Bucky Covington and Charles Kelley Share the Stage

Photo by: Dan Harr/MusicNewsNashville.com

BUCKY COVINGTON fans got a special treat last Friday from his concert at WILD BILL'S in Duluth, Georgia, as LADY ANTEBELLUM's HILLARY SCOTT and CHARLES KELLEY came out to Bucky's show following their Gwinnett Center "Own The Night" tour stop. Charles surprised the audience and joined Bucky on stage for a cover of John Mellencamp's "Hurts So Good" at the end of his set.

Brave's Kevin McKidd Checks out "newsies" on Broadway

Kevin McKidd and his daughter, Iona, with Jeremy Jordan. Image by Timothy Eaker.

Kevin McKidd and Iona with (L to R) Alex Wong, Thayne Jasperson, Capathia Jenkins, Andy Richardson, Jess LeProtto, and Evan Kasprzak. Image by Timothy Eaker.

Hunter Hayes Lights Up Kansas City

Last week the "Storm Warning" singer performed in front of 7,000 adoring fans at a local mall in Missouri. The crowd made Hunter feel very welcome as he treated them to an outdoor show.

Brad Paisley Treats Road Mates to Some Off-Stage Fun

This past Friday night Brad Paisley treated his tour mates, bands and crew to late night Grand Prix Go-Kart racing at Fun ‘n’ Stuff after the sold-out show in Cleveland. The wild and crazy group raced til 3:00am.

Paisley’s shows in Cleveland and Detroit this past weekend were both sold-out with over 36,000 in attendance. The Virtual Reality World Tour continues through mid-November.

Disney Starts filming MalEficent!

Here's your first look at Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. This is the untold story of Disney’s most beloved villain from the 1959 classic “Sleeping Beauty.” The film reveals the events that hardened her heart and drove her to curse the baby, Aurora.

“Maleficent” is scheduled for a March 14, 2014 release in 3D.

Iron Man 3 Begins Filming!

Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated film “Iron Man 3,” directed by Shane Black, has commenced production in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.

Big Time Heroes

Marvel’s The Avengers crossed the $600 million domestic box office threshold this week, becoming one of only three films in history ever to reach this milestone. The Super Hero film’s global total is now an estimated $1,438.3 million, and it stands as the #3 film of all time globally and domestically.

Marvel’s The Avengers opened in North America May 4 with a staggering $207.4 million – the biggest domestic debut of all time – and has been shattering domestic box office records ever since including the industry’s all-time second weekend record with $103 million; fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), $300 million (9 days), $400 million (14 days), and $500 million (23 days); and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals. It is the #4 film of all time internationally with $838.9 million.

Among only 12 films that have grossed $1 billion at the global box office, Marvel’s The Avengers is one of five billion-dollar Disney releases, which also include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Alice in Wonderland, Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Gloriana Celebrates Fasted Rising Single of Their Career

Country music trio Gloriana celebrates another career milestone as their latest single “(Kissed You) Good Night” grabs the #9 spot on the Billboard Country Singles Chart, making it their first single to land in the Top 10 and the fastest rising single of their career. “(Kissed You) Good Night” is from the band’s much-anticipated second studio album A Thousand Miles Left Behind on Emblem Music Group/Warner Bros. Records, which is set for release July 31st. Gloriana is currently out on the road performing headlining dates across the country as well as a few select dates opening for Alan Jackson.

For more about the band and the tour check out www.gloriana.com

Brad Paisley Sells out Chicago's Wrigley Field

Earlier this month, Brad Paisley took his Virtual Reality Tour to historic Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL and played to a sold-out crowd of 38,000 fans – inside the stadium. Surrounding the stadium on streets and roof tops were numerous fans – enjoying the party atmosphere and trying to hear or catch a glimpse of the performances. Special guest Miranda Lambert along with Chris Young, The Band Perry and Jerrod Niemann also performed. Home to the Chicago Cubs this is only the 2nd time that Wrigley Field has been the site for a live country concert.

You've Been Sentenced! Launches Country Music Edition

Pictured Above: Preston Brust of LoCash Cowboys (left) and
Donald McNeill, CEO, McNeill Designs (right) present checks to
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Success Won’t Wait at Nashville’s Hard Rock Café.

Game manufacturer McNeill Designs for Brighter Minds (in partnership with Nashville Music Guide) hosted its celebrity charity event during country music’s biggest week on Thursday afternoon, June 7, at the Hard Rock Café in downtown Nashville, TN. Recording artist and television host, Mark Wills [“3 Gun Nation” (Versus Network)], acted as the game host wooing the crowd while nearly 20 celebrity participants put on their game faces to play the award-winning literacy game You’ve been Sentenced! Country Music Edition. Nearly $4,000 was raised; proceeds from ticket sales, raffle items and contributions benefited Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the literacy organization Success Won’t Wait.

Upon the tournament’s conclusion, LoCash Cowboys’ own Preston Brust reigned as champion; not just celebrating bragging rights, Brust’s winning sentence will be featured on the You’ve been Sentenced! Country Music Edition initial print run.

Preston Brust, LoCash Cowboys, winning sentence: Crop duster, Mark Wills, freaked out and kicked sweet Band Perry's nervous rear end backstage!

Carly Rae Jepsen Hits #1

"Call Me Maybe" is at the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart and on the Pop chart this week. Carly is about to embark on her first tour with Justin Bieber who helped make the single a viral hit with his "Justin Bieber and Friends" video with the superstar lip-syncing to the song along with girlfriend Selena Gomez and friend Ashley Tisdale. Since then the song has had many other tribute versions posted to Youtube (James Franco and Katy Perry have even posted their own takes on the catchy tune) and Internet memes have taken the lyrics to new levels.

