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Chart Roundup – Week of May 18th, 2013

Hey guys, my chart roundup is back after a month out! I hope you missed me.

Hot Country Songs remains oddly static at the top, with Florida Georgia Line continuing their successful run at #1 with ‘Cruise’, which also holds onto #1 on Country Digital Songs. What’s more, their most recent single ‘Get Your Shine On’, has the top spot on Country Airplay, #7 on Country Digital Songs and #5 on Hot Country Songs. Is there any chart this duo can’t dominate? Turns out that chart is Top Country Albums, as Kenny Chesney’s ‘Life On A Rock’ debuts at #1, while ‘Here’s To The Good Times’ trails at #5. The lead single from Kenny’s new record, ‘Pirate Flag’, is at #8 on Hot Country Songs and #4 on Country Airplay, nearing the top ten with #12 on Country Digital Songs.

Darius Rucker is also doing well, his hit ‘Wagon Wheel’ remaining at #2 on Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs, and #3 on Country Airplay. The same goes for Blake Shelton, hot on his heels with ‘Boys Round Here’ (featuring Pistol Annies and friends) at #3 on both Hot Country Songs and Country Digital Songs. He moves up to #9 on Country Airplay at a steady rise, while his album ‘Based On A True Story…’ drops to #2 this week. His wife, Miranda Lambert, sees ‘Mama’s Broken Heart’ retain its position at #4 on Hot Country Songs, #5 on Country Digital Songs, and move up to the anticipation-filled #2 spot on Country Airplay. Will she top the chart next week?

Tim McGraw is also a key player on the charts, as his collaboration with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don’t Care’, holds onto #6 on Hot Country Songs, while it sits at #4 on Country Digital Songs and #6 on Country Airplay. ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’, Tim’s latest album, is at #14. Luke Bryan is also rising up the charts with ‘Crash My Party’, at #6 on Country Digital Songs, moving up to #9 on Hot Country Songs, and #17 on Country Airplay. In addition, Hunter Hayes’ ‘I Want Crazy’ is right behind him, reaching #10 on Hot Country Songs, #8 on Country Digital Songs and #21 on Country Airplay. Also of note, Lady Antebellum’s ‘Downtown’ is hanging on in there in the top ten, at #7 on Country Airplay and Hot Country Songs, and dropping down to #10 on Country Digital Songs. Their fourth album, ‘Golden’, has just been released this week and will impact the chart from next week. Also to impact next week include the Pistol Annies with ‘Annie Up’, and ABC’s ‘Nashville’ soundtrack, volume 2.

New releases include ‘Hey Girl’ from Billy Currington, at #9 on Country Digital Songs, as well as ‘Trouble’ the new album from Randy Rogers Band at #3, and ‘Rose Queen’ by William Clark Green, #34 on Top Country Albums. After George Jones’ passing, his album ‘The Great LOST Hits’ jumps 16 places to #35. There is a re-entry from Carrie Underwood’s new single ‘See You Again’, which being so new is struggling to match the chart power of her previous singles.

Honorable mentions go to Thompson Square, George Strait, Brad Paisley, The Band Perry, Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Taylor Swift.

Come by next Thursday for another instalment of my Billboard chart roundup.

Posted by Vickye (Guest Writer).
If you want to check out my own blog it's For The Country Record, and you can follow me on twitter @planmymistake. You can email me at vickye.countrymusic@gmail.com.

And it begins ... Billy Currington dropped from first event after arrest

Source: Rick Diamond/Getty Images North America

Billy Currington is having what can only be described as one sucky week.

After having a run-in with a boat captain on April 15th, Billy was charged with terroristic threats and abuse of an elderly person and on Thursday turned himself into police, later being released on $27,500 bond.

Now starts the probable mass exodus of people and events from Billy's professional life. 

On Friday, officials from the Charlotte Motor Speedway announced that Currington has been taken off their performance schedule. He had been scheduled to headline the 29th annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race on May 18, but after his recent legal issues he's been replaced by Josh Turner. 

