Jamey Johnson plays St. Petersburg Jan.17

   Country singer Jamey Johnson is coming to St. Petersburg.
   The acclaimed singer/songwriter, who has scored huge hits with his 2008 album "That Lonesome Song" and its followup, 2010's "The Guitar Song," will be at the Mahaffey Theater Jan. 17.
   Johnson has earned a platinum album for "That Lonesome Song" and gold for "The Guitar Song," and his songs "Give

Jamey Johnson

It Away" and "In Color" were both named Song of the Year by the Academy of County Music and by the Country Music Association. He's also been nominated for Grammy Awards five times.
   Last year Johnson released his fourth studio album, a duet tribute album to late songwriter Hank Cochran. The Grammy-nominated "Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran" paired him with Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, Ray Price, Elvis Costello, George Strait, Vince Gill and Merle Haggard.   
   Tickets go on sale at noon Dec. 13. They'll set you back $29.50, $39.50 and $49.50. Go to  www.themahaffey.com, call 727-893-7832. You can also stop by the Mahaffey box office. The Mahaffey is at
401 First St. S., St. Petersburg.

Top 10 Kris Kristofferson covers

Kris Kristofferson's songs have been covered by everybody from Elvis Presley to Al Green — not to mention Johnny Cash and Janis Joplin.

Here are my favorites.

And here's my recent interview with Kristofferson, which has been picked up by newspapers nationwide.

Kristofferson performs Tuesday (May 10) at Tampa Theatre.

Jamey Johnson's version of "For the Good Times" barely missed my final cut.

Grammy-nominee Arlis Albritton (and Manatee County native) ready for ACM Awards

Singer/songwriter and producer Arlis Albritton (pictured) didn't win for his stirring work with country neo-outlaw Jamey Johnson at last night's Lady Antebellum-dominated Grammys.

But the Manatee County native, who Herald Local News columnist Vin Mannix interviewed, along with Johnson, for this great feature that ran in the Herald Sunday, remains upbeat.

"Well we gave it a shot!" Albritton posted on Facebook via his iPhone late Sunday. "Being nominated was awesome though. Thanks everybody for the best wishes and good lucks."

The Palmetto High grad already is already looking forward to the Academy of Country Music Awards, which take place April 3 in Las Vegas.

His production contributions could bring him a trophy for Album of the Year:

"I'm up for an ACM, so here I come Vegas!" Albritton posted shortly after the Grammy announcement.

Here's the Albritton-penned track "Good Morning Sunrise" featured on Johnson's album "The Guitar Song."