In his final two years of touring George Strait returned to the CMA Awards yesterday evening to be named Entertainer of the Year. It was his third win in the category, but his first since 1990. The 61-year-old Texan is retiring from touring and is currently involved in his The Cowboy Rides Away tour. “This blows me away,” he said as he accepted the award. “This means the world to me, I appreciate it. Thank you.” Fellow Texan Miranda Lambert won her fourth straight Female Vocalist of the Year Award while her husband, Blake Shelton, won Album Of The Year and Male Vocalist—a category he also won for the fourth year in a row. “I really didn’t think this was going to happen this year,” Lambert said before thanking each of the other nominees. The husband and wife have been favourites of the CMA’s 6,000 voters for the last three years and Wednesday was no different. Shelton’s Album Of The Year win for BASED ON A TRUE STORY… was a bit of a surprise, a year after taking entertainer of the year. “I had mentioned earlier today that if there was an award that would mean the most to me tonight, it would be Album of the Year,” said Shelton. Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley scored single and vocal duo of the year. Their quick tally was more proof the so-called bro country movement is the sound of the moment in mainstream country. FGL kicked off the show performing a fist-pumping medley with Luke Bryan, and very quickly returned to the stage to take the trophy for single of the year for their Cruise remix featuring Nelly. They also played their new song, Round Here. Meanwhile, Kacey Musgraves—who, along with Taylor Swift, led all nominees with six—won the New Artist Trophy, beating a field including Florida Georgia Line. With smart songwriting, a progressive bent and a strong sense of self like country’s other top women, Musgraves made an auspicious mainstream country debut this year with her album SAME TRAILER DIFFERENT PARK. “This first year for me has just been indescribable,” said Musgraves, who set a record for nominations for a woman in her first year on the show. Taylor Swift later performed a sombre, acoustic version of her hit Red with Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Sam Bush and was given the CMA’s Pinnacle Award. The award goes to artists who take country music to a worldwide audience. Garth Brooks is the only previous winner. He won in 2005. The CMA brought a star-studded welcoming group out on stage for Swift that included George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley—all of whom gave Swift a chance to open for them on the road as a teenager. A video salute followed with appearances by Justin Timberlake, Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Ellen DeGeneres, Carly Simon, Ethel Kennedy and Mick Jagger—whose appearance made Swift shout. Accepting the award, the 23-year-old Swift said: “You’ve made me fell so special right now, thank you.” George Strait and Alan Jackson joined together to salute the late George Jones with a rendition of She Stopped Loving Him Today. And in one of the night’s most anticipated moments, Kenny Rogers received the CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award and was saluted by Jennifer Nettles, Rucker and Rascal Flatts. Rogers sat on stage and mouthed along as Rascal Flatts sang Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition Is In), the crowd helped Rucker sing The Gambler and Nettles and Rogers finished the tribute by singing Islands in the Stream. “It’s been a hell of a month,” Rogers said. “The (Country Music) Hall of Fame last week, this this week. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next week.” CMA 2013 Award Winners Entertainer of year: George strait Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert Album of the Year: BASED ON A TRUE STORY – Blake Shelton Single of the Year: I Drive Your Truck – Lee Brice Song of the Year: Cruise – Florida Georgia Line Duo of the Year: Florida Georgia Line Group: Little Big Town Best New Artist: Kacey Musgraves Musician of the Year: Mac MacAnally Video of Year: Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban Vocal event of Year: Highway Don’t Care – Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

