Kacey Musgraves hasn’t even released her debut album yet, and she’s already landed a coveted spot on Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation tour, launching Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL.  Kacey has a top 10 hit now with “Merry Go Round,” but Kenny picked her for his tour months ago. So, how did Kacey land the gig?

She tells ABC News Radio, “Well, he heard my music. I guess his manager had played him some songs, and he maybe heard ‘Merry Go Round’ and liked it enough to ask me to come along.”

Up until now, Kacey has played smaller venues like the theaters on Little Big Town‘s Tornado tour this year.  Playing for a stadium full of country fans will be quite an adjustment.

Says Kacey,  “I’ve never played stadiums before.  It’s gonna be just like a huge learning curve and just something I’ll probably never forget.  It’s crazy.”

Kacey’s music is more stripped down and introspective than many of Kenny’s big hits, and she hopes her music will translate for his crowd.  While Kacey has immense respect for Kenny as a musician and entertainer, she says, “I’m just hoping his fans and his crowd will recognize that I’m coming from maybe a different perspective, but that hopefully they can appreciate and maybe connect with me on some sort of level.”

Kacey’s highly-anticipated debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, is due out next Tuesday, March 19.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Brad Paisley is flying without a net on his new album, Wheelhouse, due out April 9.  With every other album, Brad has always set up parameters and been very clear on what he would or wouldn’t do.  That all went out the window this time around as Brad experimented with new sounds and even brought in LL Cool J to rap on the song “Accidental Racist.”

“There were no walls respected,” Brad says.  “If I thought the addition of a rap artist would take my point to the next level in a composition, that’s what we did.”

He adds, “If I felt like taking steel guitar and making it sound like a hip-hop loop would absolutely sort of bring something to life and make it unique and feel like you want someone to feel, then that’s what we did.”

Brad first hit the scene with his 1999 debut project, Who Needs Pictures, as an artist steeped in traditional country music. So, how does that square will all of the experimentation he’s doing now?

Brad admits, “If the Brad Paisley that cut Who Needs Pictures could hear the Brad Paisley that cut Wheelhouse, he would be pretty shocked, and he would wonder what journey he had been on to get him to the point to make this album.”

No matter what the young Brad might think of Wheelhouse, the fans seem to love it so far.  The first single, “Southern Comfort Zone,” recently hit #1 at country radio, and the follow-up, “Beat This Summer,” is starting a swift climb up the chart.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Kacey Musgraves‘ highly-anticipated debut album, Same Trailer Different Park, will be available on CD and digital download March 19, but she’s also releasing a special version of the album to celebrate Record Store Day on April 20.

Kacey tells CMT.com, “Yeah, we’re going to do a vinyl, which I love because I’m a big collector. We’ll do something fun around that day.”

Though her debut single, “Merry Go Round,” is already a top-10 hit, Kacey’s fans have discovered a lot of the other songs on Same Trailer Different Park watching her live performances on YouTube.

“That’s really cool to me,” Kacey says. “It gives me an early indicator as far as what I feel like people are going to like. People have been learning the words, and there are a few songs that are becoming increasingly known. That gets me stoked.”

Kacey has been on the road with Little Big Town‘s Tornado tour this year. She starts her gig as the opening act on Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation tour March 16 in Tampa, FL.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Brad Paisley is giving fans an intimate look at the making of his new album, Wheelhouse, with his first interactive book, Building a Wheelhouse. That project will be available exclusively at iTunes and gives fans in-depth interviews, video and photo galleries capturing Brad writing and recording the new album.

Both Wheelhouse and Building a Wheelhouse will be released April 9. The new album features Brad’s latest #1 hit “Southern Comfort Zone,” as well as his new single, “Beat This Summer.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Scotty McCreery has launched the ScotTV web series to keep fans up to date as he continues his Weekend Roadtrip Tour 2013.  Fans can now catch the first two installments at ScottyMcCreery.com.

“We always have a lot of fun out on the road and these first episodes of ScotTV are just the beginning,” Scotty explains.  “2013 is going to be a new chapter in my career, and I’m excited to share it with all my fans.”

