Dolly Parton defends young stars -- country hound, 11/30

Though Dolly Parton has never been a mother, that doesn’t keep her from defending the younger country superstars as if they were here own – especially the likes of Taylor Swift and godchild Miley Cyrus. Parton recently say down with Larry King on CNN’s “Larry King Live” and offered her words of wisdom, as well as defense.

When King asked Parton her opinion on Cyrus’ “raunchy” behavior recently, Parton explained that the way to play nice with others is by offering information, not judgment. "I don't want to say a whole lot about that," Parton said. "Hopefully she didn't get a lot of that from me, because certainly I never encouraged her to do that ... [I just think she is] in a crosswind, trying to get over the 'Hannah Montana' little girl [image] and trying to become a young woman. I know she is going to be fine -- or I certainly hope so. I know she is very gifted."

Another young and gifted country star, in Parton’s eyes, is Miss Taylor Swift, who Parton believes will only continue to rise above her superstar success. "I think she is a smart, beautiful girl," Dolly said. "Her songs are great, she keeps herself anchored and knows who she is. I just admire her and I think she's incredible and a great role model for young people right now."

And while Parton has never been a mother of her own, that is not to say she is living a life of regret. She explained to King that now, more than ever, with the mountain of pressure placed on the shoulders of everyone, it is most important to accept and love people for who they are. The lack of acceptance in today’s society is one reason Parton has never regretted the decision not to have children, Parton elaborated.

"[During] this day and time, I regret it even less," she said. "I worry enough about my brothers and sisters and their children."

Source: http://www.theboot.com/2010/11/29/dolly-parton-larry-king-live/

John Rich's legal woes -- Country Hound, 11/30

The hiatus of Big & Rich may soon end, as previously reported at Country Hound several weeks ago, but John Rich’s 19-month lawsuit with one-time “Nashville Star” contestant Jared Ashley rolls on. Rich sued Ashley in April 2009 for defamation after Ashley accused Rich of punching him in the face. However, the attention has now been aimed toward Chris Sevier, the owner of Ashley’s independent record label, as well as a great deal of ‘he said-she said’ going on.

According to Nashville’s Tennessean newspaper, the owner of Sever Records – Chris Sevier – is being accused of asking Ashley, as well as other artists, to falsely accuse Rich in order to better Sevier’s chance of winning a federal lawsuit he brought against Rich in 2008. The case accused Rich of many offenses, such as libel, intentional inflection of emotional distress and copy right infringement. However, it was dismissed in Nashville court over a year ago.

The newest lawsuit was filed by Rich on Nov. 19 against Sevier, “accusing him of malicious prosecution and abuse of process, and seeks unspecified damages,” according to The Boot. Sevier’s response came three days later with a 47-page amended complaint that directly addressed Rich’s current allegations.

While the copyright struggle between Rich and Sevier have been ongoing since 2005, the latest legal trouble between Rich and Ashley are fairly new. And while Rich is rumored to be a contestant on the upcoming season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” he is adamant about the legal issues not interfering with his life one bit.

"I'm really not scared of anybody other than myself. I'm pretty much the only one who can take me down!" Rich said to The Boot. "I'm going to say the things I want to say. I have never been one to not voice my opinion based on someone not liking it."

Source: http://www.theboot.com/2010/11/29/john-rich-chris-sevier-lawsuit/

Trace Adkins TSA Response -- Country Hound, 11/24

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has been making headlines across the nation for the new full-body screeners and passenger pat down policies.  Country rocker Trace Adkins is trying to stay open to the idea, and welcome it, even if it is with sarcasm. 

Adkins said he would be fine with either the TSA “porn machine” or the “grope” when FOX News’ “Freedom Watch” host Judge Napolitano asked Adkins how he felt about them.

"I'm gonna stand there with my hands on my hips and let them take my picture, and I hope I'm going commando that day," Adkins said.  "But if they don't want to do that and the guy wants to feel me up, I'm going to stand there and loudly proclaim, 'Oh yeah, oh yeah!'"

