New Country Star News

These days, it's hard to keep up with which artists are releasing music on which labels, and which labels are being swallowed up by which other labels, and which labels even still exist. Times are a changin' and Thursday started off with another bang for all of us trying to keep up with the ever-crashing (uh-um) changing industry. Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus announced during a press conference Thursday morning in downtown Nashville, that the ink was officially dry and the band was now calling Taylor Swift's label, Big Machine Records, home. CEO, Scott Borchetta, stated "It's a new beginning and a new partnership." Borchetta founded Big Machine as an independent label in 2005 and has found nothing but success since. While fans were mostly unaware, Flatts have been floating around label-less for nearly three months, since the folding of yet another major label, the Disney owned Lyric Street Records, whom we at New Country Star had worked closely with for several years. Considering the fact the Rascal Flatts have sold over 20 million albums and had somewhere around 25 million digital downloads over the past ten years, combined with the unbelievable success of Taylor Swift who has a brand new album set to drop on October 25th, Scott Borchetta and his Big Machine, may just be one of the biggest machines operating in major or indie record label history!

Visit www.BigMachineRecords.com

Carrie Underwood 27, and Ottawa Senators NHL Player, Mike Fisher age 30, were engaged last December 20th, and made it official over the weekend. The wedding took place at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Georgia. Some names on the guest list were, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson,

Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Mr. & Mrs. Garth Brooks. The Ritz was actually closed to other guests, as Underwood booked all 250 rooms, bringing the cost of the incredible ceremony to around $500,000. The nuptials were traditional with the couples favorite Bible verses being read and classical music being played at the ceremony. As we all know, Carrie is one of country music's best dressed, and her wedding day was "no" exception. She walked down the aisle in a Chantilly lace design by Monique Lhuillier. Her bridesmaids gowns were also done by Lhuillier.

New Country Star's

Favorite Summer Song

is Uncle Kracker's "Smile"

"Cooler than the flipside of your Pillow!"

Behind the Scenes

with Keith and John

The guitar gurus discuss their individual

styles and then see what John presents Keith

with at the end of the video!

Miley Cyrus had the privilege of performing with one of

the best rockers of all time, Bret Michaels of Poison.

Oddly enough, it almost seemed the other way around.

With a crowd full of screaming teens, the "Hannah Montana" star

ended up performing a full set on her own after her duet

with Bret. Cyrus has apparently included Michael's ballad

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" on her new album.

Does Miley Do The Classic Rock Song Justice?

In our opinion, yes, it was an acceptable rendition which pleased Bret also.

Friday morning,

Bret Michaels and

Miley Cyrus shut

down New York City's

Central Park, with a real

treat for music fans,

since hundreds of them

turned out to watch

the pair play a free

concert. Bret said

to all the critics who

have said it was too

much too soon, that performing was

helping him to heal.

Whatever he's doing

seems to be working

because Bret looked

and sounded "top

of his game."

Bret, you are not only

a fighter but you're a

real hero to all of us

who literally watched

you face a life

threatening situation

and immerge as

strong and vibrant

a rockstar as ever!

"Love Left to Lose" is the first single from the band's debut album Revelation, available now in stores and on iTunes. Sons of Sylvia will resume their spot on

Carrie Underwood's "Play On" Tour this fall -

for tour dates and news from the band

Visit SonsofSylvia.com.

Check out the

making of

Sons of Sylvia's

music video and their

first single, "Love

Left to Lose."

In the clip, brothers and

bandmates: Adam, Ashley, and Austin

Clark discuss the filming location (which may be

of interest to Elvis fans), what it's like to work with famed music video director Wayne Isham (Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, OneRepublic), and the trio attempts to describe their unique, cross-genre sound

which we have

assessed as

country music's

version of Queen!

See if you agree,

and get ready for

our CD review

where we tell you

if Revelation is

a "must purchase".

ADIÓS SLIM & HOWDY

By: Ron Keessar

Country music superstars, Brooks & Dunn bid farewell with their 'Last Rodeo' tour May 4th in Calgary at the Saddledome. The anticipation was running thick as many fans a half hour before show time were out of their seats while hundreds had already rushed the stage and surrounding catwalk area to get up close and personal with the pair. Over 12,000 screaming fans roared with excitement the moment the house lights drew dim welcoming the famous duo as the band exploded on stage with, Play Something Country!

Ronnie, slinging a black Fender Telecaster was dressed in all black, while Kix donned his trademark black felt Stetson, and dressed in black slacks, satin vest and a paisley blue shirt, effortlessly blew on his harps

during the fast paced rockin' opener.

"Hey Calgary" Brooks yelled, "Good to be back…there's no place we'd rather be than here with you tonight," while Ronnie boasted, "This next song is dedicated to Dale Earnhardt so Kix could get his picture up on video, filmed in Las Vegas" and tore into, Honky Tonk Truth, She's Not The Cheatin' Kind and the crowd favorite, 'Put A Girl In It' which featured many pretty cowgirls from the audience projected high on the videotrons.

Lady Antebellum Covers

Tom Petty with

Special Guests!

Lady Antebellum shares the stage at

the Ryman with some interesting guests.

Josh Kelley, Pop Rock Blues artist and

elder brother to Charles Kelley of

Lady A played harmonica along with

the Tom Petty 1993 classic "Mary

Jane's Last Dance". The foursome was

also joined by country newcomer

Randy Montana. Listen for

Randy's new single "Ain't Much

Left of Lovin' You"

Visit

www.randymontana.com

The actual meaning of Waka Waka is blaze,

burn brightly, burn well, shine in Swahili.

As America and England met Saturday on the "Football" Soccer Field, probably one of the most prestigious invitations a musician can receive

is a gig opening the FIFA World Cup marking recognition at the international level.

Some outstanding musical performances occurred during the opening concert with a host of International Multi-Genre Superstars, Including The Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys and Shakira, whose song "Waka Waka" is the official

anthem to the World Cup games.

Fans across the world mourn the loss

of the King of Pop today on the one

year anniversary of his death.

Tonight CNN's "Larry King Live"

features MJ's brother Jermaine.

Larry and Jermaine visit Michael's

final resting place at Forest Lawn,

and talk about how the family is

doing on year later. Tune in tonight

9 pm ET/8 pm CT

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana, died June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California), often referred to as The King of Pop, is the biggest-selling solo artist of all time, with over 750,000,000 sales. Jackson is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and double inductee to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. His awards include 8 Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, and 26 Billboard Awards.

This free script provided by

KEVIN COSTNER has thrown his support behind the Orange Dog Organization, a charity operation which rescues unwanted dogs from death row all across the United States by flying them to shelters in Canada.

The charity works with the help of a private jet firm which allows them to transport the canines around when the planes are not in use. Costner became familiar with the operation after chartering one of the jets for his band Modern West.

“When this plane is operating at its best, it's not just taking people around the world, it's hauling animals... It's essentially an exchange of animals that were going to be euthanized. Instead of having that happen, (the dogs are) now making their way to Canada, having a second chance at life,” stated Costner, who went on to tell Access Hollywood how the last dog they just saved was actually adopted by the pilot of the plane just two hours before it was due to be euthanized.

"The charity spoke to my heart., “ he said. "I think on the first trip they took 50-plus dogs, the second trip I think they took 115 dogs all on this plane, so you can imagine this luxury, five-star piece of transportation just filled with animals that are going to get a second chance at life."

Our "Exclusive" coverage of Kevin and Modern West playing last week at Big Valley Jamboree is on the way!