Randy Travis and Carrie Underwood
Photo: Rick Diamond/ Getty Images

When Jesse Tack's boss came to him in January and asked him to try and blend Carrie Underwood's cover of Randy Travis' 1988 hit "I Told You So" — from her 2007 Carnival Ride album — with the original, Tack never imagined that his creation would lead to an "American Idol" moment.

But there it was Wednesday night (March 18) on the "Idol" stage, where Underwood and Travis got together for the live debut of the recently recorded, official version of the duet. And Tack couldn't have been prouder.

Soon after Underwood's single version of "I Told You So" dropped in early January, Tack, 26, who works the 7 p.m.-to-midnight shift at Cincinnati country station WUBE-FM (B105.1), got a request from his program director to work on a mash-up. Six hours later, Tack emerged with a blend of the two songs that was seamless, combining Travis' low-register vocals to Underwood's higher voice on the chorus.

The song was an instant hit on the station when it debuted on January 14, and when country music consultant Jaye Albright got her hands on it, she sent it out to 75 other stations she works with. "After I put it together in the studio, within five seconds I thought, 'This is going to be something special,' " said the Iowa-born Tack, whose identical-twin brother, Joey Tack, is a hip-hop radio DJ in Tennessee.

The phones at 'UBE lit up instantly. Tack said he began getting calls from all over the country every night from listeners and DJs praising his work and asking for copies. To date, the YouTube video he created has gotten nearly 100,000 views, but the biggest compliment was when Tack found out the country superstars would be performing the song on "Idol" and had recorded an official version.

He hasn't heard from either artist so far about his grassroots experiment, but Tack can't help but feel like he helped get the ball rolling. "My hope was that they would record it as a duet, and they have," he said on Tuesday. Tack said he was going to be stuck at work when the show aired, but he would definitely take a break to tune in and that he'd be recording it at home, where he suspected he would probably watch it a "couple hundred" times.

"There will be a bit part of me thinking, 'C'mon, they wouldn't have done this because of some little station in Cincinnati doing a version,' " he said. "But then I'll think back to the hundreds and hundreds of e-mails I've gotten, and I have to think that some of those stations playing it have to have talked to the labels and asked about an official remix or duet.

"It will be unbelievable," Tack said of seeing the his outlaw creation's official spawn, which will be made available for download right after the show and debut on country radio next week. "I'll have to wonder if I had not put that together, would they be singing it onstage?"

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

• 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds

• "American Idol" Season 8: Live Performances

• Carrie Underwood
• Randy Travis

Kelly Clarkson in her video "Breakaway," from "The Princess Diaries 2" soundtrack
Photo: RCA

Riding high atop the list of albums hitting stores Tuesday is the soundtrack to "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement."

"Breakaway," the first single off the compilation comes from Kelly Clarkson, by way of Avril Lavigne, who co-wrote the song. Lindsay Lohan lets out her inner pop star on the Diane Warren-penned track "I Decide." Also featured on the album are tracks by Lavigne herself, Raven (who has her own track, as well as one sung with Julie Andrews), Pink and Wilson Phillips.

In other album-release news, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy release their first live LP this week, the aptly named Live. The zoot-suit-clad, big-band-influenced group, which helped usher in the swing fad of the late 1990s, has released five studio albums, including 2003's Save My Soul.

Rockers Nonpoint will release their fourth studio album, Recoil, the follow-up to 2002's Development, which saw the band taking a turn toward more radio-friendly tracks with more melodic vocals and instrumental hooks.

French pop singer Cherie made her debut with the song "Ready," included on the soundtrack to "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen." Her self-titled first album hits stores this week.

