For some "real" country singers listen to Tift Merritt, Elizabeth Cook, Allison Moorer, Kelly Willis, Neko Case, and Caitlin Cary. You may not find them on the radio but they are making some pretty decent country music.   Moorer's "Soft Place to Fall", which was co-written, by the way, was in the movie "Horse Whisper" and is one my favorite songs at the moment. (This sort of brings up another subject, and is only my opinion, but for my money the best recorded music of the day is found in films not on the radio). Merritt's "Virginia" video has been played on CMT and the album it comes from has a number of winners, including "Sunday", "When I Cross Over", "I Know Him Too", and more. Cook's "Dolly" and "Stupid Things" are well worth a listen. Case, a punk rock drummer, in her other life, has a knockout voice and has already been banned from the Opry for life according to one article I read. I could go on, but won't other than to say that any one who yearns for the country music of yesteryear should find these belles and give them a chance.