However, while Adkins is full of budding jokes, he still realizes the seriousness of the matter.  He pointed out that the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War is nearing, and there is many similarities between then and now.  Adkins noted one of the issues that provoked the way was states’ rights.  He went on to say the TSA screens are a good example of how the federal government implants its will on states and their citizens. 

"The whole thing has turned upside down, hasn't it?" Trace said. "Because of some people's unwillingness to identify who the enemy is and call a spade a spade. Let's profile who really needs to be going through [TSA screenings] and who doesn't, and stop this randomness and putting my 80-year-old grandmother through this. It's just ridiculous."

Source: http://www.theboot.com/2010/11/23/trace-adkins-tsa-screenings/

Taylor Swift Adds Stadium Shows -- Country Houng, 11/24

It comes to no surprise that Taylor Swift headlined two stadium shows in Baton Rouge and Foxborough, Mass. last year.  Though these were the first stadium shows in her career, they will certainly not be her last, as she is now adding several to her Speak Now World Tour.

“That was such an unbelievable, out-of-body, dreamscape experience,” Swift said of this year’s stadium shows. “It was just walking out into this sea of people that didn’t seem to really end. There are so many people in a sold-out stadium. It’s just gorgeous.”

On her new tour, Swift will be playing a full half-dozen stadiums.  The tour kicks off Feb. 9 in Singapore, and the country sweetheart will play a total of 87 shows in 19 countries across four continents, with six NFL sites included.  Swift will be making a trip back to the Gilette Stadium in Massachusetts, as well as several stadium shows in Dallas, Kansas City, Detroit, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Opening acts have not yet been announced, her Gillette Stadium show in June included the ranks of Kellie Pickler, Gloriana and the young heartthrob Justin Bieber.  Swift may be following in the footsteps of fellow country icon, Kenny Chesney, who has played many shows in which he includes several supporting acts with their own established music.

“Any comparison to Kenny is good,” Swift said. “Anything we could do that would be along that trajectory would be nice.”

With all of the stadium shows and bigger acts added on the bill, it is not easily doubted that the Speak Now Tour will be one of the biggest of 2011, and perhaps the biggest for Swift as well.  Swift’s former tour, Fearless, was one of the top grossing of 2009 and 2010.  The newest album for Swift, which the tour will be based around, sold more than one million copies within the release week.

The international locations scheduled for Swift’s Speak Now Tour include Germany, Belgium, Norway, Japan, Hong Kong, Spain and the United Kingdom.  The North American leg will kick off Memorial Day weekend in Omaha and come to an end at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas on Oct. 8.

The dates and cities for the Speak Now Tour 2011 are as follows:

• Feb. 9 Singapore
• Feb. 11 Seoul, South Korea
• Feb. 13 Osaka, Japan
• Feb. 16-17 Tokyo, Japan
• Feb. 19 Manila, Philippines
• Feb. 21 Hong Kong
• March 6 Brussels, Belgium
• March 7 Rotterdam, Holland
• March 9 Oslo, Norway
• March 12 Oberhausen, Germany
• March 15 Milan, Italy
• March 17 Paris, France
• March 19 Madrid, Spain
• March 22 Birmingham, U.K.
• March 25 Belfast, Northern Ireland
• March 27 Dublin, Ireland
• March 29 Manchester, U.K.
• March 30 London, U.K.
• May 27-28 Omaha, Neb.
• May 29 Des Moines, Iowa
• June 2-3 Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
• June 4 Orlando, Fla.
• June 7 Columbus, Ohio
• June 8 Milwaukee, Wis.
• June 11 Detroit, Mich.
• June 14-15 St. Paul, Minn.
• June 18 Pittsburgh, Pa.
• June 21 Buffalo, N.Y.
• June 22 Hartford, Conn.
• June 25 Foxborough, Mass.
• June 30 Greensboro, N.C.
• July 1 Knoxville, Tenn.
• July 2 Louisville, Ky.
• July 8 Charlotte, N.C.
• July 9-10 Atlanta, Ga.
• July 14 Montreal, Quebec
• July 15-16 Toronto, Ontario
• July 19-20 New York, N.Y.
• July 28 Grand Rapids, Mich.
• July 29 Indianapolis, Ind.
• July 30 Cleveland, Ohio
• Aug. 2-3 Washington, D.C.
• Aug. 6 Philadelphia, Pa.
• Aug. 9-10 Chicago, Ill.
• Aug. 13 Lexington, Ky.
• Aug. 14 St. Louis, Mo.
• Aug. 18-19 Edmonton, Alberta
• Aug. 23-24 Los Angeles, Calif.
• Sept. 1-2 San Jose, Calif.
• Sept. 3 Sacramento, Calif.
• Sept. 6 Portland, Ore.
• Sept. 7 Seattle, Wash.
• Sept. 10-11 Vancouver, British Columbia
• Sept. 16-17 Nashville, Tenn.
• Sept. 21 Tulsa, Okla.
• Sept. 24 Kansas City, Mo.
• Sept. 27 Denver, Colo.
• Sept. 28 Salt Lake City, Utah
• Oct. 4 Little Rock, Ark.
• Oct. 5 New Orleans, La.
• Oct. 8 Dallas, Texas

