Lionel Richie's Tuskegee Is the Best-Selling Country Album of 2012 So Far.

Mid-year album sales numbers are out from Billboard, and Lionel Richie's Tuskegee holds the top spot among country albums this year. The set, which features Lionel singing his biggest hits with the likes of Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney and others, has sold 912,000 copies. It's also the second best-selling album overall behind Adele's massive hit, 21. Carrie Underwood's Blown Away is the second biggest-selling country album of the year, moving 714,000 copies so far. Luke Bryan's tailgates & Tanlines is third with 574,000 copies sold this year. Lady Antebellum's Own the Night is fourth so far this year, selling 465,000 copies, while Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party rounds out the top five, moving 399,000 units.

Zac Brown Band Unveils New Animated "The Wind" Video Featuring "Robo Redneck"

Get More: The Wind, Zac Brown Band, Zac Brown Band Videos

Zac Brown Band gets the animated treatment in their new video for "The Wind." Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill creator Mike Judge created the clip, which features Zac Brown remade as the bionic "Robo Redneck." The video featuring the Zac Brown Band's animated adventures is now posted at CMT.com. "The Wind" is the lead single from Zac Brown Band's new album, Uncaged, due out Tuesday, July 10. Fans can now preview the album free on iTunes. (A brief ad may play before the video begins.)

Country Stars React to the Death of Andy Griffith

BRAD PAISLEY worked with ANDY GRIFFITH directly, but lots of Country stars were moved to comment on his passing on Tuesday.  Here's what Brad and few others had to say on Twitter.

Brad:  "Andy Griffith entertained the world.  He improved our lives, and I was so proud to work with him call him a friend.  Love you Andy.  Go rest."

SCOTTY MCCREERY:  "RIP Andy Griffith.  We lost a legend today that provided me and my family some great quality time around the TV filled with some good laughs."

HILLARY SCOTT:  "Heaven gained a talented man today.  Mr. Andy Griffith, thanks for giving me amazing memories with my family growing up watching your show!"

CHRIS YOUNG:  "Andy Griffith made so many memories for multiple generations . . . R.I.P."

RODNEY ATKINS:  "Rest In Peace Andy Griffith.  Praying for his family, friends and fans."

THE BAND PERRY:  "We'll miss you, Andy Griffith . . . thank you for all the laughs and memories."

Brad Paisley to Perform July 4 USO Concert on South Lawn of White House.

Brad Paisley will perform a special USO show on Wednesday, July 4 on the South Lawn of the White House.  More than 1,200 troops and military families will be there along with President and Mrs. Obama. “The Fourth of July has always been about family, freedom and celebration," Brad says. "I am so honored to be spending my holiday performing a USO concert for our troops and their families, and to be celebrating those freedoms with the men and women who put everything on the line to defend them.” The White House Salute to the Military USO concert will be streamed live Wednesday night on WhiteHouse.gov.

Eric Church...Movie Star!

ERIC CHURCH did a short film called "Mixtape" . . . and it debuts this Saturday on CMT.  Eric calls it the "emotional backstory" to his song "Springsteen".


Click on the CMT link above for the whole story!

(CMT.com)

The Pittsburgh Steelers Gave Kenny Chesney a Six-Foot Plaque.

KENNY CHESNEY got a huge honor before taking the stage Saturday night at Heinz field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Rooney family, who own the Pittsburgh Steelers, gave him a giant cast iron Six For Six plaque. It represents Kenny selling out his sixth show at the stadium and the Steelers winning six Super Bowl championships. Kenny's a football nut so he was beyond excited. He, said, quote, "I believe this might be the best gift I've ever gotten on the road. It epitomizes all the heart and energy and passion that this crowd has, that this town has." They also gave Kenny a Steelers helmet signed by former Super Bowl MVP and Hall Of Famer FRANCO HARRIS. Picuted with Kenny is Steeler QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER!

Luke Bryan's Mom Snoops On Him With Her iPad!

It must be rewarding for an artist to reach the point where they can buy stuff for the people they love.  For example, LUKE BRYAN'S mom was jonesing for an iPad . . . so he came through. Unfortunately, now he regrets it. Luke said, quote, "Essentially all I did was buy her a vehicle to snoop on me.  She gets the Google Alerts, if I say a cuss word on Twitter, she calls me saying that I shouldn't be saying that. "She’s got a little support group of 60-year-old ladies . . . they all have their little iPad . . . smoking and drinking and surfing the web on their iPad." Luke's mom and her friends will get another chance to make sure he stays in line when he performs in New York's Central Park on the July 13th edition of "Good Morning America".
Luke's totally pumped about it too. He says, quote, "You know, to be a kid from Leesburg, Georgia, and at some point in my career, life has brought me to where I'm performing on 'Good Morning America' in one of the most recognizable places in the world, and I'm just excited. "It's gonna be fun. A big smile is on my face every time I talk about it."