Hello, Country Music fans! How's everyone been? Me, I've been crazed as usual, but I wanted to stop in and share a few thoughts about some Country Music shows out there....

Let's get the bad out of the way first: Nashville Star. Now, I know that pop and rock has become a huge part of the Country sound and I don't exactly mind that. I think it's great when people mix genres and try new things like that. Still, for a show that is supposed to be finding a "country star", I don't understand what they're doing anymore. Several contestants now have performed in this competiton for 3 weeks and have not once done a song by a country artist. To me, that is really messing up the heart of what this show was supposed to be about- talented country acts. For them to have a theme night like this and invite Danity Kane of all people to perform just proves the network is slowly destroying this show. Don't even get me started on the back-up dancers...

With that said, I do see some very talented singers in here I want to stick around to watch. So, let's go through the contestants, shall we?

Pearl Heart: They've had me from the first episode, when they did a great version of the Dixie Chicks "Wide Open Spaces". Their bluegrass version of "Love Shack" has only cemented my support for them and I hope they stick around for quite a while yet.

Laura and Sophie: Jewel was right about the novelty aspect of their act, but I still like them. Underneath it all are two talented girls who I hope will stick together through all this craziness and learn a lot from it. Are they ready for a deal? Not sure, but I think they have great potential. I just want to ask their Mentor what he was thinking by having two young girls sing a song like "PYT". Billy Ray's Micheal Jackson joke at the end just added to the creepiness factor.

Ashlee: I  thought she did a nice version of the song, but I don't get why John Rich was trying to make her vamp it up like that. Much luck to her. By the way... am I the only one who thinks she looks and sounds like Jewel

Gabe: Odd song choice, but he made it work for him. I just don't think it was the best of the night.

Justin: The less said, the better. He was deserving of his ticket home this week.

Coffey: Beat boxing and yelling out random things every phrase is NOT the way to get the older crowd interested. And while we're at it: you are NOT country (not even "new country") not matter how many cowboy hats you put on. Try American Idol next year or maybe America's Got Talent.

Alyson: Great voice, bad arrangement. She really needs to start being more of a risk taker if she's going to stay alive in this competition.

Shawn: She's not a bad singer at all and she takes chances... I like that. Let's see how far these risks can take her...

Tommy: Adore him. He's got a good voice and he's just fun to watch perform. He has this great energy about him on stage and I like his song arrangements.

Finally, Melissa: Melissa, girl? Love your voice when you relax and stop trying so hard. Still... watch it now... you've had two weeks in a row with Pop songs. Time to get a bit more country.

On a final NS note... Thank you for bringing in a co-host to do most of the talking NBC... it's about the one good move you've made yet.

On a happier note.... I got a chance to catch The Road Hammers on GAC and enjoyed every minute of it. That lead singer is one smart (and tough) cookie. I liked his attention to detail when discussing the band's contract and how he seemed to be looking out for the others. It's also the first opportunity I have had to see them perform their music live and they were great during that showcase. Looking forward to the next episode. Check out the GAC website for more about the show and airtimes.

Well, that's about it for now. Keep checking back, though, because I will be sharing a review of the latest CD by Jeremy McComb as well as some info for anyone who maybe isn't familar with him yet. Til then, take care and "play something country!"

Hey all! Don't forget that today is the day the Road Hammers CD Blood, Sweat and Steel is released in stores. You'll definitely want to check this one out. Speaking of the band.... check out their GAC show this week to get a look at what life is like for a band attempting to win over audiences in a new country. Should be cool.  Here are airtimes, courtesy of GAC:

06/26/2008 8:30 PM
07/03/2008 8:30 PM 
07/10/2008 8:30 PM

Check out their page on the GAC website to get more airtimes and episode descriptions. GAC isn't going to stop there, though. They're also going to give you a look at Jewel and her path to becoming a country star when they make her the focus of Origins on the 28th at 9 PM. All times are eastern, btw.

Yes, there is a huge question mark there. I'm starting to wish the show hadn't moved from USA and that isn't a slam on the contestants. I think most of them (with the exception of Coffey and Model dude) are good. I particularly like the Navy man, the sister trio and the teen duo (can't believe they're not twins, btw!). No, my beef is with the show itself.

Nashville Star has always been the less flashy, more talent-oriented alternative to shows like American Idol. Now, NBC is turning it into it's own version of the FOX show. Between showing bad auditions (had they ever shown the audition process, btw? I don't remember ever seeing that before...), pointing out the celebs in the audience and the new and not improved flashy set I don't recognize the show anymore.

