Taste of Country Staff hasn't taken a day off since he/she was born in December 2010. Staff is an avid fan of country music and country music only although he/she has a soft spot for artists like Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson. Other interests include live music, cold beer, pizza at midnight and photos of country music babies.
Taste of Country Staff
Album Spotlight: Jamie Lynn Spears, ‘The Journey’
Jamie Lynn Spears' debut EP 'The Journey' includes some happy, some playful, a little sad and one big "Oh no she didn't!" It's tough to argue these five songs aren't as personal as anything pressed in country music this year.
Jerrod Niemann, ‘Donkey [Listen]
Jerrod Niemann's new song 'Donkey' hits on all the reasons fans love the party-loving, country rocker. The laugh-out-loud track from Niemann's 'High Noon' album comes complete with heavy guitar hooks and lyrics full of sly innuendoes ... not to mention a healthy dose of donkey brays to fill out the chorus.
Toc Encore: Country Stars Who’ve Served in the Military
Amongst country music's top stars you'll find a captain, several staff sergeants, a corporal and an Army Ranger. All four branches of the United States military are covered by country hitmakers. In some cases they were on the front lines for historic events. In some cases an artist's career began during down time.
Brantley Gilbert, ‘Just As I Am’ – Everything You Need to Know in 60 Seconds
Brantley Gilbert's 'Just As I Am' album is now in stores, containing the Georgia-raised singer's No. 1 hit 'Bottoms Up' and his new single 'Small Town Throwdown.' Gilbert says he doesn't write about anything he hasn't lived, and doesn't record anything he hasn't written meaning each of the nine remaining songs is also a page -- or chapter -- from his diary...
Album Spotlight: Dolly Parton, ‘Blue Smoke’
Dolly Parton’s ‘Blue Smoke’ is a lyricist’s album. Parton’s 42nd studio album rarely relies on silly or corn pone metaphors or jokes, instead offering tracks that stick to the soul.
Lee Brice’s ‘I Don’t Dance’ Debuts on ToC Top 10 Video Countdown
The new video from Lee Brice makes its Top 10 Video Countdown debut this week. 'I Don't Dance' checks in at No. 8, besting videos from Luke Bryan and more. The top will look familiar to regular voters of this weekly poll.
Zac Brown Band, ‘All Alright’ [Listen]
Dave Grohl’s influence on the Zac Brown Band is obvious from the first blues-rock soaked pulls of electric guitar on ‘All Alright.’ It’s a new direction for the ZBB, a band whose musical journey looks more like a maze than a straight line.
Chris Young, Ronnie Dunn Battle for Top Spot on ToC Top 10 Video Countdown
It was one of the closest battles for the No. 1 video ever. Chris Young and Ronnie Dunn fans traded punches until the final moments of this week's Top 10 Video Countdown voting period. The winner won by less than one percentage point!
Album Spotlight: Leah Turner, ‘Leah Turner’ EP
Leah Turner has managed to reveal a new side of her personality with each of the first two singles on her debut EP. The other three also step out of line with what fans have already learned.
Kip Moore, ‘Dirt Road’ [Listen]
Kip Moore is right when he says his new single ‘Dirt Road’ will raise a few eyebrows, it may just take awhile. Lyrically the new song is country’s Mariana Trench hiding behind familiar references to beer, moonlight and backseat romance.
Leah Turner, ‘Pull Me Back’ [Listen]
Lyrically, Leah Turner’s new single ‘Pull Me Back’ introduces fans to the singer’s more vulnerable side. Sonically the song is another high-octane anthem for women, just like ‘Take the Keys.’
2014 ACM Awards Best Dressed Pictures
Blues and deep reds were popular amongst the best dressed at the 2014 ACM Awards on Sunday night.
2014 ACM Awards Worst Dressed Pictures
Men dominate the 2014 ACM Awards Worst Dressed list. Someone needs to work with these guys to make a few adjustments, because each is really not that far away from drifting down the red carpet unnoticed at worst. There is one female star on our list of fashion felons. Four of these five makes one mistake, while one becomes the first person to make both Best and Worst lists.
Big and Rich, ‘Look at You’ [Listen]
Big and Rich’s ‘Look at You’ re-introduces fans to the softer side of the country duo. While John Rich and Big Kenny Alphin are known for rowdy, in-your-face country-rockers, it’s this style that has found them the most fans at radio. This may be their most organic release to date.
Win a Trip to Myrtle Beach for a Private Beach Performance From Dan + Shay!
Dan + Shay are taking their new music to the most natural place possible -- the beach! Enter here for your chance to see the ACM nominated duo play new music from 'Where It All Began' in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
ToC Encore: What’s Different About George Strait’s ACM Entertainer of the Year Campaign
George Strait's campaign for 2014 ACM Entertainer of the Year asks fans to make him the Entertainer of a Lifetime. It's a deviation from most campaigns for fan-voted awards that list everything an artist has accomplished in that year. Taste of Country writer Billy Dukes argues that Strait may be the only person capable of doing this.