CMT Blog: Around The Web

Believe it or not, I have lived in Nashville for nearly 19 years and until recently had never been to the Grand Ole Opry. It was particularly exciting because Rascal Flatts was the featured artist that night. The show began with some classic country humor and music, then the artists just kept coming. I got to see Little Jimmy Dickens (of course), Buddy Jewell, Danielle Peck, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Rascal Flatts and several others. Our seats were in the lower level, so we could see all of the artists. However, I don't think that there is a bad seat in the place. When it was time for Rascal Flatts to come on stage, everyone rushed down the aisles to get a closer look. The Opry lets you do this and even take all of the photos that you want. My husband and I stayed in our seats as we were happy with our view already. Well, let me tell you, Rascal Flatts is one of those groups that sound just as great in person as they do on the radio. This wasn't a big and flashy show. It was three guys and a backup band performing some great tunes. They treated us to some classics as well as their new single, "Here Comes Goodbye." Thank you, CMT Music Pass, for introducing me to this fun and exciting experience. Check out Rascal Flatts' upcoming tour dates.

Right before he kicked off his big summer tour, Kenny Chesney sat down in the radio studio on Thursday (April 16) with ESPN's Mike and Mike. It's a great interview because they're talking about the two things Chesney seems to really dig: music and sports. "I'm a pretty competitive guy," he admits. "But it's not like you get on the bus at the end of the night and go, ‘Where are we?'" And he says his music now is basically the same as when it was just him and his guitar in college, and the connection with the fans is still there. There are just more of them now. As for sports, Chesney says his love of the Red Sox stemmed from growing up in East Tennessee, where all there was was college football. But that he'd watch This Week in Baseball on Saturdays, and they always had the Red Sox on. "It's really ironic that you grow up and start doing this for a living, and a lot of the guys that are on the Red Sox all the sudden are fans of your music and next thing you know, you're up there fielding grounders on second base at Fenway Park," he said with a laugh.

And here I thought Neil Diamond was one of the good guys. But no, no, no. He's just as greedy as the rest of the money-hungry ticket brokers I love to hate. At least, that's how this Wall Street Journal article makes him out to be. They are using Diamond as an example of artists who set aside tickets for their own shows, only to turn around and sell them to unassuming strangers like us for way, way, way more than face value. You know. The tickets that end up on TicketExchange.com? The article says, "Selling premium-priced tickets on TicketExchange, priced and presented as resales by fans, is a practice used by many other top performers." Hmm. Let's just hope country stars are not the top performers they are talking about. Otherwise, every time I saw a ticket price of, say, $284 for one ticket to a major country concert in Minnesota, I'd get very suspicious.

Does Mindy McCready have an appointment with Dr. Phil after all?

Jessica Simpson is adding her name to a new line of clothing.

After the bandleader at a musical variety theater in Utah suddenly required emergency surgery, audience member Collin Raye immediately volunteered to help them out.

Joe Nichols will be performing a free concert at Central Park. The Central Park in Warsaw, Ind., that is.

If this music thing doesn't work out for Vince Gill, maybe he's got a future writing for Sports Illustrated.

With Sugarland and Miley Cyrus neck and neck on first-day sales of their new albums, it'll be interesting to see who debuts at No. 1 next week on the Billboard 200 chart.

It's Christmas in July for Faith Hill and her fans.

Mindy McCready has admitted herself into a long-term substance abuse rehab program after being hospitalized for an overdose of Ambien and vodka, proving that even she will do whatever it takes to avoid a session with Dr. Phil.

Sugarland released its new album this week, but what are they listening to on their iPods?

Shooter Jennings and his band, the .357s, will be backing his late father on a nine-song CD of Waylon Jennings originals and cover tunes. Talk about living forever through modern technology.

See photos of Nicole Kidman and Jessica Simpson with their BFFs. No, it’s not who you think they are.

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines will sing at Howard Stern's upcoming -- and still top secret -- wedding.

Wanna be Miley Cyrus' date on the red carpet? Bidding is underway to benefit a new charity named in honor of her grandfather.

Of all her singles, Miranda Lambert is surprised by the one that's shooting up the country chart right now.

In case you can't wait for the commercials to air, here's your chance to hear Sara Evans' rendition of the timeless jingle for Libby's food products.

Disputing a newspaper report, Jessica Simpson's father and her booking agent say they're thrilled with the reaction she received at the Country Thunder USA concert in Wisconsin. And Simpson has created a new fragrance line that hits stores on Aug. 15.

Even after another season of Dancing With the Stars, Julianne Hough says she can't stop moving.

Kellie Pickler wouldn't mind following in Julianne Hough's dance steps.

Even though the rest of the world loves Kenny Chesney, the Washington Post can't quite figure out his major appeal.

Finally, more of Kellie Pickler's sweet voice is on the way. Her new album's due out in late September.

Stay home and watch The View? Or go buy the new CD? That's the dilemma Sugarland fans will face on Tuesday (July 22).

Some stars may balk at signing autographs, but that's not the case with Randy Travis.

Singing, schminging. Tim McGraw has loftier goals, which could explain his role in the new Robert Duvall movie "Get Low."

Don't be surprised if you and Carrie Underwood share a passion for collecting. She says she packs all kinds of newspaper articles, backstage passes and posters into trunks.

There will be 84 tunes on the Rock Band 2 video game coming out soon, and not a single song is even remotely country. So rock on, but we're going to wait for a Rock Band Goes Country.

Bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski and his wife saved the day for an ATV driver who overturned his four-wheeler near Nashville, proving that heroes are definitely among us.

Trent Willmon was a caterer in his past life, but that was before he started singing and writing No. 1 hits for Montgomery Gentry.

It's still almost a year away, but it's never too early to start making your plans to attend a George Strait concert in Canada.