Hank Williams News

Eight remaining couples hit the dance floor and pay tribute to singer, songwriter and legend Stevie Wonder, MONDAY, APRIL 22 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET). Stevie Wonder takes over the ballroom as "Dancing with the Stars" devotes, for the first time, an entire evening to one artist. He will perform some of his classic songs, including "Sir Duke" and "My Cherie Amour," and the celebrities will dance to his greatest hits, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "For Once in My Life" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)." Special guest country superstar Hunter Hayes will perform with Stevie Wonder in a spectacular opening performance. The night will also showcase two team dances featuring the celebrities and their pro partners.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for His Girl Friday, adapted by John Guare (Six Degrees of Separation, House of Blue Leaves) from the Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur play The Front Page and the Columbia Pictures film His Girl Friday. Directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley (Glengarry Glen Ross, Memphis), the production will kick off the 2013/2014 season, running May 28 - June 30 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Hershey Theatre will welcome Tony Bennett, the 17 time Grammy Award-winning musician. He'll delight fans on Saturday, July 27 at 8:00 p.m.

As America prepares to commemorate the 80 th birthday of Willie Nelson on April 29 th, the country music icon will be celebrated as Artist of the Month for April, 2013 by Legacy Recordings, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Acclaimed Nashville-based singer-songwriter Holly Williams will keep to The Highway in support of her third album, which continues to garner accolades and is out now on her own Georgiana Records imprint. With U.S. headlining dates throughout April, Williams is slated to play the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Strawberry Music Festival in May and goes on to open for John Prine in June and John Hiatt in July. A full list of tour dates is below.

Today, the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 48 th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, due to time constraints.

Today, the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 48 th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, due to time constraints.

Wayside Theatre Artistic Director, Warner Crocker, announced the cast and schedule for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the last show of Wayside's 51st Season. This show was conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and additional material by Jay Reiss. This production is sponsored by WVPT - Your Source for PBS and More and TV3-Winchester.

Beginning Tuesday, March 26, Ben Hope will play the role of 'Guy,' Laura Dreyfuss will play the role of 'Girl,' Carlos Valdes will play the role of 'Andrej' and Claire Wellin will play the role of 'Reza.' Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti, Will Connolly and Elizabeth A. Davis, from the original cast, will play their final performance on Sunday, March 24, 2013.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

The Board of Directors of the Blyth Centre for the Arts has announced the appointment of Marion de Vries as the next Artistic Director of the Blyth Festival. "Making the choice of one person from a short list of people with superb skills and experience was an excruciatingly difficult task, so now, with this decision happily behind us, the Blyth Festival's Board of Directors is looking forward to the exciting years that lie ahead, with Marion as our Artistic Director," says Wendy Hoernig, Board President.

Bay Street Players hosts the return of Cash & Friends, a tribute to the legendary music of Johnny Cash, June Carter, Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings, tonight, March 8-9 at 8:00pm, and March 10 at 2:00pm. Last year's three day engagement sold out. BSP is recommending you get your reservations early so as not to miss this year's show.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

This morning, the highly anticipated artist lineup for the 31st annual 99.5 WYCD Downtown Hoedown, presented by Ram Trucks, Coors Light and Coca Cola, was officially announced on The All New Dr. Don Morning Show featuring some of country's greatest superstars including Jake Owen, Uncle Kracker, Joe Nichols and Craig Morgan. The weekend-long event will once again turn the expansive grounds surrounding Comerica Park into county music central from Friday, May 31 through Sunday, June 2. Last year's 30th anniversary event marked a tremendous milestone for Detroit's original country music must-see summer event with its debut move to Comerica Park.

On First Friday, today, March 1st the Ware Center will contribute its share to the day's festivities offering an array of events and performances - ALL FREE. Included are singer/songrwriter Leo DiSanto, The Lancaster County Young Artists Art Exhibition Gold Special Award Winners Opening Night, and the film 'Miss Representation'.

It is a trip down country music's memory lane. In Hank & My Honky Tonk Heroes, Jason Petty pays tribute not only to Hank Williams and his influence on country music but also to the stars who influenced Hank and those whom Hank influenced. These include Jimmie Rodgers, Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb, George Jones, and more. Hank & My Honky Heroes will perform in Three Stages on Thursday, March 7, 7 pm; Friday, March 8, 2 pm & 7 pm; Saturday, March 9, 2 pm & 7 pm. Tickets are $29-39.

Bay Street Players hosts the return of Cash & Friends, a tribute to the legendary music of Johnny Cash, June Carter, Patsy Cline and Waylon Jennings, March 8-9 at 8:00pm, and March 10 at 2:00pm. Last year's three day engagement sold out. BSP is recommending you get your reservations early so as not to miss this year's show.

On First Friday, March 1st the Ware Center will contribute its share to the day's festivities offering an array of events and performances - ALL FREE. Included are singer/songrwriter Leo DiSanto, The Lancaster County Young Artists Art Exhibition Gold Special Award Winners Opening Night, and the film 'Miss Representation'.

Louisiana's Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, on behalf of the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and The Oxford American Magazine have partnered to present five Louisiana Soundtrack Experience events around the state.

Phillip Phillips grew up in Georgia and enjoyed spending time with his family. Everyone in his family loved singing and Phillip started to take an interest in music after hearing his siblings sing. When he auditioned for American Idol, he was sure that they were going to give him terrible feedback. But, instead, he became the 11th Season winner of American Idol. I recently had the chance to interview Phillip while he was touring with Matchbox Twenty. As he shared his experiences, it was easy to see why America fell in love with Phillip and his unique style of music.