Universal Universal Music Group Nashville Pressroom

Hank-FM in Indianapolis recently sat down with Easton Corbin, who revealed his first public performance fiasco, his first big purchase and his sure-fire hangover cure. Check it out!

Scotty McCreery has been added to the list of performers for this week’s Christmas in Rockefeller Center  NBC-TV special. Previously announced performers include Trace Adkins, Mariah Carey, Rod Stewart and Cee Lo Green. The special, which kicks off the tree lighting ceremony in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza, will air Wednesday (November 28th) at 8pm ET.

The North Carolina native, who just released Christmas With Scotty McCreery, says his favorite holiday song is one that music royalty recorded in 1957. “My favorite Christmas song comes from my favorite Christmas album, and that’s Elvis’ Christmas album,” says Scotty. “I was an Elvis fanatic growing up. It was ‘Blue Christmas.'”

AUDIO: Scotty McCreery reveals his favorite Christmas song, which was recorded by Elvis Presley in 1957.

Scotty McCreery (favorite Christmas song) OC: …my favorite. :18
“My favorite Christmas song comes from my favorite Christmas album, and that’s Elvis’ Christmas album. I was an Elvis fanatic growing up. It was ‘Blue Christmas.’ When I was making my album, I knew I was going to put at least one Elvis song on there, so it came down to just deciding that nobody was going to sing ‘Blue Christmas’ like Elvis Presley, so we did ‘Santa Claus is Back in Town.’ But ‘Blue Christmas’ is definitely my favorite.”

Thanksgiving is over, Black Friday Door Busters have been bought and the Christmas trees are being decorated, and that means your favorite Christmas movies are hitting the small screen. Some of your favorite country stars reveal which Christmas movies will be playing on their television during the holiday season.

AUDIO: Kelleigh Bannen talks about her favorite Christmas movies.

Kelleigh Bannen (Christmas movies) OC: …hilarious. :19
“I love White Christmas! That is an incredible movie. The music alone is incredible, so that one. And then, Home Alone [laughs]. We watched that movie, I don’t even know how many times, so those two. We’ll do something classic and then we’ll do something hilarious.”

Lady A (favorite Christmas movies) OC: (Hillary) …Christmas Vacation. :14
CHARLES: “Favorite Christmas movie would have to be A Christmas Story. I never get tired of it. ‘Shoot your eye out’ – it’s my favorite line.” DAVE: “National Lampoon’s!’ HILLARY: “Yes! My favorite Christmas movie is, it’s close between It’s a Wonderful Life and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

AUDIO: The members of Little Big Town talk about some of their favorite Christmas movies and holiday specials.

LBT (Holiday movies) OC: (Phillip) …whatever I touch. [LAUGHS] :38
KAREN: “One of our favorite Christmas traditions is gathering around the television to watch holiday movies. And I know [for] Kimberly, it starts with [KIMBERLY: “It’s a Wonderful Life.”] It’s a Wonderful Life. Ours is holiday movies and records, like certain records have to be played in order for Jimi.” JIMI: “You have to start out the season right with Elvis, a little Elvis Presley.” KAREN: “I like the Charlie Brown Christmas movie.” KIMBERLY: “It’s sweet.” KAREN: “Yeah, it is sweet.” JIMI: “I like all those classic ones like the Rudolph and what is the one with the Abominable Snowman?” KIMBERLY: “Frosty, the Snowman?” PHILLIP: [sings] “I’m Mister Heat Miser/whatever I touch…” [LAUGHS] (The song is from the Claymation special ‘A Year Without a Santa Claus.’)

AUDIO: Luke Bryan reveals his favorite Christmas movie.

Luke Bryan (Christmas movie) OC: …Vacation. :06
“Hey, it’s Luke Bryan! My favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.”

AUDIO: Mallory Hope talks about her favorite Christmas movies.

Mallory Hope (Christmas movies) OC: …this year. :43
“Christmas time is my favorite time of the year and I love the music, movies and the TV shows. I think some of my favorite movies are Holiday Inn and White Christmas and every year, we always watch The Grinch with my nieces and now nephew, but they absolutely love The Grinch. Always every year, we have to watch the Santa Clause movies (starring Tim Allen). I actually really enjoy them, and they’re really funny. It makes you want to believe in Santa and go back to being a kid and how exciting it was. And we also like to watch Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation. Every year, I probably watch it 20 times, but it’s hilarious, and it makes me think of my family. We watch it on Christmas Day, and we watch the parade, and I can’t wait to sit around and watch the holiday movies again this year.”

Kip Moore is closing in on the Top 5 on the country charts with his current hit, “Beer Money.” It’s the follow-up to his previous No. 1 single, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck.” He says his music, especially his latest, describes how he grew up. “It’s a signature thing for small town America and what I think small town America is, and people working the  says Kip, adding, “and they’ve got to have their ‘Beer Money’ to do it.”

