George Strait will be honored with the 2013 Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. Career Achievement Award at the Country Radio Hall of Fame Induction Feb. 26. The CRB Achievement Award is presented to an individual artist or act that, through their creativity, vision, performance or leadership has made a significant contribution to the development and promotion of country music and country radio. As previously announced, the evening will also feature Gaylan Christie being inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame and Dr. Don Carpenter, Crook & Chase, Eddie Edwards and Bill “Dex” Poindexter will be inducted in the Air Personality category. Bob Romeo will receive the 2013 Presidents’ Award. Previous winners of this Award include Brooks and Dunn, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels, Dolly Parton, and Reba McEntire. The dinner and induction ceremony unofficially kicks off Country Radio Seminar.

 

George Jones has announced that the final Nashville concert of his career will be at the Bridgestone Arena Nov. 22. Although still 9 months away, this is already gearing up to be a star-studded event – Charlie Daniels, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis, Jamey Johnson, and Gene Watson are the first round of performers that will join previously announced guest Tanya Tucker to help honor this legendary entertainer with special performances. More artists will continue to be announced. Tickets on sale now at all Ticketmaster locations.

 

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, Music City’s legendary honky-tonk, will celebrate its 53rd Birthday in downtown Nashville on Nov. 21 with a Broadway street-party hosted by GAC personality Storme Warren. The annual affair will be the kick-off event celebrating and honoring George Jones’ final Nashville concert (Nov. 22) at the Bridgestone Arena. As part of the celebration, Tootsie’s is extending their annual Birthday Bash to a two-day event with entertainment on the outdoor Broadway stage taking place on both Thursday and Friday nights. Entertainment will be announced in the coming months.

 

News Briefs: Following the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, the Zac Brown Band headed to Florida where they will play a mini-concert Feb. 24 during the Budweiser Pre-Race Show (two songs will air live) at Daytona 500, NASCAR’s season-opening race. ••• Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter’s narration of the documentary “No Going Back: Women and the War,” just won her an Emmy. The documentary is the third episode in Nashville Public Television’s “Tennessee Civil War 150” series. ••• Music industry veteran Greg Hill has launched Hill Entertainment Group, home to artists Rodney Atkins and Jana Kramer. ••• APA Nashville has signed Outlaw Country royalty, Shooter Jennings. His new album, The Other Life (Black Country Rock/Entertainment One Nashville), and its short film will be released on Mar. 12. Jennings also continues his 7-year tenure on Sirius XM’s Outlaw Country channel with his signature show, Electric Rodeo. ••• Justin Boots Presents Gary Morris’ My First Love online concert Feb. 14. http://www.garymorrismyfirstlove.com/

 

MusicRow reports Grammy ratings fell from 2012’s high of more than 39 million viewers to about 29 million for the 2013 (Feb. 10) primetime show. The slip was expected due to 2012’s ceremony drawing a 30-year ratings high, spurred by the death of Whitney Houston the night before.

 

Rock legend John Fogerty enlisted some country, pop and rock stars for his upcoming album Wrote A Song For Everyone, due out May 28. The 14-track album, his first for Vanguard Records, features collaborations with Keith Urban, Zac Brown Band, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Kid Rock, sons Shane Fogerty and Tyler Fogerty, and more. Pre-order now via iTunes and Amazon.

 

Phil Vassar has hit 2013 running with a brand new single, “Love Is Alive.” Co-written with Tom Douglas, ACM and CMA Song of the Year Award-winner for “The House That Built Me,” the mandolin-infused uptempo song was just shipped to radio. “Tom and I had a blast writing this song,” said Phil, who is finishing a full album to be released later this year. Phil premiered the new single at a recent sold-out concert at one of his favorite haunts, Joe’s on Weed Street in Chicago, where over 1000 fans packed the sold out venue for the nearly three-hour performance.”

 

Live Nation’s Brian O’Connell has created a new three-day country music and camping festival, Faster Horses, set to launch in Brooklyn, MI. July 18-21, according to Billboard. The festival will be held in a field adjacent to the Brooklyn International Speedway. Faster Horses is the second country music festival produced by Live Nation and O’Connell; the first , Watershed, launched in 2012 in Quincy, WA. Twenty-five artists have been booked for the show so far, though a formal announcement of the talent lineup is not expected until next week.

 

EMI Records’ Eric Church will release a 17-track live album, Caught In The Act: Live, on Apr. 9 featuring songs from Sinners Like Me, Carolina, and his CMA Award-winning 2011 release, Chief. Act will be available on iTunes and stores nationwide. The album was recorded at Chattanooga’s Tivoli Theatre in Oct. 2012 and is Church’s first live recording. A double gatefold vinyl version of the record will also be made available on National Record Store Day, April 20. The package will include four additional tracks and a special whiskey-infused 7-inch. Currently touring Canada on his sold-out The Blood Sweat & Beers Tour, Church will join Kenny Chesney on the No Shoes Nation Tour beginning March 16 in Tampa, FL.

 

Bob Kingsley’s Acoustic Alley will return to Country Radio Seminar for the second consecutive year. Rhett Atkins, Tom Douglas, Marv Green, Ben Hayslip, Natalie Hemby, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Wendell Mobley, Jeff Stevens and several surprise guests are set to perform. This year’s event will be held on Thursday night (Feb. 28) at the Renaissance Hotel.

 

Tracy Pitcox advises the TruCountry Television show is moving its production from Hamilton to Brady, Texas. The popular thirty minute show reaches millions three times per week on the RFD Television Network. The first taping will be held in Brady, on Mar 21, 22 and 23, with guests including Darrell McCall, Curtis Potter, Norma Jean, Tony Booth, Mona McCall, Jake Hooker, Bobby Flores, Heather Myles, Justin Trevino, Tommy Hooker, Landon Dodd, Rance Norton, Amber Digby, Diane McCall, Dottsy and Rance Norton. Phone for ticket availabilities 325 597 1895

 

BGC Records/GMV Nashville Records artist Bobby Cyrus has become the official spokesperson of the National Walking Horse Association. He is scheduled to appear at a series of public NWHA events in the coming months, meeting fans, signing merchandise and advocating his passion for walking horses.

 

 

 

• 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