The Twang Town Lowdown - 1/22/16

MIRANDA LAMBERT - KEEPER OF THE FLAME TOUR

Miranda Lambert has a pretty full schedule lined up in the coming months. In addition to joining Kenny Chesney on his Spread the Love tour, she's announced her own headlining run. 

Her Keeper of the Flame tour will hit 26 cities including Austin, Chicago and Los Angeles. Kip Moore and Brothers Osborne will go along as special guests. 

No specific dates have been announced, but tickets will go on sale for some cities on January 29th. 

KEITH URBAN: ANNOUNCES 6th ALL FOR THE HALL CONCERT

Keith Urban and Vince Gill announced the 6th All for the Hall concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The show takes place on April 12th at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. 

This year's theme is Mashville: The Music City in 2016. Keith says, “Nashville has become a dynamic and diverse musical melting pot. While it remains the home of country music, an unbelievably talented community of songwriters, producers, instrumentalists, singers, bands and solo artists are rapidly changing the entire musical landscape in “Music City U.S.A”. Our sixth All tor the Hall event - ‘Mashville: The Music City in 2016’ - will celebrate that!!!!”

Joining Keith and Vince are Luke Bryan, Peter Frampton, Florida Georgia Line, Emmylou Harris, Sam Hunt, Jason Isbell, Maddie and Tae, and Maren Morris. 

Tickets go on sale January 29th. 

"HUMBLE AND KIND" VIDEO – TIM MCGRAW

Tim McGraw took to Facebook yesterday (1/21) to release the video for his new single, "Humble and Kind." Featuring clips of people from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds, the video uses profound images to convey the song's inspirational message. Tim said in the caption for the video, "This song is so special to me. I really wanted a video that showed the universality of the message of Humble and Kind." McGraw also thanked the video's director Wes Edwards for "executing this vision" and sent thanks to Oprah Winfrey for lending them scenes from her Belief series, which is a program that searches the origins of diverse faiths from around the world and explores the many spiritual journeys people embark on. "Humble and Kind" is the second single released off Tim's latest album, Damn Country Music. The video for the song can be seen here.

After the video was released, McGraw's wife, Faith Hill, took to Twitter to call the clip "A masterpiece!" and Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley had something else to say. Kelley tweeted, "I remember talking to @TheTimMcGraw about this song when it came out. So glad it's his new single #StayHumbleandKind". Here's the video... 

HANK JR. AND CHRIS STAPLETON ON TOUR

 

One of country music's most seasoned veterans, Hank Williams Jr., will hit the road this year with one of its fastest rising stars,Chris Stapleton. Hank Jr. and Stapleton are set to join up for a co-headlining tour that will make a string of stops throughout the country this summer. 

The eight-city trek will kick off in Tampa, Florida, on August 5 and also dates lined up in Houston, Austin, West Palm Beach, Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and just outside of Detroit in Clarkston, Michigan. Fans can purchase tickets for select cities on the tour beginning January 29 as part of Live Nation's Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com. 

Chris recently appeared on NBC's Saturday Night Live as the musical guest, and Hank just released his new  album, It's About Time.

Dates for Hank Jr. and Chris Stapleton's co-headlining tour are listed below:

Aug 05 MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre – Tampa, Fla.

Aug 06 Coral Sky Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, Fla.

Aug 12 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – Houston, Tex.

Aug 13 Austin360 Amphitheater – Austin, Tex.

Aug 19 Blossom Music Center – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Aug 20 DTE Energy Music Theatre –Clarkston, Mich.

Aug 26 Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, Ind.

Aug 27 Riverbend Music Center – Cincinnati, Ohio

The D.A. Of The Day - 1/22/16

EVER HEARD OF GETTING A DWR?? WELL YOU HAVE NOW:

There's nothing wrong with sitting down with a good book to read, unless of course you're doing it while driving.

A police officer in Minnesota noticed a car swerving on the road and pulled over the driver, who just might be the most honest and literate driver ever. The officer's dashcam captured the traffic stop and the entire conversation with the driver, who told the officer he was swerving because he was reading a James Patterson novel.

