A request reminder, a "sexy" Country Weekly poll, and a few results (updated with video interview link)

Bucky Covington wears a fan-gifted lei on stage at the Indiana State Fair; thanks to Judy Lang for this fun shot.

Here are the results of our last Buckymania poll about how many Bucky Covington concerts you've been to in 2009. If you're with me in the "None yet" category (sigh!), keep the faith--we still have plenty of chances to enjoy the live excitement in the coming months. Click here for Bucky's official concert schedule (a work in progress--see our previous post for a new date) and make those plans! As for you lucky "4+" and "I've lost count" folks...well, we'll probably see you there, yes?

None yet: 18 (33%)
1-2: 16 (29%)
3-4: 7 (12%)
4+: 10 (18%)
I've lost count! 3 (5%)

Thanks so much for voting--look for another poll in the upper right corner very soon...

Country Weekly's annual "Country Sexiest Men" poll began today, and it runs through September 14th. Bucky's missing from the ballot this year, but we can still cast a vote for him as a write-in; click "Other" at the bottom of the page. The results for this one will be printed in the October 19th issue of Country Weekly.

Finally, be sure to request Bucky's beautiful single, "I Want My Life Back", after you've enjoyed the ABC special. (Huge thanks to the kind reader who let me know there was a typo in the Whitney Allen phone number I've been posting--it's corrected below.) Call locally, call nationally--call your station and ask for Bucky:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4863
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Updated: Bucky's tenth and last video interview segment has just been posted at YouTube. In this one, he talks about the ways he keeps his sanity with such a hectic schedule. (Success has its privileges, y'all...) Have a great night!--Winnie

New concert date: Bucky Covington at Memphis Motorsports Park, Oct. 24 (and an ABC reminder)

Bucky Covington on stage during his first ever Fan Club party concert in Nashville during CMA Fest week; photo provided by the very gracious Diver. Thanks again!

Looks like that Memphis show we wrote about last week is a go, in more ways than one! The Memphis Motorsports Park website now sports a race day events schedule for the the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 on October 24, and Bucky Covington is listed as the Post-Race Comcast Concert Series performer. Tickets for the race are on sale now at 1-866-40-SPEED and online at MemphisMotorsportsPark.com. (Thanks so much to TexasProudBuckyFan for the heads-up.)

No word on whether or not we'll catch a glimpse of Bucky on ABC's CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock special tonight (he was a fun part of CMA Fest, itself), but Bucky's Idol compatriot and friend Kellie Pickler is definitely a star of the show. She'll be shown hanging out with fans, tasting "Kellie Pickler" ice cream at Mike's in Nashville, and performing "Best Days of Your Life." (Twitter fans take note--Kellie and several other artists will participate in a live "Tweet and Greet" Twitter feed tonight during the special: click here for details.) It all begins at 8 pm ET on ABC.

Speaking of CMA Fest, they've just announced something different for 2010--a layaway plan! You can buy your tickets now and make a 25% deposit (plus a $5/ticket surcharge), then you'll be automatically charged 25% on the first of February, March and April 2010. The layaway ticket option is available by phone only; call the Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) and get ready to rock in person next year! (And if Bucky's first fan club party was any indication, you'll absolutely want to be there for the next...)

More soon--Winnie

Quick Monday news: Bucky Covington in Alaska, chart check and more...

Many thanks to the gracious Buckaholic for this up-close-and-personal shot of Bucky Covington getting soulful on stage at the Indiana State Fair. Click the image to check out his concert schedule at Bucky's official site.

Bucky Covington and his excellent band are bringing some Southern charm way, way up North tonight; they're playing the Alaska State Fair in Palmer at 7:30 pm, and if you're local (lucky you!) keep it tuned to sponsoring station KBEAR 104.1 for updates and possible extras. (Speaking of extras, Country 104.7 KKRV has a few shots from Bucky's Waterville, WA stop posted on their photo wall today...)

As mentioned earlier, "I Want My Life Back" is proudly sporting a big red bullet this morning, despite a superstar polevault that bumped it back to #31--show Bucky some love on the request lines, and that bullet's bound to look even sweeter.

We're working on an autumn concert post for this afternoon--there are lots of hot nights of music to look forward to as the weather cools down! In the immediate future, Bucky's California fans have reason to celebrate, as he and his band return for a show at The Wrangler in Elk Grove (Sacramento area) on Thursday, 9/3 , and make a stop in San Jose at the Rodeo Club on Friday, 9/4. On Saturday night, they'll rock the Inter-Mountain Fair in McArthur. (As always, we heartily recommend bookmarking Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page for the latest on his exciting live happenings.)

