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!

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.

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.

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.

In a move that is obviously designed to help promote the album she's going to be releasing, Jo Dee Messina is gonna share a hidden talent: dancing. Apparently, she's a great hip-hop dancer and is gonna show off her skills on a new TV show. Color me shocked. I may just have to tune in when she appears to check this out myself. I'll let you know when an official air date is released. Hopefully, this will help her out some. I adore her music and can't figure out why she's not more successful. Same with Jamie O'Neil.

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

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...

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!"

Hello out there, Country Music fans!! It's me again, bringing you a look at what's tops on the Country Music CD charts. There's a few changes and some nice surprises this time...

10) Carrie Underwood's Some Hearts. Yeah, not much of a surprise here- if this was the late 90's she'd have crushed Shania's sales with the legs this release has had.

9) Chris Cagle drops 8 spots this week with his latest release, My Life's Been a Country Song. This, of course, means there's another CD at #1 this week.

8) Rascal Flatts' Still Feels Good stays in the #8 spot this week.

7)  Long Road Out of Eden by the Eagles drops two spots this week.

6) Sugarland also holds their spot from last week with Enjoy the Ride.

5) Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride rebounds this week. Not surprising, considering word just leaked that the first week of her solo tour has sold out.

4) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss also hold thier position from last week.

3) Ditto with Garth Brooks.

2) One of the best surprises this week is Dolly Parton. Her Backwoods Barbie jumped all the way from #48 to take the  #2 spot. The album's new single is "Jesus and Gravity".

1) Well, that didn't take long. After being out of the top spot for one week, Taylor Swift has come back to assert her dominance. Let's see if she can hold off Dolly again.

There you have it- the top 10 selling Country Music CDs according to Billboard. Check back next time for more news and reviews.

Turns out, there is not much to chat about! The Top 10 is nearly identical to last week, except for one position...

#8 Carrie Underwood, Some Hearts. This surprising return to the top ten (will this album ever die?? lol) is no doubt a result of her performance on the Grammys the other night. Go Carrie! Let's see what happens with Carnival Ride now since "All-American Gir"l is riding high on the charts.

Well, it's that time again, Country Music fans!! It's time to take a look at the Billboard Country Music CD rankings. Here are the top ten for this week...

10) Reba gets knocked out of the top 10 this week while Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates barely hangs in there.

9) Anne Murray falls one spot this week with her own Duets release, Anne Murray: Friends and Legends.

8) Rascal Flatts' Still Feels Good also slips one this week. Are you all sensing a pattern here?

7) Breaking the patten is Chuck Wicks with Starting Now, starting its chart run.

6) Carrie Underwood manages to hold on to her position from last week despite all the other changes this week.

5) Also hanging on to their position from last week is Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Their collaboration has proved to be one of the big success stories of the past few months.

4) Like many of the artists in the top 10 this week, The Eagles slip one spot with their release Long Road Out of Eden.

3) Sugarland's Enjoy The Ride, however actually gained ground again.

2) Garth Brooks manages to keep his spot from last week, but can't quite defeat...

1) Taylor Swift. Yes, once again she's ruling the Country CDs chart. Can she keep it up? Only time will tell.

Hello, Country Music fans!!! This week, there is one major change to discuss- the name of this post (lol). Seriously, though... I've decided to change the name of this regular posting to Chart Chat. Look for the new logo next time :) Now, on to the real businnes!

Seriously? Not a whole lot to get excited about many of the positions are unchanged. #10-8 still belongs to Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Reba, respectively. Rascal Flatts takes a bit of a fall, going from #5 to #7. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's collaboration, Rasing Sand, raises one spot to land at #6 this week. Carrie Underwood's Carnival Ride drops one spot to come in at #5. Sugarland is doing pretty good, rising two spots to get to #4 with Enjoy the Ride. Garth Brooks and the Eagles switch spots, coming in at #3 and #2 respectively while Taylor Swift still holds on to the top spot. Good for her. Let's see if she can keep it up.

In Singles news, I'd happy to see Gary Allan's "Watching Airplanes" is still in the top 10. It's a cool song and he's got a very unique and interesting voice. Brad Paisley moves up a notch to #5 this week with "Letter to Me". Let me just say that if this and "Stay" do not reach #1 on Billboard, there's something wrong. Speaking of "Stay", that's at #2, still unable to take down "Our Song". Carrie Underwood has now moved up to #12 with "All-American Girl". Looks like she might have a second major co-written hit on her hands. Finally, I'm really happy to see Kellie Pickler's "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind" coming in at #24, an increase of 4 spots. It's a cute, catchy song that needs to be in the top 10.

You may know that I was involved in all my college publications, including being Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper. During that time, I had the chance to do a few cool things and one of them was reviewing a couple news CDs before they came out. One of these CDs was by a Country Music duo named Redman and Vale. They were on the Dreamworks label and, despite their talent, never had huge success. I thought that I would share that with here, so here it is. If you ever get a chance to find that CD anywhere, I'm sure you won't regret picking it up. Enjoy the review :)

Speaking of Dreamworks artists... Jessica Andrews was one of them until the label folded. I recently decided to watch her extras from her Now CD and they were really cool. It featured several interviews with Jessica talking about each song on the CD and other things. It also featured the video for a slow version of the lead single "There's More to Me Than You". If you're a country fan, check it out. Seriously. Jessica fans who haven't gotten it yet will be glad to have something to enjoy while Jessica is searching for a new home for her music.

Speaking of stars who have been out of the limelight for a bit... it looks like Lila McCann might actually get to chart with "That's What Angels Do". I know I'm rooting for it. In an odd note, Danielle Peck's label was actually testing her version of this same song for her next single. Thankfully, they dropped that idea and chose "Do It For Me" instead.

Well, I am out of here.... take care Country Music fans!! See ya next time :)

Hello out there, Country Music Fans!! Hope everyone's doing well today and ready to get back into the groove, cause I've got quite a bit to share today. Let's get started with a look at the Country Music CDs chart.

I'm not going to do the typical format today because there's really not much in the way of activity this week. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban and Reba keep their spots at 10, 9, and 8 respectively. Sugarland switches places with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss this week to reach the #6 spot. Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood manage to maintain their rankings as well. Rascal Flatts is at #5 and Carrie is #4. The big surprises this week are near the top of the chart. The Eagles have finally been dethroned after ruling the top spot for weeks now. They come in at #3 this week. Garth Brooks manages to keep the second slot, but guess who came in at number 1?

Taylor Swift. That's right. She jumps from number three to rule over the Country Music CD charts this week, with her single "Our Song" still going strong on radio. Speaking of singles.... Taylor is slated to put out "Picture to Burn" as the final single from her self titled debut. With such an obvious hit on the horizen, don't expect Taylor to leave the top te any time soon...

That's it for this post. Stay tuned for more later!

There's movement all over the top 10 Country Music CDs charts this week. Let's get started, Country Music fans!!

Kenny Chesney moved one spot to get back into the top 10 with his latest, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates.

At #9, we have Keith Urban's Greatest Hits CD for another week. Go Keith. He seems to be one of the few who is doing well with one of these.

Reba drops one spot to land at #8 this week with her Duets CD. I just picked this one up not long ago and am enjoying it very much. I'm glad it's been having lots of success lately.

Sugarland also fell one spot this week. Their sophmore CD, Enjoy the Ride is at #7 this week. Expect this one to stay in the top 10 for a while yet to come, especially with all the hype over "Stay" still happening.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss went up two spots this week to secure the #6 position. Raising Sand has been getting plenty of praise and airplay on GAc lately, so expect it to keep climbing.

Rascal Flatts stays at #5 this week with Still Feels Good. Personally, I'm not enjoying some of the songs off this one as much as I have their other work. I think they're starting to become one of those groups where if you heard one CD by them, you've heard em all.

Carrie Underwood gets bumped down a couple spots after having tons of success on year-end countdowns over the past week or so. Carnival Ride takes the #4 spot this week.

Taylor Swift, meanwhile keeps her #3 spot. On a different note, she was recently pictured at a Hockey game with Carrie and Kellie Pickler. Looks like they're good buddies, even though there have been some fan wars on different message boards.

Garth Brooks is at #2 this week, switching with Carrie. Ultimate Hits seems to be the only other hits collection doing really well since a big bunch of the CDs came out over the past year.

Is there any stopping the Eagles? I'm doubting it. They log in yet another week at number 1 with Long Road Out of Eden. Stay tuned, Country Music Fans. It should be interesting to see if anyone can take them down.

Hey there, Country Music fans. It's me again, ready to offer up some more news and reviews. Once again, I'll be looking at the year in Country music today with some of my favorite album tracks of the year. Some of these were actually released this year, others I discovered this year. Here they are, in no special order.

Sugarland's "Mean Girls" from Enjoy the Ride. The first time I heard this song, I was hooked. It's a fast-paced song that talks about the sometimes catty nature of women. Jennifer's Vocals are awesome, full of attitude and they're clearly just having fun with it. I dare you to put this one on and not get up and dance (or at least sing along!)

Brad Paisley's "Hey Mr. Police Man" from 5th Gear. Again, this is a fast track that really makes you wanna move. The guitar playing in the song emphasises just how talented a musician he really is. The lyrics are not deep by any means, but they're catchy and clever. Like Sugarland, he's just trying to have a good time with this one and it works.

Kellie Pickler's "My Angel" from Small Town Girl. This is a very simple and uncomplicated track that wins my vote for personal reasons. It's about Kellie's relationship with the Grandmother who raised her. I had a very similar relationship to mine. She shaped a lot of my childhood and this one always makes me think of her.

Taylor Swift's "Picture to Burn" from her self-titled Debut Country Music CD and Carrie Underwood's "Last Name" from Carnival Ride. I put these two together because I already mentioned them in previous blog posts, but I wanted to make a brief mention of them as favorites for the year.

Chris Young's "White Lightening Hit the Family Tree" and "Flowers" from his self-titled debut. All I have to say about this one is, if you have family you are around often, you're going to relate to this. It's all about a family reunion that goes crazy and he sings it perfectly. The second song is totally different, as Chris takes on the role of a man who killed someone he loves in an accident after he'd been drinking. The first time I heard it this year, I just about fell off my seat. It's very moving.

Well, that's all for now. Join me another time when I share some more of my favorites (and not so favorites) in music this year. Til then, take care and "play something country!"

Last time, I shared some stuff I loved about 2007. I have more of those in store. This time, Country Music fans, I thought I would share a couple things that disappointed this year.

Miranda Lambert's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and LeAnn Rimes' Family. No, I'm not contridicting my good reviews of them. They're two of my favorite Country Music CDs. What I am disappointed in, however, is how they've done so far. They deserve far more attention and sales then they are getting. Hopefully Miranda's "Gunpower and Lead" and LeAnn's "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine" will help the CDs have a much better 2008.

Brad Paisley's "Ticks". That was just... strange. Normally, I love Brad's funnier stuff, but this song did nothing for me. Thankfully, he released "Online" and "Letter to Me" and redeemed himself.

CMT. I got even more into Country Music thanks to finally being able to get CMT and GAC on cable, since they are the only music stations on regular cable to actually play music videos. Sadly, CMT seems to be trying to follow in VH1 and MTV's footsteps and become yet another network to peddle reality TV shows about tricking cars and other lame stuff like that. These types of shows seem to be on CMT more often than not. The only reason I like Home At Last is because it is a show actually about a musician and showing what he deals with. The other stuff, I couldn't care less. If I did, there are plenty of other channels to choose from. Most people turn on a music channel because they want to hear music or see shows about music. And labels wonder why the industry is suffering...