The web series will also catch Scotty in the studio as he records his upcoming sophomore album.  His tour continues Friday night in Plant City, FL.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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The Band Perry is leading the charge on this year’s Outnumber Hunger campaign, and they’ll help kick it off with the Outnumber Hunger Live! concert next month in Las Vegas.

The sibling trio will also join several other artists appearing on specially marked General Mills food packages as part of the campaign.  Fans can enter codes online from those packages to secure meals for those struggling with hunger.

The Band Perry was involved with Outnumber Hunger last year, and they say in a statement, “our eyes were opened to the problem of hunger in America, which is why we so strongly support this cause and want to take an even bigger role in supporting Outnumber Hunger this year.”

The Outnumber Hunger Live! concert will also feature performances from Brantley Gilbert, Florida Georgia Line, Justin Moore, Greg Bates and Cassadee Pope at The Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on April 5. The show will be part of the Academy of Country Music ACM Experience event leading up to the ACM Awards on April 7.

For more details on the campaign, go to OutnumberHunger.com.  The Outnumber Hunger campaign is a joint effort between General Mills, Feeding America and the Big Machine Label Group to address the widespread issue of hunger in the United States.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Darius Rucker enlisted some famous friends to appear in his new video for “Wagon Wheel.”  He’s shooting the clip this week in Nashville with a little help from Jase, Korie, Sadie, Si and Willie Robertson from A&E’s Duck Dynasty.  Lady Antebellum sings backup on Darius’s version of “Wagon Wheel,” and the group’s Charles Kelley appears in the video too.

So, how did the Duck Dynasty cast end up in Darius’s video?  It turns out it was his wife Beth‘s idea, and she’s the one who ultimately made it happen.

“I thought we had no chance because they’re so busy, so I never even said it out loud,” Darius says.  “Thank God she called my manager because the DD folks took this video to a whole new level!  Big thanks to them and Charles… It was a good time for sure, and I can’t wait to see how the video turns out!”

“Wagon Wheel” was written by Ketch Secur of Old Crow Medicine Show based on a song sketch by Bob Dylan.  Darius’s version will appear on his new album, True Believers, due out this spring.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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A few music stars are stepping up with auction items to benefit those affected by the Sandy Hook school shootings last December in Newtown, CT.  Tim McGraw has donated two tickets to his June 30 show in New Jersey to the Music for Newtown auction, sponsored by Republic Records. Taylor Swift is also donating an item to the auction to be announced later.

The Music for Newtown Auction runs from March 25 through 27 at MusicforNewtown.org.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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NEW ORLEANS — Country singer-songwriter Claude King, an original member of the Louisiana Hayride who was best known for the 1962 hit “Wolverton Mountain,” has died. He was 90.

King had just celebrated his birthday and 67th wedding anniversary to his wife, Barbara, last month. The couple’s eldest son, Duane King, said his father was found unresponsive in his bed early Thursday morning at his home in Shreveport.

King was one of the original members of the Louisiana Hayride, the Saturday-night show where Elvis Presley also got his start. The show transformed country and western music from 1948 to 1960 with music genres including hillbilly, Western swing, jazz, blues and gospel.

King’s hit “Wolverton Mountain” told a story of mountain man Clifton Clowers, who guarded his daughter from suitors.

“Claude was a legend in the Louisiana music industry, one of the greatest songwriters, and a wonderful friend,” said Maggie Warwick, owner of the Louisiana Hayride trademark and the production company, Louisiana Hayride Co. “Claude and Tillman Franks were on the Hayride from the very beginning.”

Warwick, who also serves as chairwoman of the Louisiana Music Commission, said King was known for his guitar-playing skills and knack for writing songs.

“He had a gift for melody and lyrics that was very definable,” Warwick said. “The range and melody and the feeling that goes with his songs, when you hear it, it’s very unique and identifiable with Claude King. He had a personal style that was all his own.”

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Online:

“Wolverton Mountain,” YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?vvLoQS0GnhWk

 

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