Out Tuesday, August 3:

• Willie Alexander & the Confessions - Autre Chose: Live (Last Call)
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Live (Vanguard)
• Marc Broussard - Carencro (Island)
• Joey Calderazzo - Haiku (Marsalis Music/Rounder)
• Cherie - Cherie (Lava)
• Alex Chilton - Live in Anvers (Last Call)
• Down to Earth Approach - Another Intervention (Vagrant)
• Kevin Fowler - Loose, Loud and Crazy (Equity Music Group)
• House of Lords - The Power and the Myth (Deadline)
• I See Hawks in L.A. - Grapevine (Western Seeds)
• Boney James - Pure (Warner Bros.)
• Al Jarreau - Accentuate the Positive (GRP)
• Dayna Kurtz - Beautiful Yesterday (Kismet)
• James L. Venable - Holding Space (Screaming Fans)
• Lil Sicko - Best of 2004: Behind Bars (Thump)
• Macha - Forget Tomorrow (Jetset)
• Maria Marquez - Nature's Princess (Adventure Music)
• Masta Ace - Long Hot Summer (Yosuma/M3)
• Stephanie Mills - Born for This! (JM/Lightyear)
• Ming & FS - Back to One (Spun)
• Morning 40 Federation - Morning 40 Federation (M80/Birdman)
• Nonpoint - Recoil (Lava)
• Number One Fan - Compromises (PRC/Universal)
• Pierce Pettis - Great Big World (Compass)
• Ruth Ruth - Right About Now (Flaming Peach)
• Lisbeth Scott - Passionate Voice (Zone)
• The Shore - The Shore (Maverick)
• Ricardo Silveria and Luiz Avellar - Live: Play the Music of Milton Nascimento (Adventure Music)
• Tim Stafford - Endless Line (High View)
• Theodore Unit - 718 (Sure Shot)
• Mickey Thomas - Over the Edge (Deadline)
• Randy Travis - Very Best of Randy Travis (Rhino)
• Various artists - This Is Americana (American Music Association)
• Various artists - "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
• DVD: Boz Scaggs - "Greatest Hits Live" (Rounder)
• DVD: Various artists - "Psycho Town Tour" (Thump)

August 10:

• Alter Bridge - One Day Remains (Wind-Up)
  Read: "Life After Creed: Alter Bridge Look To A Stapp-Free Future"
• Richard Marx - My Own Best Enemy (Manhattan)
• Mobb Deep - Amerikaz Nightmare (Jive)
  Read: "Mobb Deep Blinded With '80s Science For 'Twisted' Beat"
• Shyne - Godfather ... Buried Alive (Def Jam)
  Read: "From Prison, Shyne Calls 50 Cent 'A Joke,' Records Dis Track"

August 17:

• Ryan Cabrera - Take It All Away (Atlantic)
• Saliva - Survival of the Sickest (Island)
  Read: "Saliva Get The Girls In 'Survival Of The Sickest' Video"
• Talking Heads - The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads (Rhino)
• Rilo Kiley - More Adventurous (Warner Bros.)

August 24:

• R. Kelly - Happy People/ U Saved Me (Jive)
• Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying (Curb)
• Jason Mraz - Not Tonight Again — Live at Eagles Ballroom (Elektra)

• Kelly Clarkson
• Lindsay Lohan
• Avril Lavigne
• Raven
• P!nk

Entertainer of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
George Strait

Female Vocalist of the Year
Terri Clark
Alison Krauss
Patty Loveless
Martina McBride
Dolly Parton

Vocal Group of the Year
Alabama
Diamond Rio
Dixie Chicks
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year
Bellamy Brothers
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sons of the Desert
The Warren Brothers

Horizon Award
Gary Allan
Buddy Jewell
Joe Nichols
Blake Shelton
Darryl Worley

Vocal Event of the Year (Awards presented to artists and producer(s))

• "Beer for My Horses"
Artists: Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"
Artists: Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
Record Label: Arista Nashville

• "Picture"
Artists: Kid Rock featuring Sheryl Crow
Record Label: Lava/Atlantic

• "Tears in the Holston River"
Artists: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Johnny Cash
Record Label: Capitol Nashville

• "The Truth About Men"
Artists: Tracy Byrd (with Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton)
Record Label: RCA

Album of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s) and producer(s))

• American IV: The Man Comes Around -- Johnny Cash
Producer: Rick Rubin
Record Label: Lost Highway

• Home -- Dixie Chicks
Producers: Dixie Chicks and Lloyd Maines
Record Label: Open Wide/Monument/Columbia

• Man With a Memory -- Joe Nichols
Producer: Brent Rowan
Record Label: Universal South

• Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors -- Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors
Producers: Byron Gallimore, Tim McGraw and Darran Smith
Record Label: Curb

• Unleashed -- Toby Keith
Producers: James Stroud and Toby Keith
Record Label: DreamWorks

Song of the Year (Awards presented to the songwriter(s) and publisher(s))

• "Beer for My Horses" -- Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Writers: Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick
Publishers: Tokeco Tunes and Big Yellow Dog Music

• "Celebrity" -- Brad Paisley
Writer: Brad Paisley
Publishers: EMI April Music and Sea Gayle Music

• "Have You Forgotten?" -- Darryl Worley
Writers: Darryl Worley and Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Pittsburg Landing Songs and Warner-Tamerlane Pub.

