Keith Urban & Richard Marx perform at #1 party, Keith’s 1st since vocal surgery
Keith Urban and Richard Marx finally celebrated the success of their number one song, Long Hot Summer Tuesday night at Cabana in Nashville.
Keith recently underwent vocal surgery and had to keep silent for 3 weeks. He talked to the media about how hard it was to keep his silence, especially around his daughter. The country star even toted around a white marker board to write on throughout his recovery.
Keith & Richard performed “Long Hot Summer” for the small crowd, with the help of two fans he found on Youtube.
Keith will make his official come back February 3rd the Grand Ole Opry.
Keith and Richard shared that this song was extra special regarding a rekindling of their friendship. Marx expressed his love for both the song and Keith. He jokingly said, “Keith’s not a bad kiss, for a guy.”
I will have more from the party on Yallwire. Stay tuned!
Tim McGraw releases final album with Curb Records
Tim McGraw‘s latest studio album, Emotional Traffic, hit store shelves Tuesday after being at the center of a recent court battle with Curb Records.
McGraw has been working with Curb for nearly 20 years, but this album is likely the last between the country music superstar and the record label.
I talked with some songwriters on the album for WKRN. Check out my story above. If you don’t see it click HERE!
Water & Snow park coming to Nashville~
Wow big news for Music City. I am sure Opryland lovers are stoked!
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Two of the biggest names in Tennessee tourism are teaming up to bring a major family entertainment zone to Nashville. Gaylord Entertainment (NYSE: GET) and Dolly Parton’s Dollywood Company have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a 50/50 joint venture to develop a 114-acre family entertainment zone adjacent to the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The Dollywood Company will serve as the operating partner. Phase one of the project is a yet unnamed approximately $50 million water and snow park, the first of its kind in the United States. A late 2012, early 2013 groundbreaking date is expected with the park opening slated for summer of 2014.
“Music City has become a travel destination unlike any other in the country”
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined Dolly Parton and Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer, for Gaylord Entertainment at today’s announcement at the Grand Ole Opry House at Gaylord Opryland.
“Tourism is the second largest industry in Tennessee, generating more than a billion dollars in tax revenue annually and employing more than 170,000 Tennesseans,” Haslam said. “This project will be a welcome addition to the wide variety of attractions and destinations across our great state, and I applaud the collaboration and spirit that has led to this announcement.”
“Music City has become a travel destination unlike any other in the country,” Dean said. “The addition of this family entertainment complex near Opryland adds a critical missing piece to our tourist offerings. It provides a unique leisure attraction that will further enhance our already booming hospitality industry, which is one of our city’s top private sector employers.”
The water and snow park will anchor the project which offers room for future expansion. The park will provide a mix of high energy water activities for the summer season and designated snow activities for winter play. Once open, first year attendance is projected at 500,000, a large portion of which will come from out of state, bringing in substantial tourism revenue to Tennessee and Nashville. Dollywood expects to employ 450 full- and part- time employees.
This proposed attraction furthers Gaylord’s focus on growing the leisure side of its business and continuing to drive revenue through its top-notch entertainment attractions throughout the year. The Dollywood Company is responsible for managing Dolly Parton’s Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee, as well as her dinner theatre attraction, Dixie Stampede. Annually, these attractions attract approximately four million visitors and have won some of the industry’s most coveted awards including “world’s best theme park” and “America’s most beautiful water park.”
“I’m so excited about this opportunity,” Dolly Parton said. “I am confident that partnering my Dollywood Company with a great company like Gaylord will create something truly special. We’re all working on new types of entertainment to do in the daytime and nighttime for the whole family so we bring new folks to the area year round.”
“We are thrilled by the prospect of bringing to Nashville a family focused entertainment center with one of the preeminent theme park owners and operators in the country,” said Colin V. Reed, chairman and chief executive officer, for Gaylord Entertainment. “I am confident this proposed attraction, which will be a destination not only for our hotel guests but also for the entire Nashville community, will meaningfully enhance our transient and leisure strategy by providing a fun, family environment at the doorstep of the Opryland Hotel. With Dolly Parton’s country music legacy and strong ties to Nashville, we can think of no better partner for this venture than Dolly’s Dollywood Company.”
“We hope that some other developers with great ideas will join us for phase two of this project. We’re saying the water and snow park are the first phase, but who knows, if we see some great ideas we could be developing the entire zone by the time the snow and water park open. Wouldn’t that be great for Nashville and the state,” Parton said.
“We are in the early stages of planning and will make certain that any project we pursue is done so under the appropriate economic conditions and provides adequate returns for our shareholders,” said Reed. “We are reserving approximately 35 acres for expansion and complimentary regional attractions and we have been working closely with state and city officials to ensure we have the proper infrastructure agreements in place for the project to move forward. We are looking forward to working on the next steps of this project and to it becoming a valuable part of the Nashville tourism community.”
