It was a night all about musicians making real music, about real bands with real instruments conjuring up that kind of magic musical spirit only real bands can create. Crystallized by a exultant tribute to an absent friend, The Band’s Levon Helm, led by Elton John, Zac Brown and Mavis Staples, it was also a [...]

(Photo: Underwood and Brad Paisley – Rick Diamond/Getty Images North America) On her first three album covers, she was the girlish bombshell next door, holding daises here, swathed in sunny yellow hues there. But on the cover of Blown Away, she’s revealed as a diva—a dramatically windswept silhouette in red carpet couture. A diva is, [...]

Carrie Underwood Blown Away (Arista Nashville) Rating: Country’s powerhouse diva and multi-Grammy winner Carrie Underwood bursts back onto the country music scene with her latest album Blown Away. Blasting off with the red-hot barnburner and current hit single “Good Girl,” the 2005 American Idol winner’s fourth studio release is loaded with an abundantly rich amount [...]

This year’s epic season of American Idol is drawing to a close. Jacob Lusk, we hardly knew ye. Next year, can it please be hosted by Geddy Lee, Cyndi Lauper, and Janet Jackson? Just a suggestion. Tonight’s episode saw the two youngest contestants ever going head to head in the top Two: Scotty vs. Lauren [...]

Last night’s 46th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards belonged to Taylor Swift, who won Entertainer of the Year, and Miranda Lambert, who took home the award for Top Female Vocalist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Video of the Year for “The House That Built [...]

American Idol graduate Carrie Underwood was this year’s big winner at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, where she was crowned Entertainer of the Year. Lady Antebellum also won big, clinching five awards, including Song of the Year (for “Need You Now”), Single Record of the Year, and Top Vocal Group. Miranda Lambert [...]

The first round of finalists for the 2010 CMT Music Awards, the only country music award show that’s determined by fan-based voting, has been announced.  Lady Antebellum, Jason Aldean, and Sugarland garnered four nominations each, while Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band are up for three [...]

As if there weren’t enough festivals already, the hardworking songwriters that often go unrecognized are entering the fray. Held along the Florida panhandle, the first annual 30A Songwriters Festival will feature The Jayhawks’ Gary Louris and both of the Indigo Girls—though they’ll be performing separately. Plenty of other writers will be performing or speaking at [...]

Do American Songwriter Readers Watch American Idol?

Carrie Underwood Turns Heads, Makes History At Country Music Awards