Fall Music Preview

THE OUTRO EW has heard four of the under-wraps new tunes; true to the album's title, the new stuff has more pom-pom-wielding pep than Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On. "It's up and it's cheerful," Twain says. "We wanted to enjoy writing it, we wanted to feel up about the whole thing, so we just ended up gearing everything towards a very positive feeling."

FAITH HILL CRY - OCT. 15

THE HOOK If comparisons must be made, Hill is probably hewing closer to Minnie Riperton than to Minnie Pearl these days. "Because of the songs I chose to record, [the album] certainly is more evident of the music that was my first influence," she says, "and that's the music out of the church. The material allowed me to go further in that direction--gospel, R&B, soul. A lot of soul. Probably 80 percent more than the last one." Her original fan base at country radio isn't even balking. "So far the response [to the single, also named 'Cry'] has been really incredible--I've actually been a little bit surprised!"

THE BRIDGE Hill relied on many of the same producers and songwriters used on 1999's Breathe. But look for one surprise in the credits: a song co-penned by the decidedly non-Nashvillian Pink.

THE OUTRO With rumors that Shania's album could be bumped into 2003, Hill may have the multiplatinum country-pop-crossover-looker market all to herself. This fall, it'll be her party, and you can Cry if you want to.

also due

NEW STUDIO DISCS FROM TRAVIS TRITT, DELBERT MCCLINTON (9/24); KIM RICHEY, THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND (10/1)

KEITH URBAN (10/8); TAMMY COCHRAN, BUDDY MILLER (10/15); RASCAL FLATTS (10/29); JOHNNY CASH (11/5)