International Country Music Fan Fair Celebrates 27th Anniversary
with Non-Stop Excitement, Stars, Shows, Surprises, Fans and More

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- June 19, 1998 - "The Legends Show" signaled the end of the 27th Annual International Country Music Fan Fair today. The show, hosted by Ralph Emery, rocked the crowd with performances by The Charlie Daniels Band and a fiddling medley of "Orange Blossom Special" with Doug Kershaw. Other legend performances included Charley Pride, Johnny Paycheck and Lynn Anderson.

The 27th Fan Fair brought a crowd of more than 23,000 Country Music fans to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds from June 15-19 for the annual event bringing entertainers together with their fans for a week full of surprises. Throughout the week, registrants saw almost 35 hours of live entertainment featuring more than 120 artists, and had the opportunity to meet some of their favorite performers in exhibit booths, where photos and autographs were at the top of the agenda.

Fan Fair's economic impact on the city of Nashville is estimated to be more than $10 million, according to the Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

For the fourth consecutive year, The Oak Ridge Boys kicked off the annual event with the National Anthem. Fans were treated to performances from a variety of artists, ranging from newcomers like The Lynns and Trace Adkins to surprise performances from superstars such as Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton.

Monday morning's Intersound Country show launched the five days of live concerts and featured Lynn Anderson, who paid tribute to Tammy Wynette by singing the chorus from "Stand By Your Man," along with long-time favorites Earl Thomas Conley and The Bellamy Brothers. The Australia/Canada show was a successful first for the Fan Fair stage. Australian superstars Gina Jefferys, Troy Cassar-Daley and Shanley Del shared the stage with Canadian Duane Steel. Monday afternoon's debut Dream Works show featured Linda Davis, who was presented with a recording contract from the label. Monday night's Bluegrass show topped the first day of Fan Fair with the sounds of such bluegrass greats as Ricky Skaggs and Mac Wiseman.

On Tuesday, team members from the Tennessee Oilers got the audience going during the Mercury Nashville show when Al Del Greco, Jimmy Sprotte, Joe Salavea, Chris Sanders, former player Al Smith and coach Jeff Fisher threw autographed footballs into the crowd. Tuesday night's excitement soared when Dolly Parton surprised the fans joining TNN Music City News Awards Star of Tomorrow winner Lee Ann Womack to sing "Jolene" during the MCA Records and Decca Records show. The thrill continued when Vice Gill danced his way onto the stage with MCA's Olivia Newton-John for "You're The One That I Want."

Garth Brooks shocked the crowd when he showed up to perform "Burnin' The Roadhouse Down" and "Long Neck Bottle" with Steve Wariner during the Capitol Nashville show on Wednesday. Labelmate Trace Adkins was presented with a plaque commemorating platinum sales for DREAMIN' OUT LOUD and gold sales for BIG TIME. Billy Dean brought Australian superstar Gina Jefferys on stage to sing the stirring duet "Have We Forgotten What Love Is."

TNN Music City News Entertainer of the Year Neal McCoy revived the sun-baked crowd on Thursday morning with an energetic performance during the Atlantic Records and Asylum Records Show. The afternoon brought on fan favorites such as Tracy Lawrence, Lila McCann and Bryan White. Gary Chapman brought Rick Trevino's toddler son on stage to introduce his dad during the Sony Music show. Other entertainers included Ty Herndon, Collin Raye, the Dixie Chicks and Patty Loveless.

The Fan Fair exhibit halls featured 167 booths this year. Taking honors in the annual booth contest was Tracy Byrd whose booth was decorated like a hunting lodge, a theme reminiscent of his latest single "I'm From the Country." The Dixie Chicks' psychedelic booth won the fan club second place and Ricochet's racing theme booth took third place.

Fans got a two for one when Patty Loveless joined Vince Gill to meet the fans in the CMT Truck and again when LeAnn Rimes joined Bryan White in his booth on Wednesday afternoon. Pam Tillis played host for ABC's "Good Morning America" and was treated to ice cream by a group of fans as she walked through the crowd. Wynonna joined one special fan in singing her hit "Have Mercy" as she worked hard to visit her fans by signing 100 autographs per hour for over four hours. Michael Peterson took time with fans as he stayed close to three hours after his set signing time, and Terri Clark treated spectators to pizza while they waited in her line.

Other guests at this year's Fan Fair included Dean Cain escorting his fiancée Mindy McCready to her performance during the RCA Label Group show on Wednesday night.

