Hi, I'm Dave Marsh-Program Director and host of "The Ride" home weekday afternoons 3-7p on 104.5 WFMB.
Here's just a little bit about me. I grew up in a tiny little town in Central Wisconsin. Got my degree in Broadcast Journalism at UW-River Falls and have been doing radio in some way shape or form since 1977. I've lived in a variety of locations including Colorado Springs, Lincoln, NE and near Madison, WI. I love radio as a career and the contact we have with the artists. Hobbies include: Fishing, motorcycles (when I can borrow one), outdoor activities, gardening, landscaping and yard work. Musical choices: Everything from George Strait to Pink Floyd. Love most kinds of music. TV: 24, Fringe, House, SciFi-Star Trek and a steady diet of NatGeo, History, Discovery and Science Channels Sports: Packers, Brewers, Bucks--but I have a healthy respect for the Cardinals
I love hearing from our wayward listeners on line at wfmb.com. Shoot me an email and let me know where you are.
» Brooks & Finally Dunn:"This ain't a funeral,"Kix Brooks said at one point during Brooks & Dunn's final concert as a duo last night in Nashville (9/2). "We did show up to party." And with 20-year compadre Ronnie Dunn, that's exactly what they did, rocking through a fast-paced set of their biggest hits, bringing out a special guest and winding up the same way they started. The final Last Rodeo Tour stop opened with a 15-minute video featuring clips of band members, crew and associates talking up the duo. "Play Something Country" kicked it off, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. The intensity ratcheted up again midway through the show as Reba walked onstage during "Cowgirls Don't Cry" to help close out the song. Marines in full dress uniforms and patriotic streamers fueled "Only In America," while crowd favorite "My Maria" brought an equally strong reaction. Fittingly, B&D closed the show – which benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame – with their first single, "Brand New Man." As Kix & Ronnie embark on brand-new solo careers, it's safe to say their two-decade collaboration has cemented its place as one of country music's greatest.
» Miranda's Right:The big CMA Awards nominations announcement Wednesday morning (9/1) wasn't a complete surprise to nine-time nominee Miranda Lambert and three-timer Dierks Bentley. "We were going to try and re-enact the excitement, but we've been kind of sipping it like a fine whiskey," Bentley told anchor Robin Roberts on the Good Morning America set. The two saw the final nominees list during rehearsals for the big moment, and had to at least attempt to recreate their emotions for the cameras. Luckily, the surprise didn't wear off quickly. "It's really unbelievable," Lambert said. "I'm definitely shocked at some of my nominations." These include Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album (Revolution), two each for Single and Video ("The House That Built Me" and "White Liar"), Song ("White Liar") and Musical Event ("Bad Angel" with Bentley and Jamey Johnson). Her nine nods set a record for the most by a female artist (Alan Jackson received 10 in 2002). See all the nominations here and watch the GMA announcement here.
» Thank You Quotes:Moments after being nominated for his first major CMAs, including Male Vocalist, Blake Shelton was on the phone with us. "After 10 years of sitting in the audience at the CMA Awards, watching my friends and heroes go up to pick up an award or perform because they were nominated, it will be very cool for the first time to have a real reason to be there and celebrate," he said. "I always felt like one of the artists in the way, and even though it took 10 years to get to this point, I couldn't be more thrilled." Here are some other artist reactions:
"Five nominations is absolutely unbelievable ... I also want to give a shout-out to all our buddies who are having their moment right now, too. Going on this ride with other artists who you can call your friends is just awesome." — Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley
"[A] huge, massive thank-you to everyone who not only made these nominations possible, but also brought a whole new level of passion to our shows this year ... for the fans, to Country radio, to the Nashville community, I appreciate it more than you can possibly imagine." —Keith Urban
"I was driving to a writing appointment today when I got the news. My phone was ringing off the hook from my management and label, and I thought, 'Oh no! Is this good or bad?' I didn't know the nominations were coming out so I was a little scared. But it all ended up better than I could've imagined." —Easton Corbin
"I'm going to Disney World! Actually, I really am. We're flying with our girls for a quick trip before embarking on a working cruise with Zac Brown Band and country fans. We will certainly celebrate the nominations on the high seas." — Joey+Rory'sRory Feek
"I got started as a songwriter, so I've been in the trenches a long time. So for everyone to recognize that and give you a pat on the back and say thank you for hangin' in there ... it's a huge honor." — Jerrod Niemann
"To be recognized like this as an artist, it means a lot to you, especially me, being my first CMA nomination." — Chris Young
"I've watched my idols perform on the CMAs since I was a little girl. Walking alongside them on the red carpet is just like a dream." — Steel Magnolia's Meghan Linsey
"We are so humbled and just downright excited to be nominated for Vocal Group Of The Year. The three of us are huge country music fans and are honored to be in this category with some of our favorite artists. Big love and our deepest thanks to everyone for your rich support." — The Band Perry's Kimberly Perry
» Don't Blink:Kenny Chesney's grand plan to skip a year of major touring didn't exactly translate into a lot of downtime. A concert film, a football documentary, his upcoming album and a number of festival shows kept him running pretty fast. So fans worried he would get to comfortable with a life of leisure can take heart that he's already working on a 2011 tour. "I'm having a meeting about what's going to be on our screens, how we're going to present ourselves and what we're going to do," Chesney says. "The way we go out on tour – you can't just make that up in January and then decide to go do it. It has to be planned out. The thing that excites me the most about next year is the anticipation of [playing] the new music. One of the reasons I wanted a break from the road is that if we toured this year, there wasn't going to be a whole lot of new music to play. I felt like our show was kind of going to be the same, [and] I didn't want to push that." Hemingway's Whiskey will be in stores Sept. 28.
In the meantime, his Boys Of Fall documentary had its ESPN-TV premiere last week and will be on DVD soon. "If you would have asked me last year when I walked off that stage [in Indianapolis] what I was going to do, if you told me I was going to get in a plane and spend the next year interviewing football coaches, I would have told you that you were crazy," he says. "But we did, and I'm very glad we did."
» Water Works:Apparently, Brad Paisley is still thirsty as he's called for more H20 ... H2O World Tour, that is. His fall run has been extended through Nov. 20 in Tulsa. Darius Rucker and Justin Moore are also on the bill. Paisley will also be heading where the map turns blue Oct. 17 to headline a free concert as part of Gulf Shores, AL's Concerts For The Coast to promote tourism. Details here.
» Mining Your Own Business:Country Music Hall Of Famer Loretta Lynn handpicked the artists who will record her biggest hits for the Nov. 9 album Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn.Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack have contributed to the collection. "I am so happy that these singers wanted to do this record," Lynn says. "I love them all, and it was so great to hear all the different ways they did my hits. I hope people like it as much as I do, and [I hope] we sell a bunch of records!" Steve Earle, Kid Rock, Allison Moorer, Paramore, the White Stripes and Lucinda Williams were also chosen for the compilation.
»Hit List
The fall line of Taylor Swift American Greetings cards are exclusively available at Target stores nationwide through November. Details here.
Gloriana and the JaneDear girls are the only country mugs pictured in Hot Topic's back-to-school campaign When Music And Fashion Collide. The groups are featured among 16 multi-genre acts on the clothier's site and on posters in stores around the country. View the looks and behind-the-scenes video here.
Tickets to the Lee Ann Womack-hosted Fourth Annual ACM Honors, Sept. 20 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, are available now. Details here.
Tim McGraw and author Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr. will receive True Ally Awards from Men Stopping Violence during the organization's Oct. 2 annual dinner Atlanta. Both are being recognized for using their celebrity to advocate equality and respect for women and girls. Details here.
Miranda Lambert, Hillary Scott, Laura Bell Bundy and Kellie Pickler cut loose in this clip about making the "Only Prettier" music video. "My friend Laura Bell Bundy, who is a guest in the video, wrote the treatment for [the shoot], and the director Trey Fanjoy is really bringing it to life," Lambert says on-set.
Joe Nichols shares his love of baseball and performs "Gimmie That Girl" and "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" on MLB.com's "Major League Artist" video page. "I probably would be a baseball fan no matter what city I grew up in," Nichols says. "[But] being that I spent a lot of time growing up in St. Louis, there's such a baseball community and it's such a rich baseball town. I was just around it all the time. Plus my dad was a security guard at Busch Stadium, so that was awesome." Watch here.
Jaron And The Long Road To Love has recruited The Hills actress Kristin Cavallari for his upcoming music video "That's Beautiful To Me." We don't know all the details, but judging by her Twitter posts, the plot might have her in a chicken suit. "This gives a whole new definition to 'Tweeting'," Cavallari says.
2010 CMA Nominations:The first set of nominees for the 44th Annual CMA Awards were announced by Justin Moore and Chris Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The balance of the nominations will be announced tomorrow on ABC-TV's Good Morning America. The winners will be revealed during the CMA Awards telecast airing on ABC-TV Wednesday, Nov. 10 8-11pm ET.
Video
"Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton f/Trace Adkins
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
"Water," Brad Paisley
"White Liar," Miranda Lambert
Single
"A Little More Country Than That," Easton Corbin
"Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton f/Trace Adkins
"Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
"The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
"White Liar," Miranda Lambert
Song
"A Little More Country Than That,"Easton Corbin
"Need You Now,"Lady Antebellum
"The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
"Toes," Zac Brown Band
"White Liar," Miranda Lambert
Musician
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac McAnally
Randy Scruggs
New Artist
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band
Group
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Duo
Brooks & Dunn
Joey+Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland
The remainder of the nominees will be announced Wedneday morning on Good Morning America by Dierks Bently and Miranda Lambert. John and Michele will have complete coverage in the morning as well.
One thing we do know about the Nov. 10 show, it will be hosted, again, by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. But you don't have to wait until then to get your country fix ... That's because ABC-TV is airing CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock Wednesday (9/1). Tim McGraw hosts the three-hour primetime concert special, which will coincide with a Tweet 'N' Greet at ABC.com. What's a Tweet 'N' Greet, you ask? Think lots of stars tweeting in unison: Julianne Hough (@JulianneHough), Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum), Reba (@Reba), McGraw (@TimMcGrawArtist), Blake Shelton (@BlakeShelton), Keith Urban (@KeithUrban) and Zac Brown Band (@ZacBrownBand) will all be posting behind-the-scenes scoop during the telecast. "The CMA Music Fest is our time to give back to the people who give us a job all year long," performer Lambert says. "They come out and buy tickets and support us and buy records, so it's our time to thank them for what they do. I used to come to Fan Fair as a fan so I know how important it is." Learn more and watch online exclusive content from the June 10-13 event here.
» Kennebunked:What seemed like most of the population of Kennebunk, ME turned out bayside for Taylor Swift's MTV takeover Friday (8/27). Swift premiered her video "Mine" and during the 30-minute special, told behind-the-scenes stories of putting the clip together. "These little kids in the video – who I've nicknamed 'The Littles' – they're my character's future kids," Swift says. "They were all really fun to have on the set and so I had this little party just for them at my house to see the video first. They all have big families, so we invited everyone [and it was] like 25 kids piled up on the couch watching the video for the first time. And they all screamed when they saw themselves." Swift handpicked each child actor from random places including an autograph signing line during the CMA Music Festival three years ago and a Nashville ice cream stand. Watch the entire special on-demand here. Watch the video here. Swift is also the focus of an Entertainment Weekly Q&A (click here).
» For Those About To Rock:Martina McBride has been getting hip to her inner rock goddess recording with the likes of Kid Rock and the Eurhythmics' Dave Stewart. McBride collaborated with Kid Rock and T.I. for the upcoming song "Care," which is due out Nov. 16. And McBride blogged about working with Stewart at her husband's Blackbird Studios in Nashville. "John [McBride] engineered and mixed the new solo album by Stewart," McBride writes. "It is so great, and you should hear it when it comes out ... I sang a duet with Dave, and it came out great. It's called 'All Messed Up On Love.' Dave recorded 15 songs in five days at Blackbird (quite a different pace from the way we make country albums) ... John loved it and it sounds great!" Read the full blog here.
» Weed The Fine Print:Emcee Vince Gill and other stars literally sang the praises of Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and veteran record producer Fred Foster during a private industry event Sunday (8/29) in Nashville. Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Rodney Crowell, Lorrie Morgan, Lyle Lovett and Randy Travis performed during the two-hour gala in tribute to the trio's groundbreaking contributions to music. "Without them, none of us would be here tonight ... because Willie had the good [stuff]," Gill joked. One speaker recalled asking Willie what he thought his bus would say if it could talk. "If it could talk," Nelson replied, "I would shoot it." Read more here.
