Taste of Country

'Footloose' opens up in select cities this weekend, and Thursday night was the Nashville premiere. A host of country talented associated with the film turned out, but so did artists like Trace Adkins who came just to support his good buddy Blake Shelton.

Randy Travis took to a Washington, D.C. stage last night to honor the men and women of the military who gathered at the annual USO Gala. Less than 24 hours after Travis was honored at the Grand Ole Opry by an array of Nashville royalty in celebration of his 25 years in country music, he offered heartfelt words and performed two songs in front of military elite and members of Congress.

The 'X Factor' field has been trimmed to the Top 32, leaving North Carolina's Tim Cifers as the only contestant with country credentials. The 29-year-old impressed judges and viewers when he opened up a group performance of Rascal Flatts' 'I Won't Let Go' on Thursday night. He was the only contestant in his group to make the cut.

Sugarland will appear in Indiana for the first time since the devastating stage collapse prior to them performing on August 13, which resulted in seven individuals who lost their lives while seriously injuring over 40 others. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush will perform with their full band for a free show.

Hunter Hayes won't say it, and perhaps he hasn't even thought it. But Lauren Alaina's prom invite (that a radio station convinced her to extend) was somewhat of a lose-lose idea. Hayes -- whose debut album is in stores on October 11 -- is 20-years-old, and Alaina is 16. There aren't very many fathers who'd approve of that arrangement, even if (or especially if) it was only for one night.

2011 has been a banner year for 'American Idol' winner Scotty McCreery. He's developed into such a beloved country music superstar that anything is possible for the teen -- maybe even a movie based on his meteoric rise. In a rapid fire series of questions offered up by the CMA blog, McCreery revealed which hot young Hollywood actor he would like to step into his boots in a biopic.

One is a Country Music Hall of Famer, and the other is an NFL Hall of Famer, but that's about all Hank Williams Jr. and former Detroit Lion running back Barry Sanders had in common, until now. "OK, I admit it, I'll be at MNF this week and doing the intro," Sanders tweeted on Thursday.

A new video on Toby Keith's website teases something big that's to come in the next few days. "I've got something very, very new. I've got something very, very stupid. I've got something very, very cool, all in the same package," Keith says in the clip. The 'Made in America' singer may have tipped it off by holding a specific type of cup in his hand throughout the clip.

Kellie Pickler makes her acting debut in less than two weeks. Her episode of the CW's '90210' airs on October 18, and the 'Tough' singer couldn't be more excited. "Had a blast filming with the cast of 90210!! So exciting!!!" Pickler recently tweeted.

The lyrics to Brad Paisley's new single 'Camouflage' are right up the singer's alley. The tune gives his fans exactly what they've come to love and expect out of the comical singer-songwriter. Paisley penned the tune with Kelley Lovelace and Chris DuBois for his 'This is Country Music' album.