Country Universe

Crystal Shawanda, “My Roots Are Showing”

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 21

It’s been a while since I’ve heard a mainstream country single that really surprised me. This one does. The song combines the basic theme of Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” with the bluesy rollick

Toby Keith, That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy

October 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 13

Toby Keith That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy As the introduction to his novel, Mother Night, Kurt Vonnegut warned, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #11: Garth and his Georges (1991)

October 28, 2008 Guest Contributor 4

#11: Garth Brooks Entertainer of the Year speech 1991 The star of Garth Brooks was burning brighter than ever by the time of the 1991 ceremony. His win for the 1990 Horizon award was only

Waylon Jennings & the .357’s, Waylon Forever

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 3

Waylon Jennings & the .357’s Waylon Forever If country music has taught us one thing over the last decade, it is to never underestimate an aging legend. With much of Nashville doing everything it can

Waylon Jennings Giveaway – “Outlaw S***”

October 28, 2008 Dan Milliken 1

On behalf of Vagrant Records, Country Universe is pleased to offer a free mp3 of “Outlaw S***,” one of the more fascinating tracks on Waylon Jennings’ recent posthumous release with the .357’s, Waylon Forever. Listen

Discussion: From Country Song to Feature Film

October 27, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 13

Tonight, CMT is screening the movie Beer For My Horses, based on the Toby Keith and Willie Nelson smash a few years back. Keith co-stars with my favorite blue collar comic, Rodney Carrington. Nelson also

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #12: Trisha Yearwood‘s coronation (1997)

October 27, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

#12: Trisha Yearwood Female Vocalist of the Year 1997 Trisha Yearwood had been nominated for numerous CMA awards in the past, but she’d often been surpassed by her peers. Her lone victory before the 1997

Discussion: Am I Not Country Enough?

October 26, 2008 Guest Contributor 20

Call Me Crazy, the latest addition to the exquisite Lee Ann Womack catalog, is a slow-burning stunner, ripe with the rich, textured lyrical and musical concepts that comprise the best of country music. But although

Discussion: Almost Famous

October 25, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 22

Sometimes an artist comes along that has a handful of hits, maybe even a gold record, but never quite makes it to stardom. They seem to be on track for fame, but it doesn’t all

Jewel, “‘Til It Feels Like Cheating”

October 25, 2008 Guest Contributor 8

Cheating songs, once so commonplace on country radio, are now relegated to near-nostalgia. When Sugarland introduced the airwaves to their award-winning ballad, “Stay,” the industry marveled at the success of a song predicated on such a