New Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#171)
2026 is off to a very promising start with new singles and albums, and the Top 25 Playlist is here to be the shortest distance you and discovering them. Just click play and find your next favorite songs, album, or artist.
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:
Braxton Keith – “I Ain’t Tryin’” – If you aren’t on the Braxton Keith choo choo, and the Western swing-inspired “I Ain’t Tryin'” doesn’t persuade you to jump on board, well then there just might not be any hope for you. It’s the perfect vessel to illustrate the country music virtues this up-and coming Texas traditionalist upholds.
Red Shahan – “Cotton Fire” – This killer track first appeared out of nowhere in a pivotal scene on the streaming series Landman, and folks have been raving about it ever since. It was unreleased at the time, but they smartly rushed it to print as a single.
Brit Taylor – “Warning You Whiskey” – Brit Taylor is Kentucky’s hard country honky tonk crooner, and she gets you stopping your boot through the floor with this heartbreaking half-time tune. It’s from her upcoming album Land of the Forgotten out March 6th.
Low Gap – “Heroes” – Brothers Gus and Phin Johnson have turned in an early favorite of the year so far with their new album Geneva. Their song “Heroes” distinguishes itself on an already distinguishing album as an excellent illustration of the duo’s elevated songwriting.
Colton Bowlin – “Clinton County” – From Kentucky, Colton Bowlin is a young man you want to get on your radar if he’s not already. “Clinton County” is a great moment to do that ahead of his new album Grandpa’s Mill out March 13th, produced by David Ferguson.
Canola – “18 Wheels and a Headache” – This new country band from Sweden just released a super fun self-titled EP, and it’s surprisingly full of twangy country trucker songs and other blue-collar anthems that are easy to warm up to.
Zach Bryan – “With Heaven On Top” – You have to navigate through 24 other tracks, but the final one and the title song to Zach Bryan’s new album happens to be perhaps the best song on the album, and also the most country. Zach doesn’t need a boost from the playlist of some scrappy independent outlet. But he deserves to be here for “Heaven On Top.”
Bryan Sutton and Billy Strings – “Devil Went Down to Deep Gap” – This might be the collaboration of the year so far. You probably though “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” had been redone so many times there was no way to make it feel fresh again. That’s exactly what Bryan and Billy do. The music video is killer too. All kinds of surprises and Easter eggs in this song.
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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:
- “I Ain’t Tryin'” – Braxton Keith – (single)
- “Choosin’ Texas” – Ella Langley – (single)
- “Lucky Penny” – Lance Roark – Bad Reputation
- “Change The Man” – Abbey Cone – (single)
- “Cotton Fire” – Red Shahan – (single)
- “Warning You Whiskey” – Brit Taylor – Land of the Forgotten (3-6)
- “The Great Highway” – Vincent Neil Emerson – (single)
- “Gambling” – Josh Weathers – Neon Never Fades
- “Hell I Have” – Benjamin Tod – (single)
- “Cryin’ Shoulder” – Drake Milligan – Tumbleweed
- “With Heaven On Top” – Zach Bryan – With Heaven On Top
- “18 Wheels and a Headache” – Canola – Canola
- Colton Bowlin – “Clinton County” – Grandpa’s Mill (3-13)
- “Dark House of Fools” – Luke Bell – The King Is Back
- “The Middle” – Kaitlin Butts – Yeehaw Sessions EP
- “Honky Tonk Hideaway” – Spencer Hatcher – Honky Tonk Hideaway EP
- “I’ll Burn A Candle” – Joe Stamm with Al Torrence – (single)
- “Tombstone” – The Droptines – (single)
- “Come Home To You” – Emily Ann Roberts – (single)
- “Appalachia” – Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia (1-30-26)
- “Heroes” – Low Gap – Geneva
- “Just Like Old Times” – Turnpike Troubadours – (single)
- “Fresh Out Of Teardrops” – Bailey Rae – (single)
- “What Ramblers Do” – Roc Helton – (single)
- “Fool Like Me” – Jake Owen – Dreams To Dream
- “The Devil Went Down to Deep Gap – Bryan Sutton, Billy Strings – (single)
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January 18, 2026 @ 9:58 am
Wow! Braxton Keith is great right out of the gate! Brit Taylor, Em Scott Robinson, and the Wes Bayliss track Dig In are in my playlist, as are Ward Davis’ new songs. Spencer Hatcher and Josh Weathers are in the opening 2026 headline slots. Jenna Paulette’s Horseback is getting “the somehow I missed this record revisit,” she’ll be in the area for a few shows in Feb including Boxcars with Dan Lepien opening and The Law Office Pub, as the Deluxe version will be released at the end of the month.
