Grand Ole Opry

by Brad Schmitt

Brad Schmitt is a longtime Nashville entertainment journalist, having shared the goods on Music City’s most interesting people in the newspaper, on TV, and online for more than 15 years. Every week, Brad hits country fans with the latest news from Nashville and the lives of their favorite country artists.

Taylor hosts string of pop stars for her run of shows in L.A.

Taylor Swift whipped out the big surprise guests during her four-night run at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

First it was Justin Bieber, then Jason Mraz, and finally, Saturday night, a taste of home: Taylor whipped out Nashville pop band Hot Chelle Rae to do its big hit, “Tonight Tonight.”

“Another magical night at Staples in LA- Thanks to my buddies Ryan and Nash from @HotChelleRae for coming out and singing “tonight tonight”!!” Taylor tweeted.

The love flowed both ways.

“Just performed tonight tonight with my homie @taylorswift13 at Staples Center and it was insane in the membrane. Luh dat girl,” Hot Chelle Rae’s Ryan Follese tweeted.

The Band Perry has one of the fastest Ryman sell outs ever

Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Jr., Charley Pride, all the country greats have played in a venue so historic, that it makes new country acts quake. The Ryman Auditorium, for more than three decades, hosted radio’s longest-running show ever, the Grand Ole Opry.

The Band Perry has appeared on the stage a few times, on nights where several acts have appeared on the same night. But the Feb. 20 show is the sibling trio’s first as a headliner at the Ryman.

And fans were apparently as excited as the band: About 2,300 tickets disappeared in 20 minutes, one of the venue’s fastest sellouts ever.

“It’s an amazing thing. So much of our creative efforts have come inside Nashville,” Kimberly Perry told The Tennessean.

“And it’s the center of our creativity. We so much revere that (Ryman) stage. And I feel like there’s an amazing spirit about that place.”

Shania sells some high heels: Whose bed will her shoes be under?

This is called making lemonade out of lemons.

You might recall when Shania Twain wiped out in high heels at the CMT Music Awards earlier this year. She put those shoes up for auction

by Brad Schmitt

Brad Schmitt is a longtime Nashville entertainment journalist, having shared the goods on Music City’s most interesting people in the newspaper, on TV, and online for more than 15 years. Every week, Brad hits country fans with the latest news from Nashville and the lives of their favorite country artists.

Reba, Faith, Lady A check out pop star Katy Perry’s Nashville show

Pop star and Taylor Swift BFF Katy Perry told a Nashville crowd Friday night (Aug. 19) that several country stars were among them — but not Taylor Swift.

Katy (“I Kissed a Girl”) told the Bridgestone Arena audience that Reba McEntire, Faith Hill and members of Lady Antebellum were in the crowd, The Tennessean reports.

And Katy says she has a long history of songwriting in Nashville, staying at an AmeriSuites near town.

“For months on end, just writing my own little songs, trying to make a record. And now we’re here tonight, celebrating. Thank you so much!” she told the crowd.

Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson to go into Nashville Songwriters’ Hall of Fame

Congrats to Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson, who are both going into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Garth co-wrote “The Thunder Rolls,” “The River” and several other of his big hits.

Alan wrote almost all of his big hits, including “Chattahoochie” and “Where Were You.”

The two will be inducted along with three other songwriters (John Bettis, Thom Schuyler, and Allen Shamblin) in October at a Nashville hotel.

Is Brad Paisley the fifth Rolling Stone?

Could be a new superband.

Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker and Ronnie Wood of iconic rock band The Rolling Stones were onstage together in London one night last week.

The three were performing Brad’s song “Alcohol” at the end of his show in a packed O2 arena. Ronnie, one of the Stones’ guitarists, first showed up for a version of “Let the Good Times Roll,” and Ronnie stayed for one more song.

Little known fact: Ronnie also plays pedal steel guitar, a staple of country music.

Brad continues his tour of Europe with shows in Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark in the next two weeks.

Dierks turned down Donald Trump, ‘Celebrity Apprentice’

Dierks Bentley won’t ever get fired from “Celebrity Apprentice” because he wouldn’t even turn in an application when asked.

Show winner John Rich suggested Dierks as the next country star contestant for Donald Trump’s NBC reality show—and producers in fact approached him, Dierks told Seattle radio station KMPS.

“I was flattered to be asked, but at the end of the day . . . it’s writing songs, making records, touring. That’s everything to me,” Dierks said on the Candy + Potter morning show.

“That’s the dream, and the dream takes up a lot of time—with two kids and a wife, my plate’s pretty full.”

by Brad Schmitt

Brad Schmitt is a longtime Nashville entertainment journalist, having shared the goods on Music City’s most interesting people in the newspaper, on TV, and online for more than 15 years. Every week, Brad hits country fans with the latest news from Nashville and the lives of their favorite country artists.

Nettles: ‘There are no words….’

Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland tries to process the tragedy that killed five fans and injured at least 45 others at a concert Saturday night at the Indiana State Fair.

“I am so moved. Moved by the grief of those families who lost loved ones. Moved by the pain of those who were injured and the fear of their families,” she posted on the band’s Website.

“Moved by the great heroism as I watched so many brave Indianapolis fans actually run toward the stage to try and help lift and rescue those injured. Moved by the quickness and organization of the emergency workers who set up the triage and tended to the injured.

“There are no words to process a moment of this magnitude and gravity. There are only prayers for peace in the hearts of the bereft, and prayers of thanksgiving for those who were spared or safe. A piece of our heart is left in that grandstand. May God provide peace and healing to the people of Indianapolis.”

Strong storm winds pushed over the stage and other equipment onto the crowd that was waiting for Sugarland to come on. A fair spokesman told CBS News today (Aug. 15) that they thought they had at least another 30 minutes to decide whether to evacuate the crowd.

In that same story, though, a meteorologist said warnings for strong winds had been out 30 minutes before the stage collapse.

Vince Gill actually turned down an Opry performance invite 20 years ago??

You’ve likely read all about Saturday night’s celebration of Vince Gill’s 20 years of Opry membership.

But a big Schmitt Hits the Fans mazel tov on the landmark!

My favorite part of Saturday night is when Vince told the crowd he turned down his first-ever invitation to appear at the Opry 20 years ago because he had a previous engagement: Accompanying his then-little daughter Jenny at her grade-school talent show.

Keith Urban hands over keys to Habitat home he helped build

A year or so ago, Keith Urban played a gig in Knoxville, Tenn., to help raise money for Knoxville’s Habitat for Humanity, which helps provide homes for people down on their financial luck.

Fast forward to Friday, where Keith went to a brand-new home in Knoxville, known as the “Keith Urban Home,” to present keys to local woman Regina Olum.

“It’s a real honor to be a part of this for Regina,” Keith said. “It’s a beautiful thing when a house becomes more than walls and a roof but a place where memories are made.”