BROOKS & DUNN JOIN HOLLYWOOD'S WALK OF FAME

Brooks & Dunn now have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.   The star is located at 7021 Hollywood Blvd, near Highland Avenue.  Listen to what Kix & Ronnie said to Lon about their star HERE.

KEITH & NICOLE: IT'S A GIRL!

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman welcomed their first child Monday July 7th.  It's a baby girl they named Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.  Ironically, Keith & Nicole had been spotted Sunday afternoon at a Nashville book store.  On Saturday, Keith performed at Kenny Chesney's stadium show in Nashville, and Nicole was backstage.  Plus the two attended Ronnie Dunn's annual 4th of July party Friday night.  So the baby has great timing! 

TIM McGRAW PERFORMS DOUBLE DUTY AT HIS SHOW

Tim McGraw was on stage in Washington performing "Indian Outlaw," when he noticed a fan pushing and shoving his way to the front row.  Tim and two guards pulled the fan from the crowd and he was ejected.  Watch the entire thing HERE

SARA EVANS GETS MARRIED
 
People Magazine reports that Sara Evans married sports radio host Jay Barker on Saturday June 14th near her home in Tennessee.  The two were engaged in March.  Sara's 8-year old son Avery walked her down the aisle.    

JESSICA SIMPSON DIVES HEAD FIRST INTO COUNTRY

CMA Music Fest is usually an intensive week, when fans and artists get together in Nashville.  This was the week Jessica Simpson chose to launch her country career.  Her debut single, "Come On Over," was released last Monday, and became the highest charting debut single by a solo artist.  She spent most of Wednesday meeting country radio stations in Nashville.  On Thursday, she signed autographs and that night, she appeared at the stadium.  On Saturday, she met with reporters, and said, "Being here this week has proven that this is the right place.  The energy has inspired the artist in me.  Country music has brought me to this place."  Her manager and father, Joe Simpson, was with her all week, and commented, "This has been my Father's Day present."

CONGRATS TO RASCAL FLATTS' JOE DON ROONEY

There's a new little rascal in the world!  Rascal Flatts guitar player Joe Don Rooney and his wife Tiffany became the parents of a son: Jagger Donovan Rooney.  He was born on Saturday May 31st at 3:50 PM, and weighs 6 3/4 pounds.

DIERKS BENTLEY TO BECOME A FATHER

2008 is shaping up to be a big year for country star children.  First, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney.  Now, Dierks Bentley and his wife Cassidy announce they're expecting a child this fall. 

KENNY CHESNEY WINS 4TH STRAIGHT ENTERTAINER AWARD

The fans have spoken!  Country fans, voting online during the past ten days chose Kenny Chesney as the ACM's Entertainer of the Year.  Other winners at the 43rd annual event included Brad Paisley, who won his second Male Vocalist award, Carrie Underwood for Female Vocalist, and Miranda Lambert, who picked up Album of the Year.  Also, Sugarland won Single and Song of the Year for their emotional ballad, "Stay."  For a complete list of winners, click HERE.

LON HANGS BACKSTAGE AT KENNY'S FIRST STADIUM SHOW

Kenny Chesney began his series of 14 stadium shows in Columbia SC, and CCUSA host Lon Helton was on hand to witness the excitement.  Over 44,000 fans packed the University of South Carolina stadium.  Kenny injured his right foot during his entrance, and performed the entire 2-hour show in pain. Fortunately, no broken bones.   Lon was first to report the story from the scene.  Watch the accident happen HERE

ALAN JACKSON CELEBRATES "SMALL TOWN" #1

It's rare that Alan Jackson attends a Nashville party.  But this one was different.  It was to honor Jackson as sole writer for his #1 hit, "Small Town Southern Man."  Jackson told the crowd that nothing will replace the feeling of his very first #1, "Here in the Real World."  But he is gratified to still have chart toppers at this point in his career.

TAYLOR, TRACE, & KELLIE WIN AT CMT AWARDS

It may have been a changing of the guard on many levels, as Taylor Swift won the top honor at the fan-voted  CMT Music Awards.  The 18-year old won Female Video of the Year and the overall Best Video of the Year for her #1 hit "Our Song."  Trace Adkins won Best Male for "I Got My Game On." It was Adkins' first awards of any sort in ten years.  Other winners included Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, and LeAnn Rimes.

BRAD PAISLEY CELEBRATES A PERFECT "10"

The theme of the night was "10."  The affair was held at a restaurant called Radius 10, it was the 10th day of April, and the guest of honor had sold 10 million records, had 10 #1 singles, and was in the 10th year of his career.  Brad Paisley was honored by friends and family, including his father, who recalled driving the young guitar player to gigs back in West Virginia.  Prior to the party, Brad told reporters his upcoming instrumental album will feature an incredible duet with the late legend Buck Owens. 

JOE NICHOLS CREDITS WIFE FOR HIS RECOVERY

Last September Joe Nichols married Heather Singleton.  One month later, he checked into a rehab center.  In an exclusive interview with Westwood One, Joe says those two things were related.  "A good woman will hold you accountable, and that's what my wife did for me.  In no way was I going to tarnish our marriage by dragging this on.  So we nipped it in the bud immediately, and started off on the right foot.  We cleaned out all the garbage up front, so we can start out with a healthy relationship."  Joe says he's heard from many other artists since his release, including Keith Urban, who went through a similar experience over a year ago.
 
TAYLOR SWIFT MEETS DALE JUNIOR

The place was Nashville's 3rd annual Sound & Speed event.  Country stars are paired with racing stars in autograph booths.  Taylor Swift was brought together with Dale Earnhardt Jr.  Afterwards, Junior told us he got an autographed picture for his niece.  The event raised funds for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Kyle Petty's Victory Junction Gang.

RODNEY ATKINS REACTS TO HAVING THE #1 SONG OF 2007

"I can't believe it!  It's unbelievable.  Thank you so much to all of radio playing it so much all year long."  That was the immediate reaction from Rodney Atkins when CCUSA's Lon Helton told him that "Watching You" was the #1 Song for all of 2007.  "I could not believe it, knowing how this song had begun mainly as personal therapy for my wife & I.  I just wrote the song for me & her."  The song was Rodney's first #1 as a writer, based on his 4-year-old son Elijah, who was singing Rodney's song, "If You're Goin' Through Hell" in his pre-school.  "There's nothing like being out there evry night and have the whole world sing it with you, especially when it's about your kid."  Click HERE to listen to Lon's interview.