A couple of other notable concerts include Kris Kristofferson, who will play the Iroquois Amphitheater on August 9, and George Jones, who will play at Horseshoe Southern Indiana in Elizabeth on December 1.

Scotty McCreery Graduates

Just a couple of years ago, Scotty McCreery was a grocery store clerk in Garner, North Carolina. Two summers ago, he tried out for a little television singing competition called American Idol, and in May 2011, his baritone voice and southern charm landed him the title of the season 10 "American Idol." Following his victory, he spent the summer on the "American Idols Live Tour," but come fall, the singing baseball player didn't abandon his high school career, but rather went right back to classes with his fellow seniors at Garner Magnet High School. The 18-year-old learned how to juggle classes with touring as he went on to be the opening act for Brad Paisley's "Virtual Reality Tour."

Well, last month, McCreery's hard work and persistence paid off as he graduated from high school on June 7. The night prior, he and some of his friends were in Nashville where he picked up a trophy at the CMT Music Awards when his "The Trouble With Girls" was named the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year. Following the awards ceremony, he and his friends flew back to North Carolina in time for graduation, and a few days later, he was back on the road with Paisley.

Now that McCreery is out of high school, does he plan to focus solely on his promising country music career? Nope —he feels the need for a back-up plan, so this fall he plans to attend North Carolina State University, but due to the demands of his music career, he doesn't plan to take a full college load of classes, but rather limit his schedule to probably just two days a week.

Congratulations on graduation and all your country music success, Scotty!

Tim McGraw Giving Homes to Veterans

Tim McGraw, Chase, and the non-profit Operation Homefront love and appreciate the sacrifices the men and women of our military make as they fight for our freedom, so much so that they are rewarding 25 veterans this summer. On every stop of his "Brothers of the Sun Tour" this summer with pal Kenny Chesney, McGraw will award a mortgage-free home to a veteran—a wounded warrior or a service member in need—along with additional financing from ACM Lifting Lives and The Premier Group, on behalf of the North Carolina Furniture Manufacturers.

When recently speaking about this commendable endeavor, McGraw stated, "My sister's a veteran of the first Gulf War. My uncle was a Vietnam veteran, and my grandfather was a World War II veteran. I've always felt a deep sense of respect and obligation to our troops. Being able to reward them for their dedicated work with a new home will be even more rewarding for us. It feels so good to give back to them."

Our hats are off to Tim and these financial backers for their support of the U.S. Military!

Country Family Album

Jennifer Nettles has been quite busy these days touring the country with Sugarland partner Kristian Bush on their "In the Hands of the Fans Tour 2012" and mentoring her two contestants on ABC's new singing competition show, Duets, but come late this year, she'll be busier than ever. She and husband Justin Miller announced last month that they are expecting their first child in November, around their first wedding anniversary (the two met when Miller appeared in Sugarland's video for "Want To" in 2006 and married in the Smoky Mountains on November 26, 2011). Upon announcing the happy news, Nettles said, "We feel so blessed to be expecting and so touched by all the support and excitement for our little 'love on the inside'! Thanks for all the well wishes!"

Angaleena Presley, who makes up country trio the Pistol Annies along with Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert, kept it in the Pistol Annies' family when she said "I do" recently. Presley married Jordan Powell, who just so happens to be Lambert's tour manager, in a private ceremony in Jackson Hole, Wyoming on May 22.

Our condolences go out to Dierks Bentley, who lost his father just weeks before Father's Day. Eighty-eight-year-old Leon Bentley passed away in Phoenix, Arizona on June 1. Bentley canceled a few appearances just prior to his father's passing so he could be by his side during his last days, and upon his death, the singer canceled his fan club party during Nashville's CMA Music Festival, but was back to perform on the main stage at the festival at LP Field on June 10. He announced his father's death on Twitter, saying, "It was an honor to comfort him as he left us. Thank you, fans, for the time and understanding."

Music executive and Country Music Hall of Famer Frances Preston died of congestive heart failure in Nashville on June 13. The 83-year-old opened the Nashville branch of BMI, the performing rights organization that collects and pays out royalties for songwriters, in 1958, went on to become the BMI President & CEO in New York in 1986, and served on the board of the Country Music Association and the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. Preston's family states that she was often referred to as "the best friend a songwriter ever had."

Well, that's it for this month. Here's wishing everyone a safe and happy 4^th of July. Always remember: "Keep your boots shined up and your hat on straight, 'cause country music is comin' your way."