Love and Theft "Runaway" With Thousands of Country Music Fans Following Their Every Move!

Carolwood Records recording artists "Love and Theft" are brand new to the music scene so we thought it was perfect for "EnterTeenment" to interview them in a brand new way! (New to this site anyway!)

Below you can hear our complete, uncut interview with the up-and-comers who are creating a buzz on radio, on country music video channels and at every live performance the hard-working trio has played the past year.

Turn your speakers up and listen in as Editor, Susan Yeager, talks with the band about how they got together, hearing their song on the radio for the first time, the video shoot, and what they do in their spare time. You can also find out what the three most important things you can do as a "Love and Theft" fan to help the group out the most!






The group's debut album "World Wide Open" hits stores on August 25. The days leading up to the release are jam-packed for the trio including an appearance on "The Today Show" on August 21, a full band performance at a radio station show in Atlanta Sunday night after which they’ll back to Nashville to rise early Monday morning for the first of four consecutive daily satellite radio tours. Fans can tune into their local country radio stations to catch Love And Theft live on-air but they can also visit the station’s website and AOL’s “The Boot” for a live video stream of the radio tours as the interviews are taking place.The remainder of the week will include a visit to Sirius XM’s Music Row Happy Hour along with more satellite radio tours, radio station visits and concert appearances in Houston, TX (8/26); Dallas, TX (8/27); Phoenix, AZ (8/28); and Las Vegas (8/29).

Love And Theft can also be seen on CMT Insider and the network’s Top 20 countdown along with GAC’s Headline Country and On The Streets.


Check out the video for "Runaway" below!



Find out more about the group by visiting their official Web site: www.WorldWideOpenCD.com or their official Myspace page at www.MySpace.com/LoveAndTheftMusic



Photos Provided by Carolwood Records! Special thanks to Cindy at Carolwood, Katie and everyone at Audio Productions!



Adam Lambert: "American Idol's" Latest Gift to Music

By: Susan J. Yeager

San Diego native, Adam Lambert, is one of the most talked about "American Idol" contestants in the history of the show. Unlike some people infamous for having no talent (think William Jung), Adam, is talked about for all the right reasons. Having complete control over what has to be one of the broadest vocal ranges ever, coupled with the much sought after, ever elusive "IT" factor, propelled the performer into the runner-up position of America's most watched talent show. More importantly, his performances throughout the competition propelled him in to the hearts and heads of millions of "Idol" viewers who just can't get enough of this tucked away superstar who is now unveiled.

Preparing for this moment since his youth, Adam's background contains numerous Community Theater and theater productions including understudying in touring and L.A. based productions of "Wicked." With such obvious talent and charisma, it's a surprise that the Los Angeles resident wasn't a star already. "I might not have gone through the proper channels, to be honest with you," Adam says about not being a household name prior to this season of "Idol." "The concept of being 'discovered' is kind of a dying art. I don't think anybody gets 'discovered.' I think you kind of have to put yourself out there. I was doing the theater thing and on the side I had a band for a while and then I started writing music. I was just getting to the point where I was probably ready to start submitting music to labels, but then this opportunity came along and I jumped at it. I think that things happened when they were supposed to happen."

Like most everyone, Adam admits to moments of doubt that often end up being our greatest motivators. "I've definitely had moments and I think that's one of the reasons why I decided to audition for the show is that I got to a point where I was in the ensemble of Wicked here in L.A., and it was a great job and I had a lot of friends in the cast and it was paying the bills. But I just wasn't satisfied artistically and it was about a year-and-a-half ago and I kind of was sitting alone in my room one day. Is this it; is this my life? I had just turned 26 and I said, 'I want more. There's more that I'm supposed to be doing, I have this feeling.' So this was the thing that presented itself to me and I think the timing was right. I had auditions before, but I don't think I was ready. Everything just lined up and I'm really, really fortunate that it worked out the way it did."

Once he made the Top 13, Adam wasted no time in differentiating himself from the pack. His unique arrangements and theatrical performances of songs like Michael Jackson's "Black or White," and the disco classic "If I Can't Have You" (which he somehow managed to turn into a heart-wrenching ballad) made viewers tune-in week after week, just to see and hear what he would do next.

If he's accused of being "too theatrical"… bring it on Adam says. "I think it's just all in the name of good entertainment. First and foremost it is about the music, but it kind of packages it in a little bit more of a flashy, more interesting dynamic way, in my opinion. I think theatricality is just one way of performing. I don't think it's a better way or the way, but it's my way. Bowie's a great example of somebody that did it. Michael Jackson's a good example of somebody that used theatricality and drama, Madonna; there are a slew of artists out there that do it. I was just really lucky that American Idol embraced it because I think that it w as something a little bit new for them."

The some-what conservative show never asked him to tone anything down. "The really cool thing about the show is that they've been 100% supportive of everything that I've done, every aspect of everything I've done from the music to what I'm wearing to how I perform. I would go into a vocal session like, 'I have this idea, can we try it?' 'Yes sure let's try it.' Ricky Minor and the band would be like, 'What about his? Can we try something like this?' 'Yes, let's try it.' It's been very positive and creative and never once for a second did I feel stifled in any way."

Can he share any secrets of how he manages to hit those notes all the while appearing as calm as if he is singing in his shower? "I don't know. I think it's just something that I've been doing a long time. I don't think… I do. The thinking really comes into play when I'm planning out what it is that I'm singing and how I'm singing it and I think it through beforehand. When it comes time to actually perform I just go. I don't know how to describe it."

Though the audience has a list of their favorite performances that they would gladly rattle off if you asked, choosing a favorite is harder for Adam. "I'm so bad at favorites. I really had a lot of fun doing 'Whole Lotta Love' by Led Zeppelin. That was a great moment. We were really excited that it cleared; that we got the rights to use the song. It's an all-time favorite tune of mine and I felt very empowered onstage getting to sing that with the band."

Adam quickly won legions of fans including fellow singer Katy Perry, who donned an Elvis inspired cape with "Adam Lambert" written across the back of it when she performed her latest single on "Idol." "Oh, my gosh! I was shocked and I was completely honored and I had this huge smile on my face the minute I saw it," Adam gushes. "I wasn't prepared for that. I didn't know she was going to do that so you can imagine my surprise." He was eager to chat with Katy after her show. "Afterward, I gave her a big hug. She's really, really cool… very down-to-earth. She had some good advice for me. She said, 'Just make sure that you keep your friends that you had before all this started around you and keep them close.' I think that she's super talented and has a really good head on her shoulders."

