck... someone's decided I need to hear it when I'm at home with my family, too.

And quite honestly, I don't.

With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
- Psalm 109:3 (NIV)

Concert Update

From today's Country Aircheck email blast:

Brooks & Done: Kansas City's new Sprint Center, opening in October with Elton John, will be the site of Garth Brooks' "One Artist, One City, One Time" show set for Nov. 14 at 7:30pm. "Several months ago we'd announced that we would perform a thank-you concert for our friends at Wal-Mart," Brooks said in a statement released to Country Aircheck. "They'd suggested either Fayetteville or Kansas City. AEG was kind enough to help us out with this concert and offered the opening of the new Sprint Center. We were thrilled since this allowed us the opportunity to make this an even bigger party by opening up the concert to the public." Ticket information will be released Oct. 3.

Special Treat for My Blog Readers!

Didn't want you to have to wait until tomorrow for this news! The long rumored Kansas City show is now being confirmed by the music industry trade Radio & Records in their daily email blast:

Holy Crap, This News Is Garth-Gantuan! It's no rumor, this is happening.... When Garth Brooks announced plans for his "Ultimate" box set release, he hinted there might be a road trip on the way too -- the kind where he brings musician friends and all his toys. Well, you can put Nov. 14 in your day-timer, because the G-man is set to play the Sprint Center in Kansas City that night, and if he sells enough tickets for that show (like, duh!), he may add another. We understand radio will announce the shows tomorrow (Sept. 27), with details about the ticket on-sale Oct. 3.

By the way... this is the question during GRS that he was asked about that he gave the "yes... I'm not supposed to talk about it... but YES" answer to. ;-)

XM Is Now Home to the Grand Ole Opry!

Grand Ole Opry to Debut on XM in October
PR NEWSWIRE
Posted: 2007-09-26 10:47:23

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM will be the new satellite radio home of the Grand Ole Opry beginning in October, it was announced today. Beginning with the Opry's 82nd Birthday Bash broadcast featuring Carrie Underwood, Travis Tritt, Ronnie Milsap, and more on Saturday, October 20, XM will feature the live Friday and Saturday night performances as well as the Tuesday Night Opry. Additionally, XM will offer classic broadcasts of the renowned country music show, archival performances, and "The Eddie Stubbs Show," which is hosted by regular Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs.

Recognized as the preeminent showcase for country music, the Grand Ole Opry debuted on the radio airwaves in 1925 on Nashville's 650 AM WSM and can still be heard on its flagship station. Today, the Opry counts among its members such current chart-toppers as Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride, and Brad Paisley as well as country legends including Bill Anderson, Jimmy Dickens, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. "We are pleased that XM listeners will now be able to experience the Opry's brand of entertainment every week," said Steve Buchanan, Gaylord Entertainment senior vice president. "Airing on XM provides Opry fans throughout the country a new way to tune in to the show and presents the Opry to an audience that may have not yet discovered this uniquely American experience."

"This is great news," said Martina McBride, an Opry member since 1995. "It's a better day for all of us when the Grand Ole Opry and all it embodies can be heard across the country on satellite radio."

The country hits channel "Nashville" (XM 11) will feature live Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night performances (Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET; Fridays at 9 p.m. ET; Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET;). Encore broadcasts of new Opry episodes will air on XM's classic country music channel America (XM 10) at 10 a.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with archival Opry broadcasts. Many individual performances recorded live on the Opry stage will also be featured on XM's other country music channels, including Willie's Place (XM 13), Bluegrass Junction (XM 14), Highway 16 (XM 16), and U.S. Country (XM 17).

In addition to the Grand Ole Opry, XM will also add "The Eddie Stubbs Show" to the XM programming lineup. The popular WSM program is hosted by Eddie Stubbs, a regular announcer for the Grand Ole Opry, award-winning country music DJ, and respected country music historian. "The Eddie Stubbs Show" will premiere later this fall on XM 10. The arrival of the Grand Ole Opry to XM coincides with XM's Country Music Month celebration, featuring XM's month-long showcase of country music programming throughout October. Highlights include original music specials featuring Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn, Jack Ingram, Kris Kristofferson and Bill Anderson, among others, and exclusive programming, including broadcast of the Big State Festival from the Texas World Speedway. Complete details on XM's Country Music Month programming are available online at http://www.xmradio.com/countrymusicmonth .

