So, you're not a fan of Indianapolis Colts or the New Orleans Saints? That's ok, especially if you're a Carrie Underwood fan! She's going to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl! Theboot.com's Gayle Richardson has the story!

Carrie Underwood Singing at the Super Bowl

• Posted Jan 28th 2010 3:00PM by Gayle Richardson

Friday is Free Ticket Friday all day long on K99.1FM for Rascal Flatts tickets! The guys are heading to the Nutter Center next Saturday, February 6th with Darius Rucker in tow. To get you in the spirit, theboot.com's Gayle Richardson has the scoop on lead singer Gary LeVox!

Gary LeVox Inspired by Special Olympics Medalist

Gary LeVox, lead singer of the Grammy-nominated group , Rascal Flatts, almost kept his powerful voice to himself. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Gary made frequent trips to visit his cousin, Jay Demarcus in Nashville, and sang in karaoke bars. He was already thriving in a career that he loved -- one that he had no interest in leaving.

"Guitar strings and tape weren't free," he tells Guideposts magazine. "Mom suggested I take a summer job where she worked, at the Ohio Department of Mental Retardation. My mom, grandmother and Jay's mom had all worked there for decades." So Gary followed in their footsteps, and began training people with developmental disabilities to be able to live independently.

Ultimately, Gary fell in love with the job -- and his clients. "I trained seven to eight people a day, breaking down, step by step, each part of having a job: punching a time card, packing a lunch, basic conversation ... I didn't stop dreaming about a music career, but I could see why my Mom liked this job. The people are inspiring."

He may have stayed forever, he admits, but a Special Olympics medal changed everything. One of his clients, whose crippling fear of being in front of strangers caused him to struggle with even the most mundane tasks, proudly showed Gary the medal he won racing in front of a stadium filled with people he didn't know. "He'd put aside his fears," Gary recalls. "Just because he had challenges didn't mean he would give up. That took a kind of faith I'd never seen before ... I longed to draw on that kind of courage myself."

Shortly after that experience, Gary made the decision to move to Nashville to pursue his own dreams, drawing on the inspiration he witnessed at his job every day. And while he says deep down he knew he was doing the right thing, it wasn't an easy beginning.

"It was slow going in Nashville at first," Gary recalls. "We played in places so small, Jay had to set up his keyboard next to the cigarette machine. One night we played from nine to three and left with 27 cents in the tip jar. I worked two jobs to pay the rent, building swimming pools by day, delivering newspapers after our gigs. Jay and I lived on ramen noodles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches - minus the jelly."

He may have given up and returned to the job he loved, had he not had a chance encounter with Jay's friend, Joe Don Rooney. "One night our guitarist couldn't make it, and Jay's friend Joe Don joined in. By the time we reached the chorus of our first song, 'The Church on Cumberland Road,' I knew we had something special."

Now, with ten No.1 singles, more than 18 million albums sold and dozens of awards, Rascal Flatts is a household name. But, Gary says he owes his success to his former job. "When we signed our record deal I finally go tot feel the joy that my clients felt. I couldn't have done it without them. I'd spent so much time teaching them how to fulfill their dreams. I hadn't realized what they were teaching me."

Rascal Flatts are working on their seventh studio album. The generous band members recently donated their time and money for the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Lots of rumors swirling lately about our girl Taylor Swift! Is she really dating serial woman- eater John Mayer? People.com says it's just "dinner." You be the judge!

Taylor Swift and John Mayer Collaborate over Dinner

Does Kenny Chesney ever take time off? The country superstar was supposed to take this year off touring, yet he's announced four dates in Sin City! If you're ready to book your vacation out west, theboot.com's Alanna Conaway has the details!

Kenny Chesney Announces Four Shows in Sin City

Kenny Chesney may be taking a break from touring this year, but he's certainly not taking a break from performing. His latest announcement: four summer shows in Las Vegas. Kenny will perform in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's 4,000-seat venue called the Joint, on May 14 and 15, and July 2 and 3. Kenny says his audience can expect the show to be in the style of his Keg in the Closet tour.

"The beauty of the Joint is that not only is it a great rock and roll room, but they'll let us get up there and play ... and play ... and play," Kenny says. "We have so much fun because we can throw in all kinds of stuff we don't get to play in our regular show, and the audiences are diverse enough that no matter what we throw at them, they know the songs!"

The country superstar's new Vegas dates are some of the few gigs scheduled for 2010, including a few major outdoor festivals also set for this summer. On April 21, the singer will release his concert film, 'Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3-D,' which captures five of his electric stadium shows.

Country cutie Kellie Pickler is definitely trying the patience of her fans. First, she cuts her long blonde hair into a short bob. Then, on a whim that only Kellie can do, dyes it red. After much backlash, she went back to blonde. Well, all this hair drama has caused another drastic change! People.com has the exclusive first look!

EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: Kellie Pickler's New Pixie Cut

Brace yourselves Carrie Underwood fans.

"I have officially decided that I'm giving up the music business," the country singer wrote Friday on her blog (to which fans must subscribe). "I'm going to become a professional sitcom actress!"

Gotcha!

"LOL! Just kidding," she said. The star simply got carried away filming her guest starring role -- her sitcom debut -- on CBS' How I Met Your Mother. (Show regular Neil Patrick Harris shared an on-set snapshot with Underwood, 26, on Thursday.) "The show was so much fun!" she gushed, adding that she had "a blast," and that the cast and crew "made me feel right at home and were super nice and great with me and my lack of experience."

Her HIMYM stint sounds like a blast. "I got to hang out with the whole cast, dress up like a flight attendant, play a cavewoman, and had a baby pig poop on me...jealous?"

The Oklahoma native boasted that she handled the piglet just fine. "I think I was the only one who knew how to hold and wasn't afraid of a little piglet!"

The star -- engaged to hockey star Mike Fisher -- also got costume fittings for her upcoming concert tour. "The production is going to be amazing!" she promised. "I'm kind of disappointed that I'll be on the stage and not in the audience."

We've all been deeply affected by the devastation from the earthquake in Haiti last week. Tonight, all kinds of celebrities come together to help raise much needed money for the victims. If you would like to make a donation, just go to our website k99online.com to find out how you can. You can count on Taylor Swift to do her part tonight! Theboot.com's Gayle Richardson has the story.

Taylor Swift 'Passionate' About Helping People of Haiti

Taylor Swift will be performing double-duty at the upcoming 'Hope For Haiti' benefit to help provide financial relief for the country devastated by an earthquake last week. Already signed on to sing during the two-hour live broadcast, Taylor also volunteered to answer phone calls from viewers wishing to pledge money to the worthwhile cause.

"I've never actually worked a phone bank before," Taylor tells Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "But I want to do everything I can to help out this horrible situation. I'm passionate about this. This one was an immediate yes."

Taylor joins fellow musicians Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera and dozens of other stars during the two-hour live telecast.

In addition, celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Ashley Tisdale, Ben Affleck, Ellen DeGeneres and Jason Bateman will join the superstar in answering phone calls.

Getting ready to kick off the next leg of her worldwide 'Fearless' tour, Taylor just released her new single, 'Today Was a Fairytale,' from her upcoming major film debut in 'Valentine's Day.' Reaching nearly 100,000 downloads on the first day, the single skyrocketed her sales to more than 25 million, solidifying her reign as the top-selling digital artist in the world.

"I freaked out when I saw that it was No.1 on iTunes," she says. "I'm always blown away by what the fans have the ability to do for me." Nominated for eight Grammy awards on Jan. 31, the singer will debut 'Today Was a Fairytale' during her performance at the live televised broadcast. The next leg of her tour kicks off on Feb. 4, with opening acts Kellie Pickler and Gloriana.

There are those of us (me included) who think Tim McGraw would look good wearing a potato sack and a bright pink wig (well, maybe not the wig), and then there are those who want him to keep looking the same...as their Daddy! People Magazine's Eileen Finan!

Tim McGraw's New Facial Hair Gets Thumbs Down from His Daughters

One of country music's most beloved performers, Charlie Daniels, is resting comfortably at his Colorado home after a mild stroke. Theboot.com's Stephen Betts has the story.

Charlie Daniels Recovering After Mild Stroke

Charlie Daniels suffered a mild stroke while snowmobiling in Colorado on Friday, Jan. 15. He was treated at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango, Colo., then airlifted to Swedish Medical Center in Denver.

The legendary musician was released from Swedish Medical Center on Sunday, Jan. 17 and returned to his home in Colorado, where he has been on vacation since Dec. 27.

