The Best of Country in 2011

Here we are... the end of 2011. Me and my staff (aka me) searched for the Best of in Country Music for the year and below is what I found. No denying country music is the "it" thing right now and will be for years to come. It is great to be working in country radio.. I am a fan of country music and have been for 12+ years.. it just keeps getting better and the artists are "real" people, like you and me. I've met several of them (from rising stars to one's that have been around a while) during my 10 years at WQMX and honestly, I like them all. Thank you for being a fan of country music & radio and for reading my Nashville Minute Blog.  Have a great 2012.

The Best of Country in 2011

The National League of Junior Cotillions ranked Taylor Swift No. 5 on the "10 Best-Mannered People of 2011." The list recognizes Taylor for inspiring young people through music and manners.

Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party, Glen Campbell's Ghost On The Canvas, Eric Church's Chief, Terri Clark's Roots & Wings and The Dirt Drifters' This Is My Blood are among the AllMusic staff's 22 "Favorite Country Albums Of 2011." Check out the full list by clicking here.  

iTunes selected Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party as its Country Album of the Year, Thompson Square's "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not" the Country Song of the Year, and Eric Church as its Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Ashton Shepherd's Where Country Grows, The Civil Wars' Barton Hollow and Eric Church's Chief are among NPR's staff-compiled " 50 Favorite Albums Of 2011."

Miranda Lambert's Four the Record, Pistol Annies' Hell on Heels and Eric Church's Chief have each earned a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 albums of 2011. The magazine calls Miranda's Four the Record "her most easeful and assured record yet" and says that the Pistol Annies' Hell on Heels is "an album for our Great Recession -- songs about trailer parks, mounting debt and ne'er-do-well men who make hard times harder." Rolling Stone calls Eric "a country singer a rock fan could love -- saluting Jesus and Springsteen, mixing up backwoods twang with power chords and Stones riffs."  

Lady Antebellum's Own The Night tops Amazon's "Best Country Albums of 2011" list. The rest of the top five in descending order are Scotty McCreery's Clear As Day, Toby Keith's Clancy's Tavern, Martina McBride's Eleven and Luke Bryan's Tailgates & Tanlines. Lady Antebellum's "Just A Kiss" also topped the online store's "Best Country Songs of 2011." 

Billboard has also released its list of the Top 10 Country Singles for 2011. Here they are in alphabetical order:

·       "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" - Thompson Square

·       "Baggage Claim" - Miranda Lambert

·       "Cost of Livin'" - Ronnie Dunn

·       "From a Table Away" - Sunny Sweeney

·       "Home" - Dierks Bentley

·       "Honey Bee" - Blake Shelton

·       "Red Solo Cup" - Toby Keith

·       "Remind Me" - Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood

·       "Teenage Daughters" - Martina McBride

·       "You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter

·       Honorable Mention: "The Gospel According to Jones" - Eric Lee Bedingfield 

           

Country Music is well represented on the Associated Press' all-genre Album of the Year list. Miranda Lambert's girl group, Pistol Annies, check in at number-seven with Hell on Heels, and Lady Antebellum's Own the Night takes the number-nine position. The Civil Wars land at number-two with Barton Hollow.

And Finally, Rolling Stone has named Nashville the Best Music Scene for 2011. The magazine recognizes hot spots in Music City from venues like Robert's honky-tonk and the legendary Ryman Auditorium, to bars like retro speakeasy Patterson House. They also shine a spotlight on locally owned restaurants, record stores and clothiers.

And that is the Best of Country in 2011. 

Keep it Real and Keep it Country.

George McFly 94.9 WQMX Weekend On-Air Personality george@wqmx.com

Carrie Underwood Tops List & The Country Grammy Nominees

Right on the money.... Carrie Underwood has been named country's most beautiful woman for 2011, according to a poll in Country Weekly magazine. Also making the list are Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire and Shania Twain.

Miranda Lambert's Four the Record, Pistol Annies' Hell on Heels and Eric Church's Chief have each earned a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the Top 50 albums of 2011. The magazine calls Miranda's Four the Record "her most easeful and assured record yet" and says that the Pistol Annies' Hell on Heels is "an album for our Great Recession -- songs about trailer parks, mounting debt and ne'er-do-well men who make hard times harder." Rolling Stone calls Eric "a country singer a rock fan could love -- saluting Jesus and Springsteen, mixing up backwoods twang with power chords and Stones riffs.

