Three songs into his set at the MCA Records

luncheon Thursday (March 1) at the Country Radio

Seminar in Nashville, Gary Allan made it clear just

how intimidating singing for an all-industry crowd

can be.

"We do 250 shows a year, and I'm not normally

nervous, but I'm just trembling right now," said the

usually self-confident Allan.

The main purpose of the annual luncheon is, after

all, to give artists a higher profile with country radio

programmers and DJs and to solicit their support

in the form of airplay. Unlike many CRS crowds,

the audience for MCA's soiree paid close attention

as Allan ran through hits like "Smoke Rings in the Dark" and "It Would Be You"

before debuting a cut from his upcoming fourth album. "Lovin' You Made a Man of

Me" is a raucous, guitar-driven song suited to Allan's energy and attitude.

Headliner Trisha Yearwood has a few more CRS experiences under her belt than

Allan. Taking the stage dressed to kill in a knee-length leather jacket, the

award-winning singer looked calm and collected, opening with a rocked-up,

bass-heavy version of "Wrong Side of Memphis." In between tunes, she reflected

on her first seminar appearance 10 years ago just before her debut single, "She's

In Love With the Boy," was released.

"Back then it was 'Hi, I'm Trisha Yearwood, I'm a new artist. You have no idea

what I'm about, but I'd like to have my picture made with you,'" Yearwood

cracked from the stage. "Now, 10 years later, it's not that different. 'Hi, I'm Trisha

Yearwood. I have a new album coming out, and I'd like to have my picture made

with you.'"

Yearwood took the opportunity to preview new

material from an upcoming, untitled album, the

follow-up to the critically acclaimed Real Live

Woman. The lead single, "I Would've Loved You

Anyway," has been shipped to country radio for

adds on March 9. Written by Troy Verges and

Mary Danna, the tune is a soulful, mid-tempo

discourse on loving someone despite the pitfalls.

Yearwood sang it with conviction, her voice

sounding top-notch despite the early hour.

"I came off the road in October, and I went into the

studio in December just to cut some stuff for fun,"

she said. "We're already finished. It'll be out June 5."

Don Henley, Rosanne Cash, singer-songwriter Buddy Miller and Andrew Gold

make appearances on the album, which includes songs by Nashville tunesmiths

Harlan Howard, Matraca Berg and "some new writers."

The one glitch in Yearwood's set came on a second new song, "Love Alone." A

programmed drum track used with the live band went awry during the song,

sending a most unpleasant shriek into the performance hall.

"Well, that drum track works really well, huh?" she joked after finishing the song.

"That won't be on the album, don't worry."

Yearwood wasn't the only one cracking wise from the stage. Comedian T. Bubba

Bechtol filled the time between Allan's and Yearwood's sets, riffing on dieting,

working out and the recent Grammy Awards. Remarking that Faith Hill was

named "best dressed" after the broadcast, Bechtol said she should have been

named "most dressed" compared to R&B singer Toni Braxton's skimpy dress.

"That dress looked like a box of Kleenex with a fan belt tied around it," he

quipped. "I wasn't sure if she was trying to get into the dress or out of it."

A long-form video presentation shown during the meal before the show drove

home MCA's marketing message. Anchors from ESPN's Sportscenter hosted a

fake newscast that extolled the dominance of MCA and its multi-platinum artists,

including George Strait, Vince Gill and Yearwood.