ABC/Adam TaylorKellie Pickler and pro partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of the 16th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night.
Disney star Zendaya and partner Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back on top of the country chart with his latest hit, "Wagon Wheel," and he's just released his third country album, True Believers, which appears destined to be another big seller. Though Darius has established himself as one of country's top stars, he still has to deal with some small-minded people as the only black man in the format.
Things got especially heated earlier this week when a Twitter user told Darius to "Leave country to the white folk." Darius shot back, "WOW. Is this 2013 or 1913." He then added, " I'll take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism."
Darius tells Rolling Stone that tweet was shocking to him. He says, "Sometimes people will say, 'You're not country,' and I know what that means, because they can't be talking about the music. But when somebody says to leave country music to the white folks, that is unbelievable to me...But that's life."
Darius knows he'll have to deal with that kind of ignorance in some shape or fashion for the rest of his life.
He says, "I'm a black guy in country music, and there are people who don't like that. But it's not going to make me quit."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Show Dog/UniversalWith the devastating images coming from those deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, Trace Adkins wants to remind everyone about the Red Cross relief effort already under way in the affected areas. During his Tuesday appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael, Trace said, "I've got a lot of friends in Oklahoma and yeah, there are Red Cross volunteers on the scene right now. They were there Sunday, as soon as this started happening."
Trace won All-Star Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday, and he donated the $1.5 million he won on the show to the Red Cross. That organization was on the scene when Trace's Nashville home burned two years ago, and he's been working on their behalf ever since.
Trace explains, "We always see the huge, you know, the natural disaster response, and the things that the Red Cross does, but it's 365, you know, 24/7."
For more information on how you can help, go to RedCross.org.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Sony LegacyWillie Nelson is gathering his large, musical family for an 80th birthday show at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square June 6. Willie is set to perform along with different bands led by two of his sons, two of his daughters and two of his granddaughters, respectively.
Proceeds from the concert will go to the BioDiesel Alliance and Animal Welfare Institute. A special Willie Nelson "Artist Spotlight" t-shirt, pen and bandana will be available online and at select Hard Rock locations to commemorate the event. Willie actually celebrated his 80th birthday April 30.
A select number of tickets are available through Ticketweb.com.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Facebook.com/KelliePicklerThe first half of the finale is over on season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. Country singer Kellie Pickler is in 2nd place, just a point behind Disney star Zendaya. Pickler and partner Derek Hough's emotional freestyle left half the ballroom in tears, including judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Pickler's husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs.
Kellie told ABC News Radio after the show, "I didn't see him, but I heard that he was tearing up. Which is crazy, because he never cries. Ever. Um, but I, I guess that's just what dancin' can do to you. There's a lot of -- it's, it's emotional!"
The two-hour season finale results show, featuring musical performances from Pitbull, Wynonna and PSY, airs on ABC Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Arista NashvilleThe 2013 CMT Music Awards lineup just got a lot hotter with the addition to the performers lineup of Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Florida Georgia Line and Darius Rucker also join the bill, along with previously-announced performers Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift. Presenters will be announced soon.
You can vote online now to determine the winners at CMT.com and through CMT's mobile apps.
The 2013 CMT Music Awards broadcast live Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT and CMT.com. Jason Aldean and actress Kristen Bell are this year's co-hosts.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Facebook.com/JoshTurnerJosh Turner is one of the many country stars with a personal connection to the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma Monday. Josh's truck driver hails from Moore; thankfully, the driver and his family are okay. Jason tweeted, "For those who were not so fortunate, I pray for peace & comfort during the aftermath of this terrible tragedy."
Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney also sent out a prayer, tweeting, "My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God's love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms."
Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood also tweeted late Monday, "Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen...it doesn't change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray."
Reba, who grew up in Chockie, OK, added, "All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornadoes. Stay safe everyone!!!!"
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Mercury NashvilleTickets for the CMA Music Festival's nightly concerts at LP Field in Nashville are completely sold out, but there are plenty of chances to catch free music at the event. The Bud Light stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will kick off its performances the morning of June 6 and continue through June 9.
New acts Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Chris Stapleton, Kelleigh Bannen, Randy Montana, Drake White and Joanna Smith are set to perform on the Bud Light Stage along with hit-makers Chuck Wicks, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis.
For a full lineup of artists playing the Bud Light Stage, go to CMAFest.com.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Arista NashvilleBrad Paisley has become one of Nashville's biggest cheerleaders. He gave a surprise performance of "Southern Comfort Zone" at Nashville mayor Karl Dean's citywide address Monday, and Brad will appear as himself on the season finale of Nashville Wednesday night on ABC.
