Stephen L. Betts
Mindy McCready: Looking Back at Fallen Country Singer’s Storied Life and Career
Mindy McCready's apparent suicide on Sunday, Feb. 17, was merely the final act of a tumultuous life played out largely on the public stage. Fans of the country singer, and others who may have known her name but didn't know her music, were shocked and saddened by her death, yet those who had followed the darker headlines that hounded the 37-year-old throughout the past two decades -- and especially
Kacey Musgraves: Jimmy Fallon, ACM Nominations Make for Career-Boosting Week
What a week singer Kacey Musgraves has had! The "Merry Go Round" singer scored three ACM nominations on Wednesday (Feb. 13), including one for Female Vocalist of the Year, putting the relative newcomer in competition with Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood...
Tim McGraw, ‘Two Lanes of Freedom’ Debuts at No. 1
For the 14th time in his career, Tim McGraw has reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. Tim's Two Lanes of Freedom, his first for Big Machine, debuts at No. 1 with more than 106,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan...
Lady Antebellum Ping Pong & Songs Event Serves Double Dose of Fun
Lady Antebellum will put down mics and pick up paddles for their first-ever Ping Pong & Songs fundraiser. Set for March 23 in Nashville and inspired by their favorite backstage hobby as well as their obvious love for songwriting, the event will feature a celebrity ping-pong tournament and an in-the-round style songwriters' night. Bo...
Nash Bash: NYC Concert Headliners Include Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum
The Big Apple is getting ready to welcome country music back with a big party. On Monday (Feb. 18), the three-day-long NASH BASH will be held at New York City's Roseland Ballroom, featuring headliners Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum and Sara Evans...
Luke Bryan LBTV Outtakes Keep Laughs at the Ready
While Luke Bryan crosses the country on his Dirt Road Diaries tour and preps for his co-hosting gig with Blake Shelton at the ACM Awards on April 7, he's also documenting some of the memorable moments on the road with his LBTV series of videos...
Grammys 2013: Country Performances in Short Supply?
Country music has been an integral part of the Grammy Awards since the first trophies were presented in 1959, although the first country Grammy was actually awarded to folk group the Kingston Trio for the murder ballad "Tom Dooley." Country music has also been a presence since the first Grammy live telecast in 1971, although arguably a limited one until recent years...
Grammys 2013 Dress Code: Leaked Memo Lists Cheeky Wardrobe Rules
Sure, the live Grammy Awards telecast offers some amazing live performances and a smattering of "first, I want to thank God" acceptance speeches. But what draws many viewers to the broadcast each year is the jaw-dropping fashion, which leads to the inevitable best-dressed and worst-dressed lists after the show ends...
Dave Stewart, ‘Lucky Numbers’ Video Teaser Is High-Flying Musical Adventure
Musician Dave Stewart is a multifaceted and delightfully enigmatic character. Yes, he's perhaps best known as half of one of the most successful duos in pop music history (Eurythmics), but he's also the man who created Reba McEntire's ABC sitcom, "Malibu Country," and he's produced, written songs for, played on, or otherwise guided projects by everyone from Bob Dylan to Martina McBride..
Kris Kristofferson, ‘Feeling Mortal’ and Embracing Gratitude (Exclusive Interview)
This was a pretty good week to be Kris Kristofferson. Let's face it, though, any time is a pretty good time to be the consummate songwriter whose most recognizable -- and justifiably celebrated -- tunes include "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "For the Good Times" and "Me and Bobby McGee."