A cadre of country rock stars performed at George Jones' funeral in Nashville, Tennessee, today. Kid Rock, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson were among those who headed to The Grand Ole Opry House to pay their respects to Jones, who died on Friday at age 81.

The funeral began with the opening hymn "Old Rugged Cross" by Tanya Tucker and the Imperials. Kenny Chesney, Charlie Daniels, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd and Randy Travis also performed or spoke at the ceremony. Travis Tritt, Ronnie Milsap, and Patty Loveless also turned up. Former First Lady Laura Bush and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam also...

Fans of the late George Jones will be able to pay their respects in person at his funeral this week.

The family of the 81 year-old music legend has decided to make his funeral service open to the public. It will be held Thursday at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

Spokesperson Kirt Webster said, "George would have wanted his fans and friends everywhere to be able to come and pay their respects along with his family." 

Jones' family will have their own private service the night before. Fans are encouraged to bring contributions for the Grand Ole Opry trust fund, rather than flowers....

Blake Shelton, LeAnn Rimes and Tim McGraw are among the numerous stars paying their respects to late country music legend George Jones, who passed away in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday.

Dubbed 'The Possum' by his contemporaries, Jones was one of country music's biggest stars, charting nearly 150 singles, beginning with "White Lightning" in 1959.

"Really REALLY bad news. We've lost a country music legend. And I've lost a hero and a friend. Goodbye George Jones..." Shelton wrote on his twitter page Friday. The Voice star covered Jones's "Ol' Red" in 2009.

"Gone... George Jones... man he was ...

Country music legend George Jones passed away at a Nashville hospital from respiratory failure Friday morning at the age of 81.

The singer was admitted to the hospital last week with irregular blood pressure and a fever, according to TMZ.com, and is family was by his side at the time of his death.

"Today is a sad day for music," Jones's publicist said in a statement. "George said to me once, 'One day I'll Join the Angel band.' Well, today he did.

"George passed with his family by his side and the official cause of death is being listed as 'Hypoxic Respiratory Failure.'"

Jones had been i...

Veteran country star George Jones has cancelled a couple upcoming shows as he continues to recover from an upper respiratory tract infection.

The 80-year-old singer was admitted to a medical facility in Nashville, Tennessee on March 29th and was kept under the care of medics until April 3rd.

He had hoped to be back onstage for a concert in Minnesota on Friday, but he's axed the show, along with a gig in South Dakota the following night.

A statement from Jones on his website reads, "I never want to cancel a show, but I have to do what the doctors tell me. I thank all the fans from the ...

Veteran country star George Jones has thanked fans for their support following his release from hospital on Tuesday.

The 80-year-old singer was admitted to a medical facility in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection.

He was due to be released the following day, but doctors kept him in for observation and he was finally allowed home on Tuesday.

A statement on his website reads, "George Jones wants to thank all his friends and fans for their prayers and well wishes over the past few days. Mr. Jones will be resting at home until he plans to ret...

Veteran country star George Jones has been admitted to the hospital suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection.

The 80-year-old star was taken to a medical facility in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday and kept in overnight for observation.

Jones' wife, Nancy, told fans the news in a post on the couple's Facebook.com page, writing, "Would everyone please remember George in their prayers. He is back in hospital with the pneumonia (sic). Thank you and we love you."

A statement from the star's team has also clarified Jones' condition and revealed he is due to be released from hos...

Country star Vince Gill is upset his songs have been sidelined from radio playlists and feels "deflated" by the lack of interest in his music.

The 54 year old released his latest album Guitar Slinger last month but lead single Threaten Me with Heaven only reached number 42 on the U.S. country charts.

Gill blames the lack of radio station interest for the poor chart position, and is convinced ageing country legends Merle Haggard and George Jones suffer a similar fate.

He tells the Associated Press, "I just felt like, 'Don't stop playing them because of their age'. If they're not as goo...

Reba McEntire was saluted for her career achievements as she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The Somewhere star was joined by fellow singer Jean Shepard and songwriter Bobby Braddock as they were honored at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee.

Newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who married in Texas on May 14th, were among the stars on hand to help induct the trio.

Garth Brooks and Vince Gill also joined in at the event, while George Jones sang Braddock's track He Stopped Loving Her Today, which was a hit for him in 1980.

Braddock is the first ind...

Country music legend George Jones has been hospitalized in Nashville, Tennessee, after an annual medical check-up sparked concerns for his health.

