TUNE-IN: JO DEE MESSINA AND A STAR-STUDDED LINEUP HONOR TRISHA YEARWOOD FOR AUSTIN CITY LIMITS 9TH HALL OF FAME

 

Tune in this Saturday night for the ninth annual Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, honoring the remarkable career of country music icon Trisha Yearwood. Catch Jo Dee Messina singing Yearwood's 1991 chart-topping hit "She's in Love with the Boy," alongside tributes from Don Henley, Ronnie Dunn, Brothers Osborne and Brandy Clark. 

The broadcast premieres Saturday, March 2 at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT on PBS (check local listings). 

The special will be available to music fans everywhere to stream online beginning Sunday, March 3 at 10 am ET at pbs.org/austincitylimits.

GET YOUR JOLLY ON WITH THE RETURN OF "CMA COUNTRY CHRISTMAS"

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Get ready to get your jolly on with "CMA Country Christmas!" 

This year's event is going to sleigh it beclaus it's ho-ho hosted by Amy Grant and Trisha Yearwood and will be gifting viewers with performances by Jordan Davis, Lady A, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi, Lindsey Stirling, The War And Treaty, Zach Williams and Lainey Wilson.

Put on your Snuggie, grab a cup of cheer and tune in Thursday, Dec. 14 at 8/7c on ABC and next day on Hulu and Disney+.

AXS TV CELEBRATES “WOMEN OF COUNTRY” WITH A SPECIAL SATURDAY STACK, STARTING JANUARY 7 AT 12 P.M. ET

Highlights Include Unforgettable Performances, Insightful Sit-Downs, and Intimate Artist Profiles Featuring Shania Twain, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, Wynonna Judd, Lady A, Tanya Tucker, and More

AXS TV tips its Stetson to the iconic songstresses who defined a genre and inspired generations of fans in the “Women Of Country” Saturday Stack event—a full day of interviews, concerts, profiles, and more, airing January 7 starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

The tribute begins at 12 p.m. ET with Tanya Tucker and Trisha Yearwood on The Big Interview with Dan Rather. Then, AXS TV puts the spotlight on Dolly Parton and her incredible journey to superstardom in The Dolly Parton Story – From Rags To Rhinestones, followed by a candid conversation with Parton on The Big Interview.

At 4pm ET, Lady A, as frontwoman Hillary Scott and her husband, Chris Tyrrell, join Dan Rather to discuss their marriage and music on The Big Interview, leading into an intimate set that finds the award-winning trio taking the stage to perform some of their biggest hits in Lady A: Live From The Artists Den. And delve into the life of the multi-talented entertainer whose music has taken the world by storm in The Real Taylor Swift: Wild Dreams.

Then, stay tuned for a trio of unforgettable concerts from three of Country’s most prolific powerhouses, starting with Trisha Yearwood performing timeless hits such as “She’s In Love With A Boy” and “How Do I Live” with special guests Sugarland and Billy Currington; followed by Shania Twain in an immersive stage show featuring chart-topping favorites “Up!,” “Any Man Of Mine,” and “You’re Still The One” in Shania: Still The One; and a star-studded celebration of a quintessential Country queen in Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Opry, boasting performances by Parton, Toby Keith, Emmylou Harris, and Hank Williams Jr. The night concludes with two episodes of The Big Interview, as Shania Twain discusses the release of her album Now and the fight to regain her voice; and Wynonna Judd opens up about the changing music industry and her acclaimed career.

AXS TV’s Complete “Women Of Country” Saturday Stack Lineup is as follows (All Times Eastern):