As a longtime resident of Music City, Brad is excited to spread the word of how cool his adopted hometown has become in the past few years. Nothing illustrates that change like the section of Nashville called the Gulch, home to the world's most famous bluegrass club, The Station Inn. It's now surrounded by some of the city's hottest shops and restaurants, like Watermark.
"My wife and I went to eat at Watermark down in the Gulch, which is the hippest little area in Nashville," Brad tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, they're filming episodes of Nashville down there. They're doing all of this, and I'm walking out of the Watermark, and I just realized the Station Inn is right there."
He adds, "When I used to go to the Station Inn and see somebody like Junior Brown or I would go down there and see, like, Larry Cordle play or whatever, I used to think to myself, 'I probably oughta make sure that I'm packing when I go down to that area of town.'"
Now that the Gulch has been revitalized, Brad is happy to report The Station Inn is still going strong.
He says, "It doesn't change The Station Inn except that it really helps everybody. In that sense, it really does sort of illustrate just what's happened to Nashville."
Look for Brad on ABC's Nashville Wednesday night at 10 ET.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back with his new album, True Believers, in stores this week featuring his monster hit, "Wagon Wheel." That song has been a staple on college campuses and in honky tonks since Old Crow Medicine Show released their version a few years back, but Darius had no clue "Wagon Wheel" had such a cult following when he cut it.
"I just think recording that song for me was such an organic thing," Darius tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, I'm old and out of touch with today's popular music, and I didn't know it was so big on college campuses. I just didn't know. I was just cutting a great song I heard."
Darius is a fan of Old Crow Medicine Show's music, and he simply thought "Wagon Wheel" would be a great song to put on True Believers.
He says, "Even after we cut it, I thought, this is gonna be a great album track. You know, put it the last song on the record, a really great way to go out."
As for the rest of the True Believers album, Darius wants his fans to know he put a lot of time and heart into getting these songs just right for them.
Says Darius, "Making a record is always hard because I want to make a great record. I want to make a record that my fans want to go get."
Though he may start out worrying about getting it right, Darius usually lets the music take over once he gets into the studio. That was the case while making True Believers.
He says, "Whenever it gets hard in the studio, I always say, 'Sing what you feel.' And that usually works out."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
ABC/Adam TaylorKellie Pickler and pro partner Derek Hough were crowned the winners of the 16th season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Tuesday night.
Disney star Zendaya and partner Val Chmerkovskiy finished in second place.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back on top of the country chart with his latest hit, "Wagon Wheel," and he's just released his third country album, True Believers, which appears destined to be another big seller. Though Darius has established himself as one of country's top stars, he still has to deal with some small-minded people as the only black man in the format.
Things got especially heated earlier this week when a Twitter user told Darius to "Leave country to the white folk." Darius shot back, "WOW. Is this 2013 or 1913." He then added, " I'll take my grand ole Opry membership and leave your racism."
Darius tells Rolling Stone that tweet was shocking to him. He says, "Sometimes people will say, 'You're not country,' and I know what that means, because they can't be talking about the music. But when somebody says to leave country music to the white folks, that is unbelievable to me...But that's life."
Darius knows he'll have to deal with that kind of ignorance in some shape or fashion for the rest of his life.
He says, "I'm a black guy in country music, and there are people who don't like that. But it's not going to make me quit."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Show Dog/UniversalWith the devastating images coming from those deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma, Trace Adkins wants to remind everyone about the Red Cross relief effort already under way in the affected areas. During his Tuesday appearance on Live with Kelly and Michael, Trace said, "I've got a lot of friends in Oklahoma and yeah, there are Red Cross volunteers on the scene right now. They were there Sunday, as soon as this started happening."
Trace won All-Star Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday, and he donated the $1.5 million he won on the show to the Red Cross. That organization was on the scene when Trace's Nashville home burned two years ago, and he's been working on their behalf ever since.
Trace explains, "We always see the huge, you know, the natural disaster response, and the things that the Red Cross does, but it's 365, you know, 24/7."
For more information on how you can help, go to RedCross.org.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Sony LegacyWillie Nelson is gathering his large, musical family for an 80th birthday show at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square June 6. Willie is set to perform along with different bands led by two of his sons, two of his daughters and two of his granddaughters, respectively.
Proceeds from the concert will go to the BioDiesel Alliance and Animal Welfare Institute. A special Willie Nelson "Artist Spotlight" t-shirt, pen and bandana will be available online and at select Hard Rock locations to commemorate the event. Willie actually celebrated his 80th birthday April 30.
