The 44th Annual ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC (ACM) Awards – Nominees & photos
Nominees were announced at a Nashville press conference on February 11, 2009 at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. Stars who took part in announcing the nominations included: Julianne Hough, LeAnn Rimes, Jessica Simpson and Kellie Pickler. The nominations were read during the live broadcast of CBS' The Early Show. The Academy of Country Music Awards air live on CBS, April 5, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. ET. The fans get to vote again for Entertainer of the Year. Fans will also have the chance for the first time to cast their votes for the Top New Artist category. Brad Paisley leads with six nominations including Entertainer of the Year, Top Male Vocalist... Read full release + view photos
FEATURES
Artists On The Rise: Profiles
by the CountryMusicOnline.net staff
NEW PROFILES!
Lee Brice » Luke Bryan » Jason Michael Carroll » Carter's Chord » Kristy Lee Cook » Bucky Covington
Cole Deggs » Ashley Gearing » Adam Gregory » Julianne Hough » Jewel » Lady Antebellum » Marcel
Jeremy McComb » Lori McKenna » Jason Meadows » Ashley Monroe » Heidi Newfield » James Otto
Darius Rucker » Ashton Shepherd » Phil Stacey » Jessica Simpson » Taylor Swift » AND MORE...
STAR Meet & Greet: Fan Photos!
NEW M&G PICS!
Check out our NEW Star Meet & Greet fan photo page! We just added several new meet & greet pics taken with Eric Church! Plus, see our new pics from fans pictured with Chris Young, Billy Currington, Chuck Wicks, Jamey Johnson, Buddy Jewell & more!
Do you want your picture with your favorite star on our Star Meet & Greet page? Click here to submit your photo!
KENNY CHESNEY – 'Lucky Old Sun' Review – by Sarah Wyland
One of my favorite albums of all time is Kenny Chesney’s Be As You Are: Songs From An Old Blue Chair. Some of my favorite song lyrics are from that album and it is the album I reach for when I need to mellow out after a stressful day. Maybe I like it because I share the same love and respect of the water as Kenny or maybe it’s because I too like the Rasta reggae rhythms like the girl from Boston... I don’t know. I just know that when I’m stressed, Kenny’s songs from that old blue chair put me at ease every time. Now though, I may be reaching for his latest release, Lucky Old Sun, instead. With Lucky Old Sun, Kenny makes a departure from his fun loving, summertime party anthems in... Read full review
JESSICA SIMPSON – 'Do You Know' Review – by Sarah Wyland
Jessica Simpson has been criticized for her country music ambitions since the very first reports began leaking out that she was looking into recording a country album. The criticism continued after her first single was released to radio, accompanied by MySpace sites dedicated to protesting Jessica as a country artist. Jessica pushed ahead with her plans, however and spent the summer months working her way around the fair and festival circuit, just like any other new country act would. She also signed on to open - yes, open - for Rascal Flatts on the winter leg of their tour. Her willingness to work her way up from the bottom speaks volumes about her commitment to a country career. And.... Read full review
NEW REVIEW!
TAYLOR SWIFT – 'Fearless' Review – by Sarah Wyland
The name ‘Taylor Swift’ has become synonymous with phrases like ‘teen titan’ and ‘country’s new queen’ – heavyweight titles that come with heavy pressure to remain on top. Her debut album did far better than a new artist could hope for, spawning five top five singles, two number ones and selling over three million copies. Naturally, anticipation was high and the pressure was on leading up to the release of her sophomore album, Fearless. No fear was necessary, however, as Taylor’s second effort easily swerves the fabled sophomore slump. The album’s title track leads off the album. A catchy song about falling in love, “Fearless” is a song bound for radio. Taylor’s songwriting ability is.... Read full review
NEW REVIEW!
NEW REVIEW!
The 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards – Nominee + winner list!
