Eric Church Earns Top Honor in Rolling Stone & More in Casey’s Taste of Country

Rolling Stone magazine has announced their top album and single choices for 2011. Eric Church and Miranda Lambert, along with her girl group, Pistol Annies were honored. Miranda’s Four the Record landed at #31 while the Pistol Annie’s Hell on Heels, came in at #29. Eric’s Chief ranked #19. As for the singles list, Eric was ranked #30 for “Springsteen” and Miranda’s “Mama’s Broken Heart” came in #26.

.

And since we’re on the topic of Eric Church, he has been ranked the “2011 iTunes Country Breakthrough Artist of the Year.” His album, Chief, is featured in iTunes’ Best of 2011 section. Eric stays humble, despite his success by saying his biggest accomplishment was becoming a dad for the first time.

.

Carrie Underwood is gearing up for the release of her upcoming, fourth album. No date has been set, but she had some interesting things to say about the follow-up to her 2009, Play On, album. Here’s what she had to say:

Carrie’s also been confirmed to perform during the CMA Music Festival, in 2012, which was one of the very first appearances she ever made after winning “American Idol” in 2005.  Carrie did not perform last year, but was apart of the 2010 performances.