The Boot rounds up today's (Jan. 25) country music news headlines from around the web.

Sheryl Crow sang "Easy," her debut country single, for the first time Thursday night (Jan. 24) on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." (Watch her performance below.) "I believe a lot of my songs would probably be played on country radio today if they were just being released," says the rock icon, who has dabbled in country for years. "Easy" is from Sheryl's as-yet-untitled country album, due for release via Warner Music Nashville later this year.

Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott is the latest artist to weigh in on the Beyoncé lip synching scandal at President Obama's inauguration. "When you're talking about a situation like that, you have to do what's most comfortable for you," she says. "There are so many variables that could go wrong in that environment ... And everybody knows that [Beyoncé] can sing every note on the scale anyway." [BUZ'N 102.9]

In another Hillary Scott interview, it was revealed that Miranda Lambert actually had the first shot at what is now Lady A's latest single, "Downtown." The trio heard the song and loved it, but Miranda had it on hold -- which meant no other artist could record it. "She very selflessly said, 'Let Lady A have it,'" Hillary recalls. "So we owe her a huge thank you. She really went above and beyond, and that's what you find in our amazing genre of country music -- the artists really do love each other and support one another." [WYCD Detroit]

Taylor Swift has teamed with Keds shoes in a campaign that aims to boost young girls' self confidence. The music superstar, who has her own, limited-edition sneaker, proclaims in a new Keds advertisement, "If you're lucky enough to be different from everyone else, don't change to be the same." [E! Online]

Tim McGraw will sit down for a "Town Hall" meeting with a select group of SiriusXM radio listeners on Monday (Feb. 4) in Nashville. You can listen to the Q&A session on SiriusXM's The Highway, channel 59, starting at 4:00 PM ET. Tim will tackle questions about his family, career and new album, Two Lanes of Freedom, which hits stores Feb. 5. [www.siriusxm.com/townhall]

In honor of what would've been Hank Williams' 90th birthday, the Hank Williams Estate will make more than 200 live performance recordings available to movie houses, television production companies and advertising agencies. The rare recordings have never been available for licensing before. "Daddy's music has lasted decades and is being discovered by a new generation of fans," says Hank Jr. "Not only did he influence country artists, but he also crossed over to influence rock artists." [GAC]

Country-pop group Exile will launch their 50 Years in Music tour Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the KCI Expo Center in Kansas City, Mo. The group, founded in Richmond, Ky., in 1963, is best-known for the No. 1 pop hit "Kiss You All Over," and country chart-toppers such as "Woke Up in Love," Give Me One More Chance" and "I Don't Want to Be a Memory."

Watch Sheryl Crow Sing 'Easy'

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