ACM Picks

The "News & Notes" blog has been up & running for almost 2 months now and I just wanted to say thanks again for taking time tor read it.  The website I use, Blogspot, gives its bloggers some pretty cool statistics about who is looking at their blog.  One thing that's fun to check out is the "audience" statistic, which shows which countries have viewed your writing.  Of course 99% of the views are from the U.S.  but I have seen Denmark, Vietnam, Barbados, Australia, Hungary, Germany, India, Germany, Russia, Italy and Iran.  Seriously....Iran.  I did a double-take when I saw that.  I'm guessing some of those overseas views come from members of the Armed Forces.  Thank you for serving our country.  And thanks for over 3,500 views since February. 

The annual ACM award show is tonight and I'm lousy at guessing the winners, but I'll give it a shot on some of the bigger awards.

Entertainer of the Year:  Tough call on this since it's fan voted, so I'll go with the artist who I would vote for and that's Brad Paisley.

Top Male Vocalist:  Seems like there's a curve ball every year at this award show, so it could be Jason Aldean, but I'll go with Paisley again.

Top Female Vocalist:  I feel good about Miranda Lambert here.

Top Vocal Duo:  I sure wish they could combine the "group" and "duo" awards.  Three of the five nominees in this category (Joey & Rory, Steel Magnolia and The Band Perry) are new artists who have had moderate success with one or two singles, and Montgomery Gentry hasn't charted in the top-30 since 2009 so the award goes to.....Sugarland.

Top Vocal Group:  Coin-flip between Zac Brown Band and Lady A.  It's heads.....Zac Brown Band.

Top New Artist:  I wrote about this a few weeks ago with the "And the winner is...." post.  It's between The Band Perry and Eric Church.  I'll pick Eric for the win since he has been on the road and the radio for waaaaay longer than TBP.  I think Eric's fans will give him enough votes.

Album of the Year:  I'll go Zac Brown Band on this one.

Got some cool stuff in the news this week.  Carrie Underwood makes her big screen debut in the movie "Soul Surfer".  A movie based on the life of professional surfer Bethany Hamilton who lost her arm in a shark attack while surfing in Hawaii.  Soul Surfer will be in theaters April 8th.  Randy Travis will release a duets CD in June.  Randy will be singing his biggest hits with special guests like Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Alan Jackson, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, John Anderson, Willie Nelson and many more.  Look for that to be released on June 7th.  Zac Brown will co-host a new hunting show called "Fear No Evil" on the Outdoor Channel with Chris Brackett.  That show airs tonight (April 3rd) for the first time.  Toby Keith and Eric Church will hit the road together this summer.  They are tentatively scheduled to play Bayfest in Mobile in October.  Got some more new additions to the upcoming CD's and Concerts below.  Be sure to scroll through.

Want some FREE money???!!??  Sure you do.  Starting tomorrow, April 4th, listen for your chance to call in and win "Butler Bucks", aka CASH MONEY!!  We'll have a code for you to guess at.  Every correct guess gets $100 cash and a chance to play again.  If you get the last number or letter, you'll get $1000!!!  Be sure to tune in for details and chances to win!  Thanks again for checking out the News & Notes Blog and for listening to Your Country 102.7 WXBM!

(anything with a ** next to it means it's a new addition this week)

Upcoming CD's

April 5th

Craig Campbell - "Craig Campbell"

April 12th

Alison Krauss - "Paper Airplane"

May 24th
Brad Paisley - "This Is Country Music"

June 7th
Ronnie Dunn - "Ronnie Dunn"
**Randy Travis - "Anniversary Celebration"
**Ashton Shepherd - "Where Country Grows"

June 21st
**Justin Moore - "Outlaws Like Me"

August
Dierks Bentley

TBD

Martina McBride

Sunny Sweeney (From A Table Away)

Lady Antebellum

Eric Church (cd expected in late June)
Chris Young (Neon)
**Terri Clark (expected this summer or fall)

CD's Now Available
Jane Dear Girls - "Jane Dear Girls"

Thompson Square - "Thompson Square"

Joe Nichols - "Greatest Hits"

Sara Evans - "Stronger"

Josh Kelly - "Georgia Clay"

Upcoming Concerts

April 8th
Loretta Lynn - IP Casino in Biloxi

April 9th
Josh Turner - Hard Rock in Biloxi

April 14th

Sugarland and Little Big Town - Pensacola Civic Center
White Sands Music Festival - Farmers Opry in Chumuckla http://www.farmersopry.com/

April 15th and 16th
White Sands Music Festival - Farmers Opry in Chumuckla

May 21st
Travis Tritt - Wind Creek in Atmore

June 5th
Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice and Craig Campbell - Wharf in Orange Beach

June 16th
Keith Urban and Jake Owen - Mississippi Coast Colisseum in Biloxi

July 14th

Jason Aldean, Chris Young and Thompson Square - Wharf in Orange Beach