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.

Dreams REALLY DO come true...

There aren't many professional singers who can hold their own with MARTINA MCBRIDE. So how awesome was it when Martina let a 13-year-old join her on stage for a song. AND the girl totally nailed it!!
Her name is Kate Falcon and she was at Martina's show last Friday in Nashville. Martina invited her up to the stage and they did Martina's song "Anyway". They trade verses early on and then Martina was so impressed she turned it over to the girl and actually took a seat.

Only in Country Music can this kind of magical moment happen for a 13 year old girl!
-Hammer

Martina McBride Says She's "Too Lazy" to Compete on "Dancing with the Stars".

Seems like every celebrity contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" ends up surprised at how much work it takes to learn and tirelessly rehearse all the dance routines. That's not going to happen to MARTINA MCBRIDE, because she'll never do the show. Martina says, quote, "I think it's a fun show, but it looks like a lot of work, and I think there's some working out involved. "The idea of spending all day working out and learning how to dance . . . [it's] probably not for me. I just wanna instantly be able to dance like that. I'm lazy like that." But Martina could see herself getting involved in BLAKE SHELTON'S new show. She says, quote, "I love 'The Voice'. I think it's a really great show. I [think] it's really a cool concept. I would consider doing something like that."

The "Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country" Special is Airing Tonight on CBS!

Quick reminder: Tonight, CBS will be airing "Girls' Night Out: Superstar Women of Country – The Concert of the Year". It honors The Judds, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood. And it features performances from Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, and many of the honorees. Sadly, Loretta Lynn couldn't attend because she was having surgery.

The First Round of Performers for This Summer's CMA Fest

They just announced the first round of performers and I can honestly say, they didn't hold back.

The performers are . . . Trace Adkins, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Reba McEntire, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban.

And yes, more names will be announced in the coming weeks. The CMA Fest runs June 9th through June 12th in Nashville.

Click Here To Follow The Schedule!

Martina McBride Sings At NFL Playoff Game

Martina McBride sang the National Anthem prior to yesterday's NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and NY Jets. Martina, pictured above rehearsing prior to the game, continues to be good luck for the Steelers as they won the game and are headed to the Super Bowl!

Congratulations to The Steelers, Beth Christy and ALL Steelers fans!

Ten Women With Something to Say in 2010

Week after week, the women of country music were making headlines on CMT.com. To wrap up an action-packed year, here are 10 women who had something to say in 2010.

The Band Perry's Kimberly Perry

Big sister Kimberly Perry presides over this sibling ensemble which broke through this year with a sensitive, somewhat sad single, "If I Die Young." With her distinctive voice, she allows the story to unfold gradually, lending a thoughtful air to an otherwise depressing topic. Country fans listened intently -- then bought the music. So far, the digital single has been certified platinum for shipments and downloads totaling 1 million copies and the album is approaching gold status. In addition, the weeper topped the Billboard country airplay chart, and Perry secured a Grammy nomination for writing the song.

Faith Hill

Faith Hill entered the year with a new management team in place, and although she released a new fragrance instead of an album, she did offer memorable tracks to the Loretta Lynn tribute album and the Country Strong soundtrack. Along with co-hosting the Nashville Rising concert for flood relief with husband Tim McGraw, the Mississippi girl commemorated Hurricane Katrina's fifth anniversary with a charity concert in New Orleans. And don't forget her performances at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in March and the White House in June. Who else in country music can judge Project Runway as well as reliably pick NFL winners for the local newspaper?

Lady Antebellum

With a name like Lady Antebellum, you have to be included on a list like this. In particular, Hillary Scott shines on "American Honey," the coming-of-age tale that followed the inescapable "Need You Now." Over the course of 12 months, Lady A released a triple-platinum album, earned multiple ACM and CMA awards, toured extensively with Tim McGraw, sang at the World Series, serenaded Oprah Winfrey, sold out London, launched their first headlining tour, scored six Grammy nominations this month, etc., etc. And after all that, they still like each other!

Miranda Lambert

You say you want a Revolution? With platinum sales of her third album, Miranda Lambert established a firm foundation with country fans. Then she built a fortress with "White Liar" and "The House That Built Me" and a successful tour sponsored by CMT. She won multiple ACM and CMA Awards this year, then performed on the Grammy nominations concert in December -- and heard her own name called five times when the nominees were announced. Her new DVD, Live by Candlelight, shows her softer side, and romantic country fans got swept up in her engagement to Blake Shelton.

Martina McBride

This year marked a transition for Martina McBride, as she switched management and signed to a new record label, Republic Nashville. Earlier in the year, she toured with Trace Adkins as well as Lilith Fair -- probably without much audience overlap. She also recorded with Alan Jackson for the Loretta Lynn tribute album and with Kid Rock for his new album, Born Free. In addition, the Grand Ole Opry member helped reopen the Opry House after the Nashville flood, plus she sang at a flood relief concert at the Ryman Auditorium. Expect more activity in 2011. At a press conference in November, McBride told reporters, "I'm fired up and feel like I have a focus and energy for making music that I haven't had in a long time. So, here's to the future."

Reba McEntire

Although she's a cornerstone of contemporary country music, Reba caught everybody off-guard with a savvy, spot-on cover of Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy," from her well-received new album, All the Women I Am. And she's definitely popular, with more than a million Facebook friends. Over the summer, she sang on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol and accepted the National Artistic Achievement Awards from Congress -- only the fourth one ever presented. Along with landing her 59th Top 10 hit, "Turn On the Radio," she partnered with longtime buddy George Strait for a dream tour which will continue through early 2011.

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles

This Sugarland star spent most of the year explaining the motivation behind their new album, The Incredible Machine. Although their initial "steampunk" modifier mostly confused fans, the project still debuted at No. 1 across all genres. "It feels like a jumping point, a new place, a new bar has been set for us with this record," she told CMT.com. "I think people are excited about it. They're curious about it. I think it's inspired a lot of conversation about 'what is country music today?' That makes me feel very proud to be a part of that kind of cultural moment."

Taylor Swift

Already a triple-platinum success, Swift's Speak Now album earned positive reviews for its insightful songwriting, while curious listeners looked intently for clues about who inspired the songs. "Mine" made a splash as the first single, yet most of the tracks sound radio-ready. After an armful of Grammys, multiple countless magazine covers, countless TV appearances and several lucrative endorsement deals, she wound up the year with a 21st birthday celebration -- and probably a cup of coffee with one of her friends.

Carrie Underwood

The shortest phrase she said all year -- "I do" -- made the most headlines as she wed pro hockey player Mike Fisher in July. In the midst of a multi-media touring extravaganza, she had to rearrange her mantle after winning her second fan-voted ACM entertainer of the year award. Her Hollywood profile is also rising with a guest role on CBS' How I Met Your Mother and a musical contribution to the new movie, Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Even if she could change anything about this year, it's highly unlikely she'd want to undo it.

Chely Wright

Written over the course of three years, her autobiography Like Me drew on her rough-and-tumble upbringing, suicidal thoughts and coming out as a lesbian. The candid passages about her doomed relationship with Brad Paisley caused quite a stir among country fans, too. The book coincided with an insightful new collection of original songs, Lifted Off the Ground. At an in-store signing in Nashville earlier this year, the "Single White Female" singer accepted dozens of letters from people who wanted to share their own story. Along with appearing at several gay pride festivals this year, she now considers herself a role model to gay youth. As she told CMT.com, "If I can be someone that they can say, 'Hey, she's like me,' that was my mission."

(cmt.com)

Music Video of the Day: Martina McBride w/ Elvis - Blue Christmas