Chris Young will release his fourth studio album this year, and he wants you to help him announce all the details. Between now and Friday, May 31, fans can go to ChrisYoungCountry.com to take part in the announcement.

He says, “I feel like this new record really captures my live show for the fans and so I want them to be part of revealing info about this new album.”

Chris’s new album features his latest single, “Aw Naw,” which is now available for digital download.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Kree Harrison may just be starting out on her country career after scoring the runner-up slot on American Idol this season, but she’s not going into the country music world blind.  Kree has lived in Nashville for 13 years now and counts country star Kacey Musgraves as one of her best friends.

The two native Texans met through a mutual Nashville songwriter friend, who told them both before meeting, “Y’all are from the same tribe.”

Kree tells ABC News Radio, “We went and hung out one night, me and her and our friend Elice and literally have been inseparable ever since.”

You may have seen Kacey in the audience at American Idol this season cheering Kree on, and Kree is incredibly proud of Kacey’s success on the country charts.

“It’s really hard to find good girls that are supportive and not competitive, and she and I are the epitome of that,” Kree says of Kacey.  “If you can’t tell, we just support each other so much.”

Kree even supported Kacey by singing background vocals on her debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park.  Kree hopes Kacey returns the favor for Kree’s upcoming debut album, too.  While Kacey would love for Kree to record some of her songs on that album, Kacey tells ABC New Radio that Kree can write a mighty fine tune herself.

“Kree’s an amazing songwriter in her own right, and she can just sing the absolute pants off anything she chooses,” Kacey says, adding, “I want the world to hear her songs.”

Kree is now headed out on the road with the rest of the American Idol finalists this summer.  She’s also set to make her Grand Ole Opry debut on June 4 before really starting to work on her debut album.

Says Kree, “This is happening to such a deserving person, and not only that, but such a humble one.  So, I’m excited for her.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Darius Rucker is back on top of the country chart with his latest hit, “Wagon Wheel,” and he’s just released his third country album, True Believers, which appears destined to be another big seller.  Though Darius has established himself as one of country’s top stars, he still has to deal with some small-minded people as the only black man in the format.

Things got especially heated earlier this week when a Twitter user told Darius to “Leave country to the white folk.”  Darius shot back, “WOW. Is this 2013 or 1913.”  He then added, ” I’ll take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism.”

Darius tells Rolling Stone that tweet was shocking to him.  He says, “Sometimes people will say, ‘You’re not country,’ and I know what that means, because they can’t be talking about the music.  But when somebody says to leave country music to the white folks, that is unbelievable to me…But that’s life.”

Darius knows he’ll have to deal with that kind of ignorance in some shape or fashion for the rest of his life.

He says, “I’m a black guy in country music, and there are people who don’t like that.  But it’s not going to make me quit.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Willie Nelson is gathering his large, musical family for an 80th birthday show at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square June 6. Willie is set to perform along with different bands led by two of his sons, two of his daughters and two of his granddaughters, respectively.

Proceeds from the concert will go to the BioDiesel Alliance and Animal Welfare Institute. A special Willie Nelson “Artist Spotlight” t-shirt, pen and bandana will be available online and at select Hard Rock locations to commemorate the event.  Willie actually celebrated his 80th birthday April 30.

A select number of tickets are available through Ticketweb.com.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Josh Turner is one of the many country stars with a personal connection to the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma Monday. Josh’s truck driver hails from Moore; thankfully, the driver and his family are okay. Jason tweeted, “For those who were not so fortunate, I pray for peace & comfort during the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.”

Rascal Flatts‘ Joe Don Rooney also sent out a prayer, tweeting, “My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God’s love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms.”

Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood also tweeted late Monday, “Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen…it doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray.”

Reba, who grew up in Chockie, OK, added, “All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornadoes. Stay safe everyone!!!!”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Brad Paisley has become one of Nashville’s biggest cheerleaders. He gave a surprise performance of “Southern Comfort Zone” at Nashville mayor Karl Dean‘s citywide address Monday, and Brad will appear as himself on the season finale of Nashville Wednesday night on ABC.

As a longtime resident of Music City, Brad is excited to spread the word of how cool his adopted hometown has become in the past few years. Nothing illustrates that change like the section of Nashville called the Gulch, home to the world’s most famous bluegrass club, The Station Inn. It’s now surrounded by some of the city’s hottest shops and restaurants, like Watermark.

