The end of a year — even moreso, the end of a decade — is an excellent time to take stock in our lives, to see where we are now, how we got here and where'd we'd like to be in another 10 years' time.
We asked some of country music's most beloved artists about their favorite albums from the past decade (or, if they preferred, the past year), and we were surprised by some of the out-of-the-box answers. We also asked about those pesky New Year's resolutions. Here's what they said.
Album of the Year: Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. (2009)
New Year's Resolution: My New Year's resolution is to keep choosing love.
Album of the Decade: Lee Ann Womack, There's More Where That Came From (2005)
I have trouble picking my favorite album of the decade but I'd go with Lee Ann Womack's There's More Where That Came From. But it's a toss-up between that one and her new one. Great songs.
New Year's Resolution: It's crazy to think Y2K was so long ago. I stayed in that night. My New Year's resolution is to basically to keep myself more organized — which covers everything from watching what I eat and staying healthy to getting more organized financially as well as with my schedule. I also want to make sure I give myself more time to do things I love like writing, fishing and being with my family, and still keep my nose on the grindstone, workwise.
New Year's Resolution: Usually when we talk about New Year's resolutions we talk about doing less: eating less, drinking less, cursing less, etc. This year, my resolution is going to be for more. More patience, more random acts of kindness, more positivity, more love, more time spent with those I love, more giving. Happy New Year!
Album of the Decade: Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song (2008)
Album of the Decade: Bradley Walker, Highway of Dreams (2006)
New Year's Resolution: (Rory) My New Year's resolution is to spend more time laughing. I mean on-the-floor belly laughing. We let life get too serious sometimes. (Joey) My New Year's resolution is to spend more time reading my Bible.
New Year's Resolution: My New Year's resolution is to be as honest and real as I can be to every fan that hears my music. That has been lost by so many.
Album of the Decade: David Gray, White Ladder (2000)
I think this is a phenomenal album from start to finish ... great songs, and so heartfelt.
Album of the Year (2009)
Hillary: Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D.
Charles: U2, No Line on the Horizon
Dave: Kings of Leon, Only by the Night<br>
Album of the Decade: Rodney Crowell, The Houston Kid, 2001
From the opening bars of "Telephone Road" to the closing "I Know Love Is All I Need," this album rings true. It's intensely personal and soul-piercing without being a downer. If you haven't heard his reworking of "I Walk the Line," you're missing out.
New Year's Resolution: My New Year's resolution is to live fully and love deeply. I meant it when I wrote, "I don't want life watered down, I want to drink it strong."
Album of the Decade: Glasvegas, Glasvegas (2008)
Hmmmm, the best album of the decade? That's tough; there's been a lot of great music recently. I don't know if it's the best of the decade, but Glasvegas's self-titled debut is quite special. And speaking personally, it reconnected me to a lot of what I hold dear about music. It's brave and cinematic with good honest writing. Tom Waits' Mule Variations was my first choice, but alas, it was released in 1999.
New Year's Resolution: My New Year's resolution is to live more in the present rather than letting the future and the past muscle their way into the moment like they often do.
Kristy Osmunson of Bomshel
Album of the Decade: Coldplay, X&Y (2005)
This record changed the way that Nashville cut records. From Sugarland to Blake Shelton, we have all been influenced by the emotional build of Coldplay.
New Year's Resolution 2010:
This year I'll begin ...
To shrink my hind end,
Find all my lost friends,
And start a new trend.
Church I'll attend
To make my amends
Pay all my back rent
With the lotto I'll win.
This time I promise
This time I'm honest
No it's not just a rhyme!
Like in 2009,
When I gave up my wine...
Portions of album content provided by All Music Guide © 2011 All Media Guide, LLC ® 1999-2011 Rhapsody International Inc.
randy houser boots on
Where's John Austin?
I just LOVE it when supposedly "country" artists , site nothing but pop & rock acts as there favorites. Ugh! Go Josh Thompson & Randy Houser!
And Lumster does not know his Country Singers Radney
Foster sung country and really knows his country he nominated Rodney Crowell and he also was a great country singer.