My biggest beef is with the song selection. Now, I'm not a purist. I like a little rock and pop in my country just fine. Still, I don't know why they're bothering with a "pop goes country" night next week. Between the first two episodes, they've featured more pop songs than all the other seasons of this show plus Can You Duet combined!

Hopefully, in the next couple weeks Coffey and Mr. Model will get the boot and then we can focus on the really country people. Don't get me wrong, Coffey is talented. He's just bugging me with his pop selections. His style of singing is far more suited to American Idol or America's Got Talent.

Well, that's all for now. Hopefully, the next time I write about NS, there will be something good to report. If not... well, maybe NBC will kill it and it will go back to a smaller network in it's old form. Talk to y'all later.

As promised, today I am finally going to offer you a little sneak peak at the Road Hammers’ new release, Blood, Sweat and Steel. If you’re a country fan, you will definitely want to pick this one up when it gets a physical release at the end of the month. Their music has that modern flair, yet keeps true to a more traditional southern sound. The songs range from uptempo numbers full of attitude to laid-back songs that are good for a hanging out and relaxing. Here are a few of my personal highlights:

"Working Hard at Loving You"- This is one of the uptempo songs and is sung with attitude and confidence. It’s about doing what you can to make the person you love happy. The chorus goes "It’s not a 9-to5 situation when you’re doing what you love to do. Your kiss is my compensation. Working hard at loving you."

"I’ve Got the Scars to Prove It"- This is probably my favorite song. It’s what I’d call the most mature one of the bunch. This is a slow number about being scarred by love. One of my favorite lines is "These marks are here to remind me where I went wrong, what made me strong and how I moved on."

"Overdrive"- Another uptempo one with a lot of harmonica in it. It’s one of those songs whose energy is catching... you will not be able to sit still while this one is on! It’s about only feeling alive when you’re going at a crazy pace.

Overall, a really nice effort and I’m looking forward to seeing where they go from here. Be sure to check your local music store or amazon to get your copy when it’s released at the end of this month.

In other news, Sara Evans tied the knot again. Congrats and much luck to her... with the way celeb marriages have gone lately, she may need it!

Brad Paisley is working hard on that instrumental album. Here’s a neat story courtesy of GAC about a strange coincidence that happened behind the scenes. I hope radio will embrace this CD, but I’m not holding my breath.

Congrats to Carrie Underwood for "Last Name" getting to #1. It was a close race with Brad... can Carrie hang on to the top? We’ll see when the chart is released later in the week.

Finally, if you’re a Jewell fan, tune into GAC tomorrow to catch her new video, "I Do".It’s going to air at 8:45 AM eastern. Stay tuned, because tomorrow I am going to start bringing you regular commentary on the new season of Nashville Star. First, I will fill you in on the premiere, then later on in the day I’ll post my thoughts on the new episode. I’ll start posting on the show every Monday after that.

Well, that’s it for now. Take care and I’ll see y’all later!

Ryan Shupe of Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand had to have surgery after his appedix started acting up on Friday. He's doing fine and will be back with the band as soon as possible. The bad part was, he had to be admitted to the hospital on the same day the band was going to do their first in-store appearance in support of their new CD. According to his PR people, the band went ahead with the appearance after all. Instead of Ryan singing, fans were allowed to come onstage and show off their own talents. Well played, guys!

Their new album, Last Man Standing, was released on May 27th so check it out.

I had never heard an Andy Griggs CD before, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I put "The Good Life" into my computer's CD player. I'd heard a couple ballads that had been released off his other CDs, but that was it. Imagine my surprise to hear something totally different than what I was expecting. The songs are a mix of modern country and southern rock, delivered with confidence, attitude and a little bit of a gritty tone.

One of the best songs is Tattoo Rose. Which, by the way, came up as the title of the CD when I played it on real player. It's a fun song that definitely needs to be released as a single. I can just hear it on Country radio now.

Another great track is "It's All About the Money".  What I like about this is it mixes fun, upbest music with a lyric that is a bit darker and more cynical. Basically, it's about people using others for what they've got and doing shady things to get what they want. This is another one I think would make a great single.

The last track I wanna highlight is called "Shadows". It's a mid-tempo song about trying to escape bad or painful memories. He sings the song with passion and a trace of frustration. It's definitely worth a listen.