According to his spokesperson, there are no plans to cancel any concert dates.

Charlie is doing well and looking forward to beginning the Charlie Daniels Band 2010 concert dates on Feb. 27 in Ft. Pierce, Fla. and Feb. 28 in Brooksville, Fla.

The Taylor Swift juggernaut continues! Her new movie "Valentine's Day" opens February 12th, and her website TaylorSwift.com has a sneak preview of her song "Today Was a Fairy Tale." You can download it on itunes. Bet you Kid Rock will be jamming to TayTay's latest. People Magazine's Mark Gray says he's a fan!

Kid Rock: A Taylor Swift Fan

Tuesday January 19, 2010 08:00 AM EST

Country music is mourning the loss of a legend today with this weekend's passing of Carl Smith. Read more from theboot.com's Stephen Betts.

Carl Smith, 'The Country Gentleman,' Dies at 82

Carl Smith, one of the most successful and distinctive country artists to emerge in the 1950's, died Saturday (Jan. 16) at his home in Franklin, Tenn., south of Nashville. He was 82.

A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame (inducted in 2003), from 1951 to 1955 he placed a uninterrupted string of 21 singles in the Top 10, including five No. 1 hits -- among them 'Loose Talk' and 'Hey Joe!' In all, he scored nearly 100 charted singles throughout his recording career, right up until he retired from music in 1978. At that time, he retreated to his 500-acre Tennessee ranch to breed champion cutting horses.

The singer, whose easy-going singing style earned him the nickname "The Country Gentleman," married June Carter in 1952. They divorced four years later, just after their daughter, Carlene Carter, was born. In 1995, Carlene coerced her dad out of retirement briefly, to duet on a version of his hit, 'Loose Talk.' He married singer Goldie Hill in 1957.

Carl was born in 1927 in Maynardville, the small eastern Tennessee town which was also the birthplace of another country music legend, Roy Acuff In 1944, while he was still in high school, he began singing on WROL radio. After serving in the Navy and guesting on many other radio stations, he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, as a guest of Hank Williams. In 1950, he signed with Columbia Records and also with WSM radio.

"My first job at WSM was six or seven days a week at 5:15 in the morning," he told Nashville's Tennessean newspaper in 2003. "The announcer would put me on and then just leave. I started being on the Opry pretty regularly. They didn't say you were a 'member' of the Opry back then. You just were on it or you weren't."

"He was on shows when I was real, real young," recalled Hank Williams Jr. "The guy was real striking to the ladies. I remember their reaction when he went on stage."

In 1954, Carl also became one of the four founders of Cedarwood/Driftwood, a powerhouse Nashville music publishing company. After leaving the Opry in 1956, he was part of the first live television broadcast from Nashville, on WSM Channel 4. In Canada, the 'Carl Smith Country Music Hall' show ran for five years.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. He is expected to be buried at Franklin's Williamson Memorial Gardens, alongside Goldie Hill, his wife of 48 years, who died in 2005.

Big guys stick together, especially in country music. In a move that has the big guns in Music City scratching their heads, Trace Adkins has jumped ship. Vernell Hackett from theboot.com has the details.

Trace Adkins Signs With Toby Keith's Show Dog Universal Label

In a move that has jaws dropping on Nashville's Music Row today, Trace Adkins has announced he's leaving his longtime label home, Capitol Nashville, to be the first new artist signed to the newly-formed Show Dog Universal. Trace's new label is the result of a merger last month between Toby Keith's Show Dog Nashville and Universal South Records.

The idea for Trace's big move sparked on last summer's America's Toughest Tour, featuring Trace and Toby. "Getting Trace out on tour last year ... he saw what we do, we saw what he does, and everything was obvious," Toby, who acts as Principal of Show Dog Universal, tells The Boot. "When the opportunity came, he called me and said 'I want to do this.'"

"I want to start by saying I've had 15 wonderful years at Capitol Records, and I respect and appreciate those folks there," Trace said in at a Nashville press conference announcing his move on Wednesday. "I am very excited and invigorated by this merger and the energy I felt since I've been talking to these guys.

"When I toured with Toby this past year I saw something out there that I longed for," Trace continued. "I'd stand on the side of the stage at night, and I saw Toby Keith with this grin from ear to ear -- he'd come bounding offstage and he'd be so fired up, like a 12-year-old kid at Christmas. That joy I'd see from him was real, and I want me some of that!"

