Tonight! Bucky Covington joins Billy Ray Cyrus for "I'm American" on GAC TV (and a link to a few more Rapids Jam photos)

A sunny shot for the first day of summer: Bucky Covington serenades the crowd in Des Moines, Iowa in this photo by our talented friend Judy Lang. Thanks, Judy! Click the image to find out when Bucky and his excellent band will be heating things up in your hometown.

Bucky Covington joins Billy Ray Cyrus in a salute to military families, airing for the first time tonight--be sure to catch "I'm American" on GAC this evening at 8:30 pm ET, and again for a late night encore at 12:30 am. More airdates:

• June 22, 2011 11:00 AM ET
• June 22, 2011 5:00 PM ET
• June 26, 2011 8:00 PM ET

If you didn't catch these Zimbio shots from the GAC TV taping, enjoy; and while we're talking photos, here's a bonus gallery from Bucky and his band's performance at last week's smash hit Rapids Jam festival, courtesy of Startraks. Check out Bucky's tour schedule for even more concert goodness, and make plans now to party with Bucky live this summer.

Finally, huge congratulations to Ashley Heron, formerly of Lyric Street Records...and not so incidentally, the fab photographer of our beautiful banner shot. Music Row magazine just announced that he's joined HYFN, Inc. as Vice President, Digital. (This blogger really appreciated Mr. Heron's immense generosity during the wild and crazy ride before, during and after Bucky's first album's release; and you'll remember all the fun we had sharing the link to Bucky's Hyfntrak album preview player back in the day*. We wish both parties every success!)

*Seems so strange to say "back in the day" for a still relatively new artist, doesn't it? Bucky Covington's debut CD hit the shelves in 2007; rumor has it his long awaited follow-up album will indeed be gracing our headphones this fall, and that A Big Announcement is imminent. Stay tuned...