Saturday, Jan. 7 Starting at 12pm ET

12p – The Big Interview: Tanya Tucker

1p – The Big Interview: Trisha Yearwood

2p – The Dolly Parton Story – From Rags To Rhinestones

3p – The Big Interview: Dolly Parton

4pE – The Big Interview: Hillary Scott & Chris Tyrrell

5pE & 11:30pE – Lady A: Live From The Artists Den

6pE – The Real Taylor Swift: Wild Dreams

7pE – Trisha Yearwood

8pE & 12:30aE – Shania: Still The One

9:30pE – Dolly Parton: 50 Years At The Opry

2aE – The Big Interview: Shania Twain

3aE – The Big Interview: Wynonna Judd

FOOD NETWORK'S TRISHA'S SOUTHERN KITCHEN TO FEATURE RICKY SKAGGS AND SHARON WHITE ON NOVEMBER 9 AND 12

Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood

Photo courtesy of Trisha's Southern Kitchen

On this weekend's edition of Trisha's Southern Kitchen (Food Network), show host Trisha Yearwood invites her longtime friends and fellow artists, Ricky Skaggs, and his wife, Sharon White, over for a meal filled with laughter and song.

"Trisha is one of the sweetest people I've ever known," says Skaggs. "Getting to spend the afternoon just kicking back, laughing, and singing with her and my wife Sharon, and oh my goodness, eating her fabulous cooking was one of the best days I can ever remember! It was like going home to see family and as we do in the south, she sent home leftovers!"

During the show they'll cook beloved southern comfort foods and reflect on their shared decades-long careers in country music. The menu includes a spin on the classic PB and J, Cherry and Boiled Peanut Bruschetta. They also make Roasted Sweet Vidalia Pork Loin, Collard Cobbler and a final nod to the south, Mini Georgia Peach Cheesecake, for dessert.

"I had a such a wonderful time doing Trisha's Southern Kitchen," adds White. "Trisha is just the best hostess, and the meal she made for Ricky and me was amazing! Then, to cap it off, we sat on the porch and sang together! The entire afternoon was so much fun!"

Catch Skaggs and White on Food Network this Saturday, November 9 at 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET. The show re-airs Tuesday, November 12 at 11 a.m. CT / 12 p.m. ET.

GARTH BROOKS AND TRISHA YEARWOOD PRESS CONFERENCE RECAP - PNC ARENA RALEIGH, NC 3/11/16

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood brought their World Tour to Raleigh's PNC Arena for a 3 day comeback event last weekend and it was an experience of a lifetime.

The weekend started with a small, intimate press conference which I was very lucky to have been invited to be a part of. Garth and Trisha had just arrived from the airport and made their way, via Facebook Live and fans in virtual tow, from the dressing rooms to the press room. I gotta say, I love how much they both have gotten into connecting directly with their fans via social media. They really seem to love it and I know their fans certainly do. One thing Garth and Trisha excel at is connection. This article is going to be a little longer than usual because there were so many good things talked about that I want to share. I held my questions for the one on one session at the end but I wanted to share some great conversations with the others in the room. Tonight allowed a small group of us into a world that few get to see, the honest thoughts and emotions of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, the obvious love they share between themselves and those that work with them and for the fans.


One of the first things Garth told us when he took the stage was that he wanted this to be a conversation, not just asking him questions, he wanted to be able to ask us questions in return and find out more about who we were, what we enjoyed and just get to know us as much as we wanted to get to know him. I thought that was, well, for lack of better words, just pretty cool. The atmosphere was very laid back, very casual and not the usual runaround, chaotic press conference one would expect for artists of this calibre and for Garth's first time playing Raleigh in decades. They both made us feel very comfortable and I hope we returned the favor. I really wasn't expecting the emotional experience that came from just a few short questions. Having listened to and respected both of these people from as far back as my musical memories take me, I can say that I have garnered a new kind of respect for them as people, not just as artists. They're both as genuine as a heart can possibly be and they're both as kind as you would hope people to be. I am definitely a continued fan for life.

Anna Laurel (ABC 11 News Raleigh): "Obviously, because it's been so long since fans have been able to see you like this out on the road, we know why everybody wants to see you. How do you bring so much energy night after night after night? What's your driving force to connect like you do?"

