NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Gary Allan & Greg Bates Bring It On For 95.1 KFROG's Birthday Bash

Many of us may wish for a Birthday Bash to be this big and full of good old country entertainment. I have a landmark birthday this year; but the party 95.1 KFROG threw on January 17th for their 43rd Birthday was probably as close as I will get to a big blow out.  No complaints though; I won't feel slighted; I was just happy to be along for their ride.

The Annual event was once again held in The Vibe room at Morongo Casino near Palm Springs, CA.  I find myself enjoying these smaller venues more and more; seems more intimate so to speak. It takes a big team to pull off such a grand party; but the station has no shortages of staff or sponsors who are more than willing to make it work.

 

The entertainment was once again above and beyond; just what a party should have. The evening started out with young new Repbulic Nashville recording artist Greg Bates. I had not seen Greg perform live before and was only familiar with his hit "Did It For The Girl" so I was looking forward to seeing what he brought to the party. He brought all the right party favors with his authentic country sound and song writing talent. From the talk among the crowd he has already developed quite a fan following and I myself see this young man going places.  I would enjoy seeing him again given the opportunity.

The anticipation for the headlining party entertainment was rewarded when California native, Gary Allan strolled onto the stage ready to round out the night with some of his hits such as "She's So California", "Her Man", "Songs About Rain," as well as one of my favorites, "Right Where I Need To Be."  As promised he brought in songs from his upcoming album, "Set You Free" which will be in stores on January 22nd. Just by the sound of two of the tracks, "It Ain't The Wiskey" and his current single out on radio, "Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain)" I know this is another Gary Allan album I will not miss.

There were many ways to enjoy this night; be it kicked back and taking it all in; or indulging in  enough "adult beverages" to make ya scream, act crazy, and not remember most of it the next day. I guess I am of the old school crowd these days; I like to kick back and take it all in and remember it all the next day.  Well let the young have their fun; that's part of what our lives are. Thanks KFROG; another party success until next year when we anticipate how you can top the previous year.

Special Thanks to Victoria Jacobs for the pictures & the patience.

 

 

KFROG 95.1 BRINGS GARY ALLAN & GREG BATES TO BIRTHDAY BASH

One can only dream of a Birthday Bash such as this. Well it's not actually my Birthday Bash, but I am getting my dialing fingers ready to win my way into the yearly Bash presented by Southern California's country music radio station 95.1 KFROG. 

The winning starts Monday, December 31st! Win your way in to K-FROG’s 23rd Birthday Bash, presented by AAA Gold Exchange! See Southern California’s own, Gary Allan, and newcomer Greg Bates live, January 17th at Morongo Casino Resort and Spa! 7:10am Monday is your first chance to win! http://kfrog.cbslocal.com/  

Having attended these parties in the past, there has never been a shortage of great artist's or fun. To me it was also a little bit like a great party to celebrate the New Year as well. 

MCA Nashville artist and Southern California native Gary Allan has had a string of hits, “Watching Airplanes”, “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful”, “Best I Ever Had”, “Nothing On But The Radio”, "Right Where I Need To Be" along with his recent smash hit, "Every Storm Runs Out of Rain" from his upcoming new album. "Set You Free." which will be in stores January 22nd  His hard hitting edgy music always brings a nice strong touch to the country genre that is much needed. To catch up with Gary Allan and all his exciting news stop by his website: http://www.garyallan.com/pain/

(Photo courtesy of Mary Kay)

KFROG is also bringing newcomer Greg Bates along for some added entertainment.  Greg, a Nashville native, is no stranger to music, starting out on the writing and publishing side. Bates studied music business at Nashville's Belmont University, graduating in 2010. He got a publishing deal the summer after graduation and signed his recording contract in the fall of 2011 with Republic Nashville. His first EP hit out of the box, "Did It For the Girl" has made him a country force to be noticed. http://www.bigmachinelabelgroup.com/artist/Greg_Bates

This combination is sure to be night full of good old country music, maybe a few "Birthday Beverages" and a lot of fun. So I have my finger excersises geared up along with my patience in the hopes that I will be lucky enough to join in the fun. Happy New Year

Taylor Swift to release 23rd music video to celebrate her 23rd birthday today

Happy birthday to Taylor Swift who turns the bit 2-3 today. To celebrate her big day, Taylor is giving fans a gift by releasing the video for I Knew You Were Trouble, the 23rd music video of her career. 