The celebrities are eager to meet with Lambert and that is going to take some getting used to for the humble performer who is first and foremost, a HUGE fan of music. He can't pick the one who left the most lasting impression. "I was star-struck every time," he says about meeting the "American Idol" mentors and those who performed on the show. "Smokey Robinson was amazing; Jamie Foxx was amazing. I met Lady Gaga backstage when she came on the show; that was amazing. Every single celebrity was coming up to me and knew who I was and that, to me, was the weirdest part. I was like, 'Wait a minute, I'm a fan of yours; you can't be a fan of mine!' It was so strange. I met Fergie backstage the other night; that was really fun. Obviously Brian May and Kiss the other night, what an honor! Everyone that I met it kind of blew my mind."

Though Adam was an early favorite to win the competition, the title ultimately went to Kris Allen, a talented singer from Arkansas. Legions of Adam fans wallowed briefly in their extreme disappointment but Adam hasn't joined in yet "I'm totally okay with it; I couldn't be happier for Kris. He's a good friend of mine. I think he's immensely talented. I know it sounds cliché, but I really feel like I won by getting to the final. I felt like to me it's not about the title of American Idol, it was the experience. I made music and I got to do a different performance every week and I was able to use American Idol as a platform to get myself out there and now I have a career. So there's no need to dwell on the negative. We should look forward and be excited about an album and the rest of my career. That's where I'm at."

He has no regrets about his Idol performances, especially during the finale. "I had a blast; I really did have a good time. The 'Mad World' thing was really fun because I got to change the way I performed it from the first time and I think Simon was a little confused because I think he expected what he saw the first time. To me, I don't really like recreating things. I like making something different every time so I wanted to take it to a different place. I had a blast singing 'Change is Going to Come.' I hadn't really gotten to do that style of music on the show and I really enjoyed going there. The 'No Boundaries' single is such a great song; it's hard to sing live and I think if anything the only thing I could change is I would have liked a little more rehearsal with that song."

Ironically, the finale was really just the beginning of the next chapter in Adam's crazy musical journey. First up is hitting the road with his fellow top 10 contestants for a 52 city tour across the United States and then Adam can turn his full attention to making an album.

"You kind of have 'what if?' type meetings," the twenty-seven year old says about how the whole record deal comes about. "So in theory this is kind of what we want to do, but we're not going to make any official offers," he says of the powers-that-be at 19, the management/label that gets first dibbs on "Idol" contestants. "I knew there was interest and we started talking about ideas and stuff. I'm just thrilled that now I get to move forward and have a career in the industry. That's why I auditioned for the show and that's really what kept pushing me forward. That's why I feel like I've won. I don't feel like the title of first or second place really matters at this point."

After showcasing so many "sides" on the show, has Adam decided on a sound or a "feel" for what kind of album he will make? "We're at the drawing board right now trying to figure that out," he confesses. "My view of the record industry is that it's a little too specific lately. The labels tend to try to put one box around every artist and keep them in one genre. To me, I'm so fortunate because I got to use the show to get myself out there. We don't really have to go about it that way. Obviously we want the album to have a cohesive sound, but I think it can kind of be a collection of different styles with me at the center of it. Everybody knows who I am singing it so that's the common thread."

"My thing is that I don't want to do one specific genre or I'm more about fusion. I kind of like adding little elements of things into the final mix and if anything I'm more fond of the 70s glam field than the 80s even though I have that style of vocal. We'll see what happens. I'm kind of experimenting with that and there are a lot of pop artists that are using the 'glam' kind of vibe in their music currently. I think I'm actually part of a wave and there happens to not be many guys doing it right now."

Adam will take his live show into consideration while choosing the right songs for the disc. "My thing is… my favorite artists are artists that are theatrical. Obviously when you are doing a recording things aren't going to translate as over the top. Doing a live performance of something it takes on another life. I really enjoy the recording process and it's going to represent itself differently. Anybody that bought an iTunes version of what I did on the show could say, 'Okay, I get how he sounds in a recording session now versus how he is live.' It's different. The live performance takes it to a different level. I think people are in store for a treat; I think it's going to be a really cool album and I'm excited to start working on it."

About the only thing that Adam knows for sure is that he will have a hand in how the record turns out. No puppet strings here. "I think there's a little bit of a misconception about the debut CDs," he says of accusations that previous winners had no control over what type of album they got to make. "I think that it's a case-by-case thing. I think that in my talks with my team, the label and the management company, we've discussed it. I've expressed my desire to have a lot of involvement in the process. I'm definitely a collaborator; that's my strength. I don't like to be told what to do and I don't like to hold the reins all myself so I'm hoping that they pair me up with some amazing producers that are super talented and I know that they have some lined up already. I think that both in the producing and the writing process I plan on being present and involved. They are totally supportive of that and we're really, really looking forward to the process."

He's already dreamed of more than one collaboration. "I'd really love to work with Slash. When we did the mentor shoot at the Roxy, I felt so at home with him onstage. This guy is so rad. Who knows? Maybe we'll be able to record something in the future; I would love that." And after a great performance of "We are the Champions" with Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen, Adam can't say enough about his heroes. When asked to comment on May he says, "I was so honored to be onstage with him. Queen is one of my all-time favorite bands. I would love to work with him as well." Adam also mentioned that they hope to have the album out sometime this year.

So after putting an album out in the immediate future, would Adam go back to theater and maybe try Broadway or the big screen? "Of course I could see myself coming there eventually," he says of the theater. "Right now I'm doing the recording thing, but that's my family. That was my community for years and years and I have so many friends there in shows in New York and whenever I'm in New York I plan on coming to see shows and sitting right in the front row and cheering them on. I in no way will ever forget my roots, so to speak. I learned so much with theater and now I'm just on a new journey and I'm learning this way." Adam has also said "Obviously I'm focusing on recording right now as opposed to movies, but I would love to go that direction eventually. A lot of people mentioned the Elvis connection and in the heyday of Hollywood, artists got to do everything. They did music and they did film; something like that would be amazing."

Sending a quick message out to fans, Adam says "I am so fortunate to have had this opportunity and I am blown away by the amount of support that I got. It really made my experience what it was; I felt a lot of positive reinforcement both in the press and with the fans and I really appreciate you guys."

Having prepared for a career in music since childhood, it's going to be fun to see how the next few years play out for Adam Lambert. If his stint on "Idol" is any kind of indication, his ability to captivate an audience through music should bring him success in several areas of the entertainment industry. "This has been quite a journey," Adam says understatedly. "I'm just really excited to see what the future holds!" So are we! So are we.

Find out when Adam and his fellow top 10 contestants will be in your area by heading to www.AmericanIdol.com





"Anoop Dawg" Finished Another Chapter in His Amazing "American Idol" Journey. However, This is Only the Beginning!

