Lady Antebellum will sing “Happy Birthday” to Oreo cookies as the classic kids’ treat celebrates its 100th year with a flash-mob-style party today at the Grove, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Organizers say the 11 a.m. (PT) event is the flagship of seven similar spontaneous celebrations across the country where kids (big and small) will enjoy Oreo-themed games, photos with the Oreo Man and the free concert.

“Kids don’t necessarily get time to have kid fun anymore,” said event spokeswoman Caroline Lainio. “Those spontaneous moments of fun that people don’t have on a daily basis — that’s what Oreo wants to create.”

Nabisco, which makes Oreos, has research to back up such a claim. The company conducted a global survey of more than 7,000 parents last year and concluded that the “spirit of childhood is at risk worldwide, as parents and kids alike yearn to be more carefree.”

So organizers hope a few Oreos and a large glass of milk will get people dunking, splitting and licking the cookies in a few brief moments of unadulterated fun. 

“It’s a testament to a cookie that’s so unique in its own right,” Lainio said. “It just has some special  appeal to it.”

Alan Jackson has the ability to go from a raucous drinking song to a cry in your beer, rip-your-heart-out tune, and right back again to a fun, party song. This versatile performer, whose music has been the soundtrack to summer and helped heal a nation, enjoys the diversity of songs that make up his albums. “My albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know,” says Alan. “It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been.” The Georgia native has hit the jackpot with his latest single, the heart-felt “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” which is currently making its way up the country charts.

After breaking attendance records at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo last month, Alan heads to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 18th.

Alan is scheduled to perform his latest single, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” on NBC’s The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on March 30th.

AUDIO: Alan Jackson, who is climbing the charts with his latest single “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” talks about the diversity of songs that have made up his career.

AJ (diversity of songs) OC: …all of ‘em. :62
“I’ve always had that mixture of songs, from love songs to heartache and family-type songs, the fun, party songs and drinkin’ songs ’cause that, I mean, I played in the bars for years, and you had to play that stuff, and I liked it, anyway. I mean, I grew up on Hank Jr.’s stuff, you know? That was ultimate party country stuff, and that’s what I loved. And so it’s just kind of…to me, I’ve always…my albums and what I write and sing about have always been kind of from this side of country music to the other ’cause that’s what country music to me is. It’s all those things, you know? It’s hurtin’ songs, cheatin’ songs, drinkin’ songs, almost religious-type songs. You know, just everything fits right in there, and that’s the way country music’s always been. I mean, Hank Williams, Sr. — he’d write a party song, then he’d write a cryin’ song, and then he’d have a gospel song out, you know? So I just think it’s all the themes that represent country music, and yes, I’ve had my share of all of ‘em.”

Luke Bryan has been added to the all-star lineup scheduled to perform at the ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends — In Concert TV taping at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas April 2nd (the day after this year’s ACM Awards). He joins Tim McGraw, Sara Evans and Sugarland‘s Jennifer Nettles, as well as previously announced artists Lady Antebellum, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean and The Band Perry, among other surprise guests.

The special, which airs Friday, April 13th on CBS, is a concert event of country music collaborations with the legendary Lionel Richie, featuring duets from his upcoming album Tuskegee, out March 26th, along with solo performances. Some of Richie’s greatest hits will be performed by today’s hottest country artists including Jason Aldean (“Say You Say Me”), The Band Perry (“Penny Lover”), Luke Bryan (“Running with the Night”), Sara Evans, Lady Antebellum (“Truly”), Martina McBride (“Still”), Jennifer Nettles (“Hello”) and Rascal Flatts (“Dancing on the Ceiling”).  Duets with Richie include: “My Love” with Kenny Chesney, “Sail On” with  Tim McGraw, “Lady” with Kenny Rogers, and more surprises to be announced.

“It has been so rewarding to have my songs embraced by country music artists,” said Lionel Richie. “Since Conway Twitty recorded ‘Three Times a Lady’ and Kenny Rogers sang ‘Lady,’ I have been welcomed into the country music family with open arms.  It’s the ultimate compliment to have country artists record and perform songs that I’ve written.  I’ve always felt right at home in country because I was raised just down the road from Nashville in Tuskegee, Alabama, where I was immersed in country, R&B, gospel and classical music. This show will be a homecoming and family reunion combined, and I’m so glad that viewers will be able to share these special moments with us. It will be a night that I will remember for the rest of my life.”

Tickets for ACM PRESENTS: Lionel Richie and Friends In Concert are on sale NOW at Ticketmaster, priced at $200, $150, $100. Tickets proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, which works to improve lives through music.

Luke Bryan‘s “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and Dierks Bentley “Am I The Only One” were featured in ABC’s hot new series, GCB, which premiered Sunday night (March 4th). The series stars Kristen Chenoweth and Annie Potts.

