JERROD NEIMANN COUNTS FRIENDS AND FAMILY
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jerrod Niemann says "there's nothing like support and friendship" and he counts on his family and pals including Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser and Lee Brice. Niemann says his relationships with his peers are especially important because they came up together through the music industry ranks. He credits Jamey Johnson's success for helping to pave the way for him and others and says they lean on each other for support. Making music is a dream come true says Niemann, but watching his friends succeed is equally fulfilling. Neimann released his sophomore album, "Free The Music," earlier this month.

"X FACTOR"
LOS ANGELES (AP) - At least a couple of country guys make it to the live rounds on "The X Factor." Tate Stevens and Willie Jones both got the good news on last night's episode. But Fox didn't air the whole show, because of a rain delay in the National League playoff game. The West Coast saw a rerun. Fox says the entire two-hour episode will air next Tuesday.

“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.

‘THE VOICE’
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Changes on Team Blake on “The Voice.” Blake Shelton dropped soul singer Terisa Griffin for mariachi singer Julio Cesar Castillo. But Team CeeLo picks up Griffin. Team Blake tried to steal teen singer Joselyn (JOS’-eh-lin) Rivera when she was dropped by Team Christina. But Shelton was beat out by Adam Levine. More of the battle round on tonight’s show.

JERROD NIEMANN MAKES HIS FAN CLUB COOL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Jerrod Niemann wants to get drunk with his fan club members. He says he named his fan club “Dehydration Nation” because anybody who signs up to be associated with him is more like a buddy — and he usually has fun drinking with his buddies. Niemann’s plan for world peace starts with his fan club. He says if he could get everybody — 21 and up — to sip adult beverages “swiftly to the point of dehydration” then we would all be in a better place.

TAYLOR SWIFT DRINKING HABITS
UNDATED (AP) – Taylor Swift doesn’t drink much alcohol. She tells Esquire magazine that “if it doesn’t taste like candy or sparkles,” she usually doesn’t drink it. Swift says she sips wine sometimes because it makes her feel classy, but not Scotch — at least not yet.

DIERKS BENTLEY POSTPONES CHARITY EVENT DUE TO WEATHER
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Dierks Bentley is disappointed that he had to postpone his charity event in Nashville because of high winds and storm warnings. But he played an impromptu set at the Hard Rock Cafe instead, and Sheryl Crow joined him. Bentley says it was a tough call to postpone the “Miles and Music for Kids” motorcycle ride and concert, but safety was his No. 1 priority. The money would have gone to support Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Since 2006, he has raised over $2 million for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the country.

TIM MCGRAW RECORDS NEW SONG WITH NE-YO
UNDATED (AP) – Tim McGraw is teaming up with Ne-Yo again. They’ve recorded a song together called, “She Is.” It will be on Ne-Yo’s R.E.D. album, out November 6th. Ne-Yo appeared on the track “Only Human” from McGraw’s “Emotional Traffic” album earlier this year.

MORE PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR CMAS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Fans can expect to see Blake Shelton and Lady Antebellum on stage at the Country Music Association Awards this year. They are among the latest performers announced for the event. Eli Young Band and Brantley Gilbert will also be performing. Tickets for the show are sold out. The CMAs air live from Nashville on November 1st hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

GEORGE STRAIT SELLS OUT FIRST SIX SHOWS OF FINAL TOUR
UNDATED (AP) – The first six shows of George Strait’s final tour are sold out. He calls it “incredible” and says he never expected the fans to react like this. He kicks off “The Cowboy Rides Away” tour on January 18th in Lubbock, Texas.

RASCAL FLATTS EXTEND ‘CHANGED’ TOUR
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Rascal Flatts “Changed” tour is continuing next year. The group is kicking off a winter leg on January 10th in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They will play 20 dates with special guest The Band Perry.

MILEY CYRUS TRESPASSER SENTENCED TO JAIL
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Jason Luis Rivera is going to jail for trying break into Miley Cyrus’ house. A judge in Los Angeles sentenced him to a year and a half in jail for misdemeanor trespassing and resisting arrest. Authorities say Rivera was at Cyrus’ home with a pair of scissors claiming to be her friend. She wasn’t home at the time of the September arrest.

TAYLOR SWIFT SAYS SHE’S NOT A KIDNAPPER
UNDATED (AP) – Taylor Swift tells Rolling Stone that contrary to rumors she did not kidnap Conor Kennedy from his high school and fly him to Nashville on her private jet. As she puts it, it’s impossible “to kidnap a grown man.” Kennedy is 18. Swift, who is 22, also tells Rolling Stone she did not crash a Kennedy family wedding over the summer. That story she says was “based on the biggest misunderstanding.” She insists in the interview that she would never show up anyplace she wasn’t invited and says she would “never want to upstage anybody.” As for her thoughts on love – Swift says it’s necessary to “forget about what everyone else thinks.

TRACE ADKINS ‘CELEBRITY APPRENTICE’ ALL-STAR
WASHINGTON (AP) – Trace Adkins did pretty well on “Celebrity Apprentice” back in 2008. He came in second after losing to TV host Piers Morgan. Now, thanks to the Donald – Trump, that is – Adkins is getting a second chance to nab the top spot in “All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.” Adkins will compete on behalf of the American Red Cross. He’ll be joined by his former teammate, actor Stephen Baldwin, on the show’s 13th season, which begins in March. Other celebs returning to the reality show include actor Gary Busey, magician Penn Jillette, rapper Lil Jon, basketball player Dennis Rodman, Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snider, actress Marilu Henner, and singer La Toya Jackson.

SCOTTY MCCREERY MATH WHIZ
UNDATED (AP) – Scotty McCreery has lots of things to celebrate but lately he’s most excited about doing well on his first college math test. McCreery says he scored a 98 and says he “was pumped about that” because math is not one of his strong suits. McCreery also says being a freshman at North Carolina State is giving him a chance to have a little bit of normalcy.

KRISTY LEE COOK TURNS TO HER FATHER FOR NEW SINGLE
UNDATED (AP) – Former “American Idol” contestant Kristy Lee Cook will release a new album, produced by Jason Aldean, next year. The first single off Cook’s sophomore release is called “Airborne Ranger Infantry” and in an interview with The Boot, Lee explains the genesis of the song. Her father wrote poems about his experiences in Vietnam and Cook says she took lines directly from those poems. Cook tells The Boot that her father loves the song, but it makes him very emotional. She says “it’s healing but it hurts as well because it takes him back.”

HOLLY WILLIAMS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM IN FEBRUARY
UNDATED (AP) – Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank, will be releasing her new album “The Highway” in February. Charlie Peacock co-produced the new release which is Williams’ third album. It features a number of guest appearances including Jackson Browne, Jakob Dylan, Dierks Bentley, and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Williams tells American Songwriter that her new song “Drinkin”‘ is what her grandfather, Hank Senior, used to call a “10 minute song.” After a bit of a writing lull in 2011 she says she woke up one morning and the song “poured out.”

SWEETHEARTS OF THE RODEO GET ‘RESTLESS’
UNDATED (AP) – Sweethearts of the Rodeo are back after a 15-year hiatus. Their new album is called “Restless.” Sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold say they talked about doing a reunion record for years but “life always seemed to get in the way.” Oliver focused on raising her daughter with Vince Gill, after they divorced and Arnold also focused on her family and “paying the bills.” But the two say the timing was finally right to focus on music again. They started recording new material in 2008 and the result “Restless” will be released October 23. The sisters are planning a nationwide tour in support of the new album.