Rocky Covington takes the mic while Bucky Covington plays guitar at the Indiana State Fair--thanks again to Judy Lang for this terrific photo.

We're looking forward to a little more TV and media time once Bucky's second album, due November 3rd as of now, hits the shelves. His Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader appearance for charity airs on CMT September 23rd, and Bucky mentioned a planned music video shoot in Rockingham during an interview a couple of weeks back. He spoke briefly about the final decision on the cover art during his video chat with Brent at KKRV, and it would be a big boost to see it soon...maybe this week? Carrie Underwood's beautiful CD cover has just been posted on Brian Mansfield's Idol Chatter blog at USA Today--here's hoping we're next...)

More--including that fall concert roundup--coming up. Happy Monday, everyone!--Winnie

It's Monday! Meet me at Buckytown USA (and our bullet's back...)

Bucky Covington on stage at the Greeley Stampede in Greeley, Colorado; many thanks to Diver for the photo.

Bucky Covington's beautiful current single "I Want My Life Back" [hear it here] is riding out the latest chart storm with grace. It's #31 on the Mediabase published rankings this morning, and it's accompanied once again by a beautiful (and fairly substantial) red bullet. That weekend momentum is something we can take big advantage of right now...be sure to keep your local station's request line number handy!

And be sure to meet me at Buckytown USA today, where the latest weekly update by Fran and Renee is coming up soon. It's a fun Monday morning tradition--their photos, links and info are always excellent week-starters. See you there! More news here in a few--Winnie

Bucky Covington in Waterville: memories from KKRV...

Thanks to the fine folks at Country 104.7 KKRV for documenting Bucky Covington's visit to Waterville, WA this past week--besides the great montage video above, they've also posted an audio snippet of his interview with Brent & Gary at their site. (Bucky and his band are set to rock the Alaska State Fair in Palmer tomorrow, 8/31; check out his MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky's official tour page for a show near you.) More soon--Winnie

Early Sunday news: Danielle the 5th Grader tells all, bid on Bucky Covington memorabilia, and more...

Many thanks to the very talented Buckaholic for this great shot of Bucky Covington waving to the crowd at the Indiana State Fair; click the image to see Bucky's concert schedule, and be there for a first hand view of all the live excitement!

Here's a little smile and a positive chart note to get Sunday started: Danielle C., one of the engaging young students on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, has her very own blog, in which she spoke about her experiences taping CMT's country-themed shows. Among other fun things,he mentioned that Bucky Covington "had a lot of loyal fans at the taping"--if you were there, we'd love to hear all about it! (The show airs September 23rd as part of a full week of country stars playing the game to benefit their favorite charities; see this post for details, and check out Bucky's video chat with Lance Smith about the show, too.)

In chart news, it looks like Bucky's terrific single, "I Want My Life Back" [hear it here] might be sporting that beautiful bright red bullet again soon. Six (or more) successful requests would make a huge difference today--it's hanging tough at #30 this morning, and we'd love to see some upward movement. Sunday morning countdowns mean you'll be hearing Bucky's current hit all over, even before the request lines open--listen for him on Kix Brooks' American Country Countdown and Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40.

Bucky Covington and Ducky Medlock harmonize at the WSLC Star B-Q in Virginia; thanks to Laura Tucker for graciously sharing this photo from the So Salem Flickr profile. (License info: CC BY-SA 2.0)

Finally, here's a last call on that country star studded Duet Dreams Come True benefit auction for the ALS Association--the bidding on Bucky's goodie bundle ends tonight, and it looks like his big-hearted fans are in it to win it. Who will reign victorious? No matter which bidder gets the goodies (which include a signed T-shirt, a fun merch selection, a fan-club membership and more), the ALS folks are the true winners, and we couldn't be happier about that. Thanks, y'all!

Coming up--an autumn concert overview. (If you thought Bucky and his band were busy this summer, wait'll you see what fall brings.) Stay tuned, and have a lovely Sunday morning--Winnie

Quick Saturday news: Bucky Covington in Kennewick tonight...

Bucky Covington (with Scott Saunders at left) on stage at the Indiana State Fair; thanks so much to the very kind Judy Lang for the shot. Click the image to check out Bucky's tour schedule at his official site, and get ready for a fantastic time!

Here's a quick bulletin-style update for a busy Saturday:

Bucky Covington and his excellent band are set to rock the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo in Kennewick, WA tonight; the concert is free with fair admission, and reserved seating might still be available for an extra $8. Enjoy the show!

On the charts, Bucky's beautiful single "I Want My Life Back" [hear it here] begins the weekend where it left off on Friday night--#30, with an invisible bullet. We're looking forward to that Saturday/Sunday countdown airplay boost, and a boost on the request lines is a big help, as well...so keep that local country station's contact info with you while you're enjoying this end-of-summer day.

