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.

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.

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.

Sorry it's been a few days. Lots of stuff going on around here and I had to get caught up. Anyway... I've had the chance to check out CMT's Can You Duet? competiton recently, and I'm liking what I see so far. There were a few really great acts and the judges honest and all without being downright nasty. Can CMT keep it up and actually come up with a good after after the fiasco that was Gone Country? We'll see. For now, I'll keep watching and enjoying the music. I'd have to say off the top of my head my favorites right now are the twins who sang "Flat On The Floor" and "His Eye is On the Sparrow". Who do you like? Comment and let me know! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Til next time... take care!!

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.

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.

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.

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...

According to Hazel Smith, that's a big yes. I see her point in some ways, but I think she's off base here. Don't get me wrong... I admire Trace and would've liked to see him come away a winner in the end. Still, I haven't even watched the show and even I know the winner was not going to be the nicest guy or an American or a great example of a Southern man. This is a show hosted by Donald Trump of all people about being a business person. Obviously, the one who got the most money was going to come out on top. That's the whole point of the series. Trace seems to have enjoyed his experience on the show and it got him exposure, so the show served it's purpose. Now, Trace will hopefully go back to focusing on his music career and use the things he learned there to take him to even greater heights. So what do you think? Did Trace get gipped? Sound off and let me know!

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...

Country Music Singer Sara Evans is giving walking down the aisle another shot. According to several news sources, she's marrying Jay Barker. He's used to be a college quarterback. It's kind of surprising news, considering her first marraiged ended in a nasty divorce that was last finialized in late 2007. From what I've seen of other fan's comments, no one even knew she was seeing anyone. Good for her for managing to keep it quiet as long as she did.

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!

If I didn't know any better, I'd say I had a hand in picking the performers for the CMT Awards. Since so many of my favorites are going to perform there this year, I'm actually pretty excited about the show. I'm not usually into awards shows, but the Country Music ones are always fun for me to watch. The level of talent (98% of the time) is far superior, in my opinion, to most shows.

Most of the time, there are only a few people I care about seeing on these shows. The CMT Awards are gonna be a little different in that I like almost every person performing on there (with a few exceptions). Here's the list so far. I've put em in order of favorite to least favorite:

LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Sugarland ,Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith

Stay tuned for airdates and other news as it's announced and don't forget to go to the website and vote for your favorites in each category.

I'm excited, cause I was just browsing the Pulse music boards and found out that Chris Young has a new CD scheduled for August 26th. He's one of my favorite Nashville Star winners and I hope this album does really well. check my past posts for my reviews of him.

In other good album news, Gretchen Wilson and Kelly Pickler also have been given release dates. They are September 2nd and September 9th. It's really funny to see that, considering Taylor Swift was just talking about one of the new songs they wrote together. I just wonder how she and Gretchen will end up faring on the charts.

I also noticed that GAC seems to be jumping on these new releases. When the SHeDaisy Greatest Hits came out, they started playing their music more. Now that Chris Young has a release date, his "Drinking Me Lonely" is getting airplay again as well. Looks like they're cluing in, huh? Well, that's all for now. Tune in tomorrow for more! In the meantime, take care and "play something country!"

I just got done watching Carrie Underwood perform "I Told You So" on the Grand Ole Opry. After her performance, Randy Travis came onstage and asked Carrie to be a member of the Opry. Of course, Carrie said yes. Or more accurately... "let me think about that..." with a big ole smile on her face. What a great moment! You could genuinely see the surprise on her face and she about burst into tears when Randy said her official induction is May 10th. Congrats to her.

In other Opry news, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town also performed and absolutely nailed it. Lady Antebellum in particular sounded practically the same as their CD. Check GAC's site for other airtimes if you missed it.

It's that time again! Here are the Top 10 Country Music CDs according to Billboard.

10) Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets and Pirates. He went up one spot this week... expect more increases since he's going on tour.

9) Dolly took a huge chart hit this week, dropping from the #2 spot with Backwoods Barbie.

8-6) Rascal Flatts, The Eagles and Sugarland. All three acts kept their positions from last time. I hope things start shaking up soon, the charts are starting to look a little routine!

5) Robert Plant and Alison Krauss drops one spot, switching places with...

4) Carrie Underwood. Her Carnival Ride CD moves up one spot. With "All-American Girl" doing so well and "Last Name" being released soon, expect this one to make a jump again.

3) Garth Brooks finds himself in the same position this week with Ultimate Hits.

2) Taylor Swift is once again denied the top spot by a new release. Let's see what her new single "Picture to Burn" does for her.

1) Alan Jackson, Good Time. The country music singer debuts on top with his latest. Will he keep the top spot next week or will Taylor once again rule? Will another new release keep them both down? Check back next week to find out!

