» Let's Go Crazy:Fans in Milwaukee got to party like it's 1999 as Lady Antebellum closed down the U.S. leg of their world tour Saturday night (6/30). Tour mate Darius Rucker, who regularly closes his set with a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain," got a bit of a surprise as a very tall version of the pop hero walked onstage. The artist formerly known as Lady A's Charles Kelley was decked out in full-Prince regalia (see photo). Not to be outdone, the South Carolina born-and-bred Rucker got one over on the headliners, whose members hail from Georgia and Tennessee. As Dave Haywood's piano was brought on stage, it was draped with the flag of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. We're betting Darius knew it wouldn't be like that for long. All in, the Own The Night Tour, which also featured opening act Thompson Square, played to more than a million stateside fans. Europe and Australia are next; details here.
» Six Of One, Half A Dozen Of The Other:What do Kenny Chesney and the NFL's Steelers have in common? They both win in Pittsburgh. And that reality isn't lost on the franchise-owning Rooney family, who presented Chesney with a plaque commemorating his six consecutive sellouts at the city's Heinz field, comparing it to the team's six Super Bowl wins. "I believe this might be the best gift I've ever gotten on the road," Chesney said after packing 53,000 into the stadium with Saturday's Brothers Of The Sun Tour stop. "It epitomizes all the heart and energy and passion that this crowd has, that this town has." Chesney also received a Steelers helmet autographed by Steeler great and Hall of Famer Franco Harris. Current Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Pennsylvania natives and gridiron legends Dan Marino and Jim Kelly were spotted backstage.
» American Wednesday Night:Brad Paisley will perform at the fourth annual Salute To The MilitaryUSO concert on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 4. More than 1,200 service members and their families will attend the event, which features a barbeque, family games, the U.S. Marine Band and a view of the national fireworks display. The entire event, including Paisley's performance, will be streamed live beginning at 8:10pm ET here.
» Just Enough To Get Me Through:Sugarland are offering a winning fan the chance to join them onstage and sing "Baby Girl" at Aug. 9's Sturgis (SD) Buffalo Chip motorcycle rally. Entrants must post a YouTube video of themselves singing the song and complete an entry form at sugarlandmusic.com. The winner, chosen by the Sugarland team, will receive two passes to the show.
» Scratch & Swift:Elizabeth Arden will release Taylor Swift's new fragrance Wonderstruck Enchanted in October. The scent is described as an Oriental Gourmand with a balance of "creamy flowers and sensual woods." "Wonderstruck Enchanted is the next chapter in the story of my Wonderstruck fragrance," Swift says. "Wonderstruck is about that moment when you instantly feel a connection to someone, but then there's that feeling of being completely enamored – enchanted – when you know a little more about that someone and still feel that strong connection."
Brothers Of The Sun brings it all: "A drum circle, a Kiss cover, 'Black And Yellow' during the break, a flying singer, a marina party." –Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Are country songs getting too suggestive? "Truck no." –USA Today
Brad Paisley "Maintained his place as one of country music's best performers." –Saratogian (Saratoga Springs, NY)
» Crib Notes:Congrats to Jake Owen and wife Lacey, who are expecting their first child, a daughter, in November, according to People.
Expecting her fourth child is Emily Robison (Dixie Chicks and Court Yard Hounds), her first with boyfriend Martin Strayer. Robison is also mother to twins Juiliana Tex and Henry Benjamin (7) and Charles Augustus (9) with ex-husband Charlie Robison.
» Chronicle: The country community is grieving the loss of songwriter and artist Susanna Clark, who passed away last week. She was 73. Clark's songs were recorded by artists including Emmylou Harris, Miranda Lambert, Rosanne Cash and her husband, Guy Clark. Her work as a painter was featured on album covers including Willie Nelson's Stardust.
»Hit List
CMT will premiere the 30-minute film Mixtape this weekend, which offers the backstory to the video for Eric Church's "Springsteen." Church is also hosting an online watch-and-win contest for tickets and passes to a concert; details here. The film airs commercial-free Saturday (7/7) at 10:15am and will be available on-demand at CMT.com immediately following.
