NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Best and worst of the ACM Awards according to fans

According to a recent poll (done by me), the highlight of the night belongs to two different incidents.

First, 36% of those polled agreed that both Blake and Luke's joshing about each others 'junk' and Garth and George performing together were the best moments of the night. As for lowlights, the winner of the losers poll with 32% of the vote were the shortened performances from Jana Kramer, Brantley Gilbert, and Florida Georgia Line.

Care to chime in? Let us know in the comments what your highlights and lowlights of the ACM Awards were. 

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

Jana Kramer dishes on meeting, first date with Brantley Gilbert

Jana Kramer/Brantley Gilbert photo via Jana Kramer Twitter

As most everyone is aware, Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert are engaged. Now we've gotten the low down on how the pair first met. 

"I saw him at the after parties (2012 CMT Awards) and I was like, 'Oh there's Brantley Gilbert, he's so cute!' I honestly really just wanted to write with him, I wasn't thinking like I wanna date him. Because I had kind of gone down that artist route before, and I'm like never again, I do not want to date an artist. A lot of the time they can be selfish, and rightfully so, you're doing your thing. I was just like, I can't...he's the bad boy and... But, we have the same agent, so he introduced us and I was like, 'I would love to write with you sometime.' All of the sudden he just pulls out his phone and he's like, 'Yeah, what's your number?' So I gave him my number and then I knew he liked me when he actually called me and he didn't text me. But, he kept calling and I was really hesitant to go out with him. Then, when we actually had our first writing session it was an interesting writing session is all I have to say."

Click Here for the full interview. 

Posted by Broadway (Guest Writer)

Listen to my radio show weekday mornings, 6-10a eastern on iHeartRadio and follow me on twitter @broadwayonair.

Jana Kramer acts out a scene from The Notebook

...with me, sorry. By the sound of things, Jana acting at all is a thing of the past. She sat down with me this week and told me in so many words, that she's done acting. I'll post the audio in a bit.

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

So What Of The New Music Of 2013?

So, as everyone’s adjusting to the idea of it being 2013, and the coming events of the new year, I thought I’d take you through some of the new artists and new releases of 2013, and what I’m most looking forward to etc (as if I’m a tastemaker, ha). Read away for the lowdown.

Albums I’m Looking Forward To:

• Ashley Monroe – Like A Rose

I began listening to Ashley back in about 2007 on MySpace, then my life moved on and I forgot about her, only to rediscover her every so often as the credited songwriter on an album sleeve, and finally when the Pistol Annies were formed. Their 2011 album, ‘Hell On Heels’ was amazing and I really hoped that Ashley would also consider making her own music again. The announcement came a few months ago when Ashley posted a new song, the title track, on her Twitter, stating that her album would be released 18^th December. I loved the new song and was excited to hear the record BUT then Ashley and Vince Gill (who happens to be her producer) wrote a new song and the release date was pushed back until 5^th March. I was gutted, but I am now counting down the days until I can finally hear this long-overdue life-affirming release from such a prolific songwriter of country music.

• Kacey Musgraves – TBA

I’ve never watched Nashville Star (occupational hazard of living in the UK) so I had never heard of Kacey Musgraves before this year, and although I had vaguely heard the name, it wasn’t until the beginning of December that I finally listened to ‘Merry Go Round’. That’s it, I was hooked, I researched her, wrote articles, bought the track and if my iPhone was counting the number of times I have played it, it without exaggeration would be in excess of 70 or 80, at least. My favorite country release of the year. Very little album information has been released so far but it does at least seem it will be this year it comes out, although that is little consolation for someone like me who absolutely cannot wait. Watch this space.

What’s 2013 Set To Hold In Country Music? I Have A Go At Making Some REAL Predictions...

Well, we had my summary of 2012 in country music, and after querying it on Twitter, apparently people would like my take on what’s in store for the bright new year. I’m going to predict things at random. Mostly they’re educated guesses, but we all need a few totally off-the-wall predictions, right?

• Hillary Scott’s baby will be a boy. I have no idea what is telling me this, but something is.
• Another country star will get pregnant. I think Carrie and Miranda (who have often been asked about kids) are more set for 2014/15, but a country star somewhere is bound to get pregnant.
• As for Taylor Swift relationship drama, I think after a couple of months the relationship with Harry will be over (although judging by her most recent tweet, “...’til you put me down.” It may already be), and she will have another two more relationships before the year is out, with a couple of other people she’s romantically linked with in the media but it doesn’t come to anything. Taylor has learned that relationships = publicity so I think her record label will be onto her to keep in the public eye in this way.
• Kellie Pickler’s 2012 album ‘100 Proof’ wasn’t very well promoted by her label, who she then split from last year, but now she has signed with Black River Entertainment I think she will release a brand new single, totally out of left field and blow everyone away.
• Kristian Bush will release an EP of acoustic sessions and a few songs he’s been working on, whilst Jennifer is off on maternity leave with her baby. It just makes sense and I really want it to happen.

Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert reportedly buy house together in Nashville, reveal first joint Christmas card

Photo courtesy OMG! Yahoo

How cute is this Christmas pic? Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert apparently found the one mall in this big ol' country of ours whose Santa is a really rockin' dude. 

Yep, things are really getting serious between Jana and Brantley. I mean joint Christmas cards are just one step away from a mortgage and dirty diapers.

Oh wait, it looks like they may just have the dirty diapers left to go because OMG! is reporting that the pair have already purchased their very first house together in Nashville.

Sources tell omg! that the couple, who have been dating for about six months, are getting so serious that they just bought a house together in Nashville. 

“I am really happy,” Jana tells the website!. “[Brantley] is so wonderful, I cannot stop smiling around him. He surprises me with gifts ‘just because.’”

Jana started out being pretty tightlipped about the relationship, but now it seems she's gushing more than Brantley is, which is saying a lot. 

These two are just too cute. 

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. 

Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert go fishing ... Jana ends up in the hospital

Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert have been dating for a few months now but for the most part they've kept things under the radar and photo free. Well on Saturday that changed when the couple went fishing with South Florida's 103.1 WIRK. Jana posted a few pictures of her and Brantley including the one above. She said:

Before my show tonight in West Palm i decided to go fishing and look what we caught!!! a BABY SHARK!!!!! (we let it go..but had to take pic)!!!!

Unfortunately, the fun didn't last much longer. Later that evening Jana was performing at WIRK's Country Christmas in West Palm Beach when she announced that she was feeling ill and had to cut things short. According to Country Chit Chat, as Jana was getting ready to leave the stage Brantley rushed up to carry her off the stage.

Wow, what a gentlemanly thing to do. 

Later in the evening, Jana updated fans via Twitter from the hospital to let them know how she was doing. Apparently she's got a touch of the flu.

“Alright so here’s the update! I’m okay. I’m on morphine and lots of liquid and other stuff. ‪#dehydration ‪#flu ‪#etc ! Thanks for the love!” 

And in case you're curious, Brantley was there for moral support/comical relief.

(Country Chit Chat)

Jana Kramer Joins Country Music’s Long-Standing Alcohol Tradition With ‘Whiskey’ – Review

Jana Kramer, a former member of the One Tree Hill cast, has taken a couple of years to make her mark on country music. She originally signed her record deal with Elektra Records in February 2011, with the promo track ‘I Won’t Give Up’ (the last on her album) premiering on One Tree Hill, like many musical cast members have done before. It reached #75 on the Billboard Hot 100, and whilst she was working on her album, she released ‘Whiskey’ as another promo track on the show. It reached #99 on the charts simply on digital sales, but she wasn’t about to win a CMA for her efforts. However, fast forward to 2012 and ‘Why You Wanna’ reaches #5 on the Country charts, setting Jana up for a big hit with her new single ‘Whiskey’.

‘Why You Wanna’ was a huge hit on radio and the TV video charts, and I expect no less of ‘Whiskey’. Like ‘Why You Wanna’, it’s a song of heartbreak, this time with a playful comparison between a boy and an alcoholic beverage. Have we ever heard that before in country music? Hmm, I don’t think we have. Joking aside, it doesn’t feel like a repetition and is simply a good analogy, with a catchy chorus and a verse of descriptions of other people’s names for the boy in question. The beginning harmonies on ‘oh’ instantly hooks me in with an infectious vocal riff, and matched with the sweet trebly acoustic guitar and the prominent fiddle line, the song has a great set-up. Jana has quite a light voice and the gentle twang that inflects her vocals nicely matches the feel of the song, that lacks any real bass sounds. However, on the chorus we get a nice gritty steel guitar sound punctuating the switch from acoustic to electric guitar to carry the song.

There’s something about the melody that is really addictive and really catches my attention, and Jana has clearly got together a fantastic writing team to produce a good string of hooks, like we can clearly see in this song. I know it’s early days and Jana was snubbed at this year’s CMA Awards, but I think ‘Why You Wanna’ and ‘Whiskey’ really show promise and I can see her as the new Sara Evans, although she definitely is carving out her own niche too. I would be lying if I said this song and the rest of the album don’t err on the side of country/pop, but not in a way that totally ignores country elements, and certainly the prominence of alcohol and Southern references in these lyrics ties her into Honky-Tonk lyrical traditions. I also love the full-on belting in the melody change in the final chorus, really builds it up to a peak and shows off the power in her voice.

I definitely think this song will be a big hit, and by the sounds of Jana’s Twitter it’s already doing well on country radio, and I’m looking forward to the video, which I believe they have nearly finished or have just wrapped up filming. If you can’t wait for video footage of Jana miming to this song, then there’s a sort of basic promo video of her doing just that, watch the video below.

You can buy ‘Whiskey’ here.

 

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.

Jana Kramer's not quite as chatty as Brantley Gilbert about their relationship

Well this is a bit of an anticlimax in the Brantley Gilbert/Jana Kramer dating news. 

As I told you a couple of days ago, there was a rumor going around that Brantley Gilbert and Jana Kramer were an item. Later on, Brantley admitted in a radio interview with Atlanta's Kicks 101.5 that the two were in fact dating and Brantley was almost gushing about how happy he was. 

Skip ahead a couple of days and Jana Kramer was finally tracked down to give her side of the dating news. 

Country Music Tattle Tale caught up with the actress/country singer at last night's ACM Honors in Nashville and asked Jana about the budding relationship.

“What did you think about Brantley Gilbert “outing” your relationship last week on Kicks 101.5 FM in Atlanta?”

Her answer?

“You know what, were just having fun.”

WHAT!?!  When Brantley answered the question last week, he poured out his heart confessing to Cadillac that he is indeed a very, very happy man! Personally, I got the feeling she was incredibly uncomfortable talking about her relationship so we moved on after one last question.   When we asked if they would be walking any of the upcoming award show red carpets together her answer was very simple,

“No, were not going to be walking the carpet together.”

Oh, well ok then. You know, there was a recent study that suggested roles have reversed and men now tend to fall in love quicker than women and have turned into mushy, clingy fellas. 

Or something to that effect.

I hope this isn't the case here because I kind of prefer my Brantley Gilbert manish as opposed to Taylor Swiftish.