Anoop Desai is a North Carolina native who was working on a Graduate degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) when he made the life-altering decision to audition for America's most watched talent show, "American Idol." His smooth vocals and showmanship impressed the judges so much that the much hyped "Top 12" became a "Top 13" for the first time in history, in order to include Anoop. Wowing the audience week after week, and building a rabid fan-base, the singer was ultimately eliminated in the first-ever, double elimination reveal on April 22.

Anoop recently hit the press circuit to talk about his "American Idol" experience, what he missed most about Chapel Hill, and how this was the only the beginning of what sounds like a long career in the music industry. Read on to find out more about Anoop!



Viewers probably noticed that it was rare for a week to go by without Anoop giving some sort of shout out to his hometown and his college pals. The proud singer gladly explained to the press why that was an important part of the experience for him. "I'm a native North Carolinian. So, North Carolina is what I know. It's what I love. I like to think of it as my natural habitat. I have such a connection to this place, I think, because of the people. My best friends, I made in Chapel Hill. The best experiences of my life, aside from Idol, have been in Chapel Hill. I don't know. I love the place. I love the people. I love just the aura of our town. It's a beautiful thing."

"You know that it's special because other people always tell you when they've been to Chapel Hill or when they've been to North Carolina because it strikes other people as special too. I wanted to share that with everyone. I also wanted to make Chapel Hill proud. That was in large part a reason for me auditioning for the show. I feel a dedication; I feel a responsibility to the town that gave me the best years of my life."



He says that he'll get to head home about a week after his elimination, once he wraps up the press tour and everything. "What do I want to do when I get back?" he ponders. "I want to sit on the couch. I want to wake up at noon. Then, I want to go get a Sunrise Biscuit."

Leaving NC also meant leaving an a capella group Anoop was a member of called the Clefhangers. Not having others around while singing was an adjustment for the musician. "It was. It was definitely an adjustment. For me, the week that I think I was the most comfortable on stage was the week that the band was on the stage for movie week because it did remind me of the close background of the Clefhangers, having your backgrounds right behind you literally. I miss it. It was definitely an adjustment, but I think it's one that was necessary for me to move into a professional music career, not just singing with the Clefs."

"By the way, I would love if you would mention that their concert is this Saturday for anyone that can get tickets should definitely check that out," he adds, still plugging his friend's talent too.



"Idol" is famous for bringing in other music industry professionals to "mentor" the singers and the ones chosen for season 8 left a lasting impression on Anoop. "They all had their different thing. I think that Quentin had very, very good points about roughing it up. I mean, Smoky was amazing to work with. Randy Travis had some really solid advice about getting into a song, about the shape of a song that is really important for any singer."

"I can only measure it in experiences. All three of those - also meeting Stevie Wonder and doing all those - some of the greatest experiences - not some of - THE greatest experiences of my life. I'm thankful for all of them. I think that they all contributed to what I now am, the singer that I now am and hopefully will continue to be for a long time."

The fans also left quite an impression on the performer. "I appreciate the fans more than anything because that's why we're here. My fans especially have been so supportive throughout this entire process. They're strategic; they're loving; they're kind. They really do care about me, not just about my music. They care about me. That's a very, very gratifying feeling, to know that there are millions of votes coming in for you, from people that you don't even know because they feel connected to you personally. So, all I can say is that everything that I did and all the success that I had was because of them, so I thank them immensely."



Anoop was quick to point out that the contestants truly were friends, even if they were also rivals. "That was the amazing thing really," he begins. "Quite frankly, when I started this process, I was expecting not to get along with everyone. I mean, I get along with people, but when you're competing against each other, living in close quarters, I would imagine that it would have been a bit much, but the great thing about this group is that - and I think it shows on TV too - we really, really are very good friends."

"We help each other out. We realize that it's a competition, but we also realize that the competition is not the end all, be all of us. We have our futures in the industry, and we're all going to make albums. For us, this was a growing process. It was a learning process. It's amazing how we all got along. Each person brought different things, both musically and personality-wise to the table. So, the mansion was actually a great place to be in. As fewer people were left, we actually got to spend more time with each other and bond that much more. So, it was not the tense environment that I think a lot of people imagine it to be."

That being said, did Anoop learn anything from these friends and rivals? "Everyone obviously has something different they bring to the table. To me, it was very humbling to see how good everyone was. It's not a skill or a vocal ability that we learn from the contestants. It's more about how to play to your strengths. I think as you see people realizing that throughout the competition, you sort of find your own niche. So, it's almost a communal experience. We're all finding our places in this competition. Ultimately, that's going to help us out by finding our place in the industry hopefully."



In reference to the double elimination, Anoop figured that he might be one of the ones going home but that it helped to have Lil going with him. "I think we always think about that sort of stuff on the inside, but it's amazing how many people out of that group were sure that they were going home last night. So, it was really a toss-up. At the end of the day, it is our own personal journey that's coming to an end, so that much still remained, but as we're doing press and everything, it is nice to have Lil there just so you're not wallowing all the time. We're both proud of ourselves for how far we've come. We're both eager to start working on albums. She has a very clear idea of what she wants to do. I know that I want to go the pop R&B route. I know that I want to put my own soul in pop songs - as Kara said, my MO is. So, I'm looking forward to making that album."

Was it hard for him to sing again after just learning he had been eliminated? Not really. "Actually, that was the easiest performance I've ever done. Hopefully that's going to be how it is on tour. There's something about the burden of having four people sitting in front of you that you know are your harshest critics. With that burden relieved, I was free to sing the song with personality, which is strange. It sounds strange to say, but that was the freest I've ever been on stage. Watching it back, I think it shows that I was very relaxed. Honestly, that was the persona that I've been trying to put on stage for a little while. It just so happened that it came out when I was most relaxed. So, now that competition is over, I'm looking forward to putting that out there every time I go on stage."



Because Matt was saved the week before, the opportunity for Anoop to be saved was taken off the table. Anoop says that's just the way it goes and isn't bitter about the process. "Honestly, the wildcard - sorry, not the wildcard - the save process was just something that you had to deal with. One of the things I learned from this show is you got to roll with the punches. Things are not going to always work out for you. This was a format change. I don't think that, ultimately, it changed anything because as we all know, the only real order that matters is who's at the top, who's number one. Everything after that, you can do whatever you want with your career. So, it didn't really bother me. In terms of the elimination, I actually told Ryan right before the show, "Hey, man, don't mess around with me tonight." So, I was glad that it was relatively quick. If I had a choice, they would mail me the results."