The Duet Dreams Come True benefit auction wraps up tomorrow on eBay; many country stars have donated autographed souvenirs and fan club memberships to help the ALS Association, and Bucky's goodie bundle appears to be a particularly hot item. Huge thanks to Bucky's big-hearted fans for all the spirited bidding--and if you'd like to hop in, feel free, but hurry!

Have a splendid Saturday--Winnie

Friday night video: Bucky Covington's "Unchain My Heart", live at the Kitsap County Fair

Fresh from last night's Kitsap County Fair show in Bremerton, WA, here's Bucky Covington and his band performing a soulful "Unchain My Heart", as captured by the very kind dcmandeville at YouTube. Enjoy!

Bucky's current single, "I Want My Life Back", is a terrific soundtrack for your Friday night travels--it's #30 on the Mediabase charts this evening, and #1 on our country radio request list tonight. (Well, every night, actually, but who's counting?) Call your live local DJ right now, or let your favorite syndicated host or hostess know you love hearing Bucky on the air:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Have a great American Friday Night!--Winnie

Friday news: Bucky Covington in Waterville, a Test Track winner, chart check and more...

Another request came in for more Fire Jam shots--we aim to please! Thanks to the very talented Judy Lang for capturing this striking front-row view of Bucky Covington on stage in Hillsboro. Click the image to see video of Bucky and his excellent band's performance of "I Want My Life Back" from that show at YouTube now.

First things first--Bucky Covington's current single, "I Want My Life Back", is still wearing its Top 30 laurels today at #30 on the Mediabase charts. It's sporting an unfashionable "invisible bullet" this morning, but what's very visible is Bucky's incredible means of support--he's got a lot of love and affection behind him on this long term (and short term) journey! A big round of applause to everyone who's been clicking those request links, picking up those phones, and emailing those survey votes all summer long, through good times and rough times. We'll keep on keepin' on, even as the seasons change, because the beautiful sound of Bucky's voice on the radio is just flat-out worth it. (Condensed version: request Bucky today...)

Rocky Covington keeps the beat moving on stage at the Fire Jam; thanks again to Judy Lang for this great shot.

Bucky and his hardworking--and rockin'--band are about to charm a whole new crowd tonight in Waterville, WA, where the music gets going at the North Central Washington District Fair at 8 pm. Scott Smith is the opening act, and tickets are $40 for track, $35-$40 for reserved grandstand and $25 general admission. Call 509-745-8480 for info or to charge tickets, and take your camera...

One more exciting Washington show to go--the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo in Kennewick on Saturday--and then the guys head to scenic Alaska for a concert at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer on the 31st. Bookmark Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page and keep up with what promises to be a very hot autumn!

Speaking of hot, Bucky's country version of "Gotta Be Somebody" was a Test Track sensation last night at Seattle's KMPS; thanks to Tony Thomas for posting this mp3 snippet and letting the public vote. The results are here, and it looks like it's a 12-to-1 winner as of post time! (The song is part of Bucky's new CD, now scheduled for a November 3rd release--is anyone else not-so-secretly hoping that date gets moved up a notch or two after hearing that track?)

Jeff Cease and Bucky Covington get a good look at the Fire Jam audience in this terrific photo by Judy Lang; thanks again!

We'll leave you with links to a few new live concert videos to spice up the rest of your morning. If you haven't checked out Danna Marie's clip of Bucky's soulful take on "Unchain My Heart", you're in for a delight! Thanks to her for graciously posting it at MySpace. Bucky does a suprisingly groovy sixties "swim" during the band-intro portion of his show in this cute video by the very kind cimtoofun. (Check out Rocky's "synchronized swim", and enjoy part of Ducky Medlock's crowd greeting, as well.) And for a bit of vintage goodness, this newly-posted "I'll Walk" from 2008's Kickin' Up Kountry festival is a windy treat; thanks to CeNedra555 for sharing.

Updated: tickets for that 11/7 IP Casino & Resort (Biloxi, MS) show with Darryl Worley are on sale today at Ticketmaster.

Have a fantastic Friday!--Winnie

Bucky Covington "Gotta Be Somebody", KMPS Test Track 8/27 (via Tony Thomas at Twitter)

Want a sneak preview of one of the new tracks on Bucky Covington's upcoming album? Tony Thomas of KMPS just Tweeted this link to a snippet of Bucky's version of "Gotta Be Somebody"--listen, then head over to KMPS, scroll down to the "Audio" link where you'll see Bucky's photo tonight, and let him know what you think. (I like it!) Enjoy--Winnie

Bucky Covington at the Kitsap County Fair tonight (photo via Twitter) and Cody Alan's gallery...

