Country Music News

TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

(Monday, May 5)

Sam Allred of the Geezinslaw Brothers born in Austin, Texas, 1934.

Tammy Wynette born in Itawamba County, Miss., 1942.

Claude King's No. 1 single "Wolverton Mountain" is charted, 1962.

Marty Robbins finished 15th at the NASCAR Winston 500 at Talladega, Ala., 1974.

John Conlee's "Backside of Thirty" goes to No. 1, 1979.

Ronnie Milsap's "Greatest Hits Volume 2" goes platinum, 1989.

Rodney Crowell's "After All This Time" reaches No. 1, 1989.

Mark Chesnutt's "Gonna Get A Life" tops charts, 1995.

MUSIC AND MORE

BUDDY JEWELL IS TOP 'NASHVILLE STAR'

Nashville demo singer Buddy Jewell took the top prize in USA Network's "Nashville Star" competition, beating out Miranda Lambert and John Arthur Martinez.

Jewell, 42, wept when series host Nancy O'Dell read that viewers had chosen him over all the others to get a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville and an album to be produced by Clint Black.

The label is releasing Jewell's first single -- "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" -- to radio stations Monday. Jewell sang the song during the live finale telecast Saturday night.

The native Arkansan beat out 11 other contestants, who emerged from 8,000 hopefuls at tryout sessions nationwide.

LONE PROTESTER GREETS DIXIE CHICKS

The Dixie Chicks got a loud ovation at their Saturday night concert in Orlando, Fla., before they even started playing.

It came after lead singer Natalie Maines, who triggered a controversy nearly two months ago with an on-stage comment about President Bush, told fans they had 15 seconds to boo.

If there were any cries of protest, they were drowned out by "thunderous applause," the Orlando Sentinel reported. The concert went on with no visible sign of protest.

Near the arena, a 60-year-old man was alone in his protest of the trio, holding a sign that read "I Am Ashamed The Dixie Chicks Are From Texas."

Maines said at a concert in London March 10 she was ashamed Bush was from the group's home state of Texas.

BLAKE SHELTON TO TOUR WITH TOBY

Country superstar Toby Keith has tapped Blake Shelton for the No. 2 spot on his 2003 tour.

Shelton's "The Baby" spent several weeks at No. 1 on the country singles charts and his current single, "Heavy Liftin'," is making its way up the list.

Shelton replaces Rascal Flatts, which opened for Keith's recently concluded "Unleashed" tour.

"We always try to fill the middle slot on my tour with an act that's on fire, like Rascal Flatts was on the Unleashed tour," Keith said in a statement on his Web site, tobykeith.com.

Tour plans are expected to be announced May 12.