http://www.kix106online.com

Reba McEntire‘s father, Clark, received the best Father’s Day gift of all this weekend, as he has left the hospital following his stroke earlier this year. He’s now recovering in the comfort of his own home. 

“Just want to let you all know that my Daddy is back home after a long stint in hospitals and rehab,” McEntire tweeted today. “Thanks so much for all your prayers.” 

Clark McEntire, 84, suffered from a stroke just days after finding out his superstar daughter was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The entire McEntire clan rushed back to Oklahoma upon receiving the sad news, where Daddy McEntire remained in a Tulsa hospital for many weeks in a coma. 

“He’s doing very well,” Reba told media backstage at this year’s ACM Awards in April. “I’m not kidding you … We have planned the funeral three times. We’ve selected songs [and] picked out where he’s going to be buried, and now he’s just done a complete turnaround.” 

Clark McEntire was a four time World Champion steer roper in the late ’50s and early ’60s, and is currently included in the Rodeo Hall of Fame.

After battling drug addiction, criminal charges that resulted in two separate prison sentences, suicide attempts, media backlash following a rumored affair with married baseball star Roger Clemens and a sex tape that was widely circulated on the Internet, Mindy McCready has spent much of the past year trying to put her life back together, both for herself and her 5-year-old son, Zander. Staying mostly out of the spotlight, except for promoting her latest album, ‘I’m Still Here,’ the 35-year-old is back in the public eye, this time for suing both National Enquirer’s publisher, American Media, Inc., and her mother, Gayle Inge, for an article the tabloid ran titled, ‘Mindy McCready Doesn’t Deserve to Have Child Back.’ 

The article, which cites Gayle as the only source, alleges Mindy has failed drugs tests and missed court appointments regarding custody of her son, whom she has only seen once in the last year. They are, according to the songstress, complete lies she is unable to ignore. 

“What is shameful and heartbreaking is the unhealthy relationship I have endured with my mom over my lifetime,” the singer says of her lawsuit. “With the help of friends and therapy, I have realized how detrimental the relationship has been for me and I’ve worked hard to detach. I’ve tried to keep my personal life from being public. But every time I take a positive step forward, make healthy, personal decisions and move forward in my career, it seems my mother uses it as an opportunity to step into the picture to deflate me … to become the focal point … to use the press to step into the spotlight-at my expense. In all honesty, I’m saddened it has come to this; but this is not a one-time, single event-to sell her ‘stories’ to the Star, the Globe and Radar Online. It has just got to stop, for me and my son.” 

The Florida native has had several well-publicized arguments with her mother, who currently has custody of Zander, including having been charged with battery following a physical altercation between the two in 2007. But according to both Mindy and her attorney, Andrew Douglas, this latest incident will not be tolerated. 

“The statements contained in the National Enquirer article [on or about June 8, 2011] are personal attacks intended to inflict hurt and pain on Ms. McCready at the expense of the truth,” her lawyer states. “It is also unfortunate that the National Enquirer published this story without first corroborating Mrs. Inge’s statements … At this time, we have no choice but to address the defamation in a court of law to protect Ms. McCready’s personal and professional interests.” 

The lawsuit, which seeks punitive damages, alleges the article the National Enquirer ran is “false and misleading and therefore defamatory” and “by strong implication attacks the morality and character of McCready by providing credibility to the unsubstantiated statements of Gayle Inge through American Media’s failure to fact-check Gayle Inge’s statements in any capacity whatsoever.” 

The ‘Guys Do It All the Time’ singer says she wants to set the record straight. “What I want people to know is how unfairly I’ve been treated — because of my past mistakes and, quite frankly, because of my celebrity history,” she insists. “My custody battle has been deplorable and fraudulent. And … my mother’s agenda, I believe, is to continue to keep my character and lifestyle ‘questionable.’ The focus needs to be about the safety and well-being of my son and not about untruthful statements that have lent to unjust results. Zander and I need to be together.” 

Mindy’s desire to be back in the spotlight for the right reason — her music — instead of her ongoing troubles, is one she has been trying to convey since she appeared on ‘Celebrity Rehab’ in 2009 and began trying to rebuild her personal and professional life. “If you’re going to love me, then love me for who I really am,” she said. “If you’re going to hate me, then hate me knowing all of the facts, and not because of some story you heard. I want people to not count me out and not pass judgment until they hear the real story and they really do know me.” 

The lawsuit was filed in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Fans at Nashville’s LP Field last Saturday night undoubtedly came to the CMA Music Festival to see their favorite stars, including Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride and Josh Turner, but that didn’t keep them from going crazy for ‘American Idol’ winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. The teenagers made their CMA Music Festival debuts in two surprise — but not shocking — appearances. 

Chris Young (sans cowboy hat) started the evening off on the right foot, jumping right into his hits with ‘Gettin’ You Home.’ He followed it with ‘Voices’ and the rowdy, uptempo tune ‘Save Water, Drink Beer,’ before thanking the crowd for his fourth straight Top 10 hit, ‘Tomorrow.’ 

Before Little Big Town took the stage, Danny Gokey made an appearance next as the Gildan Activewear company received the Guinness World Record for the World’s largest t-shirt, measuring at 281.3 feet long by 180.0 feet wide. 

Kristin Chenoweth, the night’s co-host along with Evan Farmer, spoke about the ‘Stand Up’ video that LBT made with Sugarland for tornado victims, prior to the foursome taking the stage. “Artists who do that, it really matters,” she said. “Being from Oklahoma and seeing the devastation there, it really matters.” The quartet started their set with ‘A Little More You,’ before doing ‘something special’ and wowing the crowd with their version of Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way.’ Next, they went into ‘Bring It on Home,’ before the clap-inducing ‘Little White Church.’ The audience participation continued as the crowd sang along to the group’s signature hit, ‘Boondocks.’ 

Clint Black was the first non-billed artist to entertain the crowd with ‘The Galaxy Song,’ into a love song inspired by his wife Lisa Hartman Black, ‘Something That We Do.’ 

Josh Turner was up next, pleasing fans with every low note he hit. His set was a selection of his greatest hits from ‘Would You Go With Me’ to ‘Long Black Train,’ before switching things up during ‘Your Man.’ Halfway through the song a similar but distinctly different voice took over the lyrics, as Scotty McCreery joined the South Carolina native for the tune. Once the crowd was able to compose themselves, Josh started into his current single ‘I Wouldn’t Be a Man,’ before speeding things back up with ‘Firecracker.’ “There’s a sign over here that says, ‘We wanna sop you up with a biscuit,’” Josh told fans before his last song. “I’m sweating so much right now that you probably could. [laughs]” With that, he went into ‘Why Don’t We Just Dance,’ and they did. 

Big & Rich brought Big Kenny’s top hat and John Rich’s ‘Yee Haw’-emblazoned guitar next. The duo kept the energy up as they performed their single ‘Fake I.D.,’ during which they were joined by none other than Gretchen Wilson.

Trace Adkins’ ‘Working Man’s Wage’ kept the crowd fired-up, evident in one entire section of the stadium that were shaking what appeared to be small beach balls in unison. A solo performance of his duet with Blake Shelton, ‘Hillbilly Bone,’ preceded ‘Swing.’ “One behalf of me and my family, who are all here tonight, Thank you for your sympathy and generosity,” Trace said, referring to the recent loss of his home in a fire. “It means the world to us. Thank you, but point it somewhere else. We’re OK.” The crowd erupted at the last statement. After playing the first song from his next album, ‘Just Fishin’,’ Trace announced that the project, entitled ‘Proud to be Here,’ will be released August 2. Before leaving for the evening, Trace sang ‘Ladies Love Country Boys,’ into ‘Brown Chicken Brown Cow’ and “another love song,” ‘Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.’ 

Armed with only one guitar, Thompson Square made their way to the stage, where they sang ‘I Got You,’ citing that they’ve “never played for this many people before.” Then they sang the song they say changed their lives,’ ‘Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?’ 

