Emergency New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Playlist (#178)

Nobody panic. But there are so many great songs being released at the moment that we must interrupt regularly scheduled programming to update the Top 25 Playlist out-of-cycle. Please form a single file line, and head to your favorite streaming service of choice in an orderly fashion to partake.
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 (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to.
Newest Additions:
Joshua Ray Walker – “Shoot Me Straight” – If you weren’t already highly anticipating Joshua Ray Walker’s new album Ain’t Dead Yet out May 29th, you will be after getting a ear full of this heater. “Shoot Me Straight” is one serious limb twitcher.
Katrina Cain – “No Hometown” – This Austin-based songwriter is definitely one you want to keep your eye on if you aren’t already. After releasing this killer song on Saturday, she showed up to the debut of The Hook at Sagebrush in Austin on Sunday, and walked away with the coveted Gold Patch. It’s just a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on to Katrina Cain.
Charley Crockett – “Waylon Rides Again” – It might have been pure coincidence that Charley Crockett co-wrote this song with Shooter and released it on an album where he basically pulled a Waylon and flipped off his record label and the rest of the industry. Regardless, it’s the prefect way to end the album, with a punchy, rock-driven attitude, and the over-driven vocals setting the mood perfectly.
Cody Johnson – “Hello Lonesome” – Don’t take for granted what a gift it is that Cody Johnson continues to be one of the most popular men in mainstream country, despite steadfastly releasing strong traditional country songs just like “Hello Lonesome.” Johnson just announced his new album Banks of the Trinity will be out on June 26th.
Sam Platts – “High Country” – Originally from Wyoming, and now living in Texas, Sam Platts imbues influences from both locations into his new single, and then graces it with a descending harmony that will send shivers down your spine, and evoke memories of the greatness of Glen Campbell.
Bobby Dove – “Loose Screws” – This Canadian songwriter really impressed us with the 2021 album Hopeless Romantic, and is back with more great stuff via the new album Fortune Teller. Like multiple great songs from the new album, “Loose Screws” is about moving across the Canadian expanse on tour, captured in a great country folk tone.
Kacey Musgraves – “Loneliest Girl” – “Middle of Nowhere” might be the title track of Kacey’s new album. But “Loneliest Girl” is its theme song that really captures the essence of what Kacey is trying to convey through the release. The chorus melody here is so devilishly good. Then you put Paul Franklin on top putting on a veritable clinic, and you’re lost in country music goodness.
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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, and Apple Music. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.
CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.
Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.
Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:
- “Waylon Rides Again” – Charley Crockett – Clovis
- “Loneliest Girl” – Kacey Musgraves – Middle of Nowhere
- “Shoot Me Straight” – Joshua Ray Walker – Ain’t Dead Yet (5-29)
- “Old Is Gold” _ Emily Zeck – (single)
- “No Roots” – Kevin Carducci – Easy Does It
- “No Hometown” – Katrina Cain – (single)
- “What You Gonna Do” – Drayton Farley – A Heavy Duty Heart
- “Morning Light” – Chasen Wayne – (single)
- “Chippin’ At The Stone” – Vincent Neil Emerson – Blue Stars
- “Hello Lonesome” – Cody Johnson – Banks of the Trinity (6-26)
- “Heart” – Charlie Marie – Signs (6-5)
- “High Country” – Sam Platts – (single)
- “The Real Pretender” – Rachel Brooke – This One’s For You
- “Highway Man” – Silverada – Living Proof (8-7)
- “Bottle Tells Me So” – Ashley McBryde – Wild (5-8)
- “Turning Into Us” – Rhys Rutherford – (single)
- “Loose Screws” – Bobby Dove – Fortune Teller
- “Howdy” – Cole Goodwin – (single)
- “Just Drivin’” – Presley Haile – (single)
- “If You Could Only See Me Now” – John R. Miller – The Great Unknowing (6-5)
- “Dreamers” – Ben Jarrell – Tennessee Turnaround
- “Treat Me Like Dirt” – Chloe Hoecker – Missouri’s Country Sweetheart
- “Love Button” – Spencer Hatcher – (single)
- “Broken Hearts Are Paint” – Boo Ray – (single)
- “This One’s For You” – Rachel Brooke – This One’s For You
- “Jukebox Blues (For Blaze Foley)” – Ian Noe – (single)
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May 5, 2026 @ 3:24 pm
Im not really feeling any of those songs other than crocketts. Even codys song isnt really up to his standards. I just dont get the love of kacey musgraves song at all. At least i can understand the why but not with hers.
May 5, 2026 @ 3:38 pm
I’m going to have to give her album another listen. The first time through didn’t do much for me, maybe it will grow on me
May 5, 2026 @ 5:28 pm
I don’t know if it’s fair to label Kacey’s “Middle of Nowhere” a grower album. Maybe it is. As I was reviewing it and specifically writing the song reviews for each track, I kept finding myself being endeared more and more to the writing and instrumentation on certain tracks. Others weren’t very good and never improved, and that “hit and miss” nature has been present on most of her albums.
