Joe Walsh Tapes CMT Crossroads Special with Brad Paisley, Sara Evans and More!

Yesterday, I told you about the upcoming CMT Crossroads special coming up. Well, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh was joined onstage by some of country's hottest stars Wednesday night for his CMT Crossroads taping in Nashville. After opening the set with the title cut from his upcoming studio album, Analog Man, Joe welcomed Brad Paisley to perform "Rocky Mountain Way." Hunter Hayes traded licks with Joe on "In the City," and Luke Bryan joined him for a carefree performance of "Life's Been Good." Sara Evans sang a duet of the Eagles' hit "The Best of My Love," and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons helped Joe close out the show with "Life in the Fast Lane." Kenny Chesney will also be featured in the CMT broadcast. He taped his performance with Joe earlier. The show, titled CMT Crossroads: Joe Walsh & Friends, will premiere June 23 at 11 p.m. Eastern time.

Are These the Sexiest Country Stars Over 40?

AOL put together a list of the 11 Sexiest Country Stars Over 40. Why 11? Who knows? I think it's flawed because they went heavy on artists in their 40s. Only two people past 50 made the cut. Anyway, here they are, in no particular order:
--Faith Hill, 44
--Martina McBride, 45
--Tim McGraw, 45
--Sarah Evans, 41
--Keith Urban, 44
--Reba McEntire, 57
--Chely Wright, 41
--George Strait, 60
--Rhonda Vincent, 49
--Lee Ann Womack, 45
--Trace Adkins, 50

What say you? Agree / Disagree? Who is missing?

A Nine-Year-Old Boy Made a Series of Trades, and Turned a Toy Soldier Into a Trip to Disney World for a Fallen Soldier's Family

Back in February, nine-year-old Brendan Haas of Kingston, Massachusetts heard about the famous website One Red Paperclip . . . which is the story of how a guy used a series of trades to turn one red paperclip into a house. Brendan decided he wanted to try something similar . . . but he wanted to use his trades to help out the family of a fallen U.S. soldier. So he set up a Facebook page to trade one toy soldier for a trip to Disney World. The trade offers he got were VERY generous. He traded the toy soldier for a $50 Walmart gift card. That got him an overnight spa trip. That led to Red Sox tickets. Those led to a snowmobiling trip. And from there, he got the Disney World trip. On Memorial Day, he randomly picked one of the families of fallen soldiers who had emailed him. He chose the family of a soldier named Timothy Steele and sent them to Disney World, including airfare, hotel, and $900 in gift certificates. Steele was killed in Afghanistan last August at age 25. He left behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter . . . who coincidentally lived pretty close to Brendan, in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

Here's the Facebook page link.

Click Here!

Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and More Performing with Joe Walsh on CMT's Crossroads!

Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, Luke Bryan and Hunter Hayes will join Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh for the special CMT Crossroads: Joe Walsh & Friends premiering Saturday, June 23 at 11 p.m. Eastern. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top will also perform on the show. The stars will collaborate with Joe on his solo hits, as well as a few of his Eagles classics. Joe says, "Nothing beats country music with a little rock & roll sprinkled on top. We're going to mix up a batch and see what happens. I got a real good feeling about it." Joe's new solo album, Analog Man, is coming out June 5.

Folk & Bluegrass Music Legend Doc Watson Dies

Folk music legend Doc Watson died Tuesday at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, where he was listed in critical condition last week after a fall in his home. He recently underwent abdominal surgery. He was 89 years old. Watson rose to prominence with the '60s folk movement with his often-emulated flat-picking technique on the acoustic guitar. His recordings kept vintage country songs alive for new generations of folk and bluegrass fans too. Watson was born March 2, 1923 in Deep Gap, NC. Blinded by illness before he turned one year old, he nevertheless began playing guitar, banjo and harmonica as a child. After leaving the School of the Blind in Raleigh, NC, Watson joined a local dance band. After recording a 1967 album with bluegrass legends Flatt & Scruggs, Watson appeared on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's seminal 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken, along with the likes of Roy Acuff and Maybelle Carter of The Carter Family. The appearance exposed Watson to a broader audience. Multiple Grammy wins led to Watson receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. He was inducted into the IBMA Hall of Fame in 2000 and received the National Medal of Arts in 1997. Watson's son Merle played with him until his death in 1985 in a tractor accident on his North Carolina farm. Watson honored his son by founding the long-running Merlefest music festival in North Carolina

What Is Memorial Day?

Sadly, to some, Memorial Day is nothing more than a cool 3 day weekend. To those of us who served in our countrys military and to all the non military, everyday citizens, who are proud Americans, Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. It is these fallen heros that we should be remembering. Don't get me wrong, Memorial Day is a time of celebration, but it is also a time to show respect. If you have the opportunity to visit a veterans memorial, place some flowers or just take a moment to say a prayer for our fallen heros. As a veteran, I wish to say thank you to all of you for reading this and remembering our troops and their families. To my brothers and sisters who are still serving our great nation, God Bless You and God Bless America.

-Hammer

If you would like to read about how Memorial Day was founded, read below and click the link for the full story. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920).

Click Here To Read The Full History.

Tim McGraw and the Wounded Warrior Project Are Giving Away Free Homes to 25 Military Families!

Here's a great story to kick off your Memorial Day weekend. TIM MCGRAW is working with the Wounded Warrior Project to give away 25 mortgage-free homes to wounded American soldiers and service members in need. They'll be giving a home to one family in 25 different cities on Tim's "Brothers of the Sun" tour with KENNY CHESNEY. Tim is officially kicking off the project on Monday with a special concert in New York City for military personnel who are in town for the annual Fleet Week celebration. Here's Tim's statement: Quote, "My sister’s a veteran of the first Gulf War. My uncle was a Vietnam veteran and my grandfather was a World War II veteran. I've always felt a deep sense of respect and obligation to our troops. "Being able to reward them for their dedicated work with a new home will be even more rewarding for us. It feels so good to give back to them, and to have the opportunity to entertain them on Memorial Day is something I’m honored to do."

And Now . . . Kenny Chesney's "Red Sock Theory"

KENNY CHESNEY is rich and famous and all that . . . but like every person on the planet, he gets "punched in the gut" by life once in a while. And when that does happen, Kenny remembers his "Red Sock Theory". I'll let him explain. He says, quote, "Imagine a dryer full of white socks . . . but there's one red one. The white socks are all the great things in life that come with what I do. The red one is the few things that make it uncomfortable and the things we go through to do what we do. "But you don't see that red sock every time. You might not see it for two minutes. It'll show up every now and then, and that's the way my life is. If you look at it as a whole dryer full of red socks then it's gonna consume you. And I used to look at it that way. But now I try to look at it as a bunch of white socks that represent a lot of great things and I've been very fortunate and that red sock shows up every now and then and punches me in the gut or disappoints me, whatever. "But I try not to let that red sock affect me that much."

Taylor Swift Sends Flowers, Makes Call to Family of Fallen Marine.

Taylor Swift has reached out to the family of Sgt. Wade Wilson, a U.S. Marine from Leona, Texas who was killed in action in Afghanistan on May 11, 2012. According to KBTX, Swift sent flowers and placed a personal call to the fallen Marine's family; she was alerted to his death by a fellow Marine, Corporal Josh Marreel, who posted a heartfelt video message to the star on YouTube.

 "This is a shout out to the one and only Taylor Swift," Marreel says to the camera. "I know you have no idea who I am but this video isn't about me. This is about a good buddy, Sgt. Wade D. Wilson, who was killed in action...Anybody that knew Willy knew that he worshiped you. He even slept with a poster of you in between our beds in Afghanistan on his first deployment there." "This guy was my best friend," Marreel says. "I know a lot of people on here ask celebrities to go to dances and s**t with them, all I'm asking is for you to think about him."

Taylor's hand-written floral card reads, "Wade, Thank you for loving my music. I won't forget it, and I will never forget you. All my love, Taylor Swift." According to KBTX, Swift told Wilson's family she wanted to wear his dogtags in tribute in her next video, and they were moved by her gestures of condolence. Pictured above is Sgt. Wade Wilson with his favorite picture of Taylor Swift. RIP Sgt. Wilson

Jennifer Nettles Paid Her Dues By Touring with 15 Smelly Guys.

JENNIFER NETTLES' debut as a mentor and singing partner on "Duets" is this Thursday. So naturally, it's important she compare and contrast her dues-paying days to those of today's music competition performers. She says, quote, "When I came through the system, it was very much the dues pay. I ran up the roads in a 15-passenger van with five smelly guys, and schlepped my own gear, and played smoky bars before smoking bans and laws were around. "And I was really able to cut my teeth on the stage in that way, and considered it the best way. But, what I have seen over the years is, there is wonderful talent like KELLY CLARKSON and CARRIE UNDERWOOD, and like any in-route into the industry, the cream will rise to the top. "Those who have what it takes will make it, and those who don't, won't."

