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Steel Guitar: Underground or Under The Ground
A recent debate with a friend has me wondering: Has the steel guitar gone underground, or is the steel guitar dead and gone from country music altogether, buried “under the ground?”
Since Webb Pierce came out with “Slowly” in 1954, the pedal steel guitar has been the signature instrument of country music. Virtually non-existent in all [...]Continue reading "Steel Guitar: Underground or Under The Ground"
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Trace Adkins To Honor United 93 Passengers; Exclusive Miranda Lambert EP; Tribute to Silverstein
Trace Adkins is scheduled to perform the national anthem at this year’s ceremony honoring the passengers who died on United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
Best Buy has an exclusive EP from Miranda Lambert today that includes “Dead Flowers” and three bonus tracks from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend that were offered by different retailers. [...] -
Honky Tonk Happy Hour: Sharing Music
I am drawn towards two things–vocalists and steel guitar players. I keep my ears out for both. But especially the former. Contemporary country music has drowned out the latter. But that’s another column.
So, when someone said that Holly Williams is their new favorite female vocalist, I thought I’d check her out.
You should know that [...] -
Merle Haggard Returns to Stage Tonight After Layoff From Surgery
When Merle Haggard plays at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace tonight and tomorrow, it’ll be his first performances since undergoing surgery for lung cancer. He says it’ll also be the first time in his life in which he hasn’t loosened up with tobacco or marijuana.
We’re only two days into the new year and Los Angeles City [...]Continue reading "Merle Haggard Returns to Stage Tonight After Layoff From Surgery"
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Mindy McCready Hospitalized After Attempted Suicide
Troubled country singer Mindy McCready was taken to a Nashville-area hospital for treatment and a psychological evaluation after she severed a tendon in her left arm during a suicide attempt.
Rodney Hayden will be recording his first live album at The Wildcat Saloon in McCoy, TX this Saturday. He’ll perform songs from each of his [...]Continue reading "Mindy McCready Hospitalized After Attempted Suicide"
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Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley Score CMA Awards Hosting Duties
Aside from their planned performances for the 42nd Annul CMA Awards, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will be responsible for hosting duties. Good choice, or not? Sound off in the comments. (via Country Aircheck newsletter)
Disney launched a new Nashville-based sister imprint to Lyric Street called Carolwood Records to “insure a consistent product flow.” The [...]Continue reading "Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley Score CMA Awards Hosting Duties"
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At 81 And With Two Albums Due This Year, Charlie Louvin Isn’t Slowing Down
At 81 Charlie Louvin isn’t slowing down; he has two albums slated for later this year. The first, Steps to Heaven, will be new versions of traditional gospel songs along with two tracks from the duo he started with his brother. The second, Charlie Louvin Sings Murder Ballads & Disaster Songs, is self-explanatory.
Amber Waves of [...]Continue reading "At 81 And With Two Albums Due This Year, Charlie Louvin Isn’t Slowing Down"
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Stagecoach Music Festival ‘08: Day One
The Stagecoach Musical Festival was a three day event that, on a grand scale, showcased what country music is today. It’s estimated that over the three day period 150,000 people showed up. I arrived on Friday with very little idea of what to expect.
As I walked into the festival, The Randy Rogers Band was playing [...] -
SXSW 2008: Palo Duro Records Showcase Wrap-Up
The first set of the Palo Duro Records Showcase on Wednesday night featured an acoustic lover’s wet dream with a song swap between Trent Summar, Tommy Alverson, Dallas Wayne, and Buzz Cason. All four artists were in a dapper mood, keeping the moderately sized Waterloo Ice House audience in high spirits. If the term “laidback” [...]
Continue reading "SXSW 2008: Palo Duro Records Showcase Wrap-Up"
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Steve Holy Held At Gunpoint After Late Night Game of Foosball
Inviting strangers over to play foosball in your garage after a night of drinking can be very dangerous, even if said strangers are off-duty police officers. Just ask Steve Holy, who had a gun held to the back of his head. The situation escalated when Holy failed to provide sufficient evidence about his identity to [...]
Continue reading "Steve Holy Held At Gunpoint After Late Night Game of Foosball"
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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.Current Discussion
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