Billy Dukes

In his new song 'I Want Crazy.' Hunter Hayes doesn't soar like Ronnie Dunn or croon like Chris Young. His vocal performance is an exercise in diction -- and memory. Simply put, he packs a ton of words into a tight space without straining or slurring one idea into another. It's not easy. 

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The last hour of voting during the finals of March Bandness was frenzied, to say the least. Thousands of fans of Alabama and the Charlie Daniels Band cast a ballot in the waning minutes. The boys from Fort Payne, Ala. were trailing until the end, when they surged ahead and took the title of Best Country Band of All Time. 

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Here's a strange fact about the Taste of Country Top 10 Video Countdown: Only videos from blonde singers have reached the No. 1 spot. Toby Keith kept the streak alive last week, as fans chose 'Hope on the Rocks' as the most popular clip of the week. Casey James and Carrie Underwood were close behind with their recent videos, but new offerings from the Band Perry and 'X Factor' winner Tate Stevens could challenge them for the title. 

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The 2013 ACM Awards are just days away, and while the country music industry is anxiously awaiting to see who wins the big awards, fans are looking forward to the performances, surprise collaborations and unexpected moments of brilliance. These potential moments could prove to be the ones fans are talking about come Monday. 

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Despite the accuracy (or lack of accuracy) of these predictions for the 2013 ACM Awards, one thing is certain: one group of country fans will be ecstatic come Monday morning, while another will be furious that their favorite wasn't recognized for his or her talent and achievements. Only one out of every group of five can take the trophy for Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist and the other top prizes. This means four more will be left politely applauding for someone the industry says had a little better year. Fans tend to not be as graceful in defeat. 

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If Kimberly Perry of the Band Perry's boyfriend is planning to propose, the singer is sure to be surprised. Perry told Taste of Country that marriage and starting a family are not on her to do list for 2013, adding with a laugh, "And that goes for all three of us. We can't have babies."

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'Better' is the finest ballad from Maggie Rose's new 'Cut to Impress' album. The singer is creative with her phrasing, and the performance is as raw as anything on the 10-song collection. She is still learning how to be a great storyteller, however, and with more experiences and a few years behind her, the single promises to only get... better.

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Wynonna Judd's next great challenge has ended prematurely. The country legend and her professional dance partner Tony Dovolani were eliminated from 'Dancing With the Stars' on Tuesday night (April 2) after their Samba received the night's lowest scores on Monday. The dancer with the lowest total of fan votes and judges scores is sent home each week.

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Jon Pardi tosses a pinch of Bakersfield sound into his brand of country music. It came through more clearly on his debut single 'Missin' You Crazy,' but the follow-up, 'Up All Night,' still relies on a heavy guitar lick and Pardi's Dwight Yoakam-influenced singing style. 

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The two dancers representing country music on ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' are headed in very different directions. Kellie Pickler amazed the judges and live audience on Monday night (April 1) with a "ridiculously amazing" Jive set to 'Footloose.' Her score of 25 led the night, while Wynonna Judd's 15 for her Samba was the lowest tally. 

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