Movies and Soundtracks

• Tim McGraw returned to the big screen, starring as husband and manager of Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in “Country Strong.” Paltrow plays a faded Country star and recovering alcoholic who is on the road to a comeback driven by McGraw. A majority of the film was shot in and around Nashville. McGraw also starred in the indie flick “Dirty Girl” with Mila Jovovich.
• Taylor Swift made her acting debut as part of an all-star cast in “Valentine’s Day.” Swift starred as a love-obsessed teen opposite Taylor Lautner.
• Dancer/singer Julianne Hough appeared in the movie “Burlesque” with Christina Aguilera and Cher.
• Katrina Elam claimed the starring role in “Pure Country 2: The Gift,” and George Strait, who starred in the first “Pure Country,” made a cameo in the sequel.
• Veteran actors/singers Kris Kristofferson and Dwight Yoakam teamed up for the first time on screen in “Bloodworth.” Yoakam and star Val Kilmer play the sons of Kristofferson’s womanizing alcoholic patriarch of the Bloodworth Clan.
• Brad Paisley made his directorial debut with the short film “When Mom’s Away.” It was a family affair, showing hilarious ways sons Huck and Jasper can get into trouble when their mom, Kimberly Williams-Paisley is out of town. The film was screened at the Nashville Film Festival, but Paisley said that there are no plans for wider distribution.
• Kenny Chesney hit the big screen in a big way – in 3D and IMAX – for his “Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D” concert movie, featuring behind-the-scenes and performance footage of one of the biggest tour productions in Country Music.
• Clint Black took the reigns from Tim McGraw when he starred in “Flicka 2,” the sequel to McGraw’s 2006 film. Black played a ranch hand in the straight-to-DVD movie.
• Look for even more Country artists in movies in 2011: Trace Adkins in “The Lincoln Lawyer;” Kix Brooks in “Thrift Store Cowboy;” Julianne Hough in remakes of “Footloose” and “21 Jump Street;” Tim McGraw in “Safe House;” Dolly Parton in “Joyful Noise;” Travis Tritt in “Fishers of Men;” and Carrie Underwood in “Soul Surfer.”

MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS

• The Country Strong soundtrack features a who’s who of Country stars, including Trace Adkins, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Patty Loveless, Hank Williams Jr., Lee Ann Womack and Chris Young, as well as the film’s stars Garrett Hedlund, Tim McGraw, Leighton Meester and Gwyneth Paltrow.


• Crazy Heart: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, produced by T. Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton, features Ryan Bingham, Lightin’ Hopkins, Waylon Jennings, The Louvin Brothers, Buck Owens and Townes Van Zandt.


• Jewel, Willie Nelson, Steel Magnolia and Taylor Swift contributed love songs to the Valentine’s Day soundtrack.


• Carrie Underwood recorded “There’s a Place for Us” for the soundtrack of the fantasy flick “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” The Golden Globe nominated theme song was written by Underwood, Dave Hoges and Hillary Lindsey.
  
  
• Jerry Douglas, Alison Krauss and the SteelDrivers contributed songs to the soundtrack for the Robert Duvall movie “Get Low.”


• The documentary “By the People: The Election of Barack Obama” featured music from the Dixie Chicks and Tim McGraw.