Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood - the reigning kind and queen of country music, according to both the CMA awards and the Academy of Country Music - are set for separate shows at the O'Connell Center in October and December respectively, officials announced Friday.

The popular ''American Idol'' finalist has inked an agreement with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville, Carrie Underwood's label

July 3, 2008 ? There?s a hint of patriotism in the trappings of Carrie Underwood?s success. She came to prominence on a TV show that carries the nation?s name, "American Idol"; and she likewise earned a hit this year with "All-American Girl." Not surprisingly, Carrie is a big fan of her U.S. heritage.

By Adam Markovitz Summer's here and the time is right for beltin' out a tune! Here are some surefire hits to choose (from Pat Benatar, Carrie Underwood, and, yes, O-Town) -- and deadly ditties to avoid (you're not Neil Diamond, Amy Winehouse, or Bob Dylan)

FLORENCE ? Florence Police Sgt. Tim Compton has something in common with music artists Jay-Z, Amy Winehouse and Carrie Underwood.

FISHER ? Organizers of the Fisher Fair are hoping to bring the excitement of "American Idol" to northwest Champaign County by holding the first Fisher Fair Idol. Local residents hoping to be Fisher's answer to Carrie Underwood or David Cook will be singing at the fair's grandstand area at 7 p.m. Tuesday for the fair's opening night.

Nicole Kidman has described Nashville as a quiet escape, a nice place to raise a garden or grab coffee without photographers in tow.

Much of the hair is gone, but the songs live on. Though often maligned in its heyday, the music of '80s and early-'90s hair bands and glam-metal groups has shown surprising resilience. Rocklahoma, a five-day festival devoted to the hard rock and heavy metal of that era, begins Wednesday in Pryor, Okla. Bands such as Warrant, Ratt, Triumph and Queensryche are expected to draw about 30,000 people ...

With the SuperSonics NBA franchise set to relocate to Oklahoma City from Seattle, leaders here are anxious to cash in on a piece of the action, lobbying for a handful of exhibition or -- at a long shot -- regular season games that would be played at the city's new, $178 million downtown arena.