Thanks to Tony Thomas of KMPS for sharing this shot via TwitPic--looks like he and Bucky Covington are enjoying a pre-show chat in Bremerton, WA. (Click here for a bonus photo of Bucky showing off a pair of...Crocs?! Uh oh...)

Bucky's very likely to switch into a pair of fancy boots for his show tonight at 5:30 Pacific. Washington State fans have two more chances to enjoy him this week: tomorrow's North Central Washington District Fair in Waterville and Saturday's Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo concert in Kennewick are sure to please. (For more tour dates, click here and prepare for a fantastic night of live country music...)

And of course, Bucky's "I Want My Life Back" (#30 with a slender bullet for the day) is sure to please on your radio wherever you are tonight! Call up your live local country DJ, or request "I Want My Life Back" from your favorite syndicated host or hostess:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Finally, here's a cool link we might have missed--Cody Alan of CMT Radio Live fame not only has an excellent blog-style site, he's got a great photo album, as well. You'll find shots of all your country favorites there, and we spotted Bucky in this ACM media room gallery and this group of shots from the CMT Music Awards red carpet. Happy browsing!--Winnie

Ticket alert: Bucky Covington in Buffalo (10/21) on sale today, chart check and more...

Bucky Covington shows the crowd exactly where "we got Daddy's belt when we misbehaved" during his performance of "A Different World" at the Indiana State Fair; many thanks to the gracious Buckaholic for this fun shot.

Tickets for one of the many hot tour dates on Bucky Covington's busy schedule go on sale today--you can snag your seat for the 10/21 WYRK Acoustic Concert in Buffalo at Ticketmaster beginning at 10:00 local time. From WYRK's site:

The WYRK Acoustic Series returns Wednesday October 21st at the UB Center for the Arts! Country 106.5 WYRK presents Bucky Covington, Justin Moore and Chris Young! Tickets are just 20 bucks and on sale this Thursday morning at 10am and available at the Center for the Arts ticket office, all Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Tomorrow, tickets for Bucky's 11/7 show with Darryl Worley at the IP Casino Resort and Spa in Biloxi, MS go on sale at Ticketmaster--get ready for a rockin' night out!

By request, here's Bucky Covington and Rocky Covington harmonizing at the Alameda County Fair in California--thanks again to our talented friend Minnie for the great shot!

Bucky and his excellent band begin their three-stop Washington State sweep with tonight's show at the Kitsap County Fair in Bremerton at 5:30 pm. His current single, "I Want My Life Back", will be a high point of the set--those of us who won't be out West this evening can still enjoy it on the radio. (It suffered an expected superstar polevault overnight and is now #30 with a bullet, so a little extra request-line flirting with your local country DJ is a timely way to show Bucky some love...)

We'll close with a quick look at the bidding on Bucky's goodie bundle in the Duet Dreams Come True benefit auction--it's very brisk, indeed! Bucky's big-hearted fans have put in 16 bids so far. The auction ends on August 30th, proceeds support the ALS Association, and the autographed gifts are priceless.

More news soon...have a terrific Thursday!--Winnie

Bucky Covington's video interview series, Vol 9 (via Twitter) and a request reminder...

Bucky Covington's "I Want My Life Back" is a "big song"--a song with a serious and heartfelt message--and Bucky talks about how he came to record it in the second-to-last installment of his video interview series, available now on YouTube and iLike. (It'll be posted at his MySpace blog soon; become his MySpace friend, and you can leave him a message in the comments section there.)

After you've enjoyed a little background info from Bucky himself, enjoy the whole song on your radio! Give your local live country DJ a call tonight, or ring up the syndicated host who is beautifying the airwaves where you live:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Have a great night--Winnie

Bucky Covington on "Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader", September 23rd (and a poll, too...)

Bucky Covington and Jeff Foxworthy share smiles on the set of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader; Bucky will appear as part of the show's country music themed week, beginning Monday, September 21 at 8:00 - 8:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT. (Photo credit: Barry Holmes/CMT )

Get ready to match your school smarts against those of some of country's biggest stars, including Bucky Covington! CMT presents a whole week of favorites on Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader, beginning Monday, 9/21. Here's a quick list of the country performers and their charities:

o Monday, 9/21 – Big Kenny (benefits Love Everybody)
o Tuesday, 9/22 – Heidi Newfield (benefits National MS Society)
o Wednesday, 9/23 – Bucky Covington (benefits the Arthritis Foundation)
o Thursday, 9/24 – Jack Ingram (benefits Tom’s Shoes)
o Friday, 9/25 – Emily West (benefits the Alzheimer Foundation of America )

CMT's also got a poll in progress on the show's page, asking "Which country music star do you think will get the most answers correct?" (Now, not to be biased or anything, but Bucky did tell Lance Smith that math was his best subject, which gives him a distinct advantage over a lot of us numerically-challenged folks...)

