Keith Urban is sticking to the musical formula that's resulted in more than 12 million albums sold, 19 Top Ten singles and countless die hard fans. He's just doing it now with an even bigger smile on his face. The 41-year-old country superstar's sixth studio album, 'Defying Gravity,' is full of the hook-laden, feel-good music that's garnered him so much success over the past decade. But this project is undoubtedly more euphoric, reflecting more than ever Urban's personal life.

It's that life at home in Nashville where the Aussie crooner has found a greater sense of peace and happiness. But while Urban bears his heart on his musical sleeve, the husband to actress Nicole Kidman and dad to baby daughter Sunday is notoriously soft spoken about matters of the heart. He'd simply rather you come to your own conclusions by listening to his songs.

Urban visited our studios to perform three new tunes from 'Defying Gravity,' plus a beautiful old favorite, at our special request. The star was in a great mood as he dazzled our staff with his infallible voice and mad guitar skills. (Watch his live performance here.) He also sat down for an interview with The Boot to talk about old regrets and new hope.

The words "defying gravity" are in a line from the song, 'If Ever I Could Love,' but how did you decide on that for the title of the album?

The title for the album came at the very end of the record. I was trying to find a title that really fit the spirit of the album. It's a very up-record, about love, optimism, hope and rising above. When those two words came by -- defying gravity -- I thought that was a great metaphor for the power of the human spirit, as well.

Artist: Martina McBride
Video: 'Wild Angels' (live AOL Music Sessions performance)
Shoot Date: October 12, 2005

"I am Nashville." That's Dierks Bentley's explanation for the secret of his success. And what a success story he is.

The Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum selling star is back with his fourth album, 'Feel That Fire,' a red-hot collection of songs that reflect Bentley's commitment to the traditional, fused with mindfulness of the mainstream -- a combination so prevalent in today's Nashville music scene.

The Boot sat down for an exclusive one-on-one with Bentley after his AOL Music Sessions performance. We talked to the Nashvillian about the new project, his "mind-blowing" new role and the old standards that make him a fan favorite.

What makes this album stand out from your first three?

It's a hybrid of all the records I've made. The last record, 'Long Trip Alone,' is more serious. But this one combines that type of music with a lot more fun stuff. And I couldn't be more proud of it.

Artist: Keith Urban
Year: 2004
Live Performance: 'Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland'

By any measure, it's good to be Taylor Swift. The 19-year-old has gone from wannabe singer to country superstar in less than three years. Her meteoric rise is accompanied by the kind of critical huzzahs from such august outlets as the New Yorker and the New York Times that many older artists would give their right arm for.

Her second full-length album, 'Fearless,' entered the charts at No. 1 and has bounced back up to the top toward year's end. During our exclusive interview after her AOL Music Sessions taping, despite being tightly booked for back-to-back interviews, Swift is relaxed, convivial and focused as she answers questions about her life in and out of the studio.

Why did you call the album 'Fearless'?

I really wanted to make sure it was the right choice, so I took that word "fearless" and I applied [it] to each one of the things that my songs deal with: getting your heart broken, having to face the fact that you're not going to be with the person you thought you were going to be with, someone apologizing to you over and over again for something they're never going to stop doing, having faith that maybe someday things will change -- all of those things I thought had a fearless element to them. Also, I think that the word "fearless" doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have any fears. I think that sometimes being fearless is having fears but jumping anyway.

Did Little Big Town record 'A Place to Land' in a place that's haunted? The band told us about one particularly spooky recording session for their latest album, which was recorded at producer Wayne Kirkpatrick's studio just south of Nashville.

"His studio is this old house. We think there's a ghost in the house," Phillip Sweet tells The Boot.

"Something weird happened after we recorded [the song] 'Evangeline.' We came in the next morning, and there was water pouring out of the light fixture," adds Karen Fairchild. "And someone told Phillip's wife that ghosts often use water to speak their sorrow."

With four-part harmonies unlike anything country music has ever heard, Little Big Town has hit the big time with their unique, folk-rock infused sound. They've reached platinum sales status, garnered Grammy, CMA and ACM nods and developed a large and loyal fan base -- all hard-earned accolades for the four friends who've weathered years of storms to get to where they are today.

After their AOL Music Sessions taping, Little Big Town – Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Roads Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbrook – sat down with The Boot to talk about their long road to success. But we, of course, couldn't keep the conversation 100% serious. They also tell us some funny fan stories, a romantic secret and even a ghost story in this candid interview.