Neil Haislop's NASHVILLE IQ©: Carrie, Kenny, Tim, Rodney

CARRIE UNDERWOOD’S SO SMALL TO DEBUT SO BIG
Look for Carrie Underwood’s new single, “So Small” debut pretty big, at #25 Mediabase. Carrie is already proud of this “feeling song,” that is the lead off single from her upcoming sophomore album due in stores Oct. 23. Also, “So Small” will be available for download to your phone as a ring-tone TOMORROW (August 7).

KENNY CHESNEY:
All He Could’ve WantedAs his 13th number-one hit “Never Wanted Nothing More” is spending its second week at the top of the country charts, Kenny Chesney says he’s thrilled to see that his fans have added the song to their list of favorites. Kenny says, “The first time I heard it, it just made me feel good—the melody of it and what it said. I mean, there’s a lot of things that this song talks about, and I think that it talks about it in a way to where it kind of makes you think about other things that come into your life. And I can tell from the people that sing the song back to me already out in the audience that it’s making an impression on their life, you know?” (for a copy of the :23 second audio, email a request to Neil Haislop)

CRITICALLY HAILED SOUL2SOUL TOUR 2007 PERFORMANCES
"Breathe," "The Way You Love Me," "Stronger," "Cry," "Piece Of My Heart," are just a few of the songs Faith Hill will include on her upcoming Faith Hill: Hits album particularly since these past hits are still garnering rave reviews on the Soul2Soul 2007 tour. While balancing both the personal and professional demands made of her whileout on tour, Faith has also been busy working to complete Faith Hill: TheHits, a 14-year compilation of the songs that made Faith one of the best-selling female country acts in history. It is slated for release early this Fall.

TIM McGRAW GETS HIS RING BACK
Tim McGraw had a rough time last week, a female fan gropped him, which infuriated Faith who berated the fan from on stage for her lack of class. And, it was reported that after that illegal use of the hands event, Tim’s pinky ring was grabbed by another fan. Turns out, it was reported on line that the ring had simply fallen off of McGraw’s finger because he’d recently lost some weight.

Word is the lady McGraw thought had his was just trying to tell him it had fallen off. TMZ reported the woman in the video, Monique, called in to 97.3 The Dawg in Lafayette, Louisiana to set the record straight.

According to her, the ring fell offbefore Tim even got to her. When he was asking for the ring back, Moniquesays she couldn't even hear what he was saying. A woman in the row behindher was trying to get Tim's attention to return it, but instead turned it into security, unbeknownst to Tim. Monique says that later, a member of Tim's entourage told her that Tim had recently lost a lot of weight and his rings weren't fitting right.

RODNEY ATKINS THE COLLEGE GRAD HE THOUGHT HE WASN’T
Nearly 14 years after he left Tennessee Tech, thinking he was just a few credits shy of finishing, Rodney Atkins has been awarded his college degree - without cracking a textbook. Turns out, Atkins had completed enough credits to receive a degree the University recently added.

Tennessee Tech University is now offering a new major, Interdisciplinary Studies. In doing research for those who are within a few hours of completion of their degree, the University found that Atkins would be eligible for graduation as an Interdisciplinary Studies major without taking any additional course work.

"When I was going to Tennessee Tech, my parents must have thought I was trying to become an astronaut with the way I was just taking up space!" laughs Atkins. "I think going to college was definitely a benefit to me (even before getting my degree) - but it's very satisfying to finally have the degree in hand - especially after paying back all those student loans!"

Dr. Robert Bell presented Rodney with his degree during Monday's performance at the Rodney Atkins Celebrity Golf Classic held in Cookeville