Ronnie Dunn shares a new video on his website taking fans behind his song "Cost of Living." In it he lets fans share their stories of facing the unemployment crisis and then shares his own family's struggle when his father lost his job -- Ronnie was nine at the time.  

Fox News is reporting that Taylor Swift is in the running to play Eponine in the movie version of the Broadway show Les Miserables. Taylor is going up against Glee's Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood. Good luck Taylor. 

And finally,

Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift lead the country pack for the Grammy Awards. The Band

Perry is the only country entry in the all-genre Best New Artist category. The awards will be given

out on February 12, 2012. Watch it on CBS. The nominees are:

Best Country Solo Performance
Jason Aldean- Dirt Road Anthem 

Martina McBride - I'm Gonna Love You Through It 

Blake Shelton - Honey Bee 

Taylor Swift - Mean 

Carrie Underwood - Mama's Song

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson - Don't You Wanna Stay 

Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter - You and Tequila 

The Civil Wars -- Barton Hollow 

Thompson Square - Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not

Best Country Song (songwriter's award)
Thompson Square- Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not 

Blake Shelton - God Gave Me You 

Trace Adkins - Just Fishin'  

Taylor Swift - Mean 

Vince Gill - Threaten Me With Heaven 

Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter - You and Tequila

Best Country Album
Jason Aldean - My Kinda Party
Eric Church - Chief
Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
Blake Shelton - Red River Blue
George Strait - Here For a Good Time
Taylor Swift - Speak Now

Best New Artist (All-Genre)
The Band Perry 

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

And that is the Nashville Minute.

Keep it Real & Keep it Country!

George McFly

On-Air Personality

94.9 WQMX - Akron, OH 

george@wqmx.com  

Giving Thanks for Country Music!

Congratulations to singer-songwriter Brantley Gilbert on his number one song Country Must Be Country Wide. This is the highest-charting debut single for a new artist in 2011, and is his third number one single this year. Brantley wrote Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party and Dirt Road Anthem, which both went number one.

Taylor Swift added three more awrds to her trophy case...at the recent American Music Awards (held on 11/20) she picked up the all-genre Artist of the Year, Female Country Artist and Country Album of the Year for Speak Now. She is the first artist in the 39 years of the show to win the all-genre honors twice. Lady Antebellum took the prize in the Country Band/Duo or Group category and Blake Shelton won for Country Male Artist.

It's a girl! Justin Moore and wife Kate welcomed their second daughter into the world on November 21st. Kennedy Faye Moore joins sister Ella Kole. In other Justin news, he will appear on CBS’ LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG FERGUSON this coming Monday, November 28th. He will perform his current single Bait A Hook.

The JaneDear Girls will perform Shotgun Girl on the November 28th episode of the CW show, Hart of Dixie.

Alabama will receive the Greatest Hits award at the upcoming American Country Awards, in honor of the 43 number-one singles in their three-decade career. The American Country Awards will air live from Las Vegas on December 5th on FOX.

And finally,

The nominees for the People's Choice Awards are in... leading the country pack is Taylor Swift. She's up for Favorite Country Artist, as well as Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Tour Headliner. Also nominated for Favorite Country Artist are Blake Shelton (also nominated up for Favorite Male Artist), Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum and Rascal Flatts. Lady A's Own the Night is also up for Favorite Album of the Year. You can vote for your country favorites by logging into PeoplesChoice.com or Facebook.com/PeoplesChoice, The People's Choice Awards air live from L.A. on January 11th on CBS.

And that is the Nashville Minute.

Keep it Real & Keep it Country!

George McFly
On-Air Personality, 94.9 WQMX
email: george@wqmx.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mcflyontheradio
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcflywqmx

Brothers of the Sun Tour & Country's "Cool People"

BIG NEWS: Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw have teamed for the 2012 Brothers Of The Sun Tour, which will play 19 stadiums on weekend dates beginning June 2nd in Tampa, FL. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals and Jake Owen are special guests. Click here for more info.

Fans of country newcomer (and American Idol runner up) Lauren Alaina already know this but for those that don't, Laurne will participate in Graceland's annual holiday lighting this Friday, November 18th in Memphis. Elvis.com will webcast the event at 6pm.

Don't miss the 60 Minutes profile of Taylor Swif this Sunday, November 20th on CBS.

The Band Perry is the only country act on the 2011 American Music Awards performers list. The AMAs air live this Sunday, November 20th at 8pm ET on ABC. Taylor Swift and The Band Perry are the country artists with the most nominations. The complete list of country nominees is provided below:

POP OR ROCK
Artist of the Year
Adele
Lady Gaga
Lil' Wayne
Katy Perry
Taylor Swift

New Artist of the Year (fan votes to determine final nominees)
Foster the People
Hot Chelle Rae
The Band Perry
Thompson Square
Marsha Ambrosius
Miquel
LMFAO
Wiz Khalifa

COUNTRY

Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum

Favorite Album
Jason Aldean - My Kinda Party
The Band Perry - The Band Perry
Taylor Swift - Speak Now 

Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton

Favorite Female Artist
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift

The Marshall Tucker Band will release their legendary Greatest Hits package on vinyl for a second time. The new package will include previously unreleased material, making it a 17-track double album. The Marshall Tucker Band Greatest Hits comes out November 22nd.

The Hip-Pop website GlobalGrind.com has announced its list of the 10 Coolest People in Country Music. Taylor Swift makes the list due to her live crossover collaborations. Tim McGraw also gets cool points for being a triple threat -- singer, actor and husband to Faith Hill, who's on the list, too. Other country cool people are Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Sugarland and Carrie Underwood.

Since I mentioned Faith Hill above, I must share more about Faith here. She is the only country artist on the bill of NBC’s Christmas In Rockefeller Center. The November 30th special will feature the 79th annual lighting of a Norway spruce; this year's tree is 74 feet tall and weighs 10 tons.

And finally,

If you are a fan of Cross Canadian Ragweed, then get to the store now to pick up their five-CD/live DVD set Box Of Weed. The collection includes their self-titled album, Soul Gravy, Garage, Mission California and Happiness And All The Other Things, as well as the live DVD Back To Tulsa: Live And Loud At Cain’s Ballroom.

And that is the Nashville Minute.

Keep it Real and Keep it Country!

George McFly
comments: george@wqmx.com

McFly's 45th Annual CMA Awards Recap

The CMA Awards show was held last night (11/9) in country’s hometown, Nashville. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood were the hosts again (and suspect they will be for a long time) and did not disappoint. Witty humor, parody songs and friendly jabs on Hank Williams Jr, Kim Kardashian divorce, the Oscars (Eddie Murphy pulling out and Brad offering to take his place)... oh, there was Miss Piggy and the Tim McGraw / Faith Hill dolls that filled the venue with many laughs. Brad and Carrie also performed their duet “Remind Me.” 

Highlights….

Carrie Underwood had 11 wardrobe changes during the 3-hour telecast.

Blake Shelton and Kenny Loggins kicked of the performance part of the night with “Footloose.”

Faith Hill made a return to the CMA Awards stage for the first time in 5 years. Faith sang her new song “Come Home” from her next album, which will come out in early 2012.

Lionel Richie made his country debut by teaming up with Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town and Darius Rucker.

Other non-country singers took part in country’s biggest night.. Natasha Bedingfield w/ Rascal Flatts (Easy), Matt Nathanson with Sugarland (Run) and Grace Potter with Kenny Chesney (You and Tequila). I’d like to hear more “country” type songs from Natasha and Grace.. they are very talented.

There was a great tribute to a country legend, Glen Campbell, by Keith Urban, Vince Gill and Brad Paisley.  Glen even came up on stage and received a standing ovation.

Another standing ovation was given to a “casually dressed” Taylor Swift. Taylor’s on stage props included a comfy couch, a lamp and a guitar. It’s all she needed to sing her new song “Ours.”

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert took home their respective vocalist of the year award. During Miranda’s acceptance speech she said "it's gonna be a good night tonight baby!"