For recordings released during the Eligibility Year - October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008
This is a partial list of Grammy nominees and winners. Only select categories showing any involvement with COUNTRY music are listed. Best Female Country Vocal Performance: Last Name by Carrie Underwood from the album Carnival Ride.................. Best Male Country Vocal Performance: Letter To Me by Brad Paisley from the album 5th Gear............ Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: Stay by Sugarland from the album Enjoy The Ride.............. Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: Killing The Blues by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss...... See all nominees + winners
2008 FEATURES
JANUARY 2008
Rodney Good feature (musician spotlight, photos, interview)
2008 Preview (highlights from 2007 + a preview of 2008)
Taylor Swift: An Unstoppable Force (featured article)
The Triumph of Rascal Flatts (CMA featured article)
Country Artists Join Together For Charity -- CharityBuzz
Watch ASHTON SHEPHERD'S debut video
FEBRUARY 2008
Little Big Town: 'A Place To Land' (Review, lyrics, photos)
Studio Spotlight: Studio 515 (feature, interview)
Chuck Wicks review ("Starting Now")
'Ultimate Grammy Collection' review / GRAMMY Awards preview
Dierks Bentley Fan Project - Greatest Hits Album - Press release
MARCH 2008
Jason Meadows review ('100% Cowboy')
Luke Laird feature (songwriter spotlight, photos, interview)
James Otto review ('Sunset Man')
APRIL 2008
Trey Matthews feature (songwriter spotlight, photos, interview)
"2008 CMT Music Awards" Winners
Lady Antebellum's Debut Album Lands At #1 - Press release
Tim Bezy & Nathan Wade feature (songwriter spotlight, interview)
George Strait review + full album lyrics ('Troubadour')
MAY 2008
The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards (Nominees, winners, photos + press!)
It's A Taylor Swift Take-Over On MTV
Chris Cagle review ('My Life's Been A Country Song')
Heath Hensley feature (indie spotlight, photos, interview)
Ben Clark [Musician w/ Taylor Swift] (feature, interview, photos)
Lady Antebellum review ("Lady Antelbellum") + wallpapers
JUNE 2008
TV Spotlight: 'Can You Duet' – Meet the contestants + more!
TV Spotlight: 'Nashville Star' – Read more about the show!
Julianne Hough: 'Julianne Hough' – Album Review
JULY 2008
6 CHIX To Perform in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Get To Know Jamey Johnson
TV Spotlight: 'American Idol' – about the show + country stars after Idol
Festival Spotlight: '2008 CMA Music Festival' (press, photos + more)
AUGUST 2008
The 2008 Video Music Awards (VMAs) – Taylor Swift quotes
Ashton Shepherd feature (Review, bio, cut by cut, news + more!)
SEPTEMBER 2008
Mica Roberts interview (photos, interview)
Colbie Caillat & Taylor Swift Collaborate On New Song
Kenny Chesney Leads With 7 Nominations for the CMA Awards
Randy Rogers Band spotlight (Biography, cut by cut, photos, more)
OCTOBER 2008
Zac Brown Band (bio, quick facts, photos + listen to "Chicken Fried")
Sugarland review ('Love On The Inside')
NOVEMBER 2008
Keith Anderson review ('C'Mon')
Heidi Newfield review ('What Am I Waiting For')
George Strait Surpasses Record For Most Trophies In CMA Awards History with 22 At "The 42nd Annual CMA Awards"
DECEMBER 2008
Holiday Special 2008 - a list of all the latest Christmas CDs
2008 Year In Review/2009 Preview - A few highlights from 2008, plus a preview of what to look forward to in 2009
Darius Rucker review ('Learn To Live')
2006
JANUARY 2006
George Strait tour feature with special guests Tracy Lawrence & Miranda Lambert (set lists, review, photos)
FEBRUARY 2006
Rascal Flatts tour feature with Blake Shelton (set lists, review, photos)
Keith Urban feature (photos, lyrics, reviews)
Miranda Lambert feature (photos, lyrics, reviews)
Billy Currington feature (photos, lyrics, reviews)
MARCH 2006
Montgomery Gentry Underground fan club feature (interview with MG musician Eddie Kilgallon)
Megan Mullins single review
Drew Davis Band EP review
APRIL 2006
Rascal Flatts feature (review, wallpapers, photos)
Nashville Underground Vol. 4 review
Johnny Bulford feature (interview)
MAY 2006
Kenny Chesney tour feature with Sugarland, Dierks Bentley & special guest Uncle Kracker (set lists, review, photos)
Dierks Bentley feature (review, lyrics, photos)
Sugarland feature (review, lyrics, photos)
Julie Roberts feature (review, lyrics, photos)
