On Monday (8-24), those horny for new Chris Stapleton music got their worlds rocked when the Kentucky singer and songwriter wiped his social media feeds clean and posted a teaser video complete with fire, loud guitar riffs, foreboding backup choruses, horses running free, and insects eating each other.
With his aching, painful delivery of poetically elegant songs ripped straight out of his own biography and smeared with tears and the residues of addiction, Justin Townes Earle embodied everything you wanted from the tragic troubadour holding on just enough to perform for you.
The season finale for the Paramount Network’s signature summer series Yellowstone ended in a cliffhanger Sunday night (8-23), and it also ended another successful run for the series in both the ratings department, and in featuring all manner of cool country and roots artists and songs throughout the season.
According to social media posts on Justin Townes Earle’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts, the singer, songwriter, second generation performer, and Nashville native has passed away the age of 38. The news was released on Sunday evening, August 23rd, though no cause of death has been given at this time.
Alan Jackson has been one of the few holdouts when it comes to country music arena acts holding onto hope they would be able to play some of the concerts scheduled for 2020, including multiple dates that were rescheduled from the spring when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. But he’s finally thrown in the towel.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats. New songs have just been added.
Another quality lineup will grace the Grand Ole Opry stage Saturday night, August 22nd as mainstream traditionalist Jon Pardi, upstart singing trio Runaway June, and Grand Ole Opry member Pam Tillis will help keep the circle unbroken by performing and streaming live from the Opry House in Nashville.
Let’s be honest. Do we really need yet even more new versions of old country songs? But the wildcard here, and what makes this record worth turning your attention to is that you have the once-in-a-lifetime voice of the great Josh Turner gracing these classic songs.
Despite video evidence to the contrary, and no evidence whatsoever in the affirmative, multiple media outlets continue to report that Dolly Parton pledged her support to the Black Lives Matter movement—meaning the political movement—as opposed to saying in a simple colloquial exchange that the lives of black individuals matter.
Texas country artist turned rising major label star Parker McCollum will not be playing a couple of upcoming shows where he was planning his return to performing. Parker is cancelling the performances after testing positive for COVID-19. The 28-year-old let fans know on Thursday.
We shouldn’t be surprised that Jon Pardi is one of the few new mainstream stars who can rattle off a handful of country classics at a moments notice. He’s about as traditional as mainstream country gets. Hell most of today’s radio stars have little to no idea who Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam, or the late great Joe Diffie even are.
The owner of one of the last remaining true honky tonks on Lower Broadway in Nashville’s downtown district has purchased one of the most iconic and historical businesses that happens to sit right across the street. JesseLee Jones—owner of Robert’s Western World—has purchased the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.
Founding drummer of the Athens, Georgia-based Southern Rock and jam band experience Widespread Panic has passed away. Todd Nance died at the age of 57 in Athens it was announced on Wednesday (8-19) due to sudden and unexpected severe complications of a chronic illness.
Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. By the power vested in me by country music, I am officially declaring the 28th of August, in the Year of Our Ford 2020 as an officially-sanctioned country music holiday, with all the rights and privileges thereof afforded to all self-professed country fans.
It appears like Kane Brown is as apt to get lost in the scary landscape of country music as he is his own 30 acres. Sure, navigating through some of country’s subgenres can be a little confounding for the musical civilian. But this is a guy that’s made millions off of being a supposed “country” star.
Articulating the kind of down home and wholesome side of country music that just like so many of the other more pleasing and enjoyable facets of the genre have been rendered patently absent in today’s popular realm, Mo Pitney has become a fan favorite over his burgeoning career with quality songs and a laid back demeanor.
This week, Maddie & Tae’s “Die From A Broken Heart” finally made it to #1 on the country radio charts. It is a major accomplishment, and a long-fought battle for a song that was originally revealed to fans all the way back in the fall of 2018, and not released as a proper single to radio until May 6th, 2019.
After 15 seasons and 123 episodes of voicing an ornery redneck squid as part of the Adult Swim animated Series Squidbillies on Cartoon Network, voice actor, guitar player, and comedic country musician Stuart D. Baker—also known as Unknown Hinson—is out.
Every few years or so, an album in country music will emerge whose influence is so rich, its success so undeniable, and its relevancy and appeal so universal, it can’t be held back. ‘Purgatory’ by Tyler Childers released now three years ago is one of those records.
A classic long-wheelbase 1970 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow originally owned by and customized for Johnny Cash has been completely morphed with a 2016 Tesla Model S to make a one-of-a-kind electric vehicle. The piece of country music history was originally purchased by ABC Studios, and given to Johnny Cash.
Dolly Parton did not come out for defunding the police. Dolly Parton did not come out for pushing Marxist ideals. Dolly Parton did not come out for the dissolving of the nuclear family, or any other controversial topic that has been tied to the Black Lives Matter movement, legitimately, tangentially, or unfairly.
COVID-19 has country and Americana artists doing all kinds of creative things to stay busy and afloat. But there’s only a few artists that can take an acoustic guitar and a song and steal your undivided attention, and Hayes Carll is one of them.
Arlo McKinley empties the kitchen of every single top shelf heartache and sad story he has in the tank on what is officially his first solo album, ‘Die Midwestern,’ and turns in a stunner of a record for Oh Boy, if to no other end than to not let the blessing of the great John Prine down.
Evan Felker—the frontman of the Turnpike Troubadours—is sober, recovered, and thinking about music again. These are the revelations that came from an excerpt of the book “Red Dirt: Roots Music, Born in Oklahoma, Raised in Texas, at Home Anywhere” by Josh Crutchmer scheduled for release.
