As we filled you in back in November, Dolly Parton has a new album coming out this year, and she's just announced the title.

The record, which will feature brand-new material written by Parton and released on her own Dolly Records label, is now officially dubbed Better Day. The street date still hasn't been revealed...fans will have to hang on just a little longer!

According to Parton's official site, the legendary singer is currently busy filming Joyful Noise, a movie she's starring in alongside Queen Latifah which just began production this month. News of the film first came out last August--the plot centers around two women who join forces to prevent a small-town gospel choir from shutting down. The film, which also does not have a release date yet, will mark Parton's first major screen appearance since 1992's Straight Talk.

Parton is also preparing for a world tour, which will begin in early summer and take her through the United States and Europe before landing in Australia in

This Christmas season has been a unexpectedly productive one for...country-music procreation! Just last week, we reported the (month-early!) birth of a little daughter to Rascal Flatts' Jay DeMarcus and his wife Allison. And this week--on Christmas Day no less--Dierks Bentley and his wife Cassidy became the proud parents to their second daughter.

Jordan Bentley was born very early on the morning of the 25th--a big present for her big sister Evalyn "Evie" Day. "Say what u want about santa's physique, but no arguing his impeccable timing," Bentley reported via Twitter. "Evie wanted a little sis for Xmas & JORDAN just arrived!"

No word yet on how much the little mite weighs, or if she has a middle name; however, Bentley did note: "She chose the banjo driven part of mumford & sons 'awake my soul' as her walk on music...could be a troublesome sign."

Bentley and his wife, who were high-school sweethearts, married in 2005. Their older daughter was born in October of 2008.

'Twas the last day of 2010, and what a year it was for country music. I personally never thought I'd see the day where I'd be able to discuss an Oscar-winning actress, a pro-marijuana Facebook page, a pet snake, a well-known lesbian, and Bret Michaels all in one place--AND have it all pertain to country music. Read on, fans, for the biggest events that took place in crazy, triumphant, record-breaking Nashville News 2010.

The Dixie Chicks emerge again--minus one Chick. Martie Maguire and Emily Robison form the duo Court Yard Hounds, a fine project which unfortunately gets somewhat overshadowed by 1) Assertations from the pair that the Chicks are still a viable band, and 2) Discussion of what exactly lead singer Natalie Maines is up to.

Lady Antebellum's incredible rise to the top. The group is the story of 2010, grabbing the highest-ranking band designation on Billboard's year-end list, as well as an armful of awards and a boatload of nominations for the upcoming February Grammys.

Shania Twain--freshly married to Frederic Thiebaud as of New Year's Day--is excited as any brand-new bride to share her wedding details. She invited fans via Twitter on Monday to view her wedding announcement plus a couple of stunning photos on her official site.

"The bride wore Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, Calvin Klein shoes and bought her dress from a small boutique in Lausanne, Switzerland," the announcement reads. "Twain was escorted down the aisle by her nine-year-old son, Eja."

The new couple chose to coordinate their wedding outfits (both wore white with black accents), but what really matched was their identical happy expressions.

But hey, I'm talking too much here--why not let the photos speak for themselves? Both beautiful shots are courtesy of Robert Evans Photography.

Congratulations again to the bride and groom!

Doesn't Shania look lovely? Be sure to let me know what you think of her wedding gown!

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Music-industry bible Billboard magazine has just released its list of the top artists of 2010, and it's got some great news for country music fans. Although country music didn't take the top slot this year--a feat it boasted in 2009--two country artists did make the top 5.

Taylor Swift, who led the list last year--and was the only country artist in the top 5--fell to second place in 2010. Who was able to beat out Big Machine's biggest machine of all for the top position this year? Arguably the only artist out there able to do so at the moment--pop powerhouse Lady Gaga. (Incidentally, Gaga was No. 3 in 2009.)

Swift shouldn't feel too bad about "only" making No. 2. Her placing on the list marks the first time an act has been one of the top two artists in successive years in almost a decade (Destiny's Child placed No. 1 in both 2000 and 2001). As for solo artists, not groups, Billboard noted that nobody's done this since Garth Brooks (No. 1 in 1992 and 1993). So, rest assured, this is

Taylor Swift, as she is so gifted at doing, took the opportunity of the release of her highly anticipated third album, Speak Now, to get closer to her fans. Yet again. And this time, she went global.

Her October 25 release party was held at New York City's Metropolitan Pavilion, hosting fans from around the world, as well as providing a live stream hosted by MTV, CMT, VH1, and a variety of international MTV Networks properties for all her remote admirers.

As usual, Swift was open with her fans, giving hugs and chatting warmly throughout the evening. Dressed in a sunny yellow frock, she performed three songs off Speak Now--"Mine," "Back to December" and the title track--as well as fielded an extensive question-and-answer session from the audience.

Swift discussed inquiries on a wide variety of topics, not the least of involving her overall inspiration for writing Speak Now. "I think for me, Speak Now was inspired by the last two years of my life," she explained to fans. "You can learn

By now, everyone is familiar with the fact that Gwyneth Paltrow can not only act--she can sing. And she can sing country, too; as evidenced by her performance on the title track to the upcoming movie Country Strong (which she also flawlessly delivered live on stage at the Country Music Association Awards last month, lest anyone think recording-studio magic might have helped her vocals out a bit).

Here's a fun little secret you're about to be let in on, though, regarding Ms. Paltrow's Nashville credibility. Gwyneth can not only croon a heartfelt ballad, she can belt out a party tune and hold her own with the best of the bad girls out there. We're delighted to premiere the video for "Shake That Thing," in which Gwynnie sings about bellying up to the bar in skintight jeans, drinking Cuervo, and making the cowboys "want it." Woo-hoo!

All I can say is, goodness gracious, what would Chris Martin think? Just kidding. This is good old-fashioned honky-tonk fun stuff, folks. Get this girl on

After months of speculation, gossip, and denials--it's finally a done deal. LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian are engaged to be married.

"For those who haven't read, Eddie and I got engaged over the holidays. That's the news. It's for real this time and the first time EVER!" Rimes tweeted Monday afternoon to fans.

Rimes's reference to "first time ever" refers to the numerous false alarms generated in regards to the couple's possible engagement over the past few months. While many of these were purely fan speculation (and firmly denied by Rimes), Rimes and Cibrian themselves fueled the fire by posting a staged proposal photo on Twitter Halloween weekend, showing Cibrian down on bended knee. (Rimes later explained the photo was simply meant as a joke.)

This time, it seems to certainly be no fooling around. According to People magazine, Rimes and Cibrian were spotted over the weekend on a Malibu beach, with Rimes sporting a new, 5-carat oval diamond ring.

The engagement comes as a happy