Mark your calendar! More soon--Winnie

Monday lunch break: Bucky Covington's latest Western weekend, podcast link, chart check and more...

Bucky Covington takes a stroll on stage at the Indiana State Fair; thanks again to the very kind Judy Lang for the photo.

Today started off with a sweet radio surprise: Bucky Covington called in to chat with Ichabod and the Waking Crew at KMPS in Seattle, and the results were fun (and funny), as always. A podcast link is now available on Ick's audio page. Get ready to smile!

One of the topics that didn't come up during that interview was Bucky's very long-awaited new album--as we discovered via his MySpace page last night, the release date has been changed to November 3rd. There are a zillion factors that go into deciding when to release a CD--everything from shopping seasons (holiday shopping, back-to-school gifts, etc.) to other artists' release dates, to the spacing out of singles plays a part. We're not sure of the exact reasons for Bucky's rescheduled street date; what we do know for sure is that a) the album is already finished and ready to go (so this is a marketing decision, not an artistic one) and b) we'll be extremely happy to finally get a chance to enjoy it, whether we're listening to it with leaves falling or snow flying.

Fluctuating release dates are frustrating for fans, but they're fairly common--and sometimes they're moved up instead of down. (For example, Toby Keith's new CD, originally scheduled for October 13th, was just moved up to October 6th.) In other words--hang on tight, y'all!

In the meantime, Bucky's lead-off single from the new album, "I Want My Life Back", is slowly but surely moving up, as well--it's #29 on this morning's Mediabase chart, but that pretty red bullet is growing bigger by the day. We'll keep it going with lunchtime and drive time requests today--and it's always fun to send our good friend Larry K at WKML a "Top 5 at 6" email at country@wkml.com, while we're at it.

A "hat photo", by request: Ducky Medlock, Jeff Cease and Bucky Covington serenade the crowd as the sun sets over the Boone County Fair in this great photo by Judy Lang. Thanks so much!

One of the topics that got a lot of airtime during Bucky's KMPS interview was his energetic live show, which one of the hosts referred to as an "endorphin rush". You can experience the rush for yourself out West this weekend--tomorrow, he and his excellent band will begin a three-show Washington State sweep with a stop at the Kitsap County Fair in Bremerton. Reserved seats are $15.00 (you'll need to buy a separate ticket for admission to the fair) and you can buy yours locally at 1200 NW Fairgrounds Rd in Bremerton. Festival seating is free with fair admission. Have fun!

Coming up: Bucky and the band rock the North Central Washington District Fair in Waterville on Friday, and they wrap up the Washington party at the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo in Kennewick on Saturday. Bookmark Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page for the latest news.

Enjoy your Wednesday!--Winnie

Bucky Covington on KMPS in Seattle at 8:10 Pacific (via Twitter)

Thanks to our talented friend Judy Lang for this fun concert shot from Bucky Covington's Indiana State Fair performance.

Working on a full post for you--but for now, here's a heads-up on an upcoming Bucky Covington radio interview. Randy Scott of KMPS just announced via Twitter that Bucky will be on at 8:10 or so Pacific time--get a cup of coffee and listen in on their stream in a little while!

Updated: It's over now, but it was a hoot, as always! Bucky spoke about how happy he is to be doing what he loves for a living. He also talked about one of Rocky's previous jobs (at a pig farm) and said they're both glad to be working musicians! Look for a podcast shortly on Ick's audio page.

News post next--Winnie

Buckymania poll results, "Mexicoma" in Indiana, and a request reminder...

Bucky Covington "Mexicoma"

Thanks to the very kind Danna Marie for capturing Bucky Covington's energetic "Mexicoma" performance at the Indiana State Fair last week--gotta love those tropical dance moves!

As of now, Bucky Covington's new album is still officially set for an October 13th November 3rd release (see Bucky's official MySpace--new date right up top ) and it looks like most of us will either pick it up the old-fashioned way at a brick-and-mortar store (54%) or online through Bucky's official store (52%--some of us are snagging more than one). No matter which way we get it, we'll be ready to rock! Thanks for participating in the poll--look for a new one in the upper right corner later this evening.

The lead-off single from that CD, "I Want My Life Back", is #29 on the Mediabase charts this evening, sandwiched between two major established country acts. If you've ever wanted to try out requesting from/flirting with your favorite local or national country radio star, tonight's the night! Give the syndicated host or hostess of your choice a request-line wink:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

(Yep, it was a quiet news day today--but things are about to get live, loud and rowdy out West. Stay tuned...)

