King George has another platinum album under his belt!

George Strait’s current album, Troubadour, has officially gone platinum, having sold 1 million units. The shiny award will join the 32 George already has!

George has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and third across all genres, behind only The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Amazing, and very much deserved!

George’s current single, Living for the Night, is from his newest upcoming album, Twang, due out this fall.

This weekend, George will be joined by Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough at the inaugural event at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. The stadium sold-out in less than one hour!

[image: amazon.com]

Carrie Underwood talked with Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet before tonight’s Grammys. She was up for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Last Name” and won!

She was really cute talking about her beginnings with American Idol, her dress choices for the night, had a funny back and forth with Ryan about boyfriends, and even manages to bring up “bikini girl” from this season’s American Idol.

Other country winners tonight included Gene Autry for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; Alison Krauss & Robert Plant for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals with “Killing The Blues;” Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner for “Cluster Pluck;” Best Country Song by Sugarland for “Stay;” “Troubadour” by George Strait took Best Country Album; Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 by Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder nabbed Best Bluegrass Album.

CMT recently released their top 20 videos of 2008. Unsurprisingly it includes Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and George Strait, with only Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland managing to break into the seemingly tight boys club this year!

Did your favorite make the cut?

20. Keith Urban: You Look Good in My Shirt
19. Blake Shelton: Home
18. Alan Jackson: Good Time
17. Craig Morgan: International Harvester
16. Darius Rucker: Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It
15. Kenny Chesney: Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
14. Rascal Flatts: Every Day
13. Billy Ray Cyrus: Ready, Set, Don’t Go
12. Taylor Swift: Love Story
11. Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl
10. George Strait: Troubadour
9. Kid Rock: All Summer Long
8. Brad Paisley: Letter to Me
7. Alan Jackson: Small Town Southern Man
6. James Otto: Just Got Started Lovin’ You
5. Taylor Swift: Picture to Burn
4. Trace Adkins: You’re Gonna Miss This
3. Kenny Chesney: Shiftwork
2. Sugarland: All I Want to Do
1. Carrie Underwood: Just a Dream

George Strait has announced plans for his 2009 concert tour! So far we know that Julianne Hough will be opening and I’ll keep you updated on who else will be slated to appear as well.

His schedule so far includes the following cities and dates and more will be added over the next few months:

May
May 9: Hidalgo, TX*; Dodge Arena
May 15: Charlotte, NC; Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
May 16: Raleigh, NC; Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
May 22: Cincinnati, OH; Riverbend Music Center
May 23: Pittsburgh, PA; Post-Gazette Pavillion
May 29: Holmdel, NJ; P.N.C. Bank Center
May 30: Boston, MA; Tweeter Center

June
June 12: Virginia Beach, VA; Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
June 13: Washington, DC; Nissan Pavillion
June 28: Cadott, WI*; Country Fest 2009
June 29: Milwaukee, WI; Music Fest 2009

July
July 11: Calgary, AB; Calgary Stampede
July 12: Craven, SK; Craven Country Jamboree
July 17: Salt Lake City, UT; USANA Amphitheatre
July 18: Cheyenne, WY; Cheyenne Frontier Days
July 24: Indianapolis, IN; Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 25: Tinley Park, IL (Chicago); First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

(*Julianne Hough will not be performing)

[image: newscom]

Grammy nominations were announced today and the country noms are no surprise! From Sugarland to Carrie Underwood, check out the full list after the cut! The Grammys will air live February 8 on CBS.

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I recently had the chance to listen to George Strait’s newest Christmas album, Classic Christmas, and even though there are no original pieces on the album (he’s already got a couple of those anyway!) you’ve got to give it a listen if you’re a George Strait fan!

The album includes:

1. Joy To The World
2. We Three Kings
3. Silent Night
4. Jingle Bells
5. O Come, All Ye Faithful
6. Up On The Housetop
7. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. O Christmas Tree
9. Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
10. Decks The Halls

They’re all fantastic, and even though they are classic Christmas songs you’ve heard hundreds of times and he doesn’t do anything to “make them his own” (i.e., different music or melodies, etc) aside from some great twang, it’s perfect to listen to while putting up the tree or baking in the kitchen. But let’s face, I’d pay to hear the man sing the phone book.

The album is available at Amazon for under $10 and would make an excellent “early” gift for any fan!

[image: amazon]

CMA Award winners so far:

Entertainer of the Year:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban

Male Vocalist of the Year:
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year:
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Group of the Year:
The Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Album of the Year:
“Carnival Ride” by Carrie Underwood
“Cowboy Town” by Brooks & Dunn
“Good Time by Alan Jackson
“Just Who I Am Poets and Pirates” by Kenny Chesney
“Troubadour” by George Strait

Single of the Year:
Don’t Blink by Kenny Chesney
Gunpowder & Lead - Miranda Lambert
I Saw God Today - George Strait
Stay - Sugarland
You’re Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins

Musician of the Year:
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Paul Franklin - steel
Dana Huff - guitar
Brent Mason - guitar
Mac McAnally - guitar

Vocal Duo:
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

New Artist:
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler

Song (given to songwriter):
Good Time - Alan Jackson
I Saw God Today - George Strait
Letter To Me - Brad Paisley
Stay - Sugarland
You’re Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins

Song Event:
Every Other Weekend - Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney
Another Try - Josh Turner and Trisha Yearwood
Gone Gone Gone - Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Life in a Northern Town - Sugarland, Little Big Town, Jake Owen
Shift Work - Kenny Chesney and George Strait

Music Video:
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Good Time - Alan Jackson
Stay - Sugarland
Waitin on a Woman - Brad Paisley
You’re Gonna Miss This - Trace Adkins

Nicole Kidman and fellow Aussie Hugh Jackman presented Single of the Year, which went to George Strait for “I Saw God Today.”

Billy Ray Cyrus and teen queen daughter Miley have just announced they will be presenters at the 42nd Annual CMA Awards next week. The pair presented in 2006 as well.

Additional presenters announced will include Heidi Newfield, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack and Taylor Swift, who will also perform.

Recently announced performers include Jason Aldean and James Otto (each nominated for CMA New Artist of the Year), Martina McBride (nominated for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year), as well as hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney and The Wailers, the Eagles, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, and Keith Urban.

The 42nd Annual CMA Awards airs live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Wednesday, November 12 on ABC.

George Strait’s “You Look So Good In Love” was released in 1983 and became a #1 hit single in January 1984. It was originally on the album “Right or Wrong” and has since made it into “50 Number Ones” as well.