• "Red Dirt Road" -- Brooks & Dunn
Writers: Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn
Publishers: Sony and ATV

• "Three Wooden Crosses" -- Randy Travis
Writers: Doug Johnson and Kim Williams
Publishers: Mike Curb Music, Sweet Radical Music, Sony and ATV Tunes

Single of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s)and producer(s))

• Beer for My Horses" -- Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Producers: James Stroud andToby Keith
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "Celebrity" -- Brad Paisley
Producer: Frank Rogers
Record Label: Arista Nashville

• "Have You Forgotten?" -- Darryl Worley
Producers: Frank Rogers and James Stroud
Record Label: DreamWorks

• "Hurt" -- Johnny Cash
Producer: Rick Rubin
Record Label: Lost Highway

• "Three Wooden Crosses" -- Randy Travis
Producer: Kyle Lehning
Record Labels: Word, Curb and Warner Bros.

Music Video of the Year (Awards presented to artist(s) and director)

• "Beer for My Horses"
Artists: Toby Keith duet with Willie Nelson
Director: Michael Salomon

• "Celebrity"
Artist: Brad Paisley
Director: Peter Zavadil

• "Concrete Angel"
Artist: Martina McBride
Directors: Robert Deaton and George J. Flanigen IV

• "Hurt"
Artist: Johnny Cash
Director: Mark Romanek

• "Red Dirt Road"
Artist: Brooks & Dunn
Director: Steven Goldmann

Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas -- Dobro
Paul Franklin -- steel guitar
Aubrie Haynie -- fiddle/mandolin
Brent Mason -- guitar
Randy Scruggs -- guitar

• Brooks & Dunn
• Kenny Chesney
• Alan Jackson
• Toby Keith
• Tim McGraw

XM Radio uplink satellite dish
Photo: XM Radio

Jim Milburn of Sacramento, California, spends a lot of time driving, but he isn't a fan of the radio stations in his area.

"The stations seem to mirror each other," the 28-year-old said. "It's kind of like there are limitations on them. It sucks."

The answer for Milburn, and perhaps others like him, lies in the stars.

Milburn has become one of the more than 30,000 subscribers to the new XM Satellite Radio, a satellite-based service that offers listeners 100 channels of digital, near-CD-quality original programming for a monthly fee of $9.99.

Since XM Satellite Radio went national in November, it has become the fastest-selling new audio product of the past 20 years, according to industry data, outperforming the debuts of CDs and DVDs.

"Our early success says people are interested in exploring a new experience with their radio," said Chance Patterson, vice president of corporate affairs for the Washington, D.C.-based XM Satellite Radio. "Radio's been very much the same for 40 years since FM was introduced. I think people who are interested in XM are music enthusiasts looking for music they can't get on the radio."

In addition to talk, sports, comedy and variety channels, XM offers 10 rock channels, 15 hits channels (including MTV and VH1 channels), seven urban, six country, six jazz, four dance, five Latin, six world music, four classical and six oldies channels (details are available at www.xmradio.com). It's a range of options that most commercial radio markets do not offer.

Programmers and DJs include several radio industry vets and musicians, such as reggae legend Junior Marvin and Smithereens frontman Pat DiNizio. The team is headed by longtime radio executive Lee Abrams.

"We have hired the best radio people around the country — around the world — to come here to XM and develop the best music and develop an authentic relationship to talk to you and play music like you're an informed listener," Patterson said.

XM has spent $1.6 billion to be on the air, he said.

DiNizio, whose band last released an album in 1999, is the program director for the Unsigned channel, which exclusively plays independent music.

"The Unsigned channel is pretty cool," Milburn said. "[The other day] they had bands covering songs by different bands. One group did an Alice in Chains song, but it was done by a female vocalist and it changed the song entirely."

