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...

Singer Brad Paisley has another potentially controversial song on his new album in addition to "Accidental Racist." The country star anticipates some backlash from religious conservatives over a song called "Those Crazy Christians."
 
Earlier this week, he and LL Cool J were criticized for the slavery theme in "Accidental Racist," and Paisley thinks he'll be slammed again for another track from "Wheelhouse."

He explained to Parade magazine, "This is what I would consider a gospel song, the most important one I've ever done... I wrote it shortly after my cousin-in-law passed away in 2011. H...

LL Cool J insists "Accidental Racist," his new song with Brad Paisley, was meant to "shake things up," and he is unphased by the controversy the tune has generated.

On Monday, critics accused the rapper and country star of trivalizing slavery with the song, which includes lyrics such as: "I try to put myself in your shoes and that's a good place to begin. Now my chains are gold but I'm still misunderstood. I want you to get paid but be a slave I never could... I'd love to buy you a beer, conversate and clear the air but I see that red flag and I think you wish I wasn't here."

LL responded...

The internet is buzzing about Brad Paisley's collaboration with LL Cool J on the new track "Accidental Racist." The tune details the tensions of the south and the rapper's experiences in New York City. Some don't like the song's "Southern pride" message.

The tune starts: "To the man that waited on me at the Starbucks down on Main, I hope you understand. When I put on that T-shirt, the only thing I meant to say is I'm a Skynyrd fan. The red flag on my chest somehow is like the elephant in the corner of the South."

The country star later sings: "I try to put myself in your shoes and that's ...

Kind-hearted country stars Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts have donated four cows to a struggling tribe in Africa.

In 2007, Paisley bet TV producer Steve Grunwald he couldn't travel to 10 countries in 10 days, but he proved the "Letter to Me" hitmaker wrong and completed the challenge in Africa.

Grunwald kept in touch with the locals he met on his trek, and when he heard a group of Masai villagers were in need of a cow, he asked Paisley to help with funds so he could buy his new pals in Kenya cattle to support their livelihood.

The 39 year old happily obliged and offered to fund Grunwald'...

"American Idol" star Scotty McCreery fell from a stage during a concert in New York on Friday.

The country singer opened for Brad Paisley at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts when midway through his rendition of Travis Tritt's song "T.R.O.U.B.L.E." he tumbled into the crowd.

Ever the professional, McCreery hopped back up onstage to continue his performance. He even shared video footage of his mishap with fans on Twitter.

Two days later, jokester Paisley decorated the stage at the Darien Lake Performing Arts Center with traffic cones and caution tape to prevent a repeat accident.

The ...

Fox executives are seriously considering adding country star Brad Paisley to the "American Idol" judging panel, according to Deadline.com. Mariah Carey just joined the program, taking over Jennifer Lopez's slot, and the search is on for a replacement for Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler.

Many former "Idol" contestants have focused on country music, including Carrie Underwood, Scotty McCreery and Kellie Pickler, making Paisley a logical choice. He has performed on the show in the past and co-hosted the CMA Awards with Underwood four times.

Paisley is currently on tour until November, making h...

Country star Brad Paisley paid tribute to U.S. soldiers on Independence Day by staging a special show in the grounds of the White House.

The Remind Me hit-maker headlined the annual Salute to the Military USO concert, which took place on the South Lawn of President Barack Obama's official residence in Washington, D.C.

Paisley entertained 1,200 troops and military family members, before a spectacular fireworks display rounded off the event.

The concert was clearly a special performance for Paisley - he wrote on his Twitter.com page, "Thank you Mr. President, First Lady, and all the bra...

On Wednesday night, Carrie Underwood dominated the CMT Music Awards by taking home two trophies - her duet with Brad Paisley "Remind Me" won Collaborative Video Of The Year, and "Good Girl" was named Video Of The Year.

The "American Idol" starlet looked sexy in a short sequined dress with black heels and a matching clutch.

Another "Idol" star, Scotty McCreery, won Breakthrough Video Of The Year for "The Trouble With Girls," while Lady Antebellum took home Group Video Of The Year for "We Owned The Night." Sugarland won Duo Video Of The Year for "I Got You."

Miranda Lambert scooped up Fema...

Teenage country star Scotty McCreery is returning to high school to serve out the final months of his senior year.

North Carolina native McCreery put his studies on hold to audition for the 10th season of hit show American Idol in 2011. He won the competition and extended his leave of absence to concentrate on his music career.

However, the I Love You This Big hit-maker is now setting his sights on furthering his education, revealing he's due to finish up his time at Garner Magnet High School once he wraps up his concert tour with Brad Paisley this spring.

He tells the News Observer, ...

