Faith Joins Keith Urban In October, "All For The Hall"

Keith Urban surprised concert goers last night at his Nashville, TN Escape Together tour date by announcing that he would be returning to the Sommet Center on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, for a special benefit show. "We’re All For The Hall" will be a unique concert, with all proceeds benefitting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Keith will be joined by Faith Hill, as well as many more special friends and collaborators including Vince Gill, Jason Aldean, Little Big Town, Lady Antebellum and additional surprise guests, to present a one-of-a-kind evening of music and camaraderie.

Faith's online community members can purchase pre-sale tickets to this show beginning August 30th at 10am through September 1st at 5pm at Ticketmaster.com. To purc hase pre-sale tickets at Ticketmaster.com, you will need to use this special pre-sale code password: FRIENDS.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, September 2nd at 10AM at Ticketmaster.com. All tickets for this event will be priced at $25.

Under the leadership of Vince Gill, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2005 launched "All For The Hall," it’s first-ever non-bricks-and-mortar fundraising campaign. The campaign addresses the Museum’s need for long-term financial security and will provide a safety net for the institution and its work.

In addition to this great evening of music, if a "We're All For The Hall" ticket buyer shows their ticket stub or ticket confirmation at the m useum's box office, they will receive $3 off an adult general admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. This offer is valid through December 31, 2009.

Faith Hill And Keith Urban Invade LA Over The Weekend

And, A&O's buddy NEIL HAISLOP reports "COUNTRY WENT HOLLYWOOD LAST WEEKEND:"

Faith Hill was the featured guest artist of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Friday and Saturday nights. Saturday evening, Conductor, David Campbell, told the audience that it has been an honor to arrange music for several Hill recordings before he opened the evening conducting the orchestral performances from the sound tracks from Hollywood Films like "Spiderman," to works by Giovani Rabici (ra-bee-see). THEN FAITH ENTERED dressed in a long gown, making you think perhaps she was ready to sing a lot of great pop stuff, movie and show tunes, etc. But, no, because entering with Faith was her country band and backup singers...in turn, they were backed up by a 100 classically trained musicians playing violins, not fiddles, a row of acoustic basses, not electric bass, etc. It amounted to Country Diva, Faith Hill, delivering her greatest hits with the biggest sound you can imagine for songs like "Wild One," "Breathe," "Cry," "The Way You Love Me," "Let Me Let Go," plus, "There You'll Be," from the movie "Pearl Harbor," and more. The meld of a country diva and her country band and a world-class symphonic orchestra was a little like having barbecue ribs with escargot, but it worked.

Faith had the grace and presence of a country Queen, and the crowd loved it, including a couple that flew all the way from Canada to be present for the show. (Note: The last time we saw Faith at The Bowl was a couple of years back when Tim McGraw rocked the venue with his full-blown country show, with Faith appearing briefly to sing along with their great duet hits. Tim was said to be present backstage, but did not appear on stage).

SUNDAY NIGHT IT WAS KEITH URBAN'S TURN

Keith Urban rocked Staples Arena in Los Angeles so hard last year, they wanted him back again this year. SUGARLAND was scheduled to be the huge opening act for Keith, but, when Jennifer Nettles came down with a vocal ailment, country's hottest rising group, LADY ANTEBELLUM, was called in to pinch hit. And, hit they did...this group has been impressive from the beginning, scoring big hits with long shelf-life tunes and handling whatever big opportunity that comes their way, as they did last night in L.A.

According to Go Country L.A.'s, Shawn Parr, fans showed up early to make sure they saw Lady A fill the Sugarland opening slot, since the announcement that Sugarland would not be performing due to Jennifer's vocal problems had been made early in the day. "You could feel their energy," says Parr, "they lit up the place they really did and it was a high energy show...to hear Charles scream into the microphone saying how honored they were to be in Los Angeles to fill in for Sugarland. And when they broke into their #1 song "I Run To You," it brought the house down."

REGARDING URBAN'S PERFORMANCE...Parr noted, "I didn't think it was possible for Keith to go to another level...and I'm not sure if it was the stage (expanded and more up close and personal to the fans), the production, or just the fact that Keith is even more comfortable with who he is and what he does, it was unbelievable," concludes Parr.

More Monday morning NASHVILLE IQ...

ALAN JACKSON HASN'T LOST CONTACT FROM WHERE HE COMES

Alan Jackson grew up in a converted tool shed and slept in a hallway because there wasn't enough room in the family home for him to have a bedroom. His music has always reflected his humble, but loving upbringing in small town, Georgia. And his latest is another anthem to growing up in small-town, rural America. "I Still Like Bologna."

