Monday news: Power Picks, a word from Mark Miller and more...

Two great shots, two great requests! Bucky Covington and Rocky Covington (scroll down) had a fantastic time on stage at the Turning Stone Resort, 7/27; photos by the very kind Janie. You can enjoy more of her great concert shots here (link fixed). Thanks so much, Janie! Bucky's debut CD is in stores now, and his music video is available for online viewing at CMT.com and Yahoo Music. You can buy Bucky's album at Amazon, Best Buy , iTunes, WalMart Music and Target, hear the full version of his single "A Different World" at CMT and GAC, or enjoy samples of songs from the CD at Bucky's official MySpace. An autographed copy of Bucky Covington can be ordered while supplies last at his official site or via his official fan club.

If you've got a minute this Monday morning, there's a fun opportunity to make your afternoon brighter right at your fingertips! Grab your coffee and head over to CMT's Power Picks, where the voting to determine today's kick-off video is still in progress. ("A Different World" is one of the choices, and I can't think of a nicer way to start the lunch hour than watching Bucky strollin' and singin' in the sunshine, can you?) Tune in at 12 noon ET to see the winning video today...

(Edited with results--looks we got our sweet lunchtime treat after all! Many thanks to everyone for voting this weekend, and congratulations to Bucky on another Power Picks win.)

Mark Miller of Sawyer Brown, Bucky's wise musical mentor and the producer of his debut CD, Bucky Covington, recently spoke with Direct TV 101 about the experience. The AmericanSuperstar blog has all the details this morning, complete with a great "They Don't Understand" video clip.

And a kind concertgoer (and Carrie Underwood fan) who was at this weekend's Barnstable County Fair spoke about her experience at Bucky's live show at CMT.com; the recap is short, sweet and fun. Bucky, Rocky, Shaun, Hans and Don are set to rock the Ingham County Fair in Michigan tonight. (This bill is an excellent one-- Danielle Peck and Rachel Rodriguez also grace the stage this evening. If you can get there, be there!) You can follow Bucky Covington's summer concert schedule at his official site--make plans to enjoy him live when his tour bus rolls into your city.

Bucky's hit single starts off the week with a nice leap on the Mediabase Top 500 today, where it's currently gracing the #6 spot--the same spot it now occupies on the weighted chart. (As Kathy mentions at Team Covington this morning, we are knocking at Top Five's door!) Keep requesting "A Different World" at your favorite local and streaming country stations, and feel free to give Bucky's video some affection at GAC's Top Twenty Country Countdown, too.

It's Monday, and that means it's Hits Daily Double time; their album sales estimates will get rolling again for the week at approximately 7:30 a.m. Pacific, with the final estimates posted tomorrow afternoon. Last week, Bucky's CD kept its "top twelve" streak going on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart--stay tuned for all of this week's twists and turns...

Finally, here are two handy repeat photo links for all who'd like to relive this past weekend's concert excitement--if you haven't been there already, be sure to enjoy Janie's beautiful gallery from the Turning Stone Resort show on 7/27, and my4frogs' lovely set of shots from Sunday's WSOC Redneck Yacht Club cruise. A big round of applause and major thanks to both ladies for capturing the good times in style!

More soon--have a wonderful Monday...