If you don't want to wait until the release date to get it, it's now available through online retailers. Pick up a copy, you won't regret it. Well, I'm out of here for now. Take care and "play something country!"

Hey, everyone!! It's been a long time, I know, but I'm back and ready to share some stuff I got through the grapevine.

First off- Andy Griggs' new CD is getting a physical release in just 6 days. Check back tomorrow, when I'll give you a preview of it. He released a digital version a little while back. I'll also be offering you a sneak peak at the Road Hammers' new CD. That one comes out on June 26th.

In the meantime, why not check out the Road Hammers on TV? Their new single "Girl on the Billboard" is playing on GAC and CMT Pure now. The single officially gets released on the 9th of June. Their TV series I mentioned earlier airs on the 12th at 8:30 PM. I'll be there to give you the rundown on the show. Finally, if you want to see them live, they'll be performing at the CMA Music Fest on on June 6th in Nashville.

Do you want to see your picture on a billboard? Well, you can... sort of. In honor of their new single, The Road Hammers are also offering fans the chance to e-mail their picture to girl_on_the_billboard@yahoo.com. The pictures will end up on a special billboard-themed widget on their MySpace page. Gotta hand it to Country artists... they get pretty creative with their promo.

In other Country Music news... how about those CMAs? My personal hightlights where Miranda Lambert's performance of "Gunpowder and Lead", LeAnn's "Family" performance and Miranda's "album of the year" win. I seriously never saw that one coming. Good for her! I just hope it brings her greater air play and attention in the Industry. As for Sugarland's and Kellie Pickler's new songs? I'm on the fence right now. I wasn't too thrilled, but I can see them growing on me in time. We'll see.

Shania fans are stil probably shaking their heads over the Lange-Twain seperation. I have to admit, I never saw that one coming either.  What makes it even worse are reports that he was supposedly messing around with a secretary. I hope that's not the case. Either way, Mutt's being unusually candid, talking to People several times recently about the split and rumors surrounding it. Guilty conscience, perhaps?

Well, I guess that's about all for now. Take care and see y'all soon!

Good evening, everyone! It's that time again! Time to find out how all your favorite artists are doing this week on the Billboard charts. There are two new entries this week. Surprisingly, most of the chart is largely unaffected by this.

10) Trace Adkins Hits collection continues it’s slow move towards the bottom of the top 10 this week by dropping one slot.

9) After a 3^rd place debut, Phil Vasserdrops all the way down to #9 on the latest chart.

8) Garth Brooks has fallen out of the top 10 this week. In his place is former American Idol contestant Phil Stacey’s self-titled debut.

7) Carrie Underwood keeps her spot from last time, as does everyone else up until the #4 slot.

6) Alan Jackson, Good Time.

5) Lady Antebellum

4) James Otto, Sunset Man.

3) After a first place finish last week, Goerge Strait drops two spots this week.

2) Taylor Swift is another one who manages to hold her spot from last time, also earning a "Greatest Gainer" title.

1) Finally... Tim McGraw is back at the top of the chart with his new release titled Greatest Hits, Limited Edition. Well, that’s it for this week. If you wanna see the other rankings and singles chart, check out the billboard site.

Sad news today, guys. Singer Eddy Arnold has passed away just a few days before his 90th birthday. With songs like "Make the World Go Away" and his duet with LeAnn Rimes "Cattle Call", he earned himself a place as one of Country's greats. It's hard to believe his career lasted over 60 years. That's such a rare and amazing feat in the business these days. Check out the full article about his passing here. Condoloances to Family, friends and fans.

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to update y’all on a couple cool things coming on TV this week. First, don’t forget to watch Carrie Underwood become the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. It airs at 8 PM eastern on the 10th, with a "Road to the Opry" special right before it, at 7:30.

On the 9^th, you can catch Sara Evans and Maroon 5 on CMT Crossroads. That airs at 9PM eastern. They’ll not only be doing eachother’s songs, but a cover or two as well. Check the CMT site for details and other airtimes.

Well, that's it for now. See y'all next time! Stay safe and "play something country!"

Well, I just got to see the new Carrie Underwood video for "Last Name" on TV for the first time. It's even better on TV- my computer doesn't always like  playing videos, unfortunately. If you wanna catch it, it'll be at at 12:56 PM tomorrow, as well as many other times.

Gretchen Wilson is gonna spill more details about her new CD on the CMA Celebrity Closeup Special. It's supposed to air June 5th. More more details, and to see how you can go, check the link. There's even a number there to call and ask Gretchen and a couple others questions.

