INDIANA STATE FAIR DIRECTOR: SUGARLAND REFUSED TO DELAY SHOW

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana State Fair's top official is saying Sugarland refused to delay the start of their concert last August even though bad weather was moving in. A storm caused the outdoor stage to collapse, killing seven people and injuring nearly 60. Executive director Cindy Hoye testified in a lawsuit against the stage rigging company that a fair official asked Sugarland to delay the show two separate times. Hoye said the band was concerned that a delay would affect the time lead singer Jennifer Nettles needed to warm up and complicate the band's travel to its next show. Representatives for Sugarland did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press.

PROBE FINDS BLAME FOR INDIANA STATE FAIR DISASTER

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- A government agency is not fining Sugarland for last summer's deadly stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. But there's plenty of blame to go around. The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a report yesterday that says state fair officials, the stagehands union and a company that built the roof and light rigs for the massive concert platform should all be held responsible. The stage collapse killed seven people and injured nearly 60 when a powerful wind gust knocked over the stage just before Sugarland was to perform. The agency said the band didn't employ the workers and wasn't responsible for building the stage. The agency released its report after a six-month probe and issued small fines against the fair, the staging company and the union. The findings also could fuel more lawsuits. Sugarland has been named in some other lawsuits over the accident. This is the first of three independent investigations into the Aug. 13 tragedy.

RODNEY ATKINS CLEARED OF ASSAULT CHARGE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A Tennessee judge has cleared Rodney Atkins of a domestic assault charge filed by his wife last November. The ruling says the charge will be removed from Atkins' record if he stays out of trouble for the next year and completes 30 hours of community service. Police arrested Atkins last November at his home in Brentwood after his wife, Tammy Jo Atkins, told police he attacked her and tried to suffocate her with a pillow after a night of drinking. Atkins' lawyer says he passed court-ordered anger management, drug and alcohol evaluations. He did not admit any guilt as part of the deal. Atkins filed for divorce shortly after the arrest. The couple is currently splitting custody of their son, Elijah, and are proceeding with the split.

GRAMMYWATCH - THE BAND PERRY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Losing has never felt better to The Band Perry. They got their first Grammy nomination last year in the best country song category for "If I Die Young," but lost to Lady Antebellum. Lead singer Kimberly Perry calls the loss bittersweet, because it made them eligible for the best new artist category this year. Kimberly says the band is "thrilled" to be representing country in the all-genre category and says they feel like "ambassadors" for the format. Plus, getting a Grammy nod crosses one thing off their mom's bucket list. When the siblings started out in music, their mother said she wanted three things: for them to eventually have a show in Vegas, to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry and to earn a Grammy nomination. The Grammys air Sunday on CBS.

GRAMMY NEWBIES - THOMPSON SQUARE, ERIC CHURCH

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Shawna Thompson of the duo Thompson Square is a total believer that vision boards work. She says she set a goal of getting a Grammy nomination four years ago and put a small picture of a gramophone on her vision board. This year, the duo is nominated in the best country song category for their No. 1 hit, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?" Eric Church is also going to the Grammys for the first time this year. His album "Chief" is up for best country album. Church says he's looking forward to the weather in Los Angeles and seeing music at its best. The Grammys air live from Los Angeles on Sunday.

MERLE HAGGARD ON THE ROAD AGAIN

UNDATED (AP) -- Merle Haggard is feeling well enough to resume touring. The 74-year-old was hospitalized in late January with double pneumonia. Doctors in Macon, Georgia, also diagnosed him with three stomach ulcers, eight polyps in his colon and diverticulitis of the esophagus. Haggard's tour resumes on Feb. 28 in Tucson, Arizona. The shows he postponed last month are being rescheduled for April. Haggard says he's "feeling good and ready to get back on the bus." He thanked everyone for their "powerful prayers" that he says led to his "speedy recovery." Merle's latest album, "Working in Tennessee," is available on Vanguard Records.

JAKE OWEN PARTIES WITH NAVY SEALS

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Jake Owen had a mission this week: show some active-duty Navy SEALS a good time in Nashville. Owen attended a movie screening for the new "Act of Valor" film on Tuesday. He wrote and recorded a song for the movie that features Navy SEALS. Afterward, Owen took a few of them to a honky tonk downtown called Robert's Western World and then to the Hermitage Cafe. He says getting to hang out with the Navy SEALS was "truly the biggest honor" of his life. Owen adds that the movie will remind people that they should be grateful to live in the U.S. The movie opens Feb. 24.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.