» Aldean Dynasty:The tour that will take Jason Aldean to Chicago's Wrigley Field, the University of Georgia's Stanford Stadium and make him the first country artist ever to play Boston's Fenway Park is underway. Aldean, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett kicked off the Night Train Tour Thursday (2/21) in Bossier City, LA and we had an insider there to give us the scoop: "It was like where a rock concert hits the dirt road," our backstager says. "And with more than 12,000 people in the place, I bet there was a minimum of 25,000 tattoos." Seen backstage was "one of the guys from [A&E's] Duck Dynasty. It was funny because as he was walking into the room with Aldean, security was sort of frantically telling him, 'Sir you've really got to put on your backstage pass!' Of course, Aldean looks up and says, 'He's okay,' and waves him on over." Basically anybody dressed in camo with a big beard and long hair can pass for one of those dudes, so if you want the ultimate Night Train backstage experience ... you know what to do.
» Making It Rain:When Warren Buffett and Jack Welch are talking, you know Gary Allan is going to come up, right? The two business icons were chatting about the economy on CNBC earlier this month when Buffett noted that, "Every storm runs out of rain." The host immediately picked up on the song title, as did Allan, who sent Buffett a copy of his album. Buffett has since pledged to mention the song in Berkshire Hathaway's annual report. Watch here at the 13:20 mark.
» Especial Affects:"Meeting some lovely girls and going on a marvelous adventure," is how director Declan Whitebloom (The Band Perry's "Better Dig Two," Sugarland's "Stuck Like Glue") describes the new music video from Florida Georgia Line, released Monday (2/25). "Get Your Shine On" is the follow up to "Cruise" and FLG stuck to the same formula they used to make their first video -- no green screens or CGI special efffects, keep the party bona fide. The sunshine, jet skis, girls in bikinis and Mexican little people wrestlers are all 100% real in this vid. Watch here and get some behind the scenes action here.
» X Cited:Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jef Holm ... winning a reality show competition can be a legitimate path to superstar success. The X Factor winner Tate Stevens hopes the release of his self-titled debut album will make it happen for him, as well. “For someone that has dreamt of recording and releasing music for over a decade, to say I’m excited is an understatement," he says. "I feel like the songs we selected for the album are a real reflection of my personality — they range from fun-loving to serious and everything in between.” Tate Stevens comes out April 23.
» In Case You Missed It:Aspiring fashion designers tried to "make it work" for Miranda Lambert on Thursday's (2/21) episode of Project Runway. Watch here.
Hit List
Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Joe Diffie begin their Roots & Boots tour March 8 in Wilkesboro, NC. They'll perform acoustic versions of their songs onstage together while sharing stories behind the tunes, as well. Watch a tour preview here.
James Wesley will perform at the Got Heart, Give Hope Gala April 17 in Washington, DC. Actor Gary Sinise will host the event, which benefits Hope For The Warriors. More here.
Birthdays
The late Johnny Cash (2/26)
Jason Aldean (2/28)
On TV
Wednesday (2/27): Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX); Jason Aldean, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC).
Thursday (2/28): Keith Urban, American Idol (FOX); Shooter Jennings, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC).
This Week's Album Releases
The MavericksIn Time (2/26)
Twenty years after their major label debut, this 15-track album was produced by lead singer Raul Malo and Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Warren Zevon), and includes a Spanish version of the single "Come Unto Me."
Jadia Dreyer I Am Jadia Dreyer (2/26)
“Jaida’s music is so personal and authentic,” says producer Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland). “Her charisma and soul completely shine right through on this album.” Ten original tracks include "Boy Who Cried Love," a song Dryer co-wrote and recorded with Sugarland's Kristian Bush.
» Start Your Engines: The Zac Brown Band make sure the Daytona 500 trophy is nice and shiny for Jimmie Johnson while multi-instrumentalist Clay Cook's (r) ride awaits.
» Simply Irresistible: Newcomer Kacey Musgraves ("Merry Go Round") helps Little Big Town's Kimberly Schlapman whip up something good on an upcoming episode of Kimberly's Simply Southern on GAC.
The tour that will take Jason Aldean to Chicago's Wrigley Field, the University of Georgia's Stanford Stadium and make him the first country artist ever to play Boston's Fenway Park is underway. Aldean, Jake Owen and Thomas Rhett kicked off the Night Train Tour Thursday (2/21) in Bossier City, LA and we had an insider there to give us the scoop: "It was like where a rock concert hits the dirt road," our backstager says. "And with more than 12,000 people in the place, I bet there was a minimum of 25,000 tattoos." Seen backstage was "one of the guys from [A&E's] Duck Dynasty. It was funny because as he was walking into the room with Aldean, security was sort of frantically telling him, 'Sir you've really got to put on your backstage pass!' Of course, Aldean looks up and says, 'He's okay,' and waves him on over." Basically anybody dressed in camo with a big beard and long hair can pass for one of those dudes, so if you want the ultimate Night Train backstage experience ... you know what to do. 
When Warren Buffett and Jack Welch are talking, you know Gary Allan is going to come up, right? The two business icons were chatting about the economy on CNBC earlier this month when Buffett noted that, "Every storm runs out of rain." The host immediately picked up on the song title, as did Allan, who sent Buffett a copy of his album. Buffett has since pledged to mention the song in Berkshire Hathaway's annual report. Watch 
"Meeting some lovely girls and going on a marvelous adventure," is how director Declan Whitebloom (The Band Perry's "Better Dig Two," Sugarland's "Stuck Like Glue") describes the new music video from Florida Georgia Line, released Monday (2/25). "Get Your Shine On" is the follow up to "Cruise" and FLG stuck to the same formula they used to make their first video -- no green screens or CGI special efffects, keep the party bona fide. The sunshine, jet skis, girls in bikinis and Mexican little people wrestlers are all 100% real in this vid. Watch 
Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Jef Holm ... winning a reality show competition can be a legitimate path to superstar success. The X Factor winner Tate Stevens hopes the release of his self-titled debut album will make it happen for him, as well. “For someone that has dreamt of recording and releasing music for over a decade, to say I’m excited is an understatement," he says. "I feel like the songs we selected for the album are a real reflection of my personality — they range from fun-loving to serious and everything in between.” Tate Stevens comes out April 23.
Aspiring fashion designers tried to "make it work" for Miranda Lambert on Thursday's (2/21) episode of Project Runway. Watch 
Sammy Kershaw, Aaron Tippin and Joe Diffie begin their Roots & Boots tour March 8 in Wilkesboro, NC. They'll perform acoustic versions of their songs onstage together while sharing stories behind the tunes, as well. Watch a tour preview 
The Mavericks In Time (2/26)
“Jaida’s music is so personal and authentic,” says producer Byron Gallimore (Tim McGraw, Sugarland). “Her charisma and soul completely shine right through on this album.” Ten original tracks include "Boy Who Cried Love," a song Dryer co-wrote and recorded with Sugarland's Kristian Bush.