What's up next for the talented singer? "Well, I'm definitely going to pursue a music career. If I learned nothing else from this experience, it is that singing is what I am the happiest doing. I think it's what I do the best. So, I'm definitely looking forward to releasing that pop R&B album. I really like the things, for instance, that Nia is doing right now. I think that's the direction - obviously not a copycat, but I'm really interested in pursuing that direction in music."

"One of the best comments I got from the judges was Kara's for this last performance when she said that she could hear that song on the radio. That's really what I was striving for with the fast section of "Dim All The Lights." We put it to a very modern, almost electronic beat. That's the type of music that I feel most comfortable with and I look forward to making in the future."

When asked if Anoop had any closing remarks, he was quick to give credit where credit was due and thanked everyone behind-the-scenes at "Idol" and to the fans who voted week after week saying, "Just that I want to thank all of you all for being supportive of all of us, not only myself, throughout this entire competition. I wanted to just say to my fans that they're awesome. They're the most supportive people in the world. I love them."

"Also, I think it's so important to recognize Ricky Miner, the band, all the vocal coaches on the show, everyone in production and everything. They really are there to make our lives easier and to make us stars. So, I appreciate the process. I appreciate the opportunity. I'm going to go get them now!"



Anoop will be hitting the road with his fellow Top 10 contestants for the "American Idol" tour this summer. Be sure to head to www.AmericanIdol.com

for more on Anoop and to find out if the tour is coming to a city near you!





Lil Rounds Leaves "Idol" and Starts to Prepare for A Very Musical Future!

Lil Rounds hails from Memphis, Tennessee and has a set of pipes that make most people sit up and take notice of their power. It was that power that impressed the "Idol" judges very early on during the auditions for season 8. She came into the competition just as she left it… one of everyone's favorites.

Lil was the first contestant to be told that she going home in the much talked-about double elimination on April 22. Shortly after, the talented mother of three talked to the press about her "Idol" experience.



Though she would have loved to have been crowned the next "American Idol," of course this mother is excited to get back home to see her children. What did she say to them after being eliminated? "Well, I haven't gotten a chance to see the babies yet, but they did get to watch the show. I just explained to them that my run on American Idol was up, but of course, I was getting to come home to spend some time with them before I went on tour. They're still so very, very proud of their mommy. They've been great during this. They've tried to understand what I was doing. They're really proud of me, so I'm happy."

What does Lil miss about not being with home with her kids? "I totally miss being able to go - because it has gotten a little warmer in Memphis," she begins. "So, of course, I'm ready to go back home and take them to a park and just have fun. My husband actually bought me a puppy. So, we're ready to go home and get my puppy and run around with the babies for a minute before the tour. So, I'm going to miss that."

Because she was an early favorite, it was surprising to some viewers that the judges seemed harsh with her after several performances. Did Lil feel she had angered the judges in some way? "No, I don't think it was like that at all. Basically, I just feel like the judges gave their critiques based on how they felt the performance may have gone. It might not have been what they necessarily thought should have happened at the time or whatever with how the performance went, but whenever they gave me their comments, I always took them in stride because I felt like they were giving me constructive criticism to improve me. There were times I felt like they would go back and forth a bit, but it was okay because, in the end, I'm going to take everything that they gave me and push forward with it because I will definitely have some albums to come out. The things they gave me is going to help me to make that a great success."



A reoccurring comment from the judges was "make it your own." Lil discussed the concept. "When I would hear that, I automatically would think - first of all, I thought that I did make it my own, especially vocally, but I guess they wanted me to do more of a change as far as music-wise because whenever I would do a song, I always stayed true to the way that the music went with the song. I felt, vocally, I did do some changing there because I always wanted it to fit who I am as an artist."

"Of course, there would be me being R&B, soulful type singer. So, I always wanted to make sure that I got that vibe in there because that is true me. As far as making it my own, I felt that I did do that. I'm sorry the judges didn't quite agree with it, per se, but they never took anything away from any artist, saying I was a really great singer, but I felt that I knew who I was as an artist. I thought I made it my own."

Usually Lil took all the judges comments in stride, but the week before she left, she spoke us for herself. Lil explains by saying, "I just felt like the judges, when they would give me their critiques or their comments, it seemed to me like it started going back and forth. One week they would tell me one thing; then, the next week, the same thing they told me the week before, they'll flip it and tell me to do the opposite of that. So, I was kind of like, 'Eh, I don't know which way to go.' I had to make it clear, not just trying to go toe-to-toe with Simon or the judges or anything like that, but I just wanted America to really know that I really, really am an artist. If in any way I gave the vibe that I didn't know who I was or what I was trying to do as an artist, I was trying to let everybody know that I'm definitely an artist, and I love to do the R&B and soulful vibe."



"So, that's why I did the bit, 'Mill is on the Road,' and I turned it and made it into my own. So, I just felt like, regardless of what artist you choose to do, as long as you make it your own, and you sing it the way you want to sing it and you know is you, then you go for it. So, I just had to tell them."

Did speaking up for herself impact the voting? "I'm not exactly sure because America's been keeping me in for a while now. So, I'm not sure if that made an impact on me staying another week or not, but I will say that I felt that America got the message that I wanted them to get because the judges are great, but I really, really came on this show for America, to really get it out there and let them see my dream."



Lil says while she was performing, it wasn't just for the judges. "It really is a combination. The audience is right there with me sometimes, so I just go ahead and groove with them. I like to get them on their feet, but then, of course, it's for the babies, for my children and my husband, and for the judges as well. So, it's a combination. I try to get everybody off in there."

Just how do the "Idols" pick their songs from week to week? The singer sheds a little light on the subject. "Of course, we have vocal coaches. My vocal coach, which is Bird - she's really, really great. Her and Dorian are really, really awesome. I would go to them and let them know how I was feeling each week. If I felt like I wanted to do a fast song, kind of vibey, then we would go for that, or if I felt like it was a week to do a slower song, like a big ballad or so, then we would go for that. So, it depended on how I felt emotionally and what I was trying to get America to see me as. That was not just being this poppy girl that could sing all these fast poppy songs, but … I could also slow it down and do the slower songs, but still give you the R&B soulful feel."

With Lil's elimination, Allison became the last girl standing. Was there anything special said between the two girls that last night? "I gave Allison the biggest hug that I could possibly give her. We were crying like, of course, two girls. That's my baby. I just told her to make sure she keeps her head up and continue to be Allison and go out there and nail it each week like she's been doing and hold it out for the ladies. So, there were a couple of words that was exchanged, but she's such a phenomenal singer. She's going to do absolutely fabulous."