» The Guitar Song:Not only did Jerrod Niemann take home several plaques after last week's No. 1 celebration for "Lover Lover," the song's original writer Daniel Pritzker (frontman for the band Sonia Dada) gave him a very cool and very old present. "Daniel was kind enough to not only show up at the No. 1 party and celebrate with us, but he gave me a 1957 Gibson J-185 guitar," Niemann says. "And then to top it off, I understand it's the guitar that 'Lover, Lover' was actually written on ... I said, 'Thank you,' and 'Are you crazy?' I do not deserve this guitar. If he asks for it back, I'd definitely give to him because it's just that awesome of a guitar. But in the meantime, I'm going to be picking and grinning and giggling and whatever else you do with a guitar that is worth more than your car."
» Songs About Me:As if Trace Adkins' Aug. 17 studio album Cowboy's Back In Town isn't enough, the "Dangerous Man" will have a double disc of hits out this fall. The Definitive Greatest Hits: Til The Last Shot's Fired drops Oct. 12 and will feature 28 of Adkins' most popular songs including "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "You're Gonna Miss This," "(This Ain't No) Thinkin' Thing," "Ladies Love Country Boys" and "Hot Mama."
» In Case You Missed It:While guesting on this morning's Today show (8/27), MCA's Josh Turner and wife Jennifer broke the news they are expecting their third boy. Turner also shared a New York sweet tea with anchor Hoda Kotb, discussed his vocal range, kid's fashions and performed "Why Don't We Just Dance." Watch here. On Good Morning America, Capitol's Lady Antebellum discussed their rise to prominence and performed " Our Kind Of Love" and " Need You Now."
» Fest Days Of Your Life:The three-hour CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock premieres Wednesday (9/1) at 8pm ET on ABC-TV. Tim McGraw hosts, Taylor Swift performs "Mine" and Jason Aldean,Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba and more are featured. Details here.
Circle. Un. Broken.The pine cutout from the original Ryman Auditorium stage was returned to its home in the Grand Ole Opry House stage today (8/25) during an emotional press conference announcing the venue will reopen Sept. 28 with its first Opry performance since May's flood. Little Jimmy Dickens will be joined by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels Band, Diamond Rio, Del McCoury Band, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Mel Tillis and Josh Turner for the Opry performance, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 1. The venerable show has been staged in several other venues, including the Ryman, since the Opry House was damaged.
"This is indeed an iconic music institution that is extremely important to our city's tourism, our history and our identity," Nashville Mayor Karl Dean said at the press conference. "One of the great stories that came out of the floods is the fact that the Grand Ole Opry never stopped ... that is an incredible statement and message to the rest of the country about the resilience of the country music industry, of Gaylord [Entertainment], of this institution and of our entire city."
Paisley and Dickens closed the ceremony by placing the circle back in its home and performed the anthem "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." "I thought last night, 'I should bring a guitar,'" Paisley said. "This [venue] shouldn't sit there silent for the next month." The Opry House opening is the first of several Opry events including the Spirit Of Nashville Day (10/2), the 85th Birthday Bash (10/8-9), Opry Goes Pink (10/15) and others. The Sept. 28 show will broadcast live on WSM/Nashville and GAC. Details here.
» High Tech Read Next:The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band have added an online component to the Letters For Lyrics campaign, which aims to send one million letters to service members overseas. The application is available through the RamZone blog, the Letters For Lyricspage and ZBB's website. An option to invite friends to participate in the initiative through social networks is also available. Entrants will receive ZBB's Breaking Southern Ground compilation featuring Southern Ground's Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan, Levi Lowrey and three new ZBB songs, or the CD can be donated to a soldier. Learn more and watch the sixth installation of For Those Who Servehere.
» In Case You Missed It:Reprise/WAR's John Rich co-hosted NBC-TV's Today this morning (8/25) with anchor Hoda Kotb. The pair discussed Granny Rich, Lindsay Lohan, his Nashville home Mt. Richmore and his favorite concoction – Crown Royal and Coke. "After about three more of those, I'm going to look really handsome to you," Rich joked. Watch here.
» Boys R Us:ESPN will premiere a 60-minute version of Kenny Chesney's football documentary The Boys Of Fall Sunday (8/29) at 2pm ET. The full feature-length doc is expected on DVD in mid-November.
"This ain't a funeral," Kix Brooks said at one point during Brooks & Dunn's final concert as a duo last night in Nashville (9/2). "We did show up to party." And with 20-year compadre Ronnie Dunn, that's exactly what they did, rocking through a fast-paced set of their biggest hits, bringing out a special guest and winding up the same way they started. The final Last Rodeo Tour stop opened with a 15-minute video featuring clips of band members, crew and associates talking up the duo. "Play Something Country" kicked it off, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy. The intensity ratcheted up again midway through the show as Reba walked onstage during "Cowgirls Don't Cry" to help close out the song. Marines in full dress uniforms and patriotic streamers fueled "Only In America," while crowd favorite "My Maria" brought an equally strong reaction. Fittingly, B&D closed the show – which benefited the Country Music Hall of Fame – with their first single, "Brand New Man." As Kix & Ronnie embark on brand-new solo careers, it's safe to say their two-decade collaboration has cemented its place as one of country music's greatest.
The big CMA Awards nominations announcement Wednesday morning (9/1) wasn't a complete surprise to nine-time nominee Miranda Lambert and three-timer Dierks Bentley. "We were going to try and re-enact the excitement, but we've been kind of sipping it like a fine whiskey," Bentley told anchor Robin Roberts on the Good Morning America set. The two saw the final nominees list during rehearsals for the big moment, and had to at least attempt to recreate their emotions for the cameras. Luckily, the surprise didn't wear off quickly. "It's really unbelievable," Lambert said. "I'm definitely shocked at some of my nominations." These include Entertainer, Female Vocalist, Album (Revolution), two each for Single and Video ("The House That Built Me" and "White Liar"), Song ("White Liar") and Musical Event ("Bad Angel" with Bentley and Jamey Johnson). Her nine nods set a record for the most by a female artist (Alan Jackson received 10 in 2002). See all the nominations 
Moments after being nominated for his first major CMAs, including Male Vocalist, Blake Shelton was on the phone with us. "After 10 years of sitting in the audience at the CMA Awards, watching my friends and heroes go up to pick up an award or perform because they were nominated, it will be very cool for the first time to have a real reason to be there and celebrate," he said. "I always felt like one of the artists in the way, and even though it took 10 years to get to this point, I couldn't be more thrilled." Here are some other artist reactions:
Kenny Chesney's grand plan to skip a year of major touring didn't exactly translate into a lot of downtime. A concert film, a football documentary, his upcoming album and a number of festival shows kept him running pretty fast. So fans worried he would get to comfortable with a life of leisure can take heart that he's already working on a 2011 tour. "I'm having a meeting about what's going to be on our screens, how we're going to present ourselves and what we're going to do," Chesney says. "The way we go out on tour – you can't just make that up in January and then decide to go do it. It has to be planned out. The thing that excites me the most about next year is the anticipation of [playing] the new music. One of the reasons I wanted a break from the road is that if we toured this year, there wasn't going to be a whole lot of new music to play. I felt like our show was kind of going to be the same, [and] I didn't want to push that." Hemingway's Whiskey will be in stores Sept. 28.
Apparently, Brad Paisley is still thirsty as he's called for more H20 ... H2O World Tour, that is. His fall run has been extended through Nov. 20 in Tulsa. Darius Rucker and Justin Moore are also on the bill. Paisley will also be heading where the map turns blue Oct. 17 to headline a free concert as part of Gulf Shores, AL's Concerts For The Coast to promote tourism. Details 
Country Music Hall Of Famer Loretta Lynn handpicked the artists who will record her biggest hits for the Nov. 9 album Coal Miner's Daughter: A Tribute To Loretta Lynn. Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack have contributed to the collection. "I am so happy that these singers wanted to do this record," Lynn says. "I love them all, and it was so great to hear all the different ways they did my hits. I hope people like it as much as I do, and [I hope] we sell a bunch of records!" Steve Earle, Kid Rock, Allison Moorer, Paramore, the White Stripes and Lucinda Williams were also chosen for the compilation.
The fall line of Taylor Swift American Greetings cards are exclusively available at Target stores nationwide through November. Details 
Miranda Lambert leads list of CMA nominees. Get the complete details on today's announcement 
The first set of nominees for the 44th Annual CMA Awards were announced by Justin Moore and Chris Young at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The balance of the nominations will be announced tomorrow on ABC-TV's Good Morning America. The winners will be revealed during the CMA Awards telecast airing on ABC-TV Wednesday, Nov. 10 8-11pm ET.
