» Glamorous Life:She's on the cover of November's Glamour, but Taylor Swift isn't dishing inside. "I don’t talk about my personal life in great detail," she says when asked about her relationship with Conor Kennedy. "I write about it in my songs, and I feel like you can share enough about your life in your music to let people know what you're going through." She does discuss how she deals with celebrity and growing up with successful friends Emma Stone and Selena Gomez. Read more here and see the photo shoot here. In other news, Swift made her second of four appearences on Good Morning America today leading up to the release of Red on Oct. 22. She reveals exactly what the title track means here.
» Hope Floats:"I Like Girls That Drink Beer" may be the first single from Toby Keith's upcoming album, but there's more and maybe even better on the way. "One of my favorite things I've written in my life" is how Keith describes Hope On The Rocks' title track. "Last fall I was driving out to my hunting and fishing ranch in southern Oklahoma. And all the way there I had a verse and chorus going that I'd had for a couple months. I knew it was dark and a little out there, but I just couldn't let it go. I spent two days down there and the whole time, whenever I wasn't talking to anybody, I was working that song in my head. I just hammered on it; completely obsessed." A Hope On The Rocks sweepstakes is offering a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and other prizes. All entrants receive access to an Oct. 26 album listening party for the album, which streets Oct. 30. Enter here.
» Brantley Must Be Countrywide:Country fans were kickin' it in the sticks ... or at least their seats ... as Brantley Gilbert opened his Hell On Wheels tour last week. Saturday's show in Oklahoma City took place in a downpour, but that didn't dampen the fire. "The crowd was crazy about him," one attendee tells us. "Any crowd that stands outside in the pouring rain to see an artist perform has to be dedicated." Check out tour dates here, and see video from the Oklahoma City show here.
» Aviator Classes:Dierks Bentley was in Wisconsin this week to pick up his new Cirrus Xi airplane at the company’s Duluth plant. While there, Bentley underwent five days of training, played for the staff and posed for a huge group shot. Check out the pic and read more here.
» Starry Night:Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and co-host Brad Paisley have been added as performers for the 46th Annual CMA Awards. They join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, and Little Big Town. If you're expecting your local 11 news to start on time that night, don't. There's too much talent to air Nov. 1 on ABC-TV.
» In Case You Missed It: Watch Taylor Swift preview the title track from Red on Good Morning America (10/1) here. The song will be available on iTunes at midnight tonight.
Jerrod Niemann discussed his new album Free The Music on CBS This Morning (10/1). Watch the interview here.
VH1 premiered Behind The Music: Carrie Underwood last night (9/30). Highlights can be seen here.
Hunter Hayes stayed up Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (9/28). Watch Hayes' performance of "Wanted" here.
Dwight Yoakam sang "A Heart Like Mine" from his new album 3 Pears on the Late Show With David Letterman (9/28). Watch here.
Hit List
Dolly Parton pulled out of her plans to help develop a Nashville water park in partnership with Gaylord Entertainment. "I hope the work we've already done will spark more family entertainment in Nashville," she says. More here.
Darius Rucker will make picks during College Gameday on ESPN this Saturday. The South Carolina Gamecocks fan tweeted, “Just got the invite to be guest picker on College Gameday. So excited. Love that show. Go Cocks.”
Willie Nelson writes about everything from music and politics to family and recreational pastimes in his book Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die: Musings From The Road. Available Nov. 13.
Birthdays
Heidi Newfield (10/4) Sarah Darling (10/4)
On TV
Wednesday (10/3): Craig Morgan, Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge (Outdoor Channel); Kenny Rogers, The View (ABC) and The Colbert Report (Comedy Central).
Saturday (10/6): Darius Rucker, College Gameday (ESPN);
This Week's Album Releases
Blake SheltonCheers, It's Christmas If the true meaning of Christmas has anything to do with family and friends, then Shelton channels it perfectly with his holiday release. The album includes collaborations with friends Reba, Kelly Clarkson and Michael Bublé, wife Miranda Lambert and mom Dorothy Shackleford. Christmas classics are joined by the co-write with Shackleford titled "Time For Me To Come Home."
Jerrod NiemannFree The Music His sophomore release includes a dozen songs Niemann wrote or co-wrote, including two with fellow artist Lee Brice – "Shinin' On Me" and "Only God Could Love You More." Colbie Caillat is featured on "I'm All About You." Recorded on analog tape, the album was produced by Niemann and Dave Brainard.
» Take Our Pitcher: While promoting his new album, the Cracker Barrel exclusive Josh Turner - Live Across America, Turner stopped by the MLB Fan Cave in New York City and ran into one of his childhood heroes. Pictured (l-r) are baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro, Turner and recently retired Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield.
She's on the cover of November's Glamour, but Taylor Swift isn't dishing inside. "I don’t talk about my personal life in great detail," she says when asked about her relationship with Conor Kennedy. "I write about it in my songs, and I feel like you can share enough about your life in your music to let people know what you're going through." She does discuss how she deals with celebrity and growing up with successful friends Emma Stone and Selena Gomez. Read more 
"I Like Girls That Drink Beer" may be the first single from Toby Keith's upcoming album, but there's more and maybe even better on the way. "One of my favorite things I've written in my life" is how Keith describes Hope On The Rocks' title track. "Last fall I was driving out to my hunting and fishing ranch in southern Oklahoma. And all the way there I had a verse and chorus going that I'd had for a couple months. I knew it was dark and a little out there, but I just couldn't let it go. I spent two days down there and the whole time, whenever I wasn't talking to anybody, I was working that song in my head. I just hammered on it; completely obsessed." A Hope On The Rocks sweepstakes is offering a trip for two to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and other prizes. All entrants receive access to an Oct. 26 album listening party for the album, which streets Oct. 30. Enter 
Country fans were kickin' it in the sticks ... or at least their seats ... as Brantley Gilbert opened his Hell On Wheels tour last week. Saturday's show in Oklahoma City took place in a downpour, but that didn't dampen the fire. "The crowd was crazy about him," one attendee tells us. "Any crowd that stands outside in the pouring rain to see an artist perform has to be dedicated." Check out tour dates 
Dierks Bentley was in Wisconsin this week to pick up his new Cirrus Xi airplane at the company’s Duluth plant. While there, Bentley underwent five days of training, played for the staff and posed for a huge group shot. Check out the pic and read more 
Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and co-host Brad Paisley have been added as performers for the 46th Annual CMA Awards. They join previously announced performers Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, and Little Big Town. If you're expecting your local 11 news to start on time that night, don't. There's too much talent to air Nov. 1 on ABC-TV.
Dolly Parton pulled out of her plans to help develop a Nashville water park in partnership with Gaylord Entertainment. "I hope the work we've already done will spark more family entertainment in Nashville," she says. More 
Blake Shelton Cheers, It's Christmas 
Jerrod Niemann Free The Music