And, finally.... the main reason for my post title. John Rich is gonna take another go at Gone Country. And this time? He's even got a Jackson involved, as well as an actress that is known for being a bit... out there? So much for any intergrity or true talent in this competiton. Well, except maybe Sabastian Bach. Damn you, Sabastian!! You just might make me tune in. See the full list of competitors here.

Well, that's it for now. See y'all next time!

Go her! The redneck woman has earned her diploma. Years after dropping out, she decided to make time to complete her education and just passed her tests. Hearing her talk about that is inspiring in that it's never too late to make a change in your life or go back and finish something you regret leaving behind. Another great bit of news in the article? She's working on a new album! Check out the link to hear about it all in her own words.

Look out, Country Music fans: People is taking over CMT. The magazine will be teaming up with CMT to produce a special in honor of their country issue. Look for almost all your favorites to be a part of it. for more details, check out the story on CMT.

I reviewed them a little while back. Well, now GAC is going to be airing a series all about them. It's gonna be a limited series documenting their attempts to break into the American industry after having been successful in Canada. Should be interesting. I don't really like how some people feel the need to let it all hang out in a series all the time, but I do like these short ones that are focused on the business and what goes on behind the scenes of recording a disc or planning a tour. I think it does the job some want the other shows to do (humanizing the person and making them relateable) while not going too far. It also makes me respect an artist much more after I've seen all the work they've put in first hand.

Are you going to check this out? What do you think of the idea of this series? Let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Til next time... take care and "play something country!"

Good evening, everyone! It's that time again! Time to find out how all your favorite artists are doing this week on the Billboard charts. There's another new entry this time, so let's see how that affects things...

10) Kenny Chesney's Poet's and Pirates CD finds itself back in the top 10 this week after moving up one spot. He also has a single, "Better as a Memory" in the top 10 of the singles chart.

9) Trace Adkins Hits collection is still going strong, thanks to a great single and all his exposure on the Apprentice. Still, he moves down one spot this week.

8) Garth Brook's hits collection switches spots with Trace this week, making for an interesting battle. Can't wait to see who comes out the winner.

7) Carrie Underwood drops two spots this time with Carnival Ride. With her new video sure to be on CMT and GAC any day now, I'm sure that will change soon. Btw... is it just me, or is this album era being rushed a bit? Comment and let me know...

6) Alan Jackson's new CD stays put this week, one of only 2 to do so.

5) Lady Antebellum drops 4 spots this week after their debut came in at #1.

4) James Otto is the other one bring some stability this week. He maintains his position from last time with Sunset Man.

3) Phil Vasser debuts in 3rd place this week with Prayer of a Common Man.About time this one was released....

2) Taylor Swift moves up one spot this week with her own debut CD. Which, btw, just went triple platinum.

1) Finally... I was a bit surprised by this one. George Straight's Troubadour takes back the top spot. I guess I have gotten used to whatever CD just came out being #1. For more chart positions, and to see the singles chart, check out the billboard site.

Even though "Last Name" was only released a few weeks back and has still not peaked, her label is looking to the future. According to this, XM radio's Highway 16 will play two possible singles and let fans decide which will win. It starts at 7 PM eastern time, so tune in! If you don't get a chance to listen, check the blog's comments to see what the choices are.

EDIT: XM Radio listeners chose "Just a Dream" over "I Know You Won't" with 84% of the vote. According to Pulse, other people's stations are doing the same thing. Will the label ultimately listen? Stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the video for "Last Name", courtesy CMT. I'm loving it. It's fun, energetic and I'm looking forward to seeing it on TV.

In other news, looks like Tim McGraw is jumping on the fragrance bandwagon. He'll be releasing his own later this year. I guess we can expect a fashion line and hair products or something next. Hey, it's the next logical step in the celeb marketing playbook. Good luck to him. I'm sure his fans would prefer a decent single, though...

Good evening, everyone! Here I am again with a look at the country music charts. There’s a new #1 this week, so let’s get started!

10) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss’ Raising Sand just barely hangs on to the top 10 this week, dropping two spots.

9) Garth Brooks’ latest is also hanging on by a thread after dropping 3 spots on the chart.

8) Trace Adkins managed to only drop one spot this week, probably thanks in part to his latest hit single "You’re Gonna Miss This".

7) Sugarland makes a return to the top with Enjoy The Ride, moving up four spots.