What seemed like most of the population of Kennebunk, ME turned out bayside for Taylor Swift's MTV takeover Friday (8/27). Swift premiered her video "Mine" and during the 30-minute special, told behind-the-scenes stories of putting the clip together. "These little kids in the video – who I've nicknamed 'The Littles' – they're my character's future kids," Swift says. "They were all really fun to have on the set and so I had this little party just for them at my house to see the video first. They all have big families, so we invited everyone [and it was] like 25 kids piled up on the couch watching the video for the first time. And they all screamed when they saw themselves." Swift handpicked each child actor from random places including an autograph signing line during the CMA Music Festival three years ago and a Nashville ice cream stand. Watch the entire special on-demand 
Martina McBride has been getting hip to her inner rock goddess recording with the likes of Kid Rock and the Eurhythmics' Dave Stewart. McBride collaborated with Kid Rock and T.I. for the upcoming song "Care," which is due out Nov. 16. And McBride blogged about working with Stewart at her husband's Blackbird Studios in Nashville. "John [McBride] engineered and mixed the new solo album by Stewart," McBride writes. "It is so great, and you should hear it when it comes out ... I sang a duet with Dave, and it came out great. It's called 'All Messed Up On Love.' Dave recorded 15 songs in five days at Blackbird (quite a different pace from the way we make country albums) ... John loved it and it sounds great!" Read the full blog 
Emcee Vince Gill and other stars literally sang the praises of Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and veteran record producer Fred Foster during a private industry event Sunday (8/29) in Nashville. Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, Rodney Crowell, Lorrie Morgan, Lyle Lovett and Randy Travis performed during the two-hour gala in tribute to the trio's groundbreaking contributions to music. "Without them, none of us would be here tonight ... because Willie had the good [stuff]," Gill joked. One speaker recalled asking Willie what he thought his bus would say if it could talk. "If it could talk," Nelson replied, "I would shoot it." Read more 
Not only did Jerrod Niemann take home several plaques after last week's No. 1 celebration for "Lover Lover," the song's original writer Daniel Pritzker (frontman for the band Sonia Dada) gave him a very cool and very old present. "Daniel was kind enough to not only show up at the No. 1 party and celebrate with us, but he gave me a 1957 Gibson J-185 guitar," Niemann says. "And then to top it off, I understand it's the guitar that 'Lover, Lover' was actually written on ... I said, 'Thank you,' and 'Are you crazy?' I do not deserve this guitar. If he asks for it back, I'd definitely give to him because it's just that awesome of a guitar. But in the meantime, I'm going to be picking and grinning and giggling and whatever else you do with a guitar that is worth more than your car."
As if Trace Adkins' Aug. 17 studio album Cowboy's Back In Town isn't enough, the "Dangerous Man" will have a double disc of hits out this fall. The Definitive Greatest Hits: Til The Last Shot's Fired drops Oct. 12 and will feature 28 of Adkins' most popular songs including "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk," "You're Gonna Miss This," "(This Ain't No) Thinkin' Thing," "Ladies Love Country Boys" and "Hot Mama."
While guesting on this morning's Today show (8/27), MCA's Josh Turner and wife Jennifer broke the news they are expecting their third boy. Turner also shared a New York sweet tea with anchor Hoda Kotb, discussed his vocal range, kid's fashions and performed "Why Don't We Just Dance." Watch 
The three-hour CMA Music Festival: Country's Night To Rock premieres Wednesday (9/1) at 8pm ET on ABC-TV. Tim McGraw hosts, Taylor Swift performs "Mine" and Jason Aldean,Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba and more are featured. Details 
The pine cutout from the original Ryman Auditorium stage was returned to its home in the Grand Ole Opry House stage today (8/25) during an emotional press conference announcing the venue will reopen Sept. 28 with its first Opry performance since May's flood. Little Jimmy Dickens will be joined by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Charlie Daniels Band, Diamond Rio, Del McCoury Band, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Mel Tillis and Josh Turner for the Opry performance, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 1. The venerable show has been staged in several other venues, including the Ryman, since the Opry House was damaged.
The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band have added an online component to the Letters For Lyrics campaign, which aims to send one million letters to service members overseas. The application is available through the RamZone 
Reprise/WAR's John Rich co-hosted NBC-TV's Today this morning (8/25) with anchor Hoda Kotb. The pair discussed Granny Rich, Lindsay Lohan, his Nashville home Mt. Richmore and his favorite concoction – Crown Royal and Coke. "After about three more of those, I'm going to look really handsome to you," Rich joked. Watch 
ESPN will premiere a 60-minute version of Kenny Chesney's football documentary The Boys Of Fall Sunday (8/29) at 2pm ET. The full feature-length doc is expected on DVD in mid-November.
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