TRACE ADKINS PERFORMED THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AT REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Trace Adkins took the stage on the closing night of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul last night. He performed the national anthem before Senator John McCain officially accepted the GOP's nomination for president.

ELVIS PRESLEY'S FINGERPRINTS SOLD

LONDON (AP) -- Elvis Presley's fingerprints have been sold at a London auction house. Actually, his prints were on an application for a concealed-gun permit in California. The application fetched $81,740. Also up for bid was a guitar burned onstage by Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles' first contract with Brian Epstein. Hendrix's guitar went for nearly half a million dollars; the contract sold for more than $426,000.

TRACE ADKINS TO APPEAR IN COMEDY SET FOR OCTOBER RELEASE

UNDATED (AP) -- Trace Adkins is headed to the big screen in October in the comedy "An American Carol." The film hits screens Friday, October 3rd. Adkins portrays the Angel of Death, one of three spirits visiting an infamous "Hollywood" filmmaker who has made a career out of criticizing America. Adkins says his character tries to scare the guy straight by showing him what the future could possibly look like. The movie also stars Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, James Woods and Jon Voight.

KENNY CHESNEY'S NEXT BIG STAR IS SOUTH CAROLINA GROUP BROTHER TROUBLE

UNDATED (AP) -- Two brothers have won Kenny Chesney's Next Big Star contest. Jason and Mark Sutton's band Brother Trouble took the grand prize, which is a check for $25,000, an opportunity to audition for BNA Records, their own tour bus and the opening slot for the final weekend of Chesney's Poets & Pirates Tour. Chesney's Next Big Star competition offered local bands an opportunity to open for Chesney during his tour.

NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT MATRACA BERG, JOHN HIATT AND TOM SHAPIRO

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The songwriters behind Deana Carter's "Strawberry Wine," Trace Adkins' "Hot Mama" and Joe Cocker's "Have a Little Faith in Me" will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. Matraca Berg is particularly notable for providing massive hits for female country artists, including Deana Carter, Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Gretchen Wilson and Trisha Yearwood. Songwriter Tom Shapiro has had more than 45 Top-10 hits with artists such as Sara Evans; Brooks and Dunn; Trace Adkins and Montgomery Gentry. Songwriter John Hiatt has written for Joe Cocker, Rosanne Cash; The Jeff Healy Band and Bonnie Raitt. The three will be inducted during a ceremony in Nashville on Sunday, October 26th.

CLINT BLACK PERFORMING ON ABC SPECIAL SALUTING THE TROOPS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Clint Black says when he's singing for the troops, he's more considerate about his performance. He says he can't help but think "is there anything that I can do that will show my gratitude better or just entertain them more." Black is one of dozens of performers taking part in a two-hour ABC-TV special that honors the troops. It airs this Sunday. Black taped his performance on the beach at Camp Pendleton. He sings the Eagles' "Desperado" in the special. Black says "whenever I sing 'Desperado' I'm often thinking about the cowboy that the song portrays and I think about our troops out there somewhat as cowboys." Other performers taking part in the special include Toby Keith, Joe Nichols, ZZ Top, Jessica Simpson and Janet Jackson. The show, "USAA Presents America United: In Support of Our Troops," airs this Sunday on ABC.

LULLABY SERIES FEATURES SONGS MADE FAMOUS BY JOHNNY CASH, GEORGE STRAIT AND CARRIE UNDERWOOD

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- It's music that both parents and their little ones can enjoy. A series of country music lullabies are coming out on CD in November. They feature instrumental renditions of songs by Johnny Cash, George Strait and Carrie Underwood. The Cash CD comes out November 4th. Strait and Underwood's lullabies are slated for release November 18th. Each CD features fan favorites recorded in a style that is soothing enough for the nursery yet faithful to the sounds of the music.

SARA EVANS URGING SUPPORT OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

UNDATED (AP) -- Sara Evans is urging her fans to support the American Red Cross. She's a member of the agency's National Celebrity Cabinet. In a letter on her Web site she says, "My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Gustav as well as those who are in the path of the approaching hurricanes." She adds "I urge you to join me in helping people through the Red Cross."

DOUBLE DVD OF JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON TO HIT STORES OCTOBER 14

UNDATED (AP) -- Previously unreleased materials from Johnny Cash's 1968 performance at Folsom Prison is coming out in a special edition two-disc, DVD box set. The DVD also includes a new documentary film with exclusive footage from behind the walls of Folsom Prison, unpublished images of Cash and new interviews with Merle Haggard, Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and former inmates who witnessed the concert. "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition" is slated for release October 14th.