Trace saw the opportunity to work with Toby when the Show Dog and Universal South merger was announced. He says when he heard about it, he called his touring buddy. "I told him my producer, Michael Knox, and I have been in the studio and I've got eight songs done. I'll fly out to Oklahoma City to play it for you. Toby told me he didn't need to hear it. I think that's the trust he has in me ... He knows I'm not gonna cut s---. I'm thrilled and happy to be here, and ready to get to work and knock it out of the park."

When asked if either of the men thought their relationship would be awkward now that Toby is more or less Trace's boss, Toby was quick to say things wouldn't change on his part. "He's glad that I'm in a situation where we can't get screwed. We've both been in the business long enough to know that there are people out there who might do that," Toby insists. "I don't need to hear his music, I don't have to tell him or any artist what to play. When I signed Trailer Choir, I signed them for (the songs) 'Rockin' the Beer Gut' and 'Off the Hillbilly Hook.' I didn't have to tell them, because they knew what they were selling out at frat houses and clubs with.

"Trace is gonna do what I do -- he's gonna bring music in and we're gonna put it out there, and if the first one works we'll put out one right behind it. If it doesn't work, we'll still put out one right behind it."

Trace signed the record deal with Show Dog Universal Wednesday at the press conference at BMI, where he was also presented with a cake to help celebrate his 48th birthday. A release date for the first single and album has not yet been set

American Idol Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood remembers what it was like when she was a contestant on the popular show and makes herself available to the up and comers. More from theboot.com's Alanna Conaway.

Carrie Underwood Plays 'Tag' With 'American Idol' Contestants

Carrie Underwood remembers quite well what it was like each time she took the stage on 'American Idol', eventually emerging as the winner of season four in May 2005. Now, as she watches the show, Carrie reaches out to the contestants to let them know she's just a phone call away if they need advice or guidance on the roller-coaster adventure to the top.

"I give out my phone number to the contestants freely," Carrie tells Self magazine. "I also like to send a present for making the top 10. I'll send a dog tag necklace from Tiffany and put 'Congrats on the top 10! Love, CU' on it."

The upcoming ninth season of American Idol kicks off this week (Tues., Jan 12), with the live two-hour semifinals airing Tuesday, Feb. 23. Stepping up as a judge in the new season is Ellen Degeneres who replaces Paula Abdul. Carrie says she's confident Ellen is exactly what the show and contestants need.

"I was surprised the Paula thing didn't work out," says the superstar. "But you knew that whoever they were going to get to fill Paula's shoes had to be able to make the contestants feel good about themselves, even if they didn't do that great a job. Ellen is one of the most positive people I've ever met. I love her!"

Kenny Chesney is "moving on up" to the upscale Nashville suburb of Grasswoods, having just purchased a mansion for $9.2 million!!! Details from OK Magazine and Radar Online.

Kenny Chesney Buys $9.2 Million Nashville Mansion

January 10th, 2010 4:31 pm / Author: Gena Oppenheim

Country music sensation Kenny Chesneyrecently purchased a new, lavish home in Nashville at a whopping $9.2 million, according to news reports.

Although Kenny's home base is in the Virgin Islands, the 41-year-old singer needed a place to stay in Tennessee, Radar Online reports.

Renee Zellweger's ex- husband's lush new Franklin area property boasts five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and even an infinity pool.

And to top it off, the 11,000 square foot Tuscan designed home is located in the perfect location: right next to Music Row and conveniently close by Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Sheryl Crow and Taylor Swift.

One of country music's favorite couples, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, picked a hard row to hoe when they realized they were meant to be together. They share their story in this month's Good Housekeeping Magazine, as reported by theboot.com's Stephen Betts.

Vince Gill, Amy Grant Open Up on Marriage and Divorce

Following their respective divorces more than a decade ago, Vince Gill and Amy Grant were the subject of endless tabloid fodder. The couple, who will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in March, talk candidly in the February issue of Good Housekeeping about the public perception of their early relationship and the lessons they've learned from their second marriages.

