Taylor Swift ranked 11th on Forbes list of most powerful celebrities.  Forbes ranked the celebrities based on earnings, net worth, media visibility and fame. Toby Keith placed 49th, Kenny Chesney at No. 53, Brad Paisley ranked No. 68. Jennifer Lopez was number one on the list.

Taylor Swift has been working in the studio with British singer Ed Sheeran. They both have new albums in the works. Taylor also recently teamed up with Justin Bieber to write a track for his next album which comes out in June and she just recently pledged $4 million to fund a new education center at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Two floors of space, three classrooms, and a state-of-the-art children’s exhibit gallery. Because her donation is the largest by an individual artist in the museum’s 45-year history, they will name it the Taylor Swift Education Center.

Lady Antebellum’s “Rebuilding Henryville” benefit concert last night raised more than 285-thousand dollars for tornado relief efforts.  Henryville was devastated by a tornado in March.  Before the showt, Lady A toured the town and stopped by Henryville High School.  Hillary Scott talks about the experience.

Is the Grand Ole Opry – for SALE? According to Bloomberg business news, last week shareholders voted to let a “poison pill” guarding against unwanted takeovers expire. Bloomberg reported that the $1.69 billion company is already reviewing options to boost its shares, which fell 33 percent last year.

It’s a girl – for married duo Thompson Square. With a cold little nose and black fur. Shawna and Keifer Thomspon shot a video on their tour bus to introduce the new addition to their family, a cute little puppy they named Etta – a tribute to the couple’s favourite blues singer – the late Etta James. She’s a cute schnauzer/Yorkshire terrier mix. Keifer says right now she eats everything, and has a real problem with biting – but she’s doing a lot of travelling, and has already been seen backstage at the Grand Ole Opry.

FLASHBACK – It was this day in 2001 – a new $37-million Country Music Hall of Fame opens in downtown Nashville. Among many on hand: Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Diamond Rio, Martina McBride, Bill Anderson and ribbon-cutters Charley Pride, Brenda Lee and Kitty Wells.

It was this day in 2005 Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying,” wins Single Record and Song of the Year during the 40th annual Academy of Country Music awards.

NEW TV SHOWS
“Nashville” will air on ABC this fall. It’s about a fading country music star.  The series will be filmed in Nashville and stars Hayden Panettiere as breakout musical sensation Juliette Barnes, and Connie Britton as Rayna, the 40-year-old superstar mother of two, who has been forced to tour with the up-and-comer.  Reba McEntire’s new comedy, “Malibu Country,” has also officially been picked up by ABC.  Watch the trailer for Nashville and check out things behind the scenes here.  www.tvfanatic.com/2012/05/nashville-on-abc-first-photos

 
KENNY’S NEW SONG IS SEXY

Kenny’s new single “Come Over”  is the second song to come from his upcoming album, “Welcome To The Fishbowl,”  (out June 19).  Kenny says “Come Over” is about two people who are as broken as their relationship is, but they aren’t ready to move on to something else. He calls it a “sexy song with lyrics that are incredibly universal.”  He shot the music video off the coast of Florida.
Listen to Kenny’s latest here

Gloriana is making an appearance on the next episode of ABC’s “The Bachelorette.” They will be seen performing a surprise concert in Charlotte, N.C., during a one-on-one date with “Bachelorette” Emily Maynard and a lucky guy. Gloriana’s Rachel Reinert says she is a huge fan of the series. She says she instantly liked Emily when she was a contestant on “The Bachelor,” and is excited Gloriana gets to be a part of the show. The episode with Gloriana airs this Monday, May 21.

It’s been almost a year since Trace Adkins and his family lost their Brentwood, Tenn., home and belongings in a devastating fire and in spite of the tragedy, he says he actually feels blessed. “It wasn’t as traumatic as it could have been,” Trace tells Nashville’s Tennessean. “And I think the best thing that came out of the whole thing for me, and it’s an affirmation of something that I already suspected, that I wasn’t that much of a material guy. I’m not a slave to material things. I always kind of thought that, but after that I knew it. I’m not.”

Trace’s wife and three of his daughters (who were home when the fire began), are currently living in a rental home but have just completed the blueprints for a brand-new house. “We’ve been taking our time [rebuilding],” he notes. ”

The singer admits it was a challenging situation for his family to endure, but he never felt sorry for himself. “I put it in perspective,” Trace says.  ”First of all that everybody was OK, but secondly, I looked at some of the misfortunes that have come my way in this life, I don’t even think of my house burning down being the top 10. You have to put things into perspective.”

