Good news continues for Taylor Swift
Monday, October 15, 2007 – The good news continues for Taylor Swift who, at 17, became the youngest winner of the Nashville Songwriters Association songwriter/artist of the year award Sunday night.
Swift, the youngest artist in history to receive this award, tied with superstar Alan Jackson for the evening's top honor. Past winners of the award include Vince Gill, Shania Twain, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith and Brad Paisley.
"I am just freaking out," Swift said of her win. "I'm so excited because I got a publishing deal when I was 14 and every single day was devoted to writing songs. And it was before I got a record deal, it was before any of this started. I was a songwriter in town. And the fact that this award is voted on by my songwriter peers...I don't even know how to explain how honored I feel. I mean, I was sitting at the table and they called Alan Jackson's name and I'm just like, 'Oh my God. That's awesome.' And then all of the sudden they say my name and I'm like, 'What happened?' I'm so humbled by this experience. It's just so unbelievable."
The NSAI Award is Swift's first songwriting award, and is an award voted upon by her peers, the professional songwriter members of the NSAI. She was honored earlier this year by AOL as Country's Hottest Female Artist, won the 2007 CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year, and is a nominee for the prestigious Horizon Award at next month's CMA Awards as well as for Favorite Female Country Artist at this year's American Music Awards. Taylor is the first female solo artist in country music history to write or co-write every song on a platinum-selling debut album.
Swift spent all of Sunday flying home to Nashville from Canada in order to attend the Songwriter's Foundation event. Currently on tour with Brad Paisley, she played a show in Saskatoon, Canada on Saturday night.
Professional membership within NSAI is quite elite. In order to qualify as a professional member of NSAI, a songwriter must derive the majority of his or her income from songwriting. Professional NSAI members include Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees and chart-topping hit-makers.
More news for Taylor Swift
CD reviews for Taylor Swift
Fearless
Taylor Swift took the county world by storm with her huge selling debut and its five hit singles. With a huge marketing push and myspace, Swift was on her way. Kind of like an Avril Lavigne for the teen female country set.
Sophomore slump? There's no indication of that. Swift once again writes her material - all 13 songs here with help sometimes from Liz Rose, Colbie Caillat and John Rich. Swift writes of what she knows about - relationships and teen love come and gone in songs speak to her fans. »»»
|
Taylor Swift Limited Deluxe Edition
She plays guitar, writes her own songs and is a hit factory off the strength of her first record. Oh, and she's 17. At an age when most worry about the SATs, Swift cobbles tunes that reach right through the radio and plug into even the most padlocked-hearted listener. Whether it's the wistful remembrance of the bygone sweetheart (the big hit "Tim McGraw"), the unrequited longing for a friendship to catch fire (another hit, "Teardrops on My Guitar") or the heady »»»
|
The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection
Taylor Swift's Christmas offering, much like her last name, is over swiftly. There are only six songs on this short disc: two originals, a couple modern holiday tunes and two traditional favorites.
One original, "Christmas When You Were Mine," speaks of better days. It's a sad song where Swift finds it hard to find much cheer. "Merry Christmas everybody/That'll have to be something I just say this year."
"Christmas Must Be Something More" »»»
|
Editorial: A fine night for Taylor Swift –
Taylor Swift's showing at the Country Music Association awards Wednesday night was no surprise. In some respects, it was invigorating to see someone who was not male and not around umpteen years like some of her male counterparts take home the biggest prize of the night, entertainer of the year. »»»
Concert Review: Radney Foster sparks a revival –
Radney Foster told fans that he came home from the University of the South one weekend early in his college career and told his parents in the wee hours of the morning that he wanted to quit college and head to Nashville to pursue a music career. His parents agreed...fortunately.
Three decades later, that resulted in Foster playing songs on this... »»»
Concert Review: Neko Case overcomes obstacles –
The opening of Neko Case's show was unusual to say the least. "I'm angry right now," said the red head. "We just had a big fight with the promoter. We're going to sing weird, but we're actually very happy to be here."
Making quite clear that she was not a happy camper, Case still channeled her musical energies... »»»
|
 |
Country News Digest
CST
CST
Elsewhere in the news
Currently at the CST blogs

To say that Lyle Lovett has a great new album in "Natural Forces" is a newsflash akin to announcing that oxygen is now available for mass consumption at no charge. Lovett's musical quality is as automatic as a politician's promise and infinitely more trustworthy, which might lead one to believe that, at a certain level, the Texas singer/songwriter has become slightly jaded by the consistent accolades thrown his way. One would be very mistaken.... »»»

When "Mountain Soul" became a critical success, it wasn't long before fans began requesting a follow-up from Patty Loveless. "They were questioning last year when I was ever going to do another record such as the first 'Mountain Soul,'" Loveless says. "So, Saguaro Records came to me about doing another record with them, and we suggested doing one to coincide with the popularity of what the first one did."... »»»

Rosie Flores played in Screaming Sirens, back when cow-punk wasn't (yet) cool. She also helped turn Los Angeles, that underground roots rock town south of Bakersfield, into a flourishing alternative country music scene in the '80s. Her self-titled debut album was produced by Peter Anderson, who played guitar and produced some guy named Dwight Yoakam, and she even handled lead guitar work for Butch Hancock's band in 1994. She ain't done yet, though, as her new CD demonstrates.... »»»

Play On
Through three releases, the one constant about Carrie Underwood is her big voice. It's an instrument in and of itself no matter whether going for somewhat of a country sound, a pure pop bent or a tougher, rocking edge. She can add the right touch to sad songs such as Temporary Home in part about a young boy who has to shuffle from home to home or the tough sounding Quitter. »»»
|
Old Things New
Joe Nichols' life has taken some dramatic turns since the release of his last record, "Real Things." Ironically, the 2007 album's title was a perfect fit for this offering as those turns have led Nichols to record some of the most personal songs of his career. »»»
|
Girl of the Century
Rosie Flores is the last person that needs more spunk, but somehow producer Jon Langford found a way to add a few more ounces of bounce to this rockabilly firebrand's stride. Flores might be small in stature, but she sure works up a big, bold sound throughout this excellent release. »»»
|
Family Circle
From Sweet Appalachia to his girl leaning on a car fender in all of her Barbaric Splendor, Del McCoury reminds us his music and rural life is far from unsophisticated. The songs range from the straight bluegrass of Hello Lonely to the near swing tune I Remember You sung in high lonesome. There are waltzes, breakdowns, gold rush story songs and odes to moonshine in The Revenuer's Blues. »»»
|
Dolly
Over the course of 99 tracks on 4 discs, RCA/Legacy Recordings has given music fans a concise and nearly complete snapshot of Dolly Parton's considerable impact on country music with the release of the new box set - a task not accomplished by any other collection. The set covers all the career-defining hits you would expect.
»»»
|
|