“My wife and I went to eat at Watermark down in the Gulch, which is the hippest little area in Nashville,” Brad tells ABC News Radio. “I mean, they’re filming episodes of Nashville down there. They’re doing all of this, and I’m walking out of the Watermark, and I just realized the Station Inn is right there.”

He adds, “When I used to go to the Station Inn and see somebody like Junior Brown or I would go down there and see, like, Larry Cordle play or whatever, I used to think to myself, ‘I probably oughta make sure that I’m packing when I go down to that area of town.'”

Now that the Gulch has been revitalized, Brad is happy to report The Station Inn is still going strong.

He says, “It doesn’t change The Station Inn except that it really helps everybody. In that sense, it really does sort of illustrate just what’s happened to Nashville.”

Look for Brad on ABC’s Nashville Wednesday night at 10 ET.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Kellie Pickler and pro partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of the 16th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night.

Disney star Zendaya and partner Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place.

Pickler, who had been a fan favorite during ten weeks of competition, reacted to the announcement by declaring, “Oh my God. This is amazing. Oh my God.”

Pickler and Hough danced a jive for their final ballroom routine Tuesday night.  Judge Len Goodman declared afterward, “You’re always clean, you’re precise, you’re sharp, your dancing is always polished. I’m telling you, Kellie, you’re the bee’s knees, my mama’s pajamas, my uncle’s carbuncles. You’re awesome.”

Pickler won after receiving the highest combined total of judges’ scores and viewers’ votes.

 

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

 

 

 

Darius Rucker is back with his new album, True Believers, in stores this week featuring his monster hit, “Wagon Wheel.” That song has been a staple on college campuses and in honky tonks since Old Crow Medicine Show released their version a few years back, but Darius had no clue “Wagon Wheel” had such a cult following when he cut it.

“I just think recording that song for me was such an organic thing,” Darius tells ABC News Radio. “I mean, I’m old and out of touch with today’s popular music, and I didn’t know it was so big on college campuses. I just didn’t know. I was just cutting a great song I heard.”

Darius is a fan of Old Crow Medicine Show’s music, and he simply thought “Wagon Wheel” would be a great song to put on True Believers.

He says, “Even after we cut it, I thought, this is gonna be a great album track. You know, put it the last song on the record, a really great way to go out.”

As for the rest of the True Believers album, Darius wants his fans to know he put a lot of time and heart into getting these songs just right for them.

Says Darius, “Making a record is always hard because I want to make a great record. I want to make a record that my fans want to go get.”

Though he may start out worrying about getting it right, Darius usually lets the music take over once he gets into the studio. That was the case while making True Believers.

He says, “Whenever it gets hard in the studio, I always say, ‘Sing what you feel.’ And that usually works out.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

George Strait‘s Sixty for Sixty campaign paid off with the superstar’s latest single, “Give It All We Got Tonight,” hitting #1 on the Mediabase country airplay chart this week.  No other artist in any genre of music has put that many songs at the top of the airplay chart over the course of their career.

Says George, “I didn’t realize we were making history — I just hoped we were putting out music that my fans would enjoy.”

George goes on to thank his fans and country radio for their support in getting to this latest #1.  Some of country’s biggest stars, like Miranda Lambert and Little Big Town, contributed to the Sixty for Sixty campaign to get George this 60th #1 while he was still 60 years old.  George celebrated his 61st birthday on Saturday, but he’s calling the Sixty for Sixty effort a success just the same.

“I may be 61,” George says, “but I don’t feel a day over 60.”

“Give It All We Got Tonight” is the lead single from George’s just-released 40th album, Love Is Everything.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Jason Aldean agreed to perform at the Boston Strong concert coming up May 30 in Beantown without even thinking about it. He just wanted to help out after seeing the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Speaking of his invitation to perform as one of the artists at Boston Strong, Jason tells the Boston Globe, “That’s the good thing about what we do — you’re in a position to help out. I think that’s part of what we’re put here to do.”

Jason joins James Taylor, Carole King, New Kids on the Block and Jimmy Buffett among others at the Boston Strong concert.

Jason will also play two sold out shows at Boston’s Fenway Park on July 12 and 13.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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