Another problem with Kacey Musgraves is she comes very loaded down with preconceived notions. Her last two albums were boring and not that country. So people are going to assume her new album is more of the same when it’s not. Some people assume she some sort of political artist when she’s not.
“Middle of Nowhere” is going to be the album to beat in the mainstream in 2026, if only from the writing in certain songs, and Paul Franklin’s steel guitar.
May 5, 2026 @ 9:31 pm
A way to combat some of the preconceived notions about the country-ness of it might be to exchange “loneliest Girl” on the playlist for “Back on the Wagon.” I get that “Loneliest Girl” is basically the theme of the album, but, aside from the steel guitar, it fits in more with the spacey Kacey vibes, whereas “back on the Wagon” is straight-up traditional and maybe could convince some doubters to give it a shot.
May 6, 2026 @ 6:43 am
“Loneliest Girl” is the song that most sells and represents the album, and is also showing early signs as being the most resonant album track, so that is what I’m going to push forward. The commenter who started off this discussion has said in the past they “don’t like girl singers,” so I’m not going to use that feedback to persuade anything here. “Back on the Wagon” is a good song too, but not a hit.
May 6, 2026 @ 9:50 am
Am I the only one who thinks the drum track on “Loneliest Girl” sounds like a looped drum track? And that the vocals on the track sound pitch-corrected?
May 10, 2026 @ 4:59 am
I LOVE this Cody J song, actual proper Country from a popular artist is to be valued.
May 5, 2026 @ 3:40 pm
Little Bit of Shine by Nathan Evans Fox
May 5, 2026 @ 4:57 pm
Waylon Rides Again will go number one.
May 6, 2026 @ 1:44 am
…on comes presley haile… it takes quite something to stick out of a most enjoyable extensive playlist but hell, how she manages. her debut ep was already a promise last year – her first full studio album at some point may be a real peach, judging from her drivin’.
with a name just tailor-made for silk suits this carducci guy would also fit into a nudie one quite comfortably. really diggin’ this and his album “easy does it”.
May 6, 2026 @ 3:17 am
I just came across an album that folks who frequent this site may enjoy, it’s from an artist named Essence and Gold Country, the album is called Fathers Daughter.
Probably leans a little more on the Americana side of things than country, but the whole album has a nice mix of dobro and banjo prominent throughout and the young is a talented singer.
May 6, 2026 @ 3:54 am
…cody johnson’s “hello lonesome” may be the greatest painting-by-numbers-and-still-missing-the-point-completely exercise of the year. was there really no one around in the studio to tell him that it would have taken a twist of irony and tempo in the refrain to save this early/belated mark chesnutt tribute from sounding absolutely trite? after all, johnson portrays an experienced fool.
May 6, 2026 @ 7:03 am
That whole Bobby Dove record is great, dunno how I missed that, but thanks for the heads-up.
Enjoyed the early stuff from India Ramey’s album out later this week – look fwd to that…
Emily Nenni last week es also nice n cozy.
May 6, 2026 @ 9:16 am
Trigger, when I pull your playlist on YouTube Music, I get 29 songs, including some kind of crufty ones from last year. “Lonely” and “Coyote Cries” are still on my YouTube list but aren’t on your list here on this blog post. Maybe that’s a me problem or a YouTube problem, I don’t know, but I thought you should be aware in case it’s something that needs fixing from your side.
I appreciate the service. I’m spinning the updated list now.
May 6, 2026 @ 10:22 am
Yeah, for some dumb reason, YouTube shows me those videos exist, but say they’re “hidden.” You have to navigate around a bunch to figure out where they are and delete them. I just did that.
May 6, 2026 @ 2:05 pm
A few songs that I’m currently enjoying:
Kenny Whitmire – Thought Twice About Loving You
Abbey Cone – That’s Showbiz Baby
Willow Avalon ft. Jason Isbell – Cardinal Sin
Willow Avalon – Easy On The Eyes
May 6, 2026 @ 5:23 pm
I never said i dont like girl singers. I admit i do tend to listen to guys more. But i like noeline hoffman, loretta lynn, anita carter, quite a few others. I do tend to like original and different sounding voices than what the machine tends to cycle out. Delores oreirdan, debbie harry. Joan jett are my other non country ones. So yea you have to be an original to get on my list though i did like taylor swift but that was mainly cause she could play a guitar which at the time there wasnt too many females doing that. But yea i like some girl singers, just not always the popular ones.
May 8, 2026 @ 9:44 am
Did.. did yall hear Sunny cover Delta Dawn today?
If’n Megan would hit “Blood Red and Going Down” then that genie, he’d be one lick from a weekend off, lol.
May 9, 2026 @ 8:04 am
That Ian Noe song is incredible!
May 12, 2026 @ 10:43 am
COLEMAN JENNINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uk2MSXl630