The genre of country music has taken four of the Top 10 spots on a new Harris Poll of America’s Favorite Musical Acts. Over 2,300 adults filled out an online survey in March to decide America’s favorites. Tim McGraw was the top country finisher at #5. King George finished #7 followed by Rascal Flatts at #8 and Alan Jackson tied for 9th with Frank Sinatra. Very impressive showing for country music. In a demographic breakdown of the results, Rascal Flatts ranked highest among single women and people between the ages of 18 and 33. McGraw led with respondents from the Midwest, according to CMT.com.
Here is the complete top 10 list:
1. Celine Dion
2. U2
3. (tie) Elvis Presley
3. (tie) The Beatles
5. Tim McGraw
6. Lady GaGa
7. George Strait
8. Rascal Flatts
9. (tie) Alan Jackson
9. (tie) Frank Sinatra
Alan Jackson was the musical guest on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night. He performed “Hard Hat and a Hammer” as a promo for his “Freight Train” album and tour.
Alan Jackson launches his “Freight Train Tour” tonight in Ft. Myers, FL. The tour comes on the heels of the release of his latest album which bares the same name. Jackson will be joined by Josh Turner and Chris Young. Turner is excited to be on tour with Jackson but tell GAC.com that he will be without a crew of dancers. “No dancers,” he says emphatically. “Maybe after a couple of extra No. 1s, maybe I could afford that, but right now, we’re kinda on a budget. We’re gonna go out, do 50 minutes in front of [Alan]. We did a few dates with him last year and we’re lookin’ forward to kickin’ the year off with him, doin’ that. He and I obviously have a lot of the same kind of fans, and so it’s gonna be fun to be able to play to that crowd again this year for 15-20 dates. [But] yeah, no dancers!”
Chris Young, a relative newcomer to major tours, is just happy to be along for the ride saying. “Just even sayin’ it is kind of weird for me — sayin’ that I’m gonna be on tour with Alan Jackson,” Chris observes. “This is somebody that so many people are huge fans of his music. But, especially for me, the people that I mention when I start saying, ‘I’m a big fan of…’ — he’s one of the people that’s always mentioned, just because I love his music. I love him as a songwriter. When I got to go out with him last year for a couple shows, and do just one or two dates with him, I remember I was so excited about that, and now bein’ able to tell people [I’m doing a whole tour], it’s just a big deal.”
Be sure to check out the Freight Train as it rolls into a town near you in the coming months.
Lady Antebellum and Alan Jackson led country music album sales this past week according the the Neilsen Soundscan Hot 200 Albums chart. Lady Antebellum remained in the Top 5 for all genres with over 85,000 units moved. In its debut on the chart, Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train”, moved over 72,000 albums despite mixed review from critics. “The Foundation”, the debut album by Zac Brown Band, continues to sell with another 25,000 sold this week. They currently have the #1 song in country music with “Highway 20 Ride” and have sold well over 1.7 million albums since its release in November 2008.
Gretchen Wilson made a strong debut this week on the charts with “I Got Your Country Right Here” selling almost 15,000 albums. Easton Corbin has now sold over 100,000 copies of his debut album featuring #1 hit, “A Little More Country Than That”.
We are only one week away from the release of Laura Bell Bundy’s debut country album on the 13th. It will be very interesting to see how she fares as her career moves away from the bright lights of Broadway.
Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train” was released to the public today and to support his album Jackson will begin a run of appearances that will last for the next few weeks. This morning Jackson visited NBC’s Today Show. We will post video for that as soon as we can get it. Here is a look at Alan Jackson’s appearances over the next few weeks.
March 30th CBS Late Show with David Letterman
April 8th “Freight Train Tour” kicks off
April 11th A&E’s “Private Sessions with Lynn Hoffman” series
April 14th NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno
April 16th Ellen Degeneres Show
April 16th Alan Jackson get a Hollywood Star
March 30th will be the date for the release of Alan Jackson’s 14th and probably last album with Arista Records Nashville. The two will part ways after 20 years of chart topping success, that has made Alan Jackson one of the legends of country music. His latest effort, “Freight Train”, offers listeners everything you would expect from an Alan Jackson album. The lead track off of the album, “It’s Just That Way”, is currently #18 on the Billboard Hot Country Chart. Check out the music video for the song below, which was inspired by Jackson’s daughter. Included in the album is a duet with Lee Ann Womack, “Till the End”, which is a tribute to the late Vern Gosdin. Alan also had a hand in writing eight of the twelve tracks on the album.
What do the critics have to say about “Freight Train”?
