Reba Mcentire

ABC is casting for an all-star edition of "Dancing With the Stars" this fall and is seeking to turn its Sunday night schedule into "a battle between good and evil," the network's entertainment chief said Tuesday. The third-place broadcast network ordered 10 new series for next season, six of them dramas. In keeping with the staggered premiere schedule currently in vogue, only four of the new shows will start in September. The network is looking to bring back favorites from the 14 editions of "Dancing With the Stars," its most popular show.

ABC is casting for an all-star edition of "Dancing With the Stars" this fall and is seeking to turn its Sunday night schedule into "a battle between good and evil," the network's entertainment chief said Tuesday. The third-place broadcast network ordered 10 new series for next season, six of them dramas. In keeping with the staggered premiere schedule currently in vogue, only four of the new shows will start in September. The network is looking to bring back favorites from the 14 editions of "Dancing With the Stars," its most popular show.

For many years, Reba McEntire made albums, toured, and did an occasional movie. But in the last few years she spread her wings and sang on Broadway in "Annie Get Your Gun," then starred in a popular sitcom, "Reba," on the WB Network. She needed "Room to Breathe," hence the title of this new album, her first studio disc in four years. It marks a welcome return to country music for McEntire. She touches on country/R&B in the Tanya Tucker-like "Love Revival. " She delves into gospel on "Sky Full of Angels" and into a mournful country ballad, "If I Had Any Sense at All. " She teams up with mountain music diva...

Seven years after she won season four, it's clear that Carrie Underwood would have been a major star with or without her "American Idol" victory. Likewise, genre is an afterthought for the Oklahoma-bred singer whose latest album is as much about country charm as it is about arena-rock bombast. "Blown Away," Underwood's fourth release, is deliberately familiar to anyone who has listened to commercial country radio — and Top 40, for that matter — so much so that it ends saying little about the woman who made it. In that sense, it's an archetypal modern country record with hit singles you can...

Reba McEntire has scored more hits than any country female in history, having passed Dolly Parton two years ago. She has conquered it all from the Opry to Broadway, but she’s not ready to chill on the back porch just yet. This is her 34th studio disc and one of her best efforts. It blends hard-edged, modern country-rock with some profoundly tender ballad singing, as in the throwback, Bobbie Gentry purr of “The Day She Got Divorced.’’ The album opens with the rock-riffing “Turn on the Radio,’’ which is already a hit and boasts a contemporary flair as she tells an ex-lover that he can...

Seven years after she won season four, it's clear that Carrie Underwood would have been a major star with or without her "American Idol" victory. Likewise, genre is an afterthought for the Oklahoma-bred singer whose latest album is as much about country charm as it is about arena-rock bombast. "Blown Away," Underwood's fourth release, is deliberately familiar to anyone who has listened to commercial country radio — and Top 40, for that matter — so much so that it ends saying little about the woman who made it. In that sense, it's an archetypal modern country record with hit singles you can...

The online family history resource got a lift from a Morgan Stanley analyst who said the firm's "Who Do You Think You Are" episode with Reba McEntire drew 7.6 million viewers, a program record. The viewership reduced concern the show would be canceled, the analyst said. The analyst believes the episode proves that celebrities can draw an audience. Ancestry has more than 1.7 million subscribers.

Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith are among the stars who will perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards next month. Eric Church and Luke Bryan round out the first wave of performers announced by the academy on Thursday. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton co-host the 47th annual awards show, which will air live April 1 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on CBS. Chesney leads all nominees with nine and Aldean is next with six. Both are up for the night's top honors — entertainer, album and male vocalist of the year.

Two of country music's hottest rising stars will headline The Academy of Country Music's annual weekend concerts in Las Vegas this year. Luke Bryan and Eric Church will perform March 30-31 at the Fremont Street Experience, the popular sixth annual show that's free to the public. Bryan will headline Friday's show and Church will handle Saturday. The rest of the lineup will be announced later. The ACM Awards follow on April 1, live from the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay on CBS. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton host.

Reverence, or at least too much of it, is often the death knell for tribute albums. If a legend’s legacy looms too large, artists err on the side of homage instead of interpretation. That’s the obvious problem with this salute to country icon Loretta Lynn, which cherry-picks from her 50-year career with an emphasis on songs she either wrote or co-wrote. From Carrie Underwood (“You’re Lookin’ at Country’’) to Paramore [“You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)’’]

The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Sunday, 8 p.m., Channel 4 Nashville relocates to Sin City for the night as country music celebrates its biggest hitmakers. Blake Shelton and Reba McEntire (pictured) return to host and performances are expected from Sara Evans, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, and Miranda Lambert, among others. Vying for the entertainer of the year trophy will be Shelton, Aldean, Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Taylor Swift.

