Country Q&A

Week of April 29, 2009

By Neil Haislop

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert at the CRS-40/Digital Rodeo "40th Anniversary Jam: A Musical Thanks to Radio" at Cadillac Ranch, Friday March 6, 2009 in Nashville, Tenn. Photo: Bev Moser/CRB

Each week country music expert Neil Haislop answers your questions!

Q: What's the latest on the Blake Shelton/Miranda Lambert romance? What, if any, are their plans for a future together?
(June, Northport, AL)

A: June, the relationship between Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert remains much the same. They remain a committed couple, are together whenever their individual touring schedules permit. They enjoy each other's company and are both sweet and funny when talking about their relationship.

Q: What happened to Mark Chesnutt? He's great but I haven't heard any new sounds out of him in ages and never see him on TV anymore.
(Faye, Crossville, TN)

A: Faye, Mark Chesnutt is still a very active artist. He has a new album out called Rollin' With The Flow and has a lot of tour dates on the schedule. The only reason you aren't seeing as much of Mark is that he hasn't had any big hits this century so far. Plus, he hasn't been on a major label since 2004. In most cases, you need to score hits and have the power of a major label behind you to get your profile up where TV seeks you out and you get nominated for awards. Nonetheless, Mark still sings great as ever and you can catch up on all that's happening with him at www.markchesnutt.com.

Q: Why was Josh Gracin dropped from his label, Lyric Street Records? Was it for poor album sales?
(Jaime, Cleveland, TN)

A: Jaime, not all the reasons why Josh Gracin was dropped from Lyric Street Records are known. He did take a long time to release his latest album last summer, and when the first single from the record did not do well, that may have sealed Josh's fate.

Q: In the video "Back To Tennessee," is that Bucky Covington playing guitar or is it his brother? Who's the guy that looks like him?
(Adrian, Conneaut, OH)

A: Adrian, the guy you think looks like Bucky is his identical twin brother, Rocky. Rocky joined Bucky's band as the drummer when Bucky got his contract from Lyric Street Records.

Q: Where are all the members of Rascal Flatts originally from and how did they become a group?
(Cassie, Whitakers, NC)

A: Rascal Flatts members Gary LeVox and Jay DeMarcus are cousins who grew up in Columbus, Ohio. Joe Don Rooney is from Pitcher, Oklahoma. Jay moved to Nashville before Gary, but kept bugging his cousin to join him in Music City. Gary did and they formed a group with another guy and played as often as possible in Nashville's Tin Pan Alley clubs. One night the third man couldn't make it to the show, so Jay asked Joe Don to sit in with them that night. They gelled so well that Joe Don became the new third member on their way to being discovered, not long after that, by Lyric Street Records.