Lori McKenna - Lorraine

While Lori's previous album, Unglamorous, was pretty decent, I find this new release to be a nice step up in listening pleasure.

What makes a great song is the mixture of voice, instrumentation and songwriting. Lori has done that remarkably well in all 13 of them on this album. Sometimes I'm not sure which of those parts is the highlight. At one point, I'd think it was the lyrics that intrigued me. On another listen, I'd swear it was her voice that grabbed my attention, or was it the simple instrumentation? In reality, it was all of the above. A great mixture.

What makes a great album is a compilation of well-crafted songs that the listener can identify with in his/her own life. With "Lorraine", Lori seamlessly goes from heartache and loss to reflection and hope and back again. It's sadness and sweetness all rolled together into one wonderful collection.

Take a listen to a few of the cuts:
The Luxury of Knowing:

"Damn it must be easy being in love with someone so blind. Cuz - I’ll tell you right now the only thing I really know is that you might change your mind. Any day you could change your mind."


Buy this town:

"If I could buy your pain, first I’d buy the great big sea. I’d put that pain inside a box, and bury it so deep..."


All I ever do:

"All I ever do is work. All I ever do is pray. But I do know that I have for you a love that never fades and it's okay if it's all I ever do."


Sweet Disposition:

"I believe everyone is good but I’ve been wrong a time or two. When a friend kicks you in the gut there’s not much that you can do. Oh but that friend she was never my friend. The only thing she feels is ambition. Still I’m left searching for my sweet disposition."

Miss Willie Brown

The duo known as Miss Willie Brown - comprised of Amanda Watkins & Kasey Buckley - is releasing their major label debut EP today. The duo is the first country act signed to New York based A&M/Octone Records.

The EP is a four-song project, produced by Keith Stegall. Watkins and Buckley share lead vocals on the tracks, which they also co-wrote.

A new album coming soon from Emmylou Harris

Country/Folk legend Emmylou Harris will release her new album on Nonesuch Records, Hard Bargain, on April 26th. Emmylou wrote 11 of the 13 tracks including song tributes to Gram Parsons ("The Road") and the late folk singer Kate McGarrigle ("Dear Kate").

The project included just three musicians - Emmylou, producer Jay Joyce, and Giles Reeves - however, it's not a stripped-down album. To promote the album's release, Emmylou will appear on The Late Show with David Letterman on April 27th.

The Judds & Loretta Lynn added to ACM's Girls' Night Out

The Judds and Loretta Lynn have been added to the lineup of the ACM’s Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country tribute concert.

Performers previously announced include Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, Reba and Carrie Underwood. These female artists will be honored at the taping, which will be held on Monday, April 4th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. There will also be special guest duets, including Ronnie Dunn with Jennifer Nettles, Rascal Flatts with Reba, Vince Gill singing with Carrie Underwood, as well as performances by Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and still more to be announced.

The show will air Friday, April 22nd on CBS TV. Ticket sales from the special will benefit ACM Lifting Lives, the charitable arm of the Academy.

ACM Nominees to perform

The 46th Academy of County Music Awards will be handed out on Sunday, April 3rd, live on CBS TV from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

All of the ACM Entertainer of the Year nominees - Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban - will be performing during the event.

For the third consecutive year, the winner will be fan voted. Voting begins March 11 at www.voteACM.com and will conclude during the third hour of the live broadcast.

Shania Twain to release autobiography

Shania Twain's autobiography, "From This Moment On", is set for release on May 3.


Shania has multiple ventures in the works this summer. Along with the release of her autobiography, which is her first book, she has a new docu-series for OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) debuting in May as well.

The 2011 Country Music Hall of Fame Class

The Country Music Association revealed the 2011 inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame today.



Bobby Braddock, Jean Shepard and Reba McEntire will be the latest inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Bobby Braddock is inducted in the Songwriter category. He has been writing hit songs in Nashville for half a century. Some of his classics include "D-I-V-O-R-C-E" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today," and some of his more modern hits are "I Wanna Talk About Me" and the recent "People Are Crazy."

After moving to Nashville in 1964, Braddock became the piano player for Marty Robbins. He released three major label albums and also performed in Country Music-themed movies. He also added his talent as a producer, working on Blake Shelton’s first five albums.

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Jean Shepard is inducted in the Veterans Era.

She is often called The Grand Lady of the Grand Ole Opry, as she has been a member of the Opry for over 50 years. Jean had 44 charted hits between 1953 and 1978, including her first hit, "A Dear John Letter", which was a duet with Ferlin Husky.

Some of Jean Shepard's hits include: "Twice the Lovin’ in Half the Time", "Don’t Fall in Love With a Married Man", "The Root of All Evil (Is a Man)", and "The Other Woman". She also joined the cast of Ozark Jubilee on ABC TV.

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Reba McEntire is a Modern Era inductee to the Hall of Fame

Reba started out her career a bit slow, but things began to soar for the Oklahoma redhead by 1984, when she won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award for the 1st of 4 consecutive years. Two years later, she joined the Grand Ole Opry and was also named CMA Entertainer of the Year. In her music career, Reba has sold more than 55 million albums worldwide, and to date has achieved 35 No. 1 singles. She has also received 6 CMA Awards, and 2 Grammy Awards.

Reba's talents broadened to acting on the big screen (Tremors), the small screen (her own sitcom, "Reba"), and even the Broadway stage (Annie Get Your Gun).