(AP) – Jason Aldean says he’s “curious” about things like album sales and chart positions, but those aren’t the most important things in his career. He told a group of reporters recently that he “hasn’t even called his record company in four years.” They probably don’t mind too much because his new album, ‘Night Train,’ debuted at the top of both Billboard’s country albums chart and its multi-genre albums chart, selling 409,303 copies its first week. Aldean wraps up his “My Kinda Party” tour this Saturday in Dallas with his annual Concert for the Cure to benefit breast cancer research. He then heads to Nashville for the CMA Awards, where he’s nominated for three trophies, including Entertainer of the Year.

in fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – It’s almost that time of year again. November 4 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time – the traditional time to change smoke alarm batteries. Bucky Covington is teaming up with Kidde – a manufacturer of fire safety products – and local and national fire officials to launch a new awareness campaign, “Be a Hero, Save a Hero.” Based on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s original program, the new campaign urges Americans to help reduce the risks that firefighters face by pledging to take some simple home fire safety steps. For each person who takes the pledge and shares their support through social media, Kidde will donate $1 to the Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Help the Good Guys, organizations dedicated to aiding families of injured and fallen firefighters.

in fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – Jason Aldean’s album “Night Train” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart this week. Aldean says this past week has been “beyond anything” he’s ever expected. Last week Aldean spent a day jetting across the country to make surprise appearances at Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and the University of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium to announce that his 2013 tour will make stops at each of the stadiums next year. Aldean, who’s a big baseball fan, is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Single of the Year at next week’s CMA Awards.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – Toby Keith is a notorious no-show at the CMA Awards. So don’t expect to see him next week even though he’s nominated for Music Video of the Year for his song “Red Solo Cup.” Keith told Country Weekly that he’s “gotta go get a root canal that day, or something fun.” “Red Solo Cup” is Keith’s first crossover success. He says he thinks pop radio stations have considered him too country in the past and tells Country Weekly that he “always took pride in that.”

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – It’s safe to say Brad Paisley met a lot of his fans on tour this year. He played to over one million fans in the U.S. on his “Virtual Reality World Tour.” The domestic run just wrapped up, but he still has six international shows scheduled for November. Paisley is also hosting and performing on the CMA Awards November 1st.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley are going on tour together next year. They’re kicking off the co-headlining “Locked and Reloaded” tour on January 17th. The two toured together in 2006 on Bentley’s “Locked and Loaded” tour with Lambert as an opener.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – Scotty McCreery is performing songs from his new Christmas album on QVC today. He will also offer viewers an opportunity to order his album as part of a two CD set, including his platinum-selling debut album “Clear As Day.” The Christmas record includes classics like, “Let It Snow” and “Jingle Bells,” along with two originals.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – Jamey Johnson is launching a fall tour, called “Living For A Song.” It’s named after his new tribute album to Hank Cochran, released on October 16th. The tour kicks off in Knoxville, Tennessee, November 8th. The dates run through December 31st in Montgomery, Alabama, with more to be announced soon.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry

(AP) – George Strait says Garth Brooks “transcends country music.” But he didn’t think that right away. Strait remembers Brooks opening a show for him years ago, sitting on the stage hanging his feet over while singing to the crowd. Strait says he thought to himself, “I’m not sure this is going to work out for the boy.” Strait says it’s been amazing to watch how Brooks exploded into the biggest-selling artist of all time, and then laid it all down to raise his kids.

Join fans of 99 KZ Country on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/99KZCountry