NEW YORK (AP) – Martina McBride’s first book will be a cookbook. “Around the Table” will not just feature recipes, but “cooking gameplans” which include menu planning, decor inspiration and ideas for keeping guests entertained. “Around the Table” comes out October 7.

 

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“It is with great regret that Aiken Promotions announces that the five-concert Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event at Croke Park has been canceled,” Peter Aiken said in a statement issued Tuesday. “No concerts will take place. The ticket return process will be outlined Wednesday. Aiken Promotions has exhausted all avenues regarding the staging of this event. We are very disappointed for the 400,000 fans who purchased tickets.” Brooks’ sold-out Dublin, Ireland shows were scheduled to take place July 25-29, and he’d given the city an ultimatum this weekend after only three shows were granted permits. He’s expected to address the cancellation during Thursday’s (7/10) press conference.

 

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Mercury’s Shania Twain, the late Hank Snow, k.d. lang and two other country artists are being honored with Canadian postage stamps. “Signed, sealed, delivered, I’m yours. July 31st in Canada!” Twain tweeted. Tommy Hunter and Renee Martel will also get the first class treatment. Buy here.

 

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NEW YORK (AP) – Jimmy Wayne has written a story about a foster kid who was often homeless before making it big in country music. It’s his own story. Wayne’s autobiography, “Walk To Beautiful,” will come out in October. He tells the story of how his mentally ill mother took off with her lover, leaving Wayne alone at a bus station hundreds of miles from home at the age of 13. Wayne spent many nights hungry and on the streets when he wasn’t in and out of the foster care system. An elderly couple took him in, giving him a stable home and an education.

 

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Officials in Dublin, Ireland are scrambling for a solution in the wake of a statement from Garth Brooks saying he’ll play five shows or none at all. The ultimatum comes after the city issued a license for only three of the five shows booked in the city’s Croke Park. “I can’t thank the people of Ireland enough for how welcome they have made me feel,” says Brooks in the statement released over the weekend. “I have faith that [the] Dublin City Council will make the best decision for the people of Ireland. For us, it is five shows or none at all. To choose which shows to do and which shows not to do, would be like asking to choose one child over another.” City chiefs held an emergency meeting and even attempted to rebook the two canceled shows at another location – a move promoters say is logistically impossible since staging and lights were designed for the dimensions at Croke Park.

“What I was told this morning – by Aiken Promotions and the GAA [Gaelic Athletic Association] – is that the ship leaves tonight with material for the stage and if there are not five concerts on board, there will be none,” Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke told the city council. More here. That would be fine with one resident near the park, who has initiated a lawsuit to stop all five shows. More here.

Meanwhile, the talk of the long weekend was Brooks’ big announcement after a promise on his website reading, “The wait is over … 7/7.” The big announcement seems to have been postponed, however. A new message invites fans to “Watch a live stream of Garth’s press conference at garthbrooks.com!” Thursday (7/10) at noon EDT.

 

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Two of Garth Brooks’ five Croke Park shows in Dublin, Ireland scheduled for July 25-29 have been cancelled after the city issued a license for no more than three. Promoter Peter Aiken tells the Irish Independent that he believes all the shows are now in jeopardy and may not happen. “[Garth] said to me – give me a solution,” Aiken says. “Tell me what to do about that 160,000 people.” More here.

 

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LOS ANGELES (AP) – Kenny Rogers appears in a new commercial for Geico insurance. It’s a play on his song “The Gambler.” The commercial is running now.

 

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SOMERSET, England (AP) – Dolly Parton says she’s been so busy making records she didn’t realize she had racked up so many sales. The Recording Industry Association of America has certified Parton for sales of 100 million albums worldwide. She was given a special plaque before her performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England over the weekend. Parton says it’s a great honor knowing so many fans have supported her through the years.

 

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Trace Adkins was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Saturday (6/21) while he was in Baton Rouge for a performance. Originally from Sarepta, LA, Adkins was joined onstage by LMHoF President/Exec. Dir. Mike Shepherd, who presented him with an award and an official statement signed by Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal. More photos here.

 

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Congratulations to Willie Nelson, whose Band Of Brothers debuted at the top of the country albums chart and at No. 5 on the all-genre chart, selling more than 37,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. His last No. 1 country album was The Promiseland in 1986, and this marks his highest debut and position on the all-genre chart since Always On My Mind peaked at No. 2 in 1982.

 

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Miranda Lambert will grace the cover of the final issue of Ladies’ Home Journal when it hits newsstands next week. The publication traces its roots to 1883, though its first official “cover girl” appeared in 1898. Ida McKinley, wife of President William McKinley, had the honor. More on the magazine’s history here.

 

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A hiker stumbles upon a golden lamp in the forest. He rubs it and out pops a real-life genie.
“In return for freeing me, ” says the genie, “I will grant you three wishes.”
“I want a million more wishes,” the hiker says immediately.
“Rule number one: No asking for more wishes.”
The hiker considers his options before replying, “In that case, I want a million more genies.”

 

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