Listeners took to Twitter over the weekend, to voice their confusion as two different segments of Bob Harris’ show were played simultaneously. During the second hour of Harris’s three-hour pre-recorded show it was disrupted, as the clocks went back and the UK switched from British summer time to Greenwich mean time in the early hours of Sunday morning. Harris later told his followers on Twitter that he was “so sorry that a technical fault had such a big impact” and he was “particularly disappointed” that his listeners had been unable to hear a special session recorded with new singer-songwriter Nick Capaldi. ‘Whispering Bob’, the former host of 1970s music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, also assured fans that Radio 2 would be re-broadcasting the session “as soon as we can.” An emergency tape did kick in after around 20 minutes. It featured tracks including Abba’s Dancing Queen and lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Many listeners expressed their surprise that the programme was not broadcast live. However, the show, which runs from midnight until 03:00 GMT on a Sunday morning, is usually pre-recorded. It features a selection of rock, country and folk music and live sessions with artists. A Radio 2 spokesperson said: “On Sunday morning between 1am and 2am there was a technical glitch which affected Bob Harris’s show. We are currently looking into the cause and apologise to listeners tuning in at that time.” www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Iconic singer, songwriter, musician, actress and philanthropist DOLLY PARTON announces the ‘Blue Smoke World Tour’ will travel across the pond in 2014 for June and July concerts in Europe hitting England, Ireland, Scotland, Denmark, Germany, Norway, as well as a return to the O2 Arena in London, the venue where Dolly recorded and filmed ‘An Evening With…Dolly’ (Dolly Records), her widely praised DVD/CD set that was certified GOLD by the RIAA. Dolly’s latest studio album of all new material ‘Blue Smoke’ will be released worldwide on Dolly Records with a release date to be announced soon. “Every time I come to Europe I’m just as excited as I was my very first time, which was many, many years ago. I love that part of the world and I especially love the fans,” adds Parton. “We always have such a good time and I’ve put together a lot of things for this show that I think the fans will love. We had not planned to come back so soon, but we got so much fan mail and such a great reaction that I thought ‘Well, why not. If they’re having a good time and we always do, let’s just do it’.” In 2011, Dolly continued to receive accolades for what was her most successful European and Australian tour of her 45-plus year career—The Better Day World Tour! During the 2011 tour, Dolly performed for record-breaking attendances in both Europe and Australia, surpassing her previous attendance records. In 2008, Dolly performed 17 European shows to over 170,000 fans, surpassing her then-best 2007 European tour, where she played 21 shows for over 140,000 people. Each of these treks grossed in the tens of millions of dollars and established Dolly as Europe’s favorite and most successful country artist. Dolly fans, get ready for an opportunity like none other! We are about to announce some very exciting news, and we think you’ll like what we have in store. New VIP packages are coming out for this upcoming tour that include access to Dolly’s personal wardrobe and instruments, a backstage tour, and an opportunity to meet Dolly. Keep your eyes peeled for these packages. You won’t want to miss out! For the latest VIP Experience updates, please visit www.dollypartonmusic.net. Tour dates and venues are below, for ticket and on-sale information please check with your local market. www.livenation.co.uk www.ticketmaster.co.uk UK & EUROPE Dates: June 8th England, Liverpool, Echo Arena June 10th Northern Ireland, Belfast, Odyssey Arena June 11th Ireland, Dublin, O2 Arena June 12th Ireland, Cork, Live At The Marquee June 14th England, Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena June 15th Scotland, Aberdeen, GE Arena June 17th Scotland, Glasgow, Hydro Arena June 20th England, Leeds, First Direct Arena June 21st England, Manchester, Phones 4U Arena June 22nd England, Birmingham, LG Arena June 24th Wales, Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena June 27th England, London, O2 Arena July 2nd England, Nottingham, Arena July 5th Germany, Cologne, Lanxess Arena July 6th Germany, Berlin, O2 World July 8th Denmark, Copenhagen, Forum July 9th Norway, Oslo, Spektrum For all the latest tour, VIP Experience and ticketing information please visit http://www.dollypartonmusic.net Facebook: Facebook.com/DollyParton Twitter: Twitter.com/DollyParton Hashtag: #BlueSmokeWorldTour Tumblr: OfficialDollyParton.tumblr.com Google+: Plus.Google.com/+DollyParton

