Country Stars Central

Check out our interview this week with singer/songwriter Big Kenny. We spoke to Big Kenny about his latest charity work involved in assisting those in the recent tragic earthquake in Haiti, his plans to reunite with John Rich, looking ahead to CMA Fest and much more!

Enjoy the interview here: http://www.countrystarscentral.com/bigkennyinterview.htm

Country music superstar Joe Nichols put on one heck of a show this past weekend at Joe’s Bar in Chicago playing endless hits and a few cover tunes. Make sure to check out our concert review with pictures from the rockin’ show!

Check out the review here: http://www.countrystarscentral.com/joenicholsmarchreview10.htm

Happy weekend to all you country music lovers out there! Check out our NEW contest this month for a chance to WIN an autographed CD or poster from the ever so controversial country music superstar Blake Shelton.

Check out the contest with info here: http://www.countrystarscentral.com/blakesheltoncontest.htm

We’d like to invite you on a visit to enjoy our interview with sensational family music group The Isaacs. We chatted with Sonya and her mother Lily during their recent tour with Gospel icon Bill Gaither to chat about their latest album “Naturally,” how they have used their inspiration of artists such as Alison Krauss, Vince Gill and Patty Loveless on their new record, Lily’s recollection of how her parent’s survival of the Holocaust has affected her and what challenges come with travelling together on the road plus much more!!

Enjoy the interview with The Isaacs here: http://www.countrystarscentral.com/theisaacsinterview.htm

NEW YORK, NY, February 22, 2010 – Internationalrecording artist Laura Bryna will appear as a guest on the top-rated FOX NewsChannel program, “Hannity,” Monday, March 8.  The show, which airsM-F, 9 to 10pm ET/6 to 7pm PT, will feature Bryna, whose political views skewIndependent, as part of the Great American Panel, a daily segment withthree nightly in-studio guests from across the political spectrum discussingissues of the day with host Sean Hannity.

Considered one of the most prominent and influentialconservative voices in the country, Hannity offers a mix of news, commentary,interviews and branded segments.  The show averages 2.8 million viewerseach night, making it the second highest-rated program in all of cable news,behind FOX News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor.”

“In media interviews, I’m often asked about my music andsense of fashion,” says Bryna, who is almost as well known for her big hair,make-up and Roberto Cavalli gowns as she is her music.  “But I care sogreatly about our country and those who serve in the Military, it will berefreshing to share my views on this show and I look forward to theopportunity.” 

Bryna released her first CD in 2008 - Trying to be Me (nowbeing distributed internationally), and is heading back to the studio to recorda pop-rock album.  She was recently named Host of GoTV Network’s “TrueCountry” (www.truecountry.tv), an entertainment program for country music fansthat’s delivered directly to web TV and cell phones (her first episode,featuring country stars from Nashville, debuts in early March).  She isalso celebrity spokesperson for the Air National Guard’s ad campaign andco-wrote their theme song, “Hometown Heroes.”  Other endeavors includesupporting the National Guard Youth Foundation, sitting on the board ofdirectors for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, andcontributing a monthly Blog to fashion E-Zine, Urban Darling.  

For more information on Laura Bryna, visit www.laurabryna.com.

Make to check out our exclusive interview with CMT’s very own Katie Cook! We caught up with the ambitious entrepreneur to chat about her television hosting duties at CMT, involvement as an author of her very first children’s book, and talents as a singer/songwriter!!

Check out the interview here: http://www.countrystarscentral.com/katiecookinterview.htm

New York, NY- After much chatter and anticipation, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of The Dixie Chicks, announced today via their website http://www.CourtYardHounds.com that they will release new music under the moniker Court Yard Hounds. The album of all new material will be available for pre-order beginning today exclusively through with all pre-orders receiving an instant gratification 4-song download not available anywhere else. The CD is being released on Columbia Records, on shelves May 4, 2010.

To launch the new project, Emily and Martie will appear at SXSW for their first live concert as Court Yard Hounds. The sisters will take the stage during the Americana Music Association showcase at Antone's on Thursday March 18th and will go on to do a string of intimate shows across the country. All Pre-orders will receive 4 album tracks instantly and get the first chance to purchase tickets for their upcoming tour. The Court Yard Hounds will tour North America throughout the summer. The group will follow their North American roll-out with releases and touring in Europe and Australia in the fall.

"It was time," said Emily Robison. "We had been on hiatus from The Dixie Chicks for about a year, I was getting very restless and needed to be creative for my own sanity. And at the same time I was going through my divorce so it was very fertile ground for writing."

"Emily was just writing and writing all of these deeply personal and truly beautiful songs," added Martie Maguire. "She was initially going to pitch them to other artists and I kept telling her no, no, you have to save that for you. It's too good and too personal."

Emily took her sister's advice to heart and held onto the songs, thinking perhaps they could be new material for The Dixie Chicks. Realizing that The Dixie Chicks hiatus would last longer than originally anticipated, the sisters dove head first into recording what is now the debut album from The Court Yard Hounds.

The Court Yard Hounds' profoundly evocative songs tell stories woven into melodies that are both individual and universal. Robison is the lead vocalist and primary writer on most of the tracks, although Maguire takes over the lead on her own solo composition, "Gracefully." The new music spans sounds of folk, country, rock and Americana and includes a collaboration with Jakob Dylan on "See You in the Spring," the wry tale of a couple from the northernmost and southernmost parts of the country who find their biggest obstacle is climatic. Texas also asserts itself more contentedly in "The Coast," which celebrates neither the east nor west but south coast, and "Skyline," which was inspired by the view of San Antonio from Robison's loft. Faster paced songs range from the self-doubting levity of "Then Again" to the fiery outrage of "Ain't No Son," a song about an angry, disapproving father. "Fairytale" speaks to romantic enchantment, while there's no happily-ever-after in sight in the breakup songs "April's Love" and "It Didn't Make a Sound."