Taylor Swift is Highest Album Seller in 2008

As can be expected, Taylor Swift was the Highest Album selling Artist of 2008 in Country Music. but even more amazing is the fact that she is the No. 1 album seller for all music genres, this has to be very satisfying for the 19 year old Country Star from Pennsylvania. This was achieved between the sales of her self named first album “Taylor Swift” and also with sales of her 2008 smash release Fearless.

The combined total was over 4 million albums sold, she also had an album and dvd release exclusive to Wal-Mart that added to her other two album sales to reach this top selling figure. Taylor was not the single album top, although both her albums sold over One Million each, that honor went to Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter III” selling 2,874,000 albums between downlods and sales at the register. Miss Swift is sure to tour this Summer in support of her top country hits, and then continue with recording another album in 2009.

Here is Taylor’s video and lyrics of “Picture To Burn” from her debut “Taylor Swift” Album.

State the obvious
I didn’t get my perfect fantasy
I realize you love yourself
More that you could ever love me
So go and tell your friends
That I’m obsessive and crazy
That’s fine, you won’t mind if I say
and by the way

I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really bad at lyin’
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned
You’re just another picture to burn

There’s no time for tears
I’m just sitting here planning my revenge
Nothing stopping me
From going out with all of your best friends
And if you come around saying sorry to me
My daddy’s going to show you how sorry you’ll be

Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really bad at lyin’
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned
You’re just another picture to burn

And if you’re missing me
You better keep it to yourself
Cause coming back around here
Would be bad for your health

Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really bad at lyin’
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
In case you haven’t heard

I really, really hate that stupid old pickup truck
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really bad at lyin’
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned
You’re just another picture to burn
Burn, burn, burn, baby burn
Just another picture to burn
Baby, burn

Brooks and Dunn announce 2009 Tour that includes Australia

The country singing duo of Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn have announced the dates for their 2009 Tour. The schedule includes going to Australia in May, and then continues back in the United States for the rest of the summer.

The Busses will be going thru Louisiana, Texas, California, Nevada and up into Canada for all of the great country music fans in the “Great White North”, before heading “Down Under” to Australia.

Here is the Full list of Tour Dates from the official Brooks & Dunn website. Below is a video of the current top twenty song “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” that they recorded with Reba McEntire along with the lyrics.

Her Daddy gave her first pony
Then told her to ride
She climbed high in that saddle
Fell I don’t know how many times
Taught her a lesson that she learned
Maybe a little too well

Cowgirls don’t cry
Ride, baby, ride
Lessons in life are going
To show you in time
Soon enough your gonna know why
It’s gonna hurt every now and then
If you fall get back on again
Cowgirls don’t cry

She grew up
She got married
Never was quite right
She wanted a house, a home and babies
He started coming home late at night
She didn’t let him see it break her heart
She didn’t let him see her fall apart

‘Cause Cowgirls don’t cry
Ride, baby, ride
Lessons in life are going to show you in time
Soon enough your gonna know why
It’s gonna hurt every now and then
If you fall get back on again
Cowgirls don’t cry

Phone rang early one morning
Her momma’s voice, she’d been crying
Said it’s your daddy, you need to come home
This is it, I think he’s dying
She laid the phone down by his head
The last words that he said

Cowgirl don’t cry
Ride, baby, ride
Lessons of life show us all in time
Too soon God lets you know why
If you fall get right back on
The Good Lord calls everybody home
Cowgirl don’t cry

Leann Rimes Has Busy December

This month has been an interesting and revealing time for Leann Rimes, between selling her Nashville Home and also announcing her Life Long Battle with Psoriasis, and including the Country Music Stars current tour that will continue into 2009, Leann sure has been busy.

Below is a Live Performance of her hit song “Good Friend and a Glass Of Wine” that she taped on CBS in Las Vegas earlier this year.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Taylor Swift “Fearless” Album Jumps Back Into Top Position

Just when you think the Taylor Swift Phenomana is about to calm down, the 19 year old’s music just keeps chugging along in the top spot of the Billboard charts.

This week the album “Fearless” pushed Britney Spears “Circus” out of the Billboard No. 1 Position on the Pop Album charts , and shows the staying power of the Country Music Star, who recently had her Wisdom Teeth Pulled.

Taylor seems to always have a release of some kind going on, and here is the AOL video of “White Horse”, which was done as part of a series, and really shows Taylor’s ability to sing in a live aucoustic type setting.

Watch more Fearless videos on AOL Video

Dierks Bentley Video and Lyrics for “Feel That Fire”

Dierks Bentley continues to climb the Country Music Charts with “Feel That Fire”. He released the video earlier this month, and should be releasing the CD of the same name in early 2009.
Below is the Video and Lyrics of the current fast rising song from Dierks.

