Roughstock.com

American Music Awards Predicitons

Taylor Swift is nominated for six American Music Awards and like her recent sweep of the Country Music Association, I don't see how she doesn't come away with more awards. There are also Male Artist and Country Group categories up for grabs on Sunday night.

Get To Know Trent Tomlinson

Here's Trent Tomlinson in his own words. The video biography details his life, how he got to where he is and why he thinks "Angels Like Her" is the right song to be releasing right now.

Kevin Fowler Signs With Lyric Street

Roughstock has learned today that Texas music star Kevin Fowler (the songwriter of "Beer Bait & Ammo," "Long Line of Losers,") who formerly had a national record deal with Clint Black's Equity Records, has signed a deal with Disney-owned Lyric Street Records.

Joe Nichols - Gimmie That Girl

Here's Joe Nichols' latest video. It's for the second single from "Old Things New."

Norah Jones - Cry, Cry, Cry

Watch a great live performance of the classic Johnny Cash song "Cry, Cry, Cry" from Norah Jones.

2009-11-20

Montgomery Gentry - Oughta Be More Songs About That

listen to the latest single from Montgomery Gentry.

Josh Kelley - Backwoods

Sometimes an album can be a surprising experience and Josh Kelley's newest project, the digital release "Backwoods" is one of those. It's surprising because it showcases him at his roots, the way he started his career. It's a completely acoustic album with memorable melodies and lyrics that never fails to satisfy.

Kevin Fowler - Long Line of Losers

Listen to Kevin Fowler's original version of the song made popular by Montgomery Gentry.

Keith Urban - "'Til Summer Comes Around"

Keith Urban has scored three huge hits from Defying Gravity yet not one of them has featured lyrical content that went beyond whimsy. With his fourth single off the record, did the Aussie superstar manage to release a meaty lyric and melody?

Danny Gokey - My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me

After hearing this song, Danny's label team at RCA Nashville has decided to go with this song as the single instead.

Singer/Songwriter Josh Kelley signs Nashville Record Deal

It looks as if Brad Paisley, Bryan White and Keith Urban have company at the country singers married to hollywood stars table as Singer/Songwriter Josh Kelley, who is married to Katherine Heigl has signed a record deal with UMG Nashville.

Vote For Gloriana as Breakthrough Artist of the Year for the American Music Awards

Rising country act Gloriana will be representing country music, along with Taylor Swift, this coming Sunday when the American Music Awards program is telecast on ABC TV. The Embem/Warner Brothers Quartet is up for Breakthrough Artist Of The Year.

Taylor Swift Sues Small Idaho Bar?

It has been reported today that Taylor Swift has joined BMI in a lawsuit against a small little Idaho sports bar called The Sports Cellar. The lawsuit claims that the bar hasn't payed BMI for the right to play their songwriter's songs over their speakers. Can you believe this?

Brantley Gilbert - G.R.I.T.S.

Georgia artist Brantley Gilbert recently released A Modern Day Prodigal Son nationally. Here's the single.

Brantley Gilbert - Modern Day Prodigal Son

Georgia has been a hotbed for alternative and rock music for years now but it seems as if the tide has turned towards country with the success of the Zac Brown Band, Sugarland and Colt Ford. Will Brantley Gilbert Follow them to success?

2009-11-19

Sugarland - Gold and Green

For their first Holiday themed release, Sugarland presents something that feels like the best of both worlds. Composed of 10 tracks, the album features five standard "classics" with five newly written originals.

Lee Ann Womack Joins George Strait & Reba's 2010 Tour

Yesterday afternoon it was announced by George Strait and Lee Ann Womack that Lee Ann would be joining his tour with superstar Reba McEntire. The tour, which starts in January 2010 at Baltimore's "First Mariner Center ends in April with a date in Des Moines, IA.

Rodney Atkins - "Chaing Girls"

Even though "It's America" went #1 on the charts and the follow-up single "Fifteen Minutes" scored a Top 15 hit for Rodney, he seemed to be losing his charming homespun likeability. That has changed as this single returns him to exactly what made him a star, relatability.

Veronica Ballestrini - Destiny

Listen to a track from newcomer Veronica Ballestrini's debut album What I'm all About.

Lady Antebellum & Others Experience CMA Awards Sales Boost

With their unexpected Single of the Year victory for "I Run To You" and displacing Rascal Flatts as the Vocal Group of the Year, Lady Antebellum leads this week's chart rundown as the trio leads country music's Hot 200 Albums chart dominance along with a few others.