Following the acclaimed success of Country to Country 2013, an outstanding line up of music stars are again heading across the Atlantic for a huge two-day music festival extravaganza at The O2 London on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 March 2014. Also for the very first time Country to Country is coming Ireland on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 March 2014 at The O2, Dublin. Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley and Chris Young have been confirmed for C2C 2014 as well as Martina McBride who will join the London line-up. Headlining Country to Country 2014 will be Grammy award winning and multimillion selling Brad Paisley as well as the three time GRAMMY award-winning Zac Brown Band. Paisley returns to London after a triumphant show there in 2011 and to Dublin for the first time since 2012. Grammy award-winning Zac Brown Band look forward to their first headline UK and Ireland Arena shows. C2C 2014 will also see the return of country superstars Dixie Chicks, who will be performing in the UK for the first time in eight years and Rascal Flatts who join the lineup after their sold out shows at London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and Olympia Theatre Dublin this summer. Also confirmed to perform is platinum selling artist Dierks Bentley, and Chris Young who has just released his latest album ‘A.M’. With awards for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and ACM Female Vocalist plus a GRAMMY win Martina McBride will also join the line-up at The O2 London. Further guests are soon to be announced to complete the prolific line up. Legendary broadcaster Bob Harris will again be compering the festival: “It is a very exciting time for Country music in the UK. C2C 2013 was a fantastic experience and next year’s festival promises to be another massive milestone. I am thrilled to be compering again and providing huge coverage on ‘Bob Harris Country’ on BBC Radio 2 when Nashville comes to London. See you at the O2!”

Legendary music icon Kenny Rogers has just landed his 22nd Top 10 Country album with the Billboard debut of YOU CAN’T MAKE OLD FRIENDS at #9 via Warner Bros. Records. The album reunites the multiple Grammy Award-winner with long-time friend and collaborator, Dolly Parton, for a brand new duet on the title track, You Can’t Make Old Friends, and accompanying music video. The bold 11-track recording, highlighted by Rogers’ fresh takes on a diverse array of musical styles including country, soul, folk, rock and even zydeco, is receiving widespread critical acclaim. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel observes “his voice is still an instrument to be reckoned with” and the Associated Press calls YOU CAN’T MAKE OLD FRIENDS “an album that blends the familiar with the challenging, seeking new hits and pursuing new ideas even as he enters the Country Music Hall of Fame this fall.” In a glowing review, Country Weekly notes “you have to give Kenny a ton of credit for being willing to spread his wings in new directions—and even more for pulling it off.” In celebration of the album release, Rogers did a blitz of media appearances that kicked off with an interview and performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on October 2nd. Rogers was also featured on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family, Extra!, GAC’s Backstory, CBS This Morning, Fox & Friends, Bloomberg TV, Kathie Lee & Hoda on The Today Show, and The Rachael Ray Show. Rogers can be heard performing several new songs from the album live on SiriusXM’s Artist Confidential airing on Prime Country this weekend. He can also be heard guest hosting the nationally syndicated radio program After Midnite all this week through to Sunday, October 20th. With a collaboration of producers, including Kyle Lehning, Warren Hartman, and Dann Huff, You Can’t Make Old Friends is Rogers’ first country album since the release of Water & Bridges in 2006. Rogers considers this release the most varied and complete album of his lifetime. “I can honestly say this may be the best album I’ve ever recorded,” said Rogers. “I’m thrilled with how it turned out. I wanted to really stretch my boundaries and do something a little different. There are songs on this record that I would normally sing, and then there are songs I would normally never even listen to. In this business, you do albums to both grow artistically, and for the sheer love of music. We chose what I think are the most diverse and best songs I’ve ever had access to.” A trailblazing recording artist, vocalist, and entertainer, Rogers has sold more than 120 million records worldwide and recorded more than 65 albums during his illustrious 56 years in show business. Rogers has charted a record within each of the last seven decades and scored a hit single in the past six. He was the first country artist to consistently sell out arenas and quickly became a pop superstar as well – his 28 Billboard Adult Contemporary Top 10’s is fourth-best all time among men, trailing only Elton John, Neil Diamond, and Elvis Presley. Rogers has recorded 12 No. 1 albums and 24 No. 1 hits – The Gambler, Lady, Lucille, Coward Of The County, and Islands in the Stream (with Dolly Parton) among them. His Greatest Hits album has sold over 24 million copies worldwide to date. He is the RIAA’s 8th best-selling male artist of all time with one Diamond album, 19 Platinum albums and 31 Gold albums. Rogers will be inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame later this month on Sunday October 27th.