"Celebrity" singer Brad Paisley has taken aim at Paul McCartney and his "yes men" for coming up with the worst album title ever.

The country music star is not a fan of McCartney's new release "Kisses on the Bottom" and suggests someone should have told the former Beatle it was a terrible idea.

In a series of Twitter.com posts on Wednesday morning, Paisley wrote, "It's only February, but Sir Paul is an absolute lock for worst album title of the year. Actually, maybe all time... It's like he's kidding. He's got to be kidding. Tell me he's changing the title back to the real one, right? Oh t...

Country band Rascal Flatts are set to be honored for their tireless charity work at a glitzy gala in Nashville, Tennessee.

The group will receive the Artist Humanitarian Award for their fundraising efforts during the annual Country Radio Seminar ceremony on February 22nd.

In 2010, the group donated $3 million to the city's Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital. They also serve as spokespersons for suicide prevention organization The Jason Foundation, and back the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet.

CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne says, "The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Fl...

The 2012 Stagecoach Country Music Festival has sold out more than three months in advance.

It's the first time all tickets for the event have sold out in the festival's five-year history.

Stagecoach expands from two to three days this year, and will take place on the site of the Coachella Festival in Indio, California the weekend after that six-day event in April.

The country showdown will feature sets by Brad Paisley, Chris Isaak, Jason Aldean, Kenny Rogers, Martina McBride, newly-reformed The Mavericks and hot couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton.

Lady Gaga is in the running for an Oscar after she was named among the nominees for the coveted Best Song prize.

The pop superstar's duet with Elton John, Hello Hello, from the Rocket Man's Gnomeo & Juliet movie, has been included in a long list of 39 songs in competition for gold at the 2012 Academy Awards.

Mary J. Blige's track Living Proof, from The Help, is also on the list, along with will.i.am's Hot Wings, from Rio, and Robbie Williams and Brad Paisley's duet Collision of Worlds, from Cars 2.

Other artists in consideration for the prize include Chris Cornell (The Keeper, from Ma...

Singer Jason Aldean has dominated the second ever American Country Awards, taking home six out of eight trophies on Monday night.

The star won all but two of the prizes he was nominated for, including the prestigious Album of the Year and Artist of the Year titles. He also shared the collaborative Single and Music Video of the Year prizes with Kelly Clarkson for their duet Don't You Wanna Stay.

After taking to the stage for a second time, he told the audience, "This is getting a little ridiculous now. I don't know what else to say. It's been a crazy year."

Country sweetheart Carrie Un...

Singer Trace Adkins has been named Country's Sexiest Man in a new magazine poll.

The "Chrome" singer was named top man in Country Weekly Magazine and will appear on the cover of the publication when the new issue hits newsstands on Friday.

Adkins, who will co-host and perform at the American Country Music Awards on December 5, beat out Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelley to land atop the readers' poll.

Even the Country Music Awards could not keep themselves from making fun of Kim Kardashian and her short wedding. Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood invited Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet on stage to sign a song about what's really bothering the country.

The song was done in the tune of Randy Travis' hit, Forever and Ever, Amen. "I’m going to love you forever — for 72 days, amen," the trio sang, before taking some pot shots at Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift - and Swift was in the crowd!

- Check out hot fashion from the CMTs!

You can watch the entire opening skit below, but the s...

Newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton were the toast of the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday night after picking up the two top vocalist prizes.

Lambert, who married Shelton in May, was crowned Female Vocalist of the Year, while her new husband picked up the male equivalent at the star-studded Bridgestone Arena ceremony. Joking with Shelton, who opened the show by performing the Footloose movie theme with Kenny Loggins, as she picked up her prize, Lambert teased, "It's gonna be a good night, baby!"

Taylor Swift missed out on several top prizes, ...

Singer Jason Aldean and the Zac Brown Band are set to dominate the second annual American Country Awards after scoring eight nominations apiece.

Both acts will battle it out for the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year honors at the Las Vegas ceremony in December.

Taylor Swift is also tipped for the Artist Of The Year prize, as are Kenny Chesney and Lady Antebellum.

Duo Thompson Square will be an act to beat after scoring seven nominations, while country sweetheart Swift is tipped in six categories, including Artist of the Year: Female. She'll go head-to-head with Sara Evans, Alison ...

Adele leads this year's American Music Awards nominees with four nominations. Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and The Band Perry follow with three nominations each.

Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Jason Aldean, Kanye West, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and Pitbull collected two nominations, respectively.

This year's 2011 Artist of the Year nominees are: Adele, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift.

For the fifth year, winners will be determined by online voting. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting website, amavote.com, as well as AMA.abc.com. Artists wi...

Toby Keith has been crowned country music's highest earning star by Forbes magazine.