Martina McBride opened with a new diddy she co-wrote, ‘One Night,’ before ‘This One’s for the Girls.’ “This song is about good friends and drinkin’ wine,” she said before ‘Wrong Baby Wrong.’ “Every 10 years or so, you’re so lucky to find a song that the first time you hear it it grabs you and won’t let go,” she admitted before singing a track from the next album, out October 18, entitled ‘I’m Gonna Love You Through It.’ After her ‘Teenage Daughters,’ Martina talked about the first time she heard that a girl on ‘American Idol’ had performed her song, and how she was “blown away” by it. The stadium was filled with cheers as the girl in question, Lauren Alaina, joined the songstress for a duet of ‘Anyway.’ However, the night came to a halt following Martina’s performance of ‘Broken Wing,’ as the singer teared up as a result of the unparalleled praise from the audience. “I wish you all could know what that feels like to me,” she said after composing herself. “You’re the reason I do this.” 

Not long after Martina closed her set with ‘Independence Day,’ the boys of Rascal Flatts appeared in the middle of the stadium floor to film the opening of the upcoming ABC-TV special, ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock.’ They stayed on the small stage for their current tune, ”I Will Stand by You,’ before moving back to the main stage with ‘Here’s to You.’ The trio went through their hits from ‘Prayin’ for Daylight,’ to ‘Every Day Love’ and ‘Fast Cars and Freedom.’ Fans were line dancing in the aisles for ‘Why Wait,’ before singing along to the choruses of ‘Life Is a Highway.’ The threesome invited Little Big Town back to the stage for their medley of Boston’s ‘Long Time,’ Kansas’ ‘Carry on Wayward Son’ and the Edgar Winter Group’s ‘Free Ride.’

Shania Twain and Taylor Swift will ride into the 2011 CMT Music Awards tonight in a vintage convertible, channeling the dynamic duo, ‘Thelma & Louise.’ The pair filmed the movie parody to serve as the show-opener yesterday earlier this week south of Nashville in Thompson’s Station, Tenn., according to CMT. The ladies are joined in the clip by ‘Glee’ actor Chord Overstreet, a Nashville native with big country connections, as his dad is famed singer-songwriter Paul Overstreet.  

For the second year, Kid Rock will host the ceremony, which airs live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Performers will include Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Big & Rich, Toby Keith, the Zac Brown Band, the Band Perry and Luke Bryan.   Shania will also serve as presenter for the night, which will be her first appearance on the awards in seven years. Also presenting are Sara Evans, Luke, Sheryl Crow, Justin Bieber, ‘American Idol’ winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alania, Kristin Chenoweth, Laura Bell Bundy, Train, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and ‘Dancing With the Stars’ winner Hines Ward, the Green Bay Packers’ Clay Matthews, actor Ricky Schroder, comedienne Melissa Peterman and actress Mary Steenburgen.  

Jason Aldean leads the pack of CMT nominees with four nods. The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift and the Zac Brown Band follow with three nominations apiece.  Up for the night’s highest honor, Video of the Year, are Jason’s ‘My Kinda Party,’ the Band Perry’s ‘If I Die Young,’ Kenny Chesney’s ‘The Boys of Fall,’ Lady A’s ‘Hello World,’ Miranda’s ‘The House That Built Me,’ Rascal Flatts’ ‘Why Wait,’ Sugarland’s ‘Stuck Like Glue,’ Taylor’s ‘Mine,’ Carrie Underwood’s ‘Undo It’ and the Zac Brown Band’s ‘Colder Weather.’  

The 2011 CMT Awards will air live tonight at 8:00 PM on the network and on CMT.com.

Scotty McCreery doesn’t waste any time. A week after winning ‘American Idol,’ the singer’s first single, ‘I Love You This Big’ — which premiered at No. 32 on the Billboard Hot Country chart — is the highest-charting debut for a new artist since January 20, 1990, according to the publication. 

“I am humbled and shocked by this news,” Scotty says. “I can’t tell you what it means to me to be on the same charts as my musical heroes. I want to thank my fans and especially country radio for their support. I continue to be amazed by everything that has happened to me in such a short time.” 

In addition, the tune hit No. 1 on iTunes and No. 3 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart with 171,404 units sold. “This is such a special song to me, so I am thrilled that it is getting such a great reception at country radio,” Scotty continues. “What I love about ‘I Love You This Big’ is that it can mean different things to different people. It could be about the relationship between a couple in love or a parent and child.” 

Granted, the 17-year-old was breaking records while still on ‘American Idol,’ winning the show with a unprecedented 122.4 million votes. “I feel like the words ‘thank you’ aren’t enough,” he admits. “I wish I could find more words to express my gratitude to everyone. I still can’t believe how people are supporting me in so many ways.” 

Scotty will get a chance to thank fans in person when he travels to CMA Music Festival in Nashville next week. He’ll participate in the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game Saturday (June 11), following his Grand Ole Opry debut Friday (June 10). 

In addition, Scotty can be found on the small screen again with an appearance on ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ June 15. 

After that, he hits the road on the American Idols Live tour, which kicks off July 6 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Trace Adkins’ home in Brentwood, Tenn., south of Nashville, burned to the ground on Saturday (June 4). The house was a total loss, however no one was hurt. The country singer’s wife, Rhonda, was returning home from running errands and saw “black smoke” in the sky and rushed home. 

Daughter Brianna, along with the couple’s two other daughters, the babysitter and another neighborhood child were watching a movie and heard a huge crash. They thought it might have been something that had fallen in the cabinets in the kitchen. When the babysitter walked into the kitchen, she didn’t see anything and went into the garage, where she saw that the dryer had been turned over, and fire and smoke permeated the air. The babysitter quickly got the children and the dogs out of the house and called 9-1-1. 

Apparently, the girls had put into action the safety plan they had practiced in case there was a fire, and in fact, they had placed a marker, a big piece of yellow tape, on a tree far enough from the house as a safe place to go if their house ever caught on fire. 

In losing most of the contents in the home, Rhonda told Nashville’s WSMV-TV, “It’s just stuff.” She went on to say she’ll miss some of the “artifacts that had great memories, but they’re just going to have to be in my mind now.” She added that they’re nothing compared to the safety of her family. 

The entire Brentwood Fire Department, including off-duty firefighters, was called to the home of the singer after it was reported at 3:35 PM, and were said to have arrived five minutes later. Dispatchers sent everyone they could to be able to rotate their personnel often, because of the high temperatures — of not only the fire, but of just how hot it was outside. 

The Brentwood Fire Chief told WSMV that everything stored in the basement, including gold albums and other belongings, were saved. The fire did not reach the basement, but there was a lot of water to try and put out the fire. Most of the belongings there had been elevated, so it most likely did not receive any water damage either. 

“Trace wishes to express his gratitude for the immediate response of the Brentwood Fire Department and is humbled by the outpouring of concern from friends and fans,” a spokesperson for Trace said in a statement released late Saturday night. 

At the time of the fire, Trace was en route to Alaska, where he was scheduled to perform later this week. Upon landing, he learned of the tragedy and immediately boarded a return flight home. 

The Adkins family plans to stay at their farm, about 30 minutes south of Nashville, for now.

So how does Keith Urban keep his boyish figure? 

A look at the musician’s backstage rider (for his “Summer Lovin’ 2010” tour) reveals that Nicole Kidman’s husband has a variety of “personal daily requirements” to which attention must be paid. Urban’s rider is excerpted at left. 

For example, Urban needs two breakfasts (before and after a workout). And he prefers that his grub–to be handled by his personal assistant–features the “highest quality, free range meat and organic vegetables and grains.” Butter, spices, and onions? Outlawed. 

His dressing room (or tour bus) is stocked with an equally bland assortment of sliced meats and cheeses, hummus, and a container of “butter substitute” (though he will settle for lower fat butter if the fake stuff is unavailable). And, of course, “Select a Size paper towels” are a must.