Taylor explains the darker nature of this video. 

"As soon as I started writing this song, I knew it was different from anything else on the record, so I knew that I wanted the video to be different from anything we'd ever done," said Taylor Swift. "I wanted to tell the story of a girl who falls into a world that's too fast for her, and suffers the consequences."

Taylor will release the video on MTV first at 4:40 pm ET. At 5pm ET, the video will go into rotation across all MTV channels. Fans will be able to view the video on-demand at TaylorSwift.MTV.TV.

Fans can watch a preview of the video below. 

 

Brantley Gilbert rents out skating rink for Jana Kramer

Photo courtesy Jana Kramer's Facebook

To look at him, you wouldn't think Brantley Gilbert would be the romantic sort. Looks, however, can be deceiving it appears. 

During last night's ACA red carpet, Jana told SheKnows that after spending her birthday in the hospital with the flu, Jana's boyfriend Brantley rented out an entire ice skating rink so he could help her have a better birthday memory.  

"The day after my birthday was awesome," Kramer told SheKnows. "My boyfriend rented out an ice rink and took me figure skating."

Jana is actually not a skating novice and apparently spent her younger years as a figure skater. 

You can check out some video of her playing on a rink before a recent concert here. 

Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley celebrates his birthday with tiny ponies and lots of giving

Well a big Happy Birthday going out to Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley who turned 31 today.

He was born in 1981. I don't know why it is that I'm always so shocked to hear that someone successful was born in the '80s, but it still makes me pause and take notice and seems so utterly bizarre to me. 

I'm weird that way. 

On the 20th of this month, Lady A will be performing at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium to help raise funds for a new home for the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, one of the country's prominent medical facilities for children. To stick with the theme of helping children, the trio set up a fundraising page in Charles' name to raise money for St. Jude Children's Hospital in honor of his birthday. 

On the band's Facebook page, Charles sent out a special thank you to the fans along with the adorable and kind of sad (this is apparently where K-Mart carousels go to die) picture above: 

it's my birthday b*****s. thanks to all who donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a gift to me. means a lot! - ck http://bit.ly/OVNlYL

So far, the fundraising page has raised $560. Fans who would like to donate can visit  Crowdrise.com/stjudecharleskelley to pledge a few bucks. 

Mel Tillis celebrated his birthday with a serenade from daughter Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan

Wow, we should all be so lucky as to have Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan sing happy birthday to us. 

This past Wednesday, August 8, Country Music Hall of Famer Mel Tillis celebrated his 80th birthday.

Tillis celebrated his 8th decade of life with a private party held at Honky Tonk Central, located on Broadway in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee.

About 400 of Tillis' closest friends packed the party including daughter Pam Tillis, Charley Pride, Lorrie Morgan, Bobby Bare, Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Alabama's Jeff Cook, Eddie Raven, Jimmy C. Newman, Ira Dean, Meghan Linsey of Steel Magnolia, Bobby Goldsboro, Williams & Ree, Scotty Emerick, comedian Lonnie Shorr, former Dallas Cowboys football coach Barry Switzer, producers Buddy Cannon and Harold Shedd, GAC Headline Country host Storme Warren and many more.

Tillis and his band, the Statesiders, treated partygoers to a live performance, prompting Pam Tillis, Charley Pride, Jeff Cook and others to join the country music legend onstage.

Check out the video below of Pam and Lorrie having fun serenading Mel. 

That can't be natural -- Aaron Tippin edition

Holy guacamole, Batman! 

I got this picture in a press release.  I'm impressed.

On July 3rd Aaron Tippin will be celebrating his 54th birthday. Incidentally, that's also my brother-in-law's 44th (I think, shhhh) birthday.   

