Tim McGraw's 2012 CD, Emotional Traffic. Photo courtesy of Webster & Associates.

Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic album debuted at No. 1 this week on the Billboard Country Chart. This mark’s Tim’s 13th career No. 1 debut. His first new music since 2009’s Southern Voice, Tim is thrilled with how his fans have reacted.

“The most beautiful thing about this No. 1 debut, over the others, is that it was driven by the fans and their eagerness to finally have this music in their hands,” Tim said. “The fans don’t care about the business side of things. They just want the artists they follow to keep putting out great songs, and I think we have delivered some of the best songs of my career on Emotional Traffic.

Read our review of Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic >>

Tim will join good friend Kenny Chesney this summer on their co-headlining Brothers of the Sun stadium tour. They will kick off the tour on June 2 in Tampa and will stop at the nation’s biggest stadiums through August. With new music in the hands of his fans, Tim is looking forward to getting back on the road. “The reaction to the album makes me even more excited to get back on the road this summer on the ‘Brothers of the Sun’ tour,” he said.

Tim will head to Australia next month for a performance with wife Faith Hill and GAC wants to send YOU! Enter our GAC Country Down Under Sweepstakes for your chance to win a trip to CMC Rocks The Hunter 2012, Australia’s biggest international country and roots music festival, held March 16-18. The three-day event will feature over 30 artists including Tim & Faith, Dierks Bentley, Wynonna, Eli Young Band, Tracy Lawrence and more!

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Eli Young Band photo courtesy of HBPR.

Eli Young Band is slowly revealing their 2012 plans. They’ll hit the road with Dierks Bentley on the 2012 leg of his Country & Cold Cans Tour which kicks off in Los Angeles on April 13 and also head Down Under with one of country’s super couples. “Some of them we can’t announce,” said Mike Eli, “but we get to go to Australia in March with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill which is absolutely incredible.”

They will also launch their own headlining tour, the Keep On Dreamin’ Tour, which will run throughout the year in between dates with other headliners. The rest of their touring plans are top secret. “There are two other big tours that we’re waiting on them to announce so that we can talk about it,” Mike said. “Those are happening in the summer and late spring.”

The band could also be on the bill for a major tour this fall, but they’re still waiting for confirmation. They are thrilled to see so many dates filling their calendar this year. “This is the first year where we can look at our calendar and it’s pretty much set, which is a really nice feeling,” Jon Jones said. “It’s not like we know we’re going to be busy through the end of February and then hope we can pick up some shows.”

Eli Young Band just released their latest single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” to country radio. It’s the follow up single to their first No. 1 hit, “Crazy Girl,” which is nominated for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the ACM Awards. Eli Young Band is also nominated for Vocal Group of the Year.

See the full list of ACM Nominees >>

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Rascal Flatts photo courtesy of Big Machine Records. Photo credit Chapman Baehler.

Rascal Flatts will receive the CRS 2012 Artist Humanitarian Award during Country Radio Seminar on Wednesday, February 22 in Nashville following the event’s keynote address. The band was chosen to receive the honor based on their charitable contributions and humanitarian endeavors throughout their career.

Some of the band’s charitable work includes a donation of $3 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt’s Pediatric Surgery Center in 2010; and currently serving as celebrity spokespersons for the national suicide prevention organization and The Jason Foundation. They have been members of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet for the last seven years.

“The board is very pleased to honor Rascal Flatts with the CRS Artist Humanitarian Award,” CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne said. “They join a long, distinguished list of celebrities who have received this prestigious award since it was instated in 1990.”

The CRS Artist Humanitarian Award was first given out in 1990 to honor country music artists who have shown exceptional humanitarian efforts throughout their career.  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill received the award last year. Other recipients include Trace Adkins, Randy Owen, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Reba, Vince Gill, Garth Brooks and Charlie Daniels, among others.

