It’s been another great year in country music…and as we get ready for 2011, we’re looking back at some of the highlights of 2010.
IN MAY…
• Chris Young hit number-one with “The Man I Want to Be,” from his album of the same name. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Brad Paisley‘s digital single “Then” is certified Platinum.
• Miranda Lambert hit number-one with “The House That Built Me,” from her album, Revolution. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Chris Young released his first digital EP, called Voices EP, which contained acoustic versions of the classic songs “Swingin’,” “I’m Over You,” and “Chiseled in Stone.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Miranda Lambert appeared on a special Mother’s Day episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition where she performed her number-one song, “The House That Built Me.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
• Brad Paisley and Kellie Pickler were among the stars who performed on Music City Keep on Playin’ — A Benefit for Flood Relief. The show took place at the Ryman Auditorium and raised over 1.5 million dollars. Brad kicked the night off with his optimistic hit, “Welcome to the Future,” and then ended his performance by donating $100,000 to the relief efforts for the flooding that hit Middle Tennessee.
• Miranda Lambert gets engaged to Blake Shelton. (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
010 HIGHLIGHTS: May" width="16" height="14" /> Chris Young revealed how he got the news that “The Man I Want to Be” went to number one. (:26)
“I was asleep, and I woke up, as I usually do, at like the crack of 11, and (laughs) my phone had literally just exploded. There was about 20 e-mails, and all these calls and text messages that I had missed, and everybody just freakin’ out about the number-one. It was just such an amazing feeling to wake up and see that and find out that way, and this is just an amazing song, and I was really lucky to be able to get a chance to cut it. I was glad I cut it and not somebody else.” (laughs)
010 HIGHLIGHTS: May" width="16" height="14" /> Miranda Lambert sang the praises of the writers of “The House That Built Me.” (:16)
“It’s one of the most amazing, timeless lyrics I’ve ever heard. And I’m just, I’m just fortunate. I’m just the artist that happened to hear it first and grab it, because I know anybody that would have heard it would have taken it. And it’s one of those songs that’s gonna be…it’s gonna make history. You know, definitely.”
010 HIGHLIGHTS: May" width="16" height="14" /> Chris Young says that his acoustic Voices EP is like having him sit across from you and sing. (:14)
“It’s been a really cool process. There’s just somethin’ really special about it, I mean, the way we recorded it, the way it’s just really pure. And it’s kind of, if you were sittin’ there across from me, and I wanted to play these three songs, this is what I would do.”
010 HIGHLIGHTS: May" width="16" height="14" /> Miranda Lambert praised the work of the volunteers on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. (:26)
“They do such amazing work in such a short amount of time. And it’s so touching to just see all these people, these random people, that don’t know the family, or maybe do know the family, or maybe are just from another whole place to begin with, that have just the best smile on their face, and the best attitude all day, just helpin’ somebody. You know? It’s really, like, kind of selfish, I think, ’cause I got more out of it than probably the family did, you know, because it just…it’s so touching to get to be part of that.”
010 HIGHLIGHTS: May" width="16" height="14" /> Miranda Lambert had no idea that Blake Shelton was going to pop the question. (:16)
“I was very surprised, very surprised. You know, bein’ a girl, you’re always like, ‘When are we gonna get married? When are we gonna get married? When am I gonna get a ring? I don’t care if we get married…just give me the ring,’ you know? (laughs) And I was shocked. I just…I didn’t know when or where or how, and I’m glad, ’cause I love surprises. Usually I can figure those things out, but I had no clue.”