Speaking of The Law Office Pub, I think they want me to buy a retirement home in Yorkville, IL, which is definitely a “Country neighborhood” (Mike Annoys Trigger and Kevin) because they have about 30 shows coming up along with Jenna, like Alex Williams, Myron Elkins, Joe Stamm Band, Caitlin Cannon, Tony Logue, Dan Lepien/The Rangers, Jason Eady and more!!! Hell, I get tired just typing the names, but I’ll get to some. Everyone in the area come on out and support this scene!!!
January 18, 2026 @ 10:18 am
Ward Davis newest “Need to be Still” is fantastic. I heard it on his live album last year acoustic style and it’s even better now that it’s a proper recording. One of his best I think. So far all the songs released from his upcoming album are excellent.
Colton Bowlin is solid, always appreciative of newer Kentucky guys. Has some young Tyler Childers in his voice.
January 18, 2026 @ 10:34 am
“You probably though “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” had been redone so many times there was no way to make it feel fresh again.”
That was my exact thought when I first see the title. Then I read it was written about Doc Watson, so decided to give it a listen. Still didn’t do anything for me.
January 18, 2026 @ 11:07 am
Glad to hear that I’m not the only one unmoved.
Jerry Reed thing what, like 30+ years ago was kinda cool but this one is somehow empty, by me.
Adds, really digging the Canola thing hope there’s more where that came from, and Braxton Keith hits like a full beer can at a TOR show.
Memphis Kee this week is sick, dunno if anyone has better employed JLW since “Call a spade a spade”, but yeah, that’s how you do it with her, drop the reigns and let ‘er go. Sweet.
January 18, 2026 @ 11:22 am
It’s probably more of a case of I could never hear “The Devil Went Down To Georgia Again” and not be sad, than it is an indictment on this song. Nothing against the original, but like most of the big hits from Garth in the 1990’s, they’ve just been over played until worn out.
And if we are going to give grief to some of the worst mainstream offenders for borrowing melodies and lyrics in their music and bad remakes, it’s the same case here
January 18, 2026 @ 11:26 am
The song was composed in tribute, and they even gave credit to Jerry Reed. Really, you should watch the video. That is the best place the experience of what they did with that song is rendered. The review I wrote for the song was based off of how cynical I was that they could pull it off. It’s really the interactive nature of the video and all the Easter eggs that really pull it together. PS: This playlist does exist on YouTube so that songs that have cool videos can be interactive.
January 18, 2026 @ 11:35 am
Great seeing new stuff from two of my long time faves – Red and Brit. And my fave for the last 48 hours – Low Gap. Helluva an album. Miranda’s Big Loud Texas finally signed a female by the name of Julianne Rankin. Current single, “Bad Habits and Good Horses,” is good. Nikki Lane vibes on it but her older handful of singles are more country. Excited to see if having a powerhouse label behind her will result in making some waves.
January 19, 2026 @ 2:26 am
From Braxton Keith onwards, this is a playlist of great music. A list with many highlights and a really good listen. What I like about these playlists if the discovery of artists I have not heard before. It has often encouraged me to go and buy the album. I am really enjoying this playlist. Thank you!
January 19, 2026 @ 12:15 pm
Me I wasn’t banging on either the song or the review it just didn’t land with me but if someone finds Doc or BMFS from it, that’s a big big win for my team…
Jerry Reed was a badass picker tho and when I get where I’m going we’re gonna have us quite a time.
January 19, 2026 @ 12:20 pm
Should’ve been a reply to above but a squirrel got right in the switchgear bc squirrels will do that shit…
January 22, 2026 @ 10:45 am
Trig – might be losing it. All just Austin country that is almost bro country on here. Guy needs to step foot in Appalachia again
January 22, 2026 @ 10:55 am
I appreciate the feedback, but I’m just not following you. Of the new adds, Brit Taylor, Colton Bowlin, and Low Gap are all from Kentucky. There’s literally a song on the playlist from Emily Scott Robinson called “Appalachia.” Braxton Keith is from Texas, but that’s a straight up Western swing song, not Bro Country.