Billy Dukes

While the power of the Vocal Duo of the Year category has waned in recent years, the Vocal Group of the Year pool at the 2012 CMA Awards is overflowing with talent. How tight is this category? Rascal Flatts weren’t even nominated for what seems like the first time since mullets were en vogue. Who do you think will win the Vocal Group of the Year award at the CMAs?

Hurricane Sandy crashed into the east coast on Monday night, and Trace Adkins was among a handful of country singers trying to stay safe in the Big Apple. Chely Wright and Billy Ray Cyrus also took to Twitter to describe what was happening as the 100-year storm flooded the New Jersey and New York coastline.

Brantley Gilbert put his second-straight song into the Taste of Country Showdown Hall of Fame on Monday, and his third overall. ‘More Than Miles’ easily topped Faith Hill‘s ‘American Heart,’ meaning two new singles will square off today and tonight on Taste of Country Nights radio.

Two notes and two hand claps into the Band Perry‘s new single ‘Better Dig Two’ and one finds assurance that the sense of drama and danger the sibling trio infused into the best songs from their self-titled debut album will be back on album No. 2. Some ambient knocking combined with thin, haunting plucking make this song an instant soundtrack for Halloween. But it will likely have legs long after O

With the eye of 2012′s Hurricane Sandy expected to make landfall in the next 24 hours, residents along the east coast are taking measures to stay safe during, and after, what is being described as the “perfect storm.” Country music’s reach extends into all 50 states, so it’s no surprise that many of the top names took to Twitter to encourage those in Hurricane Sandy’s path to be extra cautious. A

This is the rare category at the 2012 CMA Awards where every nominee has a fair shot at winning. The Vocal Duo of the Year award goes to the two-person group who had the best recording, touring and otherwise year, but in many ways, all is equal amongst these five acts. Who do you think will win the Vocal Duo of the Year award at the 2012 CMAs?

News of Taylor Swift‘s breakup from Conor Kennedy has spread like cooties — so much so that even other celebrities are taking sides on the matter. Word of the reported split broke on Thursday. By Friday morning, Donald Trump — who is on top of the latest rumors, apparently — had weighed in using his Twitter account.

The five nominees for the 2012 CMA New Artist of the Year award reached their current levels of fame in very different ways. Thompson Square might be the only true “new artist,” meaning an act that was previously unheard of before releasing a smash debut album. The others are no less deserving, however. This is an interesting category that will be fun to watch on Nov. 1. Who do you think will win

The Album of the Year category at the 2012 CMA Awards is as strong as it has been since the show moved to ABC. In any other year, all five nominees would be considered sure things to take home the trophy. For this reason, it’s difficult to predict a winner with any conviction — although we’ll give it a try. Who do you think will win the Album of the Year award at the 2012 CMAs?

Love and Theft charged early, but a late push by Brantley Gilbert on Facebook was enough to come from behind to put his new song 'More Than Miles' in the winner's circle for a second straight day. Few artists can count on fan support like Gilbert. Today and tonight on Taste of Country Nights radio, a country legend will be looking for a similar push from his fanbase.

Thompson Square‘s new single ‘If I Didn’t Have You’ is the fifth straight love song from the married country duo. While some may yearn for more varied subject matter from Keifer and Shawna Thompson, an easy argument could be made for the “If it ain’t broke …” philosophy of life and country music.

Lady Antebellum are practically built for Christmas albums. There's a Captain and Tennille quality to their partnership that's made hip by youth and intriguing subject matter. The trio's take on standards like 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' and 'Silent Night' are timeless, in that they could really be transported to any decade of country music. For them, covering yuletide hits is as easy as looking