Blog Posts by Wendy Geller

The first round of performers for the 2010 Country Music Awards were announced this week--and, by the looks of things, the show is continuing its developing trend toward change and modernity.

Last year's first-round announcement was--as it usually is--all about the big names: George Strait, Reba McEntire, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood. This year, it's all about the buzz names: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, and the Zac Brown Band.

It can't be any accident the CMAs are taking this direction. First of all, the nominee list already is weighted heavily with these fresher names. Second, it's these very artists who are bringing a new audience and recognition to country music, which (as I've been repeatedly writing about over the past year or so) has been growing steadily into the genre of power in the industry these days.

Some may lament the advent of "new country" over "true country," but, like it or not, this is the future of Nashville. It's a bright

Carrie Underwood had a brilliant idea when making her latest video, "Mama's Song." Since the song is about a daughter telling her mother she's found the right man to marry and take care of her--who would be better to feature in the clip than her own real-life mom and brand-new husband?

Luckily for all of her fans, she decided to go ahead and do just that, allowing everyone who watches the video a touching glimpse into her personal life, upbringing, and family.

The video starts out with Carrie's mother, Carole Underwood--a remarkably beautiful woman; one can easily see where Carrie got her good looks--sitting at an empty table as waiters clear up after a wedding reception. She's paging through an album of family photos. On each page, real shots of the Underwood family are featured.

There's Mom pregnant, then cudding a newborn. And then, we go on to admire adorable childhood pics of Carrie over the years...posing for her little league team, smiling with her sisters, singing into a

Country music history is cram-jammed with personal stories of challenges, heartbreak, and general fortitude--after all, that's where all those great songs come from, right?

That said, it would be hard to find a musician whose tale can top Shania Twain's. From her difficult childhood, to her rise to extraordinary fame, to her recent very public romantic issues, her life unrolls like a novel...a real page-turner that you can't put down.

Luckily, we all will actually get to read that novel--and it will be straight from her own pen, in her own words. Twain announced Wednesday that she's inked a deal with Atria Books to publish her autobiography.

This will be her first book, and she says she plans to discuss her most sensitive subjects, including the death of her mother and stepfather, as well as her divorce from Robert "Mutt" Lange (which was finalized this June).

The superstar explained that she decided to write her memoirs as a result of realizing time is finite. "There have been

By now, everyone has heard about and discussed the ever-outdoing-herself Lady Gaga's latest outrageous fashion stunt--that is, showing up at the 2010 Video Music Awards in a gown made completely of meat. And everyone includes Carrie Underwood, who just happens to be quite well-known for her vegetarian lifestyle.

When recently asked by radio station KMLE in Phoenix if she'd ever wear something made of meat, Underwood, sounding completely grossed out, was to the point: "Ahhh...I'm gonna go with no." Big surprise, right?

However, she said she wouldn't be opposed to an outfit made of soy. "A Tofurky dress?" she joked. "It's currently in the works."

Perhaps that would be a gown by Versoyce? Don't groan, I didn't make that joke up--the radio host did. (I think it's kind of funny, though.) Cher, can you hold my Smart Dog purse, please?

Underwood has been a vegetarian since she was quite young, due to growing up on a farm and becoming attached to the animals she cared for. Since then, the

Well, hello there, you little Rascal! Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney and his wife, Tiffany Fallon, announced Thursday that they are the proud parents of a new baby girl named Raquel Blue.

The couple's little daughter was born the afternoon of September 7, and weighed in at 7 pounds. She joins big brother Jagger Donovan, who came along in 2008. As would only be expected, Rooney and Fallon say they are excited and that their new little bundle is beautiful.

"We feel so grateful to have this sweet little angel round out our family," Rooney added. "Jagger is already an excited big brother; yesterday he gave her kisses and tried to feed her cookies!

"We feel blessed and are ready for the sleepless nights ahead." (Good luck with that, folks...I'm sure Raquel is adorable, but that's one period of parenthood I personally do not miss whatsoever!)

This is quite the fertile year for the Flatts--back in late June, bassist Jay DeMarcus announced that he and wife Allison will be expecting

Here's a little tale that proves the old adage "Slow and steady wins the race"--or, perhaps, "patience is a virtue"? Either way, rising country star Lee Brice is living proof that sheer tenacity can do some pretty interesting things. His single, "Love Like Crazy," just passed its 55th week on the Billboard Country Songs chart, beating a record that's 60-plus years old.

Brice's tune, which entered the chart at No. 58 the week of September 5, 2009, is now sitting at No. 3 more than a year later--hanging in longer than any other single in history on that chart, and toppling the previous recordholder, Eddy Arnold's "Bouquet of Roses," which debuted the week of May 15 all the way back in 1948.

"It's really hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that this song has been on the charts for over a year," Brice states. "I had a really good feeling about it...but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would have this kind of life. It's a song people can relate to--nothing flashy--just

Following in the footsteps of numerous other gorgeous country gals who've inked contracts to represent cosmetic brands, Carrie Underwood was announced on Wednesday morning to be the new face of skincare giant Olay.

Underwood's new partnership makes her Olay's first North American celebrity ambassador. She'll be spotlit in the company's 2011 "Challenge What's Possible" campaign, as well as represent a line of skincare products for the brand.

The Grammy Award-winning American Idol, glowing in a pale one-shouldered dress at the press conference announcing the partnership, gushed that she is "very excited" to join up with Olay, adding that she's been using the products for "at least a decade." She noted that the brand is one that women trust, which makes her the perfect spokesperson--"People also trust me, because I can't lie," she added with a laugh.

"As a little girl I remember my mom always using the original Oil of Olay Beauty Fluid and encouraging my sisters and I to take care of

Billy Ray Cyrus is taking all sorts of interesting twists and turns these days. Not only did he dip his toes into the world of rock n' roll (with his new band Brother Clyde) this year, he's now teaming up with yet another one of his kids for a new television role.

Billy Ray and his son Trace have signed a deal to star in a reality series for the SyFy Network called UFO: Unbelievably Freakin' Obvious. The show will feature the father-and-son duo traveling around the country to investigate paranormal incidents, conspiracy theories, and general unexplained activity.

Billy Ray says he and his son have long been interested in the weird and eerie. "The existence of paranormal phenomena is something I've always wanted to explore further," he explained. "Getting the opportunity to take this adventure with my son, who has always had a keen interest in this area, is a dream come true."

I'm not too surprised at this latest endeavor for the Cyrus clan, and I'm willing to bet the show--zany a