Billy Dukes

Luke Bryan has two songs on the Top 40 Country Songs for December 2012 list -- both in the Top 10 -- but neither is the month's hottest. It's a repeat honor for one country duo, who just one year ago were unsigned newcomers looking for a break.

The Band Perry make a big leap this month, and new s

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'Changed,' the new single from Rascal Flatts, feels more personal than anything the trio has released up to this point in their decade-plus long career. The song, the title track from their 2012 album, was co-written by Gary LeVox, who talks about his relationship with God instead of just using his name conversationally as he's done in songs before.

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For the second straight year, the country music industry tossed their razors and shaving cream in the garbage in an effort to help the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. No Shave November raised almost $30,000 in 2011. This year, country stars like Casey James and Thompson Square's Keifer Thompson are helping the industry surpass $100,000. So, which artist has the best face fur?

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Next Christmas season, Carrie Underwood will bring us the gift of music. The 'Blown Away' superstar will play the role of Maria von Trapp in a live broadcast of the famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical 'The Sound of Music.' The singer takes on a role made famous first by Mary Martin on Broadway, then by Julie Andrews in the 1965 Oscar-winning movie of the same name.

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Trace Adkins upset some viewers during his performance of 'We Three Kings' and 'The Christmas Song' at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting Wednesday night, which was broadcast nationwide on NBC. The actual performance was stirring and elegant, however, Adkins' Confederate flag earpiece is what people have been talking about since.

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Season 1, Episode 7 of 'Nashville' featured three original songs, one of which was written by a star of the ABC drama. The music from the show continues to come from top Nashville songwriters, both legends and newcomers. It's a special blend that keeps you leaning toward the television to hear the next surprise tune.

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The year has ended with a flourish of high-profile collaborations from top country music stars. Jason Aldean pulled two of the hottest males artists in Nashville into the same room to record 'The Only Way I Know' in 2012, while Kelly Clarkson convinced Vince Gill to lend his voice and guitar to 'Don't Rush.' These are the most recent, but hardly the only collaborations from the banner year. What was the best musical match-up from 2012?

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Taste of Country Radio is now available for online streaming. The station, hosted on TasteofCountry.com, features the latest hits from your favorite country stars. You'll find the webstream running nonstop and commercial free, with absolutely nothing to distract you from hit songs by Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and all the newest and most dependable hitmakers. 

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On Tuesday (Nov. 27), both members of Team Blake found themselves on the safe side of elimination, but another judge on NBC's 'The Voice' was not so lucky. Christina Aguilera watched the rest of her team say goodbye, leaving two members from Teams Adam, CeeLo and Blake Shelton. Who do you think will win Season 3 of 'The Voice'?

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Tim McGraw could make a pretty strong Christmas album if he chose to do so. His new release 'Mary and Joseph' is a creative -- but not too creative -- interpretation of the story of Jesus' birth. McGraw tells it like he's told the best stories of his two decade-long career, with a sweet reverence for the struggles his characters are living through.

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Rascal Flatts Jay DeMarcus admits he used to pay quite a bit of attention to the criticisms lobbed at his trio. In a clip from their new 'All Access & Uncovered' DVD, made available for online viewing exclusively at Taste of Country, the bassist says that in recent years he's become far less annoyed by people who want to call them a boyband. 

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Frank Dycus, the man who helped write hit songs like 'Marina del Ray' for George Strait and 'Gonna Get a Life' for Mark Chesnutt, has died. The songwriter had over 500 songs published during a 45-year career that included many works with frequent Strait songwriter Dean Dillon.

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