Billy Dukes

At least one person is saddened by the end of the NHL lockout. When games resume later this month, Carrie Underwood will lose her favorite traveling companion. The labor dispute provided extra time for the singer and her husband Mike Fisher to vacation and just be man and wife -- a luxury not afforded to them often. Upon hearing the news, Underwood took to Twitter to bemoan the NHL season's start (in good fun of course).

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Apparently, two albums featuring Tim McGraw songs are scheduled to be released in the next 30 days. The singer's former label home, Curb Records, just announced that 'Tim McGraw and Friends' will be available on January 22.

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Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland gave birth to Magnus Hamilton Miller on Dec. 6, but fans haven't seen or heard from her or the one-month-old much since. Recently, the singer has begun sharing some of the more intimate ideas she's come up with since giving birth to her son, including a t-shirt idea that nursing moms will appreciate.

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The iconic voice of Patti Page has been silenced, as the 'Tennessee Waltz' singer died in Encinitas, Calif. on Jan. 1, 2013. Page was the most successful female singer of the '50s with an astounding 100 million records sold, according to the Associated Press. The Grammy and ACM Pioneer Award-winner leaves behind two children.

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One could do worse then choosing to spend holiday cash or gift cards on songs included in this Top 40 Country Songs of January 2013 list. Superstars like George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood are included, as are newcomers like Thomas Rhett, Kasey Musgraves and Hunter Hayes. The No. 1 song belongs to an artist who took nearly three years between albums, and has recently returned with a stirring song of inspiration. 

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One of the more unique cuts from Lady Antebellum's 'On This Winter's Night' album has been made available for free on iTunes. 'Silent Night (Lord of My Life)' is the single of the week, meaning fans can grab it at no charge until Christmas.

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Country superstars like Carrie Underwood, George Strait and Keith Urban had some of the top news stories of 2012, but not for reasons one may have predicted at the beginning of the year. Of these 10, only two are related to things that happen onstage or in a recording studio. The rest are moments we'll always remember... and that some artists wish they could forget. 

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Dark and volatile are this year's black in country music, and Miranda Lambert reminds fans she is still the lead diva of danger with a new single called 'Mama's Broken Heart.' Her performance is every bit as enjoyably unstable as previous hits like 'Kerosene' and 'Gunpowder and Lead.' When she's mercurial, she's magic. 

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On 'Wagon Wheel,' Darius Rucker brings his signature sense of urgency to a modern classic that has been living just beneath the surface of mainstream success for nearly a decade. Old Crow Medicine Show turned the song into a gold single. Rucker's version -- although more polished than the original -- will have equal success in a fraction of the eight years it took OCMS.

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Country legend Charlie Daniels is recovering today after undergoing rotator cuff surgery Monday morning. The singer -- who is very active on Twitter -- let his fans know via his team that he's doing fine and he'd be back online soon.

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Fans have been hungry for new music from two country artists and with the new country music releases for January 2013, the starvation will subside. Darius Rucker and Gary Allan will both release new albums early in the new year. In fact, both will release their long-awaited albums on the same day. 

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While details about Friday morning's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut are still trickling in, it's clear that innocent lives were taken when a gunman stormed Sandy Hook Elementary School and began firing. The small town in the state's southwest corner will be in the hearts of every American this weekend, including country music's biggest stars. 

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