Kellie Pickler's "Dancing with the Stars" Performance Makes Hubby Kyle Jacobs Cry

Facebook.com/KelliePicklerThe first half of the finale is over on season 16 of Dancing with the Stars. Country singer Kellie Pickler is in 2nd place, just a point behind Disney star Zendaya. Pickler and partner Derek Hough's emotional freestyle left half the ballroom in tears, including judge Carrie Ann Inaba and Pickler's husband, songwriter Kyle Jacobs.

Kellie told ABC News Radio after the show, "I didn't see him, but I heard that he was tearing up. Which is crazy, because he never cries. Ever. Um, but I, I guess that's just what dancin' can do to you. There's a lot of -- it's, it's emotional!"

The two-hour season finale results show, featuring musical performances from Pitbull, Wynonna and PSY, airs on ABC Tuesday night at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean and More Added to CMT Music Awards Lineup

Arista NashvilleThe 2013 CMT Music Awards lineup just got a lot hotter with the addition to the performers lineup of Carrie Underwood, George Strait, Jason Aldean, Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum. Florida Georgia Line and Darius Rucker also join the bill, along with previously-announced performers Hunter Hayes, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Pistol Annies and Taylor Swift. Presenters will be announced soon.

You can vote online now to determine the winners at CMT.com and through CMT's mobile apps.

The 2013 CMT Music Awards broadcast live Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET on CMT and CMT.com. Jason Aldean and actress Kristen Bell are this year's co-hosts.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Country Stars Send Out Prayers to Oklahoma Tornado Victims

Facebook.com/JoshTurnerJosh Turner is one of the many country stars with a personal connection to the deadly tornadoes that ripped through Moore, Oklahoma Monday. Josh's truck driver hails from Moore; thankfully, the driver and his family are okay. Jason tweeted, "For those who were not so fortunate, I pray for peace & comfort during the aftermath of this terrible tragedy."

Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney also sent out a prayer, tweeting, "My thoughts & prayers are with my home state of Oklahoma. May God's love & grace be with all affected by these horrible storms."

Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood also tweeted late Monday, "Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen...it doesn't change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray."

Reba, who grew up in Chockie, OK, added, "All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornadoes. Stay safe everyone!!!!"

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

The Zombies Add Slew of Dates to US Summer Tour Schedule

Photo: David LeveneThe Zombies recently expanded their plans for a U.S. summer tour.  The veteran British group's initial series of stateside dates will visit the East Coast and the Midwest, kicking off June 13 in Englewood, New Jersey, and running through a July 7 show in Arlington, Massachusetts.  The band also has a brief West Coast visit mapped out for late August and early Septmeber.

Among the events The Zombies have lined up is a free concert in New York City's Central Park on June 16.  Prior to the show, founding Zombies members Colin Blunstone and Rod Argent will take part in a paid panel discussion with Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme, all about the 1960s British Invasion.

Here are all of The Zombies' confirmed U.S. tour dates:

6/13 -- Englewood, NJ, Bergen Performing Arts Center
6/14 -- Uncasville, CT, Wolf Den at Mohegan Sun Casino
6/15 -- New York, NY, Central Park SummerStage (free concert & paid panel discussion)
6/16 -- Rockville, MD, Parilla Center for the Performing Arts
6/17 -- Annapolis, MD, Rams Head On Stage
6/20 -- Jim Thorpe, PA, Penn's Peak
6/21 -- Glenside, PA, Keswick Theatre
6/22 -- Uniontown, PA, State Theatre
6/23 -- Buffalo, NY, The Tralf Music Hall
6/26 -- Albany, NY, Summer at the Plaza -- Empire State Plaza (free concert)
6/28 -- Chicago, IL, Mayne Stage
6/29 -- Milwaukee, WI, SummerFest
6/30 -- Cleveland, OH, Beachland Ballroom
7/3 -- North Truro, MA, Payoment Performing Arts Center
7/5 -- Hamden, CT, Hamden Summer Concert Series (free concert)
7/6 -- Plymouth, NH, Flying Monkey Performance Center
7/7 -- Arlington, MA, Regent Theatre
8/29 -- Portland, OR, Aladdin Theatre
8/30 -- Spokane, WA, Riverfront Park (free concert)
8/31 -- Ferndale, WA, Silver Reef Casino
9/1 -- Seattle, WA, Bumbershoot Festival

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Coachella Announces Festival Dates for 2014; Advance Ticket Sale Begins on Friday

Photo Credit: Marc BaptisteWhile the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival just wrapped up a little more than a month ago, producers for the event have already revealed their plans for 2014.

According to the festival's website, next year's event will span two weekends, April 11-13 and April 18-20, in Indio, California.  While the lineup isn't expected to be announced until next year, advance passes for the 2014 installment of Coachella will go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Acts who took the stage during last month's festival included Janelle Monae, 2 Chainz, Wu-Tang Clan, Pusha T and Allen Stone.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

CMA Music Festival Announces Performers for Free Bud Light Stage

Mercury NashvilleTickets for the CMA Music Festival's nightly concerts at LP Field in Nashville are completely sold out, but there are plenty of chances to catch free music at the event.  The Bud Light stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza will kick off its performances the morning of June 6 and continue through June 9.

New acts Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Chris Stapleton, Kelleigh Bannen, Randy Montana, Drake White and Joanna Smith are set to perform on the Bud Light Stage along with hit-makers Chuck Wicks, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis.

For a full lineup of artists playing the Bud Light Stage, go to CMAFest.com.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Maroon 5 Postpones European Tour Until January

Maroon 5 Press Here PublicityMaroon 5 has rescheduled several upcoming European tour dates due to what the band describes as "unforeseen scheduling conflicts."

Adam Levine and company were supposed to visit the U.K., Scotland, Ireland, France and the Netherlands in late June and early July.  Those dates have now been postponed until next January.

Robin Thicke will appear at the rescheduled shows, which you can review on Maroon5.com.

Adam says in a statement, "We are truly sorry for any inconvenience we have caused our European fans and promise that when we come over in January we will put on a show to remember!"

Maroon 5's joint U.S. tour with Kelly Clarkson, which launches in August, remains unaffected.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Coachella Announces Festival Dates for 2014; Advance Ticket Sale Begins on Friday

Facebook.com/CoachellaWhile the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival just wrapped up a little more than a month ago, producers for the event have already revealed their plans for 2014.

According to the festival's website, next year's event will span two weekends, April 11-13 and April 18-20, in Indio, California.  While the lineup isn't expected to be announced until next year, advance passes for the 2014 installment of Coachella will go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.

Bands who took the stage during last month's festival included Blur, Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse, The xx, The Postal Service and Vampire Weekend.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWhat is the first song on Taylor Swift's album, Speak Now? ANSWER: "Mine."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Brad Paisley Steps Into Role as Nashville's Biggest Cheerleader, Performing on "Nashville" Wednesday

Arista NashvilleBrad Paisley has become one of Nashville's biggest cheerleaders. He gave a surprise performance of "Southern Comfort Zone" at Nashville mayor Karl Dean's citywide address Monday, and Brad will appear as himself on the season finale of Nashville Wednesday night on ABC.

As a longtime resident of Music City, Brad is excited to spread the word of how cool his adopted hometown has become in the past few years. Nothing illustrates that change like the section of Nashville called the Gulch, home to the world's most famous bluegrass club, The Station Inn. It's now surrounded by some of the city's hottest shops and restaurants, like Watermark.

"My wife and I went to eat at Watermark down in the Gulch, which is the hippest little area in Nashville," Brad tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, they're filming episodes of Nashville down there. They're doing all of this, and I'm walking out of the Watermark, and I just realized the Station Inn is right there."

He adds, "When I used to go to the Station Inn and see somebody like Junior Brown or I would go down there and see, like, Larry Cordle play or whatever, I used to think to myself, 'I probably oughta make sure that I'm packing when I go down to that area of town.'"

Now that the Gulch has been revitalized, Brad is happy to report The Station Inn is still going strong.

He says, "It doesn't change The Station Inn except that it really helps everybody. In that sense, it really does sort of illustrate just what's happened to Nashville."

Look for Brad on ABC's Nashville Wednesday night at 10 ET.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Paul Stanley Complains About KISS' Continuing Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Snub

Photo: Brian LoweLast month, Rush and Heart finally were welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame after each being passed over for the honor for more than a decade.  One legendary rock band that continues to be overlooked by the Rock Hall, much to the chagrin of its rabid fans, is KISS. 

The group's longtime frontman, Paul Stanley, also is apparently pretty frustrated by the snub, while pointing out that the powers that be behind the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shouldn't necessarily be considered the authorities in charge of choosing which artists deserve to be recognized.

"Look, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is marketing," he declares during a recent interview with The Huffington Post.  "You've got a bunch of faceless people in a back room who trademark a name that sounds very official.  Well, if you had thought of it first, you would have been the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

As a case in point, Stanley notes that late singer/songwriter Laura Nyro -- best known for writing hits for Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Fifth Dimension and Barbra Streisand -- has even beaten KISS into the Rock Hall.

"I am one of the biggest Laura Nyro fans," the singer/guitarist maintains.  "I still listen to that stuff incessantly.  Laura Nyro does not belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Songwriter Hall of Fame? Absolutely."

Stanley also notes that many established musicians, including Lenny Kravitz, Garth Brooks and Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, have acknowledged that KISS has had a major influence on their own music and careers.  "It's absurd for anybody to look around and hear the acts and artists who cite us as an inspiration, and then tell me that we're not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," insists Stanley.

Despite his complaints, Paul says he could take or leave KISS being inducted into the Rock Hall, but says he'd like the band to be acknowledged for the sake of its fans.  "I would certainly accept on their behalf because it seems to be a major sore spot for them," he says.  "But I don't need the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Rihanna Adds Second Mentor to "Styled to Rock" Series

PR NewswireRihanna's new fashion competition series, Styled to Rock, just got a new addition.  Rih announced last week that Pharrell Williams would serve as a mentor on the show, and now model, actress and designer Erin Wasson has joined the team. She'll serve as the second mentor on Styled to Rock.

As previously reported, Rihanna is an executive producer of the series, which will show her and her crew as they search for the next trendsetting designer.  Styled to Rock will feature 12 up-and-coming designers who will compete each week for a shot at dressing A-list celebrities.

Styled to Rock will premiere on the Style Network, though there's no official word on exactly when.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Upcoming Otis Redding Compilation Features All of Late Soul Great's Stax/Volt Singles

Shout! FactoryAn expansive three-CD compilation gathering together all of the singles late soul legend Otis Redding recorded for Memphis' famed Stax/Volt labels will officially be released on July 23.

The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection features a total of 70 sides, including such landmark hits as "Try a Little Tenderness," "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)," "Respect" and his posthumous #1 smash, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay."

The collection also boasts Redding's classic cover of The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," as well as his memorable duets with Carla Thomas, the Queen of Memphis Soul, including "Tramp" and "Knock on Wood."  All songs in the retrospective are featured in their original mono mixes.  The package also contains a booklet with images of each single.

Fans who pre-order The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection directly from ShoutFactory.com will have the chance to receive the set as early as June 25, and also will get an exclusive bonus 7-inch vinyl radio promo single of Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember" backed with "Nobody's Fault but Mine."

Here is the entire track list of Redding's The Complete Stax/Volt Singles Collection:

Disc 1:
"These Arms of Mine"
"Hey Hey Baby"
"That's What My Heart Needs"
"Mary's Little Lamb"
"Pain in My Heart"
"Something Is Worrying Me"
"Come to Me"
"Don't Leave Me This Way"
"Security"
"I Want to Thank You"
"Chained and Bound"
"Your One and Only Man"
"That's How Strong My Love Is"
"Mr. Pitiful"
"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)"
"I'm Depending on You"
"Respect"
"Ole Man Trouble"
"I Can't Turn You Loose"
"Just One More Day"
"Satisfaction"
"Any Ole Way"
"My Lover's Prayer"
"Don't Mess With Cupid"

Disc 2:
"Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)"
"Good to Me"
"Try a Little Tenderness"
"I'm Sick Y'All"
"I Love You More Than Words Can Say"
"Let Me Come On Home"
"Tramp" [Otis & Carla]
"Tell It Like It Is" [Otis & Carla]
"Shake" (Live in Europe)
"You Don't Miss Your Water"
"Glory of Love"
"I'm Coming Home"
"Knock on Wood" [Otis & Carla]
"Let Me Be Good to You" [Otis & Carla]
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"
"Sweet Lorene"
"Lovey Dovey" [Otis & Carla]
"New Year's Resolution" [Otis & Carla]
"The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)"
"Open the Door"
"Amen"
"Hard to Handle"
"I've Got Dreams to Remember"
"Nobody's Fault but Mine"

