Toronto, Ontario singer/songwriter MADDY RODRIGUEZ will release her debut abum Don't Be A Stranger on March 6th. All the songs on the project are written or co-written by Maddy. "Music is such an important part of people's lives," she explains. "It can be a great comfort, and that's one of the best things you can give someone, comfort." The album's lead single Don't Play With My Heart is currently getting spins on Canadian Country radio stations. Maddy's music is influenced by a variety of artists including Billy Joel, James Taylor and Taylor Swift. She's no stranger to performing on stage and has had the opportunity to open up for Country duo One More Girl at the Sanderson Centre in Brantford, Ontario. Tune in as Maddy talks about the making of her debut CD and what she hopes to accomplish in 2012.

Described as having “a voice stolen from angels“, Port Dover, Ontario's TIA McGRAFF first stepped into the international spotlight on a CBC TV special with Johnny Cash and June Carter. Johnny was so impressed with Tia, he invited her to see June backstage to introduce the two. Fast forward to 5 CD releases, 4 CMT videos, 15 years of main stage festivals and headline concert performances, and you have a singer/songwriter who has crafted a musical career that is respected and celebrated by thousands of fans and industry notables today. Two years ago, she recorded the album Diversity on her and her husband's own label Bandana Records and received Country Recording of the Year at the Hamilton Music Awards, and broke the top 70 on the US based Americana Music Association charts. This year, Tia will release a new CD, tour extensively, and share that “voice stolen from angels” with beloved fans around the world.

After hundreds of festival circuit gigs promoting two independent albums throughout his teens, and a two year stint studying jazz as a guitar/voice major at Toronto’s Humber College, Canadian singer/songwriter RYAN LAIRD left his rural Ontario home for Nashville. “I made friends quickly, and ended up living in people’s basements and pitching tents in backyards for the first year or so I was in Nashville,” says Ryan. In a bold move, he cashed in his life savings to put up a huge billboard on Music Row in Nashville with a picture of himself holding a note to Country sensation Taylor Swift that read “Hey Taylor – I LOVE your music. Will you produce my album?” This bold move attracted major media attention across North America, with Swift herself taking notice and Country radio personality Blair Garner labeling Ryan “The Voice of Country Future”. Ryan found success at Country radio with his recent top 10 single I'm Your Man. He just wrapped up a tour with George Canyon and is set to begin an Ontario tour opening shows for Country superstar Alan Jackson.

EMERSON DRIVE has been a part of the Country music scene since they signed their first record deal with DreamWorks Records Nashville in 2001. Their hit songs and videos have earned them fans in Canada, the U.S. and beyond. Over the years, the top of the charts have featured their songs I Should Be Sleeping, Fall Into Me, Moments, I Love This Road & their latest single Let Your Love Speak (to name just a few). The Alberta band has been honored with awards and/or nominations from the Academy of Country Music, the CMA, the CCMA, CMT, the Grammys and the Junos. Their current album called Decade Of Drive: The Hits celebrates Emerson Drive's chart-topping 10 years of success in Country music.

Raised on a small farm in rural Saskatchewan during tough economic times of the 1980s, J.J. VOSS grew up identifying closely with the underdog, outlaw music movement. His heroes include Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle. In 2008, J.J. released his debut record entitled Hillbilly Storybook. He has been hard at it playing shows throughout Canada and the United States. Highlight performances include warming up for Johnny Reid as well as The Road Hammers - and 5 shows in Nashville including a showcase spot opening for Raul Malo from The Mavericks. Early 2012 finds J.J. finishing up work on his next album in Nashville with Music City icon Harry Stinson producing. The album - cleverly titled Show 'Em Who's Voss - will be released on April 2nd and features the lead single It’s A Pride Thing.

Canadian singer/songwriter JIM CUDDY joins me on this episode of In The Country to talk about his current album Skyscraper Soul. The lead single from the project is called Everyone Watched The Wedding. Jim will tell us the story behind the song & others. He'll also talk about performing at Massey Hall in Toronto, singing duets, what it feels like to know Blue Rodeo will be inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame this year - and much more. On this special episode, you'll also hear several songs from Jim Cuddy's current album.

Country artist AARON PRITCHETT returns to In The Country for his second visit. You know his smash hits (and videos) Hold My Beer, Let's Get Rowdy, Big Wheel, New Frontier, Hell Bent For Buffalo - to name just a few. And along with his uptempo energetic songs, Aaron has proven over his career that he can deliver heartfelt ballads equally as well. You can hear that quality on his brand new radio single I Wanna Be In It With You. That song is the latest release from his current album In The Driver's Seat. In a recent blog at his website, Aaron wrote that he's calling 2012 "The Year Of Change". Part of that change involves taking acting classes for some unknown future possibilities. Tune in as Aaron shares all his latest news, funny stories and a couple of his songs including the new radio single.

Glace Bay, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Country artist Drake Jensen follows up the radio release of his debut single Wash Me Away with the title track to his current album entitled On My Way To Finding You. Nashville producer Kim Copeland describes Drake’s vocals as “warm, rich and unique” and these qualities are what prompted her to work with him on this project. It's very fitting that he finds himself walking down a Country road since - at the age of 4 - he remembers feeling a connection to the music of John Denver - specifically his classic song Country Road.

Country singer/songwriter STEVE RIVERS, like many other Canadian artists before him, made the move to Nashville where he writes with some of Country music's biggest hitmakers, performs for US audiences and records. His independent debut album Beginnings Of A Work In Progress (2008) has earned him success not only as a talented singer & guitarist, but also as an aspiring songwriter and producer. Steve has co-written & worked with many of Nashville's top songwriters including Frank Myers (I Swear, Tomorrow, My Front Porch Looking In), Danny Wells (Check Yes Or No, These Days), Stan Webb (We're From the Country, One of These Days But Not Tonight, Drawn To the Fire) & Tim Taylor (Ten Million Tear Drops, My Way, One Smokey Rose). He still returns home to Ontario to perform. Steve is currently finishing his new album in Nashville for release in March 2012. His first single from the album - a song called Uncomplicated - will hit radio stations in this month.

Country artist JASON BLAINE – born and raised in Pembroke, Ontario and now living in Nashville – released his full-length debut album in 2005 which included his high-charting radio singles Heartache Like Mine, While We Were Waiting & What I Can’t Forget. Along the way, he’s also had success with videos on CMT, sent more songs to the top of the charts and recorded the powerful and popular duet Don’t Leave The Leavin’ with Victoria Banks. Reflecting on his music career, Jason says: "I feel like I've been given some really great gifts musically, like this is really what I'm meant to be doing. It’s very satisfying to look back at the work that I’ve done knowing that I’ve been creating it, building it and to see the way that songs touch people. There isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for being able to live my dream.” His new album LIFE SO FAR features the current hit single They Don’t Make Em Like That Anymore – a moving tribute to his grandfather who also appears in the video. Tune in to hear Jason talk about his start in music, his past hits, his new album & much more.