Florida Georgia Line Welcomed into Country Music Fold Thanks to "Cruise"

Florida Georgia Line star is definitely on the rise, and their fellow country stars are taking note. Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, and Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles have all tweeted about their love for Florida Georgia Line's debut hit, "Cruise," and that makes the duo's Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley very happy.
"It's super neat to see in country music, I mean, the encouragement and the camaraderie, the sense of family that there is," Tyler tells ABC News Radio. " I don't know if it's just in this genre or what, but it's just cool. Everybody lifts everybody up and encourages each other." Florida Georgia Line has also becoming buddies with their tourmates this fall Jake Owen and Love and Theft. Jake even featured Florida Georgia Line on his recently released Endless Summer EP too. As they  continue making music, Florida Georgia Line plans to extend that same welcoming attitude. Tyler says, "[We] look forward to being able to do that down the road for whoever's up and coming next." Florida Georgia Line's debut album, Here's to the Good Times, comes out December 4.

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.

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."

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles Got Married!

JENNIFER NETTLES of SUGARLAND got married to her entrepreneur boyfriend Justin Miller on Saturday. She's 37. We're not sure how old he is, but they've been dating for about two years. Here are the details according to "People" magazine: It was a small ceremony at a chapel near the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. She wore a wedding gown designed by Alexander McQueen and bandmate KRISTIAN BUSH was there. Justin's a former model. If you've seen the video for "Want To", you've seen him, he's the guy sleeping in Jennifer's bed, and she ditches him before getting on the tour bus. He was also her date to the CMAs earlier this month. Jennifer's been married before: She divorced her first husband in 2007.(--He was a club owner named Todd Van Sickle.)Whatever honeymoon plans they have will have to wait until at least next week: Sugarland's performing with LADY GAGA at tomorrow night's Grammy Nominations concert on CBS, and hosting Thursday's CMA Country Christmas special on ABC.

Jennifer Nettles Understands That She Can't Please Everyone.

If SUGARLAND'S "Incredible Machine" album is a little too strange for your country tastes, well, that's okay with JENNIFER NETTLES. She knows she can't please everyone. She says, quote, "I definitely don't make my decisions based on the fact that some people aren't going to like something. You have to have something that people don't like every now and then or else you're living too safely." And if you've seen Sugarland in concert then you know Jennifer makes no apologies there either. They're pretty famous for covering other artists, like R.E.M. or CEE-LO GREEN. Jennifer explains, quote, "I love singing all kinds of music and I have a bit of musical ADD. "I like to play around with different textures and colors and parts of my instrument. I have a lot of different musical influences. As long as you're being yourself, the fans learn to respect it and trust it."

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.

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)