MAN'S GUN ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGES IN THEATER, INJURES 1

A police department spokesperson says, "The nicest guy, obviously not the smartest thing to do while driving. Very dangerous. But he kind of got it, knew he made a mistake, and the officer went back and ended up giving him a citation." 

A shooting inside a movie theater in Renton, Washington has landed one man in jail and a woman in critical condition.

Police have the suspect in custody after he told officers that he went to see a showing last night of 13 Hours and accidentally discharged his gun when he dropped it on the floor. One bullet struck a woman who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. 

Police say the 29-year-old suspect was intoxicated at the time and fled the scene after the shooting. But his father eventually called 911 to turn him in and he was arrested. 

MAN TRIES TO SAVE DOGS FROM FIRE.. GET'S TACKLED BY POLICE

When a dog saves a man's life, he makes headlines, but when a Florida man tried to save his dogs' lives, he made the police blotter -- for grabbing a fireman's axe to break a window during the rescue.

Wendell Joyner called 911 to report a fire at his home, but by the time crews arrived, the blaze was out of control. The 58-year-old made it out safely, but kept running back in to look for his three dogs -- and once he realized he couldn't, he snatched an axe out of the firefighter's hands to knock out the front window and help the pups escape on their own.

Cops called to the scene reacted strongly to the move, tackling Joyner and opening gashes on his face, then charging him with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. The police report said he seemed intoxicated and could have been a danger, holding the axe. All three dogs were eventually rescued by Brevard County Fire Rescue crews and reunited with Joyner and his roommate, who are staying with family members.

The HOTLIST - 1/22/16

MORE DETAILS ON FREY’S DEATH MADE AVAILABLE

 

Glenn Frey’s manager, Irving Azoff, says the singer’s illnesses were partially caused by the medication he was taking for his rheumatoid arthritis, according to “People” magazine. Some of the medication prescribed to patients with this type of arthritis work against the body’s autoimmune system.

Azoff was not specific about which medications Frey, who died on January 18th, was taking. He did say, “The colitis and pneumonia were side effects from all the medications. He died from complications of ulcer and colitis after being treated with drugs for his rheumatoid arthritis which he had for over 15 years."

Because of some intestinal issues, the Eagles had to postpone their Kennedy Center Honors last year.

He official cause of death was listed as complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia.

  MILEY CYRUS AND LIAM HEMSWORTH ARE ENGAGED

 

The Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth romance is back on, and the couple has announced they are now engaged again, according to “People” magazine. Miley is again wearing the Neil Lane ring that Hemsworth gave her when he proposed in 2012.

A source told “People” that Miley is “beyond happy” to be back with her former beau. Apparently the couple has been seeing each other again for a few months. They have been trying to keep things out of the public eye while they tried to work things out.

MCCLEAN’S WIFE GETS ORDER OF PROTECTION

After Don McClean’s arrest Monday on a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge, his wife was granted a temporary order of protection from the singer/songwriter. She said there had been a pattern of abuse in their marriage for three decades.

His wife alleged that McLean’s rage was very scary in the early years of their marriage, and that he often abused her and left her bruised. She said she called 911 in this last incident because she was afraid for her life.  She told police that McLean had terrorized her for four hours before she called the emergency number.

McLean issued a statement yesterday saying their marriage was experiencing a "very painful breakdown." He also said he is "not a villain" and that it is an emotional time for his family. To his fans, McLean said, "I may never recover from this but I will try and hope to continue to entertain you all as I always have."

The singer has been released on bail and must report to court on February 22. His lawyer, Walter McKee, said McLean will plead not guilty, and that he denies his wife’s allegations.

McLean is most famous for the song “The Day The Music Died.”

MARIAH CAREY AND JAMES PACKER ENGAGED

 

Mariah Carey and James Packer became engaged Thursday in her hometown of New York City, according to “People.”
 

The singer and her fiancé, an Australian businessman, were first seen together on the red carpet this past September at the premier of “The Intern.” The singer told Steve Harvey that they met at the premier of “Hercules” a few years ago.

