Country Universe

Dolly Parton Night on American Idol: Rating the Performances

April 1, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 15

I’d be hard-pressed to name a better catalog of country music to choose from for American Idol than Dolly Parton’s. It’s deep with fantastic songs, and she’s recorded them in enough styles for them to

100 Greatest Women, #88: Marijohn Wilkin

March 31, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 1

100 Greatest Women #88 Marijohn Wilkin Much like Jeanne Pruett a few years later, Marijohn Wilkin became a successful female songwriter during the days when male domination was near-complete. Cindy Walker and Felice Bryant had

Say What? – Taylor Swift

March 30, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 4

Asked how she feels about her newfound stardom, and the difficulties that come along with it, Taylor Swift told Billboard : Balancing all this is not hard. I mean what do I have to complain

100 Greatest Women, #89: Jeanne Pruett

March 28, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 2

100 Greatest Women #89 Jeanne Pruett Grand Ole Opry legend Jeanne Pruett is often dismissed as a one-hit wonder, despite charting several top ten hits. Such is often the case when an artist records a

100 Greatest Women, #90: Miranda Lambert

March 27, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 21

100 Greatest Women #90 Miranda Lambert Emerging in era of country music noticeably short on compelling new female artists, Miranda Lambert quickly established herself as one of those rare acts that appeals to both mainstream

Eric Church, “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love)”

March 27, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 24

Eric Church returns with the first single from his upcoming sophomore album, and it’s a classic country storyline. The poor boy competing with the rich boy for a woman’s affections. He doesn’t have

100 Greatest Women, #91: Roba Stanley

March 26, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 4

100 Greatest Women #91 Roba Stanley It’s a historical fact that is taken for granted. Women in country music were as limited in expressing their liberation in song as they were in real life. There’s

Discussion: Favorite Love Songs?

March 26, 2008 Leeann Ward 20

While country music is widely known for its drinkin’, Cheatin’ and religious songs, love songs have a highly prominent place in the genre as well. In fact, I argue that country music is the home

100 Greatest Women, #92: Gretchen Peters

March 25, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 7

100 Greatest Women #92 Gretchen Peters There was a brief period in the mid-nineties where it seemed like the women in country music had seized control over the genre, artistically and commercially. When women swept

100 Greatest Women, #93: Sweethearts of the Rodeo

March 24, 2008 Kevin John Coyne 7

100 Greatest Women #93 Sweethearts of the Rodeo When you name your duo after a seminal country-rock album, you’re making a big statement about both where you came from and where you’re planning to go