Byron Gallimore – Country Universe

100 Greatest Women, #62: Jo Dee Messina

June 6, 2018 Kevin John Coyne 9

Jo Dee Messina embraced the girl power era of the late nineties, becoming one of the genre’s biggest stars of that era.

100 Greatest Women, #91: Lori McKenna

March 21, 2018 Kevin John Coyne 8

Lori McKenna’s talent as a songwriter has made her a major player in mainstream country, while she has also cultivated a consistent career as an Americana artist.

2016 CMA Nominations

August 31, 2016 Kevin John Coyne 13

This year’s CMA Nominations have been announced, and there are some major changes afoot, including some surprising inclusions (Maren Morris!) and even more surprising omissions (Blake Shelton!) Here’s who will compete this fall at the

CMA Awards 2014: Staff Predictions and Picks

November 2, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 29

Despite the Grammys and even the ACM’s demonstrating more consistent taste over the past few years, the CMA’s remain the most significant industry awards that honor country music. This year’s slate of nominees gives the

2014 CMA Nominations

September 6, 2014 Kevin John Coyne 49

This year’s CMA nominees are the best in years, with multiple nominations for Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, and Brandy Clark. Country radio may still be shunning women, but their embrace by CMA voters suggests that

Album Review: Tim McGraw, <i>Two Lanes of Freedom</i>

February 15, 2013 Ben Foster 8

Tim McGraw
Two Lanes of Freedom

Though Tim McGraw’s music was among the best to be heard on country radio in the late nineties and early two thousands, recent years have seen his choice of material embarking on a gradual downward slide before bottoming out entirely with last year’s Curb Records swan song Emotional Traffic. With McGraw’s recent output being what it is, and with him now being in the clutches of Scott Borchetta, it’s hard to approach Two Lanes of Freedom with high expectations.