Both have children by previous marriages. Carey has four-year old twins with ex-husband Nick Cannon, and Packer has three young children with his ex-wife, Erica Baxter.

The Twang Town Lowdown - 1/21/16

A HISTORIC DEBUT – MAREN MORRIS

 

Newcomer Maren Morris has made country radio history this week with her debut single "My Church." With a record breaking 107 first week chart reporting stations spinning the tune, "My Church" is #1 most added song at country radio for the week and also sets the record for the highest charting debut single by a female in Country Aircheck's Mediabase history. 

The previous record for a debut single was 99 "adds" at impact date. Making Maren's massive radio impact this week even more exciting is the fact that "My Church" has already jumped to #32 on the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. Nashville has been taking notice of Morris recently, with Keith Urban even tapping the hot newcomer to join his "RipCORD World Tour 2016" this summer. The tour will kick off on June 2 in Kansas City, Missouri, and will also feature special guest Brett Eldredge. "My Church" is the lead single off Maren's forthcoming album due out later this year.

LITTLE BIG TOWN WILL PERFORM AT THE GRAMMYS

 

Little Big Town will make their Grammy stage debut when they perform at the annual awards show next month. Little Big Town joins Kendrick Lamar, Adele and The Weeknd as the first wave of performers announced for the 58th Grammy Awards, which will be will be broadcast live from Los Angeles on February 15 at 8 PM ET on CBS.

 There will also be a special tribute to 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year Lionel Richie, highlighting the Grammy winner's career. Additional Grammy performers will be announced soon. LBT's music earned a total of 4 Grammy nominations at this year's ceremony, including three for their song "Girl Crush." "Girl Crush" was nominated in the all-genre Song Of The Year category, as well as for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. LBT also picked up a Best Country Album nod for their latest record, Pain Killer.

GOOD FOR A GOOD TIME TOUR - DARIUS RUCKER

 

Darius Rucker has announced dates for his upcoming "2016 Good for a Good Time Tour," hitting the road this summer with more than 30 dates across the U.S. The tour will kick off in Tampa, Florida on June 3 and will feature special guests Dan + Shay andMichael Ray along for the ride. Darius announced the news on Twitter yesterday morning (1/20) with a video message that can be seen here. The video was accompanied by a caption that said, "Get ready! Going out on the #GoodForAGoodTime Tour w/ my boys @DanAndShay & @MichaelRayMusic. See you this summer!" Fans can purchase tickets for select cities on the tour beginning January 29 as part of Live Nation's Country Megaticket at www.Megaticket.com.

Following the success he had with the program during last year's "Southern Style Tour,"Rucker plans to once again use his live shows as a platform to honor and present homes to our nation's combat wounded heroes and Gold Star spouses, in conjunction with Project Rebuild. Darius, along with Lieutenant General Sisco, CEO and founder of Military Warriors Support Foundation, presented the first house in an appearance on NBC's Today and went on to present 13 more homes in 2015.

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE: ANNOUNCE NEW TOUR

Florida Georgia Line announces their Dig Your Roots tour, which kicks off in March in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Coming along for the trek are Kane Brown, Cadillac Three and Cole Swindell.Brian Kelley says, “Tyler and I are going to make this year very personal with the Dig Your Roots Tour.  We want our fans to feel right at home with us as they learn more about our story and we learn about theirs."

The D.A. Of The Day - 1/21/16

NOT EGGS-ACTLY STABLE

A Virginia man was taken into police custody after he went hog wild -- by causing a ruckus on his neighbor's property while carrying a loaded gun and "a bag of suspicious bacon."

The neighbor called 911 after he went out to check on why his dogs were barking non-stop, and found Evan Patrick Cater lying in the dirt behind their kennel, masked, armed and intoxicated. The victim went back to his home to wait for deputies, who arrived on the scene to find Cater in a different part of the yard, still carrying the handgun and the bacon, which was "covered in an unknown oily substance."

