Toby Keith, 'Red Solo Cup' -- Story Behind the Song

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

In his illustrious, 19-year career, Toby Keith has only released two radio singles he didn't write: 'American Ride' and his latest hit, 'Red Solo Cup.' For the country powerhouse to cut an outside song, it's gotta be pretty amazing ... or pretty ridiculous.


"It is the stupidest song I ever heard in my life, but it's so stupid it's good," Toby tells The Boot with a laugh.


Two sets of brothers penned the viral hit: Jim Beavers and his brother, Brett, and the Warren Brothers (Brett and Brad Warren). Toby admits he wasn't sure about releasing the humorous song, but as he began to play it for people, he noticed them singing along almost immediately. So, he filmed an off-the-wall video for 'Red Solo Cup,' inviting a crew of celebrity friends to join him in the clip, including TV host Craig Ferguson, baseball great Roger Clemens, basketball icon Larry Bird, and fellow music starsSammy Hagar, Ted Nugent, Eric Church, Joe Nichols, JT Hodges, Carter's Chord, Rose Falcon and Trailer Choir's Butter, among others.

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Brantley Gilbert Goes 'Country Wide' With First No. 1 Single

Getty Images for BMI

Country newcomer Brantley Gilbert ascends to No. 1 on the Mediabase country singles chart with 'Country Must Be Country Wide,' marking the Georgia native's first chart-topper as an artist. As a songwriter, this is Brantley's third No. 1 single in the last calendar year.


Brantley scored big earlier this year with theJason Aldean hits 'Dirt Road Anthem' and 'My Kinda Party,' with both reaching the top spot on the Mediabase chart. The tunes are featured on Jason's CMA Album of the Year winner, 'My Kinda Party,' which has been certified double-platinum for sales of more than two million. Additionally, 'Dirt Road Anthem' and 'My Kinda Party' have sold a combined three million single digital downloads, according to iTunes.

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The Band Perry Celebrate '25 Days of Christmas'

Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic

"Feel the magic in the air / Christmastime is everywhere!" Kimberly Perry sings on a special new song the Band Perry wrote for ABC Family's '25 Days of Christmas' programming. The CMA New Artist of the Year winners have teamed up with the TV network for a magical song and video to promote the family-friendly, holiday-themed shows and movies that run from now until Christmas. (Watch the video below.)


"'25 Days of Christmas' was the first original Christmas song the three of us have ever written," Kimberly explains to ABC Family.


"We're filming the music video in a barn," adds Kimberly's youngest brother, Reid Perry. "It's supposed to be our little getaway that we actually go to during Christmastime to write and hang out. So it's decorated with a piano and a couch."

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The White House Goes Country

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

The White House's East Room was turned into -- in the words of President Barack Obama -- "a bona fide country music hall" Monday night (Nov. 21). Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley,Alison Krauss, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Darius Rucker, James Taylor and the Band Perry were all invited to sing as part of the 'In Performance at the White House' series.


"Over the past five years, I've had the extraordinary opportunity to travel all across America," said President Obama before introducing the night's performers (quote viaPolitico). "I've hopped on planes to big cities. I've ridden buses through small towns. And along the way, I've gained an appreciation for just how much country music means to so many Americans.


"Country music is all about life in America," he continued. "It's about storytelling -- giving voice to the emotions of everyday life. Country music can be about love. It can be about heartache. It can sing sad times, or it can yell out that I'm just here having a good time. And it can remind us, especially when lots of our friends and neighbors are going through tough times, of what we've got to fight for and who we have to be. It reminds us that this is America. This is the place where you can make it if you try."

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The Band Perry Join Grammy Nominations Concert

Evan Agostini, AP

Hot on the heels of their three big wins at the CMA Awards, the Band Perry have been tapped to perform on the 'Grammy Nominations Concert Live! - Countdown to Music's Biggest Night.' The CBS show is set to broadcast live from Los Angeles, Nov. 30 at 10:00 PM ET.