The Band Perry stole the show with their performance of “All Your Life” and by winning three awards.

And the winners are….

Entertainer of the Year
Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert

Album of the Year
My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean

Musical Event of the Year
"Don't You Wanna Stay" - Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry

Music Video of the Year
"You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

Single of the Year
"If I Die Young" - The Band Perry

Song of the Year (songwriters award)
"If I Die Young" - Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry)

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland

Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally (guitar)

Post your comments on the show..

And that is the Nashville Minute.

Keep it Real and Keep it Country!

George McFly
Email: george@wqmx.com

New Country Albums & CMA Awards

Album Stuff

Toby Keith's Clancy's Tavern is the nation's top-selling country album. Scott McCreery's Clear as Day falls to number-two after a three week run at number-one. Lady Antebellum's Own the Night is at number-three. Vince Gill’s Guitar Slinger and Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party round out the Top 5.

Rascal Flatts will release their first live album on November 8^th titled The Best of Rascal Flatts Live.

Josh Gracin’s new album, Redemption, also comes out on November 8^th.

David Nail has a new album coming out too. Look for The Sound of Million Dreams in stores on November 15^th.

Miranda Said What?
Miranda Lambert is both sympathetic and realistic about Kim Kardashian's divorce news. She tells CMT.com, "I just kind of feel sorry for her in a way. In another way, I don't, because you get what you asked for. Living that kind of a lifestyle, you know that you're gonna have backlash. I think that it's stressful enough to get married for regular people, like Blake and I, and I can't imagine all that pressure on her."

With the CMA Awards coming up next week, Miranda Lambert needs to think about where she and husband Blake Shelton can display any awards they win. That's because they've combined their winnings into one trophy case, and there's not much room left. She jokes with Us Weekly, "I was like, 'Look, Blake, we're awesome! We have all these awards!'" Miranda is nominated for Female Vocalist and Vocal Event, and Blake is up for Entertainer, Single, Album and Video.

Marriage certainly agrees with Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton after five months. The new bride tells Us Weekly, "We learned to grow up and settle down... We still have a blast, but in a different way. I mean, we lie there watching the Weather Channel."

CMA Scoop - LIVE from Nashville on Wednesday, November 9th on ABC; starts at 8pm

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the CMA Awards show. They’ll also perform their duet “Remind Me.”

Blake Shelton and Kenny Loggins have the honors of being the first performers. They’ll sing "Footloose," which Kenny originally sang and Blake re-made for the movie remake.

Other performers include Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, the Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift.

Faith Hill will perform at the awards show for the first time in five years. She will debut the first single “Come Home” from her next album, which will come out in early 2012.

Thompson Square will perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! immediately following the awards show on ABC.

Here are the nominees for the 45th Annual CMA Awards:

Entertainer of the Year
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Album of the Year
All About Tonight - Blake Shelton
My Kinda Party - Jason Aldean
Speak Now - Taylor Swift
This Is Country Music - Brad Paisley
You Get What You Give - Zac Brown Band

Musical Event of the Year
As She's Walking Away - Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson
Coal Miner's Daughter - Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow and Miranda Lambert
Don't You Wanna Stay - Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Old Alabama - Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
You and Tequila - Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young

Music Video of the Year
Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
If I Die Young - The Band Perry
Mean - Taylor Swift
Old Alabama - Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
You and Tequila - Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

Single of the Year
A Little Bit Stronger - Sara Evans
Colder Weather - Zac Brown Band
Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
If I Die Young - The Band Perry
Don't Want to Stay - Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

Song of the Year (songwriters award)
Dirt Road Anthem - Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford (Jason Aldean)
If I Die Young - Kimberly Perry (The Band Perry)
Mean - Taylor Swift
You and Tequila - Matraca Berg and Tina Carter (Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter)
Colder Weather - Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrett, Levi Lowrey and Coy Bowles (Zac Brown Band)

Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo of the Year
The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Steel Magnolia
Thompson Square

Musician of the Year
Sam Bush - mandolin
Jerry Douglas - dobro
Paul Franklin - steel guitar
Dann Huff - guitar
Mac McAnally - guitar

And that is the Nashville Minute.

Keep it Real and Keep it Country!

George McFly
comments: george@wqmx.com