Cory Stromblad

Taylor Swift‘s bluegrass-tinged ‘Mean’ received a complete rock makeover on ‘The Voice‘ last night (Oct. 29), as hopeful Joe Kirkland performed a cover of the breezy tune during the newly-revamped Knockout Round.

Keith Urban has been getting his hands dirty recently, searching for the the nation’s foremost raw talent (and extinguishing diva flame wars between his fellow celebrity judges), and it’s about time for fans to tune in on the action. So, when does ‘American Idol’ Season 12 start?

Fans hoping to catch a performance by Toby Keith during the upcoming CMA Awards ceremony can think again. The often outspoken singer has given the long-standing country music establishment the proverbial middle finger, blatantly refusing to attend the event despite a nomination in the Music Video of the Year category for ‘Red Solo Cup.’

Big & Rich and Alabama frontman Randy Owen’s rendition of ‘America the Beautiful’ may not have been a vocal masterpiece, but the country crooners were able to get Mitt Romney supporters on their feet this week. Joined by classic rock singer Meat Loaf, the group’s collective performance of the patriotic tune followed a political support rally for the Presidential Republican candidate at an Ohio

Jason Aldean‘s infidelity scandal is no doubt a hot topic of conversation for the country superstar as he embarks on a national media campaign to promote the release of his latest studio album, ‘Night Train,’ though it’s probably a conversation he wants to avoid.

Tanya Tucker has rescheduled her only remaining scheduled 2012 tour date, according to a news report. The 53-year-old country superstar has cited ‘health concerns’ as the reason behind the cancellation of her Dec. 9 gig at the Foothills Performing Arts Center in Oneonta, N.Y., sparking concerns that her ailment may be a serious concern, given the lengthy advance notice.

Jason Aldean may have limited time at home, but the Georgia native makes the most of his time spent in Nashville while trying to juggle the demands of being a country music superstar. The husband and father-of-two recently allowed People magazine a glimpse into his personal life during his time spent on an 18-acre Tennessee estate.

Last summer Carrie Underwood fans found out the singer would be featured in an upcoming episode of VH1′s ‘Behind the Music.’ Now the Oklahoma native’s small-screen documentary from college co-ed to global country music superstar has an air date. Underwood’s episode on the long-running television series is set to debut on Sept. 30 at 9 PM ET on Vh1.

Kellie Pickler has upped her support for breast cancer awareness by signing on for the ‘Opry Goes Pink’ celebration, which will take place on Oct. 30 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The annual event recognizes cancer survivors and the ongoing effort to find a cure to the life-threatening disease through the gracious help of country music artists.

Kelly Clarkson continues to inch closer to becoming a bona fide country music superstar, recently announcing plans to claim full-time residency in Nashville. Despite her allegiance to the Lone Star State, the current CMA Awards nominee has placed her Texas estate on the market, and is currently in the process of finding a home in Music City.

Scotty McCreery broke the mold with his performance slot on tonight’s ABC special, ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,’ performing Travis Tritt‘s 1993 country classic ‘T.R.O.U.B.L.E’ for the TV airing rather than a tune from his own country music debut record, ‘Clear as Day.’

Kix Brooks have may performed ‘New to This Town’ during tonight’s ‘CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,’ but it’s clear that the former Brooks & Dunn member is far from a novice when it comes to entertaining a Music City crowd.