TWANG TOWN LOWDOWN: TUESDAY, JUNE 14TH

ALAN JACKSON: Career Retrospective



Alan Jackson will release the three-CD career anthology Genuine: The Alan Jackson Story on August 5th.

The 59-song collection boasts eight previously unreleased tracks, including a live version of the Eagles' hit "Seven Bridges Road" and a rare live performance "The Star Spangled Banner."

The package also features a 58-page booklet filled with photos from Alan's personal collection, including pictures from his childhood in Georgia and career highlights.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD: Donates Money to Girls' Sports Programs



Carrie Underwood's Calia fitness clothing line and Dick's Sporting Goods will donate $500,000 through the Sports Matter initiative to girls athletic programs.

Her first grant of $100,000 goes to her hometown's Checotah School District athletic programs. Carrie, who surprised the student athletes while at summer practice, says, “Being active in youth sports while growing up helped set the foundation and passion for making fitness an important part of my life today. Participating in sports also taught me important life lessons about dedication and teamwork."

Since 2014, the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation has pledged more than $50 million to support youth sports programs through its Sports Matter initiative.

CHIPS MOMAN: Acclaimed Memphis Producer Dead at 79


Chips Moman, a legendary songwriter, producer and engineer who was equally at home in country, pop and soul, died Monday at age 79.

Moman worked with some of the most respected names of the '50s, '60s and '70s: he helped revive Elvis Presley's career with his final Number-One single, "Suspicious Minds"; he produced B.J. Thomas' biggest hits "Hooked on a Feeling" and "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"; and co-wrote Waylon Jennings' "Luckenbach Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)."

He also reunited Sun Records legends Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison for the critically acclaimed Class of '55 album.

A few more names with Chips Moman connections: Willie Nelson and Ronnie Milsap.

Moman had been in declining health for the past decade and died Monday in a Georgia hospice.


CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: By the Numbers


The 2016 CMA Music Festival is in the books and by all measurements, the event was a success.

Here's a look at this year's CMA Music Festival by the numbers:
88,500 fans attended the festival each day.
More than 500 artists and celebrities participated in the event.
250 hours of concerts.
11 stages -- seven of them were free.
The festival's two new stages hosted 5,000 fans a day.

The artists performed free, but the CMA Foundation donates proceeds from the event to local and national music education programs on behalf of the artists. Since 2006, CMA has donated more than $13.68 million to this worthy cause reaching more than 1 million children nationwide.

Next year's CMA Music Festival is scheduled for June 8th through 11th. Returning fans can buy tickets through Thursday. All others can buy tickets beginning on July 11th.