The excitement of Fan Fair was captured on the Internet with a live webcast by Traveller Information Services. Portions of several stage shows along with backstage interviews were posted on the site. To view the website and webcast, Internet viewers can log on at fanfair.com. At the present, fanfair.com has received over 600,000 page views. Fanfair.com will be accessible for the next three months. Business Wire served as the official wire service of Fan Fair, setting up in the Fan Fair press center for the week-long event and sending out the latest news from the event to national and international media.

The registration fee for 1998's Fan Fair remained the same as last year's at $90 and included live stage shows featuring top country artists; admission to the exhibit halls where artists sign autographs; one-day admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame and the historic Ryman Auditorium; plus two meals prepared on-site by the world famous Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang from Odessa, TX. In addition, fans could play "Name That Tune" and perform karaoke tunes in the Fan Fair luncheon pavilion.

Net proceeds from Fan Fair go into a special fund used by CMA to advance the growth and popularity of country music. The first Fan Fair was held in 1972. The event regularly attracts more than 600 media representatives from around the world.

Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. More than 6,800 music industry professionals and companies from 43 countries around the world are members of CMA. The organization's objectives are to guide and enhance the development of country music and to demonstrate it as a viable medium to advertisers, consumers and media throughout the world.

The Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 73rd anniversary this year as the longest-running radio show in history. Its cast includes some of today's greatest Country Music stars and over the years has included many of Country Music's legends. Still broadcast on clear channel WSM-AM, the Grand Ole Opry is part of Gaylord Entertainment Company, publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Dolly Parton Makes Surprise Fan Fair Appearance

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- June 19, 1998 - This week at Fan Fair it was announced that superstar Dolly Parton has been added to the Decca Records roster. Dolly Parton surprised over 20,000 country music fans at the Decca Records Fan Fair show by making her first Fan Fair appearance in over ten years. Dolly unexpectedly walked on stage during the second verse of Lee Ann Womack's rendition of "Jolene." The crowd erupted with wild applause when Lee Ann officially welcomed Dolly to the Decca family. Dolly also performed "Honky Tonk Songs" the first single from her upcoming Decca album.

Decca Senior Vice President/General Manager Shelia Shipley Biddy comments "Over the past four and a half years, we have signed artists that we believe will continue to enhance the image and history of the Decca label. Each of the artists currently signed reflect a strong tradition of country music. All of us are extremely proud to have Dolly as a part of the Decca family."

The title of Dolly's new album is aptly named Hungry Again. As Dolly explains, "Sometimes to know how far you've traveled, you've gotta go back to where you began and sometimes to know how good you've been eatin', you need to go hungry again." This statement reflects Dolly's frame of mind when she retreated to her Tennessee mountain home, to write and record this special project. While at her old home place she became inspired to write over thirty songs from which twelve were selected for this album. She says, "My songs are the door to every dream I've ever had and every success I've ever achieved. No matter what else I've had the good fortune to do, my first love is still my music."

Senior Vice President/Head of A & R Mark Wright states, "Dolly transcends all genres of music ... bluegrass to pop to modern country. It is definitely an honor to have her as the most recent addition to our already diverse roster."

Dolly Parton represents a strong link to the present and the past with a legacy of success that spans country and pop music, television and motion picture releases. Dolly's achievements include 8 CMA Awards, 5 ACM Awards, 4 Grammy Awards, 2 Oscar nominations, 24 #1 singles and multi-platinum certifications too numerous to mention.

The single, "Honky Tonk Songs" ships to country radio programmers on July 7th and goes for official adds on July 20th. Dolly's albums with Decca will carry the Blue Eye imprint. The much anticipated album, Hungry Again, will be in stores August 25th.

Dixie Chicks Strike Gold!
Monument Records Group Sets Records
With Debut Disc `Wide Open Spaces'

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- June 19, 1998 - Fan Fair 1998 has turned into a most memorable week for Monument Records act Dixie Chicks as their debut album "Wide Open Spaces" has been certified gold, indicative of over 500,000 albums sold. With this impressive feat, the Texas trio have established themselves as the best selling group of 1998.

"The Dixie Chicks continue to create tremendous excitement with their music," said Mike Kraski, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Sony Music Nashville. "From the moment they were signed to Monument Records, one phrase repeatedly was associated with them and that is 'the real deal.' They are first-rate musicians, singers, songwriters and entertainers."

Kraski, along with Dale Libby, Vice President, Sales, Sony Music Nashville and Larry Pareigis, Vice President, National Country Promotion, Monument Records, surprised the threesome with the news during their appearance on TNN's "Prime Time Country" this week. In addition the group was presented with a "Chick List of Accomplishments" citing the Dixie Chicks many achievements in the five short months since the January release of "Wide Open Spaces," including:

• Their debut album got into the Country Top 10 faster than any new group in country music since 1991.

• They were the only country act to realize increased album sales for each of the last eight weeks.

• They were the only debut act in 1998 to have two singles reach the Top 15 on the country charts.

Currently hot on the charts with single "There's Your Trouble," Dixie Chicks have also wowed music critics from such publications as People, USA Today and Dallas Morning News.

"It's a perfect example of how to make undeniably contemporary country music that remains deeply rooted in the music's history and traditions," praised the Cleveland Plain Dealer of "Wide Open Spaces." "This album has more spunk, chutzpah, individuality and raw instrumental skill than a whole din of today's typical Nashville releases."

McCoy, Cyrus, Morgan Win At The TNN Music City News Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - June 15, 1998 - Singer Neal McCoy surprised the country music industry Monday by being named entertainer of the year in the 32nd annual TNN Music City News Country Awards.

But the big winner in a 2-1/2-hour ceremony attended by 11,000 people at the Nashville Arena and telecast by the TNN network was Billy Ray Cyrus of ``Achy Breaky Heart'' fame.

Cyrus not only emerged as male artist of the year but won in three other categories -- song (''It's All the Same to Me,'' written by Kerry Kurt Phillips and Jerry Laseter), album (''Cover to Cover'') and video (''Three Little Words'').

Lorrie Morgan was voted best female artist. The Living Legend Award went to ``Grand Ole Opry'' veteran Porter Wagoner. Reba McEntire received the Minnie Pearl Award for humanitarian activity.

Nominations were made and winners selected through ballots printed in the monthly Music City News and telephone numbers announced on TNN.

McCoy, a Texas baritone whose renditions range from romantic tunes to concert show stoppers such as his wild rap version of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' theme song, shut out heavy hitters Garth Brooks, Cyrus, Alan Jackson and George Strait to win the top trophy.

When ``Achy Breaky Heart'' emerged as a monster hit on both the pop and country charts in 1992, the 36-year-old Cyrus was criticized by many in the industry as an overnight novelty who was not really country. He was also overlooked at the various awards shows for a considerable time despite the fact that his first album that year sold more than eight million copies.

``Man, I can't believe it!'' Cyrus exulted back stage. ``I want to thank all the fans who hung in there with me.''

Displaying what he called his ``new look'' with dark glasses, a dark long coat and a Van Dyke beard, the long-haired singer said ``my fans know that I live this music. I did this for 12 years before anybody heard 'Achy Breaky Heart'. I was no overnight success.''

Other award winners were: Single of the Year for Brooks & Dunn; Vocal Collaboration of the Year for Anita Cochran & Steve Wariner for ``What If I Said''; Vocal Band of the Year for Sawyer Brown; Star of Tomorrow -- Male Artist for Trace Adkins; Comedian of the Year for Gary Chapman; Female Artist of the Year for Lorrie Morgan; Star of Tomorrow -- Female for Lee Ann Womack.

A sobbing McEntire accepted the Minnie Pearl Award as ``the greatest honor I have ever been given.''

The award, named after the late Grand Ole Opry comedienne, was bestowed on McEntire, herself a past winner of numerous country music awards, for outstanding humanitarian and community contributions. Backstage she told reporters that she first learned of the value of helping others from comedian Bob Hope with whom she had worked on occasion.

``I went to see Minnie when she was in a nursing home shortly before she passed away,'' said McEntire. ``I learned so much from her, too.''

Grand Ole Opry veteran Wagoner, whose flashy rhinestone-studded outfits have long made him a figure on the Opry, was honored with the Living Legend award. Wagoner once hired an unknown named Dolly Parton to sing on his own TV series which ran 21 years. In a video tribute Parton said ``there was some feudin' and fussin' for a few years, but we've made up.''

The show, hosted by comedian Jeff Foxworthy, included appearances by Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Patty Loveless, Ricky Van Shelton, LeAnn Rimes, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Marty Stuart, Pam Tillis and Terri Clark.

Ashley Judd Sings With Mom, Sister

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - June 15, 1998 - Ashley Judd sang in public with her mother and sister for the first time during a charity auction over the weekend.

A nervous Miss Judd completed the gospel music standard ``Goodnight, The Lord's Comin''' on her fourth try Sunday.

``It's no longer just The Judds,'' Wynonna Judd said. ``It's The Judds Women.''

Wynonna and Ashley, an actress, sang with their mom, Naomi, at the Wildhorse Saloon to raise money for the American Liver Foundation. The event was the unofficial kickoff of International Country Music Fan Fair, which brings thousands of country music fans to Nashville each year.

Among the items auctioned were a daylong visit with Naomi at her farm ($7,100), a yellow satin shirt of Ashley's ($140), and a crossword puzzle completed and signed by Barry Manilow ($50).

Naomi Judd began raising money for liver disease research after being diagnosed with hepatitis C. She left The Judds musical act in 1991 because of her illness. She has said she is now cured.

Waylon Clears the Air Regarding His Health Rumors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - June 15, 1998 - Legendary country music outlaw Waylon Jennings wants to set the record straight on the state of his health and recent published reports that had the singer sounding like he was on his last legs.

In his own unmincing words:

"I don't need a wheelchair, I don't use make-up, Viagra, Geritol or Haticol! I just don't want to be on the road as much as I was. I don't have Chronic Fatigue, I can't even spell it. The only thing I've retired from, and am tired of, is the road and the bullshit! Get it right."

Until this past year, Jennings was out playing as many as 200 dates a year. While he has slowed his concert activity, he is ready to release one of the more ambitious albums of his career and has several television appearances lined up for the summer and fall.

Recently, he has filmed his portion of the upcoming television movie "The Long Kill," that will also feature pals Willie Nelson, Kris Kristoffersen and Travis Tritt and will premiere on CBS in October. He has taped voice-overs for the Nickelodeon cartoon show, "The Angry Beavers" and CMT's "Jammin' Country." Preliminary plans are also in the works for a possible "Waylon & Friends" tour for select major cities.

At this stage of his life, Jennings is doing exactly what he wants to do; spending time with his wife of 30 years Jessi Colter, his children and grandchildren, along with his continual work on his music and songwriting.

June 16 is the release date for "Closing In On The Fire," Waylon's 72nd album and his first for ARK 21 Records. This far reaching album finds Jennings collaborating with rockers Sheryl Crow, Sting and Mark Knopfler. Travis Tritt and longtime friend, Carl Smith also made guest appearances.

Five of the songs were written by Jennings himself, with additional cuts form Tony Joe White's hypnotic title cut, to Sting's "She's Too Good For Me" featuring Sheryl Crow, to the Mick Jagger/Keith Richards road weary "No Expectations." Jessi Colter joins her husband on "Just Watch Your Mama And Me," a love story if there ever was one.

Eleven tracks that close in on a personal statement from an artist who has never stopped growing, experimenting and doing as he damn well pleases. Now get it right, indeed.

More Country News

HIT PACKAGE: Country supergroup Alabama will release a two-CD set, ``For the Record,'' featuring 41 No.1 country hits and three new songs. The collection is scheduled for Aug. 25. The group released its first single, ``Tennessee River,'' in May 1980. Alabama has sold more than 58 million units worldwide, according to their record label. ``How Do You Fall in Love,'' the first single from the new set, will be released in mid-July. The accompanying video will be shot in Nashville in the next two weeks. ``Keep in Up'' and ``Five O'Clock 500'' are the other new songs.

VARIOUS VIDEOS: Shania Twain will be featured in a two-hour cable TV special, Shania's Video Bio, on CMT: Country Music Television. Set for 1 p.m. EDT, Aug.8, the show will include the debut of Twain's new video, ``When.'' The special and its repeat telecasts will be the only times ever that the video will be aired in the United States. Also during the special, Twain reveals her favorite video, ``The Woman in Me,'' which was filmed in Cairo against a dramatic framework of ancient pyramids, temples and the Nile River. The country star also talks about the video most fun to film; the most physically demanding clip; and the video that has had the most impact on her career.

HOPE HONOR: General Carl Mundy, president and CEO of the USO, Tuesday presented the Spirit of Hope Award to the Country Music Association in recognition of the many country artists who have donated time and talent to American troops through the USO. CMA executive director Ed Benson and Randy Travis accepted the award on behalf of all artists who have toured with the USO, among them Travis, Clint Black, Charlie Daniels, the Judds and Loretta Lynn. A bas relief of Bob Hope, the trophy is presented in honor of the comedian, who was recently designated the first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces for his decades of service entertaining American troops.

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