Vern Gosdin Dies at 74

Vern Gosdin, whose country hits included the chart-topping 'Set 'em Up Joe,' 'I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)' and 'I'm Still Crazy,' died at a Nashville hospital early Wednesday morning. He was 74.

According to Nashville's Tennessean newspaper, Gosdin's administrative assistant Dawn Hall said the singer suffered "a pretty bad stroke" about three weeks ago. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Born in Woodland, Ala., on August 5, 1934, Gosdin was one of country music's most hardcore traditional singers, although his musical career encompassed a variety of genres. A one-time bandmate of The Byrds' Chris Hillman, he also performed with his brother Rex in the California-based band The Golden State Boys, and later as The Gosdin Brothers.

Gosdin charted consistently throughout the 1980s, with hits such as 'If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong (Do It Right),' 'That Just About Does It' and 'This Ain't My First Rodeo.' In 1989, his Top 10 hit 'Chiseled in Stone,' co-written with Max D. Barnes, earned CMA Song of the Year honors.
An obvious influence on a new generation of country acts, Gosdin's 1982 hit, 'Today My World Slipped Away,' became a chart-topper for George Strait in 1997, and Brad Paisley's 2003 album, 'Mud on the Tires,' included his version of Gosdin's 1990 hit, 'Is It Raining at Your House.'

Earlier this year, in an interview with The Boot, Jake Owen said of Gosdin, "He's not as respected as he should be. To me, he's one of the greatest singers I've ever heard interpret a song. He's just got this coolness about him."

Funeral arrangements for Gosdin are incomplete.

Rascal Flatts: 'Unstoppable' force of country

Country acts have thrived on such themes since before Hank Williams first got the long-gone lonesome blues, but this multi-platinum country trio — vocalist Gary LeVox, guitarist Joe Don Rooney and bassist Jay DeMarcus — doesn't dwell in the genre's musical past. The emotions of these songs ride the swell of the string sections, Rooney's soaring rock-guitar solos, and the rise and fall of LeVox's vocal runs more often than they do sounds of fiddles and steel guitars. Traditionally, country instruments are part of the massive sound Flatts creates with co-producer Dann Huff, but they're just a part. Only rarely, as on Things That Matter — one of Unstoppable's finer, simpler songs — are they dominant features.

Nor do heartbreak and farewell make up the only subjects on the record. The title track celebrates the empowering nature of love. Summer Nights, with its singalong chorus, recalls the group's cover of Tom Cochrane's Life Is a Highway for the movie Cars. She'd Be California describes a woman in language that makes her sound like the Beach Boys' California Girls wish fulfilled on the Midwestern plains.

Rascal Flatts has long been a favorite country act of American Idol. Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin and, most recently, Danny Gokey have performed the group's songs on the show. The band returns the favor on Unstoppable. Here Comes Goodbye credits Season 6 finalist Chris Sligh as one of its writers, and new judge Kara DioGuardi penned Once with Nashville songwriter Jeffrey Steele.

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift took home album of the year honors.Swift had four nominations going into Sunday's show, but for being the top-selling artist in country and pop music, she got a special, unexpected honor after she performed the ballad You're Not Sorry following a magical entrance courtesy of magician David Copperfield.McEntire stopped her and presented her with a special ACM Crystal Milestone Award for bringing so many young people to country music.

"Are you serious?" a stunned Swift asked McEntire then hugged her. "To you guys who come to my show. I have absolutely fallen in love with you and will never forget you, ever."

Carrie Underwood breaks Chesney's streak

LAS VEGAS — Carrie Underwood became the first female act to win entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards since the Dixie Chicks did it back in 2000.
Underwood's victory Sunday interrupted Kenny Chesney's four-year streak of winning the award. If Chesney had won, he would have tied Alabama for most wins in a row. Underwood became only the seventh female act to win it, putting her alongside Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks.

Angel and the Badman

Feature Film|1:39:24|
A Quaker and her family reform a wounded outlaw who has a killer on his trail.

Little Big Town - Boondocks