Did Lil and Allison feel more pressure because they were women? "I just felt like me and Allison were two really, really strong, girl singers. I just knew that, regardless of whether we went out there and sung until our teeth fell out or if we just went out there and just gave it our all, either way it went, I felt like America would see that we had great voices and they would vote regardless; but yes, of course, being the last two women, we felt like we had to push it a little bit more, but of course, not too hard. We did our thing though."



The whole "Idol" experience taught Lil more than one life lesson. "What I learned from Idol was that, even in the midst of adversity, you just got to keep your head up, stay strong, and keep moving forward because the second that you give up, you drop your head, and you give in, that's it. I feel like I came back each week, regardless of what the comments may or may not have been, I would sing my little heart out each week just because I love to do that. I feel like American Idol has given me something great; they gave me a great platform. Forty five million votes came in, so all I can say is, it's been a blessing. It really has."



You can witness Lil's amazing vocals live and in-person when the top 10 "American Idol" contestants tour the country this summer. Head to www.AmericanIdol.com for all the cities and dates scheduled.


Photos provided and copyrighted by: FOX





Welcome to the Dollhouse

By Stacy Phay

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be someone else every day? If you have, you are not alone. Luckily for us Joss Whedon, the creator of some of the most ground breaking television series in our time, had that exact curiosity. And thankfully FOX is allowing him to explore that premise in a new show.

In his storied career Whedon has turned the fledgling network the WB into a powerhouse with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel changing the genre of television and the teen drama along the way. Determined to continue his television success and hoping to produce something outside the teen drama realm, Joss brought Firefly to FOX executives in 2002. The show explored cowboys in space, essentially. Executives agreed to air the show under some very strict conditions. Pilot rewrites and show restructuring harmed the series and the show never really caught on with audiences. That is until it hit store shelves on DVD. After all was said and done Firefly sold more DVDs than anyone had ever expected and fans were able to campaign for a feature film based on the series. Serenity was released in September of 2005.

Joss has also been involved in re-writing and re-working scripts for movies like Toy Story and Speed.

The prolific creator, writer and director will make his return to television with Dollhouse, a weekly series that explores the world of human programming. The show stars a couple of familiar faces to Buffy/Angel fans with Eliza Dushku (Faith on both Angel and Buffy) and Amy Acker (Fred/Illyria on Angel).

Dushku stars as Echo, the star Active or doll in the show's cast of imprint-able friends, lovers, assassins or whatever the clients ask for. Echo excels at her job and is one of the most special dolls. Something that becomes exceedingly more dangerous as her time as an Active continues.



EnterTeenmentNews.com got to the scoop on Joss's new show directly from the creator himself. Here's what we can expect from the premiere season of Dollhouse.

How did the show concept come about?

Joss: Well, there's already the famous story of lunch with Eliza where we were talking about what kind of stuff she should play and I thought she should play lots of different things, and then the show happened.

Beyond that, there has also been I'm very interested in concepts of identity, what enounce is our own, what's socialized, can people actually change, what do we expect from each other, how much do we use each other and manipulate each other, and what would we do if we had this kind of power over each other? And in this, our increasingly virtual world, self-definition has become a very amorphous concept, so it just felt what was on my mind. I don't mean it felt timely like I was trolling the papers looking for something timely. It's just been something I think about a lot.



What are some of the topics that you would like to address in future episodes that you haven't tackled before?

Joss: Well, the constant topic of identity is one. There are a couple of things that were originally on the slate that didn't quite fit the venue and had to stand back. We had an episode about Rwandan boy soldiers that was really about how we imprint people now, how we literally brainwash people, and we're contrasting that with the Dollhouse.

There was episode that was about perversion. It was about sexual shame and people's inability to deal with real people that was, I thought, ultimately very heartfelt and very strange and very beautiful, but again, not to make the cut for the first 13. Those are some that would be coming up.

How much you'll explore theology in your exploration of what it means to be human?

Joss: I will explore it only in so much as people will tend to use it as a metaphor for the way they talk. As an atheist, I'm not going to spend a huge amount of time with it unless there is a point about the way religion interacts with our humanity that I think needs to be made. But the Garden of Eden stuff, you can't stop that. It keeps coming up, because this is the mythos that I was brought up with, and it's very powerful in this place. But I would say that I'm more interested in the philosophy than the theology of the thing.



What was your reaction to the Friday night time slot and what challenges or maybe even opportunities do you see there?

Joss: Honestly, I really do see the opportunity there because the deal with the Friday night time slot was you don't come out, bang, opening weekend, and it's all decided. It's about growing a fan base, both for Dollhouse and Terminator. I think Terminator is a remarkably good show, and the kind of show that makes sense to be paired with Dollhouse, so I feel great about that, plus I get to see all these posters with Summer and Eliza together and that's just too cool.

Ultimately, this is a show where people will hopefully become intrigued and then hang in, that really builds, so it needs the 13 weeks, and it needs the 13 weeks of people paying attention, but not so much attention that it gets burned out in the glare of the spotlight. I've always worked best under the radar. Most of my shows people have come to after they stopped airing, but I would like to buck that trend, and at the same time, it is part of how I work that you stay with it and it grows on you and it becomes family, and the Friday night is a much better place for that to actually happen.

So there you have it, a brief introduction to Dollhouse directly from Joss Whedon himself.



Now we'll get the scoop from Echo herself. The beautiful and talented Eliza Dushku.

Eliza has been working with Joss for over ten years. First appearing as Faith, the tougher, less humanity conscious vampire slayer in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her portrayal of the damaged and rebellious slayer helped her transition over to Angel which allowed her to remain the darker of the two slayers. It was only natural that Faith would return to Buffy in the final season to help unite and lead the new potential slayers.

Eliza grew up with three older brothers and has described herself as a tomboy by nature. She lived on the East Coast for most of her life until moving to Hollywood to pursue her acting career. Along with Buffy and Angel the enigmatic young actor has starred in such films as Bottle Shock, This Boy's Life, and True Lies.

Here's what she had to say about playing Echo in the Whedon's highly anticipated return to television.

So far Echo has gotten an asthma attack, gotten hunted by a client and gotten wiped in the middle of a mission. What else can go wrong?

Eliza: Anything and everything at any given time is sort of the point I think. We're dealing in real situations and that's why we have our handlers there, to hopefully protect us from the bad, but yes; each show I think that sort of thing is going to go down because it's obviously not a perfect system and it's not a perfect world.



The fact that you're essentially a different character every episode, is that a large part of what go you excited about the premise of the show?

Eliza: Well, Joss and I came up with the show together and we were talking about what kind of show would suit me right now in my career and in my life. Basically, Joss and I have had a ten-plus-year friendship at this point and he knows me very well and he knows how hard it is for me to sit still for five minutes, not to mention for an entire episode, so the premise of the show was sort of based on my own life and on keeping things moving and on keeping me active and having the chance to play and jump around in between these characters every week and sometimes multiple times every show. That was planned from the get-go.

Reading about this show it's being described in terms of sort of game changing and mind blowing. What about it sort of makes it game changing and mind blowing?

Eliza: Well, it's provocative. It's disturbing in some ways. It's controversial. We're dealing with altering and programming people and I think that that's a very sensitive topic, but I think that it's relevant and I think that it's exciting because I've always wanted to do work that has to do with us evolving and questioning, making people uncomfortable I guess. That's sort of what interesting storytelling is to me is asking different questions and taking a closer look at desires and fantasies and taboos and sexuality and these are all things that Joss and I initially discussed in our infamous first lunch when we were talking about making a show. They were things that I knew he, as a creative genius, which I truly believe he is, had the ability and the imagination to create with me and at the same time roll in a story that just puts those parts together tightly, cleverly, with drama and humor and pain and joy. Obviously, anyone who's known his work in Buffy and then anyone who knows him as a person knows that he's just all of those instruments. That's, I think, what makes this such an extraordinary show.

Was there one character in particular when you were doing your different personalities in the episodes, maybe one we haven't seen probably, that you liked best? I mean did you like being the bad girl or did you like being the sweet girl? Was there a certain type of personality that you enjoyed playing?

Eliza: Yes. No. It surprised me, because on the one hand it's awesome and exhilarating to be the sexy assassin, but at the same time I've been surprised time and time again how much I also really enjoy playing; like I play this blind cultess and it was just so different than anything, than any skin I had ever been in and I really, really enjoyed it. It was challenging and yet it was like liberating to have the opportunity and to see the world, not see the world, but to be in the world in these different skins. That was a particularly special episode, as was being the personality of a 50-something-year-old woman in my own body. That was another one that's coming up that was very interesting. I don't know if I have a favorite, but they've all had their own special nuances and places for me.

You've said that you felt out of your comfort zone playing a woman with a 1940's up do.

Eliza: Yes. You have to understand. I mean I grew up a total tomboy with three big brothers and I was sort of like this little girl running around with this mop of hair, tangled hair, climbing trees and playing tag football with my brothers. I don't know. There's just something about a polished, bobby-pinned, hair sprayed up do. I don't know; the composure and the sophistication. It's thrilling and it's fun for me to play and now that I've done it once I kind of am excited to try it on again, but it definitely threw me at first. It was something that was out of my comfort zone, but from the very get-go Joss told me that he intended on taking me out of my comfort zone as much as possible on this show, so I welcome it. I welcome it. I'm up for any challenge and any uncomfortable scenario he wants to throw ... because that's what this is about.



What would you say is the main theme or message that Dollhouse is going to explore?

Eliza: I mean without over simplifying it too much I'd say it's sort of about not the search for one's true identity, but it's about sort of identifying what makes us who we are and our thoughts and our surroundings and what happens when you start to allow other people or a big corporation or a mass of people; I think objectification is a huge theme of the show and just sort of how and why we are authentic individuals and what helps make us sort of - I guess I'm now getting so philosophical it's just getting so big in my head, but just what it means to be an individual and to have that toyed with or to have that taken from you and what that means and how we come out and how strong our sense of self is at the end of the day no matter up against what, any kind of technology or any kind of tampering, like what makes us who we are. There you go; I got it out.

Thank you to Eliza and Joss for taking the time to talk to us about Dollhouse. The series has its premiere on FOX Friday, February 13, 2009 at 9:00PM. Check your local listings for times in your area.

For more on the show visit www.FOX.com

Photos provided and copyrighted by: FOX




Jason Earles: Staying Grounded While Shooting for the Stars

By: Susan J. Yeager

He co-stars on the most popular show on the planet, is part of a world-wide phenomenon, plays brother to one of the most talked about stars of the past year, and draws hundreds of teen girls and their mothers to his personal appearances, but you would never know it from meeting Jason Earles. The actor who plays "Jackson Stewart" on the Disney Channel runaway hit "Hannah Montana" comes across as more of that cute, smart and funny guy that sits next to you in English class (that you would so have a crush on) than Hollywood actor type who goes to work every day with THE Miley Cyrus.


Case-in-point, when I walk into the lobby of the hotel a few minutes before our scheduled interview time, I barely even notice the guy standing by the front desk waiting patiently for the staff member to help him. But after taking another look around, I thought, "That guy looks familiar." Surely, an actor in town to make a public appearance wouldn't just be waiting in the lobby all by himself. "That can't be him," I thought. He was completely alone and the lobby was starting to fill up with people checking out or needing help at the front desk, including two teenage girls who didn't seem to notice him either. Once I realized it WAS him, I was starting to get nervous for the guy who was probably seconds away from being mobbed.

After I introduced myself, Jason started to get concerned that it was taking too long for the front desk to complete his transaction. Not because they were keeping him waiting, but because it was cutting into our interview and he was afraid that I wouldn't have enough time. He also didn't want to be a minute late to his mall appearance. Apparently, the girl behind the desk had no idea who Jason was and that you probably shouldn't keep him lingering in the lobby like this. Just across the street at the mall, hundreds of people had started lining up hours earlier just to see this guy, and now she had moved on to helping not only the next person in line, but two more people after that without finishing Jason's transaction. I wanted to scream at her "Don't you know who this is?" and I hate that line! The coolest part of the whole thing was that it didn't seem to bother Jason at all. I don't think he has any clue that he's kind of a big deal either.

Photos by Charles W. Armstead

Jason stumbled into acting in the third grade and stuck with it when he realized that it was his way of getting attention in a large family. "The very first play I was in was 'Hansel and Gretel' in the third grade," he tells us about his first acting experience. "I come from a very large family. There's five kids and then my Mom and my Dad and it's a constant struggle for attention. So when I did that play my parents came and watched. All of my brothers and my sisters were in the audience. It was the one thing that I did that I knew I would get all of the attention. So, from about the third grade on� I knew that it was a really good way to get noticed. That was when it first started for me."

Photos by Charles W. Armstead

His family was completely supportive of his decision to try acting as a career. "I've always taken education very seriously," he says of easing his parent's mind about such an unsteady career choice. "I'm a really good student, mostly A's. My family always said, 'if you're gonna give it a try, it's better to try it earlier rather than later.' When you're older and have responsibilities, it's harder to get away and chase your dreams. They were very supportive. They thought 'Go! Give it a whirl.'"

He found himself doing Summer Stock Theater with the Virginia City Players and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. "That was the first time I actually got paid to do something that I really liked," he recalls. "I thought, 'if I could turn this into a career� this is a good thing.'"