A select number of tickets are available through Ticketweb.com.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Facebook.com/KelliePicklerThe first half of the finale is over on season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. Country singer Kellie Pickler is in 2nd place, just a point behind Disney star Zendaya. Pickler and partner Derek Hough's emotional freestyle left half the ballroom in tears, including judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Pickler's husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs.
Kellie told ABC News Radio after the show, "I didn't see him, but I heard that he was tearing up. Which is crazy, because he never cries. Ever. Um, but I, I guess that's just what dancin' can do to you. There's a lot of -- it's, it's emotional!"
The two-hour season finale results show, featuring musical performances from Pitbull, Wynonna and PSY, airs on ABC Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Arista NashvilleThe 2013 CMT Music Awards lineup just got a lot hotter with the addition to the performers lineup of Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Florida Georgia Line and Darius Rucker also join the bill, along with previously-announced performers Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift. Presenters will be announced soon.
You can vote online now to determine the winners at CMT.com and through CMT's mobile apps.
The 2013 CMT Music Awards broadcast live Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT and CMT.com. Jason Aldean and actress Kristen Bell are this year's co-hosts.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Facebook.com/JoshTurnerJosh Turner is one of the many country stars with a personal connection to the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma Monday. Josh's truck driver hails from Moore; thankfully, the driver and his family are okay. Jason tweeted, "For those who were not so fortunate, I pray for peace & comfort during the aftermath of this terrible tragedy."
Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney also sent out a prayer, tweeting, "My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God's love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms."
Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood also tweeted late Monday, "Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen...it doesn't change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray."
Reba, who grew up in Chockie, OK, added, "All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornadoes. Stay safe everyone!!!!"
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Mercury NashvilleTickets for the CMA Music Festival's nightly concerts at LP Field in Nashville are completely sold out, but there are plenty of chances to catch free music at the event. The Bud Light stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will kick off its performances the morning of June 6 and continue through June 9.
New acts Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Chris Stapleton, Kelleigh Bannen, Randy Montana, Drake White and Joanna Smith are set to perform on the Bud Light Stage along with hit-makers Chuck Wicks, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis.
For a full lineup of artists playing the Bud Light Stage, go to CMAFest.com.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Arista NashvilleBrad Paisley has become one of Nashville's biggest cheerleaders. He gave a surprise performance of "Southern Comfort Zone" at Nashville mayor Karl Dean's citywide address Monday, and Brad will appear as himself on the season finale of Nashville Wednesday night on ABC.
As a longtime resident of Music City, Brad is excited to spread the word of how cool his adopted hometown has become in the past few years. Nothing illustrates that change like the section of Nashville called the Gulch, home to the world's most famous bluegrass club, The Station Inn. It's now surrounded by some of the city's hottest shops and restaurants, like Watermark.
"My wife and I went to eat at Watermark down in the Gulch, which is the hippest little area in Nashville," Brad tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, they're filming episodes of Nashville down there. They're doing all of this, and I'm walking out of the Watermark, and I just realized the Station Inn is right there."
He adds, "When I used to go to the Station Inn and see somebody like Junior Brown or I would go down there and see, like, Larry Cordle play or whatever, I used to think to myself, 'I probably oughta make sure that I'm packing when I go down to that area of town.'"
Now that the Gulch has been revitalized, Brad is happy to report The Station Inn is still going strong.
He says, "It doesn't change The Station Inn except that it really helps everybody. In that sense, it really does sort of illustrate just what's happened to Nashville."
Look for Brad on ABC's Nashville Wednesday night at 10 ET.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back with his new album, True Believers, in stores this week featuring his monster hit, "Wagon Wheel." That song has been a staple on college campuses and in honky tonks since Old Crow Medicine Show released their version a few years back, but Darius had no clue "Wagon Wheel" had such a cult following when he cut it.
"I just think recording that song for me was such an organic thing," Darius tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, I'm old and out of touch with today's popular music, and I didn't know it was so big on college campuses. I just didn't know. I was just cutting a great song I heard."
Darius is a fan of Old Crow Medicine Show's music, and he simply thought "Wagon Wheel" would be a great song to put on True Believers.
He says, "Even after we cut it, I thought, this is gonna be a great album track. You know, put it the last song on the record, a really great way to go out."
As for the rest of the True Believers album, Darius wants his fans to know he put a lot of time and heart into getting these songs just right for them.
Says Darius, "Making a record is always hard because I want to make a great record. I want to make a record that my fans want to go get."
Though he may start out worrying about getting it right, Darius usually lets the music take over once he gets into the studio. That was the case while making True Believers.
He says, "Whenever it gets hard in the studio, I always say, 'Sing what you feel.' And that usually works out."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio