You have a self-titled debut EP set to be released this week. How was the whole process of creating it?
The process was so fun and exciting – especially because I have written/co-written the tracks! We took our time on each track so that the perfect sound and emotion would be heard. I couldn’t be more happy with the final product!!

Can you describe what fans will hear on this record?
Listeners will be taken on a journey of love, life, and tons of real emotion! I can only hope that they will feel inspired from at least one of the songs … or two.

How would you best describe your sound?
Pop influenced country and lots of fun!!

How do you balance elements of pop and country in your music?
I definitely do not “try” to make it sound a certain way …  it just happens. I believe that the musical composition of every song happens naturally and is 100 percent real.

What was it like to hear yourself on the radio for the first time?
Surreal. I still get butterflies when I listen on my iPod. It’s very exciting to hear the words and emotions that were once written on paper, turned into a wonderful and meaningful production!

Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing?
Life. I tend to overanalyze the way of life, and it’s definitely not a simple journey. There are ups and downs and in-betweens … a great subject and way to inspire.

What or who motivated you to turn your love of music into a career?
It just felt right at a very young age. Even before I knew how the music industry worked, I was singing and writing songs because it made me feel alive. My parents eventually asked me if I wanted to do this for the rest of my life, and of course, I said yes.

Who are your role models in the country music industry?
I am influenced by many different artists and genres. Successful people are successful because of the hard work and dedication towards something. To be more specific, I would have to say Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Dixie Chicks, Christina Aguilera, Carrie Underwood, just to name a few!

What can we can expect from you after the release of the EP?
I’m going to keep doing the only thing I know how to do. My time will come. In the meantime, I am going to have fun and enjoy the ride!

Be sure to check out Trinity’s self-titled EP, including the lead single “Big Town,” which is currently being played on Canadian country radio!

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Natalie’s album, entitled “Mother”, will hit shelves on May 7th and will include ten (10) tracks, produced by Ben Harper. Of the ten tracks, one (1) will be a Pink Floyd cover, while another is co-written by Natalie’s fellow bandmates, Martie Maguire and Emily Robinson.

To get a sneak peek of Natalie’s first single off her album, click here.

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We just know you will love Sarah, especially all you female country music lovers out there! Sarah takes pride in her ability to reach her fans — especially the country girls. “There are so many women out there who love country music and are responding to what artists like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean are doing. Those guys are all about living life, and I feel like that’s missing on the female side,” says Sarah, ready and willing to fill that void. “When girls hear my music, I want them to think, ‘Wow, she is just like me.’”

Sarah is always refining her craft, writing regularly with her husband and creative partner, award-winning songwriter Dallas Davidson. The pair met at a songwriters’ festival in Key West. “I’ve been writing since I was 12, so Dallas and I really connected,” Sarah says. “We work well together.” Some of the pair’s collaborations appear on Sarah’s upcoming debut album, including “Don’t Kiss Me like That,” a playful warning to a lover about what comes after that first smooch. Equally upbeat are “Crazy Good,” written by Luke Bryan, and “No Sad Songs,” a track Sarah wrote with pal Kelly Archer that sums up the unfailingly optimistic singer’s worldview: Sweep aside the negative and embrace the positive.

Sarah’s desire to pursue country music was only reinforced when she discovered the music of Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, and even Whitney Houston, whose interpretation of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” struck a chord with Sarah. “I was captivated by the emotion of those artists,” she recalls. “And the stories really attracted me.”

Now, Sarah is eager to share her own story, in songs that will resonate not only with lovers of country, but lovers of life. “I hope people feel good when they hear my songs, because that’s how I feel when I’m singing them,” she says, a brilliant smile on her face. “And that’s a wonderful thing to share.”

We are THRILLED to introduce you all to an incredible artist with an undoubtedly bright future! Please join us on Thursday, March 21st, at 9:00 p.m. EST as Sarah shares her talents with the Keepin’ It Country family! Click HERE to get your tickets for Sarah’s show!

And make sure to check out Sarah’s website, Facebook, and Twitter!

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Although she may be only nineteen, and technically, a Nashville newbie, Tiffany Houghton has always been driven by her love for music. When I asked Tiffany how she got into performing, without skipping a beat, she responded “Oh, I was born. I’ve always loved music. They say that I could sing before I could talk. I’ve always loved to perform,” She tells us. “I’d get on our kitchen counter and sing to the family. But I really got professionally into music when I was 10 and moved to NY, and did some Broadway and musicals and some acting.”

Growing up, one of her first gigs was a “dream come true” and involved performing for both the Dallas Mavericks and Texas Rangers. “I must’ve been 11 and one of the first times I performed, this sweet old man chased me down to get my autograph, and I thought I made it. It was so fun, I LOVED that.”

