Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWhat's the name of Eric Church's North Carolina hometown? ANSWER: Granite Falls.

Keith Urban Takes You into the “American Idol” Control Room on Latest Idle Chatter Installment

KeithUrban.netGetting American Idol on the air each week is a huge task, and judge Keith Urban takes you behind-the-scenes at the show's control room in this week's installment of the Idle Chatter video series.

At first, the folks in the American Idol control room don't seem to recognize Keith, but then they suddenly remember his role on the show and let him in. Once inside, the director gives us a peek at the monitors displaying the feed from the17 cameras that film the show each week.

Tune in to American Idol Wednesday and Thursday nights on FOX.

Nashville Notes

Burke/Triolo Productions/ThinkstockTim McGraw is set to perform on NBC's Today show summer concert series May 23. Rascal Flatts will perform on the series May 30.

Kristian Bush of Sugarland fame has reunited with the duo's producer, Byron Gallimore, to work on his upcoming solo album. Listen for Kristian's new single from the project to hit country radio this summer.

Dolly Parton will perform on NBC's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 13 and ABC's The View on May 14 to promote her new album, Blue Smoke. Look for her on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report on May 13, too.

Dierks Bentley's latest #1 hit, "I Hold On," has been certified gold in both the U.S. and Canada. He celebrated the song's success with a party at Nashville restaurant Pour House Tuesday afternoon.

Congratulations to Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery on his recent marriage to girlfriend Jennifer Belcher.

Eric Church Taps into a Lonesome Vibe on Latest Hit, “Give Me Back My Hometown”

EB Media PREric Church's latest hit, "Give Me Back My Hometown," is a true power ballad, but the big production can distract from the sad lyrics. The song is all about a guy seeing his ex-girlfriend everywhere he goes, now that she's left town.

"Something that anybody knows more than anything else is their hometown," Eric explains. "That’s where they’re most comfortable, that’s their comfort. And the loneliest thing about this song to me is here’s a guy who’s left in that place that should be the most comforting place to him, and it’s actually the place that haunts him."

Country music has always been known for turning out the best heartbreak songs, and Eric thinks "Give Me Back My Hometown" fits right in that tradition. He says, "It’s one of the more lonesome songs I think we’ve ever done."

"Give Me Back My Hometown" is included on Eric's new album, The Outsiders, now in stores.

Joe Nichols and Wife Heather Expecting Another Baby Girl to Arrive on May 20

Red BowJoe Nichols and his wife, Heather, are expecting their second daughter together on May 20. Joe has a 15-year-old daughter named Ashelyn from a previous relationship, and his first daughter with Heather, Dylan, is now two years old.

Joe tells People, "I'm so outnumbered -- I'm toast."

Joe plans to be on hand for the new baby's birth.

"We have blocked time off from the tour on either side of the due date," Joe explains. "I wouldn’t miss that for anything."

Brantley Gilbert to Perform Pre-Race Concert at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25

Photo Credit: James MinchinBrantley Gilbert has signed on to perform a pre-race concert prior to the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25. Brantley's father worked on a racing team at one point, so he's very familiar with life on the race track.

Says Brantley, "I love the smell of gas, the motor and the tires. Being able to play a show for like-minded people and having them party their tails off at the same time is going to be a blast … I can’t wait for Charlotte Motor Speedway!”

For ticket information, go to CharlotteMotorSpeedway.com. Brantley's new album, Just As I Am, is due out May 19 featuring the hit "Bottoms Up."

Crystal Gayle Spotlight Exhibit Opening at Country Music Hall of Fame This Friday

Webster PRA new spotlight exhibit on Crystal Gayle's career opens at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Friday. Crystal Gayle: When I Dream includes awards, instruments and clothes from the "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" singer's '70s and early '80s heyday. Mementos from her family, including sister Loretta Lynn, are also going on display.

In celebration of the exhibit opening, Crystal will get an interview and performance at the Country Music Hall of Fame this Saturday afternoon. Go to CountryMusicHallofFame.org for ticket information or to watch a live stream of Gayle's appearance, starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Craig Campbell Adds Lee Brice, Parmalee and More to 2nd Annual Cornhole Challenge

C2 Media RelationsCraig Campbell has recruited Lee Brice, Chase Rice, Parmalee and The Cadillac Three to compete in his 2nd Annual Cornhole Challenge June 3 in Nashville's Public Square Park. Jerrod Niemann and newcomers Blackjack Billy were previously announced as participants.

Proceeds from the Craig's Cornhole event go to T.J. Martell Foundation's Colon Cancer research fund. For ticket information, go to CraigCampbell.tv.

Keith Urban Says His Home Life Is Full of “Drama”

Capitol NashvilleKeith Urban is surrounded by women at home: he's married to Nicole Kidman and the pair have two daughters, Sunday and Faith. Even so, the American Idol judge said he doesn't mind being outnumbered by the women in his life.

"Our house is very animated anyway. It's an artists' house, so yelling and singing and dancing and music...Everything is very dramatic," Urban explained on Tuesday's Live with Kelly and Michael. "I'm in a house full of girls. It's all dramatic. It's all drama. It's all drama...But I fit right in, which is bizarre."

Still, Urban can find some peace at work while he's judging alongside Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr. on American Idol. "They're very easy to get along with," he said. "The first dinner we went to all of us -- Randy [Jackson] and Ryan [Seacrest] -- all of us together, it was like I had known them forever. They're very easy to talk to."

After American Idol wraps, country music star Urban won't be returning home. Instead, he says, "We hit the road in June and we'll be touring. We start in Australia and we'll be all through the states -- July, August, September." Urban added that his wife and daughters will probably come on the road with him. They even have their own bunk beds on the tour bus.

American Idol airs on Fox Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWho is the lead singer of Eli Young Band? ANSWER: Mike Eli.