Aside from the great musical performances coming from artists who perform their hit country songs along with other guest performers, the annual event has been known to attract country music’s biggest stars, adding glamour to the whole event. This year’s event was hosted by the divine Ms. Reba McEntire who has held the hosting duties for a record 12 times. At the same time, the announcement of this year’s winners sent the country music blog universe abuzz because of some historic feats achieved by winners such as Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and Miranda Lambert.

Garnering his fourth consecutive Top Male Vocalist of the Year Award, Paisley now has the sole distinction of being the only artist to win three or more consecutive honors in that category. Meanwhile, bagging the Album of the Year Award for “Revolution,” Lambert became the first solo female artist to ever win two Album of the Year awards (she previously won the same award for “Crazy Ex Girlfriend” during the 2008 awards show. Finally, not only did Underwood become the seventh female artist to win the much coveted Entertainer of the Year Award, she was given the Triple Crown Award for having won the Awards for Top Female Vocalist, Top New Female Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year, cementing her spot not just as a country music blog darling but also one of the best artists of her generation. Other top winners for the night included Lady Antebellum, winning five awards, including Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year (as artists and composers) and the Top Vocal Group Award.

Of course, the 45th Annual ACM Awards would not have been complete without the amazing performances of the scene’s reigning crop of artists belting out country songs that only they know how. This year, the awards show opened with the winning combination of Underwood and Lambert who did a duet on the 40-year-old Creedence Clearwater Revival rock hit, “Travelin’ Band.” The number was made even more memorable when they were joined onstage by fiddler Charlie Daniels and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty who composed the song. Another surprising number came from Lambert who gave a stripped down rendition of her song “The House That Built Me.” Her performance surprised everyone she is known for her fiery numbers and rocking country songs.

This year also marked the farewell ACM performance of beloved country duo, Brooks and Dunn. The fans even got to vote for which song the duo will play, and the winning song was unveiled when the duo performed “My Maria.”

The 45th Annual ACM Awards was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and was aired live on Sunday, April 18, 2010 over at CBS.

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Known for her sensuous renditions of heartfelt country songs, McCready, a native of Fort Myers, Florida, first shot to stardom when she released her debut album on 1996. The album, called “Ten Thousand Angels,” was released by BNA Records and had since been certified as a Multi-Platinum album by RIAA. This album was filled with country songs that McCready delivered in her signature style. Her subsequent album, “If I Don’t Stay the Night” (1997) was also a certified hit. Unfortunately, her third and final album BNA (“I’m Not So Tough” 1999) was commercially unsuccessful, and she never released another album from the same label. Nevertheless, McCready has been able to produce a Number One hit, “Guys Do It All the Time,” as well as the Top Ten hit country songs, “Ten Thousand Angels” and “A Girl’s Gotta Do (What a Girl’s Gotta Do).”

Unfortunately, despite her undeniable talent, she fell victim to a number of circumstances surrounding her personal life, including failed record deals, an abusive ex-boyfriend, arrests, and suicide attempts, making her a controversial figure—a mainstay in tabloid magazines and items reported throughout the country music blog scene. However, her recent stint at the third season of the hit reality show entitled, “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” helped her overcome her addiction and come to grips with her problems.

On her recent guesting at The View, Mcready was asked how she fell prey to substance abuse, to which she said it was “about one bad relationship after another, whether it be a record company relationship or with a man.” She added, “starting out having a destructive relationship with my parents in my childhood … when there would be some kind of crisis or some kind of painful thing would happen to me, it was readily available to go and drink too much.”

Although she still does not have custody of her son, Zander Ryan McCready, who was born on On March 25, 2006, McCready expressed gratitude that her son is in good hands. The once troubled country singer says she is working hard toward regaining custody of her son. “My mom is watching him now. He has been in her care … I think my mom is very good to him, and I do appreciate the fact that my mom and my stepfather have taken good care of him.”

In a bid to revive her career, McCready has also just released her latest album, the aptly titled ‘I’m Still Here.” Definitely, McCready has a lot to sing about and her fans will be looking forward to hearing her sing new country songs with much more maturity and motivation.

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The new album, released by RCA Nashville, contains 11 tracks of great country songs that only McBride can deliver: “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong,” “ Just Call You Mine,” “Sunny Side Up,” “Walk Away,” “I’m Trying,” “What Do I Have To Do,” “Don’t Cost A Dime,” “Ride,” “You’re Not Leaving Me,” “Wild Rebel Rose,” and “Lies.” In her latest album, McBride also donned the producer’s cap by serving as the co-producer, together with musician Dann Huff, whom many from the country music blog scene say, is influential in breathing new life to McBride’s traditional approach to singing country songs.

When asked about her experience collaborating with Huff on her country songs, McBride says, “It was amazing. We’ve known each other for a very long time. He’s always played guitar on my records. Being able to work with him was great. Obviously, I have a relationship and a trust there. I really admire him as a musician and a producer. He’s a very positive person, a lot of good energy. It was just a lot of fun from the beginning to the end. It was very positive–everything making a record should be.”

She further adds, “I think there’s a certain freedom to the way he makes records and a certain not a lot of pressure. He’s a great singer as well as a great musician. He has good ideas. I felt this freedom to really just open up and try different things. Plus, we’re both really big ’80s-rock fans. That was an influence we brought out in each other. I was at a space where I was ready to try something new and different and let go a little bit of the control and I was always being in control. I let him do what he does. It was a good experience.”

Thus far, the first single “Ride,” has reached the #11 spot on the Billboard Country Chart. This same single also gave her a nomination for Female Video of the Year at the 2009 CMT Music Awards. The second single, is a McBride-style ballad called “I Just Call You Mine,” which critics say, is arguably the best song in “Shine.”

Explaining the title of her album in a recent interview, McBride shared how she just loved the word “Shine. She added, “I feel like it’s really positive. It’s funny: since I named the album ‘Shine,’ I see the word everywhere. There are all kinds of stuff out now that has the word shine. It’s positive and it feels powerful. It feels like what the album’s about. It feels like what I want to do with the album, which is go out there and light up the world.”

Currently, McBride is busy promoting her album on the “SunnyD Presents Shine All Night Tour” with Trace Adkins. For tour updates and information, you can visit her website at

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The Entertainer of the Year Award cemented Underwood’s place in country music history, as she is only the 7th female to take the award in ACM’s 40-year history. She joins the ranks of previous winners such as Loretta Lynn (1975), Dolly Parton (1977), Barbara Mandrell (1980), Reba McEntire (1994), Shania Twain (1999), The Dixie Chicks (2000) and Underwood herself since she won the same award last year (2009).

Since she first came into the country music scene via her heart-warming renditions of pop and country songs as the winner of the 4th season of Fox’s hit TV show, American Idol, Underwood has continued to make her mark by bringing in a fresh sound in the music scene, making her one of the biggest selling country music stars of all time. Her debut album “Some Hearts,” which included her breakout hits such as “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” “Wasted,” and “Before He Cheats,” was certified seven times platinum and the fastest selling debut country album in Nielsen SoundScan history since 2006. In addition, it was hailed as the best-selling solo female debut album in country music history, as of February 2008.

In 2007, riding high on the success of her debut album, she released her successful sophomore effort, proving that she is no flash in the pan. Her second album, “Carnival Ride,” produced hit country songs such as “So Small,” “All-American Girl,” “Last Name,” “Just a Dream,” and “I Told You So”. Then, in 2009, she released another album of country songs entitled, “Play On,” bringing in an edgier sound exemplified by the first single, “Cowboy Casanova.” The album has since sold over 11 million copies in the US alone, surpassing her fellow Idol champion, Kelly Clarkson. Just recently, Underwood performed her single “Play On” at the 2009 CNN Heroes Awards held at The Kodak Theatre on November 21, 2009.

Apart from Underwood’s success as a country music artist, Underwood has also become a role model for young girls everywhere with her squeaky clean image and big heart. In addition, she is also a mainstay of one country music blog to another thanks to her much publicized relationship with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Now, she is happily engaged to Ottawa Senators hockey center Mike Fisher.

With her much publicized personal and professional pursuits, Underwood has gained popularity both here and abroad, making her one of the hottest country music artists of her generation. With her recent win at the recently concluded 45th Annual ACM Awards, Underwood has, no doubt, left an indelible mark in the industry.

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As the term implies, country rock is a fusion of rock and country. It used to refer to the rock musicians who added a bit of country flavor into their brand of music during the late 1960s to the early 1970s. The pioneers of this genre include Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, and the Eagles.

