J.D.'s Dirt- 9/7

COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS

TAYLOR SWIFT TAKES ON FOOTBALL GAME WITH SELENA GOMEZ. Over Labor Day, weekend Taylor Swift enjoyed quality time with her brother Austin in Indiana to watch the first Notre Dame Football game. The two were also accompanied by Taylor’s best friend Selena Gomez. Even though she asked to sit in the student section officials escorted her to the sidelines. A fan did shout, “I love you Taylor!” and she turned around and said, “Aw, thank you!” OK! Magazine reports the three had dinner after the game at Rocco’s, a local restaurant, with two bodyguards blocking the table, and afterwards were quickly escorted out. Taylor’s luck helped Notre Dame win the game.

KANYE WEST TELLS THE WORLD HIS GENUINE FEELINGS ABOUT TAYLOR SWIFT. Kanye West gave a timely apology to his fans and the country music industry on his Twitter after interrupting Taylor Swift at last year’s MTV VMA Awards. He began by saying, “With the help of strong will, a lack of empathy, a lil alcohol and extremely distasteful & bad timing … I became George Bush over night. People booed when I would go to concerts and the performer mentioned my name.” After tweeting over fifty other messages summarizing his persona in the media, he mentioned what we all waited for – Taylor Swift. “I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her.She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s justa lil girl with dreams like the rest of us. She deserves the apology more than anyone.” Kanye is set to perform for this year’s MTV VMA Awards, and he may perform the song at the event. To read his entire apology and thoughts, visit twitter.com/kanyewest.

KEITH URBAN READIES NEW MUSIC. Keith Urban will release his debut single “Put You In A Song”, from his forthcoming album GET CLOSER next Monday. Keith co-wrote the song and says he loves singing songs about guys trying to date the unattainable woman. One day he thought of the storyline where the man feels his only hope of dating the unattainable woman is by writing her into a song. “Put You In A Song” is the outcome of that idea and Keith hopes it’s his next number one song. “It’s an amazing feeling to, I think, anybody that gets their number one. It’s an incredible feeling. Absolutely. It’s hard to do, you know? It’s very hard.” Keith’s Get Closer album hits stores November 16^th.

MIRANDA LAMBERT STOPS CONCERT TO BREAK-UP FIGHT. Miranda Lambert was not happy with a couple of guys in the audience at her show this weekend after she had to stop her set to break up their fight. She said, “Y’all gonna get in a fight? Cuz we gotta stop because these guys are getting on my nerves.” Later she informed her Twitter followers about the situation saying, “Tonight some idiots got in a fight on the front row at my show. I had to stop and call them out. Funny part…it was during ‘Only Prettier.’” Miranda has stopped her set before after a crowd became rowdy. It’s safe to say it’s best not to get out of line at her concerts.

GEORGE STRAIT HEADING TO MUSIC CITY. George Strait will play a show in Nashville this weekend with Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack. It’s the first show he’s played in Music City in years. With two CMA Award nominations and a tour this fall, it doesn’t sound like George will be slowing down anytime soon. “Well it’s unbelievable to still be here after that long of time but I still feel great and I love to sing and so I’m going to keep doing this as long as I can. That’s my plan anyway.” George’s fall tour, which includes eight buses, six trucks and two airplanes, begins on September 8th at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH before heading to Rupp Arena in Lexington, KY and Nashville to finish out the first weekend.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD SNUBBED BY CMA? The CMA Award nominations had a lot of people buzzing after certain artists such as Carrie Underwood were left off the list of nominees for CMA Entertainer of the Year. An article in the USA Today was posted by a CMA board of directors’ member discussing the outlining reason they believe Carrie was not nominated – “CMA voters just get in a mood.” The article says, “Voters get fed up with the status quo and decides to recognize a new crop of acts that the industry wants to have represent it, not what the fans actually like best and support most. Right now, Miranda Lambert is the best example of that act.” The article also states solo female singers have only had one slot in the Entertainer of the Year category since 1979.

DIERKS BENTLEY GETS “BAD” IN NEW VIDEO. Dierks Bentley’s premiered his “Bad Angel” video featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson off his bluegrass-influenced Up On The Ridge recently on CMT.com. The video was taped in front of a live crowd on Nashville’s historic Lower Broadway and first aired during ABC’s CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock special. The track was also recognized this week with a CMA Awards nomination for Musical Event of the Year. Dierks picked up a Male Vocalist of the Year nomination and his album Up On the Ridge has a nomination for Album of the Year.

