The dream started here says Shea Fisher, smiling as she recalls her
first visit to the United States at age 10. Her father, a champion bull rider, had brought the family from Australia as he chased his own dreams, but it was American country music that caught Shea's imagination. A champion barrel racer herself, Shea had become a huge fan of Reba McEntire while in Australia, but her world changed when she first heard Shania Twain's music while performing in a school play in tiny Elida, New Mexico.

"I sang 'Any Man of Mine' before I even knew who Shania was," she says. "Then I bought her album, and from then on I was the kid who wound the window down and sang at the top of her lungs. I remember seeing her perform on TV and thinking, "I want to be that one day. I want to do that."

Ten years later, just 22 years old, Shea is fulfilling that dream, introducing her own brand of cutting-edge country to Australian music fans, having already racked up four #1 videos on Australia's Country Music Channel. The project's first single, "Don't Chase Me," is a hook-laden bit of fun Shea describes as "girl-empowering" and which, she says, she can relate to."When I first heard the song," she says with a laugh, "I thought, 'How did they know this was about me?'" She formed a band, began writing songs and finally went to the U.S. again, this time to record.

Over time Shea has also branched out into modelling and TV presenting, being the face for Cruel Girl jeans internationally, and presenting a number of specials for Australia's Country Music Channel (CMC), but music will always be the main focus. I've been so lucky being a girl my age, being able to travel the world with my parents and now having the experience to live my dream and give it a real shot. I'm an everyday girl with a really cool job." "I believe the sky's the limit," she says, "for me and for everyone. Dream big. Work hard and you'll get there. It's just a matter of time. I'm going to keep dreaming big and keep striving to achieve new things every day."

Learn more about Shea at www.sheafisher.com

Presenting the American National Anthem - Brice Long

Brice Long is a native of Hopkinsville, KY.  He’s had charted singles with “It’s Only Monday” and “Anywhere But Here”.  His self titled album is available on Itunes or wherever digital music is sold.

Brice moved to Nashville permanently in 1993 after finishing college at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.  Through his growing network of connections, Brice landed his first paid songwriting job at a publishing company, Starstruck, owned by Reba McEntire.

His reputation as a writer grew and Music Row started to take notice as John Michael Montgomery, Josh Turner, Randy Travis and others put their imprint on tunes he had written. Gary Allan turned Brice's "Nothing On But the Radio" into Brice’s first cut to reach #1 on the charts.  Gary also recorded "Sorry," which Brice now revisits on his own debut.

In 2004, Brice was signed by Columbia Records, which teamed him with award winning producers Mark Wright (Gretchen Wilson/Gary Allan) and Keith Stegall (Alan Jackson) for his debut project. Brice co-wrote eight of the eleven songs on the album.  Brice continues to tour and write. 

He has teamed up again with Keith Stegall when he signed a new publishing deal with Bigger Picture Entertainment.  He’s had cuts with John Michael Montgomery, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Gary Allan, Darryl Worley, Randy Houser, James Otto, Laura Bell Bundy, Tracy Byrd, Chris Young, Steve Holy, Randy Travis, Craig Campbell, and Porter Wagoner.  Including the #1 single “Nothing on but the Radio” for Gary Allan.  He recently had top 15’s on newcomer Randy Houser’s debut single, “Anything Goes.”  and “Today” from Gary Allan’s album, Get Off on the Pain.  He has the current single on Sony Music, Nashville recording artist Casey James with “Let’s Don’t Call It A Night”. 

For more info – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brice-Long/61528260571
                          www.myspace/bricelong1.com

Presenting the Canadian National Anthem - Gill Grand

Gil Grand was born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario.  He was introduced to singing and guitar playing at the age of 14 while sitting around the table listening to his dad and uncles exchange their renditions of classic country hits. Gil soon after entered the nationally acclaimed Canadian Open Country Singing Contest winning first place three consecutive years. These distinct honors are acknowledged in the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.  In 1997, Grand signed a music publishing deal and moved to Nashville. His songwriting skills and singing ability immediately caught the attention of top record executives, and Grand soon signed a major U.S. record deal with Sony Music Nashville’s Monument Records. His debut album, Famous First Words, gained the respect and accolades of the country music industry on both sides of the border.

On the strength of that record Grand received three CCMA nods, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Wrangler Rising Star. These nominations helped set up collaborations with hit writers like Odie Blackmon, Casey Bethard and Byron Hill and lead to an impressive selection of songs for his highly anticipated second album, Burnin’. His impressive sophomore effort netted Grand five CCMA nominations, including Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Video of the Year and Album of the Year, with Grand taking home the award for Male Artist of the Year.

In 2006, Grand recorded and released his third album, Somebody’s Someone, which earned him a CCMA award for Record Producer of the Year. In October 2007, Grand and business partner Randy Gee launched Grand & Gee Music Group, a Nashville-based music publishing company and recording studio. The company has earned CCMA nominations for Music Publisher of the Year,in 2009 and 2010.

Grand’s leadership skills and musical background have been instrumental in securing album cuts and radio singles for such artists as Bucky Covington, Gord Bamford, Shane Yellowbird, Jaydee Bixbee and many others. Grand & Gee Music Group recently celebrated their first No. 1 single as a publisher with Chris Young’s “Tomorrow.” 

In 2012, Gil Grand will release his long-awaited, self-produced recording project called Beyond the Neon.  The first single, tba, will be shipped to radio in spring.  This summer, he’ll return to the Canadian stage not only to perform his signature hits, but pay homage to country music’s classics!  These special shows will be aptly called The Grand Tour where he’ll share his renditions of songs that represent the foundation of country music, influenced by some of the Opry’s country singers.  Fans will be transported back in time when Grand sings Conway’s “Hello Darlin’” or a George Jones’ classic like “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” plus many, many more legendary hit songs!

64 Highway

The band 64 Highway formed in late 2010 when country heartthrob lead singer Bartlee Norton and his nephew drummer Jake Ketterer decided they wanted to play music together. Bartlee already had a growing fan base after spending two years on the road performing solo at rodeos around the southeast but determined a full band would be the next step in perusing his Nashville music career.

A full five piece band hit the road in 2011 under the name Bartlee Norton & 64 Highway. With Bartlee crooning original country ballads and rocking “country metal” tunes the band quickly gained popularity. Guitarists Ian Porter and Josh Harris formed solid rhythms and lead guitar solos while bassist Brad Annis and drummer Jake Ketterer kept everyone grooving.

Midway through 2011 the band lost Brad Annis but was able to quickly replace him with celebrated Chattanooga bassist Keith Guillot. The band also added fiddle phenom Tim Jester and keys wizard Devon Goins to the mix. With the brand new look and sound the band also decided to take on a more autonomous name.  64 Highway!

64 Highway has a fresh sound that can’t be easily classified only as country. While Bartlee’s roots are found in Nashville, the other band members have musical backgrounds ranging from rock n’ roll to jazz and classical. All these qualities display themselves prominently in the band’s song writing.