Billy Dukes

Driving the tension during Wednesday night's episode of 'Nashville' (Nov. 14) was music from top country, rock and alt-rock singers. Songs from Loretta Lynn, Gary Clark Jr. and Lindi Ortega were worked into Episode 6, titled "You're Gonna Change (Or I'm Gonna Leave)."

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Josh Abbott Band's new release to radio isn't as much of a single as it is a statement. The signature track from his 'Small Town Family Dream' album paints Abbott as a champion of outlaw country or a cantankerous whiner envious of greener grass, depending on one's personal view of music coming out of Nashville.

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The sanguine melody of Ashley Monroe's new bluegrass-tinged song 'Like a Rose' runs counter to the sad (at first) story the singer tells. This conflict makes her new recording one you may find on repeat for reasons you can't quite explain. It's beautiful in a tragic way.

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The title of Dustin Lynch's new single 'She Cranks My Tractor' will make the country boys snicker, but in case someone doesn't quite get the joke, the song doubles back with line after line of gratuitous innuendo. It's a rowdy good time, one that ends just before the singer finds it necessary to spell out S-E-X.

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This week, the 2012 presidential election dominated the news cycle, and a few country stars made headlines with tweets about the results. Hank Williams, Jr. caused the biggest stir with his opinion on the future of America. But was that the biggest country music news story of the week?

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Actress Ashley Judd could be looking toward politics for her next job. The younger sister to Wynonna Judd and daughter to Naomi Judd is said to be considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2014, but in a statement, she would only go as far as indicating that it's possible -- but too early -- to discuss the potential campaign.

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Fans of 'Nashville' may not have recognized many of the seven songs played during last night's (Nov. 7) episode, titled 'Move It on Over.' Original songs dominated, with many providing more than just background music for the drama that developed during Episode 5 of the ABC hit. 

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The title track to Toby Keith's 'Hope on the Rocks' album shows the singer's genuine understanding of the nuanced relationships between bartenders and their regulars. But it's not just barkeeps that will relate to the ballad. Servers, liquor store clerks, the dry cleaner, radio DJs... anyone who provides a service and a set of open ears will appreciate his story.

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With her second single, 'Whiskey,' Jana Kramer proves the vulnerability she showed on 'Why Ya Wanna' was no fluke. It's tough to turn away from her hurt, which on this song is aided by a tight lyric and sensible mix of pop and traditional country styling.

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Barack Obama was re-elected President of the United States on Tuesday (Nov. 6) following a heated battle with Republican candidate Mitt Romney in the key battleground state of Ohio. Within minutes of learning the news, country music's top stars were celebrating, congratulating, complaining or simply making jokes about the 2012 election results. Like much of the nation, Nashville's best are split politically. 

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