NashvilleGab - Country music news and Nashville celebrity gossip

Martina McBride heads to the Kentucky Derby to sing the national anthem

It's always been one of my life-long dreams to go to the Kentucky Derby, wear a ridiculously large and ornate hat, and drink mint juleps with my betting neighbors. 

I may never get to fulfill that dream (hey Kentucky Derby, if you happen to need a country music blogger for any reason, call me), but Martina McBride may very well get to live out my dream since she will be there this year. 

Martina will be on hand to perform the The Star-Spangled Banner on the cupola (presentation stand) in the Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle shortly after 5 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 4. 

Other country stars who have had the honor of performing the national anthem before the Derby include Rascal Flatts and LeAnn Rimes.

Like what we're sharing? Keep up with all the fun by following NashvilleGab on Twitter,Facebook, or subscribe to our feed. If you have something you'd like to share, drop me a line at Shannon@NashvilleGab.com. 

Did you catch Faith Hill's opening number on last night's Sunday Night Football?

Credits:2012 NBC Sports 

 Sorry I didn't catch this story sooner so that I could have warned you to watch last night. 

Oh well, better luck next time. 

During last night's game between the Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Faith Hill's debuted her newest Sunday Night Football intro.

Check it out below if you missed it on TV. 

This is Faith's 6th season singing the opening song, Waiting All Day For Sunday Night.

BILLY RAY CYRUS CELEBRATES THE 4th OF JULY WITH THE LOS ANGELES DODGERS (from the mailbag)

Multi-Platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus celebrated the 4th of July with America's favorite pastime as he performed the National Anthem at the LA Dodgers home game versus the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. In salute to our troops, the country music singer/songwriter also performed "God Bless America" standing alongside a few of our brave men recognizing their service overseas.

"What an honor it was to spend the 4th of July celebrating at Dodger stadium. It could not be more perfect to celebrate America with America's favorite pastime," shared Cyrus. "Singing both the Anthem and 'God Bless America' while standing right beside some of America's true heroes – our servicemen and women – is a moment that I will never forget."

Cyrus is currently in the studio working on a new album tentatively titled Change My Mind expected for release this fall. He is set to make his debut in the Broadway play Chicago on Nov. 5, and will continue his run through Dec. 23.

A true pop and country music phenomenon since breaking through to the mainstream with Some Gave All, Cyrus has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and has had three No. 1 hit singles.

{Photo Credit: Juan Ocampo/LA Dodgers}

Billy Ray Cyrus pictured with Baseball Legend Tommy Lasorda

Faith Hill is back doing the football thing (video)

For the fifth consecutive year, Faith Hill has stepped into her best leather outfit to add a little sexiness to football by singing Waiting All Day for Sunday Night, NBC's football opening song. 

Check it out.  It's not a very good quality video, but you get the idea. 

{Via}

Toby Keith's horse didn't win but still has a better payday than you

Photo of Sherriff Cogburn from 2010 via Sassnasty Flickr

Awww, tough break for Toby's pony, Sherriff Cogburn, who ran in today's $750,000 West Virginia Derby but unfortunately didn't win.  

Don't feel too bad for the 3-year-old thoroughbred that's owned by Toby Keith, though, because despite coming in 3rd, he still won a respectable $75,000.  

A pretty good payday if you ask me.  

And a little note about the above picture.  This is the absolute only picture I've been able to find of this horse.  Holy crap.  I searched and searched and searched and then it became like a challenge to dig up some picture of this darn horse.  It was almost like the animal was in the witness protection program or something. Thank goodness for Sassnasty winning $4.40 last year from betting on Sherriff Cogburn and then putting the pictures on her Flickr account or we may never have known what this horse looked like.

I know I'm the only one who remotely cares about what this Cogburn looks like, but a challenge is a challenge no matter how silly it is.  

There's video of today's race after the jump courtesy of ESPN (and yes, I'm aware that we can see what the horse looks like in the video).

Carrie Underwood near tears at husband's loss

Okay, Carrie's probably not actually near tears, but she does look to be feeling her hubby's pain at last night's hockey game.  The Predators faced off with the Vancouver Canucks in Nashville where the Predators lost 2 to 1.  Unfortunately the Preds are now out of NHL Playoffs. 

Probably a sad night in the Fisher-Underwood home last night.  

Photo above is from a game highlight video that you can check out here if you'd like.  You can also check out a bunch of pictures showing the many happy, sad, and knuckle biting pics of Carrie at last night's game here. 

UPDATE:  After reading several accounts, I guess Carrie did cry a little.  Awww, how sweet. 

 

Finally! A country star in a Derby hat

I was about to be really disappointed because I couldn't for the life of me find any country stars at yesterday's Kentucky Derby sporting the kind of exciting head gear you expect from the famous race.  

Miranda Lambert just made my whole day. 

Yay!  She is so dang ridiculously cute.  

Country takes over the Derby

Miranda Lambert who was also celebrating her bachelorette party Derby weekend. 

The 137th running of the Kentucky Derby was yesterday, May 7th, at Churchill Downs and to help celebrate the occasion a few country stars hit up the Barnstable Brown Derby party on Friday in Louisville, Kentucky.  And by the big smiles I think they may have been serving Mint Juleps on the red carpet.   

Wynonna Judd

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any pictures of the country celebs on race day wearing the customary funny hats so we will just have to make do with their cowboy hats. 

Eddie Montgomery and someone who is obviously not Troy Gentry but who all the other celebrity sites have listed as Troy Gentry

{AP Photo/Darron Cummings}

Hockey game totally ruins Nicole Kidman's glamorousness

Dontcha just love seeing a celebrity in total disarray?  I don't know about you, but seeing a celebrity looking like a normal person definitely makes me feel better about wearing sweats at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.  

That said, here's your Sunday morning pick me up.  Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban recently enjoyed a date night at a Predators hockey game in Nashville and Nicole's hair bravely lost the war with the cold hockey arena air.    

{Pictures via Celebutopia}

Jason Aldean tailgates every Saturday in the comfort of his bus...would skip the Grammy's for a game

In this world there are the sports nuts and the sports nots.  Jason Aldean is definitely a member of the first category. 

Jason recently chatted with ESPN about his love of the Georgia Bulldogs and tailgating.  He says:

"Every Saturday, no matter what's going on, I have to be in front of the TV watching the Georgia football game," Aldean said. "So I have a TV my bus that pulls out, and has a big cooler behind it, so it's perfect to just sit out there and tailgate every weekend." 

And just to prove the point that he takes his football serious, ESPN asked about which would be most important a Grammy or watching his beloved Bulldogs winning the BCS title?

"A Grammy would be pretty nice, but I'd probably have to take the national championship," he said. "I'd be cancelling shows to make sure I went to the game."

I guess that means that if you're buying Jason Aldean tickets it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the college football team standings or else you might find yourself holding tickets to a canceled concert.