Have a great night!--Winnie

Quick Tuesday news: Bucky Covington's autumn heats up, chart check and more...

Rocky Covington and Bucky Covington share a laugh at the Indiana State Fair in this beautiful shot by Buckaholic--thanks to her for capturing the moment.

We'll start off Tuesday morning's update with some good news on the charts--Bucky Covington's single, "I Want My Life Back", is once again sporting a sweet (but slender) red bullet at Mediabase this morning. (Huge thanks to everyone who let their local radio stations know we love this song!) It's #29, and we'd like to see that bullet get plumper and plumper this week. Phone calls, eQuests, survey votes--they all matter so much right now. It's been a brutal summer for new artists on the charts, but autumn looks promising--especially with a new music video on the way...

Speaking of autumn, Bucky and his band have a sizzlin' live schedule for us this fall! We just discussed a possible Memphis show on October 24th (see previous post), and ticket information for more upcoming concerts is now available. Bucky's show at the Rodeo Club in San Jose, CA on September 4th is sponsored by KRTY; the station's detail page for the show is here. (From the site: Tickets available at KRTY, 750 Story Road, San Jose. $10 for the first 100, then $15 advance during regular business hours, 9a-5p Monday-Friday. WE ACCEPT CASH ONLY. Tickets will be $20 at the door.)

Our buds at Buckytown USA shared these big dates yesterday--Bucky and his band return to Joe's Bar in Chicago on Tuesday, September 8th for a listen-to-win show sponsored by US99 WUSN, and on Friday, October 2nd, catch them at Tomahawks Smokehouse and Saloon in Albans, WV for one of those rockin' intimate performances you'll love...

Another great concert photo by Buckaholic; Jeff Cease and Bucky Covington enjoy the sun and the crowd at the Indiana State Fair. Thanks again!

In the more immediate future, Bucky's Western fans can enjoy him this weekend at the Kitsap County Fair in Bremerton, WA on Thursday, at the North Central Washington District Fair in Waterville, WA on Friday, and at the Benton Franklin Fair and Rodeo in Kennewick, WA on Saturday. Yep, Bucky and his band are very much in demand--when you're hot, you're hot! Check out Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page for a show near you soon...

We'll close for now with an update on that Duet Dreams Come True benefit auction for the ALS Association--looks like the "hot" theme continues at eBay, where the bidding on Bucky's goodie bundle is gratifyingly fiery! Hop into the fun, and snag some sweet stuff for a very good cause.

More soon--enjoy your Tuesday!--Winnie

New show rumor: Bucky Covington at Memphis Motorsports Park, Oct. 24

Bucky Covington on stage in Odessa, Texas; click the image to see more Odessa concert photos by our friend AmaTexMom at Bucky Fan Pics. Thanks again for your kindness!

This message just popped up at Twitter a few moments ago, via @JasonEAnderson: "Bucky Covington confirmed for post-race concert at the Kroger On Track for the Cure 250 in Memphis (October 24). Special offer coming soon." No confirmation or details on that concert yet at the Memphis Motorsports Park website, but if you'll be in Memphis this fall--or if you'd like to support a great cause--bookmark the park's page and stay tuned.

Tickets for the race are on sale now at 1-866-40-SPEED and online at MemphisMotorsportsPark.com. More info as it becomes available (and good morning!)--Winnie

An update at Shiny Bass, a Leadership Music Event note, and a request reminder...

Bucky Covington and Steve Cook (left) on stage at the Indiana State Fair; thanks again to Judy Lang for this stellar concert shot.

Bucky Covington's multi-talented (I'm tempted to say omni-talented) bass player Steve Cook has posted an update to his Shiny Bass Journal today; whether you're a brand new fan or a longtime listener, you'll enjoy Steve's musings from the road. This one's a must-read, especially if you're a soon-to-be Supercharger fan, as well...

In the meantime, we've got a few phone calls to make this evening--Bucky's beautiful current single "I Want My Life Back" made its debut on three brand new stations this week, and there's no better way to say "thank you" to your favorite station than a request-line call, and/or positive feedback when you hear Bucky's voice on your local airwaves! Give your neighborhood country DJ a ring, or contact your favorite syndicated star:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Bucky Covington on stage in Odessa, Texas; photo by the very kind Texas Proud Bucky Fan. Thanks again!

Finally, a small but significant mention, via GAC; Bucky was one of the many country notables at Sunday's Leadership Music Event in Nashville, at which Garth Brooks was awarded the Dale Franklin Award for outstanding leadership in Nashville’s music community. If you have a few moments, take a look at the Leadership Music website; the non-profit organization's mission is "to nurture a knowledgeable, issue-oriented community of music industry professionals, for the purpose of building a community of leaders to cultivate prosperity in the music industry." The fact that Bucky was among those present says a lot about how seriously (and how long-range) his approach is to this extraordinary musical journey he's begun. (Don't let a few rough chart days get you down--there's a whole lot of big-picture beauty ahead...)