The musician took the top spot in the publication's list of the highest-earning stars in country music by earning an estimated $50 million between May 2010 and May 2011.

Keith's massive earnings are said to have come from his lucrative tour, sponsorship deals and his popular restaurant chain, putting him ahead of singer/songwriter Taylor Swift who came in at number two with estimated earnings of $45 million and Brad Paisley at three ($40 million).

The other artists in the top five are Tim McGraw ($35 ...

Lady Gaga's new release "Born This Way" has smashed digital album sales records by scoring first-week figures of 662,000.

The album has crashed into the top of the charts, as expected, with 1.1 million copies sold - and more than half of all sales were from online downloads.

"Born This Way" becomes only the 17th album to sell a million in a week since SoundScan began tracking sales data in 1991. It's the highest sales week for an album since 50 Cent's "The Massacre" in 2005.

Gaga becomes the first artist to top a million sales since Taylor Swift debuted "Speak Now" with just over a milli...

The 2011 Academy of Country Music Awards belonged to Miranda Lambert after she scooped four trophies at the ceremony in Las Vegas on Sunday.

The country star was crowned Female Vocalist of The Year, while her track The House That Built Me received honors for Song of The Year, Single Record of The Year and Video of The Year.

Brad Paisley took home the Male Vocalist of The Year trophy and trio Lady Antebellum accepted awards for Top Vocal Group and Album of The Year for Need You Know.

Picking up their prize, Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley joked, "Thank you, Miranda Lambert, for winnin...

Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton are all set to host tonight's 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at 8pm; but you can watch the stars arrive on the red carpet prior to the show right here.

Join host Stuart Brazell live from the red carpet beginning at 6:15pm (ET), and get the lowdown on tonight's big show. While you're waiting for the live stream to begin, check out Stuart's sneak-peek behind the scenes at the awards video below. She'll show you where the big stars will be sitting, give a tour of Reba's dressing room and more!

This y...

Stars including Sheryl Crow, Cee Lo Green and Kid Rock have signed up to perform at an upcoming concert to honor former President George H. W. Bush.

The former leader will be feted for his humanitarian work promoting volunteer schemes at a gala in Washington, D.C. on March 21.

The event will feature an all-star concert, with performances from other artists including Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood.

The show will be taped to air in on March 28.

Carrie Underwood dominated the first ever American Country Awards on Monday night, scooping all six of her nominated trophies.

The singer was the toast of the evening, claiming the coveted Artist of the Year title, and beating Taylor Swift and Miranda Lambert to the best female artist prize. Underwood also picked up trophies for Touring Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Play On, as well as Single of the Year: Female for her track Cowboy Casanova, which also garnered the star the best female music video title.

During her acceptance speech at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vega...

Justin Bieber proved he was a force to be reckoned with on Sunday when he scooped four honors and beat Eminem, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to be named Artist of the Year at the 2010 American Music Awards (AMAs).

The 16-year-old pop sensation became the youngest ever recipient of the prestigious accolade and paid tribute to his mentor Usher as he invited the superstar up onstage to bask in the limelight with him.

Bieber told the audience, "I really got this opportunity about a year-and-a-half ago, I really was embraced by a man called Usher Raymond. I feel like he's had an amazing career, it ...

Keith Urban and Brad Paisley will help to celebrate the reopening of country music Mecca the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night, four months after severe floods wreaked havoc on the fabled venue.

Opry bosses were forced to close down the Nashville, Tennessee auditorium in May when heavy storms caused water to sweep through the venue and destroy the stage, dressing rooms and retail store. They have spent an estimated $17 million on renovations and now the building is set to re-launch with an all-star line-up led by Urban and Paisley.

The duo will also be joined by the likes of Martina McBri...

We spotted a dressed down, make-up free Carrie Underwood leaving a photo shoot in the West Village in New York City on Tuesday. The country pop star wore black sweat pants, a thin striped sweatshirt and a Blondie t-shirt.

What do you think of the fresh faced starlet? Is she still hot without all the eyeliner, lipstick and fancy clothes?

Carrie and Brad Paisley are favorites among Country Music Association (CMA) bosses - the pair will host the ceremony for the third time in a row this year. The 44th annual CMA Awards are scheduled to air from Nashville, Tennessee, on November 10.

The son...

Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum have emerged as early contenders for the 2010 CMA Awards, landing six nods a piece in the first wave of nominations.

Lambert scored an impressive five nominations from two songs, The House That Built Me and White Liar. Both are up for single, video and song of the year, The Country Music Association announced on Tuesday.

Meanwhile Lady Antebellum grabbed nominations in four categories, including vocal group of the year. The band's breakthrough hit Need You Now also landed its members, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, nods for single of ...