Country Music Pride

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CMA Collects More Than 5,000 Gifts For Nashville’s Children Posted: 15 Dec 2014 08:55 PM PST We all know that the Country Music industry is filled with some of the most generous artists as well as supportive fans. Thanks to their overwhelming generosity this year, the holidays will be a little brighter for children in Middle Tennessee. CMA has collected more than 5,000 toys that will be distributed to the deserving children in the area by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Foundation. A new toy during the holiday season goes a long way in a child's eyes and that in and of itself is priceless. CMA Chief Executive Officer stated recently, "This community is well known for its giving nature." "I'm not surprised that they would step up to contribute to a cause this meaningful during the holidays, but I am in awe of the outpouring of gifts and grateful to our artists, industry and fans for helping to make dreams come true for children this Christmas." A majority of the toys were collected during the taping of CMA's holiday special, "CMA Country Christmas," which was hosted for the fifth year in a row by Jennifer Nettles. The special, featured performances by Clare Bowen, Dan + Shay, Brett Eldredge, Sara Evans, Lucy Hale, Hunter Hayes, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Idina Menzel in a duet with Nettles, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith with Carrie Underwood, and Brad Paisley jamming with Steven Tyler. If you missed it you can catch it again this Saturday, Dec. 20th (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) when it re-airs on the ABC Television Network. “On behalf of the Toys for Tots Foundation as well as every less fortunate child in Middle Tennessee that will receive Toys for Tots gifts this Christmas, I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who made a contribution in any way! In the first year of the partnership with the Country Music Association at the CMA Awards Red Carpet event as well as the 'CMA Country Christmas' taping we managed to raise over 50 boxes of toys to be given out to these less fortunate children," said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dennis E. Bowers, Jr. "We look forward to working with the Country Music Association for years to come and making this grow year after year to help less fortunate children in the local Middle Tennessee area.” For more information on Toys for Tots in your area click here. Don't forget to tune in to CMA's holiday special, "CMA Country Christmas" this Saturday on ABC at 9 PM/ET…even if you caught it the first time it aired, it's worth watching again…and again!

Country Music Hall of Fame Feature Exhibit Will Close December 31, 2014 Posted: 15 Dec 2014 12:35 PM PST The Bakersfield Sound Feature Exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame will close December 31, 2014. The Exhibit features the working-class city of Bakersfield, California, which gave birth to an exciting, raw-edged style of country music that enjoyed overwhelming popularity in the 1960s and continues to connect with musicians and fans today. Out of which we gained Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, the most successful exponents of the Bakersfield Sound, with its sharp-edged electric guitars, raw barroom feel, and honest, down-to-earth songs. Owens and Haggard rose to iconic status on the height of the Bakersfield music scene created by broad cultural changes that were taking place from the 1930s through the 1950s. There were southerners seeking work in Bakersfield’s abundant farmlands and oil fields, thus making up a audience longing for the sounds that reminded them of home. Western swing and honky-tonk proved particularly popular, and with time Bakersfield musicians created their own distinctive and influential sound-two thousand miles from the heart of country music in Nashville. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend experiencing this West coast scene before the exhibit closes! Watch a short video of Dwight Yoakam and Merle Haggard discussing the Bakersfield Sound. Click here for more information The Bakersfield Sound Stay connected by following them @countrymusichof on Twitter and countrymusichof on Facebook the Bakersfield sound

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