Category Archives: Pictures
Photos of the Ryman’s new stage!
The Mother Church of country music is ready to debut it’s new stage. You can see Ryman officials incorporated a 36-inch lip of the old blonde oak stage at the front of the new one. The rest of the stage is now a medium brown Brazilian teak that will be far more durable and camera friendly.
The Band Perry will be the first act to play the new stage. The show is sold out.
PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE LOWRY/RYMAN ARCHIVES
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!
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
Vince & Amy conclude Twelve Days Of Christmas tour in Music City~
Amy Grant & Vince Gill wrapped up The Twelve Days Of Christmas tour with two shows in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium.
“Christmas audiences are special,” explains Grant. “They tend to involve the whole family, and their emotions are a wonderful mix of anticipation and reverence. It’s a thrilling experience for both of us.” “These holiday tours have become our favorites,” Gill agrees.
Santa traded in his reindeer for a shiny Macy’s tour bus and joined Vince and Amy at The Ryman, with a special visit from the children of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Wynonna Judd celebrates Christmas with Make-A-Wish kids
5-time GRAMMY winner Wynonna Judd sang Christmas carols to the children of Make-A-Wish at the Belle Mead Plantation Wednesday morning. She and Santa also took time to read the Christmas Story.
Wy was just excited to see that some of the kids knew her name. She told me that the event is really her Christmas.
“I have been on tour and I got home and all my family is gone, because we are all successful. I can actually say and I’m going to try not to cry, I really long for the simpler days when we had time and we were together. As successful as we are, I really appreciate that and I feel like we are the American dream and there is a costs to that. So this today is part of my Christmas.”
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. It was a heartwarming morning as this was some of the Kids first Christmas out of the hospital.
Father says Mindy McCready pushing luck over son
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) — Country singer Mindy McCready is pushing her luck with the legal system by not following a judge’s order to return her 5-year-old son to the care of her mother in Florida, her ex-boyfriend and father of the boy said Friday.
McCready said Thursday she would not bring her son back from Tennessee, despite violating a custody arrangement.
McCready took the boy during a recent visit at her father’s Florida home, and a judge signed an order Thursday ordering authorities to take the boy into custody and return him. It’s not yet clear whether the singer could face criminal charges.
“I’m doing all this to protect Zander, not stay out of trouble,” McCready wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Thursday. “I don’t think I should be in trouble for protecting my son in the first place.”
McCready says she is in Tennessee and cannot travel because she’s nearly seven months pregnant with twins.
The judge’s order means law enforcement anywhere can pick up the boy and bring him back to Florida.
The boy’s father, Billy McKnight, told the NBC “Today” show Friday he spoke on the phone with McCready and their boy after the judge’s deadline expired.
“He did sound healthy and ok. He wasn’t crying or scared,” McKnight said about their son. “I think she believes she has a case and doesn’t realize she’s pushing her luck on this one,” he said.
McCready and her mother have had a long custody battle over the boy. The boy was living with McCready’s mother, who was awarded guardianship in 2007. McCready says her son has suffered abuse at her mother’s house; her mother, Gayle Inge, denies the abuse allegations.
“Once the child is located, we will pick him up and bring him back to Florida,” said Terri Durdaller, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Children and Families. “Although these circumstances are unfortunate for a young child, his safety and well-being are our number one priority.”
TAMARA LUSH, Associated Press
Kid Rock packs Tootsies 51st birthday~
It may just become a new “family tradition” for Kid Rock and his son Jr. A frequent supporter of Tootsies Orchid Lounge, the rocker joined forces with the legendary honky tonk to celebrate 51 years. After playing a sold out show at the historic Ryman Auditorium, he mingled upstairs at Rippy’s and then jumped on Tootsies’ block party stage with John Stone. His son joined him for his hit “All Summer Long.” Bob gave fatherly lessons to his son, who made his first public stage debut at the party. Kid Rock wrapped up his after party appearance with “Family Tradition,” so appropriate for a Thanksgiving morning.
Marathon Music Works has successful grand opening~
Nashville’s newest music venue, Marathon Music Works held one heck of a grand opening Saturday night. The 14,000 square foot facility was comfortably packed with folks anxious for a taste of the much-needed mid-sized music venue. I love the big deck out back and that there are two bars and two bathrooms, keeping lines short.
Garage rockers The Black Belles kicked off festivities. Mayor Karl Dean praised the venue and compared Rolling Stone Magazine to the bible when mentioning the mags recent claim that Nashville has the best music scene. The Queen of Rockabilly Wanda Jackson headlined the night. The “Fujiyama Mama” put on an awesome show that left the crowd dancing and eager for more. She of course praised Jack White for rejuvenating her career. Jack was hanging most all of the night among the crowd, with drummer Patrick Keeler of The Greenhornes and The Raconteurs. One of my old school favorites, DJ Johny Jackson closed the night out.
The event calender is already filling up! Streetlight Manifesto, Reel Big Fish and OAR are scheduled to perform in the coming months. Congrats to venue owners Chris & Telisha Cobb and Josh Billue!
Gaylord’s 28th Country Christmas lights up the holidays~
Thursday night Gaylord will host it’s 28th Annual A Country Christmas and I’m as excited as ever! The switch will be flipped on the two-million lights and my friends Shrek, Alex the Lion, King Julien, Po the Panda, Puss in Boots and a host of other lovable characters from DreamWorks Animation will be celebrating with us.
After the lighting ceremony I’m off to see the 10th anniversary edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world-famous Rockettes. Friday I will be checking out ICE! featuring Merry Madagascar; the all-new Holly Jolly Town Square; Ginny’s Gingerbread making corner, Shrektacular and more.
A Country Christmas has been hailed as one of the top ten places to spend Christmas in the world. I feel so fortunate to have it in my own backyard! Stay tuned for my video recaps!