Well, Country Music fans... that's all for now. I'll be posting more this weekend about some more favorites and not-so-favorites. Enjoy em!! Feel free to post your own in the comments. Til next time, take care and "play something country!"

Hello out there, Country Music fans! Since I didn’t get the chance to post Chart Watch before, I’m going ahead and doing it now so it’s all caught up for the new one tomorrow. Sorry about not being as detailed. I’m working a couple other posts for today right now as well. And now, the top 10 Country Music CDs according to Billboard. Enjoy!!

10) Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Raising Sand

9) George Strait, 22 More Hits

8) Sugarland, Enjoy the Ride (More about them later...)

7) Reba McEntire, Duets

6) Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good

5) Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift

4) Keith Urban, Greatest Hits (What is up with all the Greatest Hits releases lately?)

3) Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride

2) The Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden

1) Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits

Hey, Country Music fans!! Hope you all had a great weekend.  Mine was pretty busy, so sorry for not being able to update more last week. I just wanted to pop on now and share a couple things I found.

One, I just read that Sugarland's Enjoy the Ride is about to be certified 2X Platinum. It's amazing to see how quickly this great Country Music CD went from doing alright to big hit. One song comes out and then suddenly, everyone wants it. Not that I blame, them. "Stay" is pretty good.

The new issue of Country Weekly is going to feature one of my favorite Country Music singers, Gary Allen. You can see a little of the interview here. It's an interesting read. He talks about naming Living Hard, trying to get back into writing alone and more. The issue also features a QandA with Kellie Pickler.

One final note: make sure you turn on that TV on December 7th! Carrie Underwood will sing on Movies Rock and LeAnn Rimes with be joined by Joss Stone on the latest episode of the CMT series Crossroads.

That's all for now. I'll see ya next time for more Country Music news and reviews. Since we're in December, I'll start talking about some of my favorites of the year. Until then, take care and "play something Country!"

Since LeAnn Rimes is in the artist spotlight, I thought spotlight some of my favorite songs from the Country Music singer. Interestingly, most of my most loved songs by her actually come from her later CDs. Here they are in random order...

"Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" from This Woman. The first time I ever heard this song was during that concert special I mentioned. The song is a touching tale of a woman coping with the death of her significant other and taking those first steps towards moving on. I think the video for this song made me love it even more. Her vocals are powerful, yet restrained... perfect for the song.

"Destructive" from Whatever We Wanna. This is a track from her pop CD released in Eurpoe. I had to include it here because, while it isn’t a Country Music song, it’s still a really great effort. LeAnn shows a bit of edge here, mixing pop with rock for this tale of self-destruction. The lyrics show a girl tired of always being perfect and wants to live on the edge for awhile without thinking about consequences.

"Damn" from Twisted Angel. Again... not really a Country Music song, but it’s a gorgeous and sexy ballad that shows LeAnn’s vocals perfectly. While the vocals are a bit over the top, they fit well with the song, which talks about a woman who is getting really close to a man and is a bit scared about it.

"One Day Too Long", from Family. This bluesy track not only features a sound that is classic Country Music, it’s also got some excellent vocals packed with emotion. It’s about a woman who has decided to move on from an inattentive man.

"More Than Anyone Derserves" from Sitting On Top of the World. This is a beautiful song showcasing LeAnn’s vocals at their most effective: when they soft and understated. She adopts a higher register for most of the song as she reflects on love and shares her gratitude for the relationship. While she was still quite young at this time, she manages to sound as though she really knows what she’s talking about.

"She’s Got You" from LeAnn Rimes. At 17, LeAnn returned to the classic Country Music sound that marked her debut single by covering some classic songs. In this Patsy Cline cover, LeAnn sings about how while she has the old momentos, she not longer has what’s most important: the man that gave them to her. I love the lyrics to this one and how can her vocals miss in a Cline cover? When "Blue" was released, she was compared to Patsy in the press a lot.

"Won’t Be Lonely Long" from This Woman. This is a very sassy tune that I also heard for the first time on a TV concert special. LeAnn had introduced it as a favorite from the CD and I can see why. Her vocals perfectly fit with the spirit of the song. The lyrics are about a girl who can see the end of a relationship in sight and just wants to get it over with cause, "(she) won’t be lonely long."

"Blue", from Blue. I know this is a bit of a predictable choice, but really: how can you leave this one out? From the (then) unique old school sound to the twangy yodeling vocals, this song is Country Music and LeAnn’s signature tune. Originally written in the 1960s, it’s a classic heartbreak song where the girl is wondering why the man can’t hurt as badly as she does.

Hello! Well, the Holidays are over and it's time to get back to business! So, here is a look at this week's top 10 selling Country Music CDs according to Billboard. If you want to see additional Chart information, just go the the Billboard Website.

10) Trisha Yearwood, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love. The Country Music singer has made the top 10 her first week out. This is Trisha's first record for new label Big Machine Records. The label is also home to Taylor Swift.

9) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Raising Sand. The unlikely duo manages to keep a spot near the top this week after falling two. It's their 4th week on the charts.

8) Sugarland, Enjoy the Ride. Coming off their CMA win and  AMA performance, the duo finds themselves slipping two this week. This one is definitely on my list of favorites for the year.

7) Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good. The AMAs were also good to this trio. After their big win, their latest effort moves up 1 spot this week.

6) Reba McEntire, Duets. LeAnn may not be benefitting much from the CMAs, but Reba is. Her all star CD is hanging in the top 10 after 2 months.

5) Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift. The Country Music newcomer also moves down one on the charts this week. Still it manages to stay near the top after over 50 weeks.

4) Goerge Strait, 22 More Hits. This is the legenday Country Music star's first week on the chart. Let's see how the CD does in the weeks ahead... some Greatest Hits compilations have not been doing so well lately.

3) Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride. The American Idol turned Country superstar actually manages to hold on to her spot this week. This is the only release in the top 10 to do so.

2) The Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden. They've turned out to be the big surprise of the year, having one of the biggest sales weeks of the year their first week out. This week, they make room at the top for a new champion.

1) Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits. Garth manages to take the top spot his second week out. If you want to go inside the making of this CD, check the GAC listings. They have a couple specials out there devoted to Garth and the CD.

Well, there you have it. This week's top Country CDs. There's one more post coming tonight, so stay tuned. Til then, stay safe and "play something country!"

As part of Artist Spotlight, I am doing two Chart Watches. This one will fill you in on how LeAnn is doing on a few different charts. Let's start with the Country Music CDs chart. Here, LeAnn finds herself falling a couple spots to #15 with Family. It's at #69 on the Billboard 200. It's a shame, cause this is a great CD. In my opinion, it's her best work to date. Now let's see how her lead single is doing...

According to Billboard, "Nothing Better To Do" is still going strong at #15 on the Country Music Songs chart. It's also hit #19 R&R Adult Contemporary Chart and is #75 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has also been getting attention on the Dance Charts.

In other LeAnn news, CMT announced they are going to air the Crossroads special she filmed with Joss Stone on December 7th. I'm looking forward to this one. I like them both, so it should be a great show. It's always interesting to see what songs the aritsts are going to choose for this special and who will sing what.

Check back tomorrow, as I will be talking about my all time favorite LeAnn songs. Til then, stay safe and "play something Country!"

In the late 90s, LeAnn Rimes as a teenager who had just begun to get recognition for her debut Country Music CD Blue. The first single was straight out of 1960's Nashville and LeAnn began to get compared to Patsy Cline after delivering a vocal performance that was beyond her years. While some said she was too Country and her lyrics were too grown up, LeAnn became a Nashville darling. Her CD flew off the shelves and she began to get quite a bit of recognition come award season. Another single, "One Way Ticket," was a country-pop rocker that had LeAnn singing about growing up and learning how to deal with the world around her. She sang it so well, it was hard to believe she was still technically too young to have really lived it. Same with another great track on the CD, "Talk to Me." This one, another uptempo number had LeAnn begging a guy to open up about what he has gone through in the past with women so that they can get past it and move on together. Finally, there was the single "The Light in Your Eyes." I love this one because not only did she sing it beautifully, it was a song that you could realistically see LeAnn having gone through herself.

Today, LeAnn is in her 20s and has released one of her best CDs yet, Family. All co-written by LeAnn (with the exception of two bonus tracks she recorded for other peoples albums), the songs are a step forward in her career. They showcase not only a talented vocalist, but a newfound connection to the material that was sometimes hard to come by on her early work. Her vocals are stronger and more mature on this CD and are delivered with a confidence that has come with age and experience. The first single, "Nothin' Better to Do," has LeAnn reflecting on what might have happened to her had she not left her small town life and gotten wrapped up in a career early on. Another great song is the title track. This one features the Country Music singer talking about the ups and downs that she and her family have gone through. A mature LeAnn not only reflects on these experiences, but has come to an understanding about them and has mended some of her broken releationships. The best song, by far, is "What I Cannot Change". The lyrics to this simple ballad find LeAnn venting frustrations and finally coming to realize that there are just some things you have to accept and get past. She sounds vulnerable and honest as she sings about how "It's easier to please the world than it is to please myself." Finally, there's the track "Nothing Wrong." This song is a bit of a departure, as LeAnn and duet partner Marc Broussard sing about being temepted by another while trying to stay faithful to the one they're with.

After over a decade in the business, LeAnn has seemed to come into her own and finally made the last steps towards carving out a career as an adult.

Hello, Country Music fans! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Who watched the American Music Awards last night? If you didn’t, you missed quite an interesting performance. Country Music Duo Sugarland teamed up with Beyonce for a performance last night of her hit song "Irreplaceable." I have to be honest here, I hate that song and I really don’t like most of what Beyonce has put out since the early days of Destiny’s Child. I did, however, enjoy this performance. Jennifer did really well with it and seemed to have a great time. I liked the arrangement they worked up, too. According to the stories about the awards, they do the song at their concerts. Makes me interested to go to a show and see what else they do.

Speaking of the AMAs, Carrie Underwood ruled them last night. She won favorite Female artist, Favorite Country Music CD, and the T-Mobile Text-in Award. Well deserved honors, I have to say. One thing though, Carrie- I don’t know whose idea that dress was, but please don’t ever listen to their advice again. In other Carrie news, word is she’s going to hit #1 on the charts with "So Small." I guess a new single should be coming before too long. I’m excited to hear what it will be. There are plenty of great single choices on Carnival Ride.

So, do you think you have what it takes to be a Country Music singer and perform a great Duet? Well, CMT wants to hear from you. They’re holding auditions for a new TV show. Check out the details and find out how to enter here.

Well, that’s about it for this post. Stay tuned, cause more info is coming today!! Til then, stay safe and "play something Country!"

Hello, Country Music fans!!! I just wanted to make a quick post to introduce a change to Artist Spotlight and get it kicked off. This time, the spotlight is on LeAnn Rimes. For the next week, there will be a post a day that talks about the country music singer that went from a teen star to being a respected artist. I'll be sharing Billboard rankings, CD reviews and other info. In addition, I'll keep posting info on other artists in other entries, as well as the regular Chart Watch.

