Quick Sunday news: Opry wrapup, chartgazing and more...

Bucky Covington enjoys a breezy soundcheck before the Coshocton County Fair last fall; photo by our very talented friend Trish. Thanks so much! 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 or via his official fan club.


If you caught Bucky Covington on Grand Ole Opry Live last night on GAC, you enjoyed a smile-inducing night of music. Bucky and the band performed "It's Good to Be Us" and "A Different World" for a packed and very excited Ryman Auditorium crowd, and WSM radio listeners got a bonus song, "Suspicious Minds", during the break. Bucky's interview with Opry Live host Nan Kelley was as fun (and funny) as you'd expect, and the radio-only second-show introduction by Opry legend Jeannie Seely was genuinely sweet. She mentioned what a thrill it is to see a young performer's career blossom and grow, and how exciting it was to think of where his musical path might lead. (Needless to say, we couldn't agree more!)

For those who'd like to relive the fun, here's that list of Grand Ole Opry Live repeat airtimes:

• January 13, 2008 12:00 PM ET
• January 13, 2008 7:00 PM ET
• January 15, 2008 8:00 PM ET

WSM may also archive the entire Opry radio show later this week--bookmark this page and keep checking back...

Upcoming shows: With the Opry in the rear view mirror (for now--we're betting on a return engagement soon!) Bucky's touring year begins in earnest. Next up: shows at the Glass Cactus in Grapevine, TX (near Dallas) on 1/19 (tickets) , the Pullo Performing Arts Center in York, PA on 1/ 25 (tickets here), and Bucky's first show with Trace Adkins at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA (see ad in sidebar). Check out our Tour Info section at left for links to all the latest, and stay tuned--tomorrow very likely begins another busy week of announcements...

Chart news: "It's Good to Be Us" spent the weekend holding on strong at #23 on both the Mediabase weighted and Top 500 charts, with big, healthy bullets on both--and a maturing, descending song occupying the next notch. Here's a perfect opportunity to scoot Bucky closer to that much desired Top 20 status with a few extra requests! Call (or email) your local country station and let them know you'd love to hear Bucky this Sunday afternoon...or anytime. And of course, give Bucky's video a boost too--watch "It's Good to Be Us" at CMT, and give Bucky some affection at GAC's Top 20 Country Countdown, at CMT's Top 20 Countdown, and at CMT's Pure Country Pure 12-Pack.


Bucky Covington at Wild Country in Collinsville, IL.; photo by Dana. Bucky was there Thursday for a taping of the local St. Louis Country show.

Around the web and on the tube: There'll be lots of fantastic Opry photos and memories to come in the days ahead--many of Bucky's talented fans were present at the Ryman last night (you may have heard some of them cheering heartily during the show!) and we're anticipating much in the way of souvenirs. For now, here's a little more background on that local country music TV show from St. Louis, courtesy of the very kind Dana, who took the photo above: "The St. Louis Country show with Bucky is scheduled to air on February 2nd for any one in the local viewing area. He performed 8 songs including 'It's Good to Be Us', 'Different World' and 'Back When We Were Gods.'" Sounds like a must-see to me...

Back later with more news--see you soon. A beautiful Sunday to you!