Don't look for any apologies on Damn Right Rebel Proud, the upcoming sixth album from Hank Williams III. Filled with a self-described "Jekyll and Hyde" mix of disturbingly dark stuff and "good ol' country,"

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, composed of W.R. 'Bud' Thornton (drums, vocals/background vocals), J.D. Andrew (electric/acoustic guitars, bass, background vocals) and Mike Butler (electric guitar, lap steel, dobro),

Country star Dwight Yoakam is to pay tribute to his late hero Buck Owens on a new album of covers. Dwight Sings Buck features all of Owens' top five country hits, including Act Naturally and I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me).

Sacramento stalwarts CAKE are finally taking things into their own hands. Since breaking on to the music scene in the early nineties, CAKE has not only survived, but thrived in a tumultuous industry where major labels have continued to merge themselves out of existence, indies are regaining power, and the average band's life span is a meager two albums.

2006 was a great year in the entertainment world; however, let us not forget those who entertained us for generations but have moved on. We look back on those entertainers and cultural icons who left us in 2006 to pay our respects... Jazz, R&B and pop singer Lou Rawls, lost a two year fight with brain and lung cancer (1/6). He was 72. Prolific film star of the 50s, 60s and 70s and star of such hits as Alfie and The Poseidon Adventure, Shelley Winters at age 85 (1/14). 60s soul star Wilson Pickett, who brought us such hits as Mustang Sally and In The Midnight Hour age 64; of a heart attack (1/19); and actor Anthony Franciosa, 77 (1/19). Country singer Janette Carter, of cuuntry music's founding family, the Carters, 82 (1/22); and actor Chris Penn, 40, brother of actor Sean Penn who starred in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1/24). And Coretta Scott King (76), civil rights activist and wife of Martin Luther King, Jr (1/30).