Blog Posts by Wendy Geller

I have to say, folks--it's hard to top the antics of our own artists here in the country music world, but here's one for the books. R&B sensation Ne-Yo is working on pinning down shock-pop princess Lady Gaga for a collaboration.

Okay, you're saying. Why should a country fan care about this?

Well, here's the punch line: He says he wants it to be a country collaboration! (You saw that coming, I hope.)

"It would be amazing if we could do a country and western record, something totally unexpected," Ne-Yo told British publication the Daily Star, adding that he's already reached out to Gaga ("Our people are talking").

This shouldn't come as too much of a stunning announcement to those who are true Ne-Yo fans and follow his press closely. The urban hitmaker has mentioned his appreciation for country music several times over the past couple of years, and even worked with a Nashville songwriter, Luke Laird, on a track for his upcoming album Libra Scale.

Laird himself told CMT earlier this

The sad, shocking news of five teens who committed suicide in the past week--all as a result of being bullied for being gay--has only one bright side to it: It's gotten the nation talking about the issue and discussing routes to tolerance and acceptance, as well as stopping the epidemic of bullying that has become a tremendous problem among adolescents.

Chely Wright, who came out to the Nashville community and world at large back in May, is one celebrity who is happy to share her experience in the name of halting the abuse. She appeared on Larry King Live Monday night, along with fellow celebs Lance Bass, Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, Nate Berkus, and Tim Gunn, to talk about her experiences as an openly gay individual and discuss ways to address the problem of gay bullying.

King shared a clip from an upcoming documentary in which Wright explains her reasoning for going public with her sexual orientation. In it, she addresses those who persist in stereotyping gays.

"Country music has

Legendary classic rockers the Eagles are technically not a country band, but they are undisputably a respected force in the country world. Upon regrouping in 2007 and releasing their first full studio album in nearly 30 years, the band landed on a Nashville record label. They won a Grammy award in the country category (best song by a group or duo, for "How Long") and scored two singles on Billboard's country chart. This summer, they hit the road touring with the Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban as opening acts on select dates.

Heck, it might even be forgiven for those young'uns born post-1980 to think the Eagles are a country band. (Well, okay, maybe not. The band's back catalog is sort of an inescapable entity, no matter what decade we are in.) Regardless, the Eagles have always had a rootsy edge which has influenced and blended pleasantly with country music overall.

Given all this, it probably comes as no surprise that founding member Don Henley is planning to release a country album

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