Billy Dukes

New label, same sound for Tim McGraw. His new single ‘One of Those Nights’ falls in line with the soaring ballads from the singer’s last half-decade. The song’s production value battles the simplicity of the storyline during this just-released-to-radio cut from the upcoming ‘Two Lanes of Freedom‘ album.

Hurricane Sandy crashed into the east coast on Monday night, and Trace Adkins was among a handful of country singers trying to stay safe in the Big Apple. Chely Wright and Billy Ray Cyrus also took to Twitter to describe what was happening as the 100-year storm flooded the New Jersey and New York coastline.

With George Strait announcing a retirement from the road after his next tour, it’s tempting to gush all over his new single ‘Give It All We Got Tonight’ like a school girl going on about a cute new teacher. A wave of nostalgia threatens objectivity, even though Strait will still be recording after 2014. The first song from his upcoming new album can be summed up in three words…

While Halloween isn't until Wednesday (Oct. 31), country music stars put on their costumes to celebrate at concerts and events over the weekend. Hands down, these are the scariest, the sexiest and the most creative country music Halloween costumes for 2012. You may never look at these singers the same again!

Neal McCoy‘s first album after releasing a greatest hits collection in June 1997 was praised for being smooth and easy to listen to, but at least one reviewer hoped McCoy would have been more adventurous. The singer unleashed ‘Be Good at It’ 15 years ago today (Oct. 28).

Watch as the emcee of this talent show does a double-take just a few notes into Kortney Jean’s rendition of ‘Blue’ by LeAnn Rimes. He turns from his stereo and looks over the rims of his glasses as if to say, “Daaaang girl!” The 7-year-old’s performance is truly exceptional.

The third and final presidential debate was Monday night, and like millions of Americans, many of country music’s biggest stars watched and reacted. A few got fired up about claims made by both presidential candidates, while others — like Brad Paisley — cracked a few jokes to followers on Twitter.

After just one episode of ‘Nashville,‘ it’s difficult to imagine how the show’s first radio single is going to fit in with the storyline. ‘Telescope’ by Hayden Panettiere — Juliette Barnes on the show — is a rollicking pop-country song about keeping track of one’s man as his eyes wander. After the pilot, it seems like women in ‘Nashville’ need to have telescopic eyes to keep an eye on Barnes, as she climbs aboard everything with a Y chromosome.

Country fans angry with Billboard’s new chart computing methodology have begun an online petition to convince the publication to change its mind. A post at Change.org argues that the changes announced this week favor artists with crossover success (Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum), while making it even more difficult to break a new artist.

While the ‘Nashville‘ premiere episode on ABC was loaded with country music, one performance at the very end by characters Scarlett O’Connor and Gunnar Scott (played by Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio) is receiving the most attention. The song — ‘If I Didn’t Know Better’ — was written and originally recorded by a male/female duet that became a Grammy winning act in 2012.

What’s remarkable about Hunter Hayes‘s three singles — including his newest, ‘Somebody’s Heartbreak’ — is the consistency. There is nothing amateur about this country newcomer. All three fly flat along a bar raised high above the reach of many Nashville singers, both young and old.

From the very first notes of Craig Morgan‘s new single ‘More Trucks Than Cars,’ you’ll know you’re in for a no tricks, no twists country song from the man who’s made a living painting a scenic picture of rural America. The song is as genuine as any Morgan has released. It’s only muted by his own strong catalog of (other) farm boy hits.