Country rock, at that time, tried to sway from pop culture to make a shift to hippie style and movement. At the same time, the likes of Buffalo Springfield, Neil Young, Linda Ronstadt and Poco went along with the trend. Since then, this type of music has been making popular waves into the music industry as we know of today.

What sets country rock apart from other types of country or rock music is that it utilizes one standard country instrument, may it be a pedal steel, fiddle, or bass. It also incorporates some country harmonies such as blues and boogies, which are now classified as “Southern Rock.” It can also essentially mean rock bands playing country songs.

One thing that makes this type of music very popular is the beautiful blend and harmony between country and rock. Try combining other types of music together, and it would be difficult to get what country rock has achieved all these years. The immense popularity of country rocks singers are more than a testament to how much people love, adore, and appreciate this brand of music.
Below you will find a list of some of the greatest country rock songs ever written and sang.

- Desperado – Eagles
- Take It Easy – Eagles
- Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles
- Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door – Bob Dylan
- Lay Lady Lay – Bob Dylan
- I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight – Bob Dylan
- Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You – Bob Dylan
- Heart of Gold – Neil Young
- Cowgirl in the Sand – Neil Young
- Long May You Run – Neil Young
- Time Between – The Byrds
- You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere – The Byrds
- One Hundred Years From Now – The Byrds
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
- When Will I Be Loved – Linda Ronstadt
- Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills & Nash
- Joanne – Michael Nesmith
- Panama Red – New Riders of the Purple Sage
- You Better Think Twice – Poco
- Christine’s Tune (Devil in Disguise) – The Flying Burrito Brothers
- Return of the Grevous Angel – Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris
- Falling in and out of Love – Pure Prairie League
- Seven Bridges Road – Steve Young / Eagles
- Lookin’ Out My Back Door – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- Girl From the North Country – Bob Dylan/Johnny Cash (duet)
- Broken Arrow – Buffalo Springfield
- Listen to a Country Song – Loggins & Messina
- Fallin’ in Love – Souther, Hillman, Furay Band
- Across The Great Divide – The Band
- One Hundred Years – Gram Parsons

Reading a country music blog would help you get to know more about this specific genre. For those who love both country and rock, this fusion is probably one of the best things that ever happened to the music industry.

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Regarding the single, “Best Days Are Ahead of Me,” Gokey said, “So many people knew me on the show from the tragedy of the guy who lost his wife. Before going on ‘American Idol,’ I was a very unhappy person. I was very hurt. Going on the show gave me a second chance. I followed a dream. I found a purpose. I’m happy now. I just found out through an A&R guy that the guy who wrote this song had also lost his wife and that’s why he wrote that song. I had no idea! It’s become an anthem for me. And now I relate to it even more.”

Daniel Jay Gokey, or more commonly known to mainstream fans as Danny Gokey, first caught the country’s attention when he became a finalist on the 8th season of hit Fox TV show American Idol in 2009, the year Kris Allen went on to win the title. Nevertheless, Gokey clearly made a mark among fans because of his warm personality and candor. In that same year, the 28-year-old Milwaukee native once again grabbed headlines and made the rounds of every country music blog out there when he announced that he is trying his luck in the country music scene.

Although he admits that he had a “gospel guy” vibe during his stint with the show, Gokey said he took to heart what guest judge Randy Travis said about exploring country music as a better musical option. Gokey says in an interview, “Country music has been a big influence on my life.” In fact, during his Idol stint, he covered not one, but four country songs from artists such as Lee Ann Womack and Rascal Flatts, whom he says is “one of my favorite groups.”

To the critics, he had this to say, “I always put my own voice in it. My voice is my voice. I never changed no matter what I did.” When asked about his decision to take Travis’ advice and go the country route, Gokey now says, “I’m so glad I did it.” Continuing to brush off negative comments posted from one country music blogto another, Gokey said in an interview that, “I have paid my dues,” to which he added, “I wasn’t an overnight sensation. I put in eight years of heavy work into my music while working a full-time job before ‘Idol’ came along.”

Currently, Gokey is busy preparing for his upcoming summer tour with Sugarland this summer. Preliminary dates and venues have already been announced over at his website: http://www.dannygokey.com/.