6) Alan Jackson newest release, Good Time, dropped two spots on the chart this time.

5) Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride hangs on to it’s position from last week. This is one of only two CDs to do that this time.

4) James Otto’s "Sunset Man" drops two after debuting in the runner-up spot last week.

3) Taylor Swift is the other artist to hang on to her spot from last week.

2) George Strait is once again in second place, his third week on the chart. That means there’s a brand new CD at the top this time...

1) Lady Antebellum. Their self-titled debut does exactly what many though it would, coming in on top. I’m really looking forward to hearing this one. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in my local store when I went there. Ah, well. Maybe next time.

There you have it: the top 10 in Country Music according to Billboard. Check out their site for other rankings and to see where your favorite country music songs stand. Til next time.... take care!

This isn't a total surprise (I heard some rumors on different forums about it) but it's still a bit of a head scratcher: Little Big Town has left their label.  They're now a part of Capitol Nashville, home to Trace Adkins and Lady Antebellum, among others. Now, all I want to know is.... what's up here? I would prefer a smaller label just because they care more about artistry and less about sales figures. Ah, well. I guess we'll see how their next CD turns out.

Hey, everyone! If you're a fan of Country Music, you will not want to miss these upcoming shows on GAC.

First, Taylor Swifts takes you behind the making of her latest video in the special "Taylor Swift: On the Set". Read all the details and see airtimes here. I'm looking forward to it because for some odd reason, this video has grown on me. It's not the most original thing in the world, but has some great shots in it.

The one I'm most looking forward to, though, is the Top 20 Countdown. They're going to premiere the video for Dolly's single "Jesus and Gravity." I haven't had the chance yet to hear the song, but that title has me already. I'm predicting a great song with some humor to it. Will I be right? We'll see.

Well, that's about it for now. Take care and I'll see y'all next time.

I have changed my mind about Trace Adkins' being on Celebrity Apprentice. I was reading the latest edition of Country Weekly and saw he wasn't trying to help his music career, he was trying to help a cause close to his heart: allergies. Apparently, his daughter suffers from some severe ones. Check out the issue to read more about it. It's a very moving read.

He also mentions how he was hoping to improve the image of Country people by going on the show. He wanted to show that just because someone is "country", it doesn't mean they're stupid or have no mind for business. There are also some great stories on Lady Antebellum, Phil Vassar and more.

Well, I'm out of here. Take care and I'll see y'all next time. In the meantime, feel free to post your thoughts on this story or anything else country-related. I'd love to hear from you.

GAC has a new TV series coming in May and Phil Vassar is the first subject! The series, called Origins, will feature feature Phil performing and visiting different places where he got his start. This reminds me of several MTV specials that had a similar "going back to the beginning" theme.

GAC has the full story and premiere date in their news section. I'm kinda excited to see this. I hate what MTV and CMT have turned into, programming wise, but I love ideas like this one. It's a way to break up the monotony of nothing but videos while still keeping it about the music. Something the other networks need to re-learn. I'll be watching, that's for sure. Will you? Comment to let me know! Til next time... take care and "play something country!"

After so many weeks of having practically the same country music cd chart each time, things have been getting shaken up a bit. This is partly thanks to some new releases. Hopefully, a few others (Lady Antebellum, anyone?) will shake things up even more. For now... here is your top 10 according to Billboard:

10) Carrie Underwood’s Some Hearts makes it’s way back to the top 10 this week yet again. I’m starting to think her third album won’t even be able to knock this one off the charts. Good for her.... this kind of CD doesn’t come along often.

9) The Eagles dropped one spot with Long Road Out Of Eden this week.

8) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss also fall one spot. I think they may pick back up again, though, after their CMT win. Same goes for the next on the list....

7) Trace Adkins drops one spot this week, but is still going strong. Maybe a Greatest Hits package isn’t such a horrible idea afterall....

6) Grath Brooks could argue that. He dropped one spot, but is still doing alright. His Ultimate Hits have gone 5X platinum already.

5) Carrie Underwood’s Carnival Ride stays put this week at #5. Just wait, though... the Last Name video should help it out a lot.

4) Alan Jackson dropped one as well this week with Good Time. As does...

3) Taylor Swift. Is anyone seeing a pattern here? Yes, one new release has had room made for it. Whether or not it can overcome Taylor’s great CMT performance and win is yet to be seen. In the meantime...

