» Red All Over:Give Taylor Swift 30 minutes and she'll bend your ear on two year's worth of work. That's what she did in Monday's (8/13) video chat, announcing the Oct. 22 release date for her fourth studio collection. "For the last two years, I've been working on an album called Red," Swift says. "I called it Red because of the tumultuous, crazy adventures in love and loss that it chronicles. In my mind, when you experience love that's fast-paced and out of control and mixes infatuation, jealousy, frustration, miscommunication and all of those lovely emotions ... in retrospect, it all looks red."
Unlike Speak Now, which she wrote by herself, Swift collaborated with some heavy hitters on the record's 16 tracks including the lead single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which she composed with pop songwriters Max Martin (Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," Britney Spears' "... Baby One More Time," *NSYNC's "I Want You Back") and Shellback (Maroon 5's "One More Night," "Moves Like Jagger" and Spears' "If U Seek Amy"). A duet with Ed Sheeran also made the album, and she's currently developing the hidden messages for the lyrics in the liner notes. While she didn't go into detail, Swift mentioned she will tour to support the project, and a multi-country promo tour is planned for release week. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is available now on iTunes and Google Play.
» For The Record:If anyone is going to outdo Kenny Chesney, it's probably going to have to be Kenny Chesney. Saturday's Brothers Of The Sun concert at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, just outside New York City, broke the record as the largest ticketed country event in the area. The show sold 56,285 tickets and topped last year's Goin' Coastal concert headlined by, you guessed it, Chesney. "I want to thank you for having us back, and thank you for letting us be a part of your summer," Chesney told the crowd. "After tonight we only have four shows left, and we're going to take this night with us all winter." Additionally, the BOTSTour surpassed the million-ticket mark becoming the ninth time in 10 years that Chesney has reached that milestone. Full recap of the record-breaking show here.
» Throwing Caution To The Tube:He's at it again. Brad Paisley pranked openers Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry over the weekend. McCreery fell victim (literally) when he took a spill into the audience in Bethel, NY Friday (8/10) during Travis Tritt's "T.R.O.U.B.L.E." "Dagum," McCreery tweeted after the fall. "[Brad Paisley] pranked me again ... he narrowed up the stage on me for my last song." In Darien Lakes, NY Saturday (8/11), Paisley caution-taped the stage for McCreery and switched TBP's video content with a customized reel of the Canadian kids program The Doodlebops. Post-prank, Paisley tweeted, "Thanks for being good sports [Scotty McCreery] and [The Band Perry], and ... um ... staying so, even after we put it up on YouTube."
» The Eyes Have It:Love And Theft's Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles are all a-Twitter over their inaugural No. 1 hit "Angel Eyes." The duo spent most of Sunday on the social media site responding to many followers who posted congratulatory messages over their first chart-topper. "We are so humbled and grateful," the duo posted. "[A] million thanks to our Theft heads for being awesome and sticking by us through all the hurdles. And thank you, Country radio! One of the best days of our [lives]!"
» Proud To Be Here:Trace Adkins is heading to the small screen this fall in GAC's new series Great American Heroes. Premiering next Wednesday (8/22), the show follows Adkins on his Songs & Stories tour as he honors local heroes who work to improve their communities. "A lot of people get attention for the wrong reasons, but the true measure of a hero is serving others," Adkins says. "On Great American Heroes, I will introduce the real people who fit that bill. This show does more than tell some good stories, it affirms our faith in others." Sneak peek here.
» Miracle Miles:Dierks Bentley will host his seventh annual Miles & Music charity motorcycle ride and concert in Nashville Oct. 14. Performers include Craig Campbell, Brantley Gilbert, Chris Young, the Cadillac Black and Sheryl Crow. "We've had the chance to help a lot of communities across the country, but the heart and soul of this event is in downtown Nashville," Bentley says. "It's my favorite thing we do all year." Proceeds will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt through the Children's Miracle Network.
Hit List
Dolly Parton hosted a private party Friday(8/10) to celebrate the gold certification of the Cracker Barrel CD/DVD set An Evening With ... Dolly. Full party recap here.
Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood are among those appearing on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual Labor Day telethon. The MDA Show Of Strengthwill broadcast from Los Angeles, Nashville and New York Sept. 2 at 8pm ET on more than 150 TV stations.
Rodney Atkins and Dierks Bentley will headline CMA Songwriter Series concerts in Pittsburgh and New York City Sept. 12-13, respectively.
Birthdays
Connie Smith (8/14) Ashton Shepherd (8/16) Billy Joe Shaver (8/16) Clay Walker (8/19) Lee Ann Womack (8/19)
On TV
Tuesday (8/14): David Nail, On The Streets (GAC).
Wednesday (8/15): Carrie Underwood, Today (NBC); Chris Young, VJ For A Day (CMT).
Thursday (8/16): Lionel Richie, Today (NBC); John Rich, The Next (The CW).
Friday (8/17): Blake Shelton, GAC Top 20 Love Songs Countdown.
Upcoming Album Releases
Dierks BentleyCountry & Cold Cans EP (8/21) JT HodgesJT Hodges (8/21) Dustin LynchDustin Lynch (8/21) Mac Powell Mac Powell (8/21)
» Carnival Ride:Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood film a theme-park-style commercial promoting the 46th Annual CMA Awards.
» Spike's Fly:John Rich (l) meets filmmaker Spike Lee in Los Angeles while promoting The CW's The Next, which premieres Thursday (8/16).
Give Taylor Swift 30 minutes and she'll bend your ear on two year's worth of work. That's what she did in Monday's (8/13) video chat, announcing the Oct. 22 release date for her fourth studio collection. "For the last two years, I've been working on an album called Red," Swift says. "I called it Red because of the tumultuous, crazy adventures in love and loss that it chronicles. In my mind, when you experience love that's fast-paced and out of control and mixes infatuation, jealousy, frustration, miscommunication and all of those lovely emotions ... in retrospect, it all looks red."
If anyone is going to outdo Kenny Chesney, it's probably going to have to be Kenny Chesney. Saturday's Brothers Of The Sun concert at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, just outside New York City, broke the record as the largest ticketed country event in the area. The show sold 56,285 tickets and topped last year's Goin' Coastal concert headlined by, you guessed it, Chesney. "I want to thank you for having us back, and thank you for letting us be a part of your summer," Chesney told the crowd. "After tonight we only have four shows left, and we're going to take this night with us all winter." Additionally, the BOTS Tour surpassed the million-ticket mark becoming the ninth time in 10 years that Chesney has reached that milestone. Full recap of the record-breaking show 
He's at it again. Brad Paisley pranked openers Scotty McCreery and The Band Perry over the weekend. McCreery fell victim (literally) when 
Love And Theft's Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles are all a-Twitter over their inaugural No. 1 hit "Angel Eyes." The duo spent most of Sunday on the social media site responding to many followers who posted congratulatory messages over their first chart-topper. "We are so humbled and grateful," the duo posted. "[A] million thanks to our Theft heads for being awesome and sticking by us through all the hurdles. And thank you, Country radio! One of the best days of our [lives]!"
Trace Adkins is heading to the small screen this fall in GAC's new series Great American Heroes. Premiering next Wednesday (8/22), the show follows Adkins on his Songs & Stories tour as he honors local heroes who work to improve their communities. "A lot of people get attention for the wrong reasons, but the true measure of a hero is serving others," Adkins says. "On Great American Heroes, I will introduce the real people who fit that bill. This show does more than tell some good stories, it affirms our faith in others." Sneak peek 
Dierks Bentley will host his seventh annual 
Dolly Parton hosted a private party Friday(8/10) to celebrate the gold certification of the Cracker Barrel CD/DVD set An Evening With ... Dolly. Full party recap 
