Margaret Cho Explores the Dark Side of Country Music
Filed under: Albums, Country News, Songs
Ethan Miller, Getty Images
Comedian Margaret Cho is crossing over to the music world once again with the release of her upcoming album, ‘Cho Dependent.’ Collaborating with numerous singer-songwriters including Patty Griffin and Fiona Apple, the album mixes Cho’s acerbic comedy with a wide array of musical genres. There’s even a country song — but it wasn’t inspired by one of Cho’s comedy routines.
‘I’m Sorry,’ (not to be confused with Brenda Lee’s classic hit of the 1960′s) is a murder ballad — something of a country-music tradition, to be sure — which came about because of an incident in Cho’s life which began while she was doing the TV show ‘All American Girl.’
“I really fell in love with one of the writers on the show and he did not like me back,” she tells the Huffington Post. “It was not a good thing, it was an awful situation like when you have a crush on somebody and they don’t care, and it’s horrible.”
James Otto Wants You to ‘Shake What God Gave Ya’
Filed under: Albums, Country News
Warner Music
James Otto jokingly calls himself “the love child between Ronnie Milsap and Barry White.” One listen to the single, ‘Groovy Little Summer Song,’ off his soon-to-be-released album ‘Shake What God Gave Ya,’ and who could disagree? That and the other songs on the album are country-meets-soul … Nashville-meets-Memphis … and to James, they completely define him as an artist.
“This is a declaration of who I am,” James tells The Boot of the September 14 release. “This country-soul sound is where we’re going, and if you like it, this is for you.”
As if to underscore his point, James tells The Boot about his collaboration with Ronnie Milsap on the song ‘Good Thing Gone Bad,’ that he says was “one of my favorite parts of this record — being being able to collaborate with one of my favorite artists of all time, a guy I consider the godfather of country soul. He’s the guy I point to most often when I bring up my style of music, because he is the guy who bridged the gap between those types of music.”
Tim McGraw Trades Shots for Sprints
Filed under: Country News
Danny Clinch
Tim McGraw is a changed man. He quit drinking more than two years ago, after years of living the party lifestyle out on the road. The husband of Faith Hill and father of three doesn’t even know how he survived the early part of his career, but these days are definitely much easier to handle.
“Ten years ago you could recover from the road a lot quicker,” Tim tells CMT. “In the past, to get warmed up for a show, everybody would do a shot or something. It warmed you up for the show, got you loose, and you’re ready to go. I found myself halfway through the show before I really felt like I was into the show [and] felt like I was really able to enjoy it. Then by the time the show was over, I felt like I really wanted to keep going … hence why you kept going after the show by having beers.”
Carrie Underwood Reveals Her ‘Behind-the-Scenes’ Beauty Secrets
Filed under: Country News
Kevin Mazur, WireImage
Carrie Underwood’s beauty is undeniable, but the newlywed says she just uses a simple daily regimen that appropriate for anyone, not just someone who’s constantly in the spotlight.
“It’s not a little secret. It’s just an overall health,” she says (quote via CMIL). “I work out. I drink a lot of water. I just try to moisturize. It’s not all about the make-up and the stuff like that, the stuff that’s on the outside. It kind of starts from the things that you do before you go to bed or when you wake up in the morning. It’s all the behind the scenes stuff that matters the most.”
Clearly whatever the ‘American Idol’ alum is doing works for her. She has graced the cover of countless magazines, and been cited alongside several high-profile Hollywood celebrities on numerous “most beautiful” lists, including People magazine’s list of 50 Hottest Bodies, where she ranked ahead of movie stars Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Megan Fox.
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian Moving in Together
Filed under: Country News
Jean Baptiste Lacroix, WireImage
LeAnn Rimes and her actor boyfriend Eddie Cibrian are getting ready to play house. But it’s no act. According to People magazine, LeAnn and Eddie will be moving in together under one roof after dating for a little over a year.
Eddie’s lease at his current residence will soon expire, and with LeAnn’s L.A. pad being family-friendly and familiar to Eddie’s two young sons, the happy couple decided it was time to take their relationship to the next level. An inside source reveals to People that the move will happen gradually over the course of the next month. Eddie’s sons Mason, 7, and Jake, 3, will each have their own room which LeAnn is reportedly allowing them to make their own by painting and decorating.
“They’re excited for this happy new journey,” LeAnn’s rep confirms to People in the article.
Kellie Pickler Cuts Out the Suds to Fit in Wedding Duds
Filed under: Country News
Peter Kramer, AP
Kellie Pickler has already eliminated meat from her diet, but now the newly-engaged singer says a recent glimpse of herself on the television screen is motivating her to cut a few more things out of her daily intake as she gets ready for her upcoming wedding to songwriter Kyle Jacobs.
“I was looking back at the CMT Awards. My grandpa was in there on the couch, and I guess they were re-airing it on CMT,” Kellie recalls to OK! magazine. “He had it on, and I went, ‘Oh sh–, I have got to step away from the beer. The beer and the fries — I’ve gotta quit.’ You’ll see pictures of yourself, or you’ll put your clothes on, and you’ll be like, ‘Oh, my pants are too tight, I can’t breathe.’ You notice it. I’ve gotta start cutting back. That’s one reason I’m running on coffee today.”
The former ‘American Idol’ contestant, who admits she has packed on the pounds in the last year, says she knows exactly how it happened. “My thing is I’m such a night owl that I’ll go through the day without eating much — hardly at all — and then at night, I’ll cram everything in and then go to bed,” she explains. “That’s why I’ve gained probably 12 pounds this year.”
Gwyneth Paltrow Hits Radio Airwaves With ‘Country Strong’
Filed under: Country News
Getty Images
Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is making her foray into country music with the title track of her upcoming film, ‘Country Strong,’ which also stars Tim McGraw.
The song, featuring background vocals by Vince Gill and Patty Griffin, was released to country radio by RCA Records (home to Martina McBride, Danny Gokey, Chris Young) on Monday, July 26. The single is the first release from the original motion picture soundtrack, set for release October 26. Additional information on the track listing and artists on the soundtrack are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Listen to ‘Country Strong’ below.
The actress is no stranger to the music scene, having charted a hit single with Huey Lewis on a remake of ‘Cruisin’ from the film ‘Duets’ in 2000. She also happens to be married to Coldplay’s Chris Martin.
