Loretta Lynn will receive thePresidential Medal Of Freedom from President Obama, the nation’s highest civilian award. The medal is bestowed for “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” She joins fellow recipients Oprah Winfrey, Patricia Ward, Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian, Gloria Steinem, Dean Smith, Arturo Sandoval, Bayard Rustin, Sally Ride, Mario Molina, Richard Lugar, Daniel Kahneman, Daniel Inouye, Bill Clinton, Ben Bradlee and Ernie Banks. The awards will be presented at a ceremony later this year.

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Gene Watson joins Yolanda Adams, Jewel Brown, Geto Boys, La Mafia, Los Skarnales, Mydolls, J Paul Jr. & The Zydeco Nubreeds, Joe Sample and ZZ Top as the first artists inducted into the Houston Music Hall Of Fame. The Hall, created in honor of the Houston Press Music Awards’ 25th Anniversary, held a ceremony Tuesday (8/6). Watson was unable to attend due to his touring schedule. More here.

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STAPLETON, Ala. (AP) – Willie Nelson says his friend and longtime guitarist Jody Payne will be missed. Payne toured with Nelson for more than three decades. Payne’s wife says he woke up at their home in Stapleton, Alabama, feeling ill, and she called an ambulance. He died Saturday morning of cardiac problems. Payne was 77.

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Country Music Hall of Fame inductee-elect “Cowboy” Jack Clement has passed away at his home in Nashville after a battle with cancer. He was 82. The Memphis native began his career in 1956 as a producer and engineer for Sam Phillips at Sun Records, where he worked with Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis. He produced Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and as a songwriter had his work recorded by Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Charlie Pride and Tom Jones, to name a few. In 1987 he recorded U2’s “When Love Comes To Town” with BB King, “Love Rescue Me” with background vocals by Bob Dylan and more for the band’s Rattle And Hum album. He is survived by daughter Allison and son Niles. His induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame is set for later this year. Services are pending.

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BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (AP) – Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry is sporting a beat-up leg, a torn dress and a big smile after their show outside Toronto last weekend. The band’s Web site reports the crowd surged and Perry suffered a large abrasion and a bruise on her leg from the rack between the stage and the crowd. Her dress also was torn. Perry says it happened so fast she didn’t realize she was hurt, but she noticed the rip in her dress. She says part was hanging by a thread so she tore it off and tossed it into the crowd. Perry says it’s “one of those sweaty, primitive stage moments” that she lives for.

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NEW YORK (AP) – Kenny Chesney says his music is about bringing people together – not separating them. So he hopes the controversy over NFL player Riley Cooper’s use of a racial slur at one of his shows won’t reflect on his music, his fans or image. Chesney tells ESPN.com what Cooper said was “hateful beyond words.” But he also says to “judge an entire audience by one loud mouth isn’t fair.” Cooper came under fire last week after a video surfaced online in which the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver using the n-word against security guards who were working the show. Cooper has been fined by the team – and some of his fellow players have said they can’t respect him anymore. Cooper has apologized and is getting counseling.

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The May 19 and July 26 airings of ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night reached 11 million combined viewers, with the the initial broadcast reaching more than 6.5 million and the second reaching more than 4.3 million, according to the ACM. Added to April 7’s 48th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards telecast, and ACM has reached 27 million total viewers this year.

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Country radio pros including Robin Rhodes, Liz Geerling and Marci Braun are featured in RollingStone.com‘s Jason Aldean: A Day In The Life photo gallery. Twenty-five pictures chronicle Aldean’s recent performance at Chicago’s Wrigley Field from arrival to show-time, along with his commentary. View here.

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