The Top 5 Stories in Country Music News You Should Know About

As always, the world of country music was abuzz this week! Below are the top 5 stories you should know about in the country music world. 

1. CMA Music Fest at the Opry: More country music superstars have been announced to perform at the Grand Ole Opry during the 2014 CMA Music Festival, including Scotty McCreery and Sara Evans. For a complete lineup and to buy tickets to the shows, visit: http://www.opry.com/cmafest.

Source: http://www.opry.com/cmafest

2. Kenny Chesney Tweets Mystery Date. Could there be a next album drop in September for one country music star? Kenny Chesney recently tweeted out the date September 30, 2014, but didn’t release any details as to what that date exactly means. Fans are hoping that’s the day the “There Goes My Life” singer will release his next album.

Source: http://www.countrymusicislove.com/country-music-news/kenny-chesney-sends-out-elusive-tweet/

3. Kenny Rogers to Host Children’s Benefit Concert: Country legend Kenny Rogers will host a benefit for his children’s center in Sikeston, MO. The benefit is set for June 1 and proceeds will go towards the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center.

Source: http://theboot.com/kenny-rogers-childrens-benefit/

4. PEOPLE Country’s Sexiest Man Named: This one’s for you, ladies. People Country has recently named country’s sexiest man for fall 2014 and the winner is….drum roll, please…Luke Bryan! They definitely chose a good one.

Source: http://www.people.com/people/videos/0,,20821215,00.html

5. Ouch! Country Singer Falls Off Stage during Concert: Country singer Luke Bryan is making the news again this week. This time, a little pain and a few stitches were involved. Bryan was performing in Charlotte, NC when he took a tumble on stage. The “Crash My Party” singer wasn’t severely injured; however, did need a few stitches on his leg. This is the second time Bryan has fallen in NC this year. He first fell during a show in Greensboro.

Source: http://myfox8.com/2014/05/30/luke-bryan-falls-off-stage-during-nc-concert/

Keep Calm and The Weekend’s Almost Here

Happy Thursday! Just one more day until the weekend. Hopefully tomorrow will go by fast and the weekend will bring on some good times!

Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSROm-vgVRk

Wisdom Wednesday

Borrowing this post from country singer Thomas Rhett’s Instagram account. Rhett recently posted this pic with the caption “True that.” Definitely words of wisdom with a Southern twist. Happy Wednesday, y’all!

Source: Instagram @thomasrhettatkins

North Carolina’s Idols: The Tarheel State Tops in “American Idol”

Another North Carolina native has been crowned winner of American Idol, making three Idol winners from the Tarheel State. 

Asheville rocker Caleb Johnson was named the Season 13th winner of the singing competition show this past Wednesday. He joined fellow NC natives and winners Season 3’s Fantasia Barrino and Season 10’s Scotty McCreery. North Carolina is now leading in the number of Idol winners and is also dominating in the number of contestants that have appeared on the show. 

Season 2-Clay Aiken

Season 3-Fantasia Barrino 

Season 5-Bucky Covington,Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler

Season 7-Anoop Desai

Season 10-Scotty McCreery

Season 13-Caleb Johnson and Majesty Rose 

Tune into Season 14 of American Idol to see how the Tarheel State will be represented. 

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/05/22/3880393/its-official-north-carolina-is.html?sp=/99/102/

 

 

Memorial Day Fun

It’s the unofficial start to summer and whether you are hitting the road or having staycation, it is important to remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. So, gather your family, friends, and neighbors and have a backyard BBQ or picnic. Remember to say thank you to an active military member or veteran. Hopefully the ideas below will be a part of your day. Happy Memorial Day! 

Patriotic Raspberry Coconut Cake 

Ingredients: For the Cake 

1 box yellow cake mix

2 eggs

1 egg white 

1/3 cup applesauce

1 tablespoon coconut oil 

1 pint raspberries

1 teaspoon sugar

For the Topping 

Blueberries

Raspberries

Cool Whip

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease the cake pan. 

2. Mix cake mix, eggs, applesauce and coconut oil together. Pour cake into cake pan and set aside.

3. Mash raspberries in a bowl and sprinkle with sugar. Stir together to dissolve. Drizzle raspberries over cake batter in a zig zag pattern. When all of the raspberries are on the batter, take the end of a spoon or a tooth pick and swirl raspberries into the batter.

4. Place in the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until the edges are golden.

5. Let cake cool completely and then top with cool whip and decorate! 

Enjoy!

Source: http://www.simmworksfamily.com/2012/07/patriotic-raspberry-coconut-cake-dessert-recipe.html

5 Ways to Say Thank You

1. Call up a veteran or family of a veteran and say thank you! 

2. Tweet your thanks by using the hashtag #wearegrateful. The tweets are printed out and given on postcards to troops worldwide.

3. Fly your American flag to show respect, honor, and pride.

4. Write a letter to active military members. Young children can also draw a flag to go in the envelope.

5. Make patriotic cookies for veterans, especially those in retirement homes. Deliver as a family and spend time talking with veterans and hearing their stories! 

Source: http://www.thehouseofhendrix.com/2013/05/22/10-ways-to-say-thank-you-on-memorial-day/

 

Scotty McCreery Describes Terrifying Night of Home Invasion

Country singer Scotty McCreery is now talking about exactly what happened during the home invasion and robbery on May 5 and the details are more terrifying than expected.

McCreery and his friends had returned to an apartment near North Carolina State University after visiting a restaurant and were watching Gladiator when someone knocked on the door during the early morning hours. The singer said one of the residents of the apartment assumed it was a neighbor.

“He looked through the peep-hole. The guys didn’t have a mask or gloves, so he didn’t look suspicious at all. My friend opened the door to see if he had a question, and we think the other guys were nestled up against the door so we couldn’t see them in the peephole. As soon as the door opened an inch, they barged in, guns waving,” McCreery recalled. 

“The main guy, who was casing the living room, he had a pistol to my head and a pistol at another guy’s head.” 

One arrest has been made. Authorities are still searching for at least two others involved in the case.

Source: http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1727475/scotty-mccreery-describes-being-held-at-gunpoint-during-armed-robbery.jhtml