Source: http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2010/11/23/taylor-swift-tackles-six-stadiums-in-2011-world-tour/

Annie Mitchell, Belmont Vision

            Annie Mitchell serves on the Belmont staff as Director of Marketing and Special Initiatives, and she is also one of the newest additions to the Belmont family.  Although she is a graduate of University of Iowa, she has found herself in various jobs ranging from working at a TV station in Cedar Rapids, to Starbucks, to publicist for Ameristar Casino and at her previous position as marketing director for ACT, Inc.  The various positions and jobs Mitchell has found herself in the past were not too out of the ordinary, considering that as a child her family was notorious for relocating due to her fathers occupation, racking up 13 moves by the time she entered high school.  These constant changes, however, are ironically how Mitchell found her niche and the career that will remain a constant.

            “When you’re a kid and always in a new school, meeting people, in an unfamiliar place, you just get use to meeting people and figuring out how to get along,” Mitchell said.  “I’ve always loved working with people… I like learning and being in new places.  I also love to write, writing is really, really important.”

            Now, Mitchell is finding herself in middle Tennessee with her husband, working for none other than Belmont University, and her journey here was not by mistake.  Having previously worked as a communications director for the Mississippi board of Trustees, “I have really always known about Belmont,” Mitchell said.  “When I saw the position for Belmont, I knew that it was a quality institution. I knew it would be a place where I felt good working, and I was just very excited to apply for the position.”

            While Mitchell could not be any more excited to be at Belmont, her official title can be somewhat confusing when it comes to understanding what she actually does.  “I manage the creative services team, those folks who do the graphic design for the campus colleges throughout the university,” Mitchell said.  On top of that, “I’m chair of the strategic marketing team,” which ensures, “that all the marketing efforts across campus are strategic and meet the mission of the institution.”  As for special initiatives, Mitchell oversees and coordinates when others outside the Belmont community come in to do something specific – such as Senator Corker’s town hall speech that was held on Belmont’s Campus Nov. 11.

            Of course, being at Belmont and in Music City, her music preference was a subject in need of being discussed.  “I was a DJ when I was at Iowa at the student radio station,” Mitchell said.  “I hate to say, that I would have to say my favorite music genre is 80s Alternative.”  Mitchell was quick to add, though, “It’ll sound cliché, but… I like basically anything with a good beat or good story.”

            It is clear, though, that her love for Belmont is much more tasteful than her love of music.  “Belmont is a gem of an institution,” Mitchell said. Belmont “is run by superior leaders who absolutely and whole heartedly put the university in front of every decision they make,” Mitchell said.  And while she loves Belmont, she also loves the students, and would love even more so to speak with them.  “I welcome, if anyone ever wants to call me, or meet with me, or talk to me, I would love to hear from students,” Mitchell said.