Disc 3:
"White Christmas"
"Merry Christmas, Baby"
"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Live at the Whiskey a Go-Go)
"Direct Me"
"A Lover's Question"
"You Made a Man Out of Me"
"When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" [Otis & Carla]
"Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis" [Otis & Carla]
"Love Man"
"Can't Turn You Loose" (Live in Europe)
"Free Me"
"(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher"
"Look at the Girl"
"That's a Good Idea
"Demonstration"
"Johnny's Heartbreak"
"Give Away None of My Love"
"Snatch a Little Piece"
"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (Live at Monterey)
"Try a Little Tenderness" (Live at Monterey)
"My Girl"
"Good to Me"

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Taylor Swift Reveals Which of Her Own Songs She Blasts in Her Car

Facebook.com/TaylorSwiftSome stars will tell you that they don't like listening to their own music, but Taylor Swift owns up to it.  At least, she owns up to listening to one particular song: her latest hit, "22."

"It's the one that I blast in the car," she laughs. "It's the one that I turn on at the end of a really, long day and it just makes me feel better, and the chorus just kind of slams in.  It's such a big chorus."

Taylor says she wrote that particular "big" chorus -- "I don't know about you/But I'm feelin' 22" -- on a plane, on her way to a co-writing session with hit making writers and producers Max Martin and Shellback. 

"I walked in and I was so excited about it, and I played it for them and they were like, 'All right. Let's do this!' They loved it, too," Taylor recalls.  "It was really, kind of, an exciting moment for me...[that] they loved it enough to not really change much about it and just to build out from there, and to write the rest of the song."

The Grammy-winning singer also says she enjoys listening to "22" because it's very personal to her: it's the story of her own life, and that of her friends. 

"It's just kind of, like, a song about my friends and how we don't know where we're going, we don't know who we are, we don't know about love, we don't about life, we don't know about anything...but we're having so much fun," Taylor  explains.

Even though "22's" still going strong on the charts, rumor has it that Taylor's already selected the next single from her album Red: her duet with Ed Sheeran, "Everything Has Changed."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Jon Bon Jovi "Blessed" that Band's Songs Are Part of the "Patchwork of Pop Culture"

Facebook.com/BonJoviBon Jovi is currently out on the European leg of their Because We Can world tour, and they've still got a long way to go.  After Europe, they'll play the U.K., then return to the U.S. for summer stadium dates, and then they head to Brazil and Australia.  But no matter where the band plays, the one thing that strikes Jon Bon Jovi about the fans in the audience every night is their ages: young, old and everything in between.

Describing Bon Jovi fans as "multi-generational,"  Jon tells ABC News Radio that he's proud of the group's broad appeal, especially since they've been making records for decades.

"We've been around for 30 years and we're doing the kind of business that we do out on the road...we're very lucky. We're very blessed," he says, adding, "I think this is that kind of a band that has crossed to a place where the songs are both your parents' songs and your songs."

Attempting to explain this concept, Jon points to the Rolling Stones, who of course have been around a lot longer than Bon Jovi, but whose songs also have staying power.

"Those songs are just a part of the patchwork of what is pop culture. And you just think that they've always been around and that band has always been around," Jon tells ABC News Radio. "And so we've been around long enough that songs like 'Livin' on a Prayer,' 'Wanted Dead or Alive'... those are in the vernacular now. They're just a part of the patchwork of pop culture. And your mom might know it as well as you do because it's been on the radio for 27 years."

Bon Jovi performs in Oslo, Norway Tuesday night.  There's still no word as to when guitarist Richie Sambora will rejoin the tour, if at all.  He recently wrote on Twitter, regarding his absence, "Thanks 4 your notes & concerns. I'm doing f**king great. This is a private matter but please know I love the band and you fans!"

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Watch Queens of the Stone Age's Full Version of Animated Promo Film for "...Like Clockwork"

Matador RecordsOver the last two weeks, Queens of the Stone Age has been previewing new cuts from their upcoming album, ...Like Clockwork, in a series of short animated films created by U.K. artist Boneface. Now, the group is giving us the chance to see the entire series as one complete short film.

