There’s been so much country rap collaboration going on lately, with Brad Paisley and LL Cool J, or Florida Georgia Line and Nelly. Now, Brad Paisley said he wants to collaborate with Kanye West. Brad said, “I toyed with approaching Kanye with something, but I don’t know if our camp would go for that. Our format might still be mad at him…I don’t know.” Then Brad said if not Kanye, maybe Jay-Z.

Taylor Swift’s helping a friend get over her ex. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson have been together for a couple years now. Well they broke up, and Kristen Stewart went to Taylor Swift’s house to cope and get advice.

Kellie Pickler has been named the winner of season 16 of ‘Dancing With the Stars.’ It was a two hour finale. Wynonna Judd, Psy, and Pitbull all performed. Derek Hough, Kellie’s partner, even said to Kellie’s grandpa, “Grandpa Ken we got you the trophy buddy!”

The 26-year-old country singer won the show’s mirror ball trophy Tuesday.

“This is amazing!” she beamed to her professional partner, Derek Hough.

The pair earned two sets of perfect scores Monday night and another on Tuesday. Judges’ scores combined with viewer votes determine the winner.

Because there were problems with voting on the ABC website during Monday’s East Coast broadcast, host Tom Bergeron said Tuesday those votes weren’t counted. Only votes cast by phone, text and Facebook factored into the final count.

Teen Disney Channel star Zendaya danced perfectly during the final two episodes, collecting the most points from the judges, but she fell short of the title.

“I’m very proud and I’m very happy,” the 16-year-old said after the results were read. “And I get to leave here with an amazing experience.”

Football pro Jacoby Jones finished in third place. Fellow finalist Alexandra Raisman was axed at the beginning of Tuesday’s episode.

“This has been the best experience of my life,” the gold medalist said. “My whole life, all I’ve ever known has been gymnastics, so to try something new has been amazing.”

The two-hour finale featured the return of the season’s already-eliminated contestants: comedians Andy Dick and D.L. Hugely, Olympian Dorothy Hamill, actor Ingo Rademacher, reality stars Lisa Vanderpump and Sean Lowe, singer Wynonna Judd and boxer Victor Ortiz.

Judd opted to sing rather than dance on the final episode, while Hamill celebrated another chance to hit the ballroom floor.

The Olympic skater, who said she was motivated to join the show after watching fellow skater Kristi Yamaguchi, had to withdraw from the competition early in the season because of an injury.

Hamill danced again Tuesday, and Yamaguchi joined her.

“It’s such an honor to join my idol out here on the dance floor,” said Yamaguchi, the Season 6 “Dancing” champ.

Korean pop star Psy brought his unique moves to the ballroom by dancing along with his new single, “Gentleman.” Pitbull and Jessica Sanchez also performed.

ABC announced earlier this month that the next season of “Dancing With the Stars” will air one night a week instead of two.

Article Courtesy of cbsnews.com Los Angeles

Pickler shared her win with her professional dance partner Derek Hough. During Tuesday night’s finale, they were competing against Disney Channel star Zendaya Coleman and Val Chmerkovskiy.

When season 16 began, Kellie was one of two country artists on the program. Fellow dancer Wynonna Judd, though, was voted off in April.

Other stars competing this season included actor Andy Dick, figure skating champ Dorothy Hamill, football star Jacoby Jones, and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman.

I’ll never ever forget this night!! Love y’all so much!!! Thanks so much for voting!!!! #DWTS twitter.com/kelliepickler/…

— kellie pickler (@kelliepickler) May 22, 2013

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He was asked to name the best LOOKING country singer, and the best country singer ALIVE . . . and gave Carrie’s name each time.

And check this out: When they asked what rapper he’d like to collaborate with, Brad said, quote, “I toyed with approaching KANYE (WEST) with something, but I don’t know if our camp would go for that.

“Our format might still be mad at him. So, maybe JAY-Z.”

