Preview of Everything Country For 2012

The first single off Tim's "Emotional Traffic" is "Better Than I Used to Be." Personally, I think this is one of his best songs in a while. The song has been on the charts for eight weeks now and is quickly climbing to the top. This week the song stands at the No. 23 position on media base and No. 26 on Billboard's country chart. Of course, the big news this summer is the "Brothers of The Sun" tour with Kenny Chesney. I smell trouble! This has the potential to be one of the biggest country tours of the year. These two have been the best of friends long before they became household names, so one can only imagine that it will be a fun time for all. Chesney's duet partner from "You And Tequila," Grace Potter, will be on the tou,r too.

Some in the country music business are saying this album could be one of Nashville's top albums since Lee Ann Womack's "There's More Where That Came From" some seven years ago. The album shows Kellie's more traditional side, and after you've heard cuts such as "Little House On The Highway," "Stop Cheating On Me," "Where's Tammy Wynette," and the poignant "Mother's Day," I think you'll be very impressed!

The current single from Dierks' "Home" LP is "Home." It sits pretty on the Mediabase chart at No. 8 this week and No. 10 on Billboard's country chart. Dierks is a favorite of mine. His raspy voice and down to earth personality make him the perfect country singer!

KNUE added Rascal's latest single, "Banjo" as soon as we heard it! If this is any indication of what this album has in store for fans, count us in! "Banjo" is currently climbing the Country radio charts! Rascal Flatts will release CHANGED, their highly-anticipated new studio album, on April 3.

We've been getting teased with her performances of "Come Home," but with an expected February release date, it's almost time for Faith's new album. And when she does return, we expect her to do it in a big, big way. After all, it's been six years since the release of her last album, "Fireflies." "I've actually been in the studio a couple of times in the last six years," the superstar revealed recently, adding, "I'm just trying to find that spark, that thing that's exciting for me and that feels inspired and true and honest." We think it'll be worth the long wait!

There's no word as to the exact date of the announcement of the 2012 class, but it usually happens CRS week - which is in February. There has been a lot of rumors about who will be the inductees. In the pre-1980 class, strong arguments have been made for acts such as Ronnie Milsap (who could also be included in the post-1980 class) and Jerry Reed. Post 1980, could it be Garth? Alan? Or maybe Ricky Skaggs? We will soon see.

This looks to be an interesting year for country acts in the literary world, with artists such as Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Jean Shepard planning their autobiographies.

Word on the street is LeeAnn Womack and husband Frank Liddell have already started work on her first new album in four years. When you consider the quality of her albums, any time Womack releases a new album is truly an event.