Rhiannon Giddens has “complicated feelings” about her involvement in the project that saw Beyoncé use Rhiannon’s banjo and viola in the album’s big single “Texas Hold ‘Em.”
Except in rare cases, labels aren’t looking to take a chance on a promising artist who doesn’t already have some social media uplift occurring. They want proof of concept.
By labeling a performer “Queer Country,” you’re not breaking down barriers, you’re erecting them with country music’s more conventional and conservative fans.
Up until the last few years, we had to witness a sharp and steady decline in country music across the board. Not any more. We have two dudes out there helping to completely rewrite the script.
Three artists from three separate countries have released versions of “The Bullfighter” over the last two months. Who will be next? We will have to see.
With no warning, and with little follow up information, rockabilly legend, big band leader, and bona fide guitar god Brian Setzer let it be known that he is no longer able to play the instrument that made him famous.
Gordy’s HWY 30 Music Festival in Filer, Idaho is moving forward in 2025, despite thousands of ticket holders, some music artists, and numerous investors, vendors, and advertisers from the festival’s Texas shows still seeking refunds.
No, neither George Strait nor Reba McEntire spoke out about Beyoncé’s Grammy win for Best Country Album, or Best Country Duo/Group performance. There’s a good chance George Strait didn’t even know it occurred.
Please forgive me if this comes across as a little hyperbolic. But it certainly seems alarming that almost every expert analyzing the impending effects of AI immersion conclusively proclaims that it’s not “if” but “when.”
In the aftermath of Beyoncé winning the Grammy for Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, it begs for a deeper look into the album, along with the marketing, conversation, and media coverage surrounding it
Cowboy Carter’s Best Country Album win wasn’t earned, it was compelled. Unequivocally, Beyoncé told us herself about her 2024 album Cowboy Carter, “This ain’t a country album.” But apparently, Grammy voters disagree.
It’s that time of year again to consider who might be considered as the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A secret committee commissioned by the CMA (Country Music Association) is going over their final ballots.
On Thursday, January 23rd in Key West, Florida, Cross Canadian Ragweed officially reunited on stage and played their first songs for people in 15 years. The performance was completely unannounced.
The fact that the country music industry supported Taylor Swift so demonstrably and she was able to find top-tier success proves it’s possible for a woman to find her way in the industry, and in recent times.
Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the important role music plays in our lives. At other times, it’s patently inescapable. Going behind the walls of a maximum security prison to witness a concert of inmates singing songs they all wrote themselves.
As technology continues to encroach on our everyday lives, the pull of things that are rootsy and real like country music will only become more appealing as a respite and retreat from digital immersion and incursion.
Well here we go again. And the same people who were defending Garth Brooks four years ago are now calling Carrie Underwood a completely washed-up has-been who needs to be completely canceled.
Before we look forward to 2025, let’s look back at 2024 and remember the important individuals we lost, from huge superstars, to songwriters and side players. They all contributed to the music we love, and deserve to be remembered.
Blackstone is far and away the largest commercial landlord in history, and now these cretins have decided that the way to entice new investors to their funds is to “go country,” dressing their executive suite robber barons in cowboy duds.
Ever since the rise of social media, the various platforms have never been more diluted and Balkanized, turning once vibrant, active, and engaged music communities into a diaspora splayed amongst a of host of different services.
Viral star Oliver Anthony unleashed a firestorm recently when he made multiple accusations against performers at country festivals as part of a greater 15-minute video rant addressing some of the ills of the country industry.
Some of the observances and sentiments Oliver Anthony shares are true, and things you might be inclined to pump your fist in agreement over. A few of the things he says are categorically false and misleading at best
Beyoncé’s 2024 album Cowboy Carter was supposed to be the biggest phenomenon in country music in 2024. But after taking a step back from all the bluster, it’s easy to conclude that Cowboy Carter’s impact was marginal at best.
Recently, Billboard published a list of what they believe are the “100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time.” As always with these lists, it has stimulated lots of conversation, and some controversy.