2) James Otto takes the runner up spot with Sunset Man it’s first week out. If you were paying attention last week, you know what that means.

1) George Strait’s Troubadour is once again at the top of the chart. Can he hold off all the new releases coming out over the next few weeks? We’ll see. Until then, take care and "play something country!" Also, don't foget to check out Billboard's site for even more rankings and to see how your favorite songs are doing.

Does anyone remember the Guns N Roses videos from the early 90s that were supposed to tell a story from start to finish? Well, according to a blog post being discussed on Pulse Music Board, Carrie Underwood’s "Last Name" tells what happened pre-"Before He Cheats". The country music video is even said to feature the same guy from the "BHC" and the infamous Red truck (that thing's been getting a lot of milage in her videos...).

If you wanna read more, check out the discussion here. I love the idea for this video. It seems like her videos are getting more fun and creative with this album and I’m curious to see what else gets released from Carnival Ride. Personally, I want "Just a Dream" and "Flat on the Floor" to get released as well. Maybe even "The More Boys I Meet". Now, that could have a fun video...

What do you all think? Is this video concept a good idea? Are you wondering "where’s the Pinto"? What should be next? Sound off and let me know! Til then, take care and "play something country!"

Hi, everyone! Sorry for the absense.... my computer was giving me trouble signing online, so I couldn't get on to  post. To make it up, I'm gonna have a few posts coming. Each one will be dated a different day, so make sure you open the main page so you can see what I've been writing about! Ok, enough of that... who watched the CMT awards? I did and loved most of it. Let's talk about some highlights, shall we?

The first one would be seeing LeAnn Rimes win for collaborative video for her video with Bon Jovi. She's a great singer and writer and I feel like she's been ignored too much in the past fews years. It's great to see her getting a little acknowledgment. Hopefully, it translates to the ACM awards in May...

Another really great moment was Kellie Pickler winning her first award. She was so clearly shocked and happy to win and flustered, too. It was kinda cool and endearing to see her struggling to figure out what to say. It was nice that she managed to make fun of herself a little too over her reaction. I love a person who doesn't take themselves too seriously.

Another really gret moment was the "Life in a Northern Town" performance. Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town sound amazing together and I think it was a great choice for them. It was nice to see the other half of Sugarland get a little singing time, too.

Finally... I'm going to eat my words a bit here. I admit I have issues with Taylor Swift as a live performer. I think she sounds best in a studio where someone can fix all the imperfections. Imagine my surprise then, when she busted out a very bluesy intro to "Picture to Burn" that sounded great! Things suffered a little once she got back into the faster tempo, but even that sounded better. She seems to have definitely grown as a performer.

One bad moment, though, was Billy Ray and Miley. Don't get me wrong... they were pretty funny for the most part as hosts. Miley got in some great digs and Billy Ray had great reactions to them. My problem came when they sang. Billy Ray sounded just fine, but Miley... well, let's just say I don't really see her having a major singing career once Hannah Montana is over. Maybe she'll improve with time. Right now, I'm not a fan of her vocals at all.

Well, that's about it for now. I'll see y'all next time. Meanwhile, let me know what you thought of the CMT awards. Who was your favorite? Did someone win you didn't want to? I'd love to know...

Well, there was actually a little bit of a shake-up on the Country charts this week. Here are the top 10 Country Music cds, according to Billboard:

10) Sugarland, Enjoy the Ride. They dropped a couple of spots, but are still going strong. Expect this one to start really dropping only after their new CD is released later on this year.

9) Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's Raising Sand also dropped two spots this week.

8) I think I'm seeing a trend here- the Eagles also dropped two spots on this week's chart. You'll find out what the trend is about a little later...

7) Garth Brooks' latest hits collection also drops 2 spots this week. Maybe the new video will help pick things up again...

6) Trace Adkins is down three this time, breaking the 2-spot trend. Let's see if he gets any increase from his upcoming performance a daytime soap...

5) Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride drops one spot. Don't expect it to stay down long, though. Her Idol Gives Back performance and breif skit will surely help her sales increase. Not to mention "Last Name" climbing up the charts.

4) And now... we start seeing what the trend was about, as two new entries make their debuts. The first is Josh Gracin's long-delayed We Weren't Crazy. I gotta say I'm loving the title song and video for this one

3) Alan Jackson drops 1 spot this week with his latest release, Good Time.

2) Taylor Swift's debut also drops one spot. This, of course, means that there is a new #1 this week.

