DOLLY PARTON WITHDRAWS FROM WATER AND SNOW PARK VENTURE
NASHVILLE (AP) – Dolly Parton has pulled out of plans for a water and snow park in Nashville. Her Dollywood Company had planned to partner with Gaylord Entertainment to create the $50 million park. Gaylord shareholders recently voted to reorganize the company as a real estate investment trust. Parton says in a statement, “Gaylord makes decisions that they feel are good for their company and their stockholders and I have to make decisions based on what is best for me and the Dollywood Company.”
CARRIE UNDERWOOD, DIERKS BENTLEY, LUKE BRYAN SPEAK UP FOR COLLEGE
NASHVILLE (AP) – Carrie Underwood says everyone should have that moment of being proud to graduate college. Dierks Bentley says he definitely would not have passed up college. Luke Bryan says going to college taught him to work harder. They’re all part of CMT’s Empowering Education initiative to encourage viewers to pursue education beyond high school. The website CMTEmpoweringEducation.com gives information on schools, financial resources and the college stories of country music stars. Dustin Lynch will appear on CMT’s Top 20 countdown on Friday to talk more about the initiative.
SCOTTY McCREERY PLANS CHRISTMAS ALBUM
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Scotty McCreery says they always listen to Christmas music early at his house, so that’s why he’s eager to release a Christmas album. “Christmas With Scotty McCreery” comes out October 16. He says ever since he launched his music career, he’s wanted to do a holiday record. It includes two new songs: “Christmas in Heaven” and “Christmas Is Coming Around.” McCreery also does “O Holy Night,” the song he sang as a fifth-grader while playing Joseph in a Christmas play. McCreery tackles holiday standards like “Jingle Bells,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Let It Snow.”
CASEY JAMES GETS NEW TWITTER HANDLE
NASHVILLE (AP) – Casey James has dropped the underscore from his Twitter handle. He used to be Casey(underscore)James, but now he’s just CaseyJames, one word. James will do the Taste of Country Christmas tour with JB and the Moonshine Band beginning November 15 in Abilene, Texas.
JERROD NEIMANN WANTS TO ROCK A DORM ROOM
NASHVILLE (AP) – Jerrod Neimann is looking for a dorm room to play in. He’s holding a contest to give away a free concert in a college student’s room. Neimann will trick out the room, too. The winner will also get a 32-inch Sony Bravia television, a Madden NFL 13 bundle, an MP3 player designed for runners and an iPod speaker. Students can enter through http://rockyourroom.jerrodniemannofficial.com before October 22. Neimann’s album, “Free the Music,” is out tomorrow.