Both the Stagecoach Festival and its sister festival, Coachella, both held annually in Indio, Calif., were in jeopardy of not being held or being postponed next year because of a request by a neighboring city’s council. But those scares have been put to rest, and the Stagecoach Festival is not only happening, it’s expanding to three-days instead of the traditional two (Coachella is also expanding to two weekends instead of one). This year the Stagecoach festival will be held Friday, April 27 to Sunday April 29, 2012.

Stagecoach, known for the high profile county music acts it attracts, will this year feature Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and a reunited Mavericks, a band that has been broken up since 2003.

Stagecoach began as a two-day country festival to compliment the successful Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which had started in 1999 and featured mainly alternative rock music. Since its inception, Stagecoach has been a two-day festival every year except 2008, when it was expanded to three days due to a reunion concert by the Eagles.

Other notable performers this year will include Alabama, Kenny Rogers, Martina McBride and Sara Evans. The festival will benefit the city of Indio, as well as charities like the Indio Youth Task Force, the Indio Teen Center and the Silverlake Conservatory.

The reunion of the Mavericks has been a big story in the country music world, and the group says that the Stagecoach date will be a part of a reunion tour, though no other dates have been announced. Initially formed in 1991, the Mavericks became known for hits such as “All You Ever Do is Bringing Me Down,” “There Goes My Heart,” and “Here Comes the Rain.” In the latter portion of the band’s career, they tended to find more success in the United Kingdom than in America.

Miranda Lambert’s had quite the career since she came into national prominence by placing third in the reality show Nashville Star in 2003. Since then, she’s released three albums, all of which have sold over 1 million copies, won nine Academy of Country Music Awards and one Grammy.

With all the acclaim that’s come in such a short amount of time, it’s no surprise that Lambert is gearing up for a strong and successful 2012. For starters, her fourth studio record, Four the Record, will be released November 1 (or, 11.1.11 as her website points out to keep it easy to remember), then with a headlining, cross-country tour in 2012 with Chris Young and Jerrod Niemann as supporting acts.

“Baggage Claim” was released as Four the Record’s debut single in August 2011 and cracked the top 10 on the country charts, reaching number nine. The tour will begin on Janurary 12 in Rockford Ill. Though specifics for the tour are forthcoming, planned stops include Orlando, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Salt Lake City, among many more.

Also released on November 1 will be a deluxe edition of Four the Record, which will contain a bonus track and a DVD.

Lambert’s first top 20 country hit was the title track of her first album Kerosene, which reached number 15. On the strength of this and subsequent tours with Keith Urban and George Strait, her second album, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend went to number one on the country album charts and number six on the overall Billboard 200 album charts. That album went on to win the Album of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2008.

Lambert’s most recent album, 2009’s Revolution, produced the single “The House That Built Me,” which won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. The album was nominated for Best Country Album at the same ceremony.

Move over Kate and Will. The princess and prince of country music- Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton- are newlyweds now.

On Saturday night, the pair exchanged their vows in Boerne, Texas, near San Antonio, at Don Strange Ranch. Guests included Laura Bell Bundy, Dierks Bentley, Kelly Clarkson, Reba, Josh Kelley and Katherine Heigl.

Travis Howard, Lambert’s co-writer, tweeted brilliant wedding.

The celebration lasted late into the night and included a unique menu. The venison was harvested by the bride herself.

The country superstars have been a couple for six years. Last May, the 34-year-old Shelton proposed to Lambert in the woods close to her home in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

At the time, the 27-year-old Lambert said, I’m very exciting about getting married. I want to be able to tell Blake that I can really love him for the rest of our lives, make him happy and be happy.

Shelton also wants to please. After he learned that his working as a judge for the hit series “The Voice,” based in L.A., had made Lambert feel neglected, the two decided they would spend most of May being together and hanging out.

I mean no family, no friends, just the two of us hanging out for most of the month. That should be good enough to where she will want to kill me once again and wish I’d return to work, he said laughing.

Taylor Swift, the young singer-songwriter, only won one award on Sunday at the Academy of Country Music Awards 46th annual ceremony. However, it was a big one.

Fans voted Swift as ACM’s Entertainer of the Year, their top honor, over fellow nominees Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith and Jason Aldean.

