10 Best Billy Currington Songs
One thing fans can always count on from Billy Currington songs is a smile. It could be a knowing smile, the kind that passes over one’s lips while listening to “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right.” Read More
Articles by Billy Dukes
Interview: Chase Rice’s Long, ‘Grueling’ Journey to Not Quite Reinventing Himself
Chase Rice was ready to pivot, he just needed the songs and support to do it. Finding both for Lambs & Lions was a long, “grueling” process that took three years, several producers, multiple versions Read More
Remember That Other Television Series Called ‘Nashville’?
Nashville made stars out of its cast and brought new exposure to its namesake city, but it’s not the first network television show to use Music City’s name as a show title. In 2007, a Fox Read More
Reba McEntire to Garth Brooks After Lip-Syncing Controversy: I Got You, Boo!
Reba McEntire isn’t just defending lip-syncing Garth Brooks, she’s celebrating him. During a recent interview the country legend applauded the CMA Entertainer of the Year for taking the stage last week, even though he didn’t Read More
New Songs on the Radio in November 2017
Keith Urban‘s “Female” was the spotlight new song at the 2017 CMA Awards, but many more artists are releasing new songs to the radio in November 2017. Taylor Swift, Alan Jackson, Dustin Lynch and more Read More
Jack Daniels Asked Chase Rice to Behave Himself on Stage
Chase Rice says when Jack Daniels speaks, you listen, which may be bad news for fans of the country singer and the whiskey. No longer can they count on free sips while Rice sings the tribute song from Read More
13 Tweets About Sexiest Man Alive Pick Blake Shelton We’re Totally Not Laughing At
Two groups of people are truly upset that Blake Shelton was picked as People‘s Sexiest Man Alive: fans of actor Idris Elba and fans of every other sexy man on Earth. No, we’re not going to debate the Read More
Brett Eldredge Understands Blake Shelton’s Sex Appeal: ‘Goofy Is the New Sexy’
Brett Eldredge is going to be touring with People‘s Sexiest Man Alive next year, and he’s pumped about it. He also understands why Blake Shelton was chosen. It’s easy to compare the two country crooners. Both are strong vocalists in Read More
Carrie Underwood Won’t Be Inducted Into Oklahoma Hall of Fame After All
Carrie Underwood‘s wrist injury will keep her from being inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame this week, or at all in 2017. The singer was set to be enshrined and take her place alongside country Read More
This All-Female Cover of Keith Urban’s ‘Female’ Gets It
Seven rising country women teamed up to cover Keith Urban‘s “Female,” and the result is an unexpected, perhaps unexplainable, three minutes of harmony and emotion. If criticism of “Female” took any air out of the conversation the Read More
Carrie Underwood Undergoes Wrist Surgery
Carrie Underwood‘s wrist injury is more serious than originally reported. The superstar underwent surgery on Tuesday (Nov. 14). In a tweet Underwood says that she’s doing great and is grateful for the medical staff, family and Read More
Luke Bryan on Blake Shelton’s Sexiest Man Honor: ‘Am I Being Punked?’
Luke Bryan‘s immediate reaction to learning Blake Shelton was named People‘s Sexiest Man Alive was one of disbelief, confusion, anger and finally acceptance. The “Light It Up” singer was shown the cover of the latest Read More
Scotty McCreery Did the Gentlemanly Thing Before Proposing to Girlfriend Gabi … Eventually
Scotty McCreery drove up to girlfriend Gabi’s parents’ house in North Carolina, intending to ask them to give him their blessing before he proposed marriage. But when he got there, he turned around and drove away. Read More
With ‘Good Ole Days,’ Tracy Lawrence Finds Friends, Fights and the Future
There’s something appropriate about Jason Aldean singing “Can’t Break It to My Heart” on Tracy Lawrence‘s new Good Ole Days album. Here you find one modern country outlaw joining a ’90s great on his most controversial song. Read More
Blake Shelton Tributes His Brother, Richie, on Anniversary of His Death
Blake Shelton got serious on Twitter Monday morning (Nov. 13), offering reflections on the death of his older brother, Richie. Richie died in a car accident on Nov. 13, 1990, when Shelton was just 14 years old. The singer has spoken Read More
Cole Swindell Reveals ‘Down Home Sessions IV’ Track List [Exclusive]
The fourth installment of Cole Swindell‘s Down Home Sessions series will feature songs he wrote that other artists turned into hits. Swindell is sharing the five-song track list with Taste of Country readers first. Additionally, Florida Georgia Line, Read More
Jason Aldean, George Strait + More Play Country Rising Fundraiser [Pictures]
Ten of country music’s biggest stars are urging fans to continue to donate to causes supported by the Country Rising concert in Nashville on Sunday night (Nov. 12). Reba McEntire, Chris Stapleton and Sam Hunt Read More
Keith Urban’s ‘Female’ Isn’t Intended to Be a #MeToo Anthem
The release of Keith Urban‘s “Female” syncs well with the #MeToo viral campaign that followed accusations against dozens of high-profile actors, entertainment executives and (in the case of country music) publicists. But that wasn’t the point. In fact, Read More
Blake Shelton Stands Up for Garth Brooks
He may have lip-synced, but Garth Brooks is still Blake Shelton‘s hero. The “I’ll Name the Dogs” singer tweeted support to the Entertainer of the Year, and the timing couldn’t be more curious. Shelton’s tweet Read More
Trace Adkins’ Grand Ole Opry Performance of ‘Still a Soldier’ Is a Veterans Day Must [Watch]
Trace Adkins‘ new single “Still a Soldier” is a must on Veterans Day, and his just-released Grand Ole Opry performance of the song will make you proud. The country veteran performed the song during an Read More
5 Reasons We Need Sugarland Back in Our Lives
Sugarland will soon return with new music, and fans are two trips over the moon about it. Will a tour follow? Surely an album is coming too, right? Can Jennifer Nettles still do the Roger Rabbit? Read More
Sound Off: Should Garth Brooks Have Canceled His CMA Awards Performance?
At least two country artists feel like Garth Brooks should have scrapped a planned CMA Awards appearance instead of lip-syncing his single “Ask Me How I Know,” but that would have meant that millions who tuned in to see Read More
Anderson East, Miranda Lambert Blast Garth Brooks for Lip-Syncing
Anderson East is offended that Garth Brooks‘ admits he lip-synced at the 2017 CMA Awards. Miranda Lambert says if you can’t sing, then don’t. Brooks was called out for lip-syncing during his performance of “Ask Me How I Know” Read More
4 Versions of ‘Softly and Tenderly’ Just as Good as Carrie Underwood’s
Carrie Underwood and producers of the 2017 CMA Awards chose the Christian hymn “Softly and Tenderly” to remember musicians and country music dignitaries who died in 2017, as well as the 58 people killed during a Read More
Sugarland’s Back! New Music Coming Soon
Sugarland weren’t just being cheeky when they said “who knows?” with regard to their future on Wednesday night. The duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush are set to return with new music, and soon. Read More
Pictures: Beards Were the New Black at the 2017 CMA Awards
Chris Stapleton has been a consistent CMA Awards winner since 2015, and it must be the beard. Because, now everyone in country music is trying to replicate his look! Well, at least all the men Read More
Why Garth Brooks Won the CMA Entertainer of the Year (And Probably Will Again Next Year)
Garth Brooks‘ CMA Entertainer of the Year win should be a surprise to no one in the country music industry. The 55-year-old simply out-hustled his younger competition. Each of the five EOTY nominees was well-qualified, Read More
Opinion: The 2017 CMA Awards Played It Too Safe
It was clear artists and fans inside the Bridgestone Arena for Wednesday night’s CMA Awards felt a special unity that those watching at home weren’t always a part of. Some of the best moments simply didn’t Read More
Tim McGraw, Faith Hill Call for ‘Common Sense’ Gun Control
Debate about gun control and gun rights hid in the background of Wednesday night’s (Nov. 8) CMA Awards, but Tim McGraw and Faith Hill brought the conversation to the front row with clear remarks on the divisive issue. Read More
Top 5 Moments From the 2017 CMA Awards
Garth Brooks wins Entertainer of the Year, then admits he lip-synced through his CMA Awards performance. Does it matter? Maybe, but his live set of “Ask Me How I Know” wasn’t going to make this Top Read More
2017 CMA Awards Performances — Full List
Nearly 20 performances highlighted the 2017 CMA Awards with tributes from Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and more leading the way. The show’s theme was unity — heck, co-host Brad Paisley even wore a “unity” T-shirt! Read More
Luke Bryan Escorts Wife Caroline Down the CMA Awards Red Carpet [Pictures]
Luke Bryan‘s wife shimmered like a disco ball as the couple posed on the CMA Awards red carpet on Wednesday night (Nov. 8). Luke and Caroline Bryan kept it classic for their red carpet parade Read More
Garth Brooks Lip-Synced His CMA Awards Performance
Garth Brooks admitted he was lip-syncing during his CMA Awards performance of “Ask Me How I Know” on Wednesday night (Nov. 8). While holding his Entertainer of the Year trophy and speaking to reporters after Read More
Sugarland #StillTheSame After CMA Awards Appearance, But What’s It Mean?
Sugarland may have been the biggest surprise of the 2017 CMA Awards. Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles took the stage to present the Vocal Duo of the Year Award and teased fans with an idea that Read More
2017 CMA Monologue Business as Usual After Short Tribute to Tragedy Victims
Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood briefly recognized several months worth of tragic world events before returning to what they do best as hosts of the CMA Awards. Song parodies, political humor and jokes at the Read More
Miranda Lambert, Anderson East Look Like Royalty on the CMA Awards Red Carpet [Pictures]
Miranda Lambert‘s long blonde hair draped over a Cinderella-esque gown at the 2017 CMA Awards. The icy blue, floor-length dress pulled in tight at the waist to give boyfriend Anderson East a target for his Read More
Scott McCreery + His Fiancee Gabi Charm the CMA Awards Red Carpet [Pictures]
How did Scotty McCreery grow up so quickly? The singer and his fiancee, Gabi, walked the CMA Awards red carpet on Wednesday night (Nov. 8) and both looked stunning. Red is definitely the color of Read More
5 CMA Awards Rumors (and the Likelihood They’ll Happen)
You can’t keep a secret in Nashville unless, it seems, it has to do with the 2017 CMA Awards show open. No one will leak a detail about what is sure to be a monumental Read More
Cam Spoke Up About CMA’s Restrictive Media Guidelines, But Why?
Country artists rarely speak up on controversial issues, so when several spoke out against restrictive CMA media guidelines released last week, it was a surprise. Singer Cam explains why she felt it necessary to say something. Read More
Who Should Win CMA Entertainer of the Year? 3 Dozen Country Singers Reveal Their Picks
Nearly three dozen country singers were asked to pick the 2017 CMA Awards Entertainer of the Year winner, and the result was decisive. This year the Entertainer of the Year will go to … Garth Brooks. The Read More
Reba McEntire Giving an Anxious Dustin Lynch CMA Advice Is Presh! [Watch]
Dustin Lynch has a Texas-sized crush on Reba McEntire, so when an opportunity came for him to interview her prior to the 2017 CMA Awards, he couldn’t say no. Seriously, he couldn’t — we sort of Read More
50 Greatest CMA Awards Moments Ever
The greatest moments at the CMA Awards leave fans and viewers talking about them for days or weeks. In 2015, that moment was all night — Chris Stapleton‘s unbelievable night. Two years earlier, it was the King’s Read More
Luke Bryan’s Late Brother and Sister Affect How He Parents His Kids
Luke Bryan admits that talking about his late brother and sister brings him comfort and emotional healing. The deaths of Chris and Kelly also affect how he parents sons Bo and Tate, and how he relates Read More
25 Best CMA Awards Speeches of All Time
Upon winning CMA Awards, country stars have been known to accept with tears, humility and humor — lots and lots of humor. These are the 25 best CMA Awards acceptance speeches ever. Warning: this list will make Read More
8 Unforgettable Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood CMA Awards Moments
Each year, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood‘s CMA Awards monologue gets stronger. The friends and frequent collaborators have grown more comfortable with country’s biggest stage, and their opening segment tends to reflect that. Many of the Read More
10 Tear-Jerking CMA Awards Moments We’re Still Emotional About
We remember CMA Awards speeches and performances that involve tears for a lifetime. Reba McEntire, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton with Miranda Lambert — you hardly need more detail to start reliving these emotional CMA moments! Taylor Swift cried multiple Read More
Blake Shelton Fans Get Chance to Grab His ‘Money’
Blake Shelton fans at Nashville’s Opry Mills Mall on Thursday (Nov. 2) scored swag and VIP concert tickets when the singer’s team started to give his “money” away. Patrons had a chance to stand in a Read More
CMA Awards Apologize, Lift Red Carpet Media Restrictions
The Country Music Association has apologized for and lifted CMA Awards media guidelines restricting what reporters can and cannot ask during next week’s red carpet. The CMA’s communications department issued the following note on Friday (Nov. 3): “CMA Read More
Exclusive: Miranda Lambert Previews ‘The House That Built Me’ From ‘Austin City Limits’ Stop
Performing “The House That Built Me” on Austin City Limits was special for Texas native Miranda Lambert, and it shows during this episode preview, made exclusive to Taste of Country readers. Lambert’s full hour-long set airs Read More
Media Told to Refrain From Questions About Politics, Guns, Vegas on CMA Awards Red Carpet
Media outlets covering the 2017 CMA Awards from the red carpet cannot ask artists about their political affiliations, views on gun rights or the Las Vegas shooting. Those who break from these guidelines could have their credentials revoked Read More