Blogs across the web are all in a tissy over Julianne Hough’s new video “Is That So Wrong” and I’ll have to admit, I’m right there with them.

Since when is writhing around on a bed, skillfully stripping while flipping, or otherwise doing a Pussycat Dolls impression important in a country music video? What do you think? Too much? Not enough?

Sticks Country Music Festival is now offering single-day passes for those who can’t afford the cost or the time off work for the whole weekend.  The festival runs April 17th and 18th, and includes acts like Trace Adkins, Sara Evans, Rodney Atkins, Ashton Shepherd, Julianne Hough, Gretchen Wilson, Craig Morgan, Jason Michael Carroll,and many more!

$35 Friday only (5 acts + Festival Stge w/local bands)
$55 Saturday only (10 acts + Festival Stage w/local bands)
$79 Two day pass (With Discount Code CMNB09)! See it all AND get free camping (optional)

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Little Big Town will launch their first-ever headlining tour this coming January. The first appearance is scheduled for January 24th in Jacksonville, FL and the tour will run all the way through October. Opening artists include Zac Brown Band, Ashton Shepherd, Kate & Kacey (of Can You Duet fame) and Jonathan Singleton and the Grove. Continue to more information on the Little Big Town concert tour.

Julianne Hough has something to dance about now that she’s opening for major country music legend George Strait during his summer concert tour. Julianne will appear at select performances beginning May 15th and continuing through July 25th. Continue for more information about the George Strait concert tour.

Sugarland  pulls a bit from Jennifer Nettles past as they jazz it up next spring for the 40th annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Jazz Fest runs for two weekends, first on April 24th-26th and again on April 30th-May 3rd. Other acts included in Jazzfest are Dave Matthews Band, Aretha Franklin, Emmylou Harris as well as hundreds of others. Prior to her phenomenal success as half of the chart-topping-duo Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles was an accomplished jazz singer in the greater Nashville area. Continue for Sugarland concert information.Country Music Photo Gallery

Faith Hill tops this year’s new Country Christmas classics. Although new Country Christmas albums aren’t running rampant this year, new holiday titles from Faith Hill, Elvis Presley and Julianne Hough have managed to find room in the Top 10 of the current Billboard country albums chart. Country Radio has been giving “A Baby Changes Everything” massive amounts of radio airplay, while the Elvis Duets album has gotten nationwide news coverage.

Just in time for the holidays, Joey+Rory created a “Sleighbell Mix” of their song “Cheater Cheater” and posted it on MySpace.

Two of country’s top acts — Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood — have each released new holiday music this year, but you have to buy expanded versions of their current albums to get it.

Wynonna is on the West Coast this month, in the midst of her Classic Christmas tour. In this interview with the Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, the singer talks about overspending during the holidays, what to expect from her upcoming album and the year she gave her mother a hammer for Christmas. (”I’m not even sure why. She just liked to do things so I figured, well, she needs a hammer.”) However, if you don’t live on the West Coast, you better not pout and I’m telling you why: You can still hear her yuletide album, A Classic Christmas, on Rhapsody.Country Music Photo Gallery

Chuck Wicks recently did an interview with GAC and discussed his feelings about joining up with Brad Paisley for the Paisley Party Tour, after all the success of last year’s Bonfires and Amplifiers run.

“It’s fun to go back out there with him,” Chuck said on the national radio show GAC Nights: Live From Nashville. “It feels good. I’m [still] very interested to see how Jewel does just as a fan you know, ‘cause I grew up listening to some of her stuff, and Julianne [Hough] is such a great talent and so young. I think she’ll maybe prove a lot of people wrong out there on the tour, ‘cause I think she’s a great talent.”

Just for fun, here’s funny little a video  Chuck Wicks released on youtube while recording the music video for his latest single “All I Ever Wanted Was You”

For Chuck Wicks concert dates on the Brad Paisley “Paisley Party Tour” check out our sister site, Country Music On Tour.

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The long-awaited instrumental album from crooner and plucker Brad Paisley has finally finished the recording stage. Brad excitedly explains that he believes modern day music doesn’t have nearly enough guitar heroes making hit records these days. ” There was a time when every band had a great player,” he said. “I was watching VH1’s I Love The ’80s. They’ve got the hair bands on there. They were talking about 1985. There was so much guitar. These days, it’s different. There’s a lack. I’m doing my part, trying to play as many solos as possible.”

Brad Paisley has definitely fullfilled that need, often filling his stage shows with amazing guitar work, and inspiring young musicians across the world to pick up their guitars and just cut loose. You may even recall that though Brad Paisley is no stranger to #1 singles, his first Grammy win was for his instrumental performance “Throttleneck” off the album “5th Gear”. this groundbreaking album boasts such guest performances as Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, B.B. King, and even a little from legendary Buck Owens.

The album “will surprise people,” Brad told The Charlotte Observer. “It’s not all country. We do everything from jazz guitar to one [song] that’s very heavy metal.”

Brad plans on heading back to the studio for his next album this fall after completing his current Paisley Party Tour with Jewel, Chuck Wicks and Julianne Hough.Country Music Photo Gallery