Battle of the Sexes 

It's new..it's funny..it's WAR!!

One lucky man & one lucky woman get a chance to represent their gender in the Mid-Day Cafe's new segment called "Battle of the Sexes."

Show host, Dustin Parker, will ask three(3) "feminine-like" questions to the men and three(3) "masculine-like" questions to the women. This quick segment was created in good fun and is in no-way biased. The scoreboard is in the studio. We're anxious to see the end result..who is the "smarter sex" in Miss 98 Country!?

»Listen to the first Battle of the Sexes segment here.

Southern Voice, Tim McGraw's first studio album in two and a-half years, will be released this fall by Curb Records, his management company announced June 30, 2009. The project's first single, "It's a Business Doing Pleasure With You," was written by Nickelback's Chad Kroeger and singer-songwriter Brett James.

Miss 98's very own Dustin Parker managed to take a moment of Tim McGraw's time for a phone interview to discuss his new album, fragrance, and movie 'The Blind Side', scheduled to hit theaters November 20, 2009.

Dustin "crosses the line" a little by questioning Tim about a rumour he came across on a Tim McGraw Blog. Listen to the full interview on the Audio Clips page.

COUNTRY MUSIC NEWS   KENNY'S SEATTLE SAND-BAR Kenny Chesney will hold a "sand-bar only" show for a limited number of fans on July 31st at Seattle's Qwest Field. Kenny says, "We figured rather than just coming in and me and the guys doing a sound check, we could warm-up with something a little bit more and start what is normal an all-day experience the night before... I don't know if this is crazy, sane or the start of something big, but given how awesome Seattle has always been for us, it seems like the perfect place to find out!" Ticket holders for the full show on August 1st will enjoy opening acts Montgomery Gentry, Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum and Sugarland, along with Kenny. LBT'S PERFECT PAIRING Little Big Town's Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman really started the band when they met at Alabama's Samford University, but they weren't about to be another all-girl act. Karen tells Eagle, Colorado's Enterprise, "At the time the Dixie Chicks were out. To Kimberly and I there wasn't going to be anything better than that. We really admired their music and the style of what they were doing ... We wanted to do something that had never been done." The band is busy at work on their next album in between show. GRETCHEN KEEPS IT COUNTRY Gretchen Wilson is listening to some of the pop-tinged sounds of the current crop of country superstars and wondering if there's still room at the party for her. She tells Missouri's Joplin Globe, "I have nothing against pop music. All music is great music. I'm just a traditionalist. I love real country, with the fiddles and steel guitars ... If that's where we're going, I don't know if I can stay. I don't know if I can make that kind of music." Gretchen is hard at work on a new album. SARA SUDS UP Sara Evans shows off her potential as a star in daytime drama on SoapNet.com. Sara has shot a series of promotional spots for her upcoming tour with some of the ABC daytime stars, including a bit that puts her in the role of Doctor Sara Evans on General Hospital.

*KEITH MAKES FAMILY TIME ON TOUR   Keith Urban's Escape Together Tour lasts a long six months, but he's only doing three or four shows at a time so he can be with his family as much as possible. He tells California's Fresno Bee, "We structured the tour so I fly to the first date, then bus it to the next couple shows. From the audience's standpoint, they get a much better show. We're not just going through the motions. Come the first show of each week, I'm chomping at the bit to play. Then we're home for three or four days. There's never a show when it's like the 14th show without being home."   *BRAD & ALISON HEAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE   Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss will take part in a special educational workshop and concert series for 120 young musicians, President Obama and the First Lady at the White House on Tuesday. The series launched last month with jazz music and this month the focus is on country. Brad is honored to participate in the event and is equally proud of the state of the nation. He tells us, "I'm proud of us as a culture and I'm proud of us for where we've come. And I think these difficult times are important to forging who we are."   *RASCAL FLATTS PLAY WRIGLEY   Rascal Flatts take to "The Friendly Confines," otherwise known as Wrigley Field in Chicago, Saturday night as the first country act to perform at the historical baseball venue. Gary tells us, "It's really cool to be doing Wrigley because we're the third act ever to do Wrigley." Jimmy Buffet played there in 2005 and The Police in 2007.   *SWEET TEA WITH JIMMY   Jimmy Wayne was so flattered by his enthusiastic fans at Tuesday night's Opry appearance that he invited them to a local Nashville eatery to join him for a glass of sweet tea. The group of about two-dozen pushed together tables and enjoyed their tea while visiting with Jimmy and having an impromptu intimate concert.   *FARM AID HEADS TO ST. LOUIS   Farm Aid is returning to the Midwest -- the annual benefit concert will be held October 4th at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater just outside of St. Louis. The full lineup will be announced next week, but Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews are on board as the headliners.   more country news...

*Trace Adkins Lends Helping Hand

Trace Adkins is in Lancaster, TX this weekend to help build a new home for a wounded police officer to be featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  The new season of the hit TV show begins on September 27 on ABC, and this episode will air some time this fall.  We’ll keep you posted when a date is confirmed.

*Carrie Underwood Announces Album Release Date

Mark your calendars!

CMT is reporting that Carrie Underwood will release her 3rd studio album on November 3rd. Underwood is reportedly putting the finishing touches on the album (which still in unnamed).

A new single is expected to be released to radio later this summer.

LEE COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - A new house was won by a Dumas man, as the kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital also benefit.

Joseph Jones is the winner of the Dream Home.

The home giveaway, along with all the other great prizes, happened Sunday afternoon in Tupelo.

