About Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena

Shauna "WhiskeyChick" Castorena is a freelance writer for both Country Music News and Country Music On Tour. Want to collab on some content? Email me. Want my rates for commercial promo work? Get them right here.

Drive By Truckers Outsell Taylor Swift

Drive By Truckers are quickly becoming a household name, even topping Taylor Swift in album sales this last week! My sincere congratulations go out to Drive By Truckers, who just a couple short years ago I saw perform a live show in an itty bitty venue in Phoenix Arizona to a half-drunk, crowd that mostly showed up on a friend’s begging. This week they left Taylor Swift in the dust in overall record sales, making themselves the top-selling country act for the first week of September (according to StreetPulse). Everywhere I go friends here in Oklahoma are telling me “Hey,have you heard that new band “Drive By Truckers?” and I just smile. I smile because we’ve been featuring Drive By Truckers for YEARS! You see, this is WHY I do what I do! I push press for artists I love as a born and raised country music fan because I want to share all of their hard work, trials and successes with other music lovers. I celebrate the achievements of  struggling artists and DIY touring bands because someday I hope I can help make their dreams come true. Sure, I may not know these guys personally, only through their music, but music can change lives.It’s the only thing I know that can hurt, heal, lift, or bring down a person in 3 minutes or less. It drives people to dream, inspires people to look at themselves in new light, even teaches how to handle struggles we all face. Of course now I’m way off track and you’re wondering what this has to do with Drive By Truckers right? Well, when you see a band like this playing in a dive bar in a strange town  for little more than gas money and a love of the music, you get humbled by the shared commitment to and importance of that music. And to see even ONE band go from that dive bar scene to beating the biggest sales pitch in Nashville is a success that I think ALL music fans can celebrate with me.Country Music Photo Gallery

Bryan White Free Download

Bryan White releases his new single “Little Things” and he’s giving it away for free! Bryan White is giving fans a taste of the first single off his new album  “Dustbowl Dreams” which marks his eight studio album. To get your copy of “The Little Things” visit www.bryanwhite.com today!Country Music Photo Gallery

Brooks & Dunn Final Album Release: #1’s and then some

Brooks & Dunn release their supposed final album today: #1’s and Then Some Hot on the heels of announcing their breakup, Brooks & Dunn’s last studio release hits store shelves. #1’s…And Then Some is a 2-disc collection of a total 30 tracks covering the entire span of the duo’s chart-topping career. Fans will also be treated with two original songs, and some classic hits. Additional tracks include ‘Neon Moon’ and ‘That Ain’t No Way to Go’ to their anthemic ‘Only In America,’ ‘Red Dirt Road,’ ‘Play Something Country,’ and many more, including their ACM and CMA Song of the Year winner, ‘Believe.’Country Music Photo Gallery

2009 CMA Website Goes Live!

The 2009 CMA Award nominations will be revealed Wednesday September 9th LIVE on ABC! NASHVILLE – The announcement of the final nominees for the 2009 CMA Awards will be carried live on Wednesday, Sept. 9, from the “Good Morning America” studios in the heart of New York City’s Times Square on the ABC Television Network. . “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards” will be broadcast live from the Sommet Center in Nashville Wednesday, Nov. 11 (8:00-11:00 PM ET/delayed PT) on ABC and is hosted for the second year by reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley and reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood. The final nominees in select categories will be announced by Darius Rucker, who has quickly established himself as a fan and industry favorite with three No. 1 singles to his credit, and Lee Ann Womack, a former CMA Female Vocalist of the Year with 18 career CMA Awards nominations to her credit. The live announcements will take place during the 8:30 AM/ET half-hour of the morning news program. “I was so honored to perform at the 2008 CMA Awards Show, and I feel privileged to be a part of this year’s nominee announcement,” said Rucker.Country Music Photo Gallery

GACTV Announces Fall Programming Lineup

Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, and Jake Owen all take center stage on GAC’s fall lineup. GAC has announced new episodes of several shows included in their upcoming fall lineup. BLAKE SHELTON and TRACE ADKINS will be the subject of the biographical documentary series, “Backstory,” and JAKE OWEN will be spotlighted in the “Origins” series. The ZAC BROWN BAND will be featured in a new episode of “Introducing,” and GAC will also premiere two new installments of “The Collection” featuring CARRIE UNDERWOOD and MIRANDA LAMBERT. Country legend KRIS KRISTOFFERSON will appear on the SEPTEMBER 30th edition of GAC NIGHTS at 8p (ET), and GAC will re-broadcast “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock” on OCTOBER 17th at 8p (ET). For more on GAC’s fall lineup, visit www.gactv.com.Country Music Photo Gallery

Carrie Underwood Rushes to Release Cowboy Casanova

Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Cassanova” is rushed to radio early after an unfinished version leaked out over the internet. Carrie Underwood‘s new album, Play On is already throwing the country music world into a frenzy, and now the first single “Cowboy Casanova” is adding to it. It seems someone, somehow, leaked an unfinished version of the track out over the web pushing Carrie to reveal the real thing late last night. Fans can hear the genuine single of “Cowboy Casanova” online now at both carrieunderwoodofficial.com, as well as youtube.com/carrieunderwood. Listen for “Cowboy Casanova” and tell us what you think!Country Music Photo Gallery

Miranda’s Countdown to Revolution Has Begun!

Miranda Lambert fans across the nation have been callled out to join the Revolution! Miranda Lambert has released an exclusive preview of the track “White Liar” from her upcoming album “Revolution” available at www.mirandarevolution.com. As usual, the song packs a mean punch and Miranda sure knows how to deliver it! Miranda is inviting her fans to join the revolution by visiting that site, previewing the track, and taking advantage of some of the cool media options she has there. You’ll find videos, twitter and myspace backgrounds, buddy icons, walpapers and more, as well as an option to pre-order Revolution from Amazon! So get over there and show Miranda your support today! Country Music Photo Gallery

Nashville Songwriters Association International Pairs With The Charlie Daniels Band

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Does It Again…With The Charlie Daniels Band The legendary, Grammy-award winning Charlie Daniels Band headlined the second concert in NSAI’s “IT ALL BEGINS WITH A SONG” Performance Series at the Wildhorse Saloon on Thursday night (8/27). The packed house was treated to a few tunes by Old Union prior to an energetic performance by the CDB, which included hits from “Long Haired Country Boy” and “The South’s Gonna Do It Again” to a powerful version of “How Great Thou Art.” As the night concluded, Charlie was presented with BMI MillionAir Awards for one million performances of “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “Drinking My Baby Goodbye,” and four million performances of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” He also received specially autographed lyrics of the “Tennessee Waltz” from NSAI for his contributions to the music industry. During their final song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” the CDB was accompanied by Pro Golfer John Daly. For more information on the series, visit www.nashvillesongwriters.com and check out the CDB at www.charliedaniels.com.

Sugarland to Release Holiday Album Titled Gold and Green

Sugarland will release their first-ever holiday album this fall titled Gold and Green. Blockbuster powerhouse Sugarland will release a 10-track holiday album titled “Gold and Green“on October 13th, 2009. The album will feature 5 traditional holiday-themed tracks as well as 5brand new original songs that were co-written by Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush themselves! Fans who purchase the Sugarland holiday album will also be treated to a special gift of exclusive online content as well! Sugarland Gold and Green Track Listing: 1. City Of Silver Dreams* 2. Winter Wonderland 3. Holly Jolly Christmas 4. Coming Home* 5. Gold And Green* 6. Maybe Baby (New Year’s Day)* 7. Nuttin’ For Christmas 8. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 9. Little Wood Guitar* 10. Silent NightCountry Music Photo Gallery