Kathie Lee Gifford has a new country single, "Born for You," under the name "Kathie Lee." Dolly Parton and Collin Raye collaborated with Gifford on her new album of the same title, released on Gifford's label On the Lamb. The project is a concept album of original material and Broadway, folk and pop tunes. ... Garth Brooks and composer John Williams will be the first inductees of the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame. Both will participate in the opening night gala June 23, when the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra pays tribute to their industry achievements.

Country artists Shania Twain and Faith Hill are among the 50 most beautiful people in the world, according to the 11th annual ranking by People Magazine. ... Willie Nelson, Allison Moorer, and Hank Williams III will join more than 50 rock, pop, and jazz artists performing at Glastonbury Festival, held June 23–25 in Somerset, England. ...

John Prine's Nashville-based label Oh Boy Records is distributing the entire catalog of First Generation Records, which includes albums from such Grand Ole Opry artists as Ernest Tubb and Charlie Louvin. ... Country artists Andy Griggs and Chalee Tennison will be guest performers and guest shooters at the Fifth Annual Fred Thompson Celebrity Shoot 2000 on May 5–6 in Nashville. The event, to benefit Sugarbugs, which helps families with children with diabetes, features a concert the evening of May 5 at the Wildhorse Saloon and the following day a celebrity skeet shoot at the Nashville Gun Club. ...

George Strait's current album, Latest Greatest Straitest Hits, has sold 1 million copies. It's his 25th platinum album, setting a country music record. ...

Waylon Jennings is recovering from vascular leg surgery in Phoenix. His forthcoming live Sony Nashville album is said to be delayed over negotiations with Gaylord Entertainment over using the title "Live at the Ryman." Gaylord owns the Ryman Auditorium, where it was recorded. ...

LeAnn Rimes is said to be working with Whitney Houston producer Rodney Jerkins. ... CMT debuts on Wednesday (April 26) the video for the new Garth Brooks song, "When You Come Back to Me Again," from the forthcoming movie Frequency. Trisha Yearwood also sings on the song. The movie, starring Dennis Quaid, opens Friday. ...

Country superstars the Dixie Chicks are approaching career sales of 15 million units in the U.S. Their album Fly has been certified five-times platinum, with more than 5 million albums sold. The controversial single "Goodbye Earl" (RealAudio excerpt) has sold over a half-million units, and sales from their debut effort, Wide Open Spaces, have surpassed 9 million. ...

Country artist and actor Lyle Lovett debuts as a composer in the feature film "Dr. T and the Women," to be released later this year. Directed by Robert Altman ("Nashville," "MASH," "Cookie's Fortune"), the movie stars Richard Gere, Farrah Fawcett, Kate Hudson, Laura Dern, Helen Hunt and Liv Tyler. ...

Major country stars Vince Gill, Wynonna, Charlie Daniels, Brooks & Dunn, Randy Travis and Martina McBride lend their voices to an episode of the animated TV series "King of the Hill" airing May 21. The show's soundtrack has strong country ties as well, featuring top performers Faith Hill, the Mavericks, Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt, Trace Adkins, Deana Carter and Old 97's. ...

— sonicnet.com staff report