Billy Currington Canceled the Sandy Hook Benefit Because He’s Not Ready to Take a Political Stand
BILLY CURRINGTON opened up a little more on why he dropped out of TIM MCGRAW’s Sandy Hook benefit concert. He says he “respects the event” . . . but doesn’t feel ready to take a political stand . . . on anything.
He’s also sticking with his excuse that he was blindsided by the whole thing. Quote, “I wasn’t really part of it. I just know my name was in there somehow. I still today don’t know a lot about it.
“I know it was a political-type event and I don’t ever really do those things. I could think of other things I would probably do if I ever did take a political stand, but right now it just didn’t seem like the right thing for me, so I politely walked out.”
In lighter Billy Currington news: Taste Of Country asked if he has a “go-to” karaoke song. He hasn’t done it in a while, but back when he did, it was TRAVIS TRITT’s“Help Me Hold On“.
He said, quote, “That was always [it], even when I’d sit in with bands in Nashville. It’s just an easy song, perfect key and just had that thing, but I would always just go to that song.”
Speaking of Tim McGraw… It’s his birthday
CARRIE UNDERWOOD isn’t letting motherhood keep her from enjoying a loud rock concert. She checked outTHE OFFSPRING on Tuesday. The band posted a pic on Twitter and captioned it, “So cool meeting @CarrieUnderwood at our show in Nashville.”
CMT.com has a behind-the-scenes look at EASTON CORBIN’s video for “Baby Be My Love Song”.
LUKE BRYAN still can’t believe he had the opportunity to perform with LIONEL RICHIE one night, and RANDY OWEN of Alabama the next.
JAMEY JOHNSON recorded a duet with AMANDA WATKINS . . . who used to be one half of the duo MISS WILLIE BROWN. It’s called “If I Was Over You” and it’ll be on Amanda’s debut solo album. No word when that’ll be out. (Listen to it here.)
Nancy Jones Recalls Her Husbands Last Words
Country music fans all over the world mourned when George Jones passed away on April 26, 2013. But certainly no one felt the loss nearly as profoundly as his wife of 30 years, Nancy Jones, who recalls the final moments she spent with her husband.
For a few days before his death, George Jones lay in a hospital bed, suffering from complications from a respiratory infection, unable to speak. But just before he passed, as his wife was conferring with a doctor at his bedside, the country legend spoke.
“We were standing at the foot of the bed, and George just hadn’t said nothing, and all of a sudden, he opened his eyes, and I was fixin’ to go toward him, and the doctor kind of held me back, and George said, ‘Well, hello there.’ He said, ‘I’ve been looking for you,’” Nancy Jones tells Nashville’s Tennessean. “He said, ‘My name’s George Jones.’”
Within moments, the 81-year-old was gone.
“He closed his eyes, and that was the end of it,” Nancy Jones explains. “So, in my heart, I know he was talking to God.”
Read More: George Jones’ Widow Recalls His Last Words as Talk With God | http://theboot.com/george-jones-last-words/?trackback=tsmclip
Merle Haggard Receives His High School Diploma
Merle Haggard has finally received his high school diploma. The 78-year-old was given the honor on Saturday (April 25), before his concert at the Fox Theater in his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif.
He earned a high school equivalency diploma while incarcerated and came out in 1960 a changed man. His first album, Strangers, was released in 1965.
Haggard was taken aback by the recent honor, since he only spent nine days at the high school. His sister was also surprised, although she notes that it’s a nice way to commemorate his numerous successes.
“He’s kind old for that diploma,” she quips. “But I’m very happy with his life. It’s much richer than people know. He has personally paid quite a price for his indiscretions.”
The Country Music Hall of Fame member is joining forces with Willie Nelson for a new record, Django & Jimmie, which is the follow-up to their collaborative Pancho & Lefty, released in 1983.
“It’s really good; I think it’s the best one we’ve done,” Haggard says. “I think the title of the album is probably going to be Django & Jimmie, about Django Reinhardt and Jimmie Rodgers. We didn’t really do any swing, per se, we just did straight-ahead songs that we felt good about.”
The men released a video for the album’s first single, “It’s All Going to Pot,”on April 20, in advance of the record’s June 2 release date. Django & Jimmie is available for pre-order on Willie’s Official Online Store, Amazon and Google Play.
Read More: Merle Haggard Receives His High School Diploma | http://theboot.com/merle-haggard-high-school-diploma/?trackback=tsmclip