Miranda Lambert is so busy with her new store, The Pink Pistol, she doesn't have time to go hunting with Blake and he's not happy about it. Miranda says, “I've never worked so hard in my life but I’m having so much fun talking with people and making sodas and sundaes.”
Miranda Lambert is so busy with her new store, The Pink Pistol, she doesn't have time to go hunting with Blake and he's not happy about it. Miranda says, “I've never worked so hard in my life but I’m having so much fun talking with people and making sodas and sundaes.”
Blake Shelton’s Christmas Special Re-Airs Tonight
Blake Shelton’s ‘Not So Family’ Christmas special re-airs tonight on NBC.
Tim McGraw’s New Album Includes Taylor and Keith
Tim McGraw’s album, ‘Two Lanes of Freedom,’ includes a song with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. It’s out Feb. 5 in a standard edition and a deluxe version with 3 extra songs.
Faith Hill’s Favorite Christmas Cookie
Faith Hill’s favorite holiday cookie is divinity.
Thompson Square Just Finished Their New Album
Thompson Square just got done recording their new album and they said it took 15 hours, half a chicken, 2 muffin tops, 3 Kit Kat's, 40 cups of coffee and 80 bottles of water.
Taylor Swift Celebrates Birthday in England
Taylor Swift celebrated her birthday yesterday in England with singer Harry Styles. They ate dinner by an open fire in a pub and sources said they did not act like boyfriend and girlfriend.
Lady A’s Charles Kelly Has LASIK Surgery Today
Finally - Lady A’s Charles Kelly’s having LASIK surgery today so he can see long distance again.
Jason Aldean joins some pop stars on the West Coast segment of New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest Dec. 31 on ABC. Taylor Swift will be on it from Times Square in New York.
Jason Aldean joins some pop stars on the West Coast segment of New Years Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest Dec. 31 on ABC. Taylor Swift will be on it from Times Square in New York.
Taylor Swift Turns 23 Today and Debuts New Video
Speaking of Taylor, she’s 23 today and she’ll debut her video for ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ on MTV at 4:40 PM ET.
Dierks Bentley Says His Brother is the Bigger Star
Dierks Bentley says when he goes home for Christmas; his brother Fife is the big star. He lives in Guatemala and works with Partner for Surgery. They perform free surgeries; get children eating right, train nurses and more. Literally saving and changing people's lives! Find out more at www.partnerforsurgery.org/staff.asp
Brantley Gilbert’s Quite the Romantic
Brantley Gilbert’s girlfriend Jana Kramer had to spend her birthday in the hospital recently so he just rented an entire ice skating rink so she could have a better birthday memory.
LeAnn Rimes’s Concert Rider Leaked
The Smoking Gun leaked LeAnn Rimes’s concert rider and her backstage requirements include a dozen organic hard boiled eggs, Pepto-Bismol, Mucinex, Advil and incense.
Hunter Hayes is a Self Proclaimed Watch Freak
Finally - Hunter Hayes celebrates milestones in his life by buying watches because he’s a watch freak and the bigger the award or honor, he says the more expensive his watch can now be.
A lyric in Taylor Swift's latest song "Begin Again" got me thinking about how many families out there that have a tradition of watching certain Christmas movies during the season? Our family does! Mike and I have buckled under the pressure from our kids not to play "A Christmas Story" anymore for awhile. So we watch it ourselves before everyone else arrives. They just don't get that movie I guess.
Oddly enough, they all love "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye! This is one that we watch several times during the season. I think the kids love this one because Mike will invariably do a running commentary on it that makes it really hilarious. My real favorite is "Holiday Inn" with Bing. I have loved that movie since I was 10 years old. I usually watch this one alone. Mike has a couple of old favorites as well. He loves the 1951 version of "A Christmas Carole" with Alistair Sim. He also loves a made-for-tv movie from the 70's called "The Gathering" with Ed Asner. It is fun to watch just for the really bad 70's fashion!
As a family, we all love "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation", "Love Actually", "The Holiday" and we have added "Four Christmases". Mike, Adam and Eric have requested we add "Die Hard" and "Lethal Weapon" as they take place at Christmas. They call them the "gunfire and tinsel" movies.
We don't watch animated movies, the kids have never been fans. Our family also has a pretty twisted sense of humor so there are a lot of "sweet and sensitive" Christmas movies that just don't make the cut at our house. Our poor little brand new daughter-in-law, Lilly, really isn't going to know what hit her this Christmas. On the other hand, she married Eric so she must have some idea!
Blake Shelton says his three New Year’s resolutions are to win The Voice twice in 2013, to clean up his language and #3 - to stop being so controversial on Twitter. He says he and Miranda will spend New Year’s Eve relaxing at home, drinking champagne and watching TV.
Jason Aldean Wants to Get Into Acting
Jason Aldean has his sights set on getting on the big screen with something dark like a thriller. He says, “there have been country artists that tried it and were horrible, I don't want to be that guy."