NEW MUSIC FROM JAMEY JOHNSON A FREE DOWNLOAD TO FANS

The debut single from Jamey Johnson's forthcoming album is entitled "My Way To You." The song, co-written by Johnson and Charlie Midnight, was made available to radio stations across the country yesterday at 1:00PM/CT via PLAY MPE.

FOR HIS FANS, On August 3, "My Way To You" will be available as a FREE download at www.jameyjohnson.com. On August 11, the digital e-single will be available for download at iTunes and all other digital partners.

The follow-up album to Johnson's critically acclaimed That Lonesome Song will hit stores this fall and will also be released on vinyl. "Man, that's how I listen to music. It's my favorite, number-one preference at home, to go put a vinyl record on my great grandmother's old record player. Which reminds me, I need to get somebody to do some maintenance on it. It needs a new needle."

Hmmm.. Just How Old Is Faith Hill?

AARP presents Faith Hill in concert at Vegas@50+ on Saturday, October 24 at the Sands Expo Center:

"Join us for an evening with one of country music's most popular and dynamic performers. Seats start at the low price of $25.."

No, you do NOT have to be 50+ to PERFORM for an AARP crowd.

Hint #1: last December's Shape Magazine.

Hint #2: 21 September 1967

At this rate, you can look for Taylor Swift to be headlining AARP's 2030 national convention... (I'll bet that both she and Faith will still be going strong by then.)

Faith Hill Is (Really) In "Shape"

Hill opened up to Shape Magazine this holiday season about how daily rituals and family traditions help keep her healthy, and centered and also sings the praises of exercise.

She looks simply GREAT (...and I'll leave it to the more catty bloggers to explore how much retouch work "Shape" compared to "Redbook" decided to do).

Trust me: if I'm ever a cover girl, there's going to be LOTS and LOTS of touching up to do.

New LP's For Faith, George and Chesney; New Tour Dates For Carrie

Faith Hill's new "Joy To The World" LP releases on Warner Bros. next Tuesday and George Strait's "Classic Christmas" on MCA arrives at retail on October 7 and they are hoping to be the first two ornaments of your Holiday season.

Kenny Chesney is giving fans a chance to buy songs from his next album, which hits stores on October 4 right now.

New dates have just been announced as Carrie Underwood continues her "Carnival Ride" tour. Underwood will have performed 137 live shows in 2008, in addition to her many Opry and TV performances. The fall leg of the tour, sponsored by vitaminwater®, will begin tomorrow in Cleveland, Ohio and will feature special guest Little Big Town.

Faith Hill Returns To Sunday Night Football

After doing a great job last year singing for the Sunday Night Football games, Faith will return to that gig this year.

"I have been busy I'm going to promote the Christmas record and I'm going to go and do the Sunday Night Football thing again in a couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to that."

Neil Haislop reports: Faith loves her daughters and loves being a mother, but she also love taking a break to rehearse and perform on the stadium show during CMA Music festival.

"It was great being on stage out doors, we've been performing indoors for two years, so I do miss that. But, I'm a mom first that's what I really know, I take care of my kids but I was sharing with my friends coming down here, I kind of feel like I'm off tonight (laughs) so I'm really going to party hard on that stage tonight. I don't have my kids with me, I'm going to rock it because it's usually all about them so I kind of feel like I have an off night."

Other Haislop headlines and quotes today:

TRACE ADKINS SAYS FANS AND FRIENDS KICKED IN MONEY HE DIDN'T WIN ON CELEBRITY APPRENTICE.

Because he was always on the losing team in during the Celebrity Apprentice show, including losing as a finalist he never won any money for his charity. But thanks to his fans and friends he's received over $300,000 dollars to fight food allergy problems.

"I never made a nickel on the show. Every time I was the project manager we lost, so I never won any money. But,since the show we've raised over 300,000 dollars. So it's just been unbelievable, it's succeeded and I could never have expected anything like that. It's coming from just people. I don't hardly do a meet n' greet anymore where somebody doesn't walk up to me and hand me a check and these are just regular people, coming out of their pockets and just handing me a check and some of them are huge."

ASKED ABOUT HIS FAVORITE 4TH OF JULY MEMORY, Trace said, "I set the pasture on fire behind our house; shot a bottle rocket off in the back yard and it landed in the pasture way back and we just kept shooting off bottle rockets and then happen to notice that the whole pasture on fire, it was real dry and I'll never forget that, I was like 14 when I did that."

CARRIE UNDERWOOD- reluctant to start headlining.

Carrie Underwood is enjoying her headliner status although she was a little reluctant to step on out front. Carrie says:

"I think I was the last one to come on board the whole headlining thing," says Carrie. "I lot of people said this is a good idea, we can sell this, people will come. And I said, 'Are you sure people will come?' It's just a lot of responsibility because I want everybody that comes to enjoy themselves so much and I want them to have so much fun. I just love going to concerts and wish I'd gone to more, I just know how they feel and I know what I would want to see and I just want everybody to have good time. And I want the guys that I know their wives drug them to the show, I want them to have good time too. I want everybody to get their money's worth."