"Goodbyes Made You Mine" singer JT Hodges is asking fans message to pick his next single via his Facebook page. "Sleepy Little Town," "Leaving Me Later" and "Rather Be Wrong Than Lonely" are the choices, with the winner being sent to radio nationwide two weeks before his self-titled album lands Aug. 21.
Birthdays
Aaron Tippin (7/3)
Trent Tomlinson (7/3)
Sarah Buxton (7/3)
Toby Keith (7/8)
David Ball (7/9)
On TV
Tuesday (7/3): Tim McGraw, Ellen Degeneres (re-air) (syndicated).
Wednesday (7/4): Josh Turner, A Capitol Fourth (PBS-TV); Kenny Chesney, 36th Annual Macy's Fourth Of July Fireworks (NBC); Taylor Swift, Ellen DeGeneresShow (re-air) (syndicated); Kip Moore, Today (NBC).
Thursday (7/5): Zac Brown Band, Uncaged In Vegas (GAC).
Friday (7/6): Josh Turner, Josh Turner: Packing A Punch (GAC).
Upcoming Releases
(7/10) Zac Brown BandUncaged (Southern Ground/Atlantic)
(7/10) Hank Williams, Jr.Old School, New Rules (Blaster/WMN)
(7/17) The FarmThe Farm (All In/Elektra Nashville/New Revolution)
(7/24) Love And TheftLove And Theft (RCA)
(7/31) GlorianaA Thousand Miles Left Behind (Emblem/WAR)
» Mini-We:The Band Perry show off their own custom Bobbleheads at the ballpark of their hometown Greenville (TN) Astros. The trio were in town last week to perform a VIP concert fundraiser for the United Way, and to throw out the game's first pitch. Or was it pitches?
» Good Grief! "Didn't realize Chuck was so tall," Trace Adkinstweeted of a recent golf partner. Beats kicking field goals with Lucy any day.
Fans in Milwaukee got to party like it's 1999 as Lady Antebellum closed down the U.S. leg of their world tour Saturday night (6/30). Tour mate Darius Rucker, who regularly closes his set with a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain," got a bit of a surprise as a very tall version of the pop hero walked onstage. The artist formerly known as Lady A's Charles Kelley was decked out in full-Prince regalia (see photo). Not to be outdone, the South Carolina born-and-bred Rucker got one over on the headliners, whose members hail from Georgia and Tennessee. As Dave Haywood's piano was brought on stage, it was draped with the flag of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. We're betting Darius knew it wouldn't be like that for long. All in, the Own The Night Tour, which also featured opening act Thompson Square, played to more than a million stateside fans. Europe and Australia are next; details 
What do Kenny Chesney and the NFL's Steelers have in common? They both win in Pittsburgh. And that reality isn't lost on the franchise-owning Rooney family, who presented Chesney with a plaque commemorating his six consecutive sellouts at the city's Heinz field, comparing it to the team's six Super Bowl wins. "I believe this might be the best gift I've ever gotten on the road," Chesney said after packing 53,000 into the stadium with Saturday's Brothers Of The Sun Tour stop. "It epitomizes all the heart and energy and passion that this crowd has, that this town has." Chesney also received a Steelers helmet autographed by Steeler great and Hall of Famer Franco Harris. Current Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Pennsylvania natives and gridiron legends Dan Marino and Jim Kelly were spotted backstage.
Brad Paisley will perform at the fourth annual Salute To The Military USO concert on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, July 4. More than 1,200 service members and their families will attend the event, which features a barbeque, family games, the U.S. Marine Band and a view of the national fireworks display. The entire event, including Paisley's performance, will be streamed live beginning at 8:10pm ET 
Sugarland are offering a winning fan the chance to join them onstage and sing "Baby Girl" at Aug. 9's Sturgis (SD) Buffalo Chip motorcycle rally. Entrants must post a YouTube video of themselves singing the song and complete an entry form at 
Elizabeth Arden will release Taylor Swift's new fragrance 
Lady Antebellum host "a fun and playful last night of a six-month tour." –
Congrats to Jake Owen and wife Lacey, who are expecting their first child, a daughter, in November, according to 
CMT will premiere the 30-minute film Mixtape this weekend, which offers the backstory to the video for Eric Church's "Springsteen." Church is also hosting an online watch-and-win contest for tickets and passes to a concert; details 
