NASHVILLE (AP) – Eric Church has set a new record at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. He performed for 18,411 fans on Saturday, setting a new attendance high for the venue. The previous record-holder was The Blue Collar Comedy Tour in February 2006.

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NASHVILLE (AP) – CMT and the Academy of Country Music want you to decide who should be up for the new artist of the year ACM Award. The semifinalists are Dan and Shay, Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Sam Hunt, Kip Moore, Thomas Rhett, Chase Rice and Cole Swindell. Fans can choose their favorites at VoteACM.com and VoteACM.CMT.com. The top three will compete for the award, which will be chosen by fan vote and ACM professional membership vote. The winner will be revealed at the ACMs on April 19.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Fresh off their successful effort to prevent the demolition of a Nashville studio that once recorded the likes of Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, advocates want to include all of the city’s Music Row area in their preservation efforts.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Monday announced that it is placing Music Row on its “National Treasure” list of historically significant sites threatened by development.

The Washington-based nonprofit is joining with the Music Industry Coalition, Mayor Karl Dean’s office, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. and city and state historical preservation groups to draw attention to Music Row’s cultural heritage.

Philanthropist Aubrey Preston led a last-minute purchase of RCA Studio A last year from a developer who planned to raze it to build luxury condominiums.

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UNDATED (AP) – An upcoming Civil War mini-series will have a lot of familiar faces in it, if you follow country music. “To Appomattox” includes Dwight Yoakam as Union General George Meade, Kix Brooks as Union General Winfield Scott Hancock and Trace Adkins as Confederate General John Gregg. Gary LeVox (leh-VOH’), Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts and Laura Bell Bundy also have roles. It will run sometime this year, but an air date and a channel have not been announced.

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NASHVILLE (AP) – Vince Gill says when you’re young and someone is kind to you, you never forget it, and that’s what it was like the first time any Grand Ole Opry newcomer met Little Jimmy Dickens. Gill was one of several hundred people who celebrated Dickens’ life at the Opry yesterday. Carrie Underwood says her mother warned her about Dickens because he liked pretty girls, but she says he always kissed her hand and had a little piece of her heart. Brad Paisley led a group in singing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” a tradition he says Dickens started. Paisley choked back tears and said, “At 94, your journey has ended, but we’ll take it from here, little buddy.”

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TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is so excited to have Garth Brooks return, it’s renamed four streets after his songs. Brooks will return to his hometown for a string of concerts beginning tomorrow at the BOK Center. The Tulsa World reports the streets near the venue are now Thunder Rolls Road, Shameless Boulevard, Rodeo Drive and Low Places Lane. The BOK Center’s management paid for the signs and ask the city to install them temporarily.

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HOUSTON (AP) – Toby Keith’s restaurant in Houston has shut its doors because management is not paying its bills. KHOU-TV reports a note was posted on the I Love This Bar And Grill saying it was closed because it was behind on its rent. Contractors also say they’re due $150,000 for work done at the bar. Keith’s main page for his restaurants no longer lists the Houston location. It does, however, list a press release pointing out that Keith was the highest-paid country artist last year for a second year in a row, with $65 million in earnings in one year.

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NASHVILLE (AP) – The reports of the death of Little Jimmy Dickens noted that he was the oldest living member of the Grand Ole Opry. Who is it now? The Opry says it’s Ralph Stanley, who will be 88 next month. The longest running member is Jean Shepard, who joined in 1955. Dickens died Friday at the age of 94.

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NASHVILLE (AP) – Mel Tillis calls Little Jimmy Dickens “a little man with a big heart.” Dickens died Friday of cardiac arrest after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day. He was 94. Pam Tillis says Dickens “could give any entertainer on that stage a run for his money when it came to charming the audience.” Ricky Skaggs says Dickens’ charm and wit made him a star everyone wanted to meet. Doug Gray of the Marshall Tucker Band says the first time they played the Grand Ole Opry, Dickens surprised him by asking for a picture and autograph. Reba McEntire thanks Dickens for “the smiles, great music and your big loving heart.” Carrie Underwood says it’s raining in Nashville because Dickens is in heaven making the angels laugh so hard they’re crying. Brad Paisley calls Dickens his hero and says we should not mourn him, but celebrate him.

NASHVILLE (AP) – Fans will be able to pay their respects to Little Jimmy Dickens. A public visitation will be held for Dickens at Woodlawn Roesch Patton Funeral Home in Nashville on Wednesday. A public Celebration of Life service will be held at the Grand Ole Opry on Thursday. Dickens died Friday at the age of 94. His last performance at the Opry was barely two weeks ago, on December 20.

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NEW YORK (AP) – The “Today” show likes Garth Brooks so much, they’re keeping him all morning. Brooks will appear on the “Today” show on January 8 during all four hours. It’s the first time in the 62-year history of the show a guest has done that.

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NASHVILLE (AP) – Lee Greenwood might have to do more than just warm up his voice for his next gig. He will sing “God Bless the U.S.A.” outdoors at the NHL Winter Classic at Washington’s Nationals Park on Thursday as the Blackhawks take on the Capitals. Greenwood will perform during the second intermission. The game will be shown live on NBC.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – It doesn’t look particularly good for a country legend. Grand Ole Opry star Little Jimmy Dickens is hospitalized in the Nashville area. And a publicist for the Opry says he is in “critical care.” There’s no word on what is ailing Dickens. He last performed on Dec. 20, the day after he turned 94. He was admitted to the hospital on Christmas Day. Dickens, who is 4-foot-11, has performed on the Opry almost continuously since 1948. He became an Opry member in 1948 and was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983. His hits include “Take An Old Cold Tater (And Wait),” “Country Boy,” “Out Behind The Barn,” and “May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.”

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