The Zac Brown Band (Photo: CJ Hicks)The Zac Brown Band have a lot of things to celebrate at the end of 2012--including yet another Grammy nomination to add to their considerable collection of accolades--but one event that the band participated in stands out as a way to really end the year with a bang.

When Ram Trucks launched an all-star country music series, "The Road To Ram Jam," early in the year, the concept was simple. Bring fans closer to artists they love by offering exclusive content--as well a special grand sweepstakes prize: The chance to win passes to an amazing invite-only show at the end of the year. The Zac Brown Band was one of five artists selected for the Ram Jam (along with Kellie Pickler, Brantley Gilbert, Easton Corbin, and Billy Currington) and we had the chance to catch up with them pre-show on December 29 to get their thoughts on being part of the fun.

The Dixie Chicks in 2007 (Photo: Michael Caulfield)It appears the Dixie Chicks are enjoying playing Santa Claus to their loyal fans this December. First, lead singer Natalie Maines made the welcome announcement that her long-awaited solo album was completed last week and will be released in May. Now, a day after Christmas, news has cropped up that the Chicks will be giving one of their increasingly rare performances as a trio this upcoming summer.

The Chicks will be headlining a Canadian music festival, the Craven Country Jamboree, on July 13. The girls will be replacing Lady Antebellum, who have been canceling 2013 tour dates due to singer Hillary Scott's pregnancy.

Miley Cyrus (Photo: Jason Merritt)She may have famously spoken out against country music way back in 2010--calling it "contrived on many levels"--but that doesn't mean Miley Cyrus can't sing the heck out of a country tune. The godchild of Dolly Parton and daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus proves this with her latest YouTube upload, a stunning cover of Parton's classic "Jolene" that's already racked up more than 80,000 views in a little more than 24 hours.

Those who only know Cyrus for her pop music, acting, wedding plans--oh, and that wild haircut!--will no doubt be surprised at the rich depth and warmth the 20-year-old brings to the 1974 hit, an enduringly haunting plea from one woman to another to stay away from her man.

Cyrus chose to cover the song as part of her "Backyard Sessions" series for her official site, a little project she started over the summer when she brought her band together to perform a few of her favorite tunes. The three-video collection also includes such unusual choices as James Shelton's 1950s tune

Natalie Maines (Photo: Michael Tran)Here's good and bad news for fans of the Dixie Chicks. First, the good news: Lead singer Natalie Maines has finally completed a solo album. The bad news? Well, it's actually only bad news for those who were hoping for a country record. Maines's solo set will be all rock.

"Happy Natalie Maines Finished Her Album Day everybody!" the singer tweeted on Wednesday, to much happy response from her followers. The new project is titled Mother, and according to Maines, will be released on May 7, 2013.

Rimes performs on 'Leno' (Photo: NBC)LeAnn Rimes has a new single out--any guesses as to what the subject matter of it is?

Okay, we'll end the suspense. It's called "Borrowed" and it's about her affair with now-husband Eddie Cibrian. Anyone surprised out there?

Rimes performed the new song, the first single off her upcoming album Spitfire, on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno Tuesday night. The lyrics are very obviously about entanglement with a married man: "I wanna hold out, but I hold on / Even though I know it's wrong / Cause I don't want to give you back / I don't wanna give you back / You’re the best I ever had / So I don't want to give you back / But you’re borrowed."

Rimes has discussed her involvement with Cibrian--both were married to their respective spouses when the affair began--extensively in the media over the past few years. She accordingly took on the subject with Leno, admitting the song is about Cibrian and that "it's a very intimate look at a very rough moment in my life."

Carrie Underwood (Photo: Frazer Harrison)Carrie Underwood may have struggled with some vocal problems over the past few days, but she showed fans there's absolutely nothing wrong with her heart this holiday season.

The American Idol alum lost her voice earlier in the week following the Chicago date on her 2012 Blown Away tour. She decided to attempt her next show in Des Moines on Friday night--and managed to power through 90 minutes of it--but ultimately had to shave a few songs off the setlist.

Dissatisfied with what she considered a subpar performance, Underwood hoarsely told the crowd that she planned to return their money right back to their city. "I feel real guilty about making any money on this show tonight," she noted. "So whatever I'm making is just going to go right back into this community."

Taylor Swift (Photo: Kevin Kane)Taylor Swift received a very unwelcome surprise shortly after her birthday when a knife-carrying intruder managed to trespass on her Nashville estate early Friday morning.

Luckily, Swift was not on the property--which is believed to be the house she bought for her parents in 2011--when 24-year-old Jake Kulke was arrested on the scene. The superstar was overseas in England celebrating with new boyfriend Harry Styles at the time of the intrusion.

Jacob Kulke (Photo: Mugshots.com)According to local news, Kulke made it over a fence and a secured gate before being stopped by security. He told them that Swift was his girlfriend, that he had been in contact with her via social media, and that he wished to surprise her for her birthday, which fell on Thursday.

Taylor Swift/FacebookTaylor Swift celebrated her 23rd birthday on Thursday by premiering her 23rd music video, for the single "I Knew You Were Trouble"--and, while she was at it, she set another unofficial milestone. The new clip is easily the least country-feeling video she's ever made. Like, ever.

WATCH TAYLOR'S NEW VIDEO FOR "I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE" HERE!

Furthermore, it seems to set a dividing line between her youth and her adulthood. Fans of Swift's typically romantic, breezy, and/or cute clips will no doubt be very surprised by her newest, which portrays Swift in a dark and distinctly mature light. There's no flowers, birdcages, squirrel pajamas, or references to Tim McGraw to be found here.

The video opens up with a lengthy spoken intro of Swift musing about a bad-boy love--the "Trouble" she knows she's supposed to avoid--offering up such commentary as: "How can the devil be pulling you towards someone who looks so much like an angel when he smiles at you?"

Viewers are then taken through a gritty-feeling storyline in which Swift finds herself drawn into a world that turns out to be a bit too fast and dark for her liking.