It s New Year s Eve and, as usual, only a handful of major country music stars will be venturing out on a concert stage. However, you won t even have to leave home to hear at least one of them -- Taylor Swift.

The members of the Eli Young Band describe themselves as a touring act. "We make records to play shows," said drummer Chris Thompson. But in the past three years, much has changed. With Jet Black and Jealous, their first record on Universal South,

When Alabama concluded its exhausting farewell tour in 2003, lead singer Randy Owen had absolutely no aspiration to climb back into the spotlight. "It damn near killed me," he says of the experience.

Country music lost some singular and durable talents this past year. Eddy Arnold took his tender country sensibilities into the pop music marketplace and demonstrated there needn t be a division between the two formats. He was the best ambassador ever.

Though named after its lead singer and songwriter, the rowdy Texas group known as the Randy Rogers Band doesn t rely more on one individual than another. "We re all equal partners," Rogers says. "That s how this band operates."

I decided to write this book, after some arm-twisting from my wife Kelly and a few close friends, because I wanted people to know where I came from, the people who raised and nurtured me, and the outlook and values they engrained in me, hopefully values I

The best news in country music for 2008 emanated from Taylor Swift, the keen teen who became America s sweetheart while selling more records and gracing more magazine covers than anyone else in the hillbilly business. Kenny Chesney was a bright spot as we

"Aaarrgghhh! ...ye have reached Willy s voicemail. Unfortunately, the old Captain Morgan has ordered me on his vessel for a trip on the high seas ... Leave a message at the sound of the Aaarrgghhh ... Aaarrgghhh!"

Although overall U.S. music sales were up in 2008 -- with more than 1.5 billion albums, singles, music videos and digital tracks sold -- album sales alone dropped an average of 14 percent across all recorded musical formats.

What is the best thing that s crossed my desk this year? The image of Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson, smiling after singing together in the studio, was tied with Jamey Johnson s great album, That Lonesome Song. Johnson s album contains the powerfu

Here we go again. Hacks and flaks ... drinking, scratching and opinionating. There are those who always groan and moan, "Worst year of music ever." Then there are the copycats who sit around sipping their booze while agreeing with anyone who seems to be

If your Christmas wish was that this column would finally stop effusing about Taylor Swift, prepare to grit your teeth. Her blonde perkiness still prevails -- and without mussing her hair -- as 2008 slides into the dustbin of publicity statistics.

The word legend is often overused, but not when it applies to country music icon George Jones. With a rich and storied career spanning more than 50 years, he s one of country s greatest singers.

Rascal Flatts have one more reason for celebrating this Christmas week as the group s "Here" climbs into the No. 1 niche on Billboard s country songs chart.

As we swing into 2009, Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift continue to top Billboard s country albums and country songs charts, respectively. Flatts "Here" has held the songs summit for two weeks, while Swift s Fearless has been welded to No. 1

Although overall U.S. music sales were up in 2008 -- with more than 1.5 billion albums, singles, music videos and digital tracks sold -- album sales alone dropped an average of 14 percent across all recorded musical formats.

Bad as 2008 may now seem in retrospect, we are daily assured by the "experts" that things will surely only get worse. But not everything in the past year went all to hell. In music, at least, there were some bright spots and even a few inspiring moments.

Musical choices at Christmas have never been greater. For country fans, there s an ample offering of packages this year such as Faith Hill s Joy to the World and Elvis Presley s Christmas Duets with Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn R

I know it s such a clich by now, but I suspect that there are many national policy makers and business and industry leaders who are simply unaware of the old (and oft-misquoted) George Santayana quote.

Usually when you get a record deal, all kinds of people start calling you. However, the opposite situation was true when it came time for the Zac Brown Band to film a video for "Chicken Fried."