Beware of Fake Luke Bryan Facebook Profiles!!

LUKE BRYAN is tired of people pretending to be him on Facebook. So, he went on Facebook to let everyone know about it. Here's what he wrote, quote, "Hey y'all, please share this! I just want to let everybody in on something. There have been a lot of issues with fake Facebook profiles of me. This is the only profile I use for correspondence. "I don't have a personal page. If you are friends with another Luke Bryan,unfriend them and don't believe any of the messages. "Also, people are impersonating my wife, of all people. She does NOT use Facebook. Unfriend anyone pretending to be her. "I'm sorry for such a long post, but I want all of you, my fans, to be aware of what's going on."

Toby Keith and Kristen Bell Are Co-Hosting the CMT Music Awards.

This could be interesting . . . or maybe odd. TOBY KEITH will be co-hosting this year's "CMT Music Awards" with actress KRISTEN BELL. The show airs June 6th. By the way, this isn't Toby's first time co-hosting that show with someone hot. He and PAMELA ANDERSON did the honors back in 2003. By the way, Kristen Bell plays Jeannie Van Der Hooven on Showtime's "House of Lies". This should prove to be a great show! What else could it be? IT'S COUNTRY BABY!

Kenny Chesney, Men's Health: Singer Explains How Diet & Exercise Affect Touring.

Without a doubt, Kenny Chesney is the fittest singer in the country world. The toned tunesmith shares his workout regiment and diet with Men's Health as he covers the magazine's June issue. Despite his hyper-awareness to health, the singer does admit to a few vices.

"I've never abused my body with drugs," he tells the magazine. "I've never smoked. But I will say that I've probably been over-served a lot. You can't spend 19 years on the road and not have a few drinks."

To stay in shape, the "Reality" singer makes a few sacrifices. He claims to not have had salt in a decade, while he rarely eats dairy and bread. However, he does allow him self one day a week to cheat: Sunday.

Click Here For The Full Story!

Dolly Parton and Several Other Country Stars React to the Death of Donna Summer.

Several country artists decided to make their feelings known about the passing of DONNA SUMMER. Most of them reached out on Twitter, but DOLLY PARTON, who was pretty tight with Donna, released a formal statement. Here it is: Quote, "I can't believe we've lost another wonderful singer. Donna, like WHITNEY, had one of the greatest voices ever. I loved her records. "She was the disco queen, and will remain so. I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever. She will be missed and remembered." Donna Summer and her husband wrote the song "Starting Over Again", which was a Number One country hit for Dolly back in 1980. (--REBA MCENTIRE also did a version. It peaked at #19 in 1996.)

Here are a few reactions from some other country stars . . .
Sara Evans: "I absolutely love her music! Had her albums as a child and memorized them! She'll be missed!"

Billy Ray Cyrus: "Legend!!! Your music will live forever."

(Oak Ridge Boys') Joe Bonsall: "R.I.P. Donna Summer. Disco Queen dies at 63 of cancer . . . #lastdance."

LeAnn Rimes: "Donna Summer . . . RIP. Saddened she's gone so soon."

Reba McEntire: "My thoughts and prayers go out to Donna Summer's family. I will miss her but she will live on through all her wonderful music!"

Will Rhymes of the Tampa Bay Rays Passed Out After Being Hit on the Arm by a Pitch.

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman WILL RHYMES passed out last night after being hit by a pitch thrown by Boston's FRANKLIN MORALES. And here's the strange thing: Rhymes was hit on the ARM. Rhymes seemed okay at first. He even went to first base. But then he motioned to the dugout that he needed to be replaced and fell into the arms of the first base coach. The latest is that Will passed out as a result of an adrenaline rush, which is obviously good news. Here's the video...
Click Here To See The Video.

Lady Antebellum Raises More Than $285,000 for Henryville, Indiana Tornado Relief!

