Filed under: CMA Awards, Humor

Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood is the sixth hottest bachelor in country music (according to The Boot’s Twitter and Facebook followers). But while he and his Lady A band mates are basking in the glow of their CMA Award nominations, the guitarist is searching for a date for the big night!

The Associated Press reports that Dave asked his mom to go with him via Twitter (because, says Dave, “she loves Twitter for some reason”), but she had to turn him down! “OH WOW!!! YIPPEE!!! What an honor and surprise invitation!!,” the proud mom tweeted, even though she’s unable to attend.

Dave says he’s “bummed” his mom can’t go to the show but adds that he’s now “in the hunt.” As for the type of girl he seeking, not just as a CMA date but in general, Dave tells The Boot, “I would love to find a girl who loves to travel as much as we do. Someone who likes the ups and downs of a music career. I’m still looking for the right one!”

Filed under: Concert News, Country News

“This isn’t a funeral,” the always-jovial Kix Brooks said upon taking the stage for the very last time as one-half of country music’s most celebrated duo. “We did come here to party!”

Without much fanfare or several celebrity friends making guest appearances, Brooks & Dunn wrapped up their 20-year partnership with a show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Thursday, September 2. Proceeds from the show, which featured an opening set by newcomer Tyler Dickerson, will go to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Prior to the show, a 15-minute video featuring behind-the-scenes interviews with the duo’s band and crew, many of them having been with Kix and partner Ronnie Dunn for most of their run, shone a light on the pair as great bosses and nice guys. Their famous signature steerheads were out in full force located above the stage and on the bass drum (although the bubble-blowing goat and the sky-high inflatable cowgirls were nowhere to be seen!)

Filed under: Exclusive, Concert News, Country News

Brooks & Dunn wrap up the Last Rodeo tour tonight (September 2) with a sold-out show at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. One of the most successful duos in music history and a staple at country radio for two decades, the guys decided to mark the culmination on their 20-year career together with a benefit concert, Brooks & Dunn and Friends, with proceeds going to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

“We’re really proud of the Hall of Fame and everything it stands for,” Ronnie Dunn explains. “It’s really cool that we have it here in Nashville and are very proud of the heritage that comes with it.”

The pair, who released their debut album ‘Brand New Man’ in 1991, have hinted at a possible superstar line-up of guests for this last show, and Ronnie believes it’s going to be a huge celebration. “We’re going to have all our friends backstage. There’ll be more people backstage than there will be out front probably, and that’s fine with us. We’ll just go out with a big party and have a cab take us home.”

Filed under: Country News

Country Music Hall of Famer Barbara Mandrell will reunite with her singing siblings for a rare appearance as the Mandrell Sisters on Thursday, September 2 at the Nashville Palace. Barbara, Louise and Irlene (pictured together left in 1981) will come together in support of S.E.E.K. (Suba Environmental Education of Kenya), to help raise funds for those in need in that African nation. The fundraiser was organized by Barbara’s daughter, Jaime Dudney.

The mission of S.E.E.K. is to provide opportunities for the people of Kenya by addressing urgent issues of poverty, hunger and disease in a Biblical and environmentally literate way, to bring about transformation of their communities.

Attendees will have opportunity to mingle with the Mandrells, who will sign photos and autographs for attendees. GAC’s Nan Kelley will host the event, with musical performances by Mike Farris and the Roseland Rhythm Revue and Christy Sutherland.

Filed under: Exclusive, Albums, Interviews

They’re a well-established (and multiple-award-winning trio) in their Australian homeland, but for the McClymonts, conquering country music in the U.S. is an entirely new challenge. But with wit, energy, beauty and charm to spare, sisters Mollie, Brooke and Sam put a fresh ‘down under’ spin on country that already has audiences here taking notice. They’ve even “opened” for Ozzy Osbourne!

The McClymonts’ U.S. debut album, ‘Chaos and Bright Lights,’ coincides with their first official U.S. concert dates which began earlier this month. The sisters are soon to open a series of shows for Jason Aldean, having already shared a stage him and also with superstars Lady Antebellum. They’ve also been the recipients of numerous honors, including four CMAA (Country Music Association of Australia) awards and the Group of the Year honor at the Golden Guitar Awards three years in a row. Earlier this year, their single ‘Finally over Blue’ even knocked the Eagles from their chart-topping 10-month run on the Australian radio airplay charts.

The Boot sat down with the McClymonts, who hail from Grafton, New South Wales on the northern coast of Australia, to talk about the new album (produced by Adam Anders, music producer for the FOX musical series ‘Glee‘ who has also worked with Shania Twain, ‘Hannah Montana‘ and Nick Jonas), and what it’s like to “start from scratch” in the U.S. after achieving remarkable success at home.

Your harmonies are amazing. Is that something that came natural to you?

Brooke: I think there is a natural element to it that comes with sibling harmonies. But we practiced in the car, traveling to country music festivals. We’ve been doing this our whole lives but we’ve been constantly touring for the last four years. You can either harmonize you can’t. Some people just can’t get it. And we do all sound alike, it’s the tone in our voices. That’s why our vocals blend and it works.

You write together, too. Do you instantly know who’s going to sing which part?

Mollie: Yes. We know our roles. [laughs] When someone’s taking a solo or singing a verse, our voices sound completely different. But when we sing together, it sounds like we have the same voice. It’s quite strange how it works.

Filed under: Country News

She’s already a huge TV star, thanks to her role on Nickelodeon’s hit series, ‘iCarly,’ and now Jennette McCurdy is also well on her way to being a country star. The 18-year old released her first country music project, an EP titled ‘Not That Far Away,’ this week and now she’s ready to take the music world by storm.

“I really wanted to just be honest to myself, stay true to myself with every song and deliver a CD that I felt reflected who I am as a person and tell the stories of my life because I feel that that’s what people will relate to the most,” says Jennette. “Country music strikes a chord in peoples hearts that makes you think, ‘Wow! I know exactly what they’re talking about. I felt that before.’ I wanted people to be able to feel the same thing and I felt that could only be accomplished if I really wrote what I knew.”

Filed under: Exclusive, Country News

The popular CMA Songwriters Series will return to Chicago on October 8 and 9. The shows put a spotlight on the writers behind some of country music’s biggest hits, as well as featuring artists known as much for their songwriting as they are for performing. This year’s talent line-up includes The Band Perry, Kix Brooks, David Lee Murphy and host, Bob DiPiero.

The Band Perry are gearing up to release their debut album on Republic Nashville. The sibling trio’s self-titled album hits stores on October 12 and contains many tunes they took part in writing. “We are just so excited that it’s set in stone and coming out,” Kimberly Perry tells The Boot. “We’ve been out on the road and doing this for 12 years in October. To see how dangerously close we are to having the album in stores is amazing!”