Jones walked away with keys to Tupelo's Dream Home valued at over 400-thousand dollars...but Sunday was about more than giving away a home. It was about the kids. 

Hundreds of tickets sold... phone lines ringing off the hook... but what else do you expect from the St. Jude Dream Home giveaway live telethon? Officials with St. Jude say, "Today went great. We have a wonderful winner - Joseph Jones - of the house and the most important thing though is we raised $477,000 for the kid's at St. Jude."

Aside from the giveaway's we do on-air.. we've decided that there are more than enough prizes in the Miss 98 prize vault to go around!

We will randomly pick a Mid-Day Cafe Wesbite Member each week - whoever it is and wherever they are - THEY'RE A WINNER!!

Simple enough?

If you're not a member..you can't win. So why wouldn't you sign up today!?

As a member of this site...you'll receive Miss 98 "insider information" about upcoming concerts, meet & greets, station promotions, free stuff, & you'll be eligible to win each week.

So again, we'll ask...Want to win cool stuff?

Click here 

We know that the studio line stays busy, however, there are no restrictions on Dustin Parker's Blackberry!! Just another great way to send your comments, requests, & shout outs.

Beam his Blackberry

"I listend to a little Michael Jackson tonight & I remembered what was so great in the first place. I wish I didn't know the rest." -- James Otto

"I will remember Michael Jackson as the kid that over came, as the mesmerizing, moonwalking world wide artist. MJ was forced to fill shoes that must have been crippling to walk in, but yet found a a way to dance in them like no one on earth." -- Rodney Atkins

"I am so sad to hear this news. I am a huge Michael Jackson fan ... I grew up listening to him. I used to moon-walk down the hallway in school when I was in the sixth grade ... We have now experienced a day like my mom explained to me the world experienced when Elvis died." -- Jimmy Wayne

"'Thriller' was the first album I ever bought with my own money. Michael Jackson was truly a pioneer." -- Joe Nichols

"I am shocked and saddened by the passing of Michael Jackson. He was the most memorable and impactful entertainer on me as a child. My parents had Elvis to watch and adore. I had Michael Jackson. There will never be another person to sing and dance like Michael Jackson." -- Luke Bryan

"Michael Jackson was a musical genius. What a shock." -- James Young, Eli Young Band

"Rest in peace, MJ. You made a musical impact on my life like any other. You will be missed by many. Live on through your music." -- Josh Gracin

"'Thriller' was the first album I ever bought with my own money. Michael Jackson was truly a pioneer." -- Joe Nichols

"Michael Jackson's music knew no boundaries and has greatly influenced entertainers from all musical genres. There is no denying that his impact was global and he was loved by people all over the world. I truly believe he was this generation's Elvis Presley. In fact, the parallels in their death, are uncanny ... I recently introduced my children to his music and the groundbreaking "Thriller" video. It's something we have all danced around to in our living room and have enjoyed together as a family. There's no doubt that his musical legacy will live for generations to come." -- Jason Michael Carroll

"A sad day for the world of music." -- Reba McEntire

"Michael Jackson was my inspiration." -- Miley Cyrus

"Say what you want about his personal [life], he was one of the reasons I wanted to be a performer." -- Rissi Palmer

"Teaching [my daughter] Owen about Michael Jackson right now, playing all these amazing songs. She's 3 1/2 and she loves it. Amazing, life changing music." -- Michelle Branch

"He was larger than life. He's an artist that has had an impact on every other artist, consciously or subconsciously. Musically, he helped to change the world, and his records will live on forever." -- Miranda Lambert

"Even country boys like Jay, Gary and myself ... I count it as a blessing to have been inspired by his music and his artistry." -- Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney

"His was a rare talent that we witness once in a lifetime. One who makes such an indelible mark that for generations singers and dancers attribute him as inspiration. I had the great privilege of watching him every night doing what he did best -- entertain. I am grateful to have known him for the two years I worked for him, and will mourn his loss with his many millions of fans across the world." -- Sheryl Crow (who used to sing backup for Jackson)

Listen to the Miss 98 Michael Jackson Music Montage here

The new show segment will be "Parker's Voicemail of the Day" - I can go ahead and forwarn you that the first few voicemails will be from my grumpy mother. In her eyes...I'm still her baby - so she calls of the time.

Dustin Parker is the host of the Mid-Day Cafe on Mississippi's Country GIANT every weekday from 10am-1pm. He is more-or-less a spontanious disc jockey that is known for throwing curve balls at you in mid-sentence. Despite his weird attempts at cracking incomprehensive jokes..he does manage to take all of your song requests and gives great prizes away during his show. 

(He insists on doing a segment called "Dr. Love" where he gives advice to other innocent listeners about the pros and cons of loving relationships ..the idea sounds great until you learn of his "love record for 2009" 0-2..that's why the boss declined this segment)

Taylor Swift tries to pull off a gangster look in this new shot with rapper T-Pain at the rehearsals for the 2009 CMT Music Awards on Tuesday afternoon (June 9) in Nashville, Tenn.

The 19-year-old musician tweeted last night, teasing fans, “If I said I was in the studio with T-Pain, would you believe me?”

Taylor recently dished that she would love to duet with a rapper. Looks like more of her dreams are coming true!

As well as performing with T-Pain, Taylor is nominated for Female Video of the Year as well as Video of the Year for “Love Story.” The 2009 CMT Music Awards air Tuesday, June 16 @ 8PM ET/PT on CMT. -AP

Click here to see that video.