Blog Posts by Wendy Geller

Say there, country music stars--isn't little ol' Nashville good enough for you anymore? This month alone, two major country artists have released videos filmed out West, as well as studded the productions with famous friends from Hollywood.

And both videos, coincidentally, have pretty hilarious storylines to boot. Let's take a look.

The first video, Rascal Flatts' "Why Wait," was shot in fabulous Las Vegas and details all the shenanigans of a wild bachelor party. (Well, that is, if the last bachelor party you went to included Carrot Top half-naked in your hotel room--eek!--and Wayne Newton at your craps table. Don't they all?)

Ironically, the video stars David Arquette as the bachelor being feted and includes a wedding scene at the end. The timing is just a bit too weird, given that Arquette recently made real-life headlines for separating from wife Courteney Cox. But it's a funny clip that's guaranteed to give you a laugh, if only to see Gary LeVox in both a snorkeling mask and a

Given that this is the week of the CMA Awards, I have to say it--before there was a Miranda Lambert, before Carrie Underwood was a gleam in her mother's eye, there was Reba McEntire. And she is far too impacting even up into these present days to use the past-tense verb "was" in any sentence about her.

Reba's new album, All The Women I Am, is out on Tuesday, and we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to ask her a few questions about her career as it presently stands. Here, she discusses the diversity of the new record--her method of songwriting (you'll be surprised at some of the methods she's used in the past, as well as the one she uses today), selecting songs for the tracklisting, and the overall making of the album.

My favorite part of this interview involves talking to Reba about her amazing history straddling both the traditional and modern country scenes. Despite considerable competition from younger female country artists, Reba remains more than up-to-speed on the

How do you know you've truly hit the big time in the music world? When you can look back at your first, worst gigs; then have a good laugh, and say, "Wow, we sure came a long way from that."

Of course, if you're part of the award-winning trio Lady Antebellum, whose fame has accelerated at rocket speed since their debut on the Nashville scene in 2007, that horrible gig was only a mere three years ago. Regardless, theirs was a pretty dismal affair by any standards: Playing a midwestern gas station to a handful of disinterested deer hunters at the crack of dawn.

That said, you also know you've hit the big time when you are granted the opportunity to redo that "worst gig ever." Which is just what Lady Antebellum got to do on Thursday--the country superstars gave a free show outside the Mayfield Mobil station in suburban Milwaukee, right near the original site of their infamous not-so-stellar set.

This time, more than 1,000 people showed up--and needless to say, it wasn't to fill up

She's up for nine prizes at the Country Music Association Awards next week. She's walked countless red carpets in designer frocks and "beachball-killer" stilettos. And, of course, there's that stunning diamond sparkling on her left ring finger.

Looking at her today, it's hard to believe it--but Miranda Lambert was once homeless.

The 27-year-old country sensation revealed Wednesday on an ABC TV special that she spent part of her childhood bankrupt and without a base.

"It sounds weird to say it now because we're so blessed," she admits.

"I had a great childhood," she explained to ABC's Robin Roberts. "My family is awesome." However, she also noted that her younger life was "crazy" and that her parents, both self-employed private investigators, failed to shelter her from the harsher realities of their careers.

In addition to openly discussing cases--many involving acrimonious divorce and child custody issues--in front of their young daughter, one more of these realities was not always

"Gimme an O!! Gimme a P!!!! Gimme an R!!! Gimme a Y!!!!! What's that spell?!!! Me!!!!!!!!"

True to form, Blake Shelton--one of country music's most prolific Twitter members--tweeted a triumphant (and humorous) cheer after becoming the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night.

Shelton, who first set foot on the Opry stage back in 2001, was officially inducted by his good friend Trace Adkins before a sold-out Opry House audience. When presenting Shelton with the Opry Member Award, Adkins proclaimed, "With great reverence and respect, it means the world to me to be the one to hand this to you."

After receiving the award, Shelton attempted to put into words the emotion he felt. "I get the same feeling when I come to the Opry as when I see one of my heroes," he said. "I am in awe. To me, the Grand Ole Opry is an artist and I'm really proud to be one of its songs."

Shelton kicked off the evening by performing "All About Tonight." Additionally, he sang "She Wouldn't Be Gone," and

October 25 is a little more than two months away, but Taylor Swift is making sure that her fans aren't going to agonize over the countdown to the release date for her upcoming album. She's been releasing tidbit after tidbit from the project to keep everyone satisfied until T-day.

This week, Swift's treat is a first glimpse at the album cover for Speak Now. Without ado, here it is:

My immediate impression of the cover art is that Swift is playing to her young female audience yet again, as she does brilliantly--why mess with what ain't broke? The swirls, the glitter, the purple! I can just hear my own little daughter right now: "Oh Mommy, she's SOOO PRETTY." Genius marketing.

Swift is, however--as we all know by now--far more than just pretty. She's got a handle on her career and fanbase that would border on shrewd, if it weren't apparently so genuine. You can't fake these things. And, you all don't need me to tell you that Speak Now is going to make history of some sort when it comes

Say there--are you, by any chance, planning on traveling through New York's John F. Kennedy airport on October 27? Might you happen to be flying on JetBlue?

Well, if so, I'm happy to report you just might get the surprise of your life. Taylor Swift will be there to greet you, and she is going to sing just for you and your fellow passengers.

No, I'm not kidding. JetBlue Airways has announced that Swift will be performing an intimate live set post-security in the Marketplace at JetBlue's JFK terminal next week. Her appearance at the airport is linked to a promotional sweepstakes that also includes a chartered flight to Los Angeles (where she will perform again, this time in the air). No tickets are available for public purchase; but anyone traveling with JetBlue at the right time on October 27, through Terminal 5 at JFK, will get to enjoy the show.

The JetBlue surprise comes two days after Swift's third album, Speak Now, hits stores. The singer will be in New York on release date to

BOO! Did everyone out there have a fun Halloween? It looks as if quite a few of your favorite artists had a good time too--and, got quite creative to boot. Here's a quick roundup of some of the best country Halloween costumes this year.

My, my--Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, and Reba McEntire are looking as if they've had a bit too much punch out of the steaming fake-ice bowl, no? Ha, ha--trick or treat, it's actually Lady Antebellum! The trio's idea was easily my favorite of all the getups posted this holiday.

Dierks Bentley turned to current events for his getup, tweeting: "I was down in the mine, am now up and headed out." Does this mean he has a pending book deal in the works, too?

Kristian from Sugarland says he is "Dr. Jones, father of Indy." Interesting...

Sara Evans is my kind of gal--I'm not one to douse myself with fake blood or anything that makes me look freaky, so I'm digging that she chose a costume that still allows her to look cute and human. Her husband isn't looking