» Too Real, Brad. Too Real:Prankster Brad Paisley ended the stateside leg of his Virtual Reality Tour with several dates in Southern California, one of which caused him to call the cops on his opening act. Paisley sent crew members dressed as Lt. Dangle from Comedy Central's Reno 911onto the stage during The Band Perry's performance in San Diego. "We had just started our first song and we knew something was up when the audience started laughing," Reid Perry explains. Small price to pay, however, for such a good gig. "We're so grateful to Brad for inviting us be part of his touring family this past year and for being such a fun-loving host," Reid's sister Kimberly adds. "We just hope on the next tour he can buy his crew members some longer shorts!" Paisley's next stop is Nashville where he'll co-host the 46th Annual CMA Awards with Carrie Underwood. Then it's on to Stockholm, Sweden for a string of Eurpopean dates starting Nov. 8.
»Red Zeppelin:The Taylor Swift airship is blotting out the sun this week with multiple media appearances in support of her new album Red. Among the most interesting was a visit to the Late Show With David Letterman (10/23), where Swift agreed to write a new song with Dave in mind. Watch here. Taylor was interrogated on The Ellen Degeneres Show,but remained mostly tight-lipped about the subject of her smash hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." Is it Zac Efron? John Mayer? Danny DeVito? Watch here.
This week was also the six-year anniversary of Swift's first album. Big Machine Records floated her first balloon on Oct. 24, 2006, setting the stage for what label honcho Scott Borchetta calls "one of the most successful and important bodies of work to be created in the last 30 years." Taylor Swift (the album) has gone on to sell more than five million copies in the U.S. alone. Talk about your big machines!
» Double (Barreled) Trouble:She's the fastest girl in town, so he's definitely not the only one who wants to have fun. Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley will take aim and fire their Locked & Reloaded Tour beginning Jan 17. “Making music for our fans is the best job in the world,” Lambert says. “It’s especially great being able to take that music on the road with someone I respect as an artist and human being. This will be a tour of ‘epic badassery.'" Bentley adds, “Some of my favorite times on tour over the years were with Miranda and her crew. We have a lot in common musically and our fans do too. It’s going to be a killer year.” Watch Lambert and Bentley discuss the tour here.
» Double Jointed:Faith Hill and Tim McGraw join the lineup of performers for the 46th Annual CMA Awards. Hill and McGraw will perform individually then together with Lady Antebellum and Blake Shelton during a musical tribute to Willie Nelson. The show airs Nov. 1 on ABC-TV.
» Lady ACA:Lady Antebellum will join Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Little Big Town as performers at the American Country Awards live from Las Vegas Dec. 10 on FOX-TV.
» Mischievous Horizontals:Rascal Flatts: All Access & Uncovered DVD will be released Nov. 19. The film documents the making of Changed and includes performances and interviews.
» Choosy People:The People's Choice Awards are open for nomination voting and offer an enormous selection of candidates for Favorite Country Artist:Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Zac Brown Band and Taylor Swift. The show airs live Jan. 9 on CBS-TV. Vote here.
Hit List
MCA's Josh Turner has partnered with footwear company Ariat for sponsorship during select dates on his current Punching Bag Tour. Itinerary here.
Taylor Swift will perform at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards. Swift is also nominated for Favorite Female Country Artist alongside Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. The show airs Nov. 18 on ABC-TV.
"Better In A Black Dress" singer Katie Armiger will offer free music in a rewards program for users of a payment application for the new battery-powered Dynamics ePlate VISA credit card device. More here.
New band Parmalee ("Musta Had A Good Time") hits StageIt Oct. 30 for a live online show during which they'll ask fans to help them select tracks for their upcoming album. More here.
Country-rapper Colt Ford begins his Answer To No One Tour Oct. 26 in Mesa, AZ. Ford hits 12 cities west of the Mississippi, supported by label mate JJ Lawhorn. More here.
Birthdays
Keith Urban (10/26)
Brad Paisley (10/28)
Charlie Daniels (10/28)
On TV
Friday (10/26): Taylor Swift, The Katie Couric Show; All Access Nashville With Katie Couric, 20/20 (ABC).
Monday (10/29): Reba McEntire, Live With Kelly & Michael (ABC); Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).
Upcoming Album Releases
Toby KeithHope On The Rocks (10/30)
Kristen Kelly Kristen Kelly - EP (10/30)
LiveWireLivin’ (10/30)
Aaron LewisThe Road (11/13)
» Crosby, Town & Nash:Little Big Town visit with two-thirds of the iconic Crosby, Stills & Nash at the TJ Martell Foundation's 37th Annual Honors Gala in New York (10/23). Pictured (l-r) are Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet.
Prankster Brad Paisley ended the stateside leg of his Virtual Reality Tour with several dates in Southern California, one of which caused him to call the cops on his opening act. Paisley sent crew members dressed as Lt. Dangle from Comedy Central's Reno 911 onto the stage during The Band Perry's performance in San Diego. "We had just started our first song and we knew something was up when the audience started laughing," Reid Perry explains. Small price to pay, however, for such a good gig. "We're so grateful to Brad for inviting us be part of his touring family this past year and for being such a fun-loving host," Reid's sister Kimberly adds. "We just hope on the next tour he can buy his crew members some longer shorts!" Paisley's next stop is Nashville where he'll co-host the 46th Annual CMA Awards with Carrie Underwood. Then it's on to Stockholm, Sweden for a string of Eurpopean dates starting Nov. 8.
The Taylor Swift airship is blotting out the sun this week with multiple media appearances in support of her new album Red. Among the most interesting was a visit to the Late Show With David Letterman (10/23), where Swift agreed to write a new song with Dave in mind. Watch 
She's the fastest girl in town, so he's definitely not the only one who wants to have fun. Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley will take aim and fire their Locked & Reloaded Tour beginning Jan 17. “Making music for our fans is the best job in the world,” Lambert says. “It’s especially great being able to take that music on the road with someone I respect as an artist and human being. This will be a tour of ‘epic badassery.'" Bentley adds, “Some of my favorite times on tour over the years were with Miranda and her crew. We have a lot in common musically and our fans do too. It’s going to be a killer year.” Watch Lambert and Bentley discuss the tour 
Faith Hill and Tim McGraw join the lineup of performers for the 46th Annual CMA Awards. Hill and McGraw will perform individually then together with Lady Antebellum and Blake Shelton during a musical tribute to Willie Nelson. The show airs Nov. 1 on ABC-TV.
Lady Antebellum will join Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Little Big Town as performers at the American Country Awards live from Las Vegas Dec. 10 on FOX-TV.
Rascal Flatts: All Access & Uncovered DVD will be released Nov. 19. The film documents the making of Changed and includes performances and interviews.
The People's Choice Awards are open for nomination voting and offer an enormous selection of candidates for Favorite Country Artist: Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Scotty McCreery, Zac Brown Band and Taylor Swift. The show airs live Jan. 9 on CBS-TV. Vote 
MCA's Josh Turner has partnered with footwear company Ariat for sponsorship during select dates on his current Punching Bag Tour. Itinerary 
