Tim McGraw

[Kim]

Tim McGraw’s ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ Debuts at No. 1


He’s done it again! Tim McGraw‘s brand new album, ‘Two Lanes of Freedom,’ debuted at the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Country Albums chart. This marks the 14th time in his illustrious career that McGraw has topped the charts.

Naturally, the country chart isn’t the only place where ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ has been climbing the rungs. The album also claimed the top spot on the All-Genre Digital Albums chart, and it came in at No. 2 on the Billboard All-Genre chart.

Not bad for the country music veteran, eh?

Surely McGraw is enjoying his latest success, but he can’t stop to celebrate for long. Up next, the singer will host an all-star concert special. ‘ACM Presents: Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night’ will tape on April 8 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The star-studded show will broadcast on the CBS Television Network at a later date.

And then there’s this year’s tour season to look forward to. The Two Lanes of Freedom Tour kicks off on May 2 in Birmingham, Ala. and will stop in dozens of U.S. cities in the following months. Brantley Gilbert and Love and Theft will join the country music king on the U.S. leg of the tour.

It’s going to be a heck of a year for Tim McGraw!

[Kim]

Tim McGraw: Family, Faith and Fatherhood Tackled in Rapid-Fire Questions

by The Boot Staff


Tim McGraw has a lot to smile about. The country superstar has a gorgeous wife, three precious daughters and 20-year career that is as red hot today as it ever was.

The Louisiana native's 12th studio album, Two Lanes of Freedom sits atop the country albums chart this week. "There's something special about this record to me, in the optimism that it has," Tim told The Boot in our exclusive interview earlier this month. "I'm looking forward to more stuff than I've ever had happen before; there's more ahead of me than behind me. I feel like I've grabbed another gear."

After chatting with the singer about his stellar new music, The Boot had Tim fill in the blanks to our quirky questionnaire. Check out his answers below about everything from celebrity crushes to fatherhood follies.

(Tim's answers are bolded.)

I embarrass my daughters when I ... dance.

My dream co-star in a movie is ... Faith. Or Daniel Day Lewis, whichever comes first.

Faith would say my worst habit is ... leaving clothes laying around everywhere.

Any boy who wants to date one of my daughters should know that ... I'm watching.

My first celebrity crush was ... Kristy McNichol.

The coolest venue I've ever played was ... the Circus Maximus in Rome for Live 8.

I would kill to go on tour with ... Springsteen.

If I could trade places with any celebrity for one day, it would be ... George Clooney, because my wife loves him so much.

My favorite Louisiana delicacy is ... crawfish.

My favorite Faith Hill song is ... "Breathe."

My guilty pleasure is ... my wife's cocoa-cola cake. (Get the recipe!)

My favorite smell is ... cinnamon sticks from Jet's Pizza.

My least favorite smell is ... lavender.

Before I was famous, the worst job I ever had was ... picking tomatoes.

The funniest person I know is ... Gracie, my daughter.

The coolest person I know is ... my wife.

To me, retirement is ... maybe letting yourself get fat.

[Kim]

Tim McGraw Makes Shocking Revelation: He’s Not the ‘Cool’ Dad


Tim McGraw is a country music icon, notable actor and household name. He frequents red carpet events and has been married to one of the biggest music superstars on the earth, Faith Hill, for almost 17 years. All those elements that make up Tim McGraw sound pretty cool, don’t they? However, there are three people who don’t think he’s cool: his daughters.

Access Hollywood Live reports that McGraw’s daughters (ages 15, 14 and 11) don’t view him as a celebrity. Instead, they view him as what he is: their dad. “I’m probably the most uncool guy that they know— as far as they are concerned anyway – ‘cause I’m Dad,” McGraw says. “I mean dads just aren’t cool — especially when I dance! They don’t want me to dance.”

While some dads think they can get away with busting a move out on the dance floor, McGraw amusingly states, “I’m not a dancer. I’m a white country singer. [There’s] not that much dancing involved with me!”

Even so, the father-daughter relationships he has sound surprisingly similar to many other households with pre-teen or teenage daughters. In fact, to the superstar’s kids, dinner with McGraw is probably just another ‘One of Those Nights’ of supper with their dad.

You can expect the ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ singer to watch what he says at the dinner table (or every other place in his home, for that matter). McGraw is careful to not dig any holes with his words, as he relays, “With a house full of women, it’s a lot of just shut up, you know?”

He continues, “Just try not to say too much. If you say too much, you get yourself deeper and deeper into trouble!”

While McGraw may not be a ‘cool dad,’ he certainly understands how to play it cool.

[Kim]

Supreme Court Denies Curb Records’ Appeal in Tim McGraw Lawsuit


If you thought you heard a huge noise from the direction of Nashville last week, don’t be concerned — it was probably just coming from a giant party at Tim McGraw‘s house. The United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from Curb Records last week in an ongoing legal war with their former star, effectively bringing the case to an end after years of legal wrangling.

The dispute dates back to May of 2011, when Curb filed suit against the singer for breach of contract, alleging that McGraw delivered his ‘Emotional Traffic’ album too quickly — a contract clause obliged him to space his albums 18 months apart. Curb refused to release the album, while McGraw took the position that its delivery fulfilled the final obligation in his contract.

He countersued, alleging that Curb Records had kept him in a perpetual state of “involuntary servitude” by making him wait so long to record new albums. McGraw also claimed that Curb’s choice to release a total of seven greatest hits albums was a deliberate ploy to extend his contract against his will, since he was then forced to wait another 18 months to fulfill another album in his contract.

