Toby Keith says he is “deeply saddened” after the sudden death of his longtime bass player and band leader, Chuck Goff. 

Carl Reber Goff Jr., 54, was killed Wednesday evening in a two-car accident in Noble, Oklahoma, according to The Oklahoman.

In a statement to ABC News Radio, Toby says Goff “was a close friend for over 25 years… Our hearts and prayers go out to his family.”

Goff also co-wrote the hits “You Ain’t Much Fun” and “Upstairs Downstairs” with Toby. On Monday, the band played the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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They call it “The Week Vegas Goes Country,” and this year, the countdown to the Academy of Country Music Awards kicks off with a weekend of free concerts for the fans on Sin City’s Fremont Street.

New Female Vocalist contender Sunny Sweeney starts off the show on Friday, April 5, followed by Joe Nichols, Kip Moore and headliner Gary Allan. Saturday features Chris Janson, Randy Houser, nominee Jana Kramer and Jake Owen.

Hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan help hand out the ACM trophies that Sunday. The 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards air April 7 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CBS.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Trace Adkins promises All-Star Celebrity Apprentice is going to be a “party every day,” and judging from the trailer featuring the male contestants, it lives up to his word.

The clip not only features Trace wearing an apron and an Italian chef’s hat, but hamming it up in a leopard print caveman dress with a banana leaf on his head.

And as you might expect, things get confrontational for the season 7 runner-up very quickly.  “You’re not going to be able to hold back,” he teases. “You’re gonna have to come guns up right out of the chute.”

For Trace, that includes telling Stephen Baldwin, “You be nice to Marilu (Henner) or I’m gonna kill you.” He also threatens to fit Gary Busey with a shock collar, and to “slap the [bleep]” out of another contestant.

He wryly offers, “They called me and said ‘We need you for your energy and enthusiasm.’”

You can check out Trace’s antics for yourself when All-Star Celebrity Apprentice premieres March 3 on NBC.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Jason Aldean was one of several artists bringing country music to New York City Tuesday night, at an “All for the Hall” concert benefiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. And Jason says he thinks supporting the Hall of Fame is an important responsibility for every country artist on the charts today.

“I think it’s almost your duty as a country music artist to educate people on the background of country music and why we’re here,” Jason told ABC News Radio at the event at the Best Buy Theater in New York’s Times Square.  “The people that are enshrined in that building are the ones that kinda paved the way for us to be here, and get to do what we do right now.”

He added, “I think it’s important for us as artists that are out right now to make sure the people don’t forget that.”  Jason will also perform at a similar event in Nashville April 16, along with Eric Church, Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert and Willie Nelson, among others.

Asked to name the coolest piece of memorabilia he’s ever seen at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Jason laughed, “My outfit! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. Are you kidding me? Something of mine in there? That was awesome!”

Also on the bill were Vince Gill, president of the Museum board, who created the All for the Hall fundraising campaign; plus Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Ashley Monroe of Pistol Annies, Train lead singer Pat Monahan, and Allman Brothers Band legends Gregg Allman and Warren Haynes.

Vince told ABC News Radio that he was pleased to have put together an eclectic lineup for the night.  “Any time you get a chance to make new friends, that’s so healthy,” he said. “People that you may not know their music.  I’ve not met Pat [Monahan], and I love his voice and so I get a chance to hang out with him.”  Vince noted that Rodney and Emmylou are, of course, “lifelong friends,” while he’s known Ashley “since she was 15 years old.”  As for Jason, Vince called him, “the hottest thing going in country music.”

But Vince told ABC News Radio he was most excited about the prospect of jamming with the legendary Gregg Allman. “To get to hear Gregg Allman sing in person is the best of all,” he said “You know, I was that kid in my room listening to the Allman Brothers records and learning how to play guitar and trying to emulate what I was hearing as a kid, so it’s a big deal for me.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Tim McGraw has delivered yet another big hit to country radio with his latest single, “One of Those Nights.”  Tim has been a consistent chart topper since 1994, and he says, “Country radio has never let me down, and I’m so thankful for those relationships.”

Tim will be singing “One of Those Nights” on his Two Lanes of Freedom tour, launching May 2 in Birmingham, AL.

“It’s going to be a great song for the tour this summer,” Tim says, “It sets the perfect tone for an awesome night!”

Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft join Tim on the bill for this summer’s tour.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Wynonna Judd and Kellie Pickler are in the lineup for the new season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The news was revealed on Tuesday’s Good Morning America.

The new celebrity cast also features two Olympic gold medalists, two comedians, and a Super Bowl champion.  Absent from the pro lineup this season: audience favorite Maks Chmerkovskiy, apparently confirming earlier reports from Maks himself that he wouldn’t be back this season.

The celebrity competitors include:

Wynonna Judd, country music star, partnered with Tony Dovolani.

Kellie Pickler, country music star, partnered with Derek Hough.

Jacoby Jones, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, partnered with Karina Smirnoff.

D.L. Hughley, comedian and actor, partnered with Cheryl Burke.

Lisa Vanderpump, star of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, partnered with newcomer Gleb Savchenko.

Andy Dick, comedian and actor, partnered with newcomer Sharna Burgess.

Victor Ortiz, American boxing champion, partnered with newcomer Lindsay Arnold.

Zendaya Coleman, star of Disney Channel’s Shake It Up, partnered with Val Chmerkovskiy.

Aly Raisman, Olympic gold medalist, partnered with Mark Ballas.

Ingo Rademacher, actor, partnered with Kym Johnson.

Dorothy Hamill, Olympic gold medalist, partnered with Tristan McManus.

Dancing with the Stars returns on Monday, March 18 with a two-hour premiere on ABC.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton got together in Nashville Monday to shoot promos and photos for their co-hosting gig on the ACM Awards coming up April 7. Though the show is more than a month away, the guys have begun planning what they’ll do and say on the broadcast.

“We’re gonna start spending some time on the phone and talking stuff out,” Luke says. “At the end of the day, I mean, whatever the writers write, Blake and I will have to say it, but we’ll certainly have a lot of input to do funny things.”

Blake’s former co-host was country superstar Reba, and Luke knows he’s got some big shoes to fill. That’s why he’s taking the time to get ready for the job.

He says, “I’m not going to let myself go out there and be unsure of anything. Just go out there and make the most of it and be comfortable, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

Luke and Blake are also nominated for ACM Entertainer of the Year this year along with Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Jason Aldean. The ACM Awards broadcast live on CBS Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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Billboard magazine has released their list of Music’s Top 40 Money Makers of 2013, and quite a few country artists made the cut. Kenny Chesney ranked highest among country stars at #5 thanks to an estimated $19 million payday thanks in large part to his Brothers of the Sun tour with Tim McGraw, who ranked 7th with an estimated $18 million coming in.

Jason Alden also made the top 10, coming in at #8 with $17.6 million from touring and music sales. Lady Antebellum‘s Own the Night World Tour helped them pocket an estimated $13 million for the 12th spot, while Brad Paisley took in $12.85 million for a #14 ranking. Taylor Swift was 15th with $12.7 million, but that number will be much higher next year once revenue from her upcoming Red tour is factored in.

Carrie Underwood ranked 16th with just under $12 million. Eric Church was 18th with $11 million coming in, and Rascal Flatts came in at #19 with a $10.8 million payday. Toby Keith took 23rd with $9.8 million, and Miranda Lambert‘s $8.8 million haul put her at #27. Zac Brown Band earned an estimated $6.7 million, and Blake Shelton was 40th with more than $5.9 million.

There are a few factors to note with these numbers. Billboard‘s rankings are calculated using estimated artist earnings based on touring stats, album and single sales and streaming data. The rankings don’t include money from sponsorship or merchandise deals due to lack of substantial data.

Madonna topped the list with $34.6 million from her blockbuster MDNA tour.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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George Strait adds another big honor to his trophy case Tuesday night. King George has been selected to receive the Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame ceremony in Nashville.

The honor comes as George’s team has launched the “60 for 60” campaign to help secure the 60th #1 hit of his career while George is still 60-years-old. The song they’re promoting to pull that feat off is “Give It All We Got Tonight,” the lead single from George’s upcoming studio album. The campaign collects all of George’s chart toppers from various country songs charts since he hit the country scene more than 30 years ago to come up with that figure.

You can find out more about Team George’s efforts at SixtyforSixty.com. Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Blake Shelton are among the stars paying tribute to George in a new YouTube video posted on that site as well.

George is also on the road with his The Cowboy Rides Away tour, which will be the last major tour of his career. That doesn’t mean George is finished making albums though.

“I still really enjoy singing, and that’s really who I am,” says George. “I mean, I love to fish, and I love to do all these other things. But my love has been and still is country music and singing. So, for as long as I can keep doing it, that’s what I’m gonna do.”

After he receives the honor from the Country Radio Broadcasters, George is set to take the stage Friday night in Knoxville, TN.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

 

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