Lady Antebellum's Rebuilding Henryville benefit raised more than $285,000 for tornado relief efforts in the Indiana town Wednesday. The band performed a concert in nearby Louisville, KY to benefit Henryville, which was devastated by a tornado in March. Juniors and seniors from Henryville High School were guests of honor at Lady A's concert after attending a special charity ball the band hosted for them at the venue. Lady A's Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott surprised the students at the prom event with a short acoustic set. Charles and Hillary brought up students to dance with them on "Dancin' Away with My Heart." They followed it up with their signature hit "Need You Now," but added a little warning to the song's lyrics. When they sang the line, "I'm a little drunk and I need you now," Hillary followed it up, telling the teenagers, "You better not be!" Charles added, "No drinking in high school!"Earlier in the day, Lady A actually went to Henryville to see the storm damage and see the new gymnasium currently under construction at the high school. Actually being in Henryville really drove home the reason for this event for Hillary. She said, "I think it definitely has much more of an impact whenever you walk the grounds and see the wires hanging from the roof and all of the exposed electrical and the destruction." Hillary is also encouraged by Henryville's resilience in the face of such disaster, and she thinks the rebuilding of the high school gym is a big move forward for the community.

A Guy Spent 55 Years Protecting New England's Tallest Elm Tree. When They Both Died, He Was Buried in a Coffin Made from Its Wood.

In 1956, a logging company owner named Frank Knight in Portland, Maine decided to protect an elm tree. At 110 feet tall, it was the tallest elm in New England. And Frank made it his life's mission to keep the tree alive. He made sure it wasn't cut down for lumber, and he had workers from his company prune it regularly and treat it with pesticides, so it would stay healthy. After nearly 55 years of Frank caring for it, the tree died of Dutch elm disease two years ago. It was the 14th time the tree had the disease, and the first time that Frank couldn't get it to pull through. On Monday, Frank died at 103 years old. And he'll be buried in a coffin made out of wood from the tree. His friends secretly took some of the wood from the tree when it was cut down, so they could pay tribute to Frank for spending more than half his life as its volunteer caretaker.

This is a very touching story. I just wish that more of these types of stories were available. It's comforting to know that there are people out there that care so much for another living thing. If you know of someone like that, email me the story and I'll get it posted! Sent your stories to wolfman943@gmail.com.

Above is a picture of Frank by HIS tree.

Blake Shelton Releases Live DVD Exclusively at Walmart

Blake Shelton has a new live DVD out exclusively at Walmart. Titled Live: It's All About Tonight, it features Blake performing "All About Tonight," "Hillbilly Bone" and "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking," among other hits. The DVD also includes Blake's videos for "Honey Bee" and "God Gave Me You." You can also purchase Blake's new DVD on Walmart.com

15 Things Miranda Lambert Will Never Apologize For.

"Self" magazine asked MIRANDA LAMBERT to list a few things she refuses to apologize for. She came up with 15 of them . . . and something tells me she could have kept going. Here are a few of my favorites:
"I don't mind having a big butt. I actually like that about myself."
"I carry a weapon. I got a death threat a few years ago and was really scared. But I don't want bodyguards. I am my own security."
"I live on hairspray. The bigger the hair, the closer to God."
"Me and my band, the PISTOL ANNIES, we like to party. We're country artists. We don't sing girly songs. Too many girls in my business get too girly. I'm like, 'Come on, you know you've got dip in your mouth right now. Quit singing girly like that!'"
"I'm a small-town girl. When you're famous, whoever you were before comes out more. So if you were an ass, you'll be even more of an ass."
"I think Blake is a bit scared of me. He says he's not, but I've said, 'If you cheat, I'll spray-paint all of your trophy deer heads pink.'"

Here's The Entire List! Enjoy!

Josh Turner Can Name Any Country Song in Two Notes!

If they ever do a country-only version of "Name That Tune" . . . JOSH TURNER is going to totally dominate. That's because he can spit out the name of just about any country song after hearing the first couple of notes. Josh says, quote, "I've just been blessed with a country music brain. When I'm listening to the radio, I kind of drive myself crazy. It's like from the first two notes I know who's going to be singing it. "I have trouble remembering the words, but I can remember the sound of it, the artist and all that kind of stuff. I can tell you all about the artist. But yeah, it's just the way my brain works." Josh has used the skill to nail people who've tried to pitch him songs that have already been recorded by somebody else. He says, quote, "I would call them out on it. They were like, they'd start hitting the desk, 'Dadgumit. How'd you know that?'"

Justin Moore's Tour Bus Was Involved in a Tragic Accident . . . But Justin and His Band Were Not Injured.

