the9513 — Photo by James Minchin There aren’t many areas of American roots music that Marty Stuart hasn’t explored since he came to Nashville as a teenaged mandolin player in Lester Flatt’s band. With solid runs as Johnny Cash’s guitarist and a hit-making solo country artist, Stuart has had one of the most...
the9513 — Bruce Robison’s new single “Heartache to Houston” from upcoming album From the Top is currently available as a free download on his website—it might just be the best non-purchase you make all week. “Heartache to Houston” begins like a slow burning fuse, with Robison coming to the harsh realization that “there’s...
countryuniverse — I’ve always been something of a chart junkie. While I don’t pay as close attention as I used to, I still have a pretty good handle on historical trends. One artist I’ve been keeping an eye on is Carrie Underwood. When each official country single from her first two albums...
the9513 — After two albums recorded stateside (including the excellent Too Far Gone with Keith Stegall), Aussie wunderkind Catherine Britt’s latest release finds her reuniting with early mentor Bill Chambers for a set that spans country, pop, rock, gospel, and blues to generally strong effect. Fans of Too Far Gone will gravitate toward...
the9513 — Since landing on the national country music scene in 1990 with the top five hit “Too Cold At Home,” Mark Chesnutt has gone on to garner four platinum albums, five gold albums, 14 number one singles and 23 Top 10 singles. His neo-traditionalist style of country music, along with others...
the9513 — Rhonda Vincent’s new album Taken, her first since departing Rounder Records in Feb., will be released on Sept. 21. She talked in-depth about the album during a press conference at the recent HullabaLOU Music Festival. Jason Aldean is country…with an edge: “I grew up listening to George Strait, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty...
countryuniverse — As we reach the halfway point of the countdown, seventies stars like Tanya Tucker and Don Williams prove just as relevant to the decade as newbies like Terri Clark and and Clay Walker. But it’s eighties original George Strait that dominates this section with three additional entries. 400 Greatest Singles of...
countryuniverse — We don’t do as many discussions as we used to at CU, and it’s possible that we already did this one. But seeing the title of this week’s #1 country album, I couldn’t resist: Jerrod Niemann, Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury I’d call it juvenile, but I don’t think I would’ve...
mykindofcountry.wordpress — Jerrod Niemann seems to have something of a split personality musically. He is a competent if not particularly distinctive singer with a nice grainy quality at times, who seems determined to compensate for that by over-ornamenting his records with gimmicks. The songs are interspersed with a set of comic sketches...
the9513 — If this were about baseball, I’d add, “Where Everyone Has a Shot,” to the title. The game of baseball has seen its ups and downs. It’s pristine, slice of apple pie Americana reputation occasionally sullied by blemishes here and there, from the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 to the Steroid Era...
nashvillegab — There are a few people in music who bug me just because they exist in a realm where I actually have to hear about them despite the fact that I would never listen to their music. Justin Bieber is one. I mean really, this is a teeny bopper sex symbol? If...
the9513 — Actress Gwyneth Paltrow plans to release a new single titled “Country Strong” to radio come late August. The single, featuring background vocals from Vince Gill and Patty Griffin, is being released in conjunction with her new movie of the same name in which she plays a washed-up country singer. The...
the9513 — God bless Sunny Sweeney. I like Miranda Lambert as much as anyone, but it’s pretty pitiful that hers is the first and last name mentioned when people start talking about mainstream females with strong personalities, the writing and singing talents to back them up, and an actual historical grounding in...
the9513 — In an interview with Gary Graff for The Malcomb Daily, Ronnie Dunn shoulders the blame for the split between himself an Kix Brooks. Dunn, in fact, has said he’s responsible for the ultimate decision to split, saying he quit the group over disagreements he and Brooks were having over what songs...
the9513 — Despite touring throughout 2010, Sugarland has been largely absent from country radio as of late. A loss to Brooks & Dunn at the recent ACM Awards was indicative of their inactivity in the last twelve months. After a brief hiatus from the charts, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush now reemerge...
the9513 — If the lyrics on Lee Brice’s debut album are any indication, the young singer likes things that don’t change: True love, small-town country living, neighborhood bars and the unpredictability of life. Hopefully his fans feel the same way, as the songs on Love Like Crazy steadfastly stay the clichéd course. While...
countryuniverse — Radio has never been my primary way of receiving country music. Growing up in NYC, we had a decent country station in 103.5 WYNY. But 24-hour CMT was better, back in the days when it played everything from the hot new artists to the legends to Canadian imports...
countrycalifornia — Click the bullet after each quote to visit the original source. ["I Will Not Say Goodbye"] is amazing and anyone who doesn’t hate Danny for having a wife who died will love it. ● - – Danny Gokey fans kick the crazy up a notch. Singing and acting are kissin’ cousins, at least....
the9513 — On Wednesday, Paul posted another edition of his Forgotten Artists series, focusing on country songbird Pam Tillis. Tillis, the daughter of country star Mel Tillis, drew references to other family performers in the country genre: Being related to a famous country entertainer can be a mixed blessing. Although the family ties...
mykindofcountry.wordpress — Following his divorce from Tammy Wynette in 1975, George Jones went on an extended downward spiral, mostly propelled by cocaine and alcohol. Even though his albums continued to sell reasonably well and his singles consistently found their way to the upper reaches of the charts, and even though it was...
countrycalifornia — The bottom half of the countdown included some Texas, some Bakersfield, some folk, some bluegrass, and even a little mainstream. The top half strikes a similar balance with an entirely different set of artists. Read on for the 10 Best Country Live Albums of All Time, as decided on by...
the9513 — Thursday was, according to the fine folks over at National Geographic, Rat Catcher’s Day. It’s a day for celebrating the Pied Piper myth, but if you have a local vermin catcher you want to belatedly show some love to, it would probably be appreciated. Anyway, since the whole “luring children...
the9513 — Wynonna Judd, her daughter, and tour manager were involved in a “major head-on collision” on Wednesday. Fortunately, everyone turned out to be okay. On Aug. 20, the Country Music Hall of Fame will debut the new exhibit Tammy Wynette: First Lady Of Country Music, Presented By Great American Country Television Network. Country...
