ION Westerns

Good news for Western fans: On Saturday nights during March and April, RHI Entertainment will be airing original sagebrush sagas and classic encores on the ION Television Network.

The Tonto Woman

As we approach the final countdown for the 80th annual Academy Awards, it's worth noting that 3:10 to Yuma isn't the only Western based on an Elmore Leonard short story among the nominees. While the two-fisted, straight-shooting drama starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale competes in the Original Score and Sound Mixing categories Sunday evening, an adaptation of Leonard's The Tonto Woman will be vying for the Live Action Short prize. You can see clips from the 35-minute flick here and here, and a trailer here.

Time Jumpers

The Time Jumpers will be in the running for Grammy gold Sunday evening. The popular Western Swing band has been nominated in two categories: Best Country Instrumental Performance, for “Fidoodlin’,” and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, for “Sweet Memories.” Check out the above clip, a live performance showcasing vocalist Dawn Sears, honoring recently deceased band mate John Hughey.

Grousing about Grammys

Looking forward to Sunday's presentation of the 50th annual Grammy Awards, country music critic and historian Tom Roland notes that the glittering prizes aren't prized too highly by some folks in Music City.

A touch of Sex

According to Great American Country, Trisha Yearwood has hand-picked John Corbett -- a veteran of TV's Sex in the City who also knows a thing or two about Country music -- as the male lead in her next music video.

Five shows, two days, one superstar

The L.A. Times reports on the Garth Brooks Marathon: "From 6 p.m. Friday to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, the country star interrupted his retirement to play five concerts at Staples Center in front of nearly 100,000 people, and for a national TV audience in the first hour."

Country stars shine for a great cause

Montgomery Gentry, the multi-platinum super duo, joined several other musical acts Thursday night in raising $100,000 for the T.J. Martell Foundation during the 14th Annual Country in the Rockies in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Among the other major fundraisers: Brad Arnold and Chris Henderson of 3 Doors Down raised $3,000 for a two-song acoustic performance; Darryl Worley and Lari White sang for generous donors; and Bill McCorvey of the Pirates of the Mississippi brought in more cash by performing the duo's hit, “Feed Jake."

Other stars generously donated auction items to benefit the foundation. Eddie Montgomery donated three of his trademark black hats, Hank Williams Jr. provided a Gibson guitar embossed with the Monday Night Football logo -- and Charlie Daniels donated a fiddle that fetched a $2,000 bid.

The T.J. Martell Foundation supports innovative research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. In Nashville, the Foundation supports cancer research at the Frances Williams Preston Labs at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.