ON WGBH High School Quiz Show 5:30 p.m. WGBH (Channel 2) Arlington vs. Belmont. Greater Boston "Beat the Press" 7 p.m. WGBH (Channel 2) Host Emily Rooney moderates a discussion of the major issues of the week. ON CHRONICLE Olde Cape Cod 7:30 p.m. WCVB-TV (Channel 5) The unexpected consequences of changing demographics on the Cape. RADIO HIGHLIGHTS The Diane Rehm Show 10 a.m. WGBH-FM (89.7) National and international news roundup. The Emily Rooney Show noon WGBH-FM (89.7)

► Wednesday, March 28 is the 88th day of 2012. There are 278 days left in the year. ► Today's birthdays: Former White House national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski is 84. Country musician Charlie McCoy is 71. Movie director Mike Newell is 70. Actress Conchata Ferrell is 69. Actor Ken Howard is 68. Actress Dianne Wiest is 64. Country singer Reba McEntire is 57. Olympic gold medal gymnast Bart Conner is 54. Rapper Salt (Salt-N-Pepa)...

Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Tim McGraw, Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith are among the stars who will perform at the Academy of Country Music Awards next month. Eric Church and Luke Bryan round out the first wave of performers announced by the academy on Thursday. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton co-host the 47th annual awards show, which will air live April 1 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on CBS. Chesney leads all nominees with nine and Aldean is next with six. Both are up for the night's top honors — entertainer, album and male vocalist of the year.

The online family history resource got a lift from a Morgan Stanley analyst who said the firm's "Who Do You Think You Are" episode with Reba McEntire drew 7.6 million viewers, a program record. The viewership reduced concern the show would be canceled, the analyst said. The analyst believes the episode proves that celebrities can draw an audience. Ancestry has more than 1.7 million subscribers.

Two of country music's hottest rising stars will headline The Academy of Country Music's annual weekend concerts in Las Vegas this year. Luke Bryan and Eric Church will perform March 30-31 at the Fremont Street Experience, the popular sixth annual show that's free to the public. Bryan will headline Friday's show and Church will handle Saturday. The rest of the lineup will be announced later. The ACM Awards follow on April 1, live from the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay on CBS. Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton host.

COUNTRY Reba McEntire Keep On Loving You Valory Music Co. ESSENTIAL “She’s Turning 50 Today’’ Performed by anyone else, “Strange,’’ the ready-and-raring first single from Reba McEntire’s new and 31st album, would make you pity the protagonist whose man has just left her. But this is Reba McEntire, so instead of a hanky she’s waving a victory flag. “Strange, I oughta be in bed with my head in the pillow cryin’/ Over us/ But I ain’t/ Ain’t love strange,’’ she sings with serious attitude on the defiant chorus.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Clem McSpadden, a grandnephew of Will Rogers who went on to serve in Congress and become one of rodeo's premier announcers, died of cancer on July 7. He was 82. Mr. McSpadden served as a Democrat in the US House from 1973 to 1975 and founded the Congressional Rural Caucus. He ran for the Democratic nomination for governor in 1974, losing to the general election's eventual winner, David Boren. He also gained fame as the announcer at the National Finals Rodeo, where he helped discover Grammy-winning country star Reba McEntire.

"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" actress Tamara Tunie spoke out yesterday about being a real-life crime victim, saying her former business manager exploited her trust to steal more than $1 million from her. Blasting Joseph Cilibrasi as a ‘‘menace to society" as he was sentenced to 2½ to 7½ years in prison, Tunie said he insinuated himself into her life by joining in birthday parties, weddings, and other family events. Cilibrasi, 51, pleaded guilty in the fall to stealing from Tunie and other clients.

Get ready for another dose of Blake Shelton as country's hottest leading man joins Reba McEntire again this year as co-host of The Academy of Country Music Awards. The 47th annual show will be held Sunday, April 1, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Like Shelton, the ACM's Fan Jam also will return for a second year. This time Zac Brown Band will host the parallel event at the Mandalay Events Center. The academy also will salute Lionel Richie with "ACM Presents: Lionel Richie and Friends — A Lifetime of Hits," its annual television special taped the day after the awards and aired...