Keith UrbanGets Critics' Choice Nod
‘For You’ just got Keith Urban a Critics' Choice Award nomination in Best Song from the film ‘Act of Valor.’ Critics' Choice is one of the indicators in the Oscar race.
Taylor Swift Has Stalkers and a Bodyguard Too
Taylor Swift says having stalkers is the price you pay for being famous and even tho you can’t tell, she always has a bodyguard close by. Taylor also has pictures texted to her of guys who have made threats.
Lady Antebellum Cancels Dates
Lady Antebellum have just cancelled a handful of concerts for next summer due to Hilary being pregnant. We don’t know when the baby’s due, but she’ll be very pregnant by this summer. No word yet on how many more dates Lady A will be canceling in 2013.
Florida Georgia Line Up Late Tonight
Finally - Florida Georgia Line are on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ tonight.
Every year at Christmas I do something for Mike and Eric that I won't do at any other time of the year. I fix rutabega. Blech. This is a dish Mike's mother made for his dad. For Mike, it has always been a part of the holidays. His dad loved rutabega, Mike loves rutabega, and now Eric loves rutabega. They are the only three people I know in the world who eat it.
The food that was always on MY holiday table is my mother's cinnamon applesauce jello. It was always my favorite food at Christmas and it is now the favorite of my "normal" family members. Anyway, Mike's mother taught me how to fix rutabega the way Mike likes it. First, peel it (easier said than done) cube it and boil the hell out of it. WARNING...you will smell the hell being boiled out! The aroma of boiling dirty socks is the way I would describe it. Then mash it up with butter and salt.
Mike and his family have introduced me to many culinary delights over the years. Scottish meat pies, fern cakes, scones with Cornish clotted cream (perfection!) real fish and chips, haggis (NOT perfection!) black pudding (also NOT perfection!). I can make a pretty good Shepherd's Pie and some very good shortbread. I don't know if the rutabega that I fix is good...I won't even taste it.
When I was checking out at Wal-Mart yesterday, I had to explain rutabega to the young cashier. Let's just say, I am NOT a great "Rutabega Ambassador". I don't think she will ever cook one.
At last nights ‘American Country Awards’ Luke Bryan was the big winner with nine! He won everything he was nominated for including ‘Artist of the Year.’
Trace Adkins Lame Jokes Upstaged by Ron White
Hosts Trace Adkins and Kristen Chenoweth had more lame jokes than ever and every time they panned the audience no one was laughing. The best line was comedian Ron White saying he had no idea he’d ever be able to say he has the same number of tour de France wins as Lance Armstrong.
Keith Urban+ Trace Adkins Have Night's Best Performances
Best performances were Keith Urban with some high school kids and Trace Adkins with Lynyrd Skynard. Lady A’s Charles Kelly got everyone to their feet for Trace and Lynyrd Skynard as he was up dancing for nearly a minute before anyone else was. When Little Big Town got done singing ‘Tornado,’ there was a ton of confetti dropped making a total mess and during the commercial break people were frantically sweeping to clear the way for the snow Lady A needed for their Christmas tune.
Miranda Lambert + Carrie Underwood Tie For An Award
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood tied for, ‘Shortest Dress of the Night.’
Jake Owen Performs Barefoot
New dad Jake Owen was last night’s ‘Breakthrough Artist’ he also performed barefoot.
Taylor Swift's Relationship with Pop Star is Staged
Finally – I hear love birds Taylor Swift and Harry Styles notify the paparazzi whenever they’re out so they can be photographed holding hands and looking like a couple but sources say it’s all staged and while they may be together New Year’s Eve insiders say it’ll be over by Valentine’s.
Complete list of 'American Country Award' winners:
Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Female
Carrie Underwood
Artist of the Year: Group
Lady Antebellum
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Jake Owen
Artist of the Year: New Artist
Lauren Alaina
Album of the Year
Luke Bryan, "tailgates & tanlines"
Single of the Year
Luke Bryan, "I Don’t Want This Night To End"
Single of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan, "I Don’t Want This Night To End"
Single of the Year: Female
Miranda Lambert, "Over You"
Single of the Year: Group
Lady Antebellum, "We Owned The Night"
Single of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, "Wanted"
Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Brantley Gilbert, "You Don’t Know Her Like I Do"
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Brad Paisley featuring Carrie Underwood, "Remind Me"
Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Music Video of the Year
Luke Bryan, "I Don’t Want This Night To End"
Music Video: Male
Luke Bryan, "I Don’t Want This Night to End"
Music Video: Female
Miranda Lambert, "Over You"
Music Video: Group or Collaboration
Little Big Town, "Pontoon"
Music Video: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, "Wanted"
Song of the Year
Eric Church, "Springsteen" (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)
As we get closer to Christmas this year I have realized that the excitement for the holiday has come full circle. When we were young, we would get excited to a fever pitch for the presents under the tree and what Santa would bring. Now we get excited about just having our family together again.