The Americana Music Association – UK (AMA-UK) will be organising an event at Kings Place near King’s Cross (London) from February 13th to 15th. The Association has decided to call it The Americana Music Association UK Showcase and is programming the event right now. The showcase will comprise of three nights of music in both the larger theatre space and one night in the smaller studio theatre. Further details will be confirmed in the next AMA-UK newsletter. AMA-UK members will get advanced notice to purchase discounted tickets to these concerts. In addition, the AMA-UK fully intends putting on events elsewhere in the UK (i.e. not necessarily in London or Suffolk) during 2014 and is already having talks with some well-known festivals about hosting AMA-UK stages. If you want to host an event and use the AMA-UK logo they will be designing a logo for this very purpose. Designers should contact the AMA-UK with proposals in good time so they can be approved and promoted through Facebook and Twitter and in time on the AMA-UK website.

Musicians On Call (MOC) Nashville is celebrating six years in Music City with an anniversary benefit concert featuring GRAMMY Award-winning superstar Kelly Clarkson. The November event presented by Citi Private Pass will showcase Clarkson in the intimate setting of downtown Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe, located at 100 Broadway. Tickets will be available for purchase exclusively by Citi Private Pass members for a limited time beginning at 10 a.m. October 9th with general on sale opening at noon October 11th. Tickets start at £100 and include a VIP Cocktail Reception provided by Hard Rock Cafe and valet parking provided by Eagle Parking. The night will also include a silent auction featuring items from local vendors and autographed memorabilia from today’s hottest stars. All proceeds from the event will go directly to MOC Nashville and its efforts to bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. Since MOC’s expansion into Nashville in April 2007, it has brought the healing power of music to over 70,000 patients, families and staff in Middle Tennessee through 12 weekly programs in seven area healthcare facilities including the latest program, which recently launched at Alive Hospice. Through the generous support of artists like Clarkson, as well as sponsors Citi Private Pass, Hard Rock Cafe Nashville, and City National Bank, MOC Nashville will continue to thrive and grow. Clarkson has long been a champion for MOC – last year surprising patients and lifting spirits at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with an impromptu performance for the holidays. The vibrant singer is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year at this year’s CMA Awards as well as nominated for Musical Event of the Year for her collaboration with Vince Gill on Don’t Rush. Clarkson brings her soulful vocals to her latest October 29th holiday release, Wrapped In Red.

