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Reba McEntire to Open Up About Tragic Plane Crash on ‘Oprah’s Master Class’
In 1991, Reba McEntire faced one of the most devastating tragedies imaginable. Traveling from San Diego, Calif. to Fort Wayne, Ind., a private plane carrying seven of her band members and her tour manager crashed in a fatal instant, killing everyone. Due to a bout of bronchitis, McEntire wasn’t on that plane and had to bear the news of eight of her dear friends losing their lives that day, along with the plane’s two pilots.
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John Rich Reaching Out to Young Oklahoma Mother Who Shot and Killed Intruder
On New Year’s Eve, an 18-year-old Oklahoma mother shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old baby, after she had just lost her husband to cancer on Christmas day. Now, John Rich of Big and Rich is on a mission to find this young mother and give her some much-needed help.
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Carrie Underwood Donates $350K to Hometown Schools
Carrie Underwood may get to flit around onstage in shimmering gowns and attend swanky awards shows, but this Oklahoma girl who found her start on ‘American Idol‘ is certainly not one to forget her roots. The world-famous singer brought smiles to the faces of school administrators across her hometown of Checotah, Okla. this holiday, as she made donations totaling $350,000.
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Rascal Flatts’ Jay DeMarcus to Make Movie Debut in ‘Saving Santa’ With Trace Adkins
Rascal Flatts‘ Jay DeMarcus is slated to make his film debut next year along with Trace Adkins in the holiday film ‘Saving Santa.’ With Kix Brooks sitting in the executive director chair, it’s no surprise that this upcoming release has so many country ties. Touted as “a sweet, funny, holiday story about the belief in love, goodness and the spirit of Christmas,” ‘Saving Santa’ is set to debut next year.
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Tim McGraw ‘Emotional Traffic’ 2012 Release Date Revealed
In the early fall of 2010, Tim McGraw submitted his final version of a new record called ‘Emotional Traffic’ to Curb Records. The first single, ‘Felt Good on My Lips,’ dropped soon after, but no word came out about an album release date. Then, just hours after a court ruled this week (Nov. 30) that McGraw was free to sign with another label, Curb let the second single, ‘Better Than I Used to Be,’ hit the airwaves almost a year after the first single was released — and now they’ve announced a release date for the full album.
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Court Issues ‘Emergency’ Order to Take Mindy McCready’s Son
A court spokeswoman revealed today that Florida judge James H. Seals issued an “emergency” pick up order for Mindy McCready‘s 5-year-old son Zander, according to CNN. The troubled country singer took her son from her father’s Florida home earlier this week, though she does not have legal custody of him.
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Mindy McCready Pregnant With Twins
The plot continues to thicken in the saga of country singer Mindy McCready, who went missing with her son Zander this week and now turns out to be seven months pregnant with twins. Though McCready insists she didn’t kidnap her 5-year-old son, it has been widely reported that she took him from her father’s Florida home Tuesday and doesn’t have legal custody of him.
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Vince Gill Donates $12K to Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Oklahoma native Vince Gill recently made a $12,000 donation to the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame to help finish construction on a new children’s music exhibit. Gill was inducted into that Hall of Fame in 1999, and now he’s challenging other musicians and music lovers to follow his lead and donate to the cause.
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Brad Paisley’s ‘Diary of a Player’ Makes New York Times Best Sellers List
We’re not pulling for Brad Paisley to quit his day job, but the “Whiskey Lullaby” singer is shaping up to be quite the author. Paisley released his first book, ‘Diary of a Player,’ on Nov. 1, and the title has spent the past two weeks living on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
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Toby Keith Honored With 2012 AARP Inspire Award
Each year for 10 years now, ‘AARP the Magazine’ has presented Inspire Awards to pay tribute to those forward thinkers and innovators who move others to action through their deep passion. This year, Toby Keith is among the 10 individuals receiving the prestigious award, and he’s joined by such legends as conservationist Jane Goodall and Steve Jobs.
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Faith Hill to Join Justin Bieber, Michael Buble + More for ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center’
Fresh off her first CMA performance in five years, Faith Hill is getting into the holiday spirit preparing for a TV performance on NBC’s ‘Christmas in Rockefeller Center.’ Hill, who debuted her single ‘Come Home‘ at the 2011 CMA Awards, will join Justin Bieber, Michael Bublé, Carole King, Tony Bennett, Cee Lo Green, Katharine McPhee and ‘The Voice’ winner Javier Colon for the performance, which will air Nov. 30.
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Faith Hill, Brad Paisley + More Rehearse for 2011 CMA Awards
New footage from the 2011 CMA Awards rehearsals has emerged, featuring country’s top stars getting ready for Wednesday’s show. Spotlights ablaze, hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley warm up for their duet ‘Remind Me’ and Faith Hill prepares for the premiere of her long-awaited new single ‘Come Home’ in the video seen below.