Elton John Records “Raw and Rootsy” LP with T-Bone Burnett; Rascal Flatts Plans Restaurant Chain; New Music Videos

• Jasmine Rae won Australia’s version of  the CMA Artist of the Year Award: CMC Oz Artist Of The Year. “Other winners on the night included Australian country music legend James Blundell who entered the CMC Hall of Fame, and Peter McWhirter named CMC New Oz Artist of the Year.  Keith Urban won two awards after being named International Artist of the Year and his crossover hit “Without You” declared Music Video Of The Year.”

• Congratulations go out to Jimmy Wayne. His relentless championing of kids in foster care resulted in a 97-1 vote from the Tennessee legislature in passing the Transitioning Youth Act.

• Rascal Flatts will be opening a restaurant chain. 

• CMT’s Craig Shelburne highlighted ten bands that caught his eye at SXSW. 

• Meet the Ugly Valley Boys. 

• My Kind of Country loves the new independent effort from Canadian country artist Brian Mallery called Living My Dream.

• Elton John just finished recording a “raw and rootsy” album produced by T-Bone Burnett.

• Our own CM Wilcox is playing the blame game over at Country California.

• Scout Willis, the daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, is pursuing a country music career.

• Glen Campbell’s battle with Alzheimer’s seems to be taking its toll on the last of his live performances.

• Chuck Dauphin profiled the newest Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Connie Smith, for Billboard Magazine.

• The Boot interviewed Kix Brooks on his new venture as a solo artist.

• With St. Patrick’s Day this past weekend, it seems only fair that we get an essay on bluegrass from an Irish perspective by musician Niall Toner.

• Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Records will be giving away a compilation album to help independent record stores.

• Despites rumors to the contrary, it looks as if country duo Steel Magnolia is still together.

• Big Machine Records Ella Mae Bowen’s Hunger Games soundtrack contribution was unveiled by Entertainment Weekly.

• The Civil Wars have postponed almost a month’s worth of dates due to an unspecified illness.

• Hear another Hunger Games soundtrack contribution from the Pistol Annies with “Run Daddy Run.”

• Emily West gave a behind-the-scenes listen to a new track she just wrote and cut called “London.”

• Darryl Worley released his first radio single in two years called “You Still Got It.” Listen here. What do you think?

• Blake  Shelton and Reba McEntire unveiled their first co-hosted commercial for the upcoming ACM Awards.

• New music videos (with a couple of live performances) from the last week or so:

Carrie Underwood – “Good Girl”  

Josh Abbott Band – “Touch”

Jason Aldean – “Fly Over States”

Hannah McNeil – “I Gotta Leave You For Me” 

Rachel Holder – “Edge of Glory” 

Black Stone Cherry – “In My Blood” 

Toby Keith – “Red Solo Cup” on Ellen 

Matt Kennon – “You Had To Pick On Me” 

Cledus T Judd – “Double D Cups”

Brynn Marie – “Bandaid on a Bullet Hole”

Dustin Tavella – “Do It Like Bubba”

Luke Roberts – “Second Place Blues” 

Jessica Rae – “24 Hour Church (In Memphis)” 

Aaron Pritchett – “Coming Clean”

Codie Prevost – “Finish What He Started” 

O’Shea – “When the Girls Get Together”