Miranda Lambert, with her seven nominations, was nominated for the most ACM categories of any artist this year. She won four awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year for the second time. She also won Video of the Year, Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year. They all were from her single “The House That Built Me.”

Three awards were claimed by Lady Antebellum, including Vocal Group of the Year and Album of the Year (both as producers and artists) for their set “Need You Now.”

Producers for the ACM performances this year paired country artists up with performers outside the country genre. Some of the odd pairings included Carrie Underwood performing her hit single “Undo It” with Steven Tyler performing “Walk This Way,” Aerosmith’s smash hit. In addition, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland sang with Rihanna on the R&B star’s hit single “California King Bed,” while James Taylor and the Zac Brown Band performed “Sweet Baby James” and “Colder Weather.”

ACM’s Awards ceremony was held in Las Vegas at MGM’s Grand Garden Arena. CBS broadcast the ceremony live. The event was hosted by Reba McEntire for her 13th time. Blake Shelton co-hosted for his first time.

Miranda Lambert, country star, continues her “Revolution” tour on a global basis, making stops in both the United States and Australia throughout the summer months.

She will begin her next set of concerts in San Antonio on February 16 and will continue touring throughout the country. She will make stops in 18 different venues by the time August rolls around. In addition, she will perform in Australia for four nights in the early part of March. All of her concerts are listed to the right.

Lambert’s third album, “Revolution” dropped in September of 2009. It was released by Columbia Records and it reached number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums list. On the Billboard 200, it reached number 8. The album was recognized as Album of the Year at both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

On April 4th of this year, Lambert, Jennifer Nettles, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, and Reba McEntire will perform together at an event called “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country”, which will take place in Las Vegas. This concert is promoted by the Academy of Country Music and is going to be shown later on CBS for fans who are unable to attend the live show.

Lindale native Miranda Lambert, who recently received five Grammy nominations- including four for “Revolution,” is returning to Houston’s Livestock Show & Rodeo and will perform at Reliant Stadium on March 16.

In 2008 Lambert made her debut at the rodeo.  Also performing next spring at Reliant will be Trace Adkins on March 2 and on March 9 Martina McBride.  The rodeo will run March 1-20.

“Revolution” received a Best Country Album Grammy nomination.  A single off the album, “The House That Built Me” was nominated for Best Country Song, Song of the Year and Female Country Vocal Performance.  Best Country Song and Song of the Year are awards for songwriters, which would go to the authors of the song, Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas.

Trace Adkins, an ex oil rig worker as well as contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice,” performed at the rodeo last year as well as in 1997 and 1998.  He will be performing on Armed Forces Appreciation Day.

Martina McBride performed in 1996 at the rodeo, right after “Wild Angels” and “Independence Day,” her breakout hits, came out.  She also performed each year from 2001-2008.  Currently she is part of what could be the most bizzare collaboration this year: “Care” with T.I. And Kid Rock, on “Born Free,” Rock’s new album.

The rodeo previously announced in October that Sugarland would be performing on March 3; on March 6 Selena Gomez will play; Zac Brown Band will perform on March 17; and on March 19 Brad Paisley will take the stage.

All three of the shows that were announced today will take place during the Wednesday “Value Days” promotion of the rodeo.  Rodeo and concert ticket prices on Value Days will be $10 and for admission only to Reliant Park will be $5.  Value days tickets can be purchased at rodeohouston.com, Reliant Center’s rodeo ticket office, and at any Texas Fiesta Mart.

Partial and full season ticket packages also are available via phone by calling 832-667-1080, or at the rodeo’s ticket office or website.

On January 10, the remainder of the 2011 lineup for the rodeo will be announced.  Fans of classic rock should take note.  Pollstar reports that there is a gap of one week between the two night stand for Bon Jovi at United Center in Chicago on March 8-9 and their show at AT&T Center in San Antonio on March 17.

Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, the CMA’s 44th Annual Awards hosts, didn’t just stay behind the podium tossing good natured digs and quips at their fellow luminaries of country music.  The superstars instead kicked the show off with a high energy rendition of Underwood’s tune “Songs Like This,” showing why both of them had been nominated for CMA awards as well as being tapped to host the festivities.

