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Since everyone else reports on the same handful of country stars, I thought I’d introduce y’all to some newer faces in country music!

Of course the country music industry is all abuzz with the recent 2008 CMA Nominees announcements, and everyone is hemming and hawing over acts like Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, and George Strait. I mean, It’s big news, with household names and those names grab readers. But I want to take a moment to introduce you to (or remind you of) some names you’ll hear plenty of in the coming year!

First on my roster is young crooner Mindy Smith. Mindy is currently working on a followup album to her debut “One Moment More“. Mindy’s voice is clear and strong and her heart spills out into the songs that she both writes and performs. While Mindy’s not a household name yet, with the help of country music legend Dolly Parton, I’m sure it won’t take long. Not long ago Mindy Smith had the honor of performing Dolly’s classic “Jolene” on the “Just because I’m a Woman” tribute album. Dolly’s reaction: “Even though Mindy is still young and new to the music business, I believe she will leave her mark as one of our greatest writers and singers ever,” says Dolly Parton, “‘Jolene’ has been done many times by many artists,including me, but Mindy’s version is my favorite. I wish her all the best.”

Next in the rockin country rollcall is an unexpected duo from Tennessee. Joey and Rory surprised judges along with the rest of America when they appeared on CMT’s Can You Duet with their solid sound and old-country charm. But what won the world over to Joey and Rory is the only thing more universal than music. Love. Their obvious affection and endearment for each other was something cameras gravitated towards, taking the viewers along for the ride. It almost makes this video for “Cheater, cheater” seem like a playful joke! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, look out Tim and Faith, cause these guys are authentic!

Something you’ll find with both of these artists is that the next wave of rising country stars seems to have a nostalgic tone. We’re finding more reliance on voice and instruments and less on studio-produced pop sound. My opinion is that it’s about time!

Sure the Coppola’s can sing… but can they sing to ME?

One of the most frustrating things about watching singing competitions is the way some performers just don’t “get it”. Sadly, this seems to be the case with The Coppolas. The beautiful blond twins from Denver, CO can sing, and they can sing well, but they can’t seem to listen! Week after week they get brutal criticism from the judges on CMT’s show “Can You Duet”, especially from Naomi Judd, that visibly knocks them off their feet. Hopefully it’s shaking their pedastals a bit as well.

Of course Naomi’s going to be the roughest on The Coppolas. She and her daughter battled against nearly every female stereotype to scratch and claw their way to success. They fought for fair billing, played in the smokey bars, slept in buses, beat down criticism over looks and weight and health and societal pressure, and came out on top. They didn’t bend and fold for their critics. They didn’t flash bare skin and flutter their eyes to get their way. They WORKED, and out of that work they built a legacy and a standard for female artists everywhere.

What the Coppola twins can’t seem to really understand is the simple statement that you HAVE to be more than just a pretty voice and a pretty face to make fans fall in love with you. You have to open yourself up to your fans. Show them your softer side. Get up close and intimate with them through your music. Because right now all I’ve seen The Coppolas do is issue forth perfectly practiced notes and predictable but restrained spunk. They’re singing AT the audiences rather than TO us!

What I’d like to see: I’d like to see Kate and Kacey find a song that makes their hearts bleed and share THAT with us. Otherwise they’ll remain “those cute twins from that singing contest” instead of having a real music career. A pretty face can get you the audience, but it’s TALENT that keeps it.