Garth: "This is where it all comes together. I could listen to music all day long but until I sat in that auditorium in Nashville when James Taylor came to do something with the Nashville symphony. It was the first time I'd ever been in the same room where there's nothing between you and him, that's what it's about. He plays the symphony and he's all charted out. When you do those symphony gigs, you usually get done pretty quick because the symphony can only do so many songs so then James comes back out, just he and a guitar. Now we're unscripted, now we're off the reigns. He just starts playing all of the things he loves, which are all of the things I love because I love him. I bawled like a baby and every time I think about it, that's what music is. Standing in the 13th row, first concert and I got to go with a date other than my brother, it was Queen. 13 rows away from Freddie Mercury ... whew ... Brian May with that guitar. That's when they allowed you to stand in your chair, your hands are up, you're screaming so loud that you can't hear yourself and the music was so loud. That's what it's all about. That's what makes me want to do this every night, night after night."

Trisha: "For me, it was Linda Ronstadt, I was 15 and I was in the balcony at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and I remember listening to her sing and thinking if I could get up on that stage and do that, I would never stop. I think it's that we are going at a pretty fast pace on this tour, we're already a year and a half in and and it won't be another blink before this tour's over. We are just trying to enjoy every single second and we are, I mean it's what we've always dreamt of doing our whole lives and we get to do it together."

Garth (obviously very emotional): "So there's that sense of urgency and I think that's what makes live concerts so cool. For some people, you always have to think of things both ways, ok? People don't realize how far I travel to hear them sing, they just never compute that, it's always the other way around and there will be people here tonight that it will be their first and their last time they'll ever see us live and this is the first and last time I'll ever get to do it live for them. There's the marriage right there and we'd better enjoy it."

Mandy (Raleigh Magazine):  "Trisha, with "The Passion" coming up, it's a musical about the life of Jesus. It's a very daring project. What drew you to it?"

Trisha: "Um, I'm terrified, first of all. When I talked to the producers, Alexanders and Andy who had done GLEE, I thought this will be a really fun experience with a lot of these productions are starting to go live on TV like "The Sound of Music" and then we had "The Wiz" and "Grease". It wasn't until a couple of days after I had said yes that it really sank in that I had agreed to play Mary, the mother of Jesus, and then I got really scared. Somebody asked me yesterday "What does your husband think of this?" and luckily I live with a guy who takes risks, he's not afraid to do anything and so I think for me, this is probably one of the most challenging things for so many reasons. The music is all pop music, it's all different for me, it's all really hard and it's not in my comfort zone and then there's the emotion that comes with telling this story with one of the scenes that I'm in and some of things I have to sing around. I'm nervous and I'm not usually nervous but this is different. This is a story that I grew up in church hearing and I love the way the story's being told, true to scripture but bringing it to modern day, telling that story of love which is the best story to tell. I want to be a part of that."

Janie Caruthers 94.7 WQDR: "Here in Raleigh, playing the Longbranch is a right of passage and sadly it's no longer open but what memories do you have of playing the Longbranch?"

Garth: "First of all, did your grandparents tell you about the Longbranch? I know you have no recollection of being in there. It's just great. It's what we were saying coming in talking to you guys on Facebook, the great thing about coming here is you realize this is where your career kinda started. So Raleigh, you go into the Longbranch and you play and then you come back and you play it again. You get to be involved with their 25th anniversary event. It's like Ticketmaster, the people who do your tickets, they keep all their data and what they're telling you is 48% of the building weren't even born yet when you toured last. So it's pretty cool because you're getting to see those faces you saw at the Longbranch back in the day and then you get to see their children. The crazy thing is each one of them knows the words to each one of your songs, every verse. I'm amazed. People always ask "ooh, what did you do if you forget the words?" You just look out in the audience, it's crazy. Hopefully the music, it's the important thing, and not the artist is what's getting across."

CBS News Raleigh: "I saw you get a little emotional when you were talking about the letter you posted to fans on your Facebook page. Can you tell us a little more about that?"

Garth: "What I've learned out here on the road is what people are looking for from the old music to the new music. They keep talking about "the Garth stuff". I wasn't sure what they meant. What it came down to is I've been lucky enough to have been paired with some really great writers. Instead of taking someone else's song and making it your own, you have to put your soul to music and then write. They're telling me that's what they're missing. I didn't know if the writing muscle would come back. Trust me, when we took off, we didn't do anything music wise. Oklahoma, it's a great place to raise your kids, we're talking oil, cattle, gas, hay, you know stuff like that and that's kind of what we dove into. Nashville's all about creative energy and all the writing juices that flow there. When you get back in that town, you want to write again so we just started to write again. You just pick up a pen and if that's good or bad, this next album is going to be more Garth than any other album. The people will decide if that's good or bad."

Tina Currin, Indyweek Magazine: "I run marathons and it seems like touring, especially these very long extensive tours, are very physically demanding. What has it been like preparing for the demands of this tour day after day?"

Garth: "I've been on two world tours before and they were 3 years each so to pick 3 years seemed to be the obvious thing. The thing I didn't count on was I'm 54. There's something about a guy that for some reason still seems to think he can do what he could do in his twenties. I can (laughs) but you know. I think that was the biggest shock."

Trisha: "Yeah, I think that when we first started this tour, even when a lot of these cities are two shows a night. What I do is so much less than what he does out there and I know from living with John Wayne that he will be hurting and no one will ever know it and MAYBE he'll tell me at some point in the car on the way home if he's bleeding anywhere from falling ... (looks at Garth) ... not falling. I'm sure you meant to go to the ground ... but yeah, I think you just get it done. My part isn't as physically demanding as what he does. The first 6 months was a re-training of just the energy. Even though I'm not always on stage, I'm back stage and might have to come back out and we might not get back to the hotel until 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning and we don't sleep until 2 the next day. Garth is usually doing a kid's camp Teammates for Kids, I've got everything from live tweeting for the cooking show to book signings, we do Prizefighter luncheons sometimes so there's always stuff going on the next day. After awhile, you get into a shape of what you're doing. It's like exercise. You might be great at hiking and you hike up a hill but you can't play basketball without losing your wind because you haven't done that so you get in shape for that then it's hard to do something else. I think it's just getting in shape for this like anything."

Garth: " I know this is our press conference, but can I ask you a question? You run marathons, full? What do you do when you just want to quit?"

Tina: "When you wanna quit running?"

Garth: "Right. When you're in the middle of a marathon, what do you do when you just think "Oh hell no", how do you keep going?"

Tina: "I listen to music and the amazing thing about distance running is that at a certain point, it shuts off, everything else shuts off and you just get lost in music and stop thinking about what hurts and you just kinda get in the zone and it feels really good."

Garth: "And for you, when is that point?"

Tina: "Uh, maybe like mile 18."

Garth: "So the truth is you know if you can get to 18 miles, you can get to the rest. Let me tell you, there are few things in my life that I haven't done that I've wanted to do."

Tina: "You should do it."

Garth (lifts up shirt and pats his belly): "Um, no, but I love you and admire you. You have something that I would like to call my own."

In the short clip below, Garth talked about pulling back the curtain and exposing those who make him sound good night after night, the musicians who have been by his side for years and have played on the albums. He got very emotional and shed a tear talking about his friendship and gratitude he has for his band members.


When it was time for one on one interviews, Garth and Trisha were very gracious with their time, even taking photos when we had been told there wouldn't be time for any. Garth walked up to me, shook my hand and actually said, "Hi, nice to meet you, I'm Garth." How cool is is that's he's not above introducing himself like many other artists I've spoken with. I found that very refreshing and a nice change of pace. He made me feel very comfortable, like I was talking to a friend and that makes a world of difference to someone who not only works with artists but as a fan which is what I am first and foremost.

I shook his hand and introduced myself in return and (in reference to his remark in the video above), apologized for my Alabama accent (I'm from Mobile, AL) which made him turn red and start laughing and trying to dig himself out of that hole. 

He asked me to tell him about Lovin' Lyrics. I told him that I'm just a music fan who wants to give back and do what I can to help those artists who don't have the money to pay for big name promoters and can't get attention because they don't have the money it takes, that I just want to help get the music out there and give back to others what music has done for me. He smiled, took a step back, put his hand on his face and said "wow, that's so great" and hugged me. Needless to say, that one moment made the hard work up to this point more than worth it. I asked him two questions:

Me: "So you're standing at the gates of country music heaven and there stand Patsy Cline, George Jones and Waylon Jennings. George Jones looks at you and asks, "Why should we let you in?" What would you say?"

