Willie Nelson Mural in Downtown Austin Faces Demolition
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The mural is painted on the side of a 100-year-old building at 407 E. Seventh St., near Neches Street. Most recently the building housed the bar Mug Shots, but was abandoned when a fire in February resulted in structural damage.
Flight Diverted After Blake Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here” Causes Problem
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We already knew Blake Shelton’s awful country rap song “Boys ‘Round Here” was one of the worst “country” songs ever, causing undue strain and consternation amongst true country fans and fans of all decent music. But now there’s a story of just how disturbing the song was for one holiday season commute at 30,000 feet.
George Strait Bests Luke Bryan For Touring in 2014
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Remember when members of Luke Bryan’s camp started crying when George Strait won the Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year in 2014? They said it was just a parting gift at the farewell of his career, and that he wasn’t an “Entertainer.” But once again we get validation that George Strait’s Entertainer win at both the CMA’s in 2013, and the ACM’s in 2014, were well deserved.
Saving Country Music’s 2014 Song of the Year
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Every true music fan craves those moments when a song and story truly disarm you and make rudimentary rubble of your capacity to keep the saline fountains at bay. Fiction can sometimes achieve these results, but there’s something deep inside the listener that is sparked when they intuitively know they’re hearing a true story being told by the one who lived it.
Elizabeth Cook is Back After Some Needed Time Off
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Friends and fans of the firebrand Outlaw country throwback gypsy queen Elizabeth Cook were saddened to hear in late September that her dizzying amount of commitments which included touring full time, administrating a daily radio show on SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country, and countless other public and private obligations were starting to unravel the Florida native and she needed to take a sabbatical.
The Biggest Stories of 2014
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2014 was a year of great flux in country music. Where 2013 was dominated by public feuds and outcries by many country performers about the direction of the music, 2014 became the year things began to be done about many of the problems plaguing the genre. With Bro-Country as the battleground, the fight to return some balance to the country format began to make headway.
Saving Country Music Raises the Eyebrow of Ronnie Dunn
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It’s not every day you get trolled by a CMA Entertainer of the Year winner, but that’s what Saving Country Music found itself experiencing Sunday night (12-28) when Ronnie Dunn took to his always colorful Facebook page to post links and commentary to recent stories on SCM about his involvement (or non involvement) with the new Cumulus Media/Big Machine Records’ joint venture called NASH Icon.
UPDATED “Little” Jimmy Dickens in Critical Condition
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A country music legend, and one of the oldest living country music performers still alive from country’s golden era is in critical condition in a Nashville area hospital. “Little” Jimmy Dickens, one of the most venerable members of The Grand Ole Opry and a country music Hall of Famer, was admitted to the hospital on Christmas for an undisclosed illness.
Party Down South’s Josh Murray Could Face Jail Time
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Another cast member of CMT’s flagship reality series Party Down South has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Josh Murray, the cast member known for drinking to excess and disrobing at a moments notice, was arrested in Rankin County, Mississippi. Josh Murray’s legal troubles are just one in a long list of incidents that have plagued the CMT show.
Mike Curb’s Presence Sullies Studio ‘A’ Preservation
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Let’s just start this off by drudging the big elephant right out in the middle of the room and shining a big ‘ol spotlight on it. Mike Curb, Herr Führer of Curb Records—the man who has made millions off of the indentured servitude of many of country music’s most famous names, has thrown his money behind the much-ballyhooed preservation of Music Row’s historic Studio ‘A’ in Nashville.
In Memoriam: 2014′s Fallen Country Music Greats
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2014 in country music did not see the passing of titans of the genre like we experienced in 2013 when George Jones, Ray Price, Tompall Glaser, and many more passed away, but was more the story of the vital side players, songwriters, session musicians, and storytellers who are so important to making the country music of others sound great.
The Johnny Cash Christmas Story: From Robbery to Redemption
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It was the week of Christmas, 1981, 7:30 in the evening, and Johnny Cash and his family had just sat down for dinner. Right as the family bowed their head for grace, three armed men burst through the dining room door, brandishing weapons. “What do you want?” said Johnny Cash, coming to his feet. “Everything, or the boy dies,” one of the masked intruders replied.
NASH Icon Signs Martina McBride / Still Mum on Ronnie Dunn
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NASH Icon, the partnership between Cumulus Media and Big Machine Label Group meant to give new life to older country stars, has its second signee. Martina McBride, rumored since the beginning of the new imprint to be a possible artist for the label, made it official on Tuesday (12-23). But there is a curious situation brewing between the label and another older star—Ronnie Dunn.