Dolly Parton + Amy Sedaris = Great Idea!

Check out Dolly’s new video for “Better Get To Livin’”!   Now if only she could have worked in Stephen Colbert and the rest of the cast of Strangers With Candy…

Beyonce to Record Country Album!

Buoyed perhaps by her country duet at the American Music Awards or by a myriad of country artists covering her hit “Irreplaceable,” Beyonce is allegedly going country. After all, why trounce Jessica Simpson in only one musical genre? I am little skeptical, however, because this news is derived from a mysterious “source” from The Sun who says

Beyonce wants to try something completely different. She’s a fan of country music and thought that would be an interesting and exciting way to go. She tested the water at the American Music Awards and she is up for it. She contacted Amanda [Ghost, a songwriter] early this week and she is going over to work with her on it. Beyonce is very excited. Country is still hugely popular in the States. Combined with Beyonce’s popularity, this could be absolutely huge.

Beyonce was quoted as saying “What now, Rihanna? What now?!” Okay, I made that last part up.

Dolly on Parade

Don’t forget (as if you would) that Dolly is leading the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade tomorrow! She’ll be singing her new single “Better Get to Livin’”.

Carrie Underwood Adds to Vast Award Collection

Carrie Underwood won three American Music Awards on Sunday, tied with fellow Idol alum Daughtry for the most awards. Underwood won Favorite Female Artist (Country) and Favorite Album (Country) and the special text message award. The rest of the awards were determined by online votes. Given Underwood’s popularity right now, I suspect she would have beat Akon for best Soul/R&B Male, if given the chance.

Rascal Flatts won for Favorite Group/Duo (Country) and Tim McGraw won for Favorite Male (Country).

Sugarland and Beyonce on the AMAs!

Country music featuring Beyonce?!  Hey Dick Clark, stop reading my diary!

Which CMA Performance Made You Embarrased to be a Country Fan?

Okay, so I exaggerate: I am not embarrassed to be a country fan, but I wouldn’t use some of the CMA performances as recruitment material either. Two that I found particularly cringe-inducing were Brad Paisley (who I usually like, which makes this archaic, low-brow thing all the worse) and Rascal Flatts. So which is more embarrassing: Brad Paisley (35) proving how “cool” he is by having Kellie Pickler (21) and Taylor Swift (17) gyrate near him in his performance of “Online” or Rascal Flatts disaster in which Jamie Foxx sings Gary LeVox off the stage during “She Goes All the Way”? (Yes, yes, I know LeVox had bronchitis, but on some level it’s no excuse; didn’t we learn from country music that you gotta know when to fold ‘em?).

PS Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift, you are musicians. Do not go on the stage as accessories just because you are female and young. Or at the very, very least, demand choreographed routines.

Brooks has nothing to lose but his chains

And speaking of Garth Brooks, the mega-star has canceled television appearances on The View and Ellen in support of the Writers’ Guild of America. Says his publicist:

This is the first time in many years that he has not done television in support of his music. His first appearance on television was to have been The Tonight Show, however the strike happened that day. We believe he is the first artist with product in the marketplace to not have the support of these appearances. Garth is proud of the position he has taken since he hopes to be a writer in the not too distant future.

Way to go Garth! [via Country Standard Time]

Seriously, who’s buying all these Eagles CDs?

Like Britney Spears and The Dude, Garth Brooks must hate the f***ing Eagles these days. The Eagles’ Long Road Out of Eden sold 359, 000 copies in its second week of sales, edging out Garth Brooks’ The Ultimate Hits which sold 352,000 copies in its first week in sales. The Ultimate Hits includes 34 songs (only 4 new) and 33 music videos, as opposed to Long Road Out of Eden which contains two CDs  of all new material.

PopWatch Reviews Sugarland’s NYC Show

Whitney Pastorek of EW’s PopWatch gives Sugarland’s concert at Nokia Theater in Times Square a glowing review and even converts a non-country fan.

Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson: On Tour

Reba and Kelly will be taking their show on the road in January and February 2008 starting in Dayton, Ohio for the “2 Worlds 2 Voices” tour. The pair have already duetted together on a remake of “Because of You” and filmed an episode of CMT’s Crossroads together. I suspect they’ll be on the Amazing Race pretty soon.