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As is traditionally known, the Academy of Country Music Awards showcases the best of what the country music scene has to offer and acknowledges the achievements of its top artists every year. This year’s celebration is no different, and the producers and organizers of the show are working very hard to make sure that they will deliver the best ACM Awards show yet. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s major performers.

Heading the list of nominees this year is Kenny Chesney with four nominations including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist, and Artist and Producer for Vocal Event of the Year for the album “I’m Alive,” which he produced with an equally talents and renowned artist, Dave Matthews. If Chesney bags the Entertainer of the Year award, it will be his fifth win in the category.

Country sweetheart Carrie Underwood is nominated for a whopping six awards this year, including Entertainer of Year, a title she has also won last year, making her the reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year. On the strength of her latest album, “Play On,” Underwood has had a banner year with hit country songs from the album such as the No. 1 single, “Cowboy Casanova.” Her other nominations include Song of the Year (“Cowboy Casanova),” Album of the Year (Play On), Female Vocalist of the Year, and Vocal Event for her duet with Randy Travis entitled, “I Told You So.” Late last year, Underwood sent the country music blog world into wild speculations regarding her engagement with Mike Fisher of the Ottawa Senators, until they eventually announced their engagement last December.

Reba McEntire, on the other hand, is a perennial favorite performer for the ACM Award. She is also set to host the event this year, her twelfth time to do so. Not to be outdone by her younger contemporaries, she also garnered a nomination this year for the Top Female Vocalist of the Year award, which she has already won in the past.

Finally, legendary duo Brooks & Dunn are sentimental favorites to win this year’s Top Vocal Duo of the Year award against the likes of Sugarland and newcomers Joey + Rory. Apart from performing in this year’s awards show, the duo will also perform all their other hit country songs and will be awarded with the Academy’s Milestone Award as a tribute to their 20-year career in the industry in the star-studded special special, “ACM Present: Brooks and Dunn- The Last Rodeo,” which will be aired on CBS on May 23. According to ACM’s official country music blog, this year’s event will be held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and will be broadcast over CBS on Sunday, April 18 (8:00-11:00 PM ET).

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A native of Maynardville, TN, Smith was known for his special brand of country music love songs such as “You Are The One,” “This Orchard Means Goodbye,” “(When You Feel Like You’re in Love) Don’t Just Stand There,” as well as hits such as “Hey Joe!,” “Let’s Live a Little,” “Cut Across Shorty,” “Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way,” and “Loose Talk.” According to a country music blog, upon his retirement in the latter part of the 1970’s, Smith was officially inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2003.

Smith’s long career first began in 1944 when he served in the military during World War II at the WROL radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee. He then performed alongside bands and artists such as Skeets Williamson, Molly O’Day, and Archie Campbell. Around that time, Smith was also writing songs and producing demos, one of which reached Troy Martin, who at that time, was an executive for Peer-Southern. Martin, in turn, brought the demo to Jack Stapp, a WSM Nashville executive, and Don Law, producer for Columbia. On the strength of his demo, Smith was signed to the label, and the rest is history.

In 1950, he appeared on the Grand Ole Opry as the guest of Hank Williams who also performed that same day; he eventually became a regular until 1956. His first hit with Columbia, “Let’s Live a Little,” came the following year and peaked at the No. 2 spot in the charts. Within a year, he had more hits including the classic country music love songs “If Teardrops Were Pennies” and his first No. 1, “Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way.” This same year also marked his marriage to June Carter, whom he would later divorce. His daughter with Carter, Carlene Carter, later became a country singer just like her famous parents. In 1957, Smith married another singer, Goldie Hill, who passed away in 2005.

As mentioned in another country music blog, aside from his hit songs, Smith was also known as one of the first group of young country stars to cross over to television and movies. Smith appeared on the “Main Street Music Hall,” and other shows such as “Stars Of Country Music.” In 1961, he also made a guest appearance on “Four Star Jubilee,” a country television series which aired over at ABC. Smith would eventually go on to host his own show, “Carl Smith’s Country Music Hall” for US and Canadian audiences.

As a successful singer, Smith stayed with Columbia Records until 1975, and then transferred to ABC/Hickory. It is with this label that he eventually decided to announce his retirement in the latter part of the 1970’s.

Known for his unique brand of country music love songs, Mr. Country will surely be missed by his fans and by the entire Nashville community.