Underwood, dressed in black cropped pants and sparkly black and silver jacket, strutted across the stage with her take charge attitude while belting the lyrics out blasting a no-good ex.  Brad Paisley, her co-host, joined her, firing a guitar solo off that was searing.  Then Keith Urban, another CMA nominee, joined in, plucking away on a banjo and kicking the star power up.

After a really fast wardrobe change, the two hosts reappeared on stage with Underwood wearing a silver mini dress, setting the evening’s tone with light banter as they took shots at Tiger Woods as well as BP oil spill, while showing Taylor Swift some love after her first week, chart busting “Speak Now” run.  The pair also gave Gwyneth Paltrow, country newbie, a shout out, as the actress prepared backstage to make her singing, live debut later that night.  Paisley, referencing Paltrow’s famous music connection via husband Chris Martin, member of the rock band Coldplay, joked around asking if she could get him two Coldplay tickets with Underwood following up and asking can you make that four tickets?  Paisley also dropped Lady Gaga‘s name, pretending to confuse her with Lady Antebellum, the country group who won two awards later that evening, which included Vocal Group of the Year.  Paisley asked them while strumming twangy “Alejandro” and “Paparazzi” versions if they were going to wear their meat suits tonight.

No fleshy fashion statements were made that night.  However the evening was jam packed with A-list performances.  Rascal Flatts, the chart topping trio, performed “Why Wait,” their jam about getting married, under a sign that read “Welcome to Las Vegas,” giving a shout out to the famous marriage quickie town.

Blake Shelton performed “All About Tonight,” his dance floor packing track on a platform right in the arena’s center surrounded by fans with a swarm of hands shooting into the air when he sang the line about doing his best to dance with each and every girl in the bar.

Song of the Year went to Miranda Lambert‘s “The House That Built Me.”  Lambert, nine time nominee and finance of Shelton, came onto the stage to perform “That’s The Way that The World Goes ‘Round.”  At the chorus, fog rolled downstage, with the darling of country music grooving in a fringe, silvery skirt matching the sable tassels in her set piece.  During one of the many humorous moments in the show, the camera cut over to Shelton, with him playfully miming that his future wife was crazy.

In spite of all the joking around, it turned out to be a big night for Shelton and Lambert, with each of them winning multiple awards.  It was also Lambert’s birthday.  She won three awards, including Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year.  Shelton won two awards, including the prize for Male Vocalist of the Year.

George Strait, country super star, who has won more CMA awards than anyone, performed “The Breath You Take,” in an earnest performance made wearing a black classic suit while under blue spotlights.

Zac Brown Band, after accepting their New Artist of the Year award from last year’s winner Darius Rucker, took to the stage to perform “As She’s Walking Away.”  They performed on a set that looked like a vaudeville theater, with the band strumming along until Alan Jacket stepped out from behind the burnt orange curtain, which brought screams from the fans.  Jackson handled vocal duties on the second verse of the song, which was a followed by a heartfelt violin solo by Jimmy De Martini.

Kenny Chesney performed “The Boys of Fall,” his football ode with gridiron scenes playing on the monitor, including young Chesney images out on the field.

Taylor Swift, after being introduced by Leighton Meester, the “Country Strong” actress, performed “Back to December” from a grand piano with backing from a string section within a turn of century, elegant set.

Sugarland, who won their fourth Vocal Duo of the Year award in a row, performed a “Stuck Like Glue” plucky rendition inside a retro, carnival theme set.  Jennifer Nettles trotted around wearing a sparkly tunic and tutu.

Keith Urban made another stage appearance, performing “Put You in a Song,” his new uptempo single.  Following Urban’s performance, Reba McEntire appeared on stage with a straightforward “If I Were a Boy,” rendition, forgoing any theatrics.  Wearing a black, glittery dress without a band onstage, the performance by the legendary red headed vocalist received a standing ovation.

There were several performances from crossover artists also.  Kelly Clarkson, “American Idol” winner, joined Jason Aldean on his track “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”  Kid Rock, wearing a brown fringe jacket, gave an impassioned rendition of the song “Born Free” from the piano.  A relative newcomer to country music, he scored a standing ovation.

Brad Paisley paid tribute to music predecessors of his on his new single “This is Country Music,” with images flashing of country greats  like Conway Twitty and Tammy Wynette.  Dierks Bentley delivered a fiddle heavy rendition of his song “Up on the Ridge.”

Perhaps the greatest moments of the evening occurred when multiple female singer generations came on stage in an all-star tribute for musical legend Loretta Lynn.  Sissy Spacek, Oscar award winning actress, who portrayed Lynn in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” the 1980 film, introduced the tribute, that included Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert and Loretta Lynn herself, who received a standing ovation while being welcomed during the middle of the song.  Following the tribute, Spacek and Lynn presented Miranda Lambert with her Female Vocalist of the Year Award.  It was Lambert’s third trophy that evening.  While accepting her trophy from Lynn, Lambert became emotional. She thanked Lynn for all of her pioneering efforts.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s highly anticipated CMA debut resulted in her receiving a standing ovation.  The Oscar award winning actress belted out the strong, bold notes from the title song of Paltrow’s forthcoming movie, “Country Song.”

The night was capped off with co-host Brad Paisley winning the Entertainer of the Year award.  Despite being a veteran of the CMA awards and have over 50 nominations previously, Paisley got emotional while speaking about his fans devotion, who roared in support during his acceptance speech.

Country star Miranda Lambert is now the most nominated female artist over the last 43 years of the CMA Awards after it was announced earlier today in the ABC Morning Talk Show “Good Morning America” that she snagged four more nominations, leading the awards race with a total of 9 nods.

After learning yesterday that her songs “White Liar” and “The House that Built Me” were both vying for the Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year honors, with “White Liar” also included in the Song of the Year race making her initially nominated for five awards, another four categories were added to her nominations: Musical Event of the Year for “Bad Angel” along with Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson, and the prestigious honors for Female Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for her record “Twang”.

Aside from Lambert, the breakout trio of Lady Antebellum now has a total of six nods after earning two more this morning, and so did New Artist of the Year nominee Zac Brown Band which garnered two more nominations as well, earning a total of four nominations.

The biggest night in country music comes to the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and to the small screen live courtesy of ABC on November 10.  Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will head the night’s festivities and ceremonies

The Country Thunder concerts next year in Wisconsin and Arizona, according to the event’s website, will be featuring headliners Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.

The event’s Florence, AZ shows will take place April 14-17.  Miranda Lambert, Willie Nelson, Kid Rock and Urban will be the headliners.  On April 15 Lambert will be the headliner with Collin Raye, Jo Dee Messina and Gary Allan providing support.  On April 16 Keith Urban will be the headliner, with support being provided by Kevin Costner & Modern West.  The final Country Thunder night in Arizona will be capped off by Willie Nelson and Kid Rock.

On July 22-25 the festival will be in Twin Lakes, WI.  Opening night will feature Sawyer Brown, John Michael Montgomery and Eric Church.

On July 23, Big Kenny, Jason Aldean and Sugarland, among others, will be featured.

On July 24, Kevin Costner and Miranda Lambert will be the headliners with Kate & Kacey, Gloriana, Collin Raye and Craig Morgan providing support.

On July 25 Chesney will close out the Country Thunder festival, with Luke Bryan, Joe Dee Messina and Billy Currington, among others, providing support.

Country Music Thunder’s website has additional ticket and lineup information available.

It appears that Blake Shelton not only liked it but put a ring to it as well.  Publicists have confirmed that Blake proposed to Miranda Lambert, who has been his girlfriend for five years, on May 9 near Lambert’s Oklahoma home.

Miranda, on her account on Twitter, posted a pic of her and Blake right after he proposed, tweeting finally Blake got a brain,  I did not say no.

Blake Shelton, in his usual comic style and personal way of communicating told his followers on Twitter, I am so excited about being engaged to Miranda that I punched a whooping crane in the throat and used poison ivy to wipe.

Blake, that’s love.  We think.

The year 2010 is shaping up as a banner one for the couple.  Recently for “Hillbilly Bone,” his duet with  the artist Trace Adkins,” Blake won an ACM award.  During the same night Miranda won Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Video of the Year.  Earlier this year, Lambert’s song “White Liar” became the first No. 1 hit single for her.

The couple has not announced a wedding date yet.