Hit List -
 Big & Rich, Randy Houser, Love And Theft, Cassadee Pope and Lonestar will join previously announced headliners Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton and Dierks Bentley for the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam Labor Day weekend in Panama City Beach, FL. More here. - Former U.S. Army Ranger and artist Keni Thomas will perform the national anthem at the June 8 unveiling of the Allied Paratrooper Monument in honor of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. More here.
- Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings and Jessi Colter will perform a musical tribute to Waylon Jennings and Hank Cochran July 9 in Nashville to benefit the Nikki Mitchell Foundation. More here.
Birthdays
Tuesday (6/3): Jamie O'Neal, the late Boots Randolph.
Wednesday (6/4): The late Freddy Fender.
Thursday (6/5): Brett James, Don Reid (Statler Brothers). On TV
Tuesday (6/3): Miranda Lambert, Good Morning America (ABC).
Wednesday (6/4): Various, CMT Music Awards.
Friday (6/6): Miranda Lambert performs "Automatic," The View (ABC). This Week's Album Releases
 Miranda Lambert Platinum: Lambert wrote half of the 16 songs, and Pistol Annies co-member Ashley Monroe shares writing credit on two. Little Big Town appear on "Smokin' And Drinkin'", the Time Jumpers are featured on "All That's Left" and Lambert's duet with Carrie Underwood "Somethin' Bad" is also included. "There’s humor on this album, and nostalgia, and it’s feminine," says Lambert.
Lucy Hale Road Between: Hale co-wrote "Just Another Song," and Kacey Musgraves adds writing credit to "That's What I Call Crazy." The 11 tracks also include the single "You Sound Good To Me." The deluxe version adds three bonus songs and two live acoustic tracks.
Joshua Scott Jones The Healing: Jones wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs, which he says tell the story of his personal struggles with addiction and his recent emotional journey. "This record certainly reflects my headspace over the last few years and tells the story of what I've gone through, especially the title track," he says.
Big Smo Kuntry Livin': Frankie Ballard is featured on "Come On" and Darius Rucker on "My Place," which was a last-minute addition to the album. Also includes the single "Workin," which Buzzfeed calls "your new Monday morning anthem," and 11 more tracks.
Native Run Good On You Digital EP: Three songs from Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley, who describe their sound as "very instrument-driven with acoustic guitar, banjo and mandolin underneath country themes and very sing-able choruses." Upcoming Album Releases
Jun. 10 Gene Watson My Heroes Have Always Been Country
Jun. 10 Demun Jones Jones County
Jun. 10 Danny Boone Fish Grease
Jun. 17 Willie Nelson Band of Brothers
Jun. 24 Breelan Angel Dirty Little Secret | 
No greater concentration of country music and deep-fried food exists than this week's CMA Music Festival, which opens Wednesday. And can we just say, "Mmmm, funnel cakes." If your tastes run more toward musical confections, expect a heavy diet. The kick-off concert Wednesday at 11am ranges from newcomer Lindsay Ell to southern rock icons The Marshall Tucker Band. Big & Rich will lead the freak parade kicking off Thursday's Riverfront Concerts, which will feature dozens of top names from country-rapper Colt Ford to Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis to newcomers Jon Pardi and Parmalee. Daily shows at the Bridgestone Arena Plaza will feature Lauren Alaina, BlackHawk, Will Hoge, Chuck Wicks and scores more. And everything mentioned so far is completely free! (Well, except the funnel cakes.)
Brad Paisley won the internet Sunday (6/1). Westboro Baptist Church protestors showed up with signs at his Kansas City show and Paisley went out to see them. After organizing them the way he wanted them (watch 
No worse for the wear, but still a scary moment in Charlotte last week when Luke Bryan suffered minor injuries after a fall from the stage during a performance. He needed a few stitches and proceeded more carefully during his Washington, DC shows Friday and Saturday (5/30-31). 
George Strait transformed Gillette Stadium "into one big honky-tonk (albeit a very chilly one)" for the last time. –
Rascal Flatts performed "Rewind," "Why Wait," "Payback" and "Life Is A Highway" Friday (5/30) on Today. Watch 