It was announced this month, from the stage of the Ryman Auditorium, that Ricky Skaggs will be the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2013 Artist-in-Residence. Skaggs will present two intimate evening performances on November 18th and 19th, at 7:00 p.m. The concerts will be the museum’s first public programs in the new CMA Theatre. Established in 2003, the museum’s residency program annually honours a musical master who can be credited with contributing a large and significant body of work to the canon of American popular music. Honourees are given a blank canvas and are encouraged to lend their own creative brushstrokes to an up-close-and-personal musical experience. Previous Artist-in-Residence honourees include Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith and Kenny Rogers. This year, Skaggs has chosen to perform two unique shows – each with its own theme and line-up of guest artists. The first show, November 18th, will have a country music theme; Ricky’s special guests that night will include Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Gordon Kennedy and The Whites. The second show, November 19th, will celebrate his bluegrass roots with special guests Alison Krauss, Bruce Hornsby, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Del McCoury and The Whites. Both nights will feature Skaggs’ award-winning band, Kentucky Thunder. “Ricky Skaggs has created his own career path,” said Museum Director, Kyle Young. “It’s rare to find an artist who thrives in three different genres, but Ricky does. He is highly respected in country, bluegrass and gospel music, and he has a way of blending these styles that delights music fans. Ricky has been a great friend to the museum for many years. He was on hand, in 2011, when we announced our plans for expanding the museum. Now he will present the museum’s first public program in our new CMA Theatre. With its nearly 800-seat capacity, the new theatre allows us to welcome more guests while still maintaining the intimate atmosphere that makes our Artist-in-Residence series so special.” An innovative musician, top-notch vocalist, record producer and label owner, Grammy award-winning Ricky Skaggs has developed a unique hybrid of traditional American music throughout his more than four decades career. While he is regarded as a pioneer of country music’s neo-traditionalist movement and a flame-keeper for traditional bluegrass, he also has been creatively restless, at times moving roots-oriented music in new, progressive directions. Ricky Skaggs was born on July 18th, 1954, in Cordell, Kentucky. His father gave him his first mandolin when he was five, and it was soon apparent that the young boy was a natural musician. A year later, when Bill Monroe performed in the nearby town of Martha, he invited young Skaggs onstage to play his mandolin. By age seven, Skaggs earned his first paycheque for performing Ruby and Honky Tonk Swing on Flatt & Scruggs’ syndicated TV show. In 1969, Skaggs and fellow Kentuckian Keith Whitley formed a band, the Lonesome Mountain Boys, and did note-perfect covers of the Stanley Brothers’ songs. In 1970, Ralph Stanley heard the young men perform and invited them to join his band, the Clinch Mountain Boys. Skaggs stayed with Stanley until 1974, when he joined the Washington, D.C. based Country Gentlemen. He also performed and recorded with J.D. Crowe & the New South. He started his own band, Boone Creek, and recorded albums for Rounder Records and Sugar Hill Records. In the late 1970s, Skaggs joined Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band and bridged the gap between bluegrass and country music – something he would do throughout his career. Though he continued to perform and record with other acts, Skaggs launched his solo career with the release of SWEET TEMPTATION in 1979, on Sugar Hill. His first major-label release, WAITIN’ FOR THE SUN TO SHINE, was issued by Epic Records in 1981. The album charted four singles, including back-to-back number ones Crying My Heart Out Over You and “I Don’t Care. WAITIN’ FOR THE SUN TO SHINE earned Skaggs two 1982 Country Music Association awards – the Horizon Award and Male Vocalist of the Year. He became a member of the Grand Ole Opry that same year. His follow-up album, HIGHWAYS & HEARTACHES, served up three more number one singles – Heartbroke, I Wouldn’t Change You if I Could and Highway 40 Blues. The following album, DON’T CHEAT IN OUR HOMETOWN, scored Skaggs three more chart-toppers: the title track, Honey (Open That Door) and Bill Monroe’s Uncle Pen. COUNTRY BOY, released in 1984, was Skaggs’ fourth consecutive gold album and featured the number one title track. In 1985, he won CMA Entertainer of the Year and a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental, for Wheel Hoss – from the COUNTRY BOY album. Skaggs rounded out the 1980s with six more Top Ten hits. The 1990s marked Skaggs’ return to his bluegrass roots. In 1997, he formed his own label, Skaggs Family Records. In addition to his own award-winning releases, his label has put out recordings by other acts including Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, the Del McCoury Band and The Whites. Under his label imprint, Skaggs has consistently released Grammy-nominated bluegrass albums, beginning with the Grammy-winning BLUEGRASS RULES!, which also earned the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Album of the Year honours. The album helped Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, win IBMA’s 1998 Instrumental Group of the Year award – a feat that would be repeated seven more times. Skaggs has remained an important figure on the 21st century music scene; he toured with the Dixie Chicks in 2000 and participated in two PBS specials in 2002 and 2003. He continues to release critically acclaimed bluegrass and gospel albums, including Grammy-winning albums HONORING THE FATHERS OF BLUEGRASS: TRIBUTE TO 1946 AND 1947 and SALT OF THE EARTH (2007). He has released more than 30 albums and won 14 Grammys, 11 IBMA awards, eight CMA awards and nine Academy of Country Music awards. On August 20th, Skaggs and Hornsby released CLUCK OL’ HEN, which debuted

In just a short five months after its grand opening, the Johnny Cash Museum, the latest attraction in Music City, lands at the top of both the Forbes and National Geographic must see travel destinations lists. Forbes recently released a list of the Top 5 “Must-See” Nashville destinations and put The Johnny Cash Museum in the number one slot. That acknowledgement was followed the very next day with an unbelievable honour from National Geographic. National Geographic published a list of the worldwide top four “Pitch Perfect Museums,” museums dedicated to a single musician. The Johnny Cash Museum earned the top honour beating out the ABBA museum in Stockholm and the Kalakuta museum in Nigeria. “It’s a great honour to receive the ongoing positive comments and rankings from top publications and organisations,” says founder Bill Miller. “It’s a tribute to and validation of Johnny Cash’s continuing popularity and our ability to honour him with a top notch venue in an amazing city.” About The Johnny Cash Museum Earning the AAA Gem rating, Johnny Cash Museum experience has quickly spread around the globe with outlets like CNN, The NY Times, The NY Post, Billboard, Vogue, Southern Living, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Yahoo, Huffington Post, London’s NME, etc. all buzzing about the attraction. One can never predict who they will see at the museum as Cash family and band members are often inside in addition to celebrities like Former VP Al Gore, Grammy and country music legend Lynn Anderson, The Mavericks, The Oak Ridge Boys, American Pickers’ Mike Wolfe, Ashton Shepherd, etc. Located at 119 Third Avenue South between Demonbreun and Broadway, the museum is en route between the tourists circulated Broadway strip and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Schermerhorn Symphony Centre. The JCM is open every day from 11 AM to 7 PM CST. General admission is $14 with discounts for students, members of the military, etc. Many never before seen historical documents, letters, awards, costumes and instruments take the visitor on a three dimensional journey through Johnny Cash’s life with interactive technology provided by the Nashville based Griffin Technologies. The museum, designed by the Temeka Group in collaboration with Bill and Shannon Miller, unites the extensive and acclaimed collection of Bill Miller, long-time friend of Cash’s and founder of the official Johnny Cash website, www.johnnycash.com, and pieces from friends, colleagues and family members including his daughters, son and siblings. The collection features the earliest known Johnny Cash letters and documents as well as the handwritten manuscript to the last song ever written by the prolific songwriter, just days before his passing. Visitors also are given an extensive look into Cash’s non-entertainment related life including his childhood and early adulthood and his service in the United States Air Force. To stay updated on the museum and Johnny Cash, visit www.johnnycash.com or www.johnnycashmuseum.com.

The O2, southeast London, has become one of the world’s most popular entertainment venues. Its owners Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) will be appointing Tom Miserendino as the President and Chief Executive of AEG Europe, on Thursday 4th October. The O2 is AEG’s flagship venue in Europe, hosting a variety of events including the ATP World Tour tennis championships next month. AEG also owns a number of leading entertainment sites in Scandinavia and Germany. These will all be overseen by Miserendino. Miserendino will be taking over from Jay Marciano who relocated to AEG’s headquarters in Los Angeles earlier this year, after his promotion to Chief Operating Officer. The management reshuffle has followed an attempt to sell the entire company for as much as £6 billion. The sales process attracted interested bidders from around the world, but was aborted by AEG. Miserendino has most recently been working as the head of AEG Live, the touring and concert arm of the group. He has worked for AEG for over a decade. Mr Miserendino is expected to take over European operations at the start of December –one of AEG’s most important regions outside of its home market in the US.