Meanwhile, on the singles side, Carrie Underwood spends her second week on top with "All-American Girl". New songs by Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Rodney Atkins and Trace Adkins are slowly closing in to try and take over. LeAnn is back on the chart at #49 with "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine, while Taylor Swift's "Picture to Burn" is already nipping at the top 10. Brad Paisley and Kellie Pickler are also on their way there with "I'm Still a Guy" at #22 and "Things that Never Cross a Man's Mind" at #16. Well, that's all for now. Check back next time for more news and reviews. Take care!

Since I didn't get the chance to get a blog posted yesterday, here's a few things I came across today and want to comment on:

Go Carrie Underwood!! I was reading the Pulse boards today and saw that "Last Name" has been confirmed as her new single. This is definitely one of my favorite tracks and I think it's gonna be a massive hit.

Here's one reason I like Taylor Swift.... she's totally image concious. Normally, I'd hate this kind of thing, but I appreciate her owning it. So many people today try to hide the fact they throw out a lot of spin or avoid anything controversial. She loves what she's doing and is serious about protecting it as well. I can get behind that.

Finally, there's a new issue of Country Weekly out now. Check out the website to see some web excerpts about Alan Jackson, Sara Evans, Josh Turner and more.

I know, I'm a little late on this, but I had to comment on this weekend's epsiode of Gone Country. As a country music fan, I think he made the wrong choice hands down. I'm amazed that he ripped into Diana the way he did for not "sounding country" and then picked the one who was the least country... not to mention had the weakest voice.

The choice was hands down completely hypocritical and I will definitely not be tuning in should CMT and the fans actually let him have another shot at this. Good luck breaking into country, Julio- you'll need it.

As for the others....

Maureen- had a great song, sounded country....the only problem was her weaker vocals.

Carnie- Loved the song. Her voice was a bit better, but we'll see if she can break into the business by herself.

Sisqo- eh. Great performer, but just didn't seem like he fit into the country thing enough.

Bobby Brown- Great song, powerful delivery of it. I could see that being a soul hit.

Dee- I adore him and his song/performance was a lot of fun.

Diana- Hands down the best singer and she had a great song. She also seems to really want to break back into the Country world.

I hope each of them ends up releasing their songs and finding success with them, even if they don't go country.

I love checking out new artists on MySpace. There are so many talented people that are now being given a new outlet to get their music out to the people and promote themselves. One of these people is Minnie Murphy. She is signed to the same label as The Road Hammers and is currently working on an album she has said will be called The Adventures of Minnie Murphy.

The thing that strikes me about Minnie right off is her voice. It’s like a cross between Julie Roberts and Christina Aguilera with a little Dolly thrown in the mix. When I was listening to the tracks, there were three that stood out.

"Tennesses Tango"-  This is probably one of the most unique songs on her profile. It's got, obviously, a tango sound to it with very jazzy vocals that are just fun.

"Unstoppable"- This is a fun, up-tempo track that according to a MySpace post came about when she was having a bit of a rough time career-wise and needed to remind herself it's gonna be alright. She sings the tune with confidence and a pure country twang. Definitely one of those rousing anthem songs.

"Mississippi River"- This is, by far, my favorite song on her profile. It's a haunting tune with a bluesy sound that Minnie fills with emotional vocals that inspired that Aguilera comparison I made. According to her MySpace blog, it was written as a tribue to the late Jeff Buckley.

If you wanna check these (and some other tunes) out for yourself, check out her MySpace page. You'll also be able to keep up with all the latest news.

Canada's done it again! The Country that brought us Shania Twain and Emerson Drive has a new export coming to the states: The Road Hammers. Formed by Jason McCoy, a solo artist who wanted to do something new, the band debuted on a CMT Canada series. Ever since then, they've been topping the charts there and winning awards.

Their first US single, "I Don't Know When to Quit", is currently climbing up the charts and winning over new listeners. The song is an up-tempo number influenced by the Southern Rock acts of the past. It had a curious effect on me, making me wanna get up and move while giving off a laid-back vibe that is good for just hanging out and relaxing.

Lyrically, it's not the most unique song. Like many hits, it discusses being deep in love with someone and not wanting to let go. Still there are a few interesting lines. One in particular that caught my attention was the opening. McCoy sings, "If I drink one, I drink a hundred; try to have a little fun. Might not come in until the sun comes up, I've got a tendency to get carried away. Girl, I'm just made that way".

Each lyric is delivered convincingly by McCoy. His vocals are interesting- country without being overly twangy. I think the laid back vibe I mentioned is partly to do with McCoy's deep and rich vocals, along with the vocal arrangement.

This is overall a great track that is sure to be a radio favorite. Check out their MySpace page to listen to the song and keep up with that they're up to next.

GAC has announced that Brad Paisley is going to go out on tour again this year. This time, he's calling it the Paisley Party 2008. His most recent Bonfires & Amplifiers tour was a huge hit and featured Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift.

