Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090313/tv_nm/us_country;_ylt=ApuDg7HUUKfPu9WgILTppyRxFb8C)

NEW YORK (Billboard) – Country songs are known for telling stories. Now some of those stories will be made into one-hour dramas for a new television series, "American Storytellers."

The project, from TV production company Granada America and the film-producing duo of Mark Roberts and Lorena David ("Strangers With Candy," "Extreme Dating"), will have access to least seven songs from Sony/ATV Music Publishing. That company's formidable country catalog includes classics by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Roger Miller as well as recent hits by Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Rascal Flatts.

Sony/ATV and Granada executives declined to reveal which songs will be used in the series until they secure all remaining publishing and related deals. The show will draw upon songs from other, yet-to-be-named publishers as well.

Top country artists whose songs will be showcased in the episodes might appear on camera as well, Granada America said. After it has lined up deals with performers, writers and directors, Granada will pitch "Storytellers" to TV networks.

Granada America is the U.S.-based production unit of the U.K.-based ITV, one of Europe's largest producers and broadcasters of TV programs. Its U.S. shows include "The Chopping Block" on NBC, "The First 48" on A&E and "Nanny 911" on CMT.

That sounds like it might be interesting.

That sounds like it might be interesting.

Agreed, They could probably have some decent episodes if done right and with the right songs and artists. Tom T. Hall would definitely be a good fit for this show.

Sounds interesting. It sounds like a fun show to watch.

It does sound interesting. Hopefuly they don't screw up the songs.

Link (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118007068.html?categoryid=14&cs=1)

Grammy winner Clint Black has signed on to exec produce the TV anthology series "American Storytellers."

Series comes from ITV Studios (the shingle formerly known as Granada America), as well as Sony/ATV Music Publishing and Roberts/David Films.

Hourlong will take current and classic country music songs and turn them into drama episodes for TV.

Mark Roberts and Lorena David, who brought the project to ITV Studios, will exec produce, along with Creative Control Entertainment's Joel C. High.

Producers hope to attract top country music artists to work on "American Storytellers," both in front of and behind the camera. No network is yet attached.

"Clint Black is among the elite of country music, and having him involved with this series will elevate it on many levels," Roberts said. Black, who directs his own musicvideos, has had countless No. 1 hits.