She's one of my favorite singers for a couple of reasons. One, as she put it so wonderfully on the CMAs, "13 years in the business, 1 marriage and no arrests." Something kinda shocking in entertainment today. Two, each CD she releases has been better than the one before. I love to see an artist continue to challange themselves and keep doing good work, even after a decade at it. Odd how her CDs don't quite tear up the charts. This week Family comes in at #13 on the Country Music Albums chart. That's a two spot drop from the week before. On the Billboard 200, she goes from 50 to 53. In slightly better news, she jumps 4 spots to #15 on the Country Singles chart with "Nothin' Better to Do." She has also hit #20 on the AC Chart with the song. I'll get together some additional chart information for other posts so you can see how she's doing on the other charts, including the CMT/GAC charts. "Nothing Better To Do" has been doing well on both since it was released.

Finally, here is an interview with her someone posted on Associated Content. It's a pretty good read, with some great quotes from LeAnn in it. Hope y'all enjoy it as much as I did. That's all for now. Tune in next time for more news and reviews! Til then, stay safe and "play something Country!"

It’s Thursday, so you know what that means: the new Billboard rankings have been released. Here is a look at what your favorite Country Music CDs are in the top ten this week. There’s quite a bit of activity and change, so let’s get started...

10) Little Big Town, A Place to Land. The Country Music group debuts in the top 10 with their second release. I can’t help but wonder what may have happened if they had actually song a new song on the CMAs, rather then "Boondocks."

9) Josh Turner, Everything is Fine. The Country Music singer drops 6 spots in his second week on the chart.

8) Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good. They drop 3 spots this week after 8 weeks on the chart.

7) Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, Raising Sand. The unlikely duo also drops three spots this week.

6) Sugarland, Enjoy the Ride. Looks like the CMAs were good to the duo. After winning for Duo of the Year and a powerful performance, their CD rises 3 spots on the chart.

5) Reba McEntire, Duets. The Country Music legend, who is going on tour soon, also rises on the chart. She moved up 1 spot.

4) Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift. Thanks to a memorable CMA speech and a re-release, she earns a "greatest gainer" title from Billboard for climbing 4 spots this week.

3) Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride. She took a one spot hit on the countdown this week thanks to a debut..

2) Garth Brooks, The Ultimate Hits. Garth got labeled a "hotshot debut" this week, his first on the chart. Looks like the Eagles are not the only ones benefitting from WalMart and Billboard’s latest decision. Speaking of...

1) The Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden. The groups holds on to the number 1 spot for the second week after an impressive debut that almost never happened.

It isn't even 2008 yet, and fans are buzzing about all the new Country Music CDs coming out in the new year.  Here are a few I'm excited about:

Danielle Peck is one of the first, releasing a new disc on January 15th. Speaking of her... have y'all caught her new Country Music Video, "Bad for Me"? I love that song and the video works really well with it.

Billy Currington is coming out with one on February 5th. I'm anxious to see something new from him. I loved "Doin' Something Right", even if the video was a bit "Wicked Game".

The real big news is I have been seeing rumours all over saying Shania Twain will release a new CD next year, too. I'm curious to see what she'll release. I kinda liked that last video she had out a few years ago. It was call "I Ain't No Quitter".  I'm a bit torn, though. I love some of Shania's songs, but she;s one of those artists that don't change much from one CD to another. Basically, it's a "If you heard one, you heard em all" type of situation. Here's hoping she has a surprise or two ready if this is true.

By the way, for all you Judds fans out there, this should make your day. I never did get too into the Judds, but I think it's great that they are going to be performing together again. There are several other great acts performing, too.

Speaking of touring, I am in Country Music Tour heaven right now. According to many sources, Leann Rimes is going to tour with Kenny Chesney, while Carrie Underwood is teaming up with Keith Urban.

Trisha Yearwood has a bone to pick with all the ticket scalpers out there. According to a story on CMT, the Country Music singer was furious when she found out that tickets to her shows with husband Garth Brooks were going for hundreds of dollars on some sites. I can't really blame her. I'd be furious about it too. The fans are the ones getting hurt when scalpers snatch up all the tickets they can. She is hoping a solution can be reached to stop scalpers from getting tickets, but let’s face it: that’s gonna be a tough one.  Garth just released his latest Country Music CD Ultimate Hits, while Trisha’s release Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love is being previewed on some sites.

Is it just me, or does Billy Ray Cyrus look like a whole other person now? He looks so different from his 90s heyday, I probably wouldn’t have recognized him in his new video if he hadn’t already been all over the place thanks to Hannah Montana. I have to say, though... the look works. For any fans out there who don’t know, he’s gonna be starring in a reality show on CMT with daughter Miley. I’ll post something closer to the start date to remind everyone about it. For the record? I hated "Achy Breaky Heart," and I’m glad he’s gone in a different direction musically.

Finally, I thought I’d give you a head’s up about some great Country Music Videos airing tomorrow on GAC. Brad Paisley’s "Letter to Me" will be on tomorrow at 12:16 PM. Stay tuned though, cause a few other really good videos are on right after: Bon Jovi’s "Who Says You Can’t Go Home", Gary Allan’s "Best I Ever Had" and Riss Palmer’s "Country Girl." At 2:50 PM, catch SheDaisey’s "Don’t Worry Bout a Thing" Later that day, GAC adds what I think it a really nice touch by playing Dolly Parton’s "I’m Gone" right before back-to-back Porter Wagoner videos starting at 3:07 PM. Remember, these are estimated Eastern time airtimes, so you’ll probably want to tune in a little bit before so you don’t miss anything. Check out the GAC site to all a complete listing.

Til next time, Country Music fans, stay safe and "play something country!"

Hello, everyone!! It’s Chart Watch time again. Here’s a look at the top ten Country Music CDs for this week. There’s a big story on the charts this, so let’s get things started!

10) Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates. The CMA Entertainer of the year drops two spots this week. Let’s see how his appearance and win affects next week’s rankings...

9) Sugarland, Enjoy the Ride. The Country Music Duo has been seeing steadily increasing sales lately. This week, they dropped two. Let’s see what that CMA performance does for them.

8) Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift. Her CMA performance may not have done her any favors, in my opinion, but I’m sure it won’t hurt her too much. Especially with the Deluxe Edition just being released.

7) Gary Allen, Living Hard. He takes a four spot drop on the charts after three weeks on. As a fan, I hate to say it, but I see more of the same happening next week as the Awards begin having their effect on the chart.

6) Reba McEntire, Duets. Reba and company drop one spot this week after 7 weeks on the chart. Let’s see what her performance with LeAnn does for her next week...

5) Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good. In a case of deja vu, they also fall 1 spot in their 7^th week.

4) Alison Krauss/Robert Plant, Raising Sand. The queen of Country Music duets and the legendary rocker fall 2 spots in their 2^nd week.

3) Josh Turner, Everything is Fine. The newest member of the Grand Ole Opry debuts on the chart.

2) Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride. The 2-time CMA Female Vocalist of the year finds herself in the runner up spot on the chart thanks to the big news....

1) The Eagles, Long Road Out of Eden. The legendary 70s band returns with their first new album in over 2 decades. Thanks to a last minute change in policy allowing records sold at one retailer to be listed on the chart, the Eagles find themselves at the top. With their sales, it would have been a crime if they hadn’t.

Well, that’s all for now. See ya next time! Until then, stay safe and "play something country!"

Just a post to remind y'all about the biggest night in Country Music! The CMA awards will air tonight on ABC starting at 8 PM Eastern time. I'm pretty excited to see LeAnn Rimes perform her duet with Reba tonight. LeAnn is one of my favorite Country Music singers and her voice blended well with Reba's on the recording. I'm also looking forward to Miranda Lambert. Word is she'll be doing "Gunpowder and Lead", which should be one amazing performance. Sugarland should also be a great performance, although I heard Beyonce is joining them onstage. I'm kinda scratching my head over that one.

Check back tomorrow when I'll fill you in on my thoughts on the show and maybe a little something extra. Til then, stay safe and "play something country!"

Well, I didn't get to do the post I wanted to today, thanks to car toubles. Instead, I thought I would remind y'all about some of the new Country Music CDs released today.  Taylor Swift's Delux edition was released today, featuring three new songs. Also out is Little Big Town's A Place to Land. Also out today is Garth Brooks' Ultimate Hits. I just caught the video for lead single "More Than a Memory" today and I loved it.  The video follows the day of a man who has just lost someone he loves, as a steady rain falls on him the entire time. It was an interesting visual choice and I think it works.  Definitely one of the better Country Music Videos out there.

That's all for today... if you get a chance, check out LeAnn's performance on Dancing with the Stars tonight. I'm guessing she'll bring the house down.

As promised, here’s a quick run down on the Country Music CDs chart. I'll post another one on Thursday when the new Albums chart is released. Also on Thursday, I'll fill you in on what's up with the Country Music songs chart, so stay tuned! You don't wanna miss it.

10) Sara Evans drops 7 spots in her third week with Greatest Hits.

9) LeAnn Rimes manages to stick around in the top ten with her new CD, Family, after falling 5 spots. I’ll be posting something about this disc and LeAnn tomorrow.

8) Kenny Chesney’s latest, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates, falls 3 spots this week on the charts.

7) After 51 weeks on the chart, Sugarland manages to stay steady at number 7 with their sophomore disc, called Enjoy the Ride.

6) Taylor Swift is also offering some stability on the charts, managing to keep her spot from last week, with her self-titled debut.

5) Reba drops 3 spots this week with Duets. The CD is also getting her awards show buzz.

4) Rascal Flatts’ Still feels Good falls 3 spots this week after 6 weeks on the chart.

3) Gary Allan debuts on the charts this week with his new release, Living Hard.

2) In sort of surprising, yet good, news Alison Krauss and Robert Plant debut with Raising Sand.

1) And, in the least surprising news on the Countdown, Carrie Underwood debuted at the top of this chart and the billboard 200 with Carnival Ride.

There’s much to talk about today, Country Music fans, so let’s jump right in. Remember awhile back when I mentioned Jessica Simpson was making a move to Nashville? Well, now Jewel is continuing the trend. Like Michelle Branch, she has signed a deal to make several Country Music CDs for a new label. I’m pretty excited about this, actually. I can’t help but think Jewel will fit into the Country scene better then as a pop star. "Intuition," anyone? Let’s not forget her awesome stint as a Nashville Star judge and CMT/GAC’s support of her most recent single.

While Jewel’s move to Nashville makes perfect sense to me, another Country Music singer has me shaking my head and wondering "why??" Trace Adkins was supposed to have another new CD out soon. Instead, the project seems to have been shelved in favor of a new Greatest Hits collection that will also feature 3 songs that were supposed to be on his new release. All this is apparently so he can appear on a celeb version of The Apprentice. I blame Survivor for the idea that being on a reality show is the best career move ever. Ah, well. What can you do? Especially with Hollywood writers going on strike today.

Speaking of upcoming releases, look for Michelle Branch and her partner in crime Jessica Harp to release a live CD at the end of December. It should be enough to tide fans over until their solo projects (and hopefully a new studio disc as a duo) come out.

That's it for now. I'll also be posting a late version of Chart Watch and hopefully something else today. I look forward to any thoughts or comments you may have about anything you've seen here. Til then, take care and "play something country!"

