Trisha Yearwood is fast becoming the Tammy Wynette of modern country music.

I first became aware of Ms Yearwood in the dim and distance past (well, the early 90s) when CMT (Country Music Television) was available in Europe. I became interest in the new sound of modern country music and would leave it on in the background for hours.

Through my large amount of watching, I started to become aware of 2 particular songs which stuck in my head. One of them was "In Love With the Boy" (track 9) by Trisha Yearwood.

The song was a gorgeous, uplifting tale of young (and not so young) love that I couldn't help singing along with. Whilst the song hooked me, I was fascinated by the singer. In amongst the tight jeaned, cowboy hatted, female country singers Ms Yearwood seemed like a breath of fresh air.

Her voice was rich and strong (without the obvious country twang) and her look was fresh and real.

I discovered that In Love With the Boy was actually a very old song, and Ms Yearwood had amassed an impressive back catalogue in the meantime.

This back catalogue is neatly summed up in A Collection of Hits.

The album begins with a song which may suprise most - How Do I Live - a song which most UK people will associate with Leanne Rhymes. However, the song was written for the film Con Air, and the producers did not like Leanne's treatment so the version from the film (the official version if you like) is Trisha's.

Trisha brings a much smoother, less dramatic and more intimate vibe to the song than the youngster Leanne.

The album continues with some of Trisha's more recent 90s singles. However, tracks 4 and 5 bring us a flavour of what Trisha does best - gut-wrenching, soaring heartbreak. In Another's Eyes is an emotionally wraught and freakishly clairvoyant duet with her future husband, country legend, Garth Brooks.

Trisha seems to thrive in duets as another of the collection's stand out tracks is Walkaway Joe, which features backing vocals by Don Henley. It is an achingly sad tale of trailer trash love and the pureness of their voices and harmonies wonderfully counter balances this.

Don't be put off by the country moniker, as while some of the tracks feature steel guitars, violins and typical country themes, many of the songs straddle the pop genre comfortably. Most notably, A Perfect Love and Believe Me Baby (I Lied).

For my money, though, the money shots are saved till the end of the CD
with a trilogy of brilliance. On a Bus to St Cloud is a stunning song of loss, written by the hugely talented Gretchen Peters and sung with amazing soul and depth by Trisha.

Trisha gives us a taste of her rock side when she eases her way through Melissa Etheridge's You Can Sleep While I Drive.

And finally, she wanders into a hymnal mood with the almost acapella, spiritual, haunting strength of The Flame.

Each track shows a side of Ms Yearwood's versatile voice. She's smooth and joyous, heartbreaking and angry, soft and rocking and this collection gives us glimpses into the many facets of Ms Yearwood's long career.