Martina McBride to sing duet with Jordin Sparks on Thursday’s VH1 Divas special.

Martina McBride is set to take the stage with American Idol Jordin Sparks this Thursday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music for a duet as part of this year’s VH1 “Divas” special. Other performers include Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Adelle, Kelly Clarkson, and Leona Lewis. The show is set to air at 8pm central.

Now here’s where I have an issue… Back when VH1 first started the Diva’s concert series, they included female artists who were phenomenally talented, musical groundbreakers, and unarguably the BEST in their genres. They called for acts such as Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, Cher, Tina Turner, Gloria Estefan, LeAnn Rimes, Sheryl Crow, Carole Kingand hell, even Elton John. So how is it that Martina McBride, possibly one of the most amazing country singers of the last 20-30 years, gets stuck of there with Miley ‘Disney Party Princess’ Cyrus and a bunch of American Idols who’ve barely learned what “stage left” means? Sure the other performers may have talent. Sure they may sell records to a bunch of pubescent kids. Sure they may even help the special earn higher ratings from the younger viewers. And this all goes to benefit the Save The Music Foundation, which I am in full support of. But at the end of the day, I would hardly call these kids Diva’s or try to put their level of talent, experience, and stature on a level playing field with Martina McBride!

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Elvis Presley’s Christmas spirit is recalled in a special Christmas Duets album featuring some of our favorite female country music icons.

Country Christmas albums are my guiltiest indulgence during the holiday season (besides all those fresh-baked treats and sweets) so I thought I’d share a sneak preview of the new Elvis Presley Christmas Duets album which features such amazing female country singers like Martina McBride, Leann Rimes, and Carrie Underwood.

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Alan Jackson will be honored on CMT Giants which airs December 6, 2008.

Friends like George Strait, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride and Lee Ann Womack serenaded Alan Jackson with his biggest hits. Even newer artists like Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift payed tribute to the small-town Southern man. The show will debut on CMT on Dec. 6. As is tradition on CMT Giants, Jackson sang a few of his own songs at the end. The show also features sincere testimonials from other famous friends, sprinkled among Jackson’s own stories and photographs.

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Kenny Chesney shows his pirate plundering skill as he rakes in highest concert revenue for all country artists in the first 6 months of 2008.

Kenny Chesney’s Poets and Pirates tour is the leading country tour in the U.S. for the first six months of the year with Rascal Flatts the only other country artist in the top 10, according to Pollstar. Bon Jovi leads the pack with a $56.3 million gross with an average ticket price of $87.98. Chesney enjoyed a gross of $35.3 million with an average price of $75.28.

Rascal Flatts was eighth at $215.4 million on ticket prices of $64.57.

Also in the top 100 were:
11. Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood’s joint tour – $18.5 million (tickets averaged $55.89)
13. George Strait - $18 million ($64.06)
19. The Eagles – $15.8 million ($130.93)
27. Carrie Underwood – $12.3 million (($48.10)
36. Larry the Cable Guy – $9.5 million ($44.39)
37. Brad Paisley – $9.4 million ($41.21)
40. Rowdy Frynds with Lynyrd Skynyrd/Hank Williams Jr. -$8.5 million ($59.48)
49. Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson - $7.5 million ($53.78);
65. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – $5.4 million ($56.52)
76. Brooks & Dunn/Alan Jackson – $4.5 million ($92.77)
84. Blue Rodeo – $4.2 million ($43.93)
88. Martina McBride – $3.9 million ($51.88)
89. Garth Brooks – $3.8 million (39.29)
91. Trace Adkins – $3.8 million ($44.82)
96. Big & Rich - $3.2 million ($59.20)
99. Dolly Parton – $3 million ($70.38)

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Martina McBride is set to release a CD/DVD combo set of live in-concert performances this coming April. Fans are excited as this will be her first live media. Previews of Martina’s DVD have already been in circulation on PBS as part of fundraising pledge drives. The setlist for this DVD is tentatively listed as:
1. Anyway
2. When God-Fearin’ Women Get The Blues
3. Wild Angels
4. My Baby Loves Me
5. Tryin’ To Find A Reason
6. How I Feel
7. Happy Girl
8. (I Never Promised You A) Rose Garden
9. You Ain’t Woman Enough
10. Help Me Make It Through The Night
11. Where Would You Be
12. Concrete Angel
13. For These Times
14. Love’s The Only House/Blessed
15. This One’s For The Girls
16. A Broken Wing
17. Independence Day
18. Don’t Stop Believin’
19. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
20. Over The Rainbow

While the CD will have the following tracks:

1. Happy Girl
2. Anyway
3. Concrete Angel
4. From The Ashes
5. Whatever You Say
6. This One’s For The Girls
7. Independence Day
8. Hit Me With Your Best Shot

We expect to see “Martina McBride Live in Concert” on store shelves April 29th

You can catch Martina McBride yourself by checking out the Martina McBride concert tour schedule.

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