Porter Wagoner Battling Lung Cancer

Porter Wagoner Battling Lung Cancer

(www.cmt.com)

Grand Ole Opry member Porter Wagoner, 80, has been diagnosed with lung cancer, an Opry spokesperson confirmed Sunday afternoon (Oct. 21). Although the nature of his illness had not been previously disclosed, Wagoner has been listed in serious condition since being admitted to a Nashville-area hospital on Monday (Oct. 15). In May, he celebrated his 50th anniversary as an Opry member during a special segment of the show hosted by Marty Stuart and featuring guest appearances by Patty Loveless and Wagoner's longtime duet partner, Dolly Parton. Wagoner was inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 2002.

Jessica Simpson Plans Move to Nashville

(http://www.gactv.com/)

Several Music Row heavy-hitters tell Brad Schmitt of Nashville's WKRN that Jessica Simpson not only intends to launch a country career, but she also plans to move to Nashville.

Jessica's Dukes of Hazzard co-star Willie Nelson is going to help her make her first country album, and Jessica is currently in town meeting artists, like John Rich and Vince Gill, as well as Music Row execs, including Sony BMG honchos, and songwriters Aimee Mayo ("Amazed") and Hillary Lindsey ("Jesus, Take the Wheel")

Word is that Creative Artists Agency agent-to-the-stars Rod Essig — who handles Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Reba McEntire among others — has been Jessica's guide around town. No word on a label, a producer or a release date.

At new tequila-bar hotspot Agave this week, Jessica's tablemates included Kellie Pickler, John Rich, her dad/manager Joe Simpson and Hank Williams, Jr.'s daughters Hilary and Holly Williams.

Reba #1's Certified Double Plantinum

(www.reba.com)

Congratulations Reba!
Reba #1's has been certified DOUBLE PLATINUM by the RIAA!

Sara Evans Hits the Road with Chevrolet

(www.gactv.com)

Sara Evans kicks off a new tour in Fort Wayne, Ind., tonight with sponsorship from Chevrolet Malibu. The tour ends on November 17, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Josh Turner, Luke Bryan and George Ducas will join Sara on various dates throughout the tour. Sara is featured with the new Chevy Malibu in the 2008 Chevy Country Music calendar available for download at chevynation.com/country.

Concert attendees will be able to have a virtual experience with an onsite fan photo opportunity booth that lets them have their picture digitally inserted with Evans and the Chevy Malibu. Fans will be given a card at the venue that will allow them to retrieve their photo at the Chevy Malibu website.

"I am so excited to have the all new Chevy Malibu sponsoring my upcoming tour," Sara says. "I have always been a huge fan of Chevy cars and trucks and can't wait to have Chevy on the road with me!"

Billboard Top 200

8/29/07

The soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical 2" remains atop The Billboard 200 for a second week. The set moved 367,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The sales decrease is the smallest second-week slump for an album that started with 500,000 or more since Kenny Chesney's "When the Sun Goes Down" declined by only 36% in February 2004.

Miley Cyrus' Disney double-disc set "Hannah Montana 2 (Soundtrack)/Meet Miley Cyrus" slips 2-3 with 58,000, a 30% drop in sales. Another soundtrack, New Line's "Hairspray," climbs 5-4 despite a 17% sales hit with 53,000, while the "NOW 25" hits compilation flip-flops with it, 4-5, with 52,000 (-20%). Fueled by the popularity of the current single "Big Girls Don't Cry," Fergie's "The Dutchess" (will.i.am/A&M/Interscope) continues its rebound 7-6 with 50,000 (-5%).

Eclectic Interscope artist M.I.A. arrives at No. 18 with her sophomore album, "Kala," which moved 29,000. It's the follow-up to 2005's "Arular," which reached No. 3 on the Top Electronic Albums chart and No. 14 on Heatseekers.

Other big debuts this week include Cartel's self-titled Epic album, which was written, recorded and produced inside of a bubble for MTV reality show "Band in a Bubble." The album bows at No. 20 with 28,000. Also new: Rilo Kiley's "Under the Blacklight" (Warner Bros., No. 22, 27,000), Universal South artist Joe Nichols' "Real Things" (No. 23, 26,000), country veteran Travis Tritt's "The Storm" (Category 5, No. 28, 23,000) and indie rock act the New Pornographers' best charting effort yet, "Challengers" (Matador, No. 34, 20,000).