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Luke Bryan photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Zac Brown Band have been added to the lineup for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during this year’s CMA Music Festival. Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Carrie Underwood were previously announced as performers. This year’s CMA Fest will take place June 7-10 in Nashville.

Faith will be returning to the CMA Fest stage for the first time since 2008 after debuting her current single, “Come Home,” on the CMA Awards, while Eric will be making his LP Field debut. Fans can purchase tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378).

ABC will again film the Nightly Concerts during CMA Fest for the network special CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock. The special will air later this year. Re-live last year’s CMA Music Festival! >>

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LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 11: Singer Faith Hill performs onstage at the 2012 People's Choice Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 11, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

One of the highlights of last night’s People’s Choice Awards was Faith Hill’s performance of her new single, “Come Home,” which she debuted at the CMA Awards last November. Wearing a high-waisted red pants suit and surrounded by floating doors and windows, Faith performed the power ballad with emotion and mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her fans when she was done.

See more photos of the stars at the People’s Choice Awards here >>

Taylor Swift‘s fans spoke loud and clear at the PCAs when they named her their Favorite Country Artist. Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts were also nominated in the Favorite Country Artist category. Taylor wasn’t on hand to accept her award, but she thanked fans before the show for their support.

“Thanks for wishing me luck at the People’s Choice Awards tonight! I’m not there, but I’ll be watching on tv from Nashville!” she wrote on Twitter.

Taylor’s good friend Katy Perry turned out to be the night’s big winner. Katy took home the awards for Favorite Tour Headliner and Favorite Female Artist, both categories Taylor was also nominated in, as well as Favorite Song of the Year and Favorite Music Video.

Other notable winners of the night included Bruno Mars in the Favorite Male Artist and American Idol as Favorite TV Competition Show. Ellen DeGeneres was named as Favorite Daytime TV Host.

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Faith Hill Photo Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood are set to team up with Tony Bennett once again for his upcoming PBS special about his chart-topping Duets II album, reports RTT News. Faith will perform “The Way You Look Tonight” with Tony, while Carrie will sing “It Had To Be You,” which also appeared in an episode of Blue Bloods. Here’s the video of Faith and tony singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Other stars appearing in the TV special include Willie Nelson, Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Sheryl Crow and Norah Jones. The album also includes tracks with Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and the late Amy Winehouse.

Great Performances features studio sessions with Tony and his collaborators. The special airs Friday, January 27 at 9 p.m. on PBS.

Check out this clip to see what Carrie has to say about working with Tony, as well as hear a snippet of their performance!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Martina McBride photo courtesy of Republic Nashville.

This year saw the return of four of country music’s biggest female stars: Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Martina changed records labels and released her first new album, Eleven, since 2009. The album spawned the hits “Teenage Daughters” and “I’m Gonna Love You Through It.” Martina celebrated the release by embarking on a cross-country train tour, which ended with a special performance at the Empire State Building.

Read our review of Martina McBride’s Eleven! >>

“This is such an amazing time in my life and my career,” Martina said when she announced her new album’s release. “I feel like I’ve been given the support and power to go into the studio and write and create an album that pushes the boundaries of what people expect of me, while still being true to myself.”

Sara released her first new music since 2005’s Real Fine Place when Stronger hit store shelves on March 8. The album featured the No. 1 hit CMA-nominated hit “A Little Bit Stronger,” which was also a part of the movie Country Strong. Sara also returned to the road, touring with Rascal Flatts on their Flatts Fest summer tour and performed on both the ACM and CMA Awards.

“This song has had the biggest emotional response of any other single I’ve ever released,” Sara said after “A Little Bit Stronger” reached No. 1. “I think it is because almost everyone has gone through a difficult time in their life and most people can relate to the line in the song ‘even on my weakest days, I get a little bit stronger.’”

Shania made her return to CMA Music Festival for the first time in 15 years to sign copies of her autobiography, From This Moment On. She also released her first single in six year, “Today Is Your Day,” and had a reality show, Why Not? With Shania Twain, on OWN. Shania will return to the stage when she begins a two-year headlining stand at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on December 1, 2012.

