“NASHVILLE” — J.D. Souther
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Actor and songwriter J.D. Souther had to change up his look to play Watty White on the ABC TV show “Nashville.” His hair is literally dyed white. Souther says he didn’t just see a ghost or get old overnight. Souther himself is known for writing some of the Eagles biggest hits, including “Best of My Love” and “Heartache Tonight.” He says he is happy that the show “Nashville” is giving country music the respect it deserves and not resorting to “overdubs or vocal tuners.” The second episode of “Nashville” airs tonight on ABC.
“THE VOICE”
LOS ANGELES (AP) – No steals last night for Team Blake on “The Voice.” He’s keeping country singer Liz Davis. But Blake Shelton didn’t pick any of the singers dropped by the other coaches. Christina Aguilera stole Alessandra, who’s a student at New York’s “Fame” high school. She had been dropped by Team Adam.
JENNIFER NETTLES TO HOST ‘CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS’ AGAIN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – It’s not even Halloween yet, and Jennifer Nettles is already thinking about Christmas. She will be hosting the “CMA Country Christmas” TV special again this year on ABC. The two-hour show will feature performances by Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat (kal-LAY’), Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and Keith Urban. It will be taped in front of a live audience at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 3rd. People are encouraged to drop off an unwrapped toy at the arena the day of the show for children in need. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.
LAMBERT, SHELTON TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING IN LA
UNDATED (AP) – Los Angeles is getting more festive this fall. Blake Shelton will be taping “The Voice” there through Thanksgiving, so Miranda Lambert is bringing the autumn holiday spirit to him. She tells Good Housekeeping magazine that she will be “buying pumpkins and hay bales somewhere in that crazy city and putting them on the porch.” The couple usually celebrate Thanksgiving at Shelton’s farm in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.
JASON ALDEAN SINGS SONG ABOUT A STRIPPER
UNDATED (AP) – Jason Aldean sings a song about a stripper on his new album “Night Train.” It’s called “Black Tears” and it tells the story of a stripper dealing with the toll of her job. Country Weekly reports that Aldean called it “one of the most well-written songs on the record.” He says hopefully people who are conservative about music will look past the subject matter and listen to what the lyrics are really saying. “Night Train” also features a song called “The Only Way I Know” with Eric Church and Luke Bryan, as well as a rap-influenced tribute to Joe Diffie called “1994.” The album is out now.
TAYLOR HOPES TO SEE MORE STYLISH MEN AT HER SHOWS
UNDATED (AP) – Move over tweens. Taylor Swift says she’d love to see more stylish men at her concerts. She tells Esquire magazine that she loves “the suspenders and plaid pants and whatever. Hair that’s combed.” The magazine recently named her one of the “Women We Love.”
LISA MARIE PRESLEY RECORDS SONG WITH HER DAD
UNDATED (AP) – Lisa Marie Presley has released a duet with her dad. She re-recorded Elvis’ song “I Love You Because” and released it to iTunes. The video premieres on CMT on Thursday. She’s hitting the road for two weeks next month to support her Americana album, “Storm and Grace.” It starts November 1st in Tunica, Mississippi, and ends November 17th at Carnegie Hall in New York.
JAMEY JOHNSON RELEASES TRIBUTE ALBUM TO HANK COCHRAN
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Jamey Johnson sang at Hank Cochran’s bedside the night he died of pancreatic cancer in 2010. And now Johnson is saluting his friend with an album full of Cochran’s songs. Willie Nelson, George Strait and Alison Krauss sing with Johnson on the project as well as Merle Haggard, Elvis Costello, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Lee Ann Womack and Kris Kristofferson. The 16-track album is mostly duets and includes Cochran classics such as “Make the World Go Away” and “I Fall to Pieces.” Johnson’s duet with Krauss of “Make The World Go Away” is the free iTunes single of the week. The album is called “Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran.” It’s out now.