Garth: "Well, that's a simple one. I believe in God and God is George Strait." 

That wasn't the answer I was expecting, it was better than the answer I expected and it started a great connection with Garth. He looked over my shoulder and noticed my mom, asking "Is that your mother? I can tell", then walked over, shook her hand and gave her a hug, asking her how many of "us" she had and carrying on their own special conversation. That meant the world to me and I know it meant the world to my mother. Thank you for that, Garth. We then talked a little about his charity, Teammates for Kids. His face lit up when he talked about the kids he's worked with and the mission he's on to help kids that need it. 100% of donations go to the kids, period. For more information on the mission, go to https://teammatesforkids.com/mission. It's really a wonderful cause. When time was up, HE asked if we could take a picture. Well who am I to say no and why would I? Are you kidding me? It's a picture of a lifetime and one I was able to share with my mother. 

Due to time restraints, I only got in about 2 minutes with Trisha. I asked her how she keeps herself together with everything she has going on and just not snap and if she's ever told Garth to just talk to the hand. She said there are times she wants to just sit down and cry, pull her hair out, but Garth is her calm. He always has a way of making her fears and stress disappear. When it comes to the love she has for him, her eyes said so much more than her words ever could. I introduced her to my mom and she came down off the podium and said "I need to hug you, I miss my mom so much" and she hugged her so tight and quite honestly, I think my mom would have adopted her right then if she could have. She talked about being petrified of portraying "Mary" in "The Passion" and said she was afraid it would be so powerful that she wouldn't be able to finish singing and would break out into full on ugly cry face. I'm watching her performance as I write this and I'm the one who broke out into full on ugly cry face complete with sniffling and the whole lip tremble, the production is powerful but SHE was powerful in her performance of "Hands" and "Broken". You did just fine, Ms. Yearwood.

Thanks to Garth and Trisha for their time, their candor, and their kindess and for making me realize why I love this genre, it's passion not only for the music but for what it stands for. What a wonderful night. Stay tuned for a review of opening night!

- Jenn

Follow Jenn on Twitter at @lovinlyrics

All photos courtesy of Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics

THE BIG INTERVIEW RETURNS APRIL 14 WITH COUNTRY STAR TRISHA YEARWOOD JOINING DAN RATHER AT 8pET/5pPT ON AXS TV

Other All-New Episodes Include Interviews with Vince Gill, Lindsey Buckingham, Josh Groban, Florida Georgia Line, Paul Haggis and Frankie Valli

LOS ANGELES – March 20, 2015 – THE BIG INTERVIEW returns to AXS TV with seven new episodes as part of its third season on Tuesday, April 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Hosted by news veteran Dan Rather, the in-depth interview series presents exclusive sit-down discussions with a wide variety of influential figures from all across the entertainment spectrum, as the award-winning reporter gets them to open up about their personal lives and esteemed careers. In the first-half of its third season, which premiered on January 13, THE BIG INTERVIEW featured a roster of A-list guests including Carlos Santana, Wynonna Judd, and Don Rickles, among others.

Season three continues with an impressive roster of award-winning entertainers, kicking off with beloved country star Trisha Yearwood on April 14, as the three-time GRAMMY® winner discusses her lifelong drive to sing, her marriage to fellow country superstar Garth Brooks, and her biggest regrets. Then, as a special lead-in to the network’s broadcast of the Stagecoach Country Music Festival, legendary 20-time GRAMMY® winner, singer, songwriter, musician, and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Vince Gill joins Rather on April 21.

Also appearing on THE BIG INTERVIEW this season is GRAMMY®-winning singer, songwriter and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Lindsey Buckingham on April 28; critically acclaimed singer, songwriter, actor and record producer Josh Groban on May 5; Southern Rock superstars Florida Georgia Line on May 12; Paul Haggis, the two-time Oscar®-winning filmmaker behind such films as CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY and CASINO ROYALE, on May 19 and a true musical icon Frankie Valli on May 26.

