Country Universe

Randy Rogers Band, Randy Rogers Band

October 11, 2008 Dan Milliken 2

Randy Rogers Band Randy Rogers Band Call it a case of high expectations. You’ve got a beloved Texas act, trusted Texas producer (Radney Foster), major-label resources, and that all-important decision to “self-title” (especially enigmatic considering

Discussion: Recommend a Track

October 10, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 20

I heard a Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn song earlier this week called “Spiders and Snakes.” It’s the funniest thing that I’ve picked up on in a good long while. It’s a track from their

Little Big Town, A Place to Land

October 10, 2008 Guest Contributor 13

Little Big Town A Place to Land Distinctive without being too derivative, Little Big Town has created a concoction of stripped-down acoustic country with pop elements, the result of which is a sound that is

Discussion: Desperately Seeking New Music

October 9, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 30

It’s been more than five years since a new studio album from Wynonna. We were supposed to get one this fall, but according to this interview, it’s been pushed back until next spring: She’s been

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #23: Patty Loveless & George Jones, “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me” (1997)

October 9, 2008 Guest Contributor 9

#23: Patty Loveless & George Jones “You Don’t Seem to Miss Me” 1997 Their partnership was a moment in hillbilly heaven, as one of the genre’s finest-ever traditional singers joined a terrific artist of the

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #24: Ladies of the ‘90s

October 9, 2008 Guest Contributor 9

#24: Ladies of the ’90s The 1990s were a time of tremendous fortune for the leading ladies of country music, with the females in the genre mining more gold and platinum than ever and selling

Discussion: CMT Giants – Alan Jackson

October 8, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 29

After previously honoring Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr., CMT is staging its third tribute concert in honor of Alan Jackson: Alan Jackson will be honored in the third installment of CMT Giants airing Dec.

Sarah Buxton, “Space”

October 8, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 17

I have a sneaking suspicion that Sarah Buxton will develop into a songwriter for the ages. She’s getting there already. “Space” builds a song around a classic break-up line – “I need space” – and

Cherryholmes, Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe

October 8, 2008 Guest Contributor 10

Cherryholmes Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe Upon listening to Cherryholmes’ latest album, Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe, you’ll remember, if you’ve been ambivalent of late, why you love music. Because at the end of the day, bluegrass

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #25: Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” (1983)

October 8, 2008 Guest Contributor 9

#25: Willie Nelson & Julio Iglesias “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before” 1983 The union of two styles of music can often produce dramatically interesting results, and so it was with the 1983 performance of