» Church Flush, No Rush:He just hoisted Album of the Year at the 46th Annual CMA Awards (11/1), but don't look for Eric Church to rush off trying to repeat the feat. "The one thing I won't do is make records for an economic reason," he told media backstage. "It won't be because a label needs to make a quarterly number or we need to promote a tour. The next record will come when, creatively, it's the right time. That's how [Chief] happened. We kinda had nothing to lose ... we let creativity be the driver. Doing it that way is, hopefully, how you end up with something like this."
And furthermore, Eric's still bullish on the full-length album, despite the popularity of single downloads. "The only way to really get a fan base is you've got to give them more than one chapter of the book," he explains. "They gotta read the whole book. In order to do that, you have to put an album in front of them." Only ... don't rush it.
» Security Detail:If you plan to jack a CMA award from the Shelton household, stay away from his recent Song of the Year trophy ... or bring some Mission Impossible style gadgets. "We are proud of every single one of these things," Blake Shelton said backstage Thursday in Nashville (11/1). "That Song of the Year ... that is as personal as I can get." Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert wrote "Over You" about his late brother, who died in a car crash. "That will have its own shelf, spotlights on it, an alarm, tripwires, landmines if you walk towards it. All that stuff. It's a real big deal to Miranda and I."
» First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage:Then comes a CMA Award? Blake and Miranda weren't the only married couple to share a trophy last week. Duo of the Year Thompson Square are also legally bound in holy matrimony, and became the first husband-wife team to earn the Duo honor. "Shawna and I met almost 17 years ago," Keifer Thompson said backstage. "From that first night we haven't been apart but about probably 10 or 15 days. I'm not sure why that is, but I know God put us together for a reason. I wanted this dream for her, she wanted it for me, we wanted it for each other."
» Sexy Young Man:Chris Young is sexy and he knows it. How does he know it? Because he opened up People magazine and saw his picture in there with a caption that read "Sexy Man Of The Week." Being sexy this week automatically puts Young in the running for People's annual Sexiest Man Alive. The issue, which has Miranda and Blake on the cover, is on newstands now.
» All-American Pride:Toby Keith's son Stelen Covel will play in the 2013 Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl. Covel made the USA Under-15 team that will go up against the Canadian All-Stars Jan. 6 before the U.S. Army All-American Game. A sophomore at North High in Norman, OK, Keith's son is 6'1" 230 lbs. and plays as a defensive lineman on the varsity team.
Hit List
Jason Aldean will kick off the first leg of his 2013 Night Train Tour in Bossier City, LA Feb. 21. In addition to previously announced and subsequently sold out stadium shows, the tour chugs through 23 cities and features Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett in support. More here.
Jo Dee Messina will headline a post-race concert at the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio Marathon Nov 11. “I begin my training in a week and already have a pretty good base. I'm not really fast, so I hope I make it back in time for the show,” said Messina about her plan to run the 1/2 Marathon portion of the race before her performance. “I'm definitely more nervous about the run than the show. But, I’m looking forward to both.”
Kenny Chesney will reveal 2013 tour details live via No Shoes Radio Thursday (11/8). The trek's name, opening acts, first dates and ticket details will be announced. Listen here.
Birthdays
Bucky Covington (11/8)
On TV
Monday (11/5): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC).
Wednesday (11/7): Blake Shelton, The Voice (NBC); Nashville(ABC).
Upcoming Album Releases
Aaron LewisThe Road (11/13)
Darius Rucker True Believers (1/22)
Tim McGraw Two Lanes Of Freedom (2/5)
» Let's Hang:Blake Shelton helps set up shop for Miranda Lambert's retail endeavor, The Pink Pistol. The store is set to open the day after Thanksgiving in Tishomingo, OK.
» Pre-Party Jamz:Tim McGraw hosts a party on the eve of the CMA Awards, performing songs from his upcoming album Two Lanes Of Freedom. The night's surprise guest was R&B artist Ne-Yo (l), who appeared on McGraw's Emotional Traffic album. McGraw is featured in a duet on Ne-Yo's new album R.E.D.
He just hoisted Album of the Year at the 46th Annual CMA Awards (11/1), but don't look for Eric Church to rush off trying to repeat the feat. "The one thing I won't do is make records for an economic reason," he told media backstage. "It won't be because a label needs to make a quarterly number or we need to promote a tour. The next record will come when, creatively, it's the right time. That's how [Chief] happened. We kinda had nothing to lose ... we let creativity be the driver. Doing it that way is, hopefully, how you end up with something like this."
If you plan to jack a CMA award from the Shelton household, stay away from his recent Song of the Year trophy ... or bring some Mission Impossible style gadgets. "We are proud of every single one of these things," Blake Shelton said backstage Thursday in Nashville (11/1). "That Song of the Year ... that is as personal as I can get." Shelton and wife Miranda Lambert wrote "Over You" about his late brother, who died in a car crash. "That will have its own shelf, spotlights on it, an alarm, tripwires, landmines if you walk towards it. All that stuff. It's a real big deal to Miranda and I."
Then comes a CMA Award? Blake and Miranda weren't the only married couple to share a trophy last week. Duo of the Year Thompson Square are also legally bound in holy matrimony, and became the first husband-wife team to earn the Duo honor. "Shawna and I met almost 17 years ago," Keifer Thompson said backstage. "From that first night we haven't been apart but about probably 10 or 15 days. I'm not sure why that is, but I know God put us together for a reason. I wanted this dream for her, she wanted it for me, we wanted it for each other."
Chris Young is sexy and he knows it. How does he know it? Because he opened up People magazine and saw his picture in there with a caption that read "Sexy Man Of The Week." Being sexy this week automatically puts Young in the running for People's annual Sexiest Man Alive. The issue, which has Miranda and Blake on the cover, is on newstands now.
Toby Keith's son Stelen Covel will play in the 2013 Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl. Covel made the USA Under-15 team that will go up against the Canadian All-Stars Jan. 6 before the U.S. Army All-American Game. A sophomore at North High in Norman, OK, Keith's son is 6'1" 230 lbs. and plays as a defensive lineman on the varsity team.
Jason Aldean will kick off the first leg of his 2013 Night Train Tour in Bossier City, LA Feb. 21. In addition to previously announced and subsequently sold out stadium shows, the tour chugs through 23 cities and features Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett in support. More 
