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 MARCH…
• Chuck Wicks kicked up his heals as he is became one of the contestants on Dancing with the Stars. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Martina McBride performed at the White House as part of an all-star tribute to Stevie Wonder, who was receiving the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize.
• Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis, and Brad Paisley represented country music on American Idol‘s Grand Ole Opry Week. Carrie and Randy performed “I Told You So,” while Brad performed “Then” –for the first time on national television. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Speaking of Carrie Underwood and American Idol, Carrie records Mötley Crüe’s “Home Sweet Home” as the contestant farewell song for American Idol. Although it’s not on either of Carrie’s albums, ”Home Sweet Home” is available as a digital single at online music stores.
• Speaking of Carrie Underwood and digital singles, her songs “All-American Girl,” “Just a Dream” and “Last Name” from her album Carnival Ride achieve Gold certification.
• Sara Evans signs a four-book publishing deal.
• Martina McBride released her latest album, Shine, featuring the hits “Ride” and “I Just Call You Mine.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
009 HIGHLIGHTS: March" width="16" height="14" /> Chuck Wicks says he’s in it to win when it comes to partnering with Julianne Hough on this season’s Dancing with the Stars. (:29)
“We’re both really competitive, and we’re both athletes, you know? I played baseball in college and grew up playin’ baseball and sports, and I’ve always been competitive in whatever I do. Dancing is definitely a new type of sport for me, but I’m goin’ in this thing, and I want to win it, you know? I want to…I got a lot to prove, and I want to prove it to her. I want to prove it to everybody that’s watchin’ that I can do the Paso Doble. Is that what it’s called, by the way? Paso Doble?”
009 HIGHLIGHTS: March" width="16" height="14" /> Carrie Underwood describes how she came to record Randy Travis’ classic hit, “I Told You So.” (:37)
“I love doin’ cover songs. Everybody that’s been to any of my shows know I love doin’ cover songs. I jump at the opportunity to do other people’s great songs…and wish that they were mine. (laughs) But we were looking for cover songs to do, ’cause I wanted to throw one in on the album, and nothing fit at all. So I started going through my iPod and my playlist and everything and started lookin’ through all my songs that I had on my computer, and I thought maybe this would work. And you know, I grew up listening to Randy Travis. Randy Travis is, you know, kind of a staple of country music for me.”
009 HIGHLIGHTS: March" width="16" height="14" /> Martina McBride says that finding your time to shine is about making the most of every moment, including time with family. (:25)
“Sometimes we get a window of time to shine, you know? You have to take advantage of…I mean, your kids aren’t always gonna be three, so you’re gonna be able to teach them and experience things at three that you’re never gonna be able to experience or teach them again. So, that’s your chance to shine, with a three-year-old. And then that’s gone, and then it’s something else. So you really have to just…it is about living in the moment and taking advantage of any opportunity that comes your way.”