Country Universe

Country Universe Staff: 2008 CMA Personal Picks

November 11, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 20

As we gear up for tomorrow night’s CMA Awards Show, the staff of Country Universe share our personal picks in all categories. Check back tomorrow for our predictions in each category. Our third annual Live

Review: George Strait, “River of Love”

November 11, 2008 Guest Contributor 6

Country icon George Strait follows the title track of his latest album, Troubadour, with the new, calypso-laced “River of Love.” Troubador is light on radio-friendly material, and MCA leaves the Patty Loveless duet (“House of Cash”) and

News: Terri Clark Returns to Her Roots

November 11, 2008 Guest Contributor 11

Reba McEntire isn’t the only country star recharging her creative batteries with a career change this month. In an announcement on her website last week, Terri Clark informed her fan club that she would be

News: Reba McEntire signs with Valory Music

November 11, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 11

Wow. Country superstar Reba McEntire has ended her 25-year association with MCA Nashville and signed with the Valory Music Co. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move reunites 2007 Billboard Woman of the

Taylor Swift, Fearless

November 11, 2008 Guest Contributor 23

Taylor Swift Fearless Teenage juggernaut Taylor Swift has excelled by confessing the passionate, often-painful contents of her adolescent life. As a result, she’s redefining Nashville’s standard of procedures in terms of her musical direction and

Joey + Rory, The Life of a Song

November 11, 2008 Leeann Ward 11

Joey + Rory The Life of a Song The husband and wife duo, Joey + Rory, have won over a legion of country music fans with their appearances on CMT’s Can You Duet? competition show.

Discussion: Key Albums of the ’00s (So Far)

November 10, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 23

Since Dan has clearly tapped into a burning nostalgia for the first decade of this century, I’ll ask the logical follow-up question: What are the key albums of the decade, so far? For me, the

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #1: Alan Jackson, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) (2001)

November 10, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

#1: Alan Jackson “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” 2001 Alan Jackson’s brilliant tribute to the tragedy of September 11 met a subdued audience when the CMA show was held just two months

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #2: Alan Jackson, “Pop a Top” (1999)

November 10, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#2: Alan Jackson “Pop a Top” 1999 At the 1999 ceremony, George Jones, just months removed from a near-fatal car accident, was nominated for Single of the Year for his autobiographical ballad “Choices.” When CMA

Review: Keith Urban, “Sweet Thing”

November 9, 2008 Dan Milliken 7

Keith Urban and Monty Powell have always known their way around a shimmering pop hook, so it’s no surprise to hear their latest offering burst into a big, sunny, singalong chorus. What is surprising is