The Wreckers feature (review, lyrics, photos)
Danielle Peck review
Rockie Lynn review
Phil Vassar Greatest Hits review
JUNE 2006
Little Big Town review
JULY 2006
Candy Coburn (interview)
NHW Songwriters Tour (interview)
PovertyNeck Hillbillies (interview, review)
Randy Rogers Band (bio, lyrics, photos)
Pure Prairie League review
AUGUST 2006
Tommy Emmanuel (interview, review)
SEPTEMBER 2006
Carrie Underwood feature (review, lyrics, photos, wallpapers)
Chris Young feature (review, lyrics, photos, wallpapers)
CMA Awards:
OCTOBER 2006
NOVEMBER 2006
Carolina Rain feature (interview)
Taylor Swift review
DECEMBER 2006
Tom Wurth review
2006/2007 FEATURES
2007
FEBRUARY 2007
Carrie Underwood (featured article: America's Sweetheart)
Rachel Proctor feature (songwriter spotlight, interview)
Ryan Ochsner feature (musician spotlight, photos, interview)
The 49th Annual Grammy Awards (Partial nominee, winner list)
Dierks Bentley (Long Trip Alone" review)
MARCH 2007
Gary Allan CD spotlight (Bio, audio, tour dates, lyrics, wallpapers)
Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, & Ray Price (Last of the Breed CD spotlight - bio, photos, track listing, audio, news)
Halfway To Hazard (short bio, "Daisy" review, lyrics)
APRIL 2007
Bucky Covington (Season 5 American Idol Finalist: Lyrics)
American Idol - "Country Week" (Idol feature & contestant news)
Spotlight Music Series (Track Listings, Audio, News, Review)
Jason Michael Carroll feature (Review, bio, lyrics, wallpapers)
Tracy Broussard feature (musician spotlight, interview)
The 42nd Annual ACM Awards (Nominees, winner list)
MAY 2007
Tammy Cochran feature (interview)
Jimmy Wayne review (CRKA / Benefit Concert Review)
Daniel Lee Martin feature (interview, review, bio, news, TV show info)
Craig Morgan feature (interview, review, bio, news)
JUNE 2007
Little Big Town feature (interview, photos, wallpapers, review, music)
Martina McBride review (Waking Up Laughing review, lyrics)
The Road To Nashville Online Contest (interview with Jamie O'Neal)
JULY 2007
Adam Shoenfeld feature (interview, photos)
Cracker Barrel (featured article)
AUGUST 2007
2007 Triple Threat Tour review (review, photos)
Ryan Ochsner update (musician spotlight, photos, *new interview)
American Idol Tour 2007 review (review, partial set lists)
SEPTEMBER 2007
Trisha Yearwood CD spotlight (Greatest Hits spotlight, audio, news)
Billy Joe Shaver CD spotlight (bio, audio, tour dates, timeline)
Martina McBride spotlight (Reader's Digest feature, interview excerpts)
Halfway To Hazard feature (feature, interview, wallpapers, etc...)
OCTOBER 2007
Rascal Flatts review (Still Feels Good)
Reba McEntire review (Reba Duets) [+ bio, audio/video, photos...]
35th Annual American Music Awards – Nominee List + winners
Montgomery Gentry: Fan Club Spotlight (interview, feature)
Kenny Chesney review (Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates)
Songs 4 Worship feature (Interview with Teddy Gentry [Alabama])
Kellie Coffey feature (interview, video)
NOVEMBER 2007
The 41st Annual CMA Awards (Nominee/Winner list)
The Next Great American Band (TV Feature) - 'The Clark Brothers'
CMT On Tour 2007: Sugarland Change (Tour Feature)
Carrie Underwood review (Carnival Ride)
DECEMBER 2007
Holiday CD Guide – A list of Christmas Releases in '07
Gary Allan review (Living Hard)
Josh Turner review (Everything Is Fine)
Musician Spotlight: Annie Clements (Musician with SUGARLAND)
ARCHIVES: 2003-2005
2003
MAY 2003
Marcel feature (interview)
Jeff Carson feature (interview)
JUNE 2003
Ricochet feature (interview)
Steve Azar feature (interview)
AUGUST 2003
SEPTEMBER 2003
NOVEMBER 2003
DECEMBER 2003
2004
FEBRUARY 2004
Emerson Drive (interview)
APRIL 2004
MAY 2004
Tracy Lawrence feature (interview)
John Arthur Martinez feature (interview)
JUNE 2004
Feature Story: Two Shots of Whiskey (A Look at songs by Toby Keith and Alison Krauss)
AUGUST 2004
OCTOBER 2004
NOVEMBER 2004
Ty Nelson feature (interview)
Angie Broberg feature (interview)
Julie Roberts feature (interview)
PLUS- reviews on: Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, BR549, Angie Broberg, George Canyon, Mark Chesnutt, Glenn Cummings, Forty5 South, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Craig Morgan, David Lee Murphy, Ty Nelson, Danni O'Neill, Restless Heart, Charlie Robison, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Gretchen Wilson, Pete Schlegel, Conway Twitty and more!