Hello, everyone. Sorry I have not written in a couple of days, but there have been certain things going on the past few days that prevented it. Anyway, I am going to be back to regular posting starting on Monday, when I will offer you that Carrie review I promised as well as catching up on Chart Watch (a little teaser for you: Carrie debut at #1 on the billboard 200!) Look for some changes on the blog as well, as I will start bringing you my thoughts and some info on a wider range of Country Music artists. I plan to cover Nashville Star when it returns as well, so there is much to look forward to! Stay tuned!

I hope y'all are doing well and you had a great Halloween! If you have a blog as well, don't forget to link me to it when you comment. I'd love to see it!! Until Monday, stay safe and "play something country!"

It’s Thursday and you know what that means: Chart Watch! Let’s see how your favorite Country Music CDs rank according to billboard...

10) Faith Hill, The Hits. . Faith drops 3 spots with her hits collection, featuring the single "Red Umbrella.

9) Brooks and Dunn, Cowboy Town. The duo falls 3 spots this week. Stay tuned, because they should be announcing a new single soon. I’ve seen talk that it’s a toss up between two tracks.

8) Toby Keith, A Classic Christmas. Is it that time of year already?? Where did the time go? Toby’s ode to the season debuts in the top 10 this week.

7) Sugardland, Enjoy the Ride. They’ve been experiencing a comeback of sorts ever since "Stay" was released and the trend continues this week. The duo rise 2 spots on the countdown.

6) Taylor Swift, Taylor Swift. The teen singer rises two spots this week on the charts. Her latest single from the CD is "Our Song."

5) Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates. Unlike the other releases that have been jumping around the top 10 this week, Kenny stays steady at #5 once again.

4) LeAnn Rimes, Family. The girl who was once called the next Patsy Cline drops two spots this week with her new release.

3) Sara Evans, Greatest Hits. The second hits collection in the top ten manages to outsell some of the original discs on the chart. The CD has been helped by the video for "As If," a new song. No word yet on whether any of the other new tracks will get a release yet or not.

2) Reba McEntire, Duets. After dropping last week, Reba makes a recovery, taking back the #2 slot. Rumor has it the new single will be her duet with Justin Timberlake. I’ll keep you posted.

1) Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good. Once again, they manage to take over the top spot on the countdown.

There you have it- the Billboard top 10 Country Music CDs. Later on today, I’ll post the singles and a couple news stories. In the meantime, be sure to check out the forum. See y’all later!!

Hey, Country Music fans!! Now that all the excitement over the big release is over, I wanted to share some news with ya since I’ve been sharing a lot of chart info and reviews/recaps.

Most of y’all know by now that the CMAs will air on November 7^th. Well, they have annouced some more performers and presenters in anticipation of the big show. Kellie Pickler and Jason Aldean have been added to the list of performers for the night and Gretchen Wilson is going to be presenting an award. More announcements will be coming soon, so I’ll definitely keep you posted on the latest as it becomes available.

Country Music singers are pretty much known for a down-home and family-friendly image these days. Sure, you have your rebels and all, but most artists fall into that category. Country Weekly is looking to spotlight that in their new issue. Alan Jackson and his family are on the cover and inside you’ll also see how he and other Country stars keep their family a priority while living the touring artist life. There’s also a little bit about Sara Evans in the issue as well. Check it out.

Finally, if you’re like me you’ve known someone who has been affected by cancer. Country Music singer Craig Morgan is appearing on a special that is designed to bring awareness and support to people who are battling the disease. "Frosted Pink", which premiered a couple days ago on the style network, features Craig and other artists from different genres performing their hit songs while some of the biggest stars in Skating perform routines. Skating, good music, good cause.... I’ll be tuning in! Most of the performers and hosts have either battled the disease or know someone who has, so it’s definitely going to be an interesting show. Air times are October 26^th at 6pm Eastern, the 28^th at 9am eastern and the 30^th at 10 am eastern.

That’s all for now. I’ve got several more reviews in store over the next few days (including Carrie’s debut CD) so stay tuned and be sure to check out the forum so you can share your opinions. I’d love to see em! Til then, stay safe and "play something country!"

Hello, Country Music fans!! I’ve got a new occasional feature on the blog for you: Release Day Review! It all starts with Carrie Underwood’s new Country Music CD Carnival Ride, in stores now. I’ll also be providing some thoughts her first disc, Some Hearts, over the next day or two. Let’s get started with the new one!!

From start to finish, it’s a good disc and a cohesive effort. The title is taken from a lyric in the song "Wheel of the World" describing life as a carnival ride. Since Carrie’s had a crazy two years since her debut’s release, she thought it was a good metaphor and she keeps the theme going all the way through, starting with the cover and text on it. Also keeping with the theme is a variety of up-tempo numbers mixed with a few slow or mid-tempo ones that make you feel as though you’re going on a ride yourself. The lyrics, which Carrie helped write, do their part by telling stories ranging from a funeral, to a crazy night in Vegas to a girl frustrated with losers. It’s not exactly a total departure from Some Hearts, but it is a great step in a more mature and focused direction I am enjoying. Vocally, she’s progressed as well. She sounds more mature and confident in her vocals, ranging from gritty performances, big power ballad notes to more subtle performances. Here’s a run down of some of the stand outs, in my opinion:

Flat on the Floor: This is the first track on the CD and is a great start to a new era for her. Some of the song is reminiscent of 70's rock with a modern twist and Carrie owns it, singing with confidence and attitude. Written by Brett James and Ashley Monroe, it’s about a girl wanting to be left alone after the end of a relationship so she can recover and move on.

All American Girl: This is a cute, mid-tempo song about a baby who is the center of her father’s world. As she grows, she becomes the center of her husband’s world. Later, she gives birth to a baby that becomes the center of her husband’s world, completing the cycle of life. The lyrics are cute and were co-written by Carrie.