Helping indie rockers has been DiNizio's mission of late. He's also a spokesperson for the Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music program, which awards $100,000 in charitable grants every year to up-and-coming musicians.

"[XM Radio] shows that people are ready for something new," said DiNizio, who's on the air weekday mornings and nights. "The average commuter spends four hours a day in their car and they're inundated with 26 minutes an hour of commercials. They're sick of it."

If that's the case, the success of satellite radio, which will soon include XM competitor Sirius Satellite Radio, could be out of this world.

How It Works

XM Radio utilizes two fixed-location satellites and about 1,000 ground repeaters that bounce the signal to receivers not in direct view of the satellites. Sirius Radio has three satellites and fewer repeaters.

To get satellite radio, one needs an XM- or Sirius-compatible receiver and antenna installed in a car. That will cost about $300 to $1,000. Sony offers a "plug and play" receiver that can be transferred from a car into a home or office.

Car manufacturers have begun to offer satellite receivers in new models — GM offers XM, and DaimlerChrysler and Ford offer Sirius. Eventually, receivers are expected to be compatible to both services, provided both are available in the future.

Doug Wyllie, business media editor for the Gavin Report industry trade journal, is optimistic about satellite radio's future.

"Satellite radio's here to stay," Wyllie said. "It's not going to go away, but its form may take a different shape as the marketplace evolves."

How the market will look in the future will be addressed at the Gavin Seminar, to be held February 20-24 in San Francisco. XM's Abrams will participate in the panel Crystal Ball 2002: Programming the Future of Radio.

As for what's happening now, syndication, program-to-commercial ratio and a lack of musical diversity in most markets have caused listener dissatisfaction with commercial radio, Wyllie said.

"Radio as I knew it and loved it is gone forever," Wyllie said. "Unfortunately, it's on its very final lap in a very long and glorious race."

Not A Replacement For AM/FM

A hindrance to the success of satellite radio might be its lack of localized programming and its monthly fee, Wyllie said. "Local radio is a communication tool for a community of people. People need local weather, sports and traffic."

The new satellite services have no plans to develop local programming.

"We want to make it clear that we're not eradicating AM/FM local terrestrial radio," XM's Patterson said. "Listeners can still continue getting their local sports, weather, traffic."

Soon, consumers will have the choice of two satellite services when Sirius debuts in four cities — Denver, Houston, Phoenix and Jackson, Mississippi — on February 14. Sirius plans to roll out nationwide by August.

The company, which has so far spent $1.8 billion, will offer eight pop channels, 11 rock, eight urban, six country, four dance, seven jazz/standards, five Latin, three classical and eight additional music channels, said Joe Capobianco, senior vice president of content for Sirius. Details can be found at www.siriusradio.com.

Unlike XM, Sirius is completely commercial-free. Among the musical minds programming Sirius will be hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash, who also will host his own show. Randy Travis, Ray Manzarek, BeBe Winans, Michael Feinstein, MC Lyte and Al Jarreau are also working with Sirius.

Sirius will be playing more album cuts from artists such as Gang Starr and Talib Kweli on its hip-hop channels, Flash said, in addition to the hits.

"I guess I come from a DJ's perspective — I listen to the whole album," said Flash. "I want to rock the dance floor."

And for a radio service that's programmed from that perspective, the sky's the limit, Flash said. "We're commercial-free, and that's the key. If we play the right music, it's a no-brainer."

• The Smithereens
• MC Lyte
• Randy Travis
• Ray Manzarek
• BeBe Winans

Randy Travis
Photo: Warner Bros.

Two days after the September 11 terrorist attacks, Randy Travis and a team of writers composed a new song, "America Will Always Stand." Now Travis has recorded the song and made it available to radio stations across the country. "We pray that it will help America and its people, in the worst of times, to stay brave and united," he said in a statement. Co-writers include Mike Curtis, Yvonne Sanson, Becky Bluefield and Doc Walley. Travis recorded "Point of Light" during the Gulf War at the request of President George Bush. Relentless Records will release "America Will Always Stand" and "Point of Light" as a single in the next week. All proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the American Red Cross ...