“This past year has been such an amazing journey and to find myself poised to play at The Colosseum is truly magical,” Shania said. “The Colosseum is an iconic location with unmatched energy, and I’m excited to bring a pop/country spin to the city. People from all over the world travel to Las Vegas and I’m so thrilled to be able to share my music with a truly global audience.”

Faith also returned to both the radio and the stage in 2011. She released her first new single in five years, “Come Home,” which she premiered with a performance during the CMA Awards in November. “It’s such a great song,” Faith said. “So well written – a beautiful lyric and sentiment – combined with a driving musical undertone and instrumentation. I’m really excited for fans of country radio to hear the song.”

Martina will tour with George Strait in 2012 while Sara will re-join Rascal Flatts on their Thaw Out tour. Shania will resume performing in Vegas and Faith is expected to release a new album.

For more on Martina and Sara:
5 Things You Don’t Know About Martina McBride
Martina McBride’s Fan Q&A
“Teenage Daughters” video
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” video
Exclusive interview clips with Sara Evans >>

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 02: Taylor Swift attends the Billboard's Sixth Annual Women in Music event at the Capitale on December 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Taylor Swift was recently named Billboard’s Woman of the Year and received her award during Billboard’s annual Women In Music event on December 2 in New York City. The ceremony took place just a few weeks after the five-year anniversary of when Taylor’s self-titled debut album hit store shelves when she was 16. Just shy of turning 22, Taylor contemplated where she falls between ‘girl’ and ‘woman’ during an interview with Billboard.

“Growing up in this position, making music, writing songs and having everyone hear what I’m going through since I was about 16 years old, now I’m 21 about to be 22, I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” Taylor said. “On a scale of being a girl or teenager or woman, I never tried to be the one to label myself which of those three I was. I’ve just tried to grow up in the most natural and gradual process that I possibly can and make choices I feel are right for me and my fans. Whether I’m a woman now, or whatever, is up to my fans to decide, not for me.”

Being in the spotlight, Taylor is aware of her status of a role model for young girls all over the world. As an artist, she listed Faith Hill, Shawn Colvin, Kris Kristofferson and actress Reese Witherspoon as people she looks up to. On the business side of things, she named Kenny Chesney as her role model.

“Seeing a live Kenny Chesney show, you know what you’re going to get,” Taylor told Billboard. “You know it’s going to be an all-day party. He loves to sing about things he’s passionate about, and he’s made a brand without seeming like it’s a brand. I love that he’s gotten to a place where he can play such huge stadiums, and even when he’s supposedly taking downtime, he’s playing stadiums. He’s always been a huge hero of mine.”

Taylor recently released Speak Now World Tour Live, a CD/DVD combo pack of her Speak Now World Tour. Her decision to release the show on DVD was made so she could remember this  year of her life years from now with a family of her own.

“Every single night I stand on that stage and it feels like it’s the best crowd of the tour every night,” she said.” They are so loud and emotional and so passionate, and these crowds that we’ve played for this year have been unlike any crowd we’ve played for on any other tour, and this show has been different than anything we’ve ever put on. I want to look back on this years from now and show it to my kids and my grandkids.”

When Billboard asked Taylor what advice she would give herself if she would go back to 2006 when her first album was released, she had a simple answer. “I wouldn’t offer myself any advice, because I love how this has gone,” she said. To see what Taylor had to say about Dolly Parton, paying her dues and social media, read Billboard’s entire interview HERE.

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Kellie Pickler performs on ABC's CMA Country Christmas, the concert special airing Thursday, December 1 at 9/8 CT.

The CMA Country Christmas concert special, hosted by Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles, airs tonight, December, 1 at 9/8 CT on ABC. The holiday special includes performances from some of country’s biggest stars as well as intimate fireside chats with artists sharing their favorite holiday memories.

For Kellie Pickler who was joined by husband Kyle Jacobs, one of her treasured  memories is from when she visited with troops in Iraq who couldn’t be home with their families for the holidays. “There are so many things we take for granted,” she said. “We don’t realize it until it’s not there anymore – until that luxury, that freedom, is not there.”

One of Faith Hill‘s favorite memories is of the Christmas she and her two older brothers were given a big box of peanuts by their parents. The siblings had to dig through the peanuts to find money. “I got so upset because she didn’t put any money in my box,” Faith said. “I thought, ‘She gypped me!’” Faith also revealed that she, husband Tim McGraw and their three daughters read The Night Before Christmas, bake and make reindeer food every Christmas.

See photos from this year’s CMA Country Christmas! >>

Vince Gill and wife Amy Grant shared some of their favorite Christmas memories from their childhoods. Vince revealed that his sister is a master at opening Christmas gifts before Christmas Day – and re-sealing them. “She was good at acting surprised at what she got,” Vince said.

For Amy, one of her favorite Christmas memories was of the gerbils her mother bought her one Christmas. The family cat found them before Amy received them, however. “We’re sitting around, all fuzzy feeling, then all of a sudden, I’m going, ‘What is that crunching sound under the tree?’ It was my big present – the gerbils.”

Growing up in Australia, Keith Urban had a warm Christmas instead of a white one. “My memories of Christmas growing up in the Southern hemisphere – it’s the middle of summer down there,” he said. “Christmas was always about going to the beach. And my fondest Christmas memory is about getting in the station wagon with my mom, dad, my brother, and me, and going to the beach for the day.”

CMA Country Concert will feature performances from Sugarland, Vince (with special guest Miss Piggy!), Amy, Faith, Lauren Alaina,  Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Scotty McCreery,  Rascal Flatts, and Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley.

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Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina & Martina McBride perform on ABC's CMA Country Christmas, the concert special airing Thursday, December 1 at 9/8 CT.

Country stars not only performed some of their favorite Christmas songs during the CMA Country Christmas concert special that airs tonight at 9/8c on ABC, they also revealed some of their favorite family Christmas traditions during fireside chats that will air throughout the special.

Lauren Alaina and her mother Kristy Suddeth shared that one of their family traditions is decorating their home for the holidays. “We go all out,” Lauren said. “We’re serious about our Christmas decorations. When they don’t work, we are mad.” Lauren also confessed that she snoops for her presents before Christmas Day.

When Little Big Town’s Jimi Westbrook was young, he and his siblings would pile up together on mattresses and blankets on the floor of what he called the family’s ‘little bitty house.’ “That is harmony,” he said. “That is family. That is what Christmas is all about.”

See photos from CMA Country Christmas! >>

Martina McBride’s three daughters, Ava–6, Emma–13, and Delaney–16, joined Martina for her fireside chat. The McBride ladies shared their favorite Christmas recipe. “We have a weird salad we make,” Martina said, revealing the ingredients to be a jar of pimento cheese, a can of pineapple, half a bag of marshmallows, and a carton of Cool Whip all mixed  together. “It’s so good!” she said.

Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and his brother slept as close to the Christmas tree as they could on Christmas Eve, hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa. Santa, however, was smarter. “Santa left everything outside,” Kristian said.

The father of two small children, Rascal Flatts’ Joe Don Rooney and his wife Tiffany Fallon revealed a new family tradition. “We kind of have a tradition now we’re starting,” Joe Don said. “We kind of all have pajamas we wear – all matching.” Joe Don has a tendency to make a quick wardrobe change however.

“Daddy only wears his for, like, 10 or 15 minutes,” Tiffany said. “When you’re dressed like a candy cane, and you’re a guy, it’s a little uncomfortable,” Joe Don explained.

CMA Country Christmas, hosted by Jennifer Nettles, airs tonight, December 1, at 9/8c on ABC. Lauren, Little Big town, Martina, Sugarland, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Scotty McCreery, Kellie Pickler, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, and Brian Setzer with special guest Brad Paisley all perform during the concert.

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