Fans of American Idol are no doubt familiar with Casey James, who placed third on the 9th season of the show and was a favorite of many due to his guitar skills and handsome charm (James even won the approval of our own Reality Rocks' Lyndsey Parker, who was bowled over by his rendition of John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" that year). His debut album has been a long time in the works--almost two years--but it's finally arriving on March 20.Casey James

That's good news, especially for a performer who reportedly sang before he could even talk, and has been honing his craft for more than a decade. But here's some even better news--for 11 days straight, James is offering a first listen to his entire record, track by track. He's premiering a different song on a different site each day.

Today is Yahoo! Music's special day--and we've got the full version of his tune "Workin' On It" right here for you to enjoy. Do we have a new country hit on our hands? Be sure to let me know what you think of it!

HEAR CASEY

The Civil WarsThe Civil Wars are the only artists besides Taylor Swift to pull double duty on the Hunger Games companion album, since they, too, contributed a second number in addition to "Safe & Sound," their collaboration with Swift. Songs from District 12 and Beyond (out March 20) also features the equally haunting "Kingdom Come," in which Joy Williams and John Paul White implore Katniss—or someone very much like her—to "run, run, run and hide, somewhere no one else can find/Tall trees bend and lean, pointing where to go/Where you'll still be all alone..."

Williams and White are awfully high-profile right now for such deliberately low-key musicians. Fresh off their "Grammy bump," which found sales for their Barton Hollow indie debut skyrocketing after a 60-second spot on the music kudocast, they're the current cover girl and boy for Billboard magazine. There's plenty to talk about with this most refreshing of freshman acts, but for now, we kept the conversation to the duo's part in the T Bone

It's safe to say: Not too many brides would consider a jaunt to the Middle East an ideal honeymoon. However, American Idol alum Kellie PicklerPickler on her honeymoon tour. Photo courtesy USO and her husband of one year, Kyle Jacobs, ended up there a few days after their wedding--and both wouldn't change a thing.

Pickler and Jacobs made a spur of the moment decision to elope instead of going through with a formal wedding, which left them with little time to arrange their schedules. Their private ceremony on January 1, 2011, was on a Caribbean island, where they spent a couple days on the beach enjoying what most would consider a regular honeymoon...and then the couple hopped a plane to Iraq.

The reason? Pickler had already booked a tour with the USO to entertain U.S. troops overseas, and she wasn't about to go back on her word.

Swift in the "Safe & Sound" videoIf the Hunger Games soundtrack had its own bow and arrow, it'd have to be Taylor Swift, whose surprise participation in the project instantly lifted the forthcoming album to another level of visibility and commercial potential.

In this exclusive interview with Yahoo! Music, she talks about the thinking that went into the not-so-typically-Swiftian first single, "Safe & Sound," which found her collaborating with the Civil Wars and soundtrack producer T Bone Burnett… and also the second tune she contributed to the project, "Eyes Wide Open," which fans will hear when the album hits stores March 20.

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift is No. 1 again: The singer is the top act on Billboard's "Money Makers" list.

Swift earned more than $35 million in 2011, according to the Billboard list released Friday. U2 was second with $32 million. Kenny Chesney, Lady Gaga and Lil Wayne rounded out the top 5.Taylor Swift

Country hitmaker Jerrod Niemann was performing in Chattanooga on Tuesday to raise money for charity--but, as the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. The singer ended up narrowly escaping death when his tour bus exploded in flames that evening.

Niemann, known for his tunes "Lover, Lover" and "Shinin' On Me," was on board the bus hanging out with his father, uncle, and bandmates when he smelled something funny--but he dismissed it as a harmless odor from the bus's heater.Jerrod Niemann

However, fellow musician Lee Brice, who also performed that night, was on the bus with some of his entourage. Due to the fact that Brice's own bus had caught on fire in January, they recognized the smell and urged everyone to get out.

Brice exited the bus and confirmed black smoke was coming out of the vehicle. "So we get everyone off," Niemann told Chattanooga news station WRCB-TV. "And pretty soon we hear this 'Boom!' and we think it's the fuel line, but we look and the whole front windshield was just blown out."

Warning: The video below contains strong language:

Here's two important things to know about Neal McCoy, who just released his 12th album, XII, on Tuesday.

No. 1, although he's taken some time off between albums, he's never gone away.

"If you're not playing in someone's immediate area, and you're not getting played on the radio, everyone assumes that you've quit," he says.

The second thing? "It's OK, you can call me old," he notes cheerfully.

While his actual age--53--certainly isn't ancient by anyone's standards, McCoy's career has seen a nice stretch of longevity that can be rare in the business. And, as he says, he hasn't even come close to quitting.Neal McCoy

Although (as he likes to point out) he didn't get his first hit until he was 35 years old, the singer has kept very busy since putting out his first album more than two decades ago. Even his most recent six-year stretch between albums has been active, mostly with doing what he likes to do best--tour and play live on stage.

"I record and travel, just so I can get to the stage," he

For all of you Carrie Underwood fans who are enamored with her sweet, all-American (Idol) looks and demeanor...be prepared to be, er, blown away.

The title of Underwood's upcoming fourth album has been revealed (yes, it's Blown Away, sorry for the terrible joke there), and a May 1 release date has been set. While this is all exciting news, I'm pretty sure it's the cover art that's going to really get everyone talking. Take a look at this new, slightly dangerous-looking, dark Carrie Underwood!Underwood's new album cover

Phew, well, that's quite a diversion from the sunny tones, daisies, and smiles on her previous three album covers. It's a bit of a shock to see Underwood looking so grim.