Underwood Joins Grand Ole Opry

He backed pro-legalization Gary Johnson but now likes Kucinich

(NEWSER) - After voicing support for pro-pot Gary Johnson as a presidential candidate , Willie Nelson has apparently changed his tune, notes the Daily Caller . It's "too early for me to endorse anyone,” the singer said in an email to a member of his marijuana-legalization activist group, the Teapot Party. (The exchange is recounted here .) Though he acknowledged backing New Mexico's former GOP governor, who no longer indulges himself but backs legalization, Nelson wrote: “I think I will wait and see where he stands on other things. My bad. Sorry." More»

Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban also snag top prizes

(NEWSER) - Once again, Carrie Underwood proved herself to be country music’s darling at last night’s CMT Awards. The former American Idol won the top prize, video of the year, and was the only artist to win more than one prize—she also claimed CMT performance of the year. Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, and Lady Antebellum also won top prizes at the fan-voted awards, the AP reports. More»

Waters are receding, but cleanup will be time-consuming

(AP) - While city officials reported progress today restoring Nashville's electrical and water systems after a devastating flood, the downtown remained dark, homes were sodden, and patience was wearing thin four days after flash flooding and storms blamed for at least 29 deaths in three states. Nashville's country music scene also began assessing damage from the floods. The blazing fiddles and screaming guitars in the city's famed downtown honky-tonks were quieter as business owners pumped water out of their restaurants and bars. More»

Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert lead the night

(NEWSER) - A country music awards show where Taylor Swift didn’t take home a single trophy? Inconceivable! But it’s true: Carrie Underwood beat Swift to win the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year award last night, making her the first woman in history to win the top honor twice—in consecutive years, no less. The evening’s biggest winners were Lady Antebellum with five trophies, and Miranda Lambert with three, the AP reports. More»

DeGeneres talks Cowell, Paula Abdul as American Idol returns

(NEWSER) - Ellen DeGeneres makes her debut as the newest American Idol judge on Tuesday, and she talks Simon Cowell (he’s “smart,” but “mean” and “insensitive”) and more with the Wall Street Journal :

• Paula Abdul: “I don't know if I'll be as nurturing as she is. I'll probably try to be somewhat encouraging. But I'll be honest. I don't think it helps anybody to be encouraged and not told the truth.”