Mel Tillis, beloved for #1 country hits such as “Southern Rains,” “Good Woman Blues,” “Heart Healer,” and more died Sunday morning (11-19) at the Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala, Florida. Tillis had been battling intestinal issues since early 2016 which resulted in his hospitalization, and he never fully recovered.
Taylor Swift is coming back to country, or at least to country radio. Officially announced on Thursday (11-16), her song “New Years Day,” which is the final track from her sixth studio album Reputation, is being serviced to country radio by her label Big Machine, hoping to rekindle Swift’s history and success with the format.
So Murray shows up to the concert, heads to the box office, buys every ticket remaining for the show, and hands them out to everyone who is standing in line. A long-standing staunch supporter of music, Bill Murray has been caught red handed going nuts at Chris Stapleton concerts and other live events.
Canadian country artist Colter Wall is once again receiving some worthy exposure via a critically-acclaimed film the promises to be an Oscar contender. ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is a dark comedy. Colter Wall’s “Sleeping on the Blacktop” plays prominently at the beginning of the film’s racy and explosive trailer.
The Turnpike Troubadours will finally get their own appearance on Austin City Limits. The revered, longest-running music television program taped live at Austin’s Moody Theater has chosen the Oklahoma-based band for the final episode of ACL’s 43rd Season.
Well well, it’s starting to get a little chippy out there after reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year Garth Brooks admitted mere moments after his CMA Awards performance Wednesday night (11-8) that he’d lip synced his song “Ask Me How I Know.”
What an embarrassing moment for the CMAs, country music, and Garth, since he was so very clearly lip syncing his performance Wednesday night (11-8). Social media exploded, especially after a moment where Garth was clearly facing away from the mic, but the lyrics kept rolling.
If you’re looking for further evidence that the tide may be turning more in the direction of a deeper appreciation of traditional country, we just received quite a significant sign. Yes, the sympathy vote most certainly factored into this, but the achievement and its symbolic and subsnative importance shouldn’t be understated.
The Ameripolitan Awards have just announced the nominees for their 2018 distinctions, and once again they have clearly honored their founding commitment to shining a light on artists with a strong roots influence that otherwise get overlooked by the rest of the industry.
If you can’t get enough of Cody Jinks and you’re hankering for a tide over until his next studio record, consider getting yourself a copy of a re-issue of what many consider Cody’s breakout record, 2010’s Less Wise. Recorded at Blue Smoke Studios in Cody’s home of Ft. Worth, TX on what Cody calls a “nearly zero budget”….
Earlier this week when it was announced that a new Merle Haggard museum and restaurant would be opening up in Nashville next summer, some Merle Haggard fans wondered why Nashville was chosen, and not a location in Northern California. But fans got their wish, and much sooner than they probably anticipated.
Webster Public Relations—one of country music’s largest publicity firms that represents artists as far ranging as Dolly Parton to Justin Moore to Kid Rock—has ceased operations after its president and CEO Kirt Webster was accused of sexual assault by a former artist represented by the firm, followed by other sexual assault claims.
What is going on with Sturgill Simpson these days? That answer just became a lot harder to come by after the Grammy-winning singer and performer wiped his social media feeds somewhere around Tuesday, October 24th. Not only is all his Twitter and Instagram content completely gone, so are the accounts themselves.
Kirt Webster, who is the President and CEO of the prolific Webster Public Relations firm based in Nashville, has been accused of sexual assault and molestation by a former artist. In great detail, Austin Rick, who performed under the name Austin Cody in the late oughts.
The Turnpike Troubadours have just crashed the mainstream party at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart with the release of their latest record, ‘A Long Way From Your Heart.’ Signed to Thirty Tigers, and with little help from radio beyond regional play, they continue to show what quality music and grassroots efforts can result in.
Lee Ann Womack just released her latest record The Lonely, The Lonesome, & the Gone, and despite once being signed to a major label and enjoying her fair share of radio play and industry attention, she’s now moved on from that world, and is willing to speak her mind about what has happened to country music.
Merle Haggard fans will finally have a place they can go to see some of his most cherished mementos, while a new generation of country music fans can discover the legacy of one of the most influential and iconic performers in country music and American history.
2017 continues to make a great case for itself as a bumper crop year for songs and albums, and recent additions to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 playlist reflect that. Just added to the stable of the best country songs are Alan Jackson’s surprise new single “The Older I Get” from a yet named new album, and more….
Swedish sister singing duo First Aid Kit has announced their latest album “Ruins.” “Finally,” the duo said on Friday (10-27) as part of the announcement. “Words can’t possibly describe how thrilled we are to announce our upcoming record. We poured our hearts and souls into this. Soon it’ll be yours.”
In recent years, concerts at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville have become an important bellwether for just how well a band or artist is doing in the grander scheme. Trying to fill the 125-year-old landmark with its 2,362-seat capacity is one of the biggest tests a country music artist can take.
On Sunday, October 22nd, 2017, Alan Jackson will officially take his rightful place in the Country Music Hall of Fame right beside all the other greats of country music. And ahead of it, Jackson has released the first taste from a new, upcoming album in the form of a song called “The Older I Get.”
“The results are absolutely exquisite,” Marty Stuart says. “I invite the viewer to come along with me and the Superlatives to Pine Ridge. By way of Reid Long’s camera, we’ll take you deep inside of a world filled with wonderful people, that most people don’t even know exist.”
The Ameripolitan Awards will be marking their 5th year by moving from Austin to Memphis where so much of the music celebrated by the emerging genre originally emanated from. And now one of the individuals seminal to revitalizing the Memphis sound starting in the late 70’s has been announced as one of the main performers for the event.
Add another landmark accolade to the growing list of acknowledgements for Americana stalwart Jason Isbell. After just finishing up an incredible 6-night sold out run at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last week, it was announced Monday (10-16) morning that Jason Isbell will be the next Artist-In-Residence at the Country Music Hall of Fame.