Fittin' in Keith Urban's Pants
Saturday afternoon, 500 sweat-soaked country fans sat in a tent at the annual YWCA Celebrity Auction With Martina McBride. In 22 years, the auction has raised more than $750,000. C'Dale Golovine of Houston, Texas, paid $4,000 for a chance to get into Keith Urban's pants. "These actually fit me," she said. "I can't believe it." Golovine, who sports blonde hair like Urban's, has paid charity dollars for other Keith items before. Three years ago at the YWCA auction, she was able to get a shirt for the bargain price of $375. She has also purchased a stage-worn jacket for $2,600, and the jeans help her complete what is surely one of the world's most expensive Halloween outfits. The Tennessean

Fans Record with Martina McBride
Dayna Jones of South Dakota is in MARTINA McBRIDE's fan club and won a drawing that allowed her to step into Martina's husband's Blackbird Studio and sing into a microphone that had previously been used by Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Dolly Parton. The microphone, a Telefunken 251 from 1959, is worth more money than Jones makes at her job in a year. She impressed John McBride with her singing and met Martina for an autograph after the session. Less melodious was a group that gathered in the studio for a version of "This One's For The Girls." Anyone in the club who figured that major records sound good only because of superior equipment and technology quickly learned that talent is involved as well. But they all seemed to have fun, especially when Martina McBride joined one group at the microphone. How cool is this? Only Country music stars!

Billy Ray Cyrus is Back!
BILLY RAY CYRUS says he' misses his mullet. He says the night after the producers of "Doc" made him cut his mullet, he saw Boston Red Sox star Johnny Damon and thought, "I want my mullet back." Billy says his mullet days were a simpler time. Life wasn't so complex. He followed that with a song called "I Want My Mullet Back." Saturday, Cyrus' mullet composition won applause from a crowd that was singing along with him by song's end. His short set also included the title track from upcoming album Wanna Be Your Joe (slated for a late July release), veterans tribute "Some Gave All," a version of Lynyrd Skynyrd staple "Sweet Home Alabama" that featured the song's co-writer, former Skynyrd guitarist Ed King on guitar, and, inevitably, "Achy Breaky Heart."

Trisha Yearwood Doesn't Disappoint
The visiting soap opera stars who introduced her teased about her up-and-coming country singer husband, and one fan held up a Trisha & Garth sign. Trisha Yearwood didn't disappoint vocally at Friday night's LP Field show, reminding 35,000 or so fans why she has collected many music industry awards. But sorry, folks, there was no sign of Garth Brooks on or around the stage. Yearwood, in a low-cut black dress, turned in a set of her biggest hits and a sense of humor. "I will have to say when I made my wardrobe choice tonight I forgot about the big screen," she told the crowd. "I thought you'd be far away. I hope I don't have a wardrobe malfunction."Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean

What a Yard Sale!
One man's treasure... Nashville's Leadership Music held its own yard sale in the GEC, selling off artists' personal stuff and labels' promotional stuff. Actually the word "junk" was thrown around quite a bit, but to CMA Music Festival fans, one man's trash indeed is another man's treasure. Promotional Deana Carter "Did I Shave My Legs for This?" razors went for $7-$10. A Sara Evans "Suds in the Bucket" promotional washboard went for $115. Terri Clark and Jay DeMarcus from Rascal Flatts donated construction stuff from remodeling their houses, and it actually sold. Martina McBride donated something. As the yard sale was ending, John McBride, the singer's hubby and a noted sound engineer, came in with the very first stereo speakers she ever owned. On the back of the speakers, Martina wrote that they were the speakers on which she listened and sang along to her first Reba McEntire albums. Yard sale organizers will put those speakers up for auction on CMTauctions.com. Brad Schmitt, The Tennessean

Yesterday's Country Music News