Just a Dream: This is one of the most moving songs on the CD by far. A classic Carrie ballad, it tells the story of a young girl whose wedding day turns into a funeral when her soldier fiancé is killed. When she sings "Why’d you have to leave me, why’d you have to go? I was counting on forever, but now I’ll never know. I can’t even breathe" I couldn’t help but get a bit emotional myself, as Carrie delivers it with such conviction you think she’s going through it too.

Last Name: By far, this is my favorite of her up-tempo songs here. Also co-written by Carrie, she sings about getting caught up in the party atmosphere of Vegas and ending up married to a stranger so now she doesn’t know her last name. It’s kinda the "Before He Cheats" of Carnival Ride, letting Carrie show a more playful, wild side that is sure to be a great party song.

So there you have it: my impressions of Carnival Ride. Now it’s your turn. If you got the CD or heard it, stop by the forum and let me know what you think. See ya next time... stay safe and "play something country!"

Hey, all!! As a new feature, I am going to be offering some recaps of specials for those who are unable to watch them for whatever reason. My first recap is going to be of the Grand Ole Opry’s 82^nd birthday special. I’m sure y’all know that the venue is a legendary one that pretty much every Country Music singer dreams of performing at. Several lucky Country Music stars were chosen to be on hand for the event including Carrie Underwood, Ronnie Milsap and Travis Tritt.

The show opened with Carrie Underwood, who has become a favorite at the Opry, performing her revenge anthem "Before He Cheats." Carrie, as usual, hit that song right out of the park, packing lots of attitude into it. She also seemed to be having a great time with it. After she finished, the TV Host, Nan Kelly, gave a little plug for Carnival Ride, out tomorrow. She then introduces Emerson Drive, talking about some of the awards they’ve won this year.

Lead singer Brad Mates mentions the passing of former bass player Patrick Bourque, saying how the song has a deeper meaning to them now as they begin to play "Moments." Brad appeared to struggle through most of the song, seeming to get lost in the personal connection he’s found in the song. A picture of Patrick appears on a screen at the end with an "In Memory" inscription.

After Emerson Drive finished their performance, Nan is shown backstage interviewing Carrie about her new CD. Carrie says that "Wheel of the World" is her favorite song on the disc and that she picked the CD’s title from a line in that song. She also discusses writing some of the songs this time around.

Next up on the Opry stage is Travis Tritt. He comes out to perform his new single "You Never Take Me Dancing," and what a performance it is. He delivered the song with enthusiasm and lots of energy, sounding just as good as on the recorded version. Before he goes into his next song, he gives a shout-out to Porter Wagoner, who was diagnosed with Lung Cancer after the special was taped. He offers his well wishes and dedicates his song "It’s a Great Day to Be Alive" to the ailing Opry star. He says it’s a optimistic, feel-good song and he’s right. The banjo and fiddle in the music give it a fun vibe you can’t help but enjoy.

Emerson Drive comes back to perform their new single "You Still Own Me" and then it’s backstage for an interview with Travis Tritt. He talks about how much fun he has performing at the Opry and working with American Idol Judge Randy Jackson. This is the perfect segue for Carrie Underwood’s first TV performance of "So Small."

One of the highlights of the night for me was a performance by Ronnie Milsap. While I love Country Music, I tend to know more about the newer artists, so Ronnie was a revelation to me. His performance of "Precious Lord" is one of the most moving and soulful performances I’ve seen in awhile. He made sure to get the audience involved, sounding a bit like a preacher at a sermon as he throws the words out to the audience towards the end, encouraging them to join in. They obliged and it sounded great, all those voices coming together. He got the audience even more pumped as he launched into "Legend in My Time." Even though the song is a sad tale of regret and heartbreaks over a lifetime, the music sounded a bit more upbeat then you would expect. It sounded like a song straight out of the 50s or 60s to me.

The show closes with Carrie performing another new song from Carnival Ride called "Crazy Dreams." It’s a fun song, but I would say that it is not going to be a favorite of mine from the new disc based on the sound clips available on Amazon. Carrie does sound great, though, and clearly loved performing the song. After she finishes, they bring out a huge birthday cake and sing "Happy Birthday" to the Grande Ole Opry. And what a party it was!

So, there’s your recap! Did you see the show? If so, make sure to drop by the forum and tell me what you thought! Til tomorrow, stay safe and "play something country!"

I promised, so here are your Top Ten Country Music songs according to Billboard.

10) Jason Michael Carroll, "Livin' Our Love Song." His single rises two spots to finally secure a place in the top 10. Let’s see where it goes from here...

9) Rascal Flatts, "Take Me There" The first release from their new CD drops 4 spots this week.

8) Garth Brooks, "More Than A Memory." After a monster debut, the song dropped down to #9. This week, it rises one spot, settling into a more steady pace.

7) Brad Paisley, "Online." His latest single falls 4 spots on this week’s chart.

6) Brooks and Dunn, "Proud of the House We Built." The duo manages to hang onto their position from last week with the first single from Cowboy Town.

5) Carrie Underwood, "So Small." Carrie rises 3 spots this week and should continue to do so once the Carnival Ride promo kicks in. I’ll have more on that later.

4) Dierks Bently, "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)." This one rises 3 spot this week. It’s the first off his new CD.

3) Tim McGraw, "If You’re Reading This." His latest single rises one spot on this week’s list.

2) Toby Keith, "Love Me If You Can." I said it was going to be a battle for the top and I was right. Toby drops one spot this week, making from for....

1) Kenny Chesney, "Don’t Blink." The first single off his new CD switches spots with Toby. Let’s see if he can keep it up...

So, there you have it: the top ten songs this week. Tune in a little later, as I will post a little news today too! Til then, take care and "play something Country!"