“AXS TV is proud to continue THE BIG INTERVIEW’s third season with six all-new episodes featuring some of the industry’s most notable names,” said Michele M. Dix, AXS TV’s senior vice president, programming and development. “The roster includes eclectic guests who each have interesting backstories to share from their journeys in music and film. That, combined with Rather’s gift for curiosity and insight, promises to create some memorable moments that our viewers won’t want to miss.”

The Big Interview Premiere Schedule (Tuesdays, 8 pm ET/5 pm PT)

April 14 – The Big Interview: Trisha Yearwood
April 21 – The Big Interview: Vince Gill
April 28 – The Big Interview: Lindsey Buckingham
May 5 – The Big Interview: Josh Groban
May 12 – The Big Interview: Florida Georgia Line
May 19 – The Big Interview: Paul Haggis
May 26 – The Big Interview: Frankie Valli

SINGLE REVIEW: "I REMEMBER YOU" - TRISHA YEARWOOD

SINGLE REVIEW: "I Remember You"
ARTIST: Trisha Yearwood
REVIEWER: Maria Talamo 
Follow Maria on Twitter at @Maria_Talamos

Purchase "Prizefighter: Hit After Hit" which includes "I Remember You" on Ghosttunes

With the opening lines "I can picture you, like a photograph/ I can see your smile/ I can hear your laugh/ no I don't have to look back/ I remember you" there is no doubt that Trisha Yearwood's new single "I Remember You" is going to be an emotional song about remembering someone who has passed away. This song will touch the hearts of anyone who has ever lost someone close to them. Trisha Yearwood is known for her songs that touch the heart and has not disappointed with her newest single. I always look forward to what she is going to come out with next.

CONCERT REVIEW - GARTH BROOKS WORLD TOUR WITH TRISHA YEARWOOD AND KARYN ROCHELLE - GREENSBORO, NC - NOVEMBER 23, 2014

TOUR: Garth Brooks World Tour  
ARTIST: Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood with special guest Karyn Rochelle
VENUE: Greensboro Coliseum - Greensboro, NC
DATE: 11/23/14
REVIEWER: Jennifer Smith
Follow Jennifer on Twitter at @LovinLyrics

Click HERE for photo gallery

Click HERE for videos from the show 

Back in the 90's, my musical "Must Do" was see Garth Brooks. That never happened. When I first heard that Garth Brooks was heading back on the road this year after years of retirement, my first thought was "I MUST cross this off the top of my bucket list!" Well, I can now say that I have crossed the #1 item off that bucket list and it included an extra bonus of Trisha Yearwood! Garth made it affordable at a standard ticket price of only $67.00 for tickets for ALL seats, at least at my venue. If I were to leave this earth today, I would leave it with a huge grin on my face and a huge smile in my heart. It was a chance to relive the days when my worries were few and my good times were many, a chance I probably won't have again. It was a reunion of sorts with my past, one that brought back memories and unlocked doors that hadn't been opened in years.

This weekend, Sunday, 11/23/14, the only thing it took to get my "Sundaze" on and stoned at this show was the music, the passion of the artist and the fans. To put it bluntly, this was the best orgasm a country fan could ever have, it even made me want a cigarette after and left me with an obvious glow. This was great sex is a musical way. This was more than a show, this was an out of body experience, a connection that only Garth Brooks can make. This experience was truly about "people loving people", blaming it all on our roots, singing off key, loud and "shameless" and just roping the musical wind in one hell of a country music "rodeo". It was a family friendly event, one you wouldn't be have to be concerned about taking your kids to see. When I looked around this area, I didn't see people so drunk they were spilling beer on other people, they weren't so wasted that they couldn't enjoy the music .. this wasn't about "Burnin' It Down" and seeing who could reach their "Tippin' Point" first, it wasn't about pickup trucks, cut off faded blue jeans or Fireball Whiskey, this was about a night about the music itself and being able to enjoy it and remember it well after the first couple of songs. We'll remember this one for years to come. This was 3 hours of not listening to the misery of the world outside those arena doors, not worrying about how we were going to pay our next bill, not worrying about health issues or any other negative thoughts we would otherwise normally be thinking about, this was time with each other welcoming back one of the biggest artists in country music and welcoming back country's tradition with open arms and open hearts. For me personally, there is no other place I'd rather spend a Sunday night - just listening to the man that was instrumental in filling my heart with a love for country music, spending just a little bit of quality time with someone that I love, and simply appreciating the music that made me who I am. There was one added bonus, our seats were randomly upgraded! The only thing I can complain about is that the night came to an end, but even so, the memories never will.