Love and Theft - "Dancing In Circles"

Love and Theft scored a Top 10 hit, the only new artist of 2009 to do so (so far), with first single “Runaway” off of their debut album World Wide Open and now the trio has moved on to their follow-up single in “Dancing In Circles.” Will the song be a hit?

James McMurtry - Live In Europe

Live In Europe is the second live recording from country rocker James McMurtry in the last six years but it also shows a confident artist firmly in his element with a stellar backing band.

2009-11-18

Chip Taylor - No Dice

Listen to the new track from legendary songwriter Chip Taylor.

Kurt Nilsen - Rise To The Occasion audio

Listen to the title track from Norwegian Kurt Nilsen's 2008 country release.

Williams Riley is Cookin' Up Some Country Livin'

Earlier this year Williams Riley released a single called "I'm Still Me" and while the single didn't burn up the charts, it did set up the band for their follow-up single "Country Livin'." The band recently sat down to discuss the single and their career with us.

2009-11-17

Carrie Underwood - (CMT Invitation Only) Temporary Home

Watch this sterling performance from CMT's Invitation Only program.

Danny Gokey - "It's Only"

Danny Gokey scored with American Idol audiences with his tender yet gravelly voice. Now signed to a country deal with 19/RCA Nashville, Danny is set to release this song, produced by Mark Bright, to country radio. Will Danny Gokey become the latest Idol country star?

Brad Paisley - "American Saturday Night"

Brad Paisley has been on a creative high recently while also scoring 11 consecutive number one hits on the charts. "Welcome To The Future" was one of 2009's best songs, how does the follow-up single, the current album's title track, hold up to it? Will it be #12?

The Band of Heathens - One Foot In The Ether

Austin, TX-based The Band Of Heathens have recently released this album, their 2nd self-made affair. It consists of sterling country rock that remains faithful to the ways of the past while making its own mark.

Jason Aldean - The Truth Video

Watch Jason Aldean's latest video here.

The Band Perry - "Hip To My Heart"

It's no secret that modern country music has taken a turn towards pop-leaning sounds of past decades. This new Republic Nashville trio has that pop-leaning sound but they do it with an organic, fresh flair that is highlighted with this debut single.

The Band Perry - Hip To My Heart

The Band Perry are a new family trio signed to Republic Nashville. Listen to a 90 second sample of their debut single here.

New Artist Spotlight: Bomshel

In an exclusive interview with Roughstock, new Curb Records duo Bomshel discusses their career so far and how a planned release of "Cheater Cheater" was derailed but instead of being a negative, the duo in turn relased their favroite single "Fight Like A Girl."

Joey+Rory - It's Christmas Time

Listen to Joey & Rory's great new holiday single "It's Christmas Time."

Brad Paisley & Partners Form New Label With Sony Nashville

Country superstar Brad Paisley and his partners in Sea Gayle Music, Frank Rogers and Chris Dubois, have partnered with Sony Nashville to start the new imprint Sea Gayle Records. Sea Gayle Records' first artist is Sea Gayle's staff writer Jerrod Niemann.

2009-11-16

Anna Garrott -Two More Bottles Of Wine

Listen here to a track from Anna Garrot's just-released album "Only Time Will Tell"

Carter Twins - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Listen to a preview of the Carter Twins' new song. It's part of the awesome A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 7 project that supports The Special Olympics.

Zac Brown Band - (Live CMA 2009) Devil Went Down To Georgia

Watch this blistering rendition of the Charlie Daniels Band classic as performed on the 2009 CMA Awards broadcast.

Corb Lund - Losin' Lately Gambler

Corb Lund is well-known in Canada as the best western 'alternative country' artist the country has. With this album he has entered the United States for the first time with his new record deal on New West Recordings.

Jamey Johnson - Leave You Alone

Listen to a track from Jamey Johnson's original self-released version of That Lonesome Song.

Randy Travis & Blind Boys of Alabama - Up Above My Head (I Hear Music In the Air)

This is a track from the Blind Boys of Alabama's latest album Duets. It was recorded for Saguaro Road Records.

Jamey Johnson & Randy Houser Revive Outlaw Country Music In Tacoma, Washington

For one of their tourstops as co-headliners of CMT On Tour 2009, Jamey Johnson and Randy Houser played a four hour set of country music for a loyal, rowdy batch of country music fans at the Tacoma, WA-based Emerald Queen Casino.

2009-11-13

Aaron Watson - The Road

Listen to Aaron Watson's great lead-off single from his upcoming album here.