Yay for Reba!

Reba's Duets CD is #1 this week on the Billboard 200, scanning 300,536 cd's.

Kanye 2nd with 225,994
50 Cent 3rd with 142,916
Barry Manilow 4th with 113,149 in his first week
Kenny rounds out the Top 5 with 112,213

Let's Start Some Rumors

Allow me to share this completely wild, based in absolutely nothing other than my own desire, suggestion to the CMA that just popped into my head.

Dear CMA Peeps -

So Brooks & Dunn isn't going to host this year's CMA Awards. As of this moment, a host has not been announced, although Brad Paisley is leading the wild speculation up and down Music Row. I'm sure you're already working on a host, but just in case you hadn't thought about it... allow me to just throw this out there for you to consider for your awards show hosting gig currently open for November 7th.

You need:

A superstar. Bigger is better in the world of network tv ratings.

Someone funny. Not Jerry Seinfeld funny, but quick witted like Ronnie, with just a touch of Vince's self-deprecation.

Someone who knows country music. Don't go giving us a random tv star like Dr. Phil or someone. 'Cuz we don't want to watch that for 3 hours.

Someone with an album to promote... maybe... say... one that is being released the day before the awards show.

And you know... if you're looking for another duo to replace Brooks & Dunn... perhaps you could find a host with a spouse who'd fit those qualifications as well.

Just think - you'd only have to change half of the letters on the marquis.

Anxiously awaiting your decision --
Anonymous GarthNutt

P.S. Since the show takes place on the 7th... it might also help to find someone who's lucky number is 7.

No Sympathy

I don't care how sad and teary and desperate Jennifer Nettles looks in her new video... it's hard for me to garner up any sympathy for a woman who's crying over her man going back home to his wife.

I've given you my best
Why does does she get the best of you?

Umm... maybe because she had him first. That's the way those things work. He's not yours. You're only borrowing. You have to give him back.

It's too much pain to have to bare
to love a man you have to share

You don't HAVE to share him. You chose to get what you could get. You can't live by those rules you shouldn't be playing the game. So stop whining.

Christian's the one who should be crying in the video. If you only hear the song on the radio you wonder when Jennifer finally went solo.

Movin' On Up !

Literally. Up the street... and Up in the air!

The joke over the summer around my house was that I was moving twice... once when I bought a new house... and again when we moved the XM Nashville operations. One down... one to go.

Here is where our new studios and offices are going to be.


<---- Right there...
<---- and there. 3 and 4 stories up. Studios, Offices, a conference room, a break room, and an incredible view of the city. Currently, I only have one of the above. Studios. We'll have everyone under one roof - I'm going to increase productivity just by not having to truck back and forth every day. I get giddy when I allow myself to think about it.

was over there for the first time last week. Well, the first time in years, lol -- I've actually been up there on the roof at the base of the spire. Right now, our space is an abandoned bar and pizza joint. They tell us we can't keep the bar.

The plan is for us to be in there the first part of 2008. Of course, The Merger should be decided by the end of 2007, so whether any of will still have jobs by the time the studios are done is yet to be decided.

But it's pretty dang exciting to think I could have my own desk high in the sky over Broadway.

News I Forgot To Break

Uh-oh.... I'm in trouble.

It was brought to my attention that I completely have neglected to blog about some very important happenings at XM Nashville. (The city, not the channel.)

One of my faithful blog readers had to hear about this exciting news... on another channel. One that I'm not a part of. One that doesn't actually have anything to do with music.

Sports. A sports channel broke a story I should have told you about 2 weeks ago.

NHL Home Ice, to be exact. I am ashamed. I have failed you.

Broken News - coming tonight to this space. In the meantime, go back and read this blog entry.