Luke Bryan returns on Tuesday with his latest Spring Break EP, Suntan City. The fourth in a series features the title cut, as well as “Spring Breakup,” “Shake the Sand” and “Little Bit Later On.” He says one reason he included “Little Bit Later On” was that it was a little bit of a musical departure for him. “Part of the Spring Break album is for me to create maybe sounds or something you haven’t heard me do yet,” Luke explained. “Obviously, the sounds and the grooves and stuff in the front of it is new for me. It’s fun to have it on there, and that’s essentially why it made the Spring Break album.”

Luke is set to return to Panama City, Florida to put on his annual Spring Break concert at the Spinnaker Beach Club March 13th and 14th, when he’ll perform songs from his Spring Break 4…Suntan City EP. Luke’s ability to draw huge crowds in the Spring Break mecca caught the attention of the Panama City Convention & Visitors Bureau, who tapped Luke as a spokesperson.

• Luke has partnered with CMT to give away a one-week trip to Panama City Beach, along with tickets and meet & greet passes to one of his shows and a chance to join him onstage. Got to CMT.com to enter.
• Luke’s previous EP releases, which can all be found online at digital retailers, include 2009’s Spring Break…with All My Friends followed in 2010 with Spring Break 2…Hangover Edition and last year’s Spring Break 3…It’s A Shore Thing.
• Following his recent No. 1 single, “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” the Georgia native has hit the airwaves with his latest single, “Drunk on You.”  

AUDIO: Luke Bryan says the reason why “Little Bit Later On” made his latest Spring Break EP was because it was a bit of a departure for him musically.  

Luke Bryan (Little Bit Later On) 2 OC: …Spring Break album. :15

“Part of the Spring Break album is for me to create maybe sounds or something you haven’t heard me do yet. Obviously, the sounds and the grooves and stuff in the front of it is new for me. It’s fun to have it on there, and that’s essentially why it made the Spring Break album.”

TWO DAYS OF FREE, OPEN-TO-THE-PUBLIC CONCERTS TO BE HELD DURING 
ACM WEEKEND ON FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE FRIDAY, MARCH 30 & SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012

*     *     *

WEEKEND FEATURES LUKE BRYAN AND ERIC CHURCH,

ACM NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR NOMINEES AND SPECIAL GUESTS

EVENINGS HOSTED BY BLAIR GARNER 

WHAT:  The Academy of Country Music is hosting two days of all-star concerts at Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas during The Week Vegas Goes   Country®! The weekend-long party leading up to the 47^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted by three-time ACM On-Air Personality of the Year Award winner Blair Garner, host of After MidNite with Blair Garner, and will feature performances by ACM New Artist of the Year nominees Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes and Scotty McCreery as well as Love and Theft and headliner Luke Bryan on Friday, March 30^th, and Laura Bell Bundy,  Craig Campbell, Eli Young Band, Jana Kramer, and headliner Eric Church on Saturday, March 31^st. ACM Weekend on Fremont Street Experience is sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

DETAILS:         

Friday, March 30, 2012

7:00pm                 Love and Theft  (Vocal Duo of the of the Year Nominee) – 1^st Street Stage

7:55pm                 Hunter Hayes  (New Artist of the Year Nominee) – 1^st Street Stage

8:50pm                 Brantley Gilbert (New Artist of the Year Nominee) – 3^rd Street Stage

9:45pm                 Scotty McCreery (New Artist of the Year Nominee) – 1^st Street Stage

10:45pm               Luke Bryan – 3^rd Street Stage                                                                                        

Saturday, March 31, 2012                                                            

7:00pm                 Jana Kramer – 1^st Street Stage

7:55pm                 Craig Campbell – 1^st  Street Stage

8:35pm                 Eli Young Band – 3^rd Street Stage

                              (Vocal Group of the Year Nominee, Single Record of the Year Nominee & Song of the Year Nominee)

9:50pm                 Laura Bell Bundy – 1^st Street Stage

10:45pm               Eric Church (Album of the Year Nominee & Video of the Year Nominee) – 3^rd  Street Stage                                                                                

About Fremont Street Experience – Fremont Street Experience is a five-block entertainment zone in downtown Las Vegas that is one of the world’s most-visited attractions.  It features the world’s largest video screen at 1,500 feet long 90 feet above the pedestrian mall. VivaVision, with 12.5 million digital lights and a 550,000-watt sound system, dazzles visitors nightly with light & sound shows.  Encompassing 10 hotel-casinos, 60 restaurants and free entertainment, Fremont Street Experience attracts over 18 million annual visitors.  Visit www.vegasexperience.com for more information.