In November of 2011 a Nashville court ruled that McGraw was free to record elsewhere while he waited for the suit to be heard in court. McGraw signed a new deal with Big Machine Records in May of 2011; he released an album titled ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ on Feb. 5, 2013.

Last June, Curb tried to claim that McGraw was still under contract to them when that album was recorded, making the new music the property of Curb Records. An appeals court ruling in September upheld the the previous ruling that McGraw was free to record elsewhere. The Supreme Court’s refusal to hear another appeal essentially mean there’s nothing left to decide, apart from monetary damages on both sides.

[Kim]

Tim McGraw Surprises Vets at Outback Steakhouse in Chicago

By Amy Sciarretto
June 1, 2013
tasteofcountry.com


Tim McGraw once again joined forces with both Operation Homefront and Outback Steakhouse, surprising vets and their families during lunch. McGraw took time out of his schedule to fraternize with military members over the Memorial Day holiday weekend so he could express his appreciation, face to face, since they do so much to keep America free.

In a video from last weekend’s lunch at an Outback in Chicago, McGraw prefaced his involvement, saying, “All the service they’ve put in, and the generations of service they put in? It’s such a great program and I am happy to be a part of it.”

youtu.be/3AYOIxktSSc

McGraw also spoke to the room of assembled veterans, personally thanking them for their efforts on behalf of all Americans.

“I want to be an American and I want to be free, and you make me proud to be an American and because of you, I am free,” McGraw said, succinctly summing up his respect for servicemen and women. “So on behalf of my family, Outback and Operation Homefront, I want to say thank you and have a great day and have a great weekend. Now let’s eat.” Sounds like a plan!

The ‘Highway Don’t Care’ singer greeted vets and their loved ones in the restaurant, making their meals that much better. Who needs desert when you can get a handshake and a hug, as well as a personal thanks, from Tim McGraw?

The singer also surprised vets at Outback during the Thanksgiving season, as well.

[Kim]

Judge Dismisses Curb Records’ Latest Lawsuit Against Tim McGraw

By Amy Sciarretto
August 9, 2013
tasteofcountry.com


There’s some good news for Tim McGraw that spells bad news for his former label, Curb Records. The two sides have been embroiled in years of legal battles, and the latest victory falls in favor of the country singer.

A U.S. District Court has dismissed Curb’s latest lawsuit against McGraw and his new label Big Machine Records.

The Tennessean reports that a federal court declined to hear the Curb case, and that the District Court judge administratively closed it until a decision is made regarding the copyright of music that McGraw recorded. That suit was filed in Tennessee state court.

Scott Borchetta, the president and CEO Of the Big Machine Label Group, issued a statement after learning of the news Friday (Aug. 9).

“We’re very pleased that the District Court has dismissed Curb Records’ lawsuit against Tim McGraw and Big Machine Records,” Borchetta remarks. “Our number one goal and intention at the Big Machine Label Group is to sign great artists with great vision and do everything in our power to create an environment for them to do their best work.”

He went on to praise McGraw and his performance as a Big Machine artist thus far, adding, “Since Tim McGraw has been a member of Big Machine Records, everyone has witnessed an incredible surge in popularity and demand for his musical releases and live performances. His sales and airplay results rival the best of his career. And we’re just getting started…”

The battle between McGraw and Curb been festering for quite some time. His former label initially accused him of breaching his contract, delivering his final album under said contract — that’d be ‘Emotional Traffic’ — too early. The label also filed a lawsuit over copyrights, claiming that the songs that populate McGraw’s Big Machine debut ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ were recorded while he was still signed to Curb, making them the rightful owner. The label tried to block him from signing with Big Machine, as well.

McGraw counter-sued, arguing that Curb released multiple greatest hits albums in order to force him to have to remain with the label even longer than he wanted, as he was supposed to fulfill the contractually-obligated 18 months between albums.

That’s the Reader’s Digest version of a messy, messy dispute.

[Kim]

Tim McGraw Partners With Duracell to Help First Responders Across America

By Megan Pacella
tasteofcountry.com
August 24, 2013


To promote the new Duracell Quantum battery –and celebrate EMTs, firefighters and first responders all over the country– Tim McGraw and Duracell are teaming up to give away one million batteries to the men and women who keep us safe when disaster strikes. The result is a series of tear-jerking video interviews that will make you want to thank a hero today.

McGraw will host the videos, which have been dubbed the ‘Quantum Heroes’ series. The clips showcase everything from FDNY workers who banded together to save people trapped in their houses during Hurricane Sandy to first responders in Ohio who saved a baby from dying due to smoke inhalation.

The country music star has been a longtime supporter of the good work first responders do, especially those in his home state of Louisiana. So, when Duracell asked him to meet with first responders, firefighters and EMTs, and help create ‘Quantum Heroes’ videos, McGraw obliged.

“When [Duracell] asked me to be the host of the Quantum Heroes video series, I couldn’t say no,” he said in a statement.

The series of clips will air on Duracell’s Facebook and YouTube pages, as well as other social media outlets. The videos are made in a way that uses first responders to highlight the long-lasting Quantum batteries that will keep their equipment running for longer.

After all, if your radio runs out of battery power in the middle of a natural disaster, how can you safely help others survive? We have a feeling that’s why McGraw jumped at the chance to work as a spokesman for this product.