For more visit:

www.carlyraemusic.com
www.facebook.com/carlyraejepsen
www.twitter.com/carlyraejepsen

Scotty McCreeRy Wins CMT Video Award, Graduates High School

Congrats to Scotty McCreery who has been having one great year. Not only was he crowned Season 10's American Idol, he's been having amazing success with his debut album. Last week Scotty was on hand to pick up his first CMT Video award before jetting off to his hometown to pick up his high school diploma!

One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" Certified Platinum!

One Direction's US success continues this week as their debut single "What Makes You Beautiful" passes 2 million digital sales and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Their BRIT Award winning debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful" sold more than 131,000 copies in the US in its first week, debuting at #12 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart. Their #28 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 marked the highest debut from a British Group since the Spice Girls in 1998.

Carrie Underwood Earns Fifteenth #1 Single with "Good Girl"

Superstar Carrie Underwood reigns atop Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart for a fifth consecutive week with her new album, Blown Away, even as today’s album news closely follows word this week that Carrie has earned her 15th No. 1 single with “Good Girl,” the debut single from Blown Away. Since achieving her first No. 1 single in 2006 with “Jesus, Take The Wheel” Carrie has spent more weeks in the No. 1 spot on the country airplay charts than any other female artist.

Easton Corbin Chosen as Third Road to the Ram Jam Artist

Mercury Nashville recording artist Easton Corbin will join previously announced artists Kellie Pickler and Brantley Gilbert for the “Road to the Ram® Jam” series and sweepstakes. The Road to the Ram Jam, presented by the Ram Truck brand, features five of today’s best country music artists and provides fans the opportunity to win prizes including trips for two to an invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event December 29th in Nashville, TN, where all five artists will perform.

The Road to the Ram Jam series and sweepstakes helps bring country music fans closer to some of their favorite artists with exclusive video content, the opportunity to win prizes including collectible posters and vinyl records through participating country radio stations nationwide, and free music downloads. Fans can enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win trips for two to the invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event at www.RamTrucks.com/RoadtoRamJam or on the Ram Trucks Facebook page at www.ramjamsweeps.com.

Corbin will offer fans a chance to win a free download of his new single “Lovin' You Is Fun,” from his forthcoming sophomore album All Over the Road, when they enter the Road to the Ram Jam concert sweepstakes. The remaining Road to the Ram Jam artists will be announced throughout the year and all five participating will receive a lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck. The trucks will then be auctioned off in early 2013 with all proceeds going to benefit a charity of each artist’s choice.

Proceeds from Corbin’s Ram truck will be donated to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. The Scholarship Fund honors the bravery and dedication exhibited by Americans in our Armed Forces who have sacrificed life or limb defending our country by awarding college scholarships to their children. Scholarships are awarded to students whose parent has been killed or permanently disabled in an operational mission or training accident. For the 2011 academic year, they awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to 240 sons and daughters of American heroes. To date, the Fund has awarded more than $5 million in scholarships. For more information on the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund you can go to www.freedomalliance.org.

For more visit www.eastoncorbin.com

The CW Renews Three Popular Series

The Vampire Diaries will return for season four, Supernatural for an eighth season and 90210 for a fifth season.

Fringe Gets Fifth and Final Season

FOX has picked up FRINGE for a fifth and final 13-episode season, it was announced today by Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company.

“FRINGE is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television’s most imaginative dramas. Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve,” said Reilly “The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it’s going to be a very exciting final chapter.”

FRINGE co-creator and executive producer J.J. Abrams added, “We are thrilled and beyond grateful that FOX – and our fans – have made the impossible possible: FRINGE will continue into a fifth season that will allow the series to conclude in a wild and thrilling way. All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive FOX network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show.”

“This pickup means the world (both of them) to us, because we love sharing these stories with our enthusiastic fans,” added FRINGE showrunners and executive producers Jeff Pinkner and J.H. Wyman. “On behalf of the cast and crew, we applaud our fans and FOX for allowing us to imagine the impossibilities together for so long. Season Five is going to be a conclusive thrill ride for all of us.”

Just Dance

Featuring over 30 hits from award winning country mega stars, Country Dance All Stars artists include host of ABC’s “The Voice” Blake Shelton and his Grammy award-winning wife Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Sugarland and many more! Country Dance All Stars, the next iteration in the top-selling Country Dance™ video game franchise, was designed from the ground up for Kinect for Xbox 360 to bring a whole new hands-free experience to the dance party. Your body becomes the controller as you kick up your boots and dance your way through over 30 hot routines and songs. Challenge a friend to a dance off with simultaneous competitive play or work together to pull off the moves and collectively build a top score. Boost your boot-scootin’ skills with all new line-dancing routines, and don’t be afraid to belt it out with scrolling sing-a-long lyrics. Share the fun with friends as the Kinect sensor snaps photos throughout each routine. Plus, all new downloadable content support allows you to keep the party going with downloadable song packs featuring new choreography.

For more information about Country Dance All Stars or the Country Dance game franchise, please visit: www.game-mill.com.

Feel the Rush

Available now from Majesco

Zumba® Fitness Rush for the XBox Kinect is a fun way to get your heart rate going, get your body moving, and have fun all at once. Featuring 42 new songs and 24 international dance syles, Zumba® Fitness Rush is a great way to excercise without feeling like its a chore. Dance along with artists like Pitbull and Nicole Scherzinger in workout sessions that range from 20 to 60 minutes and customize your routines with your favorite music, dance moves and more!

For more check out www.zumbafitnessgame.com

Collectable Tweezers

Tweezerman and Gwen Stefanie teamed up to bring fashion fans the "Harajuku Lovers" line of specialty tweezers. Get your pair today (there's 5 collectable characters!) at www.tweezerman.com