Billy Dukes

Never has a single better represented an artist's album than 'Cruise' does for Florida Georgia Line's 'Here's to the Good Times.' Thick production, heavy guitarwork and big fat hooks define the 11 songs -- six of which were written by Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. 

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Country music took center stage on CBS Wednesday night (Dec. 5), where the 2013 Grammy nominees were announced during a fun-filled hour of music. Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson picked up early nominations, and Swift joined rapper LL Cool J as host of the Grammy nominations concert. After just a few minutes of the broadcast, Dierks Bentley and the Band Perry were performing Johnny Cash songs for viewers.

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Gary Allan's new single,, 'Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),' is a song of hope and inspiration to anyone staring at trouble or tragedy. The singer says that when he watched news reports of what Hurricane Sandy victims were going through, he knew the song could be part of the rebuilding effort. With a tie-in to the Red Cross, the new music video does just that.

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The Liquid Neon Tour will be on hiatus until Chris Young gets his voice back. The singer has been put on vocal rest, forcing him to reschedule upcoming shows in Huntsville, Ala., Savannah, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn.

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The father of country superstar Clint Black has died. G.A. Black left his family shocked and saddened when he chose to "end his own suffering" on Sunday (Dec. 2). He was 78 years old.

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Bob Costas' gun control comments during halftime of NBC's 'Football Night in America' on Sunday (Dec. 2) left many -- including country music's own Charlie Daniels -- unsettled.

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Jana Kramer cut short a show in West Palm Beach, Fla. and was taken to the hospital after falling ill on Saturday night (Dec. 1). Her boyfriend, fellow country singer Brantley Gilbert, was also at the WIRK Country Christmas show and was able to swoop in to carry her off of the stage when it became clear she couldn't continue.

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Tim McGraw could make a pretty strong Christmas album if he chose to do so. His new release 'Mary and Joseph' is a creative -- but not too creative -- interpretation of the story of Jesus' birth. McGraw tells it like he's told the best stories of his two decade-long career, with a sweet reverence for the struggles his characters are living through.

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LeAnn Rimes might be making some of the best music of her life, but songs like her new single 'Borrowed' won't help her threadbare tie to radio. The first single from her upcoming 'Spitfire' album tells the story of the early days of her romance with Eddie Cibrian. A more caustic subject may not exist.

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Platinum certification for one million albums sold didn't begin until 1976, so while other recordings may have soared past this sales mark, 'Wanted: The Outlaws' became the first official platinum album that year. The project featured Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter and it would eventually go on to be certified double platinum.

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Kix Brooks takes a trip back to Lake Bistineau in his new semi-autobiographical single 'Moonshine Road.' The singer says the cut is based on a spot he and his trouble-making friends would take to at night. The steam is still fresh on this swampy, country-blues cut. Memories of his Moonshine Road aren't thick with moss, even though it's been a few decades since those hell-raising years.

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In 'Party Like Cowboyz,' Big and Rich once again become the wild-eyed, brash, cowboy rockers that originally attracted so many fans to their diesel-powered style when they debuted in 2003.  No one is going to accuse John Rich and Big Kenny of excessive versatility, but they do what they do with genuine conviction and passion.

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