Rascal Flatts Sign With Big Machine Records

Rascal Flatts have signed a new deal with Big Machine Records, the Nashville-based label home to Taylor Swift.

NASHVILLE SKYLINE: He Made Both Patsy Cline and George Strait Soar

Hank Cochran's influence as a master country songwriter stretches from Patsy Cline to Willie Nelson to George Strait to Jamey Johnson.

Looking Back at 25 Country Artists Who Celebrated No. 1 Debut Singles

Looking back at the last two decades in country music, quite a few country superstars launched their career with a massive debut single. For example, artists like Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill and Toby Keith all peaked at No. 1 in Billboard on thei

Mark Chesnutt Tips Hat to His Heroes in Outlaw

"I really had to concentrate on not making it a Waylon Jennings tribute album," says Mark Chesnutt, speaking of his new package of country classics, Outlaw. "To me, Waylon is the ultimate Outlaw."

Gwyneth Paltrow Releases New Single, "Country Strong," on RCA Nashville

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow is releasing a single, "Country Strong," to country radio. The song shares its name with an upcoming movie, which stars Paltrow as Kelly Canter, a faded country star looking for a comeback. The film is scheduled to op

HOT DISH: Jaron and the Long Road to Love's Country Music Journey

About 10 years ago, Evan and Jaron -- the Georgia-born twins from the Lowenstein family -- played a gig at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville club in Key West, Fla., which led to a touring gig with Buffett. That led to a record deal for the identical pair. Af

Jerrod Niemann Evicts Lady A With Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury

Jerrod Niemann's Judge Jerrod and the Hung Jury roars into the No. 1 berth on Billboard's country albums chart to dislodge Lady Antebellum's Need You Now, which has held that position for the last 24 weeks.

Dierks Bentley Takes Bold Step With Acoustic Up on the Ridge

"You can define it however you want to define it -- bluegrass, country. I don't care," Dierks Bentley says about his acoustic album, Up on the Ridge.

American Idol's Michael Sarver Talks About Being the New Guy in Country

Only a few years ago, Michael Sarver was working on an oil rig in Texas. But with a lot of determination and a little bit of luck from the eighth season of American Idol, the singer-songwriter has come to a turning point in his career. His first si

NASHVILLE SKYLINE: Jimmy Webb: The Quintessential Songwriter

I think a majority of songwriters -- working in country or anywhere else -- would agree that Jimmy Webb is one of the greatest songwriters in popular music in recent decades. If not possibly and arguably the greatest songwriter. Eight Grammys his first ye

Taylor Swift Elaborates on New Music, Songwriting and Tour Memories

At the end of a 45-minute web chat with fans on Tuesday afternoon (July 20), a wide-eyed Taylor Swift exclaimed, "I'm really excited that I got to talk to you guys and answer some of the questions! I've been dying to tell you about the new record,

Nashville Singer-Songwriter Griffin House Surprises Bookstore Shoppers With a Concert

"Attention shoppers: A musical performance by Griffin House is starting now in the caf area. Thank you for visiting Borders Books and Music." It's hardly an introduction worth writing home about, but good-natured Griffin House shrugs off the interruption

Taylor Swift's New Album, Speak Now, Set for Oct. 25 Release

Taylor Swift announced that her new album, Speak Now, will be released Oct. 25.

The Grascals Dazzle With The Famous Lefty Flynn's

Listening to a Grascals album is as emotionally cleansing as getting drunk with your therapist. There's always that bracing balance between abandon and introspection and the feeling afterward that something transformative has happened.

Discovering the Real Names of Country Stars

The names of Patsy Cline and Hank Williams are etched into country music history. However, that's not their real names. Instead, Cline was born with the name Virginia Patterson Hensley. And despite the countless references to "Hank" i