Later, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and soon landed a job that would make his face and name known world-wide. It was a job that he almost didn't even audition for. "I got a call from my agent saying you have an audition for a pilot called 'Hannah Montana,' he says, when asked about the first time he ever heard those fateful words. "I said 'that sounds like the stupidest name for a show of all time,'" he says laughing and shaking his head at the memory. "Now, it's so part of the vernacular that you don't even think about it anymore. You don't think about how silly the name "Hannah Montana" actually is."

"I almost didn't go to the audition," he continues. "A lot of people don't know that. The character was originally very introverted and he didn't know how to deal with the success of his sister. He had this big orangutan hand puppet. If you asked me a question, I would be sort of shy, but I would be sassy with the orangutan hand puppet. And it was ridiculous. I almost didn't go because I thought it was so stupid. I ended up booking the pilot. We were two days from actually shooting the pilot and we did a scene where it was Billy Ray, Miley and myself, as a family and we were interacting and there was no puppet and the writer's said 'you know what? That family dynamic is so much more interesting than the stupid hand puppet.'"

It was a change that the actor welcomed. "I can't do two or three years of talking with this hand puppet!" Jason remembers thinking. "I just can't! I just can't do it! Just that hand puppet alone I think would have made the show just a silly kid's show and not the good family show that I think it's turned into."


Hand puppet free, Jason has helped create a wonderful, entertaining show for the whole family to enjoy watching together. Next year, the "Hannah" gang will not only be seen on the small screen, they will take over the Big Screen too when the "Hannah Montana" feature films rolls into a theater near you. As excited as the actor is about the project, he just can't divulge too much information just yet. "It's finished!" he says laughing when asked what he can say about this movie. "We finished shooting it this last week actually. We spent two months in Tennessee and three weeks in Los Angeles shooting it. So it was a pretty long shoot. I think that people are really going to love it because even if there was no show, it is a great stand alone, family-oriented movie. I get very messy and do the things that I do in the show. You know, fall down, get hurt and that sort of stuff. It's sort of a return to your roots story for Miley. We take her back to Tennessee so she can sort of remember where she came from. So you get to see more of the extended family and sort of where this wacky family came from before they moved to Malibu."

In terms of hobbies and downtime, Jason sounds like your brother. "I like to snowboard. I play video games probably more than I should. I try to offset that by going to the gym and trying to stay active. I watch a lot of movies. I watch a lot of television. I justify that by saying it's research, but I'm just a big fan of movies and TV."


Not that downtime is easy to come by. Having just finished the film, Jason heads back to the studio this week to start filming more episodes of "Hannah Montana." He can also be seen in the upcoming film "Dadnapped" on the Disney Channel. "Emily Osment from our show, Moises Arias from our show is in it, Phill Lewis from the 'Suite Life' is in it, David Henrie from 'Wizards of Waverly' is in it," he explains. "There's a lot of familiar Disney faces but we all play roles that are different than what we play on our shows. So it will be fun to see the familiar but the different all in one."

And last but not least, there's the project where Jason will be heard but not seen. This is one project that has literally gone to the dogs. "Then I did a voice in this movie called "Space Buddies," he says, wrapping up the list of upcoming things to keep an eye out for. "It's a sequel to the 'Snow Buddies,' sort of franchise of talking dog movies. I do the voice of 'Spudnick' the Russian Dogbonaut. All the little buddies, they go up into space and they have a little adventure up there. That should come out on video a little later this year towards the holidays."


The ever-busy actor will spend some upcoming weekends traveling around the country to meet with hundreds of fans at personal appearances. He loves talking with the people who keep him working and talking about the show. If they asked for advice on becoming an actor themselves, what would Jason tell them? "I would say that perseverance is the key. You will be told no a hundred times for every maybe. And you need 50 maybes for every yes. That one yes feels better� you add up all of the bad from the hundred no's and it outweighs that. It's just a matter of sticking around long enough that you get your chance."

If you have the chance to write Jason a note and tell him how much you enjoy seeing him on TV, you can send it to: Jason Earles, c/o Hannah Montana, The Disney Channel, 3800 W. Alameda Ave., Burbank, CA 91505.

Jason flipped through the latest issue of "EnterTeenment News" after our interview. We laughed when he opened it right to the page that featured Miley and Billy Ray hosting the CMT Music Awards.
Photo by: Charles W. Armstead


Jason On:
Realizing that you are part of a phenomenon�

"It's something that slowly builds. We shot for probably six or seven months that first season before we actually aired any episodes. We were doing it for so long. It felt like doing summer theater where you would shoot an episode in a week, and then it was over and then you would sort of forget about it. As soon as it aired, the next day, you would go outside and you'd go to the mall and people would be like 'you're that guy from 'Hannah Montana.' Since it's aired, it seems like every couple of months it sort of takes another step as far as the way people recognize you. At first it was 'that's Hannah Montana's brother.' And then 'That's Jackson!' And then it's 'That's Jason Earles.' So once they get to the point where they actually know your name, then that's about the time that I realized we've been around long enough that they actually know us and not just the characters."


Filming the Show�

"Every episode takes one week to shoot. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are rehearsal days and then Thursday we pre-tape anything that is sort of complicated. If somebody is going to get really messy, or if there's special effects we do that because it would take too long to shoot in front of a live audience. Then Friday, we do our live audience show. We'll come in about 12:00, we'll camera block all the scenes, do a little bit of fine-tune rehearsal, and then about four o'clock, we load the audience in. Four thirty, we show them an episode that either leads up to the episode that we're getting ready to shoot or sort of pertains to our story that week in some way, then at 5:00, we do the live audience show until about 8:30."

His Favorite Episode�

"I've got a bunch of episodes that when people ask me, I think about, but the one that I probably say is my favorite more often than not is there is an episode where I take the candy away from Rico, who's like my arch nemesis in the show and then I eat it myself. I have a little bit of sugar addiction problem. I get really, really hyper and just a little out of control. A lot of the kids say that's their favorite episode. And I liked it just because there were some really over the top, silly things that we did in it."

Guest Stars�


"Uncle Earl"

"I don't know if a lot of people know that's David Koechner. He's in 'Get Smart' and a bunch of the Will Ferrell movies. Incredible funny, improvisational actor. He's one of my favorite guest stars."



"Season two sort of became the season of the guest star. Vicki Lawrence is awesome. She's very professional, super prepared� brings a lot of her own sort of sensibilities and comedy to the role."

"Somebody like Larry David who came on and did the show� it was one of the times where everything just stops and everybody crowds around the monitors and we just watch and see what he does, because he improvs so much. Every take was just gold. I think it would be hard to pick the one you want to use because everyone was different and everyone was hilarious."


