Country News

Last Update on September 08, 2010 03:09 EDT

MERLE HAGGARD - KENNEDY CENTER HONOR

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Mama would be proud. Merle Haggard, who had an early hit with "Mama Tried," is being honored at the Kennedy Center later this year. Haggard, Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Broadway composer Jerry Herman who wrote "Hello, Dolly!" and choreographer Bill T. Jones all will be honored on December 5. They'll sit back and watch others perform their work. Haggard says he guesses the thing to do is "just sit there and look like you're having fun." But, he does say it'll be an honor to hear others sing part of his music. The chairman of the Kennedy Center says the honesty of Haggard's music and his poetic lyrics have "helped to shape the world of country music for nearly five decades."

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ALL FOR THE HALL - LINE-UP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- You have to be a classic to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. So, Keith Urban has lined up some classic talent for next month's "All for the Hall" benefit concert: Dolly Parton, Charley Pride and Vince Gill. They're already in the Hall of Fame. They'll be joined on Tuesday, October 5 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville by Urban and his guitar-pal John Mayer, along with Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss and Billy Currington. Urban says for this second-annual "All for the Hall" concert, he's added the theme of "heroes." Each artist will play a favorite song from one of their country heroes, along with one of their own hits. Tickets for members of Urban's Monkeyville fan club go on sale September 14. Tickets for the general public go on sale September 17.

BILLY RAY CYRUS AND TRACE CYRUS - UFO SERIES

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Billy Ray Cyrus and his 21-year-old son, Trace, are about to criss-cross the country in search of answers. They'll be investigating conspiracy theories and the paranormal for a SyFy reality series called "UFO: Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious." Papa Billy Ray is the skeptical, practical one of the two. Miley's older brother, Trace, believes in conspiracy theories.

DIERKS BENTLEY - NEW YORK CITY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Dierks Bentley will be up in New York City next month. He has four performances planned in four different venues and all with a different musical focus. His first is October 18 and will center on his country hits. The next night he'll share a different stage with the Del McCoury Band and focus on bluegrass, including the music on "Up on the Ridge." The third is singer-songwriter night where Bentley will do an intimate performance with songwriters Jessi Alexander, Jim Beavers and Jon Randall Stewart. And, on his final night, October 21, Bentley will be acoustic with the Punch Brothers. Locations and other details are at Bentley's website, www.dierks.com.

BILLY CURRINGTON - NUMBER 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Billy Currington can do more than pop a top and down a cold one. He can create a number-one hit. "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" has made it to the top of Billboard's country songs chart. This is Currington's fourth number-one single in a row and his sixth number-one song overall. "Pretty Good at Drinkin' Beer" was written by Troy Jones, who also wrote Currington's previous hit, "People are Crazy."

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