With Taylor Swift’s recent album release, Fearless, she has managed to hit the top of both the Billboard Top 200 and Country charts. She also managed to set a record for the most digital download sales of a country album.

Jerry Montano, formerly the bassist for Danzig, has filed a lawsuit against John Rich for the altercation which took place between them on October 17th. During the scuffle, Montano claims that Rich left him with “severe injuries” and “permanent scarring”. The whole thing appears to have started over a woman Rich was interested in.

Kenny Chesney just won his fourth CMA Entertainer of the Year trophy Wednesday evening. How did he celebrate? He issued a friendly “challenge” to his fellow nominees, notifying them that he intends to keep giving his fans hit songs.

“But to those other four acts that are nominated, I’m not just going to lay down, either. I love what I’m doing, and I love doing it from the heart with the passion, commitment and sacrifice that it takes to do this. These aren’t given away. These aren’t free. It’s a very humbling thing to stand up here and hold this for the fourth time.”

Toby Keith has released his second film, Beer For My Horses, on DVD. Kieth stars alongside comedian Rodney Carrington,Claire Forlani of CSI: New York and musicians Willie Nelson and Ted Nugent. The story involves Keith and Carrington as small town deputies who get involved in a crazy scheme to rescue Keith’s character’s girlfriend from a drug lord.

Merle Haggard has had a cancerous growth removed from his right lung. The growth was discovered in May but was considered to be non-malignant and unnecessary to remove. Merle’s wife, Theresa, reported via Merle’s website that he “is recuperating from the surgery and doing better and better each day.”

Now that Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, better known as “Joe the Plumber”, has gained some fame he intends to put it to good use. Based on advice from Aaron Tippin the now famous Joe is pursuing a career recording country music as well as a book deal.

More details are available on CMT’s site.

Jessica Simpson’s country debut album is due out tomorrow! It includes her single “Come On Over” as well as the recently released “Remember That”, a song about getting out of an abusive relationship.

Kristen Hall is suing her former bandmates in Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, for $1.5 million. Hall’s suit claims that she entered into an equal partnership with Nettles and Bush with the intent to equally share all profits and losses. Hall was involved with the writing of the songs on Twice the Speed of Life, Sugarland’s first album.

Full details can be found here.

Brooks & Dunn were honored this Monday, August 4th, with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their star is located near the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, specifically at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. near stars such as Walt Disney and Morgan Freeman.

Kenny Chesney‘s new single, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”, will be arriving on the 10th of August.  The single promises to bring to the surface the emotions we all have about Heaven.

“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t want to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go today,” says Chesney, speaking of his new single. “If you could pick, you wouldn’t pick right now…you’d want to live, to do more things, to have more fun.”