One of JUSTIN MOORE'S tour buses was involved in a fatal accident early Saturday morning. Justin was NOT on the bus, but his crew was. They're okay, but the man driving the car that smashed into the bus was killed. Here's what happened: The bus was making its way down Interstate 57 near Mattoon, Illinois . . . which is about 160 miles south of Chicago . . . when it was hit from behind. Naturally, everyone pulled over to check out the damage. But when the driver of the car got out, a different car on the highway swerved off the road, hit him, and killed him. It happened around 6:00 A.M. There's no word if alcohol was involved. Justin got the news pretty quickly, and took to his Twitter page with some thoughts. He wrote, "Thankful my band and crew guys are all good. They got hit by a car this morning in their bus." "Prayers go out to the guy who lost his life and his family. You never know, man. You have to be prepared to meet God today, cause it may be your last."

Miranda Lambert Expects to Hear Some Groveling from Eric Church.

MIRANDA LAMBERT has accepted ERIC CHURCH'S apology for talking smack about singing competitions but that doesn't mean he's totally out of the woods. Miranda did an interview with Kenny Walker, Broadway & U-Turn on Florida's KISS Country, and they asked her how she's feeling about the whole thing. She said, quote, "To me, it's over. "It's sad that he probably got roped into a really bad interview. I think it's sad that they portrayed him that way and that he actually portrayed himself that way and cut down his friends. "He probably didn't realize he was cutting down his friends when he did it, but either way, he said something stupid and it's going to take a long time to make it up to people that he offended." So what will happen the next time Miranda runs into Eric? She said, quote, "I'll be fine. I'm sure that he (will) be groveling because he should."

Johnny Depp's "Dark Shadows" Opens Today!

Tim Burton's latest collaboration with Johnny Depp features Johnny as a vampire named Barnabas Collins. He was human until a jealous witch cursed him, and buried him alive for 200 years. When he's released by a construction crew, he returns home to restore the family name to its former glory. The dysfunctional Collins family is played by Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, and 15-year-old Chloe Grace Moretz. And because you can't have a Burton-Depp collaboration without her, Helena Bonham Carter is also in it. She plays Michelle Pfieffer's live-in psychiatrist. The witch is played by Bond girl Eva Green. As for cameos, watch for Christopher Lee as an old man at the pub. Johnny says, quote, "One of my favorite moments that I've ever been able to experience in a film was that I got to hypnotize Dracula. I got to hypnotize Christopher Lee." Even though the movie is played for laughs, it's based on a supernatural soap opera that took itself pretty seriously. The original "Dark Shadows" ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971 and starred a guy named Jonathan Frid as Barnabas. Jonathan passed away last month, but he does have a cameo in the movie. In the scene where Barnabas throws a ball at Collinwood Manor, if you watch closely, you'll see Johnny greeting the original cast members from the TV show at the door.

Kellie Pickler Got to Ride with the Blue Angels!

Yes, country stars have it better than you and me. KELLIE PICKLER got to fly with the world famous Blue Angels on Wednesday. Stud pilot Mark Tedrow took Kellie from ground level to 2,000 feet in just four seconds. Oh yeah. Kellie Tweeted, "I just landed! It was incredible! Biggest adrenaline rush EVER!" She added, quote, "Thank you @BlueAngels for the fastest most badass ride of my life! Let's fly again soon!"

If any video surfaces, I'll get it posted!

Hammer

Taylor Swift Asked to Prom by Wheelchair-Bound Teen with Rare Disease.

Earlier this year, a New Jersey teen with leukemia asked Taylor Swift to go to prom with him. She said she couldn't, but offered to take him to the ACM Awards instead. Now, a Colorado teen is hoping for a similar response. Devon Whitney, a 19-year-old high school student from Aurora, Colorado, has made a YouTube video asking Taylor to be his date for his prom. He says he's afraid to ask someone from his school because he has a rare disease that makes him look different. According to 9News.com, Devon suffers from something called OPD Syndrome, with which only a few people in the world have ever been diagnosed. As a result of his condition, he's confined to a wheelchair and has had to have two dozen surgeries since he was born. "People stare at me because of the way I look," Devon tells 9News.com. "They laugh at me and talk behind my back. And sometimes I can hear them." In Devon's video prom proposal, he tells Taylor -- by holding up a series of signs -- a little about his life and his struggles, and how at first, he didn't want to go to prom because "it just seemed like another opportunity for kids to be mean." "But then I started to think, " he continues in a series of signs, "If I had a crazy beautiful date, how could they possibly make fun of me? So then I started to think who that might be...then you popped into my head." In the last series of signs, he calls Taylor "breathtaking," and adds, "There's nobody else in this world that would compare to you as a date. So what do you say?" So far, the video's gotten over 3,000 views. "I really, really want her to be my prom date if that's OK with her," he told 9News.com. "I just think she's the sweetest girl I've ever known. Because I saw her live in concert and I was like 'Oh my gosh, she's amazing!" I hope that this can work out. Good Luck, Devon!