From the birthday email/sales pitch:

Aaron will be having a birthday but you would never know by looking at him that he will be turning fifty-four years old this year. He is the fittest man in country music. Tippin has been taking care of himself with exercise and nutrition for over 25 years. Aaron and his wife Thea have a nutrition line called Aaron Tippin Nutrition and it is not just a gimmick, to Aaron and Thea it is a lifestyle that they want to share with others.

By looking at Tippin's physic and how he runs around on stage like he is twenty-four years old you can tell he is in the best shape of his life.

Aaron and his wife Thea workout together. She has been his training partner for many years. Living well and making good nutritional decisions is a family affair. Tippin attributes living well to his nutrition products and says, "I feel as good as ever and ready for 54 more birthdays." Visit Aaron on line and check out www.tipnshaker.com.

I'll have whatever (oh, Tip N Shaker apparently) he's having.  

Happy 50 Years Young Garth Brooks !!!

Garth Brooks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 7, 1962. He signed with Capitol Records and released his self-titled first album in 1989.  Ok that's a start but if you got all your alerts today with other sites wishing him Happy Birthday, read all the biography's on Garth you well know his successful history. I can write what other's have, tell you about all his records, his accomplishments and so forth but that is not what his birthday is for me.

When I heard Garth's first self-titled album in 1989 I knew this would be a country "love affair" that would last with me for as long as it was possible.  I think I wore out the first album & had to buy another.  I can remember such anticipation when word was out that another, and another & yet another and on & on were being released; at times being at the stores, if opened 24 hours, at midnight to get my copy.  I was never disappointed in the music Garth gave us, yet my thoughts are still out on the Chris Gaines deal.  (Ha Ha)  I have everything he has released and when I am listening daily to music somewhere in my list is Garth music.

I believe we were given the gift when Garth Brooks was born.  He has been blessed with his talent and has used it wisely, and he has also blessed the world with this gift to share his music unselfishly.  Having seen Garth ten times in concert I can tell you I have never seen the same show twice, something is always different about each one.  This was evident in January 2008 when he did what some would call impossible; five shows in two days.  All the proceeds from the $45 ticket sales, the merchandise, etc were monies donated to the Southern California Fire Fighters who had been battling days of devastating wild fires.

I attended four of those shows and to this day wish I had done all five.  The day the tickets went on sale it was like "Beatlemania" all over again, yet this was "Garthmania."  We were all exhausted but had our tickets.  It was an electric time and one I am so happy to have shared with so many friends.  The tenth and most recent show on my list was in Las Vegas, and to say that was the greatest Garth Brooks "concert" is an understatement.  It was like having him in our living room just kickin back, swapping stories and singing songs.  We laughed, we sang along, we cried, but most of all we did not want it to end. 

Garth I wish you a Happy Birthday, hoping your day was as blessed as you have blessed us with your songs.  There may be just one gift left I would like; to be able to one day meet you to shake your hand (or give ya a hug) & to say thanks, that's it, just thanks.

(Photos Courtesy of Mary Kay Bruzek 2008)

 

OMG! LeAnn Rimes and I are totally one in the same!

Well at least she has the same wrapping paper as me.  

Except, of course, my Happy Birthday paper was bought at Walmart for like $2.99 a roll and hers probably came from some hoity toity Bev Hills gift wrapping boutique and cost $22.39 a roll. 

Other than that, though, just the same!

Yesterday, August 28th, was LeAnn's 29th birthday and she's been celebrating all weekend long which means that there are all kinds of bikini pics splashed around the web.  

My particular favorite BDay-weekend pictures are these ones where LeAnn appears to have hit the daddy and bonus mommy juice a little too hard.   

Which could explain why the group of pictures that the Eddie Cibrian one above comes from over on RadarOnline.com shows LeAnn looking a little, shall we say, needing a Bloody Mary and a couple aspirin. 

Blake Shelton's birthday is today and Brad Paisley got him the perfect gift

Buahahahaha.  Brad Paisley definitely has great taste in birthday gifts.  He tweeted this pic along with: My present to @blakeshelton on his birthday today.

What a thoughtful fella.