More very soon!--Winnie

Monday lunch break: Bucky Covington, a phone and you--and a charity auction, too...

Bucky Covington (with Ducky Medlock on guitar at left) charmed a large and lively crowd at the Indiana State Fair; many thanks to Judy Lang for this beautiful shot. (Click the image to check out Bucky's concert schedule.)

Fran and Renee covered the morning's news so well at Buckytown USA today that we'll just cut to the afternoon chart chase: Bucky Covington's "I Want My Life" is looking for some phone calls today! It's #29 on the Mediabase am listings, with the dreaded "invisible bullet" by its side; on the bright side, it'll only take eight or so extra request calls to get us back on the right path. Depending on your time zone, that "lunchtime cafe" show is in progress at your local country station-give 'em a buzz and let them know you'd like to hear Bucky as soon as they can cue him up...

(The song's just as wonderful on the air as it is live, y'all--check out cimtoofun's excellent video of "I Want My Life Back" from the Indiana State Fair for inspiration, then be sure to flip open that phone!)

In other news, there's a sweet way to help out a good cause and snag some great autographed Bucky Covington merchandise--his official site posted a link to Duet Dreams Come True, a benefit for the ALS Association. Bucky's donated a prize package including an autographed T-shirt, autographed CD, autographed 8x10 photograph, keychain, stickers and temporary tattoo, and a one year Buckaneer fan club membership. The bidding is in progress now at eBay, and it ends on August 30th. Looks like one kind-hearted fan has already started the party--good luck to all the bidders! More later today--Winnie

Bucky Covington says hello, Indy! (video via WFMS--updated with Ocala ticket alert)

Thanks to WFMS' JD Cannon for sharing this fun video via TwitVid! From his tour bus, Bucky Covington thanks his Indianapolis fans (and his Seattle fans) for coming out to the show, and ends with "see you next year" and a kiss. We'll be there! (If you'd like to be there live too, check out Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page. New dates have been added, and chances are good that Bucky and his excellent band will be coming your way soon.)

Updated to add a ticket alert: Bucky Covington, Chris Young and Jack Ingram are the stars of this year's 93.7 K Country acoustic concert on September 29th in Ocala, FL, and tickets are on sale now. From the station's page:

Tickets go on sale TODAY at 10AM in person at the Ocala Civic Theatre Box Office. Call 352-236-2274. They will also be available online with a $4 service charge applied to online orders. Tickets are just $25 each. Two per person maximum and you must be 18 or older to buy tickets.

Congratulations to Bucky's Ocala fans--have a great time! More later--Winnie

It's Monday! Meet me at Buckytown USA...

Fran and Renee's latest weekly update at Buckytown USA is jam-packed this Monday morning--exclusive Bucky Covington concert photos by Qutiel59, links to Judy Lang's and Rita Burton's latest beauties, fresh new video by Danna Marie, a stylish request banner by BuckyKrazy, new concert dates and much more. See you there! (We'll have an update for you here later this morning--Winnie)

Bucky Covington's "I Want My Life Back": #28 looks great!

Bucky Covington (and a stray gust of wind) entertained the crowd at the Indiana State Fair; many thanks to Buckaholic for this fun shot.

Bucky Covington's beautiful "I Want My Life Back" is making its graceful way up the charts--and it's off to a good start for the coming week, with a new #28 spot on Mediabase, its highest to date. Yep, there's a bullet...but we want a nice plump one for tomorrow's updates, yes? Be sure to call that late-night live and local country DJ and request Bucky's new tune...

Meanwhile, the quiet weekend winds down with a little fun from WFMS' JD Cannon, who was your radio (and live) host at the Indiana State Fair show a couple of days ago. His TwitPic gallery has been updated, and if you were there, you might be a part of it! (There's one photo of Bucky inside the WFMS mobile studio; Mr. Cannon says there's more coming soon, so follow him on Twitter and check out his popular Indy's Most Wanted survey/countdown on his WFMS page, too...)

We'll be back to full posting strength tomorrow, life willing--have a good night, all!--Winnie

First look at Sunday: Bucky Covington and Lance Smith on CMT (video)

We'll have a full post for you later today--for now, be sure to check out Bucky Covington on today's CMT Top 20 Countdown at 11:30 ET. There's also online video available, and you can enjoy Bucky's chat with show host Lance Smith right here.

