Quick Saturday news: concert whirl, chartgazing and more...

By request, Bucky Covington shares a smile during the KMLE Pre-Show Party at the Cricket Wireless Pavilion in Phoenix; photo by the fabulous Sunscreen of the Bucky Truck Stop at Rawkhands. Click the image to see many more of her beautiful Phoenix shots. Thanks again, Sunscreen! Bucky Covington's debut CD is in stores now, and his music videos for "It's Good to Be Us" and "A Different World" are 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 singles at CMT and GAC, or enjoy samples of songs from the CD at Bucky's official MySpace. A copy of Bucky Covington can be ordered at his official site.

Today's biggest news happened yesterday, of course--a lot of 2008 tour dates have been posted at Bucky Covington's official site, and travel plans are being made even as we speak! So far, some of the listings have no venue info--just dates, cities and states--but hang in there. Those blanks will be filled in soon, and ticket info should be popping up as well. (Right now, the only one we've been able to research is that 7/26 Hot Springs, AR show; word has it that'll be happening at the Magic Springs Park, although it's not yet posted at the park's website.)

We'll repeat that reminder to join your local country station's "loyal listener" mailing list, if you haven't done so already. Concert updates, including advance ticket-buying opportunities, could be as close as your inbox. (If you get any hot tour news in your mailbox or elsewhere, feel free to share!)

In the meantime, the radio scene is in full holiday swing; American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks is doing both a regular countdown and a Christmas special this week, so if you're one of the one of the fans who haven't had a chance to hear Bucky's wild "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" on your FM radio, tune in--we might be in for a pleasant surprise! Most of the syndicated shows this weekend-- Lia, The Big Time with Whitney Allen , Danny Wright All Night, After Midnite and the like--could be abundantly spiced with Christmas tunes, too. So...request both of Bucky's current singles. "It's Good to Be Us", is a bulleted #27 on the Mediabase weighted and Top 500 charts, and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" starts the weekend at #84. Call up your local station before you load up that sleigh...

Yesterday's tech troubles at CMT.com cost us some voting opportunities--the good news is that last night's CMT Pure Country Pure 12-Pack countdown broadcast showed that we made good use of last week's voting time. Bucky's video for "It's Good to Be Us" took the #2 spot! We'd love to see it make that leap up to #1. Watch it now at CMT, and give Bucky some unlimited affection at GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown, and at CMT's Top 20 Countdown as well as at good old Pure Country Pure 12-Pack.

Finally, be sure to check out The Covington Times for a great shot of Bucky and Rocky Covington taking a flying leap at the Voodoo Lounge in St. Louis, as well as a fun look back at last year's GAC tour excitement.

Back later with a ticket update-- have a great Saturday-before-Christmas!