1) George Straight, Troubadour. His brand new CD takes the top spot. Can he keep Taylor Swift and others at bay? We'll see... tune in next time to find out.

Well, there you have it. This week's top 10. If you want to see a more complete listing, go to Billboard's website. You can also see what's hot on the Country singles chart there. Before I sign off, I just wanted to mention a little bit about Carrie on Idol Gives Back.

For those who missed it, Carrie and James Denton were sitting under a sink in her dressing room and she was telling him what was wrong with it. Teri Hatcher comes in and throws a Susan Meyeresque fit about it, saying she knows what's really going on here. She says that since Carrie stole her man, she's going to steal Carrie's song. The next shot has her taking the stage and performing "Before He Cheats". I was actually kind of surprised... she wasn't all that terrible. I was expecting a massive disaster and only got a slight embarrassment. Carrie comes onstage after to tell Teri what a great job she did. Later on, Carrie performed a beautiful version of George Micheal's "Praying for Time".

Well that's all for now. See y'all next time. Til then, take care and "play something country!"

Has anyone seen the "100 Greatest Videos" countdown? If not, you should- it was a great show! I think they did a good job in picking videos. In particular, I loved "Hurt" and "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash, "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" by LeAnn Rimes, "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brady Paisley and Allison Krauss and "Ol Red" by Blake Shelton. They also included Dolly, Loretta Lynn, The Dixie Chicks and more. Thank god they had some more silly videos in there like Brad Paisley's "Celebrity", though, because many of them were real tear-jerkers. Kept the show from getting too dark and gloomy.

If you wanna see videos from the show online, check out CMT's site. It will also be airing tomorrow (April 10th) at 1PM Eastern time. Watching this series really brought home how great the medium can be and provided a great mix of styles. It really showed how diverse the genre can be, something great for anyone new to Country. Well, I guess that's all for now. Take care and "play something country!" I'll see y'all again tomorrow.

Carrie Underwood will be returning to American Idol on Wednesday to perform on the "Idol Gives Back Special". She just may have some other surprises in store, too. According to many reports out there, Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives will be singing Carrie's "Before He Cheats". I think that a picture posted of Carrie Underwood and James Denton in a kitchen set with "uh oh" looks on their faces might be the inspiration for Teri's serenade. Check it out for yourself when the show airs.

Once again, the Country Music charts are giving me that Deja Vu feeling. Here's the top 10 Country Music CDs according to Billboard:

Did anyone see Dolly Parton on American Idol last night? I usually don't watch it, but Dolly being on it was too big a draw. I'm still impressed by how classy she is, being totally sweet and complimentary to each of the contestants she was mentoring. I'm confused by what actual mentoring really went on, though. All the show aired was her watching them sing a few seconds of her song, her saying they're great and then making a comment to the camera about them. Anyway... I was actually surprised to say I enjoyed quite a few of the covers of Dolly songs- most of them did great with em (even if Simon didn't agree). Here are my favorites:

"Little Sparrow", "Coat of Many Colors", "Here You Come Again", "It's All Wrong, But It's Alright" and "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind". If you want to read a little more about the night, check out this GAC story about it. All the performances are available on Itunes, btw. I just may have to get a couple of em...

So, you may have heard by now that Josh Gracin's album We Weren't Crazy is going to be released around the end of April (yes, finally...). Well, he's kicking the promo into high gear to get ready for it. He'll be on GAC Nights on April first at 10 PM to tell the fans all about his new release and other stuff. It will also air at 2 AM for the night owls out there.

If you can't get enough of former Idols turned Country stars, Kellie Pickler's latest Opry Live performance will be repeated that day, too. Look for it at 8PM and midnight. It debuts this weekend. That's all for now. Take care and I'll post again on Monday!

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There are quite a few changes this week, so let's get right into it. Here is what Billboard says are the hottest Country Music CDs...

10) Trace Adkin’s American Man: Greatest Hits Volume II is back in the top 10 this week. No doubt helped by his Apprentice success...

9) The Eagles Long Road Out of Eden fall 4 spots this week, but still manage to hang on to the top tier of the chart.

8) Sugarland, meawhile, had a bit of a bumpy Ride. Their CD drops 2 spots this week.

7) Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts picks up yet more steam this week, moving up 3 spots. Good for Carrie!

6) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss gain a little ground, moving up one spot this week.

5) Garth can’t seem to catch a break lately.... He moves down one spot yet again..

