Lady Antebellum was joined by special guest Martina McBride at their impromptu late night jam session at Epic Event Center Saturday in Minneapolis, MN. The trio (Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood) is currently opening McBride’s Waking Up Laughing tour.

Martina closed her show at the Target Center and then headed over to jam with her tour openers on stage performing “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” Fellow touring partner Jack Ingram also caught Lady Antebellum’s late night show.

Lady Antebellum’s debut single “Love Don’t Live Here” is climbing the country charts – look for the group’s self-titled debut album to be released in April.

For more information on Lady Antebellum, including their tour webisodes and more, visit their website at  www.ladyantebellum.com

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CMT.com will reveal the winners for the second annual CMT ONLINE AWARDS tomorrow (2/5), with double-platinum recording artist and first bona-fide country star of the MySpace generation, Taylor Swift, delivering the news straight from her bedroom.

The CMT ONLINE AWARDS premieres at CMT.com on Tuesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT, and make their television debut on Tuesday, February 12 at 11:00-11:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. The awards are a one-of-a-kind celebration of Internet excellence.

The CMT ONLINE AWARDS honors the best digital moments of 2007 with original categories including “Not-to-be-Viewed at Work,” “Behind Bars” and “Digitally Active,” along with conventional award categories such as “Number One Streamed Video.” Presenters and guests include Rodney Carrington, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Jennifer Hanson, Shooter Jennings, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Dolly Parton, Danielle Peck, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton and Josh Turner. New country group Lady Antebellum also serve as house band for the special, performing from Swift’s garage.

The CMT.COM ONLINE AWARDS will award content with the most online traffic during 2007 at CMT.com. Each winner will be presented with the CMT.com Loaded Mouse Award, a unique hand-painted gold computer mouse mounted inside a genuine mason jar. Log on to CMT.com to view streaming clips of nominated videos.

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The Tennessean reports that after a photo appeared of Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Kellie Pickler together at a Nashville Predators game, some people told Taylor that they were surprised that the trio would be friends. Taylor says there's a perception that women performers must be jealous of each other.

"People were shocked when they saw three girls who do the same thing as a career and we are friends," she said.

Proving her point, a stranger stopped by our Bricktop's table at lunch on Wednesday and told her how Shania Twain is "coming back" and how it would make a certain other female superstar jealous — a ludicrous accusation that Taylor firmly dismissed. The reality is, Taylor says, the other female stars have been generous and supportive. Faith Hill has wholeheartedly embraced Taylor, Reba McEntire has sent her encouraging notes and Kellie and Carrie offer the teen advice on all sorts of things.

"They try to provoke you with catfight questions," she said of the media. "You know, 'You're nipping at Carrie Underwood's heels.' "Carrie is my role model," said Taylor, who is up for Best New Artist at the Feb. 10 Grammys, an award Carrie won last year. "That girl has done so much to prove what females in country music can do. Just from knowing her, she'll never say a bad thing about anybody ever, even if somebody has said something bad about her. She'll never say something catty, and it's really cool. It makes me want to be that way too."

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Parallel Entertainment is pleased to announce the latest addition to their roster–country music vocalist Colt Ford–who will join artists Jeff Foxworthy, Larry The Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, Montgomery Gentry, Lisa Lampanelli, Shelly Colvin, and Jeremy McComb as a management client.

Subsequently, Ford also signed with Creative Artist Agency for representation.

Ford began visiting Nashville, Tennessee from his hometown of Athens, Georgia no more than six months ago and became immersed in the music community befriending artists Jamey Johnson, Jeremy Popoff, and John Michael Montgomery.  These relationships led to Ford’s music settling in the hands of industry veterans at Parallel Entertainment.  J.P. Williams, owner and CEO of Parallel Entertainment, was impressed with Ford’s music and songwriting style from the beginning.  After securing him as a client, Parallel immediately contacted Creative Artist Agency’s Marc Dennis who signed Ford to the agency for booking.
 
“Parallel Entertainment is proud to be working with Colt Ford. He’s such a unique, multi-talented artist, and I’m really excited to get him out there,” says Ken Madson of Parallel Entertainment.  “I think Colt fits perfectly with J.P. and John Dennis’ vision for Parallel Nashville; we’re really looking forward to getting things started.”

Ford is preparing for a full 2008 with an incredible album that includes tracks “Ride Through The Country” with John Michael Montgomery; “Cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson; “Saddle Up” with R&B artist Attitude (songwriter for Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous Girl”); and “Gangster Of Love” with Bonecrusher .  In addition, Ford features Jeremy Popoff from the band Lit, and Adrian Young of No Doubt.

“I think everyone on the team really understands what we’re doing and why it’s so different,” says Ford, “and I feel truly blessed to have this team on my side.”

For additional information on Colt Ford, please visit www.coltford.com or www.myspace.com/coltford.

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Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will join performers Beyoncé; Foo Fighters (with special guest conductor John Paul Jones); 2008 MusiCares Person of the Year Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, the Clark Sisters, Israel And New Breed, and Trin-I-Tee 5:7 in a special gospel segment; Feist; Alicia Keys; the casts of "The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil" and Across The Universe in a special Beatles segment; and Rihanna with a reunited "the Time" in a special 50th anniversary segment, on the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Two-time GRAMMY winner Carrie Underwood has nods for Best Female Country Vocal Performance (“Before He Cheats”) and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (“Oh Love” with Brad Paisley).

Brad Paisley is up for three awards: Best Country Collaboration With Vocals ("Oh Love," with Carrie Underwood), Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Throttleneck") and Best Country Album (5th Gear).

The music industry’s premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2008, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 – 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide and XM Satellite Radio, and covered online at GRAMMY.com. Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.

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Universal Records South will host the first annual Country Radio Broadcasters' Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame post induction party on Tuesday, March 4th, 2008.

The party will celebrate Hall of Fame inductees, present and past, and will be held at Nashville's Union Station Hotel. Shuttle service will transport attendees to the event from the Renaissance Hotel as well as the Hilton. The party will feature Universal South artists Joe Nichols, Phil Vassar, Jennifer Hanson, newcomer Randy Houser and Shooter Jennings. Desserts, coffees and open bar will be available to all.

Honorees at the 2008 Country Radio Broadcasters' Country Music DJ and Radio Hall of Fame celebration include Bill Cody and Bob Robbins (Country Music DJ Hall of Fame Inductees), and Jaye Albright, Bobby Kraig and Michael Owens (Country Music Radio Hall Of Fame Inductees). Charlie Daniels will receive the Career Achievement Award and Mike Milom will receive the President's Award.

The event is open to all CRS registrants, Hall of Fame inductees, and those attending the Hall Of Fame dinner.

Teddi Bonadies, Vice President of National Promotion at Universal Records South, "Universal South is proud to honor 2008 inductees at our first annual Hall of Fame dinner post party. We feel it is an opportunity to celebrate the unique and successful partnership between country radio and music row- as well as the accomplishments of the Broadcasters that are being honored."

A limited number of tickets are still available for the event, which is preceded by a cocktail party commencing at 5:30. The event will be held at the Renaissance Hotel Ballroom. Single tickets may be purchased for $100; while sponsored tables are $2000. Proceeds go to the DJ and Radio Hall of Fame. To purchase tickets, please contact the Country Radio Broadcasters at 615-327-4487 or visit www.crb.org.

CRS-39 takes place March 5th through March 7th, 2008 at the Nashville Convention Center. Complete seminar information may be obtained by contacting CRB at 615.327.4487 or by visiting www.crb.org. Country Radio Seminar is a registered trademark of Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.

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