Blake Shelton’s father passes away~
Thoughts and prayer go out to Blake Shelton during this difficult time.
From the press release:
It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Blake Shelton‘s father, Dick Shelton. Mr. Shelton, who was in declining health this past year, was surrounded by loved ones in Oklahoma upon his passing this evening. Due to this unfortunate event, the following dates of his “Well Lit & Amplified Tour 2012″ have been rescheduled: Rapid City, SD (1/19), Bismarck, ND (1/20), Billings, MT (1/21) and Bozeman, MT (1/22). The rescheduled dates are listed below.
“I appreciate your understanding during this difficult time and thank you for all your prayers. Your support means the world to me. I love you guys,” Blake.
Photo courtesy: Hollywoodreporter.com
Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, George Jones and more talk Grammys
Nashville Grammy nominated artists were recognized Tuesday night with a soiree at Loew’s Vanderbilt hotel downtown. Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and George Jones were among the stars I caught up with on the red carpet.
It’s a big deal. Winning a Grammy for an artist, I don’t think it gets any bigger than that,” said first time nominee Jason Aldean.
Country legend George Jones is scheduled to be honored with a lifetime achievement award.
“I feel very honored, especially at my age it’s good to be remembered by such a great organization,” Jones said.
The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on February 12.
If you don’t see my video above click HERE!
Keith Urban makes 1st stage appearance since surgery~
Good news from Keith’s Camp!
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (January 12, 2012) –Country superstar Keith Urban will appear on the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, Feb., 3, his first performance back on stage since successfully undergoing vocal cord surgery late last year. His appearance will take place at the historic Ryman Auditorium, where the Opry will be concluding its winter run. The Opry will return to the Grand Ole Opry House the next day.
Urban is also confirmed to be among those playing the Opry Fri., March 9 at the Opry House.
Photo By: Chris Hollo
Yelawolf talks country in Music City~
I caught up with Yelawolf at his show in Nashville for Blastro.com. The southern rapper, who once lived in Antioch, talks about how much he loves Music City. We chat about working with Eminem on his album Radioactive, as well as his passion for country music. Who would he like to collaborate with next? Well Kris Kristofferson of course! That would be interesting.
Lady A’s Hillary Scott ties the knot!
Congrats to Lady Antebellum‘s Hillary Scott and drummer Chris Tyrrell who tied the knot Saturday in New York. A Steph spy reports that the couple got hitched in Albany, NY in a town called Altamont. Family and close friends attended the ceremony.
People reports that Steven Curtis Chapman sang for the couple’s first dance.
You can see Hillary pictured in a custom Vera Wang strapless mermaid dress and a long chantilly lace veil, with her hubby.
Photo Credit: Joe Buissink
Nashville’s New Years Eve: Toasting in 2012!
In a place called Music City, there isn’t a shortage of things to do for New Years Eve. This year the city is throwing it’s 3rd annual Bash on Broadway. They are expecting more than 30,000 people, making it the biggest yet. Lynyrd Skynyrd will headline the bash and attendees will count down to the New Year as a 15-foot tall red music note is dropped from a 115-foot structure at Midnight. That’s right no guitar this year. I spoke with the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau to find out why and have a sneak peak at what you will see. The much anticipated event will be held on Lower Broadway between First and Fourth avenues beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday. You can get more info by clicking here
The Bridgestone Arena will feature a New Year’s Eve Concert from Bassnectar, one of the most popular and influential figures in California’s electronic music community. Known for his eclecticism, dubstep and breakbeat Bassnectar has already sold out this event.
If you don’t have a ticket don’t fret, but you need to move quickly. MAI will host the official after party. Mai’s NYE 20TWELVE will feature a midnight “ball drop,” but after midnight the “Pavilion” (a 10,000 sq ft. heated and walled tent adjoining Mai) will open for THE OFFICIAL BASSNECTAR AFTERPARTY with DJ Rod. Click here for ticket info.
War Memorial Auditorium will host a New Year’s Eve Concert featuring Here Come the Mummies. The 9 mummies are sure to start your New Year off funky.
Cabana is always one of my favorite spots in town. It is the best place to have dinner with a big group of friends. They have New Years packages including a champagne toast, confetti cannons and a midnight balloon drop with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes, a breakfast buffet and free shuttle service home. Free ride? Now, that’s hard to beat. You can get ticket info by clicking here!
Folks in Green Hills should check out the Black Ball at the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse will have a connected 4,000 sq/ft walled, heated and floored tent with bars, 4 DJ’s and The Five Knives.
Chris Hyndman‘s M Street District will take over 12th Ave with a block of parties. Virago, Whiskey Kitchen and Kayne Prime will all be celebrating the end of the year. You can read more about it by clicking HERE!
Shwoo! I’m already exhausted just thinking about where to go. Of course there are a billion other events going on in town, but these are some of my favs. Happy New Year friends!
