There are few moments that are more significant in the lives and careers of country and roots musicians than making their debut appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Often it’s artists in their 20s and 30s who are the ones who get that special opportunity, but at 72, Ray Wylie Hubbard finally got his turn.
There is daylight at the end of the long tunnel that has been the dearth of new music from one of country music’s most revered songwriters. Chris Knight can stand toe to toe with just about any of the songwriting stalwarts of the era, but it’s been seven years since he last hunkered down in the studio and given us something new.
Solo country music artist, #1 hit songwriter for multiple performers, and the singer and frontman for the Amazing Rhythm Aces, Russell Smith has passed away. The 70-year-old died on Friday, July 12th after a prolonged battle with Cancer. Smith was also the songwriter behind big country music hits, as well as a solo performer.
On October 10th, 1969, Merle Haggard and his famous backing band The Strangers rolled into Muskogee, Oklahoma to play the Muskogee Civic Center for a packed house. Just two weeks previous, on September 25th, Haggard had officially released the song “Okie From Muskogee” as a single.
Willie Nelson and the usual suspects, along with some fresh talent will once again reunite for the plight of the American farmer as part of the 2019 installment of Farm Aid, which this year will focus its attention on the land of dairy. The location was chosen specifically due to the crisis affecting many of America’s dairy farmers.
On Tuesday evening (7-9), a Nashville drummer known by music conservationists in the area as “Drummer #036” was leaving a recording session on 16th Avenue in Nashville’s Music Row district when he was struck by a vehicle. Crossing the street at a pedestrian intersection at about 9:30 p.m., he was startled and froze in a […]
Waldon will release her third album called White Noise/White Lines on October 4th, and has just released a new song to go along with the album announcement called “Anyhow.” Produced by Kelsey with Dan Knobler, this album damn well better be on your wish for fall releases or you might as well out yourself as a Florida Georgia Line fan.
This story has been updated. Outlaw country and Southern rock group Confederate Railroad has finally addressed the situation of being removed from playing at the Du Quoin State Fair in Illinois this August due to the band’s name. Originally scheduled to perform with Restless Heart and Shenandoah under the banner “90s Country Reloaded Day” on August […]
The wait is just about over for new music from Miranda Lambert. And no, the lead single from her latest album due out this fall will not be the self-proclaimed “country punk rock” song Miranda debuted earlier this summer at CMA Fest called “Locomotive.” This newest Miranda ditty will be called “It All Comes Out In The Wash.”
We live in an era where a performance on The Tonight Show is not nearly as valuable as the ringing endorsement of an important celebrity on social media, for a musician or anyone else. And with the way radio refuses to support many artists, including some with major label deals, these influencer endorsements can go a long way.
Hank Williams Jr. was scheduled to be one of the headliners at this weekend’s Peckfest at the Kanawha River Campground in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, but has cancelled after the promoters could not fulfill their financial obligations. Subsequently, the talent on a side stage meant to highlight local and up-and-coming bands was also cancelled.
If you’re looking for some fresh selections for your extended 4th of July holiday weekend listening, you’ve come to the right place. The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is meant to keep you in tune with the best songs and albums being released right here, right now, and it has just been reprovisioned .
The delightfully simple songs of Dori Freeman have made her one of the most cherished songbirds of roots music from this generation, and now she’s getting ready to add to that growing legacy with a new album. The Galax, Virginia native has deep ties to the music from growing up at the legendary Old Fiddler’s Convention.
Mile 0 Fest set to transpire in Key West, Florida January 28th through February 1st has just announced their initial 2020 lineup. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit lead the list of headliners along with the Randy Rogers Band, Robert Earl Keen, and Whiskey Myers. 36 other names from Texas Music/Red Dirt/Americana have also been announced.
While Nashville country was awash in strings and suffering under the oppressive thumb of producers such as Chet Atkins and Billy Sherrill, the dim lights, thick smoke, and loud loud music of The Bakersfield Sound was keeping boots shuffling and country twangy. Unheard Merle Haggard tracks and other rarities are included in new box set.
The numbers are in at the midway pole of 2019, and “King” George Strait has the best selling album in all of country music so far this calendar year. ‘Honky Tonk Time Machine’ has moved more copies than any other offering, speaking to the honky tonk resurgence country music has been experiencing across the board.
Scooter Brown of the country and Southern Rock outfit the Scooter Brown Band appreciates your passion, Swifties. But he is not the droid you’re looking for. So please stop sending him wishes that his penis fall off and his kids go blind, because he’s got no business with that dude Taylor Swift is beefing with at the moment.
It’s a Texas invasion at the very top of the country music albums charts this week as an oldtimer, an independent maverick, and an upstart troublemaker all from the Lone Star State have pushed the powers that be in pop country down the ladder, and come in at #1, #2, and #3 respectively in album sales.
Massive country stars making charitable donations are nothing new. In fact it can feel like a daily occurrence as they work to polish up their public personas while also making their accountants smile with tax deductible write-offs. But it’s very rare that a country artist makes a donation without some big check exchanging hands at a public ceremony.
20 years ago this month, Marty Stuart released his conceptualized 20-song magnum opus The Pilgrim as his final album on a contract with MCA Nashville. A commercial flop that rendered no radio singles, it nonetheless went onto become one of the most revered releases in the Marty Stuart collection.
Don’t ask Charlie Daniels a straight question unless you want a straight answer. Recently while celebrating the 40th Anniversary of his signature song “The Devil Went Down To Georgia,” Daniels was asked if he was okay with bands like Florida Georgia Line changing the sound of country, to which he responded emphatically and succinctly, “No.”
Country and Americana producer extraordinaire, and multi CMA and Grammy Award winner Dave Cobb can now add Country Music Hall of Fame board officer to his resume. He was announced with a host of other new officers by the Country Music Hall of Fame this week, along with the reelection of Vince Gill as the board’s President.
If you’re eyes are solely affixed to Texas and Kentucky, and the Outlaw and underground scenes for who may rise up among the ranks of musicians and help save country music, you’re gaze is overshooting one of the most impressive classes of young bluegrass musicians the subgenre has birthed in history. Right at the top is Billy Strings.
Southern Rock revivalists Blackberry Smoke have been touring like mad in 2019, and they’re not stopping anytime soon. Now they’ve added a bunch of new dates for this fall appropriately called ‘Till The Wheels Fall Off Tour, taking them through the South and Midwest, and named after one of the songs on their latest album, ‘Find A Light.’