» Tied Together With A Smile: Not that ABC-TV needed convincing, but the ratings success of Taylor Swift's Saturday Night Live appearance (11/7) on NBC has to make them feel good about choosing Swift to open Wednesday's 43rd Annual CMA Awards (11/11). According to thrfeed.com, Swift's hosting and musical guest turn on SNL pushed the show to a season-high 5.0 rating. Swift drew generally positive Internet chatter during the show, taking jabs at Joe Jonas and Kanye West and giving a shout-out to Twilight's Taylor Lautner in her opening "Monologue Song (La La La)." She spoofed a media-crazed Kate Gosselin on The View, played motivational inmate "Skeet Devlin" from the program "Scared Straight" and channeled Shakira. View a backstage interview here and the full episode here.

» In Case You Missed It: As reported moments ago in a Breaking News, Capitol/Nashville West regional and former Entercom programmer Mike Krinik has been named PD of Entercom's KBWF (The Wolf)/San Francisco. He starts Dec. 15. Capitol SVP/Promotion Steve Hodges is seeking his replacement; send resumes here.

» Lifting Me (Hire And Hire): Consultants Albright & O'Malley have two separate station positions to fill. The first is a PD/PM driver for "an already-market-dominant Country leader in a top 200 market." And the second is for "an existing CHR, AC or contemporary Country morning team which is ready to move up and understands the basics of entertaining 25-44s. This isn't a tryout of something new." Both openings require a successful ratings track record. Email a one-page resume and references to Jaye Albright here. Large email attachments are discouraged; include a link to your demo.

» Casey At The Bat: Former KXKC/Lafayette, LA PD/MD/morning co-host Casey Carter has joined WZZK/Birmingham for middays. PD Justin Case had been covering the airshift since DeAnna Lee's move to WSM-FM/Nashville this summer. Carter previously worked for WROO & WQIK/Jacksonville, WNOE/New Orleans and WCOL & WHOK/Columbus, OH. Reach her at 205-916-1100 or here.

» Developing Story: Sony/Nashville's BNA and Columbia Mgr./Marketing & Artist Development Laura McKinley has moved to the company's Arista and RCA imprints in the same role. She's been with the company seven years. We told you last month (CAT 10/30) that RCA Coord./Promotion Cara Owen had taken the BNA and Columbia marketing and artist development position. A new head of Marketing & Artist Development for Arista and RCA is forthcoming. That position has been vacant since the June departure of VP Jon Elliot.

» Waugh Meet: Former CMA Awards Exec. Producer Walter C. Miller was presented the Irving Waugh Award Of Excellence Friday (11/6). "For nearly four decades, Walter has contributed immeasurably to the success and popularity of the CMA Awards," said CEO Tammy Genovese. Miller served as producer, executive producer and is now a consulting producer for the CMAs. Genovese, Miller's daughter Debbie and son Paul, current show co-host Brad Paisley and former show host Vince Gill, who presented the award, were all on hand for the ceremony.

» Third 'Round The World: He may not be embarking on a major 2010 tour, but Kenny Chesney will bring his concert experience to a theatre near you for a limited engagement beginning April 2010. Kenny Chesney: Summer In 3-D was captured by 22 3-D cameras over six nights of his Sun City Carnival tour. "It's crazy how up close this puts you," Chesney says. "It was an amazing and at times scary experience to have cameras that close, in the air, on a blimp, because they are everywhere. But to see what this film captures … all I can says is, 'Wow.'" Cities featured in the concert movie include Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston and Indianapolis. Register for updates and buy tickets here.

» Hair There And Everywhere: Simmons' KEGA/Salt Lake City PM driver Jon Watkins hosted a fundraiser Saturday night (11/7) that raised more than $30,000 for Judge Memorial High School. Watkins even got in character for the event's "Groovy '60s and '70s" theme.

» A Convenient Truth: Fans can get a "tweet peek" of Jason Aldean's new video "The Truth" on Twitter tomorrow (11/10). The video premieres @jason_aldean and @FollowCMT before it hits CMT.com and CMT Mobile on Thursday (11/12) and CMT Top 20 Countdown Friday (11/13).

» Faulty Towers? Last Friday's 10Q SEC filing by Citadel Broadcasting points to a possible bankruptcy scenario as soon as mid-January. According to the document, "Based on the current economic conditions and capital markets, the company does not expect to be able to meet its covenants." Those credit terms require $150 million in available cash by Jan. 15. The filing adds, "Should the company default, [it] would likely need to seek relief through a Chapter 11 filing." Citadel's Q3 net revenues for its radio stations fell 9.9% from the previous year, with its Citadel Media radio network net revenue off 31.5% and consolidated net revenue down 14.1%. The company, America's third-largest by net broadcasting revenue, owns 37 Country stations. CTDB stock declined 59% to 5.2 cents in heavy trading today (11/9).

» Crib Note: Congrats to artist manager Nancy Eckert and her husband Brian on Friday's (10/23) birth of their second son Jackson Douglas. Jackson joins big brother Brian II.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5: Here are the Top 5 songs for the week ending Nov. 7. Look for the full chart in tonight's Country Aircheck Weekly.

1. CARRIE UNDERWOOD/Cowboy Casanova (19/Arista)
2. LADY ANTEBELLUM/Need You Now (Capitol)
3. ZAC BROWN BAND/Toes (Atlantic/Home Grown/Bigger Picture)
4. LUKE BRYAN/Do I (Capitol)
5. BRAD PAISLEY/Welcome To The Future (Arista)

All daily airplay data is from Mediabase 24/7.

» Country Aircheck Today Top 5 Downloads: Here are Play MPE's Top 5 for Nov. 6:

1. MONTGOMERY GENTRY/Oughta Be More Songs About That (Columbia)
2. KEITH URBAN/Til Summer Comes Around (Capitol)
3. BRAD PAISLEY/American Saturday Night (Arista)
4. CARTER TWINS/Let It Snow (Universal Music)
5. CHRIS YOUNG/The Man I Want To Be (RCA)

Rib Hit: The Frogmen of KFRG/Riverside ran into Tim McGraw at this morning's (11/9) Premiere Radio remotes in Nashville. Pictured (l-r) are morning co-host Tommy Carrera, McGraw, morning co-host Scott Ward and producer "JB" Brandon Castillo.

Some Reach: Warner Bros.' Blake Shelton (c) took his "Hillbilly Bone" to WSIX/Nashville morning co-hosts Mike Bohan (l) and Gerry House this morning (11/9).

What's Your Point? KMPS/Seattle MD Tony Thomas (r) poses with Jake Owen while at the radio remotes today.