Officers asked Cater to return to his own home, but he refused, saying he was just relaxing and not doing anything illegal. He was booked on charges of trespassing, public intoxication and carrying a gun while intoxicated.

CONVICT LEAVES JAIL, GOES BACK IN THE SAME DAY

An English woman is back in jail, just hours after she completed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

32-year-old Louise Omari-Cole was released from a prison where she had served time for robbery -- and decided to celebrate her freedom by getting drunk and attacking a taxi driver. According to police, Omari-Cole had argued with the driver over the fare and got violent when he threatened to call the cops.

The driver claims that Omari-Cole and her friend took turns punching him and hitting him with a bottle. Officers eventually arrived at the scene and arrested both women. Later at the police station, Omari-Cole kicked the officers and bit one of them on the thigh.

She pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage, and will spend the next year and 10 months in jail. Her partner in crime received an eight-month sentence. 

MONK BUGS OUT AND SLASHES TIRES:

A Buddhist monk in England is behind bars after he went on a crazy tire-slashing rampage -- and it was all because he'd stepped on an insect.

Julian Grew told police he was angry that he'd accidentally killed a bug, which is against his religious beliefs, and wanted to take out his frustration on something that wasn't a living creature. So he slashed the tires on 162 parked cars. 

The 45-year-old man, a recluse who's been living in the woods for the last decade, was arrested after authorities identified him in surveillance footage. He pleaded guilty to criminal damage and has been sentenced to 11 weeks in prison. 

The HOTLIST - 1/21/16

GREAT NEWS FOR MCSTEAMY AND FAMILY:

Patrick Dempsey and his wife Jillian have called off their divorce. 

A source tells People magazine that for the past year the two "have been working on getting to where they are right now. They are not dating anyone else, and only each other." The insider adds that "there are no more divorce plans. Patrick and Jillian plan on being a family again."

Jillian, who has three children with the star, filed for divorce last January after 15 years of marriage. 

The source says, "The divorce made Patrick miserable. It was definitely a wake-up call."

Just last week, Jillian posted an Instagram photo of the couple celebrating Patrick's 50th birthday.

KRISTIN CAVALLARI HOSPITALIZED

Kristin Cavallari was hospitalized today (Thursday) after being in a car accident.

A rep for the former reality star tells Gossip Cop, "She was hit by another driver in Chicago. She is doing fine and will be discharged from the hospital shortly."

Kristin's husband, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, rushed to his wife’s side soon after she was admitted. Fortunately, their three young children were not in the car at the time of the accident.

This comes just a month after Kristin's brother Michael died after his car crashed in the Utah desert. 

AMY SCHUMER ACCUSED OF STEALING JOKES:

Amy Schumer is defending herself against an attack launched by several other comics who claim the Trainwrecked star is a joke-stealing hack.

The attack started last weekend when veteran comedians Wendy Liebman, Kathleen Madigan and Tammy Pescatelli each accused Schumer of stealing their jokes, as well as jokes previously told by late comedian Patrice O'Neal. Liebman tweeted, "Between Amy Schumer doing one of my best jokes on her HBO special and this meme of my joke, I’m done with social media." A montage video titled,Amy Schumer Is a Joke Thief, has been posted to Vimeo.  

But Schumer is denying the accusations. She tweeted last night, "On my life, I have never and would never steal a joke."

ON THE NEXT DR. PHIL: "I'M SUING MY BOSS FOR HOLDING ME HOSTAGE"

Dr. Phil McGraw is being sued for false imprisonment and wrongful termination by a former staffer who claims the TV host locked her and 300 other employees in a room and refused to let them leave.

Leah Rothman alleges that McGraw created a hostile work environment and forced her to quit the show last April. She alleges that in March, Dr. Phil called all of the show's employees into a large room and ordered security guards to lock the doors and collect everyone's cell phones. He then went on to accuse one of his employees of leaking information to the media.

Rothman says in her lawsuit that McGraw cursed at the staff and even read off cue cards. She says the meeting was designed to frighten employees and that McGraw appeared to take pleasure in scaring them. She claims that the hostile work environment caused her emotional distress and forced her to quit a month later.