2005
JANUARY 2005
Marcel (updated interview)
BR549 (interview)
MARCH 2005
JUNE 2005
JULY 2005
Billy Gilman feature (interview)
SEPTEMBER 2005
NOVEMBER 2005
DECEMBER 2005
J.C. Andersen feature (interview)
Jon Michaels feature (interview)
PLUS- reviews on: The RoadHammers, Carrie Underwood, Mark Trail Music, Gary Allan, Sara Evans, Billy Currington, Johnny Bulford, Jon Randall, Terri Clark, Montgomery Gentry, Trisha Yearwood, J.C. Andersen, Shelly Fairchild, Warren Brothers, Eli Young Band, Lonestar, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Phil Vassar, Ryan Shupe, Hot Apple Pie and more!
Also see: 2005-2007 CMA Closeup featured articles:
Ed Hill, Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, Pat Green, Miranda Lambert, Little Jimmy Dickens, Craig Morgan, Kevin Maines, Charlie Daniels, George Canyon, Brent Maher, Keni Thomas, Nashville Star, LeAnn Rimes, The Grascals, Manuel, Fanny Grace, Deana Carter, Shelly Fairchild, Jamie O'Neal, Keith Anderson, Kenny Greenberg, The Wrights, Sawyer Brown, Van Zant, Blaine Larsen, Bill Gubbins, Joey Daniels, Tom T. Hall, Hanna-McEuen, CMA Music Festival, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Jerry Reed, Hot Apple Pie, Tantowi Yahya, Danni O'Neill, Billy Joe Walker Jr., Forty5 South, The Jordanaires, Bobby Pinson, Tim Nichols, The Greencards, Thom Oliphant, Jace Everett, SESAC, Lauren Lucas, JoDee Messina, The Hacienda Brothers, LeAnn Womack, Country Music Hall of Fame, CMA Awards, Catherine Britt, Trisha Yearwood, Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband, Trick Pony, Cowboy Troy, XM Satellite, Sirius Radio, Rick Schroder, Jerry Douglas, Terri Clark, Ragsdale, Jon Randall, Craig Sellers, Charles Fazzino, Trace Adkins, Brooks & Dunn, Walter Miller, MusiCares, Teresa Wade, Bering Strait, Shooter Jennings, Eddie Bush, Aimee Mayo, Brittany Wells, Faith Hill, Shawn King, Roger Murrah, Erika Jo, George Jones, Heather Lynn Williams, Rhonda Vincent, Jimmie Wilson, SONY BMG, Carrie Underwood, Universal Music Group, CherryHolmes, Shane Owens, Luke Stricklin, Ray Scott, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bo Bice, Chris Cagle, Jamey Johnson, Rivers Rutherford, Brice Long, Martina McBride, Joey Martin, Big & Rich, Rockie Lynne, Marty Stuart, John Corbett, Danielle Peck, Dolly Parton, Trent Tomlinson, Todd Fritsch, Brad Paisley, Susan Haynes, GAC, Hillary Lindsey, Bobby Bare, Jason McCoy, Aaron Tippin, The Wreckers, Kris Kristofferson, Megan Mullins, Tracy Lawrence, Bomshel, Rusty Walker, Ashley Monroe, Louise Scruggs, Jake Owen, Tootsie's, Kenny Rogers, Rhonda Towns, Radney Foster, Gary Bennett, Jessi Colter, Natalie Howard, Sugarland, Bill Anderson, Gary Nichols, Lost Trailers, Henry Cho, Josh Turner, Eric Church, Chris Young, Neil Thrasher, Taylor Swift, MySpace, Country DVDs, Ronan Keating, Ray Price, Raul Malo, Rodney Crowell, Country Music in 2006, New Artists in 2007,Troy Tomlinson, CMT Loaded, College for the Music Business, 903 Music, and MORE!
