Ken Burns Plans Country Music Documentary; Justin Moore Goes Gold; New Music Videos

• The American Music Awards were held last night. Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Swift took home trophies.

• Now that his Vegas run is over, Garth Brooks is planning a 2014 world tour.

• Paper Angels, the book co-written by Jimmy Wayne about the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Project, is going to be made into a Hallmark Channel movie.

• Deana Carter and her husband of three years have filed for separation.

• Country music haiku is alive and kicking over at Country California, where there’s also a new Quotable Country.

• Jack Ingram is in Nashville writing for a new project.

• Jason Aldean performed “Take a Little Ride” on Ellen.

• Guitarist Ben Helson is leaving Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Josh Williams is returning to the band.

• Kelly Clarkson dished to the Washington Post on her relationship, her country music duets and her intent on moving across genre lines: “I’m not ever gonna be one thing,” she says. “I want great music. I don’t care what it is. I’m not gonna record a country song just to be on country radio. I want it to be something I’d legitimately have on my album, if I’m having a pop, R&B, whatever album. I guess it’s hard for people to wrap their heads around. I don’t want to be pigeonholed.” 

• Justin Moore will headline a Hurricane Sandy Jersey Shore Relief Fund benefit concert 11/27. Moore’s Outlaws Like Me has been certified gold.

• Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs and Donald Fagen have formed a group called The Dukes of September and are filming a new PBS special and DVD.

• Matt Bjorke at Roughstock reviewed Chris Young’s show at the Ryman, which included a new track, “Text Me, Texas.”

• Darius Rucker was featured on a Yahoo! Ram Country episode of Going Home. Rucker returned to his alma mater, University of South Carolina, for a tailgate party.

• Ken Burns is turning his attention to country music for a future documentary.

• Keith Urban dishes on American Idol drama in this CBS Radio clip.

• Cindy Watts interviewed Billy Ray Cyrus for the Tennessean, where he shared anecdotes like how he used to sleep in his car outside The Music Mill even after he signed his record deal.

• Taylor Swift is being romantically linked to One Direction’s Harry Styles. Swift also sold out 14 stadium shows in a few minutes.

• Jon Pardi crashed the CMA Awards’ red carpet.

• Tomorrow is the 7th Annual Turkey Fry Hosted by Tracy Lawrence & Friends, benefiting the Nashville Rescue Mission and the homeless in the community.

• Matt Kennon released a new album called Makin’ Music That Matters this month on RoaDDawg Records. From the press release: “With song titles such as “Beautiful Cry,” “ Nobody To Miss,” “Wake Up Dancing” and “Follow Me,” Matt bares pieces of his soul in this entire body of work. From losing a loved one to illness, witnessing the devastation of bullying and, most recently, becoming a new father, the 13 tracks highlight Kennon’s newfound, objectives, passions and priorities.”

• Listen to Lorrie Morgan’s flirtatious Christmas song, “Wrapped Up in Love.”

• Allan “Mac” McHale, a member of the Maine Country Music Association Hall of Fame and the International Bluegrass Music Museum’s Pioneers of Bluegrass Music, passed away at the age of 80.

• David Ball will host a free-with-entry Songwriter Session featuring storytelling, a performance, and audience Q&A at the Country Music Hall of Fame on 12/22.

• Maria Grusauskas wrote a quick piece about the thriving Santa Cruz bluegrass scene including groups like North Pacific String Band.

• Catherine Britt topped the nominations for the 2013 Australian Country Music Awards.

• Music videos:

Adam Brand – “I Was Here” (this one’s for our foreign friends, since the video isn’t available in the US.)

Craig Campbell – “Outta My Head”

Punch Brothers – “Flippen” 

Sassparilla – “All the Way In”

Shannon Bex – “I’m Out”

Ali Isabella – “So Free”

The Wolfe Brothers – “It’s On”

Denver – “The Way It Is”