Jason Aldean, Lady Gaga, Sugarland, Rihanna,Usher, Ludacris and Lupe Fiasco join the country trio as the night's performers on the one-hour broadcast. Plus, details about a "truly iconic group" that will reunite for the first time on this year's Grammy stage will be announced. Rapper/actor LL Cool J will host the show, which in addition to live performances will also include the big reveal of nominees in several categories for the 2012 Grammy Awards.


After their performance on the live TV show, siblings Kimberly, Reid and Neil Perry will also play their own exclusive concert for the fans at Nokia Theatre.

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Toby Keith Receives 'Inspiring' Award for His Support of Troops

Andrew Southam

Toby Keith is known almost as much for his support and advocacy for our nation's troops as he is for his multi-platinum-selling music career. Now, the 50-year-old is being officially honored for his patriotism. Toby joins 11 others as recipients of the 2012 AARP Inspire Award.


"Through their extraordinary efforts to lead, innovate, and give back in ways that make a real impact, this year's honorees motivate our readers to make a make a difference in their own communities," Nancy Perry Graham, Vice President and Editor of AARP The Magazinestates. "This daring dozen are compassionate and forward-thinking individuals who define inspiration."


Other individuals receiving the award this year include animal conservationist Jane Goodall, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt, Latin promoter Emilio Estefan, Jr. and co-founder of Apple, Inc., the late Steve Jobs.

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The Big 94.5 Country Stampede Presented by Verizon Wireless Announces 2012 Lineup

The Big 94.5 Country Stampede Presented By Verizon Wireless Announces Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band, The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, and More on 2012 Line-up  

Today Country Stampede proved once again that it is the top entertainment venue in the Midwest by announcing yet another star studded lineup filled with recent CMA winners and nominees, hit recording artists, and country music superstars.  Today, festival officials announced that Billboard’s Top Country Music Artist of the Decade, and multiplatinum selling megastar Toby Keith will be performing live on Saturday, June 23^rd.  Grammy Award winning fan favorites Zac Brown Band will be filling in the Friday, June 22^nd headlining spot, while Sunday’s headlining slot will be filled by CMA New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Single of the Year winners, and sibling powerhouse The Band Perry.  Platinum recording artist Luke Bryan will headline on Thursday, June 21^st.

Toby Keith’s Saturday appearance will be preceded by a rocking performance from Brantley Gilbert, whose current hit single “Country Must Be Country Wide” is tearing up the charts.  Hit country music artist John Michael Montgomery will be performing on Sunday.  Chart topper Steve Holy, who has recently released his third studio album Love Don’t Run, will be performing Friday night preceded by local favorites T-Marv & Hammer Down.  Classic country music duo Sweethearts of the Rodeo, who have several top ten hits to their credit, will be appearing on Sunday.  The Cleverlys will be treating festival fans to their tongue-n-cheek bluegrass renditions of current pop hits on Thursday.  There are many more exciting acts to be announced.  Stay tuned to CountryStampede.com in the coming months for the complete lineup announcement. 

Mark your calendar!  The 2012 Country Stampede takes place June 21, 22, 23, and 24.  For updates and ticket information visit countrystampede.com or call 800-795-8091.  A four-day general admission ticket is now only $95.  Prices go up November 30th.  Use Country Stampede’s new EZ-Pay option to split up the cost of your tickets and camping over five months to take advantage of their Special Offer pricing now! 

2012 Country Stampede Main Stage Schedule

Thursday

5:00  The Big 94.5 Country

6:30  The Cleverlys

8:00  TBA

9:30  Luke Bryan

Friday

2:30  Travis Marvin & Hammer

Down

4:00  TBA

5:30  Steve Holy

7:30  TBA

9:30  Zac Brown Band

Saturday

2:30  94.5 Road to

Stampede Winner

4:00  TBA

5:30  TBA

7:30  Brantley Gilbert

9:30  Toby Keith

         Sunday

2:30  TBA

4:00  Sweethearts of the

Rodeo

6:00  John Michael

Montgomery

8:00  The Band Perry