Editor’s Choice – Page 2 – Panhandle Post Archive

LITTLE BIG TOWN: THE STORY OF “PONTOON”

Posted on February 14, 2013February 14, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Little Big Town get pitched hundreds of songs. For some reason, the one called “Pontoon” stuck out for Jimi Westbrook.

He says part of the appeal is that he couldn’t figure out why someone would write a song about a pontoon. He says it’s got “such a sexy groove and it was cool hearing a chick sing about it.” Karen Fairchild says they tried simplifying the production on it but it didn’t feel the same.

She says they weren’t sure it would get any radio play but “the fans seem to dig it.”

ERIC CHURCH LEADS ACM NOMINATIONS

Posted on February 14, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) — Hunter Hayes says he’s starting to feel like he’s part of the country music family now. Hayes has six nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Eric Church leads the nominations with seven, while Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift have five each.

Swift has won entertainer of the year twice already and is nominated again. She’ll compete against Lambert, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan. Jana Kramer, Brantley Gilbert and Florida Georgia Line will compete for new artist of the year.

Fans can vote for entertainer of the year and for new artist of the year at http://VoteACM.com beginning March 25. The ACM Awards will be April 7 in Las Vegas.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD IS AN “AMERICAN IDOL” FAN

Posted on February 13, 2013February 13, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carrie Underwood is still an avid fan of “American Idol.” She says she’s seen every episode except one this season.

Underwood says she recently talked to Keith Urban and he’s having a great time. And as for Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, Underwood diplomatically says “there’s an interesting balance that’s going on” with the judges’ panel and “it makes it interesting.”

CARRIE UNDERWOOD – WHAT’S UP WITH THAT DRESS?

Posted on February 11, 2013February 11, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Carrie Underwood just won another Grammy, but the question everyone is asking her: how did her dress work? Underwood performed “Blown Away” on the Grammys in a silver dress that started drawing curly designs across the front, then sparkles, then hearts that fell into petals and a monarch butterfly.

Underwood says the trick was a projector and a specially-made dress that acted as a screen. She jokes she wants to take the dress home so she can watch movies on it. Underwood won the best country solo Grammy for “Blown Away,” and that song also won the country song Grammy.

MINDY McCREADY COMMITTED TO TREATMENT FACILITY

Posted on February 8, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has ordered Mindy McCready to get help for mental health and alcoholism.

People magazine reports during an emergency hearing Wednesday, McCready admitted she’s drinking too much because of the death of her boyfriend, songwriter David Wilson.

He died three weeks ago. McCready’s two children have been put into foster care.

ACM NOMINATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ONLINE

Posted on February 7, 2013February 7, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) — The nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards will be announced next week, and you can watch it online.

The Band Perry, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery and Ryan Seacrest are among those who will announce the categories by videos posted in real time to the ACM’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

The announcements begin at 9:30 A.M. Eastern on Wednesday.

TIM McGRAW RELEASES “TWO LANES OF FREEDOM

Posted on February 7, 2013February 7, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tim McGraw says his newest record, “Two Lanes of Freedom” is “sort of a flag in the ground” for him.

It’s his first release for Big Machine Records after a longtime dispute with his last label, Curb. McGraw says he prefers to think about the future instead of the past and believes he’s 30 to 35 percent into his career.

He says it’s liberating to know that he’s in control of his music now.

HUNTER HAYES PLAYS LIVE ON MTV.COM TODAY

Posted on February 5, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — Hunter Hayes will perform a live acoustic set and take questions from Twitter users today on MTV.com.

He’ll perform “Wanted” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak” during today’s performance at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Fans can tweet questions using the (at)MTVNews handle and hashtag “AskHunter.” MTV named Hayes its 2013 MTV Artist To Watch.

GEORGE JONES ANNOUNCES PERFORMERS FOR FINAL SHOW

Posted on February 5, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) — George Jones is lining up special guests for the final concert of his farewell tour.

Charlie Daniels, Lorrie Morgan, Randy Travis, Jamey Johnson, Gene Watson and Tanya Tucker will perform with Jones as his Nashville concert on November 22.

More artists are expected to be announced.

HUNTER HAYES EARNS CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S VOTE

Posted on February 1, 2013February 1, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) — Carrie Underwood voted for Hunter Hayes for the best new artist Grammy. Underwood, who is a best new artist Grammy winner herself, says Hayes’ talent is undeniable.

She says he’s not just “adorable” and “a cutie pie,” but he doesn’t get enough credit for playing all the instruments on his self-titled album.

Hayes himself says it’s important for him to keep experimenting and challenging himself. Hayes will find out if he wins best new artist when the Grammys are given out February 10.