46 Hats Off, ACM

Winners:

• ACM
• Country Music (sold-out two of the largest arenas in Las Vegas, the MGM
• Grand Garden Arena and the Mandalay Bay Events Center)
• CBS
• Las Vegas
• Country RADIO (thanks, performers, for all the mentions!)
• 600,000 fans who cast votes for Entertainer of the Year (the largest vote ever for this category!!)
• Blake Shelton
• Reba
• Taylor Swift (the eighth and youngest female to take the award in the 40 year history of the category!!!)
• Miranda Lambert
• Brad Paisley
• Sugarland
• Lady Antebellum
• The Band Perry (nearly 155,000 fans cast online and text votes for the New Artist of the Year category, the largest fan vote for this category!!!!)

Taking Attendance In Baltimore

George Strait and Reba kicked off their co-headlining arena tour with Lee Ann Womack Friday night in Baltimore.

A Washington Post photographer and of course radio was there, but didn't any of the local papers or TV stations send a music reviewer? I guess that means they knew it would be a great show.

Many people may think this is the first time the superstars have toured together, but they actually shared the stage in the early 1980s, opening for Conway Twitty. We asked Reba what she remembers about that early tour together. “The first time George and I toured together was in the early 80s, opening the show for Conway Twitty,” notes Reba. “One weekend of the tour, I had flown into the city we were playing instead of riding the bus with the band and crew. I got a call from my tour manager and he said the bus had broken down and they were renting a school bus to get to the show. I asked them to be sure and get me an outfit out of my stateroom so I’d have something to wear at the concert that night. When we all met up at the show, they had gotten all the equipment, band gear, everything they needed to put on a show…except an outfit for me! I had to wear the same clothes I had flown in all day! George invited me to ride on his bus the next day. I sure enjoyed visiting with George and his group.” Needless to say, thankfully, Reba’s not having to worry about a bus breakdown this time around! -John Zarling, Valory Music Co.

The Undeniable Reba

She sent her fans an email Saturday giving them credit for her record-breaking three weeks in a row at #1 on the spin charts (and, today, it looks like she could possibly even get a 4th, given the fact that most countdown shows start by playing last week's #1 song again, helping her maintain a 200 total weekly spin advantage over the other contenders for the top spot on Monday morning's national "advances" on next week's rankers).

Jason Aldean has the fastest-growing top five song, judged by increased spins in the last seven days, but it still appears that Dierks Bentley and Tim McGraw will be #2 and #3, giving #4 (as of this morning) Aldean next week's charts to be their battleground for #1.

As always, there are many moving parts like that to the timing of any success, but it's still very classy to share the achievement with her local and longtime street team members publicly instead of her very aggressive promotion people, (who no doubt will also get rewarded for their achievements, but more privately).

We could all learn a lot about humility, customer service, personal reinvention to stay relevant, relationships, branding, quality and relatability of product as well as very well-executed competitive marketing - driven by a desire to do what it takes to stay on top - from this very savvy superstar.

"LAW" to join George Strait And Reba on 2010 Tour

The King of Country Music George Strait has added award-wining and platinum recording artist Lee Ann Womack to his previously announced arena tour with Entertainment Superstar Reba McEntire. The tour kicks off in early 2010 and continues through late Spring.

“'Does Ft Worth Ever Cross Your Mind'? 'Whoever's In New England'? 'The Fireman'? 'Little Rock'? 'Wrapped'? 'The Last To Know'? We're talking classic country from the source,” praises Womack. “I can't imagine a better tour to be on than George Strait and Reba McEntire --- and now I'm not imagining!” Womack added jokingly, “I'm trying to figure out what to wear...cause you can't out-starch George and you sure can't out-spangle Reba!”

2010 TOUR DATES - Date City Venue
22-Jan Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner
23-Jan Greensboro, NC Coliseum
29-Jan Knoxville, TN Thompson Boling
30-Jan Charlottesville, VA JPJ Arena
5-Feb Phoenix, AZ US Airways
6-Feb Las Vegas, NV MGM Garden Arena
18-Feb St Louis, MO Scottrade Center
19-Feb Wichita, KS Intrust Bank Arena
20-Feb Tulsa, OK BOK Arena
25-Feb Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
26-Feb Orlando, FL Amway Arena
4-Mar Memphis, TN FedEx Forum
5-Mar New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
6-Mar Little Rock, AR Verizon
26-Mar Portland, OR The Rose Garden
27-Mar Tacoma, WA Tacomadome
8-Apr Omaha, NE Qwest Center
9-Apr Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
10-Apr Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena

FOR PRESS MATERIALS OR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO

WWW.FRONTPAGEPUBLICITY.COM

For George Strait, Contact:
Kathy Best
FrontPage Publicity
Kathy@frontpagepublicity.com
615-383-0412

Regina Stuve
Universal Music Nashville
Regina.stuve@umusic.com
615-524-7543

For Reba McEntire, Contact:
Trisha McClanahan
Starstruck Entertainment
Trisha_Mc@Starstruck.net
615-259-5430

Natalie Kilgore
Big Machine Records/The Valory Music Co.
Natalie.kilgore@bigmachinemail.com
615-324-7769

For Lee Ann Womack, Contact:
Amber Williams
Universal Music Nashville
Amber.williams@umusic.com
615-524-7516

For Online and Tour Press
Kelly Russell
Universal Music Nashville
Kelly.russell@umusic.com
615-524-7552

Strait And Reba Tour Together In 2010

Don't put the hat you wore at the opening last spring of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium away!