"Due to Currington's recent indictment, we elected to change our act for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race," said Marcus Smith, president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway. "Josh Turner is a native of the Carolinas with six No. 1 hits to his credit, and we know he'll put on a fantastic show for our fans and sponsors on race weekend."  

Turner will perform a 90-minute concert in the infield between Turns 1 and 2.

Billy Currington's mugshot revealed after singer turns himself in to police

Billy Currington mugshot via Taste of Country/Chatham County Sheriff’s Dept.

Billy Currington's exhilarating 24-hour life on the run has officially come to an end.

According to Taste of Country, Billy turned himself in to police today after having a warrant issued for his arrest yesterday stemming from an April 15th incident in which Billy is accused of threatening a 70-year-old boat captain. 

Billy's been charged with making terroristic threats and abuse of an elderly person, both felonies.

According to OnlineAthens.com, before the arrest warrant was issued, police searched Currington's home where they seized four digital video files, 27 digital photos and a memory card. According to an affidavit, police believe Currington might have recorded the confrontation between himself and the senior he's accused of threatening, which would explain why Billy grabbed his camera before chasing the boat captain down.

Billy faces up to 1-5 years in prison if convicted of either of the crimes he's accused of. 

Billy Currington is a terrorist ... or something like that

 

Well this is certainly an unexpected turn of events for country music's most laid back dude.

Yesterday, TMZ broke the news that Billy Currington had taken time away from surfing and harassing sea turtles to allegedly chase down a 70-year-old boat captain who he threatened to f**k up and kill. Now Billy has been charged with making terroristic threats and abuse of an elder person (a felony) and has a bench warrant out for his arrest. 

According to the reports, on Tax Day (April 15th), Billy was chilling at a resort area in Georgia (check it out here) when 70-year-old tour boat captain Charles Ferrelle reportedly passed too close to Billy's dock. According to eye witnesses, an old man on the dock was nearly knocked into the water by the boat's wake.

Will Dustin Lynch do Playgirl?

Will country music's newest stud take it ALL off for the ladies?  While you're undressing him with your eyes, does he have the same issue that Tim McGraw has?  Pants too tight for undies?  Dustin tells all in my latest gem, which you can watch below or HERE.

Posted by Broadway (Guest Writer)
Listen to my radio show weekday mornings, 6-10a eastern on iHeartRadio and follow me on twitter @broadwayonair.

"Road To The Ram Jam" announces Billy Currington as the final artist in the All Star Country Music Series (from the mailbag)

PRESS RELEASE:

Platinum-selling country star Billy Currington will join previously announced artists Kellie Pickler, Brantley Gilbert, Easton Corbin, and Zac Brown Band for the “Road to the Ram^® Jam” series and sweepstakes. The Road to the Ram Jam, presented by the Ram Truck brand, features five of today’s best country music artists and provides fans the opportunity to win prizes including trips for two to an invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event December 29^th in Nashville, TN where all five artists will perform.

Country Weekly Wants You To Vote for Country's Sexiest Man

SEXY

Definition of SEXY 1 : sexually suggestive or stimulating : erotic 2 : generally attractive or interesting : appealing

Country Weekly has given us the opportunity to select who we think is Country Music's Most Sexiest Man.  There are just too many good choices to make the job easy enough to pick JUST ONE.  What do we base sexy on when looking at these artists?  Do we base it on the above definitions?  Or do we look at a smile, the eyes, the "swagger", the "look" or just the over all package?  Are the things some of these artists do for charities etc add into the equation?  These men all have something about them that put them on this list & it is not all about looks alone. Is there anyone that we think was left out?

Trace Adkins is first on this list. Now I would put Trace in the first defintion of sexy due to his "swagger" & sexy dances at his shows.  But I would also put him in part two of the definition because I find him interesting and I love his style of humor.

Next up is the young man Jason Aldean.  His style of country music has put him on top with number #1's and a sold out tour this year.  He also has a "swagger" of sorts, and puts on a great show.  That appeals to me, of course those tight jeans & smile don't hurt either.

