Simpson makes successful country debut
9/19/2008Jessica Simpson has had to put up with a lot of naysayers criticizing her decision to put out a country album, but the pop star got some vindication this week when her album, "Do You Know," debuted atop Billboard s Top Country Albums Chart with first-week sales of 65,154 copies.
Upon hearing the news, Simpson said, "I m extremely touched by the overwhelmingly positive response to the album. There is so much honesty and raw emotion in there, showing who I really am, and I m just thrilled that country fans are giving it a chance."
Simpson will be appearing on CBS The Early Show this morning.
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Ask just about any country artist what their favorite part of the job is, and more often than not they will say it s the fans they get to meet or the lives they get to touch.
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry realize more than anyone the importance of the fans, so it really wasn t a surprise to learn about an experience they had recently with a Make-A-Wish child.
Chantz, a 10-year-old boy from Chandler, Ariz., asked to meet Montgomery Gentry for his wish through the foundation. His wish came true last week when the guys played in Atlanta.
Troy and Eddie met Chantz backstage, then had him come on stage, where Eddie gave him one of his signature hats. As the crowd stood and cheered, Chantz joined Troy and Eddie in singing "My Town."
It s may seem like a gesture, but it will be an experience Chantz will never forget. Nice job, guys.
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Guess who s turning 50? Marty Stuart will celebrate his milestone birthday on GAC s Opry Live on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m.
Keith Urban, Marty s wife, Connie Smith, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, and several other guests will join Stewart on stage.
If it seems like Stewart had been around a while, well ... he has. He started playing professionally at the age of 13 with the legendary bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs.
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Twins Kate and Kacey Coppola, who won fans on CMT s Can You Duet?, will be singing the national anthem at this weekend s Sprint Cup race in Dover, Del. Their anthem performance will begin at 2 p.m. on ABC.
The sisters will be releasing an album through Big Machine Records.
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Don t forget that Dolly Parton will be performing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight at 11:30 on NBC.
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Congratulations to One Night Rodeo, who won the title of Next GAC Star in a competition sponsored by GAC and Music Nation.
Duane Allison (bass), Mike Elrod (drums), Cory Hildreth (lead vocals), and Jack Tamburin (electric guitar) are based in Bradenton, Fla..
They win a Gibson Hummingbird guitar, the chance to film a video that will be aired on GAC, and a recording contract with Original Signal Recordings, Music Nation s artist development arm/label.
One Night Rodeo s music can be heard at www.myspace.com/onenightrodeo.