Longform

Carrie Underwood's "Church Bells" lyrics add another body to the list of no-good men she's put away in song, and according to one of the songwriters, it was fun to have the freedom to write that kind of ending.

Kenny Chesney's "Noise" lyrics offer up his first-ever social commentary in a song, and the concept actually sprang directly from a personal conversation the superstar had with one of his co-writers.

Keith Urban's "Wasted Time" lyrics and edgy track are pushing the boundaries of country radio, and according to one of the song's co-writers and producers, that's exactly what Urban set out to do.

How do you take your Chris Stapleton? Not quietly, if you’re like his fans and most in the country music industry.

Dustin Lynch's "Mind Reader" lyrics are based on a real-life incident that actually happened to one of the songwriters.

Thomas Rhett is having a memorable 2016. Fresh off celebrating his six-week No. 1 with "Die A Happy Man" and his first time performing in the U.K., Taste of Country caught up with the singer-songwriter to learn more about his current single, "T-Shirt," as well as his recent writing sessions with Dave Barnes and Jason Mraz.

Chris Young's "Think of You" lyrics have brought a hit duet back to country radio, featuring two of the outstanding vocal performances so far in 2016.

Dierks Bentley's "Somewhere on a Beach" lyrics will have country music fans longing for the sun and surf this summer, and according to one of the song's writers, that's exactly how the idea came about.

After the CMAs, the Grammys, the Saturday Night Live appearance and the weeks Chris Stapleton’s Traveller album spent atop Billboards Country Sales chart, Dave Cobb is fielding endless questions about what recording those 14 songs was like. The inquisition waits breathlessly for some story of stars aligning and to some extent they get it. But art never comes finished without hours and hours of idle time.

There was a great moment during Wednesday night's Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson show at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville that found Hank Williams Jr. and Kristofferson enthusiastically hugging one another after the younger artist had just finished singing "If You Don't Like Hank Williams," a Kristofferson-penned song from his Habits Old and New album from 1980.