If there was ever any doubt about Shania Twain's career prospects after the Canadian songbird took time off to start a family, the success of her album "Up!" and current tour have put those concerns to rest.

Twain finishes 2003 as the top country artist of the year and the top female country artist. She also comes in at No. 3 on the year-end Billboard 200 chart.

"Up!" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in the Dec. 7, 2002, issue and remained there for six weeks. The project places Twain at No. 1 on the list of Top Country Albums titles for 2003.

Twain is the only female solo artist to place among the top 10 country acts. She and Faith Hill are the only two solo female artists on the Top Country Albums list.

Toby Keith is the top male country artist this year, moving up from second place last year when he trailed Alan Jackson. Keith had a banner year. He scored six hit singles, including his popular duet with Willie Nelson, "Beer for My Horses," which comes in at No. 2 on Top Country Singles for the year.

"Beer for My Horses" spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. Keith has had three previous hits ("How Do You Like Me Now!?," "I Wanna Talk About Me" and "My List") each spend five weeks at the summit. But with six weeks at the top, "Beer for My Horses" becomes his most successful single yet.

Although he was shut out at the Country Music Assn. Awards in November, earlier in the year the Academy of Country Music named Keith entertainer of the year. He missed the opportunity to pick up his trophy because his representatives said he was busy writing a song with Nelson.

Such dedication to songwriting paid off: Keith also reigns as this year's top country songwriter, moving up from his No. 4 position in last year's rankings.

Despite the controversy that surrounded the Dixie Chicks and the political views of vocalist Natalie Maines, the trio remained at the top of the Billboard Top Country Duo/Group recap.

The Chicks' "Home" album comes in at No. 2 on this year's list of top country albums, with sales buoyed by the group's successful Top of the World tour.

Lonestar finishes the year with the top song on Hot Country Singles & Tracks. "My Front Porch Looking In" spent one week at the summit of that chart and received enough airplay at country radio to linger on the list for 32 weeks. Lonestar is the No. 3 Top Country Duo/Group, behind the Dixie Chicks and Rascal Flatts.

Australian import Keith Urban takes the No. 1 slot as the top artist on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. His hit "Somebody Like You" spent six weeks as the No. 1 country single in late 2002. This year, he peaked at No. 3 with the ballad "Raining on Sunday," then topped the chart again with the rollicking "Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me?" Urban's second solo disc on Capitol, "Golden Road," has been certified platinum.

Country fan Kid Rock scored a hit this year with "Picture," a duet he recorded with Allison Moorer and Sheryl Crow. The song and video with Crow received much airplay. But because no commercial single was issued with Crow, Kid Rock and Moorer's version tops the Hot Country Singles Sales chart. Kid Rock is also country's top singles sales artist.

Several new male acts broke through in the country format this year. The top five new country artists are Dierks Bentley, Buddy Jewell, Jimmy Wayne, Craig Morgan and Jeff Bates. Jennifer Hanson, at No. 9, is the only new female act in the top 10.

For the third consecutive year, Arista Nashville is the leading country imprint. Parent company RCA Label Group claims the top position on the country labels list. Buoyed by the continuing success of flagship acts Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn, Arista holds the No. 1 label spot on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks listing.

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