4) Rascal Flatts’ Still Feels Good makes a big leap, going all the way up to #4 this week, their 27^th week on the chart.

3) Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride is still going strong, hanging on to its position for a second week.

2) Alan Jackson drops one spot this week with his new release, Good Time.

1) Taylor Swift will not be denied! She once again moves up to the top spot, depsite some really good competition. How long can this keep up? We’ll just have to see.

Well, that's it for today. Check out GAC tomorrow, cause there are gonna be playing a couple of favorites of mine. Sugarland’s "Baby Girl" will air at 12:48 PM Eastern, while Jo Dee Messina’s "My Give a Damn’s Busted" airs at 6:50 PM eastern. By the way, according to people on the Pulse boards, Jo Dee will have an album release date soon. Looking forward to it...

I saw Taylor Swift's new video yesterday on GAC and well- I'm not thrilled. I can't say it's a horrible video, cause it's not. I'm just not as impressed with it as I was with other videos out. It starts off with Taylor and a friend stalking an ex and fuming over the fact he's letting another girl drive a car he never let her drive. It then mainly focuses on performance footage of Taylor and her band in front of a burning set, while adding in some clips of her singing the song in a couple differnt set-ups. At the end of the video, Taylor snaps out of a daydream and tells her friend that she's "over it" and they drive off, tossing a burning photo out the window.

I will say this- she has definitely gotten very comfortable in front of the camera and she's a natual performer. This should keep her fanbase very happy... as long as the parents don't start complaining about how the burning picture being thrown out the window is a fire hazard. It should be pretty interesting to see what she ends up coming out with next. If you wanna see the video for yourself, check out the GAC website. They should have the video available for streaming as well as the times it will air on TV.  

Since I started reading her blogs on CMT's site, I've found myself agreeing more than once with her. With this post? She becomes my hero. She's right... it really is getting to be a bit annoying watching these politicians wives sitting there stoically and quietly in front of tons of cameras while their men admit to being dogs. It really is about time they did what she suggested and pull a Carrie Underwood on their cheating butts.

I know poilitics is, for the most part, really PC and wives are expected to do this. Still, I want to see them act human. Show a little anger. Kick their butts to the curb if that's what you want to do. It'd be a nice change of pace. It's unlikely to happen, but still- it's nice to dream.

Ashton Shepard is one of my favorite new Country Music artists. She’s got a very Gretchenesque voice and a more traditional musical style. Because I’m such a fan, I thought I’d share this interview I found with her on GAC. She talks about a lot of different things from starting up in Nashville to the "too country" issue. I especially love the part where she talks about hiding her song notebooks. You have to read that part in her own words to get the full impact, but it's cool and too funny. I have to admit, I'd probably do the same thing in her shoes.

Well, it's here. "Picture to Burn" is going to air at 4:11 Eastern time on GAC. Check it out, I hear it's gonna be pretty good. I'll report back after I see it to share my thoughts. I hope y'all will do the same.

Well, I've gotta get going. See y'all next time and take care!

Hi, Country Music fans. Well, it's that time again- here are the top 10 Country Music CDs according to Billboard. Can't say I'm not too surprised by the charts this week...

10) Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts makes a comeback again. Between the Opry invite, the successful tour and "Last Name" debuting pretty high, Carrie's CDs are likely to be a hot commodity for a long time to come.

9) Kenny Chesney moves up a spot with Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates.

8) Rascal Flatts Still Feels Good stays at #8.

7) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss manage to slip a bit this week, going from #5 to #7.

6) Sugarland, meawhile, stays put at #6. I'm thinking the only things that's going to push this one down at all is a new CD by them.

5) The Eagles Long Road Out of Eden moves up 2 spots this week.

4) Garth is having a really hard time getting himself back at the top. He moves down one spot this week.

3) Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride is also getting a boost from all her successes lately. It's moved up one spot this week.

2) Taylor Swift, another seemingly unstoppable CD, is staying put at #2 again this week. Let's see what happens once the "Picture to Burn" video is airing all over GAC and CMT...

1) Finally, Alan Jackson gets another week at the top with his brand new release, Good Time. By the way, if you liked "It's All About Him", keep an eye out for a new book by Denise Jackson coming soon.

Well, that's it for today. Don't forget to tune into GAC tonight at . 8:30 PM Eastern time for Introducing Lady Antebellum. It's going to give fans a look into the creation of the group, recording their album and more. Til next time... take care and "play something country!"