And the best feeling is that they are just as excited about coming home! We hear from Eric at least twice a day as his trip home approaches. He and Lilly are coming in from Fort Riley, Kansas on Saturday and we are beside ourselves with excitement. But our little homesick soldier is even more so. He texted me the other day saying, "It is 26 degrees at troop with a wind chill of 3. It's moments like this that I think in a few days I'll be at the cabin with a hot toddie and a fire, family and a movie. It's the little things y'all have done for me that get me through the hardest moments in my job." Wow. Made me cry.
I also love that our oldest son Adam would rather be at the cabin with us for Christmas than anywhere else. We understand that once you marry you have to split your Christmases with your spouses family. Fortunately, Sara's family has a cabin in Ruidoso which makes it easier for them to spend time with two families. I thank her for being generous enough to share time with us every Christmas. I know that some years that has been a struggle and we appreciate her sweet thoughtfulness and her family for sharing her with us.
All those years we decorated the tree, put the snow villiages up, cooked and baked and felt un-appreciated through it all...we must have done something right. For you mom's and dad's out there...keep doing what you are doing to build traditions and joy and family time with your children and they will always want to come home. And remember, it isn't what is under the Christmas tree that matters to them as they get older. It is what you do around the tree.
Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott tweeted Friday that her Christmas gift arrived early – she’s having a baby. Hillary said she’s been very sleepy since getting pregnant and as for names, if it’s a girl Hilary’s grama is Rose and she says she’ll use that for sure.
Taylor Swift Caught Smooching With Harry
New couple Taylor Swift and One Direction's Harry Styles were in New York City Thursday night for a friend's birthday. Sources said they were very “smoochie.”
Brad Paisley Has Live Chat This Afternoon
Today at 2 PM CT at ustream.com Brad Paisley will do a live video premier for ‘Southern Comfort Zone’ and he’ll chat with fans afterward. Also today, Trisha Yearwood’s on Marlo Thomas' show at marlothomas.com.
Jennifer Nettles Has her Son - Magnus Hamilton
38-year-old Jennifer Nettles had her son last Thursday, Magnus Hamilton Miller.
Trace Adkins Hosts Tonights 'American Country Awards'
Tonight it’s the fan-voted ‘American Country Awards’ live on FOX from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth host and performers include Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Little Big Town. They’re also adding a new award tonight – one for ‘Best Tour’ for a whopping 21 trophies to be handed out this evening.
Blake Shelton Teams Up With Michael Buble
Finally – Blake Shelton’s on Michael Buble’s NBC special tonight, ‘Home for the Holidays.’
I went to 14 different schools in 11 years of school. I graduated from a high school in Kansas that I never actually attended because I had all the credits I needed! My mom had always wanted to travel beyond the small world of Grand Junction, Colorado but her dad said "NO!" when she wanted to join the military out of high school. So we moved around Colorado, then California, then Kansas. As soon as I could, I moved myself back "home" to Colorado and went to college in Boulder.
Anyway, Midland is the only place I have ever called home for longer than 5 years! There are many habits and problems that come from moving so much. First, they say 3 moves equals a fire in terms property loss, etc. So I have very little of my childhood left. I have our three stockings (Mark, Dana and Troy painted in silver glitter on very grubby felt) and I have three little stuffed reindeer (red, green and white) that my paternal grandmother gave us when I was about 5. Mine is the red one with the little bracelet pinned around it's neck so everyone knows it is the girl deer! That's it. That is the entire collection from when I was a child. And I only recently found the little deer in the attic. They were still in a square "go-go boots" box! How is THAT for making one feel old!!
So now I have a wonderful antique cedar chest that my mother gave me when I graduated from college and I call that my "Stuff My Kids Did Trunk". I have everything in there from the outfits they wore home from the hospital to their graduation caps and gowns. The second problem I have from moving every six months of my life is that I get restless if I am in one house too long. Mike lived in 2 houses total until he was 18 and he told me right at the beginning of our marriage that we would NOT be moving every 6 months! So now I just re-arrange furniture and paint walls. It's better, I don't have to pack!
One of the amazing things that Mike and I get to do in the course of our "work" is emcee really fun stuff! Tomorrow night we get to emcee (along with Jay Hendricks) the Downtown Midland Lighted Christmas Parade. We love doing these things in our community because we get to see and meet so many people, we have so much fun, AND it keeps us on our toes!!
Whenever we do a LIVE event there is always the possibility of making a really embarassing faux pas. I remember a few years ago, we were emceeing the parade with Jimmy Patterson and he said "Here come the Citizen's on Parole" instead of "Citizens on Patrol". We still laugh about that (because it wasn't our mistake).
After many, many years of doing a live morning show Mike and I have learned to be really careful when speaking publicly. But if we make a funny mistake (or a stupid one) we are generally forgiven because we are just a couple of clowns anyway. However, Jay Hendricks cannot be a clown because he has to remain credible as a "journalist". Frankly, we are surprised that the powers that be at CBS7 even allow him anywhere near us. We have been known to be a bad influence. Just sayin'!
Hopefully we will see all of you at the parade tomorrow night! We will be the clowns sitting by Jay Hendricks.
