Today’s country music isn’t the same. For better or worse, it has changed drastically over the years.

The line between a lot of country and pop has become very thin and some country stars such as Shania Twain and Faith Hill even have videos included in rotations on VH1 and MTV.

At first glance, Allison Moorer might pass for another country popster. But after first listening to Moorer, images of Tammy Wynette might prevail.

With her deep southern twang and music that is firmly rooted in the more traditional country fashion, you probably won’t find Moorer on the “Now 8” compilation.

Even with the current confusion in the genre of country, Moorer isn’t going to be the one who tries to separate “real” country from “fake” country.

“Nobody can define what country music is,” Moorer says. “Is country music Hank Williams, Sr., or is it Patsy Cline or is it Waylon and Willy? There are so many different kinds of country music, just like pop and rock. Everyone has their own definition.”

One thing is for certain though. Allison Moorer is a rising star no matter what the category.

Her intimate song writing and amazing voice won “A Soft Place to Fall” from her debut album “Alabama Song,” an Oscar nomination after being used in the film “The Horse Whisperer.”

Her second release, last year’s “The Hardest Part,” found the soulful singer receiving immense critical acclaim from both non-country and country publications. The Nashville Scene went as far as to call the album “the best released by a major Music Row label this year.”

While the praise for her music flatters Moorer, she tries not to pay too much attention to the reviews; instead she focuses on making music that she likes.

“I think you have to give just as much credence to a bad review as a good one, and at the end of the day it’s just one person’s opinion.”

But the one other opinion that does matter to her is that of Butch Primm, her husband. Primm co-writes the songs with Moorer and was also co-producer of “The Hardest Part,” along with Kenny Greenburg.

“We have a great working relationship, it’s very comfortable and we trust each other wholeheartedly,” comments Moorer on working with her husband.

Primm was the one who convinced Moorer to include “Cold, Cold Earth,” the hidden song about the murder-suicide of Moorer’s parents, on “The Hardest Part.”

“He still says it’s the best song he’s ever heard, but I don’t believe that,” Moorer says.

Without Primm, Moorer doesn’t believe that she ever could have worked up the courage to include the hauntingly tragic song that very clearly tells the heartbreaking tale.

The track is not listed on the album simply so it does not divert attention from the rest of the record.

“We didn’t want to take anyone’s ability to relate to this record on their own personal record,” Moorer says. “We didn’t want this to be the record about what happened with Allison’s parents.”

“The Hardest Part” is a soundtrack of sorts to the story of Allison’s parents’ life. It is a theme of love, heartbreak and desperation.

“I felt like, because the record was so inspired by their story and I had written that song, it should be on there,” says Moorer.

But “The Hardest Part” was released in 2000 and now Moorer has her sights set on the future. She is working on a new album and touring at the same time.

“Besides doing these shows I have coming up I’m just trying to finish up the new album and that is really taking up all of my time right now,” says Moorer. “I try not to make too many plans.”