Kip is set to perform at the American Country Awards – where he’s up for three, including Best New Artist — on December 10th on FOX.

Kip is also on the road on Eric Church’s Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour – the next stop is in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday (November 28th).

AUDIO: Kip Moore talks about his hit single, “Beer Money.”

Kip Moore (Beer Money) OC: …a good time. :19
“My latest single, ‘Beer Money,’ is basically describing how I grew up. It’s a signature thing for small town America and what I think small town America is, and people working the 9 to 5 jobs and saving just enough to kind of escape from those jobs for the weekend, and they’ve got to have their ‘Beer Money’ to do it. And you want to go out and blow it out and have a good time.”

In this week’s Urban Chat, Keith Urban wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! The singer also recommends the movie Silver Linings Playbook, which stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro.

Even though he’s been in the music business for years, celebrity judge Keith Urban is still taken aback by some of the voices that step onto the Idol stage! Tune into American Idol this January on FOX to hear for yourself!

LINER Uncle Kracker (Thanksgiving)
“Hey! This is Uncle Kracker, wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!”

Kelleigh Bannen was chosen to be the CMT Listen Up Artist of the Month for November, which she feels is pretty cool. “One of the cool things about that whole program is that it’s an amazing way to introduce CMT viewers and audience to new artists and to give them special content that they can only see there,” Kelleigh explains. “Our content is actually five live performances from the Capitol Street Party that was back in October, and it was just amazing that we got to have CMT there to film it, in front of that audience of 25-thousand people.” The content from the “Sorry on the Rocks” singer is now available online at CMT.com.

Kelleigh Bannen (Listen Up) OC: …at CMT.com. :40
“I’m really excited about being the CMT Listen Up Artist for November. One of the cool things about that whole program is that it’s an amazing way to introduce CMT viewers and audience to new artists and to give them special content that they can only see there, which I think is cool. And our content is actually five live performances from the Capitol Street Party that was back in October, and it was just amazing that we got to have CMT there to film it, in front of that audience of 25-thousand people. It’s pretty incredible, so it’ll all be available online at CMT.com.

Country music star and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery will turn his November 23rd concert at the historic Beacon Theater in New York City into a benefit concert to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The show, originally billed as “Christmas with Scotty McCreery” is now being tagged as the “Beacon Theater Benefit for Hurricane Sandy Relief.” McCreery will donate a portion of the ticket sales to World Vision’s Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

“Being from North Carolina, I have seen firsthand what hurricanes can do. After seeing the devastation caused by Sandy, I wanted to figure out a way to help,” says McCreery of the upcoming concert. “And given that we have a show at the Beacon Theater the day after Thanksgiving, I thought ‘why not turn that New York show into a benefit?’”

Since the storm struck, World Vision has focused on providing assistance to communities in Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Yonkers and Coney Island in New York; as well as in Hoboken and Egg Harbor township in New Jersey. In addition to McCreery’s ticket donation, World Vision will also be collecting donations onsite during the November 23rd concert.

“World Vision is honored to have been chosen by Scotty and his family to join together and help those still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy,” says Michael Bianchi, Director, World Vision Artists. “Our global mission is to serve those in need, even here in our own country. Scotty’s wish to do the same, especially at this time of the year, makes for a perfect partnership.”

McCreery has also invited his friend and American Idol fan favorite Pia Toscano to join him at the Beacon for a special performance. “New York is my hometown and it’s been difficult to watch what has happened there to my friends and family,” says Toscano. “So when Scotty asked me to be a part of his Beacon Theater benefit performance, I jumped at the chance.”

The New York City concert will feature songs from McCreery’s Platinum debut album Clear As Day as well as many songs from his new holiday album, Christmas With Scotty McCreery, which has sold more than 100,000 units in 5 weeks. Christmas With Scotty McCreery, an 11-song collection produced by Mark Bright, features two original holiday tracks as well as classic favorites.

With the holidays in mind, McCreery adds, “It’s fitting that the day after Thanksgiving, we can all show how thankful we are to live in a great country where Americans help Americans in their time of need. So, I hope everyone will come out and support the ‘Beacon Theater Benefit for Hurricane Sandy Relief.’ It will be a fun night and a grateful way for us all to kick off the holiday season.”

Doors open at 5pm on Friday, November 23rd and the show begins at 5:30pm. For tickets, go to Ticketmaster here:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1D004949814D4921?camefrom=CFC_BEACONTHEATRE_BEACONTHEATRE&brand=beacontheatre.

About World Vision:

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. Working in nearly 100 countries around the world, World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.