Country Universe

Discussion: Pick the Grammy Nominees – Best Female Country Vocal Performance

October 18, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 26

The Grammy nominations are a little less surprising when you see the first ballot. The Grammys allow potential nominees to submit what they consider their best work of the year for consideration. After a panel

Discussion: Songs About Mama

October 17, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

I went on a long road trip this summer up the west coast of the United States. To keep me company, I threw in a few books on disc, and a bunch of random CDs.

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #18: Deana Carter, Single of the Year sprint (1997)

October 17, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

#18: Deana Carter Single of the Year, “Strawberry Wine” 1997 Deana Carter entered the 1997 CMA Awards with a leading five nominations, and when “Strawberry Wine” won Single of the Year over the widely predicted

Discussion: Favorite Live Songs

October 16, 2008 Guest Contributor 31

While there is something to be said for the perfection of an album cut, there is nothing quite like the raw emotional power of the live song: the catch in the artist’s voice, the audience

George Strait, <em>Classic Christmas</em>

October 16, 2008 Leeann Ward 2

Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”

October 16, 2008 Dan Milliken 10

In my earlier review of the single “Chicken Fried,” I criticized co-writers Zac Brown and Wyatt Durrette for penning what struck me as an uncreative, thoughtless appeal to Southern pride. It frankly wasn’t my favorite

Classic CMA Awards Moments, #19: Reba McEntire, Female Vocalist of the Year acceptance speech (1984)

October 16, 2008 Guest Contributor 0

#19: Reba McEntire Female Vocalist of the Year victory 1984 Reba McEntire established her credentials so well that the Female Vocalist of the Year trophy would eventually be hers for four years running, but at

Brooks & Dunn, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”

October 16, 2008 Guest Contributor 19

Choose Your Own Adventure Page 1: A little girl and her father are outside on a sunny day, and he assists her as she rides her (bike, Page 2; horse, Page 3). Page 2: He

Darius Rucker, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long”

October 16, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 6

Darius Rucker has an everyman’s voice that is tailor made for singalong choruses, which is one of the reasons those early Hootie singles were so infectious. It’s also one of the reasons his transition to

Discussion: Quantity or Quality?

October 15, 2008 Guest Contributor 31

Country Universe has featured two country acts in the past couple of days who have taken vastly different approaches to their careers – Kenny Chesney and the Dixie Chicks. Kenny Chesney, it can be argued,