Billy Dukes

Trace Adkins performed what at least one news outlet called the GOP theme song after Ann Romney’s speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. on Tuesday night. ‘Tough People Do’ is a new song that reminds listeners that while times might be tough…

Next Wednesday (Sept. 5), the nominees for the 2012 CMA Awards will be announced. That leaves stars less than two months to plan for the Nov. 3 broadcast. That’s two months to find the perfect dress, the perfect shoes or the perfect jacket. We’ve found the most adventurous outfits from previous CMA …

Fans responded passionately to Alan Jackson‘s new single, ‘You Go Your Way,’ yesterday and last night in the Taste of Country Nights Showdown. The song easily ousted ‘Ex-Old Man’ by Kristen Kelly, meaning the country legend will move on to face a new…

Happy birthday to Shania Twain today, August 28! The singer has offered cutting-edge country music and fashion in the 18 years since releasing ‘The Woman With Me’ in 1995. While this wasn’t her debut album, its success (over 12 million copies sold in the U.S. al…

Gloriana’s new single ‘Can’t Shake You’ takes time to build, but by the second verse, the trio is able to put real hurt into a mid-tempo song about failed love and regret. The second-to-last chorus finds a Gossin brother (Tom, Mike… who ca…

Jake Owen celebrates his birthday today (Aug. 30), and as the singer looks back on many years of life and steps toward 31, he will find reason to argue it was his best ever. Two No. 1 hits, a marriage, a baby on the way and a spot on the biggest summer tour of the year with Kenny Chesney and Tim McG…

Thomas Rhett joined a select group of artists with songs in the Taste of Country Showdown Hall of Fame on Monday when ‘Beer With Jesus’ became a five-time winner. The song will now be retired, meaning today’s Showdown will feature two new artists. Remember, you …

Darius Rucker takes a simple story of two lovers who defy odds and skeptics and places it gently on a cloud in the stratosphere — a place few others can reach. ‘True Believers’ begins as a mild and unremarkable pop-country song before clever production and Rucker&CloseCur…

Last week, Randy Travis was cited with a Class C assault after a physical confrontation with his girlfriend’s estranged husband in the parking lot of a Texas church. The husband, Dr. Ritchie Beougher, claims the country superstar did much worse than inflict an “unwant…

Thomas Rhett moved his song ‘Beer With Jesus’ within one win of becoming a rare Taste of Country Showdown Hall of Famer. The singer’s fans outvoted fans of Jaida Dreyer’s ‘Confessions’ by a two-to-one-margin on Friday and Fr…

If Joanna Smith‘s new single ‘We Can’t Be Friends’ was released 30 years ago, we might call it a classic in 2012. Since the singer is relatively new, however (the sexy single ‘Georgia Mud’ barely cracked the chart in 2011 ), we&CloseC…

By 1997, Martina McBride was beginning to assert herself as the premiere female vocalist in country music, but she wouldn’t begin to take home awards until after she released ‘Evolution’ on August 26 of that year. Songs from her fourth studio album won her the Female Vocalist of the Year CMA in 1999…