The choices continue on with an array of very different artists but yet some have the same qualities that make them sexy.  Jamey Johnson to me does not portray sexy that much in his looks as he does through his music.  He has soulful eyes that tell many stories without saying a word.  Jake Owen and Troy Gentry have smiles that go on for miles, David Nail and Billy Currington have "get lost in them" eyes, Gary Allan has a rugged look that many find sexy, Jack Ingram is a true country troubadour that draws you in with his Texas charm and down to earth attitudes.

If you want to add the "get better looking with age" thought process then Toby Keith, George Strait and Alan Jackson would definitely be included there.  Do the new "youngsters" like Justin Moore, Casey James, Eastin Corbin, Brantley Gilbert or Scotty McCreary have yet to grow into their sexy ways or are they already there?  One artist who was left out this year was Phil Vassar.  I find this to be a big over sight, a lack of good judgement if you will.  Phil is a great package of entertainment with great concerts, and a down to earth quality that I appreciate.  Spend some time with him or take in a show and you will get what I mean. No Chuck Wickes or Vince Gill either, two more over sights.

Yes, it is a tough decision to pick just one.  Maybe they should have given us at least three then they can narrow it down huh?  There is a lot to take into consideration.  Give it some thought and give everyone a fair shake., there is more to these guys then meets the eye.  Nope I will not tell you my choice, but I judged him on the entire package.  Good luck.

http://www.countryweekly.com/surveys/sexiest-man-2011

ABC catches up with the most laid back man in country - Billy Currington

Billy Currington is definitely one smooth, laid back fella.  Check him out chatting with ABC News recently.  

Babyface? Billy Currington?? Saxaphones???

 (pic courtesey of social.entertainment.msn.com)

Well, well, well...Look who Billy has been seen out and about with.  Seems as though R&B superstar and mega-producer Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds has been partnering up with Billy to help him write some songs.  Back in September the two got together and wrote but then back in November when Billy played Joe's Bar in Chicago, he surprised the audience and brought out Babyface and they did a duet of Babyface's song "Change The World".  Check it out on youtube if you get a chance.  The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsvNxbraoY.

It's actually pretty cool.  I would be curious to hear what the two of them have written.  Maybe I am wrong but doesn't it kinda look like Babyface and Billy are the same height?  I know Billy isn't that tall but I thought Babyface would be taller.  Hmmm..Something to ponder I guess.... 

Kenny Chensey does it with the Zac Brown Band

After taking a year off (if you could call it that), Kenny Chesney announces stadium concert dates.  And best of all, he’s going to share the headlining job with the Zac Brown Band. 

His fans aren’t the only ones that are excited about the concert announcement; Kenny himself also shares his excitement.  "I really miss certain things about the road, like the first note of every night and the energy that's exchanged between the stage and the crowd.  I'm really fired up to feel that. That moment is what drives me and what I look forward to."  (Yahoo News)

 However, it doesn’t end there.  Kenny is also bringing a few more friends on the road with him.  Billy Currington will be the opening act for the shows, as well as Uncle Kracker will join in on the party for 8 of the 9 dates.

 "What's going to be different for me is the new music," Chesney told The Associated Press in an e-mail. "When we hit the stage this spring we'll be doing a lot of songs from 'Hemingway's Whiskey,' and our show needed that change. It's going to allow me to really make the set different than it's been and make the show more spontaneous."

 Please note the dates below:

 March 19: Tampa, Fla., Raymond James Stadium (on sale Dec. 11)
April 16: Dallas, Cowboys Stadium (on sale Dec. 4)
June 4: Washington, FedEx Field (on sale Dec. 3)
June 11: Green Bay, Wis., Lambeau Field (on sale Dec. 11)
June 18: Philadelphia, Lincoln Financial Field (on sale Nov. 20)
July 2: Pittsburgh, Heinz Field (on sale Dec. 4)
July 30: Kansas City, Mo., Arrowhead Stadium (on sale Dec. 4)
Aug. 20: Detroit (venue and on-sale date TBA)
Aug 27: Foxboro, Mass., Gillette Stadium (on sale Nov. 20)

 No word as of yet if more dates will be added, but I’m sure everyone is waiting and hoping more get added!