BBC News – Freight Train comes straight down the rails of a much-loved tradition, the latest through traffic on a journey that has earned this self-effacing southerner an enviable reputation. Long after the great age of songwriting in New York and Los Angeles, Nashville might be the last holdout for the craft of American music. And, hitting town with a head full of Hank Williams and Merle Haggard in 1986, Jackson has made himself the craftsman others dream of emulating. Entertainment Weekly – Nashville’s a different town than it was in the ’90s, but to borrow one of Freight Train’s many hackneyed metaphors, Alan Jackson remains predictable as the sunrise every morning. So it’s time for another round of country music madlibs, and with the exception of ”After 17” — an awkward ode to a teenaged lass who’s ”not a woman, not a girl” — the results float comfortably in the haze of Jackson’s 20 year career. If you hate surprises, he’s your guy. B-
Detroit Free Press – You don’t have to ask a lot of Alan Jackson’s comfy music, and the country stalwart’s new “Freight Train” reciprocates by offering few surprises. The square-jawed anthem “Hard Hat and a Hammer” opens a disc that predictably plays it straight and simple: “I Could Get Used to This Lovin’ Thing” is a sunny country throwback; “Every Now and Then” takes care of the heart-tugging; “That’s Where I Belong” is one of the most rousing odes to fishing you’re bound to hear. “Freight Train” won’t stand out on your shelf of Jackson CDs — this is number 23 — but it won’t look out of place. And with Alan Jackson, that’s sort of the whole point.
CMT.com – There’s nothing flashy or showy on this album. The themes on Freight Train are familiar but welcome, and you definitely know you’re in Jackson territory. There are many songs about romantic love, a life parable disguised as a fishing song, a bittersweet paean to a young daughter, a lilting duet (with Lee Ann Womack), a song of regret, another one of goodbye, a tribute to the workingman and everyday life. That’s Jackson’s side of the street. These days, it’s not a very crowded place.
Getting excited about Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train”? Well here are three videos where Jackson talks about three songs on the new album. Also, visit Walmart Soundcheck for an exclusive performance of songs off of “Freight Train”, as well as fan favorites like “Chattahoochee”. These videos will keep you busy until you can go out and buy “Freight Train” on Tuesday.
The Country Radio Seminar has taken place this week in Nashville for 1,800 country radio personnel. Labels, artists and radio stations take time to network, attend conferences, interview stars, and most importantly listen to great country music. So far there have been many highlights, but the first was Trace Adkins receiving the Humanitarian Trophy during the opening session. Brooks and Dunn took home the Career Achievement Award, they were given a musical tribute by Dierks Bentley, and also they announced that their final rodeo stop would be in Nashville. Taylor Swift and her Big Machine Label celebrated 10 Million records sold following a short set on stage. As reported earlier, Rascal Flatts honored Country Radio in a show to commemorate their 10 year anniversary to Country Music. Uncle Kracker made an appearance in Nashville to promote his pop hit, “Smile”, to become a cross-over country song. Darius Rucker showed up for Storytellers Showcase with writers who have helped him to become an overnight superstar in country music. Alan Jackson took requests from the CRS crowd and Lady Antebellum played a late night show for a few special radio guests. Universal Music Group Nashville held a luncheon on the 24th, where 18 of their artists each performed one song, including Jamey Johnson, Josh Turner, Vince Gill, Julianne Hough, David Nail, Easton Corbin, Gary Allan, Sugarland, and Lee Ann Womack, and Billy Currington.
On the industry side, reports were released showing that Country Radio remains a strong industry while spending on country music dropped almost 30%. Radio execs and programmers spent time discussing how to compete and flourish during difficult economic times. Some of the news may have been gloomy but the talent in Nashville and the young, rising stars can brighten the state of the country music industry very quickly.
There are a lot of great country concert tours going on right now but it is not too early to get excited about Alan Jackson’s “Freight Train Tour” due to kick-off on April 8th. Jackson will be joined on this two month, 15 stop train ride by Josh Turner and Chris Young. The trio will make this one of the hottest tickets of the spring.
The tour will continue an already busy few months for Alan. Jackson’s new video for his current single, “It’s Just That Way”, debuted earlier today. His brand new album “Freight Train” will be in stores on March 30th. Jackson will have a hectic release week with scheduled visits to Letterman, Leno and Ellen before he sets off on tour. Don’t miss the freight train if it comes rolling through your city.
ALAN JACKSON FREIGHT TRAIN TOUR DATES
April 8 – Estero, FL/ Germain Arena
April 9 – Orlando, FL/ UCF Arena
April 10 – Alpharetta, GA/ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park
April 11 – Greenville, SC/ Bi-Lo Center
April 29 – Champaign, IL/ Assembly Hall (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
April 30 – Moline, IL/ iWireless Center May 1 – Rosemont, IL/ AllState Arena
May 2 – Fort Wayne, IN/ War Memorial Coliseum
May 13 – Manchester, NH/ Verizon Wireless Arena
May 14 – Uncasville, CT/ Mohegan Sun Arena
May 15 – Rochester, NY/ Blue Cross Arena
May 16 – Wilkes-Barre, PA/ Wachovia Center
May 21 – University Park, PA/ Bryce Jordan Center
May 22 – Charleston, WV/ Charleston Civic Center
May 23 – Lexington, KY/ Rupp Arena
