Jennifer Nettles Announces Lineup and Charity Component for This Year's CMA Country Christmas.

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland returns as host of the CMA Country Christmas special again this year.  The show will tape November 3 in Nashville and air this holiday season on ABC. Along with performances from Jennifer, the show lineup also includes Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and Keith Urban. Pop star Colbie Caillat, R&B singer John Legend and Welsh soprano Katherine Jenkins are also on the bill. Fans attending the show taping are encouraged to bring unwrapped toys for underprivileged children in the Nashville area this holiday season too. Jennifer says, "It is such a joy to watch this holiday special grow -- in not only its talent roster, but moreover in its charitable celebration of the season." Jennifer will also be very pregnant when the show tapes November. She's expecting her first child later that month, so don't expect her to dance like she did on last year's CMA Country Christmas. "It will be slower this year," Jennifer says with a laugh, "but you know what, it will be just as celebratory and just as fun for me." Jennifer's also thinking about her on camera wardrobe for the show. "You think, 'Alright, what am I going to be able to move in?' What's going to look halfway flattering, you hope, especially on television." If anything, this year's CMA Country Christmas will give Jennifer a chance to really document the time she was pregnant as part of a highly-produced TV special. She says, "When else is the timing, who knows if it will ever coincide in the same way again, and I think that's obviously, personally, I'm saying that's very special." We'll let you know once ABC announces an airdate for the CMA Country Christmas special.

10 Years In The Making...

It's been 10 years since Little Big Town released their self-titled debut album. Looking back on the past decade, band member Jimi Westbrook recalls a lot of major life experiences that have shaped the group into who they are today. Collectively the four members have experienced the death of a loved one, failed relationships, marriage and parenthood since their 2002 debut. "We've just been through a lot," Jimi said  "It's really cool to stand next to these people and think about all of that and how that's kind of formed this relationship. I think all that is kind of why we're here doing what we're doing at the moment, you know, all of that history." This moment is a very big one for Little Big Town. They're on track to score their first #1 country hit ever with "Pontoon" in the coming weeks. It's the lead single from their new album, Tornado, coming out September 11. The intense bond between the members of Little Big Town is still evident on Tornado. Band member Kimberly Schlapman explains, "I think you can hear the time we've spent together and the experiences we've had together and the comfort level we have with each other. I think it comes across. It's pretty cool." Little Big Town's Phillip Sweet adds that the band is in the best place they've ever been creatively and personally.

Little Big Town Did the Theme for ABC's "Good Afternoon America"

Did you catch the theme for ABC's new show "Good Afternoon America" yesterday?  Me neither.  But I plan to now . . . because it was written by none other than LITTLE BIG TOWN. The show is basically an afternoon spin-off of "Good Morning America", so as you can imagine, that's a pretty sweet gig for them. According to Little Big Town's KAREN FAIRCHILD, quote, "Sometimes you get unexpected opportunities as an artist. We loved getting the chance to write and record a song for such a cool show."
You can catch the show every day at 2:00 PM Eastern, or better yet, check it out on Thursday, August 2nd, when Little Big Town is going to perform the song "Good Afternoon" live, along with their current single "Pontoon".

CMT's OFFSTAGE: The Reason Why Little Big Town Stick Together

"We take care of each other, and we take care of the music." That's what Karen Fairchild told me when I had a chance to hang out with Little Big Town after one of their shows last week.....



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Little Big Town Recorded a Bluegrass Version of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way"!

I remember laughing at LADY GAGA'S "country version" of "Born This Way"? I had to . . . it was terrible! Well, it appears to have inspired LITTLE BIG TOWN to give it a shot. They posted a bluegrass version of "Born This Way" which they recorded backstage while visiting East Tennessee University. Singer KAREN FAIRCHILD dubbed their version "Ga-grass."

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Music Video Of The Day - Little Big Town "Little White Church"

Music Video of the Day: Little Big Town - Boondocks