She wants her nails painted black
She wants the toy in the crackerjack
She wants to ride the bull at the rodeo

She wants to wear my shirt to bed
She wants to make every stray a pet
N’ Drive around in my truck
With no place to go

But she needs to feel that fire
The one that lets her know for sure
She’s everything I want and more
A real desire
Does she know I’d walk
Alone out on the wire
To make her feel that fire

She wants a cabin in the woods
She wants to stand where nobody stood
And someday she wants a couple kids of her own

She wants to make love on a train
And some days she only wants a break
Hey She wants what she wants, but man I know I know I know

She needs to feel that fire
The one that lets her know for sure
She’s everything I want and more
A real desire, Does she know I’d walk alone out on the wire
To make her feel that fire
Yeah, feel that fire

So as long as there’s a breath to take
A smile to share, a prayer to pray
A chance to hold her hand to fan the flame

She’s gonna feel that fire
The one that lets her know for sure
She’s everything I want and more
Her real desire, Does she know I’d walk alone out on the wire
Yeah, to make her feel that fire
Ohh feel that fire

She wants her nails painted black
She wants the toy in the crackerjack
She wants to ride the bull at the rodeo

Mindy McCready in Hospital after Suicide Attempt

The path of country singer Mindy McCready took another wrong turn this past week, as her brother Timothy found her on her bed after she had called her Mother, and had taken some pills and cut her wrist, police reported. Mindy’s in stable condition and is under observation.

This has been a rough year for the Country Singer. After admitting her affair with Texas born baseball player Roger Clemens, and getting into more trouble with the law, she has been trying to get her life back on track as you can read on her My Space Blog Official Mindy McCready, and has been getting support from her fans to keep recording and touring.

Below is a video of “Guys Do It All The Time” her No. 1 Top Country Song from 1996, which shows why she has a large fan base and can hopefully recover and make her way back to the Country Music Community.

Grammy’s Announce Country Music Nominations for Feb. 8, 2009 Awards

Here is a list of Country Music Nominations for the 2008 Grammy Music Awards to be held on Feburary 8, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angelas.

Before all of the Taylor Swift fans get upset, here are the requirements as listed on the official Grammy Website………….

Awards are for recordings released during the Eligibility Year
October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008

For a full list of all the Grammy Nomininations go to the Full Grammy Nominations List

Here is a video of Taylor Swift answering Questions Before The Grammy Nomination Show.

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

For These Times
Martina McBride
Track from: Waking Up Laughing
[RCA Nashville]

What I Cannot Change
LeAnn Rimes
Track from: Family
[Curb Records]

Last Name
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Carnival Ride
[19/Arista/Arista Nashville]

Last Call
Lee Ann Womack
[MCA Nashville]

This Is Me You’re Talking To
Trisha Yearwood
Track from: Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love
[Big Machine]

Best Male Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or Tracks only.)

You’re Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins
Track from: American Man, Greatest Hits Volume II
[Capitol Records Nashville]

In Color
Jamey Johnson
[MCA Nashville]

Just Got Started Lovin’ You
James Otto
Track from: Sunset Man
[Raybaw]

Letter To Me
Brad Paisley
Track from: 5th Gear
[Arista Nashville]

Troubadour
George Strait
Track from: Troubadour
[MCA Nashville]

Zac Brown Band Takes No. 1 Country Spot with ‘Country Fried’

It has been a steady climb for the Zac Brown Band and their single “Country Fried”, but they have made it to the the No. 1 position on the Country Singles Chart.

‘Country Fried’ is a song with classic Country roots and also has a touch of Reggae, Bluegrass, and basic Vocal harmonies. Zac Brown has captured a grass roots type of Pop Music that is his own, but seems to remind you of other jam type bands like Dave Matthews.

‘The Foundation’ Album and the Chicken Fried song has taken it’s time climbing the Top 40 Country Songs Chart and seems to have a mass appeal to Country Music fans who don’t always want the polished and perfected studio album that seems to be the norm today, but instead want more of the classic good time and solid instrumental dance + sing alongs.

Here Is a Live Performance of “Country Fried” from the Zac Brown Band from the House of Blues in New Orleans, take notice of the Bluegrass style Instrumental jam towards the End.

Trace Adkins Releases ‘X’ Today

Trace Adkins Fans are sure to be pleased with the release of the Country Star’s tenth Album, ‘X’. The singer has had a busy year, including almost capturing the top prize on the Donald Trump Reality show “Celebrity Apprentice”. You can read about his busy year in an interview with Country Music Television.

In anticipation of the Album release, one of the pre album singles, Muddy Water, has already hit the top 40 Country Songs.
You can get more Information from the website TraceAdkins.com about his signed album offer and for Concert tour dates.

Here is the video for “Muddy Water” with actor Stephen Baldwin in the lead role.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant Interview on CBS

Just in case you missed it, here is the Alison Krauss and Robert Plant Interview From CBS.

Now that the tour is over and they have gone their seperate ways, the two singers hint at possibly another album.

You can go to the Raising Sand Website and listen to the T Bone Burnett produced Music.