Only weeks after her eighteenth birthday, the pint-sized powerhouse packed up her life and headed for Nashville. While such a decision would be hard for anyone, Tiffany knew it was what she needed to do. “I have a deep rudder. I knew no matter what happened that I always wanted to do this. I don’t think I knew that it was going to be as hard as it was those first few weeks, but I knew that it was the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do with my life.“

Today, Tiffany has called Nashville home for about 14 months, and has placed her focus squarely on country music. Since moving to Nashville, she’s been introduced to the world of co-writing, and she tells us, “I write because I can’t not write.” For such a young artist, her lyrics have an uncanny depth and power, which she says she’s drawn from real life experiences. “I’ve written in a journal since I was 7 years old, I’ve always just pulled lyrics from my stories. And I tend to be a little dramatic so it works perfectly for song writing.”

Although each song on her EP is unique and a favorite in its own right, Tiffany named “Different” as the one song people should listen to if they’re only going to pick one. “Out of all my songs, I think that’s the one people need to hear. They need to know that our differences make us beautiful and I think it’s hard to remember that all the time.”

Also on her EP, her first single “Only One.” She recalls that the song was inspired by a devastating “little high school breakup.” However, that boy (who is surely kicking himself now) proved to be a great muse and led to quite the epiphany. “I looked at the clock and it was 4:38…I came to this realization where I was like ‘he was the only one,’ and then I was like what if I said that differently like ‘wait, he’s only one.’ And I like freaked out and sped home…that song kinda wrote itself to be honest; it all spilled out.”

One highlight of the EP is the touching ballad, “Like He Treats her,” inspired by none other than Tiffany’s own parents. Now, prepare to “Awww” outloud. “My parents have always been such an inspiration to me and…my mom was 18 years old when they got married.” Tiffany says about the track. “Today, they’re so in love and they’ve been such a great example to me of what true love is.  And so I wrote that song when they were leaving to go on their little Sunday walk and they were holding hands and I was just like ‘Awwww!’ I wrote it for them for their 25^th anniversary.”

Tiffany lists artists like Shania Twain, Martina McBride, Faith Hill and the Dixie Chicks as her inspiration, and we can completely hear the influences. If she could tour with anyone, she doesn’t hesitate in naming Hunter Hayes. She’s also a big fan of Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, and Luke Bryan. (Ed. Note: Who isn’t?!) “I looooooooove me some Luke Bryan.” She smiles. “He is so cute”

Tiffany has one simple message for her fans. “I love them. This year has been so wonderful to see my fans and watch my fan base grow, and see how engaged they are.” She continues, “They legitimately care about the things I have to say  and my music. It’s so uplifting and they help me every day to continue pursuing this.”

As she kicks off 2013, Tiffany plans to continue to write and record music. She’ll also be releasing music and videos online while performing around Nashville. Right now she’s focusing on recording and releasing individual singles that she can’t help but share, and we can’t wait.

“When I was a kid, on weekends, my Dad and I would go pick up a new CD at Barnes & Nobles and listen to it for the next few weeks on the way to school.” Tiffany tells us. “I decided I want to be that for some little girl.” And, we think she’s well on her way.

Lightning Round:

All-time favorite country song: “Black Eyes, Blue Tears” by Shania Twain

Guilty Pleasure: Nutella

Celebrity Crush: Channing Tatum

Last Song Listened To: The new Fall Out Boy (her manager is a HUGE fan) song – “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark”

Favorite American Idol Judge: Paula Abdul…Oh, and Keith Urban!

Favorite Broadway Show: Wicked

We’d like to thank Tiffany for taking the time to talk with us! For more information on Tiffany Houghton, check out her official website, ‘like’ her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and check out her Youtube page.

Here’s Tiffany’s first single “Only One”:

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When Lady Antebellum was forced to cancel their appearance due to Hillary Scott’s pregnancy, the organizers scrambled to find someone special for the show. “We knew we had to find something extra special to replace Lady Antebellum when the band canceled their summer dates due to Hilary Scott’s pregnancy,” said Kim Blevins, director of marketing. “We are extremely excited that we can offer a taste of country music royalty to the Craven Country Jamboree. And it won’t be a regular show – not only will our fans see Natalie Maines, Martie Maguire and Emily Robison, the three original members, this is a greatest hits package. The Craven date will be one of the only opportunities fans of the band will have to see them live. This is an incredibly special moment for Chicks fans and the Craven Country Jamboree.”

The Dixie Chicks join other huge names on the bill, which also includes Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Scotty McCreery, Phil Vassar, Brantley Gilbert, Gloriana, Randy Travis, Bill Anderson and more.

“This is the biggest, deepest lineup of any festival in Canada,” said Blevins. “We always strive to bring something for everyone from the biggest names in country music, to the best Canadian acts, to amazing classic country, all at the lowest price.”

For tickets, visit cravencountryjamboree.com, call toll-free 1-866-388-0007 or visit The Pump, The Tap or Village RV in Regina, or any Cowtown location.

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Emily shared the good news on Twitter:

“9/4/12@ 3:01 a.m. we welcomed Violet Isabel Strayer to the world! (8.6lbs) Thank you all for your kind tweets:) Mom and baby are doing great!!”

Emily’s husband is a band member for her duo Courtyard Hounds. It’s the fourth child for Emily, who has three with her ex-husband Charlie Robison. It’s the ninth baby for the country music trio, who have not released a new album since 2006′s “Taking The Long Way.” While the Dixie Chicks are in hiatus, members Emily and Martie formed their own group and have been touring as the Courtyard Hounds.

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While there are tons of songs in country music that pay tribute to the troops, we had the difficult task of narrowing it down to just our top ten. Take a look at our top 10 playlist for Memorial Day and let us know what your favorite songs for tribute are on our Facebook page or in the comments to our post.

 10. Just A Dream – Carrie Underwood

Carrie Underwood‘s 2008 platinum single from her “Carnival Ride” album takes a different side of a tribute for fallen heroes. She takes on the role of a widow of a soldier and her moving single takes the number ten spot on our list. The song starts out sounding like a love song about a young girl going to the chapel to get married, but quickly changes to a story about the funeral of a soldier who was lost in battle. The single earned Carrie a 2010 GRAMMY nomination for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart.

9. Brothers – Dean Brody

Canadian country singer Dean Brody‘s debut single remains one of his top singles to date. His song, which peaked in the top ten of the Canadian Country Singles Chart, also made an imprint on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the USA in the top 30. The song’s narrator deals with not wanting to see his brother leave for war and wanting to do anything to keep him home, but his brother tells him that it’s what brothers are for. The single later deals with the sacrifice an older brother gives up for his younger brother.

8. Sleeping With The Telephone – Reba McEntire & Faith Hill

Reba McEntire‘s “Duets” album brought together some of the top voices in not only country, but pop music too. Reba teamed up with country’s power vocalist Faith Hill for a track about being the wife to a soldier serving overseas. While the song never saw radio airplay, it’s still an emotional single about waiting every night for a phone call about her loved one and the thoughts always running through the wife’s head. It’s another song to remind country fans that it’s not only the soldiers that sacrifice everything to keep their country safe, but their families too.

 7. Travelin’ Soldier – Dixie Chicks

The Dixie Chicks once had the best harmonies in country music, and their single about love with a soldier was quickly forgotten during its short chart run. It was the single that was pulled by radio stations across the United States due to the controversy surrounding the group’s political stance. Regardless of the statements made, the girls still have a touching story about a young girl who falls in love with a man who was sent out to war. She finds out that he was killed in action when his name was announced at a football game.

6. 8th Of November – Big & Rich

Big & Rich released a tribute to a real-life soldier Niles Harris and the 173rd Airborne Brigade who were ambushed on November 8th, 1965 by 1200 Viet Cong during Operation Hump. Forty-eight American soldiers lost their lives on that day. John Rich and Big Kenny were so touched by their friend’s story that they wrote this song and put it on their 2005 album “Comin’ To Your City.” The music video has an introduction by Kris Kristofferson on Niles, who was one of the soldiers saved by Lawrence Joel, who was the first black American soldier to receive a Medal of Honor. Niles is the one who gave Big Kenny his top hat that he is known for wearing.

5. Have You Forgotten? – Darryl Worley

Country music singer Darryl Worley released an important single in 2003 that dealt with remembering the events of September 11th. The first single from his 2003 album hit number one in only three weeks, and stayed there for a total of seven – not bad for an album that only had four brand new songs, including the title track, and songs from two previous albums. It’s a strong song that deals directly with never forgetting the men and women lost on the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and going after Bin Laden.

4. Arlington – Trace Adkins

 Trace Adkins is one of the most supportive country singers for American troops. The history buff released the touching tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed everything for the United States with “Arlington” in 2005. The second single from his “Songs About Me” album tells the story of a fictional soldier who was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. While the single peaked at only number sixteen on the Billboard Country Singles Chart, it’s Trace’s vocals and story telling ability that makes the song so perfect for this holiday weekend.

3. American Soldier – Toby Keith

This is one of my favorite singles by Toby Keith, one that is often forgotten. Toby recently played this song live to the USO on his tour overseas just a few weeks ago at the military bases in the Middle East. We could have picked almost any song out of Toby’s library for this list, or he could have made our entire list, but we chose this song. It’s a moving song about the life of an American Soldier and what they really give up in the name of freedom. Is there anyone out there right now in country music that has more American pride that Toby himself?

2. If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw

When Tim McGraw performed “When You’re Reading This” live at the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs) in 2007, he gave country music goosebumps. The song was so powerful that immediately following the telecast, radio stations played his performance and the live version of the song debuted at number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot Country Songs from unsolicited airplay. His performance received a standing ovation at the Las Vegas award show, when Tim revealed that behind him were families of fallen heroes. It’s one of the most touching moments in country music award show history, and Tim’s tribute to soldiers makes our list at number two.

1. Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning – Alan Jackson

Alan Jackson is one of country music’s greatest singers and songwriters of all time. The legend put together a touching tribute to the September 11th terrorist attacks, and debuted the song on the November 7th, 2001 Country Music Association (CMA) awards. It’s the number one song on our top 10 Memorial Day songs playlist because of how perfect the song is in a changed world today. No matter where you were on September 11th, 2001 you remember where you were when you heard the news of the tragedy. Alan might just be a “singer of simple songs,” but his simple song is the ultimate Memorial Day song.

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With that said, it makes sense that country singer Nicolle would end up on rocker Adam Levine’s team on NBC’s smash singing competition “The Voice.”  As you will find out, she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The 27-year-old moved to Nashville after graduating from high school.  She enrolled in Belmont University’s Music Business program and was focusing on a career behind the scenes in the music business.  But her undeniable talent wouldn’t let that happen.  She secretly began writing songs in her spare time.  Thanks to the urging of her friends, she entered a few of her songs into the Songwriter’s Showcase Series at Belmont.  Her success there opened up some doors, which opened up more doors, which led her to a publishing deal with Warner Music Nashville, where she has been a staff songwriter since 2007.

Several of her songs have made it onto records — including a pair by a certain American Idol alum.  But the voices singing those songs — telling her stories — weren’t hers.  That’s one of the main reasons she auditioned for “The Voice.”  She decided her love of music was greater than her fear of failure.  Score one for love.

The auditions were back in October, how hard was it to not say anything to anyone?

It was difficult.  Honestly, though, I think that my mom had a harder time with it than I did.  If you watched the episode my mom and my little brother, Cooper, came out to L.A. for a week.  Cooper is in fifth grade and was gone from school for a week.  He was the one who had to keep a secret in a tiny little town of two thousand people.

If I leave Nashville for a week, nobody notices.  But if a fifth grader leaves school to go to L.A. for a week, you can imagine all the little rumors that were going around my hometown back in Kansas.  (Laughs)  I think it was actaully ahrder on my mom and brother than on me.

Who were you with on Monday night when your segment finally aired and what was their reaction?

I was with about 40 of my close friends here in Nashville.  I was really blessed to have a bunch of friends that threw a party for me.  I just kinda got to show up and it was in my honor and we all watched together.

Everybody knew I was going to be involved in the show in some capacity because they had been showing me in these commercials that had been airing for weeks.  I was doing a pretty good job of just laying low and not really saying anything about the show.

Then they started airing these promos with clips of my audition.  That’s when it really became torture because everybody knew that I was going to be on at some point.  But I still had to act like I had no idea what they were talking about.

(Update:  We now have a video taken at Nicolle’s viewing party.  See it by clicking here.)

You’re a country girl, who sang a Kenny Chesney song in your blind audition (see the video below), yet you’ve said that even if all four coaches had turned around, you still would have picked Adam Levine and not Blake Shelton.  Why Adam over Blake?

I was a fan of the show the first season.  The coach and artists pairings I was most fascinated by, and most taken by, were the non-obvious pairings.  I think that is what was so special about Blake and Dia or Blake and Xenia.  They were non-likely; not your common pairing.  I thought that it was really interesting to see that.  So I thought it would be cool for a pop-rock guy to work with somebody that was in country.

But in addition to that, I’ve never really thought of myself as a singer, per se.  I’ve thought of myself as a musician first and then I became a songwriter,  Now I’m kinda growing into and putting the finishing touches on calling myself a singer.  Adam Levine is probably the most like me in that sense.  He kind of does it all.  He’s a front man for a band, he writes the songs, and he’s a musician.

And he himself, I’ve heard him say in interviews, “I don’t think I’m the greatest singer in the world.  I just happened to have the best voice out of all five or six of us in Maroon 5.  So I was automatically the front guy.”  To me that was attractive to work with because that’s kinda how I feel about myself.  I became a singer almost out of necessity as a songwriter.  Now “The Voice” is really helping me find my voice and kinda putting that final puzzle piece in place.

But it turns out you did have an impact on Team Blake.  We understand he might not have RaeLynn without some help from you.

(Laughs)  Well, my day job is basically as a songwriter, so to speak.  Last summer I was connected through my publishing company with this little girl who was a singer who wanted to start writing for her own project.  So they sent her to Nashville.

I got put in a room with her and it just happened to be a few days before the Nashville “Voice” Auditions.  I had been contacted and I had secured an audition spot.  But I was still pretty skeptical because I didn’t really think of myself as a big, powerhouse vocalist.  I know there are a lot of singers out there in this world that are still undiscovered.  And I thought, “Seriously?  What am I doing?  This is such a long shot!”  So when I met her, she had this voice that, to me, was really, really, really special.

On my blog at NBC.com, I share how I told her to audition in my place.  Long story short, we both ended up getting to audition and we both ended up in L.A. a few months later and just embraced each other.

Honestly, it’s been a big lesson.  You get what you give in life.  I think you get what you give in the music business, too.  I looked at her and was seeing outside of myself in that moment.  I thought this girl was made to do something like that.  There was, honestly, a little voice in the back of my head that was like, “She might be your competition down the road!”  But I didn’t care.  It’s not about that.  There’s room for everyone.

One of the sweetest moments with your audition was the tearful reaction by your little brother.  How important is family to you and your music?

I feel like I flew to Nashville on the wings of my family.  If I were ever put in a position where I had to choose between my family and music or my family and career, I would always choose my family.  They have done nothing but liberate me and send me on my way and told me at 18-years-old, “We’re gonna miss you, but that’s where you belong is in Nashville.”

I also think that you don’t really know somebody until you know some people in their family, too.  So to have my mom and brother on the show, even if it was just for a minute or two, I feel that helped the world see a bigger picture of who I am.  They’re such a big part of my life and such a big part of my support system.

My 10-year-old brother, Cooper, is probably the biggest star of the family, whether he knows it yet or not. (Laughs)  He’s almost like an icon of my time in Nashville.  I call him my “bonus brother” because my parents had him by surprise when I was a senior in high school.  He was in diapers when I moved to Nashville and I was always that cool, unique older sibling that is 17 years older than him.  I come home from Nashville every few months with all these cool stories and everyone’s asking me what’s going on with my music journey.

Over times he’s become my biggest fan.  Honestly, when I look at him, he’s almost like this visual kind of map of how long I’ve been in Nashville.  Now look at hm.  He’s 10-years-old.  His lifespan is basically how long I’ve been here working on music.

How is it that a girl from Sterling, Kansas, not known as a hot-bed for classical music, takes up classical piano?

(Laughs) When I was four years old I had a babysitter that gave piano lessons after school to kids who were, at the time, older than me:  they were fourth and fifth grade.  I would just sit there on the floor  and I would just watch her give them piano lessons.  After she was done and they all left the room I would go and sit down and mess around trying to mimic what they were doing.

She said she wouldn’t start giving me lessons until I could read.  But my mom was like, “That’s totally fine.  Whenever you think she’s ready.”  But she started unofficially giving me lessons really early and I just excelled at it.  I wasn’t one of those people whose parents had to tell them to practice.  In fact, they had to pull me from the piano because I was playing for so long and they wanted some peace and quiet in the house.  (Laughs)

I’ve loved music my whole life and I’ve embraced whatever opportunity has been put in front of me.  When you grow up in a little town of two thousand people in the middle of Kansas, it’s not like there’s a whole bunch of people who want to start a band with you.  And there’s not a lot of opportunities to do commercial music.

Classical was awesome!  I learned a lot about discipline and hard work and doing things not for the accolades.  It’s not really cool, to say, “Oh, yeah, I did this piano competition this weekend.”  That’s not going to get you a bunch of attention normally in a small town.  At a certain point I was on the basketball team in high school and I got way more attention for that than I ever did for my piano.

I think it was really good for grooming me for doing music, in the long-term.  Because if you do music for the love of it, that’s what is going to sustain you.  If you’re doing it for the attention or the accolades…Opportunities like “The Voice” or getting songs on the radio; those things are just a vapor.  They come and they go.  There’s gonna be a next season of “The Voice.”   If were doing “The Voice” to get rich and famous, that’s not really enough motivation.  You’re going to end up quitting.

My whole life I’ve been doing music for the love of it.  No matter what happens with “The Voice,” I’m going to continue to love it just as much.

Have you thought about the battle stages of the show and how you might have to step away from the piano?  Will that take you out of your comfort zone?

You know, I came on this show because I wanted to be challenged and I wanted to grow.  My motivation for doing “The Voice” was to see who I could become.  That’s a big part of it for me.

If that’s presented to me, I’ll take that challenge gladly because I want to stretch myself; I want to be pushed.  I think that’s another reason why working with Adam was such a big deal for me.  The cool thing about Adam Levine is that he’s not gonna do anything that anyone else tells him to do.  He’s going to tell you exactly what he thinks when he thinks it.

I think he’s gonna shoot me straight and if he wants to see me without a piano, I trust him and I’ll try that, for sure.  I go to shows and I don’t want to see somebody sitting there at the piano for three hours straight.  I totally get it.  I want to be as multi-faceted as possible and I want to have as many layers as I possibly can.  I want to surprise people, too.  I want to be able to grab that mic and just go on the stage.

“The Voice” will serve as your introduction to most of the world, but many are already familiar with some of your songwriting.  You wrote two songs that Lauren Alaina put on her CD (“Dirt Road Prayer” and “Growing Her Wings”).

I was just blessed to have the people at her label and also her fall in love with those songs.  There’s a song on there called “Dirt Road Prayer” and I heard that she and her parents, especially her mom, just fell in love with that song.

The funny thing about “Dirt Road Prayer” is that sometimes you’re writing songs with people in mind and sometimes you’re writing songs for yourself.  I wrote that song for no other reason than to just get some things that were on my heart out there.  I never thought in a million years that song would be recorded by anyone else, let alone somebody with as much momentum and success as Lauren.

I think it was a big lesson for me in songwriting.  Write what you feel, write what is real.

You’ve served as the Music Correspondent for Nashville Lifestyles magazine.  Are you still doing that and, if so, will you now be reporting on yourself?

(Laughs) That’s a little bit on hiatus right now.  I guess it’s on suspension for the moment.  I’m a big blogger.  I guess it’s an extension of my creativity and of my writing.  I started adding video blogs to my blog.  In 2010 I did a 365 day video blog where I would do a video every day for a year and then I wrote a little bit about it.

It was more than anything, like I said, an extension of my creativity and helped me practice the discipline of writing a little something every day beyond writing a song.  From that Stacie Standifer, who is editor of Nashville Lifestyles, kinda of happened upon it and was like, “Oh, my gosh!  I love your style and I love the way you present these everyday events in these videos.  Would you mind coming and doing some stuff for us?”  And I was like, “Absolutely!  I would love to!” because I love that magazine and I love Nashville.  It’s another way for me to be involved in Music City.

It’s only been a few days since we found out you’re on “The Voice,” but you’re now probably getting tons of attention (including this interview).  Are you enjoying the ride?

I’m a big dreamer, but I’m also 27-years-old.  I’ve been a songwriter in the business end of things long enough to understand the ebb and flow of it all and how everything comes and goes and everything has its time.

I know that this is so special so I’m soaking up every second of it and not taking any of it for granted and really soaking up all of the relationships.  All of the other artists that are on the show – I could sit here and talk with you for hours and hours about how much I love all these other people that I’m getting to spend time with.

But I also know that it’s a TV show.  And it’s gonna help me change who I am a little bit.  It’s gonna help me figure out who I am and then it’s gonna send me out into the world again at a certain point.  At that point it prepares me with all of these tools to go make more music and to make better music and to better reach the people who want to hear my music.

I didn’t get into music because I wanted to sing, as much as I wanted to say something.  I wanted to write.  This is another vehicle for me to be heard and to get my songs out there.  And it the process really stretch myself and really find my voice.  I’m not lying when I’m saying I still have a lot of doubts as to whether I can cut it as a singer.  And this show, just the blind audition process alone, made me feel like a brand new person.  That’s priceless to me.

Where do you hope this journey on “The Voice” takes you?

I think on a personal level, I just want to see how much I can stretch myself.  You said, “What are you gonna do if they if they take the piano away from you?”  I hope that happens!  I hope things come out of this show that stretch me and makes me do things I would never had the opportunity to do otherwise.  I really want to be heard.  I really want to reach people and let people become invested in my music.

Beyond that I want to introduce to people this idea of a girl sitting at a piano and singing songs about middle America and do it in an educated, sophisticated and charming way.  That’s the kind of music that I like.

I remember when the Dixie Chicks first came out and they presented country music, to me, in my eyes, in such a unique way that hadn’t been done before.  I remember looking at them playing those instruments that maybe girls really hadn’t played in country music so much.  I remember thinking, “Oh!  Maybe I can do this!”  And at that point in my life I had never even sung in front of anybody.  I was just a piano player.

I hope that maybe just by me sitting up at that piano on “The Voice” in my blind audition, some girls are like, “I can do that!” or “I want to learn to play the piano!’ or “I can see her doing this on the CMA Awards.”  If I can start to plant that idea in some people’s heads, then what a win – no matter what happens on the show.

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To keep up with Nicolle, like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.

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Picture To Burn – Taylor Swift
When you think of vocal ex-girlfriends, who comes to mind? How about Taylor Swift? We think it’s empowering how vocal she is about her ex-boyfriends and the troubles of her relationships. This song does nothing but pick apart every fault of the boy she is singing about. Even better, she goes on to speak about wanting to seek revenge! We can’t help but love every part of this song and how Taylor shows us that women can own their emotions after a bad breakup.

You’ll Think Of Me – Keith Urban 
Personally, this song is it. Keith acknowledges that it’s okay to be upset over lost love. But it’s even better to claim that sense of worth after a breakup and realize that, ultimately, it’s the other person’s loss! Keith captures every raw and natural emotion that can come out of a breakup in a very empowering and sentimental manner. To witness the man perform this song live is something else. We can’t see how anyone could ever get sick of this song!

Kerosene – Miranda Lambert  
It doesn’t get much more ill-tempered than this. Miranda nailed it with “Kerosene” by proving that women are capable of expressing their emotions in any way they want. Who says all country girls are sweet and innocent? We love this feisty side of Miranda and the raw lyrics of this song. “I’m givin’ up on love ’cause love’s givin’ up on me” – does it get much more anti-Valentines Day than that?

Before He Cheats – Carrie Underwood 
We love this bad girl side of Carrie! It’s neat to see such a glamorous woman get down in the dirt, so to speak, with this song. The video just takes this song to a whole other level with the intensity of the lyrics shining through. We can’t help but think that nobody will do wrong to Carrie after hearing this song.

Love Don’t Live Here – Lady Antebellum 
This song has it all. The toe-tapping tune is quite in-your-face about moving on from a bad relationship. With lyrics singing about doing just fine without the significant other, and “I ain’t got a heart for breakin’,” Lady Antebellum have managed to create a song that shows the optimistic side of moving on – something we should all adopt!

Good As Gone – Little Big Town 
We appreciate the raw country vibe with a bit of an edge that is evident in this song. It’s one of those songs to blast in the car to celebrate the end of a bad relationship. It’s another one of those toe-tapping hits one can’t help but love, especially in a time where the concept of “love” is the last thing you want to think about.

Best Days Of Your Life – Kellie Pickler 
This list would have been incomplete had we not recognized Miss Pickler’s stormy hit. We love how she exhibits such an attitude in this song (and even the video) that liberates women to do just the same. Her sweet voice somehow fits the in-your-face tone of the lyrics. But hey, it works. This is one song that should be played over and over again.

Goodbye Earl – Dixie Chicks 
The Dixie Chicks may have been the ones to kick off this revolutionary era of “bad girl” country artists with this song alone. The comical spirit of this tune ultimately shows that it’s okay to get out of an unsatisfying relationship. Maybe the actual way the girls sing about getting out of such a relationship is rather dramatic, but we still can’t help but chuckle to this song.

Love You – Jack Ingram 
Jack Ingram makes evident an “I don’t care anymore” attitude with this track, especially with lyrics such as, “to heck with us.” The play on words with, “I’m sick an’ lovin’ tired of all your lovin’ around,” and “There’s only one four-letter word that’ll do: Love you,” makes this tune rather funny, all the while still getting the message across that enough is enough. Wonder who could have had the nerve to hurt such a nice guy like Jack!

Consider Me Gone – Reba McEntire 
We couldn’t leave out the ultimate diva of country music. Personally, to be a younger woman and hear an inspirational figure like Reba sing a liberating song about moving on – well, it’s empowering! All women should take to heart the message of this song: they should be a top priority on any guy’s list. Otherwise, it’s not worth it!

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Now that the fine print is out of the way, check out our picks below!

10. Love & Theft – “Don’t Wake Me” – Live in Savannah EP

Love & Theft’s performance of “Don’t Wake Me,” off of the band’s Live in Savannah EP, highlights everything that’s great about the group. Three (now two) great looking guys singing perfect harmonies on killer pop-country songs. Any cut from this album could have made our list, but this was a personal favorite. The band gained certain notoriety when Taylor Swift wrote “Hey Stephen” about member Stephen Barker Liles, but if Love & Theft can keep their moment going with live shows like this one there’s a good chance they’ll give Rascal Flatts a run for their money in a few years.

9. Kenny Chesney – “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy – Live Those Songs Again

Kenny Chesney has long ruled the country music touring circuit; one of the few acts in any genre that can consistently sell out stadiums, so it should be no surprise that he made our list. “Tractor” is a reminder of exactly what makes Kenny so fun to see live. It’s a fun summertime party with the best soundtrack.