Here’s his entire rider;

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/keith-urban-rider

Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton raised $500,000 for victims of recent tornados in Atoka County, Okla., during sold-out disaster relief concerts this past Wednesday and Thursday at the Choctaw Events Center in Durant, Okla.

Susie McEntire-Eaton and Kelly Clarkson made surprise guest appearances at Thursday night’s show. McEntire and Shelton co-headlined the event and opened the show with a duet of “Oklahoma Swing.”

McEntire was born near Kiowa, a community located some 30 miles from the greatest devastation. Shelton was born in Ada and currently resides in Tishomingo, less than 50 miles from the Atoka County line.

All proceeds from both shows, as well as donations from the Choctaw Nation and fans, will go toward Atoka County’s ongoing relief efforts through the Tushka Disaster Relief Fund. Additionally, a special mobile fundraising campaign is underway through the mGive Foundation. Fans can text OKGIVE to 27722 to make a one-time donation of $10 to be billed to their monthly cell phone bill.

Garth Brooks, who penned several of his own biggest hits, including ‘If Tomorrow Never Comes,’ ‘The River’ and ‘She’s Every Woman,’ is being officially honored for his songwriting contributions. The Oklahoma native will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City on June 16, with good friend Billy Joel doing the official honors. 

The two superstars became close 20 years ago, when Garth covered Billy’s self-penned hit, ‘Shameless,’ and took it to the top of the country charts. The ‘Uptown Girl’ singer has been at home recovering from double hip replacement surgery, but plans to be on hand to honor his friend. 

This won’t be the first time the two men have shared a stage in the Big Apple. Billy joined Garth for his historic 1997 concert in Central Park, with more than 750,000 in attendance. Garth also joined the rock legend for one of the final live concerts at Shea Stadium in 2008. Their performance of ‘Shameless’ was captured on Billy’s latest CD, ‘Live at Shea Stadium,’ which was released earlier this year. 

When not enjoying time on his ranch with wife, Trisha Yearwood, and his three daughters, Garth can be found performing at the Wynn Encore Theatre. He is also beginning to work on a new tour.  

The induction ceremony will take place on June 16.

It’s official: Miranda Lambert is a married woman!

The 27-year-old “House That Built Me” singer wed longtime love Blake Shelton late Saturday evening at Texas’ Don Strange Ranch, the couple confirms.

Wearing her mother’s wedding dress, Lambert walked down the aisle in front of 550 family members and friends (including Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley, Charles Kelly and the Bellamy Brothers).

“I’m married to my best friend!” Lambert said after the ceremony. “Looking forward to a lifetime of laughter.”

Added Shelton, 34: “I wanted to be married to Miranda the day I proposed. Finally, it’s official!”

Blake first got to know Miranda at CMT’s ’100 Greatest Duets’ taping, where they performed the David Frizell/Shelly West classic hit, ‘You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma.’ They soon became an item, but found their careers got in the way of their relationship. When the Monitor asked in 2007 whether they were still a couple, Blake responded, “Miranda and I have a very interesting relationship. She can get so mad at me that she just wants to punch me in the face, and we’ll say that’s it. Then, 30 minutes later we’re calling each other and acting like it never happened. I think it’s that we’re both artists, and if I want to see her or she wants to see me, sometimes it just doesn’t work out and it’s frustrating. But I think she’s somebody that I’m going to have in my life a long time. She’s one of those few people you meet and have a connection with and you don’t really fully understand it, but you know it’s a pretty big deal.”

After four years of dating and ample success in both their careers, the pair has found a way to overcome their scheduling conflicts. “If she has time off and I’m not home, she’ll come out and find me on the road,” Blake explained, “and just stay with me out there … that probably saves our relationship as much as anything.”

Dating since 2006, The Voice mentor asked for Lambert’s hand in marriage last May. “I fumbled it up a little,” he said of the proposal. “It’s funny how you rehearse those things and go over what you want to say, but I probably screwed it up.”

Fortunately, Lambert didn’t seem to notice. “He did a really good job,” she insisted. “He’s always nervous around me, though — and that’s how I like it!”