Thursday's News and Tidbits

Taylor Swift’s album sales have hit 20 million (Source: GACTV)

Country Weekly is giving you a chance to vote on the hottest bachelors and bachelorettes of country music. Head on over and cast your vote here

Toby Keith has announced tour dates for his Locked and Loaded tour for 2011. More information can be found over at TobyKeith.com

Rascal Flatts guitarist, Joe Don Rooney made the trip over to Vegas tonight to ready himself for the ACM Awards on Sunday night. (Source: Twitter -- Joe Don Rooney)

Want an autographed issue of Country Weekly signed by Lady A? Make the jump and follow the directions given for your shot at what is sure to be a hot item. Click here for details.

Eric Church sat down in an interview with the Associated Press and discussed his ACM nomination for New Artist of the Year. Click here for the interview (Source: Twitter -- Eric Church)

Lady A’s Charles Kelly also made the trip to Vegas tonight, hoping for some luck at the blackjack table before Sunday’s festivities. (Source: Twitter -- Lady Antebellum)

The Band Perry’s Kimberly Perry was getting all dolled up today, stating on the band’s Twitter page that she was getting a pedicure in preparation for Sunday’s ACM Awards.

Although it was announced yesterday, CMT has announced that Brad Paisley’s upcoming album will include duets with Carrie Underwood and Blake Shelton.

Justin Moore has released his new music video for “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away.” Check it out here, courtesy of CMT.

Gary LeVox: Country Music's Best Male Singer

The country music world features some of the most talented men in the music industry today. Whether it’s Brad Paisley and Keith Urban cranking out some of those crazy guitar solos we all love so much, or George Strait and Kenny Chesney singing a ballad that hits close to home, country’s leading men have a way of truly satisfying their fans’ musical cravings.

All of country’s top guns have their own unique ways to them, but their is one man who stands above them all when it comes to belting out the lyrics that moves us to tears. That gets everyone up out of their seats and has them grabbing their imaginary microphones and dancing while they belt out the words to their favorite party songs.

That man is Rascal Flatts frontman -- Gary LeVox.

Now, I am admittedly a little biased right off the rip. Rascal Flatts are the reason I am such a huge fan of country music today. Starting off as a big fan of metal music and classic rock, it was one camping trip, and the constant airplay of “Fast Cars and Freedom” that would transform yours truly into a country music fan for life. So, like I said, I am biased going into the writing of this piece.

I do think, however, that I have very valid reasoning in regards to LeVox being the best male vocalist in country music. The confidence “The Voice” features every time you hear a Rascal Flatts song is a reoccurring theme in their music. Songs like “Skin (Sarabeth),” “Ellsworth” and “Why,” are all songs that could be considered controversial (being about Cancer, Alzheimer's and suicide), but are instead made into songs where LeVox’s confidence in his talent and message, soothes the listener while they are able to cry and put life into perspective. Instead of controversy, what you get is an outlet, a crutch, a vice that someone going through so much heartache can lean on when all seems lost. Without the unquestionable faith the Flatts’ singer has in himself, and his ability to tackle subjects that few others would dare touch, we as people going through these hardships may never have the musical means to help us deal with such problems.

Confidence is an important aspect to any singer’s repertoire and while guys like Jason Aldean, Darius Rucker and all the other men in country music have confidence booming from their music as well, none have the range of Gary LeVox.

Don’t believe me? I challenge you to find another male singer in country music who could sing “What Hurts the Most,” and do so with the same dynamism and passion. Much like many of the songs he sings, LeVox gives you chills as he hits notes no man in country can match (think towards the end of the song “... was being sooooooooo close!” and “... and watching you walk awaaaaaaaaay!”). “What Hurts the Most” has made many ‘o people shed a few tears and it is because of LeVox’s voice resonating in fans‘ ears that makes the song such a smashing success.

“I Melt” also demonstrates Gary LeVox’s ability to take hold of what would otherwise be a very ordinary love song and turn it into what has become a universal wedding anthem for all kinds of couples. While it starts off slow, luring the listener into the track, LeVox shines when the chorus hits and melts the heart of all those who hear it. After it’s done, all you’ll want to do is look into the eyes of the person you love most and lay a big one on her/him -- the stuff goosebumps are made of.

Rascal Flatts’ new album “Nothing Like This” features another song that showcases LeVox’s golden pipes. In a song that features Natasha Bedingfield, whom is known for her incredibly big voice, Gary LeVox not only holds his own in “Easy,” but matches Bedingfield note-for-note -- making the song one of the album’s best. Although it may never be made into one of the Flatts’ singles, “Easy” could easily rival Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson’s “Don’t You Wanna Stay” for duet of the year (yes, I’m aware that’s not a real award).

LeVox’s talents aren’t just showcased in just the slower songs either. Try to tell me every time you walk into a karaoke bar you don’t get the urge to sing “Me and My Gang.” That every time your out enjoying the 80 degree weather in flip-flops, or drinking a cold one by the pool that “Summer Nights” doesn’t just amplify the day’s ambience. Don’t kid yourself, because you’re not kidding me.

Last, but certainly not least, think about just how unique Gary LeVox’s voice really is. Can you think of anyone that remotely sounds like him? Someone that has a classic country feel to him like Easton Corbin is great, but far from LeVox in terms of overall range. Baritones, Josh Turner and Trace Adkins are great for the change in tone for country fans, but still fail to match LeVox’s powerful voice. Zac Brown, Billy Currington, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban -- all great vocalists and key cogs in the country music machine, but all have caps on how far they can stretch a song. Gary LeVox has no such cap.

Obviously there is a ton of room for debate on this particular subject. What I see as range and uniqueness, others will see as more pop than country. Where I see confidence and a will to be different, someone else will see it as trying too hard and just flat out lame. But, there is a reason Rascal Flatts sell out huge arenas every time they play a show. There is a reason why they have 11 number one country singles and why they’ve won a plethora of country music awards (including: six CMA Vocal Group of the Year Awards, seven ACM Top Vocal Group Awards, an ACM Award for Song of the Year, the ACA Decade Artist Award and the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award). Yes, at the end of the day there is no denying just how dynamic and successful Rascal Flatts is as a whole, but also just how rare of a talent one, Gary LeVox really is.

And we are up and running!

Finally, after a ton of thinking and time put into how I wanted to run this blog, I am happy to announce the official launch of The Southern Drawl.

With a name like Southern Drawl, it's likely obvious to most that this blog will feature country music news, feature pieces, rumors, etc. I hope you all have as much fun reading everything as I will writing it.

Look for the first piece to be coming shortly. With the ACM's just a few days away there is plenty to talk about, but the first post you'll see will feature country music's leading man in the industry.

Stay tuned...