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Five-time Grammy winner Carrie Underwood will star in the coveted role of Maria von Trapp in NBC’s live broadcast of The Sound of Music, based on the original Broadway musical.

The live telecast will be a three-hour event on a date to be announced near the holidays in 2013.

NBC is partnering with the acclaimed Smash producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (film versions of the Oscar-winning Chicago and Hairspray) for The Sound of Music. The pair also is producing the upcoming 85th Annual Academy Awards.

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When Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” became the biggest viral event in country music history late last year, the notion of matching that success seemed far-fetched. Until now. Toby’s latest video “Hope On The Rocks” crossed the two-million views mark less than a week after its Nov. 30 release. A much different clip from the raucous RSC, “Hope” is nevertheless drawing viewers at a record pace. Built around Keith in the protagonist’s role as a bartender, the black-and-white mini-movie follows the song’s many characters through life’s struggles. In a sense, “Hope On The Rocks” is almost an emotional flipside to “Red Solo Cup,” and showcases not only Keith’s prodigious writing and story-telling ability – he is the song’s sole writer – but also the acting ability honed in his two full-length feature films. Directed by his longtime collaborator Michael Salomon, the video is also in heavy rotation at CMT, GAC and TCN. As the title-track from his new album, this single is racing up the country charts. Toby was recently named country music’s top-earning musician by Forbes.

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Brad Paisley will premiere the official music video of his current single, “Southern Comfort Zone,” during a live Ustream broadcast. Fans will be able to watch the stream beginning at 2 p.m. Central Time/3 p.m. Eastern on today, Dec. 10, via www.BradPaisley.com and http://www.ustream.tv/bradpaisley. Beyond just viewing the music video for the first time, there will be an interactive element to this Ustream event as well. Fans worldwide may chat immediately following the video’s premiere with the award-winning entertainer via Ustream’s social stream and Twitter by tweeting #bradpaisleychat. “Southern Comfort Zone” is from the upcoming album set for release on April 9. The track is now available for download on iTunes.

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The American Country Awards will air live from Las Vegas tonight (Dec. 10) on FOX. Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth will each perform during the two-hour special also featuring Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Jake Owen, Eli Young Band, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Ron White, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, Chris Young and more.

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The 14th Annual A Home For The Holidays With Rascal Flatts will air Dec. 19 on the CBS Television Network.

Hosted by Rascal Flatts, the special will also include performances by Rachel Crow, whose performance accompanies her personal story about foster care adoption, Melissa Etheridge, Matchbox Twenty and more.Following the success of the past 13 annual shows, the special continues to tell touching stories about adoption from foster care to raise awareness for this important social issue.

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Condolences to Clint Black and his family on the recent loss of Black’s father, G.A. Black, who died on Dec. 2 at the age of 78. According to a family statement, it is believed that the elder Black chose to end his own suffering due to the loss of his wife and his own declining health. He had given no prior indication of his plans to family or friends. Black is survived by sons Mark, Brian, Kevin, Clint and his extended family. (MusicRow)

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News Briefs: Taylor Swift will headline New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2013 (Dec. 31), live from Time Square in New York. ••• Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and husband Justin Miller welcomed their first child, son Magnus Hamilton Miller on Dec. 6. ••• Hillary Scott started this year with a wedding, and now the Lady Antebellum singer and her husband, musician Chris Tyrrell have announced they are expecting their first child. ••• Randy Houser will release his third album, How Country Feels, on Jan. 22. This first release on Stoney Creek Records, follows his critically acclaimed sophomore album They Call Me Cadillac and features 15-track song tracks, seven of which were penned by Houser. ••• Sheryl Crow has reportedly signed with Warner Music Nashville and plans to release her first Country album. ••• Available this spring, Darius Rucker’s third country album, True Believers, explores new creative territory for the platinum-selling star as he continues to evolve as an artist. The album also includes collaborations with Sheryl Crow, Dave Haywood, Mallary Hope, Charles Kelly, and Hillary Scott. ••• Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Don Sutton, was the guest of Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson at the Opry Nov. 30. Sutton’s career spanned 22-years, and he won 324 games for the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, A’s, and Angels. He is currently the radio voice of the Atlanta Braves. “I’ve dreamed of coming to the Opry since I was a kid listening to the show on the radio down in Alabama,” Sutton said. “And to get to see it at the Ryman is really special. This is a big item I can now mark off my bucket list.”

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The performing roster for the  4th Annual Bayou Country Superfest 2013 has been set. Acts on May 25th will be Love & Theft, Thompson Square, Darius Rucker, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum. On May 26th: Frankie Ballard, Rodney Atkins, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Zac Brown Band. Tickets for the event, to be held at Tiger Stadium on Memorial Day Weekend. More… http://bayoucountrysuperfest.com/

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News Briefs: Andy Griggs’ new album, Naked , contains thirteen newly recorded songs and is available from andygriggs.com . ••• Average Joes Entertainment has announced the addition of LoCash Cowboys to the roster with the world premiere of their new Christmas video, “What Time Is It?” on GAC. ••• Bobby Cyrus, a former heavy-machinery sales and management executive in the coal mining and construction industry of eastern Kentucky, grew up immersed in the sounds of bluegrass and traditional Country music. He credits artists like Waylon Jennings, Ricky Skaggs, Larry Cordle, Kris Kristofferson, Keith Whitley and Tom T. Hall as some of the key influences that helped define his songwriting and musical style. Cyrus released “Milkman’s Eyes” (featuring his cousin Billy Ray Cyrus) in November. ••• Colt Ford has been named the NRA Country Artist of the Month for December. Ford recently visited the headquarters of the National Rifle Association where he toured the offices, performed for the staff, and was awarded lifetime membership. more… NRACountry.com.

• Apr. 25-28 – MerleFest, Wilkesboro, NC

• May 25-26 – Bayou Country Superfest, Baton Rouge, LA

• Jun. 6-9 – CMA Music Festival, Nashville, TN

• Jun. 13-16 – Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN