COUNTRY NEWS

Last Update on March 19, 2010 03:09 EDT

"AMERICAN IDOL" - LACEY BROWN

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Lacey Brown likes to sing her own way. But, it didn't work for her this week. She was the first from this season's Top-12 voted off "American Idol." But, maybe it'll work for her out in the real world as she considers the "country route," as she calls it. In a conference call yesterday with reporters, Brown said she really loves "to sing ballads" and she loves "telling a story with a song."

"AMERICAN IDOL" - RYAN SEACREST MESS-UP

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- When three-million people are reading what you're Tweeting, it can make an impact. Sometimes it's negative, as Ryan Seacrest and Fox found out Wednesday night when ratings dropped. After the live show of "American Idol" aired to the East Coast, the Washington Post reports Seacrest tweeted that he had a packed radio show the next morning which included "voted-off idol lacey brown." Oops, "American Idol" had not aired yet on the West Coast. A torrent of angry fans responded, many of them saying they wouldn't be watching Idol Wednesday night because Seacrest had spoiled it for them.

MILEY CYRUS - ISSUES WITH COUNTRY MUSIC SCENE

UNDATED (AP) -- Miley Cyrus has problems with the current country music scene. She tells Parade magazine it scares her. She says "it feels contrived on so many levels. Unless you're wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots and singing and whining about your girlfriend or boyfriend leaving you its not going to sell." She says she thinks that's why her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, "finally got out of it." And, she says the whole country music scene makes her "nervous, the politics of it all."

TAYLOR SWIFT - "FEARLESS" MOST HONORS IN COUNTRY MUSIC HISTORY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Taylor Swift's "Fearless" has become the album with the most awards in country music history. And, it's set a new Billboard record for most Top-10 hits. So, how to celebrate? Eat! "Fearless" was honored at a private dinner Wednesday night in Nashville. "Fearless" has gone platinum six times and is the biggest-selling album of the last 2 years.

TOP CONCERTS

UNDATED (AP) -- Only two performers with country connections are in Pollstar's Top-20 of money-making concerts this week. But, one of them remains in first place. It's Miley Cyrus. The other is Jason Aldean. His concert is in 13th out of 20.