CMT Blog: 2010 August

Jennette McCurdy has not let the narcissistic character she plays on iCarly bring her down in real life. Thank God. That's just her being Sam. But I much prefer the real McCurdy who you can get a glimpse of in this making-of video for her debut country video, "Not That Far Away." It's been a year and a half since I first wrote about the young star launching a country career after all those episodes of iCarly on Nickelodeon. And it's been 10 years since McCurdy got her first taste of Nashville's charms when she played Faith Hill's daughter in the video for "The Way You Love Me." McCurdy's video debuts on Saturday (Aug. 14) and was directed by Roman White, the man behind "Fifteen," "You Belong With Me," "Before He Cheats," "Last Name," "Just a Dream," "So Small," "Hillbilly Bone" and many more. So I think it's safe to say, this video will be huge.

With the U.S. unemployment rate hovering in the 9.5 percent range, why is it so difficult to find anybody to fill the job as an American Idol judge? I mean, you only have to work a few weeks a year, the pay is good and no heavy lifting is involved. What more could you ask for? But you have to think it would take more than that to get Shania Twain's attention. She's been working on a new album, but it's not as though she needs the money after selling 20 million copies of Come on Over, 12 million of The Woman in Me and 11 million of Up! With Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres not returning for the next season, rumors are flying about their possible successors. Now that Jennifer Lopez is apparently out of the picture, web reports indicate that Twain is a likely choice, although nobody from her camp or American Idol is confirming or denying anything. Twain already judged one of Idol's regional competitions, so the show's producers are aware that she's a pro who shows up sober. That's a key element in landing and keeping a job, although maybe not an absolute requirement for all positions in the entertainment industry. If an offer is made, do you think Twain will accept the gig? And which other country artists would be a good addition to the show?

Photo credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

All they had to do was make Carrie Underwood look even more stunning on her wedding day. Hardly an impossible task considering what a lovely palette Melissa Schleicher and Stephen Moleski had to start with. But it was hot, hot, hot on her wedding day, so they did have to keep her looking cool. They did so with a simple updo with curls and pieces and bobby pins. Then Schleicher, her make-up artist, gave People.com the scoop on her fabulous look from the day. The super secret weapon seems to have been the very lush, soft and full false eyelashes she wore. They were created just for Underwood by Moleski, from Smoke and Mirrors Beauty. Joe Don Rooney's wife, Tiffany Fallon, loves the line of faux lashes, as does E! star Kim Kardashian. You can get lashes almost like Underwood's on Moleski's site for about $22. No brand of mascara -- or prescription of Latisse -- will ever make your eyes look like this.

Photo credit: People.com

Getting 116 radio stations to put your song on right when it's released is quite an achievement. Because she's just as gifted as a businesswoman as she is a songwriter, Taylor Swift was smart enough to send out a quick thank you to all those stations who added "Mine" to their playlists. (It kind of makes me wonder why some stations didn't add it, you know?) In an impromptu video greeting, Swift offers a heartfelt "Konnichiwa!" then goes on to say hi to her friends at country radio and gives her effusive thanks. She does it from the side of a stage in Toyko where she was part of the Summer Sonic Festival. Right before she heads out to sing, she says, "I'm about to play for 45,000 people in Japan! Wish me luck! Thank you for the first week. I love you."

During Blake Shelton's recent visit to CMT, he was asked what separates "All About Tonight" from his long list of country hits. He replied that unlike some of his other slow-building singles, his newest one gets an immediate response from his crowd: "'All About Tonight' has been more of an instant reaction. I think probably whether or not people have heard it or not, people instantly get it. They know what it's about and by the time the second chorus rolls around, this is a song about partying right now. For that reason, it's probably for me the ultimate live concert song because that's what a concert is."

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The day I wrote a blog about how God says no to your prayers sometimes was the last time I talked to my parish's pastor about country music. It was actually the last time I talked to him, period. He died suddenly yesterday (Aug. 11). And I am struggling with the fact that our last conversation was about country music. I mean, shouldn't we have been talking about something more reverent? Shouldn't I have been asking him why bad things happen to good people? Or some other religious question that holier Christians ponder?

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Luke Bryan and his wife, Caroline, just welcomed another baby boy to their growing family. Baby Tatum "Tate" Christopher Bryan was born yesterday morning (Aug. 11) and was 6 pounds, 8 ounces and 21 inches long. And Luke already knows just what his future holds now that he has two boys. "All the fishing holes in Nashville better look out when I get out there in the next few years with Tate and big brother Bo," he told People.com. "Bo" is Thomas Boyer Bryan, the couple's 2-year-old son. The singer added that there was nothing like coming home after eight shows out on the road and having baby Tate surprise them. "Such an amazing day for me and my family. We are so blessed to have another healthy baby boy," he said in a statement. When I met Bo at a concert when he was just a tiny little thing, he had an adorable all-access lanyard on that was about 1" X 2". I hope they saved that. That will make a nice hand-me-down for baby Tate.

Photo credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Celebrities visiting Nashville usually proclaim their love of country music, but they're often hard-pressed to cite any artists beyond Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton or maybe Johnny Cash. That's why Justin Bieber's apparent knowledge of country is so surprising. The teen heartthrob is in Nashville for a Wednesday night (Aug. 11) concert at the Bridgestone Arena. According to a report from his afternoon soundcheck, somebody asked him about his favorite country artists, and he immediately reeled off the names of Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Alan Jackson. Then, in an impromptu move, he sang the entire first verse of Jackson's "Chattahoochee." Regardless of your opinion of Bieber, you've got to respect any teenager who can sing part of a country song that topped the chart a year before he was born. I'd have been even more impressed had he chosen Jackson's "Here in the Real World," but that's beside the point. I wonder how many of today's newer country acts know the words to "Chattahoochee."

Photo credit: Teen Island

Dierks Bentley's latest album, Up on the Ridge, has quickly become a favorite among country fans. His music video for "Up on The Ridge" is also one of the most popular on CMT.com. Through his "Posted" page at CMT.com, Bentley took the time to answer fans' Twitter questions. Take a look.

@areyes03: Any new songs you're writing? I've been trying not to ... trying to just focus on and enjoy Up on the Ridge. But, I've had some ideas floating around up there for a while and I'm starting to think about getting back into it.

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I'm still smiling from last night's (Aug. 10) show at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum with renowned singer-songwriter and musician, Buddy Miller. This was his first of three shows as this year's artist-in-residence, an annual series featuring a unique and influential musician. Throughout the captivating two-hour performance, the intimate and cozy Ford Theater became enveloped by musical wisdom and matchless talent. From the moment Miller picked up his guitar, accompanied by a small band, until he waved good night, his entire performance was staggering.

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