Seventeen-time CMA Entertainer of the Year nominee George Strait will kick off his arena tour early next year and this time, he’s bringing along Reba McEntire. (click for their itinerary)

The superstar acts performed together for the first time in many years for a sold-out crowd at the Cowboy’s Stadium Inaugural event in Dallas. Selling out in less than an hour, fans and critics proclaimed the show one hot ticket, hailed by the Dallas Morning News as “an extravaganza” that “showcased Strait at the pinnacle of his musical game” and Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote “Reba’s performance was a breathtaking master’s class in effortless brilliance.”

Taylor & Miley Reunite At ACM Awards

Following her country-toned debut with pal Taylor Swift at this year's Grammys, Miley Cyrus will perform – solo this time – at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on April 5.

Cyrus, 16, will deliver her hit "The Climb" from the Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack, PEOPLE has learned exclusively. Climbing the Billboard Hot 100 and country charts, the song will easily fit in with the sound of the evening.

Could Miley be headed for a future in country music? Only time will tell.

The teen sensation will share the stage with a star-studded line-up that includes Lady Antebellum, Reba McEntire, John Rich, Lee Ann Womack and Jamey Johnson.

The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by McEntire, will air live on CBS from Las Vegas's MGM Grand on Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET and PT.

George, Reba, Blake And Julianne To Open Jimmy's New Place In Dallas

George Strait and Reba McEntire will team up June 6 to perform at the first major event at the Dallas Cowboys' new $1.1 billion stadium, team owner Jerry Jones announced Tuesday.

"One of the greatest entertainers of all time is going to be opening this stadium," Jones said, standing next to a Strait poster advertising the show.

The inaugural concert will also include singers Blake Shelton and Julianne Hough, a former "Dancing with the Stars" champion, to represent the newer generation of country stars.

Chesney Thanks Fans, But Wishes The "Entertainer" Hadn't Become A Popularity Contest

Over half a million fans voted resulting in Kenny Chesney winning his 4th Entertainer of the Year award tying Garth Brooks' record in that category.

Backstage Kenny thanked the fans for voting for him. But, then he expressed a strong opinion that he wished the ACM hadn't changed the criteria of that award.

"I think fans should be involved in voting for ACM awards, but not for the Entertainer of the Year." Kenny would have preferred tying Garth's record under the same criteria he had won the award. Kenny feels strongly that the award is something that should go to an artist who's worked hard all their career."

Note: Alabama holds the overall consecutive wins honors winning entertainer 5 times.

Reba McEntire rendered another brilliant and often funny hosting job as she led the TV and arena audience through the three hour show where fans were able to vote for Entertainer of the Year for the first time in history.

- A&O's buddy Neil Haislop Backstage At The ACM's (where it was a sizzling 104 degrees outside!)

It's ACM #10 For Reba

Click for Craig Ferguson's show, to vote for the ACM Entertainer of the Year.

From "NO Videos" To "Show Us Your Videos"

Remember when concert venues prohibited videos and photos at music events as a result of copyright riders in standard star artist contracts?

Thanks to cell phones, those days are long gone, of course.

Leave it to Starstruck to be the first to make the most of today's reality.

Reba And Hallmark Are Ready For Valentine's Day

Click here to check out Reba McEntire's terrific website.

Reba = Excellent Example For All Of Us

Reporter Ken Tucker is working on an article for next week's Billboard to coincide with the release of Reba McEntire's new "Duets" LP. He's been emailing two simple questions to inductry executives. His questions and my replies:

KT: Why has Reba’s career lasted so long?
JA: She and (her manager-husband) Narvel are the MASTERS of customer service to both radio and her fans, making us feel like partners in her success and many ventures. She's an inspiration and a great example to many other artists that it really pays off to cooperate constantly with even the smallest radio stations when they make reasonable requests of her. Reba is tireless in her commitment to communicating and sustaining her relationship with radio and fans, while always producing awesome music and selecting terrific songs.

KT: What does her music offer to radio and to listeners?
JA: Reba's ability to keep reinventing herself over and over, while extending the platforms on which her prodigious talent shines so brightly engage us all is not just impressive, but is also a wonderful example for any brand manager who wants to learn how to masterfully ride the inevitable product life cycle in the marketplace.

I can't wait to read what others are saying!

Reba & Clarkson Duet Tonight On TV

Tonight, Reba McEntire hosts the 42nd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The fun starts at 8/7c on CBS. Look for Reba to perform her new single "Because Of You" with Kelly Clarkson on the show as well.

MCA Nashville will release an unprecedented project titled Reba Duets September 18. For the first time ever, McEntire joins forces with some of the biggest and best names in music to round out an 11-track album, produced by Tony Brown and co-produced by McEntire.