Yallwire News

A lot of speculation has surrounded the announcements that members of both Brooks & Dunn and The Wreckers plan to record solo CDs. In the world of Big & Rich, however, John Rich explains that he and Big Kenny have always been separate units, both working on their own projects, then coming together to play as a duo.

While they plan to continue working together as well, Rich doesn't rule out the possibility of the two of them doing solo albums in the future:

"Kenny's got a.he's got a feature film that he's writing right now, he's got a Broadway play that's, I think, gettin' ready to get picked up, he's got these mission trips to Africa. I mean, he is a whirlwind of activity. And then on the other side of the fence, I'm just as busy as he is. As of right now, neither one of us have made any solo efforts towards anything. I think that's something you gotta be real careful with when you do it and make the fans understand, 'Big & Rich is fine. You know, everything's rockin'.' And we might do solo projects, we might not. Really nothing's been recorded yet or anything like that. I'd kind of like to do it all, personally. I think that's healthy for you creatively, personally, to be able to mix and match it up a little bit as long as the fans understand, you know, that everything's cool."

[ArtistoMedia]

Country star Blake Shelton is bringing his Okie pride to network television this holiday season. Shelton will face off against singers from other genres. The network asked Blake and the others to form their own choirs and compete against each other. Shelton said, "I used to make fun of people in high school that were in the choir and now, here I am, you know, on television smack in the middle of one." Catch Choirmaster Blake Shelton compete in "Clash of the Choirs" on NBC on 12/17 at 8pm ET.

Taylor Swift celebrated her right of passage into adulthood in style last night with a big 18th birthday party at a Nashville Club called Lot 7! Swift looked like a princess in her gorgeous pink dress by designer Sandi Spika, and she was all smiles while visiting with family and friends from both high school and the music industry, including Kellie Pickler and Big & Rich's John Rich. One of the highlights of the evening was an adorable video montage of Taylor growing up. The crowd sang "Happy Birthday" as Taylor was presented with a pink #18 cake that had trick candles on it. There was an old fashioned photo booth where guests could get their pictures made, and there were also two fortune tellers.

Even though Taylor is now legally an adult and able to provide for herself, she still plans to live at home with her folks:

"I'm never home anyway. My parents and I get along so well, that there's really no reason for me to move out now. And if I think about it, all my friends will be moving out, like, this time next year, 'cause they're all going off to college, and I figure I'll stay at home a couple more years than that because I really just am not in a rush to grow up too fast. And I think that's what everybody is afraid of - me growing up too fast, and that's what I'm afraid of too, so I'm not gonna do that. I really love my parents, and I like my house and I like watching my brother grow up when I can. I don't have a lot of opportunities to do that or to pick him up from school or see him go off to his little dances. I have to miss a lot of that. So whenever I'm home, I want to be there and witness whatever normalcy I can."

[ArtistoMedia]

For the past week, Rosanne Cash, daughter of the late Johnny Cash, has been recovering at her Manhattan home following brain surgery last month for a rare but benign condition. Her website states, "She extends thanks and appreciation for all the love, good wishes, prayers and kindness." The AP reports the 52-year-old singer is expected to make a full recovery. She will begin recording early next year, resume her touring schedule in the spring and finish writing a book to be published in early 2009.