John Rich Has Eric Church's Back . . . And Thinks Eric Should Be on the Next "Celebrity Apprentice".

JOHN RICH is the first artist I've heard say anything since ERIC CHURCH apologized for talking smack about singing competitions. And he totally has Eric's back on the whole thing. John said, quote, "I heard his apology. I think he just got to talkin' too fast probably and didn't realize,'Uh-oh, I didn't remember all these great singers that have come from some of these shows.' "I don't think he was trying to be that malicious about it or anything." Not only does John give Eric a pass, he'd also like to see him as a contestant on "The Celebrity Apprentice". John said, quote, "I would like to just extend an invitation that if he wants to meet DONALD TRUMP and go on "Celebrity Apprentice", I will make that happen. "The guy’s been working his tail off for however many years on the road and building his audience, and he’s a smart, tough guy. I do think he’d be good."

Local Resident Crowned Champion!

Local resident Jermaine Paul from Harriman, NY was crowned the winner of The Voice! Jermaine was on Team Blake (no shock there)! To read all about it, just click the link below! CONGRATULATIONS Jermaine and Blake!

Click Here For The Full Story!

Lionel Richie's Tuskegee Certified Platinum!

Lionel Richie's country duets album, Tuskegee, has gone platinum in just five weeks! That means one million fans have snatched up the record! "This album continues to amaze me and I am so grateful for all that it has accomplished,” Lionel says, adding that he didn't want to be confined by age, genre or demographics while making Tuskegee. "I am thrilled with how well this album has been received by people from all walks of life. It is truly living up to the vision we had when we created it.”

Brad Paisley Is More of a Batman Than a Superman.

BRAD PAISLEY may be a skilled guitarist and terrific songwriter . . . but he doesn't believe he's a natural at either. And that's why he considers himself more of a Batman than a Superman. Brad says, quote, "There are people who were born to do this. I don't think I was one of those. I feel more like Batman than Superman. Superman was always going to save this world and was sent here to do that. "There's no getting around it. When you can fly and look that good in tight blue tights, you're gonna be a super hero. But Batman had to figure out ways to do it without super powers and I don't know, I feel more like that."

Miranda Lambert Has Forgiven Ashton Kutcher.

You may recall that MIRANDA LAMBERT felt ASHTON KUTCHER was disrespecting country music when he showed up at the ACMs last month wearing those silly Western duds while warbling through GEORGE STRAIT'S "I Cross My Heart". She Tweeted, quote, "Was Ashton Kutcher making fun of country or is it just me? Watching it back now and I'm kinda wondering?" And then Ashton heard about it and scrambled to apologize. He Tweeted, quote, "Miranda Lambert, I am one of the biggest country music fans you've ever met. Wasn't making fun at all." Well, the whole thing is officially over becausethey ran into each other at the Barnstable Brown Gala at the Kentucky Derby and things clearly went well. Miranda tweeted a photo of her and Ashton with their heads pressed together. She wrote, quote, "@aplusk [Ashton's Twitter name] Here it is, y'all. He is sweet and lives country music! For real! And he likes Randaritas!"

Side Notes: (She may have meant to write "loves" instead of "lives" country music. But the important thing, at least for Ashton, is that he's now on Miranda's good side.)
(One more thing: A "randarita" is Miranda's version of a margarita. She Tweeted about that back in February after becoming friends with LADY GAGA when they sat next to each other at the Grammys.)

Have a nice day! :)

Jake Owen Got Married on the Beach Yesterday at Dawn

A couple of weeks ago JAKE OWEN clued us in that he would NOT be wearing shoes at his wedding. He wasn't goofin'. Jake married former lingerie model Lacey Buchanan in a sunrise ceremony yesterday in Vero Beach, Florida and they were both naked from the ankles down. Jake came up with the sunrise ceremony idea too. He told "People", quote, "That was my idea, because it's symbolic of the dawn of a new day and starting our new life together." For those of you who care about such things . . . Lacey wore an Amsale gown and veil, and Jake kept it simple in a white linen Armani shirt and Tommy Bahama drawstring pants. The ceremony was strictly family only. Lacey's sister Leah was her maid of honor, and Jake's twin brother Jarrod was the best man.

Marvel's The Avengers Earns $200M, Smashes Box Office Records!

Iron Man, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk and their friends were box office heroes over the weekend. The all-star superhero film Marvel's The Avengers earned an estimated 200.3 million dollars, easily the highest-grossing debut weekend for a movie in domestic box office history. The total shatters the old record of 169.2 million set last year by Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. A few other tidbits from The Avengers' big weekend: * The Avengers reached the 200-million-dollar mark faster than any other movie in U.S. box office history. * On Friday, the day it opened, The Avengers enjoyed the second-highest single-day gross of all time with 80.5 million. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 made 91.1 million on its first day of release. * The Avengers established a new record for a Saturday, with 69.7 million. * The Avengers has now earned an estimated 641.8 million dollars worldwide since it opened overseas about two weeks ago.

Today Is "Star Wars Day"!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, Today is "Star Wars Day"...May the 4th be with you...get it? Yeah, I know. But anyway, LETS CELEBRATE in song!

Toby Keith Helped a Soldier Check An Item Off His Bucket List.

Over the past decade, Toby Keith has played to more than 182,600 service men and women at upwards of 100 military installations overseas. Seeing the superstar, especially under those circumstances, is bound to have made several dreams come true. Well, Toby helped a soldier stationed at Camp Dwyer in Afghanistan check an item off his bucket list. Seaman Nicholas W. Pfaff had "Meet Toby Keith" at Number 15 on his list . . . and wouldn't you know it, Toby was doing a USO show there. Nicholas had some time on his lunch break so he hit up the concert and then stood in line afterwards for the meet-and-greet. Unfortunately, it was a long line and his lunch break was almost over . . . so he made a move. Nicholas got the attention of an event staff member and handed over his actual bucket list hoping the guy would help a brother out. He did. The list made its way to Toby's staff and that did the trick. Toby put a check mark next to his name on the list . . . and then added an autograph! "I've been a fan of his since I was in high school; his music is different from what we hear all the time. Something in his lyrics really appeals to me," said Seaman Pfaff.
Way to go Toby!

Thank you for giving something to our troops that they will never forget. You gave them happiness in , most cases, a horrible place. From a veteran, THANK YOU TOBY!

Here's a photo of the actual list. Look for "#15. Meet Toby Keith."

Lights, camera, mud - Dierks Bentley shoots music video!

Some things just go well together, like chocolate and peanut butter or — as anyone in the Big Nasty ATV/Motocross Park near Bloomingdale on Sunday discovered — mud and country music. People started showing up at the 1,600-acre establishment around 7:30 a.m., said Cindy Howze, who owns the Big Nasty with her husband, Gregg. Some came to go “mudding” like always. Others came to participate in a video shoot with chart-topping country music recording artist Dierks Bentley, who chose the Effingham County ATV park as one of the settings for the music video of his song “5-1-5-0.” Most, however, came for both.

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Eric Church Has Apologized for Talking Smack About Singing Competitions.

ERIC CHURCH issued an apology for badmouthing BLAKE SHELTON and ALL reality show judges and contestants. Eric had his PR flaks put out a press release admitting he screwed up. Well, that he partly screwed up. Although he apologized to the artists. He hasn't pulled back on his stance that reality singing shows misrepresent the hard work it takes to become a star. Here's the statement:

 "The comment I made to 'Rolling Stone' was part of a larger commentary on these types of reality television shows and the perception they create, not the artists involved with the shows themselves. "The shows make it appear that artists can shortcut their way to success. There are a lot of artists due to their own perseverance that have gone on to be successful after appearing on these shows, but the real obstacles come after the cameras stop rolling. "Every artist has to follow up television appearances with dedication towards their craft, but these shows tend to gloss over that part and make it seem like you can be ordained into stardom. "I have a problem with those perceived shortcuts, not just in the music industry. Many people have come to think they can just wake up and have things handed to them. "I have a lot of respect for what artists like CARRIE UNDERWOOD, KELLY CLARKSON, and my friend MIRANDA LAMBERT have gone on to accomplish. "This piece was never intended to tear down any individual and I apologize to anybody I offended in trying to shed light on this issue. "I am grateful for all of the artists and fans that have supported me along my journey and certainly did not mean for my comments to undermine their talent and achievements."