I have to say, it's been a great year for Country Music tours. Fans are getting to see some great shows between the Carrie/Keith tour, the Carnival Ride tour and the Kenny Chesney/LeAnn Rimes tour. Let's not forget 2 Worlds, 2 Voices, either. I just wish I actually had the time and all to get to any of these shows. All well, there's always possible DVD releases right?

If any of you out there do get a chance to attend one of these shows, please write and tell me all about em. I'd love to hear straight from fans how the shows were. Check back another time when I review the new Road Hammers single and introduce you to Minnie Murphy.

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.

Well, the nominations are in. Can't say there are any major surprises here. Who are you all pulling for to win? Here  are my personal choices...

Entertainer of the Year: Brad Paisley

Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley

Female Vocalist: This is a tough one, as several of my favorites are nominated here. Carrie will likely get it, but it would be nice to see LeAnn or Miranda win one.

Top Vocal Group: Little Big Town

Top Vocal Duo: Sugarland

Top New Male Vocalist: I have to go with Jack Ingram

Top New Female Vocalist: Kellie Pickler

Top New Vocal Duo: Lady Antelbellum (By the way... how are The Wreckers nominated here? They've been out for several years now and aren't even recording together anymore...)

Album of the Year: I say either 5th Gear or Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year: I vote for "Stay" here.

Video of the Year: My vote is for "Online" or "Stay".

Vocal Event of the Year: I choose either "Because of You" or "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore".

There you have it! My picks for who I'd like to win at the ACM awards this year. Now, it's your turn. Am I crazy for picking Kellie Pickler? Do you think anyone other than George for Male Vocalist is robbery? Let me know!

Good morning, Country Music fans! Every now and then, I read an article that really hits me. One that is well-written and passionate. An article I agree with and couldn't possibly top with any commentary of my own. This is one of those articles. Check it out and let me know how you feel about the issue of the CMA Festival/Fan Fair.

Hey, Country Music fans! I was checking out the MySpace pages for Lila McCann and Jessica Andrews and they've put some great songs up! Lila's best, in my opinion is "Star of the Show". It's a cross between a ballad and uptempo number about fame. Another good one, "Your Juliet" is an uptempo song about wanting to be treated like you're special once in awhile.

Jessica, meanwhile, has a really great track on her page. It's called "Poison's in the Sugar" and it's one of the best songs I've ever heard from her. It's a very bluesy number that she sings the hell out of. The lyrics, from what I can tell, are about a guy who may not be the best choice, but you can't stay away. Another track, "Fall Like the Rain", is a bit of a shocker. It's a very poppy song that I can see Britney or someone putting out in their heyday. It's still a good song, it's just very different from what I'd expect from Jessica.

In other news, I just wanted to add I saw the latest episode of Gone Country and I am SO disappointed in it. I'm hanging in there until the end, cause I want to see a couple of them perform their songs in the finale, but wow- what a mess! John Rich sat there like a king of a throne berating Diana Degarmo relentlessly over the fact her vocal wasn't "country" enough. Forget the fact that I didn't think Bobby Brown, Sisqo or Julio sounded in the least country... they got a pass. Diana, however, who actually has a great voice got chewed out for it. And where does John Rich get the idea that Country singers don't sing like her at all? Has he even *heard* a Martina McBride or Faith Hill CD lately? That said, I did like Bobby's song, much to my surprise. Maureen's and Diana's were pretty good as well from what I could tell. The quality of the demo clips wasn't the greatest. Here's hoping for some great performances next week and that CMT never lets John Rich do a show about finding a Country singer again.

Well, it finally happened! Taylor Swift got knocked out of the top spot on the chart this week. Not much else appears to have changed, though. Here's where some of your favorites stand in the top 10 Country Music CDs charts according to Billboard.

10) Kenny Chesney knocked Reba out of the top 10. Kinda funny, given he's been knocked out of her duet "Every Other Weekend".

Well, that's about it for now. See y'all next time with more Country Music News and Reviews. Til then, take care!

LeAnn Rimes has a new video out for "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine". Check it out on CMT's website. If you're like me and have a hard time getting videos to play right online, keep an eye out. It'll probably be on CMT soon. From what I could see of it, it looks like it's a good one, although not quite a "Nothing Better to Do".

See ya later with more Country Music news and reviews! Til then, take care!

Nasville Star is changing more than their network next season. According to the official website, the contest is opening up to a wider variety of acts. They're auditioning soloists, duos and trios in various country styles. They've also lowered the age requirement. Should be interesting to see where this goes.

Nashville Star aired on USA for 5 seasons before this change. No word on when the new season is airing, but when it's released, I'll be sure to share. Also, look for recaps when the series starts airing.

Well, that's it for now. Check back next time for more news and reviews. Take care!