In a recent list, men’s magazine Maxim.com named their list of the Hottest Women of Country Music today. Populating the list are very beautiful women whose looks and talent helped them make names for themselves in the scene. There are a few surprise entries here but most of the women on the list are perennial favorites and predictable entries. Maxim’s list was released in no particular so that since its release, bloggers have debated over these choices left and right. Let’s take a look at the highlights…

Julianne Hough- Topping the list is this two-time Dancing With the Stars champ who went on to become a country singer. Often described as a blond bombshell, she actually achieved critical acclaim for her self-titled debut album released in 2008.

Taylor Swift- Who doesn’t know Taylor Alison Swift? She certainly took the world by storm via her hit albums and country songs and that infamous Kanye West incident at the MTV Awards. Controversies aside, she has proven that she has the looks and the talent to sell many records and win the hearts of country and pop music fans alike.

Cheyenne Kimball- Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Kimball is one-third of exciting new band Gloriana, American Music Awards’ Breakthrough Artist of the Year for 2009. As the vocalist and mandolin and guitar player, Kimball helped catapult the band to national stardom through the songs from their chart-topping self-titled debut album, which was also released this year.

Shania Twain- Miss Twain is probably the sexiest Canadian export the pop an docuntry music scenes have ever had. Her awesome voice, not to mention her sexy and sultry look, helped her achieve a rare crossover success when her unforgettable album “Come on Over” became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician and the best-selling album in the history of country music.

Carrie Underwood- Underwood, a Checotah, Oklahoma native, is best known for her American Idol win in which she bested fellow final three Vonzell Solomon and Bo Bice. She went on to become one of the most successful alums of the competition, bagging nominations and awards from the CMA, the Grammy’s, and the AMA. In her debut year, Underwood received two Grammy awards for “Best New Artist” and “Best Female Country Vocal Performance.” Just recently, she also made history as a back to back “Entertainer of the Year” awardee from the Country Music Association.

Other noteworthy names in the list include Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Kellie Pickler, Martina McBride, and Faith Hill. For the complete list and gallery, head on over to: http://www.maxim.com/girls/girls-of-maxim/85010/hottest-women-country-music.html.

The festival is set to start with an inaugural Burbs ‘n Bush Party wherein people of all ages can come on down to the Town Square and help open the festival with free concert featuring a great line up of country music artists followed by fireworks display at 7:30 in the evening.  This shall kick off the four-day festival featuring events such as the Songwriters Cafe, theBush Poets B’fast, the talent search, the Beaut Ute Show, the Urban Blaze Concert, the Bush Balladeers program, the Farewell Concert, and many more. Of course, the highlight of the festival will be the Main Concert on Saturday which will feature the best country stars in Australia for eight hours of non-stop country music.

Already, the list of artists set to perform for the main concert includes the best of what Australia has to offer. Headlining the event will be Troy Cassar-Daley and John Williamson who will be joined onstage by fellow Australian country music luminaries, Harmony James, Kasey Chambers, Amber Lawrence and Beccy Cole, to name a few.

Troy Cassar-Daley is well known throughout the Australian country music scene for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums including his most recent effort, “I Love This Place,” which was released last April. Cassar-Daley is currently touring sold-out venues around Australia in support of this album. He has 14 Golden Guitars and three ARIAs to accompany his wildly successful tour dates. Fellow headliner John Williamson is best known for his timeless tunes such as ‘‘Raining on the Rock,” “Mallee Boy,” “True Blue,” “Rip Rip Woodchip,” and “Cootamundra Wattle.” Throughout his illustrious career, Williamson has won Golden Guitars and other prestigious awards.

Meanwhile, the lady musicians will be ably represented by Harmony James and Amber Lawrence. James is the singer behind the two hit singles, “Somebody Stole My Horse” and “Tailwind,” which was the first Australian song ever to win the country category of the International Songwriting Competition. This year, Harmony released her first full-length studio album, also entitled “Tailwind.” On the other hand, Amber Lawrence is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has performed at all the major festivals across Australia. She recently won Song of the Year at the Australian Independent Country Music Awards for the single “The Mile.”

If you would like to watch these artists perform live, you may purchase tickets sold at $26.90 – $54.90 (Early Bird); $29.90 – $64.90 (Standard); and $35.00 – $70.00 (Sold at the gate). To purchase the tickets and view other event details, you may visit the country music blog  http://www.urbancountry.com.au/