The 79-year-old singer/songwriter was undergoing a regular examination on Wednesday when doctors decided to admit him to hospital and keep him in overnight.

A statement from Jones' publicist reads, "On Wednesday, January 5th 2011, George Jones underwent an annual routine health check-up. Although Mr. Jones is staying overnight in a Nashville hospital, he is resting and will be released tomorrow."

Jones has laughed off the hospitalization, addi...

On the UniversalMusicStore.com they are auctioning off a signed Elvis Costello guitar where 100% of the proceeds go to City of Hope. The City of Hope is dedicated to finding a cure for cancer as well as other life-threatening diseases. The auction will run until Monday, June 15th.

Elvis Costello has a brand a new record out, "Secret, Profane & Sugarcane" that was released on 6/2/09. This amazing new signed acoustic guitar is a must have for any Costello fan!

Elvis Costello's new album 'Secret, Profane & Sugarcane' was released by Hear Music on June 2nd.

The record was produced by T...

Legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor will perform live on Good Morning America on Monday, September 15. Taylor's performance kicks off the unprecedented "50 States in 50 Days" initiative that will take ABC News and USA Today reporters to every state in the union in the days leading up to the Presidential election in November. GMA's "Whistle Stop '08" tour begins with James Taylor's performance in his home state of Massachusetts on the porch of the historic Red Lion Inn. Taylor will perform material from his forthcoming release Covers, which will be available on Hear Music on Septembe...

A guitar stolen from country icon George Jones more than 45 years ago is to be returned to the singer/songwriter. Texan Larry Berry claims he realized the instrument belonged to Jones shortly after he bought it in 1962, but repeated attempts to return the guitar to its rightful owner have failed.

But Jones is preparing to take charge of his old acoustic Martin guitar again when he performs in Bossier City, Louisiana on June 14 and Berry is the guest of honor.

Jones' spokeswoman Susan Nadler says, "George is stunned, really happy."

The guitar was stolen from a Fort Worth night...

In a grand commemoration of the 50th Celebration of the GRAMMY® Awards, Shout! Factory and The Recording Academy®'s GRAMMY® Recordings announce an electrifying 7-CD series encompassing GRAMMY® winners from four of the legendary awards' major genres. With a personal introduction written by 27-time GRAMMY® winner and 50th Celebration Ambassador Quincy Jones, this series is a sumptuous ode to the biggest hits in music history and a must-have for music lovers and collectors alike.

"We look forward to celebrating the past five decades of GRAMMY®-winning music with music fans everywhere thr...

Country star Travis Tritt is suing his record label and its president for breach of contract and fraud. Tritt accuses Category 5 Records, on which he released his most recent album The Storm earlier this year, and its boss Ray Termini, of incompetence and denying him the complete creative control he was promised.

In legal papers filed in Nashville, Tennessee, Tritt also accuses Termini of exaggerating Category 5 Records' financial resources and its ability to honor its financial commitments, and of not paying him money for royalties and promotional travel.

Tritt, who signed a five...

Country duo The Judds are to play their first full-length concert in seven years at the second Stagecoach country music festival in California next year. The group, fronted by mother-and-daughter singers Naomi and Wynonna Judd, became a big ticket act in the 1980s and early 1990s.

They reunited for a tour in 1999 and 2000 and have since performed brief sets together a couple of times, including a gig at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. last year.

Aside from The Judds reunion, Stagecoach 2008 will also feature performances from Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Gretchen Wilson, D...

Musicians Jack White, Merle Haggard and George Jones have paid to tribute to county music icon Porter Wagoner, who died on Sunday. Wagoner passed away at a hospice facility in Nashville, Tennessee after a battle with lung cancer. He was 80.

The White Stripes rocker White will always remember the time he spent with the music legend.

He says, "Porter was a wonderful man. Well-versed and well-dressed. I wish I could have spent more time with him and learned more from him. I'm glad that we were able to share a bill together. It was an honour."

Haggard was planning to perform wit...

Real life - including heartaches, happiness, fishing holes, and everything in between - has had a way of finding itself in the middle of Josh Turner songs since he first burst onto the national country music scene.

It's those life experiences that keep drawing him back to what has become his unique yet easily identifiable country sound. "Growing up, traditional country music was always where my heart was at," he says, "because those songs were speaking about the life that I was living in rural South Carolina. It was all about love and work and life and just the everyday stuff that pe...

