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May Country Releases

blown away album cover

There's a lot to look forward to this month in country music, including new albums by Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, and Chris Cagle.

Best Country Albums
Country Music Spotlight10

Country Song of the Week: 'On the Road Again'

Friday May 18, 2012

In 1979, Willie Nelson wrote "On the Road Again" for the movie Honeysuckle Rose.

The subject matter of the song, life as a touring musician, came easy to Nelson.

Here's what he had to say about the tune in Joe Nick Patoski's biography Willie Nelson: An Epic Life:

It was a no-brainer, a slam dunk. It was the easiest song I ever wrote. I'd been doing it for years and years. I just hadn't written a song about it yet.

The tune became a #1 country hit in 1980, and continues to be one of Nelson's most popular songs.

Image courtesy of Columbia Records

Carrie Underwood Blows Away the Competition

Thursday May 17, 2012

Carrie Underwood keeps her grip on #1 this week, with her fourth album Blown Away.

Surprise, surprise.

For more, including who won the competition for the week's top country song, consult my rundown of the week's country music charts.

Image courtesy of Michael Loccisano / Getty Images

Willie Nelson Teams with Snoop Dogg on 'Heroes'

Wednesday May 16, 2012

Willie Nelson, who celebrated his 79th birthday last April, released his new album Heroes on Tuesday.

Like latter-day efforts such as It Always Will Be and Moment of Forever, the new record is a star-studded affair, boasting guest appearances by Kris Kristofferson, Jamey Johnson, and, yes, Snoop Dogg. In fact, all three trade verses on the cremation-by-inhalation tune "Roll Me Up."

The Red Headed Stranger has never been afraid to hop across genres, and it's a trait that shows up on his covers of Pearl Jam's "Just Breathe" and Coldplay's "The Scientist."

How does his delivery of "I'm going back to the start" compare to Chris Martin's? You'll have to wait for my review of Heroes.

In the meantime check out my profile of Willie Nelson.

Image courtesy of Legacy Records

Miranda Lambert vs. Eric Church, Redux

Monday May 14, 2012

The war of words between Eric Church and Miranda Lambert has re-erupted.

During an appearance on a Florida radio station, Lambert continued to chastise Church over the comments he made in Rolling Stone about reality show-sanctioned country stars during a Rolling Stone interview.

If you missed them the first time around, here are Church's offending comments, taken from an interview with the magazine:

If I was concerned about my legacy, there's no [expletive] way I would ever sit there (and be a reality show judge). Once your career becomes something other than the music, then that's what it is. I'll never make that mistake. I don't care if I [expletive] starve.

This obviously rankled Lambert who is married to Blake Shelton, a judge on The Voice, and, ahem, claimed her fame after winning the Nashville Star talent competition.

Here's what Lambert said during her radio appearance, about running into Church again:

I'll be fine. I'm sure that he would be groveling because he should.

What are your thoughts? Does Church have point, or is he just spouting hot air? Let me know in the comments.

Article: Interview with Eric Church
List: Top 10 Miranda Lambert Songs

Image courtesy of Rick Diamond/Getty Images

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