To watch “Bad Angel,” click here: http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/558158/bad-angel.jhtml

ACM HONORS PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED. The ACM Honors has confirmed the performers for this year’s ceremony. Martina McBride, Marty Stuart, Randy Travis, Kenny Rogers and Lee Ann Womack will be lend their vocals to honor Keith Urban, Mel Tillis, Marty Robbins, and many others. Tickets will be sold to the public and will kick off September 20^th in Nashville.

THE ZAC BROWN BAND FEATURED ON COVER OF AMERICAN SONGWRITER. The Zac Brown Band is featured on this month’s cover of American Songwriter magazine, and inside is a six-page spread discussing the bands road to stardom and insight on their music. Zac Brown is known for his southern hospitality and wouldn’t label the band’s music in just one genre. He says, “The songs that I write are Southern, but I wouldn’t necessarily call them country. We’re Southern. My roots are Southern.” Fiddler De Martini agrees saying, “As far our approach, musically and professionally, we’re a long way away from how Nashville does it.”

DAVID NAIL ENJOYS A BASEBALL GAME FOR CHARITY. David Nail joined ESPN correspondent Dick Vitale over the weekend where the Tampa Bay Rays played the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team in Tampa Bay, Florida which supported the Payton Wright Foundation. The organization provides aid for families with children battling brain cancer and funding for brain cancer research. David recently helped the organization in May at a charity golf tournament where he played and performed. The guys hung out in a private suite where David enjoyed watching his favorite sport.

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

KAT VON D IN LOVE WITH JESSE JAMES! Kat Von D is professing her love for her new beau, Jesse James. The L-A Ink reality star told People magazine that Jesse is only her ninth boyfriend (whatever that means) and that she is in love with him. Earlier this year, Jesse James was married to Sandra Bullock; the pair is now divorced after Bullock found out James cheated on her. Maybe Kat will be luckier when it comes to James’ fidelity.
RACHEL UCHITEL’S MILLION DOLLAR APARTMENT! Tiger Woods’ alleged number one mistress, Rachel Uchitel, has purchased a two-million dollar apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan. Her pad includes three bedrooms, a fireplace and a doorman. Learn more at TMZ.
JACKSON ESTATE UPDATE! A hearing has been scheduled to discuss whether Michael Jackson’s father Joe should have the right to help make decisions in the King of Pop’s estate. Joe and his lawyers filed an appeal, claiming that Joe has a right to help decide how his son’s multimillion dollar estate should be spent. Learn more at News.Yahoo.com.
MICHAEL LOHAN WANTS TO OPEN A REHAB FACILITY! Michael Lohan, father of currently troubled actress Lindsay Lohan, says God wants him to open a rehab facility in California. Michael also states that he hopes A-list celebs check in to his soon-to-be-built center. Learn more at PerezHilton.com.
MACHETE AUDIO! In the new Robert Rodriguez flick Machete, a group of people called “The Network” help illegal immigrants living in the U-S. In the flick, Michelle Rodriguez stars as “Luz,” who is part of “The Network.” Check out Machete in theaters now.
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY BABY! It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia co-stars and married couple Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney had their first child this past week. The actors named their baby boy Axel Lee McElhenney and he was born on September 1^st. The pair wed back in September of 2008 in Malibu.
NO REGRETS ON THE JERSEY SHORE! Sammi and Ronnie’s relationship on Jersey Shore has continued to create drama during the second season. But, when we talked with Sammi a while back, she said she doesn’t regret getting together with him (See Related Cut #10). Tune in this Thursday at 10 PM Eastern on MTV to see another episode of Jersey Shore.

DIRECT QUOTE: Here’s what Olson told People magazine about the birth: “I went into labor at the Phillies/Dodgers game on Tuesday night. As soon as Ryan Howard hit a three-run home run, we felt comfortable leaving to go have our baby. We love him like crazy, even though he made us miss the second half of the game.”

CHELSEA HANDLER BREAKS UP? This year’s MTV VMA host Chelsea Handler may be single. Handler was dating Animal Planet star Dave Salmoni but alluded on her TV show Chelsea Lately that they have split up. Not one to shy away from talking about her private life, tune in to MTV this Sunday at 9 PM Eastern to watch the 2010 Video Music Awards to see if Handler gives us an update.