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
Win a Trip to the CMA Awards to Meet Miranda Lambert
Nominations for the 2014 CMA Awards are still months away from being announced, but Miranda Lambert wants to secure your seat in advance. The singer -- who just released her new album 'Platinum' -- is hooking one fan and a guest up with the ultimate CMA Awards flyaway.
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.
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.
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.
Album Spotlight: Rascal Flatts, ‘Rewind’
The song 'Rewind' is a good measuring stick for Rascal Flatts' new album of the same name as it truly does -- as Jay DeMarcus said -- tie the old to the new. It's the mean of 13 songs that range from syrupy and organic to razor sharp and vengeful.
Win a Signed Copy of Rascal Flatts ‘Rewind’
Rascal Flatts have released their new studio album 'Rewind,' featuring the hit song 'Rewind' and 12 other tracks from some of the top country songwriters in Nashville. Win a copy, signed by Gary, Joe Don and Jay, by entering this ToC contest.
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!
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.