Award-winning singer/songwriter/performer Deana Carter unveils The Chain, her fifth studio record October 9th on Vanguard Records. Each of the 12 songs on The Chain has a special importance to Deana, who personally chose material that had a great impact on her early life.

She took the same care in recruiting collaborators for the project, assembling a group of musicians who influenced her as an artist -- none more greatly than her father, legendary session player Fred Carter, Jr, who performs throughout the album.

"Ever since I knew that music was going to be my life's path, I've ...

LOS ANGELES -- 12-time Grammy Award-winner Emmylou Harris retraces the back roads of her remarkable musical journey that spans more than three decades with a highly personalized, far-reaching boxed set spotlighting her favorite tracks and difficult-to-find or previously unreleased gems.

Rhino lets one of the most instantly recognizable voices of any genre call the tunes for this four-CD and one-DVD collection of career favorites, difficult-to-find material and live performances from her days with Gram Parsons and, later, the Hot Band to her bluegrass material and her fascinating concep...

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Country duo Big & Rich are to receive the Vietnam Veterans of America's President's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The hit makers will attend the organization's annual convention in Springfield, Illinois next week, when they'll receive their new accolade.

The veterans chose to honor Big & Rich after the duo scored a hit with 8th of November, a song inspired by a battle U.S. troops fought in Vietnam in 1965.

Previous recipients of the award include Kris Kristofferson, Bob Hope, George Jones and Raquel Welch.

-More Big & Rich Pictures

(This news article provided b...

Sacramento stalwarts CAKE are finally taking things into their own hands. Since breaking on to the music scene in the early nineties, has decided to part ways with their label Columbia Records, forging out on their own with a full slate of releases planned via their own label Upbeat Records. In addition to the "b-sides and rarities" compilation, the band also plans to release a live album "Live At The Crystal Palace", during Autumn 2007, and their sixth studio album, due out in early 2008.

Inspired by the passionate individuals who have continued to support and appreciate them ov...

"Everybody is retouched, stretched... slimmed and trimmed. I could look at a picture of myself from the past and think, 'Why don't I look like that now? It's because I never have. I'm more upset about what they haven't done. The six-foot-long legs I ordered never arrived." Actress Kate Beckinsale on the way she's airbrushed and touched-up for glossy magazine shoots.

"They didn't like the idea of a mobster going to therapy... It's like a joke that falls flat." The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli on why the hit drama didn't take off in Italy.

"The idea that someone is willing to ha...

Reclusive rock `n' roll star Brenda Lee is heading back into the limelight with a new album of gospel duets. The singer, dubbed Little Miss Dynamite, has teamed up with country stars like Dolly Parton, George Jones and Alison Krauss and rocker Huey Lewis to record her first album of hymns and spiritual songs. The album will be Lee's first release for 12 years.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

Happy Birthday to "Phantom of the Opera" actress Emmy Rossum (1986), "The O.C." actor Benjamin McKenzie (1978), "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard (1978), "Into the Blue" actor Paul Walker (1973), Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde (1968), musician Ben Folds (1966), Fishbone bassist John Norwood Fisher (1965), actress Amy Yasbeck (1963), French singer Mylene Farmer (1961), British actress Rachel Ward (1957), XTC keyboardist Barry Andrews (1956), "Bosom Buddies" actor Peter Scolari (1954), America co-founder Gerry Beckley (1952), author and Rush drummer Neil Peart (1952), "The Matrix" actor J...

Billy Ray Cyrus took the music world by storm with his rockin' country. Now, on his newest album, he returns to those Southern rock roots. "Wanna Be Your Joe" celebrates the joys, heroes and music of a generation that brought together rock and country.

From "Country Music Has The Blues" featuring greats George Jones and Loretta Lynn, "The Freebird Fell" penned with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Artemis Pyle and Ed King, and "The Man," a tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, to the tongue-in-cheek "I Want My Mullet Back," Wanna Be Your Joe is about the life and loves of the average Joe. In fac...

Billy Ray Cyrus took the music world by storm with his rockin' country. Now, on his newest album, he returns to those Southern rock roots. "Wanna Be Your Joe," which will be released July 18, celebrates the joys, heroes and music of a generation that brought together rock and country. Interested in concert tickets? Go here.

From "Country Music Has The Blues" featuring greats George Jones and Loretta Lynn, "The Freebird Fell" penned with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Artemis Pyle and Ed King, and "The Man," a tribute to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, to the tongue-in-cheek "I Want My Mullet Back," "W...