Reba McEntire and her team braved brutal temperatures as well as a terrifying electrical storm that manifested a nearby tornado while filming the music video for her new smash single, “Turn on the Radio,” Monday night in Nashville.

Production began mid-afternoon near downtown in a century-old warehouse with temperatures as sizzling hot as the video’s storyline, which sees Reba standing up for herself against a man that’s done her wrong – and showing him, for the final time, who’s boss.

At one point during the afternoon the heat index in Nashville reportedly reached 108 degrees – while Reba, director Randee St. Nicholas, and crew struggled to keep from melting amidst the humidity and additional heat of the production lights; however, the blistering heat was not the last challenge Reba and team would face during the production of “Turn on the Radio.”

Shortly after dinner, cast and crew watched from the top floor of the warehouse as a fast-moving electrical storm blew in – with lightning so intense that the shoot’s generator was promptly shut off for fear of a lightning strike and the ensuing safety risk.

Reba and crew were then rushed down into the dilapidated basement of the warehouse as the crew received word that a confirmed tornado had touched down only a few miles from downtown Nashville AND that the tornado had spun on its tail and was heading straight toward the shoot location.

Reba and crew waited in silence as the sirens sounded, the diagonal rain and hail pounded the walls of the warehouse and the storm passed over.

“This is only the second time one of my video shoots as been shut down because of a storm,” said Reba about the harrowing experience. “The last time something like this happened was on the set of the ‘Does He Love You” video in Long Island. I hope that’s a good omen because ‘Does He Love You” ended up being a Grammy winning-song and a great music video!”

Shooting for “Turn on the Radio” resumed shortly afterward. Fortunately there were no reports of injuries in Middle Tennessee although the storm knocked down trees and limbs as well as brought down power lines and tore shingles off roofs.

“Turn on the Radio” is the lead single from Reba’s upcoming album (title TBD) which will be in stores on November 9. The song is moving quickly up the charts, rising NINE positions to #32 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and jumping FIFTEEN spots to #33 on the USA Today/ Country Aircheck Chart (powered by Mediabase) this week.

“Turn on the Radio,” produced by Dann Huff, will be available at iTunes on August 3.

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The fall season is always a busy time for new album releases, but this year is especially busy with new albums dropping from many of country music’s biggest superstars.  To help keep you on track of all the new music headed your way, here’s a complete list…

• Blake Shelton – All About Tonight (8/10)
• Trace Adkins – Cowboy’s Back In Town (8/17)
• Little Big Town – The Reason Why (8/24)
• Jamey Johnson – The Guitar Song (9/14)
• Zac Brown Band – You Get What You Give (9/14)
• Randy Houser – They Call Me Cadillac (9/21)
• Steel Magnolia – Steel Magnolia (9/21)
• Kenny Chesney – Hemingway’s Whiskey (9/28)
• The Band Perry – The Band Perry (10/5)
• Toby Keith – Bullets In The Gun (10/5)
• Darius Rucker – Charleston, SC 1966 (10/12)
• Sugarland – The Incredible Machine (10/19)
• Taylor Swift – Speak Now (10/25)
• Reba – TBA (11/9)

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Multimedia superstar Reba McEntire will release her new album on November 9th. The follow-up to Keep On Loving You, released less than a year ago, will be her second for The Valory Music Co.

Reba’s lead single from her upcoming album, “Turn on the Radio,” earned Billboard Hot Shot Debut status a week before it’s official impact date at radio.

“Turn on the Radio,” a lively, modern day kiss-off anthem was a must-record for the superstar. The great new music in Reba’s pocket is the reason why the star wanted to get back into the studio so soon.

“I fell for the song immediately,” said Reba of her new single.  ”I love that it’s an up-tempo, strong woman song about a woman who has been done wrong by her lover and is telling him to turn on the radio if he wants to hear from her through their favorite song.  Dann Huff and the musicians did a wonderful job bringing the heart beat out in the song.  It definitely gets your attention from the very start of the song.”

“Turn on the Radio,” produced by Dann Huff, will be available at iTunes on August 3.

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Pollstar released the list of the top grossing tours of 2010 this week. Bon Jovi tops the list, playing 38 shows and selling more than a half million tickets for a total gross of $52.8 million. Country stars in the top 10 include Taylor Swift at #3 with$34.2 million, George Strait (with Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack)  at #5 ,and  Tim McGraw (with Lady Antebellum) at #8. See the entire list, which also includes Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, and more HERE.

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Many of your favorite country stars took to their Twitter accounts yesterday to wish fans a happy 4th of July and to share what they were doing for the holiday.    Check out how the country stars celebrated this great American holiday…

LeAnn Rimes (@leannrimes): Happy 4th of July everyone! Hope you all have a great one! I’m super excited to meet up with my family and friends for food and fireworks! Happiness!…

Jerrod Niemann (@jrodfromoz): Happy 4th of July!!! I am going to paaaaaaaaaaartaaaaaaaaay!!! In other words, gonna burn my roman candle at both ends.

Miranda Lambert (@miranda_lambert): Happy 4th. I’m gonna find some sparkelers (SIC) in San Fran!

The Band Perry (@thebandperry): Happy 4th everyone! Eat a burger, swim a lap, shoot some fireworks for us. We’re spending the holiday with the good folks in Beaumont, TX.

Bryan White (@bryan_white): Canoeing down the Elk River with my Sons 2day. Happy 4th everyone!

Danny Gokey (@dannygokey): Excited 2 be at summerfest 2day & playing the Briggs & Stratton stage at 9:30pm-Also the SHF kids choir & dance team will open 4 me at 9pm!!

Chuck Wicks (@chuckwicksmusic): I think I’ll hang out with these guys today!! Happy 4th!!!

Jay DeMarcus (@jaydemarcus): Happy 4th everybody!!!! No one blow your fingers off with an M80 today!!

Toby Keith (@tobykeithmusic): Fenway Park is an awesome place to be on the 4th of July. Went by Cheers. Drank a great local blueberry ale beer. Happy 4th of July. Independence Day everyday.

Gloriana (@glorianatheband): Happy 4th tweveryone! We’re in CO today playing a show. We truly live in the greatest country in the world, enjoy the day! And also, just wanna let you know I plan on eating 10 hot dogs and 10 burgers today in true 4th of july fashion. Fire up the grill and crack open the baked beans, it’s gonna be a great day!

Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13): Sitting on a porch with @ClaireCallaway2 @elizabethhuett @GrantMickelson eating BBQ, discussing American history.

Sara Evans (@saraevansmusic): Happy 4th of July! May God Bless America! Love, Sara and Jay

Brad Paisley (@bradpaisley): Happy 4th. Here’s hoping you’re somewhere the map is blue.

Julianne Hough (@juliannehough): Fun 4th of July with the family!!! Fireworks at JHoughs house!!! Laughing is the best feeling in the world.

Luke Bryan (@lukebryanonline): Happy 4th everyone

Josh Gracin (@joshgracin): Happy fourth!!! Playing a show in Norman, Oklahoma tonight to kick off a celebration!!!!!

Martina McBride (@martinamcbride): Great 4th. Ended up stopping on the street and watching some of the downtown fireworks from our car. Beautiful.

Reba McEntire (@reba): Happy 4th of July from Washington DC!!!…

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Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Darius Rucker, Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Rodney Atkins, Jypsi, Randy Houser, Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry are all part of a new CD that will benefit The Fisher House foundation, which provides housing for active and retired military and their families who are being treated at a military medical center.  My Country: Smash Hits will be released on August 24 and also includes President George W. Bush with a special message.

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Just like they did at last year’s CMA Music Festival, USA Today was on hand in Nashville this year to capture ‘Portraits From CMA Music Festival.’  Click HERE to see your favorite country stars pose for fun photos and give some funny (and wise!) remarks.  You’ll see coverage on Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire and many more.

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CMT will premiere NINE brand new music videos this weekend as part of CMT Big New Music Weekend. The exclusive, world premiere event will begin Friday, June 18 and end on Sunday, June 20. The videos will debut on CMT, CMT.com and CMT Pure from superstar artists Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Reba, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan, Danny Gokey and James Otto. The nine featured videos will include introductions by the artists themselves, and be the only videos aired throughout the weekend on CMT beginning at 6 a.m. ET on June 18 during CMT Music Hours. All of the world premiere videos will be available for streaming on-demand at CMT.com, and will be the only highlighted videos on the site homepage for the weekend.

The weekend of new music is part of the network’s “Summer of Music”, including this weekend’s premieres of The Singing Bee and CMT Crossroads: John Mayer and Keith Urban on Friday, June 18 at 9 and 10 p.m. ET, respectively.

“Last year’s inaugural Big New Music Weekend blew away ratings and sales expectations,” said Jay Frank, Senior Vice President of Music Strategy, CMT. “Very quickly, this program has become a highly requested destination from artists, managers and labels to launch new videos across the biggest Country audiences on all platforms.”

Video premieres included in CMT Big New Music Weekend are as follows:

· Lady Antebellum – “Stars Tonight”

· Tim McGraw – “Still”

· Reba – “If I Were a Boy”

· Trace Adkins – “This Ain’t No Love Song”

· Alan Jackson – “Hard Hat and a Hammer”

· LeAnn Rimes – “Swingin’”

· Gary Allan – “Get Off On the Pain”

· Danny Gokey – “I Will Not Say Goodbye”

· James Otto – “Groovy Little Summer Song”

Which video are you most excited to see?

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