CountryChart #1 for Country Music Charts

We were pleasantly surprised to find a copy of Jamie Richards' fine 2007 release "Drive" waiting for us in the office mail last week. So, of course, we listened to the D Records release most of the day and were thrilled to hear that the third single from the album, "Back To Bein' Me," has been released to radio. This comes on the heels of Jamie's success with his title track,"Drive," which vaulted to Number One on the Texas Music Chart and the Texas Regional Radio Report earlier this year. As many of you know, Jamie Richards is an Oklahoma boy who grew up working on a dairy farm. We can't think of any finer upbringing for a future Texas country star who eventually found his way to Curb Records as a staff writer. Like the title from one of Jamie's songs, his life was a "Country Song Waiting To Happen." Jamie Richards is a traditional country artist who confidently sings the lyrics he writes while rejecting pop-influenced c...

Our friend Rodney Atkins new CD "Take A Back Road" won't be out until October 4, but you can download the title track "Take A Back Road" right now for free . UPDATE: The offer is now over. You can also preview all 13 songs on the new album and even pre-order it by clicking here . Song titles on the new album include the title track, "He's Mine," "Family," "The Corner," "She's A Girl," "She'd Rather Fight," "Feet," "Cabin In The Woods," "Just Wanna Rock N' Roll," "Growing Up Like That," "Tips," "Lifelines" and "Farmer's Daughter." Rodney Atkins never disappoints, and you will probably find your new favorite song on the 13-song Rodney Atkins album titled "Take A Back Road" that drops October 4, 2011.  CountryChart.com

The Red Dirt dynamos of the super-successful Eli Young Band have hit a major musical milestone with sales of more than 650,000 to date of the group's hit single "Crazy Girl." The single was certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 downloads, and the song has had a terrific average of 40,000 downloads per week since its release. This week, the cut climbed to #18 on the Billboard Country Songs Chart, and it also found a place at #17 on the USA Today/Country Aircheck chart. On Monday August 8, 2011 the Eli Young Band attended an event at Republic Nashville where they received gold plaques. Bassist Jon Jones said the accomplishment was a dream come true: "When you walk into a recording studio, you see these gold records on the wall and wonder what it takes to get there." He added: "We're very lucky 'Crazy Girl' is gold. Making a gold record has been one of our goals since we started making music." Label head Scott Borchetta said Re...

The Drive-By Truckers announce the first leg of their Go-Go Boots tour. The band will kick of the 15 dates on February 25th with a two-night stand in Chicago, IL at the Vic Theater; they will also do two-night stands in San Francisco, CA and Denver, CO. The Heartless Bastards will support through March 18 th . ATO Records will release Go-Go Boots , on February 15, 2011.   Go-Go Boots is their eleventh record and was produced by their longtime producer, David Barbe (Deerhunter, Bettye LaVette, Sugar). In conjunction with Go-Go Boots , they’ll also be releasing their documentary The Secret to a Happy Ending , directed by Barr Weissman, on DVD. DBT will be releasing a series of Go-Go Boots episodes directed by Patterson Hood and Jason Thrasher. The first episode and acoustic version of the song “Go-Go Boots” can be viewed on the band’s web site: http://drivebytruckers.com/episodes.html . DBT will end 2010 with a bang, playing at Terminal 5 in New York City for New Year...

Country sensations Steel Magnolia surprised two unsuspecting fans with American Country Awards tickets Monday night before their performance on the live, inaugural awards broadcast on FOX.   During their red carpet walk, the stars decided to thank their fans by giving away two of their own tickets to the show. Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey took a break from interviews on the red carpet and walked out to the pool of fans gathered just outside the limo drop. Whitney Boren and Dana Keele of Heber, Utah were the lucky recipients.  As if primo seats to the ACAs weren't enough, Josh and Meghan invited Dana and Whitney to join them on the red carpet to sing the chorus of the smash, "Keep On Lovin' You," with the stars themselves on FOX's live national red carpet pre-show.   "It was so cool," said Whitney Boren of the experience.  "Steel Magnolia –both of them – were so very nice to us.  We were so excited and so nervous to go to ...

