It was another healthy year for country music in Pittsburgh and beyond with big stars and packed houses on hand to cheer them on.

1. Kenny Chesney Poets & Pirates Tour Caravan (Heinz Field, June 14): This town loves Chesney -- and he loves them right back. His blue-collar sensibilities and work ethic fit here perfectly. Fans come to rock and he delivered it straight on. Add A-listers LeAnn Rimes and Keith Urban to the bill and it was the country music event of the year. (Rosa Colucci)

2. Brad Paisley (Post-Gazette Pavilion, Aug. 17): Paisley is one of the best guitarists in country music and he showed his skills throughout, even tossing in a video duet with B.B. King. West Virginians invaded the place for the hometown boy and he even treated them to "Country Roads." (Tony Jovenitti)

3. Dolly Parton (Benedum Center, April 22): From her spot-on band, to the backdrops and video clips to her personal collection of rhinestone-encrusted musical instruments (including a white-baby grand piano) it was a "Dolly-style dream" in every way. The real star of the show was that incomparable voice. (Colucci)

4. Tim McGraw (Post-Gazette Pavilion, July 6): McGraw's show, loaded with No. 1 hits, was special because it was the last show of his tour, and he pulled out all the tricks. He had special guests, pranks, and the crowd was up the entire time. (Jovenitti)

5. Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire (Mellon Arena, Oct. 17): Stylistically, it kept ping-ponging back and forth between pop-rock and country (and Reba should have shied away from some of Kelly's tunes), but there was no questioning the blend of their voices, which harmonized gorgeously. (Scott Mervis)