Hammer Opinion: I understand Eric believing reality shows make it look too easy, but that's exactly the point. It's supposed to look fun. Nobody wants to watch someone spend hours singing scales or practicing guitar chords. Also Eric can apologize all he wants but he's still going to have to face up to the people he called out. Lastly, how'd you like to be backstage at the next awards show where Eric turns the corner to see Blake and MIRANDA LAMBERT hanging with KELLY CLARKSON and CARRIE UNDERWOOD? I sure would. Have a nice day! :)

Gas Prices Coming DOWN!

One month ago, Americans were screaming about higher gasoline prices. Although there's still plenty to scream about these days, the panic at the pump isn't as pronounced now because prices are down eight cents from April 1. The reason for the drop-off isn't all that encouraging since it means the economy is slowing down a bit. Currently, the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular is $3.83 nationally, a drop of four cents from the previous week. Curiously, while gas prices are up 55 cents from the beginning of 2012, they're actually 13 cents less per gallon from this time last year. Republicans say the way to reduce costs is by opening up drilling, especially the Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline. Obama prefers an "all of the above" approach that includes giving regulators more power to go after speculators who artificially increase the cost of crude oil.

Eric Church Ruffles Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert's Feathers with Reality TV Comments...

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert aren't very happy with Eric Church. In a new interview in Rolling Stone, Eric bluntly shares his feelings on artists that get their start on musical competition shows like The Voice and American Idol.

He says, "Honestly, if Blake Shelton and Cee Lo Green ----ing turn around in a red chair, you got a deal? That's crazy. I don't know what would make an artist do that. You're not an artist." The Rolling Stone writer notes that Eric raises his voice and becomes angry as he continues saying, "If I was concerned about my legacy, there's no ----ing way I would ever sit there [and be a reality-show judge]. Once your career becomes something other than the music, then that's what it is. I'll never make that mistake. I don't care if I ----ing starve."

Eric's Rolling Stone interview appears in the latest print issue only and has not been published online yet. Blake Shelton responded to Eric's comments with a tweet, "I wish I misunderstood this…"

Miranda wasn't so kind with her response though. She got her start on the TV talent competition Nashville Star and tweeted Monday, "Thanks Eric Church for saying I'm not a real artist. Or @kellyclarkson, @carrieunderwood & @keithurban. Your welcome from the tour in 2010."

Eric did serve as the opening act for Miranda on the road for part of 2010. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are both American Idol winners, and Keith Urban is currently serving as a mentor on Australia's version of The Voice. Eric released a statement late Monday clarifying the comments in Rolling Stone. He says they were "part of a larger commentary on these types of reality shows and the perception they create, not the artists involved with the shows themselves."

He goes on to explain that shows like The Voice and American Idol make it seem like artists can take a shortcut to success and don't show the hard work that goes into making a music career successful once the cameras stop rolling. "Every artist has to follow up television appearances with dedication towards their craft, but these shows tend to gloss over that part and make it seem like you can be ordained into stardom," says Eric. "I have a problem with those perceived shortcuts, not just in the music industry." Responding directly to Miranda's tweet, Eric adds, "I have a lot of respect for what artists like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, and my friend Miranda Lambert have gone on to accomplish. This piece was never intended to tear down any individual and I apologize to anybody I offended in trying to shed light on this issue. " Eric expresses gratitude to the artists and fans that have helped him so far, and says he didn't mean for his "comments to undermine their talent and achievements."

One In Three Americans Would Fail the U.S. Citizenship Test!

Immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens need to pass a civics test asking detailed questions about our government and history. 39 out of 40 immigrants get at least six questions right on the 10-question test, which is a passing score. People born in America become citizens without taking a test. Which is good because one in three natural-born Americans FAILED the test in a survey by Xavier University.

Here are some of the questions that gave Americans the most trouble:

#1.) How many amendments does the Constitution have? Only 7% of Americans knew the right answer . . . which is 27.
#2.) The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name ONE of the writers: Only 8% could name Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, or John Jay.
#3.) When was the Constitution written? 9% got it right. It was 1787.
#4.) What is the rule of law? It means that leaders have to follow laws instead of doing whatever they want, like a dictator. 15% of people knew that.
#5.) The House of Representatives has how many voting members? There are 435, but only 16% of people knew that. PR Newswire