Artist Action (9/23)

• Carrie Underwood brought a touch of country elegance to the Emmy Awards last night as she performed a Beatles tune during a tribute marking the role TV played in the assassination of JFK and the aftermath of his death. Since the period also marked the Beatles’ 50^th anniversary of their first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show, the homage to 1963 featured Carrie in a long navy gown performing their hit “Yesterday,” as images of the group appeared behind her on the screen.

Her performance of the tune can be seen here:

(l-r): Trevor Rosen, Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. Photo by ASCAP’s Alison Toczylowski

• Audience members at last Saturday night’s Bluebird Cafe’ show may have thought they were actually at a Nashville taping since Nashville actor Eric Close was in the audience for the sold-out show featuring top ASCAP songwriters Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, Josh Osborne, and Trevor Rosen. Rosen and McAnally have ties with the series since they co-wrote the song “Fade Into You,” performed by characters Scarlett and Gunnar during the first season of the program. The four hit songwriters have nearly a dozen chart-topping songs between them, and Clark will release her debut album 12 Stories on Oct. 22 on Slate Creek Records. During the season two premiere of Nashville, featured songs include those written by ASCAP members Striking Matches.

• Brad Paisley’s Beat This Summer Tour presented by Cracker Barrel will continue through November. Chris Young and Lee Brice will join him on the October leg of the tour and Voice winner Danielle Bradbery will perform on the November dates. Paisley’s current single, “I Can’t Change The World,” is the third from his latest CD Wheelhouse, which has already spawned two Number Ones, “Southern Comfort Zone,” and “Beat This Summer.”

Beat This Summer Tour tour dates:

October 17                 Copps Coliseum                      Hamilton, ON
October 18                  Canadian Tire Centre              Ottawa, ON
October 19                  Budweiser Gardens                London, ON
October 23                  MTS Centre                            Winnipeg, MB
October 24                  Brandt Centre                         Regina, SK
October 25                 Scotiabank Saddledome         Calgary, AB
October 26                  Rexall Place                            Edmonton, AB
November 14              CenturyLink Center                Omaha, Neb.
November 15              BMO Harris Bank Center       Rockford, Ill.
November 16              Xcel Energy Center                St. Paul, Minn.
November 21              Prairie Capitol Conv Center    Springfield, Ill.
November 23              The Palace at Auburn Hills     Detroit, Mich.

(L to R) C.T. Wyatt (Parallel Music), Tree Paine (SVP, Publicity), Dean Alexander, Chris Stacey (SVP, Promotion), John Esposito (President & CEO, WMN), Peter Strickland (EVP & GM, WMN), William Michael, Kevin Herring (VP, National Promotion), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Lisa Ray (VP, Brand Management), Joe Carter (Carter & Co)

• WMG artists Dean Alexander and William Michael did some Pickin’ on the Patio recently for the fifth installment of Warner Music Nashville’s summer celebration. A packed crowd enjoyed music from both Alexander and Michael at the fun-filled event, held the fourth Thursday of each month from May through October at the label. The final installment of the series will take place Oct. 24.