Taylor Swift Listed on "Billboard" Power 100 List

Big Machine RecordsTaylor Swift is listed as one of the most powerful people in the music industry in a new list from Billboard. ; She comes in at #78 on Billboard's Power 100 among names such as U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and other, behind-the-scenes power players. ; Taylor made the list because she owns her own management company and has leveraged her name, or brand name rather, to broker deals with Target, CoverGirl, Sony, Elizabeth Arden, Walmart, American Greetings and more. ; Of course, Taylor's songwriting and touring business form the basis of her empire.

Taylor actually outranked Lady Gaga and X-Factor judge and music executive Simon Cowell on Billboard's list.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Lee Brice Reacts to His ACM Song of the Year Nomination for Writing "Crazy Girl"

CurbLee Brice is up for ACM Song of the Year for co-writing the Eli Young Band's #1 hit, "Crazy Girl." He says, "Liz Rose and I were just fortunate enough to be in the same room that magical day and wrote a magical song. Within a few hours, the song came together."

Lee also gives a big shout-out to the Eli Young Band, who is up for a few other ACMs, including Vocal Group of the Year. "They've worked so hard for so long, and they deserve all the success that's coming to them," Lee says.

Lee is now climbing the charts with the song "A Woman Like You," which will be included on his upcoming studio album.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Trace Adkins Announces First Headlining Show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium

Show Dog/UniversalTrace Adkins has added a very special concert date to his intimate Songs & Stories tour -- Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. It's the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, and Trace has performed there several times when the Opry returns to the Ryman for the winter season. His May 18 date at the Ryman marks his first time performing a full band show there, and Trace describes it as a "homecoming."

Trace designed this tour to celebrate the storytelling tradition in country music. He says, "The Ryman Auditorium also plays a very important role in the tradition of this genre, so it’s fitting that we would play this stage on this particular tour.”

Tickets for the show go on sale to the public February 3. Go to Ryman.com for further details.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Rascal Flatts' Joe Don Rooney Explains the Meaning of New Album Title, "Changed"

Big Machine RecordsRascal Flatts' new album, Changed, will be out April 3. ; The title track talks about a man who's life has been changed by religion, but band member Joe Don Rooney tells the Press of Atlantic City, "The title does embody a lot more than the song." ; He says, "We've had quite a bit of change over the past couple of years. ; We changed management and labels. ; In our personal lives, we all have kids now. ; This successful journey we've been on has changed our lives in a lot of ways."

The first single from Changed, "Banjo," is now climbing the charts.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Country Star Trivia

Comstock/ThinkstockWhich Sara Evans video features a Wizard of Oz storyline? ANSWER: "Born to Fly."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio