Reba McEntire has that showbiz bug again…well, the TV-specific showbiz bug. It was announced last year that the country music veteran had another TV show in the works. If you remember, her hit WB comedy, Reba, ran from 2001-2007.

Her new program, titled Malibu Country has reportedly been picked up by ABC. Her Reba executive producer is currently slated as writer, and the concept focuses on a singer, obviously played by McEntire, who moves to Malibu after parting ways with her cheating and financially reckless rockstar hubby. She is accompanied on her move by her three kids and her mother, and plans to revive her career.

I have a feeling, Malibu Country probably won’t stray far from the original Reba show, but I liked that so, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Are you excited Reba is returning to the small screen?

Need a refresher on Reba’s acting career? Check out the pilot of Reba below.

Among the many exciting and entertaining aspects of Sunday night’s Superbowl media extravaganza, there is one that might have passed you by unnoticed. Jennifer Nettles‘ voice actually makes a cameo appearance in the commercial for PepsiCo’s low-cal beverage Pepsi Max. Her croonings can be heard over the loud speaker of an average supermarket while an average looking guy chooses his beverage of choice…yeah, PepsiMax. It’s a low-key non-visual appearance, but it’s amusing all the same. Did you notice Nettles’ voice?

Check Out Jennifer Nettles Vocal Cameo Here!

It’s no secret that over the past few years, the Superbowl and its media extravaganza has become just as much about the ads that air during its prime airtime as it is about the actual game. NBC’s The Voice producers clearly weren’t about to miss out on this year’s golden opportunity to steal a little more limelight for the upcoming season of their hit series!

Blake Shelton (clearly, our favorite mentor!), Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera are back and kicking the season off right with a funny and action packed trailer for the season (with a special guest…). Check it out below, and make sure you catch up on last night’s season premiere if you haven’t already!

2012 The Voice Superbowl Ad

Emmylou Harris is featured on an upcoming compilation album titled, Mercyland: Hymns For The Rest of Us. The album was spear-headed by producer and writer Phil Madeira in an effort to emphasize the loving and nourishing elements of faith that sometimes get overshadowed by mainstream coverage. The track choices for the album are meant to highlight the power of personal belief through song. Harris is joined on the album by The Civil Wars, The North Mississippi Allstars, Mat Kearney and others. Mercyland will release Tuesday, April 10th.

Mercyland: Hymns For The Rest of Us, Complete Track Listing

1- From This Valley – The Civil Wars
2- Give God The Blues – Shawn Mullins
3- I Believe In You – Buddy Miller
4- Lights In The Valley – The Carolina Chocolate Drops
5- Mercyland – Phil Madeira
6- Walking Over Water – Mat Kearney
7- Leaning On You – Cindy Morgan
8- Fell Like A Feather – Amy Stroup
9- If I Was Jesus – The North Mississippi Allstars
10- Light Of Your Love – Dan Tyminski
11- I Didn’t Know It Was You – Emmylou Harris
12- Peace In The Valley – John Scofield

Billy Ray Cyrus has signed a book deal with industry giant, Amazon.com. Cyrus’s memoir is titled “Hillbilly Heart“, and will release in the Spring of 2013. Amazon released the news last week and indicated that Cyrus’s memoir will cover the early years of his life well into the days of parenting a teen…you may have heard of his daughter, Miley Cyrus.

The Cyrus family was in and out of the headlines for awhile with the controversy of Billy Ray and Miley’s father-daughter photo taken by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair, his and wife, Trish’s filing for divorce in 2010, and Miley’s girls-gone-wild escapades all over the U.S. I am wondering how much “candor” he’ll utilize when broaching those topics, assuming he addresses them at all.

Will you read Billy Ray’s memoir?

Listening to Shooter Jennings new single (released Jan. 3, 2012), “The Deed and The Dollar” gives me one thought, “Ahh, now this, is country music.”, followed quickly by a second thought, “I really dig this track!”. And I do…dig it. It’s a great tune with a simple message and mellow, subtle lyrics.

The video which recently released matches the song perfectly. It is beautifully made without any kind of pretense or overt showmanship. It’s just Shooter hangin’ out, playing his guitar, and singin’ his song best he knows how. Can we really ask for more than that? Should we? Check it out below.

Watch Shooter’s “The Deed and The Dollar” Now.

Colt Ford has announced he will be kicking off a tour this Spring, titled The Declaration of Independence Tour 2012. It will kick off in Albany, GA on April 6th, and Ford will be joined on the road by JB an The Moonshine Band, Lenny Cooper, Rehab and The Lacs. The tour will run through June 6th and cover considerable territory from Florida to Texas to Kansas to all over! A special detail added by Ford at each concert will be a area specifically for families.