#1) Tim McGraw “Truck Yeah”

#2) Kip Moore “Somethin’ Bout A Truck”

#3) Toby Keith “Big ‘Ol Truck”

#4) Brad Paisley “Mud On the Tires”

#5) Lee Brice “I Drive Your Truck”

#6) Joe Diffie “Pickup Man”

#7) Dierks Bentley “Cab of My Truck”

#8) Luke Bryan “We Rode In Trucks”

#9) Trace Adkins “Rough and Ready”

#10) Brooks And Dunn “Hillbillie Deluxe”

Though Nettles recently announced that she will release a solo album this fall, during an interview Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards she was quick to clear the air regarding the future of her band Sugarland.

“Oh, god no!” she exclaimed, when asked if she and Kristian Bush would be breaking up the band. “Nobody panic,” she said, mugging for the camera. “We’re just taking time to do things individually–personally and professionally. And we’re super supportive of each other on both those fronts.”

Nettles was interviewed by Billboard on the red carpet before Sunday’s award ceremony. It was her first public appearance since her son Magnus was born five months ago.

During the interview she was practically giddy about her upcoming solo album; however, she didn’t want to go into much detail about the songs or the sound, as she didn’t want to “give everything away.”

Read more and watch the video on Radio.com

Rucker knows this firsthand, as he grew up entrenched in country music and is releasing his third country album, True Believers, today (May 21). In our Radio.com Essentials profile, Rucker broke down country music stereotypes and explained the stories behind many of the songs on his new album, while Entertainment Weekly‘s Grady Smith provided some back story on the former Hootie & the Blowfish singer. Watch below.

It’s a common answer to the question, “What type of music do you like?”: “I like everything but country.” But Rucker, who himself encountered great success in the mainstream with rock before segueing to country, pleas with music fans who respond this way.

“To have that stereotype of my dog died or my wife left me, that whole stereotype that they love to live with,” he explained, “every time I hear somebody say that ["I like everything but country] I say, ‘Take one day and listen to country.’”

As for those who claim country music is all about the same tired lyrical themes of Southern living, Rucker counters that he sings about what he knows.

“For me, I don’t sing about pickup trucks and stuff like that because that’s not a life I lived,” he said. “Clichés are clichés, there are a lot of guys that don’t write about that stuff but there are a lot of guys that do and it works.”

Instead, Rucker’s goal is to relate, with the added hope of pushing the envelope this time around. Though he partnered again with producer Frank Rogers, who also worked on 2008’s Learn to Live and 2010’s Charleston, SC 1966, the two tried to step away from the last two albums and simply find the best songs they could to create a new sound.

“I think this is the best record I’ve ever recorded,” Rucker said. “I’m excited for people to hear it, for country music fans and music fans in general to hear it. I hope they get a song or two or three that makes them go, ‘Man, that’s my life.’ That’s why I write songs.”

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Oklahoma was hit with a severe tornado yesterday (May 20) in the community of Moore, an Oklahoma City suburb. Country singer Toby Keith grew up in the neighborhoods that were hit, and he spoke with CNN‘s Anderson Cooper about hearing the news.

“So many tornadoes come through there but I don’t ever remember one hitting an elementary school right square on the button like this one did,” he said, his voice shaky with emotion. “It’s devastating. My sister’s house got hit. It’s a mile north of my mother’s house on the farm where I was raised.”

Keith took to Twitter to bring awareness to the tornado that struck his hometown.

Hometown got hit for the gazillionth time. Rise again Moore Oklahoma. Godspeed.Prayin – T

— Toby Keith (@TobyKeithMusic) May 20, 2013

“This storm has devastated the community that I grew up in,” he continued. “I rode my bike through those neighborhoods. I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all.”

The tornado took 24 lives, including at least seven children when it hit a local elementary school, CBS News reports.

“You just gotta hope that everyone takes cover,” Keith said. “Oklahoma has great meteorologists and they prepare you for this. Oklahoma people are just so resilient and are used to dealing with this in the springtime. They did the best they could do, I’m sure.”

Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood also voiced her prayers on Twitter as did Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and Joe Diffie.

Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen…it doesn’t change how devastating it is when something does happen. #pray

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 21, 2013

I’m thinking about and praying for my beautiful home state and the people in it tonight.

— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 21, 2013

Pray. That’s all we an do. Pray for peace for Oklahoma.

— Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert) May 20, 2013

Just landed in LA and hearing about all the tornados in Oklahoma right now… Get somewhere safe!!!

— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) May 20, 2013

So sad to hear of all the devastation and deaths in my home state. Can’t imagine what the folks who lost loved… fb.me/G0IA0zx5

— Joe Diffie (@JoeDiffieOnline) May 21, 2013

Many more country artists chimed in as well, including Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, and Trace Adkins, who each showed fans wanting to help easy ways that they can donate to the Red Cross and other organizations.

You can support #Moore response & other disasters by txting REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10, or online at redcross.org- Team Trace

— TraceAdkins (@TraceAdkins) May 21, 2013

Oklahomans… Texts get thru better than calls.Verizon lost 1 tower in last night’s twister…20 TODAY !

— RONNIE DUNN (@RonnieDunn) May 21, 2013

Add’l ways to help & donate to OK text STORM to 80888 for Salvation Army REDCROSS to 90999 FOOD to 32333 for Regional Food Bank #OKTornado

— Willie Nelson (@willienelson) May 21, 2013

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This extends Strait’s record for holding the most No. 1 songs on all charts of any artist in any genre (Conway Twitty previously held the record with 55). It also means that the Sixty for Sixty campaign, to help Strait earn his 60th Number One while he was still 60 years old, was a success (Strait turned 61 on May 18).

George offered his thanks to fans in a message on his website:

“I didn’t realize we were making history — I just hoped we were putting out music that my fans would enjoy. As always, I’m thankful to the fans and country radio for their support on all 60 of these number one songs as well as my entire career. They are the ones who made this happen.”

It’s official, George makes history with his 60th #1 single!!! Thanks to all of YOU for your hard work and support! youtu.be/NFbCgcxd2XE

— George Strait (@GeorgeStrait) May 20, 2013

Fans and artists alike have been rallying for months in support of the song and Sixty for Sixty. Many of George’s friends and fellow artists, in fact, created videos honoring “King George” and his music.

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It’s got white sand, blue water and tiki bars, along with plenty of drumming and dancing–but it also involves such antics as hatchet tossing, jet pack flights, and human catapulting. While it’s not exactly Jackass, the idea of being shot out over the water by catapult (with or without beer in hand) will certainly give the saner minds among us pause.

Read more at Radio.com

A recent statement from Toby:

God pray for those in Oklahoma. I couldn’t sleep thinking about all those lost, and those kids, those babies, in the elementary school. My heart is heavy and grieving with everyone in Oklahoma.
I’ll be getting some audio from Toby today on how to help. I’ll send that to you as soon as possible.

Toby’s Facebook post last night after the reality of the devastation that had hit his childhood home:

Toby also Tweeted out last night after the reality of the devastation that had hit his childhood home:

Darius Rucker was slammed with a racist tweet. Someone was claiming that he’s a racist because of his song “Wagon Wheel.”
The person tweeted quote “Leave the country to the white folk.”
Darius replied back by saying “Wow is this 2013 or 1913?” He also added, “I’ll take my grand ole opry membership and leave your racism. Wow. If any hater thinks I care what you think. I don’t make music for you. So don’t listen.”
Darius told us he felt defiant when making his True Believers album. which comes out today.

Jake Owen ripped his pants while performing on stage in Charleston, S.C. He admitted on twitter that he had gone commando that night, so he had to improvise a little bit. He had to use his t-shirt as an emergency sash to hold his pants together.

According to Mediabase, George Strait’s “Sixty for Sixty” campaign WAS a success. His song “Give it all we got tonight” was the most played song on country radio last week, which was enough to make it his 60th Number One single on that chart. And, of course, it happened while was still 60 years old. George talked to us about his latest number one.

And now here is the video of the pant ripping festivities!

Check out the photo of Jake!

Photo courtesy of tasteofcountry.com

This tornado was TWO MILES wide, and its winds were up to 200 miles-per-hour. It destroyed every building in its path . . . including an elementary school with children inside.

As of the latest reports, 51 people are dead . . . including at least 20 children . . . and 145 people are in the hospital.

We don’t have an official count, but at least dozens of buildings and homes were destroyed. The local NBC station called it, quote, “the biggest, most destructive tornado in history.”

They probably meant in the history of the state . . . because other tornados have been more powerful and caused more deaths . . . but that’s still extremely significant.

