Tim McGraw’s latest album, Emotional Traffic was released earlier this week. It has been awhile since we have heard a new full album from this guy, but it was worth the wait. There are few songs that could probably cross over to maybe a soft rock genre, but for the most part it still has a country vibe.

The first track on the album “Halo” is one of my favorites! It is so raw, outspoken and real. There is no holding back in this song and it seems like more and more artists are getting to this point. People complain that country music isn’t what it use to be, well with lyrics like this I’d say it is coming back around to the roots sooner than you might think. First comes the message, next is the sound…I have hope!

“Right Back Atcha Babe” is a light and fun song, but every time I hear it I imagine myself driving around town, drinking a slush with the windows down…seriously. I really like this song, plus I love to say “right back atcha” as many times a day as I can. “The One” kind of makes me think of “BBQ Stain,” classic Tim! “Better Than I Used To Be” is a current single of McGraw’s and it is a solid, honest song! It’s one of those songs that I can’t get out of my head here lately and I know that it has a lot of country music fans relating to it.

“Felt Good On My Lips” was released to radio in 2011 and had such a descriptive story to it. If a song can make you picture the exact scenario, well I’d say you’ve got a hit on your hands (and he did)! As a twist, the pop/R&B singer, Ne-Yo joins McGraw on “Only Human.” It wasn’t my favorite, but I didn’t hate it either, so I’ll let you decide on that one. However, I did take a liking to “Die By My Own Hand.” To me, it is a classic, country, coulda, shoulda, woulda, but didn’t love song.

Of course there can never be another “Just To See You Smile,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” or “Don’t Take The Girl,” but there might be some songs just as “impactful” as those in this album. Take a listen for yourself and see what you think, you might find yourself a new favorite that you will be singing for years to come!

Emotional Traffic Track Listing
1. Halo
2. Right Back Atcha Babe
3. One Part, Two Part
4. I Will Not Fall Down
5. The One
6. Better Than I Used To Be
7. Touchdown Jesus
8. The One That Got Away
9. Felt Good On My Lips
10. Hey Now
11. Only Human
12. Die By My Own Hand

Curb Records has teamed up with NPR to help promote the release of Tim McGraw’s upcoming Emotional Traffic. A special preview of the album will be featured on NPR.com, NPR stations and NPR mobile between January 16th and the album’s release date, Tuesday, January 24th during the First Listen series. Fans will have to opportunity to listen to the whole album.

Click here to check it out.

You know what an ear worm is, right? Well, in case you don’t, HaleighT is here to fill you in on the particulars. She’s also got a couple ear worms runnin’ around in her head, and it may be the same ones you’ve got in yours! Check out the video below and maybe you’ll get a couple of new ones!

Watch this week’s “Takin’ a Break with HaleighT” on Ear Worms.

After a long court battle which was partially resolved in November, Tim McGraw and Curb Records have set a release date for the long-awaited Emotional Traffic album, and fans can expect it to be available January 24th.

The album features 12 tracks including latest #1 hit, “Felt Good On My Lips” and his current single, “Better Than I Used To Be”. The entire album was co-produced by McGraw along with Byron Gilmore, and McGraw also co-wrote, “I Will Not Fall Down” with Martina McBride and Brett and Brad Warren. Interestingly, R&B star Ne-Yo is thrown into the mix somehow featured on the “Only Human” track. All in all, we’ve been really curious about this album for awhile, and with these new details the curiosity is only growing!

Emotional Traffic Complete Track Listing

1. Halo
2. Right Back Actha Babe
3. One Part, Two Part
4. I Will Not Fall Down
5. The One
6. Better Than I Used To Be
7. Touchdown Jesus
8. The One That Got Away
9. Felt Good On My Lips
10. Hey Now
11. Only Human
12. Die By My Own Hand

As a year end finale, this week’s episode of “Takin’ a Break with HaleighT” features a run down of what we think the top moments of country music were 2011! From new album releases, to amazing summer tours, to lawsuits and scandals to what we have to look forward for 2012, HaleighT covers the best and worst moments in the country music scene this year. Watch the video below and let us know if we missed anything! Comment below and tell us what your favorite moment of 2011 was, and we’ll see you next year.

Check Out Country Music’s Top Moments for 2011 Here!

Jake Owen had a great amount of success with his summer anthem “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” and the way his latest single is climbing charts he might just make it two in a row! “Alone With You” is not what you would call a “love” song, more of a “lust” song. This racy video shows us (in detail) what goes on in an “after midnight” or “booty call” type relationship.

You can find “Alone With You” on Owen’s album Barefoot Blue Jean Night and you can catch him on tour in 2012 with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney on their Brothers Of The Sun tour.

Watch the video here and tell us what you think!

Congratulations to Tim McGraw for winning in the case he has had going against Curb Records! Earlier this year Tim was sued by Curb, the label where it all started for him 21 years ago, for breach of contract.

Now he is not completely out of the dirty water yet, there will be another trial in July. But until then Tim can sing where he wants and record what he wants!

Minds are being blown this morning as Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney confirm on Good Morning America that they will be joining forces for a 2012 concert tour!

“Tim and I have been great friends since we first toured together, and I can’t wait to get back on the road with him,” Chesney said. “He’s one of my closest friends in music and in life, and I know this tour is going to be something special.”

“Our friendship was forged on the road, so it’s going to be a blast heading out with Kenny again,” said McGraw. “We’ll be having as much fun on stage as the fans will be having in the audience.”

This will mark the first time on 10 years the two country stars have toured together and is sure to be a sellout at all 19 stadium stops. Special guests Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and Jake Owen will join them for different stops on the road.

‘Brothers of the Sun’ Tour 2012:

Sat. June 2 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
Sun. June 3 – Atlanta, GA – Georgia Dome
Sat. June 9 – Dallas, TX – Cowboys Stadium
Sun. June 10 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium
Sat. June 16 – Philadelphia, PA – Lincoln Financial Field
Sat. June 23 – Nashville, TN – LP Field
Sun. June 24 – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium
Sat. June 30 – Pittsburgh, PA – Heinz Field
Sun. July 1 – Cincinnati, OH – Paul Brown Stadium
Sat. July 7 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
Sun. July 8 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field
Sat. July 14 – Anaheim, CA – Angels Stadium
Sat. July 21 – Denver, CO – Sports Authority Field at Mile High
TBA – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
TBA – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Browns Stadium
Sat. August 11 – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
Sun. August 12 – Washington, DC – FedExField
Sat. August 18 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
Sat. August 25 – Foxboro, MA – Gillette Stadium

This week HaleighT is chatting about the recent goings-on surrounding 3 people who used to be the biggest thing in country music, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Hank Williams Jr. All three have quite a lot going right now, from new music to court battles! So, tune in to hear HaleighT’s take on it!

Watch Episode 5 Now!

This Tuesday (August 2) I took on the extreme heat to watch some of country music’s finest in Oklahoma City. Tim McGraw’s Emotional Traffic Tour included a couple Amen’s, some well executed dance moves, and a broken foot…it was awesome!

Edens Edge were the first to take the stage at the Zoo Amphitheater and did a great job of getting the crowd pumped up. They sang their latest single “Amen” and also a mixture of all their favorite summer songs including Miley Cyrus’ “Party In The USA“. Once they were finished there was about a 45 minute wait for the next artist.

Luke Bryan took the stage and the fans took notice! He had an excellent show with an abundance of energy that was very nicely exuded to the crowd. Noting that it was a Tuesday night and that the majority of the audience had to work the next morning, Bryan gave everyone some sound advice.

“You need to take four Advil, not two, you’re gonna need four, a bunch of water, and eat two pieces of white bread.”

With this mental note stored away for safe keeping, the partying fans tried their best to keep up with the country boy from Georgia, as he shook “it” up and down the stage. He sang “Country Man“, “Someone Else Calling You Baby“, “Drinkin’ Beer And Wastin’ Bullets“, “If You Ain’t Here To Party“, “Drunk On You“, “We Rode In Trucks“, “Do I“, “Rain Is A Good Thing”, “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)“, and “All My Friends Say”. He thanked everyone again for braving the heat, then sadly disappeared back stage.

Tim McGraw was the main event of the night and let me tell you, he was well worth the wait! Even with a broken foot, this veteran of the industry did his thing and proved he was the real deal! With each song he sang, I realized how much I’ve truly grown up on his music. McGraw took me down memory lane with “Something Like That“, “Where The Green Grass Grows“, “Down On The Farm“, “Last Dollar (Fly Away)“, “Just To See You Smile“, “Please Remember Me“, “For A Little While“, “Red Ragtop“, “Unbroken“, “Do You Want Fries With That“, “Back When” (where Luke Bryan joined him and added a special surprise to a few lyrics), “Better Than I Use To Be” (a new song), “The Cowboy In Me“, “Southern Voice“, “Felt Good On My Lips“, “Real Good Man“, “Live Like You Were Dying“, “Indian Outlaw“, and “I Like It, I Love It“.

Like I said, the temperature was very high, but with a couple of (over-priced) drinks and two of country music’s best looking men on the stage in front of me, it ended up being one of the best nights of the summer! I’m putting it out there, find a show near you and get tickets, even if you have to eat Ramen for two weeks to afford it!