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Bloody Altercation Ruins Wayne Hancock Release Party
Austin360’s Michael Corcoran says Wednesday was supposed to be a big night for Wayne “The Train” Hancock, who was scheduled to have a CD release show for “Viper of Melody. Instead Hancock was busy rehearsing new musicians after two of his were involved in a brutal fight (or attack, depending on whose side you take).
Hancock [...]Continue reading "Bloody Altercation Ruins Wayne Hancock Release Party"
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The Year In Review: Top 20 Country Music News Stories Of 2008
20. Joey + Rory Rising: A Talent Competition Actually Finds Talent
Outside of American Idol winner Carrie Underwood and Nashville Star castoff Miranda Lambert, the spate of talent competitions that we’ve endured since the advent of reality TV has produced few artists who could be said to possess a level of talent that aligns them with [...]Continue reading "The Year In Review: Top 20 Country Music News Stories Of 2008"
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Elvis Presley and Carrie Underwood – “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”
Songwriters: Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram.
There are many adjectives to describe pop-country juggernaut Carrie Underwood’s vocal ability. Powerful and technically proficient? Sure. Overbearing and over the top? Sometimes.
But understated? Not so much.
That’s why it’s refreshing to hear Underwood complement The King of Rock and Roll (who first recorded the pensive, eight-line [...]Continue reading "Elvis Presley and Carrie Underwood – “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”"
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Bonnie Hill Is On a Mission to Get Keith Whitley Honored In Hall of Fame
Keith Whitley uber fan Bonnie Hill is on a mission to get the late singer recognized alongside all the legends already inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her online petition has amassed nearly 2,000 signatures, including those of Ralph Stanley, J.D. Crowe and Alan Frizzell. Hill knows her petition alone won’t get Whitely [...]
Continue reading "Bonnie Hill Is On a Mission to Get Keith Whitley Honored In Hall of Fame"
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Lack of Female Nominations for Entertainer of the Year Disappoints Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood commended Miranda Lambert for her Album of the Year win, but feels like women deserve a little more recognition, namely in the Entertainer of the Year category.
“I think there have been several women over the past decade that should have been nominated at some point,” she said. “It’s disappointing that they haven’t been, [...] -
Tim Hensley Opry Audience Surprised by Kenny Chesney Visit
Friday night’s Opry audience got a surprise when Kenny Chesney popped by to support his band member Tim Hensley, who has a new bluegrass album out. And the night before Clint Black made his own surprise appearance at Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville to rehearse for his part on Secret Talents of the Stars.
If there’s [...]Continue reading "Tim Hensley Opry Audience Surprised by Kenny Chesney Visit"
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Vince Vaughn: Honky Tonk Man
I knew there was a reason I liked Vince Vaughn, aside from his fast-talking, used-car salesmanesque humor and wit. His twelve-song celebrity playlist on iTunes has a couple of songs apiece from Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Merle Haggard and then he throws in a Hank Williams and Buck Owens duet with Yoakam [...]
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Even Elvis’ Crap Turns to Gold
John Gerome lays out all the logistics of a Christmas album from the label side of things. Basically, the peak season for a Christmas album is between late October and Christmas, it usually sells well for a few seasons, and if it makes it to gold status, then it’s hugely successful. Gerome says Elvis’ Christmas [...]
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Todd Snider and John Carter Cash Play Part In New Loretta Album
Singer-songwriter Larry Joe Taylor–who doesn’t listen to mainstream music–participated in Galleywinter’s 20 Questions feature.
Your music and festivals really promote songwriting above show. What made you want to really focus on the songwriting aspect? And, who are some of your favorite songwriters?
Songwriting is a craft. I’ve spent all of my musical life trying to hone my [...]Continue reading "Todd Snider and John Carter Cash Play Part In New Loretta Album"
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Patty Loveless Gears Up For Her Third Trip On the Santa Train
Gary Allan has no balls, as illustrated by his latest album — Living Hard — and just so you know, Ronnie Dunn and John Anderson are merely average Nashville singers, too. I wish I was just making this stuff up, folks.
Tours featuring two mega-stars are in. First it was Kenny Chesney and LeAnn Rimes, then [...]Continue reading "Patty Loveless Gears Up For Her Third Trip On the Santa Train"
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- Clint: Very good song. Great, distinctive approach. I've never seen anything like it. Makes me wish all over ...
- Rachel68005: Ken, great interview! However, I must admit I am laughing at the comment where Bucky says that "Hold A ...
- PaulaW: Great interview! Thanks Ken!
- Jon: @Steve M. I don't know why you think shifting the focus to some other person in some other discipline ...
- Cybrus: He should have released "Woke Up On My Own" instead. That's a good song! "Every dog has it's day"...ugh.
- Scooter: I noticed with any Gary Allan album that I bought over the years that the songs really grow on you. ...
- Ben Foster: NAME-CHECKING - Taylor Swift pulled it off with "Tim McGraw," but Tyler Dean's "Taylor Swift" is a flop. POINT ...
- Ben Foster: There are too many songs on the radio that scream "I'm so country," when the production sounds like anything but. ...
- Ben Foster: I agree. "I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes" is bland, boring, soulless, and entirely forgettable. This is ...
- Steve M.: And I am sure that James Patterson believes every book he churns out should be a Pulitzer winner. If the ...
While the voice of country’s future took home this year’s big honor, a legendary voice from country music’s past scored a win for Album Of The Year. Check out the winners in The 9513's 2nd Annual Country Music Awards now!
Josh Turner's fourth album, Haywire, furthers his reputation as one of the leading men in contemporary country, a true, traditional voice in an ever-changing Nashville scene.
Having played on more than 500 albums and toured with artists that range from Hank III to Dolly Parton, Randy Kohrs has become one of the go-to musicians when there’s a need for a resophonic guitar
Sammy Kershaw – “Better Than I Used To Be”
As the title track off his upcoming album, “Better Than I Used to Be” is a straight-up look back on the career of a country music staple.
Emily West Featuring Keith Urban – “Blue Sky” Emily West turns in a gorgeous performance on “Blue Sky,” hitting notes few of her contemporaries can reach.
What does Alan Jackson like on his eggs?
Cheese and corn; he still likes bologna; a load of salsa; hens? Answers to the questions you'd never dream of asking. (
In each and every instance, the best country albums of the past ten years were built on the backs of songs -- stories about you and me from birth to death and stories that paint landscapes rooted in every region of America and beyond. These are the top country albums of the decade.

