COUNTRY QUICKIES: 2/13/13

~~Today, Katie Couric's syndicated talk show "Katie" is devoting its entire 60 minutes to country music and its stars, including Reba McEntire, who dishes on her own series, "Malibu Country", and her step-son's engagement to Kelly Clarkson. Actress Connie Britton also appears, while Chris Young performs.

~~Lady Antebellum will host Ping Pong & Songs on March 23. The fundraising event will include a celebrity ping pong tournament followed by a songwriters night that will benefit the band's charity organization LadyAID. Tickets go on sale Friday.
http://ladyaid.org/splash

~~UPDATE:  Brad Paisley's new album, "Wheelhouse", will include guest appearances by Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes, Charlie Daniels, LL Cool J, singer-songwriter Mat Kearney and British actor-comedian Eric Idle.  The project is set for release April 9. A deluxe version will include four additional tracks.

~~Alabama have announced their Back To The Bowery Tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary. The Bowery in Myrtle Beach, SC was the site of the band's first concert performance in 1973 and they'll return there to kick off the tour April 6.

The band will also set sail for Alabama & Friends At Sea, a four-day cruise beginning Oct. 24.
http://www.alabamafestivalatsea.com/

~~The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will run the Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour exhibition June 5 through Nov. 10. Costumes, instruments, microphones, set pieces and more from the tour will be on display.

~~ Luke Bryan and Toby Keith will headline the inaugural Flatlands Country Music Festival coming to Sporting Park in Kansas City Sept. 12-14. Other performers include Darius Rucker, Thompson Square, Love And Theft, Rodney Atkins, JT Hodges, Kevin Fowler and the Charlie Daniels Band. Tickets and camping passes go on sale Friday at 10am.
http://flatlandsfestival.com/tickets/