3 June 2013

One thing is for certain about country music: when it comes to giving back, everyone wants to get involved on some scale. Well stars and fans alike pulled through for Blake Shelton’s Healing in the Heartland benefit concert Wednesday (May 29) in wake of the Oklahoma tornadoes that occurred last month, and together, over $6 million was raised through pledges and ticket sales. Healing in the Heartland was Shelton’s brainchild after the tornadoes ripped through Moore, OK last month. The location of the twisters was a little too close to home for Shelton, who resides in Tishomingo, OK with wife Miranda Lambert, both who performed at Wednesday night’s concert. Others who lent their time and talent to the cause included Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Usher, Darius Rucker and Luke Bryan. Every cent raised through Healing in the Heartland goes directly to the United Way of Central Oklahoma. Funding will distribute various organisations set up to help those affected by the May 20 tornado.

The Band Perry will re-join Rascal Flatts on the road at the end of the month for the band’s Live and Loud Tour. The trio was a part of Rascal Flatts’ Changed Tour earlier this year and are looking forward to hitting the road with them once more. “I’m just so excited for Reid, Neil, and I to hit the reset button,” Kimberly Perry said. “We’ve toured so hard for the last couple of years but it’s an all new show. We spent about three weeks over the holidays really coming up with the right set list. We’ve got brand-new production, brand new songs to the new album. I would say it’s The Band Perry with a major makeover.” According to Reid Perry, the only thing their show is missing is pyrotechnics. But they’re already thinking ahead to next year and what they’ll add to their production. Despite the excitement over the new show, they’re ultimately happy to be back on the road with friends.

Darius celebrates his third consecutive No. 1 country album debut with True Believers selling 83,409 albums in the first week. His first two country albums, Learn To Live and Charleston, SC 1966 also both topped the Billboard Country album chart and produced five No. 1 singles including “Come Back Song,” “This,” “Alright,” “It Won’t Be Like This For Long” and “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” “Wagon Wheel,” marks his sixth No. 1 single and holds the top spot on the Billboard Country Singles Chart for the second consecutive week. “To have the No.1 song in America for the second consecutive week with ‘Wagon Wheel’ feels incredible,” shares Darius. “I’m so proud of this album, and to see the fans making True Believers No. 1 also [Billboard Country Album Chart] means so much to me. Thanks y’all. Wow.” True Believers, produced by Frank Rogers, has received rave reviews from NPR, Billboard and the Associated Press, among others. Rucker will perform “Wagon Wheel” on ABC’s Good Morning America and the CMT Awards on Wednesday, June 5 and will return to perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, June 11.