Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Tuesday, Aug. 13)

Vernon Dalhart recorded "The Prisoner's Song," country music's first million seller, 1924.

Ernest Tubb recorded "A Woman Has Wrecked Many A Good Man," 1947.

Dan Fogelberg born in Peoria, Ill., 1951.

Joe Tex (born Joseph Arrington Jr.) died of a heart attack in Navasota, Texas, 1982.

MUSIC AND MORE

WAGONER, CARLISLE NEW HALL OF FAMERS

Country legends Porter Wagoner and Bill Carlisle learned by surprise over the weekend they'll be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in November.

At the end of the Dixie Chicks' performance at the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night, Martie Maguire called Wagoner and Carlisle onstage to give them the news.

Wagoner, 75 years old, and 93-year-old Carlisle, are to be inducted at the Country Music Association Awards ceremony on Nov. 6. They become the 87th and 88th members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

MAC DAVIS WORKING ON HITS ALBUM

Indie label Nashville Underground Records -- nashville-underground.com -- is recording Mac Davis singing his hit songs.

The label was set up by songwriter Chuck Cannon and his wife, singer Lari White, for writers to record songs they've created for other artists.

Among the label's artists: Marcus Hammon, who wrote the Dixie Chicks' Grammy-winning "Ready To Run;" Victoria Shaw, who penned Garth Brooks's No. 1 "The River;" and Cannon, for his chart-topping "We Were In Love" and "Dreamwalkin'" by Toby Keith.

Davis, named Entertainer of the Year by the Academy of Country Music in 1975, wrote "In the Ghetto," "I Believe in Music" and many others.

UNIVERSAL PLANS COUNTRY STAR SEARCH

Universal is planning a reality TV series called "Nashville Star" to find the nation's most talented country music singer-songwriter.

The USA Network will air at least six episodes starting early next year, with the winner getting a recording contract with Universal.

Artists will compete in various markets nationwide and the best will go to Nashville to perform at local venues. The winners will be chosen by viewer votes and the opinion of a judges' panel.

While the show will resemble Fox TV's "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar," it won't be a clone, said Ben Silverman, whose Universal-run company Reveille is producing "Nashville Star."