If you would like to donate and help out the victims just text the word “redcross” to “90999″, and $10 will be donated towards the recovery effort.

Check out this chilling video of a family coming out of their storm shelter to find their neighborhood destroyed.

The real winner, though, is Trace’s chosen charity, the Red Cross, which will receive more than $1.5 million as a result of his win. This includes a $250,000 first-place prize.

Thanks to everyone that watched, bought, tweeted, donated and cheered!Your love will give @redcross so much! – Team Trace

— TraceAdkins (@TraceAdkins) May 20, 2013

Trace’s win came at the tail end of a whirlwind week for the veteran singer. The previous Tuesday he released his latest album Love Will…, a collection of love songs that he said in a recent interview came together in part thanks to Donald Trump and the scheduling requirements for Celebrity Apprentice.

The final episode of Celebrity Apprentice took place Sunday night (May 19) during a live broadcast. The competition involved selling ice cream through the Walgreen’s chain. Trace was selling Maple Macadamia Mash-Up, while Penn was selling Vanilla & Chocolate Magic Swurtle. During the week of competition Penn actually sold more ice cream.

The winner, though, was chosen based on more than just the product sales. As Trace said to Trump in the final moments of the show, before the decision was announced: “Going into this last task I think I delivered the best ice cream, I made the best commercial, I put on the best show, I brought in the biggest celebrities, and I raised the most money.” Hard to argue with that.

Congrats Trace on winning #CelebrityApprentice! RT @sdumusic WOOOHOOOOO!!! @traceadkins we are SOOOOO PROUD OF YOU! vine.co/v/b9q3hDJmD9r

— Universal MusicGroup (@UMG) May 20, 2013

This was Trace’s second appearance on Celebrity Apprentice. 

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Or she wins a major award and looks shocked. Even though she’s won 19 times before.

Well last night, Taylor caught a glimpse of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez kissing after her Billboard Music Awards appearance and made a different face! Check this out…

Good to see Taylor isn’t the only one grossed out!

-@TheDavidDean

The first time Josh Turner heard “Long Black Train,” his second single ever, on the radio in 2003, he had to pull off the road.

“My wife Jennifer and I were driving to my hometown in South Carolina,” Turner tells Radio.com. “We were on this two-lane country road and I was listening to my hometown station and [when] we had finally gotten within range of it ‘Long Black Train’ comes on the radio. I had to pull off the side of the road because it was such an emotional moment.”

Turner went on to explain that this was the moment he had been “waiting for and dreaming about for years and years.”

“As a young boy growing up down in South Carolina, to a lot of people being a famous country singer seemed like a lofty goal and even unattainable,” he said. “I never doubted it one second. So for that moment to happen in my life was a huge turning point for me.”

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Hunter Hayes' last show on the #BlownAwayTour = time for pranks!—
Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 19, 2013

Watch the Goating video below!

#10.)  “I dyed my hair the wrong color.”

#9.)  “My dog is scared and I don’t want to leave him.”

#8.)  “I drank too much and fell asleep on someone’s floor, but I don’t know where I am.”

#7.)  “I’m taking a bath and my toe is caught in the faucet.”

#6.)  “My pants split on the way to work.”

#5.)  “The dog ate my shoes.”

#4.)  “I hurt myself during sex.”

#3.)  “I’m stuck in the house because the door is broken.”

#2.)  “My girlfriend bit me in a ‘sensitive’ place.”

#1.)  “My mom just died” . . . from an employee who’d used that excuse once before.

“I kinda threw the playbook away again,” he said of the album. “I’m working with a different producer, different engineer. Just different songs, man, and it feels really fresh.”

Ross Copperman, who co-wrote Dierks’ 2012 hit “Tip It On Back,” was enlisted this time as producer. Dierks also brought back executive producer Arturo Buenahora Jr., who worked on his first two albums. Additionally, some of the music on Riser was cut outside of a traditional recording studio.

“It was important to get out of the studio and sing in different places,” Dierks said in a press statement about the album, “and to do it with other people in the room. That way, you have an audience and you get a sense of what’s working, what’s not working, when it’s feeling good, not feeling good. It brings a little more emotion and energy out of your voice.”

Riser also takes at least some of its inspiration from Dierks’ father, who passed away last year.

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