Vince Gill and a number of other country artists play a fundraiser at Nashville's Opryland Hotel Monday evening (October 1). The "All-Star Music Bash," organized by Richard Marx, will devote its proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Also performing are Jamie O'Neal, Amy Grant, Jessica Andrews, Kenny Chesney, Tammy Cochran and Michael W. Smith ...

Cyndi Thomson makes her debut on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" at 11:35 p.m. ET Monday (October 1) on NBC. She will sing her #1 song, "What I Really Meant to Say" ...

George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Lee Ann Womack will perform new singles, while Diamond Rio will do a chart-topping hit from earlier this year on the 35th Annual CMA Awards show. During the CBS broadcast on November 7, Strait will sing "Run," from his upcoming album. Brooks & Dunn will do the flag-waver "Only in America," their summer set-opener. Keith's choice is "I Wanna Talk About Me" and Womack will sing the rootsy "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger." Diamond Rio will go with "One More Day," nominated for Single and Song of the Year. Vince Gill will host the awards for the 10th consecutive year. (MTVi's parent company, Viacom, also owns CBS) ...

Trace Adkins will be in New York Tuesday to meet rescue workers at the World Trade Center site. His visit was prompted by a request from a Navy public affairs officer. "I'm too old to join the Army," Adkins said in a statement. "What I can do is offer my support and my thanks to the people who are working so hard at the site." ...

Country singers Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw plan to marry on Saturday in Nashville in a private ceremony. It will be the fifth marriage for Morgan, who was previously married to singers Keith Whitley and Jon Randall. ...

Tim McGraw has added a new beneficiary to his annual Swampstock charity softball game and concert in Rayville, Louisiana on October 28. Proceeds from the event will go to the New York Police & Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund in addition to McGraw's usual beneficiaries, area children's causes. Also taking part this year are McGraw's wife, Faith Hill; Martina McBride; Carolyn Dawn Johnson; the Warren Brothers; and Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. ...

Daryle Singletary was hit with a DUI charge on Wednesday, although he wasn't driving at the time. The 30-year-old Singletary and a friend, Joseph Dockens, were pulled over in downtown Nashville at around 3 a.m. after an illegal turn. Dockens, who was driving Singletary's truck, failed a field sobriety test, refused a breath-alcohol test and was charged with DUI. Singletary was riding in the passenger seat and was arrested for DUI because he was allowing Dockens to drive, a police spokesman said. Singletary was released from the jail on his own recognizance. Dockens posted $3,000 bail. ...

Reba McEntire and Billy Gilman sing on Michael Jackson's new all-star recording, "What More Can I Give." Proceeds from the single will aid survivors and families of victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. McEntire and Gilman recently recorded their parts in Los Angeles. Jackson was originally inspired to write "What More Can I Give" in 1999 after a meeting with Nelson Mandela. No release date has been set for the single, and the tune will not appear on Jackson's upcoming album. ...

The first single from Garth Brooks' upcoming album will be "Wrapped Up in You," not the George Jones duet "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)," as originally planned. Brooks explained his decision in a statement: "I think 'Beer Run' would have been the perfect first single from this album if it were not for the tragic events of September 11, but if we are to come with music now, 'Wrapped Up in You' is one of the best-feeling songs I've ever had the honor of recording." Brooks will launch the single October 9 — the day it goes to radio — during a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, where he will also discuss plans for his next album. "Beer Run" will be available Tuesday on Jones' The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001. ...

Merle Haggard will perform at the Christian Country Music Awards November 1 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. John Berry and Crystal Gayle will host and perform and Tammy Cochran, Jeff Carson and Stella Parton will sing. The awards show is syndicated to various cable outlets. ...

Martina McBride has pledged to donate $50,000 from proceeds of her new Greatest Hits album to the American Red Cross. McBride has taken an active role in Nashville activities to benefit victims of the terrorists since September 11. ...

Radney Foster has announced that through the end of the year he intends to give the American Red Cross a portion of the money he earns from CD and merchandise sales. Foster first linked with the Red Cross in 1999, when floods devastated his native Del Rio, Texas. "Like the rest of Americans," Foster said, "I want to do whatever I can to help." ...

Garth Brooks won't put out "Beer Run (B Double E Double Are You In?)," his duet with George Jones, as a single — at least not for a while. Brooks canceled a press conference that had been scheduled for Monday to tout the release of the recording. "We're still trying to decide when it's appropriate to move ahead, and these decisions take time," Brooks said in a statement. "I know we've been told to pick up and go on as normal, but music has always been a response to the times, and I just can't find it in my heart to feel that 'Beer Run' is appropriate for right now." "Beer Run" is likely to come out first on October 2, as a track on Jones' new CD, The Rock: Stone Cold Country 2001 ...

The Billy Gilman/Jessica Andrews tour has been extended. Added dates begin Friday with an appearance at the New Mexico State Fair in Albuquerque. The teenage duo will tour together through an October 6 date at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas ...

Brenda Lee, the late Gram Parsons and Lynyrd Skynyrd are on the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot. Lee is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame; Parsons influenced a generation of country artists including Emmylou Harris; and Travis Tritt, Alabama and Hank Williams Jr. were among country artists who paid tribute to Skynyrd on the 1994 album Skynyrd Frynds ...

Dolly Parton says entertainers need to stay positive during trying times. "I think everybody is dealing with this tragedy in their own kind of way, based on what they feel and what their own fears and insecurities are," she told the Knoxville News-Sentinel. "I'm a very patriotic person, but I also know that when things are at their worst that I need to be at my best." The terrorist attacks have stimulated Parton's creative side, she said. "I see how everybody deals with it, and I am able to write about their emotions. It allows me a way to express [sorrow], not just for myself, but for the people who can't put [their emotions] into words. It's very strange and deep places where I am going."

Alison Krauss has rescheduled her New Favorite tour with Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. The tour was originally scheduled to kick off in Cincinnati on September 12 but was postponed after the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. It will now begin September 28 at the Lucas Theatre in Savannah, Georgia, and will continue through November 11 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania ...

Wynonna Judd got a standing ovation for her emotional rendition of "How Great Thou Art" at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday evening. It marked her debut on the Opry. After the show, Judd suggested that her recent engagement to bodyguard D.R. Roach could last more than two years. "I'm thinking about around August or September of 2003," she predicted as a wedding date. " 'Course, I may just say that just to say it. We may get married next week. Who knows?" ...

Dolly Parton plans a $10 million expansion to her Dollywood theme park in east Tennessee. New features will include an interactive museum of her life. She also plans a $25 million Dixie Stampede dinner theater in Orlando, Florida ...

Lonestar will begin their I'm Already There tour October 6 in Salisbury, Maryland's Wicomico County Civic Center. The group will visit more than 30 cities before finishing in December. Jamie O'Neal will open a number of dates in October and November; Blake Shelton takes over opening duties in December. Announced dates include October 7 at Asheville, North Carolina's Ingles Food Festival; October 10 at Reading, Pennsylvania's Sovereign Center for Performing Arts; October 11 at Poughkeepsie, New York's Mid-Hudson Civic Center; October 12 at Buffalo, New York's Shea's Performing Arts Center; October 18 at Albany, New York's Palace Theater; October 19 at Norfolk, Virginia's Naval Base; October 20 at Jacksonville, North Carolina's New River Amphitheatre; and October 25 at Rama, Ontario's Casino Rama. …

Alan Jackson has been named opening-day headliner at the Texas Stampede rodeo at Dallas' American Airlines Center. Headliners include Jackson (October 25), Robert Earl Keen and Willie Nelson (October 26), Toby Keith and Sara Evans (October 27 matinee), Phil Vassar and Martina McBride (October 27 evening) and Clay Walker and Lee Ann Womack (October 28). … Connie Smith has missed a show for the first time in 27 years. The Grand Ole Opry member canceled three performances this month because her doctor directed her to rest her voice for three weeks. Smith began her recording and touring career in 1964. …

Mavericks lead singer Raul Malo has scheduled October 23 for the release of his first solo album. Today will include songs in both English and Spanish and will feature a duet with Shelby Lynne, "It Takes Two to Tango" ...

Gail Davies says her labor of love — an album honoring the late Webb Pierce — is nearing completion and slotted for November 13 release. Profits will be split between the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Caught in the Webb: A Tribute to the Legendary Webb Pierce includes cuts by Dale Watson, Mandy Barnett, Charley Pride, Rosie Flores, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Robbie Fulks & Joy Lynn White, Allison Moorer, Matt King, Crystal Gayle, the Del McCoury Band, Lionel Cartwright, Guy Clark, BR549, Trent Summar & Chris Scruggs, Kevin Welch & Deborah Pierce, Billy Walker, Blue Highway and Pam Tillis. Pierce will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October. ...

With the four additional 2001 CMA Award nominations he received, Alan Jackson moves past Vince Gill in the career-nominations tally. Jackson now has 50, according to the CMA, while Gill, who received none this year, has 48. George Strait, with two nods this year, remains king with 66. Jackson has a long way to go to catch Gill in awards won, however. Gill rules that roost with 18 career honors, Strait follows with 14 and Jackson is well back in the pack with seven. …

Merle Haggard's next album, Roots, Vol. 1, features his hero, guitarist Norm Stephens, who played on a number of Lefty Frizzell recordings including "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time" and "I Love You a Thousand Ways." Stephens has been retired from music for years, and Haggard recently discovered that they have long lived near each other in California. Haggard's pianist, Doug Colosio, noticed a classified ad Stephens placed in a local paper and called it to his boss' attention. After they reunited, they cut some songs. Recorded in Haggard's home, the album features Stephens with Haggard's band, the Strangers, romping through three new Haggard originals and songs by Frizzell, Hank Williams and Hank Thompson. Anti/Epitaph Records releases the LP November 9. ...

Lee Ann Womack has recorded a duet with Willie Nelson for his upcoming CD The Great Divide. They recorded the Bernie Taupin composition "Mendocino County Line." Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Rob Thomas and Kid Rock will also appear on the album, which was originally scheduled for a late September release, now moved to January. ...

Wynonna will marry her longtime security guard and road manager, D. R. Roach. Both have been married once before. Wynonna has two children, Elijah and Grace. Roach has one, Zachary. No date has been set. According to a news release announcing the couple's engagement, the proposal came on the second anniversary of their first date. Wynonna is at work on a new solo album, to be promoted by Universal Records New York. Plans are to release it in the first half of 2002. ...

George Strait plans to return to the biggest annual musical event in Texas, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The singer, who last played the rodeo four years ago, has agreed to headline the March 3, 2002 concert, which will be the last such performance in the Reliant Astrodome. Strait has also signed to play the first rodeo performance in the Astrodome's successor, the new Reliant Stadium, in 2003. The 2002 rodeo and concert series runs from February 12 to March 3. Country and pop artists perform daily. ...

Almost 18 months after it was announced, construction has yet to begin on a new Gilley's honky-tonk in Dallas. The new club is intended to be an upscale re-creation of the Pasadena, Texas, club that inspired the movie "Urban Cowboy." The new site, on 10 acres in downtown Dallas, is still awaiting city approval. Plans call for corporate suites, a large dance floor, several restaurants, two mechanical bulls, displays of country music memorabilia and a drive-in movie. The old Gilley's burned to the ground several years ago. ...

— sonicnet.com staff report

• Randy Travis

P.O.D.'s Sonny
Photo: Atlantic

The nominations for the 32nd annual Dove Awards were announced Friday, with names from hard-rocking P.O.D. to R&B faves Mary Mary and country singer Randy Travis reflecting the diversity of contemporary gospel.

Roots rockers Third Day and their lead singer, Mac Powell, received nine nominations, followed by Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ with eight. San Diego's P.O.D. pulled in seven nods, including Group of the Year, Artist of the Year and Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year, for "Rock the Party (Off the Hook)." Mary Mary also scored seven nominations, including New Artist of the Year; Urban Album of the Year, for Thankful; and Urban Recorded Song of the Year, for "Shackles (Praise You)." They'll face competition in that last category from Yolanda Adams, who found crossover success last year with "Open My Heart", from her Mountain High ...Valley Low album.

Travis' Inspirational Journey is up for Bluegrass Album of the Year, with the song "Baptism" up for Country Recorded Song of the Year.

The awards, which recognize the year's best in Christian music, will be presented on April 26 in Nashville, at the Grand Ole Opry House. For a complete list of the nominees in all categories, see www.doveawards.com.

• P.O.D.
• Randy Travis
• Mary Mary