It’s been another great year in country music…and as we get ready for 2010, we’re looking back at some of the highlights of 2009.
IN JULY…
• Sara Evans was in her home state of Missouri at Busch Stadium in St Louis when she performed “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch of the 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
• Martina McBride was in New York to serenade a lucky couple into their married life as she performed at the wedding reception of the winning couple for the Today show’s 10th annual Today Throws a Wedding. Martina sang a couple of songs, including the official theme for the event, “I Just Call You Mine.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Alan Jackson took center stage, or center boat, for AquaPalooza on Lake Martin. Alan played a 90-minute concert on Lake Martin in Alabama, in front of 35,000 fans…and 4,000 boats!
• Brad Paisley headed to the White House and played for an audience that included President Barack Obama as part of a special evening of country music…the latest installment in a “White House Music Series” spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama. It was an emotional moment for Brad as he performed “Welcome to the Future” for one of the men who inspired the song. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• And speaking of Brad Paisley, two of his digital singles were certified Gold: “Then,” from his American Saturday Night album, and “I’m Still a Guy,” from his 5th Gear album.
• Kellie Pickler‘s digital single for “Best Days of Your Life” was certified Gold.
• Carrie Underwood‘s digital single for “All-American Girl” was certified Platinum.
009 HIGHLIGHTS: July" width="16" height="14" /> Martina McBride says her song, “I Just Call You Mine,” is a wonderful choice for a wedding. (:20)
“You know, this song is a great fit for a wedding song because it’s about that moment, you know, when you marry someone, your emotions are very high, it’s an incredibly special day and a special moment. And when you’re up there together, you kind of just…I think this song says everything that you would want to say to someone that you’re gonna spend the rest of your life with.”
009 HIGHLIGHTS: July" width="16" height="14" /> Brad Paisley introduces his song “Welcome to the Future” to President Barack Obama and others at the White House. (2:20)
“Very few things have moved me like the way that I was moved on November 4th. I was in Times Square. I had gone up there [to New York] to tape some TV — I had a record come out that day. I’m sure you were busy (audience laughs). The second best place to be, I think, besides Grant Park. It was unbelievable to see, from my vantage point, as I stood there and watched the world turn on a dime in the way that it seemed to. And it got me thinking as I was preparing this new album and wanted to sing about some of these emotions that I felt. There’s a few things that occurred to me. I’m a two-time father -– one of them is pretty new. I thought about them and I thought about my childhood –- going back in time to me standing in line at the Kroger to play Pac-Man, which we used to have to line up for, you know…and now I have it on my iPhone. All the way through my grandfather’s generation who was -– he enlisted and fought in World War II in the South Pacific. He was stationed in the Philippines, and the enemy at the time was the Japanese. And I record for Sony Records now, and I have toured Japan twice and have so many friends there. And if you’d go back in time and tell me in the line for Pac-Man…or him…any of this stuff -– that his grandson would be playing in Japan -– he would’ve thought you were crazy at that time. And then my own children who…you are the first President they will remember (applause) which is something. And also I read a story -– if I may -– on CNN that was unbelievable to me…that your great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was slave in South Carolina? Take the same time machine back and tell him all this stuff, too -– he wouldn’t have believed it. This is my song for our time -– it’s called ‘Welcome to the Future.’”