The 15-minute clip includes snippets of “I Appear Missing,” “Kalopsia,” “Keep Your Eyes Peeled” and “If I Had a Tail,” as well as a full stream of the single “My God Is the Sun.” The storyline follows a group of characters, whose violent exploits cause each of them to die gruesome deaths. The short film comes to an end when a giant, black-winged skull uses some magical powers to revive the fallen characters so it can levitate them into the sky and swallow them.

...Like Clockwork arrives in stores on June 4.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Kelly Rowland Joining "The X Factor" Judges' Panel

Facebook.com/KellyRowlandThe rumors are true.  Fox announced Monday night that Kelly Rowland will be joining Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato on the judges’ panel when The X Factor returns this fall.  Mexican singer Paulina Rubio will also be joining the panel.

Rowland, who served as a judge on the British version of The X Factor in 2011, said in a statement, "I am very exciting to be reuniting with Simon Cowell and The X Factor family.  It feels great to be able to take this journey here at home in the states."

Rowland and Rubio fill the vacancies left by the departures of Britney Spears and L.A. Reid.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Rockers React to Ray Manzarek’s Death

Facebook.com/pages/Ray-ManzarekThe rock world is reacting to the news of the death of original Doors member Ray Manzarek.  The keyboardist died Monday at age 74 at a medical clinic in Rosenheim, Germany, after a long battle with bile-duct cancer.

Joe Perry tweeted, “I am very saddened by loss of Ray Manzarek now he's with Jim. They mean as much to me today as they did 40 years ago."

Slash tweeted, “RIP Ray Manzarek words cannot express...” and added, "The Doors represent the LA sound to me. It was the 1st band I remember hearing when I came from England; 'Light my fire,' I'll never forget."

Flea wrote on Twitter, “Wow. Ray manzarek.  Bless his heart.  One of a kind rock original. Grateful to have jammed with him once. R.I..P.”

Billy Idol tweeted, “Sad to hear about Ray Manzarek passing. I was lucky to get a chance to rock out with him & the other two Doors.. cheers mate say hi to Jim.”

Krist Novoselic wrote, “Thanks for the great music Ray Manzarek!”

Alice Cooper commented, “Ok it is OFFICIAL. Ray Manzarek is dead. Mind blown. RIP Ray.”

Three Dog Night tweeted, “RIP Ray Manzarek, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors.”

Flowers were placed on Manzarek's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Monday afternoon by the Hollywood Historic Trust.  Manzarek's star is in front of the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood.

Manzarek is also being remembered by the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood, the famed Sunset Strip club where The Doors were the house band in the 1960s before they gained international fame. A rep for the Whisky a Go Go tells TMZ.com Manzarek is being honored on the club’s marquee for the rest of the week.  The marquee message reads: "Rest in Peace Ray Manzarek Thanks for all the memories."

The Roxy, another L.A. rock club, posted the following message on its marquee: “We love you Ray Manzarek.  You will always light our fire. RIP.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Nashville Notes

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockTaylor Swift's RED has sold more than 5.8 million copies so far worldwide.

Wynonna performs "I Want to Know What Love Is" on ABC's Dancing with the Stars season finale Tuesday night.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Darius Rucker Sings What He Feels on New Album, "True Believers," Now in Stores

Capitol NashvilleDarius Rucker is back with his new album, True Believers, in stores this week featuring his monster hit, "Wagon Wheel." That song has been a staple on college campuses and in honky tonks since Old Crow Medicine Show released their version a few years back, but Darius had no clue "Wagon Wheel" had such a cult following when he cut it.

"I just think recording that song for me was such an organic thing," Darius tells ABC News Radio. "I mean, I'm old and out of touch with today's popular music, and I didn't know it was so big on college campuses. I just didn't know. I was just cutting a great song I heard."

Darius is a fan of Old Crow Medicine Show's music, and he simply thought "Wagon Wheel" would be a great song to put on True Believers.

He says, "Even after we cut it, I thought, this is gonna be a great album track. You know, put it the last song on the record, a really great way to go out."

As for the rest of the True Believers album, Darius wants his fans to know he put a lot of time and heart into getting these songs just right for them.

Says Darius, "Making a record is always hard because I want to make a great record. I want to make a record that my fans want to go get."

Though he may start out worrying about getting it right, Darius usually lets the music take over once he gets into the studio. That was the case while making True Believers.

He says, "Whenever it gets hard in the studio, I always say, 'Sing what you feel.' And that usually works out."

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio