JOHN ANDERSON AND BIG & RICH THROW DOWN ON “CMT CROSS COUNTRY”
02/21/07
NASHVILLE – February 21, 2007 – Country music legend, John Anderson and MuzikMafia’s modern country rockers, Big & Rich, unite to perform their biggest hits and favorite songs in CMT CROSS COUNTRY: JOHN ANDERSON AND BIG & RICH, premiering Saturday, March 17 at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Taped in front of a live audience in Nashville, CMT CROSS COUNTRY features songs performed by both artists, including “Seminole Wind,” “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy),” “Swingin’” and “8th of November.” The one-hour special also includes behind the scenes footage and interviews with John Anderson, John Rich and Big Kenny.
John Anderson and Big & Rich have a long musical history together. Rich first met Anderson in 1996 when, hoping to meet one of his idols, he knocked on Anderson’s tour bus door. Nine years later, reconnected through producer Paul Worley, the two booked a songwriting session and have been playing and writing music together ever since. In 2005, Anderson accompanied Big & Rich for five stops on their “Comin’ To Your City” tour. Together, they wrote and yielded songs that form the core of Anderson’s new album, Easy Money, which Rich is credited on as the album’s sole producer. In November of 2006, John Rich and Big Kenny welcomed their “honky tonk hero” John Anderson into the MuzikMafia family.
John Anderson has been recording hit songs since 1979 and is releasing the 27th album of his career, Easy Money on May 15, 2007 on Warner Bros./Raybaw Records. Besides the several ACM and CMA Awards nominations for songs like "Swingin'" and "Seminole Wind," Anderson boasts 28 Top 10 hits since the 1980's. Anderson's peers hold him in high esteem for being one of the most gifted, long tenured and consistent artists ever to sing a country song.
Groundbreaking and multi-platinum duo Big & Rich, comprised of John Rich and Big Kenny, continue to make their own brand of “country music without prejudice.” Their video, “8th of November,” from their sophomore album Comin’ to Your City, was nominated at this year’s Grammy Awards. Rich won artist/songwriter of the year at this year’s ASCAP Awards for the second consecutive year. He is also an accomplished producer and most recently has produced John Anderson’s forthcoming album Easy Money. Big Kenny has also been recognized as the 2005 BMI writer of the year. Currently, his song “Last Dollar (Fly Away),” recorded by Tim McGraw, is flying up the charts. Their third studio album, Between Raising Hell And Amazing Grace, is slated for release by Warner Bros. Records on June 5, 2007. Their first book, Big & Rich: All Access, will be released simultaneously with their album on June 5.
The rich tradition of country music is showcased in the CMT performance series, CMT CROSS COUNTRY, where two country music artists share their music and discover the country roots they have in common. Other CMT CROSS COUNTRY episodes have featured Randy Travis with Josh Turner and Vince Gill with Alison Krauss.
CMT CROSS COUNTRY is produced by Taillight TV. Sarah Brock and Margaret Comeaux are as executive producers for CMT.
For more information on CMT CROSS COUNTRY log on to http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/cmt_cross_country/116451/episode.jhtml.
Visit CMT's press-only web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos.
CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 83 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.CMT.com.