What he's known for among Family and Friends:

"I'm the tension breaker. When things get too intense, I am the one that usually makes light of whatever the situation is and helps diffuse an intense situation."


His Dream Role:

"I love the funny stuff so I would have to do a funny feature or I would build s sitcom and I would love to have Michael J. Fox in it because I have always looked up to him. I sort of hope that my career path will be sort of like his. I think we have some of the same characteristics. I think Joey Fatone is just silly, funny. I think it would be fun to go to work with somebody like Joey everyday. I think the person that I always think of that I just really respect is Michael J. Fox. A sit-com with Michael J. Fox would be great."



For more on Jason and the whole "Hannah" gang... head to Hannah Montana at DisneyChannel.com




Photos Provided by: The Disney Channel



Head to the Events page to read all about one of Jason's latest personal appearances! Click Here!!!

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Photo Provided by: Webster PR

Deal or No Deal: LoCash Cowboys are Making Their Mark on Country Music

Ask anyone in the honkytonks of Nashville about the LoCash Cowboys and you will likely hear that they are two of the hardest working performers to call Music City their adopted home. Preston Brust and Chris Lucas relocated to the area several years ago (Preston via Indiana, Chris hails from Maryland) and the two joined forces while teaching line dancing at the famous Nashville tourist attraction, The Wildhorse Saloon. It didn't take long to see that this dynamic duo had that "It" factor that whips crowds into frenzies. Seeing their live show can make a lazy Sunday afternoon feel like a wild, Friday night.

Picking up immediately on what these entertainers had to offer, top Nashville booking agency, Buddy Lee Attractions, added LoCash to their roster and immediately put the boys on the road. Last year, the guys and their band played over 200 shows and will surpass that mark again this year. This time around, however, they have a little help. In twelve cities, Redman and Maxim are literally rolling out the red carpet for fans and other VIPS to get introduced to LoCash Cowboys. Maxim representatives are on hand to take pictures of everyone as they stroll down the carpet and dancers are also mingling to teach everyone the latest in line dancing. The whole set-up definitely adds a little spice to ordinary weekend plans.

The guys have already developed a huge legion of fans that is growing in large numbers after every show. Preston commented recently about seeing familiar faces in the audience. "Where do I start? They travel as much as we do (Ha!) and that's a lot! I can't say enough about how devoted and truly amazing our Locash Family is. I've seen some of our fans make 13 & 15 hour drives just to catch one of our shows! Sometimes, that's further than we travel to perform at the same show. They always lift us up when the road gets tough and they're always there to celebrate with us when cool things happen! We always try to make sure they get the show they are counting on when they arrive as well. They deserve the best we can do every night...no excuse! If that means singing a song that's a little tough cause our vocals cords are tired or me jumping off a two-story roof just to get a crazy but cool photo op for everyone... we always try to give it to them. We been to so many concerts where the artist just half-heartedly gets through the night to fulfill the contract and it leaves us feeling empty, so we always try to remember that EVERY NIGHT, EVERY SHOW matters! No matter what!"

Not being able to say enough about the fans, Preston continues. "Can you believe some of our fans have been to over 100 shows?" he says in disbelief. "That might be more than us!" he jokes. "We were in Evansville, Indiana back in April '08 and we brought one of our fans who had been to 100 shows up on stage and gave her the guitar strap right off of my guitar! I've used that guitar strap in over 300 shows so it was a very special piece of LoCash history, but you have to know the rest of the story," he teases.

"After I gave it to her she wanted it signed so Chris and I took a silver sharpie and signed the strap. About a week later we were rockin' a BIG CONCERT for the MAXIM / REDMAN Tour and I forgot to get a new guitar strap. Of course, our dedicated fans were in the audience so she grabbed the guitar strap out of her car and let me borrow it back for a night (which turned into a week, which turned into a month...and I finally got unbusy enough to grab a new guitar strap for my guitar). With that said, you can see how amazing our fans and friends are. Oh yeah," he continues, "and as soon as I see her at another show, I'll be giving her my guitar strap for the second time." To sum it up, Preston concludes, "The Locash Family is on this crazy roller coaster with us and it feels good to run out on stage every night and see the LoCash Family rockin' out like it's their very first LoCash show ever!


Photo Provided by: Webster PR

It's not only the fans showing love for the performers, a lot of VIP's in the industry have gotten on the LoCash train, as well. The Country Music Association invited the guys to perform at their CMA Awards After-Party and have asked them to take part in the CMA Music Fest three years in a row. LoCash took to the River Stages for a second consecutive year this year, a feat that they are sincerely grateful for considering most of the other acts that appeared are on major labels now.

That brings us to the only piece of the puzzle that doesn't quite add up. With so many shows drawing good crowds and corporate support and sponsorships, why hasn't a major label seen the light and signed LoCash to a deal? It's something Chris and Preston hope will happen soon but they aren't stopping the music for it. "It's not that we don't want a deal," Chris says honestly, "but, we are not going to stop, and sit around and wait for one. We like to work and stay true to our fans and friends."

Having been building small successes every step of the way, LoCash knows that eventually, they will find the right company to take them even further. "We have a great team in place right now," Chris continues, "and I feel when the time is right, and the right deal comes along, it will just add gasoline to the fire that is already burning. [We'll be] one, big, happy family!"

Both Chris and Preston are quick to rattle off a few of the highlights of the past year because they feel so blessed at just being able to make music as a career. Preston sites the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas as one his favorite memories. "NFR brought us out to Vegas for the Finals," he exclaims. "INCREDIBLE! And [they] even sent us HUGE framed posters autographed by all the participants. I think I even saw autographs by some of the bulls," he jokes.

Other highlights for the duo include having their song "Boom Boom" used as the theme song for TNA Wrestling and getting the opportunity to perform it live on the "Slammiversary" Pay-Per-View special. Mostly though, they are just happy to get out in front of the fans almost every night. Chris says, "It's been a great year and I hope if the good Lord's willing, we will keep it going."

Having seen the LoCash Cowboys perform on more than one occasion, we're in awe of the amount of excitement that two people are able to generate. They make it look so easy when in reality, they give their hearts, souls and lives just to be given that time on stage. It's just a matter of time until a record executive sees them and realizes they've found hidden treasure. Their story brings to mind a biography on that one performer who tells of being misunderstood and passed on by every label in town. You might have heard of him. His name is Garth Brooks.

To see and hear more on these exciting performers visit www.LoCashCowboys.com.

LoCash Cowboys can be found on the front and back cover of the lastes issue of EnterTeenment News! To order your copy... Head to The Order Page!

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