Check out the rest of the list after the jump!

8. Carrie Underwood – “I’ll Stand By You” – I’ll Stand By You  – Single

American Idol’s reigning sales Queen, Carrie Underwood returned to the Idol stage in 2007 to perform a cover of the classic “I’ll Stand By You” during the charitable Idol Gives Back episode. The performance is quintessentially Carrie – Can nyone can deliver a vocal performance quite as flawlessly as this girl? And though Underwood is often criticized for her sometimes robotic, unemotional performances, this delivery was spot on. It’s a perfect example of the sonic gold that happens when a great song is paired with an incredible vocalist.

7. Martina McBride – “This One’s For the Girls” – Martina McBride: Live in Concert

This song is a feel good, girl power track that serves as a rallying cry in concert. With a catchy hook and a positive message Martina makes sure everyone is on their feet and, in this version, peppers in a few “We’re in the together anecdotes.” It’s also a great vehicle to show off her strong, powerful, full-bodied voice. And, as a fellow Kansan, I like to see folks from my own backyard succeed.

6. Miranda Lambert – “The House That Built Me” – Revolution: Live By Candlelight EP

While not a huge departure from the actual album cut, a Best Female Country Performance Grammy for the song would indicate that it doesn’t need to be. The track works entirely because of the lyrics, which Lambert delivers perfectly. Perhaps one of the best parts of this performance isn’t the track itself, but is the between song banter during which Lambert reveals that she heard the song on a demo tape for hubby Blake Shelton. Clearly, juicy insider info fans love.

5. Sugarland – “Come On Get Higher” – Love on the Inside (Deluxe Fan Edition)

As a writer for this blog, this is probably politically incorrect of me, but I’m going to say it: Jennifer Nettles has the best voice in country music today. I can’t even pretend to be unbiased about this band and their cover of Matt Nathanson’s “Come on Get Higher” is a standout track on the group’s multi-platinum selling Love on the Inside. With already heady lyrics, Nettles gives the song a sexy vibe and partner Kristian Bush adds perfectly complimentary backing vocals and guitar on this acoustic number.

4. Keith Urban – “You’ll Think of Me” – Livin’ Right Now DVD

It’s impossible to talk about Keith Urban and not talk about his incredible guitar playing. While this song might not show off the height of his abilities, it’s still incredible to watch a killer guitar player at work. The song itself is an uplifting number about pulling through a breakup and, while the entire song is a standout, it’s the final, passionate minute of the performance that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

3. Kelly Clarkson – “Up on the Mountain” – Idol Gives Back

In 2007, Kelly Clarkson was asked by her label to perform her current single on Idol Gives Back, American Idol’s annual charity show. Thinking that the event wasn’t an appropriate place to pimp her current material, she chose instead to cover “Up to the Mountain,” an inspiring song written by country-folk great Patty Griffin. Thank God she did. Join onstage with legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, Clarkson’s rootsy, soulful voice was on full display. Mean judge Simon Cowell later commented about the performance, “When you let her come back on the show it makes everybody else look like an amateur.” Enough said.

2. Dixie Chicks – “Cowboy Take Me Away” – Top of the World Tour Live

Before the Dixie Chicks became punching bags for the right wing, they were three incredible country girls who wrote universal songs and sold a lot of albums and ticket sales doing it. This song, “Cowboy Take Me Away,” is one of their finest. Co-written by group member Martie Maguire, the track is a simple love song about needing only your man by your side. The song is performed beautifully and with emotion that is more ingrained than on the album, a sure treat for any fan of the trio.

1. Zac Brown Band – “Oh My Sweet Carolina” – You Get What You Give (Deluxe Version)

It was hard to pick a true winner for this list because these are all incredible live performances and, let’s be honest, this whole thing is completely subjective anyway. (I’d like to shamelessly plug our comments section below to share your own favorites.) But for me, a great live performance happens when a great song and the right artist come together and deliver something completely unexpected that keeps an audience captivated. Zac Brown Band’s “Oh My Sweet Carolina” delivers on all accounts. The track is a Ryan Adam’s cover but Zac Brown Band’s delivery creates a different journey for the song altogether. While Adams’ version comes off as a bit depressed and hopeless looking back on his life choices, Zac Brown Band transforms the song to something that sounds nostolgic and almost hopeful. It’s a beautiful number and a fantastic inclusion on the You Get What You Give Deluxe Edition.

So, that’s it Keepin’ It Countryers! Did you love our list? Do you think we’re crazy for leaving out one of your favorites? Let us know below!

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