The right songs can open someone's mind to a new musical world. These songs introduced my pal to classic country music.

Before making her upcoming sixth album, the country star returned to her small-town Texas home and discovered the power of in-between spaces. "I found a lot of clarity there," she says.

Nikki Smith has been named the Next On Deck Lyric Contest promotion winner for "Trade It In," a song she wrote about selling a beloved car.

Expanding the scope of the genre with an emphasis on its roots and unvarnished storytelling ...