Raised Country!» George Strait

Top Five Category Finalists Announced For The 17th Annual ICM Awards

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:04:07 +0000

Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, George Strait, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton Given Top Major Category Honors

Nashville, Tenn. (August 31, 2011) –The ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards Top 5 finalists were announced today in 22 key categories advancing the presentation of the 17th Annual Inspirational Country Music Awards in award ceremonies to be held on Friday, October 28th at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

The ICM Faith, Family & Country Top 5 ballot, as determined by first round membership voting by the members of the Inspirational Country Music Association, includes a stellar array of major names in a broad cross section of categories that include entertainer, new artist, song, songwriter, group, duo, musician, radio, radio station, film, television honors and more.

Major artist nominees on the Top 5 ballot for this year’s ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards include Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Ronnie Dunn, The Roys, Josh Turner, Jeff Bates, Randy Travis, The Grascals, Ricky Skaggs, The Oak Ridge Boys, Point of Grace, Guy Penrod, The Isaacs, and George Strait. Film honors finalists include a competitive field highlighted by family rated major box office contenders including Country Strong, Secretariat, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

Top 5 finalists in all categories will now be presented to the membership in final round voting that will end on September 30th. Awards will be announced at the October 28th awards presentation.

The 2011 ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards continue as the highpoint finale of Inspirational Country Music Week, an event presented by the Inspirational Country Music Association. This year’s planned schedule will run October 24-28th in Nashville and as in past years is expected to draw a broad cross section of industry, music fans, broadcast media, and artists in a well-orchestrated showcase of music and seminar related activities.

Nashville’s Millennium Maxwell House Hotel will serve at the host location for ICM Faith, Family & Country Week with a planned Appreciation Luncheon during the week for media and participants set to be held at the historic Wildhorse Saloon. The awards will serve as the culmination of the week and are for the first time this year are being staged in the unique world-class setting of the opulent Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville.

Inspirational Country Music Association Executive Director Jason Higgins notes: “We feel this year’s presentation will bring the ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards to a new level of recognition within the industry, from the scripting of the show itself to the list of nominees, to the level of presenters, and special guests still to be announced. Working with our host charity, Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition, promises to offer a very compelling element of humanitarian importance to the event.”

The following 2011 Top 5 ICM Faith, Family & Country Awards nominees are listed in alphabetical order within each category:

Entertainer
Chuck Day
Johnny Lee Cook
Ricky Skaggs
Steve Richard
Tommy Brandt

Male Vocalist
Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
Guy Penrod
Jeff Bates
Tommy Brandt

Female Vocalist
Kali Rose
Laura Dodd
Mary James
Nicole Hope
Sharon Parks

Vocal Duo
Amanda Fessant featuring Tommy Brandt
Branded
Bruce & Betsy Mullen
Joey+Rory
The Roys

Vocal Group or Band
Corey Brooks Band
Last Light Band
Point of Grace
Sunday Drive
The Springs

Mainstream Inspirational Country Song
Bleed Red – Ronnie Dunn
I Won’t Let Go – Rascal Flatts
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore
That’s Important to Me – Joey+Rory
The Breath You Take – George Strait

Mainstream Country Artist
Buddy Jewell
Carrie Underwood
Jeff Bates
Joey+Rory
Josh Turner

Inspirational Country Song
I Wonder What God’s Thinking – The Roys
I’ll Stand Up And Say So – Chuck Day
Loves Gotta Go Somewhere – Steve Richard
Someday Soon – Ricky Skaggs
That’s What Freedom Costs – Russ Murphy

Songwriter (tie in category)
Chuck Day
Greg McDougal
James Payne
Paul Staggs of Branded
Russ Murphy
Tommy Brandt

Legend/Pioneer Award (This award has already been determined from these Top 5)
Fox Brothers
Melanie Walker
Oak Ridge Boys
Randy Travis
Ricky Skaggs

Video
Hello World – Lady Antebellum: Capitol Nashville, Director-Roman White
I Am Strong – The Grascals w/Dolly Parton: BluGrascal Records , Director-David Corlew
If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away – Justin Moore: Valory Music Co., Director-Peter Zavadil
If I Die Young – The Band Perry: Republic Nashville, Director-David McClister
Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood: Arista Nashville, Director-Shaun Silva

New Artist
Aubree Bullock
Chuck Hancock
Kali Rose
Lucas Hoge
Renee Spencer

Musician
Dennis Agajanian
Doyle Lawson
Greg McDougal
Jayc Harold
Ricky Skaggs

Comedian
Barry McGee
Chonda Pierce
Jeff Treece
Johnny Lee Cook
LuLu Roman

Radio Personality
J.R. Pitsenbarger
Leon Joplin
Mona Faith
Rich Miller
Scott Perkins

Radio Station
Inspirational Country Radio Network
KABF-Little Rock, AR
WCWV-Summersville, WV
WSM AM 650 – Nashville, TN
WTYS- Marianna, FL

Inspirational Bluegrass Artist
Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Nathan Stanley
Ricky Skaggs
The Isaacs
The Roys

Youth In Music (tie in category)
Aubree Bullock
Hannah Faith
Matthew Wacaster
McDougal Kids
Renee Spencer
Voices of Glory

Music Evangelist
Corey Brooks
Greg McDougal
Johnny Lee Cook
Russ Murphy
Tommy Brandt

“Faith, Family & Country Movie”
Country Strong
Pure Country 2: The Gift
Secretariat
Soul Surfer
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Television Network
Daystar
Gospel Music Channel
Great American Country
TBN
TCT Networks

For further information and registration for the 2011 ICM Week in Nashville, resource:
www.ICM-awards.com
Facebook.com/FaithFamilyCountry

George Strait to Tour with Martina McBride in 2012

admin — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:51:24 +0000

Nashville, TN (September 1, 2011) – George Strait isn’t called King George for nothing…Year after year, night after night, when it comes to showing fans a good time whether it’s on the road or on the radio, Strait always delivers. And he’s doing it again. His 39^th studio album HERE FOR A GOOD TIME is already receiving rave reviews before it’s release next week, the title track is on the brink of Top 10 at radio and his 2012 tour plans are underway.

The King of Country Music revealed he’s invited another award-winning superstar to join him on stage – Martina McBride. The tour will kick off late January. Cities and on-sale information will be announced soon.

“I love Martina. She’s been on our tours before and she’s great, “ commented Strait. “I’m really looking forward to the tour. Martina will definitely make it a special night.”

Strait’s current single, “Here For A Good Time” currently sits at #11 on the Billboard chart. The album Here For A Good Time will be in stores Tuesday, September 6. Strait co-wrote seven of the 11 tracks with his son Bubba and the legendary songwriter Dean Dillon.

George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 to date inclusive of all charts). He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Strait was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

His last CD Twang debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart making it the fourth time in Strait’s 30+ year career to have an album debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time to debut at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart.

Martina McBride will release her 11th studio album titled ELEVEN on October 11, 2011. The current single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” is climbing the charts at radio and has seen steady online digital sales since it was released on August 19. The music video for I’m Gonna Love Your Through It” was recently the iTunes “Video of The Week,” garnering over 150,000 downloads. The accompanying video features dozens of cancer survivors and supporters, including four well-known celebrities – Robin Roberts (anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America); Hoda Kotb (anchor for NBC’s TODAY Show); Grammy award-winning singer Sheryl Crow and ABC journalist Katie Couric – who each have very personal connections to the disease.

As one of the most spectacular voices in any genre of music, Martina McBride is a four-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, three-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year and GRAMMY® winning recording artist with more than 18 million in album sales.The breadth of Martina’s talents – as recording artist, producer, songwriter, and concert entertainer – has made her an in-demand performer and personality, appearing on such high-profile programs as VH1 Divas, Dancing with the Stars, The Today Show’s “Today Throws a Wedding,” American Idol, Oprah, The Bachelorette, Private Sessions, a 20/20 special, and much more. Celebrated for her beauty and sense of fashion, as well as her everywoman perspective in life and music, Martina has graced the cover Redbook, Ladies Home Journal, People Magazine, Country Weekly and Shape. Among her hits are such anthemic and empowering songs as “Independence Day,” “This One’s for the Girls” and “Wild Angels”. For more on Martina, please visit martinamcbride.com.

GEORGE STRAIT SCORES 82ND CAREER ACM NOMINATION

admin — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 02:50:49 +0000

Visit the George Strait Web Site

February 2, 2011 (Nashville, TN) King George consistently proves why he’s the King of Country and he’s continuing the tradition this year. It was announced yesterday that Strait scored his 82nd career ACM nomination for Male Vocalist of the Year, a category he’s won six times and been nominated for 18 times.

“I never get tired of hearing my name in these announcements,” says Strait. “I’m thankful to the fans and the ACM.”

Amazon.com Widgets

Nominees were announced at a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville yesterday. On April 3rd, Blake Shelton will join forces with country music star Reba to host the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards live from Las Vegas on CBS at 7:00 pm central.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, George Strait has the most number one singles of any artist in history including Elvis (57 to date inclusive of all charts). He has sold nearly 69 million records and with 33 different platinum or multi-platinum albums has the most RIAA platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Strait’s CD Twang debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and the 13th time debuting at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. His current single is “The Breath You Take.”

Strait’s currently touring the country with Reba and Lee Ann Womack in tow. For tour dates or more information, visit www.georgestrait.com.