We’re shining the spotlight on the best albums to come from Nashville during the past year representing the many branches of the country tree. (And see our list of the Miranda Lambert Scores Record Fifth Career-Opening No. 1 on Top Country Albums Chart
1. Miranda Lambert – Platinum
Lambert continues to be one of the most versatile performers on the market today. Whether it be odes to the past like “Automatic” or “Another Sunday In The South,” edgier performances like “Gravity’s A Bitch” or the title track, she’s on a roll. Throw in a Tom T. Hall composition (“All That’s Left”) and the (hopefully) soon-to-be hit “Priscilla,” and there is a reason for Lambert’s winning season — which is far from over.
Finally, an honorable mention: In the midst of a painful battle with pancreatic cancer, Ray Price went into the recording studio with longtime ally Fred Foster to record an album that became his swan song. But, the 87-year old legend didn’t end his career on a whimper. Instead, Beauty Is… featured performances that showcased the timeless quality of his voice to the end — especially in songs like the romantic “Beauty Lies in The Eyes of the Beholder” (featuring Vince Gill) and “No More Songs To Sing.” A fitting last musical will and testament for us all.
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