Mindy McCready Dead of Apparent Suicide

 Posted by at 9:18 pm on February 17, 2013
Feb 172013
 

Sad news for the country music family this evening as reports are coming out that Florida native Mindy McCready has committed suicide.  This comes just a month after the death of her husband due to an apparent suicide; a death in which she was questioned by police about.  The couple had their first child together (her second) in April of last year.

McCready had a tumultuous several years since her music career faded.  At the peak of her career, she was engaged to actor Dean Cain, but they soon broke up, with her career sliding shortly afterwards.

She had attempted suicide before by overdosing on pills in 2005, two months after her ex-boyfriend Billy McKnight beat her and was charged with attempted murder.  She was pregnant with her first child at the time.  She was found after she slit her wrists in December 2008, and was hospitalized in May of 2010 after she overdosed on drugs.

Other black marks on her reputation include:

  • Arrested in 2004 for a forged pill prescription.
  • Arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended license in May of 2005…she was however found not guilty for the DUI.
  • She was arrested again in July of 2005 for several charges, including identity theft.
  • She was arrested yet again in August of 2005 for a probation violation.
  • In July 2007, she was arrested after getting into a fight with her mom.
  • Reports came out in 2008 that she had an affair with Roger Clemens when she was just 15 years old.
  • A pornographic video of her was released in 2010.
  • A stint on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2010.

Her debut album, Ten Thousand Angels sold more than 2 million copies thanks to the success of the single by the same name, as well as her only #1 hit, “Guys Do It All The Time,” and the top-5 hit, “A Girl’s Gotta Do (What a Girl’s Gotta Do.”

Her second album, If I Don’t Stay the Night, didn’t experience the same success, though it did reach Gold status with over 500,000 copies sold.  Only one single was able to crack the top 20.  Her last 3 albums failed to produce a top-40 song.

Below is a video of her in a seemingly much happier time, titled “The Other Side of This Kiss.”  It didn’t get much radio airplay (peaked at #41), but I remember it vividly from the days when CMT played it over and over again.  I was a college student just getting into country music, and I was mesmerized by her eyes, beauty, and playfulness.  This is how I will remember her, not the ugly decade-plus part of her life that followed.  I apologize that it is not of the greatest quality, but it seems that there is currently no official copy of this online anywhere, and this is a recording someone took of their TV screen.

UPDATE:  Reports are coming out that her death was due to a self-inflicted gun shot.

UPDATE:  TMZ is reporting that neighbors heard two gun shots, and that her dog was found dead as well.

The Band Perry Announces Album Details!

 Posted by at 8:02 pm on February 14, 2013
Feb 142013
 

pioneer album cover

The Band Perry announced today the name of their upcoming album as well as the album cover!  Check out the quick video of their announcement below.

“When we set out to record PIONEER, the three of us drove across the country from Greeneville to Malibu to work with one of our musical superheroes, Rick Rubin,” said Reid Perry.  “Our time in the studio with Rick was so incredible because during our early sessions he challenged us to set higher goals as songwriters.”

“With that experience came the realization that we needed to take the music back home to Tennessee and have Dann Huff bring the songs to life with his production,” adds Neil Perry. “Sometimes where one starts off is not where one ends up, which is a big theme for us on PIONEER.”

 “There is still so much to be discovered, so many things to be made. There’s still so much good to be done and so many songs to sing. So here we are, two years later – Marching forward. Making noise. We are thankful for the momentum of the week and are thrilled that our release of PIONEER is just around the corner. We can’t wait!” says Kimberly Perry.

The first single off the upcoming album, “Better Dig Two,” hit #1 this week on the Billboard charts, marking their 3rd chart-topper.

Press Release: Kellie Pickler Shows Love For Female Soldiers On Valentine’s Day

 Posted by at 7:28 pm on February 14, 2013
Feb 142013
 

KELLIE PICKLER SHOWS HER LOVE FOR FEMALE TROOPS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY WITH USO’S “LADIES NIGHT” IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH HELP FROM BED, BATH & BEYOND AND OTHER PARTNERS

Pickler skypes with female soldiers. Photo Courtesy: KelliePickler.com

Pickler skypes with female soldiers. Photo Courtesy: KelliePickler.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Thurs., Feb. 14, 2013) – USO tour veteran Kellie Pickler is no stranger to supporting our men and women in uniform–it’s something she’s been doing since she set out on her first USO tour in 2007.  Along the way she’s lifted the spirits of more than 30,000 servicemen and women stationed in eight countries.  So, it’s no surprise that the country music singer/songwriter wanted to do something special for our female soldiers spending Valentine’s Day in Afghanistan and Kuwait.

 Having traveled to Afghanistan on three out of her six USO tours, the songstress learned first-hand how difficult it is to feel like a lady when you’re in the desert.  When she found out about “Ladies Night,” hosted monthly by USO centers in the Middle East, Pickler jumped at the chance to be involved.  Designed to give our female soldiers a chance to bond with each other, pamper themselves and take a much-needed break from military living, the events are strictly ladies only.

