Our Country
  • There aren't too many milestones that Taylor Swift has not already managed to conquer in her short lifetime. However, here's one she had no choice but to wait for--December 13 is the day she was born, and this year, she's celebrating an extra-special milestone birthday. Yep, she's turning 21!

    Swift's festivities started the evening of the 12th with a casual get-together, when she tweeted about friends knocking on her door with a birthday-candle-studded pizza and party hats. She has been discussing her big party plans for a couple months now, having told various outlets she'd like to have a Christmas-themed party, possibly in her Nashville condo.

    Of course, turning 21 also means that one is legally allowed to purchase alcohol. Swift told US Weekly that drinking isn't a huge focus for her. "My friends drink, but I've never felt the need to," she noted, adding that she's more excited about having access to the 21-and-over clubs her pals attend.

    As for birthday gifts? Given Swift's

    Read More »from Happy 21st Birthday, Taylor Swift!
  • If there's one thing Kenny Chesney takes seriously besides music, it's sports. And, apparently--making movies about sports. The Nashville superstar is set to air his second football-related documentary on ESPN in late February.

    The latest film, The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story, comes following Chesney's Boys Of Fall--a chronicle of high-school football politics which debuted last August and featured some of the sport's biggest names. The Color Orange will take a look at one of Chesney's personal heroes, a University of Tennessee alumni and player who back in the early 1970s was the first African American to start at quarterback in the Southeastern Conference.

    Chesney so idolized Holloway that he wore the QB's jersey number when he himself played football in high school. "Condredge has meant so much to so many and is a very important figure in my life and to the history of college football," he explains. 

    Chesney, who serves as producer for the hourlong special, says he

    Read More »from It’s Another Football Documentary For Kenny Chesney
  • The best song of the year is "Dear John," a country-pop singer's open musical letter to John Mayer.

    Oddly enough, the worst song of the year is also "Dear John," a country-pop singer's open musical letter to John Mayer.

    Confused? If that sounds a little schizo, rest assured that these are two completely different songs—and two utterly different performers—being described here.

    You've probably already heard, or heard about, Taylor Swift's "Dear John," a devastating six-and-a-half minute breakup song that has been the biggest hit in the twitter-verse the last few days. We don't know the details of what Mayer supposedly did to Swift in their brief relationship, but it's clear from the lyrics that she felt used.

    Meanwhile, Jessie James is begging to be used by Mayer in the "Dear John" that she released earlier this year. Like most of us, you probably missed it at the time. James' model-like looks got her pegged by the media when she released her first album in 2009, but she hasn't

    Read More »from “Dear John” x2: Jessie James Vs. Taylor Swift Smackdown
  • Well, country fans, my country-predicting crystal ball is warped from Nashville's record floods this year, cracked by the gleam of all the huge engagement rings flashing in its face, and a bit confused at seeing Gwyneth Paltrow strutting around its depths (FYI--stay tuned for a post recapping the best country moments of 2010). However, I'll gamely try to make a few predictions for the upcoming new year--hopefully to your collective amusement. Please don't take these as any indication of true psychic talent!

    Carrie Underwood prudently moved things right along from a December engagement to a July marriage, thus ensuring her wedding was without a shred of competition in the country scene. Now, with 2011's likely rash of impending nuptials (Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Shania Twain)--Underwood will up the ante and become pregnant.

    That said, Nicole Kidman will probably become pregnant again, too.

    Speaking of weddings, Lambert's fiance Blake Shelton will tweet some mildly

    Read More »from Country Predictions for 2011
  • 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

    Read More »from Dolly Parton Announces Title For New Album
  • 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.

    Read More »from Baby No. 2 Is Christmas Present For Dierks Bentley
  • '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.

    Read More »from Top Country Moments Of 2010
  • 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!

    As always, be sure to:

    Follow me on Twitter

    Follow Yahoo! Music on

    Read More »from See Shania Twain In Her Wedding Gown!
  • 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

    Read More »from Country Music Makes Impressive Showing On 2010 Top Artist List
  • 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

    Read More »from Taylor Swift Kicks Off ‘Speak Now’ Release Week In NYC

Pagination

(1,090 Stories)

News for You

  • Mom: RI theater threw out disabled girl over noise

    NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) — A woman says she and her 5-year-old developmentally disabled daughter were thrown out of a theater during a "Beauty and the Beast" performance because the girl was making giggling and humming noises she makes when she's happy.

  • Palace sheds some light on Kate's baby plans

    LONDON (AP) — With Prince William and the former Kate Middleton expecting their first child in mid-July — and much of the world interested in the birth of a future monarch — officials at Clarence House have released some of the couple's plans, although many details are still being kept private. Kate has made several public appearances recently but is expected to keep a low profile in the final weeks of her pregnancy. Here is the latest news about the infant who will, upon entering the world, be third in line for the British throne.

  • Cher credits luck for her lengthy career

    UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — Cher is no stranger to tabloid fodder.

  • Jenner: Kim Kardashian 'thrilled for the new baby'

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris Jenner says her daughter Kim Kardashian is thrilled to have a new baby girl.

  • 'The Voice' Winner: Who Did the Experts Choose?

    By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - NBC's "The Voice" will crown another winner on Tuesday night's finale. Season 4's three finalists - Daniellle Bradbury, Michelle Shamuel and The Swon Brothers - battled it out for the title on Monday's performance finale episode. Before the performances, coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Shakira and Usher performed The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends." The Top 16 then got together for the second group performance of the night on Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' "Home. ...

  • Miss Utah latest beauty queen to botch answer

    LAS VEGAS (AP) — Miss Utah Marissa Powell is the latest beauty queen to trip on national television, not over her gown, but during the interview segment.

TOP VIDEOS

  1. Blurred Lines
    1.Robin Thicke, (f/ T.I., … | VEVO
  2. 2.Macklemore & Ryan …
  3. 3.Daft Punk, (f/ Pharr …
  4. 4.Justin Timberlake
  5. 5.Florida Georgia Line, …
  6. 6.Imagine Dragons
  7. 7.P!nk, (f/ Nate Ruess …
  8. 8.Selena Gomez
  9. 9.Ariana Grande, (f/ Mac …
  10. 10.Icona Pop