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May 9, 2014

» Hall For It: The 5th Annual We're All for the Hall benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum kicked off with Keith Urban and Vince Gill covering "Wake Up Little Suzy" Tuesday at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena (5/6). A parade of artists followed, with each performer sharing stories behind their song choices. Deana Carter explained that "I had a heartache and she had a headache" when she and Matraca Berg wrote "You And Tequila." She performed that, and another big crowd-pleaser in "Strawberry Wine." David Nail invited Lee Ann Womack to help out on Glen Campbell's "Galveston." That set things up for Gill's "What You Give Away" and, with steel-guitarist Paul Franklin, a cover of Buck Owens' "Together Again."

Kacey Musgraves' performed Dolly Parton's "Here You Come Again," which she had recently played with pop star Katy Perry for their CMT Crossroads taping. A rock-infused "Bottoms Up" followed from Brantley Gilbert – one of his two appearances on the night. Mary Chapin Carpenter then set things up for Kip Moore's three-man acoustic set that included Gill performing a verse of Moore's "Dirt Road."

Urban's "Cop Car" performance came from a far corner of the venue before Ronnie Milsap took the main stage. Reminiscing about playing with Elvis preceded "Smoky Mountain Rain" and "There's A Stranger In My House." "It's the first time we've had someone play that is about to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame," noted Urban. Reba performed "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia," noting the story of Vicki Lawrence's unlikely earlier hit with the song. The crowd was on its feet as Carrie Underwood took the stage to perform Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and "Last Name." Darius Rucker's "Wagon Wheel," with help from Brett Eldredge, Underwood, Chapin-Carpenter, Carter, Urban and Gill, closed the night.

» Favorite Four Letter Word:

Free live music is back as part of the 2014 CMA Music Festival June 5-8 in Nashville. Among the more than 40 artists confirmed to play the free stages are Lauren Alaina, The Henningsens and Will Hoge on The Bud Light Stage at Bridgestone Arena; Laura Bell Bundy, John King and Gwen Sebastian at the Walk Of Fame Park featuring the Samsung Galaxy Stage; Kelsea Ballerini, Steven Clawson and Brandon Lay at The Buckle Stage; Brinn Black, Marty Haggard and Jaida Dreyer in Fan Alley; and Chase Bryant, Brett Eldredge and Josh Thompson as part of the BMI Tailgate Party. Get the complete lineup here.

» Definitely Leopard:

Shania Twain has joined with cat conservation organization Panthera to launch Project Pardus, a worldwide effort to highlight the plight of and to protect leopards in the wild. "The image and spirit of the leopard is an inspiration to millions around the world, including myself," says Twain. "That it is also the most oppressed of the big cats is almost unknown. I feel privileged to give back to a creature that depends for its future on what we do now to save it, and I urge the wider world to join Panthera and me in this mission." More here.

» In Case You Missed It:

Ronnie Dunn visited The Doctors Wednesday (5/7) to talk about how his years on the road have affected his health. "It was 13 guys on a bus," he said. "And we thought we were the Rolling Stones!" Watch here. He also performed "I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes." Check that out here.

Kellie Pickler performed "Closer To Nowhere" on Wednesday's Nashville (5/7). Watch at 36:30 here.

» Crib Note:

Congratulations to Zac Brown and wife Shelly on the Monday (5/5) birth of their first son Alexander Frost in Atlanta. He joins big sisters Justice, Lucy, Georgia and Joni.

» Life Note: