Amanda Hensel

Kelleigh Bannen plowed past songs from the Lost Trailers and D. Vincent Williams on Taste of Country Nights radio this week with her debut single ‘Sorry on the Rocks.’ Will her wins be enough to help her take on big-leaguer Luke Bryan in the Showdown?

Sure, Kelleigh Bannen is a newcomer, but she’s proven that she’s ready to make an impact on country music. ‘Sorry on the Rocks,’ the new single from the determined EMI Nashville signee, made no apologies as it took down the Lost Trailers in yesterday’s Taste of Country Showdown. Today and tonight, Bannen and her song will attempt victory against D. Vincent Williams here and on Taste of Country Nig

A baby girl has officially joined Eli Young Band‘s brood. Frontman Mike Eli and his wife, Kacey, welcomed Kline Olivia Diaz on Monday (July 30) in Dallas. The little girl, who is the first child for the couple, weighed in at 6 lbs. and 15 oz. She was expected to arrive in August.

Lauren Alaina has done it again. Though her name has only been ‘household’ for a year, the 17-year-old country starlet has proven that she’s worth a second listen. Now that she’s beaten both Jason Aldean and Trace Adkins in the Showdown, she’s looking for a third. Will she get another spin on Taste of Country Nights radio?

Country music fans like Eric Church for more than just his music. While it’s admirable that in a world of processed, overdone soun the 35-year-old singer-songwriter has built a career from the ground up, it’s really his raw, rebellious side that many are drawn to. As we learned earlier this year, Church has no qualms about speaking his mind — even when it gets him in trouble. But that’s far from a

Eric Church is sorry he couldn’t see you on Friday, Buffalo, but he’s going to make it up to you. Heavy rain and high winds — and thus, unsafe conditions — forced WYRK to cut short their annual Taste of Country concert on Friday (June 1), and many fans went home disappointed.

On Sunday night, Taylor Swift was officially crowned with one of the most prestigious nods given at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards: Woman of the Year. Following a strong introduction by Kris Kristofferson — who called her “one of the most successful artists in country music” — Swift got a multi-minute reel recapping all of the heights she’s reached in her relatively short career.

Happy Birthday, Jay DeMarcus! The Rascal Flatts superstar celebrates 41 years today (April 26), and we know it’s bound to be a good day for him. After all, the Flatts just released their chart-topping new album, ‘Changed,’ at the beginning of his birthday month, ‘Banjo’ is a huge hit with fans and radio alike, and DeMarcus and his wife are expecting their second child — a boy — this summer. Could

The 2012 ACM Awards winners were elated to collect their prizes on the eve of country music’s biggest party. The annual awards show, hosted for a second time by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, airs live from Sin City — Las Vegas, Nevada — and pays tribute to the most famous stars in the genre. Natural, selecting the best of the best and naming winners is a daunting task.

Late Tuesday night (March 6), Jerrod Niemann‘s tour bus went up in flames in Chattanooga, Tenn., Taste of Country has learned. The ‘Lover, Lover’ hitmaker appeared at Heart Strings for Hope, a benefit for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, and was just wrapping up when the bus broke out in flames around 10:45PM ET.

It’s obvious from her blind audition performance that Adley Stump has country music in her blood. Now, the Tulsa, Okla. native has a home on NBC’s ‘The Voice‘ — thanks to her grizzly rendition of Carrie Underwood’s ‘Last Name’ that got both Blake Shelton and Christina Aguilera spinning in their chairs… Literally.

Congratulations are in order for Ronnie Dunn and his family — the ‘Cost of Livin” singer became a grandfather for the first time on Sunday (Feb. 26). Dunn found the news especially exciting, as his new grandson was lucky enough to be born on Johnny Cash‘s birthday.