Willie Nelson Hospitalized; Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Names Four Inductees; New Music Videos

• Willie Nelson canceled last night’s show in Denver and was hospitalized after suffering breathing problems due to the altitude and emphysema, KVET reports. He’s apparently doing better and planning to head back to Texas today.

• Tony Arata, Kim Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Larry Henley will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this October.

• Out October 9: We’re Usually a Lot Better Than This, a live album from Darrell Scott and Tim O’Brien. The album contains Scott/O’Brien originals as well as covers of songs by Townes Van Zandt, Gordon Lightfoot, Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, and Keith Whitley. (via press release)

• Peter Cooper takes a look at the new Patsy Cline exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

• The International Bluegrass Music Association’s interim director, Nancy Cardwell, was officially named the executive director.

• Wynonna canceled her shows in South Dakota and Canada this week after her husband, Cactus Moser, was in a motorcycle accident. He’s in the hospital being treated for serious, but not life-threatening, injuries.

• The CMT.com staff listed ten of their favorite Zac Brown Band songs.

• Rodney Atkins will headline the Republican National Convention’s welcome party on August 26 at Tropicana Field in Tampa.

• Clint Black canceled a show on Saturday to recover from surgery for a “sports injury.”

• Bruce Springsteen: country music idol?

• Here’s the album cover of Jason Aldean’s upcoming release, Night Train.

• Over the weekend, Blake Shelton met with a six-year old fan who’s battling brain cancer.

• Hank 3 sat down for an interview with FullMetalRock.com. (Warning: autoplay.)

• Here’s a video interview with bassist Dennis Crouch.

• Check out this week’s edition of the always entertaining Quotable Country.

• Luke Bryan announced new tour dates for this October.

• Kellie Pickler, Luke Bryan, Ashley Monroe, and Dailey & Vincent will perform at next month’s ACM Honors ceremony.

• Natalie Maines joined Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder for a duet of “Golden State” at a rally for the West Memphis Three.

• Here’s a snippet of “Scarlet Town,” which will be found on Bob Dylan’s upcoming record, Tempest.

• Read about Ringo Starr’s country music leanings in an excerpt from the book Still the Greatest: The Essential Songs of The Beatles’ Solo Careers.

• Recent music videos:

Chad Sullins & The Last Call Coalition – “Thank God for Jack Daniels” 

Los Lobos – “Saint Behind the Glass”

Carolina Chocolate Drops – “Was You Ever in Quebec/Cindy Gal” (for CMT’s Concrete Country)

The Mavericks – “Born to be Blue” (for American Songwriter)

Gibson Brothers – “Ophelia” (at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival)

Dale Ann Bradley – “Rita Mae” (at the Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival)

Kristen Kelly – “Ex-Old Man”

Jason Aldean – “Take a Little Ride”

Paul Brandt – “Now”

Casey Donahew Band – “One Star Flag” (for The Texas Music Scene)