Just like you, I went to bed last night praying for Oklahoma and woke up with that same prayer in my heart.  Here is what some of our friends in the country music community had to say in response to the news of the devastation.

"I rode my bike through those neighborhoods,” Toby Keith said in a statement. “I have family and friends in Moore. My heart and prayers go to those that have lost so much. But Moore is strong and we will persevere. God be with you all.”

Reba McEntire was born in Oklahoma. She took to Twitter on Monday with sympathies for those affected by the devastating twister. “All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados. Stay safe everyone!!!!” she posted.

Trisha Yearwood, who lives in Oklahoma with her husband Garth Brooks tweeted late Monday night, "#PrayForOklahoma. Pray for everyone devastated by these storms, but especially for those families in Moore, OK."

For Carrie Underwood, born in Muskogee, Okla., tweeted: "Growing up in tornado alley, you always know what could happen...it doesn't change how devastating it is when something does happen. I'm thinking about and praying for my beautiful home state and the people in it tonight."

TWEETS:

@RonnieDunn:"We got out just before it hit.Those poor people. We will help when and where we can."

@JoeNichols :"Oklahoma, you are in our prayers."

‏@MartinaMcbride:"Watching this Oklahoma footage. So sad and scary." #prayersforoklahoma

‏@Reba :"All my prayers go out to the folks in Oklahoma dealing with these tornados. Stay safe everyone!!!!"

‏@BlakeShelton: "Just landed in LA and hearing about all the tornados in Oklahoma right now... Get somewhere safe!!!"

Happy Birthday George!  This #1 is for YOU!

George Strait had plenty to celebrate this weekend!  He turned another year older and earned his 60th career #1 with "Give it All We Got Tonight"!!

You knew about the big "60 for 60" campaign.  There were signs, you heard us talking about it on the BIG 98! It all started around Valentine's Day when some of his FANS...yes FANS...that means YOU...were looking for the perfect GIFT and thought this would be something even BETTER than money could buy! So, the “Sixty for Sixty” campaign was born.  It snoballed, picking up support from George's record label and some of the industries BIGGEST George Strait fans like Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Little Big Town, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner and Scotty McCreery!

Well, we did it!!  Pat yourself on the back and know that you gave George Strait a Birthday that he'll never forget.

Pen Jillette Magically Disappears:Trace Adkins is your new Celebrity Apprentice!

Five years after Trace Adkins finished as runner-up on “Celebrity Apprentice,” he walked away with the title of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday night during the finale of Donald Trump’s reality TV competition on NBC.

The Oak Ridge Boys, Thompson Square, Billy Ray Cyrus and Wynonna Judd all made the trip to the Big Apple to donate money to Adkins during the series’ last challenge. In addition, race car driver Tony Stewart made a donation, as did NFL player Tim Tebow, who was running late and nearly missed the chance to turn in a HUGE check.

With the win, Adkins raised more than $1.5 million for the American Red Cross.

Taylor Swift's Magic Number was 8!!!

Taylor left with 8 out of 11 Billboard awards that she was nominated for!!  It was a magical night!! She performed "22" — starting backstage and working her way to the main stage on the back of a bike with help from a dozen background dancers and a flurry of red balloons.

She should sleep with one of those awards under her pillow in case some creepy dude tries swimming up to her house again!!  She could just whack him over the head with it and that should take care of him til the police arrive. Just sayin'

Taylor told the crowd, "You are the longest and best relationship I ever had."  We're not going anywhere, right?  

Congratulations to our friend, Taylor!

Music City Center Finally Opens!

It was on my agenda, but the neighborhood block party won over the kids and unfortunately, I was over ruled!

More than 15,000 showed up yesterday to see what 585 million can get you! The facility totals 2.1 million square feet and includes 1.2 million square feet of public space, and a garage with 1,800 parking spaces.Its major features include a public art collection; a 57,500-square-foot grand ballroom, which seats 6,000; and a nearly eight-acre exhibit hall. The building’s environmental sustainability features include a solar panel and a green roof.

Grand opening events included a free open house, tours and live music throughout the building as well as children’s activities in the exhibit hall.  Activities wrapped up with music on the plaza featuring Phil Vassar and 10 Out of Tenn.

The festivities continue today with a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning.  Open house will be this evening between 5pm and 7pm.  The live music happens between 6-9pm with Sheryl Crow, The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Mikky Ekko and FIREWORKS!!!  

I highly suggest you start your day off the same way I did today!  With THIS!!  So excited for summer and Zac Brown at CMA Fest!!  We'll have to wait til September for Southern Ground Food and Music Festival, but it will be worth the wait!! Check out the line-up and get your tickets HERE!

What you can expect INSIDE the new Music City Center!!

1. WiFi will be free for visitors.

2. Music can be played anywhere in the building, including at the Songwriters Hall of Fame, where visitors can listen to song catalogs of Nashville's acclaimed songwriters.

3. If convention organizers want to hang a car from the ceiling of the 350,000 square foot exhibit hall or drive one onto the stage of the Grand Ballroom, they can.

4. Music City Center includes seven outdoor locations for guests to look out over the city. Mayor Karl Dean also recommends the roosts as potential places to watch Fourth of July festivities.

5. Music City Center's kitchen, led by Max Knoepfel, can make 20,000 meals a day, if necessary.

6. Artwork inside includes "Euphony," by Ball-Nogues Studio, about 28 miles of yellow, red and blue beading that hangs about 117 feet long; and "Composition," by Aaron Stephan, which consists of a grid of more than 100 white musical instruments and hangs in front of the Demonbreun Street view.

7. The average size group at the existing convention center is 1,500, compared to 6,500 at the new center.

THE GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

What: Live Music on the Plaza at the Music City Center with Phil Vassar and Ten Out of Tenn; Nashville Symphony performing in the GrandBallroom
When: 3-7 p.m. Sunday . May 19
Where: Music City Center, 201 Fifth Ave. S.
Admission: free

What: Music City Center Grand Opening Concert with Sheryl Crow, The Time Jumpers with Vince Gill, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Mikky Ekko
When: 6-9 p.m. Monday. May 20
Where: Music City Center, 201 Fifth Ave. S.
Admission: free

CMA FEST RIVERFRONT SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY JUNE 6^TH

Blackberry Smoke

Mark Chesnutt

Sara Evans

Gloriana

Love and Theft

Dustin Lynch

Craig Morgan

Joe Nichols

Phil Vassar

FRIDAY JUNE 7TH

Keith Anderson

Greg Bates

Craig Campbell

Brett Eldredge

Casey James

Aaron Lewis

Jo Dee Messina

Tate Stevens

Darryl Worley

SATURDAY JUNE 8TH

The Grascals

Steve Holy

David Nail

Jerrod Niemann

Eric Paslay

Maggie Rose

Corey Smith

Sunny Sweeney

SUNDAY JUNE 9TH

Tyler Farr

Rachel Farley

Colt Ford

Kristen Kelly

Lonestar

Ronnie Milsap

Gretchen Wilson