Carrie has just added more tour dates to the end of the year...check the new schedule out below in Country On Tour.

ALAN JACKSON ON THE BEST AND WORST PART OF HIS JOB

Alan Jackson says the best part of his job is working on a new album and the occasional great times performing live, ''I've always said, as songwriter and making a new album is always something that doesn't get old because it's always a challenge that you don't always accomplish 100 percent, but any time you can write something different or better or make a new album, it's always fun to make new music."

Alan adds that the worst thing is, "It's not always great to be on the road and away from home, "But, then still you walk out on stage some nights and you feel good and the sounds good and the crowd's excited and it's still magical all those parts are still the best parts of the business...the music."

Faith Hill Has Bronchitis; Cancels Aretha Tribute Grammy Appearance

Faith was forced to withdraw early yesterday from the MusiCares Dinner honoring Aretha Franklin due to a bronchial infection. She explained in a press release:

"I am devastated and deeply disappointed that I will not be able to sing at the MusiCares Dinner honoring Aretha. I have been looking forward to being a part of this event for months and even after being diagnosed with a bronchial infection I came to LA anyway hoping that I'd be able to sing. I simply can't. Aretha is my musical hero and she deserves all of the accolades that she receives. I only hope that I'll get the chance to be a part of something like this in the future."

Faith And Live Nation Celebrate A Career Landmark

How would you like to win a Faith Hill plaque, commemorating over 30,000,000 albums sold worldwide? What if it was also autographed by Faith Hill, and had your name personally engraved on it? Feeling lucky? Enter To Win Now

One winner will be drawn every week, for four weeks. Must be at least 13 years of age to enter.Read complete official rules and regulations.

Sunday Night Football Theme To Premiere at FaithHill.com

Faith’s Sunday Night Football opener, “Waiting All Day for Sunday Night,” premiered last Thursday night as part of NBC’s opening night coverage of the NFL season. Now, the audio from Faith’s weekly opener will premiere every Wednesday night at www.faithhill.com before its broadcast debut on Sundays. Each week’s recording contains brand new lyrics recorded specifically for the team’s competing. (Hopefully, your WB promo rep can find you a copy with your team on it)

PS...

* Faith’s first greatest hits release, The Hits, arrives in stores on Tuesday, October 2nd. Her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, for which she debuted her new single “Red Umbrella,” has garnered nearly 1 million online views across the web. (watch the video)

* Faith wowed the audience of over 100,000 in Indianapolis’ Monument Circle, with a 30 minute set that included a preview of The Hits. During the performance, which included “Red Umbrella” and many of her #1s including “Wild One,” “This Kiss,” “Breathe,” “The Way You Love Me,” etc., she took the audience by surprise when she pulled out a camera in order to take their picture.

A&O hears that she will be doing more local radio events like that, a very smart idea.

Is Faith Hill Planning To Snub Radio? Why Do That?

Steve Holstein's Interprep Friday material included this question:

Did FAITH HILL’s actions at the Academy of Country Music Awards effect the fact that she wasn’t nominated for an award? She hasn’t had much out, but she and TIM MCGRAW were both overlooked for Entertainer of the Year when their Soul2Soul tour and the 2007 follow-up installment were among the biggest in
country music.

Personally, I'd bet that it came more as a result of block voting by the major labels of the winning nominees than anything as diabolical as that, but then comes this press release from Tree Paine at WB Publicity:

Faith Hill is in New York City today, where she'll appear at Lincoln Center's Allen Room, to tape the season premier of the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Set to air on September 5th, the appearance will mark the broadcast debut of a new song entitled "Red Umbrella." Faith is also slated to perform her breakthrough #1 "This Kiss." "Red Umbrella," to be released as one of the new song's on Faith's soon to be released CD The Hits, was written by Aimee Mayo, Chris Lindsey, and Brett and Brad Warren. "It's always nerve racking to perform a new song on television," said Hill. "But we added 'Red Umbrella' to the set for the last three Soul2Soul dates and the fans reaction was fantastic. So at least that gives me a bit of comfort. Fact is that it has the ingredients of any great song - it's cleverly crafted and it's message is sincere." "Red Umbrella" was recorded earlier this year in Nashville. It was co-produced by Byron Gallimore and Faith. It arrives at radio on September 13th. Contact: Paul Freundlich, PFA, 212 334 6116

September 13? I gather this means they think more Faith Hill fans watch "Ellen" than listen to country radio? Keep treating us like this and that will be the case.