Mercury & MCA Artist News

A line in the current Top 15 Gary Allan single, "A Feelin' Like That" references skydiving, which Gary has actually done - but just once. He says, "Skydiving is something that somebody took me to do for my birthday for a few years back. I did a tandem jump where someone is strapped to your back. That was pretty cool. It was 40 seconds of rush and I don't think I ever need to do that again!"

George Strait's 25th annual Team Roping Classic is going on this Friday and Saturday, March 23rd & 24th at the San Antonio Rose Palace in San Antonio, Texas.

Vince Gill is back out on the road with his 15 piece band in support of his 4-cd set, These Days, and he told The Tennessean that he gets to channel a little bit of everyone during the 3 plus hour set that showcases the various musical styles represented on These Days: "I feel like I get to be George Jones for a tune or two, and I get to be Elvis for a couple tunes. I get to be Tony Bennett for a tune or two and Bill Monroe for a few tunes. People walk away going 'I don't know what it was, but it sure is different.'" Vince will play shows in Nashville at the Ryman on April 4th and 5th. For a complete list of tour dates, visit www.VinceGill.com

Billy Currington will sing the national anthem prior to the sold-out Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 25.This will be Currington’s first trip to the World’s Fastest Half-Mile, where he’ll sing in front of nearly 160,000 fans. “I am excited to be part of the tradition at Bristol Motor Speedway and share in the excitement of a live NASCAR event,” says Currington. “I have played in front of thousands of people before, but this is a very different experience that I am looking forward to.” The Food City 500 takes the green flag at 2 p.m.

Bon Jovi has put the finishing touches on their newest album, titled Lost Highway, which lands in stores on June 19 on Island Records/Mercury Nashville. The project was produced by Dann Huff (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts) and John Shanks. The first single from the project “(You Want To) Make A Memory,” was serviced to radio on Tuesday, March 20th. Bon Jovi is scheduled for live performances of “(You Want To) Make A Memory” on the upcoming 6th annual CMT Awards broadcast (April 16th live from Nashville); on Fox’s “American Idol” (May 2nd); and on NBC’s “Today Show” Outdoor Plaza (June 19th). Mean­while, Bon Jovi-watchers have already discovered the album’s title song, “Lost Highway” in the new box office smash film, Wild Hogs. Another album track, “We Got It Going On,” a duet with Big & Rich, is the theme song for the new Arena Football League season on ESPN.

Julie Roberts will perform at the19th Gstaad Festival, joining Rhonda Vincent, Riders in the Sky and Randy Travis. The festival will be held in Gstaad, Switzerland on September 21st and 22nd.

-- Katie.Dean@umusic.com