Music Movies

We got 3 months of digital cable cheap when we moved, so my husband has been a movie junkie (even more so than he was already.) Tonight he made me watch Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.


Oh. My.


Which leads me to ask -- what are your favorite music-related movies? (Not counting musicals... it's not fair to compare anything to... say... South Pacific or The Sound of Music.)

Why Marty Stuart Fans Need XM

Marty Stuart to Host Weekly Country Music Show on XM 'Marty Stuart's American Odyssey'
Premieres October 5, as Part of XM's Country Music Month Lineup

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- XM, the nation's leading satellite radio service with more than 8.2 million subscribers, today announced the launch of a new, weekly show hosted by Marty Stuart. Debuting on Friday, October 5, "Marty Stuart's American Odyssey" will expose fans to broad range of American music -- including traditional country, blues, rockabilly, bluegrass, gospel and rock songs -- with Stuart serving as host.

"'American Odyssey' will be an amazing adventure inside the musical walls of our cities. It's theater and radio has always been great theater to me; I knew XM was where it belonged," said Marty Stuart. "This will be a journey through America with a big smile."

Each hour-long episode of "Marty Stuart's American Odyssey" will focus on a different part of the country and bring the musical sounds and stories of that region to life through informal interviews with local musicians, stories, guests and a regular cast of studio and tour musicians.

New episodes of "Marty Stuart's American Odyssey," which airs Fridays at 8 a.m. ET on XM's classic country channel "America" (XM 10), will also be available all day every Friday on "XMX" (XM 2), a recently launched channel that provides fans with XM's most popular and critically-acclaimed original music shows all in one place.

My Next House....

... will NOT be this one.

However, if you would like a little two-and-a-half-million dollar Keith Urban souvenir of your own... you might want to buy it.

And if you don't live in Nashville and would like to buy it for me... well that would be all right too.

Statler Stuff

I don't know how I managed to miss this, but I just discovered that the Statler Brothers are inductees into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame this year. There's an induction ceremony in October, here in Nashville. I'm nearly hyperventilating at the thought of going. I've never met 3 of the 4 Statlers, you know. Unfortunately, tickets are $125. Although I could probably get media credentials to get in... there are a couple of problems with that little scenario:

1. I'd have to interview the inductees. And I have never heard of any of the others, nor could I pick them out of a lineup.

2. I'd have to interview the inductees. See the above mentioned note about hyperventilating.

I completely feel like an idiot, because I close out my show every Sunday night on XM 10 with a Statler's Gospel song, and I had no idea this was announced - over a week ago!

In what is clearly a "full circle moment" waiting to happen... when I first moved to Nashville with pie in the sky dreams that I was going to go to work for Jim Owens on the Statler Brothers TV show... I used to moonlight doing catering while I was working at WSMV. One of the places I worked most often was The Richland Country Club. Which is where the induction ceremony is taking place.

In other Statlers News... Jimmy Fortune has announced his annual Fan Cruise for 2008. He's sailing the Eastern Carribbean in March, leaving out of Miami. And his special guest - my buddies Grandstaff!

http://www.jimmyfortune.com/ for all the details.

And finally, Jimmy's 3 day music festival, The Fortune-Williams Music Festival, takes place at the end of this month in Staunton, VA. Where I've still never been. Yet.

And the Spin is In!

Kenny Chesney Lands at #1 on Country Album Chart, #3 Between Hip Hop Feud on Top 200

Nashville: Sometimes you can only get out of the way - and when Kenny Chesney dropped Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates amidst the biggest beef of the year between hip-hop's Kanye West and 50 Cent, he decided to take the quiet route. Rather than ramp up the vamp, he hit radio, kicked off the fall concert series on “Good Morning America,” stopped by “The View” and performed on “The Late Show with Conan O'Brien.”

“There are some things you can't fight,” Chesney said simply. “And I've never been very good at that sort of thing. I think the music will do the talking for me in the long run - and I know that our albums tend to keep selling week-after-week-after-week…”

Who's Boots are Cooler?