CMT Blog: Little Big Town

If you feel like there aren't very many mainstream country artists releasing albums this summer, you're right. The next big project is Blake Shelton's second Six Pak on Aug. 10 -- which is coincidentally about six weeks away. Trace Adkins' Cowboy's Back in Town saddles up on Aug. 17, and Little Big Town is offering The Reason Why a week after that. Longtime country fans will be happy to hear that Joe Diffie, Ricky Skaggs and Marty Stuart have scheduled new albums in August as well. But it's not until after Labor Day that album racks will be thoroughly replenished with a bunch of new country music from the likes of Kenny Chesney, Billy Currington, Julianne Hough, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes and Sugarland. I've heard rumblings about a bunch of other big-name artists, too, but no release dates have been announced. In the meantime, I guess it's never too early to start your Christmas list.

I know it was the fans who voted for Carrie Underwood's "Cowboy Casanova," but Snooki totally loves that video, too. She told me so on the blue carpet before the CMT Music Awards last night. I asked the petite star, also known as Nicole Polizzi, of MTV's wildly popular Jersey Shore what her favorite video of all-time was, and she said, "That newer one where Carrie Underwood's all sexy? 'Cowboy Casanova.' That's my favorite one ever." Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino of Jersey Shore said he liked anything from Taylor Swift, Underwood or Faith Hill. It's too hard to pick one because he likes them all, he said -- like ice cream. And women.

I actually asked the same question to all the stars who approached me on the blue carpet and here's what they had to say:

Luke Bryan: Brooks & Dunn's "Believe"

Miranda Lambert: Blake Shelton's "Ol' Red" because it's like a mini movie and she kind of digs the singer.

Little Big Town: The band came to a unanimous decision that their favorite is Johnny Cash's "Hurt."

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This year's CMT Music Awards featured performances from all over the entertainment map -- among them a giant Kid Rock/Waylon Jennings medley, an uber-country debut for Jamey Johnson's "Back to Macon" and even a Reba McEntire showdown. OK, maybe the "I'm Reba" skit doesn't count as a musical performance, but it was funny/odd enough to be worth mentioning. In case anybody got lost, it was a play off of Kenan Thompson's not-so-flattering impersonation of the queen of country on Saturday Night Live. It certainly proves that Reba has an admirable sense of humor. But among all the comedy -- and there was plenty of that -- we were treated to some excellent music.

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The message in this new Little Big Town video is almost exactly the same as the one in Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." But LBT's version is called "Little White Church" and the execution is much different. Yet it is still very much the ultimate ultimatum song: marry me or get lost. With candid lyrics like "I might be cheap but I ain't free" and "No more lovin' like crazy and no more chicken and gravy," this harmony-heavy band does a gorgeous job with the tune, the vocals, the attitude and the down-home chapel wedding (and reception). And you've got to love all that percussive hand-clapping.

If you've ever wanted to meet Montgomery Gentry at a music festival, the upcoming Country Throwdown Tour might be your best bet. Troy Gentry says the duo will pop into in the festival's songwriter tent during the day and they'll also be open to questions from aspiring performers about how to get started in the music business.

"For the acts that are right on the line of becoming national acts, who are still playing the bar gigs, it gives them a chance to come up and say, 'Hey man, how did you do this? What do you think is the right avenue for me?'" Gentry says. "And most of all, for the family aspect, we're able to get among the people and have a good time and see the different types of music and creativity in Nashville that we're taking on the road with us."

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I spent all afternoon yesterday drinking lattes so that I could stay up all night watching television. Three big country stars were on, and I caught them all so I could fill you in, just in case you missed them.

When it was very, very late, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon had Keith Urban on to do the Rolling Stones' "Tumbling Dice." I'd always thought Mick Jagger did a good job on that song, but after last night, all I have to say is Mick Jagger is no Keith Urban. His voice sounded perfectly suited for that song and he had his full band backing him. And those three ladies on background vocals? That was Sarah Buxton and Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman.

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Keith Urban called in to CNN yesterday (May 4) to give his two cents on the Nashville flood. And his take? "It's not good." He talks a little bit about how he couldn't get the trucks into the storage facility to get his equipment out for a recording session, and says, "It's possible that as much as I haven't lost what everybody else has, I may have lost all my road equipment, and all my guitars and amps." His gear was stored at Soundcheck, where he said Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and Little Big Town keep their equipment, too. "We don't know to what extent the water's come up yet, we just know it's not good," he said. But most importantly, he adds that his situation pales in comparison to the folks who have lost everything, including their homes. He noted that the Nashville community spirit has never been more evident. With faith and hope in that spirit, I'm sure Urban will find a way to make music again soon. He's welcome to use any of my husband's guitars and amps collecting dust in our basement.

When does "sold out" not really mean a show is sold out? Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Jason Michael Carroll, Keith Anderson and Little Big Town have set aside super special VIP tickets for their fundraising Gift of Music show on Feb. 22. It's going to be at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon. The reserved seats and general admission tickets sold out in 20 minutes, but if you want to do it up right, you can get a prime seat, a nice dinner and valet parking. It'll cost you $500 a ticket, and there's no word on what dinner will be (Stampede Platter? Delta Catfish? Fried Pickles?), but the money will go to a very good cause: the W.O. Smith Music School, which has been providing 50-cent music lessons to Nashville's underserved children for 25 years with a 160-member volunteer faculty of area musicians.

After finding success with Michelle Branch in the Wreckers, singer-songwriter Jessica Harp has released a new solo single and video, "A Woman Needs," which also serves as the title of her album to be released later this year. The music video was directed by Kristin Barlowe, whose credits include Alan Jackson's "Monday Morning Church," Martina McBride's "Ride," Miranda Lambert's "Bring Me Down," Josh Turner's "Would You Go With Me" and Little Big Town's "Bring It on Home." You can view the video here, but you can also check out some behind-the-scene photos from the video shoot.

Whether you like it or not, technology has found its way into the world of holiday greetings. But things like this E-card from Little Big Town can help you embrace the change and send your best Christmas wishes with some music on the side. The card thanks fans for support, promises new music in 2010 and wishes you a happy holiday. You can even get a free guitar pick from the band if you add the band's very moving version (and very electrified) take on "Go Tell It on the Mountain" to your MySpace music player. So if you have any LBT fans on your list this year, this will brighten their day and give them some cool music to play while wrapping gifts, making cookies and trimming the tree.