Trace is spending his summer on the road, with his Songs & Stories tour. It doesn’t look there are any Canadian stops on the tour, but he’s doing a couple of shows in Michigan – he’ll be in Saginaw at The Dow Event Center July 14, and in Grand Rapids at Devos Performance Hall July 18th.

 Flashback -

2009 – David Nail makes his Grand Ole Opry Debut. 

1998 Faith Hill begins a three-week run at number 1 on the Billboard charts with This Kiss.

Los Angeles 4 Phoenix 0

(Los Angeles leads series 2-0)

Tonight
Eastern Conference final

New Jersey at NY Rangers, 8 p.m.

(New York leads series 1-0)

World Hockey Championships / Preliminary Round

Canada 5 Belarus 1

U.S. 5 Switzerland 2

Baseball

Tampa Bay 4 Toronto 3

Detroit 10 Chicago White Sox 8

Cleveland 5 Minnesota 0

Boston 5 Seattle 0

Baltimore 5 N.Y. Yankees 2

L.A. Angels 4 Oakland 0

Kansas City 7 Texas 4
Tonight:

N.Y. Yankees at Toronto, 7p.m on Country 1039

Minnesota at Detroit, 7:05 p.m.

–

National League

Philadelphia 4 Houston 3 (10 innings)

San Diego 6 Washington 1

St. Lou is 7 Chicago Cubs 6

Atlanta 6 Cincinnati 2

Milwaukee 8 N.Y. Mets 0

Miami 6 Pittsburgh 2

Arizona 5 L.A. Dodgers 1

Colorado 5 San Francisco 4

NBA Playoffs

Indiana 78 Miami 75

(Series tied 1-1)

Western Conference semifinal

San Antonio 108 Los Angeles Clippers 92

(San Antonio leads series 1-0)

LOCAL Scores

LSSAA Track and Field continues at Central Athletic track (next to St Pats) today

————-

The Sarnia Braves lost a close match last night … losing 9-8 to Wyoming Seniors in extra innings.

BOYS BASEBALL

NLSS – 9             SCITS – 6

SENIOR GIRLS SOCCER

Semi Final
St. Chris – 5       St. Clair – 0

Playoff Final
Northern – 5        NLSS – 0

SENIOR BOYS SOCCER

Semi Final
Northern – 4         NLSS – 1

Semi Final
St. Chris – 2         SCITS – 1

I talked to my 9 year old last night, and just started a conversation about bullying, and how she feels about herself.  Nothing anybody says about you will change who you are inside.  Don’t let anybody elses words hurt you, and never believe those words to be true about who you are and never stop talking to your mother about what you’re feeling.

I try to teach my kids kindness, respect, and to stick up for what they believe in.  Be kind, be polite, respect others.  But I realize the world we live in is not always the same way back and that is so frustrating for parents.  We want to be there for our kids, to protect them, save them from the world.  But we can’t do it all.

I really believe we are all role models for our kids.  They really do pay attention.  They see how we behave and that’s what they learn.  I know I want my kids to see me being kind to others – not cutting people down, name calling.   We need to take care of our kids, and each other.

Thoughts?

New York Rangers 3 New Jersey 0

(Rangers leads series 1-0)

Western Conference final

Los Angeles at Phoenix, 9 p.m

(Los Angeles leads series 1-0)

———

Baseball

American League

Tampa Bay 7 Toronto 1

(Tonight: Tampa Bay at Toronto-7pm on Country 1039)

Chicago White Sox 7 Detroit 5

Boston 6 Seattle 1

N.Y. Yankees 8 Baltimore 5

Kansas City 3 Texas 1

Cleveland 5 Minnesota 4

Oakland 5 L.A. Angels 0

 National League

Philadelphia 5 Houston 1

Chicago Cubs 6 St. Louis 4

Washington 8 San Diego 5

Cincinnati 3 Atlanta 1

N.Y. Mets 3 Milwaukee 1

Pittsburgh 3 Miami 2

L.A. Dodgers 3 Arizona 1

San Francisco 3 Colorado 2

NBA Playoffs

Philadelphia 82 Boston 81

(Series tied 1-1)

Oklahoma City 119 Los Angeles Lakers 90

(Oklahoma City leads series 1-0)

Lambton kent Ladies Fastball League

Corunna  10    Wyoming  10

Squires  16      Dover center  3

LSSAA

BOYS BASEBALL

LCCVI – 16       Northern – 5

St. Chris – 12    North Lambton – 2

JR Girls Rugby

St. Chris – 37     St. Clair – 0

———-

LSSAA Track and field  Championships begin at noon today at the Central Athletic Park next to  St. Pat’s. The event continues tomorrow