The new Mediabase charts aren't yet posted, but "I Want My Life Back" [hear it here] was #29 with a bullet yesterday evening; listen for it today on Kix Brooks' American Country Countdown and Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40, and if you're not sure when the shows air near you, click those links for info on each show's site or check Radiotime for streaming stations.

And here's a big thank you to Diver for sharing this link featuring more wire photos from Bucky's Nashville movie premiere appearance.

More ASAP--enjoy your Sunday morning!--Winnie

A Saturday night request reminder (updated with photo link)

Bucky Covington shares a smile with the crowd at the Boone County Fair; photo by the very kind Judy Lang. Thanks again to Judy!

Relaxing with the radio on tonight? Out on the town, enjoying some Saturday night adventure? No matter where you're headed, Bucky Covington's latest hit, "I Want My Life Back" (#29 and rising), could be as close as your fingertips. Call your local country station's request line and ask for Bucky, or dial up the syndicated host or hostess who lights up your nights:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Edited to add a link to the beautiful It's Good to Be Us blog, where Wisconsin BC-JMC Fan has a super Indy photo post for you. Have a wonderful evening!--Winnie

Very quick Saturday news: Bucky Covington on CMT Top 20 (repeat), chart check and more...

Blue skies and great country music--the perfect combination for a day at the fair! Bucky Covington (with Jeff Brown on drums at right) charmed the crowd at the Indiana State Fair yesterday; many thanks to the very gracious Buckaholic for the terrific photo.

Here's a very quick look at what's happening today:

Bucky Covington fans who missed his appearance on CMT's Top 20 Countdown Friday morning are in luck--you can catch a rerun of the show today at 11:00 am ET. (Show host Lance Smith spoke with Jeff Foxworthy, Bucky and Heidi Newfield about that upcoming Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader episode in a segment that's sure to be a blast...)

On the live front, it's a travel day for Bucky and company. He and the band are headed for three fairground shows in Washington, and a kind anonymous commenter let us know that a new drummer, Jeff Brown, has joined the touring band. Welcome, Jeff! We wish Tom Hurst all the best, as well. (More details on next week's concerts are coming up later; for now, bookmark Bucky's MySpace calendar, Buckytown USA's concert sidebar and Bucky Covington's official tour page and make plans to be there for the excitement.)

Thanks again to our talented friend Buckaholic for this great shot of Jeff Cease, Bucky Covington and Steve Cook rockin' the crowd at the Indiana State Fair. Click the image to find out when Bucky and his band are headed your way!

Bucky's beautiful current single, "I Want My Life Back", continues its Top 30 streak today--it's at #29 on the Mediabase published charts, and it's poised to go even higher with a little help from the weekend countdowns and from us. (You know--the request-line kind of help.) Be sure to keep your local country station's contact info handy while you're out enjoying the late summer sun! And if you missed yesterday's Lyric Street video from Bucky's Grand Ole Opry performance of the song, be sure to check it out right here--it's a beauty.

We'll close with another fun video--this one's from Bucky's concert at the State Fair of West Virginia, and despite a pesky broken string, he and the band had the crowd singing along happily to his debut hit, "A Different World". Thanks to the very generous Shirley for posting this at MySpace--enjoy, and have a stellar Saturday!--Winnie

Bucky .. WV State Fair

More "Inglourious Basterds" photos, a bonus podcast and a request reminder...

Bucky Covington (with Ducky Medlock on guitar at right) smiles out at the crowd in Belvidere, IL; photo by the talented Judy Lang. Thanks, Judy!

Bucky Covington's busy weekend is starting off with a bang--he's taking the stage at the Indiana State Fair even as we speak, after a star-studded Thursday at the Inglourious Basterds premiere in Nashville. Bev Moser captured the event in fine style; her Flickr photoset includes shots of all the night's celebrities on the red carpet at the Regal Green Hills 16. Bucky's also part of the event's slideshow at the Nashville Tennessean, and Nashville Gab covered the evening, as well.

Earlier today, Bucky spoke to Cara Denis at Hit Country 102.5 WMDH (podcast behind that link) about bowling, his Wii tournament with Rocky, the fun of playing fairs, seeing people sing along in the crowd, the upcoming Rockingham video shoot and more.

And of course, you can sing along with "I Want My Life Back" on the radio right now! Give your local country DJ a call, or dial up (I know..."dial"?) the syndicated star gracing your airwaves this evening:

Lia: 1-800-577-7LIA
The Big Time w/Whitney Allen: 1-877-494-4963
After MidNite: 1-800-722-6483
CMT Radio Live w/Cody Alan: 1-866-877-4CMT
2nd Shift w/Alan Kabel: 1-888-96NIGHT
GAC Nights: 1-866-942-GAC1

Have a lovely American Friday Night--Winnie