Now that Shania Twain‘s new residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas is up and running, fans are wondering if she’ll record any new music soon. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen right away.

Shania tells Vegas magazine, “I know I am ready to go back in the studio and record an album, I just don’t have the time yet.”

The new show at Caesars, titled Shania…Still the One, allows Shania to connect intimately with her fans, and she doesn’t want to take time away from that right now.  “I don’t want to lose that element of being able to touch people and connect with them and not be separated from them,” she explains. “For me it’s like a dream, so to the fan it must be as well.”

For more information about Shania…Still the One, go to ShaniainVegas.com.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Little Big Town‘s Kimberly Schlapman will host a second season of her GAC cooking show, Kimberly’s Simply Southern. New episodes will begin airing this spring.

Kimberly is thrilled to have another round of shows coming up.  She says, “This cooking show is a childhood dream of mine and I have to keep pinching myself to make sure it really has come true! I look forward to many more adventures on the road and to more fun in the kitchen with my family and friends. Thanks for watching!”

Kimberly heads back out on the road for three more shows later this month, including a New Year’s Eve date near Atlanta, GA.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

If you’re planning a trip to Nashville between January 22 and February 6, you’ll unfortunately miss out on the chance to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. The building will be closed during that time for improvements and other preparations as part of its ongoing expansion project that will double the Hall of Fame’s exhibit space. The project is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Country stars offer their thoughts and prayers to those affected by the school shooting in Newtown, CT through Twitter:

Blake Shelton — “Stand strong and stand united everyone… We are Americans and we are better than this. What a sad sad disgusting day this is…”

Miranda Lambert — “I’m praying for those babies and all the victims of the Connecticut shooting. May God bring peace to the families.”

Lady Antebellum — “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and everyone affected in Connecticut. #newtown”

Kix Brooks — “Just being a part of the human race, makes me feel like apologizing to ‘those kids’ families – what’s wrong with people ??!!”

Lee Brice — “Love those around you and never take a single day for granted! Such a terrible tragedy today, keep all of those affected in your prayers.”

Carrie Underwood — “All my thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies go out to the families in CT dealing with this tragedy. There are no words…”

Rascal Flatts — “Our hearts are broken by the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut today. You are in our thoughts and prayers. #PrayForNewtown.”

Jason Aldean — “Thoughts and prayers goin out to everyone in Connecticut. What a tragedy.”

Little Big Town — “To all the families in CT suffering. We’re devastated & our hearts are broken. We’re praying for you and we’re with you.”

Brad Paisley — “I spent 15 minutes yelling at the top of my lungs about what happened in Connecticut. I’m as mad as I am sad. Enough. Enough!!!!!!”

Reba — “My heart hurts. I don’t understand. Why does this happen? Praying for the state of CT, it’s people, it’s families and it’s children.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Alan Jackson and wife Denise‘s three daughters are growing up fast, but they still make a point to celebrate Christmas in a big way each year.

He says, “Always try to remember Jesus’ birthday, and just the whole thing and just have a wonderful big meal, almost like Thanksgiving four weeks later.  We have the same, pretty much, turkey, dressing, all the same kind of things.”

The family goes down to see their relatives in Georgia in mid-December, but Alan spends Christmas Day with his immediate family.  Of course, music is a big part of setting the mood for opening presents that morning.

“I try to keep Christmas music going in the background,” Alan says.  “I like to turn that on before I let them come down to the tree and everything.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Eric Church has played roughly 250 shows a year for the past six years, so he’s looking forward to taking some time off the road in 2013.  He’ll be busy writing and recording the follow up to his platinum-selling album Chief, but Eric isn’t sure he’ll release a new project in the year either.

He tells the Charleston City Paper, “I kind of want to see what’s happening creatively.  I want to get away from the road and away from all the stuff that’s happening, check back in and see what’s happening from a songwriting standpoint.”

Eric’s fans will have a few chances to see him in 2013 with a few solo dates scheduled for February.  He’s also opening the stadium shows on Kenny Chesney‘s No Shoes Nation tour starting in March.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

Darius Rucker is doing his part to make sure the kids in storm-ravaged Lindenhurst, NY have a merry Christmas. The city was the winner in Darius’s Demand It contest through Eventful to receive $10,000 worth of toys for children in need. Lindenhurst was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy, so Darius is looking forward to spreading holiday cheer there with the toy drop on Monday.

“To see all these fans come together and ‘Demand’ their votes be counted in an area devastated by Hurricane Sandy is just incredible,” Darius said in a statement.  “It never ceases to amaze me how caring country music fans are in helping others, and together we’ll be making the holidays happier for families who really need the help.”

Darius will visit a Toys “R” Us store near Lindenhurst on Monday morning to purchase the toys and then help several U.S. Marines load the Toys for Tots truck in the parking lot.  Toys for Tots will then distribute the toys to local agencies to get them in the hands of area children.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

When someone has the kind of breakout success Kip Moore has enjoyed this year, you’d just assume his family is following things every step of the way. That’s not quite how it works with Kip, though. In fact, his family is coming to see him play in an arena for the first time Friday night in Jacksonville, FL opening for Eric Church.

The last time Kip’s family saw him play, his breakthrough hit, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck,” had just hit the top 20 on the country charts.  It would eventually go to #1.

Says Kip, “They saw me play at a little bar in Atlanta, called the Peachtree Tavern.  So, they haven’t seen it, with what it’s kind of become.”

Kip hasn’t exactly told his family about his success either, so they were surprised when they started hearing him all over the radio and seeing him on television.

“I never talked about it really,” says Kip.  “I’m kind of that way anyway.  I’m kind of just private and quiet about what I’m doing.  I always felt like if it ended up being good enough and working then they’d find out anyway.”

Kip closes out his time on Eric Church’s Blood, Sweat & Beers tour this weekend with a final show Saturday night in Sunrise, FL.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

 

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

 

 

 

(AP) – Charlie Daniels took a slightly different approach to his holiday album, “Hallelujah, It’s Christmas Time Again.” It’s got spoken word pieces as well as holiday songs. Daniels says he reads St. Luke’s version of the Christmas story, and he reads a story he wrote called “A Carolina Christmas Carol.” The songs are from his three previous Christmas albums. The CD is on sale at Buffet restaurants, including Old Country Buffet, Ryan’s, Hometown Buffet and Fire Mountain. Proceeds will benefit the Armed Services YMCA to help children of U.S. military.

 

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