NEWS
Kenny Rogers has scheduled a “Farewell Down Under Tour” for January and February in Australia and New Zealand. He has toured there as a member of the First Edition, with Dolly Parton, with Reba McEntire, and on several solo tours. He says this will be his last. The tour begins in Sydney, followed by eight more stops in Australia and two in New Zealand.

The Tanya Tucker exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has opened and will be available through May. Artifacts in the Tanya Tucker: Strong Enough to Bend collection include Nudie’s Rodeo Tailor stage costumes, gowns from award shows, National Cutting Horse Association awards, and a pink 1992 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. (more…)

FEATURED ARTIST – REDD VOLKAERT
Merle Haggard’s former lead guitar player, Redd Volkaert, is enjoying life in Austin, Texas. “I’m busy all the time–or trying to be, anyway,” he told me when I called him the other night. He has two steady gigs at the Continental Club, with his own 4-piece band on Saturday and the Heybale band on Sunday. He’s been in both bands for sixteen years, and he left Merle’s Strangers about ten years ago, although he continued recording with Merle for several more years. (more…)