 Backed by a team of sponsors including Bed Bath & Beyond, Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn, Dearfoams and US Weekly magazine, Pickler wrapped up some of her favorite “girlie” items and sent them overseas to our female soldiers for a special Valentine’s Day edition of “Ladies Night.”   Boxes filled with hard-to-get items such as nail polish, slippers, manicure kits, chocolates and chick flicks, among other items, arrived just in time for a holiday treat. While the mega star wasn’t able to attend the events in person, she did pop in for a virtual visit on Skype and delivered a special message of thanks and support to the servicewomen.

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Kellie Pickler’s Valentine’s Day USO “Ladies Night” package. Photo Courtesy: Joseph Andrew Lee

 “I am grateful to all of our servicemen and women for the sacrifices they make, but I have a special place in my heart for servicewomen,” says Pickler. “They are some brave, beautiful and dedicated women.  That’s why I wanted to do something special just for them this Valentine’s Day.  While our servicewomen are spending this time away from their family and loved ones I wanted them to be able to take a moment and pamper themselves.”

 DETAILS:

• Donated items were shipped to USO Centers at Camps Leatherneck and Marmal, Forward Operating Bases Sharana and Shindand, Airfields Bagram and Kandahar in Afghanistan as well as Camp Buehring in Kuwait.

• Each location received packages filled with make-up, manicure and pedicure products, moisturizers, soaps and a variety of other pampering products donated by Bed Bath & Beyond; the current special edition of US Weekly featuring a four-page spread from her last USO Tour; snacks from Orville Redenbacher’s; Dearforms slippers; greeting cards, as well as other products.

• Pickler Skyped in for a LIVE chat with female service members at USO Shindand and USO Kandahar in Afghanistan and USO Camp Buehring in Kuwait.  For those locations unable to participate in the LIVE chat, due to connectivity restraints, Pickler pre-recorded a special message of ‘thanks.’

• Always a strong supporter of our servicemen and women and military families, the country music artist recently auctioned off her 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck (courtesy of Ram Trucks) and donated the proceeds, totaling more than $35,000, to the USO in support of USO Warrior and Family Care programs and services.

• This past December, Pickler traveled with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey on her sixth USO tour and delivered holiday cheer and support to more than 6,000 servicemen and women serving in the Middle East.

MULTIMEDIA:
USO Photos: http://bit.ly/Y6r7qq

USO Fact Sheet: http://bit.ly/SNzF4R

About the USO 

The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

Brad Paisley Announces Album Details!

 Posted by at 7:13 pm on February 14, 2013
Feb 142013
 

wheelhouse

Brad Paisley has released the cover art for this upcoming album, Wheelhouse.  The album hits stores April 9th, and according to the Press Release, “Brad Paisley revealed the album cover for his upcoming release, Wheelhouse, via his website yesterday.  Fans can go to www.bradpaisley.com and participate in a layered reveal experience that includes a fan mosaic, hidden icons that unlock special items, and an exclusive making-of-the-album interview by Brad and information on how to enter a national sweepstakes.”

Produced by Paisley, the 14 songs and 3 interstitials, along with the songwriters and any special guest collaborations, are indicated below…including a collaboration with LL Cool J!  Paisley wrote or co-wrote all of the complete songs featured on Wheelhouse, including the lead hit, “Southern Comfort Zone.”

1. “Bon Voyage”
2. “Southern Comfort Zone” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace]
3. “Beat This Summer” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Luke Laird]
4. “Outstanding In Our Field” (Featuring Dierks Bentley and Roger Miller with Hunter Hayes on guitar) [Brad Paisley/Mike Dean/Chris DuBois/Lee Thomas Miller/Roger Miller]
5. “Pressing On A Bruise” (Featuring Mat Kearney) [Brad Paisley/Mat Kearney/Kelley Lovelace]
6. “I Can’t Change The World” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace]
7. “幽 女” [Brad Paisley/Justin Williamson/Randle Currie]
8. “Karate” (Featuring Charlie Daniels) [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace]
9. “Death of a Married Man” (Featuring Eric Idle) [Brad Paisley]
10. “Harvey Bodine” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace]
11. “Tin Can On A String” [Brad Paisley/Ashley Gorley/Kelley Lovelace]
12. “Death Of A Single Man” [Brad Paisley/Kelley Lovelace/Lee Thomas Miller]
13. “The Mona Lisa” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois]
14. “Accidental Racist” (Featuring LL Cool J) [Brad Paisley/Lee Thomas Miller/LL Cool J]
15. “Runaway Train” [Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Kelley Lovelace]
16. “Those Crazy Christians” [Brad Paisley/Kelley Lovelace]
17. “Officially Alive” [Brad Paisley]

Four additional tracks will be included on the Wheelhouse (Deluxe Version). Fans can preorder Wheelhouse and Wheelhouse (Deluxe Version) now on Amazon at http://smarturl.it/amazonwheelhouse.

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