The Dixie Chicks News

New Braunfels-based Red Dirt singer-songwriter Bleu Edmondson performs Wednesday at Brewster Street Icehouse.

The economy isn't giving us a lot to cheer about this holiday season ... and it could get worse.

Youth ruled Wednesday night at the 43rd annual Country Music Awards, when teen crossover queen Taylor Swift walked away with four awards, including nods for album and music video of the year as well as female vocalist of the year.

Taylor Swift, 19, would be the CMA's youngest entertainer of the year if she wins Wednesday.

By Emily Christianson and Patrick Kevin Day Her CMA opening performance of A A'Forever & AlwaysA A' may have been an opportunity to show Kanye West whoA A's boss for the 50th time, but instead Taylor Swift seemed intent on doing everything she could to distract from her shockingly thin voice.

AM Prep-Country CORRECTION CORRECTS lead item MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - ! COUNTRY ! - CMA AWARDS - ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR - TAYLOR SWIFT NASHVILLE, Tenn.

" -- she appeared in eight of nine skits on the show -- and sweeping her album "Fearless" back to the top of the charts by re-releasing it with additional songs as a "Platinum Edition," Berks County native Taylor Swift could be in for another sweep tonight at the Country Music Awards, according to a fan poll.

Americans idolize celebrities - following their tours, reading their tell-all autobiographies, TiVo-ing their appearances on Oprah and even spending hard-earned cash on tabloid magazines at the grocery stores.

Americans take it on faith that movie stars are politically liberal. Whether the celebrity lives in L.A. or New York, from Streisand to Sarandon, we know how they see the world because they're honest about it.

Published: Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 10:11 a.m. 'That Evening Sun" is the sort of American film that Hollywood doesn't make any more.

Miranda Lambert is one of the most compelling and curious pop-music figures to emerge over the past decade.

I've always maintained that country music more or less has run in 10-year cycles since its beginnings, which most historians agree lie with its first commercial recordings in 1927.

Home : Features : : Taylor Swift's first tour dates sold out within minutes Taylor Swift's first tour dates sold out within minutes 23-Oct-2009 Written by: Ingrid Bergquist Huge support and demand is shown by fans for Taylor Swift's 2010 tour "Fearless." Taylor Swift first tour dates has sold out in a matter of minutes, ET.com reported.

Scott is the kind of artist who can make a player jealous. He's written big country music hits .

Remember when one of the Dixie Chicks spoke out against Pres. Bush? Remember all of the calls for boycotting the group's concerts and CDs? Weren't many of them politically aligned with Limbaugh? Remember the effort by K. Mfume to get a syndicated talk show and how he was attacked for doing so? Remember how people said he was ideological and that ...

Luke Bryan figured he could do better. And now he figures he's done just that. "I thought the first album was very beatable," said the Leesburg, Ga., native, who just released his sophomore effort, Doin' My Thing , on Capitol Records.

One of the most interesting things about running The Strip in Las Vegas is people-watching. The biggest stars, of course, are usually tucked away, nice and comfy in the penthouse suites, free from the throngs, gawking eyes and paparazzi.

Maine Fast Fact : Massachusetts allowed Maine to petition for statehood in 1819.

Toby Keith is a longtime Democrat. He supported the Iraq war and made the comments on the Dixie Chicks, but he's been a Dem for a long time, if I'm not mistaken.

If you're already wondering what to put on your Christmas wish list, consider Miranda Lambert's third album, "Revolution." It is, by heads, shoulders and long blond hair, the best country album so far of 2009.