Many people list Todd Snider as one of their favorite singers of all time, but the musical storyteller has heroes of his own. In celebration his new live double-disc album titled "The Storyteller," Snider carefully wrote interesting musings about his favorite five writers and performers that shaped his career.   1. Bob Dylan Todd Snider: "For me, when it comes to being a fan of a troubadour, I have to laugh with you before I'll cry with you, simply because most troubadours expect you to cry over their journal entries with them. Most troubadours are awful people. Bob, however, is not. I think he's America's finest contribution to the world, of any kind. He does not have a song I don't like, and while he doesn't talk much on stage, when he does, it's precise, funny, wise and everything else. There really is no point in anyone else doing this troubadour thing. Hell, I once paid for a tape of Bob arguing on the phone.....and I thought it ...

We received a copy of Lonestar's new album, "Party Heard Around The World," which drops at the end of March. The CD (pictured below) arrived in a sparkling, hand-addressed silver envelope (like an invitation to a party). Hats off to the publicity whiz who came up with this idea. From the press materials, Lonestar appears to be reinventing themselves in a new and exciting way. After 18 years, Lonestar is still going strong. We haven't listened to the album yet in the Country Chart office, but we are excited about hearing it later today. Watch for the full review of Lonestar's "Party Heard Around The World" on CountryChart.com. Track listing: 1) 'Beat (I Can Feel Your Heart)' 2) 'Live Laugh And Love' 3) 'She Wants What She Wants' 4) You're The Reason Why 5) 'Y.O.U.' 6) 'Making Memories' 7) 'Let Me Love You' 8) 'Goodbye Is Goodbye' 9) 'The Future' 10) 'Party Heard Around The World...

CountryChart.com is the official site of Country Chart magazine, a division of The Chart. We syndicate news to more than 400 sources, including USA Today & the Chicago Sun-Times . Country Chart also provides free services to new country music talent. Call us: (267) 70-CHART or email us Submit an item for review

For a limited time, download a CMA nominated song free! Yes, completely free . Use claim code CMAAWARD to get a single song priced at $1.29 or less by any CMA Award nominee.  UPDATE: This offer is now over. Choose a song from the following Country Music Award nominees. They include Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Jake Owen, Zac Brown Band, Eagles, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Joey & Rory, Montgomery Gentry, Billy Currington & Sugarland. The 43rd Annual CMA Awards were a huge success with more than 16 million viewers. So tell your friends about this exceptional offer. Happy downloading. Download A Free CMA Country Song On Us

Singer-songwriter Mark Wayne Glasmire received two nominations in the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards Nominating Ballot for Song Of The Year and Best New Artist. In late August, Country Chart published a well-deserved rave review of Mark Wayne Glasmire's single "Everything Is Gonna Be Alright" and the album " Life Goes On " (read it by clicking here ). "It's pretty unbelievable," said Glasmire from his home in Arlington,Texas.  "You work at your craft all of your life and then one day you wake up to good news like this. It's inspiring, for sure." Mark Wayne Glasmire has won many awards, including first place honors in B. W. Stevenson Memorial Songwriting Competition, Dallas Songwriters Association International Songwriting Competition and GINA/LAWIM Songwriting Competition in Los Angeles California. Members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences may vote for Glasmire at Grammy.com . (General Field: Song Of The Year: ...

It wouldn't be the end of summer without Cross Canadian Ragweed's annual Red Dirt Roundup. The line-up for the Fourth Annual Red Dirt Roundup has been announced, and it's filled with top names in Texas Music. The event will be held at the Historic Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday, Sept. 6. The former cattle pens (the "North Forty" fields just east of Billy Bob's Texas) will be the home of the all day concert. The Red Dirt Roundup will include two stages of non-stop music entertainment, and the shops and restaurants in the historic stockyards district will provide additional fun for concertgoers. Texas Music is the most represented music genre at the Red Dirt Round-up and includes Robert Earl Keen, Johnny Cooper, The Randy Rogers Band and, of course, Cross Canadian Ragweed. But alternative rock will also be represented with The Wallflowers, featuring Bob Dylan's son Jakob Dylan. Gates to the concert open at 11 am, and the first band will ta...