"I don't mean this in a flippant way," says Amy when asked about the media scrutiny surrounding her divorce from singer -- and fellow contemporary Christian singer Gary Chapman. "But I was so unconcerned by what somebody who I would never meet wrote in a rag. I felt like I had flipped a car over three medians and I was trying to figure out if my children -- if we all -- still had a pulse."

Vince adds he was concerned about then-teenage daughter Jenny, saying, "When I went through my divorce, there were some things [printed] in certain magazines, and I despised the way it made my kid look. So as a parent, there's a side of you that just builds a wall and says, 'You can ask all you want, but you're not gonna get any of that stuff.'"

Amy also struggled with the perception many fans had of her Christian faith at time, saying, "The toughest thing, as a believer, is to see how Christianity is pigeonholed into this one 'did-you-get-the-memo-on-how-to-vote' kind of thing. I am somebody who feels very spiritually alive, and prayer is an integral part of my daily life, along with confession, worship -- all of those things. But I see how all that's been quantified, and made a caricature of, and I don't want to add to a cultural experience that turns people off."

Of the lessons she's learned since marrying Vince, Amy says, "You get into a second marriage and you go, 'Oh man, some of those weird dynamics, those were just me, and I've just dragged them off to the future! I shouldn't have been so hard on that first chapter!'"

The February issue of Good Housekeeping hits newsstands on Tuesday (Jan 12)

Country music stars proved big winners at last night's People's Choice Awards. Leading the way once again, Taylor Swift! And just because she and her bf Taylor Lautner are former sweethearts, Taylor S proved once again, she's a sweetheart. Here's the details from mtv.com.

Jan 7 2010 1:02 AM EST

Country music stars always seem to go above and beyond for their fans. So, it wasn't a surprise to hear that Jimmy Wayne was doing a fundraiser to raise awareness for a cause near and dear to his heart--homelessness. His walk began in Nashville on New Year's Day. He plans to walk all the way to Phoenix and I have no doubt he'll do it. He's just that kind of guy. He's been keeping followers updated via twitter @JimmyWayne. Country Weekly Magazine has also been keeping close tabs on him. Here's the latest news....

As we reported earlier, Jimmy Wayne began his long trek for charity on New Year's Day

Dierks Bentley is not known for his shyness. Questionable judgment? Maybe, but DB is usually the first in line for a challenge, no matter how cold it is! Theboot.com's Jessica Morgan has the story!

Dierks Bentley Takes a Cold Plunge to Ring in New Year

• Posted Jan 4th 2010 3:15PM by Jessica Morgan

Dierks Bentley has admittedly done a few outrageous things in the past, but the singer's annual lake jump with his "Gladiator friends" -- including his band, fellow songwriters and even a few children -- has to top the list as his craziest feat.

New Years Day 2010 in Nashville was a a bone-chilling 28 degrees, but a YouTube video shows daredevil Dierks in nothing but a pair of swim trunks, doing a 'backwards slow marches' into the frigid waters of Percy Priest Lake. (Watch the video below.)

Dierks admits that a certain point of freeze-framing the video might require going 'audio silent' in order to keep the clip PG-rated. He also reveals that 'critical shrinkage' was definitely experienced in the cold waters.

The annual lake jump capped off an adventurous year for Dierks, who knows a thing or two about male-bonding experiences. In 2009, he struck up a bromance with fellow artist Darius Rucker, and also with a male fan at his Madison Square Garden concert in October.

Dierks also shared a memorable adventure with a fellow -- female -- artist in '09. He's nominated for a Grammy for the duet 'Beautiful World,' with Patty Griffin

See for yourself!

Shania Twain has had her hands full this holiday season battling the elements! First, the Canadian singer relayed a harrowing trip home on her website, shaniatwain.com.

"I've been in the North Country of Ontario, Canada, and after a crazy drive through a snowstorm to get here, I finally made it North for the holidays to take in the spirit of a great, white Christmas," Shania writes. "What would normally be a two-and-a-half hour drive took over seven hours with several accidents along the way. We experienced dead stops of long waits during whiteouts. Miles of vehicles were lined up bumper to bumper, blanketed in snow from hours of sitting and waiting for news of what was happening up ahead. Very scary driving conditions, and I really felt lucky to have made it safely in the end.

Then she did something we all would love to do! Carry the Olympic torch! We miss you Shania!!! Read the story from theboot.com's Joyce Rizer!

Shania Twain Carries a Torch for Her Hometown