“I have the most die-hard, rockin’ country music fans and they come in ALL ages…When I look out in the crowds I see people anywhere from six to sixty years old. I really wanted to set up an all ages tour and create ‘family friendly’ zones to play for everyone that enjoys my music. This ‘Declaration of Independence’ tour will offer just that… fun for the whole family and then some!”

Be on the lookout because pre-sales will start Wednesday, February 15th.

Colt Ford’s Declaration of Independence Tour 2012, Complete Dates

4/6/2012: Albany, GA
4/7/2012: Florence, AL
4/13/2012: Forest, MS
4/14/2012: Monroe, LA
4/15/2012: New Braunfels, TX
4/20/2012: Hiawassee, GA
4/21/2012: Florence, SC
4/27/2012: Danville, VA
4/28/2012: Beckley, WV
5/4/2012: Fort Smith, AR
5/5/2012: Shelbina, MO
5/12/2012: Blytheville, AR
5/18/2012: Pinnacle, NC
5/19/2012: Cookeville, TN
5/26/2012: Lake Wales, FL
5/27/2012: Perry, FL
6/1/2012: Lake Charles, LA
6/2/2012: Pensacola, FL
6/8/2012: Wichita, KS
6/9/2012: Blevins, AR

Jessie James has released a new video for her current single, “When You Say My Name” which debuted on CMT today (you can watch it below). It had been about a year since we’d heard anything from James, so I had to take a little stroll down memory lane to remember who earlier tunes. After giving her music a listen, I could see why it was hard for me to remember her.

Jessie James isn’t really a country singer. She is a pop singer, if that. Actually, a couple months ago country music’s internet news sources were all abuzz because it had been revealed that the pop diva Katy Perry wrote her 2009 single, “Bullet“, a song that is shamelessly trying to pass for something it can’t be (a country song).

Sure, James has that throaty, country roughness thing going on in her vocals, but really, it sounds a little too forced to be genuine. Also, the details in her songs that are, I’m assuming, supposed to be the country “hallmarks” (like the strumming of a banjo), sound more like an after thought than an organic part of the song. I’m just not buying it, and if you’re on the same page with me, this video isn’t going to do much to convince you otherwise. Take a look, and let us know what you think.

Watch Jessie James’s “When You Say My Name“.

Mushroom Country…now I’m not describing an area behind the house where you can find some Morels to fry up…I’m talking about a term used to describe Brent Cobb’s style of music! Curious as to what that might be? Well, last week I spoke a little with the Ellaville, Georgia boy to figure it out for myself.

First of all, the boy can write! The first time I heard one of his songs I loved the instrumental side, but as soon as I started to listen to the words I was grinning from ear to ear. The lyrics that he comes up with are very honest and have a fantastic flow. I have had “I’ve Been Known,” one of his more recent singles, stuck in my head for about 5 days straight and I strongly suggest you take a listen!

Cobb recorded his first album, No Place Left To Leave, with Shooter Jennings and his band The 357’s. It was released in 2006 and had some great things come from it. “Bar, Guitar and a Honky Tonk Crowd” was a part of this album and later was recorded by Whiskey Myers. The title track, “No Place To Leave,” has that steel sound (which I love!) and reminds me a lot of something Dwight Yoakam would do (again, I love!). “Butterfly” has more of an edge to it, but easily manages to keep a country feel.

Cobb really has a gift and a passion in the writing department, he said he could write songs all day and all night long, it just comes natural. Not only does he write killer songs for himself, but he loves doing it for other people! Luke Bryan’s “Tailgate Blues,” Kellie Pickler’s “Rockaway” and Eli Young Band’s “Go Outside & Dance” are just a few of Cobb’s creations.

There is no doubt that his family was some of the biggest influences when it comes to his music. Being only 5 or 6 years old, he remembers watching his Daddy and Uncle writing a song, “Country Bound,” one Christmas in Cleveland, OH. His dad being from the south and his mom from the north, and the mixture of those two lifestyles has created a fine example of “Rural Music” and put simply, a talented artist.

If you hear that he is going to be in your neck of the woods, do yourself a favor and catch a Brent Cobb show! Trust me, they are a blast!

Be looking for some more information on his spring/summer plans (touring wise) in the near future! And don’t forget, you can find No Place Left To Leave on iTunes now!

Carrie Underwood is set to release her brand new album Tuesday, May 1. Produced by Mark Bright, the forthcoming album was featured in Entertainment Weekly’s recent “10 albums we can’t wait for.” This will be the fourth studio album on 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville for the five-time Grammy winner. The debut single co-written by Underwood, “Good Girl,” will be to country radio on February 23.

Underwood is pretty busy this month with CMT’s Crossroads with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, an appearance at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Country Radio Seminar in Nashville, a performance at the Nordstrom Nashville Symphony Fashion Show and the digital release of “Good Girl.” We hope she enjoys all of her upcoming events and gets plenty of rest!