It's been 16 years since Garth was last in Greensboro and man was it worth the wait! He hasn't lost a beat. He might have lost a little hair and his voice has an aged quality to it now, but the experience was pure Garth then and pure Garth now. The stage set up was incredible, the light show was fantastic and it was Garth as only Garth would do it, the bigger the better but yet he still manages to keep it simple and about the music. First up was Karyn Rochelle, which was a huge surprise for me because I have been a fan for a long time, following her songwriting career the past few years out of Nashville. I never knew she was an NC native from Wilmington. She was fantastic, such a strong vocalist and a great stage presence. She performed her original music including "Jezebel" and "Red High Heels" which was cut by Kellie Pickler and was her breakout hit. I highly recommend her new self-titled CD. Her song, "Better Off" is my new theme song ;-)

When Garth hit the stage to the mechanics of "Man Against Machine", the decibel level in the coliseum went to unheard of levels, the floors rumbled with the thunder of the applause and the excitement was beyond description. It's something any country music fan should experience at least once. Even if you weren't a Garth fan coming in (what?), you will be when you leave. He was all over the place, climbing on the stage props, singing to each side of the stage so EVERYONE got a chance to see him and not just those on the sides and the front. I was prepared to stand and to sing, but not like this! We pretty much stood the entire 3 hrs and sang so loud that our throats hurt. The passion that he brings to a performance is infectious, you can hear it in every note he sings and it spreads to the audience in every word they sing right back. He displays such an appreciation for country music and for the foundation it was built on and he reminds you of exactly why you fell in love with country music to begin with. These days, and I know country music has to evolve, but it's hard to sometimes remember what's so great about it. Artists like Garth are what's so great about it. Is he the best vocalist, no. Is he the hottest guy with the tattoos and earrings, no. Whether you agree with his politics, his view on how he handles his business, his stance on today's music or blah blah blah, what you can't disagree with is his deep love and appreciation for music and those that support him. It's in the smile on his face throughout the show, it's in the tone when he sings songs like "Unanswered Prayers", it's in his tear filled eyes when an area full of people sing "The Dance" and he just stands there listening. After seeing a live show, you really can't help but be a fan. He did all of the songs that made him one of the biggest names in country - "Rodeo", "Shameless", "Papa Loved Mama", "Calling Baton Rouge", "Two of a Kind Working on a Full House", "Much Too Young To Feel This Damn Old", "Beaches of Cheyenne" and more classics. He also broke out the big guns with "Friends in Low Places" which included tons of confetti, streamers and the infamous "3rd verse". Now THAT was a good time! I apologize to those around me for my horrendous vocal ability, but I was gonna sing and I was gonna sing it LOUD. The only other new song he performed was "People Loving People" which was a satellite performance during the American Music Awards being broadcast the same night. This night was about the good stuff, the stuff that took him from bars in Oklahoma to the top of the Billboard charts. It wasn't about hawking a new album, it wasn't about making a statement, it was about a good time.

When Trisha came out from the shadows to sing "In Another's Eyes" with Garth, the thunder rolled again. These people were LOVING this. Her voice is still clear and strong and she's absolutely gorgeous. She did a few of her songs like "How Do I Live", "X's and O's", "She's in Love with the Boy" (which was great with an audience "kiss cam" focusing on random couples in the audience and the women were kissing the "boy" they loved on the big screen.). She focused in on a fan in the audience holding a sign about her 9 year old son being cancer free, she dedicated her new single "Prizefighter" to that fan's son, Ryan. Her next song was "Georgia Rain", which was written by Karyn Rochelle, so she brought her out and asked her to sing along with her to which she obliged. By the end of the song, Karyn got a little emotional and choked up, Trisha jumped in and hugged her, helping her through to the end. It was a great moment for everyone to see a girl from NC living her dream.

The end of the show brought 2 amazing encores, including a heartfelt duet between Garth and Trisha of "Walkaway Joe".

I'd personally like to say thank you to Garth and Trisha for starting the curve to bring country back full circle, for giving fans a chance to appreciate the music again and for the 3 hours "outside of the real world" and immersing us into a world we've missed for so long.

If this tour comes to your area, GO! If you have to sell a kidney on the black market to get there, do it. It will leave you with a new appreciation and respect for the genre that seems to have lost both over the past few years and will make you wanna scream HELL YEAH just because.

Photo Credits: Jennifer Smith / Lovin' Lyrics

GARTH AND TRISHA: COUNTRY'S MISSING INGREDIENTS ... NOW IT TASTES RIGHT AGAIN

There are just some recipes that require certain ingredients in order to taste the way the should. Country music is one of those things. There have been 2 vital ingredients that have been missing over the past few years, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. Now with the wait finally over, country music will taste exactly as it should again. Check out the new upcoming single from Garth and Trisha - "The Call".

Please start requesting this one and let's put real country back on the charts where it should be.

Welcome back, we missed you.

COUNTRY VIDEO REWIND: "THE SONG REMEMBERS WHEN" - TRISHA YEARWOOD

That's the amazing thing about a song, it takes you back to times and memories long forgotten. It makes you feel as though you're right back there, living it all over again. That's the power of a song and no one can deliver better than Trisha Yearwood.


"The Song Remembers When"
I was standing at the counter I was waiting for the change When I heard that old familiar music start It was like a lighted match Had been tossed into my soul It was like a dam had broken in my heart
After taking every detour Getting lost and losing track So that even if I wanted I could not find my way back After driving out the memory Of the way things might have been After I'd forgotten all about us The song remembers when
We were rolling through the Rockies We were up above the clouds When a station out of Jackson played that song And it seemed to fit the moment And the moment seemed to freeze When we turned the music up and sang along
And there was a God in Heaven And the world made perfect sense We were young and were in love And we were easy to convince We were headed straight for Eden It was just around the bend And though I have forgotten all about it The song remembers when
I guess something must have happened And we must have said goodbye And my heart must have been broken Though I can't recall just why The song remembers when
Well, for all the miles between us And for all the time that's passed You would think I haven't gotten very far And I hope my hasty heart Will forgive me just this once If I stop to wonder how on Earth you are
But that's just a lot of water Underneath a bridge I burned And there's no use in backtracking Around corners I have turned Still I guess some things we bury Are just bound to rise again For even if the whole world has forgotten The song remembers when Yeah, and even if the whole world has forgotten The song remembers when

Tube Alert! Tomorrow, Saturday, April 14 - Trisha Yearwood's Southern Kitchen Premieres on the Food Network

Trisha Yearwood fans tune in! She's more than just a songbird, she can cook her honky tonk badonkadonk off too and Food Network even gave her the chance to prove it with her own show, "Southern Kitchen". 

Check your local listings for times and channels! Trisha said if she goes two seasons, she'll have Garth as a guest next season!

Trisha Yearwood Brings Her Southern Kitchen to the Food Network

Photo credit: www.People.com

The Food Network has a long list of distinguished chefs including Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Ina Garten, Trisha Yearwood ... wait, back up, did you just say Trisha Yearwood?

Yep, that's right! Country megastar Trisha Yearwood will be debuting her talents in the kitchen with her new cooking show, Trisha's Southern Kitchen, on April 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on the Food Network.

The show will be filmed in Nashville and the series will bring you into Trisha's kitchen as she prepares her favorite, classic traditional family favorites from her childhood, giving tips on how to create lighter versions of Southern staples and she will entertain friends and family. Trisha will share her personal techniques for some of her favorite recipes, such as Daddy's Barbecued Chicken and Uncle Wilson's Famous Baked Onions.

"For me, cooking is very connected to my family and friends," said Yearwood. "Every recipe on the show carries wonderful memories with my loved ones – and I can't wait to share my meals, stories and family photos with Food Network viewers."

Aside from music, cooking has been a long-time love for Yearwood. She has published two best-selling cookbooks.