Billy Dukes

Five-year-old Ava Schipke wanted three things for her birthday: a Barbie mermaid doll, a Doc McStuffins doctor kit and a phone call from Jake Owen. Thanks to Twitter, she got all three -- even though one was far-fetched.

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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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Casey James is looking forward to kicking off the Taste of Country Christmas Tour with JB and the Moonshine Band this week in Abilene, Texas. When the 'Crying on a Suitcase' singer stopped by the Taste of Country Nights studio to talk about the tour, he revealed that his mother occasionally hops on stage with him. At least, she used to...

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Texas country stars JB and the Moonshine Band are itching to begin the Taste of Country Christmas Tour this week. The first show of the run -- a stop in Abilene, Texas -- is scheduled for Thursday (Nov. 15). Lead singer JB Patterson tells Taste of Country Nights radio host Jeremy Robinson that he's especially looking forward to playing dates with Casey James, who's also on the bill.

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Lee Brice fans have long wondered what took so long. The singer and 2012 CMA New Artist of the Year nominee has recently notched back-to-back No. 1 hits after six years of struggling to keep songs on the charts. During a recent conversation with Taste of Country Nights radio host Jeremy Robinson, Brice explained why his time is now. 

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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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Before a show in Allen, Texas, Taste of Country Nights host Jeremy Robinson found Lee Brice's trainer, Ed, standing outside the singer's bus, and saw two heavy ropes tied to a nearby park bench.

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In Hollywood, you sometimes have to take any job you can get. That seems to